Romance Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

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 Book Reviews, Romance Book Reviews|

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 Book Reviews, Romance Book Reviews|

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 Book Reviews|

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 Book Reviews, Romance Book Reviews|

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 Book Reviews, Romance Book Reviews|

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: Romance Book Reviews, Urban Fantasy Book Reviews|

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 Book Reviews|

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 […]