Tag: indie author

Book Review: Love at Second Down (Boys of Ann Arbor #2) by Gracie Graham

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Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: NA Sports Romance
Length: 433 pages
Author: Gracie Graham
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: June 24th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Three years ago, Avery Astor ruined me. Now she’s back to finish the job.

I had the girl.

The scholarship.

The future.

They say quarterbacks have short memories.

But I remember everything.

Every promise. Every plan. Every damn kiss.

Avery Astor was supposed to follow me to college. Instead, she broke me in half and left me to rebuild my life from scratch.

That was nearly three years ago.

Now I’m in my junior year of college in the Big Ten, laser-focused, and headed to the national championships. I’m completely off-limits.

Until she shows up. At my school. And at the worst possible time.

She says she’s here to win me back and there are reasons she left that I don’t know, and she can’t tell me.

The problem is . . . I’m not the guy she left behind.

And I don’t want to be won.

A NEW FAV.

This is easily going in to one of my top books from Gracie Graham. I was glued to my phone y’all. A unique second chance romance you should read too!

I didn’t know how I would feel about Avery being the chaser/wanting the MMC back (because I feel like it’s often the other way around). As the book progressed I started to enjoy it all the more. I wish Avery had stopped saying I can’t tell you yet, but overall she was an FMC to admire and I liked her tenancity.

I was very much obsessed with Damon too. There’s something about a man eternally down bad that works so beautifully when written well. And GG 1000% achieved that nuance. I loved seeing this group of friends again and really appreciate that both Damon and Avery have strong support groups that banter and love them well.

The classic dash of drama/suspense that Graham likes to add in was present here too. I thought it was intriguing and watching it unfold kept those pages flying. I can’t wait for the next book!!

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Sports Romance
  • Language: high
  • Romance: 2ish open door; innuendo throughout
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: loss of loved ones (recounted), blackmailing

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ARC Book Review: Marriage is a Shore Thing (Wilks Beach #2) by Laura Langa

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 280 pages
Author: Laura Langa
Publisher: West East Publishing
Release Date: October 10th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s tough. He’s golden. One dare later, they’re hitched.

I’ve sworn off love, so accidentally marrying a stranger after a friendly game of Truth or Dare? Worst. Case. Scenario. Never mind that Evander Young is a brilliant ER doctor with a dimpled smile that makes my heart race.

News of our nuptials spreads through my small beach town like wildfire—only everyone thinks it’s real after a long-distance romance. With my mom ecstatic that her grumpy, boxing-instructor daughter has finally found love, it looks like we’re stuck playing house—at least for now.

The thing is, happily-ever-afters aren’t for people who avoid feelings like they’re a knockout punch. But Van’s golden-retriever energy keeps chipping at my well-forged armor, and the sizzling chemistry between us? Definitely not fake.

When a family heirloom goes missing, Van and I team up for a midnight heist—sneaking through shadows, racing against time, and dodging a few close calls. Turns out, the real risk isn’t the heist—it’s falling for my accidental husband.

Enjoy the playful banter and sizzling tension of this accidental marriage, black cat/golden retriever, small beach town, closed-door/kisses-only romance by grabbing your copy TODAY!

SWOONY.

Accidental marriage romances are so fun. And I think this handled insta-attraction + slow burn well. I thought that it was paced well (maybe a little fast) but that I genuinely started to love Van and Gen together. I’m apparently super into black cat x golden retriever romances and highly recommend you go try one too!! [aka this one because while it’s second in a series it can be read easily as a standalone!]

There’s just the right amount of small town shenanigans and I especially loved Gen’s tight friend group and the continual support that flowed from that corner. Van wove himself deeply into the Wilks beach community and I was smitten with him myself. I loved the heated kisses and the key quiet moments where their relationship was truly strengthened.

Looking forward to the next book!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: mentions of absent father, losing a sister to an aneurism (off page but recounted, grief depictions)

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Book Review: Tell Me You Love Me (Boys of Riverside #4) by Gracie Graham

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Sports Romance
Length: 385 pages
Author: Gracie Graham
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 28th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Brynn Nichols is an enigma wrapped up in a riddle I can’t decipher.

She’s my best friend’s twin sister, the only girl immune to my charms. Far too wholesome for a player like me. Getting under her skin is my favorite pastime. And it’s not hard to do considering how much she hates me. But when football and summer classes take us to the same college, her brother makes me promise to watch over her. Keep an eye on her since he can’t.

I try to resist her, I really do.
She’s off-limits.
Too good for me.

There are a million reasons acting on my attraction toward her is wrong. But her biting remarks and constant scowls aren’t enough to keep me at bay.
Especially when her psycho roommate leaves her in need of a place to stay. Inviting her to bunk with me for the summer is the worst possible idea.

But I never said I was smart.
Several kisses and one heated encounter later, I’m in over my head.
If her brother finds out about us, he’ll kill me.
So, we agree to keep it quiet.

But there are demons lurking behind her smooth skin, soft lips, and long blonde hair. Reasons for her ire I don’t know about. And when I discover the truth, the lines between loyalty, love, and friendship are drawn. Now I’m so far away from the line, I can’t even see it anymore. And with the way I’m feeling, I’m not sure I want to.

LOVE THE CHEMISTRY.

This book about lit my kindle on fire. I love this series and loved that this one had a college setting. Two people clearly destined for each other kept butting heads until they realized it?? Yes, I love that vibe. Brynn and Jace were the best kind of opposites attract and I loved the brother’s best friend trope here too. The edge of forbidden-ness was fantastic.

I didn’t love the way some of the third act was handled. It didn’t make sense with the character and story progression at that time. I felt frustrated more than anything but I am grateful that the ending fully came together in a really sweet manner. I loved seeing previous characters and all of those romance book moments that make you swoon. I’m excited to finish this series soon!

Overall audience notes:

  • New adult sports romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: moderate innuendo; fade to black
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: sexual assault and attempted r@pe, absent parents

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Book Review: Rookie Season (The Boys of Loft 3B #1) by Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner

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Rating: ★★★★.75
Audience: NA Sports Romance
Length: 330 pages
Author: Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 21st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He’s starting his rookie season in the NHL…

Noah Downsby has always had one goal: play professional hockey. Now that he’s finally made it, he’s determined to prove himself. And if he’s going to have the best rookie season in NHL history, he needs zero distractions.

But Noah didn’t plan for Allegra—Ally—Callahan moving in with him.

With her sassy smile, smart mouth, and bad habit of ‘borrowing’ his jerseys—nevermind her stupid cat who won’t stop sleeping in his bed—one thing’s for

Ally is officially a distraction.

…She’s moving across the country to start over.

The rumors say she’s a bad girl, but they’re all lies. Lies that have ruined her reputation.

So when Ally’s offered a fresh start in San Francisco, she packs up her life and brings her baggage out west—emotional and otherwise.

Living in a swanky loft with three NHL players is a world away from college dorms, but at least two of her new roommates treat her like one of the guys.

And then there’s Noah.The grump whose broody glances turn her blood hot. Who makes her feel both safe and sexy…when he’s not icing her out.

As things between Noah and Ally heat up, their walls come down. And suddenly, there’s a whole lot more than his rookie season on the line…

I’M HERE FOR IT.

I gotta say, I like this sexier writing style of LB & KB. It is that delicious level of heat without being open door and I can’t tell y’all how deeply I will BEG to have more authors in this category. It once again goes to show, you do not have to have spice to have a heated romance and I will die on this hill.

ANYWAYS.

I really did love the New Girl loft dynamics here. The boys were such gems and I adored the way they played off of each other and took care of each other. I love strong male friendship groups and that Allegra found her own close girlfriends too.

It did take me just a touch to get into (and I don’t know if that’s because I was getting used to the new setting or that the flow of writing was off for a few chapters). BUT, I thought things only got better and better and I binge read the second half of this book. I could not put it down and LOOOOVED it all. I loved the character growth for both Ally and Noah. I loved seeing old characters. I loved the protectiveness and all of the hockey content. Just so many good things stood out to me.

I’m very excited to read more books from this series.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Sports Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: heated make-outs with light touching
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: mentions of loss of parents (recounted), brief physical violence, recounting of sexual assault

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