Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: March 2026

April 1, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Oh it’s so nice to be outside more before it gets way too hot to do so. I read many books, check them out!

The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin
[ALC] In Time with You by Kristin Dwyer
The Mirror Game (The Blood and Water Saga #5) by Cassidy Clarke
An Accidental Marriage (The Gentlemen’s Gamble) by Deborah M. Hathaway
Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl #1) by Matt Dinniman
Her Hidden Fire (Her Hidden Fire #1) by Cliodhna O’Sullivan
In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde
The Determined by Rachel Rueckert
Meet Me Under the Lights by Cassie Miller
Heart of Mischief (Soul of Shadows #2) by Emma Noyes
We Danced Among Shadows (Meadowbrook Ranch #2) by Ashley Dill
First Down and Forever to Go (River Foxes #1) by Leah Dobrinska
[ARC/ALC] This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (Maggie the Undying #1) by Ilona Andrews
[ARC] Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen
Carl’s Doomsday Scenario (Dungeon Crawler Carl #2) by Matt Dinniman
[Reread] Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas
[ARC] Could’ve Fooled Me (Georgia Jaguars #1) by Jenny Proctor
Heir of Illusion (Verran Isles #1) by Madeline Taylor
[Novella] Everybody’s Favorite Guy by Katherine Center
The Housemaid (The Housemaid #1) by Freida McFadden
[Non-Fiction] Spark by John J. Ratey, MD
Dawn of the North (The Ashen #3) by Demi Winters
What Echoes in the Dark (What Bloom from Death #2) by S.M. Gaither
[ARC/ALC] The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst
[Reread] Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah J. Maas
[ARC] We Are Never Getting Together by Janette Rallison
Drive Me Crazy by Lizzy Dent
[Novella] When Fate is Cruel by LJ Andrews
The Night We Met (Say You’ll Remember Me #2) by Abby Jimenez
Drop Shot (The Off Court #1) by Vai Denton
Scars Beneath a Serpent’s Scales (The Fatesworn Saga #1) by Nicole Platania
How to Write a Love Story by Catherine Walsh
[ARC] Until Next Summer by Allison Ashley

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Book Review: Debt of My Soul by K.P. Haven

March 25, 2026April 3, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 433 pages
Author: K.P. Haven
Publisher: Self Publishd
Release Date: December 17th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Fleur
Nine years. That’s how long I spent in a relationship wasted on my ex.

When my world crumbles apart in front of me, I make a desperate escape. Only now, I’m stuck in a tiny Mississippi town with a dilapidated farmhouse I don’t know how to fix.

Enter Adam, the town’s contractor. Finding solace in his expertise and kindness, he might just be the one to help me rebuild more than just my home. But beneath the town’s quaint facade lies a darkness: an untouchable drug lord whose operation has poisoned the very place I now call home.

Then there’s him—a man who commands attention with his rugged allure and infuriating motorcycle. Our encounters are surprising, hinting at something beyond his dangerous exterior and intriguing me in ways I can’t ignore.

Riddled in debt and drugs, the sanctuary I sought for safety may very well be the ruin of me. One thing’s for certain: running away was only the beginning.

Debt of My Soul is a small town, organized crime novel with a signature slow burn, closed-door/fade-to-black romance. Please read TW/CW.

WELL.

I’ll start off saying that I do think this was written well and I would be interested in other books by this author. I just struggled with some plot points in this one.

Alright, first and foremost. The romance didn’t even start until halfway through the book?? It felt like a lot of lolly gagging and “we can’t tell you, just stay away” from everybody in town and I got tired of the repetitive nature. The pacing would have been better had this been tightened up. It was clear from the beginning where things were going so waiting for a long time became frustrating.

I liked Fleur…sort of. A lot of things happened to her but she didn’t do much herself? I didn’t need her to take down the organized crime ring or anything, I was looking for something more though. Liam was nice, I liked his personality and saw where he was coming from. I love a protective, broody sort which made all of those scenes even better.

There’s a few other things that had some roller coaster vibes for me and that’s how I landed at a 3.25. I would recommend it?? But also not?? I don’t know. It is low spice which is generally hard to find in this kind of plot dynamic which is a definite plus in the pros column.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: fade to black/vague open door
Violence: high
Content Warnings: kidnapping, murder, torture, drug abuse, organized crime, self harm, attempted SA

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Book Review: Off the Hook (Never Harbor #1) by Julie Olivia

March 23, 2026March 27, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 411 pages
Author: Julie Olivia
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 26th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I need a nanny, but I may need her more.

I know about my reputation as Never Harbor’s secluded single dad. But I have everything I need: my imaginative son, my dog, and our remodeled cottage by the sea.

That is, until my nanny quits.

My brother’s ex-fiancee, Wendy Darling, is an elementary school teacher with a free summer. The last thing I need is to get tangled in his mess, but my family thinks she’s a perfect fit for the job. Turns out, she fits in better than I could have imagined.

Wendy is nothing like I expected. She’s kind and adventurous, with a beautiful laugh that washes my worst nightmares away. She pushes past my silence and sees more of my true self than anyone has in years. And my six-year-old son is falling for her just as quickly.

Being with Wendy can never happen. Not when my younger brother is her ex-fiance. Not when she’s so close to our family. Not when our small coastal town gossips the way that it does.

But after so long in the dark, Wendy makes me feel something. Falling for her feels a lot like flying instead.

I know happy endings only belong in fairy tales, but I’m close to stealing one for myself.

I WAS HOOKED.

Julie Olivia is an author I often sleep on but at the behest of a buddy read I jumped right in and adored this book so much.

Jasper is the SOFTEST GRUMP EVER. I loved him so much. There was moment after moment that showed how deeply he cared and his desire to prove himself worthy of being with Wendy. He was the best single dad in a rough situation and I could not get enough of him.

And I liked Wendy too. She was soft and feminine with a strong will that showed up at just the right times. Her loyalty roots ran deep and I thought there was an undeniable chemistry between her and Jasper.

As someone who’s only seen Peter Pan maybe once in my life, even I was able to notice the retelling aspects and how expertly woven those pieces were. I had friends who noticed even more and it was fun seeing all of things come together.

I do wish there was a little bit less ex-relationship talk. But that was the only thing that really bugged me. I can’t wait for book two!

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: 4ish open door
Violence: low
Content Warnings: loss of loved ones (recounted), grief depiction

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Book Review: Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker

March 18, 2026March 24, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Carlie Walker
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: March 18th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two exes. One mission. A trip she’ll never forget…

Max is just your average girl. She works odd jobs, has a soul-crushing amount of debt and just happens to have an uncanny resemblance to Europe’s youngest female prime minister, Sofia Christensen . . .

So when the prime minister receives a credible death threat, the CIA approaches Max with a a life-changing amount of money if she pretends to be Sofia on the prime minister’s annual Italian trip.

It would be a dream if it weren’t for those pesky assassins and Flynn, Max’s ridiculously hot handler – the man who broke her heart years and years ago.

With her life now on the line, Max knows she has no choice but to lose herself in the role. But losing her heart to Flynn again? Now that’s a risk that she isn’t willing to take . . .

Red, White and Royal Blue meets Emily Henry in this opposites-attract, fake-dating romcom. Perfect for fans of Katherine Center and Ali Hazelwood.

THIS WAS FUN.

I have really enjoyed the spy romcom sub genre of romance. They are a lot of fun and have a different vibe than my usual books and I appreciate the smiles it brings amidst all of the chaos of the journey.

This was a fantastic second chance romance. I was INVOLVED with Max and Flynn’s past and current relationship. I loved the slow burn tension and the bodyguard moments?? YES PLEASE.

The audiobook is great, an easy and fast listen with a solid narrator. I loved the turns the plot took and seeing Max kind of come into her own in an impossible situation. There’s romance and action and political betrayals that will keep you busy. Such a gem and can’t wait for more!

Overall audience notes: