Carries Book Reviews

The Witch House of Persimmon Point by Suzanne Palmieri
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Byrd Whalen has returned to her family’s ancestral home but is finding that there have been family secrets deeply buried within. Over the course of one very long weekend Byrd begins to dig into the harrowing past and question everything she’s ever known about the Amore women and believed about herself.

In 1890, Nan who is the Amore family matriarch was banished from her home and sent off to America with her new baby in tow. Nan searches for a job after her arrival in America and finds herself at the estate of the wildly eccentric Green family. There she finds a couple of new companions who welcome her and share in the magic she had only been told stories of. But after some horrific events at the home it would become known as “The Witch House.”

The Witch House of Persimmon Point is one of those reads that is just so unique that I feel that people will either love it or hate it. The family history involved in this book is not one anyone would be proud of in the slightest. There is a lot of disturbing activities that go on throughout the book that it definitely will not be for every reader.

The story is told switching the POV from Byrd who had just arrived at the family home and has some things begin happening which leads to changing to the past to explain what had gone on with family members then. There’s some pretty dark and disturbing things in the read but also with excellent writing it becomes a strangely compelling read learning about these unique characters.

Overall, definitely not for every reader, a dark and disturbing read covering generations of one family making choices that would shock some and repeating terrible patterns in their lives. A unique story though if looking for something a bit darker and different than normal.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Marker of Hope
Nely Cab
(Creatura #3)
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: October 3rd 2016
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult

Who will save her from herself?

Upon her return from Greece with three new friends and a broken heart, Isis’ hunger for human flesh is stronger than ever. She’s a miserable mess after losing David following her betrayal. Her mutation into Creatura is all but over when she receives the surprise of her life, compelling her to seek out David’s family. Only, they’ve broken all ties with her, and she doesn’t know how to reach them.

Turpis, the demonic beings that attacked Isis in Greece, have tracked her whereabouts. Now, in order to fend for her life, Isis must join forces with deities she doesn’t trust.

Is Isis truly the Marker of Hope as she’s believed to be, or will she lose the battle to her starving inner beast and demons, obliterating humankind from existence? Find out in the epic finale of the best-selling CREATURA SERIES.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords / iBooks

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EXCERPT:

The Hunger

“A lot’s happened since you decided to shut down and wallow in self-pity. You’ve been impossible to talk to, and I’ve been bored out of my mind. I

thought we came here because we were going to figure things out. What happened to ‘I’m going to save the people I love’? Did you just feed me that bull so I’d agree to come with you?”

“You know that’s not true. I meant it.”

“Then what’s the hold up?” Galilea’s irritated face turned a subtle shade of pink. Her pulse quickened just the slightest bit.

I was surprised at how much my senses had developed. Heighted. Months ago, I wouldn’t have noticed any of this, but now, I could even smell the natural notes of musk on her skin. I felt my mouth water. Sometimes, I liked that my new superhuman senses gave me insight to peoples’ moods and emotions. Most of the time, they were waiting for me to let my guard down so the beast could take over.

“Galilea.” I closed my eyes. “I’m hungry.”

“You can’t just change the subject. You do it all the time. I’m tired of it.”

“I’m not changing the subject. I’m trying to tell you I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to control myself. How am I supposed to save anyone when I want to rip out their guts?”

Author Bio:

Nely Cab is a Writer of stuff, a Master Coffee Drinker, a Food Maker & Eater, an Imaginary World Conqueror, and an Air Breather. She talks to herself—a lot—in her South Texas home while she plots stories about fantasy worlds and sips coffee from a pitcher. She’s known for cooking far too much food and has a tendency to overdo…well, everything. It is rumored that she is fabulous. Nely Cab is the best-selling author of the Creatura series.

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Aequus
Randi Cooley Wilson
(The Royal Protector Academy #2)
Publication date: March 30th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Paranormal

Serenity is being with the one you love.

Despair is being kept apart.

After the rain comes the war.

What if the person you were meant to be with could never be yours? For Serena St. Michel and Tristan Gallagher, this is reality. Tristan has accepted his impending nuptials. He’s returned to his realm and his betrothed. Their unification will create peace. Serena is still struggling with her protector’s choice. With a firm resolve, she will forsake her own future in order to save him. Their love will trigger an ancient war. Can Serena and Tristan rewrite their desitinies? Or will the Vergina Sun prophecy be fulfilled, and the lovers fall to fate?

Welcome back to the Royal Protector Academy.

Aequus if the second novel in the Royal Protector Academy Series. This dangerously exciting and darkly romantic tale will take your breath away. It can be read as a standalone trilogy, or after the bestselling Revelation series. Intended for mature readers 18+ due to language, mild violence, and sexual situations.

The Royal Protector Academy novels are a serial trilogy meant to be read in order.

Vernal (Book #1)

Aequus (Book #2)

Nox (Book #3)

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Author Bio:

Randi Cooley Wilson is an author of paranormal, urban fantasy and contemporary romance books. Randi makes stuff up, devours romance books, drinks lots of coffee, prefers champagne, and has a slight addiction to bracelets. She currently resides in Massachusetts with her daughter and husband. For more information visit: http://randicooleywilson.com

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Melt My Heart, Cowboy by CJ Carmichael
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rosie Linn works at the local candy shop in the small town of Marietta where every Friday a handsome cowboy comes in to buy the same chocolates. Rosie has tried a bit of flirting but doesn’t think she’s ever been noticed when the cowboy comes into the shop which is just as well because as soon as she can sell her house Rosie plans on moving to L.A. with her older brother.

Brant Willingham has noticed Rosie at the candy shop when he’s stopped in weekly to pick up a treat for his autistic sister but he feels he’s had just too much on his plate to begin dating. Brant’s mother passed away in a car accident leaving him the sole caregiver for his sister and he has no clue how to handle it on his own especially living the life of a ranch hand. Brant comes up with the idea to try to approach Rosie to spend time with his sister which leads to spending much more time together than either planned.

Melt My Heart, Cowboy is a lovely little romance set in a charming small town. As nice as the couple involved in this story seem to be and I’m sure some would be rooting for both of them to overcome their troubles and find love I think the star of this one had to be Sara Marie, Brant’s autistic sister.

At eighteen, Sara Marie is ten years younger than Brant and of course that leads to a bit of a disconnect in how Brant thinks of her. He’s been off working and living his life for ten years while their mother raised her so Brant is still seeing her as that little girl. Sara Marie even with her autism is still a person with feelings and hopes and that was brought to life in the story. Good job to the author on creating such a character.

Overall, another great small town romance with lovely characters would definitely recommend this one.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Untethered Anthology
Publication date: October 1st 2016
Genres: Adult, Fantasy

20 stories of magic and technology

Almost everyone carries a smartphone these days. They sit in pockets and on tables. They sleep on headboards and are the first things their owners check in the morning. They’ve edged out more mundane equipment like calendars and MP3 players.

They aren’t magical, of course. Or are they?

In Untethered: A Magic iPhone Anthology, 21 authors twist reality and call into question the mundanity we hold in our hands. They ask the question, “Is that smartphone completely explainable by science?” and they decide the answer is a resounding “No!”

From award-winners and bold new voices, from experienced fantasists and professional technologists, these stories are fun, clever, and often positive about the power of technology.

Enjoy new stories from:

Rhiannon Held / Manny Frishberg / Edd Vick / H.M. Jones / Kris Millering / Raven Oak / Jon Lasser / Sarina Dorie / Jonathon Burgess / Jeremiah Reinmiller / C.S. O’Cinneide / Stevehen Warren / Aaron Giddings, Sr. / Amanda Hackwith / Dale Cameron Lowry / Dawn Vogel / Kyle Yadlosky / J.S. Rogers / Angela Dell’Isola / Stephanie Djock / A. Moritz

At the intersection of fantasy and technology, iPhones could go either way.

Magic knows your number, and it’s calling you.

Goodreads / Amazon / Kobo / Smashwords

Launch price of $2.99 for a limited time only!

—

EXCERPT:

From Jonathon Burgess’s “On Your Right”

Our fishing boat crested another six-foot wave, the deck pivoting sharply before falling back the other way as we slid into the trough. A deluge washed over the bow, the cabin and the stern deck, drenching us all. The South China Sea was doing its best to swamp us.

I fought to keep my balance. Mark clutched at the port side railing, heaving his guts out. His iPhone glowed in the zippered pocket of his jacket, visible through the thin, soaked fabric.

A sailor shouted as he tumbled away, splashing into the half-submerged stern of the fishing boat. “I really don’t think this is the way to Benaroya Hall,” I cried aloud.

Siri’s voice was calm as ever. “Continue one hundred miles south,” she said. “The destination will be on your right.”

***

It started slowly, like most things tend to. I wasn’t fond of downtown Seattle, but Mark went there all the time on work and errands. So he got the cell phone, while I was perfectly happy as the stay-at-home wife with the landline. Why the provider called the house, I’ll never know, but apparently we were eligible for a smartphone upgrade.

Mark was thrilled when it finally showed up. Like most technophiles, he couldn’t wait to try out all the newest bells, whistles, and other features. Frankly, I just hoped the mapping function would help with his abysmal sense of direction.

The box was classic Apple, a monochromatic brick. I liked to say that their products looked more like candy than anything else, but you certainly couldn’t tell from the packaging. This one didn’t even have any pictures, just a logo on the side in tinted foil. The phone itself was slick, some new design I hadn’t seen any of my friends with. Its edges were wholly rounded, and it didn’t have a port to connect a USB or battery cable.

Mark got it all figured out, of course. That’s what he does. Some days he can’t find his rear with both hands, but he’s pretty good with software interfaces. We spent a whole evening on the couch, listening to the bells and finding the whistles and asking silly questions of Siri. It was only the next morning that things started to get weird.

“Emma?” Mark asked. “Where are my keys?”

I was sitting at the kitchen table, reading the paper over coffee. It was a new blend I had found at a local farmers’ market, but I wasn’t terribly fond of it. Throwing it away would have been wasteful, so into the cupboard it would go, stuffed alongside two hundred others.

I’m picky about my coffee.

Mark was hunting under the table. His briefcase, phone, and travel mug were all in a pile atop it, ready for him to bolt out the door with as soon as he could find the keys to the car.

“Have you seen them?” he asked, now checking behind the knife block on the kitchen counter.

“Did you check your other pants?” I asked, taking another sip. Missing keys were a daily occurrence. Almost a kind of ritual, we’d been through it so many times before.

The system we’d developed went like this; I would make faces at my coffee, and he would eventually find the keys somewhere strange before rushing off to join the morning gridlock.

“They’re not in my other pants. I’m sure I just saw them.”

“Take five steps to your left, and enter the living room. Then turn left, and approach the sofa. Lift all three cushions and look underneath. Your keys will be on your right.”

Mark and I looked at each other. Then we both looked to the iPhone, softly glowing atop his briefcase. Then we locked gazes again.

I just shrugged. The microphone must have been on. Some new app feature, I supposed.

Mark picked up his phone and walked out of the kitchen. I picked up my mug, trying to decide whether the latest sip had been worth it after all, then followed.

“They’re not here,” said Mark. He had both cushions on the floor, and was rooting around in the crumbs and loose change they’d hidden.

“That is your love seat,” said Siri, maybe a shade less enthusiastically. “Turn around, then take two steps to your sofa. Underneath, you will find your keys. On your right.”

“Oh,” said Mark. He did as directed, then lifted the keys triumphantly. He jingled them at me. “Found them. Thanks Siri.”

“You’re most certainly welcome,” she replied.

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