Carries Book Reviews

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Love Songs and Ferry Tales
Julie Farley
Publication date: November 14th 2023
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

Romance is what Ferry Tales are made of….

Jac

It’s been a not-so-great-year. Divorce. Check.Living on pennies. Check. All I need is a quiet summer back at my childhood home on Greensea Island-sitting on the deck with a glass of rosé, savoring one of Dad’s legendary charcuterie boards, and catching up on all the Sherman Family news. But instead, I find myself in an unexpected conversation with a random British guy in my parents ’kitchen who just casually mentioned he’s rented their house for the summer. My carefully laid out plan has just hit a turbulent wave.

Johnny

She honestly doesn’t know who I am. I can see it in her gigantic green eyes. I didn’t get the oh-my-gosh-you’re-Johnny-Nickel eyes or the swoon here-are-my-underpants look. She’s standing at the end of the kitchen counter, brown hair in one of those cattywampus buns, in an oversized white tee hanging off one shoulder and ripped jeans. Looking hella sexy even if she tried to stab me with a house key when I walked in. I just wonder how long I can keep my identity hidden from her…

And now they’re stuck together…for better or worse!

Love Songs and Ferry Tales is a hidden identity, forced proximity, closed door rom-com with a quirky small town and an anonymous gossip reporter. You won’t want to miss it!

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EXCERPT:

She honestly doesn’t know who I am. I can see it in her gigantic green eyes. I didn’t get the oh-my-gosh-you’re-Johnny-Nickel eyes or the swoony here-are-my-underpants look. She’s standing at the end of the counter, brown hair in one of those cattywampus buns, in an oversized white tee hanging off one shoulder and ripped jeans. Looking hella sexy as she tried to stab me with a key.

Paul walks in, rubbing his eyes. “It’s early, man. What’s with the commotion?”

“This here is Jac, and she claims she lives here.” I point to the room we’re standing in.

“I do live here! I’m not just saying I live here! Well, I mean. I used to live here. I grew up here. My parents live here now. Who are you?” She stares right at Paul.

“Paul Brown, and there must be some mistake. We rented a house from a couple who’s away for the summer. Clearly, you’re not away. I hope you’ll be able to find another place to stay,” says Paul.

Her cheeks are red, and her green eyes look teary. She sniffles. Please don’t cry. She bites her lip and picks at her nails.

“Yeah. You’re right. I probably should find a place to stay. I’m the idiot who thought a surprise visit was a good idea. But I have nowhere to go because my husband left me six months ago, and I had to give up my apartment. And I just really needed to sleep in my bed with the comforter my mom made from all my t-shirts.” She takes a breath. “I can call my brothers. They’ll take me in, but I didn’t want to have to ask them for anything. I wanted to do this on my own. Which doesn’t even make sense because I ran home to the house I grew up in, but I at least wanted to do most of this without anyone’s help. I wanted to prove to them, to myself, that I am ok.” She takes a big sniff and wipes her nose with the back of her hand. “Oh my gosh, I’m sorry. I’ve only just met you and I’ve already jumped up on my emotional soapbox.”

Her speech grabs at my heart, and I want to help this adorable creature.

“Hold on a minute,” I say, turning toward Paul. “Let’s talk about this. It’s her house. She doesn’t have to go anywhere yet.”

“It’s not her house,” he says, with quotes around her. “It’s her parents and we have an agreement with them.”

“Surely we can be gracious until this gets figured out,” I plead.

“Regardless, we’ll need you to sign an NDA,” says Paul and walks out of the room.

“An NDA?” Jac’s eyes get even bigger when she looks at me.

“Sorry about this. He’s kind of a stickler for procedure.” I shrug my shoulders because the actual answer is way more complicated.

“Why is there an NDA and a procedure for me staying in my house?” she asks as Paul returns with papers and a pen before I have to answer.

“Ok. So, these are legally binding. Once you sign, you agree you will not share any information you overhear or anything you see with anyone or discuss it in the future. Any mention of anything you see or hear will result in a penalty and a date in court.”

Her eyebrows arch up her forehead. “Who are you guys? Mafia? Drug lords turning the house into a meth lab?”

“I told you. We’re in tech. No need to worry about your safety.” I glance at Paul, who looks at me and mouths, really?

Author Bio:

Julie Farley loves writing books filled with big families, lots of heart, and plenty of laughs. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and four amazing kids. Julie has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a graduate degree from DePaul

University. When she’s not busy with her family or writing books, you’ll find her watching reality tv…of any sort!

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The Doomsday Code
Sara Yager
Publication date: November 14th 2023
Genres: Adult, Thriller

In an artificial intelligence lab in Shanghai, something has gone terribly wrong. Days after a major breakthrough in machine learning, CyberGen Industries ’lead AI scientist is dead—and their precious prototype has vanished into the ether. An investigation reveals that, against all odds, the lab’s “unhackable” system has been breached.

The discovery, an algorithm mimicking human intelligence, is growing quickly—becoming more cunning and unpredictable with each passing hour. Soon its capabilities will eclipse its creators entirely.

Who stole it? And more troubling, what do they plan to do with it?

Ex-NSA hacker Adrian Pryor may be the only person on the planet capable of reining it in. He spent his career keeping the world safe, a vigilance for which he paid an enormous, personal price. Adrian knows there are people who will stop at nothing to control the powerful technology. He must find a way to do the impossible: to stop them, and to outmaneuver a rival more clever, more powerful, and more alien than anything he has ever seen.

Grounded in real-world science, Sara Yager’s wildly inventive debut brings advanced AI to life, illuminating a frightening, all-too-real truth about the future: we are one breakthrough away from inventing ourselves out of existence.

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EXCERPT:

Adrian expected to see the other agents descend at any moment. Instead, a flash of movement from the top of the stairwell caught his eye. He looked up just in time to see a small metal object clattering down the stairs. A cold rush of panic coursed through him. “Run!”

He took two large strides and then shoved Olivia as hard as he could. They flew sidelong down the hallway, landing hard on stone, his body crushing hers in a protective shield. A second later, his night vision goggles flared painfully, and the entire room erupted in flames.

The grenade was as loud as a sonic boom in the silent chamber. The blast threw everyone to the ground. Shattered stone exploded from the walls and ceiling, followed by the thick pall of smoke and rock dust.

Adrian’s heart hammered in his chest.

Someone is still here.

His gaze shot to Wu. The agent was clearing rubble from around his legs and then proceeded to army-crawl back towards the stairwell, retrieving his CF-05 submachine gun. He pointed at the door. “You two—out, now!”

Before Adrian could react, a crack from overhead stopped him in his tracks. All eyes shot to the stairwell. A dark figure appeared, silhouetted by a hellish inferno behind him. Another gunshot blasted, followed by the whine of the man’s semi-automatic weapon as it unleashed a round past them. The attacker wheeled back from the force of the weapon’s discharge. Bullets rained from the ceiling, sparking, and ricocheting off stone. Adrian’s whole body tensed, pressing down tighter on top of Olivia.

When the bullets finally subsided, Agent Wu burst to his feet, streaking low across the chamber. He ducked into a cross-corridor and skidded to a stop, leaving only the barrel of his weapon visible around the corner.

Taking advantage of the momentary chaos, the assailant leapt from the stairs, charging headlong into the chamber and towards the solitary exit. He passed in a blur, leapfrogging over bodies as he went. He was almost to the door when another round cut the air, this time coming from Wu’s weapon. The fire caught the man on the back of his torso. Within seconds, his bullet-riddled form crumpled to the floor and the temple fell silent again.

Swearing, one of the agents next to Adrian rose to his feet. “You okay?”

“I’ll live.” Adrian’s eyes were on Olivia.

“How about you, ma’am?” the agent said.

“I’ve been better,” Olivia said, rubbing her arm.

“You’re lucky he got you out of the way before the grenade detonated,” the agent said. “If you had been at the bottom of that stairwell . . .”

Agent Wu joined them. “You’re safe now.”

Author Bio:

Sara Yager built a successful ten-year career in the semiconductor industry before leaving to care for her children full time. With a unique perspective as a mother and former tech professional, she brings a fresh and insightful voice to the world of speculative fiction.

A mom of two young boys, Yager came up with some of her best concepts for The Doomsday Code while waiting in the elementary school pickup line. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. This is her first novel.

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Rumor: Kingston City Nephilim
Jamie L Biggs
Publication date: October 31st 2023
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

She thought the truth would set her free. Instead, it binds her to the supernatural.

Seeking the truth entangles Rumor in a web of angelic mysteries and demonic secrets. She thought the truth would set her free, but instead, it binds her to the supernatural forces that lurk in the shadows.

As her adopted father’s deceit unravels and DNA test results confound her, Rumor must navigate a treacherous path. Her once-trusted friend, Rex, becomes a formidable foe driven by desires beyond friendship, while an enigmatic stranger emerges as an unlikely hero offering everything she craves.

Rumor must find her voice in a world where romance dances with the supernatural, and dark fantasies blur the line between good and evil. In this gripping dark fantasy, she faces an impossible choice: the seductive allure of the stranger or the relentless pursuit of Rex.

Join Rumor on a thrilling journey through a world where angels and demons collide, love is tested, and the supernatural redefines destiny.

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EXCERPT:

As I scan the room full of party people, I see Jared and wave at him. He’s Madison’s favorite cousin and they spend a lot of time talking on the phone together. It’s funny. I feel like I know him already, just from the way Madison speaks of him. Jared’s smile fades when we make eye contact. Before I can stop him, he leaves the dance floor and disappears into the kitchen. Weird. When I met him after the graduation ceremony, I assumed he wanted to talk to me.

“That guy has a weird vibe. Stay away from him, Rumor.” Turning around, I find Rex glaring in his direction.

“What in the world, Rex? Have you been glaring at Jared? Why would you do that?” I cross my arms over my chest, waiting for him to answer.

“I’ve been looking for the two of you.” Madison is at my side, looking at us. “What’s going on?”

Before I can say anything, Rex responds. “Nothing, just reminding Rumor that she needs to behave herself like her dad told her to.” He smirks.

“Seriously, when has she ever done something she wasn’t supposed to?”

“Hey, I’m right here.” I’m not happy about how this conversation is going.

My best friend laughs, then gives me a quick hug. “We’re teasing you. You and I have our own priorities, and breaking rules isn’t one of them.”

She’s right. There’s no reason to rock the boat. My dad has done so much for me, and I have no desire to repay him by causing trouble. And Madison? All she wants is to become an attorney. So neither of us have any intention of getting ourselves into any trouble that would tarnish her record, or my dad’s, for that matter.

“Are you ready for vacation? I mean, will all of your family be going, or is it just like your mom and dad with your brothers and sister?” Rex asks.

She glances over the room and sees her extended family having a good time. “No, it’s just gonna be Mom and Dad and my brothers and sister, that’s it. I don’t expect that we could handle traveling with all forty of us. It would be fun at some point.” She’s sounds amused. “But not this trip. It’s just us and the beach. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the ocean, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Madison’s mom is waving at her. “Whoops. Forgot, I need to go help Mom in the kitchen. Have fun, you two. I’ll be back soon.” Madison maneuvers through the crowded living room, meeting her mom in the open kitchen.

The music changes from a fast pounding beat to a slow-paced ballad. “Dance with me, Rumor?”

The fine hairs on my arms stand up. “Um, not right now. Okay?” I like Rex. He’s become one of my best friends and I’m feeling a little awkward around him right now because I’m getting mixed signals from him.

Author Bio:

I’m Jamie, a paranormal fantasy writer. From graduating with a bachelor of Science in Visual Communication, and a masters in Education, my journey to where I am now hasn’t been straightforward. But I’ve always had a passion for storytelling (decades-worth of advice and anecdotes!) and look forward to sharing my fun with you.

I have been known to people watch and take those normal day-to-day situations to spin into storylines. Everyday human behavior can pack a lot of drama. I take ordinary events and enjoy unpacking people’s motives to use as inspiration for my writing.

A self-proclaimed coffee addict that loves all things paranormal and creatures that go bump in the night. When I’m not reading or writing, I spend time with my husband, Mark.

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Flame & Shadow
AK Nevermore
(The Dae Diaries, #1)
Published by: The Wild Rose Press
Publication date: November 13th 2023
Genres: Adult, Romance, Urban Fantasy

Half-daemon Envy Starr is destined to die on Midsummer’s Eve, still a virgin, on some crappy cult’s live-stream feed. With thirty days left to live, the chance to escape her fate and get some action compels her into her absentee father’s world of beautifully cultured cruelty.

Once there, she’s the object of a deadly game, slated to alter the Fae realm’s power structure. Worse, the rules keep changing, and everyone has an ulterior motive, including her dae-licious guide, Brennan. Under a geas he’s desperate to break, she can’t trust him, or herself.

Stupid Stockholm syndrome.

But unless she can come to terms with what lies in her heart, her unlikely survival will be a fate worse than death. For her, and the rest of Fae.

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EXCERPT:

I stabbed a stupid crepe, trying not to think about Kyle and Berk back in Vel. I was sure they were okay. I just wasn’t sure I’d ever see them again. Who was I kidding? They, and everyone else in the pub, would’ve written me off, and they’d be right to. I told you, getting snagged by a fae had a survival rate of zero. At least, nobody I’d ever heard of had come back to tell the tale.

Despite my cheery thoughts, I won’t lie, the crepes were just about the best thing I’d ever eaten. I figured I could die happy with them in my stomach. The imp seemed pleased when I said so and asked for seconds. As soon as I’d finished, the daemon tucked away his paper and lit a long, gold-filtered cigarette. The imp came back with espresso. I was feeling fancy and had mine with a twist.

“Thanks for that with the golem… I mean, it was a golem…?”

He blew out a long stream of smoke. It was a gross habit, but he made it look worth taking up. “Yes, and you’re welcome.”

“Uh, any idea why it was there?”

“For you, otherwise it wouldn’t have revealed itself.”

He didn’t seem particularly concerned, but my mouth went dry. Had he been watching me? Did he have anything to do with the dae Calista had been screwing? And more importantly:

“Are you going to eat me?”

He took another drag and raised a gorgeous eyebrow at me. “Would you like me to?”

Yeah, I just about died. That totally wasn’t what I meant.

Author Bio:

AK Nevermore enjoys operating heavy machinery, freebases coffee, and gives up sarcasm for Lent every year. A Jane-of-all-trades, she’s a certified chef, restores antiques, and dabbles in beekeeping when she’s not reading voraciously or running down the dream in her beat-up camo Chucks.

Unable to ignore the voices in her head, and unwilling to become medicated, she writes Science Fiction and Fantasy full time.

She pays the bills editing, wielding a wicked hot pink pen and writing a column on SFF. She also belongs to the Authors Guild, is a chapter treasurer for the RWA, teaches creative writing, and on the rare occasion, sleeps.

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Losing My Breath
J. Rose Black
Publication date: November 8th 2023
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

A Marine never says die.

Neither does his princess.

Battle lines are drawn when sheltered debutante Meridian Daly moves across the hall from grumpy former special forces Marine Callan Brand. Situated a bit closer than advertised to ‘crime alley’, Meridian’s neighbor finds himself grudgingly guarding the pampered princess out of habit. But with her sharp wit and killer curves, he can’t help but surrender to temptation…

When their relationship evolves from casual courtship to something more, Callan finds that Meridian’s already discovered his closely-guarded secret. But can he let go of his pride, and tell her the whole truth of who he is and what he’s done—in the name of honor and country?

As Callan’s scars start to reveal themselves, his life spirals beyond the careful control that’s helped him survive—and kept those he cares about safe.

From him.

But this tough-in-a-tiara princess won’t back down, even in Callan’s darkest hours. And Meridian just might prove to be more tenacious than a never-say-die Marine!

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EXCERPT:

“You’re following me.” Callan placed the dumbbells on the mat and straightened.

His neighbor rolled her eyes as she stood. “I happen to work out every Tuesday and Thursday at this time.” She flipped her long ponytail over her shoulder. “This is the first time I’ve seen you here.” She pointed at him with her water bottle.

Nice of her to offer. He grabbed the beverage, uncapped it, and took a nice long drink. “Thanks,” he said, and handed it back.

She glared. “Are you this big of a jerk to everyone here, or do I get some special treatment for living across the hall from you?”

“I thought you were offering it to me. It’s bad manners to point,” he said with a chuckle.

“You’re lecturing me on manners? The guy who can’t even introduce himself?” The frown on her face wasn’t even close to cross. She was clearly too good-natured for her own sake, and—if their interactions were any indication—she was also far too naïve. She

shouldn’t be in a place like this. Maybe locked in some ivory princess tower, guarded by a monster.

Prissy Neighbor huffed as she stepped around him. She bent down, in those short running shorts with the open sides—to whip a pair of fifteen-pound dumbbells off the rack.

He sighed. Yet another one I’ll need to keep an eye on. Trouble will find her. I have zero doubts about that. The only question is: How bad will it be when it does?

He grimaced. It’s like she doesn’t even live in the same world. Where dark and twisted people exist, killing and preying on the weak. Innocents. She hefted one weight up to her shoulder, turning the grip as she went. But she slung the other dumbbell—engaging back muscles and using momentum to help propel the heavy weight.

She’s mad at me. So she’ll end up injuring herself. He shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “Your form is wrong.”

She met his gaze in the mirror. Sweat dripping from her temples like the rain on that day . . .

His eyes drifted to his own reflection. A hard-assed former Marine glared back. She turned her back to him and repeated the awkward movement.

He sighed. “You should lower the weight and go slower. You’re slinging the dumbbell and not getting the full benefit of the effort.”

Prissy Neighbor pivoted and faced the mirror again. He could see her brain processing the information. Her first instinct, the stubborn side of her, stuck out her chin and glared, again, at his reflection. But her more reasonable side must have won out. She put the dumbbell back on the rack—with a loud clatter. Then she repeated the hammer-curl movement with the lower weight.

“You’ll get better results if—”

“What now?” She planted her free hand on her hip. Her lip curled into a snarl.

What do you know? She has some fight in her after all. “I can show you,” he offered.

She flipped the weight to her free hand, then met his gaze. One light-colored eyebrow rose. Another wave of heat flared in his abdomen.

He moved behind her, sliding his fingers along her tricep toward her forearm. He lifted the weight from her hand and set it beside her, then held her wrist in a straight line out from her shoulder. “Hold, right there.”

Warmth radiated from her skin in waves. Her pulse beneath his fingertips. The telltale flutter in her neck. Life. It mattered, was precious. And could be taken away in an instant. The urge to remain there, connected to another human being, stirred an ache in his chest. Her hair smells like strawberries and coconuts.

He fitted one palm against the back of her hand; the other held on to her elbow. “This isolates the bicep.” He helped her complete the movement without a weight.

“One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand.” Her knuckles tapped her shoulder. “Now down in one fluid movement.”

He helped her repeat it once more before retrieving the weight at her feet. She performed eight full reps, then switched hands. She met his gaze in the mirror as she executed the same movement—working the other bicep. He gave her a slight nod, and his reflection added an even smaller smile.

After finishing sixteen reps, she lifted one side of her mouth. “Thanks, Umbrella Guy.”

Author Bio:

J. Rose Black weaves stories about obsession, redemption, and the transcendental power of love. From her early days writing fanfiction for a passionate following of international readers, to crafting novels with her own characters, Rose has always been drawn to broody protectors and plucky, no-nonsense women ready to fight for what they believe in.

When Rose isn’t deeply immersed in her latest manuscript, she’s working in cyber security and thwarting the next generation of internet bad guys. Out of the office, she’s #Shipping with friends over her favorite, swoon-worthy couples, heading to the gym to battle the great evil that is Unmovable Baby Weight, or complaining about her husband’s addiction to 3D printing. Also: nagging her children to eat something other than cheese.

To learn more about Rose’s stories and the characters and worlds visited in this book, check out her website: https://jroseblack.com

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