For six months, Carly Moore has been trying to bring down the town patriarch, Bart Drummond. Everyone knows he’s behind a “favor” system that has often ended in murder, but no one has ever been able to prove it.
Until now.
Carly has a lead that might crack the case wide open but her investigation comes to a screeching halt when someone close to her is killed. Now her only goal is to bring the killer to justice.
But the more she digs, the more she can’t help but wonder if the murder is the handiwork of Bart Drummond after all…
Shades of Truth is book six in the Carly Moore series by Denise Grover Swank! I can’t even figure out where to start with this book! Except to say...”OH MY FREAKING GOSH!!”
This author writes romantic suspense like no other. She has made me love Carly so much. This woman has been through so much but she still stands strong. When the people that love her try to convince her to run, she won’t hear of it. She’s tired of running. She wants to take down Bart Drummond and get the city of Drum out of his control. And she wants to take down her father and his evil empire so she won’t have to look over her shoulder for the rest of her life.
“Evil is everywhere. Were we foolish to think we could stop it? Was all this a waste of time?”
There has been another murder in Drum and this one is close to Carly’s heart. She is devastated but also determined to bring the murderer to justice. She is convinced it is the work of Bart. But as she, Marco and Hank dig deeper, she is less and less sure.
I think I said the same thing in the review for the previous book but I love Marco and Hank so much. I have to admit that I worry now and then about Hank though. Does he have ulterior motives? I’m convinced he doesn’t and his actions are purely from his love for Carly. He thinks of her as his daughter and will do anything to protect her. But we do see a new, more assertive side to him in this book. And Marco will lay down his life for the woman he loves.
When Denise writes a bad guy, she holds nothing back. I was pretty shocked when one character’s true evil side was revealed in this book. I guess it was my naive side but I just never thought it could be true.
Carly is once again faced with one thing after another in this book. I feel like the level of crazy is amped up even higher in this one, preparing us for the big finale, book seven, Keeper of Secrets. I have to warn you, there is a cliff hanger here, a BIG one. I will be freaking out until the last book is released wondering what happens next! Perhaps I need to back off on the caffeine intake! I love this series and if you haven’t started it yet, now is the time to jump in and meet the residents of Drum, Tennessee. I hope you love Carly as much as I do.
Super great mystery that has Carly finally unraveling all the events that have been happening through the years in Drum. There are a couple of twists that I never saw coming that sends the story in a whole new direction and sets it up for the finale in the next book. The only downside is the HUGE cliffhanger ending. I HATE THAT! I was absolutely loving the story until it just quit - right in the middle of the most suspenseful part! YUCK!!!
SO… I would encourage people to hold off on reading this one until the final book publishes. Otherwise it will just be an exercise in frustration.
This book was addicting, and definitely a page turner. I absolutely loved it!! I know my heart was pumping hard the entire time I was reading. It was brilliant!! So much happens in this book. I was shocked, and riveted and honestly this book was unputdownable. I literally was reading while fixing my kiddos breakfast, and lunch. It’s such a incredible read. I loved all of the revelations. Carly Moore series is definitely a must read!!
So many secrets were revealed in this one. Non-stop tension and suspense. And then what does the author do? She ends this one in a CLIFFHANGER! I HATE cliffhangers! Damn. So, now I am more than anxious for the final book in this terrific series. Damn.
What a wild rollercoaster ride it was! Shades of Truth had me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story and turned all my expectations upside down or more precisely the way it was going on and on with so many unexpected twists and turns I really didn’t see it coming. All the feels, all the revelations and betrayals that came out I wasn’t sure my heart could pumped any faster. It was something else! I still can’t believe how it turned out. My mouth fell open and I gave up guessing at some point just frantically kept reading because I had to know how it ended. And what an ending it was!!! Omigoodness! This book was more on the darker side and be prepared for some heartbreaking moments so keep the tissues handy. This is the best book in Carly Moore series for sure and more than worth waiting longer for it. Absolutely brilliant!
Holy crap! This book was so full of twists and turns. It completely blew my mind honestly. So much is packed into this snippet of Carly's story and I saw almost none of it coming. This book was a bit darker than the ones before, no really lighthearted moments but I did laugh a couple times. It had plenty heart pounding suspenseful moments. Plus bit of heartache here and there and I literally gasped out loud at least three times. I was basically yelling at the book by the end. I'm not sure I'm going to survive the wait for the last book of the series. But I'm so excited to see what the author comes up with next time.
Y’all!!! I barely dived into the shallow with this book and already my chest was tight with all the feels. I was gripped from the beginning with all the mystery and suspense. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time with all the twists and turns. When I say my mouth hit the floor at the end! I mean, I. can’t. EVEN!!! I’m still completely flabbergasted at how this whole book went down. Swank literally blew my mind with this book! I know people hate it, but I swear some of her best work comes from when she has to push a release date! True fans know this and we buckle up for that ride. So should you because I am telling you it is going to be EPIC!
Carly Moore book six was a hold your breath, suspense-filled ride!
Denise Grover Swank is a master at surprising readers with the twists and turns her storylines take and she has outdone herself with Shades of Truth. The secrets and lies are rapidly closing in on Carly as she fights to unearth the truth and take down the evil surrounding her past and present. Fans of the Carly Moore series are going to be turning pages at a frenzied pace to find out how this installment ends. I cannot wait to see what happens in the final book!
When Denise says I need to push this deadline out some. I am not happy with the story. You know you fixing to get the story of a lifetime. I think Denise dropped the mic with this book. I was ready and waiting for this book to come out. I wish I would have had a stronger drink at some points.
Denise sure knows how to twist a story. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I can say that all my feels was on high alert. I can say that there was a few times that my family thought I was crazy. That is because WT blank was said quite a few times.
This book has Carly at a new limit I wasn't sure how she was going to handle it. She had her hands full. I trusted no one! Marco, bless him, he sure tries to keep Carly from getting in to much trouble. You Got to love he is there for her even though it might mess with his job. I am glad to see them together after all the ups and downs Carly has been through.
There will be some tears in this book. Your heart is not ready for all that happens. I know that the story moves the way it wants to. You will see how everything works out in the end. Boy what a end. I mean SHUT UP!! SHUT UP!! One of Denise's best books!
What a ride! Full of twists and turns, Shades of Truth had me on the edge of my seat the entire novel. I even audibly gasped a few times. I have absolutely adored the characters in Carly’s series and there were some twists in this novel with a few that I did not quite see coming. We get several answers, but are left with a whole lot left to be seen. This book is definitely less on the lighthearted side, and heavier on the darker, twistier side and I loved it all. Also, I just want a Hank of my own. Can’t wait for the next book!!
This was the most action-packed book in the series. So many truths are revealed, and what some would say is a surprising betrayal becomes known, with some heart-breaking tragedies, as well. I wasn’t really surprised when a character we have known since the beginning showed their (gender neutral to avoid spoilers) true colors, but I understand why it affected Carly as much as it did. But I love how Carly trusts her instincts. That is a sign of a strong and confident person, and it is one of the reasons this series has been so enjoyable. And while some things were wrapped up in the book, there are still several loose ends dangling, resulting in THAT ENDING. Though not technically a cliffhanger, the ending is more than a mere hook to get us ready for the next (and last) book in the series. I can’t wait to see how all the revelations in this story play out in the final book of the series.
Shades of Truth is the 6th installment of the Carly Moore series and must be read in order to understand the sequence of events.
What did I just read?!? There were so many twists and turns in this book my head is spinning. For the last four books, I’ve wanted the main plot to move forward and boy did it move forward! Shades of Truth pulled together lots of loose ends while revealing something I never saw coming. I’m still trying to make sense of it.
Hank was my hero this book. He proved time & time again he loves Carly and will do anything to protect her. I loved that he was featured more and helped take more of an active role. Marco was still swoon worthy and it looks like he’ll be around for the long haul. Wyatt, well, we’re not going to talk about him.
The ending is going to make waiting for the next release difficult to say the least. Bring on the final book!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Holy moly, what a wild ride! Shades of Truth was an intense and suspenseful roller coaster. I had so many emotions throughout the book, as many secrets were revealed and some extremely heartbreaking betrayals were brought to light. As usual, Denise had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Although many questions were answered throughout Shades of Truth, I am now left with even more questions, including the biggest question of all, WHAT IS WYATT'S END GAME?!?!?
My heart broke for the whole group when someone close to them was killed. With so many things at play in and around Drum, there is no clear answer as to why they were killed, just a lot of speculation. With everything that has been revealed in Shades of Truth, it became obvious that everyone close to Carly was going to have to pick a side.
Readers will see a lot more of Hank in Shades of Truth, and I for one was all here for it. Hank shows up for Carly in so many ways throughout this book and it warmed my heart to know that she has him in her life. I love how Hank has become Carly's "bodyguard" and is helping out with the investigation. He is a valuable asset to have around when asking people questions and it's clear he still has an intimidation factor about him.
Marco and Carly's relationship is still going strong and I'm truly happy that Carly has him in her life. I'm cheering for their success and can't wait to see what is going to happen next for them. I also enjoyed that we saw more of Max in Shades of Truth, especially outside of the Tavern. Besides Carly, I feel like Max is also struggling a lot in this book with the betrayals of his family. Readers will also learn some secrets that Max has been hiding throughout the series and we will see what family members he is truly aligned with.
My biggest concern as I've gotten closer to the end of the series was how Carly was going to take down Bart and her father. While a lot was revealed in Shades of Truth about Bart, I still have a lot of questions that I'm hoping to get closure on in the last book. As for Carly's father, I need to know what Wyatt has on him and how this could lead to his demise.
Once again, I can't say enough amazing things about Denise and her writing. Her writing is captivating and her character development is always spot-on. Denise makes it extremely easy to get lost in the world of her characters and feel like you are right there with them throughout their journey. If you are looking for the perfect chick-lit that has mystery, crime, love, friendship, heartbreak, and SOOO MUCH MORE, then the Carly Moore series is the perfect fit for you. Carly is such a likable character that you can't help but cheer for her and her success. I for one am excited to see what will happen next!
And of course, I can't end my review without giving a shout-out to the Rose Gardner / Neely Kate series! Whether you are a fan of Carly's series or you are looking for a great series to pick up, you can not go wrong with the Rose Gardner / Neely Kate series!
****
Since arriving in Drum, Carly has been doing everything she can to take down Bart Drummond and her father. Everyone knows about Bart's "favors" but no one will admit to being a part of them nor is there any real proof of his involvement. This leaves Carly with little to no evidence of taking Bart down.
When someone close to Carly is found murdered, Carly and the group are devastated. She truly believes that Bart had to have something to do with the death of her friend, and now she wants justice. With the help of Hank, Max, and Marco, Carly digs deeper and deeper into the investigation but begins to question if Bart was truly behind the murder. When answers are finally revealed, Carly and the group will be left shocked and completely betrayed.
Holy Cow! I don't even know where to start. This book had all the feels. Talk about a rollercoaster ride. Unexpected deaths from past and present kept me guessing as to who the killer was. Unfortunately, in Drum, the options are endless.
Shakes of Truth is a suspense filled book that keeps you on the edge of year seat from the beginning to end. Carly has had many highs and lows since coming to Drum, but her life is turned upside down as she puts her life and the lives of the ones she loves the most on the line to bring down two of the biggest scum on the planet.
I loved her her investigating with Hank and the huge role he played in this book. He's the father she always wanted and was never able to able.
Shades of Truth and the Carly Moore series is a must read if you like suspense. I'd give it 10 stars if I could. I can't wait to see the big finale.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What a freaking ride that I just took with this book! We are finally getting answers to our mysteries that we’ve been collecting in the last four books. Some you can guess, and some throw you so off you have to read that sentence again! I love the surprises the author can give - no one likes a predictable book! And this is not one of those.
The last half of the story had me on the edge of my seat. And I knew when I got to 70% at bedtime that if I hadn’t stopped then, I’d stay up to finish it.
Finding the newly murdered body, Carly knew the police wouldn’t have all the necessary clues to solve the case, so she goes on a hunt herself. Because hello, this is Drum, Tennessee - things are sneakier than a sloth! We get a lot more Hank, a lotta love from Marco, and some answers about Carly’s past. But there is much more to come! If you’ve been following this series, this is a story you cannot miss out on!
Welp, I've been craving answers and boy does this book deliver. When tragedy strikes, Carly and the gang rally and decide to finally take some action. But what they uncover is not only sensational, but worse than I imagined. Not all is as it seems, loyalties are tossed away, and the revelations shook me to my core. Thankfully, Carly and Marco remain strong, and Hank really fully cements his father-like relationship with Carly. This book sucked me in like crazy, leaving clues everywhere, and the ending was just... I don't know how Denise plans to tie this all up, but Shades of Truth was truly masterful storytelling. Definitely 5 stars for me.
Hold the phone... that was an incredible, edge of your seat, I need more book. Just wow! Denise continues this series keeping us guessing and wanting so much more. There was a lot going on that left me in shock. Carly has grown so much since we first met her in the Rose Gardner Investigations Series. Her relationship with Hank, Marco, and Max continue to grow stronger. It makes me happy to see that she has healthy relationships with each of these men, each who would risk their lives for her. A lot of new information unfolds in this book, I'm curious to see how Denise wraps up the series in the next and final book.
5 Stars... Things are heating up in Drum!!! This series is moving to an explosive finale, and I CANNOT WAIT!!!! All the pieces are coming together, secrets are being unearthed leaving Carly and company in a pressure cooker to take down the enemy, betrayals are evident and the power players are lining up to take over... Who will be left standing when it all comes crashing down????
I feel like sometimes my reviews on Denise Grover Swank's books end up redundant. "She did it again!", "Wow! I can't believe it!", "I didn't see that coming!" But that's because she really does shock me every single time. You would think for someone who publishes so many books a year, at least a few of them would be mediocre. But not this lady! She has such a spark for writing and creating such realistic characters. I'm in love with Carly and how she's grown into herself since she landed in Drum. I'll be sad to see this series end with the next one, but I just know that Denise will wrap it all up in a pretty bow and hand deliver us another masterpiece. So, as repetitive as this might sound, you need to read this book!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
These books are getting shorter and shorter, they feel rushed, similar to the rose books that they weren’t the longest reads to begin with but now they are only a few hours read… disappointed
I was done with this book before I knew it. I thought about it when I was away and could not wait for a free moment to dive back into Carly’s world. So very much is happening! If you have been reading this series this book will not disappoint! It is SO GOOD! I don’t want to give away any secrets- so trust me and read it! Page turner!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Y'all this book is unbelievably fantastic! Denise has outdone herself! Her writing is always extraordinary, but this book takes it up another notch. There is so much going on that I had this pounding heartbeat as I read, just waiting for the next shoe to drop. Carly is in a world of trouble and so is everyone around her. With so many bad characters after her and not knowing who she can trust, Carly may not stand a chance of getting out of Drum alive. If you read one book this month, this year...This Is It! So well written! So heart stopping! So great! My Best Read This Year! A MUST READ!
How can I do the review of this book justice?! I don't think there is any way that I can explain to you just how much this book blew my mind. These other reviewers have tried to explain but without spoiling anything, it's hard. I just want to tell other people that they REALLY need to start this series. There's no other way to get you to understand how much action, intrigue, heartbreak, suspense, etc are wrapped up in this series of books. I can not wait for the next book, no matter how long it takes to write. It's going to be a doozy; I already know it.
Started really boring but got good after about 30% of the book
After reading the book, I didn't understand why the first 30% was needed. It was completely irrelevant. I wish the book would have progresses quicker to the main plot, there it was super thrilling. Spoiler
I really thought Wyatt would come full circle and turn out to be an undercover agent or something like that. Him turning out evil is only surprising in a sense where we thought the author was trying to trick us into thinking he was bad. He became a little 2 dimensional for my taste.