Tag: indie author

Book Review: The Fall Back Plan (Sweater Weather #2) by Melanie Jacobson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 234 pages
Author: Melanie Jacobson
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The bad boy and the golden girl have traded places…

I’m back in Harvest Hollow after ten years to prove a point and to even a few scores. I’ve opened a new bar, and anyone expecting the old sweet and shy Jolie McGraw to be running it is in for a shock.

I’m not the only one who’s changed: when the sheriff comes to tell me I’m the prime suspect in the most ridiculous crime in town history, it’s none other than Lucas Cole, the former star of my teenage stress dreams, wearing the badge.

Seriously? The smack-talking punk I was forced to tutor in math is now one of the town’s most upstanding citizens? This isn’t what I had in mind for turning the tables on my former tormentors.

I blow him off…until I meet the niece he’s raising. I see so much of my younger self in her. But when I agree to help when she needs a woman in her life, Lucas uses it as a chance to build a case that he’s the man I need in mine.

That’s a hard no. No to love. No to Lucas.

But when Harvest Hollow’s nosiest forces combine to push us together, I’m not sure my heart stands a chance.

ENJOYED.

The second book in the sweater weather series was good! I flew through this and I am totally smitten with the sheriff, Lucas. He was my favorite part of the whole book. I loved that you could clearly see the turnaround he made and how he apologized and watched out for Jolie over and over again.

I liked Jolie, but I struggled with her need to come back home to be petty and mean to those who were petty and mean to her. I think a rise above situation would have come off better in the end.

The romance is good. It’s a suuuper slow burn and the pay off is sweet. I liked Brooke (though I still don’t get the point of the mentor/mentee plot??). All in all, a good read. Plenty of cozy autumn vibes and a few spooky dolls to boot.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: alcoholism, loss of parents

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Book Review: Easy as Pie (Sweater Weather #5) by Carina Taylor

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 243 pages
Author: Carina Taylor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 28th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My best friend is back in town—and I refuse to let my pesky attraction to him ruin our friendship.


Tripp Sharpe and I have been best friends since middle school. And when he moved away to go to medical school and become a doctor? We’ve kept up by texting, phone calls, and every funny reel we come across. I have one simple rule for protect our friendship at all costs—even from myself. But when Tripp moves back to town, I can’t ignore the attraction I feel. If it were anyone else, I’d just avoid him. But it’s hard to avoid a guy who thinks we’re still the same ol’ besties we’ve always been. Or are we? It turns out some things have changed for him too. Maybe I’m imagining the long stares, the lingering touches, or the flimsy excuses to spend time together, despite his ridiculous schedule. And when Tripp asks me to show him how I like to kiss? It seems like I’m not the only one blasting through our friendship rules…

FLIPPIN’ CUTE.

That’s the vibe of this whole book. It put a smile on my face and I adored Tripp and Hazel. There’s all of that easy banter that comes with having a best friend plus the slow realization that those best friend vibes have turned into something deeper.

The flirting was top notch and I loooved all of the micro tropes. Taking care of someone when they’re sick is always a romantic highlight. And the jealousy? I’m not sorry that those scenes turn me into a PUDDLE. THE TENSION. I loved the doctor and mechanic careers and how those played into the story. I loved the side characters and the absolute it’s always been you moments.

It’s a short, read in a day kind of book. It’s light and loving and easily one I would recommend for the fall.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of loss of a parent due to cancer, neglectful parents

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Book Review: Hideaway by Bekah Overbey

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 383 pages
Author: Bekah Overbey
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: May 22nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Maggie West is perfectly content with her life as a single, twenty-five-year-old homebody extraordinaire. But when her best friend asks her to bring a plus-one to her wedding, Maggie reluctantly agrees to go on a series of (increasingly disastrous) blind dates. Even worse, the weeks before the wedding bring her in constant company with Jack, the wedding’s dour, disapproving best man. He has a knack for showing up at her worst moments and seeing her all too clearly—even the parts of her she’s spent years hiding.

When a panic attack at work forces Jack to take a month-long sabbatical, he drives across the country to stay with his oldest friend. As exhausted and threadbare as he feels, though, the prospect of a month off is as daunting as it is unwelcome—he has no interest in rehashing all the things that led to his breakdown. The presence of quirky, accident-prone Maggie—and her uncanny ability to shatter through his tight reserve—only further unsettles him.

But when a rogue protective instinct has Jack offering to help her, the tension between them shifts in the wake of an unsettling maybe all of their broken, hidden places are the very ones where they need each other the most.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

WELL.

I truly did go into this hoping it would be a good read for me, but I just didn’t click with it. I know others who did so take this review how you would like too!

One of my personal preference issues comes from the extreme lack of dialogue. It made the inner monologues long and repetitive. Pages without the story moving forward because of a tornado of the same thoughts.

I also really have a hard time with a FMC who can’t see her worth. I know a character can totally start off that way and grow through the book. At 90% though, Maggie was still asking how could you like me, everyone leaves me, I’m not worth it, and I just needed to see some self love.

The premise was fun with the different dates and the wedding. I’m sad this didn’t work for me.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: brief mentions of loss of parents, mentions of anxiety

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Book Review: I Got You by Stacy Williams

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 474 pages
Author: Stacy Williams
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 16th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sacrifice…is there any too great? How far would you go to protect the innocent?

Maggie is living from one day to the next and making things up as she goes. Her life is four kids and a whole lot of chaos, but the best kind. Two years ago, she gave up her dreams, and after a devastating loss, she may have to give up one more. With four kids depending on her and not a chance she’ll let them down, she’s about to learn just exactly how far she’ll go to keep them safe.

Shane just lost the only thing he’s ever loved – the only thing he was good at – the only thing he’s ever wanted. After a career-ending injury upends his life, he’s forced into a coaching career he’s not even sure he wants. Just weeks into his new position, he finds himself tugged back to a time he’d prefer to never revisit. Now, Shane’s left with a decision that could change everything. It’s the one thing he told himself he would never do.

I Got You is a touching love story that reminds us that when everything else fades…love stays.

This is a closed-door contemporary romance that still offers plenty of spice.

AN INCREDIBLE DEBUT.

I am blown away by this book. I LOVED IT. I was absolutely SENT by this slow burn romance. Then tension between Maggie and Shane is next level and I love it all. And this really brought the steam without the spice and I will now be shouting to everyone to pick this book up ASAP.

I loved the journey Maggie and Shane went one, especially Shane. He is one I wanted to shake and hug all in the same breath. I loved the realistic nature of the romance and how he truly had to break down some walls and realize just how much love was around him. And I loved how Maggie was the embodiment of a sunshine character. Sunny and brave and doing everything she can to keep her siblings. And those siblings!! I loved them all. Realistic kids were her super sweet and I wanted the best for every one of these characters.

There were SO MANY good moments. This is a longer contemporary and you don’t even notice. The moments MATTER. The quiet, loud, angry and swoony filled. This does lean to the heavier side and will make you feel deep. The swoon and tenderness and all the dang things. I’m sitting her going over scene after scene in my mind because this is now living rent free.

I CAN’T WAIT for the next book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents (recounted), child abuse (recounted), parental abandonment

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