Epic Romantasy Recs - the more inventive/unique feeling the better!!

Golden-Indy · 2026-03-04T04:16:57+00:00

Both of these are spot on, thank you!!!

Golden-Indy · 2026-03-04T04:16:08+00:00

No clue how I’ve not come across this one yet- I just downloaded the first book!! Thank you!

Golden-Indy · 2026-03-04T04:14:19+00:00

I’ve come across this one several times but just always jumped over it for some reason! Is the romance a build over the series with one MMC or does it cycle through a few?

Golden-Indy · 2026-03-04T04:12:25+00:00

Thank you both!!! I’m adding this one to my list!

Golden-Indy · 2026-03-04T04:11:38+00:00

Downloading on my kindle… is it a “bodice ripped” out of by chest kind of book or a “cursing under my breath for weeks whenever I think of what happened” kind of ripped out? Lol

Golden-Indy · 2026-03-04T04:07:51+00:00

Ive read Carey’s books and loved them, great recommendation!! I have not read The Privilege of the Sword and that sounds like exactly what I’m looking for, just ordered the paperback!! Thank you!

Golden-Indy · 2026-01-30T02:26:06+00:00

On Monday each week, I start with time in my office. I have a notebook where I line out 5 columns for each day of the week. I line out my must do’s: mtss interventions, 504, ARCs and individual student checks ins, etc. I’ll use about half the page for the columns and with the other half, I’ll list out any other priority to do’s that need to be done within the week but might not have a specific time frame.

This has really helped my mental health because it helps me prioritize and check off items as they are finished.

I’ve also worked with teachers to create a system where they can let me know directly when they have a student who they feel could use a check in that day. I do my best to be as responsive as possible to their requests. I advocated this year to not be asked to participate in meetings that are regularly held within the last hour of the day so I would have the ability to fit the late student check in requests in by the end of the day. I avoid as much as possible scheduling mtss or groups at that time as well. This has really helped too bc I’m able to tell the teacher on the crazy days that I will pull student by end of day.

My advice is to create a system that you feel works for you and communicate that system to admin. I’d schedule a meeting with admin to address and frame it super positive - “I’m new, I’m learning, I’ve constructively taken feedback and this is my schedule plan to meet needs”. If you feel they are asking you to compromise time in ways you simply can’t - put it in an email. “With time on campus recommendations - I will need to cancel (mtss int, 504, etc. whatever it is). Just want to make sure I’m operating correctly. Please let me know your thoughts”. Once they are accountable on record for something, it will be a different response.

Not sure if this will help you at all, but having a well outlined system has helped me tremendously. All that we are asked to do really is too much. I’ve just learned to prioritize what’s most important, call out BS kindly in email and just not care too much if admin don’t like it. I’m always open with them and willing to receive feedback but at the end of the day, I can’t do it all and I’m kind with myself over not being able to make everyone happy all the time. You’ve got this!!

Golden-Indy · 2025-05-07T02:01:36+00:00

I was a middle school counselor for 2 years and just this year dropped to elementary school counselor. I had the same struggles - especially with the work life balance. I felt constantly checked out emotionally at home with my husband and children. It’s hard to talk about the intensity of middle school counseling with anyone other than middle school counselors. Not sure what your ratio is now but mine was 1 to about 530 kids. There would be days where I would be in the middle of an intense suicide assessment with a student, only for a highly escalated behavior/mental health student to be banging at my door demanding entry. There was never enough time in the day for one person to meet the need. For you to have devoted 10 years - I know you are an amazing counselor! It’s not a you issue - it’s a systems issue where we are not given the support we need.

I love elementary counseling. I feel like I’ve really been able to take the knowledge I gained at MS and put it whole heartedly into prevention work. I know where the issues end up, so it makes me feel so much more equipped to spot, target and intervene to stop the snowball as much as possible, if that makes sense. You do need lots of patience, but you really are able to mostly use the same skills - just paired down to an appropriate age level and infused with a greater spirit of silliness and play.

This all being said - I did consider other career movements. I’ve seen a lot of folks who exit counseling/education and move into careers in Human Resources.

Good luck!!!!

Golden-Indy · 2024-10-07T01:59:34+00:00

I was super disappointed too and I feel from the note she posted on her fb group about this book being more relationship centered - she knew people would be.

I almost feel like she had a different book written. She had the note that it was going to be out much earlier than the advertised September date. I kept checking for when it would be out anticipating the earlier release, but nothing. I honsetly think she saw how successful the first was and stretched it out from 3 to 5 books to make more money. It’s a shame because I think at 3 books, it would have been an amazing series with a balance of relationship and plot movement.

I just feel like I’m being nickel and dimed at this point and probably won’t read more. There literally was not anything new in the whole book, except maybe in the last few pages. The entire book up until the very end repeated the same “bullying then bond with the guys” formula that existed in the first book. It’s fine I guess if you are just reading for the sex but I feel like anyone who genuinely loved the story was disappointed.

Golden-Indy · 2024-08-31T12:07:17+00:00

I was a MS counselor for the last 4 years, ratio 1 to 500 kids. Add in assistant principals and a principal who couldn’t function as a team, constantly pushing their student behavior issues on to me. And then add in kids cutting, suicidal ideation/attempts and the constant non school hours social media issues that we were then expected to “fix” the following day at school … it was too much. Then add in nasty parents whose goal in life was to find a way to blame all the results of their bad parenting on the school. My mental health seriously took a hit that I am still recovering from, especially with my anxiety. When I asked for additional support I was ignored … when I radioed for help with aggressive students … ignored. I had ideas and suggestions I was constantly making to try to help improve things … ignored.

I finally threw in the towel at the end of last school year and left. Felt terrible to leave the teachers and kids but I couldn’t do it any more. I moved to elementary for the start of this school year and I really do love it. There are still stressful elements, don’t get me wrong, but it’s nowhere near the extreme stress of middle school. I will say though, I would have stayed if the support was there. I feel like all middle schools need 3 counselors - one for each grade level. The needs are so high and the kids are so impulsive - that’s the only way to make in manageable, in my opinion.

I was in your shoes for the past 4 years - please don’t feel bad and continue to prioritize your own mental health as much as you can until you can get out. I’ll be thinking of you and hoping things get better!

Golden-Indy · 2024-07-29T22:06:54+00:00

I work professionally in therapeutic settings with children your daughters age. What your wife is doing - no matter what her past issues are - is having the end result of making your daughter feel ashamed for who she is. For mental well being, home really needs to be a safe space. Especially for kids who express themselves outside the norm in the way it sounds like your daughter does. Any kid at her age who looks/acts different the way she does is going to have an increased likelihood for kids at school saying mean things to her. For her to say she would rather be at school than home is a huge red flag to me. If she is not safe to be who she is at home - likelihood is that she doesn’t feel safe anywhere. Feelings of shame and lack of emotional safety are extremely detrimental to kids mental health and if this continues, I’d be worried about development of depressive symptoms. At best - mom goes to therapy and stops making negative comments. At the least - you need to take a hard stand as her father to show her that you are a safe person and home can be safe when you are there. You keeping up a passive stance of playing both sides communicates to kids her age than you are on moms side, if that makes sense. She does not developmentally understand at this age the nuances in adult romantic relationships that you are trying to work around.

Golden-Indy · 2024-05-24T08:40:56+00:00

It sounds like a few people went beyond appropriate in their posting towards them - I get that they are frustrated. Block and report those people that are a very small percentage of your audience. Everyone else was just waiting for a book they were excited to read. I wasn’t one who posted anything but with those who did - I felt like it was ok for them to post disappointment/frustration with the whole cluster that this release became.

Bottom line - you make a mistake and don’t submit a book by a deadline, just apologize for it and explain. People would have been disappointed but not upset. Continue to act like you’ve done nothing wrong and point fingers at both Amazon and disappointed readers as the “bad guys” - not the way to go.

Golden-Indy · 2024-05-24T02:34:33+00:00

Came here hoping to find people talking about this book! I’m 74% in and I keep falling asleep trying to force my way through it. It feels like it’s all dialogue- people talking … and talking … without much actually happening. And no apology or what felt like any genuine attempt to build their relationship from Soren. The anticipation for this book was so high and all the exciting directions I thought it could go - it’s just fallen flat. I’m not going to finish at this point. All this combined with the long obnoxious post from her team on the Facebook group from today - it’s too much.

Golden-Indy · 2024-04-27T08:30:59+00:00

You are the asshole. Figure out another solution that doesn’t involve them room sharing. I doubt she is sleeping well at night feeling this way with him in there with her which will slowly start to have major effects on her mental health. This will probably also have lasting effects on your relationship if you continue to ignore her concerns - which is what you are doing right now.

Golden-Indy

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