Tag: indie author

Book Review: Spark of the Everflame (Kindred’s Curse #1) by Penn Cole

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 440 pages
Author: Penn Cole
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When old secrets catch fire, everything will burn.

In a mortal world colonized by the gods and ruled over by the Descended, their cruel offspring, Diem Bellator yearns to escape the insular life of her poor village.

Her mother’s sudden disappearance—and the discovery of a dangerous secret about her past—offer Diem an unexpected opportunity to enter the dark world of Descended royalty and unlock the web of mysteries her mother left behind.

With the dying King’s handsome, mysterious heir watching her every move, and a ruthless mortal alliance recruiting her to join the growing civil war, Diem will have to navigate the unwritten rules of love, power, and politics in order to save her family—and all of mortalkind.

Spark of the Everflame is the first book in The Kindred’s Curse Saga, a four-book fantasy romance series. This slow burn, enemies-to-lovers epic is perfect for lovers of magic, dragons, angst, and banter and will appeal to fans of books like A Court of Thorns and Roses, From Blood and Ash, Gild, and The Serpent & the Wings of Night.

READ THIS ONE.

I’m always out on the hunt for great indie fantasy romance books and this one was SO DANG GOOD. It was balanced incredibly well between dialogue, world building, politicking, etc. that I never felt it was slow. Beautifully paced and completely engaging. I had a hard time putting this down.

I LOOOVE in fantasy romance series where the romance is a slowwww burn. I want to get to know the characters, I want to understand the world, choices and dynamics before running head first into a romance. I loved the way this played out and the subtle weaves being woven. I am smitten, I am here for it, and I HAVE THOUGHTS that I need confirmed in book two ASAP.

Diem was a great main character. I loved seeing her flaws and mistakes highlighted along with her strengths. She rights wrongs, takes in new information, and I love the passion she has for healing.

THE EPILOGUE THOUGH. I am once again sitting here saying GIVE ME ANSWERS. I can’t wait to read the next book and highly highly recommend getting your hands on this one!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: 2ish brief and vague
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, explosions, physical and weapons violence, loss of loved ones, injury descriptions, blood/gore depiction

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Book Review: When Kingdoms Fall by Callie Dahl

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 473 pages
Author: Callie Dahl
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 13th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Men feared monsters. Yet fear made men do monstrous things.

The gods are gone, leaving three races divided, broken, and without balance.
All that remains is a curse.
One to haunt and devour the mortals for their unholy betrayal.

A Mortal Girl. . .

Traifton has two rules: Never leave the safety of the walls and never enter the Wylan Woods. Those who enter never return.
Willa Thesalor is left with an impossible choice. Be killed by the monsters hiding beneath pretty lies and faces, or enter the woods and face its woes.

An Elf Prince. . .

Kauis Sylpetor is a prince with no kingdom to rule. He can feel his immortality and magic slipping slowly from his grasp. When the royal elf finds himself back in the cursed land of Kalandrae, he discovers something more addicting than his plans for retribution. Power. But to attain it, he must make a bargain and risk sacrificing all he has ever known and loved in the process.

A Fae Prince. . .

Sorean Valkian is a troubled prince with rare and unruly magic. He is days away from becoming the king of a hidden realm. Before taking the crown, Sorean must confirm the whispers about the worsening Wylan Woods. And why his mother has kept their kingdom off of the maps for centuries. But heavy is the bearer of a secret crown once Sorean uncovers more questions than answers within the god’s tainted lands.

When Kingdoms Fall is a New Adult Fantasy series intended for audiences 18+ and older. This is book 1 in a series

IMPRESSED.

Took a chance on this fantasy debut and I am HOOKED. I enjoyed this one so much!! It was interesting, had a romance set-up that I love and a story line I’m very curious about.

For the romance, I actually love (especially in a series) when there isn’t a rush to adding steam. It’s a very slow burn here, frankly I don’t know quite where it’s going and that’s my favorite part!! I’m getting to know the characters and dynamics and it makes my attachment level deeper. I can’t wait to see where this goes.

The plot kept me engaged and this seems to set-up the series really well. I liked the multiple points of view. I liked the conflicting sides of humans vs. elves vs. fae. The world building was spaced out well and the magic system connects well too. My only little ‘eh’ thing was the first half of the book I thought the chapters felt a little choppy. Each new chapter jumped kind of oddly and it took me a bit to get the groove. I do think this went away in the later half of the book.

I’m excited for book two and think this was a fantastic debut. I hope this review convinces you to take a chance too!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: two super brief scenes
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, kidnapping, creature attacks, near death experiences, physical and magical altercations

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ARC Book Review: Betting on the Best Friend’s Brother (Betting on Love #2) by Melanie Jacobson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Melanie Jacobson
Publisher: Four Petal Press
Release Date: June 14th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I don’t want a dating coach. Especially not one I’ve been in love with since junior high.

My roommates say I’m a workaholic. But when my boss temporarily suspends my extra lab time, my best friend and bossiest roommate makes fixing my love life her summer project.

My love life is non-existent, but makeover schemes and blind dates with her weird library patrons are not the answer. When she takes drastic measures and calls in her brother, Joey—one of Austin’s hottest heartthrobs—to consult, it’s my worst nightmare.

I fell for Joey when I was fourteen, and no other guy has ever measured up.

I’ll do anything to keep Joey from finding out—including putting up with a bombshell transformation—if it hides my true feelings when he looks at me. He rejected me once, and it nearly broke me. I’ll never give him that chance again.

Opposites attract in this swoony romcom. A brilliant geneticist versus a hotshot trendsetter she’s secretly loved more than half her life. Dive in for meddling roommates, quirky neighbors, Ahab the cursing parrot, found family, a sneaky matchmaker, and makeover shenanigans.

Betting on the Best Friend’s Brother follows characters introduced in Book 1 of the Betting on Love series but is written as a standalone.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

THIS WAS GOOD.

I love when a book feels easy to finish in a day because you’re enjoying it that much. I’ve been liking this new series and happy that book two was a great read (the first is currently my favorite!).

Sweet Ava and Joey were the definition of opposites attract and it played well into their chemistry. I wanted even more of them and wish it didn’t take until about halfway to some more proximity moments. The dating coach aspects were fun and I love that Joey kept crashing everything Ava was attending. JUST CAN’T RESIST.

I loved Ava. I loved that she stayed true to herself and also looked at how her currently work/life balance was affecting her. Working through the past and adding some fun back into her life. Joey was such a sweetheart too!

I do wish there was less Ruby. I know she’s the instigator of the bet and Joey’s sister, but I daresay it felt like she was in the book more than Ava.

Also, I have to mention that kissing scene was FIRE. AND MY FAVORITE. Everything I love about a sweet rom-com. Bring on the steamy kisses.

Realllllly excited to see who’s story is next!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a father (recounted), parental abandonment (recounted)

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ARC Book Review: American Gauntlet by Allie Lewis

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 452 pages
Author: Allie Lewis
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 14th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two sisters. Seven teams. One grueling competition. One life-changing cash prize.


American Gauntlet is the number one reality TV competition in the nation, and when Dani Di Laurentis gets the call that she and her sister, Lana, have been selected as contestants, she knows this is her one opportunity to change her family’s life for the better. After months of intense training, she and Lana embark on the adventure of a lifetime as they attempt to take on the Gauntlet.
Dani soon finds out, though, that the American Gauntlet experience will be more than just excruciating physical challenges. Not only is she tackling grueling trials, fending off teams that are gunning for her, and dealing with the psychological warfare of the month-long competition, she also finds herself battling growing feelings for her biggest competitor, Joss.
But what none of the contestants know is American Gauntlet has game twists they never could’ve seen coming.
American Gauntlet is an action-packed love story, featuring a fast-paced plot and a sizzling romance without explicit sexual content.

Thank you to the author for an ARC.

NEW OBESSION.

I wish y’all could see how many tabs I put in this book. I LOVED IT SO DANG MUCH. It was the most unique sports romance I’ve read and was incredibly well balanced between the reality game show aspects + romantic moments.

I would like to start a petition for all love interests to be tall sunshine-filled Australians. Talk about some of the best fiery banter. OFF THE CHARTS. The chemistry could not be contained. I was obsessed with Joss and Dani. OBSESSED. Every moment was absolutely stunning.

“The only thing I’m wondering is what it would be like to be loved with that kind of fervor…what it would be like to be loved by you.”

And the competition was INTENSE. Think Survivor + Fear Factor. I loved the set-up and how each competition played out. There was just the right amount of time spent wondering WHO WAS GOING TO WIN and time spent getting to know the side characters and having a storyline outside of the Gauntlet.

I loved Dani’s growth. She grew so much over the book. Learning to value herself and that it’s okay to put yourself first sometimes. Reconnecting with her sister, being open to love, and showing off the sportsmanship that I love seeing.

“You’re the rain in the desert, Dani — and I’ll beg for you.”

I can’t get enough of this book and I NEED Y’ALL TO READ IT OKAY. If you’re looking for a unique sports romance with great characters, fierce events, self-discovery and the sweetest ending. TRUST ME YOU NEED THIS BOOK.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: parental abandonment, a mother with past alcohol abuse, near drowning, allergic reactions, depictions of anxiety, mentions of cancer

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