Review: The Chronicles of Katrina by Karin Tabke

Reviewer's Rating: 5

5.0Overall score

Powerfully Sensual & Complex

The Chronicles of Katrina By Karin Tabke

Contemporary Erotic Romance

Released November 13, 2015

Karin Tabke LLC

Series: Bad Boys of the Bay, Book 1

Reviewed by Deb

A sexy stranger, a night of no holds barred passion, and a secret so dangerous it could destroy their lives…

Dr. Katrina Winslow has always known who she is: an elite scientist, a certifiable genius and ultra-reserved when it comes to love and relationships. So when a simple game of truth or dare offers the cool doctor the opportunity to shed her lab coat and glasses and put on a pair of strappy stilettos, she accepts the dare. But will shedding her inhibitions for a sexy stranger fulfill her every desire and help her discover if she can be truly daring or will it cost her everything?

Hot cop, Simon West, is on the hunt for a bad guy when he comes face to face with a fiery little scientist who may be the key to his investigation. Renown for his unorthodox investigative tactics, Captain West is more than happy to accept the Dr.’s dare. What the Captain doesn’t expect is to dare her again, but this time on his terms, terms that have nothing to do with his investigation.

Will the prim and proper scientist resist the sexy cop? Or will she allow Simon to strip her bare and guide her closer and closer to what they both secretly desire?

Powerfully Sensual & Complex

If you have yet to experience the awesomeness that is Karin Tabke, you are missing out on one helluva ride. I fell in love with her voice and style when I stumbled on her very hot little novella, Bad To The Bone, and just had to have more. Fast-paced, smooth-as-silk writing. Jaw dropping, heart pounding, panty melting scenes. Gorgeous, badass cops dedicated to bringing down criminals even if it means stretching the limits of the law. You can also count on there being a woman involved somehow, someway who ultimately brings that bad boy to his knees even though he has, up until now, been a player. Thus leading to shenanigans of the aforementioned jaw-dropping, panty melting variety. Bad Boys of the Bay is a well thought out, written to perfection series. The twists and turns, secrets and lies, and more than a few OMG moments will keep you absolutely riveted. I can’t tell you how many times I thought I’d figured out where things were headed only to be thwarted again! Ms. Tabke is goooood, people. Very, very good.

The Chronicles of Katrina, Book One in the Bad Boys of the Bay series, begins with a scene so hot you’ll be primed from the get-go. This is one of the things I love about Ms. Tabke; her books always begin with a bang (pun intended), luring you in. Mind you, these aren’t gratuitous sex scenes, which I hate, btw. They are totally relevant and act as the catalyst for the story that follows. A story I absolutely loved. But it’s Katrina and Simon who stole my heart. These two are meant for each other. Granted, their road to this revelation is fraught with uncertainty, stubbornness, and a lot of pissing each other off. It’s such a fun ride!

When Dr. Katrina Winslow accepts a dare from boyfriend/co-worker Evan Scott, she never expects it to unleash a Pandora’s box of lies, deceit, mystery, and danger. As far as Kat is concerned, accepting Evan’s dare she invite a stranger up to their hotel room for an evening of naughty fun may be way out of her comfort zone, but it’s also a fantasy come true. Especially after running smack into a gorgeous, green-eyed cop in front of the hotel elevator that morning. Impossible as it may seem, his mere touch lit her libido like a firecracker. Which is more than she can say for Evan, who has yet to gift her with an orgasm. Kat blames herself. Her single-minded focus for years has been scientific research. She’s one of the most brilliant genetic scientists in the country, if not the world. She’s also a self-professed nerd, and she has no confidence in her looks. Hiding behind lab coats and librarian glasses, the only hint of the vixen longing to be unleashed are five inch, peep-toe Louboutin’s she routinely wears with her pencil skirts and blouses. Later that evening, after Evan drops the dare bomb, Kat spies green eyes in the hotel bar sitting with a group of other cops. What the hell does she have to lose, right? They were at an out-of-town hotel. Who would ever find out? Besides, he’ll most likely turn her down. She certainly never saw the freight train that is Captain Simon West coming down the track straight at her until it’s too late.

Simon doesn’t miss a detail. The beauty who plowed into him earlier that day, unleashing an armload of papers as well as a deliciously sexy blush is approaching his table. He’s intrigued. She’s not the usual type of woman who takes one look at him and goes in for the kill. But he’s not fooled by the conservative clothes and librarian style eyeglasses. Those sexy as sin stilettos are a sure sign this curvy woman is much more than meets the eye. When she bold as you please, thanks to a few drinks approaches him with a shocking proposal, no way in hell is he going to turn her down. He wants a taste of Katrina Winslow, boyfriend or not. Besides, Simon figures he can get Kat to kick the boyfriend to the curb once she experiences what he has to offer. Thanks to the shocking news Evan reveals to Kat the next morning, she indeed kicks him to the curb. The way is clear for Simon to make his move. And boy, does he have moves! Against his better judgment, Simon pursues Kat. Relentlessly. All the while knowing he has no business falling for her or doing everything in his power to make her fall for him. There are too many secrets he can’t reveal. If she finds out the half of what he’s done or what he’s up to now it will not only devastate her, it just may get her killed.

I loved Simon and how he struggles with his feelings for Kat versus the secrets he must keep from her. He’s so torn! What they had together…

It was more than sex, it was an offering of body and soul by two people who acknowledged that they were emotionally connected.

Simon has never felt so strongly for a woman. But he needs Kat safe until this case is solved. It involves Kat in more ways than she understands, and the players aren’t nice guys. If he doesn’t keep her out of it, no matter how much it kills him to push her away, he may lose her forever.

Initially, Kat reverts to old feelings of inadequacy as Simon barges into her life only to retreat time and again. However, Kat is sick and tired of being used and thrown away, sick of feeling like she’s not worthy. Especially now that Evan has caused her to be unjustly fired from the job she loves. How dare he! When Kat steps up and confronts Simon, demanding to know what secrets he’s keeping from her, she is a force to be reckoned with. She’s bared her soul to him and expects him to do the same. I was so happy to see Kat on the warpath.

She poked him in the chest with her index finger. “Where is that hot captain who relentlessly pursued me until I gave in?”

“He’s wondering if he should have left you alone.”

“Oh, no you don’t. I know you’re hurting, Simon. I know you feel like you screwed up, but you didn’t. You forced me to talk about my issues, and stood by me when I did, now I’m turning the tables. Let me do the same for you. Trust me like I trusted you. Tell me everything, Captain West. Tell me now before I beat it out of you.”

A spark lit his eyes. “I’d like to see you try.”

The Chronicles of Katrina is an absolute winner. It’s a stellar suspense with lots of surprising twists, as well as a steamy love story. Not only can Ms. Tabke write the hell out of a sex scene, she’s a master at conveying the sexual chemistry between Simon and Kat. There is so much to this story it’s impossible to explain without revealing too much. Therefore, let me just say…Go forth and buy this book!