Tag: indie author

Book Review: Not a Thing (The Seddledown #2) by Susan Henshaw

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 290 pages
Author: Susan Henshaw
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 1st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A small town principal rewriting her future. A big city lawyer running from his past. The secret that could tear them apart.

After getting dumped, Christy Thornbury has zero intentions of setting foot on Seddledowne soil ever again. But when the school board begs her to be their high school principal, she packs up her car and leaves her toxic family in the dry, Wyoming dust.

Serial dater, Holden Dupree, sprints faster than any woman can catch him. But when Christy’s sisters devise a humiliating scheme to find her a husband, Holden breaks the one self-imposed rule he’s lived by for the last decade. And now he’s stuck in a frustrating, all-cuddling, no-kissing, fake relationship with his brother’s gorgeous ex.

With chemistry hotter than a branding iron, can Christy keep her heart on lockdown while tucked safely in a playboy’s embrace? And will Holden finally lasso his demons, fight for the love he never thought he’d find, and come home to Dupree Ranch for good?

Perfect for readers who enjoy a love story with sizzle but no spice. Get ready for fake dating and forbidden love, dark pasts and daring rescues. But always a hard-earned happily ever after.

I HAVE SO MANY THOUGHTS.

This book was maddening to read while also being addictive and I found myself downloading book three immediately after (granted, I have been most looking forward to book three so it tracks).

ANYWHO. My issue here is how immature so many of these adults were. The book is set in high school and it felt like most of the antics were high school based too. And I don’t know how I feel about how some of the heavier themes were used and handled.

There were some good swoon moments and I actually didn’t mind Holden and Christy as a couple. They had this off-beat chemistry that worked well for them. And I can’t deny that I love a great heated make-out scene.

I went up and down as I read on this book and while it’s not my favorite, I’m not upset I read it either.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: heated make-outs; light innuendo
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: su!cide (mentioned and brought up throughout), bullying, stalker

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Book Review: Fighting for You (Veterans of the Silver Ridge #4) by Claire Cain

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 326 pages
Author: Claire Cain
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 18th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I’d always thought having a mortal enemy was for dramatic novels and movies, right up until my so-called friend Jude “Beast” Rawlins did the unthinkable and became just that—my enemy.

Five years later, we’ve both retired from the Army, and fate has landed us in a town too small to avoid each other. We steer clear when we can and butt heads when we can’t… until the day our jobs at Saint Security rope us into an assignment together posing as husband and wife.

Staying apart is impossible, and staying silent even more so. Everything inside me erupts, and I’m ready to finally put this beast of a man in his place for what he did.

Except, it turns out now I do the unthinkable and see Beast in a new way. In fact, I also get to know Jude, the man he is behind it all, the man I’d forbidden myself to ever notice. And I discover maybe this man never had to be my enemy.

What’s a woman to do when the one she’s always considered her enemy turns out to be just a man, one with a soft heart and an even softer touch? I’ve made so many mistakes in my past, I’m not sure I can trust myself, or Jude.

Can former enemies really have a chance at love?

MY FIRST CLAIRE CAIN BOOK!

And not my last. I enjoyed this quite a bit and I loved that this had veterans and a little bit of suspense and a good enemies to lovers romance to boot. I thought it all came together well and I loved the vibes of the whole book.

I adored Beast. I loved how soft and tender he was at his core. And I love an outpouring of the soul moments and the strength it took to do so. It was great getting lots of forced proximity and small town goodness is always my jam.

I haven’t read the previous books in this series and I don’t know if that hindered me a little bit. I was missing some context for the business Jude and Jess were involved in, but as things went a long I felt caught up enough to enjoy the story.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: attempted sexual assault, loss of a grandparent, cheating

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Book Review: Love at Second Down (Boys of Ann Arbor #2) by Gracie Graham

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Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: NA Sports Romance
Length: 433 pages
Author: Gracie Graham
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: June 24th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Three years ago, Avery Astor ruined me. Now she’s back to finish the job.

I had the girl.

The scholarship.

The future.

They say quarterbacks have short memories.

But I remember everything.

Every promise. Every plan. Every damn kiss.

Avery Astor was supposed to follow me to college. Instead, she broke me in half and left me to rebuild my life from scratch.

That was nearly three years ago.

Now I’m in my junior year of college in the Big Ten, laser-focused, and headed to the national championships. I’m completely off-limits.

Until she shows up. At my school. And at the worst possible time.

She says she’s here to win me back and there are reasons she left that I don’t know, and she can’t tell me.

The problem is . . . I’m not the guy she left behind.

And I don’t want to be won.

A NEW FAV.

This is easily going in to one of my top books from Gracie Graham. I was glued to my phone y’all. A unique second chance romance you should read too!

I didn’t know how I would feel about Avery being the chaser/wanting the MMC back (because I feel like it’s often the other way around). As the book progressed I started to enjoy it all the more. I wish Avery had stopped saying I can’t tell you yet, but overall she was an FMC to admire and I liked her tenancity.

I was very much obsessed with Damon too. There’s something about a man eternally down bad that works so beautifully when written well. And GG 1000% achieved that nuance. I loved seeing this group of friends again and really appreciate that both Damon and Avery have strong support groups that banter and love them well.

The classic dash of drama/suspense that Graham likes to add in was present here too. I thought it was intriguing and watching it unfold kept those pages flying. I can’t wait for the next book!!

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Sports Romance
  • Language: high
  • Romance: 2ish open door; innuendo throughout
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: loss of loved ones (recounted), blackmailing

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ARC Book Review: Marriage is a Shore Thing (Wilks Beach #2) by Laura Langa

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 280 pages
Author: Laura Langa
Publisher: West East Publishing
Release Date: October 10th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s tough. He’s golden. One dare later, they’re hitched.

I’ve sworn off love, so accidentally marrying a stranger after a friendly game of Truth or Dare? Worst. Case. Scenario. Never mind that Evander Young is a brilliant ER doctor with a dimpled smile that makes my heart race.

News of our nuptials spreads through my small beach town like wildfire—only everyone thinks it’s real after a long-distance romance. With my mom ecstatic that her grumpy, boxing-instructor daughter has finally found love, it looks like we’re stuck playing house—at least for now.

The thing is, happily-ever-afters aren’t for people who avoid feelings like they’re a knockout punch. But Van’s golden-retriever energy keeps chipping at my well-forged armor, and the sizzling chemistry between us? Definitely not fake.

When a family heirloom goes missing, Van and I team up for a midnight heist—sneaking through shadows, racing against time, and dodging a few close calls. Turns out, the real risk isn’t the heist—it’s falling for my accidental husband.

Enjoy the playful banter and sizzling tension of this accidental marriage, black cat/golden retriever, small beach town, closed-door/kisses-only romance by grabbing your copy TODAY!

SWOONY.

Accidental marriage romances are so fun. And I think this handled insta-attraction + slow burn well. I thought that it was paced well (maybe a little fast) but that I genuinely started to love Van and Gen together. I’m apparently super into black cat x golden retriever romances and highly recommend you go try one too!! [aka this one because while it’s second in a series it can be read easily as a standalone!]

There’s just the right amount of small town shenanigans and I especially loved Gen’s tight friend group and the continual support that flowed from that corner. Van wove himself deeply into the Wilks beach community and I was smitten with him myself. I loved the heated kisses and the key quiet moments where their relationship was truly strengthened.

Looking forward to the next book!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: mentions of absent father, losing a sister to an aneurism (off page but recounted, grief depictions)

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