Book Review: Wild and Wrangled (Rebel Blue Ranch #4) by Lyla Sage

September 7, 2025April 22, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Lyla Sage
Publisher: Dial Press
Release Date: April 15th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s the one that got away. He’s the one that never let her go.

From the bestselling author of Done and Dusted and Swift and Saddled, the next book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, a small town romance in which past lovers get a second chance to rediscover what they lost.

Camille Ashwood had always loved a plan. Her latest was her best yet. She was going to get married so she could secure her daughter’s future, get her overbearing parents off her back, and finally start building her own life in small town Meadowlark, Wyoming. Easy, right?

But when her groom doesn’t show up to the wedding, Cam’s life is turned upside down—she doesn’t even have a place to live. That is, until she finds out the house she’s loved since high school is available to rent. There’s only one problem: the neighbor.

Dusty Tucker has spent nearly all of his adult life running. Running from what, though? More like who: Cam Ashwood. But ever since he returned home last year, the girl who was his first, well, everything has become a woman seemingly determined to keep him at arm’s length. And he was okay with that—at least, that’s what he kept telling himself. She was getting married, after all. But now she’s single and living next door. Dusty wants to show her that they can be friends, and that he can stay put.

Despite her best attempts to stay far away from Dusty Tucker, Cam realizes that being close to him is like slipping on her favorite jeans. Easy. Comfortable. That is until past wounds start to open and feelings—both old and new—wreak havoc. Nearly ten years after they first met, Dusty and Cam begin to wonder if their first love can also be their last. And this time, will it be forever?

I AM BEREFT.

OH how I wanted to love this final book in the Rebel Blue ranch series. And there were many good pieces too it!! But gosh dang it, some things made me throw my phone too.

The good is all about this family. I love this whole ranch, seeing all of my favorite characters, having the hard conversations and the loving ones too. There’s a lot of healing I feel when I read those scenes. And I did like some pieces of the romance too. I can admit to that.

Our dear FMC, Cam drove me up a wall. I felt that the inner monologue about her parent issues and other such things were on a constant loop and made the story feel lacking in the plot. Some of the flashbacks with Dusty were really sweet which made me all the more nervous to find out what caused the initial rupture. AND LO AND BEHOLD. It made me cranky, so very cranky. I think this third act is about as bad as miscommunication (honestly it falls under the umbrella).

Not all I was hoping for, but I still look forward to future Sage books.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: 3-4 open door
Violence: low
Content warnings: emotionally manipulative parents

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Book Review: Not You Again by Ingrid Pierce

September 1, 2025August 7, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Ingrid Pierce
Publisher: Alcove Press
Release Date: July 9th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Wedding gown designer Andie Dresser is hanging on by a thread. Gaining a following on TikTok for her one-of-a-kind fairytale gowns has earned her a spot at Atlanta’s Fashion Week, but the time and upfront costs to design a full bridal line have stretched her to her limit. When her best friend suggests she sign up for a reality show with a potential $100,000 prize, she realizes the money could allow her to hire some desperately needed help. All she needs to do is marry a stranger—sight unseen—and opt for divorce at the end of filming. No big deal, right?

Architect Kit Watson just returned to Atlanta to help his loving but stubborn mother through a health crisis. However, she’ll only accept his help if he agrees to settle down, insisting he sign up for the matchmaking reality show that’s filming in the area. Willing to do anything for his mom, he finds himself at the altar—on camera—staring at Andie, the woman he abruptly left without explanation seven years ago.

In the blink of an eye, Kit and Andie tie the knot on TV for the world to see. Now, they must live together for eight weeks with cameras following their every move. But as the newlyweds reconnect and sift through their past, old feelings females spark…and old grudges cast a shadow over their “marriage”. With decision day looming, Andie must decide if forgiving Kit for his mistakes—past and present—is worth more than her dreams of success.

MOST FRUSTRATING MMC.

I rarely have any big issues with the MMC/love interest in a romance book. But Kit became increasingly more frustrating as the pages went on and I wanted to shake some sense into him so badly. The third act had me banging my head against a wall and I honestly felt bad for Andie having to jump through so many hoops for him. How are we letting history repeat itself???

I loved the plot set up though. As someone who used to watch Married at First Sight, I thought this was a fun play on that show and I liked that it was a second chance romance without flashback chapters too.

Things started off well, but ultimately fell a part. The spice felt kind of forced too. I don’t know that I’ll pick up another book by this author.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: 3+ open door
Content Warnings: loss of a parent (recounted), a mother with breast cancer

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: August 2025

August 31, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON. But also, here are all the books I read in August! I’m still on track to hit 400, just need to stay focused.

[ARC/ALC] For the Record by Emma Lord
[ARC] The Legacy of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #5) by Nicole Platania
The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam (Hart and Mercy #3) by Megan Bannen
In the Veins of Drowning (The Siren Mage #1) by Kalie Cassidy
The Americana Playbook by Cathryn Carter
[Novella] Devotion of the Heart by Nichole Van
Problematic Summer Romance (Not in Love #2) by Ali Hazelwood
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
[ARC] You & Me, For Real by Hayley Elliot
[ARC] A Sea View Christmas (On Devonshire Shores #3.5) by Julie Klassen
The Jasad Crown (The Scorched Throne #2) by Sara Hashem
Isles of the Emberdark (Cosmere) by Brandon Sanderson
A Promise So Bold and Broken (Compelling Fates Saga #2) by Sophia St. Germain
Glorious Rivals (The Grandest Game #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
A Summer Without You by Caitlin Moss
Accomplice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain #3) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Between These Broken Hearts (These Hollow Vows #4) by Lexi Ryan
Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer
Deadwood (Secrets of the Serpentine #1) by Karley Brenna
Wrath of the Dragons (Fear the Flames #2) by Olivia Rose Darling
A Beguiled Gentleman (The Bradley Brothers #1) by Audra Wells
Immortal Consequences (The Souls of Blackwood Academy #1) by I.V. Marie
One More Made Up Love Song (Midnight Rush #2) by Jenny Proctor
[ARC/ALC] Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson
[ARC/ALC] If Looks Could Kill by Julie Berry
The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold (Blonde Identity #2) by Ally Carter
[ARC] Darkness Births the Stars by Sarah Lee Wohn
[ARC/ALC] Wild Reverence (Letters of Enchantment #0) by Rebecca Ross
[ARC] Stuck With You (Cal’s Garage #1) by Stacy Williams
The Dragon Wakes with Thunder (The Night Ends with Fire #2) by K.X. Song
Love is a War Song by Danica Nava
A Love Most Fatal (Morelli Family #1) by Kath Richards
[Novella] A Churn in the Virtual Society (Into the Churn #3.5) by Hayley Reese Chow
[ARC] What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller

ARC Book Review: One More Made Up Love Song (Midnight Rush #2) by Jenny Proctor

August 31, 2025August 22, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 341 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 29th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Rule #1: Do not fall in love with your very famous boss. Rule #2: See Rule #1.

As the personal assistant of rockstar Freddie Ridgefield, Ivy Conway knows most women would love to have her job. It definitely has its perks. She gets to travel, the pay is great, and she’s among the first to hear Freddie’s new music.

The only problem? When she got the job, Ivy promised herself she would never fall in love with her boss. And it’s taking everything in her to stay true to her word.

Then Freddie kisses Ivy—an impulsive move to save himself from a little bit of bad press—and everything changes. Now, the whole world thinks they’re in love.

Even more Ivy could swear Freddie felt the same fireworks she did when he pressed his lips to hers.

What starts as an accidental publicity stunt quickly turns into something more, but fame makes everything more complicated. As Freddie’s spotlight grows to include her—and her family—Ivy starts to wonder if the life Freddie can offer her is worth the life she’ll give up. And how she’ll ever survive without him if it isn’t.

One More Made Up Love Song is a fake-dating rockstar romance with all the crackling chemistry and tension you want in a closed-door romcom. Perfect for fans of romance with a little less heat.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

MY NEWEST OBESSION.

GOSH I LOVED IT SO MUCH. This was exactly what friends to lovers, boss x assistant trope romance that I WAAAAAANT. The subtle moments about took me out because it was beautifully nuanced and left this sense of longing and yearning that I CRAVE. CRAVE Y’ALL. Bring back these kind of romances and I will be a happy camper forever.

I can’t even begin to list all of the scenes I loved. The pining was intense and I could not get enough of the glances and touches and the KISSES THAT LIT MY KINDLE ON FIRE.

And I really appreciated the strong friendships for both Freddie and Ivy. There’s something magical about the side characters adding genuine connection to the story that makes it even better. One of my new favorites from Jenny Proctor.

Overall audience notes: