Carries Book Reviews

A Bramble House Christmas by C.J. Carmichael
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Willa and her son Scout have traveled to Marietta, Montana to stay at the lovely bed and breakfast called the Bramble House for the three weeks before Christmas. Willa is a nurse who had a very generous patient leave the prepaid trip, a ring and fifty thousand dollars to her in his will after he passed away. Her son Scout had just beaten cancer so she felt the two needed the getaway to help Scout feel normal again.

Finn Knightly is the son of the patient that left Willa such a generous amount in his will. Finn and his three sisters and mother believe that Willa had to scam their father so Finn has decided to book the same bed and breakfast to check out Willa for himself. What Finn doesn’t count on is falling in love with Willa and her son.

Such a beautiful story in a beautiful setting. Marietta and it’s small town charm really makes me want to head somewhere on a Christmas trip of my own. Scout and his story would bring tears to my eyes thinking how the little guy had fought so hard and just wanted to be a normal kid. Also couldn’t help but feel for Willa and her over protectiveness with Scout, how much she had gone through with him just pulls at the heartstrings. Finn was also a wonderful man who adored children and even when learning the truth didn’t run from Scout the way his own father had.

Overall, highly recommend this wonderful Christmas romance.

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

Thirst by Claire Farrell
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Ava Delaney is different, she’s not quite a vampire but not quite human either. When Ava’s mother was pregnant she was attacked and killed by a vampire, Ava was born right before her mother died and some of the vampire’s poison stayed in her making her somewhat of a hybrid.

Ava does everything she can to fight her cravings for blood and to live like a normal human shutting herself off from others to not harm them. When she comes across a man in danger from a vampire and steps in to help she accidentally claims Carl to keep the other vampire from hurting him. Not knowing how to break the bond Ava seeks help and gets into more than she bargained for in the vampire world.

Not a bad story really but I found myself a bit bored as it seemed to move rather slowly for a short novella. Also, I found Ava a bit frustrating during her first meeting with Peter, seems she’d have saved herself a lot of trouble if she would have just said her grandmother sent her.

Overall, didn’t grab me as much as I’d like but a bit of a different twist on vampires so some may like it.

Prince Charming Must Die by Isabella Fontaine
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Alice leads a fairly normal life, she has a great boyfriend, does well in school but right before her eighteenth birthday things become a bit complicated in her life. She starts to volunteer at the local library but when tasked with returning a book to the basement her life changes, next thing she knows she has a giant talking rabbit telling her that she is the next hero and that Prince Charming must die.

A fun read bringing fairy tales into the real world. A rather short story it is really just the beginning of Alice’s adventures it seems as there are many more books in this series. Kind of felt like it was mostly an introduction to Alice with a rushed ending to this particular book to get her going on her journey. I would hope the next books deal more with more stories and characters and would probably really like the series in that case.

Overall, interesting start to the series, fairy tale characters hiding in the real world and the longer they are here the more evil they become.

Unlovable by Cynthia St. Aubin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Matilda Schmidt is a psychologist that has more studied human interaction than actually lived it. When she receives a strange phone call from a man claiming to be a demigod she thinks she actually may be losing her mind. When that man shows up the next day at her office with Cupid in tow expecting Matilda to treat him things couldn’t seem to be any crazier, that is until a armed man comes in and kidnaps Matilda claiming she’s been to Las Vegas and has gambling debts to pay.

A rather crazy mix up of events that wasn’t bad but with it being such a short story it seemed a bit too much to try to toss in. I would’ve liked to see a lot more detail and fleshing out of characters and story lines before jumping into the next event but this is novella length so it felt a bit rushed.

Overall, not bad just felt it would’ve worked better as a longer book.

Kissed by a Cowboy by Lacy Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Haley Carston returns to Redbud Trails to care for her dying aunt she runs into the daughter of her old high school friend Katie. Katie had passed away years ago in a car accident leaving her daughter Olivia in the care of her uncle Maddox. Maddox and Haley had feelings for each other that they never acted upon back after Katie had convinced Maddox to take Haley to her senior prom.

Olivia reminds Haley so much of Katie, when Olivia shows her that she wants to start up her own ice cream business Haley can’t help but get involved while she’s in town. Haley spending so much time with the little girl also means spending time with Maddox again and the two slowly begin to rekindle those old flames.

A lovely story of a love that once slipped away between two people that have matured over the years and now seem meant to be. Maddox has struggled to care for his niece and injured younger brother and Haley is the breath of fresh air needed to pull the family back together.

Overall, great love story would definitely recommend.