Tag: indie author

Book Review: Objection to Love (Greenbank Romances #3) by Karen Thornell

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 295 pages
Author: Karen Thornell
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 2nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

One thing is for sure… law school was way easier than love.
September Miller has a ten-year plan for success, and it doesn’t include a personal life. So why does it hurt that her colleagues think she’s a bore and never invite her anywhere? And, more importantly, why is she enlisting her new next-door neighbor to fix that?

Garrett has barely moved in but somehow he’s already caught up in helping his neighbor learn how to have fun. It’s selfless of him and has absolutely nothing to do with finding the uptight lawyer attractive.

But maybe agreeing to spend every Saturday together wasn’t the best plan for either of them. September’s plans can’t be abandoned and there’s an expiration date on how long Garrett will be around. So what are they supposed to do when more than just Saturdays start to look appealing?

Objection to Love is a sweet romance with plenty of laughs and a happily ever after. It is the third book in the series but can be read as a standalone.

SO CLOSE.

This was SO FLIPPIN’ CLOSE to a five star read for me. I loved 85% of this book. The banter was perfect. Had me laughing and smiling along with Garrett and September. I even liked all of the lawyer puns. They were woven in really well and the writing had me wrapped up in this romance. I looove that Garrett had big golden retriever energy and wanted to help Em realize there is much more to life than working and trying to continually please your parents.

There were many little adventures and dates that had me swooning and loving every minute. I liked the adventure atmosphere and the combination of all of these little things that brought these two together.

BUT THEN. There was a third act break-up that honestly made me so cranky. I can’t get behind a single reason Em had for needing to end things with Garrett. Frankly, I’m still salty about it. Everything wrapped up fine after that debacle, but at that point my love had been lost. It’s a good book and if you don’t mind a traditional third act then I’d say go for it.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kissses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: brief mention of loss of a father, references to child birth (side character), fetal surgery (side character), small physical injuries (i.e. sprained ankle)

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Book Review: House of Bane and Blood (Order and Chaos #1) by Alexis L. Menard

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: New Adult Fantasy Romance
Length: 432 pages
Author: Alexis L Menard
Publisher: Midnight Tide Publishing
Release Date: October 19th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In a city split into two opposing sides, power comes in many bloodlines, money, love, and-most importantly-secrets.
An heiress in the most notorious family in Lynchaven, Camilla Marchese is doing all she can to keep her family’s syndicate, the Iron Saint Railway, from slipping into bankruptcy. When the gorgeous and depraved Nicolai Attano, the leader of a rival family, offers to pay off the Inspector in exchange for her hand, she has no choice but to give up not only her throne-but her name.
Nico has his own motivations for their union beyond maintaining peace with her family. A serial kidnapper known as The Collector has been ravaging the streets of Remnant Row, stirring up mistrust between natives and descendants. If Milla can help restore safety to his streets, he’ll have no need for her or her family’s company. Find the Collector, prevent a war between their sides of the city, and pay off the family debt before she turns twenty-one. If Milla can fulfill her end of the bargain, she’ll walk away with more freedom than she’s ever had before.
But this deal plunges Milla into the city’s dark underbelly where remnant magic and arcane science compete in a deadly game of depravity. When forbidden feelings rise for her new husband and dark family secrets come to light, Milla must discover the truth about her past before it gets them both killed or worse-collected.
Set in a post-industrial age setting on a magical Isle, Peaky Blinders meets the magic system of the Grishaverse in this rivals-to-lovers adult fantasy romance.

THIS WAS INCREDIBLE.

Why did I hesitate to pick this up? The world may never know and I regret not reading this sooner. One of my favorite aspects was the readability. This was written with such ease and flow I could not put it down. I was drawn in from the first few chapters and smitten with the whole plot.

The BANTER and snark and dynamic between Nico and Camilla was everything. I was obsessed with these two and how they interacted. Perfectly heated and torturous where you can clearly see the connection forming between them. I loved Nico. Protective without being a jerk and was absolutely swoony too. One of my favorite micro tropes is when the guy picks out a dress for the girl and this NAILED IT. Camilla was stunning too. She showed a lot of growth throughout as she tackled new information about herself and understanding her spot in the hierarchy of her family.

I loved the setting and vibes this book gave off. It’s dark and gritty, filled with a steam-punk, gilded age aura but add magic. And it WORKS. I am so enthralled by this book. I absolutely can’t wait for book two.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: 1 open door; low innuendo
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: tobacco and alcohol use, kidnapping, death of loved ones, gaslighting family members, brief breath play, mentions of suicide (recounted)

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ARC Book Review: But He’s My Fake Fiancé (But He’s a Carter Brother #3) by Annah Conwell

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 275 pages
Author: Annah Conwell
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 4th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My ex-boyfriend is engaged to my stepsister.

Yeah, it shocked me too. So much so, that when my ex tells me, I grab the first guy I see and pretend he’s my fiancé.

Somehow it only gets wilder from there, because the guy I grab happens to be Grayson Carter, notorious flirt and extrovert to the max. Also, the guy I turned down a month before while dating said ex-boyfriend.

Grayson surprisingly goes along with my plan, throwing pet names and flirty lines at me all while putting on this protective facade in front of my ex that makes my knees weak.

But when our little scene turns into a full-on scheme, I find myself questioning what’s real and what’s not.

The problem is, if it is real, I don’t know if I can risk loving someone like Grayson. I have a feeling if I gave him my heart, I’d never get it back.

But He’s My Fake Fiancé is a cozy fake dating romcom for fans of sweet summer love stories. It has all the sizzling chemistry you love, without any explicit scenes. Check out the third book of the But He’s A Carter Brother Series, a series based around four strong, protective brothers finding love.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

GRAYSON.

I love charming golden retriever men. Especially when the anxiety rep squeezes my heart. That hit on a few personal life levels and I love when a book can bring that kind of connection out in me.

Sloane and Grayson were the best of opposites attract. I loved the banter between them and oooooh those kissing scenes were on fire. Booking a trip to Hawaii specifically to go hiking to a waterfall ASAP. There were so many sweet moments interspersed throughout and I absolutely loved getting to see the whole Carter family again.

This is a quick read with a cozy summertime vibe. There’s not a third act break-up or too wild of drama (but that one scene SENT ME, IYKYK). It’s heavily focused on the forced proximity and romance between Sloane and Grayson. It’s my favorite kind of romance to enjoy.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: heated kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: depictions of anxiety and panic attacks, brief physical altercation

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ARC Book Review: Betrothal or Breakaway (D.C. Eagles Hockey #3) by Leah Brunner

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Hockey Romance
Length: 310 pages
Author: Leah Brunner
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 4th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My best friend—and unrequited love—has a hole in her heart. Literally and figuratively.

First, Amber’s fiancé left her when she told him she was pregnant, and then her daughter’s birth left her with complications from a heart defect she didn’t realize she had.

I’m devastated.

Of course I offer to pay for her surgery, but Amber (stubborn woman that she is) insists on wanting to pay me back, which I don’t understand. As captain of an NHL team, I have plenty of spare cash, and I’m more than happy to help. I want to help.

So I come up with a plan.

I’ll marry Amber, my health insurance will cover her surgery, I’ll help with the baby, and the gold band on my finger will get my parents—who seem to think I’m incapable of love—off my back.

It’s a win-win for both of us.

Two years of platonically wedded bliss before we amicably go our separate ways, and remain best friends, as always.

Only, how am I supposed to let Amber go when I’m not only in love with her, but also with her baby girl… who now feels like my own.

And I might have to let her go sooner than I ever wanted to.

Betrothal or Breakaway is a dual POV, fade-to-black romance with mild langauge. This book is light-hearted, but contains themes of minor heart surgery, broken engagement, and difficult parental relationships.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

THIS WAS EVERYTHING.

I don’t even know how to write this in a way to convince y’all that this is one of my new favorite sports romance, BUT JUST TRUST ME. If you get nothing else from this review, know that this is my new favorite Leah Brunner book.

I ADORED Ford. I can’t wrap it up into once concise sentence. I just loved him. His personality and how he handled situations, the way he communicated and the fiery blushes he could not control. The absolute way he was GONE for Amber and Nella. The heated looks and longing glances, the caretaking and family relationships. He’s everything I could have dreamed up and more.

I also loved Amber. Dual POV romances always hit better. Amber was filled with strength and hope that each day was going to be a step in the direction and life she’s longed for. I loved how she realized her connection with Ford was deeper than she expected and how everything was handled between them. The fade to black scenes only enhance the story and showed how tender and passionate these two are. It had the soulmate level chemistry.

And I appreciated how many of the side situations were handled too. A lot could have been blown out of proportion and instead things were nicely wrapped up in a satisfying way. There’s so many moments I could pick out that I loved and I already can’t wait to reread this.

……the way I need the next book after surmising who it’s about…….

Overall audience notes:

  • Hockey Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: minor heart surgery, broken engagement, difficult parent relationships

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