Ber Carroll

Once Lost is an intriguing story about two best friends, the complexity and drama of life and family relationships, and the challenges that arise when their quest for the truth about issues in their lives are revealed, and unexpectedly change their lives.

Author Ber Carroll weaves a fascinating tale that transports the reader between Dublin, Ireland and Sydney, Australia, as the reader follows the alternating life stories of the two best friends: Louise and Emma. This is an intriguing story that delves into the complexities and drama of the best friend's lives and family relationships that are wrought with trials and tribulations, drama, and the search for answers.

The reader easily gets drawn into Louise and Emma's story, as they both face challenges in their lives with tension, drama, and an unexpected touch of mystery thrown into the mix. The author does a great job of drawing the reader into the story by alternating between the lives of both women, while adding in surprising twists and turns, and intertwining the complex dynamic of the past and present that swirls with mystery and secrets.

The author takes the reader on a wonderful journey that is filled with an interesting cast of characters and enough drama, tension, and even a touch of romance, that easily keeps them turning the pages and wondering what will become of the best friend's lives, their friendship, and family relationships, when the answers that they have searched for come to the surface. You can't help but get drawn in as the women learn to deal with the challenges, choices, disappointments, and successes of everyday life, and how they overcome them in order to find a happy medium in their lives.

I loved the author's rich description of the alternating settings of Dublin and Sydney. It feels like you are transported to these cities where you get to vicariously experience the sights and sounds and landmarks, it makes you want to visit them.

If you love to read stories about complex and dramatic family and friendship relationships interwoven with everyday life experiences, then Once Lost is a must read.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2015/09/once-lost-by-ber-carroll-autho...… (plus d'informations)

Worlds Apart is an intriguing story about two cousins, the complexity and drama of family relationships, and the buried secrets that come to the surface and changes their lives.

Author Ber Carroll weaves a fascinating tale that transports the reader between Dublin, Ireland and Sydney, Australia, as the reader follows the alternating life stories of two cousins: Erin Donovan and Laura Torres. This is an intriguing story that delves into the complexities and drama of the cousins' lives and family relationships wrought with trials and tribulations, drama and buried family secrets. A world apart, the reader gets drawn into Erin and Laura's story, as they both face challenges in their lives with tension, drama, and an unexpected touch of mystery thrown into the mix. The author does a great job of drawing the reader into the story by alternating between the lives of both cousins, while adding in surprising twists and turns, and intertwining the complex dynamic of the family's past and present that swirls with mystery and secrets.

The author takes the reader on a wonderful journey that is filled with an interesting cast of characters and enough drama, tension, and even a touch of romance, that easily keeps them turning the pages and wondering what will become of the cousins lives and their family's relationships when the buried secrets come to the surface. You can't help but get drawn in as the cousins learn to deal with the challenges, choices, disappointments, and successes of everyday life, and how they overcome them in order to find a happy medium in their lives.

I loved the author's rich description of the alternating settings of Dublin and Sydney. It feels like you are transported to these cities where you get to vicariously experience the sights and sounds and landmarks, it makes you want to visit them.

If you love to read stories about complex and dramatic family relationships interwoven with everyday life experiences, then Worlds Apart is a must read.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2014/08/worlds-apart-by-ber-carroll-au...… (plus d'informations)

I wanted to read a recent Ber Carroll novel because she will be visiting my local library later this year (along with Dianne Blacklock and Liane Moriarty) but couldn't find one on the shelf. I have a pretty good memory and knew I had read High Potential around the time of its release in 2008 but my impression of it was quite vague, but since it was the only title available, I picked it up anyway.
A few pages in and the details of the storyline rushed back, Katie Horgan is a lawyer working hard to achieve her life time goal as a partner in a prestigious firm. With her last relationship ending disastrously, Katie is happy to focus on impressing the bosses during the final assessments, until she meets fellow candidate, Jim Donnelly. She knows their quiet flirtation can't go anywhere, they are about to be separated on overseas assignments for six months, but her attraction to the Irish man is difficult to quash. Katie is thrilled to be heading to Ireland, where she has family she has never met, and is determined to enjoy her time there. She settles easily into running the legal aid service but is surprised to learn the firm is one Jim Donnelly once worked for. When Jim returns home for a brief holiday the relationship between he and Katie changes but the separation takes it's toll on the fledgling romance and then a tragic accident threatens to destroy it.

I quite liked High Potential though in truth I largely skimmed it this time around as my memory filled in the gaps. I don't think I liked it any more, or any less, than the first time I read it, it's fairly standard chick-lit with the protagonist's angst over romance and career the feature conflicts.
A point of difference in the plot does lie within the secret Katie's parents are keeping from her and Katie's search for relatives in Ireland, where her parents were born and raised before settling in Australia. The thread does add another layer to the story and I believe it comes as a surprise on first reading.
The character's are likeable and credible, though I wasn't terribly impressed with the relationship between Katie and Jim. Katie's reactions, after Jim had left Ireland to return to Auckland seemed disproportionate to the status of a new and undefined relationship. I though the conflict in this instance was forced and it soured me a little on her.

High Potential is pleasant reading, dealing with the conflicts and concerns of contemporary women. The happy ending will please romantics and the dual setting (Australia and Ireland) adds a touch of the exotic to the plot. I am looking forward to comparing this title with Ber Carroll's most recent release Less Than Perfect… (plus d'informations)