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The Wimberley Chronicles
Violence and bloodshed should not be the foundation for a relationship.
Dr. Hedy Villarreal is a forty-something criminal psychologist with a foul mouth and a dead wife, and recently, life has taken a turn for the weird. One minute she's living on a beach in South Texas; the next she's discovering that there's a black ops unit operating out of her family's property deep in the Texas Hill Country. Oh, and her new best friend is a muscle-bound woman with fangs and hair that rattles.
When Hedy agrees to use her skills to profile and recruit mercenaries for this not-quite-legal enterprise, she wasn't counting on ex-Navy SEAL Edison Fitzwallace. Their first interview ends in a shouting match, and their second ends with her covered in someone else's blood. It's not an auspicious beginning, but she soon learns that he would sacrifice everything to keep her safe.
Including the truth.
Urban fantasy M/F romance with heavy bisexual undertones.
For those familiar with my contemporary Wrecked and Wrecked: Guardians series, this is the back story of the mysterious Wimberley crew. These events take place in the year or so before the beginning of the Wrecked timeline.
Dr. Hedy Villarreal is a forty-something criminal psychologist with a foul mouth and a dead wife, and recently, life has taken a turn for the weird. One minute she's living on a beach in South Texas; the next she's discovering that there's a black ops unit operating out of her family's property deep in the Texas Hill Country. Oh, and her new best friend is a muscle-bound woman with fangs and hair that rattles.
When Hedy agrees to use her skills to profile and recruit mercenaries for this not-quite-legal enterprise, she wasn't counting on ex-Navy SEAL Edison Fitzwallace. Their first interview ends in a shouting match, and their second ends with her covered in someone else's blood. It's not an auspicious beginning, but she soon learns that he would sacrifice everything to keep her safe.
Including the truth.
Urban fantasy M/F romance with heavy bisexual undertones.
For those familiar with my contemporary Wrecked and Wrecked: Guardians series, this is the back story of the mysterious Wimberley crew. These events take place in the year or so before the beginning of the Wrecked timeline.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 22, 2021
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56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 16, 2024
To say I was confused for the majority of this book is an understatement!
You can definitely tell that this was Kelly’s first book and meant to be a prequel to the Guardians series. The pacing differs from the other books and I’m guessing it was just so it can be connected to the other series.
Hedy was a good FMC. She had the personality of a firecracker and I loved that she’s on the bigger side, body wise. It was very funny to be confused right along with her for 90% of the book!
Edison was so intriguing to me. I loved the paranormal aspect of the book and all of his black smokiness.
There were definitely a few plot holes but if you want insight into the Wimberley team then the book is definitely worth it!
You can definitely tell that this was Kelly’s first book and meant to be a prequel to the Guardians series. The pacing differs from the other books and I’m guessing it was just so it can be connected to the other series.
Hedy was a good FMC. She had the personality of a firecracker and I loved that she’s on the bigger side, body wise. It was very funny to be confused right along with her for 90% of the book!
Edison was so intriguing to me. I loved the paranormal aspect of the book and all of his black smokiness.
There were definitely a few plot holes but if you want insight into the Wimberley team then the book is definitely worth it!
May 6, 2021
I have no words
But I will try to find some for how special this book is to me. It's a slow-burn paranormal MF romance. I don't really read a lot of MF these days, but I met Hedy and Edison in Kelly's MM books and wanted to know what their story was.
I'm so glad I read it.
It's got the action-adventure I love, with a bit of sci-fi flair, while still being sexy and funny. Hedy is so REAL, y'all, so relatable, and I love her dearly.
And as a native Texan, I appreciate the attention to detail that Kelly pays for our home state. Seriously, the truth she speaks about El Campo...
Highly recommend. 11 of 10.
But I will try to find some for how special this book is to me. It's a slow-burn paranormal MF romance. I don't really read a lot of MF these days, but I met Hedy and Edison in Kelly's MM books and wanted to know what their story was.
I'm so glad I read it.
It's got the action-adventure I love, with a bit of sci-fi flair, while still being sexy and funny. Hedy is so REAL, y'all, so relatable, and I love her dearly.
And as a native Texan, I appreciate the attention to detail that Kelly pays for our home state. Seriously, the truth she speaks about El Campo...
Highly recommend. 11 of 10.
May 3, 2021
Wimberley has always been a source of curiosity for me after reading Fox’s Wrecked and Wrecked: Guardians series. It’s a private black ops program, it employs Hedy and the Bash Brothers, and other than that…your guess was as good as mine. It turns out, Fox initially wrote a book featuring the full story, then used it as background material for later projects. Now, she’s rewritten it and released it to the pleasure of her fans, of which I am definitely one.
As an urban fantasy writer myself, I love that the world of this book exists concurrently with what I already know of Fox’s stories. It adds a fun depth to the shared-world experience, even if knowing the source of Ander’s magic healing serum is now both hysterical and slightly gross.
Hedy is a fantastic character that I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know. At the same time, Edison intrigued me, and Fox does an excellent job of keeping his secrets until it’s important for Hedy/the reader to learn them. This book is on the long side, though it worked well as a monthly serial for newsletter readers (which is how I initially read the first two-thirds or so). However, I had no problem powering through the last section, which did an excellent job of tying up multiple story threads, both in the paranormal vein and regarding “real world” conflicts.
I highly recommend this story to anyone who is a fan of Fox’s writing, especially if you’ve also read the Wrecked: Guardians stories. I’m already counting down the days to the first book in Fox’s next series. I hope she continues to feature cameos by familiar characters because it gives such incredible depth to her writing and the world she has created.
As an urban fantasy writer myself, I love that the world of this book exists concurrently with what I already know of Fox’s stories. It adds a fun depth to the shared-world experience, even if knowing the source of Ander’s magic healing serum is now both hysterical and slightly gross.
Hedy is a fantastic character that I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know. At the same time, Edison intrigued me, and Fox does an excellent job of keeping his secrets until it’s important for Hedy/the reader to learn them. This book is on the long side, though it worked well as a monthly serial for newsletter readers (which is how I initially read the first two-thirds or so). However, I had no problem powering through the last section, which did an excellent job of tying up multiple story threads, both in the paranormal vein and regarding “real world” conflicts.
I highly recommend this story to anyone who is a fan of Fox’s writing, especially if you’ve also read the Wrecked: Guardians stories. I’m already counting down the days to the first book in Fox’s next series. I hope she continues to feature cameos by familiar characters because it gives such incredible depth to her writing and the world she has created.
August 21, 2022
Hedy’s story!
I’m not sure I’d pick this up on a whim, but if you’re a fan of Kelly’s other books, definitely pick this up. It’s essentially a prequel to Wrecked: Guardians in that it gives the backstory of Hedy and the Cave/Wimberley crew. This includes the Bash Brothers! Since reading this, I’ve caught some “Easter eggs” in other books which is just so fun to me.
You can tell that this is Kelly’s first book and that it was intended to be a series. I actually wish there was more, but I think Kelly edited it a little so it now fits better as a prequel. The things I wasn’t prepare for at all and that I loved - this is hella paranormal and Hedy is an equal opportunity lover. The main romance between Hedy and Edison is very slow to start as lots and lots of tension and chemistry is built. Along the way, Hedy has several on page one night stands and DANG was it hot to see how free and open she is. And yeah, man? Woman? No discrimination here. Its funny though, you’ll notice she very much has a type! I also love that Hedy is not conventionally beautiful by society’s standards which is rare to find in MF romance (this book is queer AF, but clearly inspired by MF paranormal romance). She IS beautiful, and also smart, cocky, and doesn’t put up with anything.
I loved getting to know Hedy, Edison, and everyone else. You learn some really cool stuff including what’s in the stuff that Anders uses to heal people in several other books. Just note that there is a lot left unanswered. Again, this was probably supposed to be a series and Kelly edited it around a little to give us Hedy’s backstory. The pacing is also not great and I think that’s a leftover from being her first book. Her writing for the rest of her books is leagues different.
I do recommend this to Kelly’s fans - specifically the Guardians fans - but make sure to read it as supplemental background because that’s essentially what it is.
I’m not sure I’d pick this up on a whim, but if you’re a fan of Kelly’s other books, definitely pick this up. It’s essentially a prequel to Wrecked: Guardians in that it gives the backstory of Hedy and the Cave/Wimberley crew. This includes the Bash Brothers! Since reading this, I’ve caught some “Easter eggs” in other books which is just so fun to me.
You can tell that this is Kelly’s first book and that it was intended to be a series. I actually wish there was more, but I think Kelly edited it a little so it now fits better as a prequel. The things I wasn’t prepare for at all and that I loved - this is hella paranormal and Hedy is an equal opportunity lover. The main romance between Hedy and Edison is very slow to start as lots and lots of tension and chemistry is built. Along the way, Hedy has several on page one night stands and DANG was it hot to see how free and open she is. And yeah, man? Woman? No discrimination here. Its funny though, you’ll notice she very much has a type! I also love that Hedy is not conventionally beautiful by society’s standards which is rare to find in MF romance (this book is queer AF, but clearly inspired by MF paranormal romance). She IS beautiful, and also smart, cocky, and doesn’t put up with anything.
I loved getting to know Hedy, Edison, and everyone else. You learn some really cool stuff including what’s in the stuff that Anders uses to heal people in several other books. Just note that there is a lot left unanswered. Again, this was probably supposed to be a series and Kelly edited it around a little to give us Hedy’s backstory. The pacing is also not great and I think that’s a leftover from being her first book. Her writing for the rest of her books is leagues different.
I do recommend this to Kelly’s fans - specifically the Guardians fans - but make sure to read it as supplemental background because that’s essentially what it is.
May 10, 2021
So different and intriguing!
I was getting ready to start nook four in the Guardians series when I saw this book listed at the beginning of that book. Wemberly has always been this big mystery so I wanted the back story before I wrapped up the Guardians series. I got so much more than back story.
This book was totally not what I was expecting and I was completely sucked in. I had no idea it was heavy on the paranormal and it’s a very different take and I really enjoyed it. I completely empathized with Hedy and I would have wanted to kill people if I were in her shoes. I didn’t get the rationale for keeping her in the dark and I think it was stupid and poorly explained. She knew so much else. And not telling her put her more at risk. More back story on Edison would have been helpful earlier. I’m totally confused at one part of the ending (can’t say what because spoilers) and can’t decide if it’s my misunderstanding or the result of typos.
Which brings me to my big criticism....holy crappy editing Batman! This book needs better editing and much better proofreading. Some are easy to glaze over (though still annoying) because you know what is going on but others can change what is happening in the story so I was lost.
The book needed a more definitive ending too. I really felt up in the air about what was happening. Seems like we should have seen more books the way things were left.
I was getting ready to start nook four in the Guardians series when I saw this book listed at the beginning of that book. Wemberly has always been this big mystery so I wanted the back story before I wrapped up the Guardians series. I got so much more than back story.
This book was totally not what I was expecting and I was completely sucked in. I had no idea it was heavy on the paranormal and it’s a very different take and I really enjoyed it. I completely empathized with Hedy and I would have wanted to kill people if I were in her shoes. I didn’t get the rationale for keeping her in the dark and I think it was stupid and poorly explained. She knew so much else. And not telling her put her more at risk. More back story on Edison would have been helpful earlier. I’m totally confused at one part of the ending (can’t say what because spoilers) and can’t decide if it’s my misunderstanding or the result of typos.
Which brings me to my big criticism....holy crappy editing Batman! This book needs better editing and much better proofreading. Some are easy to glaze over (though still annoying) because you know what is going on but others can change what is happening in the story so I was lost.
The book needed a more definitive ending too. I really felt up in the air about what was happening. Seems like we should have seen more books the way things were left.
August 16, 2022
The Wimberly Chronicles is basically a Wrecked Guardians prequel telling Hedy’s story and answering such burning questions as:
What’s Hedy’s deal?
What the heck is going on in The Cave?
How did Anders and Odd get involved with the Wimberly group?
What’s in Anders’s top secret miracle serum?
Who is the mysterious redheaded man they call St. Louis?
Not only will these questions be answered, but we get a fun paranormal adventure, an interesting cast of characters, lots of Hedy being a 42 year old queer AF wild child while simultaneously being a super competent badass profiler, some plot twists and turns, forehead kisses, and some romance! The romance is MF, but Hedy is bisexual and there are lots of on-page scenes of her enjoying relations with both men and women before the romance element really gets going. The romance is pretty slow burn; Kelly was originally going to make this a series (before getting sucked into writing mostly MM romance) and the pacing of the romance element definitely is more like the pacing of the romance in the first book of a same couple series. I don’t know if I’d necessarily call this a must-read book, but I think it’s a pretty fun read for Wrecked Guardians fans. Also, I love the cover–How cute is Hedy???
What’s Hedy’s deal?
What the heck is going on in The Cave?
How did Anders and Odd get involved with the Wimberly group?
What’s in Anders’s top secret miracle serum?
Who is the mysterious redheaded man they call St. Louis?
Not only will these questions be answered, but we get a fun paranormal adventure, an interesting cast of characters, lots of Hedy being a 42 year old queer AF wild child while simultaneously being a super competent badass profiler, some plot twists and turns, forehead kisses, and some romance! The romance is MF, but Hedy is bisexual and there are lots of on-page scenes of her enjoying relations with both men and women before the romance element really gets going. The romance is pretty slow burn; Kelly was originally going to make this a series (before getting sucked into writing mostly MM romance) and the pacing of the romance element definitely is more like the pacing of the romance in the first book of a same couple series. I don’t know if I’d necessarily call this a must-read book, but I think it’s a pretty fun read for Wrecked Guardians fans. Also, I love the cover–How cute is Hedy???
June 21, 2023
I am VIOLENTLY angry at this book.
Like, days and days later, I am still basically raging over this damn book.
You really tryna tell me that ANY of this makes sense?! You really wanna go there? Make me read this with my own two eyes and lie to me?!
Try Jesus, not me. Do not play me. Today is not the day and I am not the damn one.
You cannot seriously expect anyone to suspend enough belief to make this make sense. Maybe if you’d tied it ANYWHERE else in the universe and many, many book since, but no. Not as it stands. This doesn’t fit and adding a couple of novellas that aren’t actually tied to anything but the universe in a general sense ain’t it.
The characters and the story are phenomenal, as usual, but try again. Make it right somehow. Good grief. Readers aren’t as dumb as y’all seem to think these days. Yeah, not everyone should be allowed to review books, but I’m sure you’d include me in that lumping.
3.95/5, UGH. *throws kindle and walks away*
Like, days and days later, I am still basically raging over this damn book.
You really tryna tell me that ANY of this makes sense?! You really wanna go there? Make me read this with my own two eyes and lie to me?!
Try Jesus, not me. Do not play me. Today is not the day and I am not the damn one.
You cannot seriously expect anyone to suspend enough belief to make this make sense. Maybe if you’d tied it ANYWHERE else in the universe and many, many book since, but no. Not as it stands. This doesn’t fit and adding a couple of novellas that aren’t actually tied to anything but the universe in a general sense ain’t it.
The characters and the story are phenomenal, as usual, but try again. Make it right somehow. Good grief. Readers aren’t as dumb as y’all seem to think these days. Yeah, not everyone should be allowed to review books, but I’m sure you’d include me in that lumping.
3.95/5, UGH. *throws kindle and walks away*
May 10, 2021
Released in parts 1-8.
Holy shit guys. There is so much happening here that I don’t understand, but that’s ok, because there is so much goodness here. Snark, sarcasm, humor, banter, action, mysteries, black ops, wet ops, etc., etc. I love Hedy, in all of her glorious confidence, curves, intelligence and sexual openness (she’s equal opportunity - was married to a woman, has sexy times since her wife died, with both women and men). The chemistry burning between Hedy and Edison is smoking hot. I can’t wait for more parts. 7 more to go - bring it!
Lots more action, hard to keep up. Hedy finally realizes who/what she is, she & Edison finally get together, there are some major plot twists, with surprise bad guys. It’s all good, and worth re-reading to catch all the details.
Freebie from author.
Holy shit guys. There is so much happening here that I don’t understand, but that’s ok, because there is so much goodness here. Snark, sarcasm, humor, banter, action, mysteries, black ops, wet ops, etc., etc. I love Hedy, in all of her glorious confidence, curves, intelligence and sexual openness (she’s equal opportunity - was married to a woman, has sexy times since her wife died, with both women and men). The chemistry burning between Hedy and Edison is smoking hot. I can’t wait for more parts. 7 more to go - bring it!
Lots more action, hard to keep up. Hedy finally realizes who/what she is, she & Edison finally get together, there are some major plot twists, with surprise bad guys. It’s all good, and worth re-reading to catch all the details.
Freebie from author.
December 14, 2022
I came to this book kinda backwards through the author's Wrecked universe, to understand what's going on with the shadowy organization that is referenced throughout. Those books are very different from this one and has zero supernatural content.
While some fellow Wrecked readers weren't crazy about the shift (sigh), I love shifters and weird shit in my romance and was well entertained and frankly a little horny through most of this story. I now feel a lot better equipped to return to the Wrecked: Guardians series - next up is #2, Full Contact.
While some fellow Wrecked readers weren't crazy about the shift (sigh), I love shifters and weird shit in my romance and was well entertained and frankly a little horny through most of this story. I now feel a lot better equipped to return to the Wrecked: Guardians series - next up is #2, Full Contact.
May 12, 2021
A totally surprise!
I didn’t realize going into this one that it was paranormal! I read the Wrecked series first and then came back to this. I was surprised in the best way! I wish more books would follow in this series because I really loved the whole crew and I want more with these MCs!
I didn’t realize going into this one that it was paranormal! I read the Wrecked series first and then came back to this. I was surprised in the best way! I wish more books would follow in this series because I really loved the whole crew and I want more with these MCs!
July 6, 2021
Because I read Wrecked and Guardians before reading this book, for me it was a bit strange because I don't usually read and/or like 'urban fantasy'; I had trouble putting it context with Wrecked and Guardians...I like Kelly Fox, (reason for 5-star review) if urban fantasy is your thing, read this book..a bit too abstract and scary for me.
August 30, 2022
I've read the Wrecked and Wrecked Guardian's series but it has been awhile. I originally avoided this book, maybe because of the paranormal arc, not sure. I'm so glad I finally dove in and read it. Hedy and Edison are fantastic and I loved the other characters, Rae being one of my faves! It was enlightening to see the background behind some of the stories in Wrecked.
April 27, 2021
wonderful book
i have enjoyed all he books in this series but had always wondered about Hedy and her group the mystery has been solved so good so entertaining such good sexy scenes i hope u will start the journey on this great series
i have enjoyed all he books in this series but had always wondered about Hedy and her group the mystery has been solved so good so entertaining such good sexy scenes i hope u will start the journey on this great series
May 19, 2021
great story but
I wish there would be more. I understand why there's not but having a continuation of Wimberley would be so so awesome. i might have to reread guardians to get over this book hangover lol. definitely recommend this book.
I wish there would be more. I understand why there's not but having a continuation of Wimberley would be so so awesome. i might have to reread guardians to get over this book hangover lol. definitely recommend this book.
January 17, 2022
Great!
I read this afrer the rest of her books and damn do I love this back story. I would love to have more in this line of the series in her more comfortable genre. Highly recommend!
I read this afrer the rest of her books and damn do I love this back story. I would love to have more in this line of the series in her more comfortable genre. Highly recommend!
March 17, 2022
Kelly freaking fox
Omg...ma'am this book was...wow! 1st of all the internal soundtrack ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥love it so much...you are a word Magician...thanks for making me look up a lot of terms🤯🥰 love these two so freaking much...thank you🥰🥰🥰
Omg...ma'am this book was...wow! 1st of all the internal soundtrack ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥love it so much...you are a word Magician...thanks for making me look up a lot of terms🤯🥰 love these two so freaking much...thank you🥰🥰🥰
April 27, 2021
Awesome!!
I loved this!! It was so great to be able to see who Hedy is and know more about the helping serum Anders & Bash always used in Wrecked & Guardians. I love Edison!!
I loved this!! It was so great to be able to see who Hedy is and know more about the helping serum Anders & Bash always used in Wrecked & Guardians. I love Edison!!
January 10, 2022
The Wimberley chronicles
Having already read the gym and guardians books I “thought” I knew a bit about the Wimberley crew - but I was mistaken! What a ride!
Having already read the gym and guardians books I “thought” I knew a bit about the Wimberley crew - but I was mistaken! What a ride!
July 20, 2022
❤️❤️❤️
June 6, 2021
Huh...
This story was good and batpoop at the same time. I would suggest reading the other 2 series first, cause the epilogue has some spoilers in it.
This story was good and batpoop at the same time. I would suggest reading the other 2 series first, cause the epilogue has some spoilers in it.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews