Book Review: Call Me Maybe (Love Lines #1) by Cara Bastone

December 14, 2022February 21, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 220 pages
Author: Cara Bastone
Publisher: Audible Originals
Release Date: October 20th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Paint your toes. Pick up the wrong coffee and bagel order. Drive from Brooklyn to Jersey in traffic so slow you want to tear your hair out. It’s amazing all the useless things I can accomplish while on hold for three hours with customer service. Three hours when I should be getting the Date-in-a-Box website ready to launch at the big business expo in a few days. Except my shiny new website is glitching, and my inner rage-monster is ready to scorch some earth…when he finally picks up. Not the robot voice I expected but a real live human named Cal. He’s surprisingly helpful and really knows his stuff, even if he’s a little awkward…in an adorable way.

And suddenly I’m flirting with him? And I think he’s flirting back.

And suddenly it’s been hours, and we’re still on the phone talking and ordering each other takeout while he troubleshoots my website.

And suddenly we’re exchanging numbers and sending texts and DMs every day, leaving voice mails (who even does that anymore?!).

And suddenly I’m wondering if it’s possible for two people to fall in love at first talk.

Because I’m falling…hard.

THAT WAS CUTE.

Another good read in this series. I read the “second” book first, but these could easily be read in any order and you won’t miss a thing. I did love Sweet Talk more than Call Me Maybe, but both had amazing narration and the production was top notch. Definitely grab these on audio if you can!

This was such a spontaneous, never would have thought of, meet-cute. A customer service call? Who knew! I liked that stretch of reality of these two getting to know each other over the hours spent diagnosing website issues. It was sweet, and I found myself laughing and smiling with Vera and Cal.

I didn’t love Vera as much as I would have liked. I ended up really being here for the quiet and kind nature of Cal. This was without a doubt, an opposites attract scenario. There’s a few minor plot hole and connection issues that sometimes come with the territory of a short read. Not really pressing issues as this was a nice, lighthearted, heart melting read.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary romance
Language: little
Romance: kisses

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Darkwind (The Starchaser Saga #1) by Renee Dugan

December 13, 2022September 13, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 442 pages
Author: Renee Dugan
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Middle Kingdom of Talheim has enjoyed peace for decades. But with the threat of war rising from the ruthless South, the dream of a quiet life is fading. And for the noble but naïve Princess Cistine, that means embarking on a dangerous quest to the Northern Kingdom, where she hopes to forge an alliance against their southern foes and save her people.

But when Cistine is captured by an outlaw and his band of cutthroat warriors, she finds a more deadly adventure than she bargained for – and a greater power within herself than she ever knew.

Swept up in the unpredictable tide of a tenuous and shadowy political climate, a ruthless land governed by the stars, and the unexpected revelations that come from her mysterious new companions, Cistine must learn how to fight, how to lead…and above all, how to trust herself.

If the young princess can’t be forged into a fighter, then her kingdom will fall.

HI, THIS IS MY NEW PERSONALITY.

Y’all. New fantasy obsession alert. I LOVED this!! Another Kindle Unlimited gem that has its hooks in me.

This is a slow build. And at times you do feel that slowness, but it has a necessity. I hate when things are slow and aren’t truly moving. In this case, we got to see some major character growth from Cistine and I looooved that. I enjoy seeing the development of skills rather than overnight they are fantastic at everything.

The plot is satisfying too. The world building is easy to follow and I like how the magic system is involved. I also absolutely loved that this had FOUND FAMILY. One of my favorite non-romantic tropes. This group grew on me and I am hopeful that we get to see there stories as the series progresses.

I can see that the romance will be a super slow burn. And I love those so doesn’t bother me one bit. I even like how it’s set-up right now (I don’t want to mention more because of spoilers). It’s just a true to life way of romance and I think this slow development will be EVERYTHING.

I can’t wait for more of this one. It was just what I was looking for when I picked it up and I’m genuinely excited to keep reading. Highly recommend for my fantasy friends!

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy
Language: very little
Romance: kisses
Violence: mild
Trigger/Content Warnings: small battle scenes, torture, loss of loved ones, domestic abuse (recounted)

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Host for the Holidays (Christmas Escapes #2) by Martha Keyes

December 12, 2022October 30, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 378 pages
Author: Martha Keyes
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 26th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Madi is counting on Paris’s reputation as the City of Love. Now she just needs to figure out if it’s old love or new love…

Madi

After two years and zero proposals, my relationship could use a little spark. Paris during the holidays seems like just the ticket—one perfect, final opportunity for my boyfriend to take things to the next level.

The fact that he’s rented me the tiny servant quarters in the apartment of a very good-looking Frenchman is . . . puzzling. And when he asks that Frenchman to take me around the city while he’s busy at work trainings? Color me confused.

Is this some sort of pre-engagement test? If so, I’m not sure I’m doing too hot.

Rémy

Offering to host my friend’s vacation rental means making sure the first review is five solid, sparkling stars. When the guest who shows up is a beautiful American woman, I’m thinking my task might be more enjoyable than I thought. Until I find out she has a boyfriend. Madi deserves to have an amazing time in Paris, though, so I’m more than happy to oblige when the guy asks me to show her the city.

It’s cool. I’m cool. This is all for that five-star review…

◆ Host for the Holidays is a closed door romance full of fun, chemistry, and a generous dash of the magic of Paris

ADORED.

Oh my goodness, this writing was magical!! I absolutely LOVED the Paris setting during Christmastime.

I knew this was the author’s first contemporary book and I think she nailed it. I would happily read more stories set in a modern setting from her easy. Keyes made Paris come alive and these characters had my whole heart.

Remy was absolutely adorable. I was swooned away by his kindness. He had the purest heart and his interactions with Madi were pure. They had chemistry from the beginning and I loved reading about them exploring Paris and falling in love. I think there was a great balance of plot and Christmas stuff that is exactly what I’m looking for in a holiday read.

I do wish the boyfriend to ex-boyfriend plot line wasn’t around as long as it was. And I did think it showed up at a few inopportune times.

Otherwise, great book. Can’t wait for more.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Holiday Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: The Party (London Prep #5) by Jillian Dodd

December 12, 2022February 18, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★
Audience: NA Contemporary Romance
Length: 332 pages
Author: Jillian Dodd
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: October 19th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s my first week as an official student at Kensington School, and things couldn’t be more chaotic. I’m living in a hotel, trying to recover from the news of my parents’ move to London, and working to make things right with Harry, Noah, and Mohammad.

Mohammad says I’m back in the boys’ club.

Harry tells me that he wants me back in his life.

And Noah, well, he’s always been complicated.

But after a too-generous gift from Harry and a heated moment with Noah on my birthday, things seem to change. Noah is flirting with me again and Harry shows me he’s serious about us being friends when he asks me to be his date to his parents’ party.

Everything feels like it’s back to normal—until the party.

Because Mohammad somehow ends up with two dates.

Harry asks me to pretend to be his girlfriend for the night.

And Noah tells me he likes me. A lot.

In the midst of meeting Harry’s parents and helping Mohammad navigate a potential disaster with Naomi, Noah says that I need to show him how I feel. But what he’s really asking for is for me to make a choice.

OVER IT.

Five books.

That’s how long I made it through this love triangle.

I’m not typically a fan, but I really was into all of the drama. The push and pull, will they won’t they kind of nonsense. The first two books were great. Third, eh. Fourth, pulled me back, and now I can say I’m okay with putting this series down. Maybe I’ll read a spoiler of the last book (whenever that is) to know who the main character ends up with.

There’s some great friendship scenes and being there for those you love. I like all of the nuances of that and working together and enjoying each other’s company. This group is a mix of all different personalities and quirks and make for a good time.

Noah was even a big flirt this time (FINALLY). And I loved all of those moments too. I guess I was hoping for a bit more? The plot/layout of this book is unique so it reads somehow slow and fast all at the same time.

Anyways. I’m moving on!

Overall audience notes: