Carries Book Reviews

Don’t Kiss the Messenger by Katie Ray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As a child Cece Edmonds was in a serious car crash that left her with a horrible scar upon her face. Now a senior in high school Cece has developed a tough girl persona to deal with those that comment about her scar. The captain of the girls volley ball team she has her circle of friends that she’s close to but has trouble letting anyone else into her life.

Emmett Brady just started classes at Cece’s school and when the two end up paired together Cece is immediately taken to him but won’t allow herself to believe he could ever be attracted to her. Then when Emmett is blindsided by new girl Bryn DeNeuville’s good looks Cece really thinks she will never be given another look. However when Bryn gets tongue tied with Emmett she asks for Cece’s help texting and emailing him and Cece gets a bit carried away with her online romance.

Don’t Kiss the Messenger is a young adult contemporary read which to me is a modern day teenage take on the story of Cyrano de Bergerac. As Cece tries convincing herself that she’s only helping out her friend Bryn win the guy she herself is slowly falling for Emmett who she doesn’t believe would ever consider her. I really enjoyed reading this one, a cute read with likable characters.

When finished reading though I did take notice of a couple of things during the read that kept me from rating a bit higher. First, I felt it seemed a bit off for these to be high school seniors in the setting they were in, it seemed a more college like atmosphere. Also, there were several times I felt Emmett should have guessed what was going on but I suppose then we wouldn’t have a story either so he had to be a bit clueless. Overall though it was a rather enjoyable story.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Working for The Billionaires Club
Sky Corgan
Publication date: August 16th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Now enlisting volunteers! Looking for ten super-rich men willing to please some lucky ladies for a good cause.

Requirements: You must make at least a billion dollars annually. You must be hot as hell. You must be a stud in the bedroom.

Job duties: Treat our clients like the queens they are. Fulfill their every fantasy while they enjoy their stay at our state of the art resort. You’ll have access to all of our amenities and fantasy rooms so that you can create the best experience for our clients.

The Billionaires Club is a non-profit organization. Clients pay good money for your time, and all proceeds go to a charity of their choice.

Do something great for your community and have some fun in the process. Join The Billionaires Club!

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On sale from 03/15 – 03/21 only!

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EXCERPT:

“I wouldn’t trade you for any woman in the world, Raven.” He clutches my hand tightly before pressing it over his chest. “You are my heart. I love you, and I’d never do anything to fuck things up between us again.”

I smile, letting my guard down. “You’re a really good guy sometimes, you know.”

“I’m a really good guy for you. I don’t care what anyone else thinks of me.”

“You’re a really good guy. Don’t pretend to be an asshole.” I tap my fingers over his heart.

He draws me to him, and I rest my head on his chest, listening to the rhythmic sound of his heartbeat. “I would kill any man who ever tried to touch you. You are mine.”

“I am yours,” I reply, dropping my walls and allowing myself to feel for him.

Author Bio:

Sky Corgan is a USA Today Best-Selling author. When she’s not typing away at the next steamy romance series, she’s busy planning for future vacations.

You can get a FREE Sky Corgan book and stay up to date on her latest releases by signing up for her newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/v0PwX

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Songs and Fins
B. Kristin McMichael
(The Merworld Trilogy, #2)
Published by: Lexia Press
Publication date: March 14th 2017
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Whitney was amazed she finally had a boyfriend, and was prepared for a new life with him in the siren night human world. And the fact he was a lead singer in a rock band in his free time wasn’t bad, either. Too bad having a boyfriend didn’t mean she was going to see him, as his father’s punishment included separating them. Whitney is certain she can handle it, but sure enough, that isn’t the only wrench thrown into her new life. There’s a new threat in town, a scarier one than the backstabbing siren clan she’s part of now. They are night human hunters, and Whitney is an outlawed night human breed. Could her luck get any better? Quiet and peaceful would be ideal, but that’s not what she’s about to get.

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EXCERPT:

Whitney meeting a new friend

Take my friends, and I’ll take yours. Sam’s worth at least four greens. Thanks for the new servants.

Whitney wadded the note up in her hand and began to push up to go over and tell Amber what she thought, but Tina caught her eye and shook her head, which was enough to make Whitney pause. While she wanted to go over and give Amber a piece of her mind, she trusted her friend. Something in her eyes said to listen to her. Instead of going over to the table, Whitney let Amber think she had won and sat back down alone. It wasn’t like Whitney wasn’t used to being alone in a lunchroom. She had transferred schools once before coming to their school. She would be fine. Once she got to the bottom of things, she would get her friends back.

Sitting back down, Whitney checked over her math homework. It was the only distraction she had with her, and she needed a distraction to keep from blowing up at Amber. It was ridiculous. Whitney wasn’t keeping Sam from Amber. Sam wanted nothing to do with her, or the sirens in general. That wasn’t Whitney’s fault. And actually, Whitney didn’t blame him on the Amber front. Whitney’s mother had told her more than once when she was a child that if you didn’t have something nice to say, you don’t say anything at all. That definitely pertained to Amber. Whitney had nothing she could say about the girl.

“Um …” A shadow fell over Whitney’s paper as someone stood beside the table, blocking the light.

Whitney glanced up to find a girl standing there, staring down at her paper, but not her. She had never seen the girl before, and she was sure she would have remembered her. She had long black hair that was tipped pink around the edges, some tattoos, and too many piercings to count. Even with her school uniform on, the girl stood out. How could you not with a Celtic cross taking up most of your forearm? That wasn’t something you saw often in a school with teenagers. Whitney’s mother would have killed her if she got a small tattoo that could be concealed. This girl’s wasn’t hidden at all.

“Can I sit here?” the girl asked quietly, pointing to the empty table.

Author Bio:

B. Kristin McMichael graduated with her PhD in biology at Ohio State where she worked as a scientist before taking her passion of writing full-time. Besides writing, she enjoys chasing her kids, playing outside, and baking cookies. She lives in Ohio with her husband and three children.

B. Kristin is the author of YA and clean NA paranormal fiction. Her “Night Human World” includes the YA series “The Blue Eyes Trilogy” about a midwestern girl who comes of age in a world of battling vampire clans, the “The Day Human Trilogy” that takes place among the Appalachian Sidhe fairies, and “The Skinwalkers Witchling” trilogy that follows an apprentice witch in the Pacific Northwest. She’s also the author of the NA paranormal time travel romance series “The Chalcedony Chronicles”.

The Chalcedony Chronicles: http://bkmc.me/Book1Carnelian

Night Human World Series:
-The Blue Eyes Trilogy: http://bkmc.me/LegendoftheBlueEyes
-The Day Human Trilogy: http://bkmc.me/DayHumanPrince
-The Skinwalkers Witchling: http://bkmc.me/TheWitchlingApprentice

For more information on all of her books, visit http://www.bkristinmcmichael.com

Subscribe to her mailing list for new release notifications and deals: http://www.bkristinmcmichael.com/list

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Reason to Love
Sedona Venez
(Credence Curse #3)
Publication date: March 15th 2017
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Can sworn enemies cross the line and fall in love?

Reason Orlov, a vampire-human, is the princess of the vampire coven. Never quite feeling like she fits in, the hybrid has spent her life trying to rise to the expectations of her father, the vampire king.

Jack Alagona—better known as Jackal—is the second-in-command in his wolf pack. Set in his domineering alpha ways, the wolf-shifter closed off his heart long ago when vampires took what was most precious to him.

Even though a relationship between vampires and shifters is practically forbidden, all Reason knows is that she wants Jackal with a passion she’s never felt.

And, although Reason drives him crazy in a way that he thought he wouldn’t feel again, with memories that rule his present life, Jackal can’t risk being more than friends.

Can Reason convince Jackal to let her into his heart, or will their pasts get in the way?

Reason to Love is the third book in the Credence Curse Saga, a series of adventure-packed shifter romance tales. If you like dark magic, powerful women, steamy love scenes, heart-pounding romance, and piles of sexy shifter secrets, then you’ll love the latest romp from author Sedona Venez.

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Previous books in the series:

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EXCERPT:

He arched down, grabbing my face between his callous palms, and a weird jolt of energy pulsed through me. Instead of pushing him away, strangely, the only thing I could think of was how long it’d been since I felt a man’s hands on my skin. His full focus was on me, the attention sending little tremors of awareness through me, as we stared at each other, speechless, our faces mere inches apart.

Move, Reason. Just fucking go.

My mind and body staged a mutiny by refusing to cooperate, as if daring the shifter to make another move. He did by pressing his lips against mine.

No, no, no. This will not do.

Reaching up, I slapped my hands against his wide shoulders with every intention of shoving him away. Instead, my fingers gripped him tight, pulling him closer. My lips parted before he sucked my tongue into his mouth.

Oh, baby Jesus. Why does he taste like my three favorite things—coffee, mint, and cinnamon?

Author Bio:

Sedona Venez is a romance author with a dirty mind. She lives in New York City with her hot ex-military hubby–hooah–and their fur baby. She loves writing sizzling, sexy intricate stories about strong but broken characters who push limits, overcome their fears, and risk it all for love.

You can chat with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SedonaVenez), Twitter (@SedonaVenez), and her kick-ass romance website, (www.sedonavenez.com).

If you’re interested in getting your hands on an advanced release copy of her upcoming books, sneak peek teasers, you can join her newsletter list (http://eepurl.com/2ixqj) and get those details delivered right to your inbox.

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Wedding Dreams: 20 Delicious Nuptial Romances
Publication date: April 18th 2017
Genres: Adult, Romance

**You are invited to the weddings of your dreams**

Twenty award-winning, USA Today and International best-selling authors have come together to bring you over 3,000 pages of love, lust, and lusciously sexy men.

From sweet second chance romances to bad boys, BBWs, and brides looking for revenge, this is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys Romance or Women’s Fiction. These pages are packed with cozy romances, thrilling international and holiday adventures, and sweet heart-melting stories. Our authors bring you everything from hot cowboys to rockstar romances, elegant weddings to nuptial disasters, and blushing brides to bold women, all in a delightful celebration of love.

You’re in for a wild, passionate ride on a breathtaking voyage to make your heart soar. This box set will leave you craving all things marital and wishing the honeymoon would never end.

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