CarnageWhispers From the BayouBook 1Raised by a father who curses the day she was born, Carolena finds herself in the swamps of south Louisiana under the guise of overseeing her father’s investments. In truth, she is making every attempt to avoid forced marriage to any of the men he would have her shipped off to. She’s always believed that her husband would love her, would give his very life just … very life just to hold her; not be a man who would marry her to claim her father’s wealth. When she arrives in the deep-south, she catches the eye of a local backwoods family of brothers. The eldest, Bobby, decides that he is deserving of a step-up in life, takes her against her will to his hovel of a home at the edge of the swamps to be shared between himself and his brothers. Carolena — not the shrinking flower they think her to be, flees into the deepest, darkest, wildest portion of the swamps in an effort to escape the brothers and their plans for her. Death at the hands of the creatures in these wetlands is a better option, in her mind. Little does she know, she’s also caught the eye of the most dangerous creature there, one of legend — of nightmares. He’s watching her every move, admiring her bravery — and he’s decided he’s keeping her.
Carnage is a Gargoyle. He’s also volatile, dangerous, unpredictable, and lonely. One evening minding his own business at the edge of the sanctuary he calls home, he spies a female. A human female, and she’s running headlong into his swamps, with no regard for her own safety. Then he sees the reason; three men, and they’re hot on her trail, torches in hand, hell bent on catching her before she can get away. He watches as they get closer and closer to her, easily following her trail. Carnage makes a snap decision that changes both their lives forever; he drops out of a tree right behind her, slaps one clawed hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming, wraps her in his huge arms and goes right back to the treetops. He shelters her while the men traverse the ground below, unable to determine why her trail disappeared. Carnage admires this little female — she was brave to run into the swamps alone. There are many creatures lying in wait for just such a meal. But she no longer has to worry about that, because now she’s his. He only hopes that she doesn’t fear him too much once she gets a good look at his blue-grey skin, his fangs and his horns. Because regardless of what she thinks, or the rules of his community — he’s not giving her up.
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Let me start by saying this is one of my favorite reads of 2018!!! Carnage is one of the best paranormal characters I’ve ever read. Carnage is a gargoyle who is very volatile and feared by most of the inhabitants of the whispers. But when carolena runs into the bayou to escape three brothers who are on a mission to rape and do harm to her carnage makes the decision to claim carolena as his own,knowing that he is breaking the laws of the whispers by bringing a human into their home. What a awesome storyteller Sandra is!! Her characters are all so interesting from carnage who is a gargoyle with a terrible temper,but with carolena he is so sweet and endearing, love him so much. The way he takes care of carolena is beautiful,you can’t help but love him. Then theirs enthrall he is a vampire and the leader of this group of paranormals,he too is a fascinating character.Then theirs destroy he is a young gargoyle bad boy oozing with charm and he starts out by causing trouble for carnage and carolena,but he’s just lonely and doesn t want carnage to have someone,but he knows that carolena only wants carnage. I can’t wait to find out more about all these characters and see them all get someone of their own. And I hope we hear and see more of Lore one of the ancients who is deadly and feared by all,but who is so intriguing !!! A mixture of good and evil and barely hanging into his sanity! Can’t wait for the next book in this series which will be destory’s story!!!
I never thought that I would find a sexier supernatural than a wolf shifter or vampire, but I have. The sexy gargoyle Carnage changed my mind. There was just something about his alpha protective ways that reached my heart. The way he claimed his Lenna was awesome. There were so many sweet, sexy , and mysterious times in this book. I am lover of supernatural stories that surround my home state and neighboring Louisiana. This story makes me want to take a weekend to the swamp, and see if I can’t find my own supernatural being. Sandra Neeley’s new series is awesome. I can’t wait for the next story from Whispers.
Carolena and Carnage are such a great couple. Carnage has limited language skills but Carolena always knows what he is saying. I love the interactions between Carnage and Carolena. I also love how she helps Enthrall and Destroy.
Her reading to them is probably one of my favorite parts of this book. I love that you have these creatures, who normally do not like to be around each other, together listening to Carolena read.
Whispers is such a fascinating community and I really want to know more about the supernaturals that live there. Especially the boy Anton, who was told not to bite people. What is he!!!
Overall, I love everything about this world and this couple. I can’t wait to learn more about Destroy, Entrall, and Lore.
From the moment I started hearing the whispers about this book I was intrigued. One of the bests of the year for me. The moment you open the book, the author creates an escape from reality. Each night I’d reward myself with a chapter before bed and each night I ran over … lol. Who can just read one chapter, right? I was captivated with the storyline from the get go; not to mention the fact the story was about creatures from the bayou! I loved this book and recommended it to anyone who loves PNR! Cannot wait until book two comes out.
5 Stars
Carnage is the first book in the Whispers From the Bayou Series by Sandra R. Neeley. It’s such an original, and different story- and I mean that in a really good way. It’s a paranormal romance full of action, adventure, violence, supernatural & paranormal creatures, mystery, romance, and sizzle.
Carnage is a fearsome, volatile, and dangerous gargoyle who lives in Whispers, a sanctuary for supernatural and paranormal creatures- deep in the Bayou swamps.
Carolena has fled into the swamp to escape three men who intend to do her harm. Carnage just happens to be there and decides right then and there that he’s going to help her- and keep her. Only one small problem- Whispers doesn’t allow humans there- and Carnage is breaking their laws by taking her home. What happens when she’s discovered?
I really enjoyed this fantastic story! It was such a fun and exciting read! It jumps right into the action- but it’s also full of funny moments, tender scenes, sexy scenes, chemistry, and plenty of suspenseful developments.
The characters are unique, somewhat quirky, complex, and fully realised individuals. I wanted to know all about them, and was completely absorbed by them and the story. Ms. Neeley’s world building is just fantastic- she brought the creatures to life, giving the story complete believability.
The story started off really well- but just seemed to get better as it progressed! I really can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
Thank you, Ms. Neeley!
Excellent! I really hope that there’s a lot more books in this series. I love Carnage and the secondary characters are delicious. Hope they all speak to the author and demand their story (especially the Dragon Tree).
I’m so glad I found this author. Heart touching and romance. After reading this I looked up all her books and read them all.
I loved everything about Carnage. Sandra builds a world in the Louisiana Bayous that makes you want to go visit and see if you can find Whispers.
An original take on Gargoyles (among other creatures as well!) this book kept me enthralled from the first page to the last!! I can’t wait to see what else this series has to offer!!
I saw so much press about this book that I was excited to read it. Unfortunately it didn’t live up to what I personally needed to be blown away. It’s not that it’s a bad story by any means there’s just some things about the writers style that make it hard for me to really enjoy. On one side I love the strong spunky character Carolena was showing herself to be then I don’t know. I did enjoy the premise of the story but kept waiting and needing more. I read a lot so maybe it’s me but I just felt like something was lacking. I am intrigued though and may dip in for another but not real sure I can get past the style that doesn’t work for me. I did like that there wasn’t an abundance of descriptive passionate moments to distract from the story which was another plus. Overall like I said not a bad story just not one for me.
This book was AMAZING! Carolena was raised by a resentful wealthy father who had no time for her and didn’t want her. She went to Louisiana to prove to her father that she didn’t need a man to take care of her because Carolena didn’t want to be married off to someone just to be gotten rid of, she wanted someone to love her.
Carnage lives in the swamps of Louisiana. He is a gargoyle. Carnage lives alone and very deep in the swamps of a supernatural community called Whispers. Carnage is dangerous, non-communicative, more beast than most, until he sees a little human female running through the swamps from 3 men.
I just enjoyed this book so much! Sandra Neele y has put some herself.
I like how she made Carnage so vicious, he hardly talks, most everyone fears him, his description is unsettling, even his name is fearful, but this little spunky female who runs from regular humans can stand up to Carnage with no fears. Lore is an original character, he intrigues me, so I am looking forward to learning more about him. The Dragon Tree feels like it may be important at some point. Enthrall, Murder, Destroy, even the children were such great characters. This is only book one and I am already craving book 2.
So I enjoyed the concept of this more than the execution really.
It was a little to light in nature for me to fully appreciate this as I was kind of expecting a somewhat darker overall flavour.
I’m not going to major rehash the storyline her as Most of that is covered in the blurb.
What we have is Carolena escaping from her pursuers into the bayou only to be kinda rescued by the stuff of legends a Gargoyle called Carnage.
I say kinda because he has no intention of letting her go so he’s actually taking her really.
Carnage wants to take her home with him to keep safe even though humans are totally forbidden in this sanctuary deep in the swamps.
This sanctuary Whisper is filled with all sorts of dangerous supernaturals hiding out from the human race.
So up until now, I’m all good we have a scary-ar*e gargoyle who speaks little actual language, a damsel in distress, and the beginnings of a fabulous dark dialect all played out in the spooky swamps.
So this is where it lost me a bit; upon Carolena being discovered by the other supernaturals and the instant death sentence this should be and Carnage shouting Mine every five seconds and threatening fellow gargoyle Destroy and vampire leader Enthrall; this then somehow managed to turn very little house on the prairie in nature.
I actually felt like I was in some weird sorta wonderland.
so I’m going to do this backwards and explain what didn’t work for me and then end this on a positive with what did.
I thought the heroines name here just didnt flow right; Carolena well I just wanted to call her, Caroline or Carolina, her name just didn’t seem quite right almost like a typo but it wasn’t.
This also didn’t seem that paranormal despite all the supernaturals or historical despite the year setting maybe because it was set in a swamp and some of the said paranormals here seemed just so human in nature I mean Enthrall was walking in sunlight and making Carolena sandwiches for god’s sake.
I also wasn’t a fan of the whole village type setting and everyone, in my opinion, accepted the human much too quickly than was actually natural here.
I mean they were hiding out from humans and they were all like well your just gonna have to stay as we don’t want to kill you.
I also could not understand how Carolena accepted her fate so fast; I mean she didn’t once try to escape her captors who she treated like friends from day one.
Also, the bit with Carolena’s dad I just didn’t get it; why were all the residents of whispers so afraid of him? just kill him already you’re all meant to be big bad scary monsters jeez.
He’s one human male.
So what did I like well in a nutshell Carnage I adored the huge ugly gargoyle.
He seemed I trifle simple at times but Carolena herself wasn’t the brightest spark so they were for me quite easily matched.
I loved his gruff takes no prisoners attitude, his lack of articulate speech and his obsession with that beauty and the beast book was simply adorable.
Carnage is what made this for me.
That and the front cover picture.
It was the actual cover on this one that actually twisted my arm into purchasing I just wish it could have lived up to it.
This also at times has some interesting moments but they were just for me overshadowed slightly by Carolenas rather annoyingly wingy personality.
I so wish I could have liked this more than I did I really do.
I did finish and there were some enjoyable instances mainly due to Carnage, I also thought this was such an interesting premise just not really for me.
If you like a lighter flavour with your fiction then this one is that despite the cover and the disclaimer.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm.
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This book was fantastic the world building the characters the H/h all the best I can see a series coming from the friends in this book and I can’t wait I couldn’t put this book down it was so much fun to read and Carnage was sweet, sexy and MINE.
Love her writing!
Where does one begin with a review for a book that absolutely blew you out the water. It’s like Brother Grimm Fairy tales and all the things that go bump in the night, put in a blender mixed and out comes this book. Wow. I literally started this book at 10.30.am this morning and I haven’t put it down till the end. It is now 3.15 p.m. This story it had everything. The story is a fairy tale yet not at the same time. The tale centers around forgotten creatures we have grew up hearing about. These creatures monsters what ever you want to call them have been hiding away from society in the deep Louisiana swamps under the guarding eyes of Enthrall. Carnage comes upon Carolena running from bad men. As this unforeseen event occurs that threatens to throw their secret life into jeopardy, one that should be impossible, as Carnage is a gargoyle yet they beat all the odds. They are most definitely not a match made in heaven, or hell, Yet I loved the characters. They make you smile and routing for them especially carnage. The names of some of the others, Destroy, Murder other mysterious creatures that you want to know more about , you can’t help but fall in love with this book. The chemistry between Carnage and leena is of the charts, from the second he rescues her from would be kidnappers who’ve chased her into the swamp lands. He has one goal and that is keeping her safe she is HIS, he will kill anyone who tries to take her from him. There are so many twist and turns in this story, it will keep you glued to the pages and capture your attention from the first sentence. Find a quiet place put your feet up glass of wine read it in peace and quiet, because I promise you once you begin reading, you won’t move. This is a new author for me I can not wait to read what happens next in Whispers.Carnage (Whispers From the Bayou Book 1)
Whispers From the Bayou, Book 1. Once you’ve been to Whispers, you’ll never want to leave!
Carolena Ashlar is a most unique young lady: lovely, educated, well-spoken, and intuitive beyond measure. But there are things even she doesn’t know. To escape her father’s callous disregard and attempts to marry her off, she heads for southern Louisiana. She never expects what she finds! Kidnapped by her father’s employee and his brothers, Carolena rushes headlong into the Louisiana swamps. Just as she’s about to be recaptured, down swoops…who? Or is it what? He should terrorize her. Bluish-gray skin, clawed hands…and HORNS! Instead, she feels safe and secure in his arms. But Carolena’s far from safe. Carnage is a gargoyle, a creature of myth that shouldn’t exist. When he spirits her off to Whispers, he knows two things. He won’t let her go. And she can’t stay. Even as Carolena learns of the danger Carnage has placed her in, she falls in love, not just with Carnage, but with Whispers and all its inhabitants. As that love grows and is returned tenfold, a danger arises threatening to raze Whispers to the ground and annihilate everyone Carolena now holds dear. As she realizes the future of Whispers is in her hands, Carolena knows there’s only one way to save these precious souls. But can she do it? It will cost her everything. Does she have a choice? Is there any other way? Or will she have to sacrifice the most precious thing to ever happen to her in order to save it?
I don’t know how, but Sandra Neeley has outdone herself! I love romance, shifters, thrillers, mythology, fantasy, and mysteries in equal measure. But what Ms. Neeley has created is so far beyond extraordinary that I truly don’t have words to describe it. She’s expertly and intricately woven these elements into one of the best paranormal books I’ve ever read. I do not exaggerate. I fell in love with Carnage and Carolena. Carnage rescues Carolena, saves her life, only to put her in mortal peril all over again. He can’t help himself. But, amazingly, Carolena turns around and rescues Carnage right back! The relationship between these two should never work. She’s human. He’s a being of magic and legend. They’ve seemingly nothing in common. Carnage can barely talk. Carolena is well-spoken, educated. The dichotomy is evident. Yet Carolena and Carnage don’t just work. They’re perfection! Add the wealth of beautifully crafted characters, the breathtaking beauty of the Louisiana bayou country, the incredible depth of emotion demonstrated by every character in this book, and you literally have a masterpiece. It’s no surprise at all that Carnage is a bestseller! It’s a work of art! And as much as I adored Carnage and Carolena, I was totally enchanted by Enthrall. Add in Destroy, Murder, Lore, Abraham, Seth, Serena, and all the other supporting characters, and you have a story that’s heartrendingly beautiful and absolutely exquisite. I can’t wait for the next book in this series! Congratulations, Ms. Neeley! I adored this book! Carnage deserves so much more than five stars!
A final note. This is an ADULT book. It contains explicit language, hints of darkness and violence, and sexual scenes. If you don’t enjoy this genre, this may not be the book for you. There are book synopses and reviews available on Goodreads and all booksellers’ websites. Use these resources. DON’T LEAVE A NEGATIVE REVIEW WHEN YOU KNOW YOU WON’T ENJOY THE BOOK. It’s not fair to the author. She works hard to provide a quality work product. If you know you’ll object to a book’s subject matter before you buy it, you’re doing yourself and the author an extreme disservice.
Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!
Just to start I have to say, Goyles were never hot before!! Well, at least not that I remember!! This world, this amazingly created world, it was more then I imagined when I saw the cover and read the blurb. Carnage is a creature, not a man, remember he is a Gargoyle, not just a man with horns! We’re talking full on Goyle here and he is awesome. He’s a loner, almost feral and dangerous to paranormal and humans alike!!!
Enter one little human who isn’t afraid of the Big, Bad Goyle!!! Carolena just wants to live away from her controlling, distant father. What can go wrong in the Bayou? She’s about to find out just what kinds of dangers lurk in the depths of the Bayou, not just wild animals!
I already have my greedy little heart set on more of this world, it’s just amazing.
I’m so glad I gave this book a chance. It has everything you need to keep you hooked. I cant wait to see how this series works out. Off to read Destroy now.
4 stars for Carnage by Sandra R. Neeley. This is book one in the Whispers from the Bayou series. Let me start by saying this in my first book from this author and it will NOT be my last. I loved how Carnage, the hero isn’t this perfect male. He is not your typical hero and for me it made the story that much more enjoyable. He is a gargoyle who is strong but hardly speaks. I would consider this a beauty and the beast type story, and I am a huge fan of that. Carolena is running for her life when she is saved by a huge gargoyle. This is the start of an interesting love story for Carolena and Carnage. Also, on a side note, I loved all the names for the side characters like Murder, Enthrall, and Destroy. How great are those? I am looking forward to reading more of this series.
What a great concept. An Org rescues and falls in love, and she thus changes all of his community. The characters are amazingly written and conceived. I loved all parts of this story!