Author: GoodeyReads

Book Review: Blitz (Treasure State Wildcats #2) by Devney Perry

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 356 pages
Author: Devney Perry
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 7th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A forbidden, small town, sports romance from Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Devney Perry.

A coach. A student. The rules were concrete. We broke them anyway.

The night I met Toren Greely was the night I learned how to lie. He was a Treasure State football coach. I was the star of the volleyball team. Coaches and students were forbidden. My future was on the line, so I told myself it was only one night.

That was the first lie. They got easier to tell after that. The lines blurred. The boundaries shifted. Our relationship became a game of its own.

A chaste smile. A knowing glance. A veiled touch or a hushed kiss. We hid in plain sight. We were invincible. Or so we thought. Neither of us saw the blitz coming until it was too late.

Game over. The night I left Toren Greely was the night I learned how to lose.

I LIKED IT.

I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this forbidden romance, but honestly, it didn’t bug me all that much. I liked the set-up and just kind of rolled with the fantasy of this plot. I was here for vibes, and I liked the vibes.

The FMC was a bit dumb though. I didn’t like her POV as much with how repetitive she was and kind of unobservant of her situation. I think multiple things could have been handled differently, but I did love that she was a volleyball player and eventually found her passion and dreams.

I adored Toren. He was a sweet and I could not get enough of this age gap. There is something in Perry’s writing that pulls me in and I find myself flipping pages as fast as I can. I enjoyed the plot and had a good time reading this.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3-4 open door
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: inappropriate coach/student relationship, underage drinking

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Book Review: Coach (Treasure State Wildcats #1) by Devney Perry

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 341 pages
Author: Devney Perry
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 6th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A single dad, sports romance from Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, Devney Perry.

Football star. Single dad. And once, a long time ago, mine.

I’ve spent the better part of a decade forgetting Ford Ellis. If he had just stayed away from Montana, I might have erased the memory of his striking blue eyes and rugged smile forever. Avoiding him was easy when the only place I saw his face was on ESPN—and a remote control could fix that problem.

Except my boss just hired Ford as the new head coach for the Treasure State Wildcats. Not only will I be stuck watching him on the sidelines this season, but avoiding him will be impossible now that we’re working together.

Maybe I haven’t forgotten Ford. Maybe I still dream about what we might have been. Maybe he hasn’t forgotten me either.

Except those maybes won’t change the fact that we were never meant to be. Maybe he was mine once. But as of today, the only thing I’ll be calling Ford Ellis is Coach.

LOVED.

Took a swing at another Devney Perry book and this was a HIT. I was in a chokehold over Ford. I loooved how much he was IN. He wanted all of Millie and continually made a point of showing that in word and deed. We are here for a man like that. Swooned in a puddle 100x over.

I also really loved Millie. She finally got the chance to clear the air, reconnect and find her happily ever after. I absolutely loved that she was an assistant AD. Ford as a single Dad was immaculate. And the football content was everything you want in a sports romance.

The burn is pretty quick and I do wish there was a bit more something. Some more angsty buildup? I don’t know, there’s just this last little thing niggling me that was missing. The ending was too dang good though and I am can’t wait for book two.

Overall audience notes:

  • Sports Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 4+ open; high explicit
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: divorce, cheating ex (who also is a neglectful parent)

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Book Review: Five Broken Blades (The Broken Blades #1) by Mai Corland

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 512 pages
Author: Mai Corland
Publisher: Red Tower
Release Date: May 7th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s the season
for treason…

The king of Yusan must die.

The five most dangerous liars in the land have been mysteriously summoned to work together for a single objective: to kill the God King Joon.

He has it coming. Under his merciless immortal hand, the nobles flourish, while the poor and innocent are imprisoned, ruined…or sold.

And now each of the five blades will come for him. Each has tasted bitterness―from the hired hitman seeking atonement, a lovely assassin who seeks freedom, or even the prince banished for his cruel crimes. None can resist the sweet, icy lure of vengeance.

They can agree on murder.

They can agree on treachery.

But for these five killers―each versed in deception, lies, and betrayal―it’s not enough to forge an alliance. To survive, they’ll have to find a way to trust each other…but only one can take the crown.

Let the best liar win.

I’LL READ BOOK TWO.

This was a good series starter. I especially loved the audiobook because they had five separate narrators for all of the POV’s which made it much easier to follow along. I did like all of our main leads. They’ve each got secrets and strengths and weaknesses that you see played out though the book. I loved the ending betrayals and twists. A few took me by surprise which is always my favorite.

I liked most of the romantic aspects. Some times I felt like it was trying too hard to be sexy (and not in a lusty way, it’s hard to explain without spoiling) and it wasn’t coming off well. I do like the contrasting pairings and I’m curious how those will continue to unravel (or tie together) as the series continues.

The plot is simple, which works well against so many points of view. I liked seeing different pieces of the world and how the politicking and intrigue worked together. I’m very much interested in seeing where this series will go next.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: The Last Bloodcarver (The Last Bloodcarver Duology #1) by Vanessa Le

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 384 pages
Author: Vanessa Le
Publisher: Roaring Books Press
Release Date: March 19th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Nhika is a bloodcarver. A cold-hearted, ruthless being who can alter human biology with just a touch. In the industrial city of Theumas, she is seen not as a healer, but a monster that kills for pleasure.

When Nhika is caught using her bloodcarving abilities during a sham medical appointment, she’s captured by underground thugs and sold to an aristocratic family to heal the last witness of their father’s murder.

But as Nhika delves deeper into their investigation amidst the glitz of Theumas’ wealthiest district, she begins to notice parallels between this job and her own dark past. And when she meets an alluring yet entitled physician’s aide, Ven Kochin, she’s forced to question the true intent behind this murder. In a society that outcasts her, Kochin seems drawn to her…though he takes every chance he gets to push her out of his opulent world.

When Nhika discovers that Kochin is not who he claims to be, and that there is an evil dwelling in Theumas that runs much deeper than the murder of one man, she must decide where her heart, and her allegiance, truly lie. And — if she’s willing to become the dreaded bloodcarver Theumas fears — to save herself and the ones she’s vowed to protect.

WOW, SO GOOD.

I had no expectations going into this and found myself wrapped up in a wonderful YA fantasy debut. I loved the combination of sci-fi + fantasy this showcased. It was also very heavily medically based and I’m the kind of person that loves that stuff.

The plot was steady and filled with plenty of highs and lows. I loved seeing Nihka grow into herself and trying to take the next best step. The mystery was great too and I love grand reveals.

There’s a slow burn romance that’s woven throughout with the right dash of rivals to lovers vibes. I loved that Nihka and Kochin got many chances to get to know one another and they really grew on me.

And the ENDING. I have no idea where things will go next but I’m very invested now and look forward to the next book.

Overall audience notes:

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

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