Carries Book Reviews

Fear Me, Fear Me Not
Elodie Nowodazkij
Publication date: September 27th 2016
Genres: Romance, Suspense, Young Adult

SCREAM meets FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS in this new young adult romantic suspense novel by Elodie Nowodazkij.

Fear is power. They fear me. They don’t fear me enough. Every year a girl disappears in Gavert County, Texas. Their bodies are found days, sometimes months, later with an angel wing carved on their face. They call me “the Angel Killer” and I’m on the hunt again. But this time, it’s personal.

Seventeen-year-old cheerleader Erin Hortz has been warned about the Angel Killer all her life. She never walks alone in the dark. She doesn’t talk to strangers. She doesn’t accept drinks at parties. All she wants is to finish her senior year with a win at the Miss Junior Queen of Hearts pageant, capture the perfect light over the lake with her new camera, and finally catch the attention of her best friend Nadia’s brother—former football star Dimitri Kuklev. Since his injury, they’ve been spending a lot of time together. And getting to know the real Dimitri—not the one she put on a pedestal in her diary is better than she could ever have imagined. And she’s falling hard.

Nineteen-year-old Dimitri’s injury brought him from football superstar with universities from all around the country knocking at his door to not knowing what he wants to do with his life. Taking classes at the local community college is supposed to get him back on track, but all he wants is to be on the field again. The only person who seems to understand him is the one he swore to keep in the friend zone: Erin. His sister Nadia’s best friend and the reason why he can’t keep a girlfriend. Between their early morning jogs, their time spent at the lake laughing, and their late night conversations, he’s having a hard time remembering why it’s such a bad idea.

But when Nadia doesn’t come home after a party, Dimitri and Erin know they must find her before it’s too late—even if that means risking their own lives and everything Erin’s ever known.

Because the main suspect is Erin’s father.

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Author Bio:

Elodie Nowodazkij was raised in a tiny village in France, where she could always be found a book in hand. At nineteen, she moved to the US, where she learned she’d never lose her French accent. Now she lives in Maryland with her husband, their dog and their cat.

She’s also a serial smiley user.

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Soul Symmetry
J.L. Weil
(Raven #3)
Publication date: August 2nd 2016
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

A BANSHEE.

A DEATH REAPER.

LOVE TRANSCENDING.

War is coming. The veil between the living and the dead no longer exists. Evil is running rampant and the universe’s symmetry balances on my fingertips. No big deal. Of course, nobody knows how or when the hallows will strike, or who among us is a traitor.

Hordes of vengeful spirits are multiplying by the minute, closing in ranks. Zane is poised to strike, but it’s going to take more than his killer instincts, more than swords and shadows to vanquish the hallows back where they belong. Stakes are higher than ever, yet I am determined to protect those I care about—to save the world.

Restoring the veil isn’t as easy as a snap of my fingertips. Nothing worth fighting for ever is. Friendship and loyalties are tested to the limit, sacrifices of unimaginable proportions are made, but in the end, all that matters is whether I succeed or fail.

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Previous books in the series:

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EXCERPT:

“Zane,” I placed my hand on his chest, looking over my shoulder into the woods. The scent of death overpowered my nostrils, making them burn. “You better put on your superhero cape. We’re about to get some unwanted villains.”

He glanced down at me, eyes unfazed. “Piper, how many times do I have to tell you? I’m not the hero.”

My hands clutched his shirt. “You are to me.” Ice coated my insides. Hallows. They were approaching, fast.

The hardness in Zane’s expression softened. “Declan, I hope you’re ready to unleash your inner Chuck Norris.”

Declan cracked his knuckles. “I’m already game. Let’s use these assholes as dartboards.”

“Should I call—” …for backup, but it was too late. They were already here. A strange, almost prickling of anticipation twisted through me as the hallows emerged from the tree lines. Their eyes appeared first, breaking through the darkness like a dozen lanterns. They dipped and glided along the ground, coming straight for us.

I braced myself as the frightening hissing filled the air. The sight was jarring, and I was so glad to have Zane, Declan, and even Crash present.

The four of us were lined up in front of my car, the clearing quickly filling with the cold mist of the departed. “I love when people come back from the dead. Juices my zombie fetish,” Crash said dryly. “You up for this, cupcake?”

I remained in place, trying to control my inner turmoil and ignored Crash.

Zane, on the other hand, didn’t have my self-control. He pointed a finger in Crash’s face. “By God, if you try any funny business, I’ll kill you with my bare hands. And she’s not your cupcake.”

The sucky thing about being in the middle of nowhere…no streetlights. The only light we had was the measly bit of moonlight illuminating through the thick trees, hitting small sections of the clearing. I was going to have to rely heavily on my other senses and instinct.

A strip of darkness filled the center of the glade, and that was where the ghosts came from. Straight down the middle. As they drew closer, so did the scent of decay. It was a noticeable smell I’d never detected before, but as my banshee abilities strengthened, so did my other senses.

“Game on,” Crash said, and stepped out of his body, emerging a wolf. He let a howl, long and high.

Author Bio:

Award-winning and Bestselling author J.L. Weil writes Teen & New Adult Paranormal Romances about spunky, smart mouth girls who always wind up in dire situations. For every sassy girl, there is an equally mouthwatering, overprotective guy. Of course there is lots of kissing. And stuff.

Most of her books are for ages 16+. They usually have what she considers the good stuff – sexual content (oh yeah) and swearing. You have been warned 😉

An admitted addict to Love Pink clothes, raspberry mochas from Starbucks, (yum!) and Jensen Ackles (double yum!). She loves gushing about books and Supernatural with her readers.

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Moon Chosen by P.C. Cast
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Mari has been raised by her mother who is an Earth Walker. Calling on the power of the moon her mother can heal the clan and needs to name a replacement for her position. Mari should be the one chosen but Mari has had to hide half of herself her whole life because her father was not of the Earth Walkers. When an attack happens Mari decides to stop hiding the other half of herself after she is chosen by a canine from her father’s clan.

Nik is from the clan that Mari’s father had come from and is out with other members from his tribe searching the lost pup when he sees Mari call on the power of the sun. Nik finds out who Mari might be from his father who was friends with Mari’s father and is determined to track her down. Unfortunately what brings the two together is Nik needing Mari’s help.

Moon Chosen was an intriguing read that had me hooked with parts of the story and a bit confused and bored with others. Early on the story jumps POVs rather quickly and it almost feels like you’ve managed to switch books mid-reading. It was hard to figure out just what each section meant to the others until fairly late in the book.

I think for me personally I would have enjoyed this one a lot more without the slow build and confusing start. The length of the book is over six hundred pages and it felt there could have been a more direct approach to the world and character building that could have cut the book down quite a bit and not had me wondering if I should continue on reading in the beginning.

I think around midway through or perhaps a bit farther everything began to make sense in the story and the parts that I had been enjoying in the earlier sections merged with the parts I was a bit iffy on and it became a much more enjoyable fantasy read.

Overall, 3.5 stars for Moon Chosen. An enjoyable fantasy read with interesting concepts to the different tribes of people but a very slow pace that could get a bit confusing.

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

Sting
Sandra Brown
Published by: Grand Central
Publication date: August 16th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

When Shaw Kinnard encounters the incongruously elegant Jordie Bennet in a seen-better-days bayou bar, it’s not love at first sight. He’s there to kill her. Instead, he abducts her, eager to get hold of the $30 Million her brother has pocketed from his badly bent boss. Now they are on the run from said boss—and the FBI.

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Author Bio:

Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including DEADLINE(2013), LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011), TOUGH CUSTOMER (2010), SMASH CUT (2009), SMOKE SCREEN (2008), PLAY DIRTY

(2007), RICOCHET (2006), CHILL FACTOR (2005), WHITE HOT (2004), & HELLO, DARKNESS (2003).

Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages.

A lifelong Texan, Sandra Brown was born in Waco, grew up in Fort Worth and attended Texas Christian University, majoring in English. Before embarking on her writing career, she worked as a model at the Dallas Apparel Mart, and in television, including weathercasting for WFAA-TV in Dallas, and feature reporting on the nationally syndicated program “PM Magazine.”

In 2009 Brown detoured from her thrillers to write, Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.

Brown recently was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer’s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Behind Closed Doors
Kelly Mooney
Publication date: August 4th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

WILLA

Rules are meant to broken.

Plans are supposed to change.

I knew the rules—knew them like the back of my hand. First one, never fantasize about a co-worker—or worse take him to bed. The other one, never believe you can change a man. Like ever.

And guess what?

Broke ’em. Destroyed ’em.

Damn near shattered those pesky little rules.

How was I supposed to know that Ryan Donahue was going to walk into my life as my roommate and co-worker, and rock my ever-loving world?

And now, our jobs are on the line.

My heart hangs in the balance.

I couldn’t just stick to the one single summer of sunsets.

I had to fall for the one man that I knew wouldn’t stay,

And I finally know why those rules were put into place.

RYAN

I had a plan.

A strategically orchestrated plan.

It was supposed to be one summer, a favor for a friend. And escape my family’s overzealous expectations. Then, I was out—on my way to the life I’d planned.

What I didn’t count on was the petite, yet adorable,

roommate, with a pair of green eyes that knocked me off my feet.

One look, and I was doomed.

But then, her name, Willa Bloom, that sent me over the edge.

I was lost in thought.

“Willa-she-be-good-in-bed?”

“Willa-she-like-a-one-night-stand?”

I couldn’t concentrate, couldn’t focus.

I wanted her—had to have her.

And now my plans,

Those well thought-out, perfectly polished plans?

Completely gone, vanished, disintegrated.

But I’m not going to let that happen,

Not to us.

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Author Bio:

Kelly Mooney was born in Southern New Jersey and now resides in Upstate New York. She started writing Young Adult novels, but wanted more freedom with her characters. She is currently writing New Adult Romance. She adores hearing from her fans, so please keep in touch. She continues writing love stories during her free time.
Feel free to email her at mooneymama1@yahoo.com or via http://www.facebook.com/kellymooneyauthor

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