Carries Book Reviews

Out Of Play by Joy Norstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gillian Campbell has come to the point that she has no idea how to save her marriage and decides to start seeing a therapist. The problem to Gillian is that her husband would rather focus on his new hobby, LARPing or live action roll play, than have anything to do with her these days no matter how many times she tries to talk to him.

Gillian’s therapist asks her to try not complaining of her husband’s hobby but perhaps she ought to give it a shot herself, maybe just maybe Gillian may find this fun or at least understand her husband better. Renting her own costume and volunteering for the weekend Gillian sets off on her own role-play adventure in hopes of saving her marriage.

Out of Play was one of those reads that pleasantly surprised me more and more as I read through the pages. The idea of the live action role play seemed to be an interesting setting to focus a story around and I was glad to be right in that regard. The setting led to some rather humorous moments as Gillian dove into this world she didn’t understand.

But once getting passed the situation in the book that has brought the main character to try such an unique event I was wondering just where this story would lead. Would Gillian turn into one of those over reacting females that can be somewhat or a turn off? Just when I began to question things the author flips the story into one that is quite emotional catching me again off guard so color me quite impressed with combining so much into a somewhat short little story that truly had me feeling for these characters.

Overall, quite enjoyed this emotional little tale from the beginning humor to the ending that may require some tissues. Great story with a unique setting.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

The Mirror Sisters by V.C. Andrews
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Haylee and Kaylee are identical twins and when they were born their mother insisted that each be treated the exact same throughout their lives. From everything from their clothes and toys to whether one gets a hug the other must get the same their mother would not let the two have any sort of identity of their own and the twins quickly learned as they got older that keeping their mother happy kept the peace in the family.

As Haylee and Kaylee got older it became clear to them that their mother expected perfection and would not tolerate any disobedience, if one twin was punished then the other was too. The girls were home schooled and even expected to perform and learn the same so if one fell behind the other would pretend to need help. This was their life until the twins were finally allowed to attend school were young Haylee began to test the waters and her independence much to the dismay of Kaylee.

The Mirror Sisters was probably one of the better V.C. Andrews books that I have read since Ms. Andrews passed away. I’ve not always been a fan of the books from after the ghostwriter had taken over but I continue to pick these up hoping for some of that earlier magic. With this book the psychological torment from the overbearing mother was most definitely there which made for an intriguing read. I was also impressed that for a change I didn’t feel that the book felt incredibly dated and seemed to be brought more into this century, there was even computers involved, color me shocked.

But the thing with this book that didn’t allow me to rate it extremely high was that it just took so long to get passed establishing the twins torment that the story borders on dragging along waiting for more to happen. Then when things really do take place towards the end of the story progressing past the world building the book comes to an end leaving the reader with a huge cliffhanger to carry over into the second book. I will definitely be interested in continuing the story but I was still a bit disappointed to not have more content in this one.

Overall, 3.5 stars. To me this one was one of the better reads from the ghostwriter era of the V.C. Andrews catalog really setting up what looks like it will be an intriguing psychological thriller series.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Children of the Veil by Colleen Halverson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Children of the Veil is the second book in the Aisling Chronicles series that picks up right where the story left off in the first book, Through the Veil. The series main character is Elizabeth Tanner who thought she was just a regular broke college student until she finds that there is a whole hidden world that she hadn’t known existed until she found out that her mother was Fae and she herself is half Fae.

Now Elizabeth is determined to find her mother in whatever dimension she’s imprisoned but that must start with facing her estranged father. Finn O’Connell returns to aid Elizabeth in finding her mother as the two face the her mother’s secrets and find themselves still in the middle of the Fae rebellion.

Returning to this world within the Aisling Chronicles as a lot of fun. The series is a very complex adult fantasy read that is highly based on Irish mythology in which that alone gives it a bit of it’s own stand out difference from other fantasy reads.

The world is well thought out and given quite a bit of depth with all the different aspects to it and the action is non stop throughout the books. I would definitely recommend picking up the first book to learn more about the characters and story line before jumping into this second but both books have been quite good fantasy reads that stand out from the crowd with their Irish based twists on the Fae, demons, magic, vampires and all involved.

Overall, a great addition to the Aisling Chronicles series, a complex fantasy series for adults with a bit of language and sexual content.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Hello Readers! Welcome to the Release Day Celebration for

The Legend of the Pumpkin Thief by Charles Day

presented by Tantrum Books!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Happy Book Birthday, Charles!

As the townsfolk sleep, something creeps into the neighborhood. Hidden in shadows, its presence is as old as time itself, its intent not born of goodness.

Nick, a teenager who fancies himself a detective, wakes to find his carved masterpiece missing. Now a mystery is afoot, and Nick has his first assignment, to find out who or what is snatching up the town’s pumpkins and why.

Unfortunately, as with all great detectives, obstacles stand in Nick’s way—the neighborhood bully and his cronies, and the strange old lady and her dog who share the run-down house at the end of Nick’s block. As Nick investigates, an urban legend unravels . . . .

The Legend of The Pumpkin Thief.

Nick fears the legend as he embarks on the most dangerous adventure of his young life. Collecting clues, getting ever closer to the true nature of evil, he learns that curiosity comes with a high price.

The Legend of the Pumpkin Thief by Charles Day

Publication Date: October 18, 2016

Publisher: Tantrum Books

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Charles Day is the Horror Writer Association’s Mentor Program Chairperson, Co¬-Chair for the NY/LI Chapter, and a member of the HWA Library committee. He is also a member of the New England Horror Writers Association, the American Library Association, and the Young Adult Library Services Association.

He is also the Bram Stoker Award® nominated author of the YA novel, THE LEGEND OF THE PUMPKIN THIEF. He’s also published his first adult novel DEEP WITHIN and the first book in his Adventures of Kyle McGerrt trilogy, a YA western heroic fantasy, THE HUNT FOR THE GHOULISH BARTENDER, and his first co¬authored novel with Mark Taylor, REDEMPTION

His forthcoming publications and projects in development for 2014 include a comic book series

based on the ADVENTURES OF KYLE McGERRT trilogy, his first middle¬ grade series, THE

UNDERDWELLERS, and his third YA novel, IMMORTAL FAMILY.

On the publishing business side of things, Charles is the owner of Day Media and Publishing in New York, which houses the successful imprints, Evil Jester Press, Evil Jester Comics, and Hidden Thoughts Press (mental wellness collections,)

He’s also an artist and illustrator, who is passionate about creating the many characters he’s brought to life in his published, or soon to be published works. You can find out more about his upcoming writing projects, check out his illustrations and art, or find out what he’s cooking up next with that evil dude¬in¬the¬box, the evil Jester, by visiting his Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/charles.day.92

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A Harmless Little Game
Meli Raine
(Harmless, #1)
Publication date: October 18th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

Four years ago I lost my virginity on live, streaming television.

Too bad I wasn’t awake for it.

The video went viral. Of course it would. A Senator’s daughter on camera? Wouldn’t you click “share”? Besides, that’s what three of the four guys in the video did.

Share.

They shared me.

But that fourth guy? The nondescript one in the background in the upper left corner of the screen, just sitting on the couch? The only one who did nothing?

Not one single thing.

That was my boyfriend, Drew.

And that was the last time I saw him.

Until today, when my father—now on a path to the White House—hired him as head of security for my new team as I return home after four years of “recovering” in an undisclosed location that involved white lab coats, needles, pills and damage control.

You see, the other three guys never went to jail. Never had charges pressed.

Never faced consequences.

Until today.

Game on.

* * *

A Harmless Little Game is the first in this political thriller/romantic suspense trilogy by USA Today bestselling author Meli Raine.

Goodreads / Amazon / iBooks / Kobo

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Author Bio:

Meli Raine writes romantic suspense with hot bikers, intense undercover DEA agents, bad boys turned good, and Special Ops heroes — and the women who love them.

Meli rode her first motorcycle when she was five years old, but she played in the ocean long before that. She lives in New England with her family.

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