Book Review: Not You Again by Ingrid Pierce

September 1, 2025August 7, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Ingrid Pierce
Publisher: Alcove Press
Release Date: July 9th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Wedding gown designer Andie Dresser is hanging on by a thread. Gaining a following on TikTok for her one-of-a-kind fairytale gowns has earned her a spot at Atlanta’s Fashion Week, but the time and upfront costs to design a full bridal line have stretched her to her limit. When her best friend suggests she sign up for a reality show with a potential $100,000 prize, she realizes the money could allow her to hire some desperately needed help. All she needs to do is marry a stranger—sight unseen—and opt for divorce at the end of filming. No big deal, right?

Architect Kit Watson just returned to Atlanta to help his loving but stubborn mother through a health crisis. However, she’ll only accept his help if he agrees to settle down, insisting he sign up for the matchmaking reality show that’s filming in the area. Willing to do anything for his mom, he finds himself at the altar—on camera—staring at Andie, the woman he abruptly left without explanation seven years ago.

In the blink of an eye, Kit and Andie tie the knot on TV for the world to see. Now, they must live together for eight weeks with cameras following their every move. But as the newlyweds reconnect and sift through their past, old feelings females spark…and old grudges cast a shadow over their “marriage”. With decision day looming, Andie must decide if forgiving Kit for his mistakes—past and present—is worth more than her dreams of success.

MOST FRUSTRATING MMC.

I rarely have any big issues with the MMC/love interest in a romance book. But Kit became increasingly more frustrating as the pages went on and I wanted to shake some sense into him so badly. The third act had me banging my head against a wall and I honestly felt bad for Andie having to jump through so many hoops for him. How are we letting history repeat itself???

I loved the plot set up though. As someone who used to watch Married at First Sight, I thought this was a fun play on that show and I liked that it was a second chance romance without flashback chapters too.

Things started off well, but ultimately fell a part. The spice felt kind of forced too. I don’t know that I’ll pick up another book by this author.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: 3+ open door
Content Warnings: loss of a parent (recounted), a mother with breast cancer

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: August 2025

August 31, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON. But also, here are all the books I read in August! I’m still on track to hit 400, just need to stay focused.

[ARC/ALC] For the Record by Emma Lord
[ARC] The Legacy of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #5) by Nicole Platania
The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam (Hart and Mercy #3) by Megan Bannen
In the Veins of Drowning (The Siren Mage #1) by Kalie Cassidy
The Americana Playbook by Cathryn Carter
[Novella] Devotion of the Heart by Nichole Van
Problematic Summer Romance (Not in Love #2) by Ali Hazelwood
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
[ARC] You & Me, For Real by Hayley Elliot
[ARC] A Sea View Christmas (On Devonshire Shores #3.5) by Julie Klassen
The Jasad Crown (The Scorched Throne #2) by Sara Hashem
Isles of the Emberdark (Cosmere) by Brandon Sanderson
A Promise So Bold and Broken (Compelling Fates Saga #2) by Sophia St. Germain
Glorious Rivals (The Grandest Game #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
A Summer Without You by Caitlin Moss
Accomplice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain #3) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Between These Broken Hearts (These Hollow Vows #4) by Lexi Ryan
Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer
Deadwood (Secrets of the Serpentine #1) by Karley Brenna
Wrath of the Dragons (Fear the Flames #2) by Olivia Rose Darling
A Beguiled Gentleman (The Bradley Brothers #1) by Audra Wells
Immortal Consequences (The Souls of Blackwood Academy #1) by I.V. Marie
One More Made Up Love Song (Midnight Rush #2) by Jenny Proctor
[ARC/ALC] Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson
[ARC/ALC] If Looks Could Kill by Julie Berry
The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold (Blonde Identity #2) by Ally Carter
[ARC] Darkness Births the Stars by Sarah Lee Wohn
[ARC/ALC] Wild Reverence (Letters of Enchantment #0) by Rebecca Ross
[ARC] Stuck With You (Cal’s Garage #1) by Stacy Williams
The Dragon Wakes with Thunder (The Night Ends with Fire #2) by K.X. Song
Love is a War Song by Danica Nava
A Love Most Fatal (Morelli Family #1) by Kath Richards
[Novella] A Churn in the Virtual Society (Into the Churn #3.5) by Hayley Reese Chow
[ARC] What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller

Book Review: The Viscount and the Vicar’s Daughter by Mimi Matthews

August 27, 2025July 31, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 232 pages
Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
Release Date: December 1st, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A WORLD-WEARY RAKE

After years of unbridled debauchery, Tristan Sinclair, Viscount St. Ashton has hit proverbial rock bottom. Seeking to escape his melancholy, he takes refuge at one of Victorian society’s most notorious house parties. As the Christmas season approaches, he prepares to settle in for a month of heavy drinking…until an unexpected encounter changes his plans—and threatens his heart.

A PRIM VICAR’S DAUGHTER

Valentine March is not the drab little spinster she appears to be. When her new job as a lady’s companion lands her smack in the middle of Yorkshire with England’s most infamous rake, she resolves to keep her head down and her eyes fixed firmly on her future—a future which most definitely does not include a sinfully handsome viscount.

A MATCH MADE IN SCANDAL

A friendship is impossible. An affair out of the question. But when one reckless act binds them together, will two star-crossed souls discover there’s more to each other than meets the eye? Or will revelations from the past end their fragile romance before it begins?

ANOTHER GREAT MIMI BOOK.

This was a very good use of instant love that honestly worked well for me. I think the beauty of Mimi Matthews writing is convincing me of any trope and just rolling with the journey these characters take.

For a very short book I didn’t love how the third act went down because it took away from the relationship. I loved Valentine and Tristan together and would have read pages and pages of Tristan falling HARD for his woman.

I’m almost finished with Mimi Matthew’s backlist books and they are just as charming as her current books. You really can’t go wrong with these historical romances.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low

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Book Review: The Hanging City by Charlie N. Holmberg

August 18, 2025July 23, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 344 pages
Author: Charlie N. Holmberg
Publisher: 47North
Release Date: August 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

For a young woman who wields the power of fear, humanity’s greatest enemy is her only hope in a new fairy-tale adventure by Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg.

Seven years on the run from her abusive father, and with no hope of sanctuary among the dwindling pockets of human civilization, Lark is out of options. Her only leverage is a cursed power: she can thrust fear onto others, leaving all threats fleeing in terror. It’s a means of survival as she searches for a place to call home. If the campfire myths of her childhood are true, Lark’s sole chance for refuge could lie in Cagmar, the city of trolls—a brutal species and the sworn enemies of humanity.

Valuing combat prowess, the troll high council is intrigued. Lark could be much more useful than the low-caste humans who merely labor in Cagmar. Her gift makes her invaluable as a monster slayer to fight off the unspeakable creatures that torment the trolls’ hanging city, suspended from a bridge over an endless dark canyon.

Lark will do anything to make Cagmar her home, but her new role comes with a caveat: use her power against a troll, and she’ll be killed. Her loyalty is quickly put to the test when she draws the hatred of a powerful troll who loathes humankind. Still, she finds unexpected friendship in the city and, even more surprisingly, love. But if everything else doesn’t undo her, being caught in the arms of a troll surely will. Now in the fight of her life, Lark has a lot to learn—about her past, about trust and hope when all seems lost, and above all, about the extraordinary power of fear itself.

WELL THIS WAS DIFFERENT.

I have been meaning to read more books by this author and finally was able to listen to this audiobook (which was great).

I think where I got off on the wrong foot was thinking the romance was going in a different way than it was so I admit to being caught off guard when I saw what was happening. At that point I had missed some of the emotional intimacy that had been building and it took a bit for me to catch up.

The standalone quality of this was good though. I liked how things came together and wrapped up and this felt like a fully put together story. I enjoyed the side characters and action. There’s some good political dynamics and the world building was cool too.

Overall audience notes: