Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: March 2025

March 31, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

I finally see the sun! And I am no longer a husk. I made it through another wide range of books and survived getting all 15+ ARCs read and posted about on my pages!

Happy reading y’all.

Of Song and Darkness by Jessica Spruill
[ARC] A Dance of Lies (A Dance of Lies #1) by Brittney Arena
[Novella] En Route to Romance by Laura Langa
Dawn of Vengeance (The Droseran Saga #2) by Ronie Kendig
Magnolia Parks (Magnolia Parks Universe #1) by Jessa Hastings
[ARC/ALC] Beautiful Exiles (Sparrow Falls #4) by Catherine Cowles
Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave (Finlay Donovan #5) by Elle Cosimano
[ARC] Love Bites (Timber Creek #2) by Aimee Vance and B. Perkins
Oathbound (The Legendborn Cycle #3) by Tracy Deonn
[ARC] All’s Fair in Love and Blackmail by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
The Sword of Kaigan by M.L. Wang
It All Comes Back to You by Melissa Wiesner
[Reread] The Winner’s Curse (The Winner’s Trilogy #1) by Marie Rutkoski
If I Never Remember (Remember Me #1) by Meagan Williamson
Something Like Fate by Amy Lea
[ARC] Petals and Plot Twists (Only Magic in the Building) by Jenny Proctor
The Cupid Chronicles (Only Magic in the Building) by Courtney Walsh
[Reread] The Winner’s Crime (The Winner’s Trilogy #2) by Marie Rutkoski
[Reread] The Winner’s Kiss (The Winner’s Trilogy #3) by Marie Rutkoski
[ARC] A Time Traveler’s Masquerade (A McQuivey’s Costume Shop Romance) by Sian Ann Bessey
Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales (Emily Wilde #3) by Heather Fawcett
Things I Wish I Said by Gracie Graham
Wormwood Abbey (The Secrets of Ormdale #1) by Christina Baehr
The Lost Ticket by Freya Sampson
Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker
Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff
Empire of Shadows (Raiders of the Arcana #1) by Jacquelyn Benson
[ARC] What Blooms From Death (What Blooms From Death #1) by S.M. Gaither
[ARC/ALC] Lady Knight (The Diamonds #2) by Amalie Howard
Off the Hook (Never Harbor #1) by Julie Olivia
The Deathly Grimm (The Forest Grimm Duology #2) by Kathryn Purdie
Misfortune and Mr. Right (Only Magic in the Building) by Savannah Scott
[ARC] Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
Tomb of the Sun King (Raiders of the Arcana #2) by Jacquelyn Benson
[ARC] The Voice We Find (Fog Harbor #3) by Nicole Deese

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ARC Book Review: If Tomorrow Never Comes by Allison Ashley

March 31, 2025February 7, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 314 pages
Author: Allison Ashley
Publisher: Montlake
Release Date: April 1st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Fate connects two people in life-changing ways in a deeply romantic and emotional novel about hope and second chances by the author of Would You Rather and The Roommate Pact.

Uncertain of what tomorrow brings, Elliott Holland decides to live it up—on the eve of a stem cell transplant to treat her leukemia. It’s destiny when she crosses paths with handsome and charming Jamie Sullivan. The chemistry is magic. So is a beautiful evening that ends with a bittersweet kiss goodbye and no expectations of ever seeing each other again.

One year later, Elliott’s future looks good. Her cancer is in remission. Her career in graphic design is taking off. And she’s finally met Carly, the young woman whose stem cell donation gave Elliott a second chance at life. Then, in a twist of fate both blissful and unfair, she meets Carly’s boyfriend. It’s Jamie, the man Elliott kissed like it was her last day on earth. Neither of them has ever forgotten it.

Now, the most difficult decisions of all lie ahead. Whatever risks there are to the heart, one need wins to grab hold of everything that can make someone feel alive again.

Thank you to Spark Point Studio for the ARC.

SWEET AND TENDER.

I sat down with the intention of reading a few chapters and ended up reading the whole book. Which is two fold, I did enjoy the story, but I do think a few things were missing for me.

I loved how the story was tender. It’s a very true to life kind of read and the complexities of hard decisions and wondering which way you’re supposed to go. Trying to be passionate and following your dreams but having to deal with anxiety of some truly heavy things. The themes were some of my favorite parts of this book. It’s not a light book, but it does have hope of new beginnings within. Jamie and Elliot absolutely made me believe in the love at first sight and their immediate chemistry was easy to fall in love with.

I do think it was a little too slice of life for me. I was missing a romantic edge to it that would sweep me away. Which I know can go both ways for different readers. This is just where I felt it was losing some steam during the middle of the book.

I absolutely loved the friendships and support that were woven throughout for both Elliot and Jamie. A loving sister, an incredible best friend and parents, and a few others that really made this book beautiful.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: mild
Romance: fade to black
Content Warnings: themes of cancer (specifically leukemia) throughout

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ARC Book Review: All’s Fair in Love and Blackmail by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

March 30, 2025March 10, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 291 pages
Author: Gracie Ruth Mitchell
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 21st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Once upon a time…I fell for my brother’s best friend.

I’m not proud of myself, okay? But these things happen when you’re young and impressionable. The point is, I got over it. I moved on.

Except now Felix Caine is back—back with his easy smile and sparkling eyes, and he’s making me an offer I (literally) can’t refuse. He needs help with a romantic article he’s writing, and he won’t take no for an answer.

The more time I spend with him, the more I remember all the reasons I fell for him before. But he’s not just my brother’s flirtatious friend this time. He’s my friend, too. And though he says he’ll never fall in love, I sometimes see his gaze linger with more than just friendship.

There’s a spark between us that wasn’t there before. And I don’t want to have any regrets in this relationship. But what’s a girl to do when the only way to follow her heart…is to give it away?

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

THIS WAS CUTE!

GRM’s books are always delightfully filled with good banter. I loved the back and forth between Felix and Indy. It’s charming and has a 2000’s romcom vibe that I can get behind.

I thought the plot was simple and effective. I loved seeing all of the little romantic places around Lucky and how Felix and India were out of their depth trying to fight feelings for each other. The little sweet moments they had to connect were swoony.

Sometimes the side characters took over the story a bit (aka her sisters) and I wish there had been more swoon, but those are minor things in an otherwise lovely book.

I adore being in GRM’s plots and schemes. And this made me smile and brought some joy into my week. Felix’s charming, flirtatious ways were my favorite and I loved seeing India get back on her motorcycle and go after the things she wanted in life. The themes woven in were exactly what this story needed.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low

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ARC Book Review: Petals and Plot Twists (Only Magic in the Building) by Jenny Proctor

March 19, 2025March 16, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance + Magical Realism
Length: 260 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 19th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Unlucky in love Sophie Stewart might need a miracle to find her one true love…or maybe just a little bit of magic.

Sophie Stewart knows a lot about plants. The rooftop garden she tends and beautifies is ample evidence of that. What she doesn’t know is anything about love, not with her long track record of always picking the wrong guy.

But then a mystery flower pops up in her garden—a flower that only blooms in the presence of true love.

Never one to shy away from a little magic, Sophie convinces her best friend, Peter, to help her use the flower to find her soulmate.

But after an unexpected kiss with the one man she never thought she’d fall for, Sophie starts to wonder if she’s looking for love in all the wrong places.

The flower has a plan, but only Sophie can decide if she wants to trust it or take fate into her own hands.

Best friends turn to lovers in this heartwarming romantic comedy about love and choice and making your own destiny.

Petals and Plot Twists is a standalone book in the Only Magic in the Building series. These closed door, whimsical romance books are all set in the same historic building, which has a habit of playing matchmaker with its residents. There are light magical elements, but no spells, shifters, or dark magic of any kind.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

A SWEET STORY.

I enjoyed this one y’all! It’s a sweet friends to lovers. Bonus points for not having flashback chapters. I enjoyed both Sophie and Peter for the main characters. Peter was a cinnamon roll soul who I just wanted to see be happy and Sophie had a lot of character growth to conquer, and bless her, she got there.

I didn’t love that the whimsical aspect of this book (the love flower) seemed to create distance between the couple rather than brining them together. I appreciated how it was handled during the third act and the conclusion, I just wish there had been a less miscommunication about it for the rest of the book.

The kissing moments were FANTASTIC. Jenny Proctor writes some of the swooniest kisses and I loved getting those moments. There’s an easy rapport between Peter and Sophie that lends to how long they have been friends and I loved seeing Sophie finally realize what has been in front of her for so long.

Overall audience notes: