Book Review: Brighter Than Before by Courtney Walsh

June 18, 2026June 13, 2026 GoodeyReads1 Comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Courtney Walsh
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: June 8th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In her forties, newly single in the Windy City, and reeling from a major life shake-up, Claire Karadec finds a reset in the most unlikely of places–a dating profile set up by her adult daughter. From New York Times bestselling author Courtney Walsh comes a refreshing, lighthearted, sweet novel, perfect for fans of Annabel Monaghan and Sarah Adams.

Claire did not plan to end up mid-forties with a daughter studying in London and the unfortunate discovery that her husband is not the man she thought he was. In fact, he’s the exact opposite of a faithful, loyal, kind, and good-hearted spouse. And the discovery of his real nature and lack of remorse leads her to do what she never thought she would–divorce him.

After a year of wallowing before hitting rock bottom . . . in public, unfortunately, Claire realizes she needs to finally answer the question her therapist asked her all those months “What do you really want?” It was a question she couldn’t answer then, but now she knows it’s time to figure it out.

It’s the turning point that leads Claire to change her life. And not just a little–a lot. She sells her house in Denver and moves to the city that’s always had her heart–Chicago.

With the help of nosy neighbors, new friends, and a daughter who sets her up on a dating site from across the ocean, Claire begins to answer that big, important question by figuring out what she wants and how to live life on her own terms.

Thank you to LibroFM for the gifted audiobook and Thomas Nelson for the gifted copy.

LOVED EVERY MINUTE.

I could sing the praises of this book all day long y’all. I was smitten from the get go and the story telling was absolutely fabulous. I loved that this had an older FMC who had to unexpectedly start over. I loved the realistic journey of being angry and upset and working towards that sense of peace and belonging that comes in time. Claire’s relationship with her daughter was also magical and something I aspire towards as my kids get older. Honestly this entire book felt like an inspiration. I haven’t been in Claire’s situation but the bigger lesson of finding a passion, doing something for you, and letting go of past grievances are very relevant to everyone.

To sing some love towards the romance because STOP IT RIGHT NOW. It was amazing. I adored Miles. He was just the right type of golden retriever energy for Claire and I loved seeing their strangers to friends to lovers romance develop. It’s soft and light and really gives you the second chance love so many crave.

The audiobook is perfect. No notes. I don’t think you can go wrong with any format for this book.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Content warnings: infidelity, divorce

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: My Merry Mistake (Holidays with Hart #3) by Courtney Walsh

November 29, 2025November 11, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Holiday Sports Romance
Length: 412 pages
Author: Courtney Walsh
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 1st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sometimes the perfect gift is standing right in front of you. . . You’re just too stubborn to see it.

I don’t like to make mistakes. Ever.

Especially when those mistakes are witnessed by the same person—flirty Finn Holbrook—who can’t seem to leave me alone. Can I really trust him not to tell anyone that the night we met, I tried to kiss him? Or that I fell apart after I got fired from a job I loved? Or that I’m not as strong as I want everyone to think I am?

The simple fact that he’s boomeranged back into my orbit after all these years feels like a great, big cosmic joke.

Only now he’s a professional hockey player, and while he doesn’t look like the goofy college bartender I met all those years ago, he still acts like one—immature, flirty, and unable to take anything seriously.

Which is why I never, ever fall for his game.

I know better than to get swept up in romance. I don’t have time. I’m busy making myself irreplaceable in my new job with the Chicago Comets. Work isn’t just something I do, it’s who I am.

And while my sisters are constantly on me to slow down and take breaks, those things aren’t on my schedule, so . . . I push on. Do more. Load up my schedule. Overcommit. Until eventually, my stress lands me in the emergency room.

The prescription? A month off. No emails. No work. No distractions.

Unless you count Finn Holbrook, who keeps showing up at my door, determined to leverage his positive, golden retriever energy to show me there’s a great, big world outside that I haven’t bothered to explore, most of it covered with white twinkle lights and Christmas decorations.

I begrudgingly go along with his grand plans, and little by little, I start to see there really is more to life than work—and more to Finn than flirting.

Which makes me wonder . . . how can someone so obviously wrong for me start to feel completely right? And more importantly . . . how do I make those feelings go away?

My Merry Mistake is an opposites attract hockey romance with all of the sizzle but none of the steam. It’s the third book in the Holidays with Hart series, but can be read as a stand alone.

OH, OH THIS BOOK.

While highly relatable on many levels for I’m sure lots of people, this one hit me square in the face as a fellow eldest daughter. DAMN. The amount of times I’ve literally ran myself into the ground and ended up having to rest (which I hate resting sooooo). I GET IT RAYA. I GET IT.

But let me tell y’all FINNNNNNNNNNN? The softest of golden retriever’s EVERRRR. I loved his temperament and the fact that this man has been down bad for YEARS. I LOVE TO SEE IT EVERY TIME. The banter and ridiculous chemistry between Finn and Raya will have you begging them to kiss. The slow burn is torturous.

And there is definitely enough holiday cheer to say this is without a doubt a Christmas book. It had me craving everything December. I’m also obsessed with how close knit both of these families are too. I don’t think that’s written in books often enough and it is one of my favorite tidbits. The sibling dynamics, facetime chats and showing up in the hard moments made me want to sob. THIS BOOK WAS INCREDIBLE.

An official *all time great* for my holiday book recs.

Overall audience notes:

Holiday Sports Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Content warnings: loss of a sibling (recounted), grief depiction

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Christmas With a Crank by Courtney Walsh

November 26, 2025November 23, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Christmas Romance
Length: 366 pages
Author: Courtney Walsh
Publisher: Sweethaven Press
Release Date: November 3rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A second chance with your first crush.

Doesn’t happen often.
For Liam Fisher, that first crush was his next door neighbor, Olive Witherby.
Childhood was lazy summers, treehouse stargazing, and endless games of hide and seek at Pine Creek, the Christmas tree farm that’s been in Liam’s family for generations.

When Liam moves away, he and Olive say goodbye the only way they know how—with a fumbling first kiss neither of them will ever forget.

Even though twelve-year olds’ promises of keeping in touch feel eternal, time and distance eventually make Olive and Liam practically strangers.

Twenty years later, Liam’s parents announce they’re retiring and selling the tree farm.
Twenty years later, Pine Creek is the last place grown-up Liam wants to be. Inherit this legacy? Not on your life.
And twenty years later, grown-up Olive is stuck.

Her work life is a lot like her love life—floundering. After a humiliating business failure, loads of debt, and one too many laughable first dates, she’s in no hurry to put herself out there again, in business or in romance.

When Olive is hired by Liam’s parents to rekindle the lost magic of the farm one final time before it’s sold, she sets out to make this the last, best Pine Creek Christmas, for the town and for a very cranky, not-so-talkative, surprisingly attractive Liam.

Part of her mission? Convince the crank to fall in love with Christmas.
The other part? Not fall head over heels in the process.

Christmas With a Crank is a grumpy/sunshine, childhood crush, opposites attract romance with plenty of sizzle but none of the steam.

IT WAS CUTE.

I love a good grump who’s actually grump and Liam delivered. Olive was the perfect counterpart in her cheery and optimistic ways, but also exhibited a lot of amazing self growth and discovery about herself and the way she wants to do life.

The Christmas tree farm was a great addition. I liked all of the cute moments and heated kisses. It’s definitely on the light side if you’re looking for something in that range right now. The plot doesn’t have a lot going for it but it is an enjoyable read for the season.

Overall audience notes:

Christmas Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: The Cupid Chronicles (Only Magic in the Building) by Courtney Walsh

March 18, 2025March 16, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Courtney Walsh
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 12th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Some love stories are written . . . this one is magically delivered.

Iris Ellington isn’t looking for love. Not even a little bit. With a long list of failed relationships behind her, she’s decided to reinvent herself as a person who doesn’t fall head over heels on the first date.

New town, new job, new Iris.

But someone—or something—has other plans.

When her neighbor’s newspaper lands in front of her door, Iris has no choice but to return it. And when she does, she comes face to face with a ridiculously handsome but very grumpy chef who all but slams the door in her face.

Matteo Morgan just wants to be left alone. He’s loved and lost and has zero interest in ever doing that again. Which is why it makes no sense that The Serendipity’s magical newspaper has decided to turn him into an unwilling Cupid. Matchmaking is hardly in his wheelhouse.

And yet, for the last three years, that’s exactly what he’s done. And he’s always done it alone.

Until now.

When the newspaper pulls his bubbly neighbor into its matchmaking schemes, Matteo has no choice but to go along with it, hoping that maybe—finally—he can pass Cupid’s bow and arrow on to her.

Thrown together by fate, they must navigate the newspaper’s increasingly absurd demands while trying to resist the undeniable spark between them.

Will Iris melt the ice around Matteo’s heart and embrace the magic? Or will Matteo scare her off with his grumpy demeanor and ruin any chance of happiness? In a building where anything is possible, Iris and Matteo might just find that the greatest magic of all is finding love when they least expect it.

HELLO TEARS.

I am not someone who generally cries while reading. But this one brought tears to my eyes because your girl has an anxious soft spot for plots with a widow. Some of those closing scenes made me a mess of feelings. HOW DARE YOU COURTNEY.

Not to mention the others themes throughout of finding joy again, connecting with those around you and helping others are magnetic. This leans slightly more fiction than full blown romance and I hardly noticed because of how beautifully crafted this story was. It grew on me and as the pages went on I was attached to every single character.

I adored Matteo. I adored Iris. I loved the slow burn strangers to friends to lovers. It was everything they both needed to realize that they are in the long haul together. Covering grief and pain and feeling like you’re just too much. I just loved it so much. Endearing characters, raw emotions and a gentle romance.

Overall audience notes: