Romance | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Celtic Mist by C.L. Nightjar

An epic and erotic journey of youthful adventure, Celtic Mist by C.L. Nightjar is an immersive experience that will thrill historical fiction, romance, and fantasy lovers alike. Driven by honor and desperation, this is a deeply moving tale of loss, grief, redemption, and revenge, all set among a stunning depiction of Ireland’s rough-hewn beauty.

Declan is a charmingly naive protagonist, at least at the beginning of the novel, but readers see him mature quickly into a rugged hero. An unexpected promotion to the Captain’s Crusaders gives him the sudden pride of belonging, perhaps for the first time in his life. […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-08-22T10:42:27+02:00August 19th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: C.L. Nightjar, Historical Fiction, Romance|

Review: That Which Remains: Reunion by M. Tess Ossenelli

An unpredictable ride of murder, intrigue, revenge, and old loves long thought buried, That Which Remains: Reunion by M. Tess Ossenelli is a one-of-a-kind thriller for romance and action fans alike.

After his sister, Tess, disappears, Dr. Evan Kaufman’s volatile emotions explode, putting his career and future at risk. Following a loose trail of breadcrumbs that only deepen the mystery of her abduction, it becomes clear that something even more sinister than a serial killer has put his sister and best friend in danger. He hires a young private eye to help in the search, not expecting to instead find […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-03-21T05:20:05+02:00August 3rd, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: M. Tess Ossenelli, Romance, Thriller|

Review: Enigma Rose by S.E. Reynolds

Romance, tragedy, and redemption are served up alongside small-town charm in Enigma Rose by S.E. Reynolds. A slow-burning romantic thriller, this is not a standard heartbreak-to-healing love story, and leads readers through an emotional maze before reaching its dramatic end.

Tragedy strikes the mayor of Fairview, sending his seemingly perfect life into a spiral of sorrow and solitary fatherhood. His late wife, Melissa, had been his unwavering rock for years, the woman who had pulled him out of young heartbreak and whose trust fund allowed him to leap from police officer to political powerhouse.

Melissa taught him how to be […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-01-17T13:47:36+02:00July 28th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Romance, S.E. Reynolds, Thriller|

Broken Cowboy by Jamie Schulz

A rough and rugged tumble through the Montana countryside, Broken Cowboy by Jamie Schulz is a romantic and unpredictable ride, weaving blushing eroticism with powerful bursts of action and adrenaline.

Addie and Cade are a sizzling pair, and their slow-burning connection tells readers exactly where things are headed, but the trip is worth savoring. As the stakes of their unexpected fling rise to the level of life and death, Cade emerges as a slow-spoken hero, while the fiercely independent side of Addie is allowed to break free.

Unlike so many other romance novels, Schulz spends considerable time crafting her […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-06-11T06:15:05+02:00June 11th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Romance|

Review: Infiltrate by K.C. Ale

Infiltrate is a surprisingly complex novel for its size, with robust character development and a storyline peppered with deceit and mystery. Contrary to what the front cover shows, together with the suggestive title and a synopsis that may seem a shade too reminiscent of Fifty Shades, this isn’t a steamy, sex-filled romp of no consequence, but a multilayered character-driven romance.

Ashley, a young girl-next-door, is tasked with infiltrating the office of Caden Martini, COO and heir to the legacy of Martini Oates, Inc. She is intelligent yet feisty and takes the role of Caden’s temporary Executive Assistant in an […]

Josh Machado Halcro2021-07-13T06:35:42+02:00June 5th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Romance|

Review: A Week is Not Forever by Firie Mhèné

The heartfelt emotions and thoughts of a lonely woman are laid bare in A Week is Not Forever, a multicultural romance debut by Firie Mhèné.

Having left behind her family and an emotionally-barren marriage in Europe, Gazina has been working on her doctoral research on a small island in Asia. Prior to arriving on the island, Gazina had filled the void caused by her husband’s indifference to their relationship with study, work, learning languages, buying herself clothes, going on holiday, and dining out, but here on the island, with no close friends to speak of and nothing in the […]

Marta Cheng2020-12-07T05:04:44+02:00November 4th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Romance, Women's Fiction|

The Shade Under the Mango Tree by Evy Journey

The Shade Under the Mango Tree by Evy Journey is a dazzling, globe-spanning tale of two interconnected lives, bound in an unlikely way, but forever changed by the connection.

From a simple lost notebook comes an unusual storybook romance, a tale of growing up and seeing the world, of saying goodbye and remembering lost things. Luna and Lucien are the star-crossed protagonists whose lives are dissected with intimate, in-depth character studies, making their unpredictable bond a pleasure to unravel.

Lucien’s discovery of Luna’s journal, and the eventual crossing of their paths, feels like the plot of a familiar romance, but […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-10-26T07:04:49+02:00October 23rd, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction, Evy Journey, Romance|

Clan Woodsmen: The General’s Refuge by A.C. Gillies

Author A.C. Gillies weaves a frightening vision of the future in Clan Woodsmen: Book 1: The General’s Refuge. In a dystopian timeline that feels eerily close to our present one, the shattered factions of society must fight for survival, for love, and for one another.

A young woman is taken into one of these surviving clans, and soon discovers the potential for beauty and joy, without forgetting about the looming threats that lurk on all sides. Readers are immersed in a twisted version of reality – our world through a carnival mirror – allowing this book to act as both […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-10-22T03:00:01+02:00October 21st, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Dystopian Fiction, Romance|