Kelly reviews The Darkest Touch by Gena Showalter

TITLE: The Darkest Touch
SERIES #: Lord of the Underworld #11
CHARACTERS: Torin ‘Keeper of Disease’ & Kelleycael ‘The Red Queen”
AUTHOR: Gena Showalter
PUBLICATION DATE: November 25, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter comes the long-awaited story of Torin, the most dangerous Lord of the Underworld yet…

Fierce immortal warrior. Host to the demon of Disease. Torin’s every touch causes sickness and death—and a worldwide plague. Carnal pleasure is utterly forbidden, and though he has always overcome temptation with an iron will, his control is about to shatter.

She is Keeley Cael. The Red Queen. When the powerful beauty with shocking vulnerabilities escapes from a centuries-long imprisonment, the desire that simmers between her and Torin is scorching. His touch could mean the end for her, but resisting her is the hardest battle he’s ever fought—and the only battle he fears he can’t win.

REVIEW:
Of all the Lords I think Torin was the one who broke my heart the most. As the Keeper of Disease he can’t touch anyone for any reason. Because they will get sick and die. And for any reason they do survive they will have to be taken down or they will be come a carrier of that disease. Meaning the sweet, caring and totally kick ass Torin can’t ever touch or be touched. I often wondered as I read through this series how Ms. Showalter was going to solve this little issue. And in The Darkest Touch Ms. Showalter does just that. She solves Torin’s problem but only to bring him more problems.
Keeleycael ‘The Red Queen’ is one mean SOB. She is feared and hated throughout the world and the realms but we good reason. Keeley is a bit of a drama queen with a very short fuse and a pension for killing things. Needless to say that her and Torin’s first visit doesn’t good smoothly. But soon Keeley will find herself in a situation that even The Red Queen can’t bully, threaten or kill her way out of.
This was another really good story from Ms. Showalter. I just loved Torin and Keeley. They are perfect for each other after they get over the whole I want to kill you moments. If you are a Lord of the Underworld fan you will love this book. If you are new to this series, I would suggest that you start at the beginning. There is a lot of history that leads up to this book. BUT I do think that you could pick up The Darkest Touch and read it and not be too lost.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin HQN in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

December 4, 2014November 29, 2014

Natasha reviews Owning Violet by Monica Murphy

TITLE: Owning Violet
SERIES #: Fowler Sisters #1
CHARACTERS: Violet & Ryder
AUTHOR: Monica Murphy
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/2/2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy begins a sexy new contemporary romance series – perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Emma Chase – that introduces three sisters born to wealth, raised to succeed, ready to love, destined to make waves.
I’ve moved through life doing what’s expected of me. I’m the middle daughter, the dutiful daughter. The one who braved a vicious attack and survived. The one who devoted herself to her family’s business empire. The one who met an ambitious man and fell in love. We were going to run Fleur Cosmetics together, Zachary and I.
Until he got a promotion and left me in the dust. Maybe it’s for the best, between his disloyalty and his wandering eye. But another man was waiting for me. Wanting me. He too has an overwhelming thirst for success, just like Zachary – perhaps even more so. He’s also ruthless. And mysterious. I know nothing about Ryder McKay beyond that he makes me feel things I’ve never felt before.
One stolen moment, a kiss, a touch . . . and I’m hooked. Ryder’s like a powerful drug, and I’m an addict who doesn’t want to be cured. He tells me his intentions aren’t pure, and I believe him. For once, I don’t care. I’m willing to risk everything just to be with him. Including my heart. My soul.
My everything

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Ooh this book made me so mad and so happy all at the same time. It tells the story of shy pushover Violet and over confident womanizer Ryder. These two are an unlikely pair as they are complete opposites. We start off not liking Ryder at all, which was done on purpose – he’s not a good guy. Violet was also not likeable from the very beginning, because you felt so upset that she was such a pushover and you wanted her to be stronger and more secure. She had the capability to be so strong but she was letting herself be trampled over, which is hard to read. That said, she definitely grew throughout the story and I think she found herself and her inner strength. She makes some decisions along the way that many people wouldn’t make, but they worked for her. Ryder continued to be a jerk throughout the book, but he made incremental changes that turned him into a much different person by the end of the book. There are also great antagonists in the book that you completely love to hate! Overall it was a very good story, super intense, very explicit love scenes and a feeling of closure and completeness – loved the epilogue. There are two other books coming out in this series starring Violet’s sisters Rose and Lily that I cannot wait to read because I just love these two!

Disclaimer:
I received a copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group – Bantam Dell. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

December 3, 2014November 29, 2014

Winter Romance Wednesday! Kelly & Kimberly review Merry Christmas, Baby by Jill Shalvis

TITLE: Merry Christmas Baby
SERIES #: Lucky Harbor #12.5
CHARACTERS: Sawyer & Chloe Thompson
AUTHOR: Jill Shalvis
PUBLICATION DATE: December 2, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis brings you a heartwarming tale that could only happen in Lucky Harbor . . .

SEASON’S KISSES

Wild child Chloe Thompson can’t believe how much things have changed. She still can’t get enough of her sexy husband Sawyer, but he seems to prefer working to thinking about impending fatherhood. So tonight, a very pregnant Chloe is escaping her troubles at the town Christmas party.

Sheriff Sawyer Thompson hopes surprising Chloe at the party will give him a chance to set things right. But as the snow begins to fall and the wind rages, he wonders whether he can make it back in time. While mother nature conspires to keep Sawyer and Chloe apart, an unexpected arrival will require them to kiss and make up . . . and ring in the happiest holiday Lucky Harbor has ever seen. 13,000 words

KELLY’S REVIEW:
5 Hearts Oh how I love a good Lucky Harbor story. And I love them even more knowing that the Lucky Harbor series is done (will kind of. I asked Jill about this and she said there will be more novellas).
Merry Christmas Baby takes us back to visit Sawyer and Chloe and little baby Bean. This was such a sweet story and I am so glad that we got to take a glimpse into Sawyer and Chloe’s life. These two have had a rough time of life and love. I am so happy that they are getting a happy ever after. And let me tell you Sawyer and baby Bean are beyond adorable together (totally tissue worthy)

Lucky Harbor fans you will love this very very short story. Until next time Lucky Harbor.

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts This is a sweet Holiday novella with less than 40 pages but one that any fan of the Lucky Harbor series just had to have. We met Chloe and Sawyer in Head Over Heels (Lucky Harbor #3) and this is their follow up. Chloe is now pregnant and going through so many pregnancy hormones she can barely stand herself neither less anyone else and when Sawyer keeps leaving she is heartbroken. But like any Shalvis story there is more to it then Sawyer wanting to get away. I loved that within a few pages of the story Shalvis says “shes once been hell on wheels” as a shout out to their first story.

I won’t say too much since it is so short and it would give too much away but I will say that it was a great Christmas gift to the fans of Lucky Harbor and Jill Shalvis. (Just wish we knew what the baby’s name is – I wrote Shalvis on Facebook to ask – No word yet)

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

November 28, 2014November 22, 2014

Natasha reviews Changeling by Philippa Gregory

TITLE: Changeling
SERIES #: Order of Darkness #1
CHARACTERS: Isolde & Luca
AUTHOR: Philippa Gregory
PUBLICATION DATE: 5/24/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Dark myths, medieval secrets, intrigue, and romance populate the pages of the first-ever teen series from #1 bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl.
Italy, 1453. Seventeen-year-old Luca Vero is brilliant, gorgeous—and accused of heresy. Cast out of his religious order for using the new science to question old superstitious beliefs, Luca is recruited into a secret sect: The Order of the Dragon, commissioned by Pope Nicholas V to investigate evil and danger in its many forms, and strange occurrences across Europe, in this year—the end of days.
Isolde is a seventeen-year-old girl shut up in a nunnery so she can’t inherit any of her father’s estate. As the nuns walk in their sleep and see strange visions, Isolde is accused of witchcraft—and Luca is sent to investigate her, but finds himself plotting her escape.
Despite their vows, despite themselves, love grows between Luca and Isolde as they travel across Europe with their faithful companions, Freize and Ishraq. The four young people encounter werewolves, alchemists, witches, and death-dancers as they head toward a real-life historical figure who holds the boundaries of Christendom and the secrets of the Order of the Dragon.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts I love historical romances and love everything Philippa Gregory writes. She’s extremely knowledgeable about historical characters and her writing is amazing. I was very curious about her Young Adult series since I had never read a YA that was also a historical, so decided to give it a go. I’m happy that I did. This has all the tells of Philippa’s writing. It’s elegant, poignant and full of accurate historical context. There are a number of supporting characters in this book that are all equally intriguing and I am actually very excited to see how all of their stories will play out. Isolde and Luca are both likable enough, though I cannot say I love them just yet. However, the antics Luca and his companions get themselves into is almost comical and his squire – Freize is hilarious. He stole this story in my opinion. This was a great read and I’m excited to see what else is in store for this group of characters!
Disclaimer:
I purchased a copy of this book. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

November 26, 2014November 25, 2014

Spotlight feature of Stacey Kennedy’s Witches Be Burned

Witches Be Burned, a Magic & Mayhem novel

Author: Stacey Kennedy

Author Location: Canada

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Release Date: May, 2015

Page Count: TBA

Publisher: Loveswept by Random House

Format: Digital eBook

ISBN: 978-0-553-39513-6

Synopsis: Nexi Jones has lost her family, she’s been stripped of her guardian duties, and she’s still learning the ins and outs of white magic. At least she has Kyden, the smoldering hot elite guardian who’s been there for her every step of the way. But just as Nexi completes her training, tragedy strikes the Otherworld when a fellow guardian is murdered by a group of rogue vampires. Ready or not, she and Kyden trek into the Earthworld to hunt down a killer—and Nexi alone will be put to the ultimate test.

Although Kyden knows that Nexi must fight her own battles, his guardian instincts are raging as he struggles to keep her close. The ruthlessness of these vampires is like nothing he’s ever seen. And at their helm is the Black Witch Astoria, a demon with one burning desire: to shed Nexi’s blood in the name of vengeance. What troubles Kyden even more, though, is the warlock who covets Nexi’s heart. Let the devil do his worst . . . all Kyden can do is love and protect Nexi until his last breath.

Goodreads Amazon Barnes & Noble Additional purchasing options

Author Bio

STACEY KENNEDY is the USA Today bestselling author of the CLUB SIN series. Growing up, Stacey’s mind wandered the path less traveled and that path most often led to love. She has always broken rules and she continues to feed off emotion – staying true to her heart. Those traits are now the bones of her stories. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who puts any of the heroes in her books to shame, and their two young children. If she’s not on mom duty or plugging away at a new story, you’ll find Stacey camping in the summer, hibernating in the winter and obsessing over Penny Dreadful, Game of Thrones and Sons of Anarchy.

Website Facebook Twitter

November 26, 2014November 22, 2014

Winter Romance Wednesday! Jennifer reviews Christmas At Twilight by Lori Wilde

TITLE: Christmas at Twilight
SERIES #: Twilight, Texas #10
CHARACTERS: Brian Hutchinson, Meredith Sommers
AUTHOR: Lori Wilde
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/28/14
ORDER LINKS:Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: It’s Christmas in Twilight, Texas. The Cookie Club is baking, the town is decorated, and Delta Force Operator “Hutch” Hutchinson has finally, reluctantly, returned home . . .

. . . only to get pepper sprayed by the delicious- looking stranger who’s taken over his house. She says her name is Jane, and she immediately sets down ground rules. Top priority: no touching. For Hutch that isn’t easy—he was wounded in action, but one part is still working very well.

Then Hutch learns the truth. Jane harbors a frightening secret—she’s really Meredith Sommers, on the run from a dangerous ex-husband and desperately in need of the safety Hutch can provide. In that moment, he vows he’d do anything in his power to protect her. And as Christmas approaches, they discover that their love can conquer the past and overcome any obstacle—but what price will they pay?

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts I love Christmas romances and Lori Wilde definitely delivers with her new book, Christmas at Twilight. Brian “Hutch” Hutchinson has just returned to Twilight after a traumatic experience where he is physically and emotionally scarred and has temporarily lost the ability to speak. He is shocked to find that a young woman and her son are living in his home with his sister but before he has a chance to find answers, Meredith sprays him with pepper spray. Meredith is on the run from an abusive ex-husband and she mistakenly believes that Hutch is him when they first met. Once Meredith learns the truth, she and Hutch make an arraignment where she will continue living in the house and help with the care of Hutch’s niece until her mother returns from her spur of the moment getaway. Together they learn that love can help heal all wounds but Meredith’s past is coming back to haunt her and now they are all in jeopardy.

Hutch and Meredith’s story is one of my favorites in the Twilight series. They were two kindred spirits that both had a traumatic past, but still held on to hope. For Hutch, he went through unspeakable horrors during his time in the military and his experience over there almost brought him to the breaking point. By meeting Meredith, who was the one person who knew what it was like to battle demons of her own, it finally gave him a chance for a real future. Together, they could build the loving relationship that they needed and be the support system for one another during their dark times. I was impressed with Meredith considering everything that she had been through and she still was a wonderful, caring, human being. She stayed strong and resilient through it all and I loved her character just as much as I did Hutch’s.

Hutch and Meredith also just had this connection where after a while, they didn’t need words to communicate with another. You see this with couples that have been together a long time but Hutch and Meredith just seemed as though they always belonged with one another. To me, all their roads let them to each other and brought them into each other’s lives when they needed them the most.

Christmas at Twilight was a wonderful holiday romance that will pull at your heart strings and having you believing that love truly can conquer all. Lori Wilde is an amazingly talented writer and Christmas at Twilight is the perfect romance for this holiday season.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

November 25, 2014November 12, 2014

Spotlight & Excerpt from Julie Ann Walker’s Full Throttle + a giveaway

Full Throttle

Release Date: December 2, 2014

Amazon | B&N | iTunes

Abby Thompson didn’t sign up to be the daughter of the President of the United States. The position was forced on her by the small matter of her birth. Preferring a quiet life of study, she’s content to leave the politics and the international intrigue to her father. Unfortunately, the most powerful man on the planet is sure to make enemies. When a group of armed thugs takes her hostage half a world away, demanding the U.S. government release prisoners in exchange for her safe return, she fears her father’s policy of “not negotiating with terrorists” means she’ll never see the shores of the Potomac again. Luckily, there’s one glimmer of hope. His name is Carlos Soto. And though she abruptly ended things with him years ago, she knows now he’s the only man who can save her…

Carlos “Steady” Soto has taken part in his fair share of dangerous missions working at the covert government defense firm of Black Knights Inc. But nothing prepared him for the emotional rollercoaster he faces when he’s tasked with rescuing the only woman he ever loved-who also broke his heart. Racing against time and outmaneuvering a group of trained terrorists will take everything he’s got. Plus there’s the heat simmering between them which is threatening to ignite into an inferno. While ruthless enemies stalk them, they must learn to trust each other again. Even if they do make it out alive, will Abby turn her back on him… for the second time?

Add to your Goodreads list

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Exclusive Excerpt:

I shouldn’t be doing this!

It was the second time the thought screamed through Abby’s brain. But once again, she chose to ignore it.

Yes, she shouldn’t be doing this. She shouldn’t be kissing Carlos like her life depended on it. She shouldn’t be sucking his tongue into her mouth as if the world would end if she didn’t. But she’d wanted this for so long. Wanted him for so long. And she’d never dreamed he might want her, too. Not in her wildest fantasies could she have imagined smart, sexy Carlos Soto would be interested in her.

Yet here he was…his thick fingers speared into her hair, his hard palms framing her face and showing her just what to do, how to kiss him. And every dart of his tongue, each hot glide between her lips might as well have been a wicked lick to the center of her sex. She burned and would have sworn on a stack of bibles she was seconds away from going up in flames. Just poof! A human torch…

“Abby,” he whispered again before leaving a trail of hungry, hasty kisses across her cheek and back to her ear. “Dios, Abby, you taste so good.” He sucked her sensitive lobe into his sinfully knowledgeable mouth.

She tasted good? She did? No, no. He was the one who should be on the menu of the finest restaurant. Because his breath was fresh and warm, and the sweat on his skin when she turned her head to gently sink her teeth into his wrist was sweet and delightful. He was the appetizer, entrée, and dessert all rolled into one wonderfully decadent male feast.

He moaned against her neck when she darted out her tongue, flicking at the pulse beating heavily in his wrist. The sound went all through her, making her nipples tighten, her toes curl, and her womb contract and ache anew. It was a wanton sound. A shameless sound. The sound a man makes when he’s mindless and in need of a woman.

She couldn’t believe it. Carlos…in need of her. Carlos…wanting her. She was surrounded by him, overpowered by him. His height. His breadth. His sheer masculinity. She reveled in the feel of the muscles in his shoulders, so large her hands couldn’t grip the entirety of them when she dug in her fingers to pull him closer, closer… He could never be too close.

A little about Julie Ann Walker:

Julie Ann Walker is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of award-winning romantic suspense. She has won the Book Buyers Best Award, been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, and the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award. Her latest release was named a Top Ten Romance of 2014 by Booklist. Her books have been described as “alpha, edgy, and downright hot.” Most days you can find her on her bicycle along the lake shore in Chicago or blasting away at her keyboard, trying to wrangle her capricious imagination into submission.

Lear more about Julie Ann Walker here: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

November 25, 2014November 22, 2014

Kimberly reviews Tears Of The Rose by Jeffe Kennedy

TITLE: The Twelve Kingdoms: Tears Of The Rose
SERIES #: Twelve Kingdoms #2
CHARACTERS: Amelia & ???
AUTHOR: Jeffe Kennedy
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/25/14
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Three sisters. Motherless daughters of the high king. The eldest is the warrior-woman heir; the middle child is shy and full of witchy intuition; and the youngest, Princess Amelia, she is as beautiful as the sun and just as generous.
Ami met her Prince Charming and went away to his castle on the stormy sea-cliffs—and that should have been her happily ever after. Instead, her husband lies dead and a war rages. Her middle sister has been taken into a demon land, turned into a stranger. The priests and her father are revealing secrets and telling lies. And a power is rising in Ami, too, a power she hardly recognizes, to wield her beauty as a weapon, and her charm as a tool to deceive…
Amelia has never had to be anything but good and sweet and kind and lovely. But the chess game for the Twelve Kingdoms has swept her up in it, and she must make a gambit of her own. Can the prettiest princess become a pawn—or a queen?

REVIEW:
So I had a hard time with this story. First I never warmed up to Amelia. When we met her in the first in the series she was superficial and spoiled and that did not change in this book. And while she does seem to change toward the end of the book a bit and she grows up for lack of a better word by then it was too late and I just didn’t care. I liked Hugh and maybe if he had been involved instead of dying in the first book then we could have enjoyed Amelia more but this way I just didn’t.

This story doesn’t have the feel of the first book which felt like a trip to Narnia, Hogwarts and other places rolled into one. This just felt lacking.

Now that being said I usually find I do not enjoy the second book in a trilogy. The first gives us the beginning with information into understanding what is happening and the third closes up the story so it is interesting in its own way but the second just seems less than and it is the same with this. I will most likely read the next in the series and hope that it is better.

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

November 24, 2014November 22, 2014

Kelly reviews Talking After Midnight by Dakota Cassidy

TITLE: Talking After Midnight
SERIES #: Plum Orchard #3
CHARACTERS: Taggart Hawthorn & Marybell Lyman
AUTHOR: Dakota Cassidy
NARRATOR: Scarlet Chase
RUN TIME: 8 hours & 20 minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: June 24, 2014
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N | Audible

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Shields up, sugar—things in Plum Orchard are about to get real.

Marybell Lyman is notorious for two things:

Her look. The wicked hairstyle, multiple piercings and practiced sneer that say: “Stay back—I bite.”

Her voice. The syrupy lilt that’s her bread and butter at Call Girls, the prim little town’s flourishing phone-sex company.

Hunky handyman Taggart Hawthorn is mesmerized by the contradiction: such sweet tones inside such a spiky shell! He wants to know more about mysterious Marybell, to hear more of her sexy talk—all for himself.

But Tag’s attentions, delicious as they are, have Marybell panicked. She’s been hiding a long time. She’s finally got a home, a job and friends she adores. She won’t have it all snatched away by another stupid mistake—like falling in love. So when Marybell’s past comes calling, she and the Call Girls will prove no one handles scandals like a Southern girl!

REVIEW:
Another amazing story from Ms. Cassidy. With each Plum Orchard series I have falling more and more in love with these characters. I hope to all the Plum Wine Gods that there will be more stories in this series. There are a few more people I want to see matched up and a few I want to see wrestled into a huge pile of mud. So Ms. Cassidy PLEASE write more stories in this series. But back to Talking After Midnight.

OH my gosh. I am not sure if I was just an over sensitive wreck today but this book made me cry at least 3 times. Full on tears cry I tell you (thank goodness I was alone could you image if I was in public?) But Marybell & Tag are just perfect. I loved every part of their story. Even the parts where they are being stupid. Just loved it all.

Normally in a series you have a favorite and a least favorite couple. Not for me. I have love all three couple equally. I am not sure I could pick one over the other if I had to.

Ms. Chase as she has done so perfectly over this whole series brings the characters of Plum Orchard to life for me. I am so very glad that I started this series on audio. I will most definitely be looking for more books narrated by Ms. Chase in the future.

If you have not started the Plum Orchard series I would highly recommend you grab the novella Talk this Way. You really do have to start from the beginning!!! Now go get you a copy of this series and start reading and find out why Plum Orchard is so awesome.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from Tantor Media in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

November 24, 2014November 22, 2014

Kelly reviews Something To Talk About by Dakota Cassidy

TITLE: Something to Talk About
SERIES #: Plum Orchard #2
CHARACTERS: Jacks Hawthorne & Emmeline Amos
AUTHOR: Dakota Cassidy
NARRATOR: Scarlet Chase
RUN TIME: 9 Hours & 24 Minutes
AUDIO PUBLICATION DATE: October 21, 2014
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N | Audible

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Sexy is as sexy does. And in Plum Orchard, sugar, it does!

Emmeline Amos is sick of her ex saying she’s boring and prissy. After all, she works for a phone-sex company! (As general manager, but still.) On a rare girls’ night out, fueled by blender drinks and bravado, Em accepts a shocking dare—to handle a call herself. But it’s tipsy Em who gets an earful from an irate single father on the other end of the line. Awkward.

But not as awkward as discovering that same mad dad is Call Girls’ gorgeous new programmer. Jax Hawthorne is still upset that his daughter called the “girlfriend store” on his behalf, but he can’t deny he’d choose a hot-librarian type like Em if he were looking for love. Which he’s not.

Em wants to do more than just talk the talk. So she makes a bawdy bargain with Jax. They’ve both been burned before—this time, they’ll keep it strictly physical. Except as soon as they settle on no strings attached, things start to get tangled.

REVIEW:
Oh my!!!!! To say that I love Emmeline Amos would be an understatement. When we first Emmeline in Talk Dirty to Me, she was shy, unsure, hating Dixie and not happy with her life. But even with that Em holds her head up high and tries to be the best person and mom as she can possible be. But in Something to Talk About Emmeline Amos finally finds out who she is and how far she is willing to go to protect those she loves. Oh and Em finds out a few little secrets that could possible turn her world upside down again.

Let’s talk Jacks. Mr. Jacks Hawthorne is beyond yummy. Jacks not only is an amazing dad to his beyond sweet little girl. He is fiercely protective of those around him. But Jacks has secrets too. And one of those secrets is back and stalking around Plum Orchard.
I loved this story. Love Emmeline and Jacks. Love Dixie and the ladies at Call-Girls. Loved! Loved! Loved! I will say that there was a few *gasp* moments and a few tears while reading this book. I can’t wait for the next book “Talking After Midnight”

Scarlet Chase does another AMAZING job of narrating this book. I just love love love her. She really brings the characters to life for me. I can’t wait for her to read Talking After Midnight to me. Great job again Ms. Chase.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from Tantor Audio in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

November 21, 2014November 16, 2014

Kimberly reviews Operation Family by Marissa Dobson

TITLE: Operation Family
SERIES #: SEALed For You #3
CHARACTERS: Nicole & Mac
AUTHOR: Marissa Dobson
PUBLICATION DATE: November 18, 2014
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N (coming soon)

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander Mac García spent twenty years in the military but had no plans to retire. He didn’t know what his life would be like without the SEALs, and through the years he saw the worst in the world. He’d be damned if he’d see another attack on American soil. Arriving home, he’s faced with a whole different obstacle—twin toddlers. As the only family left to these little girls, he has to figure out what the next step in his life will be and how he’ll manage raising two children.

A knock at Nicole Ryan’s door delivers the news of a friend’s death, and now she’s alone to care for the twins until their guardian arrives. As their nanny since they were born, she can’t picture being separated from them, let alone seeing them head to the other side of the United States. She’ll fight for the right to keep the girls, because she doesn’t know how else to deal with the loss of their father, and she can’t bear losing them too.

Can two people from different walks of life come together to build a strong family for the twins? Or will destiny make them lose everything they hold dear?

REVIEW:
4..25 Hearts A SEAL with a heart of gold and the three females who claim it. That should be the tagline for this story. When we first meet Mac he melts your heart when he picks up the little runaway boy in the airport and you just know that he will end up being a great dad to the twins that he has yet to learn about. Mac is a caregiver. He has been put on this Earth to take care of the people he loves and soon that includes two little girls that he didn’t even know existed. Nicole has raised the twins since they were born even though she is the nanny and not blood. They have known no other “mom” than her and she is going to fight to keep “her” babies and I love her strength. When these two meet it is immediate and intense and meant to be.

Every woman should have a man in her life like Mac. He shows his love with every look and every touch. It’s hard not to fall for a SEAL like Mac. I read this book in 4 straight hours because I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to see what happened. I loved the mental picture of the girls sleeping on Mac’s hard chest. I loved Uncle Sam and Uncle Angelo too. I hope they get their own stories even though they are not SEALS.

This family was meant to be and I’m glad fate, no matter how tragic, brought them together. There are so many cute scenes that make the reader smile and some that make you wish for your own Navy SEAL.

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

November 20, 2014November 16, 2014

Kimberly reviews Where There’s A Will by Stacy Gail

TITLE: Where There’s A Will
CHARACTERS: Miranda and Coe
AUTHOR: Stacy Gail
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/17/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Miranda Brookhaven returned to Bitterthorn, Texas to fix the past. Years ago, her father used her teenage romance with Coe Rodas to steal the prototype for a groundbreaking new automotive invention. Now her father’s dead, and thanks to the convoluted will he left behind, she’s stuck in town until she rights the wrong that lost her the man she loved.
Coe learned early on that life never goes according to plan. His dreams of hitting it big vanished when Miranda all but invited her father to take the only thing of value he ever had. But now the once-pampered princess is holed up in a condemned trailer on the edge of town…and everything he thought he knew about her and about what happened between them back then seems completely wrong.
Miranda’s determined to give back to Coe all that he lost. If she can do that, maybe she can move on from the past. But Coe seems to be more interested in their rekindled passion than claiming what she thinks he deserves. She’s got sixty days to convince him to cough up evidence that he’s the original inventor after that, the only way to transfer the patent rights over to him would be to make him part of the family, and she’s not sure her heart can take another hit.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts I enjoyed this book but it did get wordy at some times. The relationship between Coe and Miranda is interesting and seemed to take a long time to work out but then I realized it didn’t really. It was more that there were a lot of words to get them there. I know that sounds weird but it is true.

So Miranda and Coe both have different stories about how their past went and while neither is really wrong neither is really right either. But this story is not about their past as much as about how they deal with their futures and how they need to learn to live beyond what the past handed them. And I think the author did a good job of getting that across. Sometimes the scenes were so real and true that you can feel the hurt. When Miranda explains about Coe getting rid of the tattoo of her name it is so sad and you can imagine the feelings she has.

So while I enjoyed this story and it is only about 150 pages it is not a quick read. But that being said it is worth the read.

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