Author: GoodeyReads

ALC Book Review: Shadows of You (Lost & Found #4) by Catherine Cowles

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Length: 348 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: PageSmith LLC
Release Date: October 19th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It was supposed to be a fresh start. A small town where I could hide my little girl from the shadows that haunt us. A place where I could keep us safe.

The last thing I expected was him.

A surly, broody mountain of a man who helps me save an injured deer in a snowstorm.

Now, Roan Hartley keeps showing up with his glowers and grimaces. But they only make his rare smiles and the gentle way he talks to my daughter mean that much more.

When forces from my past find us, Roan is determined to keep us safe—even if that means sleeping on my ancient couch every night.

As days turn to weeks, his touch has my walls crashing down. But someone out there doesn’t want me to find happiness. He doesn’t want me left breathing at all.

Thank you to the author for an ALC.

YES.

No surprises here, another Catherine Cowles book, another five stars. I LOVED this one. I’ve been waiting for Roan’s story and it did not disappoint. I loved the way the grump and sunshine played off here and that you really got to see that soft side of Roan truly come out.

And the nicknames??? Oh they were absolutely fitting and I melted every time I heard them. SO FLIPPIN’ SWEET. I love a unique nickname and Roan had some good ones. I thought the romantic pacing was great and I just felt all the things for both of them. I loved Aspen and her strong and kind nature. Both of them together was a match y’all. I am obsessed with this whole family and love that we got to see so much of them and Cady?? she was the sweetest soul around and I loved her relationship with Roan.

Once again the suspense elements totally got me. I was SURE of who it was. I just KNEW IT…and I was wrong. Got a good laugh at myself and was happily loving the chaos the twist turned up. These books are such gems and I love mixing up my usual reads because Cowles never lets me down.

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic Suspense
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 3 brief open
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, attempted murder, multiple animal mutilations, kidnapping, physical altercations, gun violence, bullying

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Book Review: Can’t Help Falling (Sweater Weather #3) by Courtney Walsh

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 360 pages
Author: Courtney Walsh
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: September 14th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

All it takes to start a fire is one single match. . . Owen Larrabee is not my soulmate. He wasn’t when I confessed my love to him on his wedding day, and he isn’t now. I should probably say that I wasn’t the bride when that happened. I don’t have the best timing. He’s got a temper, he’s moody, and he has a history of being misunderstood and making big mistakes. I, on the other hand, make pumpkin cupcakes, spend my Friday nights curled up with a beloved romance novel and long to be kissed in the rain. Owen is my best friend’s older, off-limits brother and the only boy I ever thought I loved. Which is laughable because he only ever saw me as his kid sister’s dorky friend. But that was a long time ago. And I’m over him. Mostly. Until he comes back to Harvest Hollow like some kind of hero, showing up just in time to pull me out of my burning house and make me feel all the things I told myself I’d never feel again. Darn him and that brooding, intense way he looks at me. But I have questions. Why is Owen back? And does he remember our secret friendship or the day I’ve spent the last eight years trying to forget? I know better than to get hung up on Owen again. Especially now, when he’s sworn off relationships and thinks romance is a farce. And I’m something of an expert—at least to the people who listen to my podcast, The Hopeful Romantic . Never mind that nobody would guess their local bookshop owner is the one doling out popular weekly relationship advice. Never mind that I’m basing all that advice on the hundreds, (thousands?) of romance novels I’ve read over the years and not on personal experience. And especially never mind that Owen is making me question everything I believe about all of it. Can’t Help Falling is a best friend’s brother, childhood crush, opposites attract sweet rom-com with plenty of sizzle but none of the steam.

OWEN.

He MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS. This is definitely one of my new favorites from Courtney Walsh. I LOVED all of the fall aesthetic vibes and this small town. The Sweater Weather series is hitting it out of the park.

I loved the contrast between more practical, Owen, and romantic, Emmy. I loved all of the conversations and themes surrounding the importance of both and how each facet can fit into your life and relationship. There’s no ridiculous third act, just two people who are finally getting the chance they’ve always deserved to be together.

There were so many moments I want to highlight. I loved the firefighter aspects, the CALENDAR, the podcast, the dock, the bar scene, they were all amazing!! The amount of times I was swooning and loving every single moment y’all.

This was a gem. Read it.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: house fire, learning disabilities, bullying

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Book Review: Curious Tides (Drowned Gods #1) by Pascale Lacelle

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 544 pages
Author: Pascale Lacelle
Publisher: McElderry Books
Release Date: October 3rd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Ninth House meets A Deadly Education in this gorgeous dark academia fantasy following a teen mage who must unravel the truth behind the secret society that may have been involved in her classmates’ deaths.

Emory might be a student at the prestigious Aldryn College for Lunar Magics, but her healing abilities have always been mediocre at best—until a treacherous night in the Dovermere sea caves leaves a group of her classmates dead and her as the only survivor. Now Emory is plagued by strange, impossible powers that no healer should possess.

Powers that would ruin her life if the wrong person were to discover them.

To gain control of these new abilities, Emory enlists the help of the school’s most reclusive student, Baz—a boy already well-versed in the deadly nature of darker magic, whose sister happened to be one of the drowned students and Emory’s best friend. Determined to find the truth behind the drownings and the cult-like secret society she’s convinced her classmates were involved in, Emory is faced with even more questions when the supposedly drowned students start washing ashore— alive —only for them each immediately to die horrible, magical deaths.

And Emory is not the only one seeking answers. When her new magic captures the society’s attention, she finds herself drawn into their world of privilege and power, all while wondering if the truth she’s searching for might lead her right back to Dovermere…to face the fate she was never meant to escape.

Thank you Book Club Favorites for the gifted copy.

INTRIGUING.

This one took a bit for me to get into. The dark academia vibes are without a doubt there, the pacing was just a bit off. I loved the magic system. The tide magic is really cool and I’m curious about the gods aspects and how those will play into future books. There’s hidden dangers, uncontrolled magic, and secret societies.

I liked that this had two POV’s and you got to see different sides of the general plot. I enjoyed both main characters, Emory and Baz and am super interested in knowing how their story continues to play out. I feel like just enough of the world was hidden to make you want more without leaving a total sense of confusion about what’s happening.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Dark Academia
  • Language: moderately strong
  • Romance: one closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, attempted murder, loss of life, torture

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Book Review: So This is Christmas (A Princess for Christmas #3) by Jenny Holiday

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Jenny Holiday
Publisher: Avon Books
Release Date: October 4th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday concludes her beloved royal Christmas series with an unforgettable romance about a confident American woman and the strait-laced royal advisor who falls hopelessly in love with her.

Matteo Benz has spent his life serving at the pleasure of the Eldovian crown. His work is his life and his life, well…he doesn’t have much of one. When he is tasked to aid a management consultant who has been flown in to help straighten out the king’s affairs, he is instantly disturbed by her brash American manner–as well by an inconvenient attraction to the brainy beauty.

Cara Delaney is in Eldovia to help clean up the king’s financial affairs, but soon finds herself at odds with the very proper Mr. Benz. As intrigued by his good looks as she is annoyed by his dedication to tradition for its own sake, she slowly begins to see the real man behind the royal throne.

As they work together to return Eldovia to its former glory during the country’s magical Christmas season, Matteo discovers he is falling hopelessly in love with the unconventional American. But a man who has devoted his life to tradition doesn’t change easily. Can he become the man Cara needs, or will their love be another sacrifice to the crown?

DULL.

There’s a reason this book has a lower rating, it is dry. I HIGHLY enjoyed books one and two in this series and recommend going to go read those and skip over this one.

I never felt any chemistry between Cara and Matteo. They had an initial enemies vibe that kind of turned into a forced proximity angle, so the tropes are there, but between them? NOTHIN’. I can barely remember much about either of them at this point too.

The plot was nothing surprising either. There’s some holiday flair and I liked how things worked out in the end for Eldovia. Sleigh rides and skiing were good wintery moments that I’ll admit, had some charm.

This wasn’t it. I don’t really have much to say because nothing happened you wouldn’t suspect from the get-go. Everything felt forced.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open door; med-high explicit
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of a parent with a gambling addiction

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