Carries Book Reviews

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Omega’s Choice
Michelle Minnie
(The Omega Chronicles, #1)
Publication date: March 27th 2025
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Helena has led an often restrictive life as a sacred Omega wolf and Princess of the Lichtenberg line. With unimaginable power, come responsibilities and dangers that fill her days, but the time has come for her to choose her Alpha and enjoy the freedom of her very own pack. Alpha Aldric Forst has been seriously scarred in numerous battles for his King while leading armies in the fight to protect their lands from the growing evil. Knowing his ability to attract an Omega mate was slim and he’d resigned himself to a life of loneliness filled with duty to his pack and King Leonidas.

Princess Helena has other ideas for the massive wolf, who both intrigues and sets her heart on fire. At the choosing ceremony, she intends to make her intentions of mating with Aldric Frost known to all. However, an evil is lurking inside the castle walls waiting for its chance to steal away the Princess and as many other Omega wolves as possible. Can Aldric uncover the traitor in time or are the lonely Alpha’s dreams destined to remain just that, dreams.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

I’m not planning on attending this year.” Aldric crumpled the offending piece of paper and threw it into the trash can beside his desk. “I refuse to parade around in hope of being chosen when we all know that’s not going to happen.” He stopped pacing long enough to point out the large scar that ran from his left temple across his cheek to his chin and down his neck before disappearing into his shirt.

“Brother, you’re the alpha of our pack and it’s your duty to attend this gathering. Not only is it a decree by King Leonidas, but who is to say an omega won’t choose you. You’re a respected and strong alpha, our pack is large, and we have our

own town and over five hundred acres of wooded

lands to let our wolves run free without fear.

There are a lot of benefits to becoming the alpha

mate and omega to our people.” Godric stood

and retrieved the invitation from the garbage,

flattening it out on the desk as best he could and

handing it back to Aldric.

“Your brother is right, son. You must attend.

We have a strong relationship with the king and

queen, which has been fortuitous since our lands

touch on their northern borders. To refuse an invitation

to the yearly Omegas Celebration by any

unmated alpha would be an insult.” Aldric’s father,

Karl, stood and placed his hand on his son’s back.

“I know it has been hard for you, son, since Senorfra.

That battle claimed far too many of our brave

men, but bless the gods you survived, protected

our king, and came back to us.”

Admittedly, it was odd that even in this modern

age of convenience and technology, most

supernatural beings lived by the old code of fealty,

honor, and loyalty. Considering most lived to be

well over one thousand years, having rules to live

by and a king to follow ensured the safety and

health of all werewolves.

“True, we fought bravely and many men never

returned from that damned forest, but the rest of

us came back scarred in one way or another. My

scars cover my body, and there’s no omega out

there who will choose me. When will any of you

see this? Omegas are rare and wield powerful

magic. They can pick any alpha and any pack they

wish and be given anything they desire because of

the blessings they will bring to that pack. I’m not

saying that an omega doesn’t deserve such things,

but none would want a battle-scarred alpha, no

matter how wealthy or strong our pack is. Perhaps

if Godric went, he—”

“No, don’t even finish that sentence. I am no

alpha, brother. I couldn’t even dream of taking

your place. This pack—hell, the entire town looks

to you for leadership. You have given all of them

a safe place to live and thrive with their families. I

respect you, brother. You will always be my alpha.”

Aldric stared at his reflection in the window.

He knew he was a scary-looking man; his wolf

was even more imposing. His human form stood

at 6’7” and weighed over 280 pounds of muscle,

which had been hard earned through his years as

a general in King Leonidas’s army before the war

ended and Aldric had settled with his family and

pack on these lands. His black hair was braided

halfway down his back, just as his father’s and

brother’s, but his dark blue eyes came from his

mother. Tattoos covered his right arm, wrist to

shoulder blade, depicting his family lineage and

his position as alpha. They revealed themselves

on the day Aldric assumed his position as alpha.

Should he ever be chosen as mate, his blank left

arm would reveal his mating tattoo, indicating the

lineage of his mate, their joining, and any future

offspring. The tattoos his kind wore could not

be given by their own hands or magic; they were

given by the gods, either at birth or upon claiming

their birthright.

Aldric knew in his heart that his left arm would

always remain bare. His great size alone would be

a deterrent to most omegas, who typically feared

a larger predator, but the scars from his many

battles that littered his body made sure to keep

all would-be mates away. Normally, a werewolf

could heal most injuries without leaving so much

as a scratch, but the ogres had coated their blades

with dark witches ’blood, which was poisonous to

all werewolves and much more difficult to heal,

leaving many warriors with these scars.

He just couldn’t figure out why his family chose

to ignore these facts and continued to make him

attend these celebrations, which allowed omegas

of age who had come into their powers to choose

an alpha as mate.

 

Author Bio:

Michelle grew up with a love of reading and writing as most authors do but her desire for action and adventure led her to create worlds far different from her own. With creatures of myth and legend, as well as from her imagination, Michelle crafted entire universes into her pages where she brings her characters to life in a stunning array from shifters, witches, demons, ogres, gods, fae, fairy, and dragon, to countless more. Hold on tight as her high fantasy stories take you on journeys to faraway lands where nothing is as it seems.

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Down a little more this week with four new titles to share and balance on the ever towering TBR.

As always clicking the covers will take you to the book on Amazon!**

New additions from Netgalley Apr 6th  – Apr 13th

Was it…
Bitter, all-consuming jealousy?
Pathological sibling rivalry?
Pure insanity?

Whatever the cause—and everyone has a theory—it’s the Crime of the Decade when glamorous Georgia Cartwright, who was adopted as a newborn, is accused of killing the biological daughter of her wealthy, Southern family.

Georgia is locked in a psychiatric institution where the most violent offenders are held while she awaits trial. The only words she whispers when her estranged twin sister Amanda visits are, “I didn’t do it. You’ve got to get me out of here.”

Amanda doesn’t trust Georgia, but she can’t abandon her in a place so eerie and menacing that it seems to exist in another dimension. Is Georgia the victim of a powerful family that’s so depraved murder is the least of their crimes? Or is Amanda being led down a path of madness into the web of a master manipulator?

Nothing is as it seems in Sarah Pekkanen’s The Locked Ward, a shocking psychological thriller about the complex bonds of sisterhood—and what happens when they are stretched to the breaking point.

Some doors in the Locked Ward should never be opened.

From the beloved author of Four Weekends and a Funeral, a nostalgic, heartwarming romance about a Type-A woman who road trips through the Minnesotan woods with her non-committal childhood best friend . . . only for their long-suppressed sparks to start flying.

Charley Beekman is thriving. Is she financially strapped, languishing in her legal career, and very likely the youngest divorcee at the Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse on a Friday night? Yes. But, now that she’s accepted the flaws inherent in all romantic relationships, she finally has life all figured out! She’s definitely due for an upswing.

So when her free-spirited sister announces her plan to elope with her messy on-again-off-again childhood sweetheart, Charley knows she has to stop the wedding, even if it means road-tripping into the northern woods of Minnesota in a camper van with her childhood best friend, Ethan, who’s as gorgeous as he is chronically unreliable.

But when their cozy journey ignites a spark she’s tried to ignore for years, Charley tries to write off her feelings as fleeting. Because after failing at marriage so spectacularly with the most responsible man she’s ever known, Charley definitely shouldn’t risk it all for her non-committal, nomadic, musician best friend . . . right?

Sometimes second chances happen in the places we’ve left behind in this heartwarming all-new beach read from the acclaimed author of the “absolute treasure of a novel” (Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author) The Darlings.

After her publishing career and engagement fell apart in Boston, Leah Powell has no choice but to return to her hometown. Feeling lost and discouraged, she stumbles upon a once prominent sea captain’s historic home that now looks as dilapidated as she feels. Suddenly inspired, Leah decides to transform it into a bookstore and café she will call The Sandy Page.

Luke Nickerson, a life-long local and contractor, remembers Leah, even if she doesn’t remember him. Intrigued by her return and her project, he agrees to help her bring the old captain’s house back to life. As they work together, The Sandy Page slowly becomes the town’s go-to gathering spot for locals, tourists, and anyone who is feeling adrift during this long, sweet summer. It’s a home for second chances. But will it be enough for Leah and Luke?

Lifelong best friends say ‘I do’ to a marriage of convenience, trading vows for a financial safety net and benefits. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Katherine Center.

Evie Bloom pays attention to the details. Her very job depends on it—as an aspiring Foley artist, she’s responsible for every crisp footstep, smacking kiss, and distinct sound in film and television. So when she’s selected for a fellowship opportunity that would make all her career dreams come true, she’s quick to spot the catch: there are no health benefits, and for someone with a chronic illness, that’s a non-starter.

Theo Cohen is an elementary school teacher who can’t afford to live on his own in LA, and is facing eviction after his roommates couple up and move out of their rent-controlled apartment. But there is one loophole in his lease: each tenant must meet an income threshold, unless the tenants are married.

For Theo, the answer is obvious. Marry Evie, his best friend since forever. It’s not as if they don’t spend all their free time together anyways. Not only will Theo be able to keep his apartment, but Evie can be added to his insurance plan so she can accept her dream fellowship. It’s such a logical, practical solution. Never mind that Evie doesn’t really want to be married—not to Theo, not to anyone—ever. Or the small, complicating fact that Theo has always been a little bit in love with Evie.

But it doesn’t have to be a big deal. Marriage. It will just give them space to breathe, and much-needed relief from the daily financial stress. It won’t change anything.

It’s . . . going to change everything.

**This post contains Amazon affiliate links which will allow me as an associate to earn a small commission on any purchase made through the link of the products I share. This commission in no way changes the pricing of any items for the buyer.**

The Revenge Game
Jax Calder
(The Revenge Club, #1)
Publication date: April 11th 2025
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

Rule #1 of Revenge Club: Don’t fall for your target

Andrew

I’ve come a long way since being the gawky, geeky, gay kid who was constantly picked on growing up. Having just sold my tech start-up for so much money it broke my phone calculator, I’m now at a loose end wondering what to do next in my life.

Then I run into Justin. Justin, the golden boy from high school. Justin, the popular jock who turned my life into a living hell for four years.

And do you want to know the kicker? He doesn’t even recognize me.

Even worse, it looks like karma hasn’t done its thing because Justin definitely hasn’t been punished for his previous sins.

Maybe my next mission in life is to give karma a helping hand…

Justin

My life looks perfect from the outside – good job, good friends, no worries. Only I know it is all based on a lie. I’ve never been honest with anyone about my sexuality.

Then I meet the new IT guy at work who has just moved into my apartment building too. Given I seem to be having an extraordinary run of bad luck with technology at the moment—like having my email randomly decide to spam the entire company with images of trolls in intimate embraces —Drew’s been a lifesaver. And the more I get to know Drew, the more I want to confess my secret in the hope we can become something more.

But I can’t help the niggling feeling Drew is hiding something from me…

The Revenge Game is a laugh-out-loud journey through misadventures in revenge and the unexpected twists of fate. It’s where old grudges spark new attractions, where secrets unravel, and where two men learn all about redemption and love.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

He didn’t even recognize me.

My mind can’t let go of that fact. It lodges in my brain like a corrupted file that keeps trying to load. How is it possible that someone who starred in my nightmares for four years, who shaped every decision I made from which hallway to take to which college to choose, doesn’t even remember my face?

There was that time in gym class when we played volleyball, and Justin and his friends decided that instead of spiking the ball over the net, they would aim for me.

And one of them struck the ball so perfectly that it hit my stomach with a loud thunk, winding me.

I still recall that dizzy breathlessness, my panic when I couldn’t draw oxygen into my body, the struggle to make my lungs recover from fright and remember what their job actually was.

That’s exactly how I feel now.

How could he not recognize me? How? How?

Okay, due to my late growth spurt, I’m a few inches taller than I was in high school, rounding out to a decent five foot eleven. Back then, my dark hair was a floppy mess, whereas now, it’s been carefully cut in a style my barber assures me is the latest fashion. And my face has slimmed down since high school, along with my standard-issue nerd glasses being replaced by a trendier pair.

But I’m still recognizable. I haven’t changed that much.

In all the time I’ve spent thinking about this moment, I never considered the idea he might not recognize me.

How did I miss that possibility?

But then, why would he recognize me? I’m a tiny blip in his life.

Justin Morris is woven so intricately into the tapestry of my teenage years, one of the main antagonists in my story. Meanwhile, I was simply some mild entertainment to amuse him when he was bored.

My features are not etched into his consciousness. He has not spent years scripting our reunion. I’m nothing to him. A nobody.

The unevenness leaves me breathless.

But then the phrase repeats in my head in a different voice. Less defeated. More…intrigued.

He doesn’t recognize me.

According to technology sector analysts, I’m the guy who sees gaps in the market, problems that have yet to be solved. And while it makes me sound like a superhero coding ninja rather than simply a guy who spends countless hours hunched over my laptop muttering to myself, there is some truth to it.

While at MIT, I developed a system that revolutionized how computers share information, basically creating digital traffic lights to improve efficiency.

On the back of that, I started my tech company, which I sold a few months ago for the kind of money that sounds made up when you say it aloud.

Now, my brain is ticking faster than an atomic clock.

I take a large sip of my drink. The smooth tones of the red wine linger on my tongue after I swallow.

I’m a big believer in karma. What goes around, comes around. If you put enough good into the universe, some of it will return to you. I like to think I’ve always been a good person, and as the balance of my bank account testifies, a lot has made its way back to me.

But now, my faith in the all-encompassing might of karma has been shaken.

I study the restroom door with the same intensity a cat studies the red dot from a laser pointer.

Justin emerges after a few minutes. He weaves through the crowd effortlessly, sliding back into the fold of his friends, who greet his return with shoulder bumps and easy laughter carrying across the pub.

My chest constricts with an emotion I can’t quite name—something between rage and despair—watching him hold court. The carefully constructed walls I’ve built between my past and present suddenly feel paper-thin.

Because Justin’s still exactly who he was in high school. The golden guy surrounded by a circle of smiling admirers.

Yes, it definitely appears karma hasn’t caught up with Justin Morris.

Possibilities swirl in my mind. I’m currently footloose, with no set ties or projects lined up. I have almost unlimited funds at my disposal.

And there’s that one important, undeniable, inescapable fact.

He didn’t recognize me.

Maybe just this once, karma needs a helping hand.

 

Author Bio:

Jax’s stories are all about light-hearted conversations and deeply-felt connections. She loves exploring exactly why two characters are the only ones who’ll make the other truly happy, and the journey they take to reach their happily-ever-after.

Jax lives in New Zealand and is a rabid sports fan, a hiking enthusiast and has a slightly unhealthy addiction to nature documentaries. As an extrovert who spends way too much time in her own head, she loves to connect with readers. Join her Facebook group Jax’s Crew (www.facebook.com/groups/jaxcaldercrew) for bonus stories plus exclusive excerpts from her upcoming books.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Newsletter

 

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Swipe Right to Flirt
Martha Sweeney
Publication date: June 17th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Flirting is easy. Falling in love is complicated.

When she turned fourteen, Deidre found out that her parents were getting a divorce. As the gossip spread through her small hometown, and the ugly divorce unfolded, the choice be willing to leave with her father was easy.

As the years passed, Deidre’s father had learned to move on and find love again. Though Deidre is happy for her dad, secretly she believes that everyone is bound to break trust at some point. Instead of desiring a relationship, Deidre focuses on becoming a top coder in Silicon Valley. She ends up assisting with a startup which leads to the development her own app called Flirt. Engrossed in her work, Deidre is willing to play the game of a flirt all for the sake of her app to explode even further in the market.

For the first time in her life, Deidre feels as if the past will never bother her again—that is, until she finds out that her brother is getting married. What she doesn’t realize is that facing her past just might be what she needs in order to let go of the pain and become the entrepreneur she’s meant to be. Can Deidre let go to gain more than she could ever imagine?

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Author Bio:

Martha Sweeney is a BESTSELLING author who writes in a variety of genres: romance (contemporary, romcom, suspense, paranormal and historical), suspense, fantasy, thriller, coloring books, and soon, science fiction. She strives to push herself as a storyteller with each new tale and hopes to push her readers outside of their comfort zone whether it be genre or the stories themselves.

With a B.S. in Psychology, Martha utilizes her knowledge of human and animal behavior successfully in the business world and in her writing to present realistic characters and situations. She’s been creative since she was little, always drawing, coloring or making crafts, so her venture into being an author was a natural transition.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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Keeping the Countess
Lille Moore
Publication date: June 24th 2025
Genres: Adult, Historical, Romance

In this first installation of the DAMSELS IN DISGUISE series, a passionate clergyman on a mission to steal an earl’s secrets finds himself captivated by a cunning and courageous countess.

Charismatic curate Jonah Sinclair survived the deadly streets of south London with two well-trained fists and divine intervention. He will let nothing—not his vocation, nor his yearning to find love—stop him from pursuing the criminals who killed his father. When he learns the notorious Earl of Rochford could hold the key to retribution for his family, he seizes on the chance to become tutor to the earl’s young ward. But the only trace of Rochford he discovers at the mysterious Ravenglass Hall is his abandoned countess, a woman whose fierce strength stirs a forbidden temptation.

Faith Trenton, Countess of Rochford, is on the brink of ruin. Betrayed and abandoned by her husband, she disguises herself as a man to defend her estate from an embezzling steward. Jonah’s arrival threatens her carefully constructed masquerade, and despite the irresistible spark between them, she must send him packing, or risk having him expose the dangerous secrets she keeps hidden. But when a succession of attacks threatens everything that Faith has fought to protect, she’s forced to place her trust in Jonah, and pray he won’t unravel the truth, or her heart.

Helping Faith could sabotage Jonah’s mission. Loving her might cost him everything.

Author Bio:

Lille Moore writes romance with a twist on time-honored tropes and tales. Her hard-fought happy endings feature strong heroines, seductive heroes, and plenty of steam and shenanigans.

Website / Facebook / Newsletter / Instagram

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