Romance | Self-Publishing Review

Whispering a Quiet Hope by Lisa Brennan

Broken hearts and beautiful backdrops collide in Whispering a Quiet Hope, a powerful new work of romance from author Lisa Brennan.

When Brooke’s life and love come apart at the seams, she flees to warmer climes, far from Dylan’s betrayal and their collapsing marriage. As one might expect, she quickly encounters a new suitor eager to sweep her off her feet, but the pull of the past, and the complex emotions of grief, make this easier said than done.

At first glance, this book feels like many other romance plots, complete with an Australian hunk arriving at the perfect […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-04-20T09:49:54+02:00April 19th, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Romance|

Review: Shattered Treasure by Cindy Patterson

Betrayal and misunderstandings stoke the embers in Shattered Treasure, a superbly written Christian romance by Cindy Patterson.

On the day of her deceased twin’s birthday, a depressed Addison Morgan reluctantly agrees to meet her two-timing boyfriend at a party after school, but when she arrives, she’s just in time to see him coming out of a bedroom with another girl before stopping to kiss her. Mortified at her naiveté for trusting him, Addison runs to her car and takes off, only to black out behind the wheel a few minutes later.

When she comes to, she’s heartbroken to learn […]

Marta Cheng2020-03-12T10:33:04+02:00February 17th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction, Romance|

Review: Dark World: Genesis by A.R. Kingston

Tradition, magic, fear and a sinister plot to tear a kingdom apart collide in Dark World: Genesis by author A.R. Kingston, the first book of the Dark World Saga. Blending elements of classic fantasy with recognizable themes that feel starkly poignant in today’s divided times, this is a compelling start to an expansive new series.

In a kingdom once ravaged by war, leaders now rule with iron fists, forbidding pure-blood mages from mixing with any of the “grays,” ensuring that the magical bloodlines remain untainted. Alexandra Hamilton is the defiant young princess of Manevia, sequestered in her room like a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-03-02T08:10:12+02:00February 11th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy, Romance|

Review: Untamed Barbarian (Visigoth Barbarians #2) by Jayla Jasso

In Untamed Barbarian, the second in the Visigoth Barbarians series from author Jayla Jasso, a time-traveling hunk from the 5^th century lands smack dab in the middle of a 21^st century murder investigation in southern California for a hot and gripping urban fantasy.

Andaric, the brutally handsome and physically brutal time-traveler, has come in search of his brother, who was similarly catapulted forward from ancient France, but he gets understandably distracted by the stunning Kaiya Martinez. She may be tasked with determining his mental state – and judging whether he is the serial killer the town has […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-10-31T08:15:21+02:00October 3rd, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Jayla Jasso, Romance, Urban Fantasy|

Review: The Heart of the Deal: Finding Love on Wall Street by J.B. Stewart

The Heart of the Deal: Finding Love on Wall Street is an engaging contemporary romance novella by J.B. Stewart, set in the high stakes world of hedge funds.

Twenty-seven-year-old Kayla Hartman has always lived by two cardinal rules: never be poor and never let a man come between her and her career. So far these rules have helped her graduate at the top of her class at Harvard and obtain a Masters Degree from Columbia.

But now, thanks to her fiercely competitive nature, Kayla’s managed to put her job on the line as a junior analyst with the world’s most […]

Marta Cheng2019-10-09T05:34:31+02:00September 8th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Romance|

Review: Unverified by Kristin Giese

Kristin Giese’s Unverified is a delightful romantic comedy that is both immensely funny and heartwarming.

Success has always been in the cards for Margo Valentine Melon, but after a failed stint with the holy grail of fashion magazines four years ago in New York, Margo returned to her parent’s house in L.A. with her tail between her legs. Ironically, her younger sister, Kirby, a dropout who’d started a resale fashion gig called Blush & Bashful, is now driving a Mercedes, with her gig landing her on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list. Kirby tells Margo that to find her own […]

Marta Cheng2019-08-02T07:17:11+02:00August 1st, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Contemporary Fiction, Romance|

Review: The Scream Behind Her Smile by Athena Daniels

In The Scream Behind Her Smile, author Athena Daniels takes readers into the dark heart of emotional turmoil, and into the devastating picture of a toxic marriage, but also offers a slice of hope.

The novel centers around Claire, a woman who suffered too much at too young an age, and found herself locked in a loveless marriage following the loss of a child – a marriage where psychological manipulation and dangerous games were the norm. As Claire feels control in her life spinning away, she chooses to make a change, leaving Derek and his mistress behind. However, this […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-08-22T06:11:41+02:00July 17th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Athena Daniels, Romance, Thriller|

Review: Candle on the Water by M.A. Myers

Love manifests itself in many different ways in Candle on the Water, a haunting and evocative LGBT romance by M.A. Myers, written for new adult readers.

High school senior, Stephanie Turner, has a bright future ahead of her. Having scored a swimming scholarship to Purdue, Stephanie has her sights set on becoming a doctor in the navy, but after meeting Sara Austin, Stephanie’s life quickly becomes an emotional roller coaster. Stephanie experiences a profound connection to Sara, and believes that Sara feels the same way, yet she doesn’t understand why Sara treats her so badly. As both go their […]

Marta Cheng2019-08-12T12:23:29+02:00June 27th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: LGBTQI, New Adult, Romance|