Review: The Last Breath by Kimberly Belle

The Last Breath
By: Kimberly Belle
Expected publication:
September 30th 2014
by Harlequin MIRA

Amazon † B&N † Author Site

Humanitarian aid worker Gia Andrews chases disasters around the globe for a living. It's the perfect lifestyle to keep her far away from her own personal ground zero. Sixteen years ago, Gia's father was imprisoned for brutally killing her stepmother. Now he's come home to die of cancer, and she's responsible for his care—and coming to terms with his guilt.

Gia reluctantly resumes the role of daughter to the town's most infamous murderer, a part complete with protesters on the lawn and death threats that are turning tragedy into front-page news. Returning to life in small-town Tennessee involves rebuilding relationships that distance and turmoil have strained, though finding an emotional anchor in the attractive hometown bartender is certainly helping Gia cope.

As the past unravels before her, Gia will find herself torn between the stories that her family, their friends and neighbors, and even her long-departed stepmother have believed to be real all these years. But in the end, the truth—and all the lies that came before—may have deadlier consequences than she could have ever anticipated…

When I picked up this book, it completely monopolized my time and took me by total surprise. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I had to make myself put it down but that's because the author wasted no time in bringing you the story. She wasted no time is drawing you in. And just with the prologue alone she will hook you.

I immediately felt drawn to Gia. I myself lost my dad to cancer too, so I was able to connect and sympathize with Gia right away. The thought of having to go home just to spend his last days with him is an inconceivable thought for her and for myself. But what's even worst is that she's going home to the place where her dad was found guilty of murdering his wife. So that also proves to be challenging.

In this book you get a little bit of everything. You get suspense because there's the question whether or not Gia's dad really killed his wife or not. You get drama because of her relationship with her sister and brother. BTW, I loved her sister, even though she was a bit selfish. And most of all you get romance because she meets someone who you will end up falling in love with. He made everything easier for her. As far as if she had a rough day, he would be there later to make her feel better.

I loved how Ms. Belle wrote this story. The flow was so easy. The issues and dilemma were written so addicting that I just couldn't put the book down. And she writes so good that she had me second guessing who the real murderer was. I changed my mind at least three times before I got to the end of the story. I absolutely enjoyed this book and I think those that like drama and suspense would too. The Last Breath gets 5 huge stars and it's a definite Good Choice for Reading!!

Review/ Giveaway: The Lost by Sarah Beth Durst

The Lost
By: Sarah Beth Durst
Expected publication:
May 27th 2014
by Harlequin MIRA

Amazon † B&N † Author Website

Brilliantly riveting. * Thought-provoking and stirring. **

Award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst has been praised for her captivating novels that merge the darkly imagined with very real themes of self-discovery and destiny. In The Lost, we'll discover just what it means to lose one's way.

It was only meant to be a brief detour. But then Lauren finds herself trapped in a town called Lost on the edge of a desert, filled with things abandoned, broken and thrown away. And when she tries to escape, impassible dust storms and something unexplainable lead her back to Lost again and again. The residents she meets there tell her she's going to have to figure out just what she's missing, and what she's running from, before she can leave. So now Lauren's on a new search for a purpose and a destiny. And maybe, just maybe, she'll be found.

Against the backdrop of this desolate and mystical town, Sarah Beth Durst writes an arresting, fantastical novel of one woman's impossible journey and her quest to find her fate.

Review: Candlelight Christmas by Susan Wiggs

Title: Candlelight Christmas
Author: Susan Wiggs
Published: October 29, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Hardcover: 336 pgs

Amazon / GoodReads / B&N

A single father who yearns to be a family man, Logan O'Donnell is determined to create the perfect Christmas for his son, Charlie. The entire O'Donnell clan arrives to spend the holidays in Avalon, a postcard-pretty town on the shores of Willow Lake, a place for the family to reconnect and rediscover the special gifts of the season.
One of the guests is a newcomer to Willow Lake— Darcy Fitzgerald. Sharp-witted, independent and intent on guarding her heart, she's the last person Logan can see himself falling for. And Darcy is convinced that a relationship is the last thing she needs this Christmas.Yet between the snowy silence of the winter woods, and toasty moments by a crackling fire, their two lonely hearts collide. The magic of the season brings them each a gift neither ever expected—a love to last a lifetime.

Ahhh...Christmas-time...one of my absolute favorite holidays of the year, and not just for the gifts! Christmas is all about love, family, cheer -- there's just something about it that makes you smile.

Candlelight Christmas will bring you all those light-hearted feelings and more. This is definitely one of those books you could easily turn into a Hallmark Channel film. It's full of Christmas cliches, a little bit of cheesiness, and a story of redemption that makes you feel like anything is possible on Christmas Eve.

Logan and Darcy are two new friends who have been burned by love. (Who hasn't been there, right?) And we all know how much it sucks to have to spend the holidays alone. Or as Darcy finds out -- it's even worse to have to spend it with your ex! Determined to avoid her ex-husband at all costs, Darcy spends the holidays with her friend -- Logan's sister -- and ends up spending most of it with Logan himself.  Their friendship soon blooms into something more, and despite everything that could possibly go wrong, they decide to take that leap of faith into a relationship. And that's what makes this novel truly special -- it's all about the risk. It's about putting yourself first at the time you need to be your happiest. I mean, think about it: what's the point of being with your family around Christmas if you're just going to be miserable? Go with your friends to Vegas instead! Or maybe a trip to some Caribbean island! It's all about doing what makes you happy no matter what anyone else thinks/says or accuses you of. And along the way, you never know what you'll find :)

Candlelight Christmas is a great romance story that will tug at your heart and bring out some of your faith. Faith that anything...or anyone...can happen to you around the holidays. And that when it does...or when they come...you're not afraid to leap.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars

Review: Three Sisters (Blackberry Island #2) by Susan Mallery

Three Sisters by Susan Mallery
Amazon † B&N † Author Site
Expected publication:
February 26th 2013
by Harlequin MIRA

After Andi Gordon is jilted at the altar, she makes the most impetuous decision of her life – buying one of the famed Three Sisters Queen Anne houses on Blackberry Island. Now the proud-ish owner of the ugly duckling of the trio, she plans to open her own pediatric office on the first floor, just as soon as her hunky contractor completes the work. Andi's new future may be coming together, but the truth is she's just as badly in need of a major renovation as her house.

When Deanna Phillips confronts her husband about a suspected affair, she opens up a Pandora's Box of unhappiness. And he claims that she is the problem. The terrible thing is, he's right. In her quest to be the perfect woman, she's lost herself, and she's in danger of losing her entire family if things don't change.

Next door, artist Boston King thought she and her college sweetheart would be married forever. Their passion for one other has always seemed indestructible. But after tragedy tears them apart, she's not so sure. Now it's time for them to move forward, with or without one another.

Thrown together by fate and geography, and bound by the strongest of friendships, these three women will discover what they're really made of: laughter, tears, love and all.

          My Review:

     Once again Susan Mallery delivers. Every time I picked up a book by Susan Mallery, I know I won't be disappointed. Three Sisters delivered. Three Sisters was an enjoyable read. What I loved most is that is a contemporary story but it main focus isn't all on romance. I really liked that. Sometimes some books over do the whole love thing and can be too mushy. But this book focuses on relationships and self help. The three ladies in this novel had a lot of personal issues they had to deal with and figure out throughout the book.

     Each character had so much going on, I felt bad for them. Except one, and that's Deanna. I didn't care for her much, but eventually she grew on me. The novel opens up with Andi, poor girl (not literally) moved to Blackberry Island to start her life fresh. Andi is a good person, she's a pediatrician and she loves kids. But she's scarred because her ex-fiance left her standing at the alter. What kind of person does that to the person they claim to love? So as you read the story, you see her struggles and fears. She's not a weak person which makes her more likable. I love her growth throughout the whole story. I was rooting for her to find that special love she deserves.

     Boston is of owners of the houses considered to be the "Three Sisters". Boston was a fun character. She's young but she has an even younger heart. Not caring about what anyone thinks and walking around with huge purple (I believe it's purple) strip of hair, she faces the world in pain. I think her pain is the worst one of them. My heart cried for her. The pain she deals with in this book, is a pain no woman should go through. Seeing her grow and find a way to cope with her loss was sweet. She was my favorite character. I really enjoyed her page time.

     Oh Deanna, how you rubbed me the wrong way. During the first half of the book, I did not like her one bit. She's one of those people that dresses so crisp and judges people. But behind that b*tchy persona is someone whose negative childhood has made her who she is today. She's dealing with her own insecurities and her own demons. And not knowing the proper way to deal with her past has affected her family life. No one should have to endure a horrible childhood. Though she wasn't my favorite characters, I was glad to see her change her life around.

     All three ladies brought their own character and personality which made this book very enjoyable. I loved the scenes between all the ladies and the men in their lives. All three men were sexy and I really liked how much they cared for their ladies and never really gave up on them. Three Sisters is another win for Susan Mallery. I can't wait to read the next installment of the Blackberry Island series. Three Sisters is a 5 stars read, must buy and a definite Good Choice for Reading.

 

Review: The Prince by Tiffany Reisz (18+)

The Prince
By Tiffany Reisz
Paperback, 400 pages
Published November 20th 2012
by Mira Books

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer...preferably in bed. That's always been Kingsley Edge's strategy with his associate, the notorious New York dominatrix Nora Sutherlin. But with Nora away in Kentucky, now it's Kingsley's chance to take her place at the feet of the only man he's ever wanted -- Søren, Nora's on-again, off-again lover -- until a new threat from an old enemy forces him to confront his past.

Wes Railey is still the object of Nora's tamest yet most maddening fantasies, and the one man she can't forget. He's young. He's wonderful. He's also thoroughbred royalty and she's in "his" world now. But Nora is no simpering Southern belle, and her dream of fitting into Wesley's world is perpetually at odds with her dear Søren's relentlessly seductive pull.

Two worlds of wealth and passion call to her and whichever one Nora chooses, it will be the hardest decision she will ever have to make... unless someone makes it for her....

AMAZING!I know I am late with this review, but this installment was so good, I had to read the whole series all over again and then again the third time. Now back in book 1 The Siren, I was so not a fan of Soren, in fact I even wrote to Ms. Reisz expressing my dislike in him. But now after reading The Prince, I am in LOVE with Soren.

I loved how this book had 3 stories really going on at the same time even though they all tied into each other. You have Nora and her spending time with Westley under Soren's command. You see the feelings that are there on both sides and I could not help but wonder if Westley's side is where Nora needs to be. Then you have the story of Soren and Kingsley trying to solve who is out to hurt Nora and why. You see the bond these two men share even after all these years. And then you get my favorite parts of the book, the back story of how Soren and Kingsley met and what forged such a deep friendship.

It was in that past seeing who Soren was before he became a priest that made me fall in love with him. Even as a young man he command everyone around him. I just loved seeing Soren in his youth and the connection he makes with Kingsley, now some may see it as abuse or violence, but I took it for what it was. Both men wanted something and in exchange both men got what they needed.  You see that in Soren's whole life he has only ever loved two people and just what he would do to keep them both safe.

I really loved seeing how patient both Nora and Westley were with each other and the adjustment both have to make for Nora to fit into his world. The romance is there right from the moment Nora runs from Soren and into Westley's arms. Westley shows her the life she could have and everything he is willing to give up just to be with Nora.

Now through the story there are clues as to who the threat is to Nora. I found this to be a bit predictable, but loved it just the same. Even thought I knew the answer it still came as a shock when it jumped out on paper. Again Ms. Riesz left us with a cliffhanger that made me want to scream. I understand that the book needed to end there but who knows the The Mistress is due out????? Tiffany you are killing me here!

This was my favorite book out of the series so far, I have recommended it to everyone I know and can't wait to read the series again in the near future!

5 out of 5 stars