Bullets in the Briar
*CRACK* That is the sound of Kimber Silver hitting it out of the ballpark with Bullets in the Briar!!!!! I completely enjoyed her first book, Broken Rhodes, which I highly recommend, but she outdid herself with Bullets in the Briar. I found this book to be instantly gripping, thrilling, brimming with tension, mystery, secrets, and romance! I forgot how much I enjoyed the characters of Kinsley and Lincoln; both individually and together. It was nice to be back in Harlow, Kansas and reading what they were up to; and it is a lot!!! Not only is Lincoln running for re-election, but he is investigating the discovery of a mutilated body found on a remote farm. The dead man appears to be associated with a religious sect, “The Order” nearby. The question is who killed him and why! Kinsley continues to be spunky, caring, and determined. She also continues to work on her business while encouraging and supporting Lincoln in his re-election bid against an arrogant and flashy out of towner. Plus, she has a wedding to plan! Throw in close friends, a hot biker, a great mystery, and an adorable puppy and you can’t go wrong in my book! I loved the dialogue, banter, and dialect in this book. I felt as if Kimber Silver transported me to Harlow as a silent observer. The characters feel authentic and real. There were characters that I liked, characters who tickled me pink, and those who weren’t worth a damn. This of course made for interesting and entertaining reading. I also enjoyed how Kimber Silver showed her character’s inner thoughts and struggles/things they mull over. For instance, Lincoln is running for re-election but doesn’t want to brag about his good deeds to win votes. He believes that his good deeds and commitment to the Harlow community stand for themselves and is not comfortable using them for his advantage. I also enjoyed the focus on community and relationships in this book. Relationship between the characters, range from friendship, romantic relationships, work collogues/relationships, and parent-child relationships. The mystery in this book was riveting and I enjoyed how everything unfolded. Whew! Coming in at 271 pages, Bullets in the Briar packs a punch! While this book would work perfectly as a stand-alone novel, I do highly recommend reading Broken Rhodes first because A.) It’s a fantastic book and B.) It introduces Kinsley and Lincoln and the mystery/tragedy/investigation which introduced them. Wonderfully written, well thought out, perfectly paced, and gripping! I can’t wait to read what Kimber Silver writes next! (More Kinsley and Linc please!) Thank you to Kimber Silver who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Your Little Lies
Secrets, twists, lies, deception and recognition rule the day in Your Little Lies! Sue Fortin crafted a tale that takes place in the present and ten years earlier. A lot can happen in ten years, right!?! Well, a lot has happened…. Hannah, Jasper and their daughter, Pia, have recently moved into a new home in a new community. It’s a fresh beginning for them in a home with a wonderful view. Hannah has made a friend, but she has also met a neighbor who she recognizes and who recognizes her! As her anxiety piques, she can’t help but think about safety issues, the past, and just how dangerous things could become. While I enjoyed this book, I didn’t love it. I found it to be a bit slow at times and this felt like a much longer book than 338 pages. I did enjoy the mystery but wanted more oomph. I enjoyed that I did not figure this book out, the author kept me guessing the entire book. There is a nice amount of tension, twists, and secrets flowing throughout the book, which I always enjoy. Others are enjoying this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well. Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wished
I am a HUGE Sarah Ready fan and love her writing. I could not wait to dive into Wished which focuses on Anna Benoit making a wish that she was married to Max Barone, the owner of the chateau she cleans. She has loved him since she laid eyes on him, but Max doesn’t even know her name. What’s a gal to do????? How about making a wish!?! That is exactly what Anna does and suddenly *poof* she his happily married to Max. Their lives are exciting, passionate, loving, and fun! But Anna can’t quite shake that she has wished this to happen. She tells Max the truth, but will the truth set her free????? I have enjoyed this series from the beginning and while I enjoyed Wished and found it to be charming, it was my least favorite in the series. All the books have a little bit of magic, but this was lacking that little bit of something that would have pushed my rating higher. What this did have was Sarah Ready’s signature humor, sexy lead characters, her steamy scenes and her focus on finding love. This book also had a nice amount of charming supporting characters as well. I do hope that there are more books in this series, as Sarah Ready is such a great Contemporary Romance writer and I do enjoy the magical realism in this book series. As I mentioned this book is part of a series, but all books work very nicely as stand-alone books. Although I did not love it as much as the other books in the series, I still found this book to be well written, charming, sexy, engaging and fun!
My Sister’s Boyfriend
Talk about a jaw dropping shocker!!!! Hold on to your hats as Nicola Marsh is going to take you on one wild ride with My Sister’s Boyfriend! Whew! This book kept me turning the pages while on the edge of my seat, fully invested and loving every second of it! I have loved Marsh’s writing for quite some time and love how she always delivers gripping and intriguing books. This book touches on family, siblings, secrets, lies, betrayal and love. I was completely addicted to this book which focuses on estranged sisters (Brooke and Lizzie) and identical twin brothers (Noel and Ned). The book takes place in the past and in the present day. This is a book which I highly recommend going in knowing in as little as possible. There are quite a few characters, but I found it easy to keep track of all of them as Nicola Marsh did a great job creating their distinct personalities and motivations. There are also a few characters who I enjoyed booing and hissing it. Plus, the element of who-can-you-trust always appeals to me and Nicola Marsh nailed that with My Sister’s Boyfriend. I had my theories but found my head spinning at quite a few twists and turns which left me reeling. I enjoyed the POV’s and the tension which flowed throughout the book. There was also a nice amount of suspense as well. When dread began to creep into the book, I could not turn the pages fast enough! Nicola Marsh has dazzled me yet again with her wonderful writing, great likeable and unlikeable characters, well thought out plot and shocking reveals in this book. I look forward to what she writes next. Well written, well thought out, tense, shocking, suspenseful, and dark. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Witches of Santo Stefano
Whenever I see that Wendy Webb has a new book coming out, I get very, very excited. She has a knack for transporting me/readers into the lives of her characters. I loved being a silent observer as Cassie Graves investigates her family’s past while making changes to her present and future in The Witches of Santo Stefano! I found this book to be addictive, engrossing, magical, and beautiful. I loved the feeling of community and friendship which are paired with family secrets and mystery in this book. Cassie had her life altered when she discovered her husband’s affair. She’s a smart and savvy woman and after having her heartbroken, she decides to go to Italy to continue researching her family’s history especially that surrounding the death of great-grandmother Violetta whose death certificate states her cause of death is stregoneria—witchcraft! I love a good book about witches and/or witchcraft, so this was a no brainer for me!!! Plus, it is written by Wendy Webb!!!!!! I could not wait to dig in and Wendy Webbb cast her spell on me! I loved the theme of researching one’s family. Cassie’s trip to Italy and her research was intriguing. I loved how those in the community became invested in her research as well, sharing what they knew or heard. I also loved the talk of witches, the found spell book, and the glimpses into the lives of the characters in the past and present. I could not get enough of this book. I found it to be engaging, enticing, and hard to put down. As I mentioned, I enjoy Wendy Webb’s writing. I love her vivid descriptions, her characters, and the plots of her books. I found this book to be atmospheric and magical! The characters are well drawn, and I was invested in their plight. I would have enjoyed spending time with all of them. Plus, the descriptions of Italy, the hospitality, the delicious food and beautiful landscapes had me wanting to pack my bags and grab my passport! This book touches on family, community, the kindness of strangers, self-reliance, love, romance, loss, and magic! Wonderfully written, well thought out, engaging, addictive and pure magic! Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Now You Are Mine
Six strangers, an art retreat by a lake, a dark history/mystery, and mounting danger! Now You Are Mine is an atmospheric psychological thriller/mystery that kept me on my toes. This book is told through past and present storylines. It is evident that all the characters have secrets but one of the secrets is more dangerous than the others. Polly has signed up for an art retreat in the Lake District. It will give her the break she needs, and it doesn’t hurt that she will also be able to look into her mother’s family history/past. At the art retreat things begin to get creepy. Someone has painted something sinister onto her painting, the owners are receiving threatening messages, and the guests are on edge. Then one of them goes missing. Polly is scared that a stalker who terrorized her and her roommate may be back. But maybe there is someone who does not want her to learn about the family she never knew, or are the strange happenings due to another threat??? This was an interesting and intriguing story. I was fully invested in the beginning and for most of the book. There are quite a few characters in both timelines and readers are given multiple character’s POV. There are quite a few creepy moments, lots of tension, suspense, and mounting danger. The setting in the Lake District provided a nice amount of atmosphere which I enjoyed. This book kept my interest throughout, and I had a good time trying to develop my suspect list. Atmospheric, mysterious, and suspenseful. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Bullets in the Briar
*CRACK* That is the sound of Kimber Silver hitting it out of the ballpark with Bullets in the Briar!!!!! I completely enjoyed her first book, Broken Rhodes, which I highly recommend, but she outdid herself with Bullets in the Briar. I found this book to be instantly gripping, thrilling, brimming with tension, mystery, secrets, and romance! I forgot how much I enjoyed the characters of Kinsley and Lincoln; both individually and together. It was nice to be back in Harlow, Kansas and reading what they were up to; and it is a lot!!! Not only is Lincoln running for re-election, but he is investigating the discovery of a mutilated body found on a remote farm. The dead man appears to be associated with a religious sect, “The Order” nearby. The question is who killed him and why! Kinsley continues to be spunky, caring, and determined. She also continues to work on her business while encouraging and supporting Lincoln in his re-election bid against an arrogant and flashy out of towner. Plus, she has a wedding to plan! Throw in close friends, a hot biker, a great mystery, and an adorable puppy and you can’t go wrong in my book! I loved the dialogue, banter, and dialect in this book. I felt as if Kimber Silver transported me to Harlow as a silent observer. The characters feel authentic and real. There were characters that I liked, characters who tickled me pink, and those who weren’t worth a damn. This of course made for interesting and entertaining reading. I also enjoyed how Kimber Silver showed her character’s inner thoughts and struggles/things they mull over. For instance, Lincoln is running for re-election but doesn’t want to brag about his good deeds to win votes. He believes that his good deeds and commitment to the Harlow community stand for themselves and is not comfortable using them for his advantage. I also enjoyed the focus on community and relationships in this book. Relationship between the characters, range from friendship, romantic relationships, work collogues/relationships, and parent-child relationships. The mystery in this book was riveting and I enjoyed how everything unfolded. Whew! Coming in at 271 pages, Bullets in the Briar packs a punch! While this book would work perfectly as a stand-alone novel, I do highly recommend reading Broken Rhodes first because A.) It’s a fantastic book and B.) It introduces Kinsley and Lincoln and the mystery/tragedy/investigation which introduced them. Wonderfully written, well thought out, perfectly paced, and gripping! I can’t wait to read what Kimber Silver writes next! (More Kinsley and Linc please!) Thank you to Kimber Silver who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Your Little Lies
Secrets, twists, lies, deception and recognition rule the day in Your Little Lies! Sue Fortin crafted a tale that takes place in the present and ten years earlier. A lot can happen in ten years, right!?! Well, a lot has happened…. Hannah, Jasper and their daughter, Pia, have recently moved into a new home in a new community. It’s a fresh beginning for them in a home with a wonderful view. Hannah has made a friend, but she has also met a neighbor who she recognizes and who recognizes her! As her anxiety piques, she can’t help but think about safety issues, the past, and just how dangerous things could become. While I enjoyed this book, I didn’t love it. I found it to be a bit slow at times and this felt like a much longer book than 338 pages. I did enjoy the mystery but wanted more oomph. I enjoyed that I did not figure this book out, the author kept me guessing the entire book. There is a nice amount of tension, twists, and secrets flowing throughout the book, which I always enjoy. Others are enjoying this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well. Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wished
I am a HUGE Sarah Ready fan and love her writing. I could not wait to dive into Wished which focuses on Anna Benoit making a wish that she was married to Max Barone, the owner of the chateau she cleans. She has loved him since she laid eyes on him, but Max doesn’t even know her name. What’s a gal to do????? How about making a wish!?! That is exactly what Anna does and suddenly *poof* she his happily married to Max. Their lives are exciting, passionate, loving, and fun! But Anna can’t quite shake that she has wished this to happen. She tells Max the truth, but will the truth set her free????? I have enjoyed this series from the beginning and while I enjoyed Wished and found it to be charming, it was my least favorite in the series. All the books have a little bit of magic, but this was lacking that little bit of something that would have pushed my rating higher. What this did have was Sarah Ready’s signature humor, sexy lead characters, her steamy scenes and her focus on finding love. This book also had a nice amount of charming supporting characters as well. I do hope that there are more books in this series, as Sarah Ready is such a great Contemporary Romance writer and I do enjoy the magical realism in this book series. As I mentioned this book is part of a series, but all books work very nicely as stand-alone books. Although I did not love it as much as the other books in the series, I still found this book to be well written, charming, sexy, engaging and fun!
My Sister’s Boyfriend
Talk about a jaw dropping shocker!!!! Hold on to your hats as Nicola Marsh is going to take you on one wild ride with My Sister’s Boyfriend! Whew! This book kept me turning the pages while on the edge of my seat, fully invested and loving every second of it! I have loved Marsh’s writing for quite some time and love how she always delivers gripping and intriguing books. This book touches on family, siblings, secrets, lies, betrayal and love. I was completely addicted to this book which focuses on estranged sisters (Brooke and Lizzie) and identical twin brothers (Noel and Ned). The book takes place in the past and in the present day. This is a book which I highly recommend going in knowing in as little as possible. There are quite a few characters, but I found it easy to keep track of all of them as Nicola Marsh did a great job creating their distinct personalities and motivations. There are also a few characters who I enjoyed booing and hissing it. Plus, the element of who-can-you-trust always appeals to me and Nicola Marsh nailed that with My Sister’s Boyfriend. I had my theories but found my head spinning at quite a few twists and turns which left me reeling. I enjoyed the POV’s and the tension which flowed throughout the book. There was also a nice amount of suspense as well. When dread began to creep into the book, I could not turn the pages fast enough! Nicola Marsh has dazzled me yet again with her wonderful writing, great likeable and unlikeable characters, well thought out plot and shocking reveals in this book. I look forward to what she writes next. Well written, well thought out, tense, shocking, suspenseful, and dark. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Witches of Santo Stefano
Whenever I see that Wendy Webb has a new book coming out, I get very, very excited. She has a knack for transporting me/readers into the lives of her characters. I loved being a silent observer as Cassie Graves investigates her family’s past while making changes to her present and future in The Witches of Santo Stefano! I found this book to be addictive, engrossing, magical, and beautiful. I loved the feeling of community and friendship which are paired with family secrets and mystery in this book. Cassie had her life altered when she discovered her husband’s affair. She’s a smart and savvy woman and after having her heartbroken, she decides to go to Italy to continue researching her family’s history especially that surrounding the death of great-grandmother Violetta whose death certificate states her cause of death is stregoneria—witchcraft! I love a good book about witches and/or witchcraft, so this was a no brainer for me!!! Plus, it is written by Wendy Webb!!!!!! I could not wait to dig in and Wendy Webbb cast her spell on me! I loved the theme of researching one’s family. Cassie’s trip to Italy and her research was intriguing. I loved how those in the community became invested in her research as well, sharing what they knew or heard. I also loved the talk of witches, the found spell book, and the glimpses into the lives of the characters in the past and present. I could not get enough of this book. I found it to be engaging, enticing, and hard to put down. As I mentioned, I enjoy Wendy Webb’s writing. I love her vivid descriptions, her characters, and the plots of her books. I found this book to be atmospheric and magical! The characters are well drawn, and I was invested in their plight. I would have enjoyed spending time with all of them. Plus, the descriptions of Italy, the hospitality, the delicious food and beautiful landscapes had me wanting to pack my bags and grab my passport! This book touches on family, community, the kindness of strangers, self-reliance, love, romance, loss, and magic! Wonderfully written, well thought out, engaging, addictive and pure magic! Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Now You Are Mine
Six strangers, an art retreat by a lake, a dark history/mystery, and mounting danger! Now You Are Mine is an atmospheric psychological thriller/mystery that kept me on my toes. This book is told through past and present storylines. It is evident that all the characters have secrets but one of the secrets is more dangerous than the others. Polly has signed up for an art retreat in the Lake District. It will give her the break she needs, and it doesn’t hurt that she will also be able to look into her mother’s family history/past. At the art retreat things begin to get creepy. Someone has painted something sinister onto her painting, the owners are receiving threatening messages, and the guests are on edge. Then one of them goes missing. Polly is scared that a stalker who terrorized her and her roommate may be back. But maybe there is someone who does not want her to learn about the family she never knew, or are the strange happenings due to another threat??? This was an interesting and intriguing story. I was fully invested in the beginning and for most of the book. There are quite a few characters in both timelines and readers are given multiple character’s POV. There are quite a few creepy moments, lots of tension, suspense, and mounting danger. The setting in the Lake District provided a nice amount of atmosphere which I enjoyed. This book kept my interest throughout, and I had a good time trying to develop my suspect list. Atmospheric, mysterious, and suspenseful. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Let’s be social
Search
Subscribe and follow Openbookposts
Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
Goodreads
ERROR:03NetGalley
lolgo
