Tag: indie author

ARC Book Review: Rebel Summer (Falling for Summer) by Cindy Steel

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 364 pages
Author: Cindy Steel
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 31st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Every good summer has a little bad…

I wasn’t supposed to be in Sunset Harbor for more than a weekend. But thanks to, let’s just call it—an unforeseen act of stupidity on my part—I’m here for the whole summer. And for the first time in my life, I’m in a whole lot of trouble.

The sentence? Community service paid toward the person I accidentally wronged.

The problem? That person happens to be Dax Miller. The guy who always spent more time fighting the law than obeying it. He’s also the guy I once told to have a nice life amounting to nothing.

So…it’s been fun being court-ordered to serve him now.

Except the more time I spend with Dax fighting and fixing what was broken, the more I remember that sizzling…something…that’s always been between us. Or that smile of his that can get me to do just about anything. Let me be clear, with a politician for a father, I don’t do trouble. But what happens when the temptation to embrace that inner rebel becomes too strong to resist?

And what do I do when the guy who has only dated trouble his entire life, has his sights set on me?

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

*INCOHERENT SCREECHING*

I wish y’all could have seen me read this book. I truly had a giddy little grin on my face the entire time (sorry to those who watched me reading at the gym). BUT IT WAS TOO GOOD NOT TO ENJOY WITH MY WHOLE HEART. Cindy Steel is one of my favorites and she delivered another swoony romance again.

There were many key moments in here that will make you squeal. I loved the immediate banter and chemistry between Dax and Ivy. They are EVERYTHING. The tension filled push and pull will bring you to your KNEES. Every single interaction felt tangible. I melted at each kissing scene and I loved how they brought out another side in each other. You can see the growth from their separation Dax and Ivy have had a for a few years and I loved the slow dismantling of their walls and seeing all the love that was between them.

This was the perfect adult summer romance book. I can’t beg y’all enough to pick it up. It is swoony and heated (kisses only!), has this perfectly tuned nostalgic quality and gosh dang DAX Y’ALL. I am not over this man. I’m just not over this book. The soft and tender moments combined with the fun and joy of falling in love squeezed my heart. A new all time favorite.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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ARC Book Review: The Offer (Scoops #3) by K. Sinko

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: NA Contemporary Romance
Length: 303 pages
Author: K. Sinko
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 25th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

For the past nine years, everything in Jessica Valerie’s life has been about being with her high school sweetheart.

Jess has worked at Scoops By The Sea longer than any of her other coworkers, designing ice cream cakes and barely scraping together enough tip money to pay rent and her never-ending pile of bills. Picking up a second job managing Post Road Market’s bakery seemed like a decent solution—until her boss decided he’s closing the bakery and wants her stocking shelves instead.

After burning bridges with her family long ago, Jess feels stuck in a life that never seems to get any better. So when local bike shop owner Kevin Perkins comes to her with a promising offer, it seems a little too good to be true. The catch? Leave Charlie for good.

THE OFFER is a new adult romance featuring a girl’s journey of finding herself after years of sacrificing everything for the sake of “true love,” and a golden boy who secretly can’t get enough of her.

It is the third and final book of the Scoops Series, a trilogy of stand-alone romances featuring characters of Scoops By The Sea, an ice cream shop in the fictional town of Haverport, Connecticut.

Thank you to the author for an eARC!

MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE.

Oh my gosh, this is easily my favorite book of the series (and I loved them all so this is really saying something). I have been chomping at the bit to get Jess’s story and it delivered IN ALL THE WAYS. And I really loved the new adult direction of this one too.

I am obsessed with Kevin. He is *THE* golden retriever. I could not get enough of his energy and goodness. It beautifully contrasted with Jess. The grump and sunshine was executed to perfection. There dynamic and chemistry, off the charts. I loved the slow burn tension. Waiting for the moment they finally came together.

And I adore this whole town. I love the intensely loyal friendships and getting to see Scoops one last time. I loved the themes, of knowing that love is out there, not settling, and reconnecting with family members. This is easily one of the best romances I have read this year.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low – moderate
  • Romance: fade to black

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ARC Book Review: The Breaker of Stars (The Curse of Ophelia #3.5) by Nicole Platania

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance Novella
Length: 220 pages
Author: Nicole Platania
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 25th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A war of fractured hearts.
A fate written in the stars.

Cypherion does not love recklessly, but he loves hard. And while his friends may have forgiven Vale’s betrayal following the Battle of Damenal, he has kept the Starsearcher at arm’s length.

That is, until his Revered commands the two embark on a quest to Vale’s territory in order to find the secrets hidden within her damaged magic. And with so many betrayals being exposed in her life, Vale has one goal: win him back, even if only as a friend.

With weeks alone, under the watch of no one but the stars, will Cypherion be able to continue protecting his heart, or will he find a fate that outweighs the risks of love? And if he does, will the eddies of war allow him to keep it?

The Breaker of Stars is a second chance fantasy romance with cunning political intrigue, sprinkles of celestial magic, and a dazzling love story. It is book 3.5 in The Curse of Ophelia series and contains important series details, recommended to be read between books 3 and 4.

Thank you to the author for the eARC!

GREAT ADDITION.

If you’ve been enjoying this series and are curious if it’s worth picking up the novella, I say it is! I loved being back in this world and getting to deep dive into two characters I have really liked.

I liked the pacing and story line. It really feels well woven into the larger plot while maintaining this as a personal story to Cypherion and Vale. I love this world and seeing another view point of it only added to the experience. There’s some good tender moments, a bit of spice and I am definitely curious how this will continue into book four.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance Novella
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3 open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: physical altercations, depictions of emotional/mental abuse and neglect, torture, physical ailments related to seizures

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Book Review: You First by Caitlin Moss

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 378 pages
Author: Caitlin Moss
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 30th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He’s her brother’s best friend…
…she’s his biggest regret.

Genevieve Michaels didn’t realize how much emotional preparation she needed to do for her brother’s wedding. But when Leo Bishop walks into the bar five days before the big day, she’s reminded of exactly why she can’t stand her brother’s best friend…and exactly why she plans to steer clear of him all week.

But within minutes, Leo and Genevieve are back to their usual childish antics. They grew up together, and they have a lot in their love for basketball and her brother, along with their innate ability to pick a fight with each other. But not this week. This week Genevieve is determined to play nice and avoid him as much as possible.

When wedding chaos ensues, Leo and Genevieve are forced to work together to ensure the wedding goes off without a hitch. As they eliminate each disaster, they uncover all the reasons they can’t stand each other, and all the reasons they once thought it could be love.

I LIKED THIS ONE.

New to me author and I am happily hear to say I’d read another book by Caitlin Moss.

This was a really solid friends to lovers, brother’s best friend & second chance romance. The combination of tropes worked well for me and I could feel the tension from the get-go. I liked the chemistry between Leo and Genevieve a lot. The flashback chapters weren’t overwhelming and added the necessary back story to feel all the things throughout this book.

There were a few plot choices that just weren’t my favorite. And a forced sense of drama that I didn’t connect with. Otherwise though, LOVED all of the basketball content, the HORSE concept was cute and I like how that was woven throughout. I sincerely enjoyed this story and look forward to more.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 3+ open door
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: brief mention of miscarriage, loss of a mother (theme throughout), cheating (Gen’s ex)

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