ALC Book Review: Moms of Mayhem (Mayhem Hockey Club #1) by Aimee Vance

November 25, 2025November 23, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Hockey Romance
Length: 428 pages
Author: Aimee Vance
Publisher: Revel Books
Release Date: September 5th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Starting over was never part of the playbook.

Fresh off a failed marriage and years of putting everyone else first, Emmy Hudson returns to her small hometown determined to rebuild a life for her and her teenage son, Jace. With her brother close by and Jace joining the once-elite Mayhem Hockey Club, it seems like the perfect second chance.

Beckett Conway is back in Linwood for the worst a blown-out hip, a tanked NHL season, and a mom whose health is declining too fast for his liking. Coaching the local youth hockey team wasn’t on his rehab checklist, but watching Jace sneak onto his backyard pond to practice brings back everything he loved about this little mountain town.

Too bad Jace’s mom is sarcastic, stubborn, and somehow the most attractive woman he’s ever bantered with. As if that wasn’t enough, Emmy is his best friend’s sister and in charge of clearing him to play again.

Sparks fly, lines blur, and before long, Emmy discovers that maybe finding herself means letting someone else in, even if that someone was the last person she expected to fall for.

Thank you to Aimee Vance for a gifted ALC.

HOW I LOVED THIS.

I legit gobbled this book up. I’ve been a big fan of Aimee Vance for awhile and was so excited to get my hands on her latest romance. I’m back in my hockey era and I love it.

While I think this book can be loved on many levels, it was super relatable to motherhood and watching your child grow up, protecting them, and finding yourself too. Many of those sentiments and themes hit me in the chest full force.

I loved the dynamic between Emmy and Beckett. Sparks were flying from the first time they met each other [again] and I loved the way Beckett showed up Emmy AND Jace. It was important and memorable and made this book so dang good.

The spice is spicy but I did find it easy to skip over. And I loved all of the different types of relationships this book presented too. From friendships, family relations, romance, teammates, etc. They all held weight and they all pushed the book forward in amazing ways.

I am sat for the rest of this series.

Overall audience notes:

Hockey Romance
Language: strong
Romance: 4-5ish open door
Violence: low
Content warnings: divorce (cheating mentioned), a parent with Parkinson’s

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ARC Book Review: Love Bites (Timber Creek #2) by Aimee Vance and B. Perkins

March 20, 2025March 9, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Paranormal Romance
Length: 420 pages
Author: Aimee Vance and B. Perkins
Publisher: Revel Books
Release Date: March 21st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He needs a wolf, she needs an adventure

Max
For a century, I’ve worked alone as the Dark Angel to keep the supernatural community safe and hidden, taking on the gruesome jobs nobody else wants. There aren’t trophies for my line of work, but I know I’m damn good at it — no team, no family, no ties to hold me back.

When a trail of bodies shows up on the human news with suspicious fang marks, it’s my time to shine. Right up until I learn my only hope of tracking down the vampires at fault is to team up with a superwolf. Problem is, I trust no one, especially not the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen who sniffs out my biggest secret as easily as breathing.

Summer
From the outside, my life seems great — I own the bakery-bookstore of my dreams, I have a comfortable position in my wolf shifter pack, my family is amazing, and I live in a picture-perfect small town. But I still have this simmering wanderlust in me, this desperate desire to upend it all for an adventure.

When the Dark Angel himself, Max Russo, walks into my store with a thrilling proposition to hunt down dangerous vampires across the world, I can’t pack fast enough – especially now I know his secrets.

One, supernatural bad boy Max just might have a heart under those black, shiny wings.
Two, he needs a friend as much as I need a croissant in Paris.
And three, he’s not just an angel.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

Y’ALL KNOW I LOVE MOC.

I had to have my hands on this book and it was really good! My favorite aspect was easily the found family and sibling relationships. I adore Summer’s family so much!! The text banter, the protection and loyalty, they make this book sing. I can never get enough of them. It just makes me all the more excited for this series to continue.

Max and Summer were a delight. I did love the chemistry between them, I would have just loved a little more actual conversation. It was very physically forward and that’s not my cup of tea. When they had those soft conversation moments and the flitted about while traveling? THOSE were the key romantic scenes for me.

I love that this series has suspense elements too. The bit of action was precisely what the plot needed (and hello, was anyone else emotional over Malachi’s backstory???). I liked seeing more of the vampire world and the secrets behind them.

The ending was abrupt and I wanted a bit more closure and conversation to wrap everything up. I’m hopeful we’ll get to see a little bit of that in future books.

Overall audience notes:

Paranormal romance
Language: strong
Romance: 4+ open door
Violence: moderate
Content Warnings: kidnapping, attempted murder, weapons and physical violence, murder

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Book Review: Wild Wild Wolf (Timber Creek #1) by B. Perkins and Aimee Vance

July 7, 2024April 17, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Paranormal Romance
Length: 420 pages
Author: B. Perkins & Aimee Vance
Publisher: Revel Books
Release Date: March 29th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She doesn’t believe in fated mates? Game on.

Jade
There’s nothing I want more than to forget my past, especially everything that makes me a part of supernatural society. I’d do anything to keep my sister’s and my secret safe and keep our tormentors far, far away.

Turns out it’s harder to disappear than I thought, especially once Alpha wolf West Larkin catches my scent.

West
Ever since shifters were outed to the human world, my job as Alpha of the Timber Creek pack has gotten more difficult by the day. Between running a town full of supernaturals, my pack, and keeping my family out of trouble, I have enough on my plate as it is.

So why is it every time I run across Jade Rodriguez, a lone wolf who wants nothing to do with me, I want to drop everything to keep her safe?

Wild Wild Wolf is book one in the new Timber Creek series, interconnected standalones following each of the Larkin siblings.

WHAT A GEM.

Gosh I love this writing duo. I have been so excited to start a new series and it delivered. I love the setting and plot. I absolutely love big families and all of the humor and love that’s woven throughout. I was laughing and swooning and just binging this book because it was making my heart feel joy.

I loved West and Jade. The banter was fantastic and I loved seeing Jade slowly but surely open up and realize what goodness was in front of her. And I was very much in the mood for an Alpha romance and West delivered on that front. I loved how protective he was and the way he cared for Jade and everyone around him.

My one tiny tidbit is how Jade handled a situation towards the end, it felt a little out of character after all of the growth she had. It didn’t ruin my reading experience, but I did get a little bugged by it.

I loved all of the wolfy things and the pacing and action and heat. All the tension and all the almost moments. I can’t wait for the next book!!

Overall audience notes:

Paranormal Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: 2-3 open door; low innuendo
Violence: moderate-high
Trigger/Content Warnings: a past abusive relationship, loss of parents (recounted)

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Book Review: Fates Illuminated (Call of the Norns #1) by Aimee Vance

December 11, 2023December 8, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Time Travel Romance
Length: 300 pages
Author: Aimee Vance
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 26th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The dawn of Shelbie’s 31st birthday found her melancholy, adrift in a world where she felt bound to be always a side character, never the star of her own story.

All of that changed when she spontaneously booked a trip to Sweden with an itinerary full of hiking and horseback riding – two things that weren’t exactly in her comfort zone.

She expected to see the Northern Lights, nurse sore muscles, and, heaven forbid, pee in the woods. Those things she had time to prepare for, even if none of her preparations went as she had planned.

What she didn’t expect, though, was for her Fate to be tied to a much larger story, one that had unfolded long ago, and would immerse her in a world of people and things she’d only ever read about in novels.

BUT, VIKINGS?

When you think of a Viking book, what comes to mind? I’d say something with intensity, action and passion. I got maybe some passion here and I am missing out on the rest.

There was no conflict? Shelbie shows up at a different time, and every single person she meets is nice. Everyone is ready to help and she frolics around making birthday cakes and watching friendly competitions.

I DID love most of the side characters though. And would love to see more of them. A unique group of people who all were bringing something for the story. Even it wasn’t wholly moving the plot forward.

Romance wise, it’s a bit instant. I wanted more lead-up. Domari and Shelbie did grow on me but I think I’m supposed to feel more invested at this point. The ending left a lot for me to consider and enough so that I do want to give book two a chance. I’m curious how it’s going to go, hopefully well, and I’ll probably be back with another review soon.

Overall audience notes: