Tag: indie author

Book Review: Ashwalker (The Emberfall Trilogy #1) by S.M. Gaither

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 578 pages
Author: S.M. Gaither
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: June 14th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Long ago, dragons were unleashed as weapons of mass destruction, igniting a war that shattered the Empire of Kaldra. Now, the survivors of that once-great realm cower behind fortified walls, while the beasts terrorize the wilds between the broken kingdoms.

Arowyn Vale survives as an ashwalker—one of the few reckless enough to brave the burned-out roads between the walled cities, smuggling everything from supplies to secrets. But when she reluctantly saves a dying dragon hatchling on a routine run, she draws the eye of the ruler of Mouren, a brutal realm directly in the heart of dragon territory.

Once upon a time, King Reave Callahan’s people wielded powerful magic, bonding with dragons in order to crush their enemies with wing and flame. But now, that magic is fading, and law decrees that anyone who manages to bond with a dragon must serve the Mouren crown—even a gutter-born, half-feral ashwalker from the slums of an enemy kingdom.

Dragged into Reave’s glittering but cutthroat court, Arowyn must navigate a treacherous new life built upon secrets, ancient magic, and shifting alliances. As her connection to the hatchling deepens—and with the Mouren king watching her with a gaze full of both danger and desire—she will have to make a

To become a weapon of the kingdom that broke her world…

Or to burn it all down from within.

MY NEW OBESSION.

It’s been a minute since I feel like I have LOVED a SM Gaither book. But that feeling is back and I must tell you to get on this book NOWWWWW.

I have been begging that romantasy universe to bring back the slow burn. And I was stunned in the best ways to find that this was a slow burn. I think it could have been dragged out even longer but I was just happy to get this much. There was immaculate banter and heat that built chapter over chapter. I loved that Raeve and Arowyn got to actually know each other and let down those walls and communicate. That man is down baaaad.

And I love Gaither’s fierce heroines. Arowyn is not different. That woman gets up again and again to stand stronger each time. I loved her relationship with her dragon. The female friendships are incredible too. I love the loyalty they offer each other. There were many notable side characters that I am 100% attached to now.

The pacing and action beats were just right. It took me a week to read this purely because I was savoring it. Every time I picked it up I was locked into every word. I loved the world building and the reveals caused me to have to know what happens next. I must have book two! I need answers!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: mass loss of life, weapons/physical violence, war themes

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Book Review: Our Beautiful Mess by B.K. Clark

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Rating: ★★★.75
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 457 pages
Author: B.K. Clark
Publisher: Bradford Press LLC
Release Date: May 28th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two broken hearts get a second chance at love in this atmospheric, suspenseful love story.

Claire has never known affection. Not from the parents who raised her to carry on a family empire or her recently deceased husband, who only married her for that empire. She’s hidden every “needy” emotion, every desire, in the stories she pens by hand. No longer able to bear the shallow condolences, the familial expectations—the dark secret she carries—Claire leaves for the picturesque island of Solsken. It’s her chance to become the woman, the writer, she longs to be.

She never expected him.

Danny is reeling from his ex-wife’s infidelity. Already leaning too heavily on his best friend, he doesn’t need secretive women with guarded smiles and quirky writing habits showing up in his tavern, stealing his attention. He can’t allow the snare of attraction, that mouth, to unravel his carefully built walls. He’s barely holding himself together.

Then the whispers start, a cold touch while Claire sleeps, a window opening without her. Claire’s convinced it’s in her head. Stress. Until a blood-written threat appears, driving her to Danny’s doorstep. She shouldn’t seek him out, it’s not his mess to fix, but there’s the way his eyes never waver from hers, those tender touches she craves.

…And there’s her secret that could tear it all away.

ALMOST THERE.

I was enjoying this book a lot (and I did enough overall to read another from this author), BUT we lost some steam in the second half. Namely, the trauma dump. A good amount played well into the romantic suspense elements and then there were a few scenes that took it over the top and I was hit with a maybe I should throw my kindle vibes.

The romance was pretty good too. I thought the insta-connection seemed to work well and I was obsessed with the setting. It was haunting in all the best ways. I wish the inner monologue had been a little less repetitive though. I’m always interested in low spice/closed door romantic suspense so hopefully there’s future books!

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic suspense
  • Language: low
  • Romance: one vague fade to black
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: stalking, attempted murder, gun violence, loss of a husband (recounted), murder, kidnapping a child, cheating

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Book Review: I Wish He Would (Sweeter Than Fiction #4) by Amanda Schimmoeller

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Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 301 pages
Author: Amanda Schimmoeller
Publisher: ABS Publishing
Release Date: September 1st, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I hit it out of the park in the friend department. The dating department? Not so much.

After a series of horrible first dates, I’m convinced it’s time to give up on my search for love. But when my best friends convince me to try out a list of twenty questions to fall in love, I decide to give it a shot.

I go on a date and test out the questionnaire, but it seems the only answers I get are the ones leading me back to my friend, Austin Bradford, who also happens to be the star shortstop for the Louisville Mustangs.

Despite all my desperate attempts to convince my best friends otherwise, I’ve had feelings for Austin since we met three years ago. Which also happened to be the same night he friendzoned me.

When I have to attend my cousin’s destination wedding—who, might I add, is marrying my jerk of an ex-boyfriend—Austin insists on going with me. I tell myself it will be fine, just a friendly vacation. Maybe I can even bury all my feelings for him on the beach.

Except, the time I spend with Austin has me questioning if the heated looks he’s sending my way are real, or if the Caribbean sun is making me hallucinate.

I wish he would give me a clear sign, because I refuse to put my heart on the line and risk our friendship without knowing if our love story will be a grand slam or a strikeout.

I Wish He Would is a friends-to-lovers baseball romcom with sizzling chemistry but no explicit content. It’s the fourth book in the Sweeter Than Fiction series, following four best friends finding love.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

ADORED.

I think this is my new favorite of the series. I just had a blast reading it and flew right through it. I continue to enjoy this friend group and the way they show up for each other. It’s filled with kindness and saying the hard thing even when you don’t want to hear it.

I’m usually on a struggle bus when it comes to friends to lovers romances, and YAY, this was not the case here. I liked the realizations for Austin and Alyssa. It wasn’t riddled with miscommunication and focused on the intentional choices needed to see if their could be a romance relationship between them.

My small issue was some of the antagonists came off a little ridiculous in demeanor and such. But otherwise nothing major.

I loved that this had a dash of fake dating and baseball games mixed in with a destination wedding (+ a few of my favorite tropes popped up too!). I loved the baseball content!!! There were multiple swoony moments that had me gushing. The banter is fun and the whole lighter vibe of the book just feels right.

Overall audience notes:

  • Sports romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: none that I remember

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Book Review: Town of Shadows (Slanted London #1) by Jessica Scarlett

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Fantasy Romance
Length: 381 pages
Author: Jessica Scarlett
Publisher: Oliver Heber Books
Release Date: July 1st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In Victorian London, magic earns you a noose.

Eighteen-year-old Dorothy St. James can’t control her magic. To avoid arrest, she locks herself at home and buries her nose in her experiments. But a kidnapper called the Rook is on the loose, and his victims keep turning up insane. When Dorothy’s father is taken, she must exchange her beakers for bravery and find the Rook’s trail—the problem is, only one person ever has: a mysterious masked hero.

Ashley Gardner unabashedly casts illusions, using his charm to flit between the upper ton and the magical underbelly below. When Dorothy accuses him of knowing the masked hero’s identity, he flatly denies it. Until the clever beauty intercepts a communique he desperately needs.

They strike a bargain: she’ll give him the message in exchange for three clues to point her in the right direction. But Ashley won’t make them easy. In fact, he’ll make them impossible, because he has his own dangerous reasons for keeping Dorothy away—and Ashley always gets what he wants.

Through dazzling ballets, wild carnivals, and death-defying train rides, Dorothy must use her wits and magic to solve Ashley’s riddles and unravel her budding feelings for the illusionist mastermind behind them. The masked hero isn’t who she believes, and the Rook is closer than she suspects. While the game was always rigged against her, returning her father—mind intact—might just cheat her out of a heart too.

I LIKED IT.

I’ve read Scarlett’s regency books and was excited to hear she was trying out historical fantasy and I am here to say I am sat and ready for the next book. This was a lot of fun and an easy read to pick up.

I liked that it was multiple POV. While I’m still curious about a few of the additions besides the true MC’s, I think that will come in book two and look forward to getting to know all of them better. I really loved all of the sass and banter in the romance(s). It’s cheeky and swoony and a delight.

Some of the magic system components didn’t feel fully fleshed out and once again, I’m hopeful book two is a little more clear. There seemed to be a lack of boundaries overall.

Any who, solid historical fantasy. Definitely recommend!

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical fantasy + romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild – moderate

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