Book Review: Something Wilder by Christina Lauren

May 3, 2023June 5, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Christina Lauren
Publisher: Gallery
Release Date: May 17th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Growing up the daughter of notorious treasure hunter and absentee father Duke Wilder left Lily without much patience for the profession…or much money in the bank. But Lily is nothing if not resourceful, and now uses Duke’s coveted hand-drawn maps to guide tourists on fake treasure hunts through the red rock canyons of Utah. It pays the bills but doesn’t leave enough to fulfill her dream of buying back the beloved ranch her father sold years ago, and definitely not enough to deal with the sight of the man she once loved walking back into her life with a motley crew of friends ready to hit the trails. Frankly, Lily would like to take him out into the wilderness—and leave him there.

Leo Grady knew mirages were a thing in the desert, but they’d barely left civilization when the silhouette of his greatest regret comes into focus in the flickering light of the campfire. Ready to leave the past behind him, Leo wants nothing more than to reconnect with his first and only love. Unfortunately, Lily Wilder is all business, drawing a clear line in the sand: it’s never going to happen.

But when the trip goes horribly and hilariously wrong, the group wonders if maybe the legend of the hidden treasure wasn’t a gimmick after all. There’s a chance to right the wrongs—of Duke’s past and their own—but only if Leo and Lily can confront their history and work together. Alone under the stars in the isolated and dangerous mazes of the Canyonlands, Leo and Lily must decide whether they’ll risk their lives and hearts on the adventure of a lifetime.

WELL, THAT WAS DIFFERENT.

And I think I liked it?

I don’t read a lot of romantic suspense but I’m pretty sure this would fit well into that category. What started out as a general retreat into the back country for some R&R quickly turned wild. I was shocked when after those first few chapters things went in directions I couldn’t have even predicted.

The second chance romance was alright. I did like Lily and Leo. I’m glad they were finally able to discuss what happened all of those years ago, even if I wasn’t totally on board with it all. There’s a nice slow burn between them and I’m always here for a fantastic happily ever after.

All of the antics amidst the treasure hunt were really fun. I do like that this was very much an escapism type read. It was completely different than usual CL books and I leaned into the flair this story was handing out. Some of the final twists surprised me and I’m perfectly satisfied with how everything went down in the end. A good story, a wild chase, and another CL book I liked.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: open door
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, death, parental abandonment, death of parent (off-page)

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ARC Book Review: Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams

May 2, 2023April 24, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Sarah Adams
Publisher: Dell
Release Date: May 2nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When the owner of the local flower shop in Rome, Kentucky, makes a questionable agreement with a tattooed bad boy, a delightful friends to lovers romance begins to bloom–from the author of When in Rome and The Cheat Sheet.

Annie Walker is on a quest to find her perfect match-someone who nicely compliments her happy, quiet life running her flower shop in Rome, Kentucky. Unfortunately, she worries her goal might be too far out of reach when she overhears her date saying she is “sounbelievably boring.” Is it too late to become flirtatious and fun like the leading ladies in her favorite romance movies? Maybe she only needs a little practice…and Annie has the perfect person in mind to become her tutor: Will Griffin.

Will–the flirtatious, tattooed, and absolutely gorgeous bodyguard–is temporarily back in Rome, providing security for Amelia Rose as excitement grows for her upcoming marriage to Noah Walker. He has one personal objective during his time in town: stay away from Annie Walker. But no sooner than he gets settled, Will soon finds himself not only breaking his rule, but tasked with far more than simply providing security.

Will wants no part in changing the sweet and lovely Annie, but he can’t bring himself to say no to her request, so he officially agrees to teach her how to be the next leading lady of Rome, Kentucky, and find the love of her life-even if he doesn’t believe in love himself. Between faking a relationship so the meddling town doesn’t catch on to what’s really happening on their practice dates, and tutoring lessons that convince Annie to add passion to her list of must-haves in a mate, it doesn’t take long for the lines of their friendship to blur…

Thank you to PRHAudio for the audiobook and the publisher for an eARC.

THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE.

The Off-Limits Rule has reigned supreme for awhile now. AND HAS BEEN DETHRONED BY THIS GREATNESS. Oh my goodness. I binged this book in a few hours and could not put it down. SARAH ADAMS YOU BEAUTIFUL SOUL. This was an incredible read filled with heart, finding your path, laughter and all the LOVE.

I absolutely adored Will and Annie. They had explosive chemistry from the minute they met. And DUAL POV MAKES ME FERAL. I got everything I could ask for in Will’s POV and seeing his side of the story. What a cinnamon roll. I am not going to recover from his off the charts book boyfriend status. He is next level. He is the goal.

Sweet Annie rang true to my introverted heart and I adored her character. I loved who she was, who she became and everything in between. Another amazing heroine in an Adams book is no surprise.

The way that steam was achieved without the spice sent me. I LOVE BOOKS LIKE THIS. It’s another refrain in the books don’t always have to have explicitness to be magnificent. You won’t miss it for a second because Practice Makes Perfect still packs all the heat.

READ IT Y’ALL.

Audiobook review: LOVED. I adored both narrators and I loved the way they told the story. I felt like I could see the characters and it easily made my reading experience better.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporay Romance
Language: light but strong
Romance: closed door
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: past death of parents, toxic childhood life

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ARC Book Review: Echoes of You (Lost & Found #2) by Catherine Cowles

May 2, 2023May 2, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 376 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: Pagesmith LLC
Release Date: May 2nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Nash Hartley has always been my everything: Protector. Partner in crime. Best friend. The person who was there for me in my darkest hour.

But my heart wanted so much more. So, when I knew for certain Nash didn’t feel the same about me, I tried to move on. What a mistake that turned out to be.

Now, I’m back in our small town, desperate to escape my living nightmare, and the only person I want to see is him.

As secrets are revealed, and Nash finds out what happened to me, he’ll do anything to keep me safe.

But there are those who will do anything to stop him, and this time neither of us may make out alive…

Thank you to Catherine Cowles for an eARC/ALC.

THE MUTUAL PINING.

I thought the pining would destroy me. HOW DID IT NOT. Nash and Maddie were madly in love since children and it shows and I was just happy to be here and watch them realize it. There’s something really great about a childhood friends to lovers trope that brings all of that angst. Shouting at your book WHEN WILL YOU KISS.

This family is my favorite. There’s a lot of terrible people in this book, but the Hartley family is the sweetest and I love the unconditional support that helps brings Maddie back from the brink. I was obsessed with Nash’s protective hero streak and that Maddie was at last able to take some control of her life.

When the suspense ramps up it got even better. While I was expecting some level of it, the second round had me WORRIED. I love that this added an extra dose of me being on edge. I love how fast paced and well crafted each of these books are. Another great read, can’t wait for the next!!

Overall audience notes:

Romantic Suspense
Language: some strong
Romance: 2 open door
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: attempted murder, domestic abuse, gun violence, murder, stalking, near death experiences

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Book Review: Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese

May 2, 2023December 23, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 326 pages
Author: Chloe Liese
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: November 22nd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Opposites become allies to fool their matchmaking friends in this swoony reimagining of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, Much Ado About Nothing.

Jamie Westenberg and Bea Wilmot have nothing in common except a meet-disaster and the mutual understanding that they couldn’t be more wrong for each other. But when the people closest to them play Cupid and trick them into going on a date, Jamie and Bea realize they have something else in common after all—an undeniable need for revenge.

Soon their plan is in place: Fake date obnoxiously and convince the meddlers they’re madly in love. Then, break up spectacularly and dash their hopes, putting an end to the matchmaking madness once and for all.

To convince everyone that they’ve fallen for each other, Jamie and Bea will have to nail the performance of their lives. But as their final act nears and playing lovers becomes easier than not, they begin to wonder, what if Cupid’s arrow wasn’t so off the mark? And what if two wrongs do make a right?

I AM ANNOYED.

I was heading towards a decent four star in this one. Not too shabby.

BUT THEN.

I’m stuck on the third act break-up. It was a travesty. The whole book is centered around communication and healing and listening to one another. And then all of that gets completely thrown out the window???? And at 90ish% which just adds fuel to my flames. I am not happy with that at allllllllllll.

I was enjoying the romance between Jamie and Bea. They worked hard to be together even when they acted liked they didn’t want to. It was endearing and they both had opportunities to take care of each other and I adored those sweet moments. The steam was a bit eh. Most shoved in there to call it spicy, so I had to skip more than I expected. Not to mention, I thought the innuendo felt awkward throughout too. I liked the fake dating shenanigans and the intensity between them at least.

This just didn’t have the same vibes from her indie series. I don’t know if that’s a traditional publishing difference or what, it was missing that same air I originally loved. I’m on the fence about continuing the series.

Overall audience notes: