Carries Book Reviews

The Dragonian’s Witch
Meg Xuemei X
(The First Witch, #1)
Publication date: June 12th 2017
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

He abducts me to find his fated mate, unaware that I am she.

I am Freyja, the First Witch. I was born with a cruel curse: anyone I touch with my bare skin will die an agonizing death. That is, until a formidable, drop-dead gorgeous Dragonian prince invades my forest home.

The prince’s lust burns hot and bright for me, yet he resists, wanting his destined witch more. The oracle promises the witch will be his true queen and bring him the greatest kingdom on Earth. Knowing he’s the only man who can touch me, I crave his scorching caress. But I’ve sworn never to reveal that I am the witch. Not until he chooses me above her.

When the mating frenzy drives both of us to the brink of insanity, someone has to give, but it won’t be me.

Goodreads / Amazon

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SNEAK PREVIEW:

I surveyed the surroundings. If I escaped into the woods, Lucas would find me. The shifter’s nose had to be as good as my wolves’. That was why Ares had brought him along. I wondered what his animal was. Judging from his size, he could be a white lion or a bear.

If I escaped to the plains, the guardians would spot me. They weren’t in league with me yet. If Ares caught me running away, he would chain me for the rest of the trip.

“Why are we stopping here, Ares?” the horned Dragonian asked.

“Freyja needs a bath,” Ares said with irritation.

“The wolf girl?” the horned one asked. “And you let her have her way? We need to be on our way. We’ve wasted enough time just tracking her.”

Ares snarled. “I’ll decide what we need or don’t need.”

The others gathered around in the clearing, sitting on the rocks. Some of them took off their boots with satisfied groans.

That was exactly what I’d planned for them to do—to get in the water with me. Over four months on the road, rushing from one place to another to look for me, they had to be desperate for the feel of a warm woman. When they saw me naked, their needs would be raging. And when they came for me, they’d get what they deserved.

I would soon be reunited with my pack.

I removed my gloves, kicked off my boots, and dropped my cloak. I breathed in the fresh, damp air. The lake smelled different from the hot spring in my forest, but its earthy scent blending with the sweet honeysuckle was equally pleasant.

What would come next might not be as pleasant, but I had to gain back my freedom.

Within seconds, I was clad in only my undergarments. My skin prickled with exhilaration as it met the clean air.

Ares cleared his throat to remind me of my modesty. If he was so concerned about my decency, why wasn’t he turning around as well?

His men stopped what they were doing and stared at me.

I slowly pulled the last of my garments over my head and lazily stretched my limbs. My bountiful breasts and perky, red nipples were generous for every eye to see and appreciate.

As I twisted my torso for another long stretch and bent down, I saw the men’s jaws drop in shock. Yet none of them moved their heated gaze from me.

I straightened and turned away from them, my fingers on the top lines of my panties, ready to pull it off my long, toned legs.

“Freyja!” Ares shouted.

I wheeled toward him. “What?” I asked innocently.

“Turn around!” he roared at his men. “Don’t fucking look at her if you want your fucking eyes stay in their sockets!”

Of course, they wanted their eyes staying in their sockets. The men obeyed, though slowly.

Wonderful! Ares—the prude—had just sabotaged my perfect plan.

But he wasn’t that prudent since he himself hadn’t turned around. His gaze, heated, dark, and furious, locked with mine. I tilted my head in challenge. What’s the harm in having a look? You’re looking.

His gaze dipped lower to my breasts, then lower—I’d pulled my panties half an inch down. When he tore his eyes from my body and stayed on my face by sheer will, a sudden fire of possessiveness leapt in them, turning his irises deeply molten gold.

“Stop what you’re doing,” he said, his voice hoarse as if he hadn’t spoken for a while.

“Why?” I asked.

“Shouldn’t you cover yourself?” He seemed incredulous at my innocent question.

“But I’m going to have a bath,” I said. “Who bathes with their clothes on?”

“There are men around!” he said. “You can’t go traipsing around naked in the wilderness.”

“Why do you think I even consider any of them, or you,” I asked, “a man? Haven’t you seen a naked woman before? I’m sure your men need to wash themselves, too. Their smell, yours included, nearly choked me half to death from a mile away.”

Actually he smelled really good.

I heard someone chuckle. Ares growled nastily and the chuckles died off immediately.

“It’s a big lake,” I said with a small shrug. “There’s plenty of room for all of us.”

“Like hell I’ll let them share the lake with you naked,” he said. “There’re social rules.”

“But you just said we’re in the wilderness,” I said, putting confusion into my voice. “Who’s going to govern the rules?”

“I am,” he said. Then he yelled at the men. “Go patrol the perimeter and don’t look this way.”

The men picked up their weapons and slowly scattered.

“Are you sending them away so you can get into the lake with me alone?” I asked.

“No, I’m not getting in the lake with you,” he said. “But I’ll watch you. If you think you’re clever enough to pull this stunt and slip away, think twice. So far, I’ve been courteous. But if you keep causing trouble, you’ll force my hand. Then I’ll have to get rough with you and tie you up and drag you behind me. I don’t care that Ventus has taken a liking to you. Just remember, his fealty is always to me.”

I pulled my panties off and tossed it on top of the pile of my clothes. Dark fire leapt in his eyes and his gaze drifted down toward the valley between my thighs. He wanted me. He wanted me badly. He looked like he was ready to stalk toward me.

Did I really want him to die? My body tensed at the thought.

Ares inhaled sharply, his knuckles turning white on his sides, but he didn’t move toward me.

“Earth,” I said, walking toward the lake. “All this drama over a bath.”

“By undressing yourself like that in front of my men,” he spat, “you put yourself in danger and them in a tough spot. If any of them loses control and touches you, I would have to punish them severely.”

“What about you?” I asked over my shoulder, my bare feet hitting the cool water.

“I have enough self-control,” he snarled.

“Right, I’ve learned it the hard way,” I said, intentionally dipping my gaze down at the bulge at his groin covered by his sculpted armor.

His eyes glittered with amber fire. “You’re now my responsibility, Freyja,” he said. “I have to guarantee that you’re well treated and unharmed until the day you’re allowed to go your way.”

“I’m so touched,” I said.

Obviously, he didn’t like my tone since he was probably expecting my gratitude. His next words were full of acid. “You have no problem getting completely naked but flustered at my hard-on,” he asked. “Why is that?”

“You go figure it out.” I brushed him off, knowing that would irk him more.

When I sent him one last glance filled with disdain, I caught such ravenous hunger in his eyes that the heat pooled within my belly again.

Author Bio:

Meg Xuemei X is an award-winning author of steamy paranormal and sci-fi romance. She finds it dreamingly delightful to be around drop-dead gorgeous alpha males who are forever tormented by her feisty heroines, formidable alien angels, wild shifters, haughty fey, dark vampires, and cunning witches.

She’s visited the universe of The Empress of Mysth, The First Witch, and Dark Chemistry. Next she’ll boldly go to the badland of The Wickedest Witch. At this moment, in her southern California abode, she’s packing as many forbidden weapons as she can carry. Her favorite one was a magical whip.

She is always happy to hear from readers and welcome new friends on Facebook.

Facebook: facebook.com/MegXuemeiX

Email: megxuemei AT gmail.com

She’ll be giddy if you sign up to her mailing list at eepurl.com/YxOcn to hear about her new release, discounts,giveaways and fun stuff!

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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Hot Zone Boxed Set
Publication date: June 15th 2017
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

SUMMER IS HOTTER WHEN YOU’VE GOT FIVE SCORCHING SPORTS STARS ON YOUR KINDLE.

Five bestselling romance authors give you this steamy, sexy and sizzling compilation of sports star stories. From sweet-hot baseball players to smokin’ snowboarders to rich Italian race car drivers, there’s something here for everyone. This collection features the best in New Adult sports romance, all with the promise of happy-ever-after.Hundreds of pages for one amazing price. Grab a cold beverage, sit by the pool and get into the Hot Zone — with your next book boyfriend.

Authors include 2017 RITA nominee Lyssa Kay Adams, Lilly Christine, Tamara Lush, Rae Anne Hadley and Lyssa Lane.

Goodreads / Amazon

On sale for 99¢ until release day only!

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What’s included:

Lyssa Kay Adams: The PROSPECT

Baseball star Jax Tanner is everything Bree McTavish has been warned about. Easy smiles. Lethal charm. Sexy promises, satisfaction guaranteed. He’s a prospect! When Cinderella meets baseball, secrets and dreams collide in the greatest grand slam of all. . .

Lilly Christine: SNOWSLAMMER

Smokin’ hot snowboarder Shane McGreer shows intern Candace Bamberger legendary moves, and not just in halfpipe! It’s hot burn at high altitude and Shane wins big, but Candi’s heart and conscience are both on the skids. Then tragedy strikes, slamming them both back to a chilling reality. . .

Tamara Lush: RACING WITH THE ENEMY

Fast. Seductive. Italian. The first female tire changer in open-wheel racing, Savannah Jenkins is lured into deception with irresistible driver Dante Annunziata. Suddenly, she’s no pioneer. . she feels like his mistress! The race is on to save her heart from. . everything.

Rae Anne Hadley: DOUBLE NUMBERS

Quivering muscle. Coiled power. It’s the sport of team roping, and Valerie must choose between horse and man.

Lyssa Layne: DIG DEEP

Beach volleyball sensation Lindy James needs only sanity, secrecy, sunshine and sand. One glance at the blonde bombshell, and sports agent Kip Deevers heart takes a dive as he catapults her into the spotlight. LIndy’s secret’s out, Kip’s career tanks, and it’s all riding on the final play. . .Dig Deep!

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Join the authors for fun and prizes at the release party on 6/15

https://www.facebook.com/events/1873351762917097/

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Hello Readers! Welcome to the Release Day Celebration for

The D.B. List by Rebekah L. Purdy

presented by Swoon Romance!

Grab your copy today!

Happy Book Birthday, Rebekah!

Seventeen-year-old Ellie Gebhardt has spent the last three years of high school in psychotherapy, trying to fix a very broken her. And her shrink (or therapist as she likes to be called) seems to think that in order to totally heal, she needs to recognize all the good and bad things that have led her to this point. As if a trip down memory lane will suddenly make her better.

She’s given a “homework” assignment to create two lists. One with nothing but happy memories and thoughts on it (otherwise known as the ‘happy rainbow farting unicorns list’). And the other with everything negative that Ellie thinks contributed to “the” day she could no longer cope.

So begins Ellie’s Douche Bag list (or D.B. List for short). And once she gets started, it’s hard to stop remembering all the jerks, the petty crap, the times she’d been bullied or the main focus of the rumor mill.

So when nice guy, Ky Laramie, walks into her life, Ellie instantly puts her shields up. But as she gets to know him and his family, she wonders if she can dare to put herself out there again. Because as everyone knows, once a candle is lit, the wind can always blow it out. And Ellie couldn’t handle it if Ky ends up atop of the D.B. List.

The D.B. List by Rebekah L. Purdy

Publisher: Swoon Romance

Release Date: June 13, 2017

Amazon

Rebekah was born and raised in Michigan where she spent many late nights armed with a good book and a flashlight. She’s lived in Michigan most of her life other than the few years she spent in the U.S. Army. At which time she got a chance to experience Missouri, Kansas, South Carolina, and California.Rebekah has a business degree from University of Phoenix and currently works full time for the court system. In her free time she writes YA stories, anything from YA Fantasy to YA Contemporary Romance. Rebekah also has a big family (6 kids)—she likes to consider her family as the modern day Brady Bunch complete with crazy road trips and game nights.When not hiding at her computer, Rebekah enjoys reading, singing, soccer, swimming, football, camping, playing video games, traveling, and hanging out with her family and gazillion pets.

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New York City’s hottest bachelors are stirring up trouble in this fun, flirty Oxford Novel, as a love triangle forces a feisty beauty to choose between winning back Mr. Right or giving in to Mr. Wrong.

Taylor Carr has it all—a sleek job in advertising, a stunning Manhattan apartment, and the perfect man to share it with: Bradley Calloway. Even after Bradley dumps her for a co-worker on move-in day, Taylor isn’t worried. She’ll get her man eventually. In the meantime, she needs a new roommate. Enter Nick Ballantine, career bartender, freelance writer—and longtime pain in Taylor’s ass. Sexy in a permanent five-o’clock-shadow kind of way, Nick knows how to push Taylor’s buttons, as if he could see right through to the real her.

Nick’s always trying to fix people, and nobody could use a good fixing more than Taylor. Sure, she’s gorgeous, with mesmerizing silver eyes, but it’s her vulnerability that kills him. Now that they’re shacking up together, the chemistry is out of control. Soon they’re putting every part of their two-bedroom apartment to good use. Then Taylor’s ex comes crawling back to her, and Nick figures she’ll jump at the chance to go back to her old life—unless he fights for the best thing that ever happened to him.

Bradley froze when he saw her, and she was pretty sure she saw the urge to turn and run flicker across his face.

Again she felt a stab of disappointment. In him. And in herself for apparently having misread him. She’d thought he was better than this.

Bradley’s eyes moved between her and Nick, and though he didn’t look all that surprised at seeing them bickering, his gaze grew hard as he saw Nick’s hand on Taylor’s face.

Nick, naturally, took his sweet time removing it, and she resisted the urge to kick his shin.

“Morning, Bradley,” Taylor said, pleased that her voice sounded calm and friendly. As well it should. She’d had plenty of practice over the better part of a year pretending that she and Bradley were nothing more than colleagues.

Other than a few close friends who knew they were dating, they’d done a mostly decent job of hiding their romantic relationship from coworkers. Better than she and Nick had done hiding their antagonistic one.

“Hey, Taylor. Nick,” Bradley said.

He entered the room and reached for a coffee mug, turning his attention toward the other man. “Didn’t realize you’d taken on another assignment. What for?”

“Not sure,” Nick said, checking his watch. “Have a meeting with Cassidy in a few to find out.”

“Here’s hoping it’s an offsite gig that takes you far, far away. Maybe he needs someone to cover Siberian winters,” Taylor said to Nick, even as she watched Bradley out of the corner of her eye.

“Don’t need to travel to find severe winter. It doesn’t get any chillier than right here,” Nick retorted, waving his hand over her head in a storm cloud gesture.

She shoved his hand aside, her attention still on Bradley, who was determinedly avoiding her gaze.

Coward.

It was going to be darn hard to get him to see reason when he wouldn’t even make eye contact.

Nick, ever too perceptive for his own good, noticed the tension and gave a quick look between her and Bradley, his gaze turning speculative.

She shot him a warning look that clearly said, Don’t.

He shot an answering smile that clearly said, Watch me.

“Bradley, don’t suppose you’re in the market for a roommate?” Nick asked, his voice deceptively casual.

Bradley’s head snapped up, and finally, finally his blue gaze collided with Taylor’s. Dammit. Why did he have to be so beautiful? He was like a mischievous angel, all twinkling blue eyes, dimples, a sexy cleft in his chin, dark blond wavy hair . . .

“What?” he asked Nick distractedly, still looking at Taylor.

“Taylor here wants to share her original crown molding with someone.”

Bradley winced, and Taylor felt a little surge of gratitude toward Nick. He couldn’t have known it, but it was the perfect jab. She and Bradley were both into prewar architecture—had eaten up the broker’s description of all the building’s original elements.

Taylor should be sharing that crown molding with Bradley. And he damn well knew it.

His eyes met hers in silent misery—an apology that she wasn’t quite ready to accept. Heck, she wasn’t even ready to acknowledge it, because she had no intention of being dumped. Not by him, not by any man.

Taylor ignored the guilt written all over Bradley’s face as she held his gaze. “Yes, it seems I unexpectedly have a free bedroom and more rent than I can afford. If either of you knows anyone looking for a roommate . . .”

Bradley’s handsome face twisted regretfully, and he set his coffee aside, taking a step toward her, apparently forgetting—or not caring—that Nick was still in the room.

“Taylor. Damn it. I told you—”

“Actually, I do,” Nick said, interrupting.

Taylor forced her gaze away from Bradley’s pleading face toward Nick’s smug one. “You know someone who needs a roommate?”

“Yup.” He crossed his arms and watched her.

She made an impatient gesture with her hand. “Who? It can’t be one of your ex-girlfriends—I don’t want to inadvertently hear any gross details about you. And not one of your frat-boy guy friends—my living room isn’t cut out for Call of Duty.”

“Yeah, because that’s all I do all day.”

She rolled her eyes. “Okay, for real, who is it?”

His grin was slow, sly, and the very definition of trouble. “Me.”

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The Dark Lands
Christina Bauer
(Angelbound Origins #5)
Published by: Monster House Books
Publication date: September 25th 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult

Nineteen-year-old Myla Lewis is loving life—she’s now a wife, mother, and Queen of the Thrax. Oh yeah, and being a super-powerful demigoddess who moves souls into Heaven or Hell doesn’t suck, either. In fact, everything is pretty much awesome. Until something craptastic happens.

Her honorary older brother Walker enters the Dark Lands, home to the rule-loving ghouls, and vanishes without a trace.

Now it’s up to Myla to solve the mystery of Walker’s disappearance. Of course, Myla likes interacting with ghouls about as much as elective dental surgery. To make matters harder, everyone thinks that Walker is simply taking a well-deserved vacation. But Myla and her Angelbound love, Lincoln, both suspect that the ghoul Oligarchy took Walker in order to somehow release Lucifer, the ex-King of the Angels and an all around nut job who really needs to stay locked up.

Long story short, Myla and Lincoln have just two days to rescue their good friend and stop Lucifer from taking over the after-realms. Even for them, this may be a too-tall order, especially when Myla’s own father allows his past friendship with Lucifer to threaten Walker’s future.

Goodreads / Amazon

Previous books in the series:

Author Bio:

Christina Bauer knows how to tell stories about kick-ass women. In her best selling Angelbound series, the heroine is a part-demon girl who loves to fight in Purgatory’s Arena and falls in love with a part-angel prince. This young adult best seller has driven more than 500,000 ebook downloads and 9,000 reviews on Goodreads and retailers.

Bauer has also told the story of the Women’s March on Washington by leading PR efforts for the Massachusetts Chapter. Her pre-event press release—the only one sent out on a major wire service—resulted in more than 19,000 global impressions and redistribution by over 350 different media entities including the Associated Press.

Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.

Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates

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