Category Archives: Kelly Moran

January 17, 2016 · 11:58 pm

Review: Exposure by Kelly Moran

exposureTitle: Exposure by Kelly Moran
Publisher: KDP
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, Romance, Suspense
Length: 264 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by the Author

Summary:

The greatest pleasure comes from losing control…

Noah Caldwell has spent ten years biding his time for the chance to tell his best friend Raven Crowne the truth. He wants her. With the threat that brought him to her in the first place finally behind him, they begin a hot affair he’s only dreamt about. And reality is far better than fantasy. Yet beautiful Raven has her own dark history, one he’s trying desperately to release from her. But as their passion deepens and turns into more, his past rises up from the shadows to claim one last victim…and Noah could lose the only person he can’t live without.

Review:

Exposure by Kelly Moran is an erotic romance with suspense elements.

Raven Crowne and Noah Caldwell have been best friends for the past ten years. Raven worked hard to escape from her humble beginnings and she is the owner of a thriving art gallery. She has some pretty serious trust issues and she has never been in a long term romantic relationship. Noah is über wealthy and runs a successful outdoor adventure company. On paper, he seems to be an open book, but Noah is keeping a few secrets and Raven is flabbergasted when he confesses a long term attraction to her. His other secrets are not quite as innocuous and could put them both in danger.

When the novel first opens, Raven is excited at the prospect of featuring one of her favorite photographers at her gallery. His identity is shrouded in mystery since he eschews any type of publicity. Raven is a little stunned to discover he is also the person responsible for cryptic (and, in my opinion, creepy) messages she has been receiving for the past several years. Her curiosity about him overshadows her fear and she is quick to agree to meet with him. Needless to say, Raven is nervous but eager to meet him and she is in for the shock of her life once they finally come face to face.

The attraction between Noah and Raven is mutual and while she is initially hesitant to accept his proposal, she finally agrees to spend a month exploring their desire. She has deep rooted issues that she has worked around and admitting these idiosyncrasies is not easy. Considering how much of his private life Noah kept hidden from her, it is pretty surprising she feels comfortable revealing her darkest secrets to him. Their sex scenes are highly graphic, detailed and quite plentiful. While there is no denying the explosive attraction between them, their overall romance seems to lack an emotional connection.

The suspense element of the storyline is a little underwhelming. Although Noah quickly learned his past was not quite as settled as he first thought, he never considers cancelling his plans with Raven. This seemed a little out of character since he had protected Raven by keeping this part of his life separate from her for so many years. It also seemed a little odd that Raven easily dismissed her suspicions about a prospective client even after she became aware of Noah’s past.

Exposure by Kelly Moran is a well written friends to lovers erotic novel. The characters are well-developed with realistic flaws and imperfections. While some aspects of the storyline are refreshingly unique, others are quite easy to predict. All in all, a sizzling hot romance that fans of the genre will enjoy.

1 Comment

Filed under Contemporary, Erotic, Exposure, KDP, Kelly Moran, Rated C+, Review, Romance, Suspense

January 25, 2015 · 11:55 pm

Review: Ghost of a Promise by Kelly Moran

ghost promiseTitle: Ghost of a Promise by Kelly Moran
Phantoms Trilogy Book One
Publisher: Entangled: Covet
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal/Supernatural, Romance
Length: 300
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

It might be love…but will they survive the night?

The ghosts of her family’s estate on the coast of Maine never troubled Ava Trumble. When she finally inherits the historic mansion, however, there’s a small string attached: Ava has exactly one year to solve a 200-year-old mystery of a missing girl, or lose her family’s home…

The lead investigator for paranormal TV show Phantoms, Jackson Granger, is prepared for any metaphysical encounter—until now. It’s not just the uncanny sense of “coming home” or even his reaction to the fiery redhead who seems to consume his every waking thought. No, it’s that the ghosts are using Jackson and Ava’s attraction to play out a centuries-old tragedy. Heartbreak. Loss. Overwhelming passion. Now Jackson and Ava must determine if they’re sharing something real…or if they’ve been possessed by a love that never died.

The Review:

With an intriguing mystery, an eerie ghostly presence and a sizzling hot romance, Kelly Moran’s Phantoms Trilogy is off to a spooktacular beginning with Ghost of a Promise. If you are a fan of ghost stories (or the TV show Ghost Hunters), you absolutely do not want to miss this riveting first installment in what promises to be a very spooky series about a group of paranormal investigators.

Ava Trumble is dismayed to discover that in order to inherit her great-aunt’s mansion she has to solve the mysterious disappearance of Sarah Kerrick. Sarah vanished without a trace over 200 years earlier and the family estate has been plagued with ghostly appearances and unexplained deaths ever since. While the hauntings do not bother her, Ava is genuinely interested in learning the fate of Sarah and calling in the Phantoms team is her best chance for solving the mystery.

Jackson Granger is the lead investigator for the paranormal show and he is immediately charmed by both Ava and her home. He is a bit unsettled by his unexpected feelings of familiarity upon his arrival, but he pushes his unease away as they begin their investigation. For the first time in his career, Jackson’s experiences at the estate have a personal effect on him and his surprising attraction to Ava seems to be a trigger for some of the supernatural phenomena. Pairing up to get to the bottom of the mystery, Jackson and Ava eventually give in to their desire, but will Jackson’s commitment issues and Ava’s fears prevent them from staying together once the investigation has ended?

The paranormal/supernatural element of Ghost of a Promise is absolutely outstanding. The ghostly occurrences are very spooky and rather chilling. The history of the house is quite fascinating and the mystery surrounding Sarah’s disappearance is equally spellbinding. The paranormal investigation is very well researched and fans of ghost stories will be thrilled by this aspect of the storyline.

Ghost of a Promise is a captivating start to Phantom’s Trilogy. The cast of characters is superbly developed and the plot is quite engrossing. Kelly Moran expertly weaves mystery, romance and the supernatural into a compelling story that is sure to delight readers and leave them impatiently awaiting the next novel of this marvelous series.

2 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Entangled Covet, Ghost of a Promise, Ghosts, Kelly Moran, Paranormal, Phantoms Trilogy, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Supernatural Elements

December 10, 2014 · 11:56 pm

Review: Return to Me by Kelly Moran

Return to MeTitle: Return to Me by Kelly Moran
Covington Cove Series Book One
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

A Covington Cove Novel—First in a new contemporary romance series from an award-winning author featuring “two characters you’ll never forget.” (Carly Phillips, New York Times bestselling author)

With every beat of the heart comes a memory of what could have been…

Ten years ago, Cole Covington was just another rich kid who got everything he wanted—including young and trusting Mia Galdon. Then one night everything changed, and two hearts were shattered. Cole buried his guilt in the military, where love was just part of the past. Now Cole has come back home, emotionally damaged, guarded, and unprepared for what’s waiting for him…

At the urging of Cole’s sister, Mia has returned to the Covington family’s coastal home in Wilmington as a private nurse to help Cole recover. With her uncertain personal life at a crossroad, Mia doesn’t have the luxury of saying no to the job. And she soon finds out that the attraction is still alive. So are memories of betrayal. But Mia will discover more than the power of resilience. She’ll discover a secret Cole has held for years, one that will force them to confront the past and give new meaning to letting go, forgiveness, and a future worth fighting for.

Pre-order Links (Available March 3, 2015): Amazon * B&N

The Review:

Return to Me by Kelly Moran is an enchanting second chance at love romance that tugs at the heartstrings as Cole Covington and Mia Galdon heal the wounds of the past. This first installment in the Covington Cove series is an emotional, poignant and uplifting novel that I highly recommend to fans of contemporary romances.

Mia has worked hard to escape the poverty of her childhood. In the ten years since the terrible break up with Cole, she achieved her goal of attending college to become a registered nurse. Currently unemployed after her position was eliminated, she is struggling to pay the bills when Lacey Covington offers her a job as Cole’s private nurse. Despite the heartache of their past, Mia accepts the position and hopes that by helping Cole, she will find answers to her lingering questions about the abrupt end to the their relationship.

Mia is a warm and caring woman and it is impossible not to like her. She is a little shocked at Cole’s condition but she takes a tough love approach to his care. Mia is pragmatic, resourceful and refuses to back down no matter how much Cole fights her.

Cole is stubborn and he has refused to do anything to aid his recovery from his injuries. In addition to his physical injures, he is suffering from post traumatic stress and he has isolated himself from friends and family. Mia leaves him no choice but to comply with her treatment plan, and he slowly begins to heal. Although Cole is beginning to recover from his battle injuries, he continues to be haunted by the unresolved issues in his past.

Events from the past are revealed through brief flashbacks that detail Cole and Mia’s relationship from their first meetings through their disastrous breakup. In spite of their vastly different backgrounds, they formed a close friendship that eventually turned to love.  Although the odds were against them, their romance was flourishing right up until Cole inexplicably broke up with Mia.

In the present, Mia and Cole’s relationship is at first professional, but they quickly resume their previous friendship. Once Cole confesses why he broke things off, he and Mia are finally free to explore their continued attraction to one another. But once again, interference from outside sources threatens their burgeoning romance.

Return to Me is an engaging novel with an appealing cast of characters and a unique storyline. Kelly Moran expertly weaves past and present into a compelling story of love and healing that is realistic and quite moving. It is an absolutely delightful beginning to the Covington Cove series that will leave readers impatiently awaiting the next installment.

3 Comments

Filed under Berkley, Contemporary, Kelly Moran, Rated B+, Return to Me, Review, Romance

April 20, 2014 · 11:57 pm

Review: The Drake House by Kelly Moran

Title: The Drake House by Kelly Moran
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense
Length: 350 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author

Summary:

In her dreams, a ghost demands to be heard…

Once plagued by mysterious nightmares, Trisha Eaton always chalked them up to childish nuisances–until they return with a vengeance. Something about the Drake house next door haunts her, and now her night terrors and sleepwalking seem to be luring her to something dark. After a series of strange events, Trisha turns to Nick Mackey.

As the new deputy in town, Nick wants to forget his traumatic past. His undeniable attraction for Trisha has him wondering if a shot at a normal life is possible. But Trisha has somehow struck a nerve in their small, superstitious town, and a long-buried secret threatens to surface again. A secret that someone will kill to keep veiled.

Answers only lead to more questions in a case where nothing makes sense, but one chilling fact remains…some nightmares are all too real.

The Review:

The Drake House by Kelly Moran is the perfect combination of romance, mystery and paranormal elements. Long time secrets, nightmares and a ghostly presence are just a few of the intriguing aspects of this compelling and well-written story.

The return of Trisha Eaton’s childhood nightmares and sleepwalking coincides with threatening notes and phone calls. She turns to local police to investigate and new Deputy Nick Mackey is assigned to the case. All clues point to the property that borders Trisha’s orchard, but Drake House has remained uninhabited since Alexandra Drake’s mysterious death twenty years ago. As Trisha and Nick soon discover, someone is willing to go to any lengths, including murder, to keep the truth about long held secrets from being revealed.

Trisha is a feisty, independent woman who is not easily intimated. She is very protective of her friends and family and she will do whatever it takes to keep them safe. With no one willing to talk about a puzzling event from her past, Trisha is willing to risk just about anything to uncover the truth.

Haunted by a justified shooting and the devastating aftermath, Nick is enjoying his new career as a small town deputy. Surprised by his attraction to Trisha, he tries to keep their relationship on professional level as he investigates the inexplicable occurrences at her orchard. Working closely together, the two give in to their passion but his unresolved past continually comes between them.

Nick and Trisha’s relationship is rocky right from the beginning. They quickly indulge in a casual fling, but it is short-lived. The investigation continues to put them in close proximity, but neither is ready for a serious commitment. Nick and Trisha work well together, but their personal relationship runs hot and cold for much of the novel.

The mystery aspect of the storyline has its roots in long ago events, but Nick and Trisha are stone-walled by her parents and her close friends. Nick and Trisha, along with her best friend Brad, quietly look into Alexandra Drake’s past and what they uncover is puzzling. Equally troubling are the present day murders of two of Trisha’s friends and the unexplained disappearance of a longtime family friend.

The Drake House is a suspense-laden mystery with a just the right amount of romance and the tiniest bit of a supernatural component. The characters are wonderfully developed with realistic flaws and imperfections. Kelly Moran does an excellent job obscuring the perpetrator’s identity until the novel’s exciting conclusion.

3 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Kelly Moran, Paranormal, Rated B, Review, Romantic Suspense, The Drake House, The Wild Rose Press

April 16, 2014 · 11:58 pm

Review: Summer’s Road by Kelly Moran

summerTitle: Summer’s Road by Kelly Moran
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 298 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author

Summary:

After her father’s death, Summer Quinn realizes just how alone she feels in the world. With no family to fill her life now, she finds comfort among friends, but yearns for true love, contentment, and family. When her boyfriend, Matt, suggests they raise their relationship to a higher level, Summer jumps at the chance to get everything she’s always wanted. Only she doesn’t expect the heat arising between her and her best friend, Ian–a man who never seems to settle down. A man the complete opposite of what she’s looking for. But when her estranged mother reappears after twenty-eight years, Summer’s world completely flips upside down. As secrets from her family’s past and Ian’s true feelings for her emerge, Summer’s now faced with choices she’s not sure she can make. The rest of her life’s happiness hinges on her finally confronting a past she’d rather deny and legitimately opening her heart to love, even if it’s not where she expected to find it.

The Review:

Summer’s Road by Kelly Moran is a lovely friends to lovers romance. It is also an emotional journey of healing and forgiveness for Summer Quinn as she makes peace with her past. But the heart and soul of this wonderful story is the delightful friendship that Summer shares with her best pals Ian, Rick and Dee.

Summer has been unable to move on from the two defining moments of her life-her mother’s long ago abandonment and more recently, her beloved father’s death from cancer. On the four year anniversary of her dad’s death, she is shaken by her mother Sharon’s unexpected reappearance in her life. As if her life is not in enough turmoil, her longtime boyfriend Matt is suddenly asking for a commitment and her close friendship with Ian takes a surprisingly romantic turn.

Although Summer has a very close friendship with her childhood friends, she always holds a little piece of herself back from them. Instead of confiding in them, she puts on a happy face and keeps her strongest emotions to herself. This defense mechanism works perfectly well until her past and present collide and she comes very close to ruining her friendship and, quite possibly, her future with Ian. But help arrives from a surprising source and Summer has a few revelations about her parents and her friendships that help her heal the wounds from her past.

The budding romance between Ian and Summer is full of misunderstandings but lack of communication is probably their biggest issue. For two people who think they know one another inside and out, it turns out they really don’t know each other very well at all. Even worse, they are both guilty of assuming they know what the other person is thinking and this leads some frustrating conversations where they keep their true feelings hidden.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the novel is the close-knit friendship between Summer, Ian, Rick and Dee. Ian, Rick and Dee are more than Summer’s friends; they are her family. The three have been with Summer through good times and bad and their support for her is unwavering. But as they soon discover, their good intentions have undesirable consequences that have hindered Summer more than they helped. Fortunately it is not too late for Summer to make amends for her past behavior and she embraces what she has in life instead of lamenting what is missing.

Summer’s Road by Kelly Moran is a wonderful story of forgiveness, friendship and love. The cast of characters is appealing and beautifully developed. The story line is engaging with plenty of strong emotions. A heartfelt novel that fans of contemporary romances are sure to enjoy.

2 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Kelly Moran, Rated B, Review, Romance, The Wild Rose Press