Tag: goodeyreads

ARC Book Review: Ship of Spells by H. Leighton Dickson

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Rating: ★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 500 pages
Author: H. Leighton Dickson
Publisher: Red Tower Books
Release Date: November 4th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A war-scarred mage. A sentient ship. A secret that could drown empires.

When Ensign Bluemage Honor Renn is rescued from the wreckage of her first naval post, she expects death or disgrace. Instead, she wakes aboard the Touchstone, a mythic vessel whispered of in dockside ballads and royal war rooms alike. With a crew of misfits. A mysterious, elven captain. And a mission tied to the Dreadwall, the crumbling barrier that has kept the Overland and Nethersea from open war for a hundred years.

But the tragedy that sank her last ship didn’t just take lives—it left something behind.

Now Renn carries a secret everyone wants. A magik that’s chimeric, arcane…and slowly killing her. But the captain’s mission may be her only chance to survive, even if he still doesn’t trust her.

Caught between privateers, princes, and spies, Renn knows each choice could sink her future—or set the sea on fire.

Ship of Spells is perfect for readers who crave the raw grit of Arya Stark, the world-building of Samantha Shannon, and the slow-burn tension of enemies who should never trust or want each other.

Thank you to Red Tower Books and Kaye Publicity for the gifted ARC.

PLEASE DON’T.

I honestly don’t even want to write this review but I’m going to mention some of the issues I had with this book and why I took one for the team and I’m going to need you to go read a different romantasy.

The biggest notable complaint was the unexplainable world building. So much so that I still can’t tell you what the FMC looks like. Was I ever told? I’M NOT SURE. There were also made up words and phrases/dialogue that I believe were elements to the world building but with the lack of explanation I was confused from the first chapter (and my husband even read a few chapters and was like, what is going on????).

This “enemies to lovers” might be one of the worst I’ve come across and not for one second did I think these two had chemistry.

I’m still at a loss for what was the true point of the plot. I don’t know what message it was trying to convey or where the FMC was supposed to go on her journey.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy romance
  • Language: mild+
  • Romance: 1 cringey open door
  • Violence: moderate

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ALC Book Review: Arrow of Fortune (Raiders of the Arcana #3) by Jacquelyn Benson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Fantasy
Length: 538 pages
Author: Jacquelyn Benson
Publisher: Vaughan Woods Publishing
Release Date: November 18th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A well-behaved lady historian ought to avoid haunted forests… not plunge into them seeking an invincible weapon of the gods. Ellie Mallory didn’t exactly volunteer to prevent the most dangerous artifact of the Ramayana from falling into the wrong hands—but if one has been coerced into an adventure, the least one can do is bring along a few friends.

Constance Tyrrell has new daggers stuffed in her garters, a thirst to discover everything India has to offer… and absolutely no interest in Dr. Neil Fairfax, Ellie’s scholarly stepbrother. Meanwhile, Neil finds himself wrangling a magical sword along with his increasingly tangled feelings about a certain doe-eyed danger gnome.

Then there’s Adam Bates—handy with a machete, perpetually shirtless, and about to face some unsettling ghosts of his past.

Together, they must follow the footsteps of an ancient hero from the festivals of Puri to the shadowy depths of a legendary forest, racing a brutal colonial administrator with allies of his own—including the complicated and mysterious Mr. Jacobs.

It will take all Ellie’s resources—from a working knowledge of practical chemistry to a highly excitable dog—to beat a new sort of demon to the place where a holy power has lain hidden for two thousand years… alongside the secret history of the woman at the heart of India’s greatest story.

Pick up Arrow of Fortune and plunge into the next epic historical fantasy adventure in the Raiders of the Arcana series.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ALC.

IT WAS GOOD.

I loved the first two books in this series so when I heard ALC’s were on Netgalley, I RAN and then binged this as fast as I could. It was another wild adventure and I loved being back with these characters.

This book did highlight one frustrating thing for me. If there’s going to be a series I don’t love seeing a couple fully endgame by book one. So now that I’m in book three there’s a distinct lack of tension and angst between Ellie and Adam because they’re together. I just wish the burn had been spread out through at least two books.

I did enjoy the romance between Constance and Neil. The dynamic between them was amped up more and I loooove a good argument turn make-out session.

Some of the plot felt a bit repetitive to the other books. Go to a new location, find an ancient artifact and try not to die. And do that a few more times. It’s still easy to read and covers multiple important topics, I’m just hoping book four brings a different edge.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical fantasy romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Saved by Noel by Tracy Baack

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Holiday Romance
Length: 301 pages
Author: Tracy Baack
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 1st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Everyone says to dream big . . . but how do you turn those big dreams into reality?

From the time she was a little girl, Clara’s dream has been to write romance movie scripts for her favorite television channel. But not just any love stories—Christmas romance is her particular obsession. Unfortunately, that dream has taken a back seat to the demands of her real job as a copywriter and manager.

Clara’s big break comes when her late aunt leaves her an inheritance with one stipulation she must spend the money on something to help her achieve her writing dream. And Clara knows just what to do with it. She purchases a small cabin in the woods to serve as a writing retreat. With the perfect cozy atmosphere, Clara is finally ready to prioritize her lifelong goal.

However, she’s sidetracked when an unfortunate mishap lands her face-to-face with Clark, the town handyman. After an initial spark of attraction, Clara soon discovers that Clark is decidedly not a Christmas enthusiast. She quickly gets distracted by the broody man she can’t forget and the small town that embraces her as one of its own.

Will Clara get so sidetracked helping Clark and the town that her dream slowly dies? Or will they be just the inspiration she needs to make all her dreams come true?

Calling all Hallmark Christmas movie lovers! Saved by Noel is the perfect book for anyone who loves cozy Christmas romances. You’ll find all the heart-melting, feet-kicking swoon with zero explicit content in this closed-door, kisses only sweet romance.

MIXED THOUGHTS.

This is my first book by the author, and while not my faaavorite. I would read another and am curious what stories she’ll write next. Sometimes a holiday romance just doesn’t quite click for me and I had that issue here.

It is a charming book, very Hallmark-esque (with some meta vibes because she wants to write holiday scripts). What I struggled with was the initial Clara had about the town and it not being Christmas-y enough. Some thing bugged me with the way she approached Clark about it and I thought the plot needed another layer. After that though I think it settled better into the banter and cute moments. There’s some good small town moments and I think had a sweet ending.

Overall audience notes:

  • Holiday Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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Book Review: Last Night Was Fun by Holly James

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Holly James
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: June 10th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

You’ve Got Mail meets The Hating Game! Vying for a promotion against a bitter rival as the only female data analyst for a professional baseball team, Emmy finds solace in the text-flirting relationship that started as a wrong number exchange—unaware that the man she’s texting is the one she’s fighting for the promotion.

Emmy Jameson lives by three no dating, no sharing personal news at work, and baseball above everything. As the only female data analyst for a professional baseball team, Emmy is constantly trying to prove herself.

Especially when she’s put up for a senior analyst position against her arrogant, infuriating coworker Gabe Olson. Sure, he’s gorgeous and smart and he was a baseball star in college who knows the sport inside and out, but so does Emmy. She is not going to lose to him again. There will be no distractions this summer. Not even her sister’s pending destination wedding in Mexico for which she needs to find a plus one.

But then she receives a text from an unknown number with a simple  “Last night was fun.” When she strikes up a conversation with the mystery texter, they realize that he was given a fake phone number after a bad date that just so happened to be Emmy’s. Despite her rules, Emmy can’t deny the instant connection she feels and soon finds herself falling for the stranger on the other side of the screen…and inviting him to her sister’s wedding.

Thank you to Avon Books for the gifted copy.

IT WAS FUN.

This was a new to me author and I did like it y’all!!! Random book mail success story here.

I thought most of it was super cute. I loved the texting conversations and banter and the way that the reader knows what’s happening but the characters haven’t clued in yet. It’s got an overall sweet quality to the story line.

BUUUUUT. Y’all know I will rant about a ridiculous third act and here we are. I haaaaate the let me interrupt you ten times rather than just letting you finish one sentence so I can understand what’s happening trope. Gabe deserved ONE SENTENCE. Meh.

Anyways, I think I would read another book from this author. It was a quick read that was overall on the lighter side and hit the spot.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: mild+
  • Romance: 2ish open door
  • Content warnings: loss of a brother (recounted, addiction)

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