Tag: indie author

Book Review: Romancing Her Rival (Promise of Forever After #2) by Joanna Barker

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Regency Romance Novella
Length: 156 pages
Author: Joanna Barker
Publisher: Love Letter Press
Release Date: August 5th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He stole her inheritance. She stole his heart.

Daphne Windham has depended upon one thing her entire life: inheriting her beloved great-aunt’s estate, Cheriton Hall. With her mother desperate to marry her off to the highest bidder, Daphne is relieved to escape to Cheriton for the summer—until she learns that her aunt has decided upon a different heir entirely. Cole Everard, the steward’s son and Daphne’s childhood friend. Former friend, that is.

Raised on the grounds of Cheriton, Cole Everard never imagined he would be named heir, but he is determined to prove himself worthy of the position. Unfortunately, that is easier said than done, especially when Daphne arrives claiming he is anything but worthy. Instead of their close friendship, Cole is met with cold indifference—which would sting much less if he wasn’t entirely in love with her…

Hurt and betrayed, Daphne believes her only choice is to undermine her new rival and reclaim what is rightfully hers. But that plan becomes increasingly difficult, what with Cole’s infuriating charm and kindness. When fate offers Daphne a second chance, will she take it or risk it all for the promise of love?

Romancing Her Rival is the second in a series of books about five friends. The other four novellas will be written by authors Sally Britton, Megan Walker, Heidi Kimball, and Arlem Hawks.

SMITTEN.

An absolutely charming regency novella. I was grinning for ear to ear by the closing scenes and I am falling more in love with Barker’s books as I go!

This is a super quick read (150 pages) and is excellently paced. I liked that there was enough background mentioned between Daphne and Cole to know that they had a history prior to the book. I feel like that’s always really critical for a novella. An established past helps fuel the connection we get to see on page.

And what a connection it was!! I immediately saw the chemistry between our main couple and I loved the progression of their romance. The critical conflict scenes weren’t out of bounds I I am here for a passionate confession of feelings accidentally in front of the other person.

Super smitten with this whole read. One of those moments wondering why it took so long for me to pick it up in the first place. Can’t wait to read more!

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency Romance Novella
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: emotionally manipulative parenting

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Book Review: Shortcake by Lucy Watson

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Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 413 pages
Author: Lucy Watson
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: September 19th, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Things Emelia Anderson would rather do than share a house with Benjamin Crawford:

1) Get strapped to a chair in a restaurant full of loud-chewers.

2) Parachute into the Australian Outback armed with only a blowdart.

3) Live her best life as an ice road trucker in the Alaskan Tundra.

Benjamin Crawford thinks Emelia conned his dying grandmother into leaving her half of an estate worth millions, so let’s just say he’s not her biggest fan either. Not even close.

Now they have to live together for the next thirty days while renovating the family home. Or the estate will transfer to the one person Ben hates more than Emelia, and she’ll have to move back to the one place she wants to forget more than Ben.

Did I mention Ben look likes man-candy and smells like testosterone? Not that Emelia notices. She spends a lot of time not noticing things about Ben.

TOOK SOME TURNS.

What started out pretty well, dropped significantly as the book went on.

I LOVE enemies to lovers. Will read it all day, every day. The way this was portrayed was a lot more intense than I appreciated. Some dialogue crossed lines that I was uncomfortable with and wow do you really feel the hate between them.

As things progressed, some scenes were sweet and I felt myself more invested in their story. I snort-laughed through some of the antics and found the whole plot neat! I love some forced proximity and there was plenty of that around.

Towards the end, things took an oddly dark turn? I’m fine with heavier subject matter in a romance when it’s interspersed throughout and works with the story. The conversations seemed thrown in to maybe create some kind of dynamic that I’m still not fully understanding.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: strong, often
  • Romance: kisses to open door scenes
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of substance abuse, mentions of suicide, mentions of drunk driving, a loved one with a terminal illness

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Book Review: Falling for Your Best Friend (Love Cliche #5) by Emma St. Clair

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 348 pages
Author: Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: May 14th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I know how this story ends. And it’s NOT with the best friends falling in love.

Even if Chase checks all my boxes–and then some.

He’s the perfect guy, and he deserves the perfect girl. Which, to be clear, is not me.

I knew one day I would have to let him go. I just didn’t know it would be so soon.

Or that my traitorous friend would be the one setting him up with a string of potential girlfriends.

Now, I have an impossible choice to make…

I can watch Chase find love with someone else.

Or I can throw my hat in the ring and face my biggest fear, one not even he knows.

One that might make him run for the Texas hill country.

But if I don’t make a play, I might lose my best friend and my only chance at love.

LOVING THIS SERIES.

These books just bring out the smiles. Enjoyable quick reads with predictably that feels like a comfort and balm to a bad day. I’m so glad I started reading them!

Diving into this one, my favorite part was the growth in Harper. I loved watching her make mistakes, learn about herself and love who she is. I loved even more the support around Harper. I think a lot of the situations were handled well and you could see the love through her family and friends. Harper found her true identity and that was the best part of the story.

I adored Chase and thought he was absolutely precious. I thought some of his inner monologue became repetitive. I knew he loved Harper, but I also didn’t need it repeated 100 times to get the picture. Chase and Harper had some great banter and I love the soft flirtations between them.

The only other thing that bugged me was one of Harper’s friends, Sam. I don’t like the role she played in this book and it felt forced. I actually haven’t loved her character over the whole series so I’m curious how her book will play out next.

Another great story set in Austin, Texas. I love this cast and how each story feels different and really gives a new side to each character. The humor is great. And goodness do I love the super sweet epilogues every time!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: brief sexual harassment (including on social media)

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Book Review: Wait for It by Mariana Zapata

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 670 pages
Author: Mariana Zapata
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: December 7th, 2016
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

If anyone ever said being an adult was easy, they hadn’t been one long enough. Diana Casillas can admit it: she doesn’t know what the hell she’s doing half the time. How she’s made it through the last two years of her life without killing anyone is nothing short of a miracle. Being a grown-up wasn’t supposed to be so hard. With a new house, two little boys she inherited the most painful possible way, a giant dog, a job she usually loves, more than enough family, and friends, she has almost everything she could ever ask for. Except for a boyfriend. Or a husband. But who needs either one of those?

ANOTHER FAV.

Reading my third Zapata book it really hit that I might have liked The Wall of Winnipeg and Me more if I had fully grasped the way that these stories are constructed. I am reallllly loving the way the plot moves and gives a longer timeline that by the end has you satisfied that every end is finished.

I love the neighbor trope!! Another trope I didn’t know I enjoyed so much. Many casual run-ins and helping each other out leads to love y’all. And I ain’t mad about that. This book was the epitome of it’s title with the way Dallas and Diana moved in each other’s orbits. I appreciated the way Dallas handled his own situations while reaching out a hand to Diana. And wow did I love Diana!! She was incredibly strong and brave, facing an uncertain future and trying to do the best by her nephews. And of course I’m going to mention Josh and Lou too, BECAUSE THEY WERE ADORABLE. I found myself laughing at the intricacies of life and the stellar comebacks that came out of those kids mouths. I loved it. I loved them. I love this mashed up family unit that made my heart burst.

I found myself intensely invested in the emotions of this story. This is my current second favorite and I am now finding myself want to deep-dive into all of these books. I crave the beautiful slow burn romance that’s full of life and love.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: very strong
  • Romance: kisses to one open door scene
  • Violence: physical altercations, house fire
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: Divorce, loss of loved ones difficult parents, remembrance of a physically abusive relationship, suicide (recounting of a character off page), bullying

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