Mini Reviews Archives - Page 2 of 8

Mini Indie Romance Reviews | August

Aug 11, 2022

It’s time for some more mini-reviews. During July I participated in the indie accords and read-only indie and self-published books. As much as I could I tried to write reviews of as many of them as I could. And while I am a little behind in writing them, I want to try and get them done soon. But I wanted to share some of them with you today.

So here are a collection of mini-reviews of recent indie romances that I’ve read recently. I found some new favourites, an interesting start to a series, and a series that I am going back to read. Let’s get into it.

Lovelight Farms (Lovelight #1) by B.K. Borison: I’ve been wanting to read this one for a little while. Ever since my best friend read it and loved it. So I knew I had to give it a go during the Indie Accords. And I am very happy to say that I loved it. I’m not a massive fan of contemporary romances that don’t have a sub-genre to them (sports romances, MC romances etc). But I really did enjoy it a lot.

It’s a sweet romance, with a fake dating and friends-to-lovers trope. It just all worked so well here. I just wanted to hug all the characters in this one. They just needed it. I really enjoyed Stella as our protagonist. She was really fantastic and I loved seeing her grow throughout the book.

I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of the series because I can’t wait to see them all fall in love.

Resurrection (The Sainthood – Boys of Lowell High #1) by Siobhan Davis: I’ve been wanting to start this series for a while now, and I was in the mood for it recently. There isn’t much of a romance here in the first book. There is a lot of tension, and sexy times but not a lot of love at the moment. I’m pretty okay with it, especially because of the dark elements of the book.

I can’t really pinpoint why I didn’t love the book, but a few things that I noted. I wasn’t a massive fan of the writing style, it was chunky at times and that took me away from the book. The ups and downs of the relationship just weren’t moving anything along and I wanted more from them. There were some pretty important events that happened, during and before the book and I felt that they were just brushed over. And sometimes not bought up for a little while again.

Still, I will be continuing the series, because I’m still pretty intrigued by it all, and I want to see how it’s all played out. I want to see how they all get together, I want to see who breaks first. I’m looking forward to everything coming together as well.

Last on the List (Wait With Me #5) by Amy Daws: I’ve been wanting to read this one for a little while now. And I was in the mood for a contemporary romance and this was it.

I really did enjoy reading this one. It’s a fun read and made me smile so many times. It was a little more ‘silly’ at times than I would like, but I still enjoyed reading it.

The romance was a mix of a slow burn but also moved quickly. And I did enjoy that. I do wish we were able to see them a little more together. It was like, there is a lot of tension. Then lots of sexy signs, but not a lot of mundane things. And while it’s not a massive deal, I still enjoyed it.

This was a great read overall, and now I’m going to go back and read the rest of the series.

And there we go. Those are some reviews of recent indie romances that I read. Have you read any of these? Have you read anything by these authors? What did you think of them? Let’s Chat!

Quick Reviews Of Recent Reads That I Have Loved

Jun 26, 2022

Today I thought I would share some quick and small reviews of recent reads that I have loved. I don’t have as many reviews these days as I used to. But I still try and get as many done as I can. So today I thought I would share some quick and small reviews of some of the books that I have loved recently.

Let’s just get right into it. As always these are my thoughts and opinions, but I would also like to hear yours. I do want to say that I don’t give 5-star reviews out much. But all of these are 4 stars and above. Let’s go.

One Night in Garoureve (The Shifters of Garoureve #1) by Elle M. Drew: This is a book that I have been wanting to read for a little, and finally got around to it recently. And I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I do. From the start, I was taken by not only the world but the characters.

When Ariana pulls into a small town, she just wanted a place to sleep and something to eat. And she got so much more. Garoureve is mysterious, doesn’t appear on a map and doesn’t get many visitors. So when Ariana appears, everyone takes notice. But not as much as Colburn. After a night together, they thought they would never see each other again. But Ariana is brought back to this town and back to Colburn.

I really did enjoy these two together. They were sweet and spicy and he worshipped her. It’s quite a quick read so the romance does move quite fast as well. And while I didn’t really have a big problem with it, I wasn’t a fan that Colburn hid something big from Ariana for most of the book. And that caused some issues.

Other than that, I enjoyed the writing style. It was easy to read, at times it was a bit clunky. However, that isn’t a major deal for me. The world was interesting and I liked the concept of the town as well. The romance was fun and sexy. It was just a really good read overall. If you are looking for a fun, new and fresh shapeshifter romance, then pick this up.

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care (Bright Falls #1) by Ashley Herring Blake: This has become one of my favourite reads of the year. I try and recommend it to everyone that is buying romance at work. It’s just fantastic.

When Delilah comes back to her hometown to be the photographer for her step-sister’s wedding, she didn’t expect her life to change. Delilah’s memories of Bright Falls are filled with loneliness and grief. And she wanted nothing more than to never return. But then she runs into Claire Sutherland. A friend of her step-sister and someone who she never thought she would fall for. But as they spend more time, well that changes for sure.

The romance in this one was just fantastic. Seriously, I couldn’t stop smiling, the whole time I was reading. Delilah and Claire aren’t two alike, but when they are together, they just work. I liked seeing them go from little looks to not wanting to let the other go. It’s hot, smutty, but also very sweet.

This book is more than the romance, it’s an emotional ride. With both Delilah and Claire having to sort through their lives. They both have to come to terms with their past and try and move on. I’m so excited for the next book!

Kulti by Mariana Zapata: I’ve been slowly making my way through Mariana Zapata’s backlist and I finally got to Kulti. This is one that I have seen around quite a lot and it’s a sports romance, so of course, I needed to give it a try.

This one follows Sal Casillas as she tries to play nice with her new couch Reiner Kulti. Her icon isn’t who she thought he would be. He is mean and isn’t really a great couch at all. But there is something there. And between giving him a lift and learning a little more about one another things change.

If you are looking for a fast-paced romance then this isn’t it. Kulti is a very slow burn. But I adored it. I loved seeing both Sal and Renier slowly fall for one another. What I liked most was readers noticing it before they even did. It’s slow and sexy at the same time.

The writing is very much a Mariana Zapata book, and it has quickly jumped up to one of my favourites. It’s a great slow burn, with an interesting plot and characters. And it takes you on an emotional rollercoaster where you just want to give a big hug to both Sal and Ren. If you are looking for a good slow-burn romance with an age gap and a female killing it in sports, then this is for you.

And there we go. Those are some of the recent books that I really enjoyed reading. Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? Are you planning on reading them? Let’s chat!

Dreamland and Lightning | Mini Romance Reviews

Apr 21, 2022

It’s mini-review time. Today I’m sharing my thoughts on two romances that I have recently read. The Fine Print (Dreamland Billionaires #1) by Lauren Asher and a recent release of Lavender and Lightning (Pack Saint Clair #2) by Thora Woods. These two are both books that I was highly anticipating reading and I loved them both. So let’s get into it.

The Fine Print (Dreamland Billionaires #1) by Lauren Asher

Pages: 448
Publish date: July 8th 2021
Publisher: Piatkus Books
ISBN: 9780349433448
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

Rowan
I’m in the business of creating fairy tales.
Theme parks. Production companies. Five-star hotels.
Everything could be all mine if I renovated Dreamland.
My initial idea of hiring Zahra was good in theory, but then I kissed her.
Things spiralled out of control once I texted her using an alias.
By the time I realized where I went wrong, it was too late.
People like me don’t get happy endings.
Not when we’re destined to ruin them.Zahra
After submitting a drunk proposal criticizing Dreamland’s most expensive ride, I should have been fired.
Instead, Rowan Kane offered me a dream job.
The catch? I had to work for the most difficult boss I’d ever met.
Rowan was rude and completely off-limits, but my heart didn’t care.
At least not until I discovered his secret.
It was time to teach the billionaire that money couldn’t fix everything.
Especially not us.

The Fine Print:

Trigger Warnings: Death of parents/parental figures, domestic abuse, parental absences, alcoholism, cancer and suicidal thoughts.

I’ve been wanting to read this book for a little while now, and then I got in at work and well, I couldn’t stop myself. I’ve read a few Laura Asher books before this one, and I have heard only good things about The Fine Print.

The Fine Print follows Rowan who after his grandfather’s death, has to bring more life to the family theme park. But being back there and working at Dreamland is bring back memories that Rowan doesn’t want to relive. Then there is Zahra, for as long as she can remember she has wanted to be a creator at Dreamland. When she drunkenly sends in a proposal tearing down one of their recent attractions, Zahra thought she would be fired. Instead, Rowan gives her a chance.

The attraction between Rowan and Zahra is instant, but they also both get on each other’s nerves. The reader can feel the tension and spark right from the get-go. I haven’t read a romance like this one in a while and that is why I loved it instantly. The tension, the dislike to love. It just hit in all the right places for me.

Photo by Polina Sushko on Unsplash

I liked both Rowan and Zahra a lot. They are a lot like each other, but also stood out as characters on their own. The character’s arcs were fantastic and I loved seeing them grow throughout the book. They both had to go on journeys by themselves and with one another. I felt that Rowan had a lot more growth throughout the book, but he also needed it.

The whole concept of the book, as well as the world, was so interesting. Contemporary romances aren’t normally my thing, but I enjoyed this one a lot. I’ve not read any books seat in a theme park like The Fine Print was, and now I want more like it.

The romance was also fantastic. It was steamy and full of tension. But also super super sweet. They both melted my heart into bits. The reader can see that they both care a lot for one another, and everything just fell into place nicely.

Overall, I loved reading The Fine Print by Lauren Asher. It was interesting, intriguing and not like something I’ve read before. The romance was that perfect balance of being steamy and sweet. And the characters were fantastic. I cannot wait to continue reading the books in this series.

Lavender and Lightning (Pack Saint Clair #2) by Thora Woods

Pages:
Publish date: April 23rd 2022
Publisher: –
ASIN: B09KY9DT3S
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

There’s nowhere left to hide.

Lydia Anderson is an unbonded omega living in fear of the day her past catches up with her. Hunted by her ex, betrayed by her own family, staying out of sight is her only protection. Or it was, until she met Pack Saint Clair, and found love and safety in their arms.

Her new pack’s status as a powerhouse in the business world makes it impossible for them to live truly private lives. Their influence can protect Lydia from those set on hurting her, or so they hope.

But their past may prove to be just as dangerous.

The pack have been fighting their own battle to break free of Seth Douglas, an omega who will stop at nothing to maintain his sadistic control over them. Jealous and bitter, Seth will do whatever it takes to get rid of Lydia, even if that means leading her abusers to her front door.

When her past finds her, Lydia must decide what price she’s willing to pay for love… and hope that price isn’t her life.

Lavender and Lightning:

Trigger Warnings: Descriptions of physical, emotional, mental and sexual abuse. Religious trauma, homophobic language and behaviour, anxiety and panic disorders as well as violence, injuries and stalking. This book also features a poly relationship.

I received an earc of Lavender and Lightning by Thora Woods in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings.

I was looking forward to this one. I read the first book in this series earlier in the year and loved it. And while I did love this one, I thought it was a duology, and when it ended it a cliffhanger, I was slightly disappointed. But I got over it pretty quickly because I loved the book overall.

Lavender and Lightning follows shortly after the ending of the first book. I wish we got to see a little bit more of this as I felt that it was a little jumpy at the start. But it’s not a major deal. With the initial plans for Lydia to join the pack not going to plan, the pack need to not only figure out things fast but also protect one another as best as they can.

I loved how all the relationships moved forward in this book. It’s rare in an omegaverse book that there aren’t bonds done right away. But the way that this world works here, leaves room for a lot of growth. I loved that we get to see Lydia start to build some connections with both Lucus and Alexandra as well. Alexandra and Lydia and so good together and it makes me so happy to see some more FF in omegaverse. I cannot wait to see where their relationship goes.

Photo by micheile on Unsplash

As I said before this is an omeagaverse novel, with Lydia being our Omega, Lucus the Beta and Rhett, Mateo and Alexandra our Alphas. The balance in this book is really good. There are some very sexy and steamy parts with kinks. But then the romance is also very sweet and just makes my heart warm. I also think it’s a great start into omegaverse as it’s not in your face as some of the others I’ve read.

I did feel like at times a fair few things were going on during the book. And I just wanted them all to have a break. For them to all love each other and be there for one another. Lydia honestly didn’t get time to breathe and all I want for her is to be loved and in a pack that cares for her so much.

I will only say one thing about the ending. Cliffhanger, Cliffhanger, Cliffhanger. It was an intense ending and I don’t know how I am going to wait a few months to know what happens next. It’s going to be interesting that is for sure.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Lavender and Lightning by Thora Woods a lot. It’s a fantastic sequel and I cannot wait to see where the story is taken. The romance was fantastic and I didn’t feel like anyone was left out of the poly. It was just a great addition. If you are looking for a new omegaverse and don’t mind cliffhangers, get on it.

And there we go. Those are two reviews of books that I have loved reading recently. Have you read The Fine Print by Lauren Asher or Lavender and Lightning by Thora Woods yet? What did you think of them? What have you loved recently? Let’s Chat!