ARC Book Review: The Bodyguard Affair by Amy Lea

December 2, 2025November 23, 2025 GoodeyReads1 Comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 432 pages
Author: Amy Lea
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: December 2nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A secret romance writer discovers that the hottest story of summer might just be the one happening between her and the Prime Minister’s bodyguard, from the international bestselling author of Set On You.

Andi Zeigler lives a double life. By day, she’s the no-nonsense, steadfast personal assistant to the Prime Minister of Canada’s wife. By night, she slips out of her heels and writes romance novels under a top-secret pen name. But when her steamiest book, The Prime Minister & Me, unexpectedly becomes a bestseller, rumors of a real-life affair between her and the PM start swirling out of control.

Enter Nolan Crosby, the PM’s new close protection officer (aka bodyguard) – and Andi’s failed one-night stand from three years ago. Nolan’s in town very temporarily to care for his mother, who’s battling early-onset Alzheimer’s. But when the scandal erupts, Andi ropes him into a fake-dating plan.

As loyal employees, they’ll pretend to date for the summer, just long enough to put the scandal to bed and save their boss’s reputation. In an unexpected plot twist, Andi and Nolan discover that keeping their romance strictly fictional might be easier said than done.

Thank you Berkley Romance for the gifted eARC.

I JUST ADORED THIS.

I’m an easy to please reader when it comes to Amy Lea’s books. I love the way she crafts stories. The main characters (duel pov y’all!!) are genuine and effortless and seeing the plot unfold always makes me feel something.

I thought the plot was engaging and covered a variety of topics well. While some heavier content is present the overall mood is hopeful and Nolan and Andi are meant to be. i could not get enough of Nolan’s constant support. It was endearing in all the ways. I thought the plot > spice which is always a pro for me.

I genuinely binged this in a day. I just couldn’t get enough. It’s sensual and swoony and full of heart. All of the hallmark romance moments were there and each one made me giddy [not to mention, no out of pocket third act nonsense either!!].

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: mild-moderate
Romance: 3-4ish open door
Violence: low
Content warnings: a parent with Alzheimer’s

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ARC Book Review: The Marriage Method (The Crinoline Academy #2) by Mimi Matthews

November 25, 2025November 16, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: November 25th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Academy always comes first . . . which makes marriage to its most formidable adversary an exceedingly inconvenient arrangement.

Well removed from London’s more curious eyes, the Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies strives toward one clandestine to distract, disrupt, and discredit men in power who would seek to harm the advancement of women—by appropriate means, of course.

When intrepid newspaper editor Miles Quincy starts to question the school’s intentions, the Academy appoints Penelope “Nell” Trewlove, one of their brightest graduates, to put this nuisance to rest. An easy enough mission, she supposes. Or it would be, if Miles wasn’t so fascinating—too fascinating to resist—and if Nell’s visit to London didn’t perfectly coincide with the murder of one of Miles’s reporters.

When the inexorable claws of fate trap Nell and Miles in a compromising situation, they agree to an arrangement that will save their reputations while enabling them to investigate the story that led to a man’s death, as well as the surprising chemistry between them.

Thank you to Mimi Matthews and Berkley for the gifted copy and PRH Audio for the audiobook.

MY LATEST OBESSION.

Oh this EASILY is now in my top five favorite book from Mimi Matthews. I was OBESSED from the first chapter. I don’t think anyone does marriage of convenience romances better. I will be unable to think of anything else for the foreseeable future.

Miles. Miles. Miles. I could have highlighted half of this book just listening to him talk. The man was so far gone and all sorts of protective and could not be a step away from Nell and I LOVED IT ALL. And I loved Nell too. I loved seeing her find her strength and inner fire from having to be away from the academy. Miles helped her genuinely blossom and grow and I loved the way they played off of each other.

Matthews also writes some of the best romantic scenes everrrrr. The way emotion and love is conveyed through every moment. It’s heated and sensual and lights my kindle on fire every time.

I loved the suspense elements and mystery. The plot is engaging and balanced just right. It’s a book worth devouring.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: none
Romance: vague fade to black
Violence: moderate
Content warnings: kidnapping, murder, attempted murder, physical and weapons based altercations, near death experiences

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Book Review: A Reign of Rose (The Sacred Stones Trilogy #3) by Kate Golden

November 19, 2025November 18, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 500 pages
Author: Kate Golden
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: October 8th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From Kate Golden, author of viral phenomenon A Dawn of Onyx, comes the seductive, action-packed conclusion to her sweeping Sacred Stones trilogy.

They must save the world—but can they also save each other?

Kane Ravenwood, King of Onyx Kingdom, would go to the ends of the continent for Arwen Valondale, but what if she’s beyond even that? Broken in ways he never imagined he could be, Kane must find a way to fulfill the prophecy and kill his father, Fae King Lazarus. And after what he’s endured, he’s willing to save Evendell by whatever means necessary—even if that spells his own death.

Little does Kane know, he’s not the only one fighting for revenge. Arwen is no longer afraid to fight—no sacrifice is too great, no enemy too daunting. Now, nothing will stop her from destroying Lazarus and his allies, because she knows if she fails, both realms will be doomed forever.

I’LL TAKE IT.

This is one of those five stars where I could pick at the plot a bit but I was in a good mood and had such an enjoyable time reading this conclusion that I’ll let it slide. I loved how romantic this book is. The romance is the focus and it plays together so well. I love Kane. I love how protective and brooding he is while also showing that soft side to Arwen. It’s really charming and brought the swoon. I enjoyed Arwen’s character too. She had some amazing sentiments I would have loved to have highlighted in a kindle copy because they were very resonating.

The plot took some unexpected turns and I liked watching this story unfold. The audiobook production is great and I appreciate having dual POV. I thought most everything wrapped up well and I felt happy with how it came together. This world was cool to explore and I liked the magic system too. I will definitely be reading whatever Kate Golden writes next.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: moderate – high
Romance: multiple open door
Violence: high

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Book Review: Only and Forever (Bergman Brothers #7) by Chloe Liese

May 23, 2025April 4, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Chloe Liese
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: April 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s a room-mance for the books in this tender, steamy story about unexpectedly finding love and being brave enough to let it revise life’s narrative in the final book in the beloved Bergman Brothers series.

Viggo Bergman, hopeless romantic, is thoroughly weary of waiting for his happily ever after. But between opening a romance bookstore, running a romance book club, coaching kids’ soccer, and adopting a household of pets—just maybe, he’s overcommitted himself?—Viggo’s chaotic life has made finding his forever love seem downright improbable.

Enter Tallulah Clarke, chilly cynic with a massive case of writer’s block. Tallulah needs help with her thriller’s romantic subplot. Viggo needs another pair of hands to keep his store afloat. So they agree to swap skills and cohabitate for convenience—his romance expertise to revive her book, her organizational prowess to salvage his store. They hardly get along, and they couldn’t be more different, but who says roommate-coworkers need to be friends?

As they share a home and life, Tallulah and Viggo discover a connection that challenges everything they believe about love, and reveals the plot twist they never saw happily ever after is here already, right under their roof.

IT’S OVER.

I thought that overall, this was a good conclusion to the series. This family is one of my favorites and I love all of their dynamics and the way they take care of each other. There’s such hope and tenderness in the Bergman family that soothe something in my soul every time.

The romance was better for me in the second half. I felt the chemistry was lacking a bit in the start and it took me awhile to love Viggo and Tallulah together. I enjoyed them as separate characters and I wish the lust aspect wasn’t so heavily leaned on. The themes of jumping into scary things and being open to new experiences and relationships was beautifully woven in. I loved the therapy conversations and how Viggo and Tallulah truly found each other.

Overall audience notes: