ARC Book Review: The Pocket Pair (Graham Brothers #3) by Emma St. Clair

June 9, 2023June 4, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 322 pages
Author: Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 9th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Do I have feelings for my sister’s best friend? Of course not.

That would be stupid, considering my sister once threatened to castrate me if I ever hurt Val.

Hurting her is the last thing I want to do, which is all the MORE reason I can’t have feelings for her. Val deserves the world, and I’m NOT the man who can give it to her.

But when Val announces she’s leaving town (and the country), I’m suddenly confronted with some very capital-F Feelings–ones that refuse to stay stuffed down deep where I’ve hidden them for more years than I care to admit.

Having her crash in my guest bedroom until she leaves only makes things worse.

Little by little, Val chips away at my defenses, and despite all the solid reasons I have, my resolve starts to crumble.

The thing is–none of the circumstances have changed.

Val is still planning to leave the country. And I … well, I might have gotten more in touch with my feelings, but I’m still the same man.

NOT a man who can promise things like life-long commitment. NOT a man Val can count on. NOT the good guy everyone seems to think I am.

If only I could get Val and the rest of this nosy, meddling matchmaking town to believe me–and if my own stubborn heart wasn’t trying to convince me otherwise.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

VAL & CHEVY.

This might be my new favorite in the series. I’m sure I probably say that about each book, but I just sincerely love each book that much. I love Emma St. Clair’s writing. I love the way she tells a story and the romances she creates. They are simultaneously funny and full of heart and make my day brighter when a new one drops on my kindle.

I adored Chevy. That sweet man trying to handle his daddy issues (and not doing such a great job). I loved his growth and acknowledgement of wrong doings. How he did work to be better and to be open. And OH MY GOSH he left me in a puddle with some of his moments.

“Good.” He pauses. “Because if I kiss you, it won’t go down like this. It won’t be quick. It won’t be sweet. And it won’t be with an audience. You got that?”

Val is one of the genuinely good souls type of characters. I loved her heart and mind and how good of a friend she was and everything in between. Val and Chevy have many moments that will have the angst turning up and you shouting KISS KISS KISS.

I love this small town, I love all of the glimpses of past book characters and new characters to come. I laughed, I cheered, I was giddy like a fool with the grand gesture. Another Sheet Cake winner!!

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent, parental abandonment, physical injuries

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Book Review: Naked in Death (In Death #1) by J.D. Robb

June 9, 2023July 9, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 381 pages
Author: J.D. Robb
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: July 1st, 1995
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the year 2058, technology completely rules the world. But for New York City Detective Eve Dallas, one irresistible impulse still rules the heart: passion…

Eve Dallas is a New York police lieutenant hunting for a ruthless killer. In over ten years on the force, she’s seen it all—and knows her survival depends on her instincts. And she’s going against every warning telling her not to get involved with Roarke, an Irish billionaire—and a suspect in Eve’s murder investigation. But passion and seduction have rules of their own, and it’s up to Eve to take a chance in the arms of a man she knows nothing about—except the addictive hunger of needing his touch.

MIXED.

Well I gave this series a chance. And I think I liked it enough to try one more book? To be determined.

One of my turnoffs in this one is that everything felt too sexual for me. Just the entire vibe of the book and the main couple getting to things in this book as well that I spent a bit of time fast forwarding my audiobook. I don’t know if it’ll continually be this way, but that was my biggest bleh about it all.

I did love the general set up. With the futuristic things and Eve solving murders. That is cool and reminds me of plenty of shows like NCIS, CSI, etc. I think that could be interesting to see how things develop over multiple story lines.

The romance hasn’t hooked me yet. I needed more from them. By the end I was charmed by Roarke (and his accent on the audio). A protective type who also let’s Eve just be. That’s my kind of hero.

Anywho, I’ll probably give it one more go and see where this takes me.

Overall audience notes:

Romantic Suspense
Language: strong
Romance: multiple open door scenes
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: child sexual abuse recounted, incest, rape, murder of sex workers, gun violence, blackmail

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ARC Book Review: Legends and Liars (Echoes and Empires #2) by Morgan Rhodes

June 8, 2023March 10, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 432 pages
Author: Morgan Rhodes
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: June 13th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This riveting sequel to Echoes and Empires sees Joss and Jericho team up with some of their greatest enemies—including two of the most powerful mages in the world—to bring an end to the queen’s empire of lies, from New York Times bestselling author Morgan Rhodes.

Josslyn Drake is in over her head—again. After fleeing the Queen’s palace with Prince Elian in tow, she’d hoped to finally find a way to solve both of their magical problems in one fell swoop, with the help of criminal-turned-ally Jericho Nox. But Valery, Jericho’s boss—and a notoriously powerful mage—has other plans.

It soon becomes clear that Valery can’t, or won’t, provide assistance. And with her relationship with Jericho more confusing than ever, Joss realizes that she’ll have to find her own way out of this magical mess, with or without help from those around her.

Amid high tensions, Joss sets out to learn to control the memory magic—along with her own natural powers. As the struggle between Lord Banyon and the Queen threatens the people Joss cares about, she stumbles onto hints of a monumental royal secret. Her unwanted power just might hold the answers she needs to solve all her problems—but she’ll have to work quickly, because the fate of an empire hangs in the balance.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC.

I AM FEELING LET DOWN.

I LOVED the first book, Echoes and Empires. Clearly that meant I went in hoping for a great conclusion and instead I feel like I got this meandering story that had lost its charm and ended too simply.

Where did the romance go?! I loved that Jericho and Joss worked together and there weren’t any undue separations. Yet, the snark and banter and tenderness that I saw in the first book was hardly here. I lost that connection with them.

I also don’t think much happened? There were a lot of little plot lines that did come together (and were wrapped up way too neatly in a bow) yet the progress to fixing the problems in the world and figuring out the magic system hardly occurred.

And the big secret that Joss took the whole book to figure out??? That was a joke. And the ease of which the ending happened had me wanting more rather than feeling satisfied.

The book is written well and I do love the main characters. The world is an interesting mix of fantasy & urban which I liked too. I’m not UPSET I read this, I was just hoping for a more comprehensive conclusion.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy
Language: a little mild
Romance: kisses
Violence: moderate
Trigger/Content Warnings: weapons violence, physical altercations, kidnapping, near death experiences, loss of loved ones

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Book Review: Once Upon a K-Prom by Kat Cho

June 7, 2023July 9, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 338 pages
Author: Kat Cho
Publisher: Disney
Release Date: May 17th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

What would you do if the world’s biggest K-pop star asked you to prom? Perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sandhya Menon, this hilarious and heartfelt novel brings the glamour and drama of the K-pop world straight to high school.

Elena Soo has always felt overshadowed. Whether by her more successful older sisters, her more popular twin brother, or her more outgoing best friend, everyone except Elena seems to know exactly who they are and what they want. But she is certain about one thing – she has no interest in going to prom. While the rest of the school is giddy over corsages and dresses, Elena would rather spend her time working to save the local community center, the one place that’s always made her feel like she belonged.

So when international K-pop superstar Robbie Choi shows up at her house to ask her to prom, Elena is more confused than ever. Because the one person who always accepted Elena as she is? Her childhood best friend, Robbie Choi. And the one thing she maybe, possibly, secretly wants more than anything? For the two of them to keep the promise they made each other as kids: to go to prom together. But that was seven years ago, and with this new K-pop persona, pink hair, and stylish clothes, Robbie is nothing like the sweet, goofy boy she remembers. The boy she shared all her secrets with. The boy she used to love.

Besides, prom with a guy who comes with hordes of screaming fans, online haters, and relentless paparazzi is the last thing Elena wants – even if she can’t stop thinking about Robbie’s smile…right?

WELL.

I didn’t love this y’all. An auspicious start with the whole, I don’t like Prom, kind of vibe and then when the love interest showed up and was a bit of a punk. I was seeking out better grass on the other side.

And things did get marginally better. There were some sweet moments between Elena and Robbie. I loved the K-Pop aspects and a bunch of the background that occurs within those circles.

I think most my issues stem from the general plot. There’s a LOT going on for a 300 page book and not enough time to truly dive into many of those. There was a good discussion about the community center. Talks about reconnecting with friends. Dealing with difficult parent situations. And a looooot of room for growing up. Each of these were approached yet I don’t think I ever felt satisfied.

This is the second book I’ve tried a book by this author and it was once again only okay.

Overall audience notes: