Tag: Book Review

Book Review: A Curse Carved in Bone (Saga of the Unfated #2) by Danielle L. Jensen

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: May 13th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A shield maiden fights to break the shackles of prophecy—and to overcome the betrayal of the man who broke her heart—in this searing conclusion to the Norse-inspired fantasy romance duology that began with the bestselling A Fate Inked in Blood.

The secret of her divine heritage revealed, Freya finds herself on a path that will see thousands of lives lost to the magic in her blood. Desperate to avoid this dark fate, she risks an alliance with Skaland’s greatest enemy to seek answers from the seer who foretold her future—the same seer who sent Bjorn to kill her.

While Freya still seethes with rage over Bjorn’s betrayal, the blood oaths that bind her demand that she keep him close as she hunts for a way to avert the looming war. Her magic draws her to the front lines of an old enmity, embroiling her with Nordeland’s Unfated—children of the gods who serve the king she was raised to fear. The same king who, unlike Bjorn, is now willing to fight at her back. For despite the desire that burns hot between Bjorn and Freya, his growing distrust of her chosen path threatens to drag them further apart.

As war approaches, gods and mortals must choose their weapons. Yet the fiercest battle will be the one Freya wages within herself. With the magic of two goddesses burning in her veins, she must weave the threads of destiny to decide her own fate: Will she be the shield that protects her people or the curse that destroys them?

Thank you PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook.

DLJ NEVER DISAPPOINTS.

I just love being back in the world’s DLJ creates. I love her writing and story telling and have been chomping at the bit to get my hands on this book. No notes, I am in love with Freya and Bjorn.

I had some spice issues in book one and was [pleasantly] surprised that this book only had one true long open door scene? Not mad. I felt like the plot was really focused on the action and dynamics happening between Freya and the goddesses, warring clans and everything in-between. The last battle scene was incredibly well written and was intense waiting for those final moments.

I loved the relationship between Bjorn and Freya. It feels so fated and romantic and you can see the care flowing between them even when the [rightful] anger is set to boil. It’s a love that doesn’t give up and I loved any moment they got together.

Also the audiobook is fantastic (dual POV with two narrators). Highly recommend.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance:
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2 open door
  • Violence: high

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Rewind it Back (Windy City #5) by Liz Tomforde

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 491 pages
Author: Liz Tomforde
Publisher: Entangled/Self Published
Release Date: May 20th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

HALLIE

When I was eleven, my family moved next door to his.
When I was thirteen, he was my first crush.
When I was sixteen, we fell for each other.

And when I was nineteen, we broke each other’s hearts.

Six years later, I’ve landed an internship with a big-name interior designer in a new city. Unfortunately, that city just so happens to be the one he plays hockey for.

I thought Chicago was big enough to avoid him, until I get the surprise of a lifetime and unknowingly move in right next door. Even worse? The renovation project I’m assigned to in hopes of turning that internship into my full-time dream job…

It’s his house.

But how am I supposed to update his bachelor pad into a family home when we can’t even stand to be in the same room?

I may have loved Rio DeLuca once, but I’m not that same girl anymore.

RIO

I never thought I’d be the only single one left in my friend group. But after years of trying to find love, I’ve concluded it may not exist for me anymore.

That is, until I accidentally hire Hallie Hart to renovate my house and our jaded history has me rewinding memories I’ve kept secret for years.

You see, there’s something that my friends don’t know.

That connection I’ve been looking for since I moved to Chicago, that one person some search their entire lives to find . . . I had already found her when I was twelve years old.

And now the only girl I’ve ever loved is moving into the house next door.

Again.

Rewind It Back is the fifth and FINAL book in the sensational Windy City series which has gripped over a million readers across the world. But don’t worry if you’re new round here, you’ll still love it as a standalone!

MY LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDS.

This book was everything I could have hoped for AND MORE. I love that we got Rio’s book and that he got one of the most romantic second chance stories ever. And childhood friends to lovers? ELITE.

One of my favorite subtle things was about Rio’s character. There were some nuanced aspects to him that I was obsessed with and would love to see in more romances too. He’s one of the most down bad men I’ve ever read and I am here for it all.

And another moment I loved with my whole being was the COMMUNICATION. Hallie hit it out of the park and I could not be more in love with her character. There were some key scenes that had me cheering. This is how you write romance. Swoony, relatable, and with actual adult conversation.

The banter and heat was amazing. I loved the soft slow burn between Hallie and Rio. They are the definition of soul mates and the flashback chapters only added to that charm. I’m not usually a fan of flashbacks so I loved how these played a part. There were important and nuanced scenes that only added to my love for these two.

Absolutely in my feels over seeing all ten of these characters together one last time. The family scenes were everything and I will miss everyone so dang much.

BRB gotta go reread and highlight my book [again].

Overall audience notes:

  • Hockey Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3-4 open door
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: infidelity (side characters), a parent with cancer (does not die)

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC Book Review: Seas the Dating Coach (Wilks Beach #1) by Laura Langa

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 300 pages
Author: Laura Langa
Publisher: West East Publishing
Release Date: June 6th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Seizing the day is great—but snagging a dating coach is better.

All I wanted was to finally say hi to my longtime crush. Instead, I slipped on a puddle of coffee and landed in the arms of Finn Reynolds—the infuriatingly charming newcomer in town. When I tried again, I got utterly tongue-tied. Now I’m blushing, flustered, and somehow caught in Finn’s ridiculous proposition.

With plans to become our library’s next director, Finn has one major winning over the standoffish locals. If I agree to shift popular opinion in his favor, he’ll become my personal dating coach. I’m more fluent in fictional dukes than real-life flirting, but I’m also ready to step out of my shell.

As we navigate trial dates along the seaside and late-night pep talks, I start to feel more confident—more myself. And the way Finn looks at me? It’s impossible to ignore the sparks between us—or how sizzling those practice kisses are.

But Finn’s hiding a big secret—one that doesn’t stay buried for long. And the truth turns out to be a plot twist I definitely didn’t see coming.

Enjoy the playful banter and sizzling kisses of this dating coach, secret identity, small beach town, closed-door/kisses-only romance by grabbing your copy TODAY!

Seas the Dating Coach is the first book in the Wilks Beach Series, but can be read as a standalone.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

A SWEET READ.

For someone who is hit/miss on the dating coach trope I enjoyed this book a lot! I thought the banter and flirting were great and let me tell y’all, there were so many kissing scenes??? I love a a good heated kissing scene.

The relationship dynamics between Finn and Vivian were wonderful. I loved that they pushed each other to step outside comfort zones, lean on each other and find that strong bond of trust. I absolutely think these two have a HEA that surpasses the end of this book. There were multiple sweet and tender moments that made my heart squeeze.

I also really appreciated how the third act was handled as well as some of the background reveals between characters. Things could have easily gone sideways and blessed be, they did not. I love when characters communicate and trust the person they have gotten to know to explain themselves first before jumping to conclusions.

Laura Langa continues to deliver fantastic closed door romances.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Content warnings: a manipulative father

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Daughter of the Forest (Sevenwaters #1) by Juliet Marillier

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fantasy
Length: 672 pages
Author: Juliet Marillier
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: October 22nd, 2015
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A magnificent saga set in the Celtic twilight of 10th century Ireland, when myth was law and magic was a power of nature, brilliantly brought to life: the legendary story of an evil stepmother opposed by a seventh child.

The keep at Sevenwaters is a strange, remote place, guarded by silent men who slip through the woodlands clothed in grey, and keep their weapons sharp. Invaders roam outside: raiders from across the sea bent on destruction. But now there is also an invader inside the keep: the Lady Oonagh, a sorceress as fair as day, with a heart as black as night.

Oonagh captivates Lord Colum and his six sons, but she cannot enchant his daughter, Sorcha. Frustrated in her attempts to destroy the family, Oonagh binds the brothers with a spell only Sorcha can lift. If she fails, they will die.

When the raiders break through, Sorcha is taken captive. Soon she will find herself torn between her duty to break the curse and a growing, forbidden love for her captor.

BEAUTIFUL.

This book really grew on me. It started off pretty slow, but the further I got into it and the more I grasped the writing style the deeper the connection to the characters became. It’s a harrowing journey of love and loss and the strength it takes to move forward when everything is pushing you back.

I loved the historical elements and how they played in to the fantastical. I loved Sorcha. I ached for her at her lowest and cheered for her at her highest. The resilient nature she possessed was, at times, unfathomable. I loved how much she continually cared when others kept trying to make her hard.

There’s a subtle and soft romance that’s woven into this book too. I loved the intensity and sacredness of it and how the relationship came to be. The tension is palpable and all of the action scenes had my heart in my throat. I loved the balance of quiet and loud, I adored so many of the side characters and love the vibes of an older fantasy book.

I’m not sure if I’ll read the next? This was a standalone and the next book has a big time gap between the two. Maybe one day!

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: rape (on page and recounted), animal death, blood/gore depiction

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph