Book Review: How to Write a Love Story by Catherine Walsh

October 4, 2026March 31, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Catherine Walsh
Publisher: Dutton
Release Date: March 10th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The newest book from bestselling author and Kindle Unlimited sensation Catherine Walsh, in which an ambitious editor travels to Ireland to help the daughter of a fantasy author legend complete her father’s final book, only to fall in love with her in the process.

Ciara Sheridan’s father has left her with three things: a sprawling and distinctly ramshackle estate on the Irish coast, the outline for the finale to his bestselling epic fantasy series that he wanted her to finish—and writer’s block.

Enter Sam Frank Sheridan fanboy and hotshot editor, sent from the New York publishing house direct to Ciara’s doorstep. Ciara was expecting a crusty old-timer, so the handsome young American is a surprise. And for his part, Sam was expecting Ciara to have written something by now.

Ciara and Sam have two weeks of the hottest Irish summer on record to write this novel together and secure Frank’s legacy—but will their own love story be the plot twist neither of them see coming?

SWEET STORY.

I’ve had a roller coaster of enjoyment of CW’s books and I have found this to be on the upside! I thought it was a sweet romance and gosh do I love the setting and audiobook narrators. It went by fast and I finished this in a day.

I loved the slow burn and genuine way Sam and Ciara learned to be in each other’s lives. I liked the chemistry and the simple nature of the plot. It wasn’t over done with drama and I enjoyed all of the side characters as well.

I don’t really have much else to add? Sometimes reviews are as simple as the book. But if you’ve been wanting to try CW’s books, here would be a good start! (Don’t forget about Holiday Romance though because that is my obsession).

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary romance
Language: mild
Romance: fade to black
Content warnings: anxiety, loss of a parent, grief

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: September 2026

October 2, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

THE BER MONTHS. And what a good reading month for September! Made it through a lot and now I’m drowning in ARCs for October.

Ungodly Rich by Katharine McGee
Fossil Feud by Maggie North
Hawk & Sparrow by Ayana Gray
Catching Feelings (Varsity #2) by Emily Charlotte
[ALC] Fall Into Me by Juliana Smith
[ARC] Trust Fall by Lynn Painter
Steelborn (The Steelborn Saga #1) by Taylor J. LaRue
The Enigma Challenge by S.C. Godfrey
A Flame Among the Seas (Beyond the Tides #2) by Emilia Jae
Sea of Charms (Spellshop #3) by Sarah Beth Durst
[Graphic Novel] Rebel by Marie Lue
Our Strange Duet by Erin A. Craig
Further to Fall by Catherine Cowles
[Reread] House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City #2) by Sarah J. Maas
[Non-fiction] Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes that Dot Our Planet by Geo Rutherford
Runaway Rule (The Fugitive Files #1) by Jenessa Fayeth
The Gods Will Sing Our Song by Autumn Krause
[ARC/ALC] Empire (Heir Duology #2) by Sabaa Tahir
The Theory of Uncertain Things by Madysson David
Die for Me by Shirlene Obuobi
[Reread] The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
I Wish He Would (Sweeter Than Fiction #4) by Amanda Schimmoeller
The Winged Game by Sophie Kim
Resisting the Fall (Falling for Autumn) by Jess Heileman
Chasing the Rush (Football and Feels #2) by Lauren Rowe
[Non-fiction] Spooky Rivers (Haunted Hydrology) by Geo Rutherford
Alchemy of Souls by Adriana Mather
Story of My Life (Story Lake #1) by Lucy Score
Kobra (Inked Sap #1) by Cris G. Wells
[ARC/ALC] Guard My Heart by Sabrina Fedel
[ARC] Once, Again, Always by Amanda Gayle
Tempest (The Lyrian Sea #1) by Victoria Aveyard
Forget Me Knot (Happy in Honey Hill #1) by B.R. Goodwin
Threshing Day (The Empyrean #3.5) by Rebecca Yarros
Falling for Keeps (Falling for Autumn) by Kasey Stockton
[ARC/ALC] Falling Like Snow (Bramble Falls #2) by Misty Wilson

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Book Review: Broken Dove (Silver Elite #2) by Dani Frances

September 27, 2026June 5, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Dystopian Romance
Length: 593 pages
Author: Dani Frances
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: May 12th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the heart-pounding sequel to the New York Times bestselling dystopian romance Silver Elite, lines will be crossed, loyalties will be tested, and the fight for the Continent is only just beginning as Wren Darlington finds herself caught in the middle of two wars: one for the fate of her home and another for the fate of her heart.

LINES WILL BE CROSSED.

After blowing her cover as a double agent within Silver Elite and fleeing the Prime-controlled capital, Wren Darlington is finally safe behind allied lines. As her lover and former commander Cross Redden works to disrupt the Primes from inside their ranks, Wren turns her focus toward assisting the Uprising in overthrowing their rule once and for all.

LOYALTIES WILL BE TESTED.

Though she’s back among her own people, trust is hard-won and hidden agendas abound on the Mod base. And beyond those walls, Wren can’t help but worry that Cross is keeping secrets of his own . . . secrets that could jeopardize everything. Complicating matters even further is her shocking reunion with hotshot fighter pilot and undercover operative Grayson Blake. Once her closest friend in Silver Elite, Gray seems to understand Wren on a level she never thought possible.

AND THE FIGHT FOR THE CONTINENT IS ONLY JUST BEGINNING.

With the war between Mods and Primes growing more brutal by the day, and with her own role in the conflict becoming more essential than ever, Wren must confront some gut-wrenching questions. Who is she fighting for . . . and who is she willing to lose?

CAN’T HELP MYSELF.

Yeah so I loved this.

It was probably a combination of the fact I do listen to audiobooks on 3x and that I went in with low expectations (because I’m absolutely still bugged nobody knows who this author is???). And that worked in my favor. I went in for the vibes and didn’t read any friends reviews until afterwards. Highly recommend this method.

I actually really liked the romantic progression. And that’s also practically all I can say because *INSERT SPOILERS*. Could I be convinced of a different trajectory in book three? I think so. Maybe. We’ll see.

Also I am ALWAYS here for an insane cliffhanger. Bring back this kind of chaos. Because WHAT. I can’t even begin to tell you what happens in the next installment and that is a compliment. I love that I don’t know.

Good action. Good romance. Good found family. While you can tell me your issues and I would probably agree, I’m just having the best time with this series.

Overall audience notes:

Dystopian Romance
Language: moderate+
Romance: 3ish open door
Violence: high

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Book Review: The Stranger I Wed (The Doves of New York #1) by Harper St. George

September 26, 2026July 4, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 344 pages
Author: Harper St. George
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: April 23rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

New to wealth and to London high society, American heiress Cora Dove discovers that with the right man, marriage might not be such an inconvenience after all. . . .

Cora Dove and her sisters’ questionable legitimacy has been the lifelong subject of New York’s gossipmongers and a continual stain on their father’s reputation. So when the girls each receive a generous, guilt-induced dowry from their dying grandmother, the sly Mr. Hathaway vows to release their funds only if Cora and her sisters can procure suitable husbands—far from New York. For Cora, England is a fresh start. She has no delusions of love, but a husband who will respect her independence? That’s an earl worth fighting for.

Enter: Leopold Brendon, Earl of Devonworth, a no-nonsense member of Parliament whose plan to pass a Public Health bill that would provide clean water to the working class requires the backing of a wealthy wife. He just never expected to crave Cora’s touch or yearn to hear her thoughts on his campaign—or to discover that his seemingly perfect bride protects so many secrets…

But secrets have a way of bubbling to the surface, and Devonworth has a few of his own. With their pasts laid bare and Cora’s budding passion for women’s rights taking a dangerous turn, they’ll learn the true cost of losing their heart to a stranger—and that love is worth any price.

DOWN BAD FOR MOC.

Gosh I eat this trope up. Every time. I should have read this so much sooner. MISTAKES WERE MADE. I am grateful to have rectified this now. I loved the chemistry between Leopold and Cora. There’s a great slow burn and many moments where you get to see them work together and let each other in. It’s sweet and heated and wow did I fly through this book.

I liked how the over arching story wove into the romance. I liked seeing the hints about Cora’s sisters and getting all of the background info on her family. I loved having Leo’s POV too (and I do wish the audiobook was dual narrators!!).

Any kind of third act nonsense that would have bugged me was swiftly handled and boy do I love COMMUNICATION. We love a man who falls hard y’all. Many memorable scenes and I’m stoked to continue the series!!

Overall audience notes: