Book Review: Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff

April 20, 2025March 24, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 304 pages
Author: Lindsay Hameroff
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Release Date: February 18th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A glittering, laugh-out-loud second chance romance that reminds us true love is sometimes the one thing you never planned on.

Ali Rubin has a reputation for spontaneity. Like that time she made a drunken bet in London that led to matching tattoos with a stranger. Her joie de vivre is one of her best qualities; she lives every day to the fullest and follows her dreams wherever they take her. And now, they’re taking her from her career as a chef in New York City back home to Baltimore, where she’s interning as a wedding planner.

Despite the occasional fantasy about her British tattoo twin, Ali never expected to see Graham again. So no one is more surprised than she is when he turns up in Baltimore, ordering a latte at her favorite cafe. When they reconnect during an enchanting evening together, Ali can’t help but wonder if Graham might be someone special.

At the same time, she’s desperate to succeed in her new career and prove that she isn’t the family flake. When she gets a job planning a high profile wedding at a historic hotel, it seems like things are finally falling into place. That is, until Graham turns out to be the groom.

Graham’s family owns the once-grand, now struggling Black-Eyed Susan, and he’s returned to Baltimore to help his grandmother get it back on its feet. He’s certain that hosting a wedding at the hotel is just the publicity boost it needs. Ali’s boss agrees, and promises Ali a full-time gig if the affair goes off without a hitch. Unfortunately, Ali and Graham can’t seem to ignore their rekindled chemistry, especially when it’s revealed that Graham and his fiancée are planning a marriage of convenience. Still, staying away from each other is the best thing they can do, since giving in to their growing feelings might cost them everything.

Because when it comes to love, all bets are off.

Thank you to You Hade Me at HEA for the gifted copy.

I WAS SORT OF CHARMED?

This was my first book by this author and I think I’d pick up another? There were plenty of good and solid moments throughout and I liked a lot of the base themes. There is a glaring issue though.

I don’t think I’d classify this as cheating because the “relationship” Graham was in wasn’t a true romantic situation (which is mentioned in the synopsis), but I do wish there had been less sneaking around and Graham had come clean sooner. It didn’t give it a good forbidden angle, just a frustrating one.

The chemistry between Graham and Ali was great though. I really loved them together and I thought the one night stand trope worked well enough for me (and I usually don’t enjoy that one). The setting was charming with a historic hotel and all of the wedding/event planning. I liked that there were many Graham and Ali proximity moments because I truly got to see their relationship unfold. They played off of each other well.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: mild – moderate
Romance: open door

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Book Review: Wormwood Abbey (The Secrets of Ormdale #1) by Christina Baehr

April 19, 2025March 20, 2025 GoodeyReads1 Comment

Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Cozy Historical Fantasy
Length: 208 pages
Author: Christina Baehr
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 6th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

As a Victorian clergyman’s daughter, Edith Worms has seen everything — until a mythical salamander tumbles out of the fireplace into her lap. When a letter arrives from estranged relatives, Edith is swept away to a crumbling gothic Abbey in the wilds of Yorkshire.

Wormwood Abbey isn’t just full of curious beasts and ancient family secrets: there’s also a tall, dark, and entirely too handsome neighbour who is strangely reluctant for her to leave.

An unexpected bond with her prickly cousin Gwendolyn gives Edith a reason to stay in this strange world — especially when it turns out that Edith herself may have a role in guarding her family’s legacy.

But not all of the mysteries of Ormdale are small enough to fit in her lap…and some of them have teeth.

WORMWOOD ABBEY, Book 1 of The Secrets of Ormdale, is a cosy gothic novel of mystery, dragons, and the perils of friendship, perfect for fans of EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES and Maria Grace.

MIXED FEELINGS.

This wasn’t quite everything I hoped for, but also not a complete dud too? I think I do want to read book two because this one felt more like a prologue than a first book for a series. At barely 200 pages there was just a lot missing and I thought things ran dry.

I enjoyed Edith as a main character and can see her potential throughout the series. I also liked that there does seem to be a romantic plot line as the books goes on because you know your girl loves a romance.

I’m curious about the dragons and abbey and this gave some good initial inklings on those matters. It also had some light faith themes I wasn’t expecting but weren’t over done either.

Overall audience notes:

Cozy historical fantasy
Language: none
Romance: none
Violence: low

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Book Review: An Improper Gentleman (Improper Agreements #2) by Audra Wells

April 18, 2025March 6, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 271 pages
Author: Audra Wells
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 28th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Bridget has learned not to trust an easy smile or flattering tongue, and Lord Archibald has both in spades. To make her time with him at Brookside Manor more tolerable–and to use it to her benefit–she agrees to do one activity with him every day in exchange for a fact about their host, Lord Eaton. However, she will only agree on one condition: there must be no touching of any kind.

Archie is used to young women swooning whenever he is near, so Miss Hall’s obvious reticence intrigues him. He has never had to prove himself and is more than willing to try to win her over. Much to his chagrin, his efforts only seem to make him look foolish while in her company.

When a woman once scorned refuses to fall victim to charm, and a man of leisure finds himself falling short at every turn, a hilarious battle of wills ensues.

An Improper Gentleman is a clean romance and is the second book in the Improper Agreements series. It can be read as a stand-alone but is best enjoyed in order.

LOVE THE BANTER.

Two books read from Audra Wells and I am becoming an absolute fan. I love the way she writes banter and dialogue between the love interests. It’s cheeky, yet there’s so much sincerity as the romance develops that the swoon factor is also high.

I did want to shake the FMC a little bit towards the end. I understood her difficulty trusting, but I thought she’d stop running away at last. With very little change in setting I thought the plot moved well. It’s short and fast paced and I loooved Archie. The opposites attract was in full force here and I love love love when there’s lots of forced proximity.

Overall audience notes:

Regency Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses

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Book Review: Of Song and Darkness by Jessica Spruill

April 17, 2025March 5, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance Retelling
Length: 297 pages
Author: Jessica Spruill
Publisher: Night Pirate Publishing
Release Date: June 3rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Poseidon has fallen. The world won’t be far behind. Unless she can stop the rising darkness.

The world beneath the waves is in chaos.

Without Poseidon to hold it at bay, Dark Water is slowly spreading, devouring anything it touches. Even the mighty King Manta has given up hope.

But his daughter hasn’t. Rhea, the siren princess of Aquarius, will do anything to save her world. Even if it means hunting down the mythical Medusa—and partnering with a notorious pirate captain.

Blackheart Kai has more dangerous secrets than Rhea can fathom. He’d rather kill her than help her save her people. She knows he can’t be trusted. But knowing that doesn’t stop her from needing him…or wanting him.

With the survival of the seven seas hanging in the balance, can Rhea and Kai overcome their hatred and work together when it matters most? Or are they destined to share Poseidon’s dark fate?

ENDED AS A MISS.

Alright, I had some high hopes for this one based off of friends reviews and the fact that it’s a closed door adult fantasy (I’m always on the search for good books in this category!). And this book was not BAD, but it missed the mark and took me out of the story enough that I was a bit disappointed by the end.

I thought I was reading a full fantasy book and in my mind that means the world building is completely made up. This book referenced real world continents and locations that took me out of the story when everything else was fantasy. I also thought the romance was too fast for me (as is my struggle with standalone romantasy).

The little mermaid retelling + a handsome pirate idea was great though. I did like that idea and most of the execution worked well. There were some good banter moments and a few tropes I enjoyed seeing. I thought the writing style worked well enough for me, I’m just undecided if I will pick up another book from this author.

Overall audience notes: