Tag: goodeyreads

Book Review: Wisteria (Belladonna #3) by Adalyn Grace

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 432 pages
Author: Adalyn Grace
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Release Date: August 20th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace delivers a sensational conclusion to the deathly and decadent Belladonna trilogy, with dramatic twists and a seductive new romance that will set readers’ hearts ablaze.

Blythe Hawthorne has never let anyone tell her what to do—not society, not her overprotective father, and certainly not the man she’s bound herself to, no matter how rude and insufferable he is. In fact, she’s determined to be a thorn in his side for the rest of her days, even as he ensures that her life in his palace is anything but a fairytale. But as Blythe discovers a new side of herself linked to his past, she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to let an unexpected spark ignite…and to discover the truth about who she really is.

DON’T COME AT ME.

Four stars is totally a valid rating and it also hurts me to feel more inclined to give this one four stars rather than five. I did physically read this installment vs. audiobook like I did for the previous books. I don’t know if that changed my perception but it must have to some degree.

My issues that I noticed were around some of the plot aspects. I feel like there were a few holes and things that kind of sprung up out of nowhere.

But. That aside, I loved the enemies to lovers romance. It was top tier. I loved the slow build and growth between Fate and Blythe. I loved getting to see Signa and Death again. The story line was good in the grand scheme. I liked picking this up and reading. I look forward to whatever stories Grace writes next.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low-moderate
  • Romance: one vague open door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: loss of life, attempted murder

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Book Review: The Holiday Mix-Up by Ginny Baird

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Ginny Baird
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: October 10th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Lonely-hearted waitress Katie Smith has nowhere to go for Christmas, and a huge crush on her gorgeous diner patron Juan Martinez. So when Juan asks Katie to pose as his girlfriend for holiday festivities at his family’s winery, Katie leaps at the chance… that is, until an accident lands Juan in a coma right after giving his folks the “news.”

Katie knows she should tell the Martinezes the truth, but when they immediately embrace her, Katie is reluctant to let her fantasy of a family holiday go. And then there’s Juan’s brother, Mateo, whose smile tugs at her heartstrings just right—and who tells her perfect Juan might not be everything he seems.

Second son Mateo Martinez loves his brother, but Juan’s plan to “rebrand and expand” Los Cielos Cellars has cost their family too much and put its entire tradition in jeopardy. Katie seems to understand, but she’s still committed to Juan… even when Mateo starts to wish her gentle heart and beautiful smile were committed to him instead.

With the winery at stake, secrets on all sides, and Juan due to wake up any day, can Katie and Mateo follow their hearts to a Christmas miracle, or will this mix-up ruin their chances?

IT WAS FINE.

I think this book could work for a good amount of people, I just didn’t have intense feelings about much of this. I thought the initial premise was intriguing. I thought it would go one way and it went another and I rolled with it. I thought most scenes were sweet and I did like the couple.

There were also LOTS of holiday cheer. I liked all of the activities and traditions throughout. Really brought that winter atmosphere. I also adored the tight knit family and learning their story too.

The third act did make me quirk my head a bit and I thought things were slightly blown out of proportion. Otherwise, that’s kind of it. It’s a short read and maybe for you??

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: Never Forgotten by Hannah Linder

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Mystery + Romance
Length: 390 pages
Author: Hannah Linder
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Release Date: November 1st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

All He Wanted was Justice. All She Wanted was His Heart.
 
Georgina Whitmore, not accustomed to any man being unaffected by her charms, is plagued with the disappearance and rejection of Simon Fancourt. Twelve years later, Mr. Fancourt returns to British society with two children and a mad hunger for justice.
 
Racing against time, Simon works to uncover the men responsible for his wife’s horrific murder, protect his children, and fulfill his father’s unexpected will by marrying Georgina—the last thing in the world he wants to do.
 
Though her heart throbs to accept, she would rather lose him again than have his name without his love. She denies his proposal of matrimony, knowing it will cost them both. But as tragedies unravel and secret enemies narrow their sights on Simon, Georgina risks her life—and her reputation—to protect him and the children. Will the danger scorch them alive? Or will it, for the first time, open his heart to her?

Thank you to the author and Barbour Fiction for my gifted copy.

HEART-WRENCHING.

What I love about Hannah Linder books is how well she balances the darkness of the stories with light and hope. The mystery starts off with an immediate attention grabber and the need for justice.

I loved the twists and turns this story took. I appreciate having multiple points of view to add the dimension to different thoughts and perspectives. The unrequited love was a steady slow burn and I enjoyed seeing both characters learn and work on their flaws while using their strengths to persevere.

It’s emotional and complex and I loved how things came together in the end. I have enjoyed every single one of Hannah Linder’s books and can’t wait for future reads.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Mystery + Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: murder, suicide, blood/gore depiction

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Book Review: Guy’s Girl by Emma Noyes

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Emma Noyes
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: October 24th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The boy who couldn’t love and the girl who wouldn’t.

Ginny Murphy is a total guy’s girl. She’s always found friendships with boys easier to form and keep drama-free – as long as they don’t fall for her, and she doesn’t fall for them. She and her best guy friends have stuck to that. But then she meets Adrian Silvas, the only one who’s ever made her crave more, and Ginny begins to question her own rules.

Piece by piece, Ginny and Adrian begin to fall into something intoxicating, something dangerous. Ginny threatens to destroy the belief Adrian’s held ever since witnessing his own mother’s heartbreak: that love isn’t worth the risk. For Ginny, the stakes could be even higher. Letting Adrian get close could mean exposing a secret she’s long protected: her disordered eating.

Ginny isn’t looking to be saved by someone. But maybe she and Adrian can help each other – if they don’t destroy each other first.

Heartfelt and evocative, Guy’s Girl is a powerful story about true love, self-love, and growing up.

THIS BOOK.

Oh my gosh this book about took me out. It was an very hard book to read, and a very good book too. The eating disorders are a present theme throughout and are written in the rawest form. It pulled at every muscle in my soul and had me teary eyed at the gym finishing it.

I loved the romance. It also about broke me too. The struggle and push and pull between Ginny and Adrian was dramatic chaos in the best ways. I was anxiously waiting for them to find each other again and again and again.

There are so many hard hitting moments about not feeling good enough, the journey to finding your worth and being healthy too. I appreciate the reality of the roller coaster of a journey. Many things aren’t linear and this was balanced beautifully. Gosh I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary + Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2-3 brief open door
  • Content Warnings: graphic depictions of multiple eating disorders, grief and depression

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