ARC Book Review: If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair

August 5, 2025July 25, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: August 5th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this enemies-to-lovers romance, school nurse Josie and her brother’s best friend–hockey player Wyatt Jacobs–are tricked into spending a summer together that’s anything but smooth sailing.

When Josie’s brother sends her to a random address for their (sometimes) annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, she finds neither siblings nor extravaganzas. Instead, ends up at a run-down cottage on the Northern Neck of Virginia occupied by a hockey player she knows and loathes.

A hockey player who isn’t just one of her sports agent brother’s clients. He’s also his best friend. And Josie’s sworn enemy.

Oh–and her brother wants Josie to help Wyatt recover from his injury.

Dragging grumpy hockey players to physical therapy is a far cry from bandaging skinned knees, but for the price her brother offers to pay, Josie is willing to try.

Even if it means sharing what she dubs the quaint little murder cottage with Wyatt.

Begrudgingly, Josie starts to see a little more of the man behind the grumpy exterior. And when she finds out he was supposed to sail the Intracoastal Waterway south to Savannah scattering his uncle’s ashes, Josie surprises even herself by offering to be Wyatt’s first mate.

Smooth sailing is nowhere to be found, and Josie begins to wonder if they’ll be able to make it home without killing–or kissing?–each other.

And yet, the longer they share cramped quarters and canned food, the more of Wyatt’s layers she peels back until Josie realizes she misunderstood him, their shared history, and perhaps herself as well.

Thank you to Emma St. Clair for the gifted ARC.

OH HOW SOFT.

You know what we all need sometimes? A soft and sweet summer romance that just gives you the warm fuzzies. I adored this story. It was an easy read and I loved watching these two souls who were so oblivious to their love work it out sailing together. And did I mention that Wyatt is down bad? BECAUSE HE IS AND I LOVE IT. There were so many small moments that truly added to their love story. I love the quiet actions. Those always speak the loudest and make my heart burst.

I loved the few cameos from some of my favorite Appies and the growth that Wyatt showed throughout. I love watching grumpy characters soften and have some core realizations about their life. Josie was steadfast in taking care of Wyatt and I can’t tell y’all how many scenes I was giddy over. Your friendly reminder that closed door romances can bring the heat.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Content warnings: grief depiction, loss of a loved one (recounted)

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Book Review: Beautifully Broken Spirit (Sutter Lake #3) by Catherine Cowles

August 4, 2025July 5, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 336 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 22nd, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s always been his safe place to land.

Jensen has shared a special bond with Tuck for as long as she can remember, their friendship a language that never needed words. But as life threw her one curveball after another, that secret language turned to stony silence.

He’s always been her protector.

Tuck has looked out for Jensen since the day she was born. As his best friend’s little sister, he’s tried to keep her firmly in the friend category. But she’s always been more.

All it takes is one moment of weakness to send Tuck’s fiercely guarded walls crumbling to the ground. As a new fire burns between them, someone watches. Someone who doesn’t like the new life Jensen’s building for herself.

And they’ll stop at nothing to keep her in the dark.

ANOTHER GOOD ONE.

My quest to finish Catherine Cowles backlist continues with this gem! I liked this book a lot. It was another one I could binge in a day and I loved diving back into this world. I loved all of the horse content, the small town vibes, and all of these characters.

The one little thing I struggled with was the MMC calling martyr on their relationship. It’s one of my least favorite ways to handle a third act.

I did like the suspense of this one and watching Jensen continually battle back through tough circumstances. I loved the single mom and childhood friends to lovers tropes. It was executed so well. Lots of swoon and romantic tension. I’m excited to continue this series!

Overall audience notes:

Romantic Suspense
Language: moderate
Romance: 3 open door
Violence: moderate
Content Warnings: murder of animals, attempted murder, near death experiences, gun violence, kidnapping, extortion

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: July 2025

July 31, 2025July 30, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

SHUT UP ABOUT THE SUN.

I will never stop using that quote. This is the lowest amount of reading I have done in a long time! And that’s okay. There was a LOOOOT of life happening and I needed to focus on that. Luckily the majority of these books were great. Some reviews are out now and others will be out soon!

Sunrise Nights by Jeff Zentner
Into the Abyss (Into the Churn #3) by Hayley Reese Chow
The Nightblood Prince by Molly X. Chang
[ARC] Wes and Addie Had Their Chance by Bethany Turner
[ARC] All’s Well that Friends Well (Lucky in Love #2) by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
Heir of Storms (Storm Weaver #1) by Lauren Hamilton Murray
Let’s Make a Scene (Theo & Cynthie #2) by Laura Wood
A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly (Compelling Fates Saga #1) by Sophia St. Germain
Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston
[ARC] Of the Curse of the Crown (The Veridian Empire #2) by V.B. Lacey
[ARC/ALC] Chasing Shelter (Sparrow Falls #5) by Catherine Cowles
Into the Dark (Magnolia Parks Universe #5) by Jessa Hastings
[ALC] The Enchanted Greenhouse (Spellshop #2) by Sarah Beth Durst
[ARC] A Tartan Love (The Earls of Cairnfell #1) by Nichole Van
[ARC/ALC] Steel & Spellfire by Laura E. Weymouth
Wicked Sea and Sky (Curse of Ever #1) by Jenna Collett
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy (Dearly Beloathed #1) by Brigitte Knightley
Pros Don’t (Fall in Love #4) by Leah Dobrinska
Lore of the Tides (Lore of the Wilds #2) by Analeigh Sbrana
[ARC] If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair
[ARC/ALC] Soulmatch by Rebecca Danzenbaker
Family of Liars (We Were Liars #2) by E. Lockhart
[Reread] Gilded Serpent (Dark Shores #3) by Danielle L. Jensen
Soulgazer (The Magpie and the Wolf Duology #1) by Maggie Rapier
Wandering Wild by Lynette Noni
Trial of Bronze and Blood (Bronze and Blood Saga #1) by M.K. Deoradhan
Keeper of the Lost Cities The Graphic Novel: Part 1 by Shannon Messenger
Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge
[ARC/ALC] Falling Into Place by Allison Ashley
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

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Book Review: Where We Started (Stone Riders MC #1) by Ashley Munoz

July 30, 2025June 27, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 316 pages
Author: Ashley Munoz
Publisher: Zeta Life
Release Date: November 3rd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Usually, watching a notorious biker club mourn the loss of their beloved president would be a dangerous choice. Ten out of ten do not recommend. Unless of course, you’re family. I didn’t really consider myself part of my father’s legacy, until I found out what he left behind in his will. Property, ten acres to be exact, which included the headquarters for his beloved motorcycle club. I had no idea that by accepting the terms of my inheritance it would thrust me into a battle with the new club president. Wesley Ryan was unfathomably handsome, menacing and formidable in every way. But his derision toward me only made me cling that much tighter to my birthright. That is until he decided to play dirty. Wes didn’t just taunt me by bringing up our past, he wanted us to go all the way back to where we started. Back to when we were nine and I was just the girl next door who snuck into his treehouse. Back to when he’d fight the boys who made me cry. Back to when he first kissed me and stole my heart. I had to remember Wes wanted to claim my father’s property, not me. I walked away once, I just had to prove I was strong enough to do it again.

THIS WAS A FIRST.

I’ve never read a motorcycle romance before, but it’s been a sub genre I’ve really wanted to try. And I did! The core of this story was super good. I loved the angry tension in this second chance romance. Wesley and Callie have off the charts chemistry and I loved their dynamic. There’s a lot of great alpha guy/protective moments too. The added suspense was fantastic.

As a personal preference, this was just too much spice for me. That was the only thing that really took me out of the story because I had to skip forward often in the audiobook. I did love how gritty and dangerous this story felt. It was a nice palate cleaner type of read from the lighter romances I’m also a fan of.

Overall audience notes: