Book Review: The False Vow (The Weaver Bride #2) by Lydia Gregovic

October 14, 2026October 13, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Upper YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 528 pages
Author: Lydia Gregovic
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: September 29th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Love will be tested in this high-stakes, spellbinding sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller The Weaver Bride, hailed as “your next romantic fantasy obsession” (I. V. Marie, #1 bestselling author of Immortal Consequences).

Lovett Tamerlane is engaged.

A silkwitch whose magic can only be harnessed through marriage to a Weaver, Lovett was facing life in the cloisters when Eliot Lear offered the deal of a an invitation to the Vainglory to compete for wealthy Weaver heir Noé Alaire’s hand in marriage, in exchange for her solving his sister’s murder.

While they both got what they wanted, the competition was full of surprises. Lovett never expected to fall in love . . . and Eliot never anticipated that she’d betray him.

Now Lovett has one to take down her fiancé’s father—Bastian Alaire—and end his corrupt Weaver reign at any cost. But though the Vainglory may be over, danger still lurks at Fortblanche. And when Bastian presents Lovett with one last challenge—solve a murder that occurred within his walls, before the day of her wedding—she realizes the tests aren’t over. To pass this one, she’ll have to partner with the only person she hates more than her future his son, Noé.

But as Lovett will learn . . . sometimes love and hate are two sides of the same coin.

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

DECENT CONCLUSION.

This one kind of had me on a rollercoaster.

I’m glad I went with the audiobook because I feel like that helped with the pacing. I kept checking how much time was left because this sucker was dragged out quite a bit.

I still found the world interesting and I like the magic system and how it functions. I’m not sure having a murder mystery as the main plot point was strong enough to hold its own though. For trying to take down a major antagonist I wish there would have been something else?

I also am still a fan of Lovett. And I like the way the romance went. I like these kind of romantic sequences and only wish we got more of them on page together. It did increase in the second half and really grew on me. I liked the banter and how down bad this side of the love triangle was for Lovett.

While the ending wrapped things up well enough, it did wrap things up FAST. I was surprised with how much time was left when we got to those critical moments. I wanted an epilogue or something to see how things were in the *after*.

Overall a fan of Gregovic’s writing and look forward to reading another book from her!

Overall audience notes:

New Adult Fantasy Romance
Language: mild
Romance: closed door
Violence: moderate-high

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC/ALC Book Review: Guard My Heart by Sabrina Fedel

October 6, 2026September 27, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Sports Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Sabrina Fedel
Publisher: Delacorte Romance
Release Date: October 13th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A girl who dreams of being a D1 ice hockey goalie meets a hot hockey player who offers a deal to boost her skills in this young adult hockey romance!

Hit me with your best shot . . .

RYLEIGH VENTO has one goal—literally. She dreams of becoming an all-star goalie on a Division 1 women’s ice hockey team. Senior year is her last shot, and she can’t afford distractions. Not injuries. Not family drama. And definitely not a relationship.

Enter Jett Robitaille, the school’s new hockey god. He wants Ryleigh to be his fake girlfriend to make another girl—Ryleigh’s nemesis—jealous. Ryleigh’s answer? To block his goal. Until Jett ups the stakes: He’ll train her, push her, and use his own skills to help her become the best goalie in the league. As the season heats up, Ryleigh has to decide if letting Jett in will make her stronger—or throw her completely off her game. Because sometimes the hardest save isn’t on the ice . . . it’s guarding your heart.

Thank you to Get Underlined and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.

CUTE YA.

This is one of those books that didn’t quite HIT for me but I can absolutely see the merits for the true young adult audience. The characters felt realistic to their age and regards to thought processes and actions, while also not having excess language or anything more than kisses. It’s a sweet young adult hockey romance with some fake dating.

I did love that the FMC is a player too!! And a goalie. Loved this so much. Having both of the leads be athletes was a good dynamic for the story. I liked the banter and that you could see the friendship turn into more. I liked the themes of never knowing what someone is going through and how being kind is key. Both of the MC’s are carrying things that are hard for an adult, even more so for a teen. There’s a pretty classic third act break up that goes back to my first paragraph about this fitting better for a younger audience and that’s okay haha.

🎧: I liked the narrator for the audiobook. Sometimes Jett’s voice wasn’t great and he sounded younger than 17, but otherwise it was fine! I did about 3/4 as audio and it’s a solid format choice for reading Guard My Heart.

Overall audience notes:

YA Sports Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Content warnings: loss of a parent from cancer (recounted), a parent who is in remission from cancer

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: The Gods Will Sing Our Song by Autumn Krause

September 21, 2026September 17, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Historical Fantasy
Length: 432 pages
Author: Autumn Krause
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: September 1st, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this sweeping WWII historical romance threaded with magic and myth, two star-crossed Japanese American teenagers find a love more powerful than the gods — inspired by the author’s true family history of internment and resilience.

A divine favor can change everything.

1942. War rumbles across the world, gods stir in the wind, and two lives are set on a collision course that will change them forever.

Seventeen-year-old Ren Hamada has always been defined by his troubled past, while Violet Aratani has only ever worried about keeping her straight-A grades and helping her parents run their beloved print shop. The two have little in common beyond the old magic that thrums in their worn family relics—and the fact that they’re Japanese American in a country determined to cast them as the enemy.

Forced out of their homes and into ramshackle wooden barracks in the California desert by the US government, Ren and Violet collide. In a barbed wire world where everything they thought they knew is upside-down, the magnetic pull between them is the only thing that makes sense.

But there’s more than just desert dust swirling in the air. A god walks among them, his mortal form tethered to the camp, and only Violet and Ren hold the key to freeing him—an act that would earn them an immeasurable reward. Yet with tensions rising and their lives on the line, is even a divine favor powerful enough to save them?

Thank you to Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

IMPACTFUL STORY.

I happened to read this on audio before my physical copy got here and I really enjoyed the duel narration between the POV’s of Ren and Violet. Don’t leave out the author’s note either. It added crucial information about the history and construction of the book and how her family’s story was included.

I appreciated broadening my understanding of the internment camps during WWII. It’s an important part of history that isn’t discussed enough and it was heartbreaking knowing the lasting trauma that came from this time period. Alongside the hard were moments of strength infused with hope.

The romance between Ren and Violet was fast and sweet. I liked the connection between them and learning to communicate and support each other through the trials they were facing. There was a magical element to the book that I was never sure was truly needed but it does add an extra element if you like the combination of a historical with magic.

An impactful story with characters you want to root for. I look forward to reading more books from this author (I also recommend Grave Flowers!).

Overall audience notes:

YA Historical Fantasy
Language: moderate
Romance: kisses
Violence: moderate – high
Content warnings: racism, grief, loss of life, weapons/physical violence, internment camps

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Wrath of the Dragons (Fear the Flames #2) by Olivia Rose Darling

August 3, 2026August 22, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 544 pages
Author: Olivia Rose Darling
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: July 29th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The second novel in Olivia Rose Darling’s thrilling and steamy romantic fantasy series, following Fear the Flames.

In the explosive sequel to the bestselling romantasy Fear the Flames, two fated lovers must unite against warring kingdoms to defend their home and crowns from those who wish to destroy them.

Cayden Veles, renowned Demon Commander of Vareveth, overthrew the throne to save Elowen Atarah, the woman he searched for since childhood. Now he’s determined to fulfill his quest for revenge against her father, even if it means forcing the only person he’s ever wanted into a marriage of political convenience.

Elowen Atarah has everything she thought she’d ever want. Finally reunited with her dragons, she now has an army to enact vengeance, but as events transpire, she begins contemplating if she wants more. As her father’s only living heir, the Imirath throne is her right and destiny. But fighting and winning a war will require trusting Cayden Veles, her partner in crime and now king to her queen; the man she both longs for and doubts, especially after opening her heart only to become a pawn in his game.

Navigating the shifting allegiances amongst all the kingdoms of Ravaryn will require all their strategy and strength, with devastating and bloody attacks on one side and cutthroat diplomacy for alliances on the other. But Elowen and Cayden must find a way to stand strong within the power they’ve gained, or risk losing everything.

Delving deeper into a vast and ever-changing world, Wrath of the Dragons will take you on a journey filled with epic battles and a tender, angsty love for the ages.

SO I LOVED THIS?

Note: I read the first book when it was indie and the Wrath audiobook mentioned that I should go back and read the traditional version of Fear the Flames first because of the changes. I didn’t do that and honestly had no issues. Any continuity questions didn’t bug me enough to go back. I rolled with it and it was still amazing.

I just LOOOOVE a man down bad so dang hard. Cayden can truly see nothing in front of him but Elowen and I love that for him. This was heavy on the romance side and I was cool with allllll of it. There was also an uptick in action and intrigue and all the things. And there were some swoooooony scenes.

NOT TO MENTION the audiobook is DUAL narration which is always the superior choice. It really made the book and you have to read it this way. I’m looking forward to the next book!!

Overall audience notes: