Carries Book Reviews

High Witch by Mona Hanna
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Brayden has been having dreams of a girl that he knows he’s in love with for a month straight. When Ariel checks into the inn that Brayden works in he is sure that she is the girl from his dreams. Brayden soon finds that Ariel is a witch but she doesn’t know anything about using her powers. Brayden offers to help since his mother is a witch too but when Ariel tries to practice Brayden discovers she’s what is known as a high witch in which only three exist in the world at any one time and are the most powerful out there. Knowing that Ariel will be coveted for her powers the two go on the run together.

I have to say I thought I would like this little novella a lot more than I did when I read the description. I found myself actually getting quite bored and not wanting to pick it back up though. It seemed like there was about 75% to 85% of professing their dying love, having sex and then maybe practice a bit of magic. I would almost wonder if it wasn’t meant to be some form of tame erotica but I actually enjoy the occasional erotic read and this one really didn’t fit that either.

Brayden and Ariel are a classic case of insta-love, which doesn’t even bother me most of the time but in this case it just felt there was hardly any reasoning. We don’t really get much information on the whole world of witches or much world building at all in the story either. I took a wild guess that this must take place in the past at some point since there was talk of carriages and riding horses etc.

For lack of a better way to describe my disappointment I’d say it just completely lacked creativity. There could have been so much done in the world of magic and with Ariel’s powers but it seemed like the fantasy part of the novella was forgotten about rather quickly. I also noticed a few times even the text just seemed to repeat for whatever reason. For example “It’ll be alright,” she said. “It’ll be alright somehow.” Two paragraphs later.. “Love will win. Somehow, love will win.” Not exactly engaging conversation. The writing wasn’t too bad otherwise, just not very imaginative.

Overall, a pass on this one from me. Some may like it but I was just left wanting more.

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

The Hunter’s Moon by Beth Trissel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Morgan Daniel and her younger brother have been in witness protection after witnessing a gang murder but are now on the run as they have been found by the gang. Heading into the mountains they turn their car down a steep hill in hopes to survive the gang’s shooting at them and disappear into the woods.

After crashing and trying to hide they see a wolf in the forest and next they know the wolves are attacking the pursuing gang. After the gang is chased off a young man comes to the rescue and proceeds to bring Morgan and her brother back to a huge secret lodge in the forest. There they find out there is a whole world out there that they didn’t know existed and they are a huge part of.

The Hunter’s Moon is the beginning to a young adult series that involved werewolves, shifters, and a world of legends and curses. It definitely had an intriguing mix of different things involved that grabbed my attention and had me wanting to know where this was going to lead. The book however does end on a cliffhanger with a lot unresolved which is somewhat a let down but with such a short novella it certainly packed a lot into the first installment.

Overall, a fun start to the series, would definitely pick up the next to see what happens.

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

Santa Fe Sunrise by Tanya Stowe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Brett Fraser has left his job after an art scandal and has decided to travel the Southwest to find himself again and renew his faith in God. When parked along the edge of a road one morning he sees Rafaela De Silva out jogging when she suddenly falls and injures her ankle. Brett offers to take her to the hospital and soon finds himself falling for her.

Rafaela’s family finds themselves on hard times. Her art gallery has been failing, her sister has health issues and she seems to be having one accident after another in her life. Brett coming into her life and family brings a bit of happiness they haven’t had in a while but is there something a bit shadier going on to bring about these problems??

Sante Fe Sunrise is a bit of a Christian romance mixed with a bit of a thriller/mystery. The writing was wonderful, as the Southwest scenery and Sophia’s artwork were being described it could just be pictured so well in the mind. The characters were also very lovely people that pulled at the heart strings as they dealt with things in their lives. I did however see where the mystery would be headed fairly early on in the story but it was still an intriguing read to see how it would all work out in the end and just how it would all be tied together.

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

A Fool For Love by Susan Lute
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When Alice York’s truck breaks down right in front of Martha’s Elder House she stumbles into meeting Zach Barret just as his hired help have quit on him. Having no way to fix her truck and no where to go Zach and his family invite Alice to stay and propose she helps them out until her truck is fixed.

Alice has been a wanderer, not wanting to get close to anyone or set down roots since her marriage ended. Having this tight knit little family take her in and show her warmth is almost more than Alice can handle. Will this nomad change her ways or run at the first chance she gets?

While A Fool For Love was a very well written little novella, I just couldn’t find myself believing the story being told. The characters led very different lives and had their own issues to deal with so bringing these two together may have worked for me over a longer course of time but the relationship took place in days. Alice’s background was heartbreaking to say the least, but with that being said I think years of therapy may have only broken the ice on helping her heal her issues. Perhaps a bit too much emotional baggage to heal in a short novella for my taste to truly believe the relationship developing.

Overall, just an ok read for me.

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