Carries Book Reviews

Hi Jack
Karen Gordon
(Vivienne Series, #2)
Publication date: January 12th 2017
Genres: Adult, Contemporary

Overthinking-control-freak Vivienne Ramsey’s life is out of control.

She’s lost her dad, the man she thought she would be with forever moved away, and her best friend is about to get married. The only stable thing in her life right now is her job. Thank God for her job.

But even that might be up in the air.

She’s been summoned to meet with the CEO of the company and has no idea why. The handsome, married exec has had his eye on her. But is she ready for a move to the executive suites? Can she out play a big-time player like Joel Rockhurst?

HiJack is book 2 in the Vivienne Series, a continuing story of one woman trying to shatter the glass ceiling without her life breaking to pieces.

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Author Bio:

Karen Gordon is an indie author who loves supporting strong and sexy women in fiction and in real life.

Born and raised in St. Charles, Missouri, she found her love of extraordinary stories about ordinary places by finding excitement in mundane suburbia. Although she

currently writes romance and chick lit, you never know what she might do next. (You’ll never find a woman-hating, bad-boy hero though.)

She currently lives with the loves of her life, three very cool geeky men and one perfect puppy, just outside of Memphis, TN.

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The Dollmaker by Mary Burton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tessa McGowan is a forensic pathologist and her latest case has been quite disturbing. Young women are turning up dead made up to look like real life dolls. Working with her estranged husband, Dakota Sharp, the pair team up to track down a killer which they find may have hit a little too close to home for the pair.

The Dollmaker is the second book in the Forgotten Files series by Mary Burton. Each book in the series though could be read as a standalone since they both feature completely different cases with only a bit of carry over with character information.

This particular book starts off when a teen getting talked into making a drug drop off and recognizing the buyer which costs him his life. Then we have the murders of a serial killer which then also ties into a past case close to our main characters. A lot going on throughout the book so as to never have a dull moment and to keep the pages turning.

Overall, another great read from Mary Burton, lots of twists and turns and action all throughout as the characters chase down the killer.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

REMEMBER
Joan Carney
Publication date: November 7th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance

For most people, Christmas is a time of joy and anticipation. But when a freak accident robs Gracie of her memory, the lines between fantasy and reality blur.

Now there’s only one gift Gracie wants for Christmas, and the only man who can bring it is not Santa.

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EXCERPT:

My body had just sunk into the bed when a knock at the door sent my eyes rolling to the ceiling. It took me back to that awful year I’d spent as RA in the dorm at Purdue. No matter what time of day or night, every petty issue that arose became my problem. God almighty, now what?

I forced my body to a sitting position fighting the outbreak of vertigo that threatened to push me back. Two or three inches of tequila were left in the bottle on the night stand. Christ, I drank way too much. Feet on the floor, I wrapped myself in the sheet, dragging it with me as I stumbled to the door and yanked it open. Victoria waited on the landing wearing a long silky robe, thick waves of blonde hair falling loose around her shoulders. A seductive smile curling her lips.

“What is it Victoria? If something’s broken in your room, you can call down to the management and they’ll come fix it.” My steady tone belied the tequila induced numbness in my tongue and teeth.

“Um… no, it’s something else,” she lowered her voice, fidgeting with the belt on her robe. “But I’d rather not say it out in the hall. Is it okay if I come in?”

I stepped back to let her in, leaving the door open, and waited to hear the dire emergency that only I could fix.

She didn’t speak, but pulled the tie on her robe and let it fall to the floor revealing only a lacy black thong underneath. Holy shit is she stacked!

“Wait, what? What are you doing?” No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t take my away. Her breasts seemed to magnify in my vision, begging for my touch. Was it the alcohol or her tight naked body staring at me that took away my ability to think? My blood pulsed loud in my ears.

“It’s okay, Jack, you don’t have to pretend anymore. I know you want me.” Her voice matched the air outside. Warm, silky, sultry.

I tightened the sheet around my waist and poked my head out into the hall to see if anyone had witnessed her crazy stunt. Thank God, no one had.

“No one’s there, Jack, they’re out back in the pool. We’re all alone now.” A slight push from her hand and the door clicked closed.

Never before had a woman come on to me so boldly. It was intimidating, but exciting as hell. Heat flashed through my body. Her mesmerizing breasts, pointing at me as she approached, seemed to shift in my wavering vision like a Picasso painting. My hands ached to reach out, and I clutched the sheet to control them.

A few feet stood between us and the large bed. Conflicted between throwing her down on the satiny soft sheets and tossing her out the door, my feet edged back with every step she took forward. I kept one eye on Victoria as I sneaked a peek behind me. If I didn’t take a stand, this situation would spiral out of control, fast.

“Victoria, stop.” My hands grasped her shoulders keeping her at arm’s length, but my heavy arms couldn’t support them. They drifted down. Her gooseflesh rippling under my fingers made the breath catch in my throat.

She leaned in. The heady scent of her jasmine perfume infused the air, further intoxicating me. Her lips, gliding down the side of my neck, left a trail of warm gentle kisses. My racing pulse made the room swim even more than before and I tightened my grip to steady myself. She turned her head, I felt her soft hair brush a whisper across my chest. Gracie.

Gracie’s soft laugh echoed in my ear. Her beautiful sun-kissed face a vision behind my closed lids. My hands anchored at her waist, I pulled her closer. I’ve wanted this for such a long time.

Heat radiating off her body stoked the fire in mine. My tongue ran along the seam of her eager lips, teasing, sampling, savoring. Mmm, peppermint candy.

“Jack.” She gasped against my lips. Her arms tightened around my neck, drawing me in, urging me on.

Any reservations I might have had in the beginning were now nonexistent. I’d reached the point of no return. I deepened the kiss, sweeping my tongue into her mouth, meeting hers, trading places. In a full embrace, our bodies angled toward the bed.

“Gracie, baby, I’ve dreamed of this so many times.”

Victoria’s body stiffened. Hands pushed back against my chest. “What did you call me?”

“Baby? I didn’t mean…”

“Did you just call me Gracie?”

“What? No, I didn’t, I…”

“Yes you did! You called me Gracie, you son of a bitch. How dare you! You’re seducing me and thinking of someone else?”

“Me? I am? Wait a minute…”

Her hand cracked against my face so hard, my head swung like a saloon door and I tasted blood in my mouth. The bell signaling the end of the first round rang in my ears. She gathered up her robe, tossed a few more irate insults at me and flounced out the door, slamming it behind her.

What the hell just happened? Victoria? Gracie? My head swam, going back and forth between the bed and the door, replaying the events of the last few minutes. Shit, did I really do that? I’d never called a woman by the wrong name before. Gracie’s got me so damn twisted up inside, I don’t even know what I’m doing anymore.

I eased my still burning body onto the mattress cradling my comfort in a bottle. The last few gulps of tequila slid down my throat with ease. But soon the spinning room had me gripping the sheets for balance.

Stomach churning, my clumsy feet scrambled for the bathroom, making it just in time to empty its meager contents into the porcelain bowl. It didn’t take long, but my head throbbed from the effort. I splashed water on my face, noting in the mirror the red hand imprint on my cheek. For a skinny little vixen, Victoria sure packs a wallop.

Author Bio:

A transplant from the concrete sidewalks of New York City to the sunny beaches of Southern California, Ms. Carney enjoys writing stories about women who are strong—whether by nature or circumstance—and the men who love and respect them for who they are. Things that make her happy are rainy days (too much sun is a bore), writing the perfect first line, family get-togethers, reading books that grab her heart, and finding new connections in her genealogy research. Bold coffee and dark chocolate fuel the artistic fire inspired by her family, friends, and psycho, lizard hunting cat.

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The Doctor’s Christmas Proposal by Eve Gaddy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Dr. Wyatt Gallagher returned to his hometown of Marietta, Montana after he was betrayed by his ex-fiancee. However Wyatt had left his best friend behind in Denver, Mia Watson, and now after time to think Wyatt wants nothing more than to have Mia back in his life so with the excuse of one of his brother’s upcoming wedding and the other brother having a child on the way Wyatt invites Mia to Marietta.

Mia had been in love with Wyatt for years but had never pushed for anything more than friendship from him. One night after his breakup though things had gone farther than they ever had and the two spent the night together but Wyatt had never acknowledged that night and moved back home before even talking to Mia about it. Now that her heart has starting healing Mia isn’t sure she want to be pulled back into Wyatt’s life and that would mean sharing the secret she’s kept since he left.

The Doctor’s Christmas Proposal is the third book in the Gallagher’s of Montana series set in the lovely small town of Marietta, Montana during the Christmas holiday season. Each of these books feature different couples so they can be read as standalones but there’s always mentions of previous characters and events in Marietta, Montana books.

What I enjoyed with this story was that the characters had an established relationship in their past so with a short read it didn’t feel rushed into romance between what could be two strangers. However, with that history came things between them that really needed to be discussed and of course gets put off so that is rather frustrating. It got to the point though with this one that it got a bit repetitive bringing up the past as if to drill into it there is going to be a big confrontation, a bit of a turn off for me.

Overall though I still enjoy any look into the characters and the lovely small town of Marietta, Montana and all of it’s holiday charm.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

The Lost Girl
Candy Atkins
(The Lost Knight, #2)
Publication date: November 20th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

If Stratagor Ziras doesn’t kill me, my training program will!

Every day I wake up and go through the motions, but they’ve figured out that I’m not a Knight. I can’t ride, I can’t fight, I can’t do magic, and worst of all, I can’t see whatever it is I’m supposed to see in this stupid Orb.

Nothing is what it seems here. Everyone says they want what’s best for me, but who can I trust? The lying snake? The feathery crocodile trying to lock me away? The Queen who wants me dead? Or the devil himself?

I don’t know what I’m more afraid of—the enemies that have made several attempts on my life, or my allies now that they know they’ve made a huge a mistake.

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After the blitz, the author will giving away one signed copy of The Lost Knight and one signed copy of The Lost girl to one random newsletter subscriber.

Author Bio:

Candy Atkins is a full‐time writer who lives with her husband and two kids in Orlando, Florida. She’s an avid reader and lover of all things fantasy and sci‐fi. Her debut novel, The Lost Knight, is volume one of the six‐part Lost Knight Series.

Her life’s journey has taken her from dining with the President to being on food stamps to running her own company. And since all author bios end by naming and quantifying pets…she also enjoys spending time with her boxer, Butler, and Wynona the cat.

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