Carries Book Reviews

High-Sided: An Armed & Dangerous Novel
L.P. Dover
(Armed & Dangerous #3)
Publication date: October 4th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

Wild, reckless, and fast.

That’s how I raced until a fatal accident on the track ruined my riding career. I had no choice but to leave that life behind; at least, until now. My name is Logan Chandler, one of the best FBI agents in the country. When an old friend calls for help and winds up dead, I take matters into my own hands. In order to do that, I have to go back to my past, back to the racetrack and to the one girl I never thought I’d see again . . . Kassidy Bennett.

She’s the key to solving it all, but bringing her in could put her in grave danger. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize she was already there. To save her, I have to put everything on the line. It’s a race against time, a race to the death, and only one will make it to the end.

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EXCERPT:

“Kassidy, I know you’re in there. Please open the door.” There was a sheer curtain over the glass panes and if I moved across the room he’d see me. All I could hear was the thumping of my heart. “Kassidy, please. I need to talk to you. I’m not leaving until I do. You know I won’t.”

“Shit,” I hissed low. He was right. If anyone had the patience to sit around for hours, it was him. He’d done the same thing to me years ago when I told him I wouldn’t go on a date with him. He stayed on my porch for hours and slept on the swing. At the time, I loved his persistence. I wanted to go on a date with him, but I was curious to see how far he’d go.

Knowing he wouldn’t leave unless I made him, I thrust the door open, embracing the anger I felt welling in my chest. I needed it to get rid of him. Logan stepped back and I held my breath, taking in the desperate look in his eyes. For a second, I could feel my resolve slip, but then I remembered the hurtful words he said to me in the hospital.

“There’s nothing to say, Logan. If you want to say you’re sorry, then say the words and get the hell out of here. Other than that, I have no desire to see or talk to you.”

He looked straight into my eyes. “Saying I’m sorry doesn’t even begin to cover it, but I am. I am so fucking sorry for what I did.”

“Great, you said it. We’re done here. Goodbye Logan.” I slammed the door on him and locked it.

“Dammit, Kassie.”

“Don’t call me that!” I shouted, slamming my hand against the door.

He moved closer to the door and I stepped back. “I know you’re pissed at me, but I need you to hear me out. I’ll stay out here the whole night if I have to.”

“Not if I call the police.”

“They’re not gonna be able to do anything to me. At least, not before I get in there myself.” The doorknob wiggled and I gasped.

“What are you doing? You can’t come in here,” I growled.

“Yes, I can, and I will. If it’s the only way to make you listen I don’t care what I have to do.” He fumbled with the doorknob again and I choked, stumbling back into one of my bar stools. I had no doubt he could get in my house, but I wasn’t going to be in it when he did. Grabbing my phone, I jammed it into my back pocket and raced to my bedroom, locking the door behind me. I had to get out of there fast.

I changed into a pair of jeans and fetched my black leather jacket out of my closet so I could put it on. My motorcycle and helmet were in my garage but all I had to do was climb out my window to get to them. “Kassie!” Logan called out. The front door slammed shut and I sucked in a breath; it was time.

Opening my window, I carefully slipped out. Logan knocked on my bedroom door and tried my handle. “Kassidy, please come out. I don’t want to do this.”

As soon as I was out the window, I raced to my garage. Slamming my helmet on my head, I jumped on my bike and turned the key. The engine roared to life as I revved it and I sped out of the garage as fast as I could. Logan had no idea I could ride, but I wished I could see the look on his face when he saw me. All I knew was that I had to get away from him, and fast.

Once out of the driveway, I took a left turn, clearly realizing the lapse in judgment. It was the road I’d avoided ever since Levi died on it. “Dammit,” I cried. My eyes started to water and there was no way I could wipe the tears away with my helmet on and going down the road. The sound of Logan’s bike drew close behind and I panicked. What was I going to do?

He gained up to me, clearly not stopping unless I did. More tears fell down my cheeks; especially when I arrived at the spot where Levi was ran off the road. I pulled over and shut off my bike, ripping off my jacket so I could breathe. Logan parked beside me, but I jumped off my bike and walked away from him to the dented guardrail. I took off my helmet and stared at the rubber markings on the metal. My fingers traced the tire marks and I broke down, falling to my knees. My heart felt as if it’d been ripped out my chest.

Logan’s hands closed over my shoulders, but I smacked them away. “Don’t touch me.”

His touch left my body, but I could feel his warmth as he sat beside. “I didn’t know you could ride.”

“Levi and Sean taught me after you left. It helped get my mind off of things.” I tried not to look down in the ravine where Levi was found, but I couldn’t help it. The amount of pain he must’ve felt had to be excruciating. I slammed my hand against the guardrail and sobbed.

“I’m gonna miss him too, Kassidy. Levi was a good friend.”

Angrily, I wiped my tears away and scoffed. “How would you know? You left eight years ago and never looked back.”

Author Bio:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, L.P. Dover, is a southern belle residing in North Carolina along with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she even began her literary journey she worked in Periodontics enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.

Not only does she love to write, but she loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes, white water rafting, and you can’t forget the passion for singing. Her two number one fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime and those songs usually consist of Christmas carols.

Aside from being a wife and mother, L.P. Dover has written over seventeen novels including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, the Gloves Off series, and her standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read is romantic suspense and she also loves writing it. However, if she had to choose a setting to live in it would have to be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.

L.P. Dover is represented by Marisa Corvisiero of Corvisiero Literary Agency.

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Life in the Danger Zone
Patricia B. Tighe
(The Zone, #3)
Published by: Swoon Romance
Publication date: November 1st 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Sixteen-year- old Rose Mulligan’s plan for the summer cruise with her grandparents is simple—read mysteries in the sunshine and see historical sites. It doesn’t include joining a young people’s tour group or crushing on a boy whose flirting runs hot and cold. And it definitely doesn’t include being accused of theft.

Sam Briggs also has a plan for the trip—hang out with his uncle and cousins, and avoid thinking about his stupid parents. But when family members pair-up with strangers, Sam is left wanting to hit something. The only bright spot is shy, constantly blushing Rose, a girl he really needs to avoid. She’s too nice for a meaningless hookup. Then why can’t he stop thinking about her?

Determined to clear her name, Rose decides to find out who the real thief is. It quickly becomes clear that everyone has secrets. Dangerous secrets. But by the time Sam starts helping with the investigation, Rose is wishing she could forget the whole thing and just focus on his intense gaze and lopsided smile. There are only a few days left on the trip after all, and they’ll never see each other again once it’s over. Right?

But it’s too late. Danger has a way of finding you, whether it’s disguised as a cunning thief or a swoony boy.

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Author Bio:

The mother of two grown sons, Patricia B. Tighe lives in West Texas with her husband and dog. She eats way too much pizza, drinks way too much coffee, and watches way too much NFL football. On the bright side, she also reads and writes teen

fiction. She promises to include as much romance, angst, and adventure as possible in her books.

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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.

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The Killing Game by J.S. Carol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As Hollywood’s elite are dining at an upscale restaurant a masked gunman walks into the restaurant taking everyone hostage. Now begins the fight for their lives as the gunman makes a game of their fear and the stakes are who will live and who will die. With a bomb strapped to his chest so that if he dies then everyone dies the games seems to be in the favor of the gunman so will anyone make it out of the restaurant alive??

The Killing Game was an incredibly fast paced thriller from start to finish. Told from alternating POVs of a few of those involved this book has you on the edge of your seat not knowing what to expect from one page to the next. Packed full of intensity the twists and turns in this twisted game had me hooked from the very beginning.

With a cast of characters that each have their own issues and a killer whose motive is completely unknown this book made for one interesting read. I would warn this one gets a bit brutal and graphic at times but that definitely added to the on the edge feel as you don’t know who is going to survive from one page to the next.

Overall, yes I’d recommend this highly intense thrill ride, one great read from start to finish.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

The Christmas Cake Cafe by Sue Watson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jen Barker has just had a devastating break up with a man she had spent years with and thought she would be marrying. Now in her forties Jen has her biological clock ticking on overtime in fear that she will never marry or have the family she’s always dreamed of having since her own father left when she was a child.

Jen is talked into doing something spontaneous this holiday season by her younger half sister by traveling to the the Swiss Alps and thinks it’s just what she needs to mend her broken heart. Soon Jen meets a handsome ski instructor in Switzerland and finds herself regaining her hope in happily ever afters.

The one thing I really enjoyed about The Christmas Cake Cafe was that this little holiday romance featured an older couple which is a bit out of the ordinary. Jen is somewhat dealing with a female mid life crisis worrying about upcoming menopause with her worry of not finding a relationship. A few funny moments, some sad but definitely Jen gave this one a life of it’s own just due to her situation.

Now, what I would like to have seen more of was more romance to the romance section of the read. We have a lot about Jen, her sister, her previous relationship and what she wants but it seemed to just jump into insta-love once getting to that part of the story. I just was left wanting more of the inbetween with this couple although their ending was rather nice.

Overall, an OK holiday romance featuring an older main character in a unique holiday setting, could’ve used a bit more romancing but not too bad in the end.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.