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#TBT Kimberly’s review of Beach House No. 9 by Christie Ridgway ~ Catch Up From The Beginning

TITLE: Beach House No. 9
AUTHOR: Christie Ridgway
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/29/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When book doctor Jane Pearson arrives at Griffin Lowell’s beach house, she expects a brooding loner. After all, his agent hired her to help the reclusive war journalist write his stalled memoir. Instead, Jane finds a tanned, ocean-blue-eyed man in a Hawaiian shirt, hosting a beach party and surrounded by beauties. Faster than he can untie a bikini top, Griffin lets Jane know he doesn’t want her. But she desperately needs this job and digs her toes in the sand.

Griffin intends to spend the coming weeks at Beach House No. 9 taking refuge from his painful memories-and from the primly sexy book doctor who wants to bare his soul. But warm nights, moonlit walks and sultry kisses just may unlock both their guarded hearts…

REVIEW:
As with all of Ridgway’s stories there is more than just romance. There is adventure. The ride she takes the reader on is filled with emotion. In this story we meet Griffin and Jane. Two completely opposite people in every way. Yet there is something that brings them together.

Most of the time I fall madly in love with the male characters in Ridgway’s books but Griffin took a little while to grow on me and thinking back I realize because of the complex character he is. He is not the knight in shining armor but a wounded soul and Jane took a while too. She is so distant when we meet her but it does not take long to realize the woman she really is.

I enjoyed this book very much. I even enjoyed the background characters of Tess and David and their story.

I can’t wait to read the next one in the series. But then I can never wait for Ridgway’s books!

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

4 Hearts

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Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews All I Want For Christmas by Jenny Hale

alli-want-for-christmasTITLE: All I Want For Christmas
CHARACTERS: Leah & David
AUTHOR: Jenny Hale
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/06/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
All I Want for Christmas is a big, cozy Christmas story about the importance of family, the strength of childhood friendships, and learning to trust your heart.

Fans of Carole Matthews, Susan Wiggs and Susan Mallery – and anyone who likes the glow of Christmas lights and the rustle of wrapping paper – will fall in love with this feel-good Christmas treat.

Christmas comes once a year . . . But true love comes once in a lifetime.

Snowflakes are falling, there’s carol singing on every corner, and Leah Evans is preparing for a family Christmas at her grandmother’s majestic plantation house in Virginia. It won’t be the same now that her beloved Nan is gone, but when Leah discovers she has inherited the mansion, she knows she can give her daughter Sadie the childhood of her dreams.

But there’s a catch. Leah must split the house with a man called David Forester. Leah hasn’t heard that name in a long time. Not since they were kids, when Davey was always there to catch her.

Now David is all grown up. He’s gorgeous, successful, and certain of one thing: Leah should sell him her half of the house.

They can’t agree, but as they share memories over wine by the log fire, Leah notices a fluttering in her stomach. And by the look in his eyes, he’s starting to feel it too.

Will it be Leah or David who must give up their dreams? Or, with a little bit of Christmas magic, will they finally understand Nan’s advice to them both about living life without regrets … and take a chance on true love?

REVIEW:

I don’t know. I just wasn’t overly impressed with this story. Leah is a bit whiney for me and David is a bit stiff. It is slow with a bit too many words if you ask me.

There is not too much romance in this romance novel. I really don’t get this story. I mean I realize that Nan was trying to get Leah and David together but David is so determined to get the plantation but I don’t even understand why he thinks he is entitled to it.

All in all not bad just not great.

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

3hearts-68-77

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#TBT Kelly & Kimberly review Born In Blood by Alexandra Ivy ~ Catch Up From The Beginning

born in bloodTITLE: Born In Blood
SERIES #:The Sentinals #1
CHARACTERS: Duncan O’Conner & Callie Brown
AUTHOR: Alexandra Ivy
PUBLICATION DATE: December 31, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In a stunning new paranormal romance series—even edgier than her bestselling Guardians of Eternity books—New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Ivy lures readers into the dark, seductive world of the Sentinels—humans outcast by their hidden abilities, treading the line between life and death, good and evil, pleasure and pain…

Born In Blood

Sergeant Duncan O’Conner has seen it all before. A beautiful erotic dancer is found murdered in her home—no suspect, no motive. But there’s one clue: she’s missing her heart. It’s enough to make the hard-bitten Kansas City cop enlist the help of a necro—one of the dead-channeling freaks who live in the domed city of nearby Valhalla. It’s a long shot, but desperate crimes call for desperate measures.

Unlike the other “high-bloods” in Valhalla, Callie Brown considers her abilities a gift, not a curse. But when she reads the dancer’s final thoughts, she senses a powerful presence blocking her vision. This is no ordinary homicide. This is the work of a legendary necromancer who controls souls. A ravenous force that will put Callie’s skills to the test, O’Conner’s career at risk, and both their hearts on the line…literally.

KELLY’S REVIEW:
4 Hearts Born in Blood is book one in Alexandra Ivy’s new Sentinel series. This is an interesting world that Alexandra has created. You have the norms (normal people) and the “freaks” (people with talents) both are trying to learn how to work with the other, but not very successfully.

This was a great start to a new series. I fell in love with Duncan & Callie and the cast of sub characters are awesome. I loved the determination of Duncan to go after what he wants. But I loved that Callie did challenge him at least for a little bit 🙂 I am looking forward to what is next in this series. Fingers crossed for Fane & Serra although I would love to for Mave & Wolfe next.

One of my only real gripe is what is up with the cover. Yes it is hot. I know. But the heroine is not right at all. Callie doesn’t have long red hair. It is short and kinda all over the place. I wonder why no one pointed that out to the cover artist?

Fan’s of Alexandra will love this new series!

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
4 Hearts This is a new series by Ivy. It is very different from her Guardians of Eternity series. I enjoyed the Sentinels, Callie and Duncan very much. Valhalla is an interesting place to read about as well. I was not too thrilled with the whole Zombie thing. I know it is the “in” thing right now but it is not something I am into. I also had a hard time with the “freak” word being used so much. It just seemed overkill on the word.

Now those two things aside I enjoyed the book and couldn’t wait to get to each new chapter. Duncan is a great character and Callie is sweet and innocent. They make a great pair. I can’t wait for the next in the series. I hope the foe’s are something other than Zombies and if they are I know I will love the Sentinel and his woman.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

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Natasha reviews Born Of Legend by Sherrilyn Kenyon

born-of-legendTITLE: Born of Legend
SERIES #: The League: Nemesis Rising #11
CHARACTERS: Jullien “Dagger” & Ushara
AUTHOR: Sherrilyn Kenyon
PUBLICATION DATE: June 21, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
“It’s official Take a Psycho to Work Day. Why else would I be here?”

Hunted. Hated. Betrayed. Outcast Dagger Ixur is on the run for his life. As one of the most recognizable members of his royal house, he has a bounty on his head that guarantees him no quarter from any friend or even family. But surrender isn’t in him. He will fight to the bitter end. A resolve that is sorely tested when he narrowly escapes a trap that leaves him severely wounded. With what he believes is his dying breath, he saves a boy born to an extinct race from a group out to enslave the kid for his legendary abilities.

Ushara Altaan has spent her entire life hating the Andarion royal house that drove her entire species into virtual extinction. As a rare Andarion Fyreblood, she is sworn to end the existence of any royal she finds. But when Dagger saves her son’s life, she is torn between her people and a debt that can never be repaid.
Yet worse than Dagger’s family that’s still out to end hers and him, are the League assassins after him who will stop at nothing to claim the lives of her Tavali family. The only hope she has to save them all is to put their future and her faith into the hands of the very enemy whose grandmother personally extinguished Ushara’s legendary lineage. But how can she ever trust Dagger when he is a disinherited outlaw whose real name is synonymous with betrayal?

REVIEW:
Wow! Ok, in my review for Born of Betrayal I complained a bit about how Kenyon seemed to be re-writing Jullien’s character. Well, I should have known his book would be next and all the answers would come! Kenyon really is the queen of re-writing characters that we think we knew and showing us them in a whole new light (cough – Styxx – cough); this was no different. The book starts off a few years after Nykyrian’s return and spans for several years. Jullien is broken, battered and on the run. He meets up with Ushara and so begins the long unraveling heartbreak of his past. I really loved Ushara and Jullien together. She is a very strong heroine with a wild and crazy family that does some really messed up stuff, and then some really great stuff. Her son is the whole reason Jullien and Ushara cross paths and I love seeing the relationship grow between him and Jullien. We also get to see Jullien interact with some of our favorite characters of the series because his story runs concurrently with the events of previous books. I gotta say, Kenyon really laid it on thick in terms of Jullien’s abuse and neglect. While I understand painting a picture for readers, I really started to get frustrated with it about 2/3 of the way through the book. Some of the exact same phrases are used dozens of times in the book and a lot of that story became repetitive; that is the only reason this is a 4 star and not a 5.

However, by far my favorite part of this book is Trajen! I love this darn Trisani so much and cannot wait for his book – I know he’s getting a book and it is going to be brutal – however I have no idea when that will be. I’m just hoping we’ll continue to see him in other stories until then.

Then finally that brings me to the end – the part where we catch up to the events of Born of Betrayal. I was waiting for this the entire book, and while I am ok with how the book played out, I would have liked to see a little more dialogue around the events of Jullien’s life, his parents and Nykyrian.

All in all though, the book was freaking fabulous and I couldn’t put it down. Kenyon is a great author. Yes this series is so convoluted and confusing, there are way too many characters, and planets, enemies and allies, but you love it all the same!

Disclaimer:
I purchased a copy of this book. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

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Kelly reviews Deadly Silence by Rebecca Zanetti

9781455594252_DeadlySilence_TR_F1.inddTITLE: Deadly Silence
SERIES #: Blood Brothers #1
CHARACTERS: Zara & Ryker
AUTHOR: Rebecca Zanetti
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/04/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
DON’T LOOK BACK

Under siege. That’s how Ryker Jones feels. The Lost Bastards Investigative Agency he opened up with his blood brothers has lost a client in a brutal way. The past he can’t outrun is resurfacing, threatening to drag him down in the undertow. And the beautiful woman he’s been trying to keep at arm’s length is in danger…and he’ll destroy anything and anyone to keep her safe.

Paralegal Zara Remington is in over her head. She’s making risky moves at work by day and indulging in an affair with a darkly dangerous PI by night. There’s a lot Ryker isn’t telling her and the more she uncovers, the less she wants to know. But when all hell breaks loose, Ryker may be the only one to save her. If his past doesn’t catch up to them first…

Full of twists and turns you won’t see coming, DEADLY SILENCE is New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti at her suspenseful best…

A Blood Brothers Novel

REVIEW:
Great start to Ms. Zanetti’s new series. The Blood Brothers series is a spin off of the Sin Brother’s series. While you don’t have to read the Sin Brother’s first I would recommend it!! There is a lot that happens in that series that I believe is going to have a huge impact on the Blood Brothers.
Deadly Silence introduces us to Ryker, Denver and Heath. These three have been friends and family since they bonded in the boys home they lived in. And they just happened to be some of Dr. Madison’s pet projects.
There is a lot that is going on in this story. We have multiple storylines happening at once, but Ms. Zanetti does a great job of balancing each of these stories and give us answers to almost everything (because she has to leave some questions for us).
I really liked Ryker & Zara. Ryker is the dark mysterious bad boy who has a big heart that every girl wishes she could find. Zara is the perfect match for Ryker. She is not a pushover and she challenges Ryker every step of the way.
Of course we have to talk about the other Jones’ brothers Heath & Denver. They are just as dark and mysterious but there is something about each of these guys that will shock us and possibly even shock their brother too.
I am looking forward to seeing where Ms. Zanetti is going to take this series and how much she is going to make us suffer!
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

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Kelly reviews The Family Plot by Cherie Priest

family-plotTITLE: The Family Plot
CHARACTERS: The employees of Music City Salvage
AUTHOR: Cherie Priest
PUBLICATION DATE: September 20, 2016
NARRATOR: Kate Udall
RUN TIME: 10 Hours & 38 Minutes
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | Audible | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The author of the enormously successful Boneshaker returns to Tor with her unique take on the classic haunted house book

Chuck Dutton built Music City Salvage with patience and expertise, stripping historic properties and reselling their bones. Inventory is running low, so he’s thrilled when Augusta Withrow appears in his office offering salvage rights to her entire property. This could be a gold mine, so he assigns his daughter Dahlia to personally oversee the project.

The crew finds a handful of surprises right away. Firstly, the place is in unexpectedly good shape. And then there’s the cemetery, about thirty fallen and overgrown graves dating to the early 1900s, Augusta insists that the cemetery is just a fake, a Halloween prank, so the city gives the go-ahead, the bulldozer revs up, and it turns up human remains. Augusta says she doesn’t know whose body it is or how many others might be present and refuses to answer any more questions. Then she stops answering the phone.

But Dahlia’s concerns about the corpse and Augusta’s disappearance are overshadowed when she begins to realize that she and her crew are not alone, and they’re not welcome at the Withrow estate. They have no idea how much danger they’re in, but they’re starting to get an idea. On the crew’s third night in the house, a storm shuts down the only road to the property. The power goes out. Cell signals are iffy. There’s nowhere to go and no one Dahlia can call for help, even if anyone would believe that she and her crew are being stalked by a murderous phantom. Something at the Withrow mansion is angry and lost, and this is its last chance to raise hell before the house is gone forever. And it seems to be seeking permanent company.

The Family Plot is a haunted house story for the ages-atmospheric, scary, and strange, with a modern gothic sensibility to keep it fresh and interesting-from Cherie Priest, a modern master of supernatural fiction.

REVIEW:
Another great and disturbing story from Ms. Priest. I am very happy that I picked up a copy of The Family Plot. I was not 100% sure what to expect when I started this book except for the fact that Ms. Priest will give us a great story. I really enjoyed not only the humans but the ghost too.
After a bit of a slow start to the story the twists and turns that Ms. Priest put into this story kept me on the edge of my seat. And the ending!!! OMG!!! The ending!!!!
If you are a fan of horror or ghost or Ms. Priest I would encourage you to pick up a copy of The Family Plot and find out why no one wants to live at the Withrow Estate.
This was my first book narrated by Kate Udall. Ms. Udall did a good job with this story. I will be looking for more books narrated by her in the future.

Disclaimer:
I purchased this book from Audible.com this is my honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

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Winter Romance Wednesday! Kelly reviews One Snowy Night by Jill Shalvis

one-snowy-nightTITLE: One Snowy Night
SERIES #: Heartbreaker Bay #2.5
CHARACTERS: Max Stranton & Rory Andrews
AUTHOR: Jill Shalvis
PUBLICATION DATE: November 8, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Heartbreaker Bay with a fun and festive holiday novella!

It’s Christmas Eve and Rory Andrews is desperate to get home to the family she hasn’t seen in years. Problem is, her only ride to Lake Tahoe comes in the form of the annoyingly handsome Max Stranton, and his big, goofy, lovable dog Carl.

Hours stuck in a truck with the dead sexy Max sounds like a fate worse than death (not), but Rory’s out of options. She’s had a crush on Max since high school and she knows he’s attracted to her, too. But they have history… and Max is the only one who knows why it went south.

They’ve done a good job of ignoring their chemistry so far, but a long road trip in a massive blizzard might be just what they need to face their past… and one steamy, snowy night is all it takes to bring Max and Rory together at last.

REVIEW:
QUICK!!!! This was a super quick read. I really wanted more to happen. But the tension between Max and Rory has been building over the last two books. I don’t think that you have to read this series in order, but I would. It will give you a better insight into Max and Rory’s relationship. I don’t want to give away any details, but we finally learn in One Snowy Night why Max has been so stand offish to Rory over the years.
Really enjoying this new series my Ms. Shalvis and I can’t wait for the next installment.

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

3hearts-68-77

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Kelly reviews The Purloined Poodle by Kevin Hearne

purloined-poodleTITLE: The Purloined Poodle
SERIES #: The Iron Druid Chronicles #8.5
CHARACTERS: Oberon (The Irish Wolfhound) and Atticus O’Sullivan
AUTHOR: Kevin Hearne
NARRATOR: Luke Daniels
RUN TIME: 2 Hours & 57 Minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: September 30, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | Audible | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Thanks to his relationship with the ancient Druid Atticus O’Sullivan, Oberon the Irish wolfhound knows trouble when he smells it—and furthermore, he knows he can handle it.

When he discovers that a prizewinning poodle has been abducted in Eugene, Oregon, he learns that it’s part of a rash of hound abductions all over the Pacific Northwest. Since the police aren’t too worried about dogs they assume have run away, Oberon knows it’s up to him to track down those hounds and reunite them with their humans. For justice! And gravy!

Engaging the services of his faithful Druid, Oberon must travel throughout Oregon and Washington to question a man with a huge salami, thwart the plans of diabolical squirrels, and avoid, at all costs, a fight with a great big bear.

But if he’s going to solve the case of the Purloined Poodle, Oberon will have to recruit the help of a Boston terrier named Starbuck, survive the vegetables in a hipster pot pie, and firmly refuse to be distracted by fire hydrants and rabbits hiding in the rose bushes.

At the end of the day, will it be a sad bowl of dry kibble for the world’s finest hound detective, or will everything be coming up sirloins?

The Purloined Poodle is another exciting novella entry in Kevin Hearne’s New York Times best-selling Iron Druid series.

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Awesome as always!!!! I loved this novella that Mr. Hearne wrote for us.
The Purloined Poodle is told from Oberon’s point of view. Oberon is one of my all time favorite character!! So listening to him tell this story was great. Of course the amazingly talented Luke Daniels narrator this book when makes just that much better. So in the Purloined Poodle Oberon and his trusty sidekick Atticus are on a mission to solve a murder. It was a fun journey! It was also great to see all the wonderful places in the Pacific Northwest that showed up in this story.
The only thing that made me sad was that this story was short. I can’t wait for the next installment in the IDC and I hope that we will get more of Oberon’s Meaty Mysteries

Disclaimer:
I purchased this book from Audible.com and this is my honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Al Capone by Deirde Bair

al-caponeTITLE: Al Capone
CHARACTERS: Al Capone
AUTHOR: Deirdre Bair
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/25/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From a National Book Award-winning biographer, the first complete life of legendary gangster Al Capone to be produced with the cooperation of his family, who provided the author with exclusive access to personal testimony and archival documents.

Born in 1899 in Brooklyn, New York, to poor, Italian immigrant parents, Al Capone went on to become the most infamous gangster in American history. In 1925, during the height of Prohibition, Capone’s multi-million-dollar Chicago bootlegging, prostitution, and gambling operation dominated the organized-crime scene. His competition with rival gangs was brutally violent, a long-running war that crested with the shocking St. Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1929. Through it all, and despite the best efforts of law enforcement and the media elite, Capone remained above the fray. Federal income-tax evasion was the strongest charge that could be made to stick, and in 1931 he was sentenced to eleven years in federal prison. After serving six-and-a-half years, mostly in Alcatraz, a severely impaired Capone, badly damaged by neurosyphillis, was released to live out his final years with his family in Miami. From his heyday to the present moment, Al Capone’s life has gripped the public imagination, and his gangster persona has been immortalized in the countless movies and books inspired by his exploits.

But who was the man behind the legend? Capone loved to tell tall tales that perpetuated his mystique; newspapers loved him and frequently embellished or fabricated stories about him to sell copies. While some remember him as fundamentally kind and good, others speak of how frightening he was, a vicious, cold-blooded killer. Was Al really such a quotable wit? Did he really shower the poor with hundred-dollar bills and silver dollars from the window of his bulletproof car? Did he really keep a bevy of mistresses ensconced in his hotel headquarters in Chicago? Writing with exclusive access to Capone’s descendants, Deirdre Bair finally gets at the truth behind this eternally fascinating man, who was equal parts charismatic mobster, doting father, and calculating monster.

REVIEW:
I have had an interest in Al Capone for years. I have no idea what it is about him but I really think he is a fascinating person. He was bad and yet he was a really good guy to those he felt deserved it.

I believe this book did a really good job showing what his family, friends and conspirators felt about the man. There were a number of things that I didn’t know about him in this book and of course there were things that I did know already that were not a part of the book.

I would say if you don’t know anything about the man this is not the only book you should read but it is one that gets a portion of his life as told by his closest people out to the world.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts