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Kimberly reviews The Highlander’s Unexpected Proposal by Heather MCollum

TITLE: The Highlander’s Unexpected Proposal
SERIES #: The Brothers Of Wolf Isle #1
CHARACTERS: Adam & Lark
AUTHOR: Heather MCollum
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/19/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A lass begging to marry him might top the list of “oddest things to happen,” but Chief Adam Macquarie is desperate. And no matter how much he hates to do it, he’s not above lying to get what he wants. Starting with the fact that he just omitted the truth about the situation back at his home—where there are no women and only a handful of other people. Because he has a secret need for a wife himself, one she won’t be too happy about when she finds out.

Lark Montgomerie is thrilled the brawny chief agrees to save her from her drunken father’s machinations of wedding her off to the first fool that agrees. He’s easy on the eyes and no one can be worse than her current options. Now a new life awaits her, on an exciting Scottish isle no less, and nothing will dampen her spirits. That is, until she arrives in her new homeland and realizes more than a few things are amiss…

REVIEW:
This is a new series from Heather McCollum. I love her Highlander novels so I was excited to begin a new series which I assume will be about the brothers.

In this one, Adam is desperate for a wife and since the Isle has no women any longer he leaves the Isle to find one. Lark is desperate to get away from her father who wants her out of his house so the situation seems perfect to marry the Chief and rule with him. But things are not what they seem.

I truly enjoy the way McCollum writes. I enjoy the romance, intimacy and humor that she puts into each novel. And this is no different. I really liked the brothers and can’t wait to read each of their stories.

Another great book by McCollum!

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews The Haunting Of Brynn Wilder by Wendy Webb

TITLE: The Haunting Of Brynn Wilder
CHARACTERS: Brynn Wilder
AUTHOR: Wendy Webb
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/01/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
After a devastating loss, Brynn Wilder escapes to Wharton, a tourist town on Lake Superior, to reset. Checking into a quaint boardinghouse for the summer, she hopes to put her life into perspective. In her fellow lodgers, she finds a friendly company of strangers: the frail Alice, cared for by a married couple with a heartbreaking story of their own; LuAnn, the eccentric and lovable owner of the inn; and Dominic, an unsettlingly handsome man inked from head to toe in mesmerizing tattoos.

But in this inviting refuge, where a century of souls has passed, a mystery begins to swirl. Alice knows things about Brynn, about all of them, that she shouldn’t. Bad dreams and night whispers lure Brynn to a shuttered room at the end of the hall, a room still heavy with a recent death. And now she’s become irresistibly drawn to Dominic—even in the shadow of rumors that wherever he goes, suspicious death follows.

In this chilling season of love, transformation, and fear, something is calling for Brynn. To settle her past, she may have no choice but to answer.

REVIEW:
I am going straight down the middle for this review. I think this book had a lot of potential. The book has a bit of everything, romance, paranormal, suspense, and more but the writing is what didn’t have the umph that the book could have had.

The story was pretty easy to figure out but then a twist would be put into it with an understanding of why. A couple of the twists have me wondering what it was even about. Seems we got more questions than answers in this book but the biggest question was “Why add that at all?”.

The characters are an interesting bunch of people and again had so much potential.

I wish the author had taken a little more time and hadn’t felt like she needed to throw everything including the kitchen sink into one book.

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

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Kimberly reviews Dead Girl Walking by Roberta Gately

TITLE: Dead Girl Walking
CHARACTERS: Jessie & Sam
AUTHOR: Roberta Gately
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/24/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
“911. What’s your emergency?”
“He came for her. She’s been shot,” says a desperate voice, as footsteps echo down an alley. “She’s dying.”
“Oh no, oh no, he’s coming back. Please, come quickly––” And then a click, and the drone of a dial tone.

The beautiful young woman on the stretcher could be on her honeymoon. Chestnut hair tumbles around a pretty face, rose petals tangled in the loose strands. But the bandage around her forehead tells a different tale, as Emergency Room Nurse Jessie Novak desperately battles to keep her alive. Jessie’s thoughts are racing—who shot this beautiful young woman and more importantly, why?

Ann Hart’s life hangs by a thread, and Jessie cannot bear to see this beautiful young woman die without justice being done. Being a nurse is like hunting for clues, and Jessie is sure she can find the person who hurt Ann. She also asks her friend Detective Sam Dallas for help digging into Ann’s past. But then Jessie receives a gift that sends shivers up her spine: a huge bouquet of blood-red roses, just like the ones in Ann’s hair…

As the first snowflakes start to fall, another body turns up. Jessie is sure that she’s in danger too—since the roses, someone has been watching her… Sam is reluctant to see the link but Jessie knows she must find the culprit before he strikes again. He is stalking her through the frozen streets and he doesn’t want his fun to stop. Can Jessie turn the tables on the killer, or is she just a dead girl walking?

A totally addictive mystery novel that will leave you gasping for breath and have your heart thumping! Fans of Lisa Regan, Gregg Olsen and Tess Gerritsen will be completely hooked.

REVIEW:
This book just didn’t do it for me. I never ended up like Jessie and while I appreciated her tenacity to get to the answers the way she goes about it is, well, unlikable. I hated the way she was with Sam. Apparently Sam needs to give her every minute detail about what he finds out but she claims Hippa every time anything is asked of her.

She gets involved with another cop even though she is attracted to Sam and I, honestly, have no idea why. This other officer and the love triangle bring nothing to this story.

The storyline was obvious to me and it was no surprise that I figured out everything pretty early in the book.

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

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Kimberly reviews Every Last Secret by A.R. Torre

TITLE: Every Last Secret
CHARACTERS: Cat & Neena
AUTHOR: A.R. Torre
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/01/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Welcome to the neighborhood. Watch your husband, watch your friends, and watch your back.

Cat Winthorpe has worked hard to get what she has: a gorgeous home; social standing; and William, her successful, handsome husband. Then a friendly new couple moves into the estate next door. While cautious, a good neighbor like Cat greets them with open arms and warm hospitality.

Neena Ryder isn’t a fellow lady of leisure. A life coach with off-the-rack dresses, personal issues, and a husband who hasn’t delivered, she’s anxious to move up in the world. This beautiful new town is a step in the right direction. It’s also making Neena aware of what she doesn’t have. Namely, William. When Neena’s infatuation escalates into obsession, it’s just a matter of eliminating a few obstacles to get the life she wants. The life next door.

As Neena’s secret fixation grows, so does her friendship with Cat. But beneath their cordial interactions is a wealth of temptations, secrets, and toxic jealousy. For both women, the desire for a perfect life can turn perfectly dangerous.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts Here is the thing about this book. There is no good characters and yet they are all fun to read. Cat has it all and Neena wants it.

I found the characters well written and while I could see every last scene before it happened it was still a good read. As I said I really never cared about any of the characters so it made it easy to sit back and watch the train wreck happen.

I am not sure I have read this author before, I do not believe I have, so I was pleasantly surprised at the well written story.

Worth reading the next from this author.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher

TITLE: The Wrong Family
CHARACTERS: Juno & Winnie
AUTHOR: Tarryn Fisher
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/01/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the author of the instant New York Times bestseller The Wives comes another twisted psychological thriller guaranteed to turn your world upside down.

Have you ever been wrong about someone?

Juno was wrong about Winnie Crouch.

Before moving in with the Crouch family, Juno thought Winnie and her husband, Nigel, had the perfect marriage, the perfect son—the perfect life. Only now that she’s living in their beautiful house, she sees the cracks in the crumbling facade are too deep to ignore.

Still, she isn’t one to judge. After her grim diagnosis, the retired therapist simply wants a place to live out the rest of her days in peace. But that peace is shattered the day Juno overhears a chilling conversation between Winnie and Nigel…

She shouldn’t get involved.

She really shouldn’t.

But this could be her chance to make a few things right.

Because if you thought Juno didn’t have a secret of her own, then you were wrong about her, too.

From the wickedly dark mind of bestselling author Tarryn Fisher, The Wrong Family is a taut new thriller that’s riddled with twists in all the right places.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts I do not recall reading this author before but the synopsis seemed interesting. I wasn’t wrong.

Cool thing is the main character is an older woman who moves into the house of the “perfect” family. But things are not always as we think and this “perfect” family is hiding something dark but when Juno finds out she has to make things right.

There is a lot happening in this book. There are so many twists and turns that you can’t help reading past your bedtime.

This is a hard back to review. Mainly because if the reviewer says something it is going to ruin some part of the story.

A very good read for any fan of the genre of suspense.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Walking The Edge by Sue Ward Drake

TITLE: Walking The Edge
SERIES #: Danger In The Big Easy #1
CHARACTERS: Mitch & Cath
AUTHOR: Sue Ward Drake
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/29/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
On the knife edge of danger in the streets of New Orleans, these rugged men call the Big Easy home, and they’ll do whatever it takes to protect their own

Ex-army ranger Mitch Guidry never should have let his brothers talk him into joining them in the Big Easy. Particularly when they have him going head-to-head with the very last thing he needs: a feisty redhead who has more opinions than even his hard-headed brothers. Loyal and overprotective to a fault, Catherine Hurley will do everything she can to stop Mitch from finding her fugitive brother…and yet, he can’t get enough of her.

Cath should be furious with the overbearing ex-ranger who shows up on her doorstep looking for her brother. Sure, Mitch Guidry is hotter than a Louisiana summer and pushes every one of her buttons, but he’s also an immediate threat to her family, and family is everything to Cath. Unfortunately, the only way to save her brother is to stick to Mitch like glue. But sharing close quarters with him while they search for her missing brother together proves to be more than a little challenging…particularly when it comes to protecting her heart.

Sue Ward Drake takes you on a wild ride through the steamy streets of New Orleans in this action-packed, sexy romantic suspense!

REVIEW:
I am on the fence on this one. I think the story was good. I LOVED that there were characters who were deaf but while a hurtile it was not a disability. It gave the characters some different definition than other suspense.

The problem was the writing. I had a hard time with it and had to figure out a lot of things than normal. I spent a good amount of time looking back on something or other because it was not what was originally said/described.

I think this book had a lot of potential but just needed a little more time.

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

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Kimberly reviews Wrong Alibi by Christina Dodd

TITLE: Wrong Alibi
SERIES #: Murder In Alaska #1
CHARACTERS: Evelyn Jones
AUTHOR: Christina Dodd
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/29/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
WRONG JOB
Eighteen-year-old Evelyn Jones lands a job in small-town Alaska, working for a man in his isolated mountain home. But her bright hopes for the future are shattered when Donald White disappears, leaving her to face charges of theft, embezzlement—and a brutal double murder. Her protestations of innocence count for nothing. Convicted, she faces life in prison…until fate sends her on the run.

WRONG NAME
Evelyn’s escape leaves her scarred and in hiding, isolated from her family, working under an alias at a wilderness camp. Bent on vengeance, intent on recovering her life, she bides her time, patiently searching for the man who took everything from her.

WRONG ALIBI
At last, the day comes. Donald White has returned. Evelyn emerges from hiding; the fugitive becomes the hunter. But in her mind, she hears the whisper of other forces at work. Now Evelyn must untangle the threads of evidence before she’s once again found with blood on her hands: the blood of her own family…

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is a new series from Christina Dodd. I haven’t picked her books up in a bit so decided this was the time to try her writing again.

This was a bit different than what I used to read by Dodd which is a nice change.

I found the characters interesting to read. I enjoyed the dynamic of a number of characters that you wouldn’t think would be allies. There were some surprises as the story progressed which is always an interesting thing.

There were a big number of too far-fetched ideas in the book as well. Some things were just not logical and should have been reined in.

All in all I thought the story was good.

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

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Winter Romance Wednesday! Kelly reviews Jingle All The Slay by Dakota Cassidy

TITLE: Jingle All the Slay
SERIES: Marshmallow Hollow Mystery #1
CHARACTERS: Halliday Valentine
AUTHORS: Dakota Cassidy
PUBLICATION DATE: October 12, 2020
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Welcome to Marshmallow Hollow, Maine, a holiday mystery, where it’s all Christmas all the time and murder is hung by the chimney with care…
I’m Halliday Valentine (yep; funny name is funny), a psychic witch who’s recently moved from New York City back to my very human hometown of Marshmallow Hollow, where I run the family factory that caters to all things Christmas. I inherited the factory from Mom, who inherited from Nana Karen, but now it’s just me (kinda…long story), my curmudgeonly British familiar hummingbird, Atticus; one ungrateful rescue cat; my talking reindeer, Karen; and my BFF Stiles (the only human aware of my witchy side).
Oh, and Digby Dainty (known as Hobbs), the tall drink of water who rents my guest cottage. And who I wouldn’t mind getting to know better. We have a lot in common, including a love of true crime. So as macabre as it sounds, when a shady real estate tycoon shows up dead in the middle of the annual ice festival, I’m thrilled to spend time with Hobbs, flexing our amateur sleuthing skills.
Well…not thrilled. I mean, a guy’s dead after all. But he did try to con some businesses right out from under the hard-working locals. In fact, the only thing more surprising than a murder in our charming Christmas town is how many of my friendly, beloved neighbors seemed to want the man dead…

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Welcome to Marshmallow Hollow where everything’s coming up tinsel! Where the hot chocolate is the best, the candy canes are sweet and the murders are….. Who murders someone in Christmas town? But never fear Halliday ‘Hal’ Valentine, her familiar Atticus, her feisty Reindeer Karen and her hunky cottage guest (*dreamy eyes*) are on the case!
This was a great start of a new series for Dakota Cassidy. If you are a fan of her Witchless in Seattle series then you might remember meeting Halliday Valentine. Hal is Stevie’s long lost sister. Jingle All the Slay is a great quick read filled with lots of humor, suspense, and of course Christmas. I loved every minute of this book and am already looking forward to what is next for Hal, Hobbs and the rest of the crew.
If you are a fan of Dakota Cassidy you will love this new gem. If you are new to Dakota this is a great place to start, then you can go back and meet Stevie and her gang.

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

4 Hearts