Book Review: Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim

November 18, 2023September 22, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 432 pages
Author: Elizabeth Lim
Publisher: Knopf Books
Release Date: August 29th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

One sister must fall for the other to rise.

Channi was not born a monster. But when her own father offers her in sacrifice to the Demon Witch, she is forever changed. Cursed with a serpent’s face, Channi is the exact opposite of her beautiful sister, Vanna—the only person in the village who looks at Channi and doesn’t see a monster. The only person she loves and trusts.

Now seventeen, Vanna is to be married off in a vulgar contest that will enrich the coffers of the village leaders. Only Channi, who’s had to rely on her strength and cunning all these years, can defend her sister against the cruelest of the suitors. But in doing so, she becomes the target of his wrath—launching a grisly battle royale, a quest over land and sea, a romance between sworn enemies, and a choice that will strain Channi’s heart to its breaking point.

Weaving together elements of The Selection and Ember in the Ashes with classic tales like Beauty and the Beast, Helen of Troy, and Asian folklore, Elizabeth Lim is at the absolute top of her game in this thrilling yet heart-wrenching fantasy that explores the dark side of beauty and the deepest bonds of sisterhood.

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

FANTASTIC BOOK.

I love a good origin story/prequel novel. And I kind of wish I had this book before the two other duologies in this world because I really think it set-up a lot of wonderful context and world building to those duos.

I loved how deep this sister relationship went and what they both did to each other. There’s an imbalance they have and I like how that was represented and handled between them. There’s many poignant moments and things that made me feel ALL THE THINGS. The interwoven romantic, politicking and magic plot lines really brought this book home.

These characters absolutely had my attention and I loved seeing Channi’s story come to life. There’s plenty of action and mystery and honestly wondering how things were going to wrap up. Highly recommend this book!!

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy
Language: very little
Romance: kisses
Violence: moderate-high
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents, loss of loved ones, battle scenes

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Book Review: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

November 17, 2023November 21, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Sangu Mandanna
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: August 23rd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family–and a new love–changes the course of her life.

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules…with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and…Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn’t the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for….

FULL OF HEART.

I’ve seen this compared to The House on the Cerulean Sea and is definitely a comparison I can follow. This had a lot of those vibes but in a new story that I adored all the same.

I loved the found family between the girls, Mika, and everyone else in the house. Mika needed most to find somewhere to belong with people who knew everything about her and wouldn’t have to leave. I love that she got that chance and how we saw the ups and downs of allowing someone into our lives. It’s not always steps forward, but it’s worth it in the end for the right people.

The romance could have used a little more oomph for me. I did like it, but I thought it was missing something. Maybe a bit more between them would have helped me feel fully connected to Mika and Jamie.

I liked the plot and it moved with a steady pace for a read like this. There were some surprises and a great ending that was filled with sweetness and hope in new beginnings. I’d love to read another book by this author!

Overall audience notes:

Paranormal Fantasy + Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: open but then fade to black
Violence: medium
Trigger/Content Warnings: mention of death of parent, emotionally detached parent, sibling abuse

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ARC Book Review: The One with the Kiss Cam by Cindy Steel

November 16, 2023November 13, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 317 pages
Author: Cindy Steel
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 16th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It was just one date.

My friend told me I needed more fun in my life, so I reluctantly said yes. Fun wasn’t exactly in my wheelhouse. After watching my own mother’s love life implode time and time again it’s only natural that I have a few rules to protect myself.

Actually, it’s just one rule…
Avoid relationships with men so I don’t get attached.

I wasn’t worried. Getting attached has never been a big problem for me. This guy was just a warm body in a chair. I was here for the basketball game. I was absolutely NOT here for my date.

Or the kiss cam.
Or the kiss.
Or the impromptu evening with the one man who seems bent on throwing my tidy world off of its axis.

But when my life takes a nose dive, he’s also the man who seems bent on proving to me that good men do exist, dreams can come true, and sometimes throwing out the rule book is when the magic really starts to happen.

★ The One with the Kiss Cam is the first in a series of standalone romantic comedies by Cindy Steel. It is a sweet, closed-door romance full of sizzle, witty banter, and chemistry, but without explicit content.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

THIS BOOK.

Cindy Steel really is absolutely incredible at creating beautiful rom-coms. Books that make you smile, swoon, squeeze your heart and cheer on the characters. I loved this one so much. The meet cute was clever and the story that followed brought out all the feels.

The banter and dialogue between Duke and Nora had me grinning like a fool for most of the book. This had reverse grumpy x sunshine vibes and it was immaculate. The office setting had me waiting for any moment that would force them together and it did not disappoint. Add in some eccentric and sweet side characters and this was a recipe for a five star book from the get go.

One of my favorite (more subtle) aspects was that Duke and Nora argued. I actually enjoy seeing this in romances. When things need to be said and discussed and really letting those walls come down, and that they also worked together too!! Some of those closing scenes sent me. Nora finally got the break and love she deserved and Duke just being completely gone for Nora from the get-go is everything I could hope for.

READ THIS BOOK Y’ALL.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Trigger/Content Warnings: manipulative parenting situations

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Book Review: The Fall Back Plan (Sweater Weather #2) by Melanie Jacobson

November 16, 2023September 11, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 234 pages
Author: Melanie Jacobson
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The bad boy and the golden girl have traded places…

I’m back in Harvest Hollow after ten years to prove a point and to even a few scores. I’ve opened a new bar, and anyone expecting the old sweet and shy Jolie McGraw to be running it is in for a shock.

I’m not the only one who’s changed: when the sheriff comes to tell me I’m the prime suspect in the most ridiculous crime in town history, it’s none other than Lucas Cole, the former star of my teenage stress dreams, wearing the badge.

Seriously? The smack-talking punk I was forced to tutor in math is now one of the town’s most upstanding citizens? This isn’t what I had in mind for turning the tables on my former tormentors.

I blow him off…until I meet the niece he’s raising. I see so much of my younger self in her. But when I agree to help when she needs a woman in her life, Lucas uses it as a chance to build a case that he’s the man I need in mine.

That’s a hard no. No to love. No to Lucas.

But when Harvest Hollow’s nosiest forces combine to push us together, I’m not sure my heart stands a chance.

ENJOYED.

The second book in the sweater weather series was good! I flew through this and I am totally smitten with the sheriff, Lucas. He was my favorite part of the whole book. I loved that you could clearly see the turnaround he made and how he apologized and watched out for Jolie over and over again.

I liked Jolie, but I struggled with her need to come back home to be petty and mean to those who were petty and mean to her. I think a rise above situation would have come off better in the end.

The romance is good. It’s a suuuper slow burn and the pay off is sweet. I liked Brooke (though I still don’t get the point of the mentor/mentee plot??). All in all, a good read. Plenty of cozy autumn vibes and a few spooky dolls to boot.

Overall audience notes: