Tag: indie author

Book Review: Debt of My Soul by K.P. Haven

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 433 pages
Author: K.P. Haven
Publisher: Self Publishd
Release Date: December 17th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Fleur
Nine years. That’s how long I spent in a relationship wasted on my ex.

When my world crumbles apart in front of me, I make a desperate escape. Only now, I’m stuck in a tiny Mississippi town with a dilapidated farmhouse I don’t know how to fix.

Enter Adam, the town’s contractor. Finding solace in his expertise and kindness, he might just be the one to help me rebuild more than just my home. But beneath the town’s quaint facade lies a darkness: an untouchable drug lord whose operation has poisoned the very place I now call home.

Then there’s him—a man who commands attention with his rugged allure and infuriating motorcycle. Our encounters are surprising, hinting at something beyond his dangerous exterior and intriguing me in ways I can’t ignore.

Riddled in debt and drugs, the sanctuary I sought for safety may very well be the ruin of me. One thing’s for certain: running away was only the beginning.

Debt of My Soul is a small town, organized crime novel with a signature slow burn, closed-door/fade-to-black romance. Please read TW/CW.

WELL.

I’ll start off saying that I do think this was written well and I would be interested in other books by this author. I just struggled with some plot points in this one.

Alright, first and foremost. The romance didn’t even start until halfway through the book?? It felt like a lot of lolly gagging and “we can’t tell you, just stay away” from everybody in town and I got tired of the repetitive nature. The pacing would have been better had this been tightened up. It was clear from the beginning where things were going so waiting for a long time became frustrating.

I liked Fleur…sort of. A lot of things happened to her but she didn’t do much herself? I didn’t need her to take down the organized crime ring or anything, I was looking for something more though. Liam was nice, I liked his personality and saw where he was coming from. I love a protective, broody sort which made all of those scenes even better.

There’s a few other things that had some roller coaster vibes for me and that’s how I landed at a 3.25. I would recommend it?? But also not?? I don’t know. It is low spice which is generally hard to find in this kind of plot dynamic which is a definite plus in the pros column.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: fade to black/vague open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: kidnapping, murder, torture, drug abuse, organized crime, self harm, attempted SA

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Book Review: Off the Hook (Never Harbor #1) by Julie Olivia

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 411 pages
Author: Julie Olivia
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 26th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I need a nanny, but I may need her more.

I know about my reputation as Never Harbor’s secluded single dad. But I have everything I need: my imaginative son, my dog, and our remodeled cottage by the sea.

That is, until my nanny quits.

My brother’s ex-fiancee, Wendy Darling, is an elementary school teacher with a free summer. The last thing I need is to get tangled in his mess, but my family thinks she’s a perfect fit for the job. Turns out, she fits in better than I could have imagined.

Wendy is nothing like I expected. She’s kind and adventurous, with a beautiful laugh that washes my worst nightmares away. She pushes past my silence and sees more of my true self than anyone has in years. And my six-year-old son is falling for her just as quickly.

Being with Wendy can never happen. Not when my younger brother is her ex-fiance. Not when she’s so close to our family. Not when our small coastal town gossips the way that it does.

But after so long in the dark, Wendy makes me feel something. Falling for her feels a lot like flying instead.

I know happy endings only belong in fairy tales, but I’m close to stealing one for myself.

I WAS HOOKED.

Julie Olivia is an author I often sleep on but at the behest of a buddy read I jumped right in and adored this book so much.

Jasper is the SOFTEST GRUMP EVER. I loved him so much. There was moment after moment that showed how deeply he cared and his desire to prove himself worthy of being with Wendy. He was the best single dad in a rough situation and I could not get enough of him.

And I liked Wendy too. She was soft and feminine with a strong will that showed up at just the right times. Her loyalty roots ran deep and I thought there was an undeniable chemistry between her and Jasper.

As someone who’s only seen Peter Pan maybe once in my life, even I was able to notice the retelling aspects and how expertly woven those pieces were. I had friends who noticed even more and it was fun seeing all of things come together.

I do wish there was a little bit less ex-relationship talk. But that was the only thing that really bugged me. I can’t wait for book two!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 4ish open door
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: loss of loved ones (recounted), grief depiction

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Book Review: In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Liz Tomforde
Publisher: Golden Boy Publishing
Release Date: March 3rd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

As the first female team owner in Major League Baseball, Reese Remington has spent her entire life preparing for this role. With a sharp mind and years of experience working behind the scenes, she’s more than qualified. But the public only sees a woman in a man’s world — not the person who’s earned their place on the field. Under constant scrutiny and pressure to prove herself, Reese can’t afford distractions.

Especially one that comes in the form of the team’s tempting field manager who questions her every decision.

Emmett Montgomery is a former All-Star turned coach who treats his players like family and the field like home. After years of running the team his way, the last thing he wants is a new boss, let alone one who seems ice-cold and laser-focused on business. But forced to spend long hours – and too many away games – side by side, he begins to see the fire beneath Reese’s control, the heart behind her ambition, and the unwavering determination to prove herself.

When heated banter turns into sizzling chemistry, professional boundaries blur and the spark between them becomes impossible to resist. But Reese is constantly reminded of how many people are waiting for her to fail, and the safest move is to keep Emmett at arm’s length – for the sake of the team, the season, and her career.

But keeping their distance is one game neither of them can seem to win.

ONE OF THE BEST EVERRRRR.

I will be thinking about this book for probably the rest of my life. IT WAS IMMACULATE Y’ALL. I was obsessed and down bad from chapter one. I LOOOOVE the fiery chemistry between Emmett and Reese. The delightful banter and sass was *chef’s kiss*. I loved having both POV’s and watching both of them FALL SO HARD.

Reese is a boss babe who took no crap and I loved the way she handled many situations. Of course it wasn’t always perfect but you could see the resilience and motivation she had to succeed. Adding Emmett into her corner was everythingggg. An elite support system.

And getting to see many of my favorite Windy City characters was exactly what my soul needed. I love the way they all love and take care of each other. The way everyone fiercely believes that family doesn’t have to be blood related. AND I AM HERE FOR IT.

I could ramble on all day about just about every dang dang scene in here. The quiet moments, the hot moments, the angry moments, it was the perfect emotionally balanced story that had me teary eye the last few chapters. What an incredible romance and I’m so happy Emmett got a story y’all!!!

AND THE FACT THAT they kept saying don’t tell me what to do, when that is an often used phrase between my husband and I??? Stop it right now.

Overall audience notes:

  • Sports romance
  • Language: high
  • Romance: 4-5ish open door
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings:

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: February 2026

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The month of looooove.

I always love seeing all of the book covers together because the fluctuation of contemporary to fantasy to historicals is always cool to see. Reviews for these books are either out now or coming soon!

  • His & Hers by Alice Feeney
  • A Heart so Green (Fair Folk #3) by Lyra Selene
  • [ARC] The Cowboy’s Game (Pride and Pranks #3) by Cindy Steel
  • [Novella] Lonely Hearts Day by Kasie West
  • A Fortunate Miscalculation (The Gentlemen’s Gamble) by Karen Thornell
  • [ARC] Mail-Order Baroness (Lords of the Rockies #2) by Misty M. Beller
  • [ARC/ALC] The Trident and the Pearl (The Fisher King #1) by Sarah K.L. Wilson
  • Worth Fighting For (Meant to Be #5) by Jesse Q. Sutanto
  • A Fate so Dark and Delicate (Compelling Fates Saga #4) by Sophia St. Germain
  • [Reread] From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata
  • [ARC] A Love Most Daring (Bow Street #3) by Joanna Barker
  • The Poet Empress by Shen Tao
  • Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart by Emma Simmerman
  • [ARC] Bridge of Betrayal (Falcon Point Historical #3) by A.L. Sowards
  • Your Knife, My Heart (Dark Forces #1) by K.M. Moronova
  • Jane Stays Dreaming by Britnee Meiser
  • Pride and Prejudice Audible Original by Jane Austen
  • Sunk in Love by Heather McBreen
  • Savage Lands (Savage Lands #1) by Stacey Marie Brown
  • Invictus (Esperance Trilogy #2) by Heather Frost
  • The Silent Canary by Angela Bricker
  • The Darkest Gift by Nikki Welton
  • [ARC/ALC] Across the Vanishing Sky (Starlight Grove #1) by Catherine Cowles
  • A Vow in Vengeance (Immortal Desires #1) by Jaclyn Rodriguez
  • Racing Hearts by Ann Adams
  • A Stage Set for Villains by Shannon J. Spann
  • [ARC/ALC] The Dragon and the Sun Lotus (The Three Realms #2) by Amelie Wen Zhao
  • [ARC] To All the Guys I Loathed Before (Lucky in Love #3) by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
  • Half City (Harker Academy #3) by Kate Golden

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