Carries Book Reviews

Tattoo Killer
A.J. Norris
(A Tattoo Crimes Novel #1)
Published by: Limitless Publishing
Publication date: October 18th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

Mikey Hardin is a murderer. At least that’s what his ex-wife wants the police to believe…

A tattoo artist and single father, Mikey becomes a suspect in a series of homicides thanks to an anonymous tip from his ex. The case against him seems straightforward, especially since Mikey is connected to the victims, but police detective Harry Hunter knows finding the psychopath isn’t that simple. The physical evidence doesn’t add up. After Mikey is released and amid the turmoil of his life, he meets Grace Bell, a beautiful divorcee, in a chance encounter.

Mikey is everything that straight-laced Grace isn’t…

Grace is tired of living a rigid existence and wants to break free from the routine of her mundane life. The tattoo artist’s free spirit and charm quickly draw her into his world. From the back of his Harley, he teaches her how to let go and have fun, leading to a sizzling passion she never knew existed.

Another woman is found dead, and the killer isn’t finished yet…

Grace is unaware of Mikey’s part in the investigation of the local homicides, but when her estranged father, detective Harry Hunter, finds out who she’s dating, he’s quick to fill her in. Even though he thinks Mikey is innocent, there is a killer in Webster and he’s not stopping until he gets what he wants. Every victim is connected to Mikey, and her father fears Grace will be next.

After Detective Hunter receives a threatening phone call from the killer, he rushes to protect his daughter, but is Grace really the next target of the…

Tattoo Killer?

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Author Bio:

A.J. Norris is a lover of all books but her loyalty remains with her first crush; romance. She graduated from a mid-western college with a degree in absolutely nothing to do with writing whatsoever. It wasn’t until well after college when the build-up of voices inside her head became too overwhelming and needed to be let out, that she began to write. She isn’t following a family legacy of writers, only a need to put words on a piece of paper. Her romantic suspense novel, Tattoo Killer, published by Limitless, LLC releases October 2016. Her Black Wings, book one of The Dark Amulet Series, a paranormal romance, released in July 2016 and book two, Her Black Hearts released August 23, 2016.

A.J. is a movie buff, especially book adaptations, loves watching her son play baseball and communing with other writers. She lives with her family who are extremely tolerant (at least most of the time) of all her late nights behind the computer.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Magic Unveiled: An Anthology by Alesha Escobar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Magic Unveiled: An Anthology is a collection of nine different short stories all featured around of course the use of magic in one way or another. The collection includes the following stories:

Gypsum Jane’s Inkscapes by H.M. Jones
The Black Dagger Gods by Alesha Escobar
The Isis Enigma by Samantha LaFantasie
Unusual Suspect by Ronovan Hester
Journey to a New Home by Jayme Beddingfield
The Dark Ones by Samantha LaFantasie and Keith Goodno
Three Wishes by Alice Marks
Blackwing by Devorah Fox
Mirror Me by Raven Oak

As with a collection of stories there’s always some that stand out a bit more but overall I enjoyed the entire collection. My one complaint is the same I normally have when picking up short stories, they end up just simply being too short. As soon as I start to really enjoy one it seems to be over and I just wish for more depth but that’s just my own opinion, I’m sure fans of magical reads and short stories should enjoy this read as they all seem to be a little different in content to keep up a reader’s interest.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Welcome to the Romance and Erotica Reader Appreciation Giveaway!

We’re so glad you stopped by! A lot of great authors are giving away a HUGE Amazon Gift Card to one lucky Romance and/or Erotica reading fan! (Yes, we check, and only true romance book worms qualify to win! But there WILL be a winner, which will be publicly announced in the Facebook Party HERE on December 2nd!

VIEW BOOKS FROM THE SPONSORS HERE!

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Here are a couple of sneak peeks from the EPIC Romance and Erotica Group with Rebecca Hamilton!

Deep Focus: Young Hollywood Book 1 by Madisyn Ashmore

I laid my head back across the couch and kicked my feet up over his strong thighs. My foot brushed across his lap as I stretched. I felt the hardness already forming in his pants, his bulge pressing towards me.

“Your parents, do they still live there?”

My chest tightened. I hated telling this part of my life story because of the pity it elicited from friends and strangers alike.

“My parents died in a car crash when I was fourteen. I went to live with my aunt after that. We’re not close.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“No, It’s okay. I was sort of a wild teenager, so I don’t blame her. But anyway, we don’t really keep in touch much anymore.” I paused. “Like I said, it’s complicated.”

He rubbed the soles of my feet and traced his fingers along my calves. My muscles relaxed against his firm touch. As he drew circles on my skin, an intense warmth washed over my body.

“I think LA is the place where outcasts, misfits, and lonely people come to find their soul.” He breathed the words like the they were meant for only himself. He looked surprised when my soft voice echoed a reply.

“Was that true for you? Did you come to Los Angeles searching for your soul?”

He thought quietly for a moment before his husky voice deepened. “I came here running. Running away from a past that…” His voice broke off. “I came here searching, and to start a new life.”

“And did you?”

“I found that money wins a lot of friends, but not the kind that you can count on forever. I’ve had a lot of women keep me warm at night, but none that would’ve stayed if all this vanished.” He gestured to the expensively decorated room around us, an ornate display of his opulence and wealth. For the first time, I saw the crack in his facade and the real Oliver Tate emerged.

“What was your life like…before.” I paused, choosing my words carefully. “Before all this.”

“Not now, Scarlett. It’s long and boring and not worth discussing.” He shifted on the couch and breathed a heavy exhale.

There was still so much about Oliver Tate I didn’t know. With every detail I discovered, a thousand more secrets loomed in the distance. I wanted him to release to me and tell me every broken and damaged part of himself. I could take it. I could take it all.

He laid back, his youthful face glistening with a mist of perspiration. I ran my fingers down the front of his shirt, slowly unbuttoning him, exposing his ripped abs, slick and steamy. His fingers gripped my arm, pulling me up to his face as he sucked and kissed my delicate lips.

I ran my hand along his pants, the heat spreading from his dark denim. My fingers grasped the stiff metal zipper, his rock hard warmth burning into my touch. He swelled as my hand grazed him…

—

Cadence by Lisa Swallow

The ensuite door clicks open and Jax appears. Naked. Almost. A white hotel towel is slung and knotted low around his hips, barely reaching his knees, but aside from that… naked.

Naked. My breath disappears. The word won’t leave my head; and if I closed my eyes, I’m damn sure the image of his firm, muscular chest glistening with water wouldn’t leave either.

Relieved my mouth isn’t hanging open, I attempt to switch on the snarky Tegan who was about to give him a mouthful. Jax runs a hand through his damp hair and I’m distracted by the drops of water on his lips as they curve into a sheepish smile.

“Oh, hey, Tegan.”

Hey, Tegan? I clear my throat and tear my look from his mouth. “Why haven’t you left yet? You have a shower in your own room!”

Jax’s lips purse with confusion. “Uh. Waiting for you. I wanted to talk to you about last night. I woke up in your bed, but you weren’t there. I know I was drunk but…” He stares at my gym gear or more precisely how the purple gym vest and black pants hug my curves. “I’m damn sure I’d remember if I’d been naked with you.”

The darkened look in Jax’s eyes reflects exactly what’s happening in his imagination. I remain focused on his eyes. Do. Not. Look. At. His. Body.

My eyes drifts downwards and I fight against lingering on the solid abs and the light trail of hair disappearing into the knotted towel. Has he tattoos any lower than where the blue stars are inked on his skin at the edge of the towel?

I blink away the image. “Last night, you stood me up, then barged into my room in the early hours, whined for a bit before you passed out on my bed. Way to impress a girl.”

Jax tips his head towards the bed. “Could’ve been worse. Or better, depending on which way you want to look at the situation.”

I focus hard on not staring some more at Jax, or acknowledging I’m suddenly less pissed off and more aroused. “You should be so lucky!”

Jax steps towards me. “One day I think I will be, we agreed.”

I look directly into Jax’s eyes, so I can’t be tempted by his mouth — or any other part of him in touching distance. “Put some clothes on.”

“Or you could take yours off?”

I want to retort; but unsure whether my voice will fail and give my state of mind away, I clamp my mouth closed.

Jax inches closer and I back up. “Come on, Tegan, I can see in your face what you’re thinking.”

“I doubt that.” I swallow. I should turn and walk away, but memories of the way Jax kisses leads to temptation for more. “Get dressed.”

Jax sticks his bottom lip out, turns his back, and approaches the bed, hands going to the edge of the knot securing the towel. Before I get a view of his ass to bank with the other images, I spin around and leave the room.

“Nice try!” I call and Jax’s response is laughter.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!

Death of a Toy Soldier: A Vintage Toyshop Mystery by Barbara Early
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Liz McCall never pictured herself becoming the manager of her retired father’s vintage toy shop but yet that is exactly where she finds herself. After her retired from the police force Liz’s father invested in the store putting his entire pension into the business and now needs a bit of help.

When a nervous customer walks in with some really rare toys Liz wants her father to take a look at them to determine just what it is he wants to sell so he leaves his card for her. A few nights later though Liz finds the same mysterious man with a lawn dart through his chest and her father knocked out next to him. As a retired cop Liz’s father can’t help but try to figure out what happened to him when he fails to remember and of course Liz can’t let him investigate alone.

Death of a Toy Soldier is a pretty good little cozy mystery with the underlying set up that I enjoy, someone in the story with investigation skills to actually help make the story a bit more believable. The things that stood out with this one is with page after page you just never knew what you would find next in the story.

Overall, with likable characters and setting and twists and turns and fun at every page this was a rather fun read that I certainly enjoyed.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.