Tag: indie author

Book Review: Fragile Hearts (Poplar Falls #4) by Amber Kelly

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 246 pages
Author: Amber Kelly
Publisher: Amber Kelly, LLC
Release Date: September 8th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Who says you can’t have the best of both worlds?

I had my life and career all planned out. That was until I was betrayed by someone I trusted and my perfect opportunity was stolen from underneath my nose.

So here I am, back on Stoneyridge Ranch in Poplar Falls licking my wounds. I love being home with my family and friends, but I am determined to move past my anger and build my career. I have goals and plans too big for my hometown.

When Brandt Haralson, the new Vet in town, offered me a job, it was the perfect opportunity for me to plan my next move and get some experience. He’s brilliant, driven and sexy as sin, but he is also not interested in getting involved with anyone. I can learn a lot from him and I don’t have to worry about any romantic engagement.

You know what they say about the best laid plans. When an attraction builds to the point of boiling and walls start to come tumbling down, can I stick to my plan or will I discover that everything I ever wanted was right here after all? 

ANOTHER FAV.

This is probably sitting in spot No.2 for my favorite book in this standalone series. I loved Brandt and Bellamy so much!!!

Brandt had to work through a lot in this book. I LOVE that the town of Poplar Falls really took him (and his Mom) under their wings. He needed an extra push or two to move forward after something traumatic and the love that was shown to him made my heart melt.

Bellamy was such a force and I loved her feisty nature. She’s incredibly kind and I couldn’t get enough of her taking charge of situations and really showing Brandt just how incredible Brandt it. Put them together and once again, I adored this match. All of these pairings have worked so well together.

The story here was great. I loved seeing the vet clinic, remodeling (someone get me a sledgehammer), and even a few tense moments. Add in that essential sugary sweet ending and this became another fantastic romance.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: some
  • Romance: kisses to open door scenes
  • Violence: fire, physical altercations
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a spouse by violent theft, [side character] recounting a drunk driving accident where they lost their parents, survivor guilt

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Book Review: Love Practically (The Penn-Leithss of Thistle Muir #1) by Nichole Van

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 413 pages
Author: Nichole Van
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: March 23rd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

As a young woman, Leah Penn-Leith fell hopelessly in love with Captain Fox Carnegie—the only irrational mark on her decidedly sensible life. Fox, unfortunately, did not return her regard.

Their story should have ended there. After all, Fox left for India. And Leah returned home to Scotland to rear her much younger brothers.

But twenty years later, Fox appears on Leah’s doorstep—older, scarred, and world-weary—proposing a marriage of convenience between them. He needs a mother for his young ward, and Leah, with her capable good sense, comes highly recommended. What woman could say No to such a proposal? Not Leah. Fox has always wreaked havoc on her ability to think rationally.

But after their marriage, Leah confronts the chaotic reality of Fox’s life. His castle, ten miles up a rugged Highland glen, is shambolic. His ward, Madeline, is a precocious handful. Fox’s time in India is shrouded in rumor and mystery. Worst of all, Fox himself is distant and broken, his personality as altered as his scarred body.

Throughout it all, Leah is left with two questions: What happens to a woman after her most-cherished fantasy comes true? And can a marriage, begun in practicality, transform into something deeper? Something like . . . love.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

BEAUTIFUL.

I love that moment when you feel deeply connected to a book. This was that read for me. This was the marriage of convenience trope taken to astronomical levels. Where two souls really did fight there way to be together amidst multiple hardships.

Leah and Fox were both main characters I loved. Also dual POV is always superior and I will not be accepting other opinions at this time. Getting to know both of their backgrounds and where they crossed brought all of the unrequited pining. Brought the slow burn of realizing a connection. Brought those all out moments, when the rain is pouring and you just need them to know you care. I couldn’t get enough of every interaction and even when I wanted to shake both characters, I understood. I knew where they were coming from and that ultimate resolution had my heart souring.

I somehow fell in love with a cat too? Playing a large roll in the side character cast he brought the house down, almost literally. I adored him and the spunky 5 year old who absolutely stole my heart. Sometimes kids rock the book in a way that’s aggravating, this was never the case here. Madeline was the best kind of soft addition this story needed.

There were great moments and conversations that I love seeing. Allowing for progression of not only the plot, but the characters. This novel is romantic, it’s heart-breaking, and soul-binding. I am completely in love with Van’s writing and how she brings a story to life.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: closed door (between a married couple)
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: alcoholism, PTSD, suicide, death from childbirth, stillborn

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Book Review: Rootbound by Tarah Dewitt

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 410 pages
Author: Tarah Dewitt
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: December 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

You really can’t go home again.


Tait Logan is proud of the life she’s built for herself. Despite her world-shattering divorce, the absence of a pet, not having any genuine connections with other humans (apart from her sister Ava), and the fact that the remainder of her family is estranged from her life, she’s happy…Happy-adjacent, at least. She’s rebuilt herself through her photography; her dream career, the one thing she does still have.

So, when that career contracts her to do an assignment on her estranged family’s home, Logan Range – a now famous ranch functioning as the setting for a popular show – she’s left with no choice but to agree.

Thus, Tait is bound, on a reluctant course back to her roots, and to the family she feels abandoned by… to the family that, seemingly, has had no interest in a relationship with her since her parents’ divorce, when she was seven.

Henry Marcum has dedicated his life to the Logan family and to their ranch. He owes them for raising him, rescuing him, and for his life’s purpose and opportunities… He also owes them for every hardship he’s inadvertently brought their way. So, when Tait Logan shows up after 20 years of near total silence, he takes it upon himself to protect the people he knows and loves.

It’s a rocky start when Tait and Henry first collide; he is naturally wary of her intentions, and she is more than perturbed by their literal collision – which results in her broken camera, during her first night on location, no less.

There’s no shortage of shaky ground here in the mountains and valleys of Idaho. They’re thrown off balance time and time again by their growing feelings for one another, and by the story of the Logan family as it becomes increasingly less clear from their perspectives. As they confront the past, theirs naturally get brought to the foray. They’ll have to weigh their feelings against their experiences of heartbreak, and decide if the potential for disaster is worth the risk that accompanies love. 

NOT TOO SHABBY.

I finished this book and didn’t know quite what to rate it. Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, but I leaned towards 4 and here we are.

What I did like were a lot of the conversations surrounding the main character, Tait, and moving past divorce and opening herself up for true love again. I still remember some of those conversations from this book and liked the passion and heartfelt emotions that come along with moving past something personally devstating.

Some of things that irked me were the complete lack of editor. I hope further books are looked over a bit more. It got better as the book went on, but an immense amount of grammatical and punctuation becomes very noticeable. I didn’t always love Henry’s POV either. It was occasionally cringy and I just didn’t love him as much as I wanted too. The spice is a bit past my comfort zone (but I know others love a bit more! I’d say a 3/5 flames).

I did like Tait and Henry together. I thought things got off pretty fast between them, but slowed down just enough that I was able to get on board with their relationship. At times, the family drama leaned a bit too much to the ridiculous side. I did like that Tait got to meet some of her estranged family and find healing through those decisions.

It was a good read and I look forward to the author’s next book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 3 open door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: divorce, infidelity, parental abandonment, loss of a parent

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Book Review: A Twist of the Blade (Shadows and Crowns #2) by S.M. Gaither

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 548 pages
Author: S.M. Gaither
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: January 28th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Mercenary. Survivor. Queen.

Who is Casia Greythorne?

Still reeling from an unimaginable loss and the revelation of an identity she isn’t sure she wants to embrace, Casia has one plan: Try to control something. Something like the strange magic awakening inside of her. Mastering that magic will take her and her friends on a quest through cursed lands, into the dwellings of old gods, and deep into a southern empire filled with deadly foes and unlikely allies.

Meanwhile, the foundations of the Kethran Empire continue to crumble. The king-emperor clings to his crown with increasingly bloodied hands. Monsters and soldiers alike stalk Casia’s every step, determined not to let her return to claim a throne that is rightfully hers. Still, the greatest threat to her possible rule may not lie in the king-emperor, but in a former captain of his army—a man that she came dangerously close to falling in love with.

Elander Revenmar thought he knew who he was. He had a mission, a plan, a god he was content to serve. Then came Casia. A woman as mysterious as she is dangerous. One he should have stayed away from, and whose life he never should have saved.

Because salvation always comes with a cost.

And some debts can only be paid for in blood. 

ANOTHER GREAT READ.

Ohhhh my goodness. Wow am I loving this series!! These audiobooks whisk me away on an adventure filled with fighting monsters, romance, found family, twisted sibling dynamics and more. LOVE IT ALL.

The Throne of Glass vibes are one of my favorite aspects. I really like when books take after some of my all time great reads without feeling like a copycat. This is definitely different and I am wholly attached.

I like how well paced out everything is. There’s movement from high action filled with battles and massive monsters all the way to quiet moments between forbidden lovers that just have me absolutely swooning. It has just the right dash of steam and I need more Elander and Casia.

THAT CLIFF HANGER had me in full riot mode. THE AUDACITY. Though it really only solidified how much I am attached to the series. I need more. I can’t wait until the next audio book is available because it is the perfect format for me to read these.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: some
  • Romance: one brief open door
  • Violence: battle/war themes, physical and magical altercations, loss of loved ones

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