Book Review: The Fall Back Plan (Sweater Weather #2) by Melanie Jacobson

November 16, 2023September 11, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 234 pages
Author: Melanie Jacobson
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The bad boy and the golden girl have traded places…

I’m back in Harvest Hollow after ten years to prove a point and to even a few scores. I’ve opened a new bar, and anyone expecting the old sweet and shy Jolie McGraw to be running it is in for a shock.

I’m not the only one who’s changed: when the sheriff comes to tell me I’m the prime suspect in the most ridiculous crime in town history, it’s none other than Lucas Cole, the former star of my teenage stress dreams, wearing the badge.

Seriously? The smack-talking punk I was forced to tutor in math is now one of the town’s most upstanding citizens? This isn’t what I had in mind for turning the tables on my former tormentors.

I blow him off…until I meet the niece he’s raising. I see so much of my younger self in her. But when I agree to help when she needs a woman in her life, Lucas uses it as a chance to build a case that he’s the man I need in mine.

That’s a hard no. No to love. No to Lucas.

But when Harvest Hollow’s nosiest forces combine to push us together, I’m not sure my heart stands a chance.

ENJOYED.

The second book in the sweater weather series was good! I flew through this and I am totally smitten with the sheriff, Lucas. He was my favorite part of the whole book. I loved that you could clearly see the turnaround he made and how he apologized and watched out for Jolie over and over again.

I liked Jolie, but I struggled with her need to come back home to be petty and mean to those who were petty and mean to her. I think a rise above situation would have come off better in the end.

The romance is good. It’s a suuuper slow burn and the pay off is sweet. I liked Brooke (though I still don’t get the point of the mentor/mentee plot??). All in all, a good read. Plenty of cozy autumn vibes and a few spooky dolls to boot.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: alcoholism, loss of parents

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Book Review: Easy as Pie (Sweater Weather #5) by Carina Taylor

November 12, 2023October 1, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 243 pages
Author: Carina Taylor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 28th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My best friend is back in town—and I refuse to let my pesky attraction to him ruin our friendship.

Tripp Sharpe and I have been best friends since middle school. And when he moved away to go to medical school and become a doctor? We’ve kept up by texting, phone calls, and every funny reel we come across. I have one simple rule for protect our friendship at all costs—even from myself. But when Tripp moves back to town, I can’t ignore the attraction I feel. If it were anyone else, I’d just avoid him. But it’s hard to avoid a guy who thinks we’re still the same ol’ besties we’ve always been. Or are we? It turns out some things have changed for him too. Maybe I’m imagining the long stares, the lingering touches, or the flimsy excuses to spend time together, despite his ridiculous schedule. And when Tripp asks me to show him how I like to kiss? It seems like I’m not the only one blasting through our friendship rules…

FLIPPIN’ CUTE.

That’s the vibe of this whole book. It put a smile on my face and I adored Tripp and Hazel. There’s all of that easy banter that comes with having a best friend plus the slow realization that those best friend vibes have turned into something deeper.

The flirting was top notch and I loooved all of the micro tropes. Taking care of someone when they’re sick is always a romantic highlight. And the jealousy? I’m not sorry that those scenes turn me into a PUDDLE. THE TENSION. I loved the doctor and mechanic careers and how those played into the story. I loved the side characters and the absolute it’s always been you moments.

It’s a short, read in a day kind of book. It’s light and loving and easily one I would recommend for the fall.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of loss of a parent due to cancer, neglectful parents

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Book Review: A Newport Christmess (Christmas Escape #4) by Jess Heileman

November 10, 2023November 13, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 344 pages
Author: Jess Heileman
Publisher: Vagabond Publishing
Release Date: November 9th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Love can be downright messy.
This last year has been a total disaster, but my failed six-month marriage takes the cake. While my ex is out having the time of his life, my coping mechanisms consist of an unhealthy obsession with true-crime podcasts and trying to revive my floundering social media account.

So, when I get an offer from one of social media’s darlings—Nikki Aker—to make gingerbread centerpieces for her Christmas wedding, I can’t refuse. Not only because the job pays well (my maxed-out credit card will attest to how much I need this money), but it’s a last-ditch effort to increase my following before I’m forced to get “a real job.”

There’s only one small problem I didn’t account for: Nikki’s a self-proclaimed matchmaker, and apparently, I’m her next target. My only hope to escape unscathed is to conspire with Nikki’s grumpy—albeit gorgeous—brother, Landon, who seems equally determined to get through this wedding with his single status fully intact.

All we need to do is convince Nikki we’re developing feelings for each other. What can possibly go wrong?

*This is a sweet/clean romance

PRETTY GOOD.

I liked this one y’all! Unfortunately not as much as I hoped but we’ll get into that.

All of the Christmas/holiday vibes were here. Adored the setting and plot set-up. The gingerbread houses were a fun touch and I wish I could see those in person!!

Landon was a dreamboat. I absolutely couldn’t get enough of him. He was clearly smitten from the get-go and really pulled out all of the stops in genuine ways to show Quinn that love after divorce is still possible. I loved a lot of the conversations and sentiments expressed between them and it pulled at my heartstrings at the tough things both main characters had to work through.

I did struggle with Quinn’s character. For most of the book I was cool with the mindset and difficulties. It worked with the plot and made sense for everything else. BUT, the character growth hardly showed up and that wasn’t until 90% through the book. I wanted to see a bit more of it overall and watch Quinn learn for herself how much she’s worth and how much she deserves.

There’s a lot of great moments here and I truly did have a good time reading it. Even with my one main issue I’d still recommend because a lot of people I know loved this one!

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Holiday Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Trigger/Content Warnings: both main characters are divorced, emotionally manipulative parents

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Book Review: Spells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans Welch

November 8, 2023November 11, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary + Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Jenna Evans Welch
Publisher: Simon Schuster
Release Date: September 27th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Willow has never felt like she belonged anywhere and is convinced that the only way to find a true home is to travel the world. But her plans to act on her dream are put on hold when her aloof and often absent mother drags Willow to Salem, Massachusetts, to wrap up the affairs of an aunt Willow didn’t even know she had. An aunt who may or may not have been a witch.

There, she meets Mason, a loner who’s always felt out of place and has been in and out of foster homes his entire life. He’s been classified as one of the runaways, constantly searching for ways to make it back to his mom; even if she can’t take care of him, it’s his job to try and take care of her. Isn’t it?

Naturally pulled to one another, Willow and Mason set out across Salem to discover the secret past of Willow’s mother, her aunt, and the ambiguous history of her family. During all of this, the two can’t help but act on their natural connection. But with the amount of baggage between them—and Willow’s growing conviction her family might be cursed—can they manage to hold onto each other?

From the New York Times bestselling author of Love & Gelato comes a poignant and romantic novel about two teens trying to find their place in the world after being unceremoniously dragged to Salem, Massachusetts, for the summer.

LOOOOOOVED.

Well this was magnificent and everything I could hope for when I picked it up. I’ve been looking forward to this book since it was announced and it’s an easy must read from me.

I loved the plot surrounding Willow, dealing with the fallout of her parent’s divorce, and Mason, dealing with the foster care system and wanting to know where his Mom is located. Both of these teens flat out needed some LOVE. And by golly, they found that and more. As someone who had to deal with her own parent’s divorce I felt really seen by many of the things Willow mentioned and talked about.

There is a very subtle romance between Willow and Mason that is just the sweetest. Why not at the forefront of the book (don’t think this is a romance please!), it gave both characters another layer to their stories and I adored it all the more. I loved how unassuming and caring they were to one another. Allowing the chance to be seen and heard and just to have someone on their side. My heart was an absolute puddle.

Misty eyes found their way to me with some of those ending conversations with parents and guardians. It was incredible and beautiful and pulled at every heart string I have. I loved this book and all it presented. READ IT.

Overall audience notes: