Tag: indie author

Book Review: The Crownless Queen (The Blood and Water Saga #4) by Cassidy Clarke

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy + Romance
Length: 845 pages
Author: Cassidy Clarke
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 23rd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

ANIMA, GODDESS OF LIFE, IS A TRAITOR TO HER KIND.

After losing the kingdom of Nyx to her chaos-hungry brother, Anima has pledged herself wholly to protecting her mortal friends…starting by returning her host’s body to its rightful owner. But when she discovers her power wasn’t the only thing released during the ritual, she must join forces with the ruling family of Arborius—including its most withdrawn, secretive. prince—to try and halt Tenebrae’s vengeful hand before it smothers the life from her beloved island.

SOREN ATLAS IS ENTERING A BATTLEFIELD SHE’S NEVER DARED BREACH BEFORE.

Freed from Anima’s influence on her body, the long path to recovery has begun. But to win her Arborian relatives’ support in taking back Atlas’s throne, she must brave the heart of a mountain to convince a stone-hearted king, an arrogant prince, and their faithless people to fight alongside an Heir with no crown. Because if they are to have any hope of defeating the god holding her family hostage, the kingdom of Tallis must agree to part with a weapon none have seen since its the fabled god-killer.

ELIAS LOCH IS CARRYING A BURDEN HE WASN’T BUILT TO BEAR.

His best friend has sacrificed himself. His people are scattered and leaderless. His dreams are haunted by chaos’s song. And if that wasn’t enough, the ring on his battlemate’s finger has crowned him with a new, terrifying the future King Consort of Atlas. With his goddess issuing commands that twist his conscience, a potential ally fraying the threads of his belief, and new vows calling the old into question, the time has come to choose which he will the convictions of his heart, or the demands of his faith.

MISSING SOMETHING.

I have loved this series (and still do) but I felt like this book was missing one key piece for me. It’s EIGHT HUNDRED FOURTY FIVE PAGES and I was missing at least four other POV’s from other characters of previous books and I didn’t like that at all. This book was heavily focused on Soren, Anima and Elias and I wanted to see what others were up to as well. With the gaps between books I worry how much I’ll remember now.

I still genuinely enjoyed the plot. Cassidy Clarke has a quality of writing that makes it easy to come back to. I love the conversation dynamics and banter between characters and there was a new romance added that I could not get enough of.

I think this progressed the larger arcs to some degree. I’m still obsessed with everyone here and I can’t wait for the finale!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Home Safe by Tracy Baack

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 346 pages
Author: Tracy Baack
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: June 30th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Opposites may attract, but their differences could turn the relationship into a strikeout instead of a home run.

Danae Collins’ stable, quiet life as an elementary school librarian is upended when she becomes the guardian for one of her students in foster care. She carefully plans for every contingency on the road to permanent adoption—every contingency except crossing paths with a famous baseball player.

Griffin West is the star shortstop and “darling” of the Kansas City Crowns baseball team. Everything is on the line as he returns to the major leagues after a season-ending injury. When Danae brings her new son to Griffin’s baseball camp, the tug he feels toward her is a curveball he never saw coming.

On paper, their lives seem incompatible. But as they spend time together, the safety they find in each other only deepens. Will real obstacles ultimately break or bond them forever?

Home Safe is an opposites attract, single guardian baseball romance for fans of meaningful contemporary romance. This is perfect for readers who want a closed-door sports romance with plenty of swoon but no spice.

See Author’s Note for content considerations.

NOT TOO SHABBY.

I kind of wasn’t expecting to pick up another Tracy Baack book because I didn’t love her Christmas romance. But alas, the reviews of friends convinced me to take a shot with this one and as I have been on a baseball romance quest here we are!

It was very interesting to have the perspective of the FMC who hates baseball, and still doesn’t love it by the end. I was frustrated with her not being more understanding of Griffin’s schedule though. It was a consistent flair up and I don’t think Griffin had to continually grovel over it.

I loved how sweet Griffin was though. He’s a athletic teddy bear kind of character that shows up in small ways and big ways. I enjoyed his interactions with Danae and I liked them as a pair by the end. The foster parent content was also good and I liked those parts of the story.

What did bug me about the end though was something that I think is considered a spoiler. It felt like a short cut and I wish it had gone differently. All things end happy!! That is not the issue here.

Overall audience notes:

  • Sports romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: childhood trauma, toxic family relationships

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: August 2026

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Fall is in sight! We’re almost to the -ber months and it was a great month of reading. I love seeing the combination of all of these books. Check out my Instagram for reviews or they will be out on this platform in the future!

  • Out of Her League by Ava Rani
  • [Reread] A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3.5) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] Rebel Season (Hockey Boys of Loft 3B #3) by Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner
  • The Assassin’s Way by J.M. Kearl
  • Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie
  • The Lion and the Deathless Dark (Crowns of Nyaxia #5) by Carissa Broadbent
  • [Non-Fiction] The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
  • In the Wake of the Wicked (The Siren Mage #2) by Kalie Cassidy
  • [ARC] Well Versed (Well Met #5) by Jen DeLuca
  • [Reread] House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] The Bodyguard’s Fall (Falling for Autumn) by Cindy Steel
  • Adversary to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain #4) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
  • [ARC] House of Curses (Royal Houses #3) by K.A. Linde
  • Tropesick by Lauren Okie
  • The Gilded Blade (The Grandest Game #3) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
  • [ARC] The Wretched Divine (The Wretched Divine #1) by Adalyn Grace
  • [ALC] Autumn on My Mind (Falling for Autumn) by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
  • The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy (Dearly Beloathed #2) by Brigitte Knightley
  • The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren
  • City of Lost Kings (Lost Kings Duet #1) by Kristen R. Moore
  • Cursed Ever After by Andy C. Naranjo
  • [ARC] This Change Everything by Danielle McKechnie
  • [ARC/ALC] Daughter of the Dark (Daughters of Auquis #1) by R.J. Valldeperas
  • Star-Crossed Summer by Devon Daniels
  • [ARC] Miss Beresford and the Beast (Daughters of Somerset #1) by Mimi Matthews
  • [ARC] Here We Go Again (Georgia Jaguars Hockey #2) by Jenny Proctor
  • The Butcher’s Masquerade (Dungeon Crawler Carl #5) by Matt Dinniman
  • [Reread] A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses #5) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] Harbinger by Geneva Lee
  • [ALC] Love Felt Like This by Julie Olivia
  • To Drown a Witch by Lindsey Olsson
  • Ashwalker (The Emberfall Trilogy #1) by S.M. Gaither
  • Immortal Rose (Immortal Rose Duology #1) by Alexandra Bracken
  • [Novella] All the Time in the World by Cara Bastone

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ARC Book Review: Here We Go Again (Georgia Jaguars Hockey #2) by Jenny Proctor

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: August 25th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He knows what it takes to make a comeback. She isn’t sure he deserves a second chance.

After a career-threatening injury, Georgia Jaguars defenseman Theo Williamson is fighting to prove he still has a future in hockey. The harder battle? Convincing Rebecca Bradley he deserves another chance at her heart.

After a career-threatening injury, Georgia Jaguars defenseman Theo Williamson is fighting to prove he still has a future in hockey. The harder battle? Convincing Becca Bradley he deserves another chance at her heart.

Eight years ago, when his father died, Theo shut Becca out instead of letting her help him through the hardest time of his life.

Becca rebuilt without him. She’s stronger now. More careful. And she definitely isn’t interested in letting him back into her life—no matter how sincere his apology sounds.

But when their meddling mothers trap them on a surprise vacation together, distance isn’t an option—and neither is ignoring the chemistry they never really lost.

Just when Becca starts to think Theo might be worth the risk, real life comes crashing in. Demanding schedules, hard days, and the uncertain shape of what a future together would even look like.

Soon, Theo realizes he isn’t just fighting to win Becca’s heart. He’s fighting to believe he deserves to keep it—before the same old doubts convince him to let her go.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

SWEET BABY THEO.

Oh I’m down bad myself for Theo Williamson. I was hooked from this book from the beginning. This is how you do second chance romance!!

I loved seeing Theo and Becca reconnect. It is tension filled and yet soft and sweet. They both had many conversations that needed to be had and I liked that there was arguing and push and pull and getting down to the grittiness of how crappy life can be sometimes. The way that they learned to lean on each other again and the fact that this gave me that soul mate level kind of love!!!

There were also some beautifully handled conversations around first loves, grief, and pain. As someone who personally deals with chronic pain I found a lot of what Theo was going through to be highly relatable. And I also just adored Becca too. She’s independent, a good friend, and works hard. I love when romantic characters stand as well on their own as they do together.

I could fawn over a dozen scenes in here. And getting to see other teammates and future set ups!! There’s not one weak moment in this entire book. I am head over heels smitten with these two.

Overall audience notes:

  • Sports romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: loss of loves ones (recounted), sports injury

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