Tag: indie author

Book Review: The Sin of Saints (Benevolence & Blood #1) by Lauren M. Leasure

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Dark Fantasy
Length: 382 pages
Author: Lauren M. Leasure
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: June 28th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Growing up in Eserene’s slums, Petra’s life is marred by unimaginable tragedy. Things finally begin to look up when she meets Calomyr, member of the Royal Guard and keeper of just as much heartache as Petra.

Once again, though, her life is upended when her mother remarries a Lord, forcing Petra to undergo a brutal initiation ceremony in order to ascend to the Royal Court.

As Petra prepares for initiation, news of a drug-fueled fanatical rebel regime reaches the high walls of Eserene. No one seems to panic, so Petra doesn’t either.

Until the city is smoldering before her.

Outside the city walls, Petra must untangle a smoke-shrouded web woven long before she was born. She finds her entire life has been orchestrated for one purpose, a purpose kept hidden from her until she unveils the secret that thrums through her veins. As everything she thought she knew unravels, Petra is forced to confront ghosts she didn’t know she had – and the monsters and demons that now join them…

From author Lauren M. Leasure comes the sexy, action-packed first installment of the Benevolence & Blood Series.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED

This was a type of read where I couldn’t tell you what was happening for 90% of the book and I wasn’t mad about it at all. It felt like I was on the journey with Petra as discoveries became relevant to her and betrayals from others brought her to her knees.

I enjoyed this one so much. The past and present timeline chapter flipping worked well. It did slow the pace down a bit, but the continual need to know what happened next was always there. I liked seeing where Petra came from, and how that shaped all the stuff she was going through in the present.

This is definitely a dark read. I honestly can think of maybe two things that could be considered good that happened. It’s gritty and disturbing and I just need MORE.

I’m already chomping at the bit to get my hands on book two. This one felt a bit prequel-esque with the pacing style so I know the second is going to fling us through the ringer after those ending reveals. The writing was wonderful and there were some beautiful quote worthy lines.

Overall audience notes:

  • Dark Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: two open door
  • Violence: very high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of family, torture, sexual harassment, loss of parents, drug addiction, mass enslavement, kidnapping, physical altercations, weapons violence, explosions, loss of a sibling

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Book Review: Lake Mistletoe: A Holly, Jolly, and Steamy Christmas Tale by Amber Kelly

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Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 224 pages
Author: Amber Kelly
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: November 29th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Life in the fast lane is what I’ve been working toward for the last six years. My career was all planned out running one of the hottest hotels in Miami’s South Beach. That was until our playboy owner broke a few rules, and my perfect opportunity crumbled underneath my feet.

So here I am, headed to Lake Mistletoe, a quaint little valley town in Idaho of all places. My grandmother, and namesake, left her Inn to me, and I am now sentenced to the task of getting it prepared to sell at the end of this year’s holiday season. My memories of this Christmas oasis have long since faded, but I’m determined to use this experience to further my career and get back into the hospitality game.

When Keller Harris, Lake Mistletoe’s resident craftsman, and unofficial handyman, offers to help me with the neverending list of repairs and upgrades, it’s the perfect opportunity for me to get hands-on experience. He’s talented, driven, and sexy as sin, but he’s also a know-it-all and completely unimpressed by my business sense. I can learn a lot from him but his stubborn self can also learn a lot from me.

As walls start to fall, literally and figuratively, I begin to realize that success comes in many forms and passion can be found in unexpected places. Will I be able to turn this season into a stepping stone to an exciting new career in Belize?

Or will I discover that everything I ever wanted was tucked away in the Rocky Mountains?

IT WAS OKAY.

This didn’t really do anything for me. I struggle with holiday reads having a balance between steamy and hallmark. Why can’t I have something in the middle, ya know? This felt like it was trying to push more steam than the actual romance itself and left a lot to be desired for me.

There was too much focus on very random details of Willa’s day to day. Really small details that I was tired of reading about. I didn’t need to know such breakdowns that caused me to start skimming faster and faster to get to actual dialogue and momentum. Steam was thrown in without much lead-up and that felt off/random to me. I wasn’t connected to either of them by the time things started happening.

Christmas/Holiday-wise, this is alive and well in that department. I do love a small town romance and this provided well in that regard. I loved the names for the town’s hotels and all the fun things that were part of the spirit there.

I wish this was a better balance of the two sides. Oh well, another holiday romance that leaves me wanting.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: multiple open door scenes
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a loved one

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Book Review: The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia #1) by Carissa Broadbent

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 532 pages
Author: Carissa Broadbent
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: August 30th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Human or vampire, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield, and always – always – guard your heart.

The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.

But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival.

Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown… and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him.

But there’s no room for compassion in the Kejari. War for the House of Night brews, shattering everything that Oraya thought she knew about her home. And Raihn may understand her more than anyone – but their blossoming attraction could be her downfall, in a kingdom where nothing is more deadly than love.

The Serpent and the Wings of Night is the first book in a new series of heart-wrenching romance, dark magic, and bloodthirsty intrigue, perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and A Court of Thorns and Roses.

IT FINALLY HAPPENED.

I have been on this eternal quest to find a vampire book worthy of my own five star rating. AND IT’S HERE. 2022 IS THE YEAR. This book deserves all the love and I beg of you to give it a chance too!!

I enjoyed Broadbent’s first series, but this already feels leaps better in the writing and world building, characters, everything. Her storytelling is even more impressive and that’s what had me fall in love with this book.

Oraya was such a force. I loooove morally gray characters and this woman is swimming in the color. She was someone I easily wanted to root for and loved the start of her character arc. Watching her loyalty to one side, and the slow unraveling of everything she knew is only going to make book two that much better.

The romance with Raihn? AHH. Slow burn perfection. The movement from rivals to reluctant allies to friends to lovers was fantastic. There were so many good moments between these two. I could not get enough of them. I liked the way they communicated and opened up and slowly learned to lean on another another through the fearsome trials they were going through.

AND THAT ENDING. Well timed reveals and betrayals abound and I am HERE FOR IT. Throw in one of my all time favorite tropes that I can’t wait to see play out and I am an official fan girl for this series.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: two open door; med-high explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: battle scenes, loss of life, creature attacks, physical and magical altercations, loss of loved ones

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Book Review: A Very Grumpy Christmas by Jerica MacMillan

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Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 317 pages
Author: Jerica MacMillan
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: November 22nd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My neighbor is a Grinch.

Since I run the Christmas Emporium and sometimes moonlight as an elf, that’s kind of a problem for me.

No surprise, though. When I brought over cookies to welcome him to the neighborhood this summer, he slammed the door in my face.

Until he brings his kid to visit Santa one of the days I’m working as an elf, and I realize there are key parts of their story I’m missing …

1. The little girl is his much younger sister, not his daughter.
2. He’s her guardian since their parents died in a tragic accident.

Now all of his handsome, broody glares make so much more sense. As one of Santa’s elves, I make it my mission to make this Christmas as special for them as possible. Which somehow includes trespassing on his property to hang Christmas lights and braiding the little girl’s hair regularly.

Despite his glares and grumpiness, I discover the soft underbelly of the beast. Will this Grinch’s heart grow three sizes as well? And if it does, will it have room for me?

A Very Grumpy Christmas is a standalone, small town, neighbors to lovers romance featuring a grumpy single dad and the sunshiny neighbor who’s determined to make his Christmas better. Full of heat and heart with an HEA guaranteed! 

IT WAS GOOD.

Three stars is mostly a case of not exactly for me, but could be for you so take this review for what you will.

This was a pretty good holiday romance. I loved the Christmastime set-up with the emporium and that the heroine’s Dad actually plays Santa Claus really added to the spirit of the season. Another sunshine/grump trope (common for the holiday reads) was used here too.

I didn’t love the friends with benefits trope. It’s just not for me. And things were waaaaay past my comfort zone for spice and I had to skip a lot more than I hoped/expected. So if you love both of those things, I would say try this out! The writing is good, and the larger story is very heartfelt.

The moments between Shane, Sarah and Sophie were incredibly sweet. Probably my favorites in the entire book. I love watching them become an unconventional family in the midst of tragedy. Sarah worked really hard to light up there lives in anyway possible and it played out well for the story. The conflict wasn’t overdone and led to a nice ending.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: multiple very open door scenes
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of both parents, depictions of grief (most often in a young child)

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