Book Review: The Last Wish of Bristol Keats (The Courting of Bristol Keats #2) by Mary E. Pearson

January 20, 2026December 6, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 487 pages
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Publisher: Flatiron
Release Date: November 13th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Everyone needs something to hold onto, even if it’s a lie.

After Bristol nearly loses Tyghan to the monsters her mother unleashed, their love deepens to a whole new level. Together, Bristol and Tyghan work to understand and reconcile their differences, moving forward with their common goal of saving Elphame. But, when a daring rescue attempt turns disastrous and a beloved knight dies, Bristol is forced to confront the fact that her mother is more powerful than she could ever have imagined – and more dangerous, too.

Meanwhile, Tyghan’s heart is laid bare when he re-encounters his betrayer, Kierus, and must wrestle with a new secret that throws everything he thought he knew about his past into question. Bristol is Elphame’s last chance for survival, but where do her loyalties truly lie? If she embraces the magic that has always been her birthright, she could become a monster just like her mother. Is she willing to risk losing the people she loves most if it means keeping them safe?

Discover the stunning second book in the Bristol Keats fantasy duology, from New York Times bestselling author Mary E. Pearson.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook.

WELLLLLLL.

I genuinely wanted to love this. Even more so because I did actually like book one!! But this book lost me in a few different ways and I think a portion of the ending scenes will be polarizing for readers. I unfortunately fell on the meh side of it and didn’t like how it all went down. Did it have a HEA? Sure, yes, it did. The execution of how we got there though bugged me.

While the sound of this narrator was great I wish this had multiple narrators or at least one more. The changing of POV’s in a book like this can be great but a solo narrator left me befuddled because I had the hardest time figuring out who’s POV I was in, constantly.

I never got MAD about reading this (which is why it was a three star), it just left me wanting more from multiple plot lines.

I’ll still read Pearson’s next book but I’m hoping it’s YA.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: 2-3ish open door
Violence: high

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Book Review: All the Pieces (The Seddledowne #3) by Susan Henshaw

January 19, 2026January 10, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: NA Sports Romance
Length: 324 pages
Author: Susan Henshaw
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 24th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A closed-door, high school sweethearts, second chance, football romance from Amazon bestselling author Susan Henshaw.

Millions watch him play. Except the one who matters most.

Blue

I made the worst mistake of my life when I let my dad move me across the country after my sophomore year of high school. Had my football career taken off? Yes. But I’d lost the best thing that ever happened to me because of it. Anna Dupree was the only girl who ever loved me as a person and not for my athletic talent. Who cares if I can run the forty in 4.2 seconds, or if beautiful women sneak into my hotel room at away games? Without Anna, I’m a man slogging through the desert, desperate for a drink.

Anna

My gorgeous ex wasn’t supposed to know I came to his game. But when my meddling, country pop-star uncle calls me to the fifty-yard line to perform a pre-game duet in front of one hundred thousand screaming fans, that secret’s shot to pieces. Somehow, I make it through the song. All I have to do is get off this field and I’m outta here. Forget the game. But then I look up and who happens to be jogging toward me in his tight football pants, wearing that adorable, cocky grin I fell in love with all those years ago? Yeah, the one guy I’ve spent the last four years trying to forget. My uncle is so dead when we get off this field.

All To Pieces is book three in the interconnected Seddledowne Series and can be read as a standalone.

UNREALISTIC CHAOS.

These books are so hard to review because they are very frustrating YET I am hooked on reading. The pacing is really great and draws you in and even when you’re shaking your kindle you are still trying to flip pages to see what’s going to pop up next.

There were some aspects to the football plot line that were just unrealistic to me. And combined that with an issue involving the FMC, I just…can’t. It was drawn out and there was way too much effort involved.

Now I did enjoy a lot of the scenes. There’s some good swoon and I am always down for sports romances. I liked seeing the whole family again and getting those small town vibes too.

So, there’s plenty of good, but also not, but also I already have book four downloaded. WHY AM I LIKE THIS.

Overall audience notes:

NA Sports Romance
Language: low
Romance: heated make-outs
Violence: low
Content Warnings: mentions of loss of a loved one (recounted), an emotionally manipulative father

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Book Review: Morbidly Yours (Love in Galway #1) by Ivy Fairbanks

January 16, 2026January 8, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 328 pages
Author: Ivy Fairbanks
Publisher: Lassen Press
Release Date: July 25th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Callum Flannelly would rather dive into an open grave than take a stranger to dinner and a movie. But he can only inherit the family undertaking business and carry on their legacy under one condition: He must marry before his 35th birthday. So it’s out of the mortuary and into the dating scene.

Lark Thompson would rather get crushed by a falling anvil than stay next to a funeral home during her stay in Galway, Ireland. The vivacious American cartoon creator and animator came here to embrace life, not be reminded of losing her husband.

When Lark learns of Callum’s dilemma and aversion to marrying out of necessity rather than love, she agrees to help the introverted mortician. Although sworn off love herself, she is optimistic that Callum can find The One and secure his inheritance.

But as the dating project progresses and their friendship grows, so does a mutual attraction. The more time she spends with serious, sarcastic Callum, the more she dreads finding him a match. And the more disastrous dates he endures, the more he dreads Lark’s imminent return to the states.

If they think it’s possible to ignore their connection, they’re dead wrong.

I LIKED THIS!

This was my first book by this author and it was a good read. I loved the audiobook too and thought the narrators did a great job with the accents. The general set up of this book is not one I’m drawn to (because death terrifies me) BUT, I loved the way this was handled and discussed throughout. I had no anxious moment from listening and loved seeing Callum’s perspective throughout.

I loved how these two slowly came together. There’s a building friendship that spirals into more and I loved how Callum and Lark grew to communicate with each other and be the sense of peace they needed. I do think the spice got to be a little much for me in the second half (but hey, if you love spice, read it).

There were a few things that bugged me throughout and the third act wasn’t my favorite. It’s a good book though and I might look into reading the next one.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: multiple open door
Content Warnings: loss of a spouse (recounted), discussions around death

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Book Review: Let You Love Me (Boys of Riverside #5) by Gracie Graham

January 14, 2026January 7, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 601 pages
Author: Gracie Graham
Publisher: Self Publishing
Release Date: June 30th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The first time I met Lane Turner was a stroke of fate.
The second time was a slap in the face. Turns out, she’s my coach’s daughter, completely off-limits. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting her.

Falling for Lane will be easy. Crashing through her walls, not as simple. When I find out she has a daughter? Complicated. But I’m anything if not determined, intent on dismantling the carefully constructed armor around her heart. Proving to her I’m more than just a college athlete is my number one mission in life. Showing her she’s worth it is a close second.

But everyone has their limits, the scars that bind them. Broaching the topic of her daughter’s father is a hard no. Lying is mine. So when her past comes knocking on my door in the form of retribution, I start asking questions. I’m ready to fight for us, but is she?

I FINISHED THE SERIES!

And this was a great book to end everything too. I adore Teagan and loved getting his story. I loved the college setting and all of the football content too. This book had me cheering on a love at first sight play that I wasn’t mad about one bit.

There’s the usual level of drama and chaos I’ve come to expect from this series and I loved the tangled web it wove. I was glued to my kindle waiting for that last shoe to drop and see everything hit the fan before being smoothed over. I will say that Lane frustrated me over one aspect where I thought her secrets were being held on to a little too long.

I enjoyed the swoon and heat from the romance and all of the really sweet moments with Sophie. I loved so many scenes and how they impacted the story and characters. It was fun getting to hear from the previous characters too and I will definitely be reading whatever Gracie Graham writes next.

Overall audience notes: