Tag: indie author

Book Review: Because the Beasts Came (Wells of Istri #1) by Madeline James

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 630 pages
Author: Madeline James
Publisher: Spellbound Worlds
Release Date: April 9th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s already broken, but this mission may be what shatters her.

A young guardian bearing the burden of a kingdom torn to shreds, Iryana works tirelessly from the shadows to keep her clan’s outpost standing. After the beasts ravaged the lands and the gangs claimed what was left, the survivors can only cling to the scattered settlements, fighting desperately to hold their borders.

But they’re losing.

Her clan’s only hope lies beyond their brittle the ancient magic of the metal-wells, and the ruthless military gangs that control them. Iryana has no choice but to infiltrate a nearby brigade, earn their volatile trust, and see her magic forged in one of their closely guarded wells.

Unfortunately, surviving among liars and killers proves to be harder and more mystifying than expected.

Their cruel and calculating leader sees value in her when no one else does. The bitter soldier with haunted eyes and a devastating smile wants her gone but can’t seem to stop saving her life. As each passing day brings her deeper within the brigade, two devastating paths forward present themselves and her deep-rooted cracks become impossible to conceal.

Iryana came to the fortress to save her family—she never expected someone would try to save her.

Perfect for fans of The Bridge Kingdom and The Serpent & The Wings of Night, Because the Beasts Came is the first book in a romantic fantasy duology within the Wells of Istri world. Full of aching tension, a brutal world of monsters and fragile hope, and a heroine torn between duty, desire, and survival, you won’t be able to put this book down.

Thank you to MTMC Tours and the author for a gifted copy.

WHY SO LONG?

I went into this with decent hopes and am left wondering if it’s worth reading book two? There’s no way this needed to be 600+ pages without more character exploration. Every single character lacked depth. I didn’t have an attachment to anyone.

I was genuinely invested for the first 30%ish. I thought the world building was going well and liked the military training grounds idea. I think overall the writing style was good, just needed dialed in.

I’m always here for a slow burn but the fact of the matter is we didn’t get more than maybe one interaction with the leads until after halfway? And their dynamic was lackluster. No chemistry or banter or anything swoony. There was also a weird situation with the guy’s brother? It wasn’t a love triangle, but it wasn’t good either.

There’s a few more things that made me cranky but it is what it is.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: one open door (literally the last pages)
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Content warnings: physical/emotional abuse

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: April 2026

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April showers brings May flowers! And a lot of books. Maybe the most I will get to this year. Have you read any of them?

  • [ARC/ALC] A Deal with a Debutante (London’s Most Eligible #1) by Chelsea Bobulski
  • [ARC/ALC] Start at the End by Emma Grey
  • [Reread] The Assassin’s Blade (Throne of Glass #0.5) by Sarah J. Maas
  • The Speed of Lightning (The Hebridean Shield #3) by Ashley Worrell
  • A Ghastly Catastrophe (Veronica Speedwell #10) by Deanna Raybourn
  • [ARC/ALC] I Could Give You the Moon by Ann Liang
  • Anytime I Want by Meredith Logan
  • Weavingshaw (Weavingshaw #1) by Heba Al-Wasity
  • Rites of the Starling (Shield of Sparrows #2) by Devney Perry
  • [ARC] The Duke’s Bargain by Megan Walker
  • From the Silence of the Shadows (The Veridian Empire #3) by V.B. Lacey
  • [ALC] Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West
  • [ALC] Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai
  • [Reread] Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas
  • Because the Beasts Came (Wells of Istri #1) by Madeline James
  • [ARC] The Commons (The Commons World #1) by Rebecce Ihim
  • Beneath (Rebirth #1) by Ariel Sullivan
  • [Non-fiction] Big Kids, Bigger Feelings by Alyssa Blask Campbell
  • The Wicked and the Damned (Dark Inheritance Trilogy #2) by Rebecca Robinson
  • A Desert of Bleeding Sand (A Desert of Bleeding Sand #1) by Lucia Damas
  • The Last Wayfinder by Ellen McGinty
  • [ARC/ALC] Rolls and Rivalry (Gaming and Romance #3) by Kristy Boyce
  • [ARC/ALC] First and Forever by Lynn Painter
  • Heart Check (Varsity #1) by Emily Charlotte
  • Perfect Wreckage (Wrecked #2) by Catherine Cowles
  • Heir of Twisted Lies (Stonegate #2) by LJ Andrews
  • [ARC] This Silent City (The Grim Empire #2) by A.C. Hobbs
  • A Love Most Brutal (Morelli Family #2) by Kath Richards
  • A Foolish Proposal (The Gentlemen’s Gamble) by Kasey Stockton
  • [ARC] Storm Breaker (Storm Breaker #1) by Nisha J. Tuli
  • [ARC/ALC] Student Union (The Undergrads #1) by Julie Murphy
  • Vengeful (Villains #2) by V.E. Schwab
  • [ARC] The Last Page by Katie Holt
  • [ARC/ALC] Spur of the Moment (Willow Creek #1) by Juliana Smith
  • The Thorn Queen (The Rose Bargain #2) by Sasha Peyton Smith
  • [Reread] Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC/ALC] The Shippers by Katherine Center
  • I’m Only Me When I’m With Him (Sweeter Than Fiction #3) by Amanda Schimmoeller
  • Wrecked Palace (Wrecked #3) by Catherine Cowles
  • Reckless Refuge (Wrecked #4) by Catherine Cowles

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Book Review: I’m Only Me When I’m With Him (Sweeter Than Fiction #3) by Amanda Schimmoeller

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 305 pages
Author: Amanda Schimmoeller
Publisher: ABS Publishing
Release Date: April 15th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Firefighters are supposed to be the ones putting out fires, not causing sparks.

I thought I stifled everything I felt for Connor Porter over a decade ago. But now he’s back home, and I’m hit with those old feelings again, stronger than a firehose to the face.

Feelings I most certainly should not be having for my best friend’s older brother.

I’m trying to push all thoughts of Connor aside and focus on opening a flower truck when his sister persuades him to help me get my business off the ground.

Now, I’m spending more time with my childhood crush than can be considered healthy. And it’s difficult to get him out of my mind when I’m constantly being distracted by his muscular arms and thinking about how they feel when they’re wrapped around me.

My attraction to him grows into a roaring inferno, but I don’t think Connor’s ever seen me as anything other than his little sister’s friend. I need to extinguish these feelings before I’m in too deep.

It’s like that old saying if I keep playing with fire, I’m bound to get burned.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

SOFT & SWEET.

Oh this book was off the charts with sweetness y’all. If you’re needing something low key and light (aren’t we all???) you should absolutely pick this one up. And if you love all things floral (me, it’s me) you’ll love all of the flower content throughout. I really need a Daffodil in my life now.

I looooved the dynamic between Shayna and Connor. It’s low angst with this genuine, strongly built over time connection. That one that shows up regardless of how long you’ve been apart. It was interesting seeing the MMC as less confident than the usual romantic male lead and I liked that arc for him as he grew and found peace with Shayna.

As often Schimoeller’s books there’s incredible friend groups and supportive and loving families. Another highlight to picking up her stories. Sometimes I really don’t want all of the excess drama and I love how fast these flow and showcase such light.

And are you kidding me…we get a baseball romance next?????

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: workplace fire, verbally abusive ex (recounted)

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Book Review: Nightshade (Sorrowsong University #1) by Autumn Woods

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: New Adult Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Autumn Woods
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 24th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When Ophelia Winters accepts a scholarship at a prestigious Scottish university to prove that her parents’ death was the fault of Cain Green, an American aviation tycoon, her plan is simple; keep her grades up and her head down. The last thing she wants is to wind up in a mafia war or step on the toes of royalty.

Her plan gets off to a rocky start when the mysterious man that almost kills her on her first day turns out to be Cain’s eldest son. As far as she’s concerned, Alex Corbeau-Green is a younger version of his billionaire father. A monster hiding beneath a beautiful facade.

Loneliness has been Ophelia’s only dependable companion for years, but when anonymous threats and mysterious occurrences start to haunt her time at Sorrowsong, she wonders if she really can survive there on her own.

Between being paired together for a project and ending up as each other’s alibi for a murder, avoiding Alex becomes increasingly impossible. She begins to fall for the soft heart that hides beneath his hard exterior.

Tormented by a malicious stalker and growing closer to Alex, Ophelia’s desperation for revenge wavers for the first time. Can she really bring herself to pull the trigger on Cain now that she knows the family it’ll split into two?
__________

Dark Academic Romance – Enemies to Lovers – Slow Burn – University Setting

This work is dark in places and contains several triggers throughout. Please heed the warnings before reading.

I THINK I LIKED THIS?

I’ve decided that I will continue with this duet. It’s got the dark vibe I love and things started to grow on me in the second half. It kind of has Maxton Hall vibes? But with a much darker angle. Did anyone watch My Fault: London? Kind of on that wavelength.

This had a dark academia mood that I thought was balanced well with the characters. I loved the brewing found family and getting the backgrounds on many of the students.

Ophelia and Alex had a good connection and I thought the banter worked well between them. I wish there would have been more of them in the first half. I loved how many interactions they had in the second half of the story. THOUGH, the ending made me a bit cranky, but I can’t explain it without spoilers so it is what it is.

I feel like reading the next book? It was different than the usual rom-coms I read so it was nice to mix it up. I have many questions and want to see the fallout from the ending.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: open door, low explicit; innuendo
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Content Warnings: murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, loss of parents (recounted), declining mental health of a parent, anxiety, drowning

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