Carrots: A Paranormal Psychic Suspense Mystery (Shelby Nichols Adventure Book 1)

AudioBook ReviewStars: Overall: 4 Narration: 4 Story: 4Oh this was a fun story, and the narration provided by Wendy Tremont King provided lots of aural interest as she moves between characters, with subtle and distinct changes to pitch and tone that provided each character with their own particular feel. As the main character, Shelby, her performance managed to incorporate the character’s emotions, concerns, patios and sense of ‘thinking on her feet’ in the delivery: a really good match.Shelby is your more typical suburban Mom, or was, before a badly aimed gunshot grazed her head and left her able to hear everyone’s thoughts. The complications could be endless in this situation: married, kids, grocery shopping, running into a colleague of her husband that doesn’t particularly like or respect you. Sure, we think we want to know what people think, but having that much honesty and unfiltered access to someone’s thoughts not spoken would be overwhelming. And that is exactly Shelby’s reactions. At first.But, when the realization hits, and it seems that the person who shot her is also gunning for her: poor Shelby, rather reserved, clean spoken, and not particularly good at lying to her husband is tossed into a series of situations that will test her skills and her nerves.Told in Shelby’s point of view, we are able to see that her natural manner of behavior is not to be sly or dishonest, and her habit of speaking first and thinking later combined with her own lack of pretense and agenda in her relationships make her rather a poor judge of character. It isn’t until she uses the new gift that she is brought face to face with her own lack of dissembling, and her sharing with us also gives us a unique perspective into the characters: good and bad.And there are several characters: Shelby’s husband Chris is understanding, loves her dearly, and is completely unnerved by her own new skill. Even with his lack of realization of Kate’s interest in him in more than a lawyer to lawyer colleague way is rather typically male, he isn’t interested, so he doesn’t see it. Kate is not particularly likable: even without her overt attentions toward her husband, but there was more beneath her veneer. Uncle Joey and his other associates are rather fun characters: you see the bad guys from the thoughts Shelby shares with us, and through her particular skewed desire to be helpful and wanting to like them.No, this wasn’t a mystery with the culprit a total surprise at the end, but I find those more entertaining: especially when you are led through the story by a character like Shelby. She’s just klutzy enough to hint at a Lucille Ball styled character, and like Lucy her intentions are really all good. She just doesn’t always see the writing on the wall until it is too late. It was light, fun and entertaining and wrapped up satisfactorily at the end.I received an AudioBook copy of the title from the publisher via AudioBook Jukebox for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Although I have purchased many books from Amazon for my beloved Kindle this is my first review.Colleen Helme's first Shelby Nichols book, Carrots, took me less than two days to read! And I loved every moment of it! And it only took me two days to read it because I fell asleep from sheer exhaustion!As a true Road Warrior - (I am a regional officer for a government, and I travel every other week 30 weeks of the year) When I buy a book, I need it to be absorbing, riveting, a fun read, a real page turner, a gripper - in short everything I know, like and trust a true escape novel will do for me.I read when I am on planes - usually twice a week if not more - and when I am at the gym, too. I found myself getting bored with music and video, and by accident fell into reading my Kindle whilst on an exercise bike in Trinidad. That got me completely hooked on reading whilst I work out, and whilst on planes!I got Carrots from Amazon when it was on special. I am not the greatest fan of mysteries, and was quite leery as a male that the misadventures of a kind of ditzy blonde were really going to do it for me; but boy, was I wrong. I was a little startled that I got hooked in Carrots so fast. From the moment of Shelby deciding to stop at the grocery store in the pouring rain - something I could totally relate to - to my discovery that our hero was a heroine in the following pages, Helme does such a fantastic job of realistic stream of thought writing that she had me sucked in. When Shelby starts reading minds - Well, I couldn't figure out what happened either until I skipped back a few pages and found that she WAS in fact reading "Dimples'" mind! That did it! Then I was hooked for good, and but bad! Being the parent of a teen, I could totally relate to her interactions with her kids, her mom, her spouse. So gents, don't be put off by a heroine. You will love this book!Technically, and more to the point, Helme's characters are so well built, so well executed, so believable, that you are just completely caught up in the utterly consistent and believable story line, and sucked along on the roller coaster ride. I felt as if I'd been caught in a riptide - and loved every minute of it. In fact, I was in Rio whilst I read Carrots, and turned down a movie, shopping, and dinner in Copacabana and Ipanema to finish the book!When I really think about what I enjoyed the most about the book, and why I was so compelled to keep turning the pages, I came up with several items:- It is well written, and technically correct. NO typo's, NO grammar issues, NO spelling issues! YAY! What a nice, pleasant surprise!- It has well put together, well edited, and superbly crafted BELIEVABLE and CONSISTENT characters.- It has great action and plot flow - You are constantly pushed to keep reading simply because you have to find out what happens next: and you really want to know!- It is written in such a relaxed, casual style, largely in the form of a stream of consciousness, or inner monologue, that it is utterly believable: you aren't being told what happens, you are experiencing from first person, as it happens. A phenomenal way to generate credibility and belief for the reader.- It is very believable from a moral point of view - Shelby wants to do what's right - but sometimes, as she learns, you have to do something a little gray for the greater good. Her inner struggle is what we all go through. Brilliantly captured and executed!- It is a really fun, fast paced, "suburban housewife turned secret agent" style book. And I found that I was so caught up in Shelby's life, I really needed to know what happened next!You can guess that the minute I finished the book, I hit the Whispernet to see what else Collen had written, and I was absolutely elated to find the second Shelby Nichols book available. I hit buy instantly, and I figured I had better write this review before I start it, as I know I won't be back here before I finish it. Too bad work is going to get in the way of my reading schedule this week!Yeah, I have no trouble walking out of a casino, but putting down a good book -- Well, I guess I have to sleep sometime!Seriously, with a doctorate degree, and degrees in English from some of the top universities in the world, and as a professional writer myself, I am a hard man to impress.I bought this book from the description of it. I was not sure if it was for me, but I decided to try it. If you are on the fence on this one, and not sure you'll like it - take the plunge! It's well worth the small price you will pay and then some, and you'll likely become a fan.Colleen, if you read this, I just want to thank you for such excellent and entertaining writing, I hope that you will continue to write the Shelby Nichols series, and please know that you have earned another FFL (Fan For Life). Now I'm off to start Fast Money!Dr. Jeff

I recently read a short story By Colleenn Helme in Drop Dead Crime (along with four other great female crime writes) and was introduced to the character Shelby Nichols. I enjoyed that story so much I brought the first story in the series to see what I had been missing.Wow so glad I did I really enjoyed the story so much that once I have written this review I am off to buy it on audio I enjoyed it that much.Shelby is an ordinary woman and she is the first that their is nothing special about her, that is until she is shot in the head. It quickly becomes apparent that that was the best part of her week, as her life starts to spiral out of control. Who know being able to read minds would lead to being shot at, nearly being run over and blown up, as if things could get any worse The Mob boss knows her secret and wants her to work for him and the cops questioning her isn't helping to her alive.I Loved the characters in this book and Shelby's interact between the good guy and the bad guys as well as her home life and will definitely be reading about them again. A great find and an author that is sure to become a favourite of mine.

I discovered this series when I listened to the audiobook for book 8 (I really should start doing these things in order) and I knew that I wanted to start again from the beginning, even more so when I saw the cover!Shelby is an amazing character, she's a fun mix of ditzy and resourceful. At times she's infuriating, getting herself into scrapes without thinking but of course, uses her new gift to wiggle her way out of them.This is like a less supernatural take on Charlaine Harris' Stackhouse series, with a likable and down to earth woman has the ability to read minds and what a decent human being would do with such an ability. In this case, make chicken enchiladas and help the police in their investigations.Everyone I've described this book to has been interested: 'housewife is shot in the head by a bankrobber, can now read minds and is forced to help out a mob boss'. What's not to love? That's pretty much what drew me in.The organised crime part of this book is great fun, Shelby ends up helping the leader of the local mob after repeating something she overheard in someone's thoughts and then admitting everything to save the lives of her family (standard). She's now helping him determine the loyalties of those closest to him and rooting out any traitors.Obviously, she has to wear a wig to do this. And sunglasses.These are the things that keep the book light and funny, Shelby is sweet and eccentric and infinitely likable. While she loves her family, she can't help but enjoy her new power and the new purpose and variety it's brought to her life. Not least, meeting the mysterious Ramos, hired hitman and bodyguard who has more than a passing interest in her and her wellbeing. I still doubt anything will happen between the two of them, which is quite frustrating but I guess I shall just have to wait and see....I'd recommend this book to fans of mysteries, fun paranormal books and light crime novels. If you're anything like me, you'll be follwing the series right to its conclusion!

The heroine gets caught in the middle of an armed robbery, sustains a head injury and finds that she can hear people's thoughts. Most worrying are the thoughts of her husband and his classy new work colleague. Before long she gets embroiled in a lot more than she bargained for, including working for a mobster whose bodyguard has more than a passing interest in her.Fans of Liz Evans will love this - it's funny and silly without becoming ridiculous, and a hapless heroine who is not Superwoman but basically bluffs her way out of trouble. The characters are stereotypes which makes it an easy read, but this book is not about personalities - it's about a fun plot, plenty of action, and despite the unlikely premise, believable and down to earth.Although I like this book - I don't think I'll be reading many more in the series. When I read the synopses and just saw more of the same, and pretty much being sequels to this book I was a bit put off. My feelings is that no book in a series should rely on a previous book too much and may have been better off developing new characters and new cases, with maybe the original characters having the odd walk on role. That's just my preference though, I'm sure that those that like familiarity and easy read for the beach will love them, and I certainly enjoyed reading this one, and would recommend.

In the last third of the book the story actually gets into its stride and the author shows some promise that she can tell a story. The plot is hackneyed and there’s way too much ‘Mom and apple pie’ small town American wholesomeness but the denouement clips along at a fair pace.All in all it could have done with a decent editor to rid it of the clichés and to tighten up the narrative.

It's been a long time since I read a book in record time. I downloaded the book because it was free and it has been in my library for several months, even through it sounded a bit far fetched but it's really good.My usual genre are nitty gritty thrillers, this book is the complete opposite, light hearted, funny and brilliantly written.The way each character comes to life throughout the book is well done, it's a madcap adventure that all started because the main character had forgotten to get carrots for soup she was making. After entering the store the store gets held up and Shelby has a near miss when a bullet nicks her head and she finds she can hear what people are thinking. I know this sounds far fetched, however, what ensues is an amazingly, well written storyline where Shelby finds herself working for Dimples (a policeman), her husband and the head of a mobster company.An immensely funny, witty, madcap adventure. Please read, it's hilarious and so well written.