Carries Book Reviews

Dead Sexy by Kelly Apple
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Zane Harker is a zombie, he was turned one night in a bar by a woman he had been flirting with. After months of adjusting to his new zombie status Zane has now taken on a job working security for his cousin’s firm guarding Maisie Banks who has received threats on her life. With a risque photo shoot and the beautiful Maisie around Zane has begun to realize that there can be a sex life for even the dead.

The second in a series of short paranormal/erotic short stories from Kelly Apple I believe Dead Sexy was even better than the first. Who would think that zombies could be sexy at all? Somehow though this author can turn even the most gruesome character into a sexy man and add in a bunch of incredibly steamy situations in a short amount of time.

Overall, certainly an interesting take on erotica mixing it with paranormal.

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

Oasis by Dima Zales
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In a dystopian/post-apocalyptic society known as Oasis we meet Theo. Theo is a twenty-three year old that thinks he is going crazy as he’s begun to hear a voice in his head who calls herself Phoe. Theo thinks that Phoe is a figment of his imagination but she knows things that Theo himself couldn’t possibly know.

When Phoe tells Theo that his friend Mason is looking for him he finds him alone and upset. Oasis citizens have their emotions controlled and things like depression shouldn’t exist but Mason is suffering from it after telling a girl that he loved her. Love and family is also something taboo in Oasis. Theo doesn’t know what to think about what is going on but when the friends go to bed that night and Theo wakes to finding Mason gone he goes in search of his friend only no one seems to remember Mason at all.

Oasis strongly reminded me of a cross between Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and The Giver by Lois Lowry. Really if I hadn’t read these two books within the last two years I’d probably have rated Oasis at five stars but due to the similarities I went with a solid four stars. The name of the book alone brought to mind Ready Player One but there is an element of Virtual Reality involved in this story too. And the society of Oasis is very similar to The Giver where the citizens are not supposed to have certain emotions and feelings or memories. That being said it still had a life of it’s own though and went to places I didn’t expect.

Also, I read a warning before picking up this book about the strong language used. The book starts off with curse words in the first sentence so I was thinking oh no, maybe I should have listened thinking that is was going to be completely filled with cursing. However, while there is use of words that would offend someone who doesn’t like any foul language in their book I didn’t feel like it was overly done either. Theo and his friends even in their twenties are pretty comparable mentally to teenagers and they’ve been told foul language is forbidden so of course they have to test the waters. You do see the F word especially but it’s not every other word in the story but more of a realistic use in this setting so be warned if that will bother you.

As for the story itself, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself caught by some of the twists and turns and not knowing what to expect next. The world building was right on point as if I had a question of a how or why it would eventually be answered as the story went on. It was a fun ride with Theo as he discovered just what the society was all about.

Overall, would definitely recommend this to dystopian fans. Completely enjoyed and look forward to seeing what could possibly happen in the next book.

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

Rising Shadows by Bridget Blackwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rachel Ryan has woke up in a hospital with no memory of who she is or why she is there. She soon finds that she is being held captive by a group of humans that have forced magic into her known as Arcane to try to turn her into a weapon against supernatural creatures. Rachel quickly turns the tides on those holding her captive and finds herself in a world filled with shapeshifters, vampires, fae and many other creatures with the threat of war coming.

Rising Shadows is what I would call and extremely fast paced adventure from start to finish. There is somewhat a lack of world building and character development with it going from one thing to another but strangely I still found myself learning enough about this world that with the non-stop action I just didn’t want to put the book down.

The story does switch around from multiple characters points of view as it goes on but I always find myself enjoying getting into the head of all involved as I think it adds to a story. Some may find the fast pace a bit confusing but for me it helped learn about the world involved as it went.

I would warn there are several almost instant relationships involved in the book. I’m one that is usually more tolerant of insta-love so with this book it didn’t really bother me as with the world of supernatural beings who is to say how they form their relationships? What happened worked well into the story in my opinion but be warned for those that don’t tolerate it well.

Overall, fast paced and filled with excitement, would definitely continue on with the series.

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

Cross Springs In Bloom: A Cross Springs Novella by Caren Crane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Mindy MacPherson’s friends suspect cheating in a local gardening competition the three decide to investigate for themselves. What Mindy doesn’t expect to find inside the greenhouse is Javier Morales with whom she’d had a one night stand the year before. Javier studying horticulture gets pulled into their investigation and Mindy and Javier revisit the old flames between them.

I’d have to say with this novella there was a good 75% of it that I loved. The interaction with Mindy and her friends on their adventure was one of those lovely tales that could get you laughing.

However, I didn’t enjoy Mindy’s personality when it came to her relationship and some situations involved. And then the actual relationship itself also didn’t get much attention in the book, it felt as if everything was rushed to an ending as soon as it started really which I suppose is the novella curse, just not enough depth in some being shorter books.

Overall, 3.5 stars for Cross Springs In Bloom from me. I’d certainly read more about these characters and little town in the future.

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

The Sisterhood of the Coin by Z. Minor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nicola Highbridge and her two foster sisters have a system, the three each have a distinct coin and when one is in trouble they send their coin to summon help. Nicola travels to London to help her sister who is being threatened at the museum she works for by thieves.

Upon arriving Nicola soon crosses paths with Clay Barber who is a government agent investigating in secret. The two are immediately at odds but highly attracted to one another. With Nicola and Clay both investigating they cross paths quite often and stumble into more than they thought they would.

Sisterhood of the Coin is a historical mix of a bit of romance thrown into a mystery. I have to say I started off this undiscovered novel a bit hesitant and unsure of what I was going to find since it seemed to have little interest in it on Goodreads. But when I began to read I was immediately impressed with the writing. I was drawn into a London of the past where I could just imagine the sights, sounds and smells of the city.

As I got more into the story though I couldn’t quite put my finger on it but I would occasionally just lose interest. I think when done I just felt the flow and focus was a bit off here and there for my taste. I did enjoy the characters, could just picture Eel in my mind and loved him all throughout and Nicola was such a strong independent woman for the most part which I enjoyed. Also enjoyed the plot to an certain degree but it would seem to wander and maybe try to include just too much that was outside the main focus of the story.

Overall, I still found this story to be an interesting read in the so I went with three stars as somewhat an average feeling overall as there were some really good parts and some that I didn’t care for.

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