Book Review: Kaleidoscope (Colorado Mountain Book 6) by Kristen Ashley

Kaleidoscope 

(Colorado Mountain Book 6) 

by Kristen Ashley

Series: Colorado Mountain (Book 6)
Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Forever; Reissue edition (December 16, 2014)

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 14 hours and 2 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Audible.com Release Date: December 16, 2014

Ratings: ★ ★ ★   

My thoughts:

I thought I'd be writing a fantastic 5-star book review since I loved the first half of the book. The story was as intense, engaging as Ms. Ashley's other books but it went downhill reading the second half. She did a good job in writing a plausible conflict and solution (character's relationship) just that I was expecting more, some drama/action relating to Emme's ex. I expected probably because her other books all have that (esp Tate and Lauren's story - Sweet Dreams).  

I could also have added one more star up there because I truly loved Deck but I hated Emme's character. Well, at first she seemed like a relatable and likeable character. She used to be a very strong-willed woman during the start of their relationship but eventually, it was revealed that she is weak. She's  like a teenager who doesn't really know what she wants in life.

As always, there is HEA. Not just for Emme and Deck but you'll also get to see other Colorado series characters here. I believe that's because this is the final Colorado book.


About the book:

When old friends become new lovers...anything can happen.

Sexy, gifted, and loyal, PI Jacob Decker is a tall, cool drink of perfection who had Emmanuelle Holmes at "hello." His relationship with Emme's best friend kept them apart for years, but things have changed. Now that a case has brought him to Gnaw Bone, Colorado, the road is wide open for Emme and Deck to explore something hotter and deeper than Emme dreamed possible. So why is she sabotaging the best thing that's ever happened to her? 

It isn't easy to catch Deck off guard, but Emme does just that when she walks back into his life after nine long years. The curvy brunette had her charms back in the day, but now she's a bona fide knockout . . . and she wants to rekindle their friendship. Deck, however, wants more. Emme's always been the one; she excites Deck's body and mind like no other woman can. But a dark chapter from Emme's past overshadows their future together. Now only Deck can help her turn the page-if she'll let him . 

About the author:

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!). 

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up. 

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better. 

Book Review: Mystery Man (Deam Man Series Book #1) by Kristen Ashley

Mystery Man 
(Dream Man Series Book #1)

Author: Kristen Ashley
Mass Market Paperback: 528 pages
Publisher: Forever (August 27, 2013)
Amazon Link

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★   

My thoughts:

Mystery Man is the first book to the Dream Man series, second from KA. Law Man book #3 review, click HERE.

Gwendolyn Kidd has been 'dating' a mystery man. Dating a mystery man means: no names, in Gwen's bedroom, lights out, unlimited sex for one year and six months. It freaked me out the first few pages, I just can't imagine anyone would agree to that kind of set-up. One-night-stand, that I understand but doing it with someone you don't know for nearly two years??? Gwen - are you high? That was my initial reaction to Gwen's story so I left her crazy world for a while, went back I guess two or three days after.

So, this Mystery Man is Hawk, real name Cabe Delgado. Hawk's an ex-army, bad ass domineering alpha man who gives great sex. Not considering the insane set-up, Hawk can be swoon-worthy too. I love that he calls Gwen babe (my favorite endearment next to sweetheart), he can cook, buys his woman expensive things, etc. Though it bothered me that he was spying on Gwen, like monitoring (through his boys) her activities 24/7, WITH CCTVs inside and outside of the house! That's creepy for a guy! Yay... 

As for the story/conflict, it kept me interested the whole time and I guess it was better than Law Man, though in my hotness meter, Mitch still tops the list of my to-day-dream (human) men. And, of course the epilogue and the HEA. . . . I just love love LOVE Kristen Ashley's books! Wanna start Wild Man and Motorcycle Man soon!

About the book:

While drinking cosmopolitans, Gwendolyn Kidd meets the man of her dreams. Then she takes him home. Then she wakes up alone. But her fear that she lost her dream man turns into a relationship with a mystery man when, night after night in the dead of night, he comes back for more. Hoping it will blossom into something real, she lets him.

But she doesn’t even know his name.

Gwen’s struggling with the decision to end their crazy non-relationship when her sister-from-hell, Ginger’s best friend pays a visit and warns Gwen that if she and her sister don't get smart, they'll both get d-e-a-d, dead. Gwen has no clue what’s going on but she’s used to Ginger’s antics and decides to lay the problem on her sister’s biker boyfriend's doorstep. Bad choice. She hits the Denver Underground radar with a big, loud ping.

This means Gwen’s Mystery Man, Cabe “Hawk” Delgado has to step in to keep her safe. But when Hawk gets a dose of Gwen in the daylight, he makes the decision that he finally wants real with Gwen. However when Gwen gets a dose of badass, bossy, straight-talker Hawk in the daylight, she decides she’s done.

Thus begins the head-to-head of the Commando vs. Cosmo Girl as Hawk woos Gwen in his own unique way, Gwen survives firebombs, drive-bys, kidnappings, hot pursuits by biker hotties and gorgeous police detectives and discovers the heartbreaking reason why Hawk kept her at arm’s length.

And as all this happens, Gwen finds that her sister’s troubles are serious trouble and she must decide who to keep alive: her sister-from-hell or the man of her dreams.

About the author:

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen's Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning. 

Nothing's changed.

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she's blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up. 

And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.

Book Review: Law Man (Deam Man Series Book #3) by Kristen Ashley

Law Man
(Dream Man #3)

Author: Kristen Ashley
Kindle Edition
File Size: 673 KB
Print Length: 412 pages
Amazon Link


Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★   

My thoughts: 

Mara Hanover follows a rating system when it comes to people. According to her calculation, she is a two point five girl and she is fine with it, never wanting 'more' than two point five men. However, when this sexy police detective Mitch Lawson moves just in front of her apartment door she suddenly finds herself wishing she is more than two point five as Mitch is a ten point five. And of course, in Mara's world, ten point fives do not associate themselves with two point fives. 

Mara is suffering from a serious self-esteem issues and this annoyed me for most part of the book. I understand girls tend to have these issues, had this too but I was a teenager then. Mara, on the other hand, is in her late twenties or so, can't remember, but really, she is too old to still have that issues affect her life. So it was like another Bella in disguise *sigh*. 

The redeeming part was Mitch. If not for Mitch, I would have stopped reading the story. Oh Mitch Lawson *swoon*. OMG. Just mentioning his name makes me want to re-read the book! I've just added Mitch on my to-day-dream-men list (which currently Dimitri Belikov- Vampire Academy tops the list, followed by Quinn O'Connor - Riley Jenson and Richard Zeeman - Anita Blake, respectively). I always love to read stories with dominating but softy alphas. And Mitch *day dreaming* I guess would top the list for human men *grins*. Law Man is an adult book but not much on sex scenes. And the fact that this is HEA (happily ever after) book, re-reading is very much possible, he will definitely stay with me for a long long time! There are too many things I wanna say about why I love him and the book but don't wanna give too much information to you dear readers *sweet smile*.  

Law Man is my first book by Kristen Ashley and will definitely hook-up with her other men in the Dream Man series! 

About the book:

Love is just around the corner . . . 

Sweet, shy Mara Hanover is in love with her neighbor. For four years, she has secretly watched her dream man from afar. Handsome police detective Mitch Lawson is way out of her league. She's a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, and there's no way a guy like Mitch would want anything to do with her. But when Mara has a leaky faucet that she can't fix, it's Mitch who comes to her rescue. 

Mitch has been eyeing his beautiful neighbor for a long time. He jumps at the chance to help her, and soon their formerly platonic relationship gets very hot and heavy. But when Mara gets a disturbing phone call from her cousin's kids, she gets pulled back into the life she's tried so hard to leave behind. Can the hot law man convince Mara to let go of her past-and build a future with him? 

About the author:

Kristen Ashley grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana, and has lived in Denver, Colorado, and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multigenerational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland, and Kristen grew up listening to the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon, and Whitesnake.

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music and love was a good way to grow up. 

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.