Carrie Anderson––truth seeker, storyteller, journalist-at-large––is bad at social media and great at getting herself into trouble.
When she’s fired from her dream job for an ill-advised tweet, she has no other choice but to return to the small town where she grew up with her head hung low.
It’s temporary after all. She can work at her family’s bed and breakfast, shore up her finances, and get … finances, and get back to her life and her home in Los Angeles.
There’s only one not-so-little problem…the grouchy ex-NHL star making her rethink what home means.
Jake Turner––great at hockey, bad at people––is not a happy man.
Haunted by his past, all he wants is to disappear into obscurity, to get away from the scrutiny of the press he’s been under since turning pro at nineteen. But when the press finds him, disappearing is no longer an option.
Worse yet, the same journalist he’s trying to avoid is making him reconsider whether being forgotten is what he really wants.
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Another winner for me. I really love the books written by this author. The characters are real, flawed and just resonate with me. In this case, Carrie is returning to her hometown after being fired and is rescued by Jake from her snowed-in car. They get off on the wrong foot, but there is a lot of chemistry between them. Loved his grumpiness and would have loved his POV for a bit.
There is a lot going on in this book and not all of the issues were completely addressed but that is not always necessary to just enjoy a story and go with the flow. Life can be really messy and not everything can always fall neatly into place. I read this book for the romance and that is what I got!
I also loved the little ‘pandemic 2020’ hints, even when the pandemic has no role in this book.
(2020)
4.5
This was such a wonderful story, I couldn’t put it down. I wished it was longer. It’s filled with sweet, funny and sexy moments. From the moment Carrie and Jake met, I was drawn into their story. I love the banter between Carrie and Jake. The chemistry is amazing. I just loved the two of them together, the way they got to know each other. Jake will steal your heart as you get to know him and his past he’s trying to forget. You will laugh out loud and swoon over this one once it picked up.
P. Dangelico’s writing always has a way of making me feel like I’m in the story. There is such a strong connection between the characters and you can feel every emotion as it is happening.
Carrie is down on her luck and looking for a fresh start. She just didn’t realize her fresh start was going to be back home.
Jake is a broody guy trying to hide from his past. He doesn’t expect much from people in the hopes that he won’t get hurt.
Watching these two together was so magnetic. They were drawn to each other and the slow burn aspect has always been one of my favorites. Keep in mind this book is written solely from Carrie’s POV. I honestly felt like it worked perfectly because it added more mystery to Jake and what was really going on in his head.
If you are looking for a fun, low angst book, the this book is a must. I always know that I will fall in love with anything P. writes.
– An Arc was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.-
4.5 Stars!
Carrie Anderson is a reporter/ journalist living her dream in L.A. She’s generally a pretty positive person, but when she posts something on her social media that some consider questionable, she finds herself suddenly fired and feeling devastated. She’s now unemployed, broke, homeless, and out of options. This is not how she envisioned her life going. With no other choices, after eight years away, she has to return to her hometown. Lake Placid, New York triggers all kinds of feelings she’d put behind her, but hopefully she can go back to California soon.
She plans to work at her family’s B&B, and get her life sorted out. This will only be temporary, and it will give her time to figure out her next step. What she doesn’t count on at home is an intense, grouchy ex-NHL player with a less than sparkling personality.
Jake Turner is a gruff, standoffish guy whose life completely changed four years ago. Now he’s a loner who wants to be left alone, but when he crosses paths with Carrie, he can no longer disappear into the background, and eventually isn’t sure he even wants to anymore.
At first Carrie doesn’t know what to think of this mysterious stranger. He’s full of attitude, and she labels him the hot scrooge of the mountains. She’s instantly attracted to the aplha he-man she can hardly tolerate, but they are both lonely, and she quickly develops an unhealthy crush as she gets to know him better. As she continues to lean on him, and real feelings grow, she begins to wonder if he could be the once-in-a-lifetime love she’s been searching for?
Carried Away is a fantastic, new standalone contemporary romance by P. Dangelico. I really enjoyed this book and loved Jake! He’s super swoony and his beautiful heart was such a pleasant surprise. Carrie is funny, quirky and unpredictable, and this couple had amazing chemistry and fabulous banter. It’s a heartwarming story with just the right amount of emotion and all the feels!
I started reading this story and it was an amazing 6 star page turner that consumed me for hours. Once I started, I couldn’t seem to be able to put it down.
Carrie is a journalist and she ends up losing her job. She returned home with her tail between her legs. In a snow storm, she’s rescued by a rude, huge Neanderthal with little word to say.
This was quite a funny story with the some entertaining bantering going back and forth. Turner was all alpha and protective. He let out a pissed off vibe but he was anything but that. Carrie is as awkward as they come, she doesn’t know when to shut up. I binge read this story. It was addicting and captivating. The secondary characters were as fun too. Elvis had a character of it’s own.
I loved the perfectly created characters that made up the story. I felt so much for them. A beautifully written story with an original storyline that flowed well. Bottomline this is the story of the summer.
Standalone told in a single POV with an HEA. I strongly recommend this story.
Overall Grade: 1/2
“‘You are not your history any more than I am mine.’ Or anymore [sic} than Jake is, for that matter.”
What do you do when life doesn’t go in the direction you expected? How do you move past your plans and embrace the life that’s fallen into your lap? Even more, what if those earlier plans really didn’t fulfill you or give you the life you never knew you wanted? These questions underlie P. Dangelico’s newest book, Carried Away. Along with these ideas about how we live life, there is also an additional message about letting go of the hurts of our past. These two messages conspire to offer a story that will hold your heart in its pages.
The story follows Carrie Anderson, a recently unemployed reporter. Having to return home after unemployment isn’t something Carrie wants, but it’s necessary. On her way back home, she crashes her car and is saved from freezing to death by a mysterious man. Enter Jake, Dangelico’s hero, a moody, grumpy, handsome man, and the sparks begin to fly. As these two continue to run into each other, their chemistry builds until it can’t be denied. But Carrie intends to return to her former life, and Jake has set himself in exile. Is it possible for these two to find a happy ending?
I picked up my ARC a few days ago to read finally, and I intended to only read a few chapters at a time. P. Danglico’s storytelling is the type of writing that should be savored because it can slip through your fingers quickly, and before you know it, you come to the end of the story. And that is exactly what happened to me. One minute, I was starting Chapter 1, and then the next minute, I had finished the book. I didn’t stop for anything because Carrie and Jake together grab you.
Jake is my favorite type of romantic hero. On the outside, he looks unfriendly and unapproachable. However, you find out fairly quickly that he is heroic, kind, insightful, and loving. This is a big man with a big heart, hiding behind a mistake from his past. And this is my “catnip” in romance. It’s easy to invest your heart in a hero who is more than we initially perceive.
Carrie’s particular journey is a difficult one. At first glance, it seems like just a loss of a job. However, Dangelico has crafted a heroine who has deeper wounds, and moving back to the town where those wounds were created and festered creates some of the gravity of this story. We know, as romance readers, that there has to be some soulful reflection and changes in order to move away from past hurts towards the adventures that she pines for.
The story travels easily across the page. Much of this has to do with Dangelico’s style. She grabs you from the start and keeps you trapped in her pages because you don’t want to be anywhere else. As Jake and Carrie move towards a possible future together, you feel compelled to keep reading to ensure they receive their happy ending. I would say that the pace of the story moves quickly towards the end, and I would have liked for Dangelico to move more slowly, developing some aspects of the latter part of the story. It feels a bit rushed. However, it doesn’t push you out of her story; instead, it makes you yearn for more of it.
P. Dangelico is a favorite author of mine, and I have loved her stories. However, you never know if the next book will be the book you might not enjoy. That is DEFINITELY not the case with Carried Away. As she does every single time, she makes you fall for her hero and heroine’s journey, and this book is a keen reminder to live life in the present, choosing now instead of the past.
Carried Away by P. Dangelico is a feel good and heartwarming romance filled with sweet, sexy and funny moments, and packed with all the swoony feels. From the moment Carrie and Jake met, I was drawn into their story. I loved all the interactions between them. They had such fun and snarky banter and although there was some initial tension, you could feel the chemistry between them. I really loved the two of them together. P. Dangelico has does an excellent job of weaving these characters together leading to a very engaging and unique storyline.
This story captures it all. Strong and flawed characters, sexual tension and chemistry that jumps off the pages, plus sweet and funny scenes. From the aptly named title to the sparky, charged banter, to the lovable characters and to the wonderfully sweet ending, Carried Away is the full package.
P. Dangelico proves once again why she is one of my favorite authors. I had such a hard time putting down the book I read it in less than a day.
After losing her job, Carrie returns home to her Dad’s hotel in the Adirondack Mountains. There she meets Jake, a grumpy ex-hockey player with a painful past. Despite a rocky beginning, there is a connection between them that grows stronger the more time they spend together.
The banter, humor, and sweet moments are plentiful and intermixed with a few heartbreaking ones. The plot moves along at a good pace, and the conflict felt realistic and wasn’t overblown.
Carried Away was a truly wonderful story and one of my favorite this year.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
**4.5 stars**
Carried Away was a sweet, heartwarming romance set in a small town. Carrie has hit rock bottom. She was fired from her journalist job, evicted from her home and is forced to move back to her hometown, a place she hasn’t been in 8 years. Carrie had a rough time in high school and it all stemmed from her mother leaving at a young age. She has quite a bit of self esteem issues because of that. I found her very easy to relate to. She arrives home during an epic snowstorm, and literally crashes into Jake’s loner life. He is a grumpy former pro hockey player. He suffered a tragedy 4 years ago, and hasn’t moved on from that. The characters were super easy to love. There was amazing slow burn happening between these two. My only problem was things felt a little rushed towards the end. I selfishly just wanted more time with these characters. Carried Away is a beautiful, slow burn romance with incredible characters and I enjoyed it immensely. I would highly recommend this one.
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was one of those reads where I found myself smiling the entire way through. I LOVED IT! u2063
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We meet Carrie right when her world is spiraling. She’s lost her dream job, has to leave her dream city and move back to Lake Placid, NY. The bad luck continues to snowball (no pun intended) when she ends up stranded due to a car accident in inclement snowy weather. Luckily Jake is there to rescue her as the knight in shining armor that he is. Jake is a “not officially retired“ star hockey player that is trying to find himself after a tragic accident. He’s the definition of a grumpy MMC on the outside and a truly great, sensitive guy on the inside. Each of them are on their own journey of self discovery when their paths intersect and sparks fly.u2063
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It’s such a wonderfully written story and I couldn’t put it down. If you love a good romcom with high tension, I highly recommend! The book reminded me of K.A. Tucker’s Wild series (not by the story line but the way it is written) so if you enjoyed that series, you’ll love this! I did receive an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
I love Carried Away! What a refreshing, amazing read from P. Dangelico. Dangelico is an author that has been on my TBR for awhile and I just haven’t had time to read, until now. What an introduction to an author Carried Away was.
Carrie is going back to her hometown after being fired from her journalism job. Jake is a former hockey player visiting a resort of Lake Placid to hide from the paparazzi. From the very first meeting I loved them. The banter, the chemistry, just everything made them so much fun to read. Their less than welcoming interactions at first made them even more fun to read. This slow burn of a book could have started a fire or two.
Carried Away is an amazing story about finding two people finding themselves. They are both faced with the new realities that they leave. They find each other when they need someone the most and don’t even know it. They fight the attraction and feelings they have until they just cannot anymore.
Dangelico wrote a beautiful story with characters I loved. I love a book I can relate to and Carried Away is one of those books. I mean I’m not a retired hockey star or anything but the struggle to find yourself after having your life turned upside down, I’m very familiar with. Carried Away is just a breath of fresh air. It’s nice to sometimes be reminded that things workout just as they should.
Carried Away is a 5 star must read! I can’t wait to see what else Dangelico has to offer.
Carried Away by P. Dangelico was a feel good and heartwarming romance about life and it’s adventure! This story was equally inspiring and hard core dreamy!
Carrie’s hometown holds only bad memories for her. Her mother’s abandonment. Bullying in school for her teenage problems. And she never wanted to go back. But after being fired by the boss she almost worshipped, she has no choice but to go back to the small mountain town where her father and Nan run a hotel. Bad luck has become her steady companion and so she gets stuck in heavy snowfall on way to home. To be rescued by a grumpy beast aka Jake Turner. Ex NHL superstar and currently artist. Also one of their hotel’s long term tenant.
This story is told from Carrie’s POV. I admit I would have loved to read some chapters from Jake’s POV. She is a riot of colourful personality traits. She is vibrant and smart and caring with a big side of insecurity and vulnerability. She wants to prove herself and she cannot feel how brilliant she is. Jake Turner is another complicated story. This man is the best man ever. Misunderstood and hiding from the limelight because he needed to help someone. He has the biggest heart but he has closed it carefully. But Carrie’s heart is too big and too much full of love. And she will break his walls. Like Jake Turner would make her feel how amazing she is! Together they will have an adventure! P. Dangelico mixed sweet, sexy, funny and a big angsty to create this interesting and unique love story!
Carried Away by P. Dangelico was an emotionally enchanting small town romance. The characters were just adorable. And the feels were everything!
Received ARC for honest review
Grumpy hero alert, grumpy hero alert! I repeat, GRUMPY HERO alert!
Oh how I love them!
THE HEROINE:
I’ll admit, Carrie and I had a rocky start. She was a little overwhelming at first and nothing like I expected. The “reporter”-part is probably why I thought I’d get a more serious h. Someone who’s always after her next groundbreaking story and then hit the jackpot when she finds out about the big superstar next door. This is not the case here and thank god for that. It would’ve been a little too cliché for me then, so I’d definitely call this a WIN!
Back to Carrie. She’s impulsive, likes to jump to conclusions that I guess were intended to be funny but kinda missed it with me at first but hey! She grew on me eventually and I came to like her quite a bit. If I had to compare her to previous heroines of Dangelico’s, I’d say she gives me some Amber vibes from Sledgehammer.
THE HERO:
It’s weird. I usually like dual POV’s more than first-person only because who doesn’t want to get some insight into the H’s mind, right? Especially if you can’t figure him out at all because he gives no indication whatsoever. Well, Dangelico’s heroes are the exception. I absolutely love that the heroes are so unreadable and only give the smallest indications that they might like the heroine. It’s just super appealing to me and Jake is such a lovable guy under his grouchy facade, I really, really, REALLY liked him!
The chemistry between the two wasn’t as overwhelming as I know it could be but definitely enough for me to root for them. As always, P. Dangelico writes delicious slow-burn romances and I’m here for it. There were some small things that I wasn’t completely satisfied with but overall this was a solid read for me!
I received a free ARC copy of this book from the author prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a standalone story about a woman, Carrie Anderson and her journey to find herself, her calling and the man she is supposed to fall in love with. Its very much a coming of age storyline, even though she is in her early 30’s.
It is told in Carrie’s POV only and I rather read stories with the male and female POV’s though the author did a good job with this story.
Carrie is a reporter who sends out a tweet about this public figure that died but also who was arrested 4 years before for abusing his girlfriend. She ends up fired over the tweet and she cannot pay her rent so she is forced to go back home and help her father and grandmother as they run a bed and breakfast.
There she meets Jake Turner, a down and out Hockey Player who is mr grouch. They form a love to hate you relationship and the book is really about Carrie’s growth in dicovering who she really is by facing her past.
It does have a romance with Jake but I felt it was more chick lit as its more about Carrie’s journey than about her romance with Jake. It really centers on Carrie and the past she has to face from a mother who abandoned her, to the boss who fired her, and her relationship with her perfect sister.
„Give me a reason to stay.”
P. Dangelico is a master of slow-burn romances and with Carried Away she had proved it once again. This story was the sweetest journey, full of tension and a bit of angst. I laughed, swooned and blushed during this read. This story is perfectly balanced, because on the one hand it’s full of emotions, and yet you read it with a lightness. It’s a perfect summer read!
I love me some broody, moody hero and Jake is definitely one of those. Built like a mountain, always scowling and grunting- you know the type. But Jake is also kindhearted, caring and loving. It took time and patience to get through the high walls this troubled man surrounded himself with, but the affectionate and attentive lover he was inside was worth it.
Carrie is a heroine that I had to get used to. At first I was a bit disappointed in her impulsiveness and I considered her slightly immature, but over time the girl managed to redeem herself and I fell in love with her character. She’s quirky, funny and she has a big heart.
Although at first these two were not very warm and fuzzy to each other, the chemistry was definitely palpable. Watching their relationship evolve and change into repressed need kept me at the edge of the seat. And when they finally gave in to the passion, the heat was spilling out of the pages! Noah and Carrie were incredibly hot together and I couldn’t get enough of them.
This story is about finding new reality when everything is falling down. It’s about reevaluating life and finding a new way to happiness. Jake and Carrie both had some things to overcome and together they healed each other and they’ve come to terms with the past. P. Dangelico told their story beautifully and I loved reading all about it!
Carrie Anderson made a mistake and it cost her dearly, now she is jobless and headed back home to Lake Placid to live with her father. She figures she can work at the families bed and breakfast, save some money, and be back in the big city in no time. Upon her return home though her trip takes a disastrous turn and a broody stranger comes to her rescue. The moment she meets Jake Turner she knows things are about to take an interesting turn, he has a story to tell and the reporter in Carrie wants to know all the details. But all Jake wants is for her to keep her distance…
Carried Away brings us into the lives of two souls who lead somewhat guarded lives, both have past hurts that lead them to keep their walls up and hearts guarded. The last thing Carrie wanted to do was come back home empty handed, she had always thought she’d be farther along in her career by now and have the accolades to prove it. But that isn’t the case at all, now she is starting over in a place she never thought she’d have to come back to. Being back in Lake Placid brings up old feelings and demons she is not ready to deal with. Then she meets Jake, and there is just something about him that continually draws her in, but he is closed off and constantly keeps her at a distance for fear of her learning his secrets. This slow burn enemies-to-lovers story will have you laughing one moment and swooning the next. There is a lot of push and pull between these two, which not only stirs up all kinds tension, but also spawns lots of humor-filled interactions too. I loved watching these two discover their happily ever after, while healing their own hearts and falling in love they completely stole mine in the process! Highly recommend this one, these two are destined to have you smiling throughout!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
***4 “Scrooge of the Adirondacks!” stars***
“Life is a journey, someone much wiser than me once said. And if that’s true, then maybe mine is destined to have few more twists and turns than most.”
I love P. Dangelico’s stories very much and when i found out about this one, i wanted like crazy to dive into her new world.
This story was so sweet with Paola’s trademark slow burn romance and lots of funny and steamy moments.
But hey, there wasn’t only rainbows and unicorns in here. Our heroes were having their own troubles to face but the way that they were handling things were so delicious.
Our main couple was amazing together and between them and the secondary characters, there wasn’t a dull moment in here.
“Two loners who found someone to need.”
Carrie is losing her dream job because of a darn tweet. She just told the truth and the result is to change her whole life because of that reason.
Now, she is forced to return back in her hometown after 8 years away and to work in the family business… but she is determined to earn her life back and to live her big adventure.
What she’s not expecting is to meet Jake Turner, a grumpy man that is saving her from freezing to death and who is unnerving her is the most unexpected ways.
“My mouth is a runaway train right now. When something piques my interest nothing can stop it, and Jake Turner definitely piques my interest.
Jake used to be a hockey god, but tragedy made him to get closed off people and press and to seek solitude…
He doesn’t need a noisy reporter to breathing down his neck all the time with million of questions, but she is always there to provoke him with her words and actions…
He just wants to be left alone and to live his life on peace. But everything are changing from the moment that Callie is entering his life…
“I want to be left alone, Anderson. That’s all I want.”
I enjoyed very much this story…
Jake and Callie were so lovely together… They had some seriously funny moments and swoon worthy ones…
From the first moment, there was a connection between them. A connection that they both tried to deny, but who was still there, lingering between them…
I loved Carrie and her crazy thoughts… And i loved Jake and his big heart….
I love them. Period.
“Despite that he’s not at all what I would pick for myself, despite that I’m leaving and he’s staying, despite that he’s barely civil most of the time, I think I’m falling for him.”
Also the secondary characters in herewere deliciously hilarious and sweet…
I loved Nanny and her cat….
I loved Gene and his obsession with Zelda…
I loved Jackie and the way she was seeing things…
This story was the sweetest and i can not wait to read more from Mrs. Dangelico!!!
Her stories are always getting into me!!!
“You still think you have to live in a big city to have a great adventure?”
*I received an advanced copy for the exchange of an honest review*
You had me at grumpy hero. This book wasn’t anything like I thought it would be, and that was refreshing.
Carrie Anderson is down on her luck, just fired from her job, she returns home to live with her dad. Jake Turner is a hockey player that is running away from the media, living under the radar after a terrible accident. Jake has every right to be grumpy, but Carrie gets under his skin like no one else. He doesn’t believe that he deserves love because of his past and the secrets he is keeping. In his experience, no one stays. Carrie is a free spirit and when the two of them collide you see the chemistry flowing in waves. Jake needed someone to show him that he was worth it, someone to show him they would stay. It just goes to show you that you might find your one and only love when you aren’t looking at all.
There were some issues that weren’t “tidied up” and there were also some plot holes, but I chose to overlook them and focus on just the relationship between the couple. I loved Jake so much that I rounded up to 4 stars because of it. It is nice to read a romance that doesn’t involve talking about how much of a player the male MC used to be because he was a hockey player. I really enjoyed reading this book because it was light on angst but not on feels and the chemistry between the two jumped off the page for me.
4.5 Stars for Carried Away
This is the first book I have read by this author but it certainly won’t be the last, after reading Carried Away I’m struggling to understand why Ms P. Dangelico has not crossed my radar before now.
Carrie Anderson and Jake Turner’s story captivated me from the first page and there was no putting down until I had read the final line, it’s a story with the perfect mix of drama and romance, it’s has just enough laugh out loud moments to leave you smiling like a Cheshire Cat and just enough angst to keep you on the edge of your seat so all in all a perfect read.
Carrie is back in her hometown after losing her job and she finds herself working at the family B&B but her heart isn’t there and she finds herself focused on getting over this bump in the road and finding a way back to LA.
Jake Turner is a professional hockey player who has spent to much time in the limelight and all he wants is some peace and quiet and just be allowed to be him without a camera in his face….
The attraction is instant and sparks fly from the moment Jake and Carrie meet but will that be enough for this couple to find their HEA. This is one of those stories that draws you in and you have to peel back the characters layers to really get to know them, I found myself on the edge of my seat hoping for the outcome I wanted for a couple I really liked. An entertaining read that I highly recommend.
Carried Away is a breath of fresh air and literally swept me off my feet. Ms. Dangelico has a knack for writing romantic comedies with laugh out loud punch lines and witty banter and this book is no exception. I love Jake and Carrie’s character dynamic and hysterical interactions along with the secondary characters (Nan was my favorite and stole the show). Ms. Dangelico does an excellent job of weaving these characters together which leads to a very engaging storyline.
Carrie found herself returning to her home town and to her father’s cozy hotel/cottages in the Adirondack Mountains in New York after she’s fired from her job as a reporter in Los Angeles. Life wasn’t easy for Carrie growing up since her mother left her and her older sister, Jackie when they were young. She was awkward, quirky, unpopular and felt less than beautiful. While she rose above some of her past issues, returning to her home town definitely brought out her insecurities. When she meets Jake, who’s also staying at the hotel and is a sexy as sin, broody mountain man looking ex hockey player (that beard!!), things really get funny and interesting. Jake is haunted by his past and just wants to be left alone. I love their hilarious encounters and even when they’re going at each other, I could feel their chemistry and pent up sexual tension.
I devoured Carried Away as it is fast paced and the plot is direct and to the point which couldn’t have pleased me more. I hope everyone gets “Carried Away” in this story like I did.