Book Review: Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Ellie Palmer
Publisher: GP Putnam’s Sons
Release Date: August 6th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A tender, laugh-out-loud debut romance about a woman who ends up in over her head after a little white lie . . .

When thirty-year-old post-double-mastectomy BRCA 1 carrier and reluctant thrill-seeker Alison Mullally arrives at her ex-boyfriend Sam’s funeral to find that no one knows he dumped her, she agrees to play the grieving girlfriend for the sake of the family and pack up Sam’s apartment with his prickly best friend, Adam Berg. After all, it’ll only take four weekends . . .

But Adam doesn’t want Alison anywhere near him. Forced to spend long hours with the grump, and his monosyllabic demeanor, Alison decides she must put her people-pleasing abilities to the test. She will make him like her. And after awkward family affairs and packing up dilemmas, the two form a tenuous friendship . . . if “friendship” means incredible chemistry and tension between them. Can Alison come clean and finally embrace the life and love she’s always wanted? Or will her little white lie get in the way of her new, unexpected romance?

NEW FAN.

I will officially be reading Ellie Palmer’s next book because this hit all the right notes for me. It was a well balanced romance and I loved the themes and story too.

It’s just a romantic read. I loved listening to the audio and was heavily invested in Alison and Adam’s story. The slow burn was incredible and I loved seeing these quiet moments they got together and the joy they found in each other’s company.

There’s good character growth in Alison’s story too. Her story line packed an emotional punch that had me teary eyed at the grocery store. The journey was beautiful and swoony and impactful on many levels.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Content Warnings: themes surrounding breast cancer (throughout), loss of a friend, grief depiction

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: The Heart of the Rebellion by Sian Ann Bessey

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 276 pages
Author: Sian Ann Bessey
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: November 1st, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

September 1400

King Richard II of England is dead. And after three years in His Majesty’s service, Rhys ap Tudor and his brother Gwilym are finally free to return to their ancestral home in North Wales. Their long- anticipated homecoming is overshadowed, however, by the harsh changes they encounter in their once peaceful land. The new king, Henry IV, rules with an iron fist, and the country is ripe for rebellion. Instantly thrust into the forefront of the conflict, the proud Tudor brothers enter the fight for their freedom.

Lady Catrin Buckley is alert to the unrest swirling around her. As the daughter of an English father and a Welsh mother, she knows too well the trouble her lineage poses. Her own battle, however, is one of the heart: she is to be married to a man she neither knows nor loves. Then an unexpected encounter with the enigmatic Rhys ap Tudor changes everything. Soon, Catrin finds herself swept into a rebellion that could not only change history but also rewrite her own future.

GOOD HISTORICAL.

I am trying to clear out my audible line up so it doesn’t make me anxious with how many books I want to get through and a libby lull allowed me to get some good back list books! I enjoyed this historical a lot. I loved the unique time period setting and the intensity of emotions between characters.

It’s a great audiobook and I loved the narrator. I love when historical feel well researched and I always walk away feeling like I learned more about the setting (even when the characters are fictional). The romance is sweet and passionate too. The draw between Rhys and Catrin can be felt through the pages. Filled with action and betrayals this was a fantastic listen.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC Book Review: Silver & Blood (Silver & Blood #1) by Jessie Mihalik

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 448 pages
Author: Jessie Mihalik
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: January 27th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

On a deadly mission to kill the mythical beast that has been haunting her woods, a desperate mage finds her fate intertwined with the handsome, powerful man who saves her in this dark and sexy romantasy—perfect for readers of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Callie Hart, and Holly Black.

There’s something in the woods…

When a vicious beast begins attacking her fellow villagers, Riela reluctantly agrees to enter the forbidden forest and kill the monster as she’s the only mage available—or so she thought.

Untrained and barely armed, Riela is quickly overwhelmed when one beast turns into two. She fears her death is at hand until the unexpected arrival of a scarred, strikingly handsome man with gleaming moonlit magic changes her fate—and provides a rare opportunity to learn more about her own fickle power.

After being rescued and healed from the beast’s poison, Riela awakens in a magical castle complete with a gorgeous library, a strange wolf, and the surly man who saved her life. She soon learns Garrick is both more powerful and far deadlier than a mere mortal mage—but thanks to a century-long curse, his powers are weakening.

Trapped in his castle and surrounded by the treacherous woods, the spark of attraction between Riela and Garrick slowly ignites into fiery desire. But the more they discover about Riela’s magic, the more suspicious Garrick grows of her identity. As they unravel the secrets and lies connecting Riela’s past to Garrick’s, the tenuous threads of trust between them start to fray.

Because Riela’s life—or her death—might be the key to regaining everything Garrick has lost.

Thank you Avon Books for the gifted ARC.

FIRST HALF NONSENSE.

This was one of those books where I thought I quite possibly was going to DNF but it’s an ARC and persevere I must (I know you don’t have to but I’ve accepted this quality about myself).

ANYWAYS. Why the HECK are are we kissing at 15% and having two open door scenes before the halfway mark? Why was it literally only them and no other characters for 55% of the book? Both of these things bugged me 10x over. The addition of spice in the beginning just to call this book “spicy” was not it. And then there was nothing again until 85ish%? The big theme of my issues surround the plot organization.

The second half did get better. I liked finally seeing more of the world and the characters involved. It follows pretty typical fantasy romance lines but that’s not generally bothersome for me. There seemed to be some good bones in their that might help the second book succeed more.

I just don’t know how I feel about Silver & Blood. I went in with genuine excitement and I’m hesitant to pick up book two. I’m also now remembering that I like a different potential love interest more??? Is this a switch romance??? Honestly that actually might convince me more than anything else to pick up book two. WE SHALL SEE.

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantasy
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3-4ish open door
  • Violence: moderate+

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Gilded in Vengeance by Lyssa Mia Smith

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Historical Fantasy
Length: 384 pages
Author: Lyssa Mia Smith
Publisher: Storytide
Release Date: November 4th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Revenge meets The Gilded Age in this thrilling YA fantasy set among the glittering magical elite of late-1800s New York society, from Revelle author Lyssa Mia Smith.

Two girls attended a magical ball, but one was never seen again.

At least that’s what those who betrayed her believed.

Two years after being framed for fraud by the Society of the Charmed, an exclusive club of New York’s wealthiest—and most magical—citizens, Emmy Vallillo wastes away in prison, utterly alone.

Until her cell wall explodes, revealing Jack Fontaine, one of the Society’s favorite sons, now imprisoned for a crime he swears he didn’t commit. They make a deal: He’ll help Emmy escape if she helps destroy those who’ve wronged them.

Using Emmy’s magic to transform their appearances, the two break free and, unrecognized, soon become the Society’s new darlings. Now their enemies want to dine with them. Attend lavish balls with them. Marry them. But ruining lives requires Emmy to trust Jack with hers, despite his dark secrets—and the infuriating attraction between them.

When another betrayal brings their enemies to their doorstep, Emmy must choose: complete their revenge, or give up the money, the magic, and her safety in this cutthroat world for the most treacherous thing of all—love.

OMG GO READ IT.

Y’all know I’m always on the hunt for those hidden gems and HERE’S ONE FOR Y’ALL. I loved this book. I loved that it was rooted in vengeance but that the FMC had such a great character arc and learned and took in new things as the story went on.

The vibes were fantastic. I loved the gilded age setting and the balls and intrigue and all the things. The found family group was solid and I loved how they looked out for each other.

And the romance? Swoony and the perfect level of slow burn for a standalone. There was also another element I was rather obsessed with and the reveal sent me into orbit.

So please consider this my plea to try out this book! I will definitely be on the lookout for this author’s next story.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Historical Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph