ARC Book Review: The Serendipity (Only Magic in the Building) by Emma St. Clair

March 5, 2025February 24, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 276 pages
Author: Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 5th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He’s a no-nonsense businessman. She’s a free-spirited baker. But the magical building they live in seems to think they’re a perfect match…

When billionaire Archer Gaines needs to escape his father’s corrupt shadow and a related scandal, he purchases The Serendipity, a historic apartment building far from New York City.

He believes in bottom lines and big business deals, definitely not in the local folklore surrounding the town of Serendipity Springs. So he’s eager to move forward with plans to flip the building into luxury lofts.

But The Serendipity doesn’t particularly care what Archer believes, and the building has plans of its own.

Willa never believed in the rumors about her “magical” building. But that was before she walked into her closet looking for a sweater and found herself in another apartment altogether–in the penthouse closet of the grumpy and unfortunately attractive new building owner.

This is less of a meet cute than a meet ugly, and things only go downhill from there.

When Archer announces sweeping changes that include a rent increase, he becomes public enemy number one for the residents. And by charging Willa for use of the commercial kitchen, he puts her fledgling baking business at risk.

With his progress being (magically) blocked at every turn, Archer grows desperate for help.

But the bewitching woman he found hiding in his closet seems to present both the answer and a larger because Archer never planned to fall in love or stay in Serendipity Springs forever …

The Serendipity is a standalone book in the Only Magic in the Building series. These closed door, whimsical romance books are all set in the same historic building, which has a habit of playing matchmaker with its residents. There are light magical elements, but no spells, shifters, or dark magic of any kind.

Thank you to the author for the eARC.

THIS WAS SWEET.

I’m very excited for this multi-author series and getting my hands on the first book was a must. I love Emma St. Clair and this was another great read. The magical realism aspects were charming and didn’t overwhelm the book. I liked how it played out and it was easy to love on this magical building.

The romance is low angst but filled with some fiery banter. Willa and Archer come from completely different walks of life and clash a bit as they find their footing together. I loved all of the late night chats and I think the second half did a wonderful job of showing off the romance. I appreciate when things aren’t blown out of proportion and when communication is an important factor.

There were some good topics and themes discussed throughout. I liked understanding more about agoraphobia and the impact it can have on your life. The positive therapy points fit in well to the plot too. Add in a few fantastic kisses and this was another gem for me.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Content warnings: agoraphobia, emotional distant parent

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC Book Review: Izzy and Her Off-Limits Love (Oakley Island #3.5) by Jenny Proctor and Emma St. Clair

December 3, 2024November 29, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Christmas Romance Novella
Length: 121 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor & Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 3rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Getting over your childhood crush is never easy. Especially when your family is full of meddling matchmakers.I’ve tried my whole life to curb my feelings for Liam, who is NOT my cousin, even if our family is like, well, family.

After he brought a girlfriend home for the holidays last year, I decided it was high time for my crush to finally die. And since we haven’t run into each other at all since then, it’s been easy. (If not altogether effective.) Even our family stopped trying to push us together.

But then Liam walks into my office just before Christmas and I find out he’ll be working here as a consultant. Oh—and he got special permission from my boss to have me directly under him.

Then, when my building suddenly (and somewhat suspiciously) has to undergo emergency fumigation and I need a place to stay, Liam offers me his guest bedroom.

Oh, joy and holiday cheer.

But finding out Liam is single and not practically engaged—it changes everything. Is it possible I just might get my longest-held Christmas wish?

Izzy and Her Off-Limits Love is a second-gen novella in the Oakley Island Romcom Series. Books in the series are full of sizzling chemistry and tension with just kisses.

Thank you to the authors for an eARC.

LOVED BEING BACK.

Gosh dang I loved being back in this world. I didn’t realize how much I missed these characters until the surprise announcement that we were getting a Christmas novella, and it’s second generation!!! I have always wanted more second generation moments and I’m so happy to get one on Oakley Island.

The holiday spirit is there, and so are the meddlesome parents and sneaky raccoons. This was light and made me smile and was exactly the joy I was after. I adored both of the main characters (dual POV!) and how sweet and heated the reconnection was. Izzy and Liam’s romance is perfect for the season!

Overall audience notes:

Christmas Romance Novella
Language: none
Romance: kisses

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC Book Review: Runaway Bride and Prejudice (Appies) by Emma St. Clair

August 28, 2024August 27, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 28th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

There’s one rule smart hockey players know not to never, and I mean, NEVER date the coach’s daughter. But no one ever accused Van of being smart.

When the mouthy bad boy of the Appies catches the groom cheating on the coach’s daughter, he can’t just walk away. Not on her wedding day.

Maybe his own relationships are casual, but he would never cheat and never treat wedding vows so carelessly. Not after he and his sisters watched their divorced parents cycle through marriage after marriage.

But forcing the groom to come clean sets off a chain reaction Van couldn’t have expected.

Ending with a black eye, an unexpected trip to Florida with one runaway bride, and a secret bargain struck with Coach.

A bargain that may just jeopardize the very real and very inconvenient feelings he’s developing for the very last person he ever should.

Runaway Bride and Prejudice is a closed door hockey romance featuring the team bad boy and a very good girl who also happens to be the coach’s daughter. It’s a sports romance with all the sizzle and swoon, but no spice.

This is part of the Appies hockey romance series, featuring Just Don’t Fall, Absolutely Not in Love, a Groom of One’s Own, and Romancing the Grump. These books are standalones but may be best read in order.

Thank you to the author for an eARC!

HI, I LOVE THIS BOOK.

It was absolutely everything I could have hoped for when I was thinking about Van’s story. I devoured this read. And I feel like it’s hard to even put my words down because I don’t want to spoil a thing about this book. This is truly a best read blind book and trust me, it will DELIVER.

I loved getting Van’s perspective. A character I have been waiting to know and understand better. I loved the layers and journey. He’s such a charming man and I could not get enough of his heated and swoony actions. His love language is physical touch, and you. can. tell. Also I got a jersey moment which is one of my favorite tropes in sports romance so of course I went feral when that happened.

And I liked Amelia a lot too. She was slightly frustrating but in that way that is totally relatable and had me sitting there going, yeah I’d respond the same way too. I loved that she found her courage and voice in the end and got a chance to live her love story.

I’m always obsessed with any interactions involving the Appies and the text threads were *chefs kiss*. One of my forever favorite fictional hockey teams. I LOVED Van’s sisters too. They were the perfect balance for him and I loved seeing them take Amelia into their family.

I honestly could just keep going. I loved this book. It’s always hard for me to choose a favorite Emma St. Clair book but this definitely ranks up there.

Overall audience notes:

Sports Romance
Language: low
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Content Warnings: physical altercations, loss of a parent (recounted from past), divorce, cheating (not between the two leads in any way)

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC Book Review: Royal Gone Rogue (Sweet Royal RomCom #2) by Emma St. Clair

February 28, 2023February 27, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 345 pages
Author: Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 28th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I need to find the perfect woman to be my queen. Love was never supposed to be part of the arrangement.

I’ve always done things by the book–that’s the burden of being the heir to the Elsinorian throne. So when my father grows ill and my coronation seems imminent, I intend to find my future queen the same way … with logic and a list of eligible women who fit a detailed set of data points.

My brother agrees to cover for me at the court, and I set out to offer a common woman the chance to be something more.

Only … nothing goes according to plan.

Alessia is far more than she seemed on paper, and she stirs feelings I never imagined having. The next thing I know, I’m washing dishes in her grandfather’s restaurant, hoping to win her hand and her heart.

Meanwhile, my absence in Elsinore has been noticed and the whole kingdom is wondering if I’m abdicating the throne. Though I love the simple village life, I need to return home, and I won’t do so without Alessia.

The only problem: I might not have mentioned the fact that I’m the crown prince of Elsinore.

Royal Gone Rogue is the second in the Sweet Royal RomCom series with laugh-out-loud humor, heart-warming love stories, and sizzling chemistry that keeps the bedroom door closed.

Thank you to Emma St. Clair for an eARC.

CLASSIC.

Ohhh I needed this read. I ADORED IT. It very much has that classic fairytale vibe that used to be super popular and that was easily one of my favorite aspects of it. The commoner and the royal getting a whirlwind romance and all the goodness in-between.

There’s an undeniable connection between Phillip and Alessia from the get-go. I thought it was just the SWEETEST. Hanging out in a small town, sea-side, talking late into the night and falling in love? Absolutely smitten over here. They had some ups and downs (of course) but I appreciated the way you could see the growth in both of them as each had to cope with a different life before them.

The side characters made this book. I loved them all. All of the close sibling dynamics, the group of grandpa’s, even the Queen played her part well too. Everyone was well written out and only added to how much I was enjoying reading this.

I am always here for forced proximity and lots of kissing, and oh there was LOTS of kissing. This whole book was incredibly romantic. I’ll be here swooning for the foreseeable future.

Overall audience notes: