Carries Book Reviews

Falling for my Best Friend by Hazel Kelly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Falling for my Best Friend is the first novella in the Fated series by Hazel Kelly. In this we are introduced to Lucy and Aiden who have been friends since childhood but have never considered a relationship with each other. Lucy spends her time always on the first date with different guys from the Tinder app. Aiden is the type to always date models and never get into a serious relationship.

I tried another series from Hazel Kelly and didn’t quite care for the characters but I did see potential in her writing so decided to give this series a try. This particular series did seem to have a much better start to it but still added in a few things that didn’t make me completely fall in love with it quite yet but it did seem to be better than the first.

Lucy starts off on one of those laugh out loud ridiculously bad first dates so that alone made me interested in her story. She has some issues though so not completely in love with her character just yet. Aiden on the other hand seemed like a really solid guy that was with all the wrong women in his life. The fact that the two of them get along so well and have known each other forever does bring the feeling of you two just need to get together and forget the others.

Overall, quick read with potential to be a decent series but not much plot to the first novella other than meeting the characters to know how it will turn out.

Tempted by the Boss by Hazel Kelly
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Tempted by the Boss is the first novella in the Tempted series by Hazel Kelly. In this book we are introduced to Ella and Will. Ella is out of work and had to move back in with her mother while she finds a new job. Ella’s mother invites her to a charity dinner being hosted by Will who owns rather wealthy and invests in Ella’s mothers charity.

This book is another case of I just really didn’t care for the characters at all. Nothing particularly wrong with the writing but it just wasn’t my taste.

Ella rubbed me the wrong way to start when her mother says it was her fault Ella needed money which Ella bitterly thinks to herself that her mother could’ve helped her pay for her “overpriced” college education. Her mother had used the money for the homeless shelter that she devotes all her time to and helping other people. Immediate dislike of the somewhat shallow and selfish way Ella seemed.

Will starts off his part of the story sleeping with his ex-wife and giving a general overview of being a rich jerk. Then when meeting Ella it’s pretty much buy his way into her life with a promise of a job and rigging the charity giveaway for a date with her.

Not too much to the plot in this other than the beginning for these two as it seems to be a 5 book series but after the first I don’t believe I’d have any reason to continue.

Overall, quick read, decent writing but not to my liking.

Falling For Him 1 by Jessica Gray
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

After just finishing college Rachel agrees to go on a camping trip to do some climbing with her roommates friend Michael. Michael seems to have a crush on Rachel which she doesn’t return. After arriving they meet some other college students and agree to hang out. Rachel has a bit too much to drink and passes out at the camp only to wake up and find out the next morning that Michael has ditched her since she had ignored him.

Having no other choice Rachel asks the other campers for help. One of which is a very attractive man named Peter who has done nothing but give Rachel the cold shoulder. When it’s time to pack up the only available way for Rachel to get home is to ride with Peter on his motorcycle but after what was supposed to be a quick stop at his family’s cabin the two get trapped by a storm.

I’ve rated this novella two stars simply because I made it all the way through and actually got a good chuckle out of it…unfortunately it’s not meant to be funny. Rachel really came off as completely childish most of the time which made me really not like her much at all. Peter was also quite the jerk in the beginning and then when he got a bit more tolerable we bring in his psycho ex-girlfriend.

The writing seemed a bit off throughout. Most of the time I’d guess Rachel to be a teenager from her dialogue and thoughts but occasionally you’d get something thrown in that seemed completely out of place. For instance she says she saw someone with a lighter then at the end of the explanation she’s giving she says “I observed her!” I really don’t think anyone talks like that so I had a good chuckle with the awkwardness of it. There also seemed to be a few typos here and there.

Having really not liked the characters separately it was really hard to even want them to start a relationship. Then when other things happened I’m just wanting to scream run away from him, run as fast as you can.

Overall, definitely not one I’d recommend.

Possession by Catrina Burgess
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Possession is the second book in the Dark Rituals series by Catrina Burgess. This installment picks up a few months after the end of the first book. Colina has gotten herself admitted to an insane asylum in order to try to find a way to save Luke. Unfortunately there is a killer on the loose in the asylum.

I’m not too big of a fan of things being set in an insane asylum, just a personal choice as I’m sure others would love it. But I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first book in the series simply because of the setting. I felt that it seemed to be predictable to have the sadistic staff in the asylum so those parts tended to slow down for me. And everyone Colina interacts with I want to yell run, they had to have a reason to be in there!

Also, there were so many questions left at the end of Awakening but I felt that it was put on hold to deal with the killer in the asylum. The magic aspect could of used a bit more expanding on too but it was nice to bring a little bit more of a look into that world with some of the patients.

On the plus side I’m more looking forward to continuing now with the series than ever to hopefully answer so questions left from the first book and now with the cliffhanger ending of the second.

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

The Navy SEAL’s E-Mail Order Bride by Cora Seton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mason Hall and his three brothers all enlisted in different branches of the military as soon as they could to support themselves after the loss of their father. Their uncle had taken over the family ranch and it was a struggle for their mother to move and support the four boys. After their uncle’s death their aunt contacts Mason and gives him an ultimatum, if all four brothers could be married and at least one of them have a child within a years time she would sign the family ranch back over to them instead of her own son. Being rushed to settle down Mason places an online ad to find spouses for himself and his brothers.

The idea behind the book is not really a new one. I had just watched a movie with the same concept of having to rush to get married not too terribly long ago so I dropped my rating one star just for the originality. But other than that the book was a rather lovely romance read.

Regan and Mason seemed destined for one another before they even met. Of course their meeting was a little out of the ordinary but in this day it fits the internet age. You can’t help but feel for Mason walking into the mess his uncle left behind and then with Regan supporting him all the way it seems they were meant to be.

Great read, would definitely recommend.