Carrots by Colleen Helme Series: Shelby Nichols #1
Published by CreateSpace on 11 April 2012
Genres: Chick-lit, Contemporary, Paranormal
Pages: 192
Format: eARC
Source: Enchantress Design and Promo
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Shelby Nichols is an average woman who is married to the only guy she ever fell for. Her life is organized and predictable, revolving around her husband and two children. All that changes the day she stops at the grocery store for some carrots. As the cashier rings up her purchases, a gunman is busy robbing the bank inside the store. When a customer grabs the robber's mask, he is shot and everyone runs for cover. Everyone except Shelby, who finds herself face to face with the killer. The next thing she knows, she's lying on the floor with a bullet wound to her head. Luckily, the bullet only grazes her scalp, and she doesn't suspect any lasting affects until later, when she suddenly 'hears' what people are thinking.
With this uncanny ability, her life takes on a whole new dimension. Her kids think she's bossy and too old to understand them, but that's nothing compared to her husband. He says he loves her, but what is it about the redhead at work that he doesn't want her to know? As if that isn't enough, the gunman knows she can identify him, and he's out to silence her forever. In her fight to stay alive, she is saved from certain death by a handsome hit-man with ties to organized crime. This pulls Shelby even deeper into danger, where knowing someone's thoughts can not only hurt her feelings, but get her killed.
*I received a free ARC of Carrots from Enchantress of Books Blogtours in exchange of an honest review*
Carrots is a fun contemporary read, about what happens to Shelby just because she stopped her car to run and get some carrots. After being shot in the head, she quickly realizes that she can hear other peoples’ thoughts! And it’s very hard for her in the beginning to not answer the questions her family only ask in their heads. It is also difficult for her to not be upset when she hears her husband’s thoughts about how she looks, or why he is so happy she didn’t die…
Shelby quickly gets into trouble because of her new ability, especially when it comes to Kate, her husband Chris’ new colleague. Because she knows exactly what Kate thinks both of her and Chris, I totally get her jealousy, but the way she acts on it is not very logical. And that’s when things go from bad to worse as well. Of course, this is one of the reasons why Carrots is so funny, Shelby puts herself into almost impossible situations, and the way she tries to regain the upper hand makes for a lot of comical happenings.
Carrots is quite humorous, but it is also a little bit predictable. Also, it is not the first time I read about someone gaining the ability to hear thoughts, and I found myself wishing Shelby would be a little bit smarter about it all. She acted pretty much transparently about knowing what went on in the other characters’ heads, and some of them were wondering how she had this canny way of knowing what they were going to say before they said it. Since Shelby knew her life was in danger, it was a little difficult to suspend disbelief when it comes to the way she acted around the very people who did not necessarily have her best interest at heart.
There is truly a little bit of everything going on in the plot of Carrots, there is the mafia, then, we also have Chris who is a lawyer, and the cute police officer with the dimples as well as Ramos the gun for hire. The best interactions in my opinion are those between Ramos and Shelby. The way she tries to convert him from killing people, and how he keeps thinking he hopes Joey his mafia-boss won’t ever tell him to kill her is hilarious.
If you are looking for something that can make you laugh, where there is some pretty heavy intrigues and a little bit of romance, Carrots is just the book for you! And even if it is a little predictable, I quite enjoyed it, and think I’ll read the next Shelby Nichols story as well.
I sighed with relief when they left. Chris did too. As he directed me to the car he was worried, and more than a little scared. Just an inch or two to the left and I’d be dead. He’d lose me and what would he do with the kids? Who would make sure they did their homework, and get them to all their practices and games? He couldn’t do all that, along with the demands of his job. He’d have to hire a housekeeper or something, and that could cost a lot of money.
My nap hadn’t changed a thing. i could still read minds. And if I wasn’t careful, I was going to get in a lot more trouble. How was I going to manage around my family?
It must have had an affect, because he was struggling not to feel guilty, and he hadn’t felt that way in years.
A long career as a wife and mother while juggling several part-time jobs gave Colleen the ambition to dream of being a published writer, where she could put her imagination to good use. Now instead of making up stories to tell her children, she writes books that they love to read. Hopefully you will too. She is the author of three romantic fantasy novels, Songbird, Flame of Destiny and The Relic. Her Shelby Nichols Adventures include Carrots, Fast Money, Lie or Die, and Secrets That Kill, with more to come.
You can find Collen here : Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter
Book Links:
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
Thanks for sharing and for the giveaway!
https://twitter.com/ltltlt1000/status/379880681649610752
Oops sorry! I copy pasted the wrong link… How embarrassing. Please ignrore it! D:
$150 Blogaversary Giveaway
Laura @ Music Plus Books
Don’t worry about it, Laura 🙂 I do the same thing sometimes. Good luck in the giveaway!
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Twitter: bmreviewsohmy
Lexxie, this one sounds sort of funny..lol. I know I laughed when I seen the title! Thanks for the giveaway.
It is quite funny, Stormi! And yes, the title is intriguing to say the least. Good luck with the giveaway!
Thanks for stopping by, Stormi 🙂
Dropped in for a visit ! Happy Reading All !
Happy reading, Joelle 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Oh I’m really curious about this one and if it’s fun it’s perfect for me !
You should try it, Mellian, it was good fun 🙂 And if you played – good luck on the giveaway!
Thanks for stopping by.
Carrots does sound like fun. Good to see you still enjoyed it even though it was a little predictable. Nice review.
Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
Yes, it is quite fun, Naomi 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
Great review, Lexxie. Carrots does sound entertaining if somewhat predictable. I’m not sure I’d want to be able to hear everything thought my husband has! LOL I’m glad you enjoyed it overall.
Happy Wednesday (I’m pretty sure you’ll read this on Wednesday?!?) *hugs*
Oh I think it would be one of the scariest things in the world to hear my husband’s thoughts! I would not appreicate it all, I think.
It was a fun, quick read, and maybe I only found it a little predictable because I’ve read /watched a lot of stories with the Mob…
Thanks for stopping by, Brandee, and yes, it definitely is Wednesday here now 🙂 Enjoy your day.
This sounds interesting
My wife is blind and I have read to her for almost 30 years – it’s one of our favorite forms of recreation. We read Carrots together in June, and really enjoyed it – and then we read all three available sequels by early August. We’re glad to have found Colleen’s books and plan to read the rest of them. And we’re eagerly awaiting the next installment in the Shelby Nichols Adventures coming out this fall!
I am certainly going to read more Shelby Nichols Adventures, too, because the humor was great, and I do wonder how she will deal things in the future 🙂
Your wife is fortunate that you read for her and with her, Gregory! It is a great way to share.
Thanks for stopping by.
This is an intriguing story, Lexxie. The synopsis gives me the scare but in your review, it is humorous. And wow to the new power of Shelby. Her power is a curse and a blessing. I would love to read how she will deal with her new power. Yikes to seeing her husband’s thoughts. That’s painfully traumatizing and a bit awkward when he tells her that he loves her. Uggh. It seems that this book has it all: intrigue, romance, humor, supernatural powers, and thrill. 😀 There’s no way I’m gonna miss this one.
I am okay with predictable books as long as the execution is wonderfully done. This is a book that I need to read, Lexxie. Thanks for the great review. Another thanks for the giveaway. 😀
Oh, thank you Charlotte! It is a fun book, and I have to admit I cringed a little when Shelby heard Chris’ thoughts… I would hate to hear my hubby’s thoughts all the time, even if they might be positive (at least some times;) )
Thanks for stopping by, and good luck on the giveaway!