ARC Book Review: Bring Me Home by Ashley Weston

September 19, 2024August 27, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 409 pages
Author: Ashley Weston
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 24th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sometimes the unexpected is just what we’re looking for…
Jasper Mason
I should have known something wasn’t right the moment I was told someone was coming to see a piece of the land. Our land.
Marlow’s Boys Ranch started as a dream, but easily became reality. That reality was as tranquil and peaceful as a sunset.
Until she got out of the car.
Mia Evans, as I live and breathe. It’s been fourteen years since I’ve seen her, and not a day has passed that I haven’t thought of her, or wished things could be different.
And now she’s here to take more than just a tiny slice of land. She’s the mom of one of our own.
The signs were there, I should have seen it. Maybe I didn’t want to. But now, I can’t have a moment of peace with her constantly around, winning over every person here.
How will I ever survive her leaving for a second time?
I can’t. I won’t. I have to keep her at arm’s length until she leaves. Then, and only then, can I go back to my peaceful life. Just the way I like it.

Mia Evans
I’m finally free of the disaster of my marriage, and ready to find the freedom for my son and myself. Question is, at what cost?
Before I dropped my boy off ten months ago, I never thought I’d be back here. It’s been since the summer before freshman year of college. The summer I fell in love. And the summer I got my heart broken for the first time.
My son is safe, and that’s all that matters to me. At least, I thought so.
When I open the car door, I know what I’ll find. I know Jasper works here and I know he’s been providing a roof over my son’s head with no explanation.
What I don’t know. . . is how I will react to being near him again after all this time. Opening up our past is the last thing I need. Though my heart is saying differently.
Bring Me Home is all about love, heartbreak, healing, and most importantly, second chances.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

GOOD BONES.

Once upon a time I DNF this author’s first book, but found myself saying yes to reading an ARC of this because I was happy to give this story a chance. I am currently in my cowboy era and was intrigued by this second chance romance. There are a lot of good bones and themes here. Of forgiveness, and the strength to carry on. Making hard choices and to let go. And even getting a chance to fall in love all over again.

I loved the ranch setting and all of the boys. Some of the dialogue choices (like “bruh” and “cap”) just didn’t feel necessary even if that’s how some teens speak today. It’s like in a book I want to disassociate from that? They were sweet guys though and I loved the idea of a boys ranch to help them find a safe space to be and grow.

There’s plenty of good swoony moments between Jasper and Mia. I loved that they got to know each other again and had the right kind of arguments and conversations to get there. It’s the kind of non-linear story I enjoy most. The touch of suspense was good and I liked how the ending brought everything together.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: low
Romance: closed door
Violence: moderate
Content Warnings: kidnapping, domestic violence (recounted; physical, emotional, verbal)

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Book Review: Swift and Saddled (Rebel Blue Ranch #2) by Lyla Sage

September 15, 2024May 10, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Lyla Sage
Publisher: Dial Press
Release Date: March 5th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s the city girl who refuses to be saddled with a man. He’s the cowboy who wants her anyway.

The last thing Ada Hart needs is a man to take care of her. Not anymore. After failing out of her interior design program and the disaster that was her short-lived marriage, Ada clawed her way up from her rock bottom. Now, the only person she trusts is herself, and that has gotten her further than ever before. She has her own business, and one of the largest ranches in Wyoming just hired her for the most important project of her career.

When Ada arrives in Meadowlark, she finds herself in a dive bar where she can’t seem to shake the eyes of a handsome cowboy. When she leads him to the back of the bar, he leaves her with a kiss that most people can only fantasize about. She almost regrets that she’ll never see him again . . . except it turns out he’s her new boss.

Weston Ryder is a happy guy. Even happier now that the mystery woman from the bar is the interior designer for his dream project on his family’s ranch. He feels like he hit the jackpot. It’s too bad she wants absolutely nothing to do with him outside of work. Ada is convinced the pull she feels toward Wes will go away, but Wes can’t stop thinking about her. Even though walls are coming down around Rebel Blue, Ada’s walls are firmly in place.

Can they make it through this project without giving in? Or will they both put their dreams on the line for a chance at love?

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH.

Okay, I’m officially a fan of this series. The depression rep for Weston made me cry. I felt so scene by that and it deserves a lot of love for that alone. I feel like the overall story had a little more substance that book one and the romance worked well for me.

I adored Ada and Weston. And I am actually smitten with how the third act situation was handled. It came across much more realistic rather than dramatic and loved watching it play out. This is one of the few times I wish I had been physically reading rather than the audiobook (the audio was great!!) because I had so many lines I wanted to highlight.

I’m also very much attached this family now and look forward to the next book in this series!

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: 3+ open door

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ARC Book Review: Sunday Supper by K. Sinko

September 12, 2024September 3, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 321 pages
Author: K. Sinko
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 12th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s fall in New York, arguably the most beautiful time to be in the city, but Bella Russo doesn’t care. After experiencing the unthinkable three times in a row, she gave up on everything, and her husband packed his bags and left.

Thick in the fog of her disappointment, Bella takes a series of DNA tests to find out what’s wrong with her. Little did she know one of her tests would reveal a dark family truth: her grandfather had a secret family, and she has an uncle she never met.

Even though Bella spends every Sunday supper with her family at her Nonna’s deli in Little Italy—famously known for her iconic meatballs—they never told her the truth. Could she trust them to tell her now?

When she researches her uncle, she finds out he owns several restaurants, so she visits one. Her uncle isn’t there, but instead, she ends up butting heads with the executive chef Wyatt Henderson. He’s a little too pretentious for Bella’s taste, and yet, Wyatt is obviously close with the uncle she never knew. Before she fully comprehends what she’s doing, she befriends Wyatt to get her answers.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

SMITTEN.

Oh this book took over my evening. And then suddenly it was 1 AM and I was puddle finishing this beautiful story. I loved the way two difficult topics (mentioned in the content warnings below) were handled. The honest and hard conversations were had with raw human emotion and a clear strength of soul.

And let me tell you, this book screams FALL IN NEW YORK. I’ve honestly never had big designs on going to NY but this book might have just convinced me. The setting is beautifully landscaped and had me wishing I was wearing a sweater right now.

THE ROMANCE. Gosh. This is how you write that instant kind of connection. There’s a fantastic slow burn with immediate chemistry. I was all for Bella and Wyatt from the get-go. These two souls who feel so broken about some deep things in their lives and how they finally found that person who seems them as a whole.

There was just the right level of family drama too. I was intrigued and drawn into this family. I loved the journey. I loved this book. Read it!!

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: low-moderate
Romance: 2 open door scenes; low explicit
Violence: low
Content Warnings: erectile dysfunction, miscarriage (recurrent theme), cheating (FMC’s ex-husband), brief physical altercation, grief and depression

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Book Review: The Bombshell Effect (Washington Wolves #1) by Karla Sorensen

September 11, 2024July 25, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 240 pages
Author: Karla Sorensen
Publisher: Dutch Girl Publishing
Release Date: June 14th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My new neighbor is a complete jerk. A tall, brooding, tattooed jerk. I tried to be nice, bake some cupcakes for him and his adorable daughter, and the only reaction I could come up with to his ice-cold reception was to shove those pink cupcakes right into his muscular chest.

In my defense, it was a rough week.

Being back in Seattle for the first time in years was hard enough, the fact that I was there for the dispersal of my father’s will made it even harder. I had no intention of staying, until I got a football stadium-sized surprise as my dad’s final gift to me.
No … really. He left me a football team.

It’s how I found myself in a conference room, staring down the veteran quarterback who wants nothing to do with a new owner. And that quarterback? It’s my tall, brooding, tattooed jerk of a neighbor.

Now he’s everywhere. Next door with his daughter. In meetings. Don’t even get me started on away games.
Luke Pierson is under my skin, and pretty soon, I’m not sure I want it any other way.

LACKING CHEMISTRY.

This is a super quick read, and I think that was a bit of the plot’s downfall. I just didn’t feel the chemistry between Luke and Allie. It was an attempt at enemies to lovers then it jumped to them jumping each other and I was left in the dust.

The single Dad trope was good. And I loved the Allie became the owner. There’s some good moments throughout and there’s plenty of solid football content too. And that third act? If you’ve read it, you know why that would make me a bit cranky.

I did like both characters on their own. Well built, mature and strong. I loved how great of a Dad Luke was and his consistent nature. Allie took a lot of new things thrown at her with such grace and poise. I loved the way she handled things.

I kind of want to try another book by this author, but I’m on the fence.

Overall audience notes: