Tag: indie author

Book Review: The Embers That Remain (Flint Hills #2) by Jordan Abitz

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 410 pages
Author: Jordan Abitz
Publisher: CJ Walker Publishing
Release Date: October 15th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

What if the love of your life never betrayed you?

Cali Walton never expected the town she left behind to become her only option. But when her grandfather’s failing health calls her home, the nurse practitioner puts her career on hold and returns with her teenage son in tow. Nothing prepares her for coming face-to-face with Lane Massey, her first love, her son’s new football coach, and the man she believes betrayed her fifteen years ago.

Lane Massey walked away from the spotlight and pressure of professional sports to return home, where he now coaches young athletes and gives back to the community that raised him. But Cali’s return rekindles a longing he thought he’d buried long ago. Caught between old wounds, hidden truths, and a father determined to maintain control, Lane must confront the past and decide what—and who—he is willing to fight for.

Fifteen years ago, they lost each other. Now they must decide if the embers of their first love are strong enough to burn again—and whether they’re brave enough to stay.

The Embers That Remain is a small-town romance about forgiveness, second chances, and the selfless love that reminds us where we truly belong.

Thank you to Love Notes PR and the author for an eARC.

LOOOOOOVED.

Oh this book had me in the FEEEEELS.

I love the way Abitz crafts her stories. There’s trauma and deep cuts that don’t feel like they overwhelm the story. It’s a part of these characters lives and are spoken about with care and consideration and the raw nature of having to move through the world with these weights on your shoulders. I got misty eyed a few times reading about the way Lane would take care of Cali. To carry the burden for just a bit. It’s love on another level.

There’s so many pieces in here I want to touch on and I know I’m going to accidentally forget too many. I loved Cali’s relationship with her son. I loved the way they took care of her grandfather and the care and compassion that went into many of those moments. And I’m in love with Cali and Lane on their own. I love when characters are solid as standalones and together. The tension and yearning for Lane was coming off of him in ways and I am always here for that vibe.

Being back in this small town was wonderful. I love this found family and the hints towards future books has me so excited to read those stories too. BUT GIVE ME MORE KISSING OKAY?

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild+
  • Content warnings: a grandparent with Alzheimer’s, physical assault, domestic abuse, financial abuse

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC Book Review: Take Me Home (Honey Badger Creek #1) by Leah Brunner

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Cowboy Romance
Length: 357 pages
Author: Leah Brunner
Publisher: Self publish
Release Date: October 22nd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Harriet—Hattie—Townsend comes from wealth, is an Olympic show jumper, and the apple of her mother’s eye. Her life is perfect…

Until she discovers that her mother’s been lying to her since the day she was born.

With her world shattered, Hattie is determined to learn her true identity. She sets off on what’s supposed to be a quick trip to Whispering Pines Ranch in Montana, to meet her biological father—a successful equine breeder and ranch owner.

Hattie is less than thrilled when she’s met at the airport by a rusty pickup and her father’s broody ranch hand, Lincoln Galloway. The grump immediately dismisses her as a spoiled Pony Club princess, but she’s determined to prove him wrong.

Hattie and Lincoln have nothing in common—except for a love of horses and a penchant for getting on each other’s nerves. Their heated arguments quickly turn to heated touches, and they find themselves caught up in a whirlwind romance.

Hattie’s life back in California, and Lincoln’s scars, seem like an impossible bridge to gap. Leaving Hattie with a tough choice between the place where she grew up, and what now feels more like home…

Take Me Home is an adult romance with open door scenes. Closed door modifications are provided in the front matter for those wanting to skip these scenes. This book contains frequent innuendo and adult language, as well as grief over the death of loved ones (past) and a tumultuous parent relationship. Please use this content warning to make an informed decision before reading this book.

Thank you Leah Brunner for the opportunity to beta read this book!

I NEED A COWBOY.

Oh I had the BEST time beta reading this book. And I’m so excited that I can leave a review now just to shout how much I loved it!!!

I loved surly Lincoln x feisty Hattie. They played off each other well and the banter was bantering. Added in with some top tier trope choices and I was grinning from ear to ear. it also stood out to me that this was giving major The Simple Wild vibes (which is one of my favorite books!), so getting to have that aura in a whole different setting AND set-up was fantastic. I loved all of the mountain content and your girl now wants to do nothing but watch cowboy reels all day.

The romance is moderately paced with a it’s you quality. That undeniable moment that you’ve met your match. I’m a fan of conversations and arguments that all lead to genuine communication. And all of the side characters were TOP TIER. Don’t even get me started on Hank, Otto, Poppy, Madison, AND MORE. While I sat here and loved on this book it also made me very excited for future reads in this series too.

I liked that Hattie’s Mom was the instigator of I want greatness for you, at any cost rather than her Dad. I feel like it’s often the other way around and seeing this play out was just the right level of drama.

There’s so many scenes I want to love on in this review, but I’m also a fan of not knowing every tidbit going in so just TRUST ME, Leah Brunner has brought it and her cowboy era is going to be immaculate.

Overall audience notes:

  • Cowboy romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: two brief open door
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: emotionally manipulative parent, loss of parents (recounted)

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: September 2026

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

THE BER MONTHS. And what a good reading month for September! Made it through a lot and now I’m drowning in ARCs for October.

  • Ungodly Rich by Katharine McGee
  • Fossil Feud by Maggie North
  • Hawk & Sparrow by Ayana Gray
  • Catching Feelings (Varsity #2) by Emily Charlotte
  • [ALC] Fall Into Me by Juliana Smith
  • [ARC] Trust Fall by Lynn Painter
  • Steelborn (The Steelborn Saga #1) by Taylor J. LaRue
  • The Enigma Challenge by S.C. Godfrey
  • A Flame Among the Seas (Beyond the Tides #2) by Emilia Jae
  • Sea of Charms (Spellshop #3) by Sarah Beth Durst
  • [Graphic Novel] Rebel by Marie Lue
  • Our Strange Duet by Erin A. Craig
  • Further to Fall by Catherine Cowles
  • [Reread] House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City #2) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [Non-fiction] Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes that Dot Our Planet by Geo Rutherford
  • Runaway Rule (The Fugitive Files #1) by Jenessa Fayeth
  • The Gods Will Sing Our Song by Autumn Krause
  • [ARC/ALC] Empire (Heir Duology #2) by Sabaa Tahir
  • The Theory of Uncertain Things by Madysson David
  • Die for Me by Shirlene Obuobi
  • [Reread] The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
  • I Wish He Would (Sweeter Than Fiction #4) by Amanda Schimmoeller
  • The Winged Game by Sophie Kim
  • Resisting the Fall (Falling for Autumn) by Jess Heileman
  • Chasing the Rush (Football and Feels #2) by Lauren Rowe
  • [Non-fiction] Spooky Rivers (Haunted Hydrology) by Geo Rutherford
  • Alchemy of Souls by Adriana Mather
  • Story of My Life (Story Lake #1) by Lucy Score
  • Kobra (Inked Sap #1) by Cris G. Wells
  • [ARC/ALC] Guard My Heart by Sabrina Fedel
  • [ARC] Once, Again, Always by Amanda Gayle
  • Tempest (The Lyrian Sea #1) by Victoria Aveyard
  • Forget Me Knot (Happy in Honey Hill #1) by B.R. Goodwin
  • Threshing Day (The Empyrean #3.5) by Rebecca Yarros
  • Falling for Keeps (Falling for Autumn) by Kasey Stockton
  • [ARC/ALC] Falling Like Snow (Bramble Falls #2) by Misty Wilson

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: The Sound of Summer (The House on Harrison Blvd #1) by Meagan Williamson

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 360 pages
Author: Meagan Williamson
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 15th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Some sounds are impossible to ignore…

From the time he was a child, Everett Dawson has known he was different. But under his carefully curated persona as a successful country music artist, no one else in the world ever would. That all changes the night of his Nashville show when he loses control onstage for everyone to see. A mistake that has him fleeing the nearest exit and stumbling upon a woman breaking into his venue.

Trapped in the middle of her own mid-life crisis, Summer Rogers is convinced she makes nothing but impulsive decisions. Including the one where she offers to nanny for the newfound single dad with a career he’s desperate to salvage.

Accepting help goes against everything Everett believes in. But with a tour on the line, it’s his only option. He needs childcare. She needs financial freedom. It’s strictly professional… until secrets spill, boundaries blur, and sparks fly.

I’M NOT SURE.

I’ve really enjoyed Williamson’s previous two books but something went awry in this one. I think the focus on the physical aspects of the relationship over anything else kept taking me out of the story. It was spicier than I was expecting (not over the top, but didn’t flow well with the plot).

I sort of liked the characters? I did see the growth and acceptance woven into multiple storylines and that was nice to see. And I didn’t have issues with the writing style (aka I’ll continue to read Williamson’s books). There’s some sweet moments and good conversations at least.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemoprary Romance
  • Language: mild+
  • Romance: 3ish open doors
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: loss of a partner (recounted), discussion of learning disabilities

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph