Carries Book Reviews

All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

All is Not Forgotten tells the story of young Jenny Kramer who was brutally attacked and raped when she attended a high school party. Jenny had gotten upset and wandered out into the woods to be alone and cry when the unthinkable happens. Jenny’s attack shakes up the small town of Fairview, Connecticut where everyone knows everyone and strangers would be noticed so who could have done this unthinkable crime?

After the horrific event Jenny is given a controversial drug to medically erase her memory of the violent assault. In the months following her body begins to heal and she has no memory of the event but the emotional turmoil remains. Her father is obsessed with finding justice for his daughter and tracking down the attacker and her mother likes to hide in her little bubble and pretend the event never happened.

Told from the point of view of the therapist dealing with the aftermath of the brutal attack All is Not Forgotten is a bit different in that way. The story started out with the recounts of the attack then becomes involved with Jenny and those surrounding her coming to terms with what had happened.

The beginning of this book is quite gruesome and shocking but then after the first few pages the story started taking on a duller tone to me from the way it’s told. There was often a lot of clinical and technical talk as the therapy type of story telling took over. A part of me was tempted to put the book to the side and pick up something else but all of the four and five star reviews had me curious as to what I’d be missing if I did.

Midway through this story the therapist narrating the story really became a completely dislikable character to me but when that happened my curiosity shot up and the story became more compelling from that point on. There were a lot of twists and turns and the second half of the book became one that I did not want to put down until I finished the story and knew what exactly had happened.

In the end I’d give this one 3.5 stars. A slow starter in my opinion but it still hooked me into the story eventually.

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

Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Paper and Fire is the second book in the Great Library series by Rachel Caine. In the first book, Ink and Bone, we are introduced to a world in which The Great Library is in every city and controls the books of the world. Using alchemy to distribute the books those working for the library track down anyone with any in their possession and confiscate the materials. Ownership of books is expressly forbidden and anyone violating this law could even be sentenced to death.

Jess Brightwell’s family has been involved in the black market for books. He’s been raised to be a runner, delivering the books to those willing to pay the price and risk ownership. Jess has been sent to the library by his father to become a spy from the inside. He gets involved in the training only to find himself mixed up in the secrets of the library.

Paper and Fire picks up a short time after the end of the first book. Jess is continuing his training and serving in the library’s army. Now Jess and his allies embark on a deadly mission this time taking them away from Alexandria and all the way to London.

While I still completely enjoyed Paper and Fire I felt I needed to rate this one a bit below Ink and Bone. I think for me it’s the matter of the middle book syndrome where there were things I want to know and still don’t find out yet and while it’s still a good read it just didn’t hold the total excitement of the first book that gives the first look at the world overall. It also seemed to start off a bit slower to me but the action did pick up.

Trying to remain a bit vague and stay away from spoilers here I will say this one seemed to get a bit darker too. The world built up around the ownership of books being forbidden and may lead to death didn’t quite seem as deadly in the first book but it’s definitely put to the test in the second.

Overall, still a great series and will be impatiently awaiting the next book after the ending of this second installment. Would definitely recommend checking this series out.

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

Roll Me Away: A Smokey’s Roadhouse Novel by Jessa Jacobs
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Sturgis. Half a million bikers, wannabes, and families in a town of fewer than 7000 residents. What could go wrong?

After college graduation Cricket’s family invites her to go on a vacation to Sturgis. Having just broken up with her boyfriend she decides to agree to the trip thinking of nothing but hot bad boy’s in leather and maybe finding one that would rock her world after her break up.

Zach is at Sturgis trying to earn his way into the Dust Devils but he’s found he’s getting more than he bargained for with the club. Zach is drawn to Cricket but sees her go off with another biker, Jake. Jake is trouble but Cricket won’t hear of it but Zach is determined to get his shot with her anyway.

I’m sure there are going to be a lot of readers that completely enjoy Roll Me Away but I wasn’t completely sold on the story line in this read. Cricket’s father is one that seems to have hit that middle age crisis and decides vacationing with his family around a bunch of bikers is a great thing… that is until his oldest daughter speaks to one. Now why would the parents freak out over their twenty something daughter talking to a biker when they brought her to Sturgis was beyond me.

Then with the relationships involved in this story Jake was a…. let’s just keep it clean and say jerk. But even finding this out we have to extend Cricket’s stupidity by still continuing to pursue him. But on that note… Zach is also involved in the Dust Devils with Jake and that is not a good thing either so I really couldn’t get too behind that angle of the story either.

Overall, 2.5 stars not for me although I’m sure others would enjoy the story.

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

Brawl
Kylie Hillman
Publication date: May 12th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance, Sports

Gabriella Mitchell is a fighter.

She fights to keep her family together after her parent’s divorce.

She fights to keep her siblings safe and in school.

She fights because it’s the only thing keeping her sane.

Stumbling across an underground MMA fight ring in Sydney, her blood roars as she watches the ruthless Hayden “Hooligan” Harvie with floor of the octagon with his latest opponent.

Gabriella decides she wants to fight professionally; to support her siblings with her fists…and she wants Hooligan to teach her.

Hooligan doesn’t think girls should fight. Especially young, pretty ones he’d love to have warming his bed for a night or two…if only he could silence his conscience long enough.

Every couple needs to fight for their love at some stage, however, with two stubborn hearts at stake, a happy ending for these two will require an all-out BRAWL.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

*Only 99¢ during the blitz!*

—

EXCERPT:

HOOLIGAN

“Touch gloves,” I command. They do as they’re told before stepping back from each other. “And. Fight.”

Jep doesn’t waste any time. He goes for the easy takedown, aiming at Gabbi’s waist and trying to wrestle her to the ground. It’s a good move, one that I don’t expect her to be able to counteract. He easily outweighs her—almost by double, I’d guess.

What I didn’t count on, and neither did Jep by the looks of things, is Gabbi swinging onto his back and locking her right arm under his chin. Using her left arm for leverage and locking her legs tight around his waist, she pulls tight using a rear-naked choke that’s going to have him tapping out swiftly if he can’t find a way out of it.

He swings around wildly in an attempt to dislodge her. It’s ineffectual. Gabbi clings to him like a backpack. I know what I would do in this situation but I’m not sure if Jep has the killer instinct needed to do it to a girl. If I was him, I’d throw myself on my back and use my superior weight against her. There’s little chance of her maintaining her chokehold while she deals with the weight of a fully-grown man crushing her.

“Yes.” Nate punches the air. “Choke him out, ninja girl.”

A feral growl can be heard coming from his best-friend in response to his cheering. Nate smiles at me when I glance his way, smug-satisfaction evident. Gabbi must sink her hooks in deeper because Jep’s face starts to change color. With pure desperation showing in his expression, he throws himself on his back, trapping Gabbi between his body and the canvas.

I expect her to let go of him so she can tap out. The crazy girl doesn’t; instead she absorbs the impact without making a sound and sustains her tight hold. My pulse pounds in my ears as my desperation for Jep to win increases. All hope of succeeding at this stupid game I’m playing leaves me, when I witness Jep’s hand frantically tapping on the arm Gabbi has locked under his chin seconds before his eye’s roll back in his head. He succumbs to his lack of air supply and loses consciousness.

“Time. Time.” I call, rushing forward to roll Jep’s unconscious form off Gabbi. Nate and two other members jump the ropes and make their way into the ring to assist me. They deal with Jep, rousing him and making him talk to them once he’s come to, while I grab Gabbi’s hands and pull her back on her feet.

She’s unhurt; a sheen of sweat that covers her smooth skin and a rapidly rising and falling chest the only outward signs that she’s just exerted herself. Well that, and the giant shit-eating grin that’s on her face.

“I won,” she breathes the words as if she can’t quite believe them herself.

I know I can’t. This isn’t how this was supposed to go down.

“So when do we start, Coach?”

The logical part of my brain wants to scream “never”, while the part that’s strangely turned on from watching this girl use a technique I’ve used on my opponents many times to subdue a man twice her size, is yelling at me to tell her “right fucking now” so I can take her in the locker room and bend her over in the shower, making my fantasy from the other night a reality.

Letting go of her hands in an attempt to resist the overwhelming urge I’m having to pull her closer, I take a step away from her.

My displeasure is evident on my face and in my voice when I answer her.

“Tomorrow. We’ll start tomorrow.”

Author Bio:

Kylie Hillman is an Australian author who loves to chat. She can be contacted via email: authorkyliehillman@gmail.com, Facebook, or Facebook Group: Kylie Hillman’s Book News & Updates.

Wife to a Harley riding, boating and fishing, four-wheel driving quintessential Aussie bloke.

Mum to two crazy, adorable, and original kids.

Crohn’s Disease sufferer and awareness campaigner.

She’s also an avid tea drinker, a connoisseur of 80’s/90’s rock music, and is known for lacing everything she says with sarcasm and inappropriate innuendo.

Formerly working in finance, she was forced to reevaluate her plans for her life when severe Crohn’s Disease brought her corporate career to a screeching halt. Restarting her childhood hobbies of writing and reading to alleviate the monotony of being sick and housebound, she found her calling and is enjoying life to the max. A typical day is spent in the “real” world where she hangs out with her awesome family and “book” world where she gets to chill with her fictional characters.

Kylie writes the books she wants to read. A lover of strong men who aren’t perfect and aren’t afraid to admit it, straight talking women who embrace their vulnerabilities, and real life gritty stories, she hopes these themes shine through her writing. An avid reader of all genres, Kylie hopes to release books that keep the reader on the edge of their seat- be it with suspense, romance, or laughter.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Facebook Group / Twitter / Pinterest / Instagram / Newsletter

GIVEAWAYS!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Milkshakes and Heartbreaks at the Starlight Diner by Helen Cox
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Esther Knight moved to New York from London trying to escape her past. Now she’s taken a job waitressing at the retro Starlight Diner. She’s shut herself off from relationships other than her co-workers and a few regulars but when actor Jack Faber turns on the charm Esther has a hard time resisting him.

For the most part I really enjoyed reading Milkshakes and Heartbreaks at the Starlight Diner. You have the two main characters both have things from their past that they are reluctant to share with one another with the story mostly taking place in a unique setting of the retro diner.

The one thing really that brought my rating down with this read is that my tolerance for the overreaction from a character when they learn the truth another has failed to confess is getting a bit shaky. Esther has one of these over reaction moments and to me it went a bit far since she herself had so many secrets too. And without too many specifics so as not to spoiler the story for anyone I also kind of questioned some of Jack’s explanation, it just seemed odd.

Overall, while I didn’t love the entire tale I think a lot will love this romance between these characters with the secrets spilling out all throughout the book. Note there was somewhat of a cliffhanger at the end probably setting up another book with new main characters set at the diner.

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