Tag: indie author

Book Review: If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 510 pages
Author: Julie Olivia
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 19th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My new next-door neighbor seems to have everything figured out. Small town golden boy? Check. Single dad extraordinaire? Check. Hot baker forearms? I didn’t notice them, I swear.

I, on the other hand, don’t–at all–have anything figured out.

Trust me, I didn’t think taking over my mom’s dream bed and breakfast in Copper Run Vermont was going to be easy. It should be a good place to heal after my divorce. But apparently my scones belong in the garbage with my small talk skills. As pointed out by none other than Cliff.

Cliff is inescapable. He knows exactly what people need–always. His charm, the way he wears flannel, and even his pastries, make not wanting to be friends with Cliff and his daughters pretty hard.

Friends? I can make friends. That’s safe.

Except I’m leaving in three months to pass the inn off to my little sister and get the promotion in Seattle I’ve been working towards.

So ask me why I’m thinking about kissing my hot neighbor.

WHAT AN ABSOLUTE GEM.

YOU SHOULD GO READ IT TOO. This book blew up on my feed, and for good reason. I was obsessed with this from the beginning. The 90’s nostalgia was in full force and I could not get enough of the fall vibes too. I adored the small town and all of the local shenanigans but also how everyone took care of each other too.

The romance is the best kind of slow burn. I forgot how much I LOVE an amazing slow burn (please bring those back). The mounting tension, almost kisses, brief touches, gosh it all had me BEGGING for more. And while this is an open door book, plot > spice reigned and it became my favorite type of romance.

I loved the characters. The black cat x golden retriever was crafted with the perfect banter and shade between Cliff and Michelle. I loved the family aspects and the reconnections and growing pains that came with it all. The characters really showed the best of be yourself and how someone out there is your match and things will fall into place. Love love love love. Catch me reading all of Julie Olivia’s books now.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3-4 open door
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: Beyond the Filigree Wall (Rivenwilde #1) by Melissa Wright

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 205 pages
Author: Melissa Wright
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 6th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A dark curse. A deadly secret. The ill-fated girl at the heart of both.

Antonetta Ostwind is about to get everything she’s ever wanted. If all goes to plan, she’ll end the fae, steal back what was stolen, and win the post she’s dreamed of since she was a girl.

There’s just one problem. His name is Gideon Alexander.

Gideon holds the key to her coveted post. He’s fantastic with a sword, looks amazing in uniform, and commands even the adoration of his great, beastly dog. He’s living the life Etta needs.

Gideon doesn’t believe Etta should have any of it. In fact, he’s planning to make sure she never does. And that’s a real problem, because if Etta can’t take her post as marshal, how can she have her vengeance and save the kingdom from the prince of the fae?

Slip into clean, slow-burn romance with a properly stabby heroine and the low commitment of a standalone series in this light regency fantasy romp for fans of Enchantment of Ravens and Little Thieves.

SOLID STANDALONE.

I needed something quick, fantasy and enjoyable and this hit all of those marks for me. It’s a 6-hour audiobook that brought some swoon, is in the sweet category and had some naughty fae causing chaos.

The main characters were great and I loved that it was dual POV. There’s not an over complicated plot and just enough happening that it works well within a short book. Definitely recommend for those wanted to mix things up and need a good slow burn.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Lake of Glass (Archives of the Warden #1) by V.K. Dixon

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Mystery
Length: 346 pages
Author: V.K. Dixon
Publisher: Xenia House Press
Release Date: October 18th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An inheritance they never expected will change their lives, reveal long-held secrets, & expose a world they didn’t know existed….

Brothers and co-authors, Peter and Spencer Collins, are living the life of the struggling artist. When their estranged Great-Aunt leaves her house and extensive inheritance to them in her will, it seems their dreams can come true. Picking up their whole lives, the brothers move to the tiny town of DeVerre, WA, to become full-time authors. But as strange occurrences and a string of animal attacks arise in the town, the brothers begin to feel as though they’ve stepped into one of their own mysteries.
Questioning their choice to uproot their entire lives, Peter and Spencer find themselves thrown into danger they never expected as secrets and conspiracies are uncovered in DeVerre — along with a link to the supernatural.
The brothers must decide if the success of their career and the truth behind these life-changing secrets are worth potentially risking their lives as they are drawn into a mystery filled with the ghosts, phantoms, and beasts of the spirit world.

NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.

The cover of this book gave me some haunted gothic mansion vibes. And while that was there a little bit, ultimately this book wasn’t what I thought and didn’t keep me interested enough to want to read book two.

What this mostly consisted of were two brothers getting to know this tiny town that had “secrets.” And all of the townspeople kept repeating the same phrases of just get to know us and I’m sitting here thinking I still don’t know them. There were some convoluted family lines and bad blood scenarios and Spencer and Preston naively walked in thinking they could fix it all???

Not to mention the whole shadow plane + religious aspects didn’t pan out either. I was fine with the combination but the execution was lacking. I thought some thoughts didn’t quite work and pulled me out of the story.

This wasn’t a hate read by any means, just a not for me book that saddens me because I have been looking forward to picking this up for the fall.

Overall audience notes:

  • Mystery
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: flirting
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, near death experiences, ghost encounters

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ARC Book Review: The Myths of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #4) by Nicole Platania

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 686 pages
Author: Nicole Platania
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 21st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Constellations may fall,
but perhaps all the myths are alive.

Ophelia has survived warfare, curses, and betrayals. Now, as the Revered of the Mystique Warriors and the Chosen of the Angels, she faces an unprecedented threat: The bloodthirsty Queen of the Fae sails for the shores of Gallantia. To ensure the safety of her people, Ophelia is forced into a deadly bargain.

As the hunt for the remaining two Angel emblems continues–now with newfound allies–Ophelia’s chosen family is thrown into peril and prophecies. Fates are questioned, magic seeks to kill, and each day, the Angels try to bend Ophelia further to their will.

But she is born of myths and legend, and she will scorch the deities before they pull her strings. Can Ophelia discover the remedy to the Angelcurse and harness her newfound power, or will centuries-old secrets rip her apart at the seams?

The Myths of Ophelia is book four in the Curse of Ophelia series, a new adult epic romantic fantasy with inspiration from Greek Mythology. It’s a high-stakes warrior adventure filled with bantering found family, meddling gods and Angels, and multiple slow burn romances, perfect for fans of Carissa Broadbent, Sarah J Maas, and Chloe C. Peñaranda.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

DEVASTATION.

I’m back for another review for this series and once again in desperate need of more people to pick it up!! If you’re looking for something with Throne of Glass vibes (but is its own story!!) then you have to try TCOO.

I’ll be brief for lack of wanting to spoil anything for anyone who’s reading this without having read the other books. BUT essentially, there’s more of everything. The world building is continually expanding, I love seeing where the magic system is going and the mythical creatures that are popping up are my favorite.

I love how many POV’s are present and how this also adds more romances (and I think I spotted another one that I’m already obsessed with). I love this entire cast. I love how the different strengths and weaknesses in this found family have come together to work towards the greater good of their lands. I am anxiously waiting for the next (and I believe last?) installment. It’ll gut me, AND I’M READY.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate – high
  • Romance: multiple open door (plot > spice though)
  • Violence: high

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