Book Review: Power Zones by Bronwyn Judde

 

Published April 4, 2023

Buy on Amazon

I was discovered by a modeling agency in New York City and my life abruptly changed from one of poverty and self-doubt to where I was the one in control. Yes, men used me for sex but I used them too; seizing power to get what I wanted: sex and pain, preferably together.

But no one owns me, and definitely no one possesses my heart.

Money and fame are mine for the taking and I take them greedily as I put my miserable childhood behind me and find power, particularly over men.

But I have an elusive feeling that something is missing from my life. Is it possible to find a person who could love me enough to overcome the need to protect my heart? I doubt it.

Power really is enough for me.

                                    MY REVIEW:

                                          4/5stars

There wasn't a lot of storyline except for Danica getting a modeling job because of her mom and ended up mostly about sex and her wanting to get out of modeling and making porn movies.
The writing style I liked, the characters were likeable ad the friendships and being there for each other. Danica's mom I didn't like at first but she grew on me and really liked how she became involved with Danica;s boss. When Danica meets men and how she treats them I want happy about and then she meets a man who wants her but lets her be who she wants to be and it works for them.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the book to review.

Bronwynn Judd

Hello. I started writing erotic romances at the beginning of the pandemic, and found writing made me happy. Honestly, I wish I had started years ago. Erotic Romances are so much fun to write!

In my life I've run a tiny weaving company on a Greek Island, starred in a movie that never got released (just as well!) worked in a head shop, prepared taxes, and been a stay-at-home mom. My two adult children are my finest accomplishments.

I live in Buffalo, NY

Book Review: Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose

 

Published April 4, 2023

buy on Amazon

A twisty, domestic suspense debut about a clique of mothers that shatters when one of their own is murdered, bringing chaos to their curated lives.

She was the perfect wife, with the perfect life. You would kill to have it…

Ciara Dunphy has it all—a loving husband, well-behaved children, and a beautiful home. Her circle of friends in their small Irish village go to her for tips about mothering, style, and influencer success—a picture-perfect life is easy money on Instagram. But behind the filters, reality is less polished.

Enter Mishti Guha: Ciara’s best friend. Ciara welcomed Mishti into her inner circle for being... unlike the other mothers in the group. But, discontent in a marriage arranged for her through her parents back in Calcutta, Mishti now raises her young daughter in a country that is too cold, among the children of her new friends who look nothing like her. She just wants what Ciara has—the ease with which she moves through the world—and in that sense, Mishti might be exactly like the other mothers.

And there’s earth mother Lauren Doyle, born, bred, and the butt of jokes in their village. With her disheveled partner and children who run naked in the yard, they’re mostly a happy lot, though unsurprisingly ostracized for being the singular dysfunction in Ciara’s immaculate world. When Lauren finds an unlikely ally in Mishti, she decides that her days of ridicule are over.

Then Ciara is found murdered in her own pristine home, and the house of cards she’d worked so hard to build comes crumbling down. Everyone seems to have something to gain from Ciara’s death, so if they don’t want the blame, it may be the perfect time to air their enemies’ dirty laundry.

In this dazzling debut novel, Disha Bose revolutionizes age-old ideas of love and deceit. What ensues is the delicious unspooling of a group of women desperate to preserve themselves.

MY REVIEW:

Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ciara seems to have it all but she is not a nice person and to me is false. She is what I would call a mean girl but she is a wife, mother and friend sometimes.
Mishti Guha is her so called best friend.
Lauren Doyle is the mother next door and the brunt of most jokes.
Then Ciara is found murdered in her home.
We go back and forth to present and past and what leads up to the murder. The more I read, the more I disliked Ciara. Lots of secrets come out as well with all of them and their spouses.
I found it was an ok book. I didn't love it or dislike it. I really didn't care for any of the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the book to review,

View all my reviews

Disha Bose

Disha Bose was born and raised in India, and now lives in Ireland. She worked in Tech before quitting to return to writing. Dirty Laundry is her first novel.

Book Review:: Reminders Of Him by Colleen Hoover

 

Audiobook published January 18, 2022

buy on Amazon

After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan returns to the town where it all went wrong, hoping to reunite with her four-year-old daughter. But the bridges Kenna burned are proving impossible to rebuild. Everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to shut Kenna out, no matter how hard she works to prove herself.

The only person who hasn’t closed the door on her completely is Ledger Ward, a local bar owner and one of the few remaining links to Kenna’s daughter. But if anyone were to discover how Ledger is slowly becoming an important part of Kenna’s life, both would risk losing the trust of everyone important to them.

The two form a connection despite the pressure surrounding them, but as their romance grows, so does the risk. Kenna must find a way to absolve the mistakes of her past in order to build a future out of hope and healing.

MY REVIEW:

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kenna served 5 years for a mistake she made and returns to the town where it all happened. She wants to reunite with her daughter she had while in prison. The grandparents have custody and don't want her to be a part of her daughter's life.
When she gets to town she has a one night stand, only to find out he was her former boyfriend's best friend. This leads to all kinds of complications and feelings. Seems though that since getting to know her, he isn't sure what to think anymore and maybe she should be a part of her daughter's life.
My emotions were all over the place with this book. Looking from her perspective, she made a horrible mistake and is so sorry for what happened and would love a relationship with her daughter.
From the grandparent's point of view I also see why they feel the same way they do but they need to all sit down and talk.
All this time Kenna has been writing in a diary. I kept hoping some how they would get to read it.
I don't want to spoil the book but it is so worth reading.
I did listen to it on audiobook and the narrator had a nice voice.

View all my reviews

Colleen Hoover 

International and #1 New York Times bestselling author of romance, YA, thriller, women's fiction and paranormal romance.

I don't like to be confined to one genre. If you put me in a box, I'll claw my way out.

My social media username is @colleenhoover pretty much everywhere except my email, which is colleenhooverbooks@gmail.com

Founder of www.thebookwormbox.com charity and Book Bonanza.

Book Review: Hitched by Lauren Biel

 

Published January 25, 2023

buy from Amazon

"Ready or not, rabbit, here I come"

Lex

The moment I open the car door and see her sweet face, I know I'm making a mistake. By offering to give me a ride, so is she. I spot the rabbit’s foot hanging from the rear-view mirror. It's not her lucky day.

I take her with me as I run from the law. Despite being a felon and a documented sociopath, I only mean for Selena to be a ride to the border. But somewhere along the way she stirs up feelings I've long thought myself incapable of.

She's my rabbit, my sweet little bunny, and I need to teach her how to run from me so I can catch her and show her what it's like to be devoured by the predator she should be afraid of.

Danger lurks in every corner, and the risk of getting caught grows by the day. What will I do once she takes me to my destination? Will I let her go or do something much worse? Can we find some way to stay together when the world wants to pull us apart?

Trigger Warnings: Infidelity (not between mcs), domestic violence (not between mcs), detailed abuse in the past for both mcs, murder, violence, abduction, suicidal ideations, dubious/non consent, attempted non con (not between mcs), sociopathic behavior, somnophilia scene, c*ck stuffing scene, degradation kink, praise, spitting, outdoor/car scenes, primal play, c*m play, b*tt stuff (including anal and oral), voyeurism, exhibitionism, jealous/possessive behavior, sado-masochism

Hitched is a dual POV dark hitchhiker standalone novel with an HEA

MY REVIEW:

Hitched by Lauren Biel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There are some grey areas to me as far as sex/rape is concerned. He always gave her a choice but sometimes the choice was death. Whether he actually would have , I have no idea.
Lex escaped from prison and while hitchhiking he gets picked up from a young woman, Selena. she is married to an abusive husband. These 2 end up gong on the run together.
It is a dark story and lots of trigger warnings.
There were time I would like Lex and then he would turn around and be an asshole.
I don't know why she went on the run with him after confronting her husband. I would have stayed and never thought of or mentioned Lex again. Then I had to remember that she comes from an abusive relationship and maybe doesn't know any better. I did see this on TikTok for recommendation.

View all my reviews

Lauren Biel

Lauren’s stories are often emotionally raw, with lots of twists and turns. She describes her writing as “where light meets dark”, which represents how her witty humor compliments the darkness in every story. Instead of trying to mold her writing to fit in a box, she chooses to be unapologetically herself. While her focus is on Romance with dark elements, subgenre is no constraint for her. The common theme in every book is finding love when you least expect it. She enjoys putting her characters through tribulations, allowing their triumphs to be that much more poignant. Make sure you have your seatbelts secured. It’s always a bumpy ride.

When she’s not working, she’s writing. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with her husband, her friends, or her pets. You might also find her on a horseback trail ride or sitting beside a waterfall in Upstate New York. She has a pretty normal life, yet her stories are anything but.

Book Review: The Slumber Party by Shannon Hollinger

 

Published March 22, 2023

Buy on Amazon

Ten years ago: On a warm summer’s evening, four childhood friends gather at a slumber party… Before dawn breaks, the nightmare begins. One of them dies. One of them is a killer.

Liz was the bubbly girl-next-door. She could never have imagined how everything would fall apart.

Sami was the clever one, quieter than the others. She was meant to keep all their secrets…

Amy had the voice of an angel, destined for Hollywood. She would never make it there.

Mo was leader of the group, charismatic and protective. But she was not who she appeared to be…

They were childhood friends, on the cusp of the rest of their lives. They’d shared everything with each other. Or so they thought… Until one of them died.

Today: Liz tries not to think about the night that destroyed their lives. She focuses on her beloved husband and their sweet-eyed daughter. But when she receives a note, there’s no more running away: “I’m back. Did you miss me?”

A wave of dizziness crashes over her. Her best friend can’t be back. She’s dead. So who sent the note? What do they know? And, most terrifying of all, are they planning to make her pay for what happened…?

MY REVIEW:

The Slumber Party by Shannon Hollinger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book changes from the past, 10 years ago, to the present with 4 best friends.
They seem like best friends on the outside and what they want everyone to believe but what you find out as the story goes on that what you see may not be the truth.
I could not put this down, I had to know what really happened on prom night.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the book to review.

View all my reviews

With degrees in Crime Scene Technology & Physical Anthropology, Florida author Shannon Hollinger hasn't just seen the dark side of humanity - she's been elbow deep inside of it!

She is the author of the psychological thrillers 'Best Friends Forever' and 'The Slumber Party,' and the forthcoming Chief Maggie Riley series (November 2023, published by Bookouture).

Her short fiction has appeared in Suspense Magazine, Mystery Weekly, and The Saturday Evening Post, among a number of other magazines and anthologies, and her story 'Lady Killer' was a finalist for the 2021 Al Blanchard Award sponsored by the New England Crime Bake.

To see where you can find more of her work, check out www.shannonhollinger.com.

Book Review: So Close by Sylvia Day

 

Publication date March 28, 2023

buy from Amazon 

You can’t believe all of them, but can you trust any of them?

Widower Kane Black is still ruinously married to his late wife, Lily. Grief has hollowed him… until he sees a woman with his wife’s inimitable beauty on the streets of Manhattan. He whisks her up to his towering penthouse, protectively under guard, nestling her in dark opulence where Lily’s memory is a possessive beguiling force.

Aliyah, Kane’s mother, deals in science. There are too many questions, too few answers, and too much at stake. “Lily” has dangerous control over Kane and there can be only one queen on the throne.

Amy, Kane’s sister-in-law, has been bloodied by deceit and betrayal, and she’s devolving into murderous rage. She’s paid too high a price and now intends to claim what she’s owed.

Three women, linked by buried secrets, circle the man who unquestioningly accepts the return of his beloved long-dead wife. Kane is happier than he’s ever been, and he’ll do anything to stay that way.

MY REVIEW:

So Close by Sylvia Day
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kane lost his wife years ago and then all of a sudden sees her .
Kane's mom, Aliyah and his sister in law Amy want control of the family business. Some of it was Amy's that was merged with his company. Amy wants Kane but is married to his brother.
Then Kane brings his wife home but she isn't who she says she is, or is she?
There are so many lies and secrets that it makes you wonder what is really going on. I dont know when the 2nd book comes out but I hope it is soon.
Thank you to NetGalley for the book to review.

View all my reviews

Sylvia Day is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, #1 Sunday Times, #1 Globe and Mail, #1 Der Spiegel, and #1 international bestselling author of over twenty award-winning novels, including ten New York Times bestsellers and thirteen USA Today bestsellers. She is a number one bestselling author in twenty-nine countries, with translations in forty-one languages and over twenty million copies of her books in print. Visit the author at sylviaday.com

Book Review: Hunted by Shalini Boland

 

First published March 8, 2016

buy on Amazon

My name is Madison Greene and my boyfriend is a vampire. And not just any vampire, one with brooding good looks and a smile that makes my heart skip a beat. As I curl up against Alexandre’s side, our hands entwined, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

Although our relationship hasn’t been easy. I’m human, so there were always going to be complications. But I thought we’d banished the demons from his previous life. I couldn’t have been more wrong…

Because there’s a new threat in the form of Nadia – a blue-eyed beauty who seems determined to do everything she can to break us apart. I trust Alexandre but I don’t trust her.

As I start digging into the truth to find out who Nadia really is, centuries-old secrets begin to unravel. And in order to set Alexandre free from the chains of his past, we must return to the ancient underground city of vampires to defeat Alexandre’s archnemesis once and for all.

Can I finally save Alexandre? Or will loving a vampire be the death of me?

MY REVIEW:

4/5 stars

I would have given this book 5 stars but 2 things bothered me.

First of all Ben was going to school and then all of a sudden can't but the school never called or asked where he has been and no consequences.

2nd is this has bothered me in other books I have read is names. Ok I understand people have nicknames, don't get me wrong. But when there is a character named Kelermes and when the author talks about him and then changes to his nickname of Kel all within changing each paragraph, that is crazy. I can see another character in the book calling him Kel but when the author goes back and forth just telling what he is doing then that is just plain weird. She did ok with ALexandre and only calling him ALex when another character called him that.

Otherwise the whole thing the Bright One was really cool and all of these characters living in the mansion and how close they are and being there for each other is why I had to finish this series.

Thanks to NetGalley for the book to review.

Hello :) I write psychological thrillers and dark adventures, and I live in Dorset, England with my husband, two children and our dog. I only write reviews for books I enjoy!

*** Be the first to hear about my NEW THRILLER RELEASES here: http://eepurl.com/b4vb45 ***

*** Join up to get FREE eBOOK DEALS here: http://www.ebooksoda.com ***

Book Review: Taken by Shalini Boland

 

First published April 13,2012

buy on Amazon

My name is Madison Greene and I was an ordinary teenager until I fell in love… with a vampire. Alexandre is tall, with a sexy French accent and mesmerizing eyes. He makes me feel protected, and he’s completely captured my heart.

At Marchwood House, our sprawling mansion nestled in the English countryside, we’re in our own perfect bubble together. But, in the blink of an eye, everything changes when an old enemy of Alexandre’s sets a trap and rips me away from my boyfriend’s arms.

The ancient demon takes me to his underground city, deep beneath the windswept desert. In the twisting tunnels and enormous vaulted caverns, there’s a bloodthirsty vampire around every corner. I’ve never been so terrified…

It seems like there’s no way out from this underground maze. My life is hanging by a thread, and every second I’m here is a step closer to death. I can’t just sit here and hope that Alexandre will rescue me.

Can I outsmart a city of vampires to escape from this hellish place? And will I ever see Alexandre again?

MY REVIEW:

4/5 stars

2nd book to this series.

Madison did not plan on falling in love with a vampire but she did. We meet the 2 vampire families in this book and how she makes the house home for them in the basement with rooms and they can be down there in the dark.

An ancient demon takes Madison down to an underground and holds her prisoner there in hopes to get the other vampires there and have them be a part of the vampire community.

We find out how monsterous they are and seems to be a traitor amongst their group.

Thank you to NetGalley for the book to review.

Shalini Boland

Website
http://www.shaliniboland.co.uk

Twitter
ShaliniBoland

Genre
Thriller, Fantasy, Science Fiction


Hello :) I write psychological thrillers and dark adventures, and I live in Dorset, England with my husband, two children and our dog. I only write reviews for books I enjoy!

*** Be the first to hear about my NEW THRILLER RELEASES here: http://eepurl.com/b4vb45 ***

Book Review: Hidden by Shalini Boland

 

First published March 15,2011

buy from Amazon 

My name is Madison Greene. On my seventeenth birthday, I inherited an old mansion and wealth beyond my wildest dreams. I thought it was a joke, but as I step through the creaking door of the sprawling building, I realise my life in foster care is in the past. I’ve been chosen and my world has changed forever.

But I wasn’t told that Marchwood House hides a secret.

As I explore every inch of the crumbling property, I stumble upon a set of large, dusty boxes in the basement. When I pull back the lid and look down, I find myself staring at the most handsome face I’ve ever seen. High cheekbones, porcelain skin…

And when he wakes up and locks eyes with me, I realise my heart already belongs to him, even though my head is screaming at me to get as far away from Marchwood as possible. Because I know what he really is.

I never planned to fall in love – but it’s too late now. Alexandre has a dark and dangerous past. He needs me and I have to help him. But can a human really save a vampire?

MY REVIEW:

4/5 stars

This was different than other vampire books. There seems to be only one way to kill them.
When Madison turned 17 she found out that her and her brother, Ben inherited this house and a lot of money.
Looking all through the house she finds a room that is locked up tight and she wants to find out what is hidden. Vampires.
Loved how Madison tried making friends with her old high school friends by having a party only to find out having a party isn't all that it is cracked up to be.
She meets a guy to be her DJ and they are friends but he wants more from her.
The story is in the present and 1881 fluctuates throughout the book so you get to know the families back when.
Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for the book to review.

Shalini Boland

Website
http://www.shaliniboland.co.uk

Twitter
ShaliniBoland

Genre
Thriller, Fantasy, Science Fiction


Hello :) I write psychological thrillers and dark adventures, and I live in Dorset, England with my husband, two children and our dog. I only write reviews for books I enjoy!

*** Be the first to hear about my NEW THRILLER RELEASES here: http://eepurl.com/b4vb45 ***

Book Review: Becoming Bailey by Nicole Abrams

 

                                                    

                           Published March 30, 2023

buy from Amazon

Boys my age don’t do it for me… But my professor, who is all Man, does.

Uncomfortable in my skin since high school. I was waiting for the right person to help me out of my shell. Someone who saw me fully, and not just something to look at. Then it happened, I fell for my professor.

Literally.

Right into his tattoo covered arms.

Now, I want all of him. His looks. His words. Him.

He tries to stay away. Knows he’s no good for me. But then strange things start to happen in my life.

The feeling of eyes on me, always watching. Books flying off the shelves, when no one is seemingly around. And letters being left for me.

And when he finds out, he demands I stay close. At first it seems like it’s out of duty. Yet, when the stolen looks turn into fiery touches… It was only a matter of time before we gave into the flames that burned inside us.

But the professor is holding back. He has a secret hidden behind his eyes, from his past. And it looks to have come back to haunt him, and hunt me.

For as the closer we get the more intense the threat becomes.

One thing is for sure though, if I get out of this alive; I am going to make the professor mine.

MY REVIEW:

4/5stars

At first I had a hard time with the age thing but Bailey is 21 so then I was like ok. I didn't realize it was part of a series and I didnt read the other books and I don't feel like I missed out on anything.
The book starts out Bailey's senior year in high school and she was mistreated after a boy wouldn't take no for an answer and then we jump ahead 3 years later while she is in college and has Julian as her professor and they are attracted to each other right off the bat. He stays away though because she is his student. Things start to get steamy between then and then her life seems to be in danger.
Thank you to the author for the chance to read the arc.

Nicole Abrams

Nicole Abrams is best known for her debut contemporary romance novel, Finding Caroline. Born in Georgia, she moved frequently with her military family, finally settling back into her home state as an adult. Always an avid reader, she eventually started journaling and writing short stories, which led to the creation of her first book. Nicole is a breast cancer survivor, beating her diagnosis in 2021 after undergoing surgery and radiation. She has an unhealthy obsession with the TV show Friends and when she is not writing you can find her spending time with the man of her dreams and their son.

Book Review : Ruined Rockstar Series by Heather Ashley

 

I LOVED this whole series  and read them in a week. Bad boy rockstars who drink, a little bit of drugs and sex until they meet the women that they fall for. Lots of sex scenes. They are all on Kindle Unlimited.

Check out Heather Ashley's books on Amazon

Heather Ashley

BornThe United States

Website

http://www.heatherashley-author.com/

Twitter

The_Lone_Gypsy

Genre

Fiction, Motivational, Metaphysical/visionary

http://bookstore.balboapress.com/Prod...

Book Review: Collateral Damage by J.A. Jance

 

Published March 14, 2023

buy on Amazon

Ali Reynolds and High Noon Enterprises face the dangerous consequences of one man’s desperate search for revenge in this unputdownable thriller from J.A. Jance, the New York Times bestselling author who “has been delivering must-read books for a long time” (The Real Book Spy).

After spending twenty years behind bars, Frank Muñoz, a disgraced former cop, is out on parole and focused on just one thing: revenge. The wife who abandoned him after his arrest, the mistress who ratted him out for abetting a money-laundering scheme, the detectives who presided over his case all those years ago—they all have targets on their backs.

For Ali Reynolds, the first Christmas without her father is riddled with grief and uncertainty. And with her husband and founding partner of High Noon Enterprises, B. Simpson, preoccupied by an upcoming New Year’s trip to London, she is ready for a break. But when Stu Ramey barges into her home with grave news about a serious—and suspicious—accident on the highway to Phoenix involving B.’s car, things reach a breaking point.

At the hospital, a groggy, post-op B. insists that Ali take his place at a ransomware conference in London, as troubles brimming around High Noon come to light. But questions remain: Who would go to such lengths to cut the tech company from the picture? And what if Ali and the rest of the team are also in danger?

MY REVIEW:

Collateral Damage by J.A. Jance

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Frank Munoz is out on parole and has his sights on revenge for anyone who had anything in putting him behind bars.

One revenge ends up putting Ali's husband in the hospital, which he was not a part of Frank's arrest, so he was collateral damage.

The one investigator for the B's accident is trying to pin it on Ali and such an ass.. So Ali gets help from her company in finding Frank.

I like Ali and B's business and how they are there for each other. Their company can reach out and find info better than the police.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the book to review.

View all my reviews

J.A. Jance

Born in South Dakota, The United States

Website

http://www.jajance.com

Genre

Mystery & Thrillers

Judith Ann Jance is the top 10 New York Times bestselling author of the Joanna Brady series; the J. P. Beaumont series; three interrelated thrillers featuring the Walker family; and Edge of Evil, the first in a series featuring Ali Reynolds. Born in South Dakota and brought up in Bisbee, Arizona, Jance lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington, and Tucson, Arizona.

Series:

* J.P. Beaumont

* Joanna Brady

* Ali Reynolds

* Walker Family

Book Review: I will Find You by Harlan Coben

 

                                                              

Published March 14, 2023

buy on Amazon

An innocent father serving life for the murder of his own son receives evidence that his child may still be alive, and must break out of prison to find out the truth in #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben’s latest breathtaking thriller.

David and Cheryl Burroughs were living the dream life when tragedy struck. Now, five years after that terrible night, Cheryl is remarried. And David is serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison for the brutal murder of their son.

Then Cheryl’s sister, Rachel, arrives unexpectedly during visiting hours and drops a bombshell. She’s come with a photograph that a friend took on vacation at a theme park with a boy in the background who has a familiar, distinctive birthmark … and even though David and Rachel realize it can’t be, they both just know. It's David’s son, Matthew, and he's still alive.

David plans a harrowing escape from prison, determined to do what seems impossible–save his son, clear his own name, and discover the real story of what happened that devastating night.

MY REVIEW:

I Will Find You by Harlan Coben

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

David was charged for murdering his son. He didn't fight it because he felt his life was over since his son was dead.

Now Rachel, his sister in law shows him a photo with his son in it.

David escapes to find his son and what that leads to will have you hoping he gets to his son and we find out why he was taken which has a twist at the end. I

I would have given this book 5 stars but the things that David does to dodge police sometimes seemed a little far fetched.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this book.

View all my reviews

Harlan Coben is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of the world's leading storytellers. His suspense novels are published in forty-five languages and have been number one bestsellers in more than a dozen countries with seventy-five million books in print worldwide.

His books have earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, and many have been developed into Netflix Original Drama series, including his adaptations of The Stranger, The Innocent, Gone for Good and The Woods. His most recent adaptation for Netflix, Stay Close, premiered on December 31, 2021 and stars Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, and Richard Armitage.

Book Review: The Finish Line by Kate Stewart

 

                                                    Published January 24, 2021

                                                    buy on Amazon

Secrets and Lies...

I’ve lived the entirety of my life wrapped up in subterfuge for one purpose—revenge.

Through the years, I lived more as an enigma than a man.

For so long, I denied I had a beating heart of my own.

Until her. Until she unearthed the starving vessel inside, forced me to acknowledge it, forced me to understand that I’m capable of bleeding the same as any other.

For that, we paid. We're still paying.

Yet, she demands it still, the useless heart of the ruthless thief and shameless villain she fell for. My fear is, I’m no longer that man.

With the lies I’ve told, the life I’ve led, my mistakes are beginning to catch up with me, day by day, one by one.

This is my last chance, and I have no intention of losing her again, but as the deception of my past starts to unravel and close in, shedding my humanity may be the only thing that can save us both.

Maybe it’s already too late.

                                      MY REVIEW:

The Finish Line by Kate Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I want to rate this more than 5 stars.
This is my last chance, and I have no intention of losing her again, but as the deception of my past starts to unravel and close in, shedding my humanity may be the only thing that can save us both.

Oh shit!!! We get more of Tobias's POV and the battle of his feelings for Cecelia and her feelings towards him.
But the twist at the end oh booy!!!
I have never had a series book hangover in a long time and need to wait a few days before I pick up another book.

View all my reviews

USA Today bestselling author and Texas native, Kate Stewart, lives in
North Carolina with her husband, Nick. Nestled within the Blueridge
Mountains, Kate pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance, as
well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense. Kate’s title, Drive, was
named one of the best romances of 2017 by The New York Daily News and
Huffington Post. Drive was also a finalist in the Goodreads Choice awards
for best contemporary romance of 2017. The Ravenhood Trilogy,
consisting of Flock, Exodus, and The Finish Line, has become an
international bestseller and reader favorite. Her holiday release, The Plight
Before Christmas, ranked #6 on Amazon’s Top 100. Kate’s works have
been featured in USA TODAY, BuzzFeed, The New York Daily News,
Huffington Post and translated into a dozen languages.
Kate is a lover of all things ’80s and ’90s, especially John Hughes films and
rap. She dabbles a little in photography, can knit a simple stitch scarf for
necessity, and on occasion, does very well at whiskey.

Contact Kate- Email-authorkatestewart@gmail.com

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/79348...

Newsletter signup:
http://www.katestewartwrites.com/cont...

Website-www.katestewartwrites.com

Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/authorkatest...

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/?hl=en

Book Review: Exodus by Kate Stewart

 

                                                   Published July 31, 2020

                                                  buy on Amazon

Can you live a lie?

It’s a ghost town, this place that haunts me, the one that made me.
It’s clear to me that I’ll never outgrow Triple Falls or outlive the time I spent
here.
I can still feel them all, my boys of summer.
Even when I’d sensed the danger, I gave in.
I didn’t heed a single warning. I let my sickness, my love, both rule and ruin
me. I played my part, eyes wide open, tempting fate until it delivered.
There was never going to be an escape.
All of us are to blame for what happened. All of us serving our own
sentences. We were careless and reckless, thinking our youth made us
indestructible, exempt from our sins, and it cost us all.
I’m done pretending I didn’t leave the largest part of me between these
hills and valleys, between the sea of trees that hold my secrets.
It’s the reason I’m back. To make peace with my fate.
And if I can’t grieve enough to cure myself in my time here, I’ll remain sick.
That will be my curse.
But it’s time to confess, to myself more so than any other, that I’d hindered
my chances because of the way I was built, and because of the men who built me.
At this point, I just want to make peace with who I am, no matter what
ending I get.

Because I can no longer live a lie.

                                               MY REVIEW:

Exodus by Kate Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can still feel them all, my boys of summer.
Even when I’d sensed the danger, I gave in. Tobias is now in Cecelia's life and I really did not like him at first. I wanted Sean and Dominic back.
This book had me crying so hard that the tears were pouring down my face and I didn't know how I was going to get to the 3rd book. OMG these feelings had me so wrecked and emotionally drained. I had to pick up the next book right away.

View all my reviews

USA Today bestselling author and Texas native, Kate Stewart, lives in
North Carolina with her husband, Nick. Nestled within the Blueridge
Mountains, Kate pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance, as
well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense. Kate’s title, Drive, was
named one of the best romances of 2017 by The New York Daily News and
Huffington Post. Drive was also a finalist in the Goodreads Choice awards
for best contemporary romance of 2017. The Ravenhood Trilogy,
consisting of Flock, Exodus, and The Finish Line, has become an
international bestseller and reader favorite. Her holiday release, The Plight
Before Christmas, ranked #6 on Amazon’s Top 100. Kate’s works have
been featured in USA TODAY, BuzzFeed, The New York Daily News,
Huffington Post and translated into a dozen languages.
Kate is a lover of all things ’80s and ’90s, especially John Hughes films and
rap. She dabbles a little in photography, can knit a simple stitch scarf for
necessity, and on occasion, does very well at whiskey.

Contact Kate- Email-authorkatestewart@gmail.com

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/79348...

Newsletter signup:
http://www.katestewartwrites.com/cont...

Website-www.katestewartwrites.com

Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/authorkatest...

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/?hl=en

Book Review: Flock by Kate Stewart

 

                                                      Published July 27 , 2020

                                                       Buy from Amazon

Can you keep a secret?
⁣
I grew up sick.⁣
⁣
Let me clarify.⁣
⁣
I grew up believing that real love stories include a martyr or demand great sacrifice to be worthy.⁣
⁣
Because of that, I believed it, because I made myself believe it, and I bred the most masochistic of romantic hearts, which resulted in my illness.⁣
⁣
When I lived this story, my own twisted fairy tale, it was unbeknownst to me at the time because I was young and naïve. I gave into temptation and fed the beating beast, which grew thirstier with every slash, every strike, every blow.⁣
⁣
Triple Falls wasn’t at all what it seemed, nor were the men that swept me under their wing. But in order to keep them, I had to be in on their secrets.⁣
⁣
Secrets that cost us everything to keep.⁣
⁣
That’s the novelty of fiction versus reality. You can’t re-live your own love story, because by the time you’ve realized you’re living it, it’s over. At least that was the case for me and the men I trusted my foolish heart to.⁣
⁣
Looking back, I’m convinced I willed my story into existence due to my illness.⁣
⁣
And all were punished.

                                                     MY REVIEW:

Flock by Kate Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If I could rate this more than 5 stars then I would. This book wrecked me!!
Triple Falls wasn’t at all what it seemed, nor were the men that swept me under their wing. But in order to keep them, I had to be in on their secrets.⁣
Cecilia is 19 and is told she has to go live with her father for a year before she can have her inheritance. She meets Sean on her first day at work and invites her to his house for a party. There she meets Dominic who can't stand her and wants her to leave. But she sticks it out.
I didn't know anything about this book when I picked it up and when she first got to the party I was thinking to myself are these guys vampires? Nope, they are human and are the Ravenhood. The secrets that bind this group will keep you rooting for them as you read and find out what they do.
When we get to know Dominic then I ended up liking him but I wanted Cecilia with Sean. I can't even describe into words exactly how I feel but it has ALL the feels into one book.
I could not stop reading and had to pick up the next book right away.

View all my reviews

Kate Stewart


Born in Chicago , The United States

Website
http://www.katestewartwrites.com

Twitter
https://twitter.com/authorklstewart

Genre
Contemporary, Romance, Suspense




USA Today bestselling author and Texas native, Kate Stewart, lives in
North Carolina with her husband, Nick. Nestled within the Blueridge
Mountains, Kate pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance, as
well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense. Kate’s title, Drive, was
named one of the best romances of 2017 by The New York Daily News and
Huffington Post. Drive was also a finalist in the Goodreads Choice awards
for best contemporary romance of 2017. The Ravenhood Trilogy,
consisting of Flock, Exodus, and The Finish Line, has become an
international bestseller and reader favorite. Her holiday release, The Plight
Before Christmas, ranked #6 on Amazon’s Top 100. Kate’s works have
been featured in USA TODAY, BuzzFeed, The New York Daily News,
Huffington Post and translated into a dozen languages.
Kate is a lover of all things ’80s and ’90s, especially John Hughes films and
rap. She dabbles a little in photography, can knit a simple stitch scarf for
necessity, and on occasion, does very well at whiskey.

Contact Kate- Email-authorkatestewart@gmail.com

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/79348...

Newsletter signup:
http://www.katestewartwrites.com/cont...

Website-www.katestewartwrites.com

Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/authorkatest...

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/?hl=en

Book Review: More Than Meets the Eye by Iris Johansen

                                                     Published February 7, 2023

                                                    Buy from Amazon

New York Times bestselling authors Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen team up for another electrifying thriller that pits a serial killer against Kendra Michaels' heightened powers of deduction.

After scoring a plea deal in a high-profile murder trial, serial killer James Michael Barrett leads a grim parade of law enforcement officers to the body of his last victim. At the alleged burial site, the officers swing their shovels down and are met with a strange metallic sound they weren’t expecting. In a blink, a terrific explosion rocks the woods, killing Barrett and most of the officers instantly.
The detonation is only the beginning of a shocking case for FBI consultant Kendra Michaels—a string of heinous murders in the style of the very-dead Barrett mysteriously continue, and it becomes clear that he may not have been working alone. As the crimes accelerate, Kendra reluctantly accepts help from college student Tricia Walton, the only survivor of Barrett’s attacks. But the killer has a terrifying plan that Kendra and her team are only beginning to understand.

                                               MY REVIEW:

More Than Meets the Eye by Iris Johansen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this from NetGalley and as an audio from the publisher.
Another serial killer for Kendra Michaels to catch. I like the characters in this book and the narrator for the audio did a great job. I enjoyed listening to it,

View all my reviews

Iris Johansen is a New York Times bestselling author. She began her writing after her children left home for college. She first achieved success in the early 1980s writing category romances. In 1991, Johansen began writing suspense historical romance novels, starting with the publication of The Wind Dancer. In 1996 Johansen switched genres, turning to crime fiction, with which she has had great success.

She lives in Georgia and is married. Her son, Roy Johansen, is an Edgar Award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Her daughter, Tamara, serves as her research assistant.


http://www.irisjohansen.com