Book Review: In a New York Minute by Kate Spencer

February 6, 2023April 20, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Kate Spencer
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: March 15th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A clever, tender, and romantic “Nora Ephron romp for the modern ages” (Christina Lauren) for readers of Jasmine Guillory, Abby Jimenez, and Sophie Cousens, this laugh-out-loud debut is a perceptive reminder that fate can have a sense of humor, and that love can happen . . . In a New York Minute.

Franny Doyle is having the worst day. She’s been laid off from her (admittedly mediocre) job, the subway doors ripped her favorite silk dress to ruins, and now she’s flashed her unmentionables to half of lower Manhattan. On the plus side, a dashing stranger came to her rescue with his (Gucci!) suit jacket. On the not-so-plus side, he can’t get away from her fast enough.

Worse yet? Someone posted their (entirely not) meet-cute online. Suddenly Franny and her knight-in-couture, Hayes Montgomery III, are the newest social media sensation, and all of New York is shipping #SubwayQTs.

Only Franny and Hayes couldn’t be a more disastrous match. She’s fanciful, talkative, and creative. He’s serious, shy, and all about numbers. Luckily, in a city of eight million people, they never have to meet again. Yet somehow, Hayes and Franny keep running into each other—and much to their surprise, they enjoy each other’s company. A lot. But when Franny’s whole world is turned upside down (again!), can she find the courage to trust in herself and finally have the life—and love—she’s always wanted?

NOT AMUSED.

What started out humorous with a wild disaster of a meet-cute that I was totally here for eventually felt completely flat.

I thought there needed to be a lot more interaction between Franny and Hayes. There was some of that in the second half and I was at last feeling more invested in their relationship, BUT OH MY GOSH. I threw my kindle (okay not really, but I was upset) when the conflict came around. It was completely unnecessary drama fueled to add those last 50 pages and I’m still cranky about it. That did not work for me on every level. I think I enjoyed the side characters and their relationships more than I did the main couple.

A New York setting with an interior designer were all small aspects I looked forward to reading about. There’s plenty of potential within these words, the execution was very poor for me though. Some of the other sub plots took over a lot too. And while I didn’t mind that [for the most part], I wish the focus was different.

Not one I would recommend even a little. It’s fast paced and I’m grateful I didn’t spend too much time on it.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: closed door
Trigger/Content Warnings: heart attack (off page, side character)

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Book Review: Fractured Sky (Tattered & Torn #5) by Catherine Cowles

February 5, 2023December 11, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 334 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: Pagesmith LLC
Release Date: October 25th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Shiloh
Damaged. Broken. Destroyed. I’ve heard it all. A single moment of trusting the wrong person shattered my life into pieces, and my family has never looked at me the same. It’s impossible to convince them that I’m anything more than the broken girl they rescued all those years ago.

Until I meet him.

Ramsey’s surly demeanor and menacing scowl scare most of the world away. But not me. Not when I’ve seen his gentle hands soothe an abused colt or comfort a terrified mare.

And when I finally get up the courage to strike out on my own, Ramsey’s there. Roommates felt like such a safe proposition until Ramsey’s lingering touches and wicked smile light a fire in me I don’t think will ever be extinguished. And he feels it, too…

But just as my new life begins to take root, an evil from my past emerges from the shadows, casting a darkness on my newfound freedom. And this time, they won’t settle for pieces of me. They want everything…

LOOOOVED.

I expected this to be my favorite of the series and it delivered.

I have been waiting for Shiloh and Ramsey’s story to pull at every single piece of my heart and to leave me misty eyed. AND IT DID JUST THAT. I loved seeing Shiloh’s strength and getting her POV at last to understand all of her emotions and feelings.

And how swoony was Ramsey???? Just that beautiful calming presence who let Shiloh be without any expectations. YES. I was obsessed with these two from the start. Adding in the super sweet Aidan and Elliot brought out the feels. I loved this side plot and the healing it brought to all parties as they rallied together to give peace where it was due.

Filled with all the dramatic suspense I’ve come to expect from Cowles books I was flipping pages fast to get to the promised HEA. I looove switching it up with romantic suspense read. The dynamic is uniquely different and perfectly heated.

Overall audience notes:

Romantic suspense
Language: light
Romance: three brief open; low-med explicit
Violence: medium-high
Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping, child abuse, domestic abuse, false imprisonment, gun violence, weapons violence, near death experiences

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Book Review: The Cloisters by Katy Hays

February 4, 2023November 21, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Genre: Mystery
Length: 320 pages
Author: Katy Hays
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: November 1st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When Ann Stilwell arrives in New York City, she expects to spend her summer working as a curatorial associate at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Instead, she finds herself assigned to The Cloisters, a gothic museum and garden renowned for its medieval art collection and its group of enigmatic researchers studying the history of divination.

Desperate to escape her painful past, Ann is happy to indulge the researchers’ more outlandish theories about the history of fortune telling. But what begins as academic curiosity quickly turns into obsession when Ann discovers a hidden 15th-century deck of tarot cards that might hold the key to predicting the future. When the dangerous game of power, seduction, and ambition at The Cloisters turns deadly, Ann becomes locked in a race for answers as the line between the arcane and the modern blurs.

A haunting and magical blend of genres, The Cloisters is a gripping debut that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you to Book Club Favorites and Simon & Schuster for the gifted copy.

BORING.

Goooood heavens. I thought I was getting one book and got another and I’m sad about that.

Things started off well, I liked the initial vibes and was curious about how all of this was going to go down, little did I know, how monotonous it would be.

Mostly it’s Ann going to work, hanging out with coworkers and occasionally finding something interesting. THEN SOMETHING EXCITING FINALLY HAPPENED, a murder! Who’s done it?! And while for a minute there I wasn’t sure, it became pretty clear, pretty quickly, who it was.

And then I spent the rest of the book trying to speed (3x audio) read through it.

The writing itself was good, it was the organization of plot and ideas that I found lacking. Parts of the ending had some tidbits that were interesting and at last gave the book the “dark” academia vibe I was told it had.

I just really needed more in many areas.

Overall audience notes:

Mystery
Language: some strong
Romance: closed door
Violence: medium
Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, fatmisia, drug use and abuse, car accident

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Book Review: My Fine Fellow by Jennieke Cohen

February 3, 2023April 18, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Regency Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Jennieke Cohen
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: January 11th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Culinary delights abound, romance lingers in the air, and plans go terribly, wonderfully astray in this cheeky and charming historical tale, perfect for fans of Bridgerton or Dickinson.

It’s 1830s England, and Culinarians—doyens who consult with society’s elite to create gorgeous food and confections—are the crème de la crème of high society.

Helena Higgins, top of her class at the Royal Academy, has a sharp demeanor and an even sharper palate—and knows stardom awaits her if she can produce greatness in her final year.

Penelope Pickering is going to prove the value of non-European cuisine to all of England. Her contemporaries may scorn her Filipina heritage and her dishes, but with her flawless social graces and culinary talents, Penelope is set to prove them wrong.

Elijah Little has nothing to his name but a truly excellent instinct for flavors. London merchants won’t allow a Jewish boy to own a shop, so he hawks his pasties for a shilling a piece to passersby—but he knows with training he can break into the highest echelon of society.

When Penelope and Helena meet Elijah, a golden opportunity arises: to pull off a project never seen before, and turn Elijah from a street vendor to a gentleman chef.

But Elijah’s transformation will have a greater impact on this trio than they originally realize—and mayhem, unseemly faux pas, and a little romance will all be a part of the delicious recipe.

IT WAS SWEET.

I know nothing about My Fair Lady. Apparently this is a gender bend on that? Maybe so.

I did think this book was incredibly sweet. I liked the plot set-up and all of the FOOD. Oh my goodness, so much baking and cooking. I think I was hungry half the time just listening to this because everything sounded delectable. I’m a sucker for a good cuisine book and this nailed it.

I struggled the most with Helena. I knew her character was meant to be unlikeable but wow did she really annoy me. Hallelujah for the growth she showed in the end after Penelope and Elijah both showed some backbone and told her to get with the program and off of her high horse.

Penelope and Elijah were easily one of my favorite parts. Such a tender and slow burn acquaintances to lovers romance. I adored the way they connected over food and their history. The meaningful conversations surround those of mixed race and Jewish decent in the time period brought another complex layer to this read. I really enjoyed this one and the audiobook was fantastic too.

Overall audience notes: