Tag: indie author

ARC Book Review: The Knockout Rule (Showmen #4) by Kelly Siskind

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 340 pages
Author: Kelly Siskind
Publisher: CD Books
Release Date: February 24th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Siskind’s latest slow-burn romance is stay-up-all-night addictive and proves love hits when you least expect it…

Growing up with an adoring father for a boxing legend isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It looks more like hospital visits, bloody noses, and cracked ribs.

Isla Slade now works as a physiotherapist, helping athletes heal their bodies. Except for boxers. She has no interest in reliving the stress of her teen years. Dating someone in the boxing world? She’d rather snort wasabi powder.

Until she meets Preston Church.

Preston manages heavyweight boxing darling Brick Kramarov. A brute who’s built tougher than his name, with a cocky attitude to boot. She wants nothing to do with either man, but her father begs her to help them prepare for a huge Vegas fight.

She doesn’t expect Preston to recite romantic poems and slowly break her resolve. His fascinating mind gets under her skin, even if his star athlete reminds her how much she hates boxing.

Too bad it’s Brick coaching Preston how to woo Isla, falling for her from the sidelines. Once she finds out, she’ll have to decide if she can risk loving another man who puts it all on the line for the knockout.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own!

BEAUTIFUL STORY.

Oh I adored this! A sports romance gem.

What I loved most was the truly real feeling of the characters. There are some raw and tender moments as over and over our main characters come to terms with the situations around them. I loved the dialogue and conversations that occurred because of this. It exponentially brought another level to the novel by creating beautifully flawed humans who saw some true growth.

Isla and Eric were such a match!! I loved their chemistry and banter. The absolutely precious moments between them. It was spicy and romantic. Even better, I did like how the conflict and resolution came out between them. It worked perfectly for the story and allowed for an adorable ending. I did think [for me] the romance was a bit heavy-handed and I did have to skip over a few scenes, but if you like higher steam, this is definitely a read for you!

I love that this was a sports romance. I found it really insightful actually to boxing. I don’t like boxing at all, but was impressed with seeing another side to it than just fighting. Even when the big match came up I wasn’t quite sure who would win. The way Siskind wrote out this narrative was on point and I’m happy it went the way it did!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: some strong throughout
  • Romance: kisses to a few very open door scenes
  • Violence: boxing matches
  • Content/Trigger Warnings: depictions of anxiety and panic attacks, coping with learning a loved one has a degenerative illness

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Book Review: Bottling It (Wayfair Witches #1) by A.A. Albright

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Length: 215 pages
Author: A.A. Albright
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: October 9th, 2017
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Wanda Wayfair is a bit of a late starter.

At almost twenty-one she still hasn’t received her magical powers, and she’s running out of time. But that doesn’t bother Wanda. Much. Not when she can spend all of her time in the human world and pretend that her coven doesn’t exist. But when Wanda takes a job at Berrys’ Bottlers, working with the handsome Will Berry and his unpleasant Aunt Alice, she soon realises that she’s a lot closer to the magical world than she thought.

All over Dublin, humans are murdering witches. When asked why, all they’ll say is, ‘I dunno why I done it.’ But Wanda thinks she does know why they’ve done it – and hopefully she’ll receive her power in time to help her coven discover the truth.

DIVING INTO COZY MYSTERIES.

I’m not sure if anything I’ve ever read has qualified as a cozy mystery. This I believe does! And I found it to be something I’d love to read more of.

This was funny, short, and so very quirky. I liked Wanda as the main character and found her likable and someone I wanted to be friends with. I snickered and found myself smiling multiple times over the ridiculousness of the story, but also realizing how much I was enjoying it.

A very fast read (200ish) pages and plenty was packed in! There’s quite a few books so I’m definitely interested in seeing how these continue. I spied the beginnings of a budding romance, and many more mysteries to solve. I love how quick this opener was and how easy it made me want to know more about the Wayfair Witches.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal cozy mystery
  • Language: very little, light
  • Romance: hugs
  • Violence: murder; nothing overly bloody/gory; kidnapping

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ARC Book Review: The Lion of the Sea (The Maiden Ship #2) by Micheline Ryckman

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 243 pages
Author: Micheline Ryckman
Publisher: Whimsical Publishing
Release Date: February 9th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

“Perhaps the present, no matter how messy, is the perfect time to live.”

Family is not always blood, and home is where the heart is. It took Dain Alloway years to understand these foundational truths. Now the captain of The Maiden, surrounded by the found family he loves, Dain sets out to end a centuries-old genocide and prevent an oncoming war. But when the girl he loves is torn from his arms, Dain might be forced to choose between saving just her, or saving them all.

The Lion of the Sea is the second novel in Micheline Ryckman’s, The Maiden Ship, series. This YA fantasy adventure is chalk full of action filled scenes set upon the high seas. You’ll rejoin a loveable cast of characters from the first book and meet some nasty pirates and alluring mermaids along the way.

Thank you to the author for an eARC. All opinions are my own!

AN ADVENTURE.

Oh wow, I didn’t realize how much I missed these characters! This is one of my favorite groups of friends/found family. Everyone has such personality and make me so happy when I read it. I love the new members added in (except for Dain’s Mom, definitely curious if she gets a redemption arc) and what they brought to the story.

It was nice to see a little separation between Dain and Sable to allow for some personal growth. BUT, I did miss the romance a bit. I wanted more between them. Gratefully, the ending gave into that so I’m excited for book three and what it will hold. I’m curious about where the sub-plot with Dain is going with his siren friend. I’m not sure I’m into it, though I’m trying to keep an open mind.

There was action and mystery happening all over. I love that we finally got to meet some characters discussed in The Maiden Ship and that they got a little bit of the spotlight. The brother/sister duo was interesting too. I just enjoyed meeting so many new people!

The mythology and magic system are inventive and easy to follow. There’s not much information on how it all works, yet I don’t find that distracting from the story. I love how this is set-up on the high seas. I love a good book out on the ocean. Adding in the different locations they went to really made for a well rounded novel.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses, hinted closed door scenes
  • Violence: physical, magical, kidnapping

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Book Review: Ex on the Beach (The Extra #11) by Megan Walker and Janci Patterson

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Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 251 pages
Author: Megan Walker & Janci Patterson
Publisher: Garden Ninja Books
Release Date: December 12th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I’m going to be starring in a movie with my ex-husband—a man who I am still desperately in love with.

A-list movie star and animal activist Kim Watterson has it all: a spectacular career, two amazing kids, and a growing animal sanctuary she manages in her spare time. Still, she’s better known for being half of Watterpless, a Hollywood super-couple who put Brangelina and Bennifer to shame—and whose divorce generated just as much gossip.

And that’s before the studio for the latest comic book adaptation she’s headlining announces a cross-over film featuring her character—where she’ll be playing the romantic lead opposite her ex-husband, Blake Pless.

Kim’s determined to do the film, even though she’s still in love with Blake, because the alternative is to let the studio replace her with a younger model. She’s sure she can keep her heart and her dignity intact—

But no plan survives contact with the enemy, especially when you’re filming with your ex on the beach.

Ex on the Beach is a full-length, standalone romantic comedy. It features R-rated sexual content and swearing, no cliff hanger, no cheating, and a swoon-worthy happily ever after.

Thank you to the author, Megan Walker, for a gifted copy! All opinions are my own.

A NICE HEA.

This is the second book I’ve read in The Extra series. As a note, they don’t necessarily have to be read in order!

I enjoyed that this was about a married couple. It’s always unique to the genre and I like the insights and dialogue that come about because of it. Kim and Blake have a lot of great moments and I love that strive for better communication and teamwork in the face of trials.

Some of my struggles came from the repetition of ideas and conversations. I understood the need to rehash some things, but felt it would drag at times because I could hear myself saying, I get it – new topic. Not to mention their daughter who was making me want to run up a wall. Her attitude and antics were laid on really thick.

Otherwise, it was fun to have the setting at a movie set! I enjoyed seeing some of the background behind movies and adding in side characters that spiced up the drama. Which there is plenty of. I found that the pace moved well for these portions. The drama definitely matched the story.

Overall audience notes:

  • Adult contemporary romance
  • Language: some
  • Romance: kisses/make-outs; an open door scene and closed door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: a sex video that goes viral, divorce/separation (and how it impacts children), depictions of anxiety and OCD

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