Tag: indie author

Book Review: Taken With Trouble (Caught in Chaos #2) by Jenessa Fayeth

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 263 pages
Author: Jenessa Fayeth
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 10th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Serena Cruz

Being taken hostage by a criminal was not on my agenda for the week. The plan was to catch Liam Hawthorne, the billionaire con artist, and finally prove myself and gain the attention of my boss.

Liam caught me instead.

Forget the bounty, I’m killing him. However, it’s proving a rather difficult task–especially when he convinces me to help him.

He’s trying to con me, but I won’t be falling for it.

Unfortunately, ignoring his flirtations and kindness is getting harder. It’s possible the conman is…more than he seems.

Falling for him would be stupid, especially with bullets flying and lives in danger. So why do I melt every time he touches me?

Only one of us will make it out of this mess a free person, and it’s going to be me.

Liam Hawthorne

I’ve stolen many priceless and beautiful things, but nothing compares to FBI Agent Serena Cruz. I rather enjoy the company of the feisty woman intent on killing me…clearly I’ve been on the run for too long. Or has pulling guns on someone always been this seductive?

I digress. I took her to save her, though she doesn’t believe that. I can’t say I blame her when there’s someone trying to kill us at every turn.

It’s all my fault. I tried to be better, but instead, I dragged her into this mess and now our lives are both in danger.

I was fine when it was only my life on the line.

Serena Cruz has stolen my heart.

OKAY THIS WAS GREAT.

My first book by this author but certainly not my last. This really grew on me and by the end I was glued to my screen because I had been utterly charmed.

I WILL NOTE NOW, please read the first book in this series before this. My original understanding was that these were standalones. But the whole time I was reading Taken I thought I was missing some information and lo and behold, that shows up in book one.

Liam is such a golden retriever puppy. And I adored his energy. Apparently I really love this dynamic. The flirting and protectiveness and the history?? Stop it right now. The banter was great and I appreciated the fast paced that kept things moving. I want more spy rom-coms like this now. Fun and sweet with some hold your breath moments. Looking forward to more!

Overall audience notes:

  • Spy Rom-Com
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: physical violence, weapons violence, kidnapping, attempted murder

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Book Review: Reign of Darkness (The Fallen Kingdoms #2) by K.B. Benson

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 540 pages
Author: K.B. Benson
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 16th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Darkness is a vicious evil no mortal can escape. But I’m no stranger to darkness, and I never intend to be free.

With new, unfathomable power, Ari won’t rest until she gets her revenge. But she is blinded by her vengeance, and when Caelum arrives in Eida, she never imagined he’d take it for his own.

Blood fills the streets. Death lingers in the air. Caelum has come to steal Ari’s power and build an army filled with monsters and magic. An army he has every intention of unleashing on the human world.

Unless she stops him.

Fiercely loyal to the realm he calls home, Graeden will do whatever it takes to protect it. But as an insurrection forms against the Starfallen’s new queen, Graeden finds his loyalty is no longer fixed firmly on the realm or the crown.

Unable to douse the fire Ari stirs within him, Graeden finds it isn’t enough to protect her. He wants her. All of her. The one person in the entire realm he can’t have.

As Caelum pushes the realm toward its destruction, there is only one way for Ari and Graeden to keep those they love safe, and they must both decide what they’re willing to risk … and who they’re willing to kill.

Reign of Darkness is the second book in KB Benson’s The Fallen Kingdoms series, an upper YA high fantasy. If you like slow-burn romance, action-packed battles, dragons and monsters, and unique magic systems, then you’ll love this fast-paced, page-turning series. Grab your copy and reenter Eida!

PACING ISSUES.

I really enjoyed book one and have been excited for this continuation. Unfortunately I feel like this severely lacked in plot movement and over the course of 500 pages, not a lot happened.

Ari spent most of the book arguing with Caelum and almost taking him out, but not yet. Rinse and repeat. Graeden and the romance were on the sideline too. There was a fantastically steamy make-out scene, but it almost felt out of left field after Ari and Graeden hadn’t spent much time together.

I don’t know now if I want to pick up book three. It is written well, it’s more a plot choices that were frustrating.

Overall audience notes:

  • New Adult Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very low
  • Romance: make-out
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: We Redeemed the Rain (Meadowbrook Ranch #1) by Ashley Dill

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 438 pages
Author: Ashley Dill
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 19th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

“Everyone should find someone to share their story with.”

Exhausted and burnt-out, singer-songwriter, Bea Thompson, needs a break and some space from her once-promising career as an indie musician. Seeking refuge from the crushing pressures of the industry, she books a last minute stay at a special childhood sanctuary, the birthplace of her most treasured friendship, Meadowbrook Ranch. She only hopes the boy she found in the hayloft all those years ago still lives there.

Over the years, lone cowboy, Samuel Taggart (Tag), has built a name for himself as a stock contractor for the rodeo circuit. Shackled by the trauma of childhood sexual abuse, he’s resigned himself to a life of solitude at Meadowbrook Ranch, working around the clock for the only family he’s ever been able to count on—the horses.

But one stormy night, an unexpected visitor upends his quiet life. The girl from the hayloft—his long term pen pal—is back, covered head to toe in mud, and excited to see him.

After spending years pouring his heart out through letters to Bea, finally seeing her again face-to-face sends his heart into lockdown.

Will he trust his old friend with the painful storms of his past, or will the rain prove that some souls are too far gone for love?

We Redeemed the Rain, is a contemporary romance set in Central Texas and the first installment of Meadowbrook Ranch—an emotional series about trauma, healing, and love amid crisis.

BEAUTIFUL READ.

This was a heavy hitter and an emotional read that also brought the infused sense of hope and healing. I thought the tough conversations and themes were handled with care and were genuine to the story and creating a beautiful romance between two people who deserved each other.

I loved the Texas ranch setting. Going to rodeos, riding horses and taking care of all of the things that pop up in-between. I enjoyed seeing Bea and Tag work together and how Bea constantly met Tag where he was, yet also let him know she was a safe place to land. This was one of those reads that had me shouting for them to kiss. The near moments were tangible and I loved loved loved the way the slow burn was crafted around needed conversations and rough and tender moments.

Incredible writing, all the cowboy content, and just a book I could NOT put down. I loved everything about this story and the message it created. I could comment on so many little plot decisions that made this book sing. It’s those small moments that bring a story home for me and gosh dang, I love Tag and Bea.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: mild – moderate
  • Content Warnings: child sexual assault, child abuse, PTSD (including dissociative episodes), suicide attempt (recounted), substance abuse

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: March 2025

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I finally see the sun! And I am no longer a husk. I made it through another wide range of books and survived getting all 15+ ARCs read and posted about on my pages!

Happy reading y’all.

  • Of Song and Darkness by Jessica Spruill
  • [ARC] A Dance of Lies (A Dance of Lies #1) by Brittney Arena
  • [Novella] En Route to Romance by Laura Langa
  • Dawn of Vengeance (The Droseran Saga #2) by Ronie Kendig
  • Magnolia Parks (Magnolia Parks Universe #1) by Jessa Hastings
  • [ARC/ALC] Beautiful Exiles (Sparrow Falls #4) by Catherine Cowles
  • Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave (Finlay Donovan #5) by Elle Cosimano
  • [ARC] Love Bites (Timber Creek #2) by Aimee Vance and B. Perkins
  • Oathbound (The Legendborn Cycle #3) by Tracy Deonn
  • [ARC] All’s Fair in Love and Blackmail by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
  • The Sword of Kaigan by M.L. Wang
  • It All Comes Back to You by Melissa Wiesner
  • [Reread] The Winner’s Curse (The Winner’s Trilogy #1) by Marie Rutkoski
  • If I Never Remember (Remember Me #1) by Meagan Williamson
  • Something Like Fate by Amy Lea
  • [ARC] Petals and Plot Twists (Only Magic in the Building) by Jenny Proctor
  • The Cupid Chronicles (Only Magic in the Building) by Courtney Walsh
  • [Reread] The Winner’s Crime (The Winner’s Trilogy #2) by Marie Rutkoski
  • [Reread] The Winner’s Kiss (The Winner’s Trilogy #3) by Marie Rutkoski
  • [ARC] A Time Traveler’s Masquerade (A McQuivey’s Costume Shop Romance) by Sian Ann Bessey
  • Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales (Emily Wilde #3) by Heather Fawcett
  • Things I Wish I Said by Gracie Graham
  • Wormwood Abbey (The Secrets of Ormdale #1) by Christina Baehr
  • The Lost Ticket by Freya Sampson
  • Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker
  • Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff
  • Empire of Shadows (Raiders of the Arcana #1) by Jacquelyn Benson
  • [ARC] What Blooms From Death (What Blooms From Death #1) by S.M. Gaither
  • [ARC/ALC] Lady Knight (The Diamonds #2) by Amalie Howard
  • Off the Hook (Never Harbor #1) by Julie Olivia
  • The Deathly Grimm (The Forest Grimm Duology #2) by Kathryn Purdie
  • Misfortune and Mr. Right (Only Magic in the Building) by Savannah Scott
  • [ARC] Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
  • Tomb of the Sun King (Raiders of the Arcana #2) by Jacquelyn Benson
  • [ARC] The Voice We Find (Fog Harbor #3) by Nicole Deese

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