Book Review: Play for Me by Libby Hubscher

August 30, 2024July 19, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Libby Hubscher
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: June 20th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When her new job takes her to a New England boarding school, she’s surprised to find her roommates are all men – including a very handsome one who plays by his own rules.

Sophie Doyle has her dream job as the head athletic trainer for her favorite baseball team (go Red Sox!), a handsome boyfriend, and easy access to the finest cannoli in Boston. When she loses all three and the World Series to boot, she’s forced to apply for the open trainer position at an arts-focused boarding school in New Hampshire. The only available room is a glorified closet in an apartment with three guys: Jonas Voss, the aloof and attractive orchestra teacher, and his two rambunctious roommates.

Sophie knows that training a bunch of privileged high school kids whose idea of a play is A Chorus Line instead of a walk-off homer is going to be a big change from the pro athletes she’s used to. She wasn’t expecting that these students would have big-time talent and even bigger-time problems. Sophie has troubles of her own—Jonas is a full-fledged grump who clearly doesn’t want her near him or the precious piano he never plays.

With sunny optimism, Sophie sets out to win over Jonas and help the kids she’s growing attached to. But when her relationship with Jonas moves to the major leagues and plans change at the end of the season, they have to choose whether they are playing for keeps.

NOTHING MAJOR.

I will first say though that I am very well versed in athletic training and I was going to have a big issue if this was misconstrued. BUT WHAT DO YOU KNOW. It wasn’t. And I super appreciate the author clearly being knowledgeable about the subject. Added another level of enjoyment for me.

The romance grew on me. Though I felt overall a bit meh towards it. I don’t know, some kind of lack of chemistry? I loved that there were great conversations and some really sweet moments and I just wish I could pin down that last missing component. I think the entire book needed MORE romance. It read a bit like women’s fiction (which is fine, but not what I was after when I picked this up).

I adored all of the side characters from the other teachers, to the students, and especially Sophie’s Dad. There’s cute and heartfelt moments mixed in with the pain of an aging parent and losing the job you loved. I thought the ending wrapped things up well and I was smitten with the sweetness.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: a little strong
Romance: closed door
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: a Dad with Parkinson’s, allusions towards an abusive father

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Book Review: The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh

August 29, 2024July 15, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fiction + Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Courtney Walsh
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: July 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A near-death experience catapults workaholic junior editor Kelsey Worthington into changing her life–one yes at a time.

Kelsey Worthington always dreamed of being a writer, but she’s settled into a routine of helping other people tell their stories in her job as a junior editor. She doesn’t go outside of her comfort zone. Her relationships are safe. Her job is secure. Her existence is stable. And she’s great with that.

And then, the accident.

While she’s in the hospital overnight, she meets an older woman named Georgina Tate–a glass-ceiling-shattering, wildly successful businesswoman. Georgina sacrificed everything to become the woman she is today, but now, with a pair of failing kidneys and only a handful of months left to live, Georgina is forced to come face-to-face with her regrets. Kelsey is forced to reckon with her own list of “things I’ll do someday,” and she starts to ask a simple but life-changing What if I said yes to all the things I normally say no to? And The Yes Plan is born.

It takes some convincing, but Georgina finally agrees to go along with Kelsey on her Summer of Yes adventures. The two of them set off to see what might be out there waiting for them if they simply open themselves up to it. Together, they say yes to whatever comes their way–a whole day being tourists in their own New York City, dinner with strangers, a convertible that is far from practical but so much fun. But when Kelsey springs a surprise visit to Georgina’s son Hayden and Georgina’s ex-husband (who is not so much of an ex), the older woman is less than thrilled. But this is where the true journey begins.

Two stories of love, forgiveness, regret, romance, and finding a way to live a fearless life intertwine as these two women make an indelible impression on each other. And it all starts with a simple “yes.”

WHAT A GEM.

I loved this. As someone who struggles with the same fears and issues surrounding saying “yes” more often, this felt like a book written for me. I loved Kelsey’s journey. I loved seeing her find herself and choosing to say more often enough to realize all of the little things she has been missing (and of course, finding love too!!).

And I really loved Georgina. Her story line brought me to some misty eyed moments and I loved that seeing her growth and she learned some hard truths and took the best step forward to finally reconnect with her family.

I liked the audiobook. I thought the romance was absolutely adorable. It was sweet read that had a lot of wonderful themes that are easy to connect to and this is a new favorite!

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Fiction + Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Content Warnings: a character with kidney disease

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ARC Book Review: Runaway Bride and Prejudice (Appies) by Emma St. Clair

August 28, 2024August 27, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 28th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

There’s one rule smart hockey players know not to never, and I mean, NEVER date the coach’s daughter. But no one ever accused Van of being smart.

When the mouthy bad boy of the Appies catches the groom cheating on the coach’s daughter, he can’t just walk away. Not on her wedding day.

Maybe his own relationships are casual, but he would never cheat and never treat wedding vows so carelessly. Not after he and his sisters watched their divorced parents cycle through marriage after marriage.

But forcing the groom to come clean sets off a chain reaction Van couldn’t have expected.

Ending with a black eye, an unexpected trip to Florida with one runaway bride, and a secret bargain struck with Coach.

A bargain that may just jeopardize the very real and very inconvenient feelings he’s developing for the very last person he ever should.

Runaway Bride and Prejudice is a closed door hockey romance featuring the team bad boy and a very good girl who also happens to be the coach’s daughter. It’s a sports romance with all the sizzle and swoon, but no spice.

This is part of the Appies hockey romance series, featuring Just Don’t Fall, Absolutely Not in Love, a Groom of One’s Own, and Romancing the Grump. These books are standalones but may be best read in order.

Thank you to the author for an eARC!

HI, I LOVE THIS BOOK.

It was absolutely everything I could have hoped for when I was thinking about Van’s story. I devoured this read. And I feel like it’s hard to even put my words down because I don’t want to spoil a thing about this book. This is truly a best read blind book and trust me, it will DELIVER.

I loved getting Van’s perspective. A character I have been waiting to know and understand better. I loved the layers and journey. He’s such a charming man and I could not get enough of his heated and swoony actions. His love language is physical touch, and you. can. tell. Also I got a jersey moment which is one of my favorite tropes in sports romance so of course I went feral when that happened.

And I liked Amelia a lot too. She was slightly frustrating but in that way that is totally relatable and had me sitting there going, yeah I’d respond the same way too. I loved that she found her courage and voice in the end and got a chance to live her love story.

I’m always obsessed with any interactions involving the Appies and the text threads were *chefs kiss*. One of my forever favorite fictional hockey teams. I LOVED Van’s sisters too. They were the perfect balance for him and I loved seeing them take Amelia into their family.

I honestly could just keep going. I loved this book. It’s always hard for me to choose a favorite Emma St. Clair book but this definitely ranks up there.

Overall audience notes:

Sports Romance
Language: low
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Content Warnings: physical altercations, loss of a parent (recounted from past), divorce, cheating (not between the two leads in any way)

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Book Review: Summer Tease (Falling for Summer) by Martha Keyes

August 25, 2024July 11, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 354 pages
Author: Martha Keyes
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 10th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Falling for a Palmer would be the ultimate crime

Wild horses couldn’t drag me back to the small island where I grew up, but you know what can? Making sure the Palmer family–aka the worst neighbors ever–show appropriate respect to the newest resident of their retirement center: my grandma.

But as soon as Grams moves in, her shenanigans put her at risk of being kicked out. Since she’s set on staying in Sunset Harbor until her last breath and there’s no way I’m staying on this nightmare island to take care of her, that’s just not an option.

Enter Beau Palmer, the infuriatingly charming local cop who’s got the connections to keep Grams right where she needs to be and help me get out of Dodge sooner. His price? Use my PR savvy to convince the town council into making his position full-time. That way, he can help his beloved island put the Sawyer/Palmer drama in the past.

But the drama isn’t behind us. In fact, it’s right in front of me, wearing a police badge and a smirk that’s really started disturbing my peace.

Summer Tease is a small-town island romantic comedy with the perfect amount of swoon and none of the explicit scenes or language.

GREW ON ME.

I love a charming guy and Beau fit that bill to a T. I loved his demeanor and soft joy that he brought to the story. It contrasted well with Gemma and they had some great chemistry. There were a few truly standout scenes that I was hoping to get and they delivered.

The Grams plot line bugged me a little because I felt like it kept over shadowing the romantic aspects. I was tired of Gemma getting calls that Grams had caused some other kind of chaos and when the secrets came to light I was let down.

There’s good flirty banter, and like all of the other books in this series, I adore the summer vibes. I feel swept away to this island and love seeing different pieces of it in each book.

Overall audience notes: