Tag: indie author

Book Review: Echoes of Time (Surviving Time #3) by Calia Read

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Time Travel Romance
Length: 321 pages
Author: Calia Read
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: May 25th, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

For Etienne and me, our love has always left a trace. 
It reigns over kingdoms, and rules over time. 
With Etienne now in the present day, the echoes of time grow louder. 
We must face the answers we seek to set things right.
However, we must be incredibly careful. One false move and everything we love will be destroyed.
And this time, could be the end of our surviving trace.
 
Echoes of Time is the epic finale in The Surviving Time Series.

ONE BOOK TOO LONG.

I think this would have been a great duology, but as a trilogy the plot was stretched too thin and this book didn’t have enough substance.

Most of the focus was just on the couple sleeping together? And I already skip over that, and when it really doesn’t feel apart of the plot it gets boring. I LOVE Etienne and Serene. They are fantastic together. I wanted more of them actually working with the overall story. There was another [spoiler redacted] sub-plot I was fine with, yet, once again, it took over too much of the story.

I liked that there were chapters from Nathalie’s perspective. She’s an underrated character and I would love to check out her story too (separate novel!). It also gave another side to the story so that things at least kept moving in some direction.

It was a fast listen, and it did have a good (and wild) ending. It was all satisfying by the last page.

Overall audience notes:

  • Time Travel Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: multiple open door; high explicit
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: a loved one with a traumatic brain injury, physical altercations, murder, weapons violence

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Book Review: Scales of Ash & Smoke (Ash & Smoke #1) by Emily L. Schneider

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 310 pages
Author: Emily L. Schneider
Publisher: Magic Keepers Press
Release Date: October 5th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She lived her whole life enslaved to the dragons.
But now she’s one of them.
Seventeen-year-old Kaida, a human, has spent her entire life enslaved to the dragons who slaughtered half the human population a thousand years ago. She is forced to serve her ruthless Master, Eklos, until one deadly summer day when the Prince of Elysia saves her life.
Prince Tarrin steals her away to the Royal Palace, shocking Kaida when he reveals that she is mutator formarum.
He promises her safety, but when they uncover a dangerous conspiracy to rid Elysia of the Royal Family, she begins to question how safe she truly is.
And when desire blooms between Kaida and Tarrin, in the midst of fighting for their lives, she must choose whether to save the very creature she swore to hate, or allow him to perish…
And destroy her own heart.

IT WAS OKAY.

Maybe this is better for a younger audience? I don’t know, things didn’t hit all the way for me. Lets get into it.

I am ALWAYS here for a marriage of convenience trope. What I didn’t quite get behind is how quickly the enemies were apparently lovers? For a fantasy that tops out at 300 pages I can see the difficulty in formulating the necessary depth in connections and relationships needed to fully be on board with what was happening.

There’s some decent world building. I didn’t feel confused by the set-up or how the magic worked. It wasn’t fully defined, but at least easy to follow. I loved the concept of dragon shifters and thought that was executed well.

This tried to be dark at times, and while things that were brought up were definitely dark, I don’t know that it fit? The whole overall vibe of the book + what it was trying to accomplish kind of clashed for me. Once again I think it goes back to the depth of connections I was looking for.

I won’t be continuing this series at this time! As it isn’t bringing anything new that I want to pursue.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: war themes, executions, torture, descriptive and graphic violence, weapons and physical violence, loss of loved ones

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Book Review: One Last Play (Sweet Peach #4) by Annah Conwell

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 271 pages
Author: Annah Conwell
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 25th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She could be the one. I’ve spent twelve years caring for my niece Maddie who I adopted after my sister died. Having a daughter has made me picky when it comes to the women I spend time with. Not to mention dealing with the pressure of being a college football coach. But when I spot MJ at a mutual friend’s wedding, something draws me toward her. My friend tells me to forget about her, but how can I when she becomes Maddie’s art teacher and our paths cross again? I ask her out, she turns me down. Rinse and repeat. But I don’t plan on giving up any time soon. My instincts are always right, and they’re telling me Meadow Jane Carter might just be my future wife.

One Last Play is an age gap, reverse grumpy/sunshine romcom for fans of sweet romantic comedies. It has all the sizzling chemistry you love, without any explicit scenes. Check out the fourth and final installment of the Sweet Peach Series, a four-book sweet romcom collection about best friends living in Atlanta, Georgia!

THIS BOOK.

I read this off of the recommendation of a friend as this is the first book by this author I’ve read and it did NOT DISAPPOINT Y’ALL. Consider this a new favorite in the sweet sports romance category.

I am an absolute sucker for he falls first and hard. Sebastian was that man. From the first meeting I was already swooning. It was laid out so well and I loved the progression. There’s cute moments, relatable commentary and some swoooony kisses. The third act was handled amazingly. Realistic conflict with communication is my jam.

Maddie was an adorable addition and I just loved her. She was the sweetest girl and brought another great level of depth to this book.

Meadow Jane was a character that frustrated me in a positive way? I got where she was coming from and she slowly made growth and listened to loved ones around her about being open to new love and new things and I loooove those moments.

The football content is perfect. Not overwhelming but I was an immediate Thrasher fan from the get-go. I love that Sebastian was a coach instead of a player and now I’m all excited for this spin-off series with Meadow Jane’s brothers.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones (childbirth and cancer), a car wreck with minor injuries

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Book Review: The Even Odder Couple (Apple Valley Love Stories #4) by Julie Christianson

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 362 pages
Author: Julie Christianson
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 25th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Spencer Crane thinks I’m a human tornado.

I think he’s a calendar app come to life.

While he schedules? I spin-out.

When I spontaneously combust? He overcompensates.

And this is why convincing my new boss to hire him is a completely brilliant idea.

You see, workplace romance is forbidden, but attraction between total opposites like Spencer and me is a non-issue.

I repeat: Non. Issue.

I only wish I hadn’t discovered Mr. Clark Kent Glasses is (secretly) scorchingly hot. Even worse, he’s funny and chivalrous, and shoving me straight out of my Tess the Mess comfort zone.

But we both need this job. Like, a lot. And if our boss catches wind of any fraternization, we’ll be fired. Not to mention my heart’s already at risk of being axed.

So when Spencer starts treating me like I’m a magnet and he’s a fistful of iron, I’ve got a tornado-sized problem on my hands.

Starting now, I’m doubling down. I absolutely cannot fall for Spencer Crane.

Even if my total opposite might be everything I need …

This heartwarming, hilarious romantic comedy has all the sizzle and swoon, but no explicit content. The entire Apple Valley series can be read in any order, so grab The Even Odder Couple today and get ready to fall in love! 

SILLY.

I know there’s a line for everyone on what’s too silly in a romance book. This one crossed that line for me in multiple facets and I think I’ve come to accept that this author isn’t for me. Her stories are sweet and there’s goodness here, just some frustrating things I’ve found that keep me from being fully immersed.

Spence was wonderful. I liked his nerdy and kind ways. He had that charming level of jealousy that I like he was clearly smitten with Tess. All good things for me.

Tess on the other hand? Would not shut up about some other woman that she thought (and then when was told otherwise, still forced) Spencer was into. It was annoying and relentless and I couldn’t handle one more mention of Kayla. Along with that, I thought the mayor was an odd character who didn’t quite fit either. You can fulfill the tropes you’re going after without a wild emphasis from other characters.

Anyways, I don’t know. The setting was fun too. I do love a camp setting and liked seeing that Tessa had found her element. The miscommunication running RAMPANT is about the only thing I keep circling back to when I think about this book. Oh well.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: snakebite

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