Carries Book Reviews

Awaken by Ivy Sinclair
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Riley Stone is a necromancer and can make the dead do his bidding and uses his skills for the right price. When he comes across a girl running for her life being chased by a bounty hunter sent by demon official Bruno Proctor he vows to protect her.

Paige Matthews has no memory of her past beyond the last three years she’s spent recovering from an accident where she almost died. She has no clue about demons or angels and thinks she is nothing but a normal human leading a normal life until the night the demons came after her and she’s saved by Riley. Now Paige finds herself caught up in a world that she never knew existed.

Awaken is a fast paced paranormal romance filled with suspense and action from start to finish. One thing I would warn readers about though is this is the first book of a series and ends with a lot unresolved on a huge cliffhanger. The characters and the story were enough to make me interested in wanting to continue but I normally prefer a few more answers and some type of conclusion to each book.

I will say too I found this book to be rather engaging and enjoyed the characters along with the plot but I’m not sure it really brought anything new to the table so far in this first book, there are a lot of books of this nature and really didn’t notice anything yet that really popped out as new and overly exciting. It was still an enjoyable read though and I think fans of this type of book with things like angels and demons will enjoy it.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Seraphina’s Awakening
Sheena Hutchinson
Publication date: September 2016
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

For as long as she can remember, Seraphina Cross has experienced these visions that made her feel like there was more to life. It wasn’t until one moment, one accident that her life changed forever.

She awakens the next day a new person in more ways than one. With no recollection of past night’s events, she’s forced to adapt to certain sensations she is experiencing all while trying to piece together what exactly happened to her that fateful night.

Her strange, hectic life doesn’t seem to make sense until she meets a handsome stranger. Only then does the puzzle finally piece itself together. What she doesn’t expect is the new powers she has developed attracting all kinds of unwanted attention.

Thrown into a world she never truly believed existed she is forced to come to grips with who she is becoming while staying out of trouble long enough to figure out what needs to be done to fulfill her destiny.

Goodreads

Author Bio:

Sheena is a born and raised New Yorker, even her writing can’t seem to hide her hard sarcasm. She claims destiny has lead her back to her true passion for writing.

She constantly strives to be a positive role model and writes stories that empower and inspire. Sheena always roots for the underdog, believes in love at first sight, and that everyone should have their happily ever after.

While God is currently still writing her love story, she continues to put all her effort into her writing as she is constantly getting new inspiration.

For more info, updates, and fun facts visit her website at http://www.SheenaHutchinson.com

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Sleeper Protocol by Kevin Ikenberry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Kieran Roark awakens with no memory of who he was or what has happened to him. To make matters worse Kieran has one year to remember or the state will euthanize him. Scientist Berkeley Bennett was given the mission to try to manipulate Kieran’s emotions to make him remember who he was but ends up falling in love with him instead.

Sleeper Protocol is a futuristic sci-fi read with the main character waking up missing several years and not being familiar with the time or the changes that have taken place. It’s always fun to see what an author can come up with taking place many years into the future.

This book however got off to a really slow start for me. I had a bit of trouble connecting with Kieran right away and the story took a while to get me interested in what was going on or caring about what Kieran was going through. I think maybe because he didn’t know himself that I felt I didn’t either for a while. After a time though it became a bit more interesting as we get into the relationship and Kieran discovering his purpose.

Overall, I found this one an OK read, enjoyed the setting and situation the most in the read.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

One More Time Is Not Enough
Belle Ami
(The Only One, #3)
Published by: Soul Mate Publishing
Publication date: July 13th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

Adelia Lindstrom Bremen seems to have it all: Wealth, beauty, perfect twin children, two men in love with her, and a career she loves. But, beneath the veneer of success and prosperity lies disappointment, tragedy, and unending lies. Her parents were murdered, her marriage ended in a custody battle, and she is swept up in a love triangle. Now she has discovered the existence of a half-sister who wants nothing to do with her.

The only thing that could make matters worse is if she were to become the target of a serial killer—that’s about to happen.

Goodreads / Amazon

Previous books in the series:

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EXCERPT:

When they returned to the cliff house, it was late. Adelia suggested they take a Jacuzzi and have a nightcap. While David changed into his swimsuit, she ordered a bottle of champagne and fresh strawberries. By the time he finished in the bathroom, she was in the hot tub, immersed in a cloud of steam, sipping champagne and nibbling on fruit.

“Come on, slowpoke, the water feels like heaven.” She eyed David’s muscled body. “The FBI Academy seems to have agreed with you. You’re a treat for the eyes, Agent Weiss.”

David sighed. “What am I going to do with you?” He slipped into the water.

“I don’t know. What are you going to do with me?” she goaded, handing him a glass of champagne.

Enjoying their playful repartee, she placed her feet in his lap. “This is bliss.” The intimacy of the hot tub was having its desired effect, she could feel the sexual tension mounting.

“You know I’m not going to make love to you.”

“Really.” She furrowed her brows annoyed. “Why not?”

“Because, Adelia, even all of this”—he spread his arms wide—“ can’t make the reality of our lives go away. You have an ex-husband who wants you back, children who’d be better off with both their parents. I can’t compete with that.”

She could sense his goading her into a confrontation. “You’re not going to spoil this perfect evening. I won’t let you.”

“Do you know what it’s going to be like for me, when this is over? Poor David, too bad his girlfriend went back to her husband.”

“It’s not true, you could stop it if you wanted to.”

“We’re fighting destiny, Adelia.”

Doubt plagued her, but it wasn’t within her power to stop what she was feeling. She stood and placed her glass on the side table. With determination, she reached out and took the champagne glass from him. Then, grabbing a strawberry, she sat on his lap, facing him.

He started to protest. “Adelia, stop . . .”

Without a thought, she placed the strawberry seductively between her teeth and brought her lips close to his.

He stared into her eyes. “Please, don’t do this.”

“Why? Don’t you like strawberries?” She could feel his erection beneath her bikini bottom. “Or, is it just me you don’t care for?”

He growled, then bit half of the strawberry off, his lips brushing hers. He tried to pull away, but her arms encircled his neck, and she deepened the kiss.

“If you keep this up . . . you might get more than you bargained for.”

“Is that a threat or a promise?” she whispered, her lips inches from his.

“You’re killing me.”

“Funny, am I the only one here who knows what they want?”

“What I want isn’t in question.”

“Oh, but I think it is. If you were honest with yourself, you wouldn’t pull away. It’s been such a perfect evening. What’s wrong with two people who care for each other, exploring their feelings? I dare you to tell me you don’t want this. That you don’t want me.”

“I’m trying to protect you . . . me . . . both of us . . . from making a mistake.” He smiled. “But you’re not cooperating. I don’t know how much more I can take.”

“Then surrender and let me win. I’m a big girl. If this is a mistake, it’s my mistake.” She pressed her lips on his, her tongue darting against his.

He rose with her in his arms. “I won’t blame you for what’s about to happen. You know how much I want you. I just hope we don’t live to regret it.”

He kissed her with a lust that turned her blood to fire.

“No regrets. I want this. Let’s take a shower,” she teased, kicking her legs playfully in the air.

Author Bio:

Belle Ami is an accomplished pianist, world traveler, skier and gourmet cook. She lives in Calabasas, CA and is currently finishing her sequel to The One entitled The One and More, the second novel in her (The Only One) series. She also has a self-published novel in another genre that was awarded Finalist for a major book reward.

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To Cast A Cliché by Aubrey Wynne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The royal poet has offended the evil Queen Lucinda and she vows to get her revenge. The queen comes up with a spell of never-ending clichés that plague those in the kingdom. King Richard returns to find he needs to thwart his stepmother’s magic and save the good people of Maxim.

To Cast A Cliché is a really short read at only fifteen pages but it definitely was good for a giggle. The fun of the story is trying to figure out just what known clichés the inhabitants of the kingdom become plagues with such as a lady dragging a blanket behind her was “covering her tracks”. There were all kinds of silly things to try to figure out what it is that they were doing when King Richard returned.

Overall, a fun short story to test the readers knowledge of clichés.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.