Tag: goodeyreads

Book Review: Ashwalker (The Emberfall Trilogy #1) by S.M. Gaither

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 578 pages
Author: S.M. Gaither
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: June 14th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Long ago, dragons were unleashed as weapons of mass destruction, igniting a war that shattered the Empire of Kaldra. Now, the survivors of that once-great realm cower behind fortified walls, while the beasts terrorize the wilds between the broken kingdoms.

Arowyn Vale survives as an ashwalker—one of the few reckless enough to brave the burned-out roads between the walled cities, smuggling everything from supplies to secrets. But when she reluctantly saves a dying dragon hatchling on a routine run, she draws the eye of the ruler of Mouren, a brutal realm directly in the heart of dragon territory.

Once upon a time, King Reave Callahan’s people wielded powerful magic, bonding with dragons in order to crush their enemies with wing and flame. But now, that magic is fading, and law decrees that anyone who manages to bond with a dragon must serve the Mouren crown—even a gutter-born, half-feral ashwalker from the slums of an enemy kingdom.

Dragged into Reave’s glittering but cutthroat court, Arowyn must navigate a treacherous new life built upon secrets, ancient magic, and shifting alliances. As her connection to the hatchling deepens—and with the Mouren king watching her with a gaze full of both danger and desire—she will have to make a

To become a weapon of the kingdom that broke her world…

Or to burn it all down from within.

MY NEW OBESSION.

It’s been a minute since I feel like I have LOVED a SM Gaither book. But that feeling is back and I must tell you to get on this book NOWWWWW.

I have been begging that romantasy universe to bring back the slow burn. And I was stunned in the best ways to find that this was a slow burn. I think it could have been dragged out even longer but I was just happy to get this much. There was immaculate banter and heat that built chapter over chapter. I loved that Raeve and Arowyn got to actually know each other and let down those walls and communicate. That man is down baaaad.

And I love Gaither’s fierce heroines. Arowyn is not different. That woman gets up again and again to stand stronger each time. I loved her relationship with her dragon. The female friendships are incredible too. I love the loyalty they offer each other. There were many notable side characters that I am 100% attached to now.

The pacing and action beats were just right. It took me a week to read this purely because I was savoring it. Every time I picked it up I was locked into every word. I loved the world building and the reveals caused me to have to know what happens next. I must have book two! I need answers!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: mass loss of life, weapons/physical violence, war themes

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Ghost Business (Boneyard Key #2) by Jen DeLuca

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Jen DeLuca
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: September 9th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Clashing ghost tours lead to a sizzling romantic rivalry in the second romance in the new series from USA Today bestselling author Jen DeLuca.

Boneyard Key, Florida, is the only home Sophie has ever known. Her love for its supernatural history has flourished into a career, as she guides the one and only ghost tour through the town’s can’t-miss haunted spots. And while her bank account isn’t full by any means, her heart is. Or at least, it was.

But there’s a newcomer in town. The son of a Fortune 500 businessman, former theater kid Tristan has grown his tours from a fraternity fundraiser to a multicity ghost tour conglomerate. It’s doing well, but not well enough—if he can’t prove that he’s solidly in the black by the fall, Dad’s going to pull his funding, spelling the end of his career. Boneyard Key, with its haunted reputation, seems like the perfect place to boost his bottom line.

When the two ghost tours clash, Sophie’s expletive-filled rant goes viral, and the rivals strike up a deal. Whoever has the most successful business by summer’s end stays, while the loser must ghost. But the more Tristan comes to appreciate Boneyard Key, the more Sophie comes to appreciate Tristan, and what starts as begrudging respect becomes something spicier. Can they put their feuding businesses aside to make room for a chance at love, or is Boneyard Key too small for two ghost tours?

LACKED SOMETHING.

I feel like the magic is missing in this series. Another book in and I am not feeling the CLICK. That little bit of something that makes me swoon an fall in love with the romance. It was perfectly fine and ended well enough (third act wasn’t a total anger inducing event).

I do enjoy the small town and paranormal aspects. They are woven in well and the side characters are a charming inclusion to the story. I did like the job aspect of a walking ghost tour and the hurricane was something I haven’t read [at least recently in my mind] which was another layer that fit the Florida setting well.

I know I’ll find myself reading the next book and hoping for the best!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3ish open door
  • Violence: low

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC Book Review: Trust Fall by Lynn Painter

GoodeyReads1 Comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Upper YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Lynn Painter
Publisher: Simon Teen
Release Date: September 29th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies, Lynn Painter, comes a rags-to-riches rom-com about a small-town girl whose family inherits a fortune and moves to New York City, where she meets a big-city boy hiding an explosive secret.

Julia is just a small-town girl from Nebraska who loves her peaceful life. But when her elderly next-door neighbor—who just happens to be a secret multi-millionaire—leaves everything to Julia and her family after his passing, Julia is swept away to live in a historic brownstone in New York City and attend an elite private school for the super-rich.

It should be a dream come true. Wrong. Julia doesn’t fit in at her new school; worse, she’s failing. Enter Damion, the mysterious and handsome tutor who will get Julia back on track. Except Damion has a secret. He is the great-nephew of the man who left everything to Julia’s family. Damion doesn’t buy for a second that the person who was like a father to him would leave his home to strangers. And he’s determined to prove it.

To uncover the truth, Damion schemes to earn Julia’s trust. Not an easy task with Julia unsure about this rich boy with a rebellious personality. But the more time Damion spends with Julia, the more his plan begins to backfire. Because he is falling for the enemy—and the enemy is falling for him.

As Damion and Julia figure out where they belong, can they see past their differences and act on their feelings, or will the trust Damion has worked so hard to gain fall apart?

Thank you Simon Teen for the gifted ARC.

GOT ME IN THE FEELS.

And this really shouldn’t surprise anyone because I love Lynn Painter’s books.

DAMION. That guy falls SO HARD. Good heavens I loved the way he was written. It’s snarky and bad boy prep school vibes that clash with Julia’s small town Nebraska-ness that sent me over the edge. The way they sniped at each other while also chipping away at who they first thought was before them was everythinggggg. Damion’s inner dialogue and chapters were 100% some of my favorite ever. I highlighted multiple things because I could not get enough.

I knew exactly where this was heading with the Remi plot line and it still made me misty eyed. I loved that journey too (trying to stay vague) and the themes and conversations that came from it were impactful too. It brought such a sense of love and gratitude for those in our corner.

DID YOU KNOW THERE’S A BALL? Because I won’t shut up about those scenes for at least the next 100 business days. I’m telling y’all there were MANY moments that I could not get enough of. I loved the pacing and interactions and side characters and the setting and just all the things.

I would like to note that unfortunately there is a LOT of language for a young adult book and that was a bummer.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: very high
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: loss of a loved one, physical altercation

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC Book Review: Well Versed (Well Met #5) by Jen DeLuca

GoodeyReads1 Comment

Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Jen DeLuca
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: September 22nd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s a second chance at first love at the Renaissance Faire, where the search for a new queen shapes a destiny, from USA Today bestselling author Jen DeLuca.

Caitlin Parker was a teenager when she fell out of love with the magic of the Willow Creek Renaissance Faire—the site of her first real heartbreak. But now, twenty-four and unemployed, she finds herself in her childhood bedroom and her childhood lady-in-waiting costume, assisting a rotating cast of substitute queens for the season. The very last person she wants to see is Alexander Wright—the sword-fighting, Shakespeare-spouting young man who won and broke her teenage heart. Yet there he is, older, annoyingly hotter, and back on stage at her Faire.

When Alex broke things off with Caitlin five years ago, he thought he was just ending a summer fling. He didn’t realize how much he’d fallen for her until he let her go, and he certainly didn’t know he’d tarnished her memories of her cherished Faire and worse, shattered her view on love and relationships. His need to right that wrong this summer brings them together again and again, and the four-year age difference that kept them apart years ago isn’t a big deal now. This time, it won’t be so easy to let go of this summer fling.

But as summer winds down, real life is catching up to both of them. Caitlin’s always thought that being an adult with adult responsibilities means leaving whimsy behind. Alex, with a life full of stage combat, songs, and sonnets, doesn’t know how to live any other way. Can they go after their dreams and find a future together where they can still say “huzzah”?

Thank you Berkley for the gifted eARC.

NOT QUITE.

Unfortunately, this didn’t have the same vibes as the first four books in this series (all of which I adored). What was interesting was that this was the first book I’ve ever read with the FMC having the same name (and spelled the same) as mine. So that was wild.

What was frustrating to me is that Caitlin acted younger than 24 even though she kept referencing that she was an adult now. The fact she swore off love over Alex didn’t make sense to me. It seemed like an over reaction and that was an immediate turn off.

I did like the banter and chemistry between Alex and Caitlin when they were both just being sweet with each other. There’s a good handful of out of pocket commentary from Caitlin but it can be ignored, mostly. It was fun being at the Ren Fest again and seeing all of the romances from the previous books too.

They are definitely a couple that needed a little more communication but the entire book wasn’t a wash. It’s a good summer romance and it ends sweetly so all in all, I’m not mad I read it.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3ish open door
  • Violence: low

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph