Review & Giveaway – Karma by Carly Phillips

46 Comments / B REVIEWS, B+ Review, Contemporary Romance, Giveaway / By

Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: May 1st
How I got this book: NetGalley

 

New York Times bestselling author Carly Phillips presents her third novel set in the quaint upstate New York town of Serendipity—where fate, fortune and love intertwine…

Police Officer Dare Barron has had a crush on Liza McKnight ever since he was a teenager. But despite his lifelong attraction, the closest he’s ever come to interacting with her is watching Liza regularly bail out her brother at the station. Dare’s dark past with Liza’s brother, Brian, has always kept him from pursuing her.

But suddenly Liza finds herself in need of protection and Dare appoints himself as the man for the job. And while the sizzling attraction between Dare and Liza draws them together, the past that Dare and Brian share threatens to keep the two apart forever.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

 

I’ve been a fan of Carly Phillips for a long time, and whenever she writes books set in small towns, I know that I will be in for a fabulous read. The Serendipity series is no exception, and the third Barron brother book was just as good as the first two.

Dare is the youngest Barron brother and one of the local police officers in Serendipity. Dare has had a longtime crush on Liza, but he only gets to see her when she comes to the station to bail her brother out of jail. He’s long wanted to get to know her better, but between her enabling her brother’s horrible behavior, and Dare’s own secret shame from his past, he had never been able to be anything other than rude and abrasive with her.

Liza has always been attracted to Dare, but he was always so surly with her. But when things at work and in her personal life start spinning out of control, Dare volunteers to be her personal bodyguard. Their attraction to each other spirals and both Dare and Liza begin to fall deeply for each other. But with their pasts intertwined in violence and secrets, will they be able to move past it and start a life together?

I figured that Dare would be the Barron brother with the most issues and secrets, and I loved him for it. The motivation behind him becoming a police officer, his relationship with his brothers, even his interaction with everyone else around him is one of regret and guilt and his never ending desire to make amends for something he had no control over as a child. While I occasionally wanted to smack Dare and tell him to snap out of it, I have to admit that I adored his character so much because of it. And especially once he was able to let go of all that guilt… *melt*

I also really liked Liza for Dare. She seemed to match him so well. Not only was their attraction to each other so obvious from the moment they first laid eyes on each other, but they also balanced each other in every way. Where Liza was soft and insecure, Dare was there to be her strength and build back her confidence. They shared in the guilt from their pasts, and they each did everything possible to help the other move on and get past all the BS.

I was glad to see their relationship progress slowly. Neither one seemed ready or willing to jump into anything serious, and once they did get to that point, they were both careful of their budding relationship. I have to admit that Dare pissed me off a bit when he snapped at Liza after a stressful evening. While I understood why he was so upset, I wanted to hurt him for taking it out on her. At least his way of proving his love to her was pretty epic.

I’m so glad that this will not be the last book in the Serendipity series as a whole. I adore this small town and can’t wait to go back into the town and watch as more of the townsfolk find love.

All in all I was very happy with the third Barron brother Serendipity novel. I adored Dare from the first moment he walked onto the page and couldn’t wait to learn all his secrets. In this regard, Phillips doesn’t disappoint. The romance was wonderful, the heat was intense and the emotional journey from start to finish was a wild ride. Phillips fans will love this installment of the Serendipity Series!

I give Karma a B+

Amazon | Kindle eBook

I also have an extra copy of Karma to giveaway! Leave a comment below to be entered. Giveaway is open internationally and ends May 7th. Good Luck!

46 thoughts on “Review & Giveaway – Karma by Carly Phillips”

  1. aurian

    Thanks for the review, I am now very curious about that brothers behaviour, and why she “enables” it. Carly Phillips has been on my wishlist for a while now, time to start reading the first book 🙂

  4. Alexis

    I love Carly’s books! I’m looking forward to reading dare’s story he seems very interesting! I would love to win a copy of Karma!

  5. Christina S

    I LOVE Carly Phillips books…and I would LOVE a chance to win any of her books that she has wrote. Thanks for giving me a chance.

  6. Laurie P

    I love everything Carly writes and I feel it’s a sign of how good the writer is and how real her characters are when you want to “yell” at them or “slap” them silly.

  7. StacieD

    I love a protective hero. I also like that he has been smitten with her for years but never acted on it. It sounds like a great story. Thank you for the giveaway!

  8. Raonaid Luckwell

    * Hangs head in shame * I’ve never yet read a book from Carly Phillips. I’ve been hearing good things about this series. Gonna have to break down and buy a book or two to try out.

  9. Karen C

    Looking forward to reading Karma – love Carly’s stories! Thanks for the chance to win it.

  15. Cheryl McInnis

    I’ve read, and enjoyed, the first two stories in this series. I’d love to win a copy of Karma! Thanks 🙂

  16. Susan T.

    Carly Phillips is one of my favorite author and I can’t wait to read Dare’s book. Thanks.

  18. TrishJ

    I am loving this series. Have been so excited for Dare’s story. Thanks for the giveaway.

  20. Azni Harieza

    I’ve loved reading Carly Phillips’s books for a verrryyyy long time! I always go to every means possible to look for her her books! I can’t wait to read the last book in the serendipity trilogy and I can’t wait to know what would happen to Dare!

  21. Jenni

    It is such a great series. Wonderful review! I, too, love a small town from Ms Phillips’ pen!

  25. Barbara Elness

    I enjoyed the review and after reading it I think Karma sounds like a great story. I’m looking forward to reading it.

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

  26. Kai W.

    I got into Caryl Phillips. Her books are funny and witty. In some cases, there are situations that sound very familiar.

  27. Martha Lawson

    I love Carly’s books! They are always fabulous. Please enter me to win this one. Thanks for the giveaway.

  28. Carl

    I’d heard that Carly Phillips was a very popular author and checking out her previous books I find it’s true. Please enter my name in the draw for a chance at this latest book. Thanks

  31. Julia Broadbooks

    I just saw this release mentioned last night on twitter. I read her early books in the Simply series with great enjoyment, but I’ve not read any of her more recent books (and I looked at her website – I have some catching up to do!). Not a choice, so much as a shift in my reading to more UF. I can’t wait to pick her up again.

  35. Shannon

    Thanks for your review. I haven’t read anything by Carly Phillips yet, emphasis on the yet. I look forward to checking this book out.

  36. ClaudiaGC

    I haven’t read any book by Carly Phillips yet but this one sounds very good!
    Thank you for the review and giveaway!

  43. mickey macdougal

    never read carly’s books…maybe if i won one i’d read it and like it!!!!

  45. Pingback: Review: Karma by Carly Phillips | Smexy Books

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