Book Review: Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan

September 29, 2023October 16, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 432 pages
Author: Julia Whelan
Publisher: Avon Books
Release Date: August 2nd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

For Sewanee Chester, being an audiobook narrator is a long way from her old dreams, but the days of being a star on film sets are long behind her. She’s found success and satisfaction from the inside of a sound booth and it allows her to care for her beloved, ailing grandmother. When she arrives in Las Vegas last-minute for a book convention, Sewanee unexpectedly spends a whirlwind night with a charming stranger.

On her return home, Sewanee discovers one of the world’s most beloved romance novelists wanted her to perform her last book—with Brock McNight, the industry’s hottest, most secretive voice. Sewanee doesn’t buy what romance novels are selling—not after her own dreams were tragically cut short—and she stopped narrating them years ago. But her admiration of the late author, and the opportunity to get her grandmother more help, makes her decision for her.

As Sewanee begins work on the book, resurrecting her old romance pseudonym, she and Brock forge a real connection, hidden behind the comfort of anonymity. Soon, she is dreaming again, but secrets are revealed, and the realities of life come crashing down around her once more.

If she can learn to risk everything for desires she has long buried, she will discover a world of intimacy and acceptance she never believed would be hers.

From the author of My Oxford Year, Julia Whelan’s uplifting novel tells the story of a former actress turned successful audiobook narrator—who has lost sight of her dreams after a tragic accident—and her journey of self-discovery, love, and acceptance when she agrees to narrate one last romance novel.

WHAT A GEM.

I don’t know why I didn’t pick this up sooner, IT WAS EVERYTHING I LOVE AND MORE.

The characters were all stunning. All of them. I love flawed souls who are sincerely trying their best. Working towards goals they have, doing the hard thing and making a path that’s best for them. Sewanee made me love her so easily. I like that this had a great fiction angle that was wrapped up in such a deep story.

BUT ALSO, the ROMANCE Y’ALL. Holy cow I was smiling like a loon the entire time. Whelan even made the dreaded one night stand trope (dreaded to me) work perfectly?! I AM IN AWE. I was smitten, swooning, loving every dang moment. Brought laughter, tears, the whole nine yards.

This book was intensely memorable and I will be thinking about it for awhile. Easily one of my favorites for the year. It was full of emotion and pure love through those hardest moments. Can’t recommend enough. READ IT.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: 2ish open door; low explicit
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: a loved one with memory loss, eye trauma and lost of vision, death of a grandmother

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ARC Book Review: Windsong Manor by Julie Wright

September 28, 2023July 2, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 256 pages
Author: Julie Wright
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Release Date: October 3rd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A young widow. A gentle stable master. A secret that could change everything. Will Nora dare risk her heart?

The London Countryside, 1820

Eleanora Coventry comes from a life of title and privilege, but even that isn’t enough to prevent her from being wed at sixteen to a controlling and dismissive husband. So when she finds herself a widow at only twenty-seven, the idea of choosing her own path forward both thrills and terrifies her. She knows how to be a daughter and a wife and mother, but she has no idea how to be Eleanora.

She moves her son and daughter to her late husband’s country estate, where she meets Ridley, the young stable master. He is ruggedly handsome, but also kind, and Eleanora finds herself drawn to him. There is only one problem: Eleanora has a title, and Ridley does not.

Ridley Ellis has a way with horses. Even the most spirited stallions trust his soft voice and gentle touch. He has the same effect on people, and when he first lays eyes on Eleanora, he is smitten by her beauty. But he quickly discovers it will take more than soft words to gain her trust—Lord Coventry had been cruel to people and animals alike. But the closer he gets to Eleanora, the more he is willing to share his heart, and more importantly, his secret.

In a world where title and privilege mean everything, will Eleanora and Ridley risk it all to find happiness? Or will the shadows of their pasts destroy everything they hope to build together?

Thank you to Shadow Mountain for the ARC.

MORE THAN A ROMANCE.

That was what a friend said to me before I read it and she was absolutely right and it warmed my heart 100x over reading this book. I LOVED IT.

I absolutely adored both main characters. Nora was passionate and incredibly strong and trying her best as a young mother to keep a hold on a situation out of her control. I felt all the emotions with Nora and looooove her as a character so much. And RIDLEY, what a swoony hero!! He made me melt many times. That man has a way with words, but also with his gentle presence. When I realized what was potentially happening with his character arc I flipped, very much a, PLEASE LET THIS HAPPEN moment.

This book is filled with so much. Children growing up, a single mother doing her best, a man running from his past and antagonists with devious plots. The pacing is perfect, the romance is swoony and the larger story will squeeze your heart.

READ IT.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: brief physical altercations, loss of a parent

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Book Review: Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

September 27, 2023October 14, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Magical Realism Mystery + Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Adrienne Young
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: September 27th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A deeply atmospheric story about ancestral magic, an unsolved murder, and a second chance at true love.

Emery Blackwood’s life changed forever the night her best friend was found dead and the love of her life, August Salt, was accused of murdering her. Years later, she is doing what her teenage self swore she never would: living a quiet existence on the misty, remote shores of Saoirse Island and running the family’s business, Blackwood’s Tea Shoppe Herbal Tonics & Tea Leaf Readings.

But when the island, rooted in folklore and magic, begins to show signs of strange happenings, Emery knows that something is coming. The morning she wakes to find that every single tree on Saoirse has turned color in a single night, August returns for the first time in fourteen years and unearths the past that the town has tried desperately to forget.

August knows he is not welcome on Saiorse, not after the night everything changed. As a fire raged on at the Salt family orchard, Lily Morgan was found dead in the dark woods, shaking the bedrock of their tight-knit community and branding August a murderer. When he returns to bury his mother’s ashes, he must confront the people who turned their backs on him and face the one wound from his past that has never healed—Emery.

The town has more than one reason to want August gone, and the emergence of deep betrayals and hidden promises spanning generations threaten to reveal the truth behind Lily’s mysterious death once and for all.

I THINK THIS IS HER BEST.

There was something about this writing style that fit Adrienne Young so perfectly that I had a hard time putting it down. From the first few chapters I was wrapped up in the wildness of Saoirse island and the stories it held.

I did like the multiple points of view. I think it works well for a story like this and gives those extra angles needed to fully understand motives and desires. I do wish there was a touch more from Lily. I had a hard time believing her reasoning behind her choices, but that’s a small complaint compared to how much I loved everything else.

The second chance romance brought the pain. I wanted these two to make up and move forward because I loved them so. They push and pull of that cord that finally snapped between them was everything I want in angst and slowburn style romances.

Mystery wise my inklings were on the right track but I liked that some stuff was still surprising too. I loved the atmosphere and the small town witchy vibes. I wanted a bit more closure in the ending (a personal preference), but otherwise, fantastic. Can’t wait for more.

Overall audience notes:

Magical Realism Romance + Mystery
Language: a little strong
Romance: 2ish scenes; low explicit
Violence: med-high
Trigger/Content Warnings: multiple murders, arson, attempted murder, blackmail, loss of a parent(s) (recounted), grief depiction

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ALC Book Review: The Ex-Mas Holidays by Zoe Allison

September 26, 2023September 11, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Zoe Allison
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: September 26th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s hard to escape your ex when you’re working together over Christmas in the Scottish Highlands, but being stuck together might be the best possible present in this sparkling new contemporary romance.

Maya Bashir is dreading her drive home for Christmas and having to explain that she’s just left her high-paying job and a long-term relationship, so a brief detour to her friend’s festive party doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. Until Maya walks in to find the last person she wants to see. Sam, the boy who broke her heart eight years ago. And he’s serving drinks. Naked.

Sam Holland is working an extra job on the sly to help his friend get by. But little did he expect Maya Bashir to come barrelling back into his life, learning about his secret side-hustle and taking back her old job alongside him at his daytime role as a ski instructor on the slopes of the Scottish Highlands.

As both Sam and Maya realize that their reason for heartbreak so many years ago wasn’t entirely as it seemed, they must learn to stand up for what they want the most…or else miss their second chance at love.

Thank you to PRHAudio for the gifted audiobook.

HARD NO.

Honestly, I don’t even want to write this review, but also, it’s my due diligence to give my thoughts for this. Definitely not going on any of my 2023 holiday recommendation lists.

Things started off fine, I was liking it overall and curious to where things were going. Enter in, Sam’s girlfriend. Who was there for 75% of the book. And then proceeded to cause chaos. I saw what the author was trying to accomplish with that relationship, but to me it didn’t come off well. She was cruel to be cruel and add drama that didn’t need to be there. This entire book is ONE BIG MISCOMMUNICATION. That if it had been solved by 30-40% would have been fine.

I also liked Sam until the third act where he used the for your own good break-up line and I laughed at my audiobook thinking NO WAY IS THIS HAPPENING AT 90%.

Maya was fine. A BIIIIIIG conversation/conflict avoider. At all costs. And that got old because every plot line began to drag out longer than necessary.

I’m just cranky. This book made me cranky.

Overall audience notes: