Author: kimberlyfayebaker

Growing up the daughter of notorious treasure hunter and absentee father Duke Wilder left Lily without much patience for the profession…or much money in the bank. But Lily is nothing if not resourceful, and now uses Duke’s coveted hand-drawn maps to guide tourists on fake treasure hunts through the red rock canyons of Utah. It pays the bills but doesn’t leave enough to fulfill her dream of buying back the beloved ranch her father sold years ago, and definitely not enough to deal with the sight of the man she once loved walking back into her life with a motley crew of friends ready to hit the trails. Frankly, Lily would like to take him out into the wilderness—and leave him there.

Leo Grady knew mirages were a thing in the desert, but they’d barely left civilization when the silhouette of his greatest regret comes into focus in the flickering light of the campfire. Ready to leave the past behind him, Leo wants nothing more than to reconnect with his first and only love. Unfortunately, Lily Wilder is all business, drawing a clear line in the sand: it’s never going to happen.

But when the trip goes horribly and hilariously wrong, the group wonders if maybe the legend of the hidden treasure wasn’t a gimmick after all. There’s a chance to right the wrongs—of Duke’s past and their own—but only if Leo and Lily can confront their history and work together. Alone under the stars in the isolated and dangerous mazes of the Canyonlands, Leo and Lily must decide whether they’ll risk their lives and hearts on the adventure of a lifetime.

Amazon • IndieBound • StoryGraph

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration.
This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Here’s a fun fact about me — more often than not, when it comes to some of my favorite authors, I don’t even read a blurb before requesting/buying/beginning to read a book. I have this certain level of trust that I will enjoy almost everything they write so why waste my time on blurbs when I could be reading the book? It has, on occasion, bit me in the ass of course. But most of the time I end up enjoying a story with absolutely no preconceived notions of what it will be. That was the case with Something Wilder. Did I know I was reading a part action/part romance second chance story? I did not. Did I get sucked into it and enjoy the hell out of it? I did.

Second chance romance will forever be one of my favorite tropes. There are a lot of reasons why — some I’m totally unwilling to admit out loud 😂 — but the main one is the way the characters already know each other and the deep emotions and connection between them. I don’t like a lot of angst in my books, but I do like a lot of feelings. I tend to find more feelings in second chance romance than in a lot of other tropes. But, I digress. This was a very well done second chance romance between two characters who are reunited — in a forced proximity situation (another fave!) — several years after one apparently ghosted the other. Oh, the drama! Add in the romantic suspense storylines with the treasure hunt and everything that went along with it and I was totally hooked.

I’m the furthest thing from outdoorsy — unless your definition of outdoorsy includes someone who likes to read on her balcony as long as it’s not too hot, too humid, or too buggy — but I like reading about other people’s adventures in the outdoors. It’s fun to live vicariously as I did during Lily and Leo’s adventures. And boy did they have me on the edge of my seat a few times! I loved how Lily and Leo found their way back to each other while dealing with the other situations in the book. I got all the warm and fuzzy feels, especially towards the end of the book when everything came together.

I read the bulk of this book on audio — I’m a notorious format-flipper when I’m really into a book — and I thought the narration was excellent. Patti Murin and Jon Root were both new-to-me narrators and they did a fantastic job giving voice to the characters. This was an exciting and heartwarming (at least at the end) story and their talents only added to my enjoyment.

Dig a little and you’ll find photos of me in the bathtub with Ezra Stern.
Get your mind out of the gutter. We were six months old.
Pry and one of us might confess we saved our first kiss for each other.
The most clumsy, wet, sloppy . . . spectacular thirty seconds of my adolescence.
Get into our business and you’ll see two families, closer than blood, torn apart in an instant.
Twenty years later, my “awkward duckling” best friend from childhood, the boy no one noticed, is a man no one can ignore.

Finer. Fiercer. Smarter.
Taken.

Tell me it’s wrong.
Tell me the boy who always felt like mine is now the man I can’t have.
When we find each other again, everything stands in our way–secrets, lies, promises.
But we didn’t come this far to give up now.
And I know just the move to make if I want to make him mine.

Amazon • IndieBound • StoryGraph

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration.
This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

What can I say about Queen Move — and Kennedy Ryan’s books — that hasn’t already been said a million times already? I know every time I pick up one of her books, I’m about to go on a journey. It will be an adventure. But, not the type of adventure you might imagine when you think about reading. You won’t find dragons or mighty quests in these pages. Instead, the journey is emotional and often raw and filled with learning and introspection. She has a way of cutting me open and putting me back together better than I was in the first place and her stories always stick with me.

Queen Move was everything I needed in my life. Kimba and Ezra’s story was *chefs kiss*. After loving what we saw of Kimba in the All the Kings Men Duet, I was thrilled to learn Kennedy was writing her story. I couldn’t wait to learn more about this amazing woman. When I read the blurb and realized this book featured a second chance romance, I was even more excited. That trope is Kim catnip. It always has been. But especially when it’s written as beautifully as it was here.

Kimba and Ezra had me all up in my feelings, swooning all over the place during this book. They couldn’t have been more perfectly matched. They were the real deal. Were things perfect? Absolutely not. Were there bumps and bruises along the way? Oh, you better believe it. Queen Move wasn’t without some angst and a whole slew of emotions. And yes, tears. It was a masterpiece.

Favorite Quotes

We are on the cusp of next, but tonight, we have right now, and it’s better than everything I’ve ever had and must be as good as anything to come. 

“They diminish us enough without you making yourself small. You descend from queens.”

I’m not sure which is more dangerous. Ezra taken or Ezra for the taking. 

“You could never be a lot of people, Ez. There’s everyone else, and then there’s you.” 

It’s the kind of perfect kiss that has nothing to do with technique or experience. Nothing even to do with ardor, though that’s evident in the way we clutch, we cling. It’s perfect because it’s her and it’s me and it’s about time and it’s overdue. And we kiss like there’s no tomorrow because there have already been too many yesterdays, too many years we were apart.

The years fall away like a torn veil separating him from me, then from now. It hasn’t been years. There has only been one long day for us on which the sun has never set. We were never lost, and this place has always been waiting for our wandering hearts, for our prodigal souls to finally, together rest. 

“I didn’t even know how much I missed you until I got you back.”

Raised to rule, bred to lead and weaned on a diet of ruthless ambition. In a world of haves and have nots, my family has it all, and I want nothing to do with it.

My path takes me far from home and paints me as the black sheep. At odds with my father, I’m determined to build my own empire. I have rules, but Lennix Hunter is the exception to every one of them. From the moment we meet, something sparks between us. But my family stole from hers and my father is the man she hates most. I lied to have her, and would do anything to keep her. Though she tries to hate me, too, the inexorable pull between us will not be denied.

And neither will I.

Amazon • IndieBound • StoryGraph

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration.
This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

It takes a special author to make me pick up the first book in a duet before the second is published. Kennedy Ryan is one of those special authors. I’m not a big fan of cliffhangers. (And boy does this one have a doozy.) I’m counting down the days until book two’s release, but I regret nothing. The Kingmaker was gorgeous and gave me all the feels while totally putting me through the wringer.

Lennix is easily one of my new favorite heroines. She’s the embodiment of strength and determination. I’d call her amazing, but even that’s not strong enough a word to describe her. I was in awe of her throughout this entire book. Maxim is pretty wonderful in his own right. The two of them together? Incredible. The passion, the power, and the chemistry was intense. As is often the case with Kennedy’s books, The Kingmaker tackles some tough topics but does so in a way that’s eye-opening and respectful without ever feeling preachy.

I want to be cautious not to say too much about the storyline here. I feel like you really just need to experience the ride that is The Kingmaker. The balance of politics and romance was absolute perfection. Everything about this book hooked me from the prologue. Before I knew it, I was halfway through the book trying to decide whether to savor it or devour it. (I chose to devour, btw.) When the characters, story and words are this good, I have to take it all in as quickly as possible.

The Kingmaker was beautiful and relevant, full of fiery passion and plenty of emotions. Now I just need the second book. ASAP, please. Thank goodness the wait isn’t that long. I need more Lennix and Maxim feels.

Favorite Quotes

On rare occasion, you come across someone who just gets you, and you don’t have to figure out your place. Wherever you are is okay. I think he could be a “wherever you are” person.

Some people leave an impression. Lennix Moon Hunter has left more than an impression. She’s left her mark on me. And it’s shaped like a star.

Injustice never rests and neither will I.

If a kiss has a color, this one is the muted shades of the sky overhead, a ménage à trois of midnight and indigo and moonshine silver. If a kiss has a sound, this one is the concert of our breaths and sighs and moans. If a kiss has a taste, it tastes like this. Hunger flavored with yearning and spiced with desperation. With bites and growls and tender licks and soothing whispers. Perfectly served portions of sweet and scorching.

“I have to go make my world, but when the time is right, I’ll be back for you.” 

“Just promise you’ll stop fighting for everyone else long enough to find something for yourself.”

Vanessa Mazur knows she’s doing the right thing. She shouldn’t feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans and none of them include washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary.

But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, she’s beyond shocked.

For two years, the man known as The Wall of Winnipeg couldn’t find it in him to tell her good morning or congratulate her on her birthday. Now? He’s asking for the unthinkable.

What do you say to the man who is used to getting everything he wants?

Amazon • IndieBound • StoryGraph

Despite my passion for reading and how many books I read in a year, it takes a VERY special book to keep me up late and/or get me up early. The Wall of Winnipeg and Me did BOTH — so you can say this one was VERY VERY special. Honestly, I can’t tell you the last time a book did that. It was totally worth missing out on some sleep to be able to binge the hell out of this book. I regret nothing. I’m not sure what I can say about this book that hasn’t been said a thousand times already, but I can’t NOT review it.

You know how they say “you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone”? That could be the subtitle of The Wall of Winnipeg and Me. When Vanessa quit her job as Aiden’s assistant, to pursue her dream of owning her own business — and, quite frankly, to NOT have to deal with his crap anymore, it didn’t take Aiden long to realize he couldn’t live without her. Or, more specifically, that he didn’t want to.

Vanessa and Aiden, y’all. They were something special. I can’t tell you just how much I loved them. They gave me ALL THE FEELS. This wasn’t your typical romance and that’s what I loved the most about it. If you love a good, S L O W burn, then look no further. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, but I also didn’t want to rush the story because it — and the words — were just so freaking good. These two though. They were such wonderfully complex characters, especially Aiden. Yes, I have a new book boyfriend. I love me a good grumpy guy — even if he took it to an extreme sometimes — but it was what was underneath that grumpy exterior that made him so special. And Vanessa? She wasn’t one to put up with Aiden’s crap. (Well, after she quit the job anyhow.) I love a heroine with a backbone. She was spunky. Her inner dialogue was a treat. (As was everything about this book, honestly.)

Slow burn romances aren’t *always* my favorite, but that’s because more often than not I feel like they aren’t done all that well. Well, Mariana gives GREAT slow burn romance. There might not have been all that much kissing in the book, but it didn’t even matter to me. (And that says A LOT because I LOVE kissing books.) The real treat here was falling into Vanessa’s world and falling for Aiden right along with her. It was such a treat to get to know both of them. But when the sexy times happened? *fans self* Hotness for days.

It might only be the first half of January, but I can already tell you one book that will be on my “best of 2017” list. It was totally perfect and exactly what I needed when I read it. If I could give it more than five stars, I totally would. I’m adding The Wall of Winnipeg and Me to my “must reread a thousand times” list, because that’s exactly what I want to do. *happy sigh*

Favorite Quotes

What no one tells you is that the road to accomplishing your goals isn’t a straight line; it looks more like a corn maze. You stopped, you went, you backed up, and took a few wrong turns along the way, but the important thing you had to remember was that there was an exit. Somewhere.

When life gives you lemons, you get to choose what you make out of them; it doesn’t always have to be lemonade. 

“I don’t want someone new. I want you.” 

“You’re not my friend; you’ve never tried to be my friend. You haven’t once given a shit about me until you needed something, and now for some strange reason, you’re making it seem like you can’t live without me. And we both know that’s bullshit.”

Life was all about choices. You chose what to make out of what you had. And I wasn’t going to let it make me its bitch.

His forehead tipped forward, and before I could react, before he said another word to me, he leaned forward, forward, forward and pressed his mouth just to the side of my mouth. A peck. A shot better than tequila, make up of friendship and affection and organic sugar.”

“I’m starting to understand that you can always make time for the things that matter.”

One-night stands are supposed to be with someone convenient, or wickedly persuasive, or regrettable. They aren’t supposed to be with someone like him.

But after a crazy Vegas weekend celebrating her college graduation—and terrified of the future path she knows is a cop-out—Mia Holland makes the wildest decision of her life: follow Ansel Guillaume—her sweet, filthy fling—to France for the summer and just…play.

When feelings begin to develop behind the provocative roles they take on, and their temporary masquerade adventures begin to feel real, Mia will have to decide if she belongs in the life she left because it was all wrong, or in the strange new one that seems worlds away.

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Sweet Filthy Boy is definitely one of my biggest surprises of the year so far. If you ask me again in a month and a half at the end of the year, it’ll probably still be near the top of the surprises list. I tried to read Beautiful Bastard a few months ago, but it just wasn’t for me. Not every book/author is, so I was ready to write these fine ladies off into the “not my thing” category. A friend raved about how much she loved Sweet Filthy Boy and, after reading the blurb, I decided to give it a shot. I started the audiobook one morning on the way to work, listened to it for an hour or so during the workday and promptly drove to the bookstore to buy a paperback copy so I could finish it NOT in audiobook format and add it to my favorites shelves. That’s how much I loved everything about this story. I’m pretty sure there’s nothing I can say about it that hasn’t been said 1,000 times before – and more eloquently than I ever will – but I can’t get this story out of my head. I hope writing a review will help. 🙂

Mia’s post-graduation trip to Vegas with her friends wasn’t supposed to end with her getting married to a gorgeous French stranger, but that’s exactly what happened.  The morning after, she has some decisions to make: get an annulment, lose Ansel, this man she has an attachment to, and go on with her plan, or take a risk and go to France with him for the summer. She might not remember everything about their night together, but she remembers how it felt to be with him and the chemistry they shared. She takes a chance and to everyone’s surprise, decides to join him in France. As they struggle to get to know each other and find their way back to the couple they were the night they decided to get married, I was completely hooked and totally emotional.

“I want to love all of my life as much as I love this night.”

There were so many things I loved about this book. The words are just beautiful. I’m officially obsessed with the quote above. It’s gorgeous and totally embodies the book. The quote is part of one of my favorite things about this book: Mia’s letter to herself. She didn’t remember all of their night together, but the letter she wrote made everything clear. Mia has a difficult time expressing herself, but it isn’t nearly as bad when she’s writing. We never see more of she and Ansel’s first night together than their first meeting and some flashbacks, but the letter tells us the depth of the connection they shared.

Mia was a wonderful character. I loved the relationship between her and her friends. The banter and the humor grabbed me from the start. Ansel is officially my new book boyfriend. As you may have guessed from the title, he’s sweet and dirty. Which is an amazing combination. I loved how upfront he was with his feelings. He’s not perfect. He’s a workaholic and he was keeping something pretty big from Mia, but I can forgive him for that. Mia and Ansel’s relationship might have had an unconventional start, but that didn’t make what they shared less real. I just loved these two. I loved watching them navigate this thing between them. I loved reading about how Mia found herself in France and was finally able to admit what she really wanted out of life.

I just can’t say enough about this book. It was seriously sexy. Like, off the charts on the hot-meter. The characters were easy to relate to and fall in love with. Sweet Filthy Boy is a good bit longer than the books I normally read, but it could have been twice the size and I still would have devoured it. I couldn’t get enough of these two characters. I’m so excited about this series, too. I really enjoyed the secondary characters and look forward to reading their books, as well. I’ll be diving into Dirty Rowdy Thing very soon.