Author: GoodeyReads

Book Review: Beauty and the Blade by S.C. Grayson

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Urban Fantasy Retelling
Length: 297 pages
Author: S.C. Grayson
Publisher: City Owl Press
Release Date: January 26th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Most London socialites dream of marrying for love or status, but Contessa’s wedding is about justice—and revenge.

Nathanial Woodrow is known on the streets of London as the Beast, leader of the fearsome Lion gang who mark their victims with three slashes on their face. Since her mother was found dead with the signature slashes years ago, Contessa has wanted nothing more than to see her murderer brought to justice. However, the Beast has been impeccable at maintaining his façade as the high society Mr. Nathanial Woodrow, and nobody has been able to gather enough evidence to convict him. When the Beast unexpectedly asks Contessa’s father, the Chief of the Royal Police, for her hand in marriage, Contessa and her father hatch a plan to bring him down from the inside.

As Contessa enters the lion’s den in search of evidence to convict the Beast, she finds that not everything is as she once thought. Her father’s work, hunting down Talented that use their magic to rule the criminal underworld, is thrown into question with each glimpse of the kind-hearted man beneath the mask of a hardened gang leader. As Contessa navigates her search for justice, she finds herself questioning what side she’s really on, and why she finds herself drawn to a man she’s supposed to hate.

NOTHING NEW.

This book was honestly completely fine. But that’s also all I can really say about it. I have no raging issues to throw down nor do I have anything that I felt like was the best ever. So while it might be middle of the road for me it might be a better read for you.

It’s very easily a Beauty and the Beast retelling. A little too similar for me. Yet once again that was my thought about it, if you love a pretty true rundown this would be a great pick. I liked the characters and that Contessa confronted her own thoughts and feeling about Nate. She was open to changing her mind when she received new information and that’s something I appreciate with characters.

This is NOT a fantasy. I’d say urban fantasy or something akin to magical realism. It’s set in London and the magic system isn’t well explained but there do seem to be people with “talents” that help with random things? That was never full explained. I did like the London/Regency setting and time period.

The relationship is good overall too. The enemies to lovers isn’t full blown and they do take the time to get to know one another before forming ALL opinions. There was a nice ending that wrapped things up.

Overall audience notes:

  • Urban Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: one brief open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: executions, physical altercations, kidnapping children, weapons violence

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: February 2024

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The month of love! Wow, this month knocked it out of the park with the five stars y’all. So many dang good books and I finally got my hands on House of Flame and Shadow!!

Favorites this month:

  • House of Flame and Shadow
  • Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians
  • Emma M. Lion No. 5
  • The Ever Queen
  • The Will of the Many
  • Wild About You
  • The Scrivener’s Bones
  • The Outlaw Noble Salt
  • The Knights of Crystallia
  • Girl Meets Grump
  • Tales of the Celestial Kingdom
  • The Shattered Lens
  • The Dark Talent
  • The Trials of Ophelia
  • Heartless Hunter
  • A Groom of One’s Own
  • The Warm Hands of Ghosts
  • House of Bane and Blood
  • Where the Dark Stands Still

Least favorites this month:

  • Night for Day
  • Liar’s Test
  • Valley Verified
  • [ARC] Night for Day by Roselle Lim
  • House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City #3) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ALC] A Tempest of Tea (Blood and Tea #1) by Hafsah Faizal
  • [ARC] Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley
  • [ARC] Happily Never After by Lynn Painter
  • Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday
  • [ARC] Liar’s Test by Ambelin Kwaymullina
  • Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #1) by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (Emma M. Lion #5) by Beth Brower
  • The Ever Queen (The Ever Seas #2) by L.J. Andrews
  • The Will of the Many (Hierarchy #1) by James Islington
  • [ARC] Wild About You by Kaitlyn Hill
  • The Scrivener’s Bones (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #2) by Brandon Sanderson
  • [ARC] A Noble Scheme (The Imposters #2) by Roseanna M. White
  • No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall
  • [ARC] The Outlaw Noble Salt by Amy Harmon
  • I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by Ann Liang
  • The Knights of Crystallia (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #3) by Brandon Sanderson
  • [ARC] Girl Meets Grump by Hailey Gardiner
  • Tales of the Celestial Kingdom (The Celestial Kingdom #2.5) by Sue Lynn Tan
  • Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde #2) by Heather Fawcett
  • Valley Verified by Kyla Zhao
  • Mortal Queens (Fae Dynasty #1) by Victoria McCombs
  • [ARC] An Unlikely Proposition (Unexpected Seasons #2) by Rosalyn Eves
  • The Shattered Lens (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #4) by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Dark Talent (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #5) by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Trials of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #3) by Nicole Platania
  • [ARC] An Inconvenient Letter by Julie Wright
  • Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #6) by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson
  • Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth #1) by Kristen Ciccarelli
  • Nightweaver by RM Gray
  • [ARC] A Groom of One’s Own (Appies Series) by Emma St. Clair
  • Love Interest by Clare Gilmore
  • The Warm Hands of Ghosts of Katherine Arden
  • [ARC/Novella] After the Crescent Strike (The Balkan Legends #0.5) by A.L. Sowards
  • [ARC] Wedding Issues by Elle Evans
  • ASAP by Axie Oh
  • House of Bane and Blood (Order and Chaos #1) by Alexis L. Menard
  • Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek
  • [Novella] Hyperthief (Skyward #3.6) by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson

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ARC Book Review: Girl Meets Grump by Hailey Gardiner

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 270 pages
Author: Hailey Gardiner
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 26th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Trent Stewart is sick and tired of spending all his time dealing with the nagging guests who stay at the cabins of Wildwood. The only way he can finish his current build on the property, a tree house, is to bring on a manager. But Trent’s frustration only mounts as he discovers the new hire is someone he’s already met, a guest whose incessant questions and breezy personality had driven him mad during her stay.

Sydney Foster has recently returned home to Kitt’s Harbor after a stint in Europe working as a travel blogger. When she finds herself needing a steady job, managing the enchanting cabins at Wildwood feels like the perfect way to satisfy her wanderlust. Too bad the charming haven in the woods comes with a bear of a man who seems doggedly determined to bring out the worst in her.

In this opposites-attract, sweet romantic comedy, Trent and Sydney must join forces to turn the tide for Wildwood while stubbornly trying not to catch feelings for each other along the way.

Thank you to the author for the eARC.

OH HOW TENDER.

I adored this soft and gentle romance. Sometimes that is exactly what I’m after and this was a beautiful story. I loved the dichotomy between Sydney’s extrovert self and Trent’s introvert self. They gave each other space to be who they are, and also meeting each other and being open to new dynamics. It was the sweetest grump and sunshine.

Absolutely obsessed with the setting. I’m not a PNW girlie but boy did this make me want to try it out. I felt like I was there and I love that so much. And I loved all of the side characters too. They were subtle and just what this book needed to bring it all together.

A lovely romance. Hailey Gardiner deserves all the love for her romances y’all.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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Book Review: Running Barefoot by Amy Harmon

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: New Adult Romance
Length: 443 pages
Author: Amy Harmon
Publisher: Amazon
Release Date: January 4th, 2014
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When Josie Jensen, an awkward 13-year-old musical prodigy crashes headlong into new-comer Samuel Yazzie, an 18-year-old Navajo boy full of anger and confusion, an unlikely friendship blooms. Josie teaches Samuel about words, music and friendship, and along the way finds a kindred spirit.

Upon graduation, Samuel abandons the sleepy, small town in search of a future and a life, leaving his young friend behind. Many years go by and Samuel returns, finding Josie in need of the very things she offered him years before. Their roles reversed, Samuel teaches Josie about life, love, and letting go.

Deeply romantic and poignant, Running Barefoot is the story of a small town girl and a Native American boy, the ties that bind them to their homes and families, and the love that gives them wings.

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

Good heavens. Amy Harmon is already one of my top 5 favorite authors EVER. And there’s very few backlist books I haven’t gotten to yet. This was one of them and let me tell y’all, it was just as amazing as I could have hoped for (and I loved the audiobook).

This story is full of young love, a lot of heart break, and the power of reconnection and that deep soul bond that can form with someone. I loved Samuel and Josie’s story. It has the aura of innocence (without crossing any lines) that breaks away (years later) into this match that was always meant to be. Easily found myself tearing up, as one does when reading Harmon books, and the beauty of her words.

A super romantic story. An amazing character in Josie, who’s had to do so much for so many others that she forgets to do something for herself. And Samuel who rises from his own turmoil to become the person he wanted to be for Josie. THIS IS LOVE. It is incredible.

Overall audience notes:

  • New Adult Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: domestic abuse (off page), animal birth, loss of multiple loved ones, a loved one with dementia, brief war mentions

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