Tag: indie author

Book Review: When Gracie Met the Grump by Mariana Zapata

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Sci-Fi Romance
Length: 640 pages
Author: Mariana Zapata
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: September 16th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Of all the things that could have landed in her yard… it had to be him.

For most people, finding a half-naked superbeing in their yard might be a dream come true.

Unfortunately for Gracie Castro, it’s the exact opposite.

Especially when he’s grouchy, rude, and shows no signs of leaving anytime soon.

But when a hero of mankind needs you, you do what you have to.

Even if it compromises everything you know.

And totally changes your life. 

WHOA.

Well this was different. And I think I liked it?

First off though, I KNOW MZ writes slow books, and that has never been an issue before. This one though, draaaagged for the first 200 pages. There was very little dialogue and I was left wondering when something was truly going to happen. Get past this part and the book got infinitely better.

The sci-fi element didn’t bug me at all. Granted I’m a huge fantasy reader first and foremost so I didn’t really bat an eye towards the superhero storyline. I actually really loved it. It felt unique and fresh.

Alex and Gracie’s relationship grew on me. The deeper the connection the better things got. I loved all of the little things they did together. It was charming reading about them playing house and going to a carnival and meeting the whole big family. I love big family dynamics!! I could easily read more books about some of these siblings.

There were some dips in pacing yet I couldn’t help but be totally charmed. Alex was gruff but much softer than expected. And Gracie was the typical more sunshiney MZ heroine. It was a bunch of the hallmark things that make me pick of her books and some new stuff that was fun reading about too.

Overall audience notes:

  • Sci-Fi Contemporary Romance
  • Language: a lot & strong
  • Romance: one very open scene
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping, torture

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Book Review: Daughter of the Deep (The Children of Lyr #1) by Lina C. Amarego

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 364 pages
Author: Lina C. Amarego
Publisher: Silver Wheel Press
Release Date: August 15th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A wedding to end a war.

It’s been four years since the blood feud between the Branwens and Mathonwys started. Four years of sunken ships and loved ones lost, four years of wounds both seen and unseen. Keira Branwen is no stranger to duty. As the first mate of a legendary pirate ship, blessed by the sea-god Lyr, and heir apparent to her clan, she would sail to the Otherworld and back to keep her family safe.

But when the Council threatens banishment for her people, Keira is faced with a choice; she must either marry her father’s alleged killer, the sea-snake Ronan Mathowny, or curse her family to the deep.

But in the Seven Isles of the Deyrnas, secrets sleep just beneath the surface of the water. Her father’s death is still shrouded in mystery, and Ronan–her childhood friend, the man she once loved — is hell-bent on proving his innocence. As enemies become friends and friends become suspects, Keira must wade through the waters of doubt to expose the truth, save her family, and restore her father’s legacy.

But Keira soon learns that there are ties thicker than blood, and there is more than one way to sacrifice a life.

STAR FOR POTENTIAL.

I probably could have rated this somewhere in the 2 star zone, buuuut I think for those who really prefer ROMANCE over FANTASY there’s a lot of potential here. I love fantasy romances, but within a fantasy book I expect and hope for world building. I crave and need it to enjoy the story. There was very little of that here.

There doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason as to why the main character has some kind of magic ability involving the ocean but nobody else does? And there’s shifters too? But why? Where did they come from? Why does the ocean speak sometimes? PLEASE SOMEONE TELL ME. I spent so much of my time frustrated without these answers that I could barely see the aspects I did like.

One of the things I did like was the romance. Got off on a rough foot (because yet again, needed back ground world building), but once I kind of figured out what was happening, things moved at a sweet pace. I liked Ronan and Keira together. A bit of a second chance, enemies to lovers dynamic that played well for these two. I liked that they both fought for each other and found some common ground to build a new foundation between them.

I won’t be continuing this series (I think there’s one more book?). Didn’t mesh with enough of it to be worth figuring out what happens next.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: mild
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: weapons violence, shipwrecks, death of a parent, near death experiences

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Book Review: Under Locke by Mariana Zapata

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Rating: ★★★☆ (3.5)
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 497 pages
Author: Mariana Zapata
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 19th, 2014
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He was my boss, my brother’s friend, a Widower, an ex-felon, and a man I’d seen casually with a handful of women. But he was everything that gripped me, both the good and the bad. Worst case scenario if things turned awkward between us, I could go somewhere else. I’d gotten over epic heartbreak before, one more wouldn’t kill me.

After moving to Austin following six months of unemployment back home, Iris Taylor knows she should be glad to have landed a job so quickly… even if the business is owned by a member of the same motorcycle club her estranged father used to belong to. Except Dex Locke might just be the biggest jerk she’s ever met. He’s rude, impatient and doesn’t know how to tell time.

And the last thing they ever expected was each other.

But it was either the strip club or the tattoo shop.

… she should have chosen the strip club. 

WELL.

I knew there might come a day when a Zapata book wasn’t my favorite. Unfortunately today is that day. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed this book a lot, but it was more on and off then a consistent lover for one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. The setting and theme were some of the best aspects.

The love interest, Dex, flirting with the a-hole/grump line waayyy too often for me. Maybe this is also showing that that type of hero isn’t my jam (which is fine!), but I kept waffling back and forth with how he treated Iris. There were some truly kind moments and a few great, don’t touch her moments too. A mixed bag for him though.

Iris was a great heroine…most of the time. I think she had a lot of spunk and was trying to make the best decision she could when obstacles kept being thrown her way. There were some truly frustrating moments where I could in no way, get behind what she was thinking. I don’t love dumb decision making.

Something that I don’t generally take off star rating for (and didn’t for this book), though I do like to mention, is that this is MUUUUUUCH steamier than I expected. I skipped many long scenes that were on the super graphic side. If you love this kind of steam, then I would recommend this backlist MZ read. If not, I’d go ahead and skip this and read some of her newer books.

The audio narration as always was stellar and it felt like a quick read even at 16 hours. I’m looking forward to continuing my backlist MZ books!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: heavy and strong
  • Romance: multiple very explicit open door
  • Violence: mild
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: abandonment, cancer, death of a parent, gun violence, physical violence, infidelity (not with the main couple!), sexual assault

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Book Review: Bloodsinger (The Starchaser Saga #5) by Renee Dugan

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 431 pages
Author: Renee Dugan
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 7th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

And so it comes to war.

For months, Princess Cistine Novacek of Talheim has contended with the threat looming over her home and secured an alliance that brought peace to the Middle Kingdom at last. But calamity has caught up with her nonetheless – not in her own land, but in the treacherous North. With Talheim spared from a horrific fate, Cistine faces the choice between peace in her homeland or war alongside her new allies.

The princess chooses war.

Now with a ruthless enemy hunting them for the blood they shed and the weapons they carry, Cistine and her allies will fight harder, risk greater, and journey farther than they ever have before, seeking to save everything they love. Even if salvation means paying a cost beyond their darkest dreams.

For on bloody battlefields, in dark mountain halls, in the ancient bones of the world and deep in their own spirits, the battle for Valgard – and all the kingdoms of the world – will be waged.

THE PAIN.

Oh my gosh this book was so good. There’s your review.

I am absolutely in love and wholly invested in every single one of these characters and I swear if we lose someone or there is not a happy ending I will RIOT. Though I have faith things will be fine. I hope. There’s copious amounts of intense, page turning action. Injured love ones, grief, coping with loss, and all the emotions. Balanced beautifully with moments of quiet kisses, communication over past grievances, and pushing forward as best as possible.

This series doesn’t cease to impress me. I loved the pacing on this one and it might be my new favorite of the series. I liked the reveals, the connections and seriously everything about it.

I’m trying to maintain vagueness because this far into a series I don’t want to spoil for everyone. So just know, I LOVE IT AND WANT YOU TO READ IT TOO.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: battle themes, loss of loved ones, physical and magical altercations, near death experiences

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