Tag: indie author

ARC Book Review: Guarding the Mountain Man’s Secret (Brothers of Sapphire Ranch #7) by Misty M. Beller

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Length: 210 pages
Author: Misty M. Beller
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 28th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune.

Miles is the youngest of six brothers, and he’s spent most of his life helping guard the family’s a sapphire mine hidden deep within the Montana mountains. With threats from a past enemy looming, a survey team’s arrival stirs suspicion—until he meets Clara Pendleton, whose presence captivates him.

Clara Pendleton joins her uncle on a survey team tasked with mapping the coming railroad’s path, only to find herself entangled with the enigmatic Coulter family. When her uncle’s accident leads them to find refuge in the Coulter home, Clara is irresistibly drawn to Miles Coulter and his quiet strength. This feels like the haven she craves…until a series of mysterious attacks endanger everyone on the ranch.

As Christmas approaches, a sleigh ride through a snowy wonderland fans the growing spark between Clara and Miles into a flame, but a broken runner leads Clara to discover the family’s secret. Now she’s faced with an impossible betray the man she’s coming to love or risk the lives of his entire family—and her own uncle.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a mountain saga filled with high-stakes adventure, forced proximity, a Christmas surprise, and love that heals wounded hearts.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

ENJOYABLE HISTORICAL.

This was my first book by this author and I would read another one! It’s a sweet Christian historical romance with a bit of suspense that keeps you flipping the pages. I loved that it was dual POV and I liked both Clara and Miles a lot. There was an agreeable nature to both of them and the instant attraction worked well overall.

Now this book is only about 200 pages and that’s where I wish it could have been different. The short length didn’t lend itself the necessary depth to the characters or romantic relationship. I would have loved to have seen something more and get an expansion on multiple fronts.

I haven’t read any of the other books in this series and didn’t have a problem with understanding the basic character dynamics of the family members. It’s a fast paced read and great if you need a short book for your reading goals.

Overall audience notes:

  • Christian Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild
  • Content Warnings: murder (off page)

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: January 2025

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

We made it through 3438753 days of January. Here’s what I read!

  • [Reread] A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] Beyond the Crescent Sky (The Balkan Legends #2) by A.L. Sowards
  • [ALC] The Favorites by Layne Fargo
  • Our Deadly Designs (This Dark Descent #2) by Kalyn Josephson
  • [ARC/ALC] Gate to Kagoshima (Ancestor Memories #1) by Poppy Kuroki
  • [ARC] Of Flames and Fallacies (The Arterian Series #1) by Courtney Whims
  • Let You Love Me (Boys of Riverside #5) by Gracie Graham
  • Morbidly Yours (Love in Galway #1) by Ivy Fairbanks
  • Familiar Stranger by Caitlin Moss
  • [ARC/ALC] The Rival by Emma Lord
  • All to Pieces (The Seddledowne #3) by Susan Henshaw
  • [ARC/ALC] The Beasts We Bury (The Broken Citadel #1) by D.L. Taylor
  • A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson
  • A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young
  • Where the Black Line Ends by Meagan Williamson
  • [ARC] A Heart Devoted (The Penn-Leiths of Thistle Muir #5) by Nichole Van
  • [Reread] Iron Flame (The Empyrean #1) by Rebecca Yarros
  • [ARC/ALC] Rebel Witch (The Crimson Moth #2) by Kristen Ciccarelli
  • Seeing Miss Heartstone by Nichole Van
  • Know Your Newlywed by Elena Armas
  • Metal Slinger (Fire & Metal #1) by Rachel Schneider
  • The Heart of the Rebellion by Sian Ann Bessey
  • Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer
  • A Tribute of Fire (The Eye of the Goddess #1) by Sariah Wilson
  • When Alec Met Evie (The Appies #6) by Jenny Proctor
  • Onyx Storm (The Empyrean #3) by Rebecca Yarros
  • Class Clown (The Thornback Society #4) by Aspen Hadley
  • The Legend of Meneka (The Divine Dancers Duology #1) by Kritika H. Rao
  • Better Than Revenge by Kasie West
  • [ARC] Guarding the Mountain Man’s Secret (Brothers of Sapphire Ranch #7) by Misty M. Beller
  • [Short Story] The Situationship by Abby Jimenez
  • [ARC] Book Boyfriend by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
  • Unromance by Erin Connor
  • A Forbidden Fate (A Forbidden Fate #1) by Kaven Hirning
  • [Novella] Spirit of the Wood (Green Rider #7.5) by Kristen Britain
  • Smoke and Mirrors (Silver and Bone #2) by Claudia Cain
  • [Reread] The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
  • The Check Down (Lacey Bros #1) by Brandy Pelletier

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Where the Black Line Ends by Meagan Williamson

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 332 pages
Author: Meagan Williamson
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 29th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Reed Morgan thrives on chasing adventure. It’s why he doesn’t hesitate when he lands a spot on a mid-season wildland firefighting crew in the Payette National Forest. It’s the perfect opportunity for the guy who just lost the love of his life to his best friend and whose family rarely notices him. It’s not exactly diving out of airplanes, but it’s miles away from the opposite gender. Or so he thought.

Hailey Hart has spent her entire life seeking the approval of her father—a man married to his job. When the chance to work alongside his fire crew arises, she jumps at it. If he can see her as the EMT her mom once was, maybe he’ll finally give her the time of day.

After Reed and Hailey share a memorable first encounter on an airplane, they find themselves working together. They have two months to gain the trust and admiration of the one person they are both seeking approval from—the Iron Summit Superintendent. Neither one of them has time for a distraction.

But some wildfires start unexpectedly. And theirs is proving hard to put out.

VERY MUCH ENJOYED.

I feel like that sums it up really well. It was just a solidly good book. I had some minor hang-ups but I feel like I learned quite a bit about wildland firefighting and loved these characters too.

The setting was cool. I liked that it was basically in one location that provided a lot of forced proximity and moments for Reed and Hailey to interact. They had a good spark from the beginning and I thought the chemistry was well maintained.

Reed bugged me just a little bit because I feel like he wasn’t serious enough (and my personality was clashing so hard and shouting IT’S NOT TIME FOR JOKES) but I digress. And I think a little more background was needed with Hailey’s backstory too. We got a bunch of flashback chapters and moments that HELPED but I felt like I was still missing something.

Any who, truly good read. Hit on the emotional front too with the last 25%??! I liked the writing style and look forward to reading more books by this author.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: vague/brief open door
  • Violence: mild
  • Content Warnings: dangerous fire based situations, loss of life, loss of a parent (recounted)

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 4 (The Unselected Journals #4) by Beth Brower

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction
Length: 208 pages
Author: Beth Brower
Publisher: Rhysdon Press
Release Date: January 3rd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

“It all began very innocently. Truly.”

The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighborhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.

Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

WHAT A DELIGHT.

Geez, I love these books. They are so fun!! I love Emma’s voice and I found myself laughing so many times at the dry wit and comical antics that she found herself involved in. Not to mention all of the swoony men in her life?? This is the slowest of slow burn, sub plot romances and I was attached to them all.

I love Emma’s strength of character and ability to make the best of whatever situation has found her. This was another fantastic installment in the series and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Overall audience notes:

  • HIstorical Fiction
  • Language: none
  • Romance: maybe some subtle flirting?
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: grief depiction

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph