Tag: indie author

Reading Wrap-Up: March 2024

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Spring is here! And apparently that meant READ ALL THE THINGS. A good list of books to add to your TBR below!

Favorite books this month:

  • The Rule Book
  • The House on Biscayne Bay
  • A Drop of Venom
  • When the Moon Hatched
  • Walking on Hidden Wings
  • But He’s My Fake Fiancé
  • Off the Beaten Path
  • The Simple Wild
  • The Blooms that Broke Us
  • Radiance of the Moon
  • The Foxglove King
  • This Could Be Us
  • The Roads We Follow
  • Always Choosing You
  • Betrothal or Breakaway
  • The Rom-Commers

Least favorites this month:

  • A Promise Kept
  • Heart of the Valkyrie
  • On Thin Ice
  • In the Orbit of You
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  • [ARC] A Promise Kept by A.N. Horton
  • [ALC] The Rule Book by Sarah Adams
  • [ARC] The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties (Aunties #3) by Jesse Q. Sutanto
  • Reign of Darkness (The Fallen Kingdoms #2) by K.B. Benson
  • With a Little Luck (Fortuna Beach #2) by Marissa Meyer
  • [ARC] Such Charming Liars by Karen M. McManus
  • [ARC] The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton
  • The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard by Natasha Lester
  • An Improper Gentleman (Improper Agreements #2) by Audra Wells
  • Heart of the Valkyrie (The Vinland to Valhalla Saga #1) by Melanie Karsak
  • [ARC] A Feather So Black (Fair Folk #1) by Lyra Selene
  • [ARC] On Thin Ice by Anna Augustine
  • A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel
  • [ARC] A Grave Robbery (Veronica Speedwell #9) by Deanna Raybourn
  • Lore of the Wilds (Lore of the Wilds #1) by Analeigh Sbrana
  • The Blood Vier (Blood Vier #1) by Christy R. Harrill
  • When the Moon Hatched (Moonfall #1) by Sarah A. Parker
  • [ALC/ARC] Funny Story by Emily Henry
  • [ARC] Walking on Hidden Wings by Rachel Scott McDaniel
  • All This Twisted Glory (This Woven Kingdom #3) by Tahereh Mafi
  • [ARC] But He’s My Fake Fiancé (But He’s a Carter Brother #3) by Annah Conwell
  • Off the Beaten Path (The Mountains are Calling #1) by Madison Wright
  • Stay with My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan
  • In the Orbit of You by Ashley Schumacher
  • [Reread] The Simple Wild (The Simple Wild #1) by K.A. Tucker
  • Queen of Shifting Sands (Instanolde Chronicles #1) by Kaitlyn Carter Brown
  • [ARC] The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
  • The Words We Lost (Fog Harbor #1) by Nicole Deese
  • The Blooms That Broke Us by Ashley Dill
  • Radiance of the Moon by Ashley Worrell
  • The Foxglove King (The Nightshade Crown #1) by Hannah F. Whitten
  • This Could Be Us (Skyland #2) by Kennedy Ryan
  • The Ladies Rewrite the Rules by Suzanne Allen
  • [ARC] If the Tide Turns by Rachel Rueckert
  • See Me As I Am by Cheryl Wanner
  • Fall of the Horizon (Dusk and Dawn #1) by Jessica J. Ayala
  • [ARC] The Hemlock Queen (The Nightshade Crown #2) by Hannah F. Whitten
  • [ARC] The Roads We Follow (Fog Harbor #2) by Nicole Deese
  • Inheritance (The Inheritance Cycle #4) by Christopher Paolini
  • Winds of Change (The Descended Trilogy #1) by Bailey Estep
  • [ARC] Always Choosing You (Scoops Series #2) by K. SInko
  • The Tainted Cup (Shadows of the Leviathan #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett
  • [ARC] Betrothal or Breakaway (D.C. Eagles Hockey #3) by Leah Brunner
  • Divine (House of Oak #2) by Nichole Van
  • [ARC] The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

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Book Review: The Impossible Princess by Keira Dominguez

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 273 pages
Author: Keira Dominguez
Publisher: Klickitat Canyon
Release Date: April 9th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Hoping to carve out a meaningful role in the royal family of Sondmark, Clara needs to prove to her mother that she can be the perfect princess. Perfect means opening mass-transit car parks and giving speeches on childhood nutrition, without a hair out of place. Perfect doesn’t mean developing a crush on an unnamed military officer she sees once a year. But infatuation is a victimless crime, and nobody ever has to know.

When Princess Clara falls into his arms in front of a bank of photographers, Lieutenant Commander Max Andersen of Her Majesty’s Royal Navy is thrust into the tabloids, the gossip threatening his promising career. He hates the sudden glare of media attention and hates how it diverts focus from his job. But the way Clara feels in his arms is a different story.

NOT FOR ME.

Sucked in by a beautiful cover, let down by the story. I feel like I’m being generous with three stars but I usually reserve 2 star reviews for books that make me angry. This didn’t make me angry, it just didn’t have anything happening.

It was all too easy. For a princess x commoner romance I thought there would be some tension, some will they/won’t they, and that wasn’t here. They went on a few dates, they kissed, they confessed love pretty quickly too. Very predictable. If you’re looking for a very simple read that had some cute moments I would give this a go.

While it wasn’t for me, I did like the characters. The book was sweet. I liked the siblings and the relationships there. I love a Princess Diaries vibe with a make-believe kingdom. There’s some good positives here in the end.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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ARC Book Review: The Trials of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #3) by Nicole Platania

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 645 pages
Author: Nicole Platania
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 19th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Angels are calling, and so her hunt begins.

After the devastation on Daminius, Ophelia threw herself into restoration to cope with her losses. Two months later, answers to an ancient curse still evade her, a queen threatens her life, and war rages in the southern mountains. Despite her scars and the loved ones lost, Ophelia knows she must move forward for her people.

When a note arrives with the clue they’ve been hoping for, Ophelia and her friends embark on a journey that will test their bonds and their faith in the Angels.

Ophelia must unravel legends while navigating a budding romance and trying to hold the Mystiques together–even if it means sacrificing herself.

The Trials of Ophelia is the third installment in the new adult romantic fantasy series, The Curse of Ophelia. With roots in Greek mythology, heartrending love stories, found family, and a unique fantastical world, this series is perfect for fans of Carissa Broadbent, Chloe C. Peñaranda, and Sarah J Maas.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

LOVED IT.

I am just absolutely hooked on this series. I am in love with progression of both the story and the writing. Each book has gotten better and better and the way I love these characters is INTENSE.

The pacing here is slowed down a bit, but NOT in a bad way. There’s clearly a build to the last two books and I am anxious to see where those go. This also allowed for amazing character growth across the entire cast. I loved seeing both main romantic pairings (trying not to say specifics because spoilers) lean on each other and take steps on their own. This book is engaging and still has those intense action scenes where you’re not sure who’s going to make it back out.

PLUS. There were some amazing reveals that had me questioning the entire world and I love that. This world and magic system is growing even more and I love how the it’s been laid out. And I love that this book has spice without overshadowing the story. Emotional depth and connection is my favorite and there’s that in heaps here.

Another beautiful installment. I am obsessed with many scenes throughout (and my kindle highlights will back me up). If you’re now seeing this review, go back and start this series!! Absolutely worth it.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low-moderate
  • Romance: 2-3 open door; low-moderate explicit; light innuendo
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: depictions of alcohol/drug dependency, discussions of sexual assault (not on page), recounted child abuse, torture, PTSD

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Book Review: One Iridescent Night (The Iridescent Series #1) by Brianne Wik

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Brianne Wik
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 29th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When the clock strikes twelve, the magic is just beginning.

Between her cruel family, the loss of her mother, and the unexpected departure of her best friend Liam, young Evelyn was forced to endure a life full of loneliness, anxiety and mistreatment. 

Seven years later, seventeen-year-old Evelyn discovers that one magical night can shift everything she thought she knew.

Reunited with an all-grown-up (and oh-so-handsome) Liam, Evelyn finds herself unexpectedly introduced to her mysteriously magical grandmother that she never knew she had, and the dashing Prince Ryker, that she never thought she’d like. Caught between love and fear, Evelyn is thrust into a world she’s never known, with new threats she never expected and new changes she doesn’t understand.

Welcome to a world made dangerous by hidden magic, where a young girl must find her place and her voice while trying to survive the trauma she’s endured most of her life. One Iridescent Night takes you on an enchanted journey filled with hope, romance, and mystery.

INTRIGUED.

I’ll be the first person to say love triangles aren’t really my thing. I have to be in the right mood to deal with the drama that arises inevitably when so many parties are involved. I have had this sitting on my kindle for months and the mood hit and HERE WE ARE. I CAN’T DECIDE WHO I LIKE MORE.

I feel like both of the love interests are balanced well. I’m kind of waiting for one of them to snap (more or less) and to see some differentiation within Ryker and Liam. I’m hoping with the expansion of plot in the next book we’ll see some tough decisions made and that will give both of them larger character dynamics.

Evy was a good FMC. She’s on the softer side (nothing wrong with that! Just a note) and also carries that strength too. Going through hell and back and being able to find hope and mercy too is a pretty incredible feat.

I don’t know the last time I read a Cinderella retelling. With that fact I really liked this one! There’s clear allusions, yet it strays enough to keep things interesting and not a worn down fairy tale. I am very much interested enough to see how book two goes.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses + very light innuendo
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: domestic abuse, child abuse, whipping, loss of loved ones (on and off page)

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