Tag: indie author

Book Review: Trial of Bronze and Blood (Bronze and Blood Saga #1) by M.K. Deoradhan

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 434 pages
Author: M.K. Deoradhan
Publisher: Aethon Books
Release Date: April 15th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Gladiator meets Heartless Hunter meets Bloodguard in this new adult fantasy romance.

Four deadly trials will reunite them. One secret will tear them apart.

When a mission goes wrong and ends with her best friend dead, Drusilla Valerius is rescued by someone she never expected to see again: Marcus Scaevola. The only man she’s ever cared for—the man who spurned her feelings six years ago.

Marcus should’ve known Dru wouldn’t be the same woman he left all those years ago, and he’s unprepared for her distrust of him – and her uncanny ability to kill. But he has a purpose for seeking her out.

Bound by loyalty, he convinces her to train King Cato of Anziano, one of the last countries yet to fall to the tyrannical Imperium, in the Valorem Blood Trials.

Unlike years’ past, the Imperium has a heavy hand in it, hiding beneath the guise of peace and unity between their two countries. When both Dru and Marcus find themselves joining the competition – Dru to take the place of an innocent and Marcus to protect the king – they’re forced to trust one another with their lives.

Now inescapably entrenched in the gory, duplicitous world of the blood trials, feelings long-buried surface, blurring the lines between duty and honor, love and loyalty. But Marcus carries a devastating secret–one that could destroy the foundations of Dru’s world…

Don’t miss this adult romantasy debut combining the second-chance romance of Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli with the deadly trials of Gladiator.

I THINK I’LL READ BOOK TWO.

I thought overall this was a good debut. It covered a lot of ground in the world building and while the magic system is still elusive and needs better rules, I can see the potential in future books.

The same goes for the romance. This is a second chance romantasy (which I feel is very uncommon for me to come across) so I don’t know that it worked super well. And while I appreciate that it wasn’t spice forward and that there was a slow burn I wanted more from the romance in regards to the emotional build and conversations.

There’s enough here though that I think for a debut there’s a chance for upward trajectory in future books. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the leads and the king. There were a few things throughout that felt fresh and different for this genre which gives me hope for book two!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: 2ish open door
  • Violence: moderate +

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Book Review: One Last Thing (The Seddledowne #1) by Susan Henshaw

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 367 pages
Author: Susan Henshaw
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 1st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

One shattered farm girl. The cowboy who’s always loved her. Ninety days under one roof.

After high school, Silas Dupree couldn’t put his hometown in the rearview mirror fast enough.

His hopes? That two thousand miles would be enough distance to make his stupid heart forget Clementine Shepherd, his sister’s best friend.

But a decade later, when his twin, Sophie, dies, Silas is forced to return home.

In true Sophie fashion, she couldn’t leave well enough alone, even dead. And when the will is read Silas and Clementine are shocked to find that Sophie left her teenage daughter to both of them.

With one stipulation.

The three must reside together, as a family, for ninety days before deciding on permanent custody. If they fail, a judge will decide Anna’s fate.

Can Clementine endure an entire summer with the quiet, closed-off man who ghosted her the minute they got their diplomas?

And can Silas keep his word to his new fiancé back in Wyoming while sleeping across the hall from the only woman he’s ever truly loved?

Perfect for readers who enjoy a sweet, slow burn. There will be hilarity and heartbreak, tears and tire-slashing. But always a hard-earned happily ever after.

WELL THAT TOOK A TURN.

This book left me a bit befuddled. I was really into it for the first half, even was able to roll with it until the last 30%ish. Then I thought that the drama went off the rails a bit and just didn’t seem all that necessary to get to the conclusion that was imminent.

I loved that Silas was a fall first, I have been in love with your forever, kind of man. I loved how he took care of Clementine and gave into the need and want that he had been holding back for years.

Clementine, I liked her. She had a few up and down moments for me but I did feel like she was truly trying her best with a handful of crappy situations. I’m not sure how I feel about one of the plot points used in this book and am just going to sit on the fence about it.

I can’t decide if I am going to read book two or not (I might just skip to three??) because of a few scenes in this book too.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: miscarriage, cheating

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: September 2025

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THE BER MONTHS.

I always love seeing these line ups because all of the covers together feel like a quilt of my reads. And I’m continually surprised at what I get through and all of the different genres and niches I fall into.

HAPPY READING!

  • Epics Etched in Echoes (Tales of Wonder and Woe #3.5) by Renee Dugan
  • If Not for My Baby by Kate Golden
  • Entreat Me by Grace Draven
  • Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
  • [ARC] An Echo of the Grave (Fallow Creek #4) by Claudia Cain
  • [ARC/ALC] We Met Like This by Kasie West
  • Last Night Was Fun by Holly Michelle
  • Mistress of Bones (Mistress of Bones #1) by Maria Z. Medina
  • House of Hearts by Skyla Arndt
  • The Silversmith (The Selvaren #1) by LJ Claren
  • Scorched Earth (Dark Shores #4) by Danielle L. Jensen
  • [ARC] It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard
  • [ARC] Fake Skating by Lynn Painter
  • Rose in Chains (The Evermore Trilogy #1) by Julie Soto
  • [Novella] Fearful (The Powerless Trilogy #3.5) by Lauren Roberts
  • [Novella] Pumpkin to Talk About by Allie Samberts
  • The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk (Crowns of Nyaxia #4) by Carissa Broadbent
  • Rookie Season (The Boys of Loft 3B #1) by Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner
  • Better Luck Next Time by Cara Bastone
  • The Crownless Queen (The Blood and Water Saga #4) by Cassidy Clarke
  • An Embroidery of Souls by Ruby Martinez
  • Love at Second Down (Boys of Ann Arbor U #2) by Gracie Graham
  • [Novella] Hot for Slayer (Scared Sexy Collection #1) by Ali Hazelwood
  • [ARC] Winterset by Tiffany Odekirk
  • [ALC] Overdue by Stephanie Perkins
  • [Novella] Falling (Scared Sexy Collection #2) by Christina Lauren
  • Playing for Keeps by Ranee S. Clark
  • Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #4) by Jessica Townsend
  • [ARC] Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber
  • Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

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Book Review: A Churn in the Virtual Society (Into the Churn #3.5) by Hayley Reese Chow

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Sci-Fi Romance Novella
Length: 238 pages
Author: Hayley Reese Chow
Publisher: Whimsical Publishing
Release Date: September 16th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Virtual Society is blowing up. (Figuratively.)

When Micah Belanger saw the word “disputed” pop up after her beloved Belethea Race Royale team won the biggest race in ’verse, all of VSoc heard her shriek. Add in four attempted murders, and she’s on a (virtual) warpath to set the record straight—as any true fangirl would.

Lowell Coppen, of The Royaler Review, is also concerned with the murderous rumors behind the latest BRR, especially with warnings of a system-wide war rippling through VSoc. Determined to shed light on the truth, Lowell, a self-proclaimed objective voice, forges a begrudging alliance with Belethea’s most manic fangirl. If their secret arrangement comes to light, it’ll ruin them both, but if they don’t get the story right, the lies could bring Belethea to its knees.

And falling in love isn’t helping at all.

Thank you to Whimsical Publishing for the gifted audiobook.

I’LL MISS THIS SERIES.

I have loved every book in this series from Hayley Reese Chow and have been excited to read this final installment (please make sure you have read all of the other books to understand everything in here!!).

I loved this look into Micah and Lowell’s lives and seeing the entire trilogy from their perspective in short bursts. There romance is really sweet and this was an easy read to listen and enjoy (I also thought the dash of sound effects were perfect for this type of book!).

I will definitely be reading whatever HRC writes next.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Sci-Fi Romance Novella
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate

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