Carries Book Reviews

The Broken Road by Melissa Huie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Megan Connor has had a crush on her long time good friend Shane for years. She had tried to tell herself they would always only be friends and had even gotten engaged to someone else for a while. When that didn’t work out Megan’s life basically became work and home by herself until one night Shane shows up asking for a place to say. As soon as Shane moves in the secrets begin to pile up between the two leading Megan to question if she will ever know the truth.

For the most part I actually completely enjoyed The Broken Road. There was just a little something that I felt was missing while I was reading that I wasn’t quite putting my finger on for the most part. I think though when done it was probably just a matter of some things being left unsaid for a while that you later learn in the story.

I did think the author did a great job with adding so much detail to a somewhat short read. A great build up with Shane and Megan to give the relationship time to develop that may seem a little slow to some but then you’re in for a ton of suspense with some twists and turns along the way with an action packed ending. After the bit of a cliffhanger ending with this one I’d definitely pick up another in the series.

Overall, nice bad boy romance with action and suspense in the mix.

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

Strike a Poser by Dylan Edward Asher
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Olivia is a con-artist, she and her current accomplice, Jillian, have set up a big score in Olivia’s old city of Orlando. Olivia needs to find some help for her current con so she visits her old flame Jack and enlists him and his brother to help. Olivia has completely scripted the entire con but of course anything that can go wrong certainly will.

Unfortunately Strike a Poser just wasn’t for me. The story has a lot of potential to really grab a reader but there just wasn’t enough depth to the story or characters for my taste. There’s not much of a background on anyone other Olivia and Jack dating fifteen years prior and when the con gets going it never really gets explained what the plan will be but you just get tossed into it happening. A part of it got a little confusing even following as it started switching back and forth between what was currently going on and the team setting up the con the day before.

Also, I’m one that doesn’t really care if a story has explicit language but only to a point. The characters in here and the f this, f that type and it got completely annoying even to me. To me, if you cuss every other word you’re just showing how unintelligent you are but maybe this would be why the lack of depth to the characters, there just wasn’t any to write about if their language is any indication.

Overall, not much depth to it, unfortunately I wouldn’t recommend this one.

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

Thirty Nights with a Dirty Boy: Part 1 by Shiloh Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In the part one of of this story we are introduced to Ella Cruise who is an incredibly rich but incredibly lonely woman. Ella has a phobia that she just can’t stand to be touched, she hates crowds and has a problem trusting anyone.

One night Ella visits one of her only friends, Sasha, at the bar where she works at as a bartender. A sexy man catches Ella’s eye. Becoming completely intrigued with this new man, Ella begins to come into the bar more often just to catch a glimpse. When Sasha realizes Ella’s infatuation she quickly warns her away by telling her that Sean is actually a male prostitute and is only working at the bar as a cover to pick up clients.

Instead of being scared away from the sexy stranger Ella sees this as an opportunity. She decides that this is what she is looking for, someone who she doesn’t have to trust and be with if she doesn’t want to but that can try to give her the intimacy she craves.

Being a three part e-serial part one did exactly what it was meant to do, it got me completely hooked on Ella and Sean’s story. When finished with part one I immediately had to keep reading on with their story.

Ella was a complex character that I just wanted to know so much more about. She’s strong in her business world but ready to shatter at any moment in her personal world. In a way I’d say this reminds me of the Fifty Shades of Grey series but without the bondage and whips. Ella could be compared to Christian with her haunting background and lack of trust and intimacy.

I went into this read expecting a completely erotic read but what I found was that it had more depth and substance than I’d ever expected which I actually loved. The first section here didn’t even really touch on the sexual nature of the story as yet as it was more of an introduction to the story.

Overall, definitely recommend checking out this three part e-serial.

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

Thirty Nights with a Dirty Boy: Part 2: A Heroes and Heartbreakers Serial by Shiloh Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Part two of Thirty Nights with a Dirty Boy picks up exactly where the story left off in part one with Ella and Sean. The pair have agreed on the contract Ella had drawn up to pay Sean to spend thirty nights with her to see if she could break down her walls and find the intimacy that she craves. When Ella’s walls start to crumble she finds even more strength in her business life but also starts to find herself falling for the one man she shouldn’t.

As with part one I really just didn’t get enough of this duo and had to jump right into the third when I finished. I just absolutely love the depth to Ella and seeing her grow. Sean’s personality and background also start to come out a bit more in this installment which had me wanting to find out so much more about each of them.

This is also the section of the story where we start to see the steaminess develop between Ella and Sean. While Sean could make about anything seem incredibly hot he has such a tender side when bringing Ella out of her shell that is also sweet at times.

Still loving the story and definitely would recommend.

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

Thirty Nights with a Dirty Boy: Part 3: A Heroes and Heartbreakers Serial by Shiloh Walker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Part three is the conclusion to the Thirty Nights with a Dirty Boy e-serial, it picks up right after the ending of part two. Ella and Sean have had their business relationship hit a rocky patch after Ella had developed feelings for Sean.

I don’t want to say too much about the plot being the final installment of this series but finally we get all the details to Ella and Sean in the conclusion that I had so desperately been waiting on. Great characters and story between the pair. Definitely a great ending to a series that I never expected to have as much depth as it did.

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

All That is Lost Between Us by Sara Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Georgia has a secret that has been tearing her up inside. She wants to talk to her cousin and best friend Sophia but the girls have been drifting apart. After attending the same party the girls are walking home with another friend, Danny, when out of nowhere a car comes up behind them and the trio become the victims of a hit and run. Danny manages to pull Georgia out of the way but Sophia is seriously injured. Afterwards Danny seems to think that the accident may have been an attempt on Georgia’s life.

All That is Lost Between Us is a psychological thriller that focuses on a family of four and all of the problems and secrets between them. Georgia has withdrawn from her family after an affair over the previous summer. Zac, Georgia’s younger brother feels a bit isolated and doesn’t know what to do after his sister’s accident but ends up making things worse when he finds evidence of Georgia’s secrets. With two teenagers Anya and Callum have drifted apart in their marriage but with their daughter in danger the two struggle to come together for their family.

An intense story of secrets and lies and the struggles of one family when tragedy strikes. Each chapter switches the POV between the different family members and all involved have their own things they are dealing with to keep the reader hooked right from the start. A bit of a mystery with who it is that could be after Georgia thrown into the mix and you certainly a page turner on your hands with this read.

Overall, great writing, an intense plot with intriguing characters, would definitely recommend this thriller.

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

The Secret to Letting Go by Katherine Fleet
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Working in his father’s sporting goods store Daniel Hudson never expected to come across a customer quite like Clover Scott. Clover has a hair cut that looks like she’s been attacked by a pair of scissors, clothes that don’t quite fit right and sometimes says the strangest things but Daniel is immediately drawn to her. After coming to Clover’s rescue twice Daniel finds himself wanting to help this girl that so obviously needs someone to do so.

The Secret of Letting Go is truly a touching tale of two teenagers that each have had tough times in their past to deal with that somehow end up in each other’s lives. The story changes POV a few times between the two to get to know each side a bit better.

I don’t even really know what to say about Clover, her life growing up was the things nightmares are made of. She is naive to the world because she’s never experienced anything that a normal teenager would. She is obviously a lot stronger than most would give her credit for though since she had made her way down to Florida and had been taking care of herself for a while. A character that will make every day problems seem a lot less significant in the scheme of things.

Daniel was a kind, caring and compassionate soul that was made that way because of his past. A few years before his girlfriend had passed away which made him grow up in ways that he wouldn’t have otherwise. Even though he has had a much easier life than Clover he still feels things a bit deeper than normal teenagers due to his past.

There are also quite a few of other great characters involved, a small town feel to the story when people open up their homes and lives to welcome Clover in and help her when she needs it. With a bit of suspense involved with the touching tale it made for a real page turning read that should touch your heart. Would definitely recommend.

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