Book Review: I Got You by Stacy Williams

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 474 pages
Author: Stacy Williams
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 16th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sacrifice…is there any too great? How far would you go to protect the innocent?

Maggie is living from one day to the next and making things up as she goes. Her life is four kids and a whole lot of chaos, but the best kind. Two years ago, she gave up her dreams, and after a devastating loss, she may have to give up one more. With four kids depending on her and not a chance she’ll let them down, she’s about to learn just exactly how far she’ll go to keep them safe.

Shane just lost the only thing he’s ever loved – the only thing he was good at – the only thing he’s ever wanted. After a career-ending injury upends his life, he’s forced into a coaching career he’s not even sure he wants. Just weeks into his new position, he finds himself tugged back to a time he’d prefer to never revisit. Now, Shane’s left with a decision that could change everything. It’s the one thing he told himself he would never do.

I Got You is a touching love story that reminds us that when everything else fades…love stays.

This is a closed-door contemporary romance that still offers plenty of spice.

AN INCREDIBLE DEBUT.

I am blown away by this book. I LOVED IT. I was absolutely SENT by this slow burn romance. Then tension between Maggie and Shane is next level and I love it all. And this really brought the steam without the spice and I will now be shouting to everyone to pick this book up ASAP.

I loved the journey Maggie and Shane went one, especially Shane. He is one I wanted to shake and hug all in the same breath. I loved the realistic nature of the romance and how he truly had to break down some walls and realize just how much love was around him. And I loved how Maggie was the embodiment of a sunshine character. Sunny and brave and doing everything she can to keep her siblings. And those siblings!! I loved them all. Realistic kids were her super sweet and I wanted the best for every one of these characters.

There were SO MANY good moments. This is a longer contemporary and you don’t even notice. The moments MATTER. The quiet, loud, angry and swoony filled. This does lean to the heavier side and will make you feel deep. The swoon and tenderness and all the dang things. I’m sitting her going over scene after scene in my mind because this is now living rent free.

I CAN’T WAIT for the next book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents (recounted), child abuse (recounted), parental abandonment

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Book Review: Dance of a Burning Sea (Mousai #2) by E.J. Mellow

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 512 pages
Author: E.J. Mellow
Publisher: Montlake
Release Date: October 19th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Within the world of Aadilor, there is a hidden place called the Thief Kingdom, where both magic and pleasure abound. There, the Mousai, a trio of deadly sorceresses bound by oath and blood, use their powers to protect the kingdom’s treasures.

Niya Bassette brings the potent gift of dance to the Mousai, but behind her tempting twirls, she carries a heavy secret—that the infamous pirate lord, Alōs Ezra, has been threatening to exploit for years. Now banished from the Thief Kingdom for smuggling, Alōs resurfaces in Niya’s life with a plot to hold her hostage, leveraging what he knows to extort a pardon from the Thief King.

But Niya makes her own deal with Alōs to guard her secret and guarantee her freedom—yet in doing so binds herself aboard his pirate ship, where she must navigate deadly waters, a bloodthirsty crew, and her own traitorous heart. Soon, a simmering attraction between her and Alōs threatens their delicate truce and makes for a tumultuous ride on the open seas. Far from her kingdom, Niya is entangled in a dangerous dance indeed.

Welcome to the world of Aadilor, where dark deeds can mask noble hearts and the most alluring of sways often ends with a burn. Care for a spin?

From award-winning author E. J. Mellow comes the thrilling second installment in the Mousai series, featuring a powerful sorceress who finds her loyalties tested by a ruthless pirate lord.

WANTED TO LOVE.

Another overall miss for this series. I think it’s me? Fantasy standalones within a series is a struggle for me. I love long sagas or one and done with fantasies. The difference seems to always leave me wanting.

The enemies to lovers vibes here worked for me a lot of the time. I liked the back and forth and plenty of forced proximity and banter. Where I struggled with was a particular [spoiler] scene that took me out of the story. After that point things kind of fell flat and I was speeding up the audio to move along.

I did enjoy all of the pirate related saga. On a treasure hunt type quest, hanging with the crew and some good battle scenes did fit the story well. The bond between the sisters and Dad is also one of my favorite parts. I love close knit family connections and find this a unique aspect to the fantasy genre.

I’m tempted to read the third, but will probably wait a bit like I did with this one.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: two open door
  • Violence: med-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: whipping, loss of life, murder, physical and magical altercations

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Book Review: Beachside Kisses With My Bodyguard (Hallmark Beach Small Town Romance #1) by Kristin Canary

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 326 pages
Author: Kristin Canary
Publisher: Blue Aster Press
Release Date: October 11th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the author of the bestselling California Dreamin’ sweet romantic comedy series comes a new adventure in the small town of Hallmark Beach…

All I wanted to do was throw my brother a surprise early wedding.
As the prince of a small country, his wedding day has been eclipsed by pomp and circumstance—and he and his fiancée deserve more. So when I find myself in a charming small town on the coast of California, I decide to plan them the perfect royal wedding without all the cameras and expectations.

But as a princess, I can’t be here alone.
So my brother sends along the country’s top bodyguard—his best mate, Frederick. Who ALSO happens to be the man I’m completely mad about. Not that either of them know that.

Then, assumptions are made …
That’s right. The townspeople who are helping me plan the wedding assume that I’m the bride—and that Frederick’s the groom. But it makes the perfect cover story. They’ll never suspect it’s actually Prince Topher’s nuptials I’m planning. We can keep this royal wedding under wraps from the press.

A fake engagement is the perfect plan.
But I didn’t quite think through how it would be to pretend with him. To hug him. To share a room with him. To kiss him. In fact, it’s going to take all the mental and emotional strength I have to remember that this fake engagement to my brother’s best friend … isn’t real. No matter how brilliantly we might fit together.

Thank you to the author for an ebook!

CHARMED.

I love bodyguard romances, but rarely find any that I’m intrigued to pick up. I loved the way the trope was used here and Chloe and Frederick were insanely sweet and I couldn’t get enough of the mutual pining.

While the third act did make me a little cranky (I’m never a fan of, I’m doing this for you, without actually listening to the other person). BUT. I will say the way it was handled after made me moderately less cranky. There were some good and very needed conversations that I loved seeing.

The small town was sweet, everything you expect in a cute beachside town. I loved the fake dating and wedding planning and the late night conversations. The unrequited nature of the whole book was a vibe I was loving. This was just a charming read that put a smile on my face.

This was my first book by the author and I have plans to read more!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a sibling (recounted)

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Book Review: The Forest Grimm (The Forest Grimm #1) by Kathryn Purdie

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Kathryn Purdie
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: September 19th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Where fairy tales come to life with dark, deadly twists…

“Tell me again, Grandmère, the story of how I die.”

The Midnight Forest. The Fanged Creature. Two fortune-telling cards that spell an untimely death for 17-year-old Clara. Despite the ever-present warning from her fortune-teller grandmother, Clara embarks on a dangerous journey into the deadly Forest Grimm to procure a magical book – Sortes Fortunae , the Book of Fortunes – with the power to reverse the curse on her village and save her mother.

Years ago, when the villagers whispered their deepest desires to the book, its pages revealed how to obtain them. All was well until someone used the book for an evil purpose―to kill another person. Afterward, the branches of the Forest Grimm snatched the book away, the well water in Grimm’s Hollow turned rancid, and the crops died from disease. The villagers tried to make amends with the forest, but every time someone crossed its border, they never returned.

Now, left with no alternative, Clara and her close friend, Axel―who is fated never to be with her―have set their minds to defying fate and daring to accomplish what no one else has been able to before. But the forest―alive with dark, deadly twists on some of our most well-known fairy tales―has a mind of its own.

Thank you Wednesday Books for the gifted copy.

HAUNTED.

I don’t know why this has such a low Goodreads rating?? I thoroughly enjoyed this one and can’t wait for book two. I LOVED how creepy it was with all of the dark twists on the fairytale characters.

The romance was even sweet too. I thought there was pretty good pacing involved and I was very much invested in Clara and Axel finding their way to each other. The only character I didn’t like was Henni. She kind of became this third wheel that got in trouble too often (and was a debbie downer all the time).

I think the world and magic was fleshed out, for the most part. There’s a few key things I’d love more answers on, but with book two I’m hopeful that’s where those answers lie. I had a good time and thought it was an accurate young adult book (content wise) too.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, blood/gore depiction, loss of loved ones, near death experiences

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