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Kimberly reviews The Room In The Attic by Louise Douglas

TITLE: The Room In The Attic
CHARACTERS: Lewis, Emma & Isak
AUTHOR: Louise Douglas
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/12/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A child who does not know her name…

In 1903 fishermen find a wrecked boat containing a woman, who has been badly beaten, and a young girl. An ambulance is sent for, and the two survivors are taken to All Hallows, the imposing asylum, hidden deep on Dartmoor. The woman remains in a coma, but the little girl, who the staff name Harriet, awakens and is taken to an attic room, far away from the noise of the asylum, and is put in the care of Nurse Emma Everdeen.

Two motherless boys banished to boarding school…

In 1993, All Hallows is now a boarding school. Following his mother’s death and his father’s hasty remarriage, Lewis Tyler is banished to Dartmoor, stripped of his fashionable clothes, shorn of his long hair, and left feeling more alone than ever. There he meets Isak, another lost soul, and whilst refurbishment of the dormitories is taking place, the boys are marooned up in the attic, in an old wing of the school.

Cries and calls from the past that can no longer be ignored…

All Hallows is a building full of memories, whispers, cries from the past. As Lewis and Isak learn more about the fate of Harriet, and Nurse Emma’s desperate fight to keep the little girl safe, it soon becomes clear there are ghosts who are still restless.

Are they ghosts the boys hear at night in the room above, are they the unquiet souls from the asylum still caught between the walls? And can Lewis and Isak bring peace to All Hallows before the past breaks them first…

REVIEW:
What an interesting story. I enjoyed this story most of the time. The ending was a bit of a disappointment.

I found the gothic story spooky and creepy but in a good way. I enjoyed the two different timelines of 1903 and 1993 well written.

This book is pretty long. And there are certainly parts that went a bit over the top in description and but the scariness of the story was high.

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

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Kimberly reviews Lucy’s Coming For You by Ashley Beegan

TITLE: Lucy’s Coming For You
CHARACTERS: Main Characters
AUTHOR: Ashley Beegan
PUBLICATION DATE: 07/31/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Summer Thomas questions her own sanity when violent patient, Lucy Clark, disappears from a locked hospital ward… because no one else will admit that Lucy exists.

As Summer digs deeper into the disappearance, it becomes apparent that Lucy is looking for her too, but Summer should have stayed away.

Now, Lucy is coming for her… and there’s no escaping someone who doesn’t exist.

A gripping and addictive debut with a shocking twist that will send shivers down your spine!

REVIEW:
The good thing about this story is it is short. The story is one we have all heard a million times. Any fan of mystery/suspense has read this. Heck, there are at least a dozen scary movies I can think of off the top of my head with the same idea… give or take.

Because it was short and a quick read I continued to read the story. It’s a good simple book to get you into the Halloween spirit.

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

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Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews The Christmas Village by Annie Rains

TITLE: The Christmas Village
SERIES #: Somerset Lake #2
CHARACTERS: Lucy & Miles
AUTHOR: Annie Rians
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/12/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
USA Today bestselling author Annie Rains delivers a tender trade paperback romance that will appeal to readers with its warmth and bestselling themes!

Lucy Hannigan has inherited her mother’s bulldog, Bella, and her childhood home, the only pink house on Gingerbread Lane. With the holidays coming up, the pressure is on to decorate the house for the annual lights competition and maintain her parent’s winning streak. But Lucy already has her hands full as a midwife and a new landlord-to her ex-fiance.

When Miles Bruno is suddenly asked to move out of his rental home, he’s grateful to Lucy for taking him on as a tenant. But their broken-off engagement doesn’t make it easy to live next door. Sparks still fly between them, and he’d give anything to get back in Lucy’s good graces. But to do that will take much more than just tree trimming and house decorating and contest winning. Will one wildly grand romantic gesture on Christmas Eve finally soften her heart?

REVIEW:
Lucy comes back to Somerset Lake when her mom gets sick and passes away. She needs to get things in order and wants to get a tenant to help with some of the medical bills left by her mother. But of course it can’t just be a stranger that moves in. It’s her ex, Miles. And the sparks all these years later are still embers waiting to be ignited.

This is a sweet holiday romance by Rains. I have not read the first in the series and didn’t feel like I was missing anything by not having read it.

The town of Somerset Lake is so welcoming and perfect for a holiday romance. The festivities of the town make you wish you could join in.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews A Brambleberry Summer by RaeAnne Thayne

TITLE: A Brambleberry Summer
SERIES #: The Women Of Brambleberry House #6
CHARACTERS: Rosa & Wyatt
AUTHOR: RaeAnne Thayne
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/29/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A new season leads to a new beginning in New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne’s latest heartwarming romance!

Will the secrets of her past…

Prevent her from having the future she’s always wanted?

Rosa Galvez’s attraction to Officer Wyatt Townsend is as powerful as the moon’s pull on the tides. But with her past, Rosa knows better than to act on her feelings. When Wyatt and his adorable son become Brambleberry House’s newest tenants, Rosa finds her resolve slipping. Her solo life slowly becomes a sun-filled family adventure—until dark secrets threaten to break like a summer storm.

REVIEW:
I can sum up this book perfectly. Our minds read more into our past than what is real. Rosa has a past and she believes Officer Wyatt could never be interested in her with a past like hers. But when Wyatt and Logan, his young son, need a place to stay Rosa lets them stay at one of the apartments at Brambleberry House. The funny thing is Rosa’s past isn’t even something she should have been worried about.

I loved Rosa. Wyatt was great and the connection between him and Rosa was slow and sweet. But mostly I enjoyed Rosa with Logan. The characters are just delightful in the story.

I love the writing of RaeAnne Thayne. She puts so much emotion into her books that you feel you are there in Cannon Beach, Oregon. This is the 5th in the series but can be a stand alone but then as a fan of Thayne’s I am not sure why any lover of the romance genre wouldn’t want to read everything she has written.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews The Book Of Magic by Alice Hoffman

TITLE: The Book Of Magic
SERIES #: Practical Magic #2
CHARACTERS: The Owens Family
AUTHOR: Alice Hoffman
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/01/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Master storyteller Alice Hoffman brings us the conclusion of the Practical Magic series in a spellbinding and enchanting final Owens novel brimming with lyric beauty and vivid characters.

The Owens family has been cursed in matters of love for over three-hundred years but all of that is about to change. The novel begins in a library, the best place for a story to be conjured, when beloved aunt Jet Owens hears the deathwatch beetle and knows she has only seven days to live. Jet is not the only one in danger—the curse is already at work.

A frantic attempt to save a young man’s life spurs three generations of the Owens women, and one long-lost brother, to use their unusual gifts to break the curse as they travel from Paris to London to the English countryside where their ancestor Maria Owens first practiced the Unnamed Art. The younger generation discovers secrets that have been hidden from them in matters of both magic and love by Sally, their fiercely protective mother. As Kylie Owens uncovers the truth about who she is and what her own dark powers are, her aunt Franny comes to understand that she is ready to sacrifice everything for her family, and Sally Owens realizes that she is willing to give up everything for love.

The Book of Magic is a breathtaking conclusion that celebrates mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, and anyone who has ever been in love.

REVIEW:
This is the second in the series but this is actually book #4.
Magic Lessons 0.1
The Rules Of Magic 0.2
Practical Magic 1.0
The Book Of Magic 2.0

The book starts with a recap of the Owens family history. There is more than the movie can portray.

Sally hasn’t told her daughters about the family history of witches. But she needs to tell them now since Kylie has fallen in love AND has heard the beetle’s omen. Kylie travels around the world to figure out how to break the curse that Maria Owen placed.

I really hope we get a follow up movie to the original with Bullock and Kidman. The movie is a staple for me in October and I can imagine the actresses reprising their roles to bring the next book by Alice Hoffman to life.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Don’t Lie To Me by Willow Rose

TITLE: Don’t Lie To Me
SERIES #: Eva Rae Thomas Mystery #1
CHARACTERS: Eva Rae Thomas
AUTHOR: Willow Rose
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/15/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When twelve-year-old Sophie Williams went on a Girl Scout summer camp, she never returned home.

Three months later, her body is found inside her sleeping bag in the most frequented area of Cocoa Beach, and the town is outraged.

The girl isn’t just any child. She’s the town’s most beloved surf idol, and it was believed that she could be the next Kelly Slater.

As another child, the son of a well-known senator is kidnapped, and the parents receive a disturbing video, FBI profiler Eva Rae Thomas — who has just returned to her hometown, divorced and out of a job — plunges into the investigation, breaking her promise to her children not to do police work again.

Local law enforcement, with her old flame Matt Miller in charge, are the ones who ask for her help in a case so unsettling that only she can solve it. But the deeper they dig, the deadlier it becomes for Matt and Eva Rae. Soon, everyone she holds dear is in grave danger as this case hits a little too close to home.

DON’T LIE TO ME is the first book in the Eva Rae Thomas Mystery Series and can be read as a standalone.

REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts NetGalley had a number of books by this author so I thought I would request the first in each series. I almost wish I hadn’t. There is just something off about the writing style of this author. Her writing is all over the place. It never seems to flow.

There are a lot of the same things going on. Kidnappings, murders and then the ending just didn’t jive with the story.

Just not my cup of tea.

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

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Kimberly reviews Cackle by Rachel Harrison

TITLE: Cackle
CHARACTERS: Annie & Sophie
AUTHOR: Rachel Harrison
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/05/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
All her life, Annie has played it nice and safe. After being unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Annie seeks a fresh start. She accepts a teaching position that moves her from Manhattan to a small village upstate. She’s stunned by how perfect and picturesque the town is. The people are all friendly and warm. Her new apartment is dreamy too, minus the oddly persistent spider infestation.

Then Annie meets Sophie. Beautiful, charming, magnetic Sophie, who takes a special interest in Annie, who wants to be her friend. More importantly, she wants Annie to stop apologizing and start living for herself. That’s how Sophie lives. Annie can’t help but gravitate toward the self-possessed Sophie, wanting to spend more and more time with her, despite the fact that the rest of the townsfolk seem…a little afraid of her. And like, okay. There are some things. Sophie’s appearance is uncanny and ageless, her mansion in the middle of the woods feels a little unearthly, and she does seem to wield a certain power…but she couldn’t be…could she?

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts I am not sure exactly what genre this fits into. Sometimes I thought it was YA and others more women’s lit. But either way it was an adorable story.

It was hard for me not to imagine “Beauty and The Beast” as I read this story. Not because there was a beast but more that the place Annie comes to is magical. But what is also magical is the way that Annie blooms once she gets to know Sophie.

I found this book just adorable. And a joy to read.

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 A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale by Karen Schaler

TITLE: A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale
CHARACTERS: Kaylie & Alexander
AUTHOR: Karen Schaler
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/05/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From “A holiday publishing darling” (Entertainment Weekly) and Emmy Award-winning writer of Netflix’s hit rom-com A Christmas Prince comes this heartwarming, feel-good Christmas romance about the power of believing in yourself to find your happily ever after…

A charming Christmas village, a storybook castle, a royal ball, and a gorgeous prince are the last things New York City reporter Kaylie Karlyle expects to find on her holiday freelance assignment to Europe. But when the family she’s interviewing turns out to be the royal family of Tolvania, Kaylie has a meltdown when the quirky queen wants her to write a Christmas fairy tale for the spunky, young princess. Kaylie must battle the princess’s father, who doesn’t trust the media, and her own insecurities about writing anything beyond the news.

To spark inspiration for the fairy tale, the queen recruits the prickly Prince Alexander to show Kaylie the family’s most spectacular royal holiday traditions. And sparks definitely fly when the only thing Kaylie and the prince agree on is that they’re both more “bah humbug” than “ho, ho, ho.”

But somewhere between sleigh rides and snow angels, merrymaking and mistletoe, upside-down Christmas trees, and a legendary Christmas crown, Kaylie and the prince open their hearts to Christmas and start believing in themselves and each other. It’s a real-life fairy tale in the making until Kaylie discovers a secret about a royal Christmas heirloom that jeopardizes everyone’s happily ever after. Can the magic of the season save this holiday happy ending?

Bonus Content: Includes delicious royal Christmas recipes and holiday activities.

A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale is an uplifting, inspiring Christmas romance that’s filled with heart and hope and will appeal to fans of Debbie Macomber, Susan Mallery, and RaeAnne Thayne.

REVIEW:
As the holiday season comes into bloom don’t we all wish about getting away to a beautiful snow covered fairy tale castle complete with a royal family? Ok maybe we do not go that into depth but doesn’t it sound great?

Kaylie is a journalist but loses her job and is invited to write a fairy tale about a royal family. While she doesn’t really fall into “holiday spirits” she figures “Why not?”. So off she goes.

This is a delightful read that really will put you into the holiday spirit. The description of the castle puts you right into the middle of the family home.

I love reading holiday/Christmas romance’s and when I read “will appeal to fans of Debbie Macomber, Susan Mallery, and RaeAnne Thayne” I grabbed the title since all three are high on my fav authors list (Mallery being at the top) and I agree. This story really does beg you to pull up a cozy blanket, a cup of hot cocoa and a fireplace surrounded by twinkling lights lighting the pages.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews The Family Tree by Steph Millin & Nicole Mabry

TITLE: The Family Tree
CHARACTERS: Liz Catalano
AUTHOR: Steph Millin & Nicole Mabry
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/05/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon  | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The DNA results are back. And there’s a serial killer in her family tree…

Liz Catalano is shocked when an ancestry kit reveals she’s adopted. But she could never have imagined connecting with her unknown family would plunge her into an FBI investigation of a notorious serial killer…

The Tri-State Killer has been abducting pairs of women for forty years, leaving no clues behind – only bodies.

Can Liz figure out who the killer in her new family is? And can she save his newest victims before it’s too late?

A gripping, original thriller for fans of My Lovely Wife, Netflix’s Making a Murderer, and anyone who’s ever wondered what their family tree might be hiding…

REVIEW:
What an interesting concept. As one who found a never known sister via DNA testing I can actually picture something like this happening. You find out you have a relative but you do not know who that person “really” is.

I enjoyed the story and the writing. Yes there were a few things I would have enjoyed if it was different but to me even thinking that way makes me realize I had a stake in the story.

I am sure more and more books will be coming out about the DNA/Ancestry link since it is becoming so common in the world today but I really enjoyed this new foray into the new science.

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

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Deadly Games by Steve Frech

TITLE: Deadly Games
CHARACTERS: Clay
AUTHOR: Steve Frech
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/05/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
I know everything about you.

I know your name, your birthday, your kids’ names, where you live, where you work. I know when you get that big promotion, or when you argue with your spouse.

But someone knows everything about me too. Someone knows all my secrets and they’re using them against me. They’re setting me up.

The police think I murdered Emily Parker. To prove my innocence I need to find the real killer.

I need to beat him at his own game.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is one of those books that I just do not know how to rate. I liked it and yet I didn’t.

I really liked the characters. I found them very detailed and seemed as though if they were real I might go to the bar and meet up with them. I liked Clay and Genevieve a lot.

BUT… I really wasn’t overly impressed with the story. I found the story to be a bit draggy in some parts and quite a bit obvious. I had the murderer pretty much narrowed down to two and then once I decided “who-dun-it” I was right. And honestly I prefer to be surprised.

Maybe if I didn’t read as much as I do I would have enjoyed it more but it just seemed all too familiar of a story.

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

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

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Kimberly reviews What You Deserve by Alicia Lawson

TITLE: What You Deserve
SERIES #: FBI Agent Erin Hastings #1
CHARACTERS: Erin Hastings
AUTHOR: Alicia Lawson
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/15/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When lives are on the line, failure is not an option…

FBI Special Agent Erin Hastings is driven by the pain of her past. Fifteen years ago, she could’ve stopped her twin brother from killing his sixth victim. All she wants now is a second chance at catching a killer.

Riding high after a media blitz over her latest arrest, Erin is plunged back to reality with her first serial killer case—in Erin’s hometown. Reminders of her brother’s murders plague her nightmares. Haunted by the similarities between the two cases, Erin vows she won’t make the same rookie mistake again. This time, she’ll stop the murderer before he can claim any more innocent lives.

But the race to catch this ruthless killer grows more desperate as the body count rises. And with every suspect her team clears, Erin’s chances at redemption wither away. All while pressure for an arrest from higher-ups intensifies.

Erin won’t quit until she gets her man. Not when history seeks to repeat itself. With another victim’s life at stake, she’ll risk going rogue before she gives up.

But will she jeopardize her own life, rather than let this killer strike again?

REVIEW:
2.75 Hearts This is a new series by Alicia Lawson which I have not read before. And to be honest, I am not sure I will read again. I never took a liking to Erin. Actually the opposite. I found myself really disliking her at times. And the story wasn’t any different than many others read for decades.

Erin’s brother killed 6 people, Erin blames herself for at least the sixth murder because she didn’t stop him and now she is going to use her brother to understand the MO of a killer. First: He was a teenager who committed murder. Second: They are twins so they were like 15 years old and she thinks their twin sense could have stopped this? And Third: Really? Because as a FBI Special Agent you have to use your brother for profiling?

This was just not my cup of tea in writing or characters.

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

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Kimberly reviews The Liar Of Red Valley by Walter Goodwater

TITLE: The Liar Of Red Valley
CHARACTERS: Sadie
AUTHOR: Walter Goodwater
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/28/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Don’t trust the Liar.
Don’t go in the River.
Do not cross the King.

In Red Valley, California, you follow the rules if you want to stay alive. But even that isn’t enough to protect Sadie now that she’s unexpectedly become the Liar: the keeper and maker of Red Valley’s many secrets.

In a town like this, friendships are hard-won and bad blood lasts generations, and when not everyone in town is exactly human, it isn’t a safe place to make enemies.

And though the Liar has power—power to remake the world, with just a little blood—what Sadie really needs is answers: Why is the town’s sheriff after her? What does the King want from her? And what is the real purpose of the Liar of Red Valley?

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kimberly NUMBER OF HEARTS: 3.75 Hearts

REVIEW:
Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

3.75 Hearts I have no idea what genre this is. It is not exactly paranormal, women’s fiction or suspense. But it is really interesting.

Red Valley is ruled by The King and The Liar. When Sadie becomes The Liar she has many secrets she must learn and keep. There are actually three main characters, The King, The Liar and The River.

I will be honest, this book is so WEIRD! And yet it is interesting. I am really not sure how I felt about it. Everytime I thought “This is getting too odd to finish” something happened that kept me reading. The world that Walter Goodwater has written of is a world of dreams and nightmares.

I do believe there is a genre to this book but I have no idea what it is. But if you are already a fan of this unknown genre you will love this book! And that sentence makes as much sense as the book itself.

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

4 Hearts