Romance – Page 29 – Books-n-Kisses

February 26, 2018February 25, 2018

Kimberly reviews Survive The Night by Katie Ruggle

TITLE: Survive The Night
SERIES #: Rocky Mountain K9 Unit #3
CHARACTERS: Otto & Sarah
AUTHOR: Katie Ruggle
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/06/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
He’s always been a haven:
For the lost. The sick. The injured.
But when a hunted woman takes shelter in his arms, this gentle giant swears he’ll do more than heal her battered spirit―he’ll defend her with his life.

K9 Officer Otto Gunnersen always had a soft spot for anyone in need. As Monroe’s very own Dr. Doolittle, he dedicates himself to rehabilitating the injured souls that cross his path―but for all his big heart, he’s never been in love.

Until he meets Sarah Clifton’s haunted eyes. Until he realizes he’ll do anything to save her.

All Sarah wants is to escape a life caught between ambitious crime families, but there’s no outrunning her past. Her power-mad brother would hunt her to the ends of the earth…but he’d never expect Sarah to fight back. With Otto and the whole of Monroe, Colorado by her side, Sarah’s finally ready to face whatever comes her way.

It’s time to take a stand.

REVIEW:
Another great read in the series. One of the things I enjoy in a series is background characters making cameos and this series has Mr. Espino. He helps women who need to “disappear” to find a place to go and it ends up being in Monroe, CO.

This romance is between Alice/Sarah and Otto. Of course we have met Otoo is previous books and I actually think he might have been one of my favorite background characters. There is just something about him. He is just so Alpha and has a heart of gold. Alice/Sarah is running from her horrible brother and Logan Jovanovich which is another character we have met throughout the series.

This is a great story and a great series with a lot of twist and turns and action but with sweet romance mixed in. Trust me this is a wonderful book but I suggest reading the others in the series first since there are so many recurring characters and storyline.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

February 22, 2018February 19, 2018

Kimberly reviews Out Of The Darkness by Heather Graham

TITLE: Out Of The Darkness
SERIES #: The Finnigan Connection #3
CHARACTERS: Sarah & Tyler
AUTHOR: Heather Graham
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/16/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A love rekindled…or a deadly reunion?

Even after a decade, Sarah Hampton is haunted by the night that nearly ended in a bloody massacre and destroyed her high school romance with handsome Tyler Grant. Now the horror has returned. It’s a reckoning from the events of that terrifying night—and a love they never let go. Only this time Tyler must protect Sarah from the killer hiding in the darkness…or lose her forever.

REVIEW:
2.75 Hearts Ok so first let me say two things. 1) I love Heather Graham’s books especially her Krewe Of Hunters series and 2) I set myself up each time I pick the books from this series so why I do it I do not know.

I know this is not it because I doubt Graham would put her reputation on the line but it is like this series is written by someone else and put her name on it. The characters are just not interesting and while the storyline was interesting if not original.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

February 20, 2018February 19, 2018

Kimberly reviews Never Let Go by Jill Sanders

TITLE: Never Let Go
SERIES #: Haven, Montana #2
CHARACTERS: Trent & Adrianna
AUTHOR: Jill Sanders
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/20/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Activist meets corporate in this sizzling romance by New York Times bestselling author Jill Sanders.
Trent McGowan has never been the guy who doesn’t get what he wants. He and his brothers are making a go of the oil business, and he’s always had a bit of a reputation with the ladies. Only lately, something’s been missing—something Trent never realized he needed…until he sees his childhood crush standing on the picket line, trying to destroy his company. And what happened to turn sweet Addy Collins into a sexy activist?
Environmentalist Adrianna Collins has returned to her hometown of Haven, Montana, on a mission to stop destructive oil mining. She never imagined that the corporate face on the other side of the protest line would be her lifelong crush. The Trent she remembers is better known for flirting than, uh, fracking, and she can’t believe he’d risk his city to make a quick buck.
Now Trent’s determined to prove that he’s not the person she thinks he is. If he can earn Addy’s trust, he might be able to save his company—and bring Addy home for good.

REVIEW:
I really enjoy the writing of Jill Sanders. I thought this story was sweet, heartfelt and had some real “ah ha” moments… at least for me.

This is the second in the series and while each books romance can be a stand alone there is a background story that continues throughout the series.

I thought the characters were very real. They feel what a normal person would in the exact situation(s). I have enjoyed both books so far and look forward to #3. I think any fan of the romance with a bit of suspense would enjoy it too.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

February 8, 2018February 5, 2018

Kimberly reviews Highland Conquest by Alyson McLayne

TITLE: Highland Conquest
SERIES #: The Sons of Gregor MacLeod #2
CHARACTERS: Lachlan & Amber
AUTHOR: Alyson McLayne
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/06/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
HE WAS LOOKING FOR VENGEANCE

Laird Lachlan MacKay never planned on leading his clan, but when his older brother was murdered, he was left with no choice. His vow to avenge his brother has led him to the MacPherson clan—and their bewitching healer, Amber.

INSTEAD HE FOUND HER

Amber MacPherson is desperate. Dressed as a boy to escape her clan’s treacherous leader, she runs right into Lachlan—who orders her detained. At first she causes him nothing but frustration, especially when she blackmails him into helping her clan. But when she’s threatened by the same man who murdered his brother, Lachlan will do whatever it takes to keep her safe—and by his side.

REVIEW:
After reading the first in the series I knew I would want to read them all. The Highlanders are well in a word… yummy! There is something about a Scottish Highlander. If you haven’t been a fan of the genre you will be after reading the first two books of this series.

What I enjoy about this series is the fact that the guys are alpha but the women are strong as well. In this case Amber is a healer. She is confident and willing to do anything to be free of the her captor. The guys are worth reading about as well.

Something about this genre is exciting and makes me want to hop a plane to check out the Scottish hills (and men).

You will not want to miss this story/series if you love the genre. And if you want to try out the genre for the first time this is a great book to make you a fan.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

February 6, 2018February 5, 2018

Kimberly reviews Diaper Duty Vampire by R.E. Mullins

TITLE: Diaper Duty Vampire
SERIES #: Vampires Of Amber Heights #1
CHARACTERS: John & Joann
AUTHOR: R.E. Mullins
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/11/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
During the Civil War, Union soldier, John Alden took a musket ball to the gut. As he gasped his final breath, he was turned into a vampire and started life anew in Amber Heights, Missouri. For over one hundred and fifty years, he’s lived a rather solitary life as a vampire Enforcer.

Young single mother, Joann Clarkson, needs a job and fast. Hoping to be rehired, she returns to Dr. Michaela Blautsauger’s lab prepared to eat a hefty helping of humble pie. She comes to regret that decision when she’s taken hostage. Things look grim but she’ll never stop fighting to escape. Her son needs his mama.

As an Enforcer, John must hunt down the vampire who kidnapped Joann. In his search, John winds up babysitting her toddler Cody. Changing diapers might be worse than getting staked, but nothing compares to how he feels when both mother and child fall into danger again.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is a cute story. It is a short read which has a bunch of humor and is a light fun read. It is not a book that you need to concentrate much on. But at the same time it is cuter than I expected.

Yes there are some scenes that make you roll your eyes but in a good way. Any parent would get a kick out of it.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

February 1, 2018January 29, 2018

Kimberly reviews More To Love by Alison Bliss

TITLE: More To Love
SERIES #: A Perfect Fit #3
CHARACTERS: Jessa & Max
AUTHOR: Alison Bliss
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/30/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
This laugh-out-loud romantic comedy proves that, when enemies become lovers, all bets are off!

Jessa Gibson may be new in the little town of Granite, Texas, but in no time at all her gourmet food truck business is booming. Soon she’ll have enough money to open the restaurant of her dreams. But first, she’ll have to appease the hot local health inspector, no matter how strange his “violations” sound to her. No pink plastic gloves? Really?

Max Hager isn’t exactly who he says he is. Pretending to be a health inspector is a (mostly) innocent mistake. A mistake made way worse by Max’s immediate, electrifying attraction to the curvy, sexy, redheaded chef. Throw in a whole lot of lust, and things in Jessa’s little kitchen are about to really start heating up. But can Max find a way to come clean with Jessa before his little deception turns into a recipe for disaster?

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is a quick read but very sweet. I enjoy the books where the characters are not perfect. Jessa is a bigger girl but Max seems to appreciate what she has. I thought the characters were good. They had depth to them. I wasn’t thrilled with Max at first but he ended up being ok in the end. I did like Jessa though.

Jessa and I would be the best of friends if she was real. She is adorable and would feed me yummy treats. I might have told her to dump Max but as I said he begins to grow on the reader.

A really cute read. Especially for the curvy girls in the world.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

January 30, 2018January 29, 2018

Release Day Blitz: The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

TITLE: The Wedding Date
CHARACTERS: Drew Nichols & Alexa Monroe
AUTHOR: Jasmine Guillory
PUBLICATION DATE: January 30, 2018
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A groomsman and his last-minute guest are about to discover if a fake date can go the distance in a fun and flirty debut novel.

Agreeing to go to a wedding with a guy she gets stuck with in an elevator is something Alexa Monroe wouldn’t normally do. But there’s something about Drew Nichols that’s too hard to resist.

On the eve of his ex’s wedding festivities, Drew is minus a plus one. Until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend…

After Alexa and Drew have more fun than they ever thought possible, Drew has to fly back to Los Angeles and his job as a pediatric surgeon, and Alexa heads home to Berkeley, where she’s the mayor’s chief of staff. Too bad they can’t stop thinking about the other…

They’re just two high-powered professionals on a collision course toward the long distance dating disaster of the century–or closing the gap between what they think they need and what they truly want.

My review

Excerpt

Alexa danced with Lauren, letting the movement and the laughter shake away her annoying thoughts. When she felt a hand on her waist, she turned to see Drew behind her and laughed again, at how ridiculous the evening had been and how much fun she was suddenly having. He took ahold of one of her hands and swung her around to face him and laughed back down at her. Other members of the wedding party joined their group and danced with and around them, but song after song came on, and he never moved from her side.

“Water?” he said in her ear after they’d been on the dance floor for a long time.

“Yes, please.” She walked with him over to the bar.

She glanced up at the ornate clock over the bar, surprised at how late it had gotten. And how much she didn’t want this night to end. Damn it, it had been fun to be Drew’s fake girlfriend, but she knew that once the clock struck midnight, so to speak, the fairy tale would be all over.

He leaned against the bar, his jacket off, his bow tie untied, a little sweaty and disheveled from dancing. Good Lord, this guy was hot.

He rolled up his sleeves, exposing his tan forearms. She wanted to run her fingers up and down them and feel how warm and strong they were.

She needed to stop letting her imagination run away with her.

“Um,” she said. “It’s getting late, and if I want to make the last BART train back to the East Bay, I should probably leave pretty soon.”

Why had she said that? Why, when she was standing next to a hot guy, basically panting over him? If she was Maddie, hell, if she was Amy, she would have grabbed one of those hot forearms and wrapped it around her body, letting him know what she wanted without having to say anything. Sadly, she was Alexa, so she would flee instead.

He put his water bottle down and looked at her.

“Okay.”

“Okay,” she said. Olivia and Maddie would get mad at her for not throwing herself at him, but they didn’t understand that she just didn’t know how. Plus, rejection from this guy was the last thing her self-esteem needed. Talk about the opposite of getting back on the horse; that would make her avoid horses, and stables, and all farm animals for another few years. So to speak.

He stepped closer to her and put his hand on her waist. Her hand landed on his arm, and, without even meaning to, she ran her fingers up and down. Oh God, touching him like this was as good as she’d thought it would be.

“Or”—he looked straight down into her eyes—“you could stay.”

A question was in his eyes, and a smile hovered over his lips. His thumb drew slow circles on her hip and then moved up her side to her ribs. His other hand moved up to her face and traced the outline of her lips with his fingers.

She shivered.

He waited.

“Or,” she said, “I could stay.”

ABOUT Jasmine Guillory is a graduate of Wellesley College and Stanford Law School. She is a Bay Area native who has towering stacks of books in her living room, a cake recipe for every occasion, and upwards of 50 lipsticks.

As well as writing books, Jasmine sometimes writes about books, pop-culture, and food, some of her favorite things. Here are some of her recent pieces:

– Words With Friends
– The 33 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time
– If Michelle Obama Were Your Girlfriend
– If Nigella Lawson Were Your Girlfriend
– What to Do When ICE Raids Your Restaurant
– If Lupita Nyong’o Were Your Girlfriend
– If Barack Obama Were Your Dad

January 29, 2018January 28, 2018

Kelly reviews The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

TITLE: The Wedding Date
CHARACTERS: Drew Nichols & Alexa Monroe
AUTHOR: Jasmine Guillory
PUBLICATION DATE: January 30, 2018
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A groomsman and his last-minute guest are about to discover if a fake date can go the distance in a fun and flirty debut novel.

Agreeing to go to a wedding with a guy she gets stuck with in an elevator is something Alexa Monroe wouldn’t normally do. But there’s something about Drew Nichols that’s too hard to resist.

On the eve of his ex’s wedding festivities, Drew is minus a plus one. Until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend…

REVIEW:
Alexa Monroe never would have thought that visiting her sister to celebrate would lead to being stuck in an elevator with an amazingly hot and funny man. A man that asks her to be his savior for the weekend by attending a wedding with him. Alexa takes a chance and steps out of her comfort zone and says yes.
Drew Nichols does not want to be here for the weekend. But he is the best man at the wedding and it would look really bad if he didn’t show up. Fate is on his side but getting him stuck in an elevator with one of the most beautiful women he has ever seen. Then a plan forms into his brain, he will ask this amazing women! And surprisingly she says Yes!!!
I am grateful that Berkley Publishing sent this super sweet book to review. I am not sure I would have picked this book up otherwise, it was not on my 2018 list to read. But I am very grateful because I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more books from Ms. Guillory.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

January 25, 2018January 21, 2018

Kimberly reviews Judgment Road by Christine Feehan

TITLE: Judgment Road
SERIES #: Torpedo Ink #1
CHARACTERS: Reaper & Anya
AUTHOR: Christine Feehan
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/23/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
An outlaw motorcycle club sets up shop next door to Sea Haven in the dangerously sexy new series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.
As the enforcer of the Torpedo Ink motorcycle club, Reaper lives for riding and fighting. He’s a stone-cold killer who turns his wrath on those who deserve it. Feelings are a weakness he can’t afford–until a gorgeous bartender gets under his skin…
Near Sea Haven, the small town of Caspar has given Anya Rafferty a new lease on life. And she’s desperate to hold on to her job at the biker bar, even if the scariest member of the club seems to have it out for her. But Reaper’s imposing presence and smoldering looks just ratchet up the heat.
Anya’s touch is everything Reaper doesn’t want–and it brands him to the bone. But when her secrets catch up to her, Reaper will have to choose between Anya and his club–his heart and his soul.

REVIEW:
4.75 Hearts Whoo Hoo! A new series by Christine Feehan. I was so excited to pick up this book. And I was not disappointed at all.
This series is set in MC world. Reaper is the enforcer who has so many issues but seems like a teddy bear at heart. He has a side of him that most do not see and somehow Anya see’s it even if he doesn’t want her to. But when she is in danger he is the one that will make sure she comes out of this perfectly fine.
The book is a about Reaper. To be honest it felt like Anya was a bit of a secondary character. I didn’t mind that but it is something the reader should know. This is the MC world and it is Reaper’s world and Anya is just a player in it.
That being said it is a dangerous sexy world and one that I can’t wait to read more about. Bring on this new series because it will certainly get your engine reving!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

January 23, 2018January 21, 2018

Kimberly reviews Sisters Like Us by Susan Mallery

TITLE: Sisters Like Us
SERIES #: Mischief Bay #4
CHARACTERS: Harper & Stacey
AUTHOR: Susan Mallery
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/23/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The grass is always greener on your sister’s side of the fence…
Divorce left Harper Szymanski with a name no one can spell, a house she can’t afford and a teenage daughter who’s pulling away. With her fledgeling virtual-assistant business, she’s scrambling to maintain her overbearing mother’s ridiculous Susie Homemaker standards and still pay the bills, thanks to clients like Lucas, the annoying playboy cop who claims he hangs around for Harper’s fresh-baked cookies.
Spending half her life in school hasn’t prepared Dr. Stacey Bloom for her most daunting challenge—motherhood. She didn’t inherit the nurturing gene like Harper and is in deep denial that a baby is coming. Worse, her mother will be horrified to learn that Stacey’s husband plans to be a stay-at-home dad…assuming Stacey can first find the courage to tell Mom she’s already six months pregnant.
Separately they may be a mess, but together Harper and Stacey can survive anything—their indomitable mother, overwhelming maternity stores and ex’s weddings. Sisters Like Us is a delightful look at sisters, mothers and daughters in today’s fast-paced world, told with Susan Mallery’s trademark warmth and humor.

REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts To me Susan Mallery is contemporary romance’s Mary Poppins. She is practically perfect in every way. What is not to love about her stories? Nothing!
This is a book about family and the dynamics that we all face when family is involved. I also thought that it helped me to remember everyone is going through something even if others do not know it,
The characters are funny, light hearted and complex. They deal with every emotion possible and still manage to stay together as a family in the end.
Mallery is one of the best but I would suggest reading the full series before this book. She has moved beyond just the 3 she planned on but it is helpful to have the back story.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

January 19, 2018January 15, 2018

Kelly reviews Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

TITLE: Turtles All The Way Down
CHARACTERS: Aza & Daisy
AUTHOR: John Green
NARRATOR: Kate Rudd
RUN TIME: 7 Hours & 12 Minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: October 10, 2017
ORDER LINKS: Audible | Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
#1 bestselling author John Green returns with his first new novel since The Fault in Our Stars!
Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis.
Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.
In his long-awaited return, John Green, the acclaimed, award-winning author of Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, shares Aza’s story with shattering, unflinching clarity in this brilliant novel of love, resilience, and the power of lifelong friendship.

REVIEW:
I am really on the fence about this book. I enjoyed and didn’t enjoy it all at the same time. I was able to listen to this book narrated by Kate Rudd. I will say that one of my biggest issues was that it was hard at times to distinguish between characters as Ms. Rudd was reading.
The story arc itself it had me wanting to fast forward the audio book. At times Aza really got on my nerves and wasn’t sure that I was going to finish this book. But I powered through it. I am not really sure what more to say other then we actually learn what the title of the book actually means.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Penguin Random House, LLS in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

January 18, 2018January 15, 2018

Kimberly reviews Promise Not To Tell by Jayne Ann Krentz

TITLE: Promise Not To Tell
SERIES #: Cutler, Sutter & Salinas #2
CHARACTERS: Virginia & Cabot
AUTHOR: Jayne Ann Krentz
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/02/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A painter of fiery, nightmarish visions throws herself into the sea—but she leaves her secrets behind . . .
Seattle gallery owner Virginia Troy has spent years battling the demons that stem from her childhood time in a cult and the night a fire burned through the compound, killing her mother. And now one of her artists has taken her own life, but not before sending Virginia a last picture: a painting that makes Virginia doubt everything about the so-called suicide—and her own past.
Like Virginia, private investigator Cabot Sutter was one of the children in the cult who survived that fire… and only he can help her now. As they struggle to unravel the clues in the painting, it becomes clear that someone thinks Virginia knows more than she does and that she must be stopped. Thrown into an inferno of desire and deception, Virginia and Cabot draw ever closer to the mystery of their shared memories—and the shocking fate of the one man who still wields the power to destroy everything they hold dear.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Let me say that Krentz is high on my list of favorite authors but this book just didn’t do it for me. It seemed very long and yet each chapter was very short.
Virginia and Cabot knew each other as kids living in a cult and dealing with horrendous conditions and almost being killed. Now they are adults and believe the cult leader is back.
The story just wasn’t suspensive enough and I never really connected to the characters. I suggest reading any of Krentz’s books but don’t start with this one as you will not really get the feel of Krentz’s work.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.