Carries Book Reviews

Leave Me by Gayle Forman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Maribeth Klein is a wife and mother of twins who also has a demanding career and struggles with finding that perfect balance. When she begins having chest pains it’s more of an inconvenience to her schedule that she doesn’t give much thought to until given the advice to go get checked at the E.R.

Maribeth finds that she has suffered a heart attack and ends up needing bypass surgery but when she returns home she finds that the stress is still all around her. Taking her health into her own hands Maribeth packs a bag and finds herself leaving her family to get the time she needs to take care of herself for a change.

Leave Me is my first time trying out a Gayle Forman novel and I ended up really enjoying this story so I will definitely have to be on a look out for more. The book is full of emotion as the main character struggles with the stress of everyday life and the fear that her own life may come to an end if she doesn’t find her balance and take care of herself.

I think Maribeth is a character that all working mothers could relate to I don’t necessarily see everyone going to her extremes. But the fears and struggles she has could be real to everyone so it was interesting to watch her journey and felt for her throughout the book.

Overall, a fast paced novel full of emotion that I enjoyed all the way through.

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

Curioddity by Paul Jenkins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Will Morgan is a private investigator that rarely ever gets any actual work. When approached by Mr. Dinsdale he’s quite curious as to what the mysterious man would want to hire him for but after hearing his story he thinks this has to be a joke. Mr. Dinsdale want’s will to find a wooden box for him containing the world’s largest sample of levity.

Will promptly turns him down but Mr. Dinsdale isn’t the type to take no for an answer offering up a huge sum for payment. Taking on a case with no clues as to where to start Will takes Mr. Dinsdale’s advice and try to “un-see” things which opens up a whole new world to Will that he never knew existed.

Wow, was this ever a weird story. If looking for something different in the fantasy world this one would certainly fit the bill. It’s a rather slow starter which I kept wanting to put down until it finally picked up and began to gain my interest a bit more.

I’d say the best part of this read was probably that you do find yourself laughing quite often even when the story had it’s slower moments. Nothing is really simple in Will’s world as a reader will come to see. Something as simple as a buying a cell phone becomes quite humorous. And then his cell phone has a life of it’s own which was probably one of the most entertaining parts to the story for me.

Overall, definitely an odd story to go with the odd title. Slow starter but it did pick up and go at a lot faster pace.

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

Lost Reaper by Shelley Russell Nolan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

All Tyler Morgan wanted was to make a quick stop and pick up her favorite candy. What she ended up with was walking into her worst nightmare where she gets stabbed but instead of dying Tyler makes a deal with the Grim Reaper where she herself will collect souls and chase down his lost reaper who could be anyone. Now with Tyler reaping souls she finds herself being questioned by police when she keeps turning up near the bodies of women being murdered.

Reading the synopsis of Lost Reaper it reminded me a bit of a television show I’d watched at one point that I’m now forgetting the name of but it got me interested in what this book would contain. What I found was an interesting mix going on in the story. You not only have the fantasy element of reapers but a murder mystery and a bit of romance, although there is a bit of a triangle going for those that don’t enjoy those. Another interesting part to this is it brings in astral projection to it too.

I really enjoyed this one, there were a few little instances here and there that perhaps could have been done a bit better but overall it was an interesting read. From the ending to this one I believe this is going to be a series and would definitely continue on with the next book.

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

Versions
Megan Mitcham
(Base Branch, #7)
Publication date: August 9th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

The truth doesn’t have versions. Or does it?

Rin Lee covered her childhood in dirt and danced on its grave. Only she pranced a little too hard and spent her young-adult life tiptoeing the straight and narrow. Things finally paid off in the form of a job with the Department of Defense, a home of her own, and a boyfriend muscled enough he put Zach Efron to shame. Until one text reveals a hideous truth that splinters her world.

Suddenly she can’t trust Nate or their surrogate family of friends. Can she possibly trust Luck—the man who mirrors her soul, scares her beyond the neat confines she’s erected around herself, and makes her scrutinize the versions she’s always been too angry to see?

Luck turned to the streets out of necessity, while Rin slapped on blinders and ignored those willing to help her. A stupid move for a sultry young woman. But the skills she learned in the rough and tumble underbelly of DC will serve his latest assignment well. Because people like them have the instinct to survive.

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You can also get Enemy Mine (Base Branch #1) for FREE on:

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SNEAK A PEEK AT VERSIONS:

“Evening, gentlemen. Ladies.” The silken honey of the unfamiliar voice coated her nakedness in a soothing balm. The waiter cleared his throat. The low rumble vibrated very near her ear. “What can I get you, miss?”

She canted her head in his direction. Surprise smacked her square in the face. Smoldering bedroom eyes gazed into hers. The crystal blue orbs pierced through a strong brow and straight into her soul. Rin stepped back, stumbling over Nate’s feet. A thud sounded her landing against her boyfriend’s hard chest.

“Whoa, there,” the waiter said, maintaining an invisible grip on Rin that made it impossible to look away.

Blond hair only a shade darker than her own sat in disarray across his forehead, but was shorn close around his ears. The hint of a beard hugged the strongest jaw she’d ever seen. Lips the perfect shape and fullness for hours and hours of kissing would have softened the blow his appearance delivered, if he’d only smile.

“You startled me,” she said by way of explanation for her odd behavior.

“Wasn’t my intention.” He said the words, but his head ticked to the side and his eyes flared in a way that opposed them.

“What’s your name, gorgeous?” Jen asked.

“Call me Luck,” the waiter said, holding Rin’s befuddled gaze.

Nate steadied her and shifted to place himself between her and the…her and Luck, but a massive party of suits poured in to their left. They crowded the walkway with banter and briefcases. The man screwing with her head—more than her shrink ever had—could have stepped to the side of the table toward Zach. Instead, he stepped forward, crowding her with his sharply muscled chest tucked neatly into a waiter’s white button down. Chiseled forearms and lightly sun-kissed skin shown at his rolled sleeves.

Whether someone shoved him or he took a dive she wasn’t sure, but his sinewy chest suddenly plastered her front. One arm wrapped around her waist, catching her in a subtle dip. His other shot out to the chair back to steady them. She swore she heard Gregory moan. Luck’s muscles in action did something sinful to her psyche.

“Jackass, I’m not into threesomes,” Nate blustered just behind her head. She’d see him, if she’d tear her gaze off Luck. But she couldn’t.

Luck lifted his heavy blue gaze from her for the first time and squared it on Nate. “Me neither.”

Until that moment, she’d been sure Nate could have defended her honor or his ego against any man. He probably outweighed Luck by fifty muscle-dense pounds. Luck had a foot of height on him, but his calm voice and confident demeanor had her more than second guessing the outcome. Then again, Nate had a gun.

For the oddest reason, she didn’t think that would matter if the two got into it.

“Luck,” Rin said, “how about you tip a girl upright and bring her a Peroni, a glass of Casarena cabernet, a Goose Island, a Bourbon Spice Rack, and a Hot Delilah…make that two Delilah’s.” The first impression of a smile lightened the corner of his mouth. He straightened and released her, his hand sweeping firmly over the sway of her waist. The touch lingered for far too long. “Anyone else feeling a double?”

Author Bio:

USA Today bestselling author Megan Mitcham was born and raised among the live oaks and shrimp boats of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where her enormous family still calls home. She attended college at the University of Southern Mississippi where she received a bachelor’s degree in curriculum, instruction, and special education. For several years Megan worked as a teacher in Mississippi. She married and moved to South Carolina and worked for an international non-profit organization as an instructor and co-director.

In 2009 Megan fell in love with books. Until then, books had been a source for research or the topic of tests. But one day she read Mercy by Julie Garwood. And Oh Mercy, she was hooked!

Megan lives in Southern Arkansas where she pens sizzling suspense novels. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest & Goodreads. For news, giveaways, and exclusive offers sign up for her newsletter at http://www.meganmitcham.com!

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The Secret Sister by Brenda Novak
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After her divorce and the loss of her child Maisey Lazarow returns home to the small island of Fairham in hopes of helping her brother who has had some problems of his own. However, Maisey has not been looking forward to the reunion with her controlling mother after all the years that had passed.

Instead of staying in the family home Maisey moves into a cottage but finds herself living next to Rafe Romero who has been contracted to fix up the cottages. Maisey has a history with Rafe and finds herself still attracted to him but too broken to risk her heart. When Rafe finds a box of old photos Maisey finds herself in the middle of a mystery and trying to uncover old family secrets.

The Secret Sister was another nice read from Brenda Novak that crosses over from just a romance read into a mystery/thriller plus a lot of family drama all wrapped in one. It was easy to get interested in Maisey’s story rather quickly and really enjoyed the book.

Maisey’s family in the story are the rich as in owning most of the island but have all of the secrets to go along with type. Most would expect that with being rich and comfortable would bring for an easy life but there’s always things that go on that bring for one dysfunctional group.

Overall, with lots of twists and turns along the way this romantic suspense had me engaged the entire read.

I won this book from Goodreads First Reads.