Book Review: The Siren of Sussex (Belles of London #1) by Mimi Matthews

December 28, 2022March 8, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: January 11th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Victorian high society’s most daring equestrienne finds love and an unexpected ally in her fight for independence in the strong arms of London’s most sought after and devastatingly handsome half-Indian tailor.

Evelyn Maltravers understands exactly how little she’s worth on the marriage mart. As an incurable bluestocking from a family tumbling swiftly toward ruin, she knows she’ll never make a match in a ballroom. Her only hope is to distinguish herself by making the biggest splash in the one sphere she excels: on horseback. In haute couture. But to truly capture London’s attention she’ll need a habit-maker who’s not afraid to take risks with his designs—and with his heart.

Half-Indian tailor Ahmad Malik has always had a talent for making women beautiful, inching his way toward recognition by designing riding habits for Rotten Row’s infamous Pretty Horsebreakers—but no one compares to Evelyn. Her unbridled spirit enchants him, awakening a depth of feeling he never thought possible.

But pushing boundaries comes at a cost and not everyone is pleased to welcome Evelyn and Ahmad into fashionable society. With obstacles spanning between them, the indomitable pair must decide which hurdles they can jump and what matters most: making their mark or following their hearts?

GREAT ROMANCE.

Wonderful that this book was a romance because that was definitely the best part of the entire book. I was completely wrapped up in these two star crossed lovers. They were very sweet on each other and all of these tense, yet soft, moments between them had me absolutely swooning.

It also approached a lot of different topics from racism and colonialism to conversing with spirits and falling in love. I did think the spirts sub-plot was a bit out there and didn’t necessarily fit with the book. The author’s note cleared some of that up, but it still didn’t mesh for me with the rest of the story.

I loved that Evelyn was an excellent horse woman and found her way in society. I liked her growth as a character and that she found a supportive friend group. I LOVE good friend groups and now I want to read the next books in this series so I can get everyone’s story.

The audio book was great, DUAL POV and dual narrators too!! Always my favorite aspect of romance books.

Overall audience notes:

Historical romance
Language: very little
Romance: make-outs
Violence: light
Trigger/Content Warnings: racism, micro-aggressions, colonialism

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Book Review: Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh

December 27, 2022November 4, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 354 pages
Author: Catherine Walsh
Publisher: Bookouture
Release Date: October 4th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s meant to be catching flights, not catching feelings…

Molly and Andrew are just trying to get home to Ireland for the holidays, when a freak snowstorm grounds their flight.

Nothing romantic has ever happened between them: they’re friends and that’s all. But once a year, for the last ten years, Molly has spent seven hours and fifteen minutes sitting next to Andrew on the last flight before Christmas from Chicago to Dublin, drinking terrible airplane wine and catching up on each other’s lives. In spite of all the ways the two friends are different, it’s the holiday tradition neither of them has ever wanted to give up.

Molly isn’t that bothered by Christmas, but—in yet another way they’re total opposites—Andrew is a full-on fanatic for the festive season and she knows how much getting back to Ireland means to him. So, instead of doing the sane thing and just celebrating the holidays together in America, she does the stupid thing. The irrational thing. She vows to get him home. And in time for his mam’s famous Christmas dinner.

The clock is ticking. But Molly always has a plan. And—as long as the highly-specific combination of taxis, planes, boats, and trains all run on time—it can’t possibly go wrong.

What she doesn’t know is that, as the snow falls over the city and over the heads of two friends who are sure they’re not meant to be together, the universe might just have a plan of its own…

A totally gorgeous and escapist friends-to-lovers festive romance with a swoon-worthy hero. Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Mhairi Macfarlane, and Christina Lauren.

ABSOLUTELY LOVED.

This one took me by surprise and I am so happy it did. WHAT A GEM. This is a must read for my holiday romance fans!!

The angst between these two friends as they turned to lovers was immaculate. I felt the tension from the get go and within a few chapters I was completely wrapped up in watching these two fall in love. I loved the brief flashback moments that recounted all of their plane rides together. It set the stage well for where things landed in the end.

And OHMGEE SWEET ANDREW. I was very much misty eyed when I got to some of those later chapters. Straight PUDDLE. Andrew was amazing and I love him and couldn’t get enough. I really liked Molly as the FMC too. She was realistic yet willing to do what she could for her closest friend. I loved the whirlwind of an adventure they went on, literally around the world to get home for Christmas.

I loved all of the Christmas and holiday spirit, the families were stellar. Always love a supportive and loving family as side characters. The ending was all the best things and now I want to read this author’s other books.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Holiday Romance
Language: Some strong
Romance: 2ish open door; low-med explicit
Trigger/Content Warnings: pregnancy (side character), childbirth, mentions of alcoholism

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Book Review: Gallant by V.E. Schwab

December 26, 2022March 4, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Paranormal Mystery
Length: 352 pages
Author: V.E. Schwab
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Release Date: March 1st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Everything casts a shadow. Even the world we live in. And as with every shadow, there is a place where it must touch. A seam, where the shadow meets its source.

Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal—which seems to unravel into madness. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home—to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. But Olivia is not about to leave the first place that feels like home, it doesn’t matter if her cousin Matthew is hostile or if she sees half-formed ghouls haunting the hallways.

Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant—but not. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. Now Olivia sees what has unraveled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from.

Olivia has always wanted to belong somewhere, but will she take her place as a Prior, protecting our world against the Master of the House? Or will she take her place beside him?

DULL.

I kept waiting for this book to get better, a second half save so to speak, but alas, it did get better, but I’m still not convinced of what the plot truly was for this story.

The spooky atmosphere was great. I liked the ghouls and a house with a curse. All of that were the tidbits that kept me going (and the fact it’s a super quick audiobook). And also the audiobook was great narration too! Some of the story aspects were interesting. I liked the reveals towards the end, even if by then I was over the book.

Everything just seemed somewhat scattered. Olivia doing things over here, trying to find her parents over there, sleuthing out a supposed curse on her new home and meeting family members she didn’t know she had. There’s plenty of potential here, I felt that things never fully came together though in the end.

Overall audience notes:

YA Paranormal/Mystery
Language: none
Romance: none
Violence: light
Trigger/Content Warnings: physical altercations, near death experiences, loss of parents

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Book Review: A Not-So Holiday Paradise (Christmas Escapes #5) by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

December 25, 2022November 21, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Genre: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 242 pages
Author: Gracie Ruth Mitchell
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 16th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

THINGS YOU BRING ON A DESERT ISLAND…

1) Sunscreen, obviously. Because these Irish freckles of mine will burn, baby, burn, and lobster red is not a great color on me.
2) An extra dose of my seizure meds, just in case.
3) A backpack full of snacks, including but not limited to a canteen of Dr. Pepper, a box of mini Christmas cookies, and granola bars—the gross crumbly kind, not the chocolate chip kind, because I’m trying to be healthy.
4) Sunglasses, so that when I inevitably wind up staring at my brother’s best friend—who I haven’t seen in years—no one will be able to tell. I’ve been in love with him forever, but it would never work out; he lives on a literal island, while I’m still in grad school. It can’t hurt to look, though, right?
5) Also bug spray.

My packing list is all well and good for a quick port excursion as part of my family’s Christmas cruise. But when the cruise ship leaves me behind, with only the contents of my bag and my brother’s best friend to keep me company? Well, I’ve got problems–especially since I’m going to run out of medicine soon. And I don’t think they make sunscreen strong enough to block the sparks that are growing between Beckett and me…

Enjoy the other books in this series that can be read in any order:

UNIQUE.

This felt fresh to the holiday genre. Set on a cruise and a small island, it’s got a much different vibe without any snow around (but there’s a big storm, don’t worry!).

What I didn’t know would be my kryptonite was the phrase good girl used in here. Not commonly seen in sweet romance books I loved how this was used here! I’m going to need to see that more often ASAP.

There’s some great forced proximity moments between these two and I always love a brother’s best friend trope. I thought both of these played well. I didn’t always love the FMC, but I did love the epilepsy rep. And the MMC anxiety rep! Both of these were written well and I loved learning more about epilepsy from the author.

I thought the book overall was sweet and fast paced. I really just enjoyed reading it, ya know? There’s bit of a momentum loss towards the end but those last few pages help make it up and I love a down the years epilogue to feel all the flutters.

Overall audience notes: