Tag: indie author

ARC Book Review: A Tale Told by Traitors (Tales of Wonder and Woe #2) by Renee Dugan

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 653 pages
Author: Renee Dugan
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 8th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Set sail into the swoony, pulse-pounding, high-stakes second installment in the TALES OF WONDER AND WOE, a series of sequential standalones each focusing on a new romantic fantasy adventure!

LIONYRA VARA is not who she seems.

A humble immigrant baker living in Mithra-Sha, Lio hides a bitter she is truly the sole inheritor of the ruling regime in the neighboring country of Amere-Del. And now, against her will, Lio is going back—to the land of her worst fears and lifelong nightmares.

And she won’t be going the life of her oldest friend hangs in the same cruel balance. Their only hope for freedom is to outwit the people who seek to enslave them to the fate they left behind.

But to do it, they must first find their way back to each other.

RYKER KASSIAN is a man caught between desperation and redemption.

A legendary pirate swimming in insurmountable debt, Ryker sees only one way to slip the noose for himself and his beloved by offering the runaway Delina as a ransom for a lofty sum. But when the lost heir offers him a chance at something more—by helping her hunt down her missing friend—Ryker seizes the opportunity without a second thought.
It might be his only chance to fix everything he’s broken…and save his crew from slaughter.

As their hunt takes them to hidden pirate cities, sinister port towns, and the treacherous heart of Amere-Del where revolution threatens to ignite, all of their secrets and schemes collide. Backed against the tenuous balance of an impending civil war, Lio and Ryker have no choice but to confront the bitter truths they’ve fled from, the causes they’ve betrayed, the schemes for their destruction…and a rising attraction they both deny.

And with a ruthless regime seeking both their heads, they must choose which side of the line they stand on—whether they remain enemies divided, or become allies in the fight to shape their own destinies.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

A NEW FAV.

This might be my new favorite book by Renee Dugan. I know the page count seems daunting but I love that this wasn’t split up into a duology. Give me those longer page counts and also give me a full story and this delivered on both counts. I enjoyed being back in this world and getting Lio’s story.

I loved the pirating aspects and all of the hidden identities. The slow burn was incredible and there were definitely some good and swoony moments. And the action was dark and intense. There’s a gruesome angle to this book that I thought fit the pirating theme well. I was clutching my pearls and gasping on the treadmill wondering who was actually going to make it to the end of the book.

I had such an enjoyable time reading this book. I love Renee Dugan’s writing style and the craft that goes into each tale. Lio had an amazing character arc and I was absolutely cheering for her when the final change happened. I loved how strong and supportive Ryker was and how stalwart he became about being in her corner. I am in love with this entire book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Content Warnings: blood/gore depiction, loss of life, murder

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Book Review: How Jenna Became My Dilemma (Famously in Love #2) by Kortney Keisel

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 302 pages
Author: Kortney Keisel
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 22nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I’m fake dating a man I don’t even like. When a tabloid breaks a false story that I’m in a relationship with my co-star, Cody Banner, I’m positive my acting career is over before it’s even begun. I’m Done. Finished. But approval ratings skyrocket overnight, putting the rumors on the front page of every news outlet. Now I’m forced to make a deal with Hollywood’s most notorious bad boy and chain dater. It’s either go along with the fake-dating charade or single-handedly bring down both our careers. No, big deal. If only the lines between fake and real weren’t starting to blur, leaving my heart wondering if Cody’s just a really good actor or if he’s starting to fall for me too. How Jenna Became My Dilemma is a celebrity fake dating romantic comedy. It brings all the banter, sizzle, and chemistry while keeping the romance closed door. This is the second book in the Famously in Love Series.

ENJOYABLE.

I liked this one a lot. It’s a really fast read and I loved how easy it was to fly through. I love how Kortney Keisel writes a sensual/steamy type of read without being spicy. It was written so well in that vein and I love that vibe.

I really liked Jenna and Cody. The enemies banter was there and there were many great celebrity moments that allowed for that kind of forced proximity I love. Even the fake dating was fun to venture into to as well.

What I didn’t love was what felt like forced promotion of the authors other books through Jenna and Cody acting in movies of them. I don’t know, to me it came off kind of odd and took me out of the story multiple times.

Otherwise, an honestly good read. There were many swoony moments I loved and I thought the ending was wonderful.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of previous custody battle/divorced parents

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Book Review: Unbearably Yours (It’s Always Been You #3) by Elodie Colliard

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 391 pages
Author: Elodie Colliard
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 3rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A year of heartfelt letters. A chance encounter gone awry. Five years apart for a shot at redemption.

Charlee lives her life by one single rule: don’t dredge up the past. That’s why she loses herself in her work as a journalist: always on the move, always heading for the next adventure. So when the Wild Planet offices in Toronto are on the brink of closure, she jumps at the chance to save the place by helping shoot a documentary in British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest. Until she realizes who she’ll be working with.

For Oliver Reynolds, there’s nothing like the peace and quiet of nature. That’s why working for Wild Planet is a perfect fit. In the small touristic town of Pine Falls, he has everything he needs. Well, almost. If only he could buy back the family’s restaurant he lost five years ago. When his boss offers him a hefty raise to guide a Wild Planet crew filming a documentary in the area, Oliver doesn’t think twice. At least, not until he finds out who he’ll be spending those two weeks with.

A twist of fate forces these two estranged souls to collaborate on the project and put their grudges and wounds aside for the time being. Too much is riding on the documentary’s success for either Charlee or Oliver to delve into the past that led them to stop writing to each other. But will they succeed in working together and pretending the past never happened? As time goes on, neither can shake their lingering bond, but Charlee still doesn’t know why Oliver never showed up for the date they set five years ago. But getting her answer means ripping open old wounds. Will she be brave enough to face her demons?

Embark on Oliver and Charlee’s thrilling journey deep into the heart of the majestic Great Bear Rainforest and explore its enchanting wonders alongside them. And who knows, perhaps they’ll uncover more than they bargained for.

‘Unbearably Yours’ is a steamy small-town romance that delves into the realms of second chances, forced proximity, the solace of a chosen family, and the unshakable bonds that can be forged in a lifetime.

A GREAT SECOND CHANCE.

I really enjoyed this take on a second chance romance. I loved all of the letter writing. It enhanced the story and it was sweet seeing how Oliver and Charlee fell in love with a classic form of communication.

All of the autumn and hiking vibes were perfect for the season too. I was smitten with Oliver. I loved his personality and his tender nature and honestly, everything about him. Charlee was an easy FMC to love and I was easily in her corner. I loved how they came together. The chemistry could be felt for miles.

There were a few tiny scenes that I didn’t love, and the Trevor thing wasn’t my favorite either. Overall though, a lovely romance (I’m also obsessed with the cover), and an enjoyable read.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3+ open door
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: death of loved ones (off page – breast cancer and smoke inhalation)

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: October 2024

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I just want cooler weather.

Favorites this month:

  • Silver and Bone
  • Goodbye Again
  • Holiday Tides
  • Across the Ages
  • The Twisted Throne
  • A Tale Told by Traitors
  • Home Run Heart
  • A Queen of Ice

Least favorites

  • Kiss Me at Christmas
  • Blood of the Sands
  • All I Want Is You
  • [ARC] The Book of Witching by C.J. Cooke
  • [ARC/ALC] The Last Dragon of the East by Katrina Kwan
  • [ARC] Silver and Bone (Silver and Bone #1) by Claudia Cain
  • A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur
  • The House at Watch Hill (Watch Hill Trilogy #1) by Karen Marie Moning
  • Goodbye Again by Caitlin Moss
  • [ARC/Novella] Holiday Tides (A Wilks Beach Holiday Novella) by Laura Langa
  • [ARC] The Gentleman’s Confession (Matchmaking Mamas #3) by Anneka R. Walker
  • The Dagger and the Flame (The City of Fantome #1) by Catherine Doyle
  • Vilest Things (Flesh and False Gods #2) by Chloe Gong
  • Across the Ages (Timeless #4) by Gabrielle Meyer
  • One on One by Jamie Harrow
  • Tell Me You Love Me (The Boys of Riverside #4) by Gracie Graham
  • The Twisted Throne (The Bridge Kingdom #5) by Danielle L. Jensen
  • The Dividing Sky by Jill Tew
  • The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
  • [Novella] Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood
  • [ARC] A Tale Told by Traitors (Tales of Wonder and Woe #2) by R. Dugan
  • [ARC] Home Run Heart (Kitt’s Harbor #2) by Hailey Gardiner
  • For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
  • We Three Kings by Kristen Bailey
  • Kiss Me at Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
  • Blood of the Sands (The Ballan Desert #1) by S.C. Grayson
  • The Secret of the Book Keeper (The Secret of the Book Keeper #1) by J.A. Hemingway
  • Miss Adeline’s Match by Joanna Barker
  • Wanted: A Roommate Who Isn’t Evil (High Court of the Coffee Bean #3) by Jennifer Kropf
  • All I Want Is You by Falon Ballard
  • Season’s Schemings (Cyclones Christmas #2) by Katie Bailey
  • Fighting for You (Veterans of Silver Ridge #4) by Claire Cain
  • [ARC] Spectacular (Caraval #3.5) by Stephanie Garber
  • Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo
  • Not a Thing (Seddledown #2) by Susan Henshaw
  • The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain
  • [ARC] A Queen of Ice (A Trial of Sorcerers #5) by Elise Kova
  • Inheritance of Scars by Crystal Seitz

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