Book Review: Poisoned Ivy (Legacies #1) by Ava Rani

October 22, 2026January 13, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Contemporary Romance
Length: 398 pages
Author: Ava Rani
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: October 17th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Maxton Hall meets Rory Gilmore’s college years in this decadent college romance that equal parts passion, privilege and mystery.

Malena Amin is two people.

At home, she the respectable, rule-abiding daughter that her controlling family expects. At her prestigious Ivy-League University, she’s the risk-taking, adventurous woman that she wants to be. With parents who demand to know her location settings at all times, Malena uses a secret phone and secret bank account to make her double life possible.

But when her tutoring job falls through, she hits a snag in funding that double life. So, Malena sets her eyes on the prize money from a National feature-writing contest through the school paper. And when she intercepts an invitation to an ultra-exclusive secret society on campus-she has the perfect story.

She’ll attend, lay low, and get an inside look.

Unfortunately, she’s discovered early in the night by the notorious playboy and Hastings Media heir: Conrad Hastings.

The frustratingly attractive Conrad doesn’t aspire to anything other than a good time. But when his newspaper-magnate father discovers that he’s delinquent on work for the school paper, Conrad needs to complete it before his father can make good on an ultimatum. So, he agrees to let Malena into the secret society-temporarily- if she agrees to share a byline on the article they’ll write together. Conrad fulfils his obligations, and Malena gets the inside look she needs for the contest.

But, the two soon discover an art world mystery hidden between lavish parties and Gothic libraries. And more concerningly: a palpable spark between them. With new clues unraveling before them, mounting desire they can’t ignore and Malena’s web of lies threatening to collapse-their partnership becomes a lot more than a simple deal.

GO FOR THE AUDIO.

I’m a sucker if I see that an audiobook offers duet narration so here we are!! A new to me author and I totally think I’m going to read the next book in this series. I would love more college romance books so this hit the spot. I loved the yearning and the dash of mystery and that undeniable connection between Conrad and Malena.

I didn’t love a few innuendo based things about the book. It kind of felt forced and overdone. Same with the spice. Less is more for this story.

But I adored Conrad. He was just THERE in all the ways Malena needed. I really liked Malena’s friends too. What I wouldn’t do to have such a solid base like that. The setting with the amongst the wealthy with secret societies and such was different than my usual which made for a quick and enjoyable listen.

Overall audience notes:

New adult college romance
Language: moderate
Romance: 5ish open door
Violence: low
Content warnings: domestic abuse (Mom pinches and slaps FMC), mentions of infidelity (not between the main couple)

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Book Review: After We Fall (Shelter & Sky #2) by Deborah Clack

October 21, 2026October 18, 2026 GoodeyReads1 Comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Deborah Clack
Publisher: Haven
Release Date: October 6th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Self-sufficient Penelope Reid has her life completely mapped out—a necessity after surviving foster care. Now she’s on a mission to prove that she’s capable of managing a halfway house at Twelve Bluebells Ranch. The last thing she needs is hindrance from the charming Luke Granger, who asked her to dance three years ago, then disappeared before the music began.

Luke lives a nomadic lifestyle as a security specialist. He’s never found a reason to put down roots until he’s reunited with the bossy brunette and her generous heart. When vandalism strikes the ranch neighboring Twelve Bluebells, securing the area is just another gig for him before he hits the road. But as Luke and Penelope work alongside each other and care for the ranch’s halfway house residents, his restless heart finds reasons to stay, and her careful walls begin to crack.

When crisis threatens everything Penelope has built and tragedy pulls at Luke’s wandering heart, they must decide if it’s worth the risk to lower their guards for a love that could give them the home they’ve always longed for.

Deborah Clack crafts a story with poignant emotions and witty banter in this no-spice romance about taking risks and finding belonging in unexpected places.

Thank you to Haven Books for a gifted copy.

I’D READ ANOTHER.

This is my first book from Deborah Clack and I liked it enough that I would read another. Maybe I’ll go back and read the first book in this series??

I felt the chemistry between Penelope and Luke. I liked their interactions and the way Luke took care of Penelope and his overall protective nature. I thought the medical/brain trauma aspects were well written and brought a lot of good themes to the forefront.

I struggled with the FMC at times because she kept knowingly overstepping? I understood she cared but I thought it caused the focus of the plot to be turned away from Pen & Luke and what Pen needed to work through. I desperately wish we had Luke’s POV because I think the cowboy vibes would have been stronger and I would have understood the third act more (which I also was annoyed about).

There’s good found family moments and Pen does start to work through much of her trauma. I liked that she gave therapy a chance and found somewhere to genuinely belong. I thought that everything came together well and the necessary plot points were tied off.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was okay. I think she hindered the characterization for Penelope though (she came off more whiney).

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: moderate
Content warnings: physical assault, traumatic brain injury, child abuse, domestic abuse, gun violence

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Book Review: Falling for Keeps (Falling for Autumn) by Kasey Stockton

October 19, 2026September 30, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 314 pages
Author: Kasey Stockton
Publisher: Golden Owl Press
Release Date: September 2nd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He was supposed to be one kiss…not the neighbor across the street.

As the children’s librarian in Autumn Ridge, Emma spends her days surrounded by happy endings. But between restoring her old farmhouse, keeping her family together, and searching for a decent man in a very small town, her own romance feels permanently shelved.

Then one impulsive night at a bar, she kisses Carson Price—the popular guy she crushed on in high school.

For Emma, it’s a reckless little dream come true.

For Carson, it’s a fun night with a beautiful woman he never expects to see again.

Until the next morning… when he moves in across the street.

Newly divorced, cynical, and focused on raising his daughter while rebuilding the dental practice he just bought, Carson has no interest in love. Marriage? Never again. Romance? Absolutely not.

Friendship with his warm, bookish, unexpectedly tempting neighbor? That might be safe enough.

Except Emma has never been good at doing anything halfway. And the more he lets her into his life, the harder it is for either of them to pretend friendship is all this is.

She’s ready to fall. He’s determined not to. But in a small town, staying just friends might be the hardest thing of all.

WORTH THE READ.

I am not reading this entire series this go around because [time], but I’ve always enjoy Kasey’s books and wanted to give hers a go. And now it’s my current second favorite of the four I’ve read! I was locked in from the beginning and liked the re-meet-cute opening.

The only thing that bugged me was the not quite a love triangle nonsense. It didn’t feel necessary too me and Seth kept just popping up at the wrong times.

I did feel the intense chemistry between Emma and Carson. They had some genuine fireworks and I loved all the ways this small town brought them together. Seeing Carson get a wee bit jealous here and there was stellar and I loved the way he took care of his daughter and Emma. There’s a lot of really sweet blended family moments that I adored too.

Bursting with fall vibes and small town shenanigans I would definitely recommend this book if you’re wondering which ones are worth it.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Content warnings: loss of a parent (recounted), divorce (recounted), absent parent

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ARC Book Review: The Land That Binds Us (Marien Vineyard #1) by K. Sinko

October 15, 2026October 11, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★.75
Audience: Contemporary Romance + Magical Realism
Length: 232 pages
Author: K. Sinko
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 15th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The prodigal daughter returns to the land and the magic that betrayed her.

After her mother said goodbye on her death bed, Alana Marien fled New York and her family’s vineyard. Three years later, without a penny left to her name, she finds herself back at Seneca Lake, tending her family’s vines and attempting to make peace with her father and two sisters after everything fell apart. In her absence, without her and her mother’s guidance, the family hired Leo Calliet, a winemaker from France looking to escape a past of his own. He lives in the guest shed across the field, and is growing suspicious of the land and its secrets.

Her father has made it clear that he wants Leo around, but Alana is wary. The last time an outsider learned the truth, it ended in tragedy, and it was all her fault. She attempts to keep her distance, but when outside forces threaten the vineyard and the Marien family’s legacy, they need to work side by side to save the land that has evidently bound them together.

As their lives tangle together like grapes on a vine, Alana must decide if she trusts the magic to finally take care of her, or if she should give it all up one last time and run.

The Land That Binds Us is a retelling of The Prodigal Son meets Practical Magic, set on a magical vineyard in New York’s wine country.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

GOOD START.

I have been a fan of K. Sinko’s books since the beginning and even though I struggled with this one a touch I’m still looking forward to the other books following two more sisters (especially the next one !! ).

As someone who’s never had a drop of alcohol I think a lot of the wine conversations went over my head. It was interesting to learn some of the processes towards creating it, but was a hard connection for me to find.

This book does have a touch of magical realism and while usually I don’t love the addition, I thought it worked great here. I think it worked beautifully with the plot and really brought those autumn vibes. This book is perfect for that season.

What it comes down to is that this book is only 233 pages and I feel like a lot was left out. I wanted a stronger understanding of the background with Alana’s family. I wanted a longer, slower burn for the romance and just more. I felt tossed into a story without quite knowing where I was supposed to be looking most of the time.

Also I’m really obsessed with this cover.

Overall audience notes: