Book Review: Silver in the Bone (Silver in the Bone #1) by Alexandra Bracken

May 22, 2024April 28, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 480 pages
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Publisher: Knopf Books
Release Date: April 4th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A series opener inspired by Arthurian legend and fueled by love, revenge, and pure adrenaline!

Tamsin Lark didn’t ask to be a Hollower. As a mortal with no magical talent, she was never meant to break into ancient crypts, or compete with sorceresses and Cunningfolk for the treasures inside. But after her thieving foster father disappeared without so much as a goodbye, it was the only way to keep herself—and her brother, Cabell—alive.

Ten years later, rumors are swirling that her guardian vanished with a powerful ring from Arthurian legend. A run-in with her rival Emrys ignites Tamsin’s hope that the ring could free Cabell from a curse that threatens both of them. But they aren’t the only ones who covet the ring.

As word spreads, greedy Hollowers start circling, and many would kill to have it for themselves. While Emrys is the last person Tamsin would choose to partner with, she needs all the help she can get to edge out her competitors in the race for the ring. Together, they dive headfirst into a vipers’ nest of dark magic, exposing a deadly secret with the power to awaken ghosts of the past and shatter her last hope of saving her brother.

THE ENDING SAVED IT.

I didn’t know how I would end up liking this one because Arthurian legend + urban fantasy is not usually my combination. What is about King Arthur legend books that totally goes over my head??? But I digress. Things did get better and I will read the sequel.

The romance in here is subtle but very sweet. I liked the development of it and the contrast of that versus the rest of the book. I have SO MANY questions about that ending and it was the perfect dose of a cliffhanger.

Plot wise I was lost for a the beginning, figured out what was happening for awhile, completely lost in the middle and then found my way back one more time. The middle is slowed down quite a bit and I’m grateful I had the audiobook to keep the pace up or I think this review would have gone more south.

I liked Tamsin and her brother, Cabell. They have some interesting character arcs I want to further explore and the decisions and actions all felt true to the nature of everything happening.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy
Language: a little
Romance: closed door
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, physical and magical altercations

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ARC Book Review: Savor It by Tarah Dewitt

May 21, 2024May 3, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Tarah Dewitt
Publisher: St. Martin’s
Release Date: May 21st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Summer won’t last forever.

Sage Byrd has lived in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington) her entire life. She’s learned to love her small world, with the misfit animals on her hobby farm, and her friendships with the town’s inhabitants. But when her 5-year relationship ends and her ex, town-golden-boy Ian, suddenly gets engaged, Sage needs a win―something that will convince everyone to stop pitying her all the time, and to put Ian in his place. The Festival of Spunes, the town’s annual summer competition, would be the perfect opportunity. She just needs a partner.

Fisher Lange was a hotshot chef in New York City until the loss of his sister left him numb, grieving, and responsible for his teenage niece Indy. When Fisher loses his Michelin star along with his love of cooking, his boss sends him and Indy to Spunes on a much-needed summer sabbatical to consult on a restaurant opening. But when clashes with the townspeople threaten his last chance to redeem himself and a kiss with his new neighbor Sage leads to dating rumors, a strategic alliance might just be the best way to turn things around.

A deal is struck. Sage will improve Fisher’s image in the eyes of the town and remove the roadblocks he is facing with the restaurant, and Fisher will be Sage’s partner for the competition. But as their pact quickly turns into steamy rendezvous, emotional wounds begin to heal, and the pair tries to savor every moment, they start to realize that summer is racing by much faster than they would like…

Filled with spicy summer fun, small-town charm, and Big Feelings, this highly anticipated romcom is Tarah DeWitt’s best yet.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

NEW FAVORITE.

Audio notes first: LOVED. The narrators brought this book to new heights. It felt like I was truly listening to the main characters tell me the story. I loved the way it was crafted.

Oh my gosh, how does Tarah Dewitt do this to me every time??? I’ve been reading her books from the beginning and each and every dang story has brought the humor and feels and love and ALL THE THINGS.

I was SMITTEN from the first few chapters. Where you just know it’s going to be a five star read. And it never disappointed me once. I loved the grump x sunshine balance and the banter and heat between these two was next level. I loved how both Sage and Fisher had intricate backgrounds that played into their story, and seeing the growth from finding love with each other. This really read like a grown up summer romance story in allllll the best ways. I felt transported to this small town and adored the whole set-up.

This is full of swoon and romance. It’s full of heart and finding the best step forward. Full of reigniting passions and holding onto the parts of you that you love. This swept me away as an absolute romance book BUT with so much space filled with the ups and downs and pure joys of life.

I loved it. I loved it all. And I loved the ending came together too.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: moderate-high
Romance: 3+ open door scenes
Violence: low
Content Warnings: depictions of grief, death of a loved one (off page)

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ARC Book Review: Wild About You by Kaitlyn Hill

May 21, 2024February 10, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: NA Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Kaitlyn Hill
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: May 21st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two total opposites. One race through the Great Outdoors. In this grumpy-sunshine teen romance from the author of Love from Scratch and Not Here to Stay Friends , the trail to true love doesn’t always come with a map.

Natalie Hart has always been loud, unfiltered, and unapologetically herself. But then comes her freshman year of college, when she loses her merit scholarship and gains one pesky little anxiety diagnosis.

Hesitant to take out more student loans, Natalie decides to shoot her shot and applies to Wild Adventures , a popular outdoorsy reality show. Sure, Natalie prefers her twelve-step skincare routine to roughing it on the Appalachian Trail while competing in challenges against other college kids, but that scholarship prize money is calling her name. High risk, high reward, right?

Enter Finn Markum, her randomly assigned, capital- O Outdoorsy teammate whose growl could rival a black bear. These partners have more friction than a pair of new hiking boots. Or is it flirtation? Turns out falling in love might be the wildest adventure of all…

Thank you GetUnderlined for the gifted ARC.

UH, I LOVED THIS.

I really didn’t have any kind of expectations going into this, I was just genuinely hoping to like this book and it ended up hitting me in the feels on many levels.

I adored the grump x sunshine set up. I loved Natalie. She made me laugh and want to hug her. I felt that 19 years old, trying to figure out the next step, and having to do it mostly alone. Not having the best parent connection and struggling with anxiety (the anxiety rep was amazing y’all). Meeting her match in Finn, the cutest grumpy cinnamon roll. I loved him and that even without a POV I got a great background and depth of self and I loooooved the banter between them. And also how they worked through apologizing and communicating. It wasn’t a linear road, nor was it wildly dramatic and blown out or proportion. I love the realness of it all.

The setting was fun. I liked the trek through a portion of the Appalachian Trail and the reality show worked well into the story. Even as a main part of the atmosphere I don’t think it overwhelmed the character driven story about Natalie.

This surprised me in all the best ways. I constantly found myself wanting to pick it up and enjoy it. Made me smile and swoon, and I appreciated the themes throughout too.

Overall audience notes:

NA Contemporary Romance
Language: low-moderate
Romance: make-outs
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent (off page, recounted – cancer)

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Book Review: An Amiable Foe (Castles and Courtship #1) by Jennie Goutet

May 20, 2024April 26, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 324 pages
Author: Jennie Goutet
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 24th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She wants to be left alone with her family’s castle. He wants to show off the home he has just inherited. Neither of them can win.

Marianne Edgewood is perfectly capable of running Brindale Castle, if only the task would be left to her. A centuries-old house of stone is solid, unchanging, whereas people are not to be relied upon. It little matters that a stranger inherited the castle. She simply must find a way to stay.

At last, fate has been kind to Peregrine Osborne, and he has won the approval of his baron uncle, his London friends, and the deed to a castle in Kent. He certainly deserves his success after suffering a series of setbacks through no fault of his own. If only the castle’s pretty resident, Miss Edgewood, didn’t stand in the way of his urgent attempts to bring the castle to its proper glory.

When Perry embarks on a whirlwind renovation of Brindale, Marianne proves to be confoundingly resistant to his efforts. As Perry finds it increasingly difficult to force her to his will, he begins to question whether having his way at all costs is worth forcing Marianne from everything she has ever known. And Marianne must decide whether a cold pile of stones is truly a replacement for a warm, beating heart.

IT WAS SWEET.

I liked this one! I haven’t read a Goutet book in a bit and I enjoyed being back in her writing style and storytelling. I loved the castle setting and the dynamics between the main couple, Perry and Marianne.

The little dash of mystery added some good forced proximity and I FELT for Marianna as she tried to navigate being a part of society. I haven’t seen much of this kind of plot decisions in historicals and I liked that unique atmosphere. I loved the way that Perry looked after Marianne and really grew into himself too. They were both people trying to take new steps forward and they found that way together.

I adore this cover. The audiobook was great and this was a nice read to spend my time with.

Overall audience notes: