While Cait and I spend a lot of time reviewing big-name books from the big publishers, we’re always on the lookout for books that are self-published or come from indie or small publishers.  We purchase most of these ourselves in search of a hidden gem we can bring you for our Indie Friday feature and at the end of the month, we present the best of the best.  There are only so many books we can review though and we find quite a few we’ve read during the month that belong in the spotlight.

We hope you’ll chime in and let us know of an author or book you’ve read that blew you away or is your new addiction that you want people to know about.

This week, it’s just my list and I’m only including my absolute favorites, none of which I happened to review for one reason or another.

Playing for Keeps (A Neighbor From Hell #1)
By R.L. Mathewson
Publisher: Rerum Publishing House
Publication Date: April 29, 2011
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Done with being the world’s biggest pushover, Haley decides that things are going to change starting with the aggravating neighbor who has too much charm and not enough restraint. What she didn’t expect was to sucked into his world, but Haley has a game plan….read more at Goodreads

I picked this up on a whim and then 10 minutes later, saw katiebabs at Goodreads recommending the author. I can see why. This is charming, infuriating, funny, sexy and I loved it. While the second book in this series isn’t as good, her Hollywood Heart series is terrific. These are adult books and quite steamy but if you grab them now at 99¢ (they’re going up to $2.99 soon) they’re awesome.

What Kills Me
By Wynne Channing
Publisher: Jet & Jack Press
Publication Date: June 6, 2012
Genre: YA Paranormal

An ancient prophecy warns of a girl destined to cause the extinction of the vampire race.

So when 17-year-old Axelia falls into a sacred well filled with blood and emerges a vampire, the immortal empire believes she is this legendary destroyer. Hunted by soldiers and mercenaries, Axelia….read more at Goodreads

The cover looked so serious, I wasn’t expecting a really witty, kick-ass story, but that’s what I got. The story flies by with some crazy wild action scenes, led by a vampire slayer afraid of bugs. There isn’t much romance but I’m hoping the author writes a sequel or something. I like her style

The Mayfair Moon (The Darkwoods Trilogy #1)
By J.A. Redmerski
Self-Published
Publication Date: February 6, 2012
Genre: YA Paranormal

After a nightmarish encounter with a werewolf, seventeen-year-old Adria Dawson loses her sister, but gains the love of a mysterious young man and his legendary family.

Strange and tragic things begin to happen in the small town of Hallowell, Maine: residents come down with an unexplainable ‘illness’….read more at Goodreads

I’m not sure how long it’s been since I’ve read a werewolf story, but this was an excellent book to start with again. Amazing writing, a ton of action, main and supporting characters I loved – I saw someone dare to call this “Twilight with wolves.” That should be a prosecutable offense.

Have you read any indies or self-pubs that knocked your socks off lately?

While Cait and I spend a lot of time reviewing big-name books from the big publishers, we’re always on the look-out for books that are self-published or come from indie or small publishers.  We purchase most of these ourselves in search of a hidden gem we can bring you for our Indie Friday feature and at the end of the month, we present the best of the best.  There are only so many books we can review though and we find quite a few we’ve read during the month that belong in the spotlight, so we have to say:

We hope you’ll chime in and let us know of an author or book you’ve read that blew you away or is your new addiction that you want people to know about.  Tell us in the comment section!

The Boy Who Sneaks in My Window
By Kirsty Mosely
Published by Createspace
Publication Date: April 30, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Realistic Contemporary

Amber Walker and her older brother, Jake, have an abusive father. One night her brother’s best friend, Liam, sees her crying and climbs through her bedroom window to comfort her. That one action….Read more at Goodreads

This book was a complete impulse buy from one of those annoying recommendation lists that I can never avoid on Amazon. I’m SO happy that I bought this! The love story was so sweet and epic, and best of all.. it had an epilogue!

Residue
By Laury Falter
Self Pub
Publication Date: April 13, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal

When sixteen-year-old Jocelyn Weatherford is whisked away from a preparatory academy in upstate New York to live with her extended family in New Orleans, she is unprepared to encounter the dangers awaiting her. Yet even as she is thrust into an unfamiliar world of witches….Read more at Goodreads

I LOVED this spin on the classic Romeo and Juliet story. I really enjoyed both the characters and the world that Falter gave us in this book. I can’t wait to read more!

What a Boy Needs
By Nyrae Dawn
Self Pub
Publication Date: June 2012
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

A companion novel to WHAT A BOY WANTS.

Jaden Sinclair knows he’ll never amount to anything…so why would he deserve a girl like Priscilla Mendoza?

Since last summer, things have been screwed up between Jaden and Pris. He knows it’s his fault, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to go a few rounds with her new boyfriend. He also knows he’s the loser his dad calls him….Read more at Goodreads

After Barbara’s glowing review of What a Boy Wants, I knew that I had to read both books before I could keep on livin’. (;-)) The couple in WaBN was a bit more tortured and angsty than in the first book, but I wasn’t bothered by it a bit. I also thought the author did a great job of writing both books from the hero’s POV, and making the voice different in each one. Highly recommend!

Point of Retreat (Slammed #2)
By Colleen Hoover
Self Pub
Published: February 25, 2012
Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Hardships and heartache brought them together…now it will tear them apart.

Layken and Will have proved their love can get them through anything; until someone from Will’s past re-emerges, leaving Layken questioning the very foundation on which their relationship was built. Read more at Goodreads

I thoroughly enjoyed this follow-up novel to Slammed. Will and Layken were bound to run into a few issues in their relationship because they met in such a tumultuous time of their lives. The series wouldn’t have been complete without Hoover addressing these issues in PoR. Book books were short and sweet and you can read it in just a few hours. Definitely take time to read both Slammed and PoR soon!

Slammed
By Colleen Hoover
Self Pub
Published: January 1, 2012
Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she’s losing hope.

Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry….Read more at Goodreads

I heard this was good but “good” is a pale, pale word for it. It’s brilliant and thank heavens there’s a sequel available now and Will’s story is in the works. I have a new appreciation for slam poetry and guys that do it (rawr)! ~Barbara

What she said! ~Cait

Easy
By Tammara Webber
Self Pub
Publication Date: May 25, 2012
Genre: New Adult Contemporary

When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she’s single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, stalked by her ex’s frat brother, and failing a class….Read more at Goodreads

I already know this is going to be one of my favorite books of the year, it’s that good. I love the way Webber recreates college life, her dialogue and sexy, smart, flawed heroes. She’s absolutely an author to watch.

Snapshot
By Angie Stanton
Publisher: Vanguard Management
Publication Date: June 15, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Marti Hunter hates rockers and anything remotely related to the rock-and-roll lifestyle. She thought she’d left that all behind, along with her drug-addicted mother and absent-minded rock legend father. Now she lives with her grandmother, and Marti’s life is finally normal. Just the way she likes it.

For Adam Jamieson, normal is not possible. He is the genius guitar player of the band Jamieson. He’s ecstatic to finally get a two-week break….Read more at Goodreads

This is going to be a weird backhanded recommendation. Snapshot wasn’t totally for me but I think it may really appeal to a lot of other people. It’s a very clean YA in a fresh, youthful sense – a little too youthful for me, but I think this series (the first book Rock and a Hard Place, about another Jamieson brother, was pretty much the same) could still appeal to other people.

This originally started out (a month ago, ha!) as an Indie Friday event, but just to be contrary I decided to move it to the last Saturday of the month so we could leave Fridays open for Indie/Small Press/Self-Pub reviews, author posts and giveaways.

While we’ll share the books that made an impression on us during the month, we’d really love to hear what you read that you want to get the word out about too – so chime in and let us know, we love recommendations.

I read about my usual number of Indie books this month and a couple were duplicates of authors I’ve already recommended.  There are some new books that I think are worth trying though.

Bared to You
Self Pub
By Sylvia Day

Our journey began in fire…

Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness—beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I’d never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me…Read More

Touted as “like 50 Shades of Gray but better,” this is pretty hot with fascinating characters. Day is a traditionally published author who went self-pub for this one but the rest of the series has been picked up – the talk is right, this is like 50 Shades, but better.

My Heart for Yours
Self Pub
By Jolene Perry and Stephanie Campbell

For Tobin and Delia, everything was always equal.

A bargain, a trade, a deal to be struck.

A kiss for a kiss.
Your shirt for mine.
Break my heart, I’ll break yours.

Their disastrous split was no different…Read More

I’ve already featured Jolene Perry with her own book, Knee Deep, but Stephanie Campbell is new. She wrote the voice of Tobin in this one. This is just a little story about lovers trying to figure out what went wrong but the way the two authors worked together to create Delia and Tobin’s story made it really work for me. My Review

What A Boy Wants
Self Pub
By Nyrae Dawn

Courtesy of watching his mom’s relationships, Sebastian Hawkins knows what girls need to do to get a guy. He has what he considers a PHD in hooking up. When he needs extra cash for a car, Sebastian starts up an online venture as The Hook-up Doctor, to anonymously help girls land the guy of their dreams…Read More

Well I just reviewed and recommended it so this one’s a no brainer. I love the characters, the way the author really got what it was like to be a teenager and had the attitude down. The romance was sweet and angsty and I’m so on board for the next book. My Review

Looking forward:

In June, I have a nice list of books that I’m hoping to read including Oppression by Jessica Thierren, Until Next Time by Amy Lignor and Darkride by Laura Bradley Rede. The sequel to What A Boy Wants, What A Boy Needs is out in June, so I’ll be adding that one too.

Have you read anything great this past month? Anything coming up you’re excited about?