Carries Book Reviews

How to Please a Lady by Jane Goodger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How to Please a Lady introduces us to the now widowed Lady Rose Dunford who has just gotten a new neighbor that seems to be keeping the company of different females every night. When Rose goes to confront her new neighbor she finds that it is none other than Charlie Avery, her former servant who had helped her escape to New York five years before.

Flashing back we learn of how Rose was engaged to a Duke who took liberties with her and she decided to run off to America to hopefully wed a nicer man she had briefly met that had needed a wife. Charlie was heading to New York himself so Rose convinced him to take her along. The two were closer than was normal for a servant and lady as they grew up together but each questioned their feelings for one another before going their separate ways in New York.

How to Please a Lady is the second book in the Lost Heiresses series but can be read fine as a standalone novel. The characters in the first book do make a brief appearance in this book and it was nice to get a bit of a glimpse of them again but it’s not necessary to have read the first to enjoy this one.

Having read both books in this series I can easily say that I enjoyed this one much more than the first. Both have a nice historic vibe to them and an interesting story line but in How to Please a Lady I found Rose and Charlie made a much more likable and believable relationship. Nothing was rushed into as they had known each other practically all their lives and they were closer in age overall than the couple in the first novel.

Rose can seem a bit of a snob but quite honestly that was what I really liked, it made the story feel more authentic that she was acting as a lady of that era would/should act. Having them leave England and head to New York where titles and status were not what they were overseas was a great look at history and how things were in those days in both countries which made for a lovely historical romance.

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

Dodging Trains
Sunniva Dee
Publication date: March 29th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

I was twelve when a stranger at a train station taught me the meaning of ugly. He forced himself on me and threatened to kill my family if I told.

I stayed silent and the ugliness grew.

Now, that word rolls in film clips through my mind. All I’ve done since my best friend, Keyon Arias, left town is cement how ugly I am. Ugly on the inside—deep down to my core. On the outside… I am a Vixen. I flash men a smile and make them moan out pleasure I control.

Not them. Never them.

After five years of being away, my beautiful boy has come back to town for his father’s masquerade ball. He’s different. Hard muscle supersedes the skin and bone of his once boyish frame. One thing hasn’t changed though: the murderous look in his eyes when he slaughters his opponents. In the ring, I see the bullied boy, all grown up, dominating in ways he couldn’t in high school.

He’s the mayor’s son. The rising MMA fighter. The beautiful one.

I’m not the Paislee Cain of before, not the sweet girl he once knew, the one who chased away his bullies. I’m the town slut. The dirty girl whose shame will never fade no matter how many men I use. He’d disown what I’ve become.

Because beautiful can never love ugly.

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EXCERPT:

PAISLEE

The most vibrant moments of my life flicker through my brain like film clips. If I concentrate long enough, they suck in sound until they become so real they mix in the scents from my memories too. Already, I realize today will morph into a

clip that’ll join the rest of them—the short version of today, what I’m watching right now.

In this moment, he doesn’t star in a snippet at the back of my brain. He’s almost tangible, himself in ways I haven’t seen him in years.

Heat glistened off him when he strutted into the cage, arms high in preempted victory and with a cocky smile on his mouth. But now, minutes into the match, he’s not smiling anymore, no, because Keyon is fighting hard.

He always did that. Fought hard, I mean. And I wasn’t afraid for him back when I knew him either. Who can be afraid for someone who looks murderous?

I don’t mind his back toward the camera while he delivers the last decisive blow to his opponent; I enjoy the sight of skin and muscles under glaring spotlights and sweat that flies off hair and lashes when he turns.

The local TV station replays Keyon’s knockout in slow motion, while I consider what’s most real; replays like these on a TV screen versus what’s in my brain—those special clips from years ago. I let the thought go and ponder instead how Keyon and what’s-his-name survive the punishment they give each other.

I’ve kept close track of Keyon in the news. This is the first televised event he’s been a part of, so until now I’ve found him on the Internet and in our flimsy newspaper, the Rigita Gazette.

From the first glimpse of his face on TV, I saw the same impatience as before. Wildfire still burns in his eyes, and dedication radiates off him like red-hot quicksilver. In my imagination, Keyon is rattling the starting gates, dying to be freed into a world where he can rule, destroy, feast on his power without inhibitions.

Author Bio:

Between studies, teaching, and advising, Sunniva has spent her entire adult life in a college environment. Most of her novels are new adult romance geared toward smart, passionate readers with a love for eclectic language and engaging their brain as well as their heart while reading.

Born in the Land of the Midnight Sun, the author spent her early twenties making the world her playground. Southern Europe: Spain, Italy, Greece–Argentina: Buenos Aires, in particular. The United States finally kept her interest, and after half a decade in Los Angeles, she now lounges in the beautiful city of Savannah.

Sometimes, Sunniva writes with a paranormal twist (Shattering Halos, Stargazer, and Cat Love). At other times, it’s contemporary (Pandora Wild Child, Leon’s Way, Adrenaline Crush, Walking Heartbreak, and Dodging Trains, coming in late March 2016).

This author is the happiest when her characters let their emotions run off with them, shaping her stories in ways she never foresaw. She loves bad-boys and good-boys run amok, and like in real life, her goal is to keep the reader on her toes until the end of each story.

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Black Water Tales: The Unwanted
JeanNicole Rivers
Publication date: March 31st 2016
Genres: Adult, Horror

In the remote, eastern European town of Borslav there is St. Sebastian orphanage, a place where people discard their unwanted children. For the American, Blaire Baker, it’s the perfect place to volunteer her services. Paired with a cheerful volunteer nurse, Blaire is enthusiastic about the possibilities, but is quickly discouraged when she encounters the nefarious nature of the staff and the deplorable conditions of the facility and the children.

Upon arrival, one of the children informs Blaire, “There’s something in the basement.” It isn’t long before strange things begin happening, including Blaire’s flashbacks of the accident that killed her parents. The children soon suffer injuries that Blaire, first, fears may be the deeds of the callous workers but she soon thinks the abuse may originate from a source that is less than human, something unwanted.

The unwanted is coming but in order for Blaire to fight it, she must dig into St. Sebastian and herself in search of truth. Blaire wants nothing more than to help the children, but when discovers the tragedy that happened in the basement and learns that the same evil forces are still at work, it will be Blaire who needs help…There’s something in the basement.

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Author Bio:

I was born in the tiny, but lovable town of Centralia, IL which has a two screen movie theatre, one high school and still celebrates May Fete, so I had no choice, but to develop a fantastic imagination. Since childhood I have been writing everything from short stories to songs, but I have always aspired to compose a novel. Black Water Tales: The Secret Keepers is my first novel and the first book in what will be a series of thriller novels.

Philosophy was my study in college and I received a Bachelor of Arts in the subject from Florida International University. Writing is one of my most favored artistic pursuits, but my love for the arts does not stop there, I am also a vocalist and actress and participate in local theater in Houston Texas.

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The Guardian, a Sword, & Stilettos by Kristin D. Van Risseghem
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Seventeen year old Zoe Jabril’s life was pretty ordinary until one day she and her best friend, Kieran, are attacked by two strange men. When another handsome boy, Shay, joins the fight Kieran and Shay overcome the attacking men but when their bodies poof out of existence Zoe gets her first glimpse into a world she never knew existed.

Kieran and Shay explain to Zoe that they have been sent to protect her because when she was born it was believed that Zoe is a baby that was foretold in a prophecy that is going to save the world. Kieran himself was assigned to be Zoe’s best friend and is actually her Guardian Angel while Shay is Nephilim and has been protecting Zoe from afar. The men that attacked, a pair of lesser demons sent to kill Zoe.

The Guardian, a Sword, & Stilettos is another series that should have easily have been a five star read for me with so many elements that I love, with Angels, Nephilim, Demons, Fairies and Werewolves all involved I knew that I was going to enjoy the story and it even started off reminding me a bit of the Mortal Instruments series which I love.

Unfortunately there are a few things that brought my rating down a bit in this book. First was Zoe herself, she’s almost eighteen but yet the character was seriously lacking any maturity for someone of that age. We start off with being attacked by demons and her reaction is oh look at the cute guy with the sexy eyes. Really it took me until about half way through the book before I learned to tolerate her naivety and boy craziness and begin to actually enjoy the plot. Also, there are just some things in the book that seem a bit off as if the author is out of touch with teenagers in general, such as Zoe is about to turn eighteen but yet not a senior yet in high school?

I would also warn readers of the usual we must have a bit of a love triangle and the insta-love involvement in the plot. I tend to overlook these things but I know a lot of people would dislike either or both. My only complaint was I think Zoe would at least think for a couple of minutes on how her insta-love connection is with a guy that is old enough to be her grandfather but of course as I said, she thought he was cute. Hopefully Zoe will gain some maturity and depth to her personality as the series continues as it does have potential to be a good one.

In the end I decided to go with 3.5 stars for The Guardian, a Sword, & Stilettos, some flaws to it but if they were worked out the story could be a fun ride.

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

Somniare
D.T. Dyllin
(Somniare #1)
Publication date: July 19th 2016
Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult

Remy Novem was murdered…

But she didn’t die.

Forced to escape to Somniare, a dream landscape, Remy must somehow survive living nightmares, and endless torment without using her magic. Her only hope for freedom is to hitch a ride with a human back into reality, tricking the poor creature into believing no harm will befall them.

Remy isn’t troubled by the fact that she must kill to live…

Until love changes everything.

—

Consurge
D.T. Dyllin
(Somniare #2)
Publication date: October 18th 2016
Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult

Remy Novem went from one nightmare to another…only this time she’s awake.

After clawing her way out of Somniare, Remy finds a world she doesn’t recognize. Her family and friends have been slaughtered, and because of it, a war is brewing between light and dark forces.

Sacrifices will be made, and unlikely alliances formed, but ultimately the fate of the world will rest on one magical being’s shoulders…

And it isn’t Remy Novem.

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Author Bio:

D.T. Dyllin is a bestselling author who writes both paranormal and contemporary romance. Anything with a love story is her kryptonite. Her obsession with affairs-of-the-heart is what first drove her to begin twisting her own tales of scorching romance.

D.T. was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Black & Gold for life, baby!) She now lives in Little Rock, Arkansas with her husband and two spoiled German Shepherds.

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