ARC Book Review: Fake Skating by Lynn Painter

September 30, 2025September 15, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: Upper YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 448 pages
Author: Lynn Painter
Publisher: Simon Teen
Release Date: September 30th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Childhood sweethearts reunite in a hockey-loving town where romance is about to heat up the ice. Icebreaker meets Better Than the Movies.

From play dates on the playground to sneaking into movie theaters, Dani and Alec were inseparable as kids. Until Dani moved away. Years later, Dani is back in Minnesota, and exited to reconnect with the nerdy and comforting Alec. But teenage Alec is NOTHING like the boy she remembers. He’s the hockey STAR in a town where hockey players are worshipped as gods – and he loves it.

When one thing leads to another and Dani and Alec find themselves thrown together and playing the role of boyfriend and girlfriend, “complicated” becomes an understatement. In this Minnesota town, hockey may rule, but romance is about to take its place.

Thank you Simon Teen for the gifted ARC and eARC.

WHAT A GEM.

I have read all of Lynn Painter’s books and honestly, not one has missed. I love knowing that I can pick up her books and I know that I will love the story and characters and have a boost of joy in my day.

It’s been a minute since I’ve read a hockey romance and this scratched that itch. I loved the teammates and games and the tense moments of not knowing what was going to happen next. I ADORED Alec and his snark and passion. He was aggressive (in a complimentary way) and the kissing scenes were light your kindle on fire worthy.

And I really loved Dani too. As a fellow child of divorce I recognized many of the same sentiments and thoughts. Alec and Dani had incredible chemistry and I could not get enough of them on page. Amidst the drama filled moments they kept finding ways to be together.

OH, And Grandpa Mick??? LOVE THAT MAN. And Dani’s Mom. And Alec’s family. And Alec and Dani’s friends. Honestly, I loved all of these characters. I love that the antagonists were kept to a small circle and that I got to read about good friends and families figuring life out with love and kindness.

The more I write this review the more I am realizing how much I loved this book. You must go read it!!

Overall audience notes:

Upper YA Contemporary Romance
Language: very strong (too strong for YA)
Romance: heated kisses
Violence: mild+
Content warnings: divorced parents, physical altercations, underage drinking

Book Review: The Shadow of the Gods (Bloodsworn Saga #1) by John Gwynne

September 29, 2025September 21, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 480 pages
Author: John Gwynne
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: May 6th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Set in a brand-new, Norse-inspired world, and packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeance, The Shadow of the Gods begins an epic new fantasy saga from bestselling author John Gwynne.

After the gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrið.

Now a new world is rising, where power-hungry jarls feud and monsters stalk the woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power for those brave – or desperate – enough to seek them out.

Now, as whispers of war echo across the mountains and fjords, fate follows in the footsteps of three people: a huntress on a dangerous quest, a noblewoman who has rejected privilege in pursuit of battle fame, and a thrall who seeks vengeance among the famed mercenaries known as the Bloodsworn.

All three will shape the fate of the world as it once more falls under the shadow of the gods . . .

NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING.

I fully went into this book thinking I would love it and I am now sitting here wondering if I read a different book than all of the great reviews I read of this one. It wasn’t BAD, truly wasn’t, but there were a few things that didn’t work for me.

And maybe this was an audio issue? All of the names sounded very similar and it took me a bit to recognized who was who and what was going on with each POV. I loved that it had multiple POV’s but with so many side characters within each POV I started to get a bit lost. Frankly, I feel like I still don’t have a good grasp on the world building or everything that’s happening.

I did like Orka and Elvar’s POV’s the most. I was the most interested and engaged in their quests and journeys. I think the cover gave me vibes for something more intense and while there are action scenes and battles and such, with the lack of character driven-ness, I wasn’t feeling any sort of way about anyone who died.

Right now I can’t say I want to continue the series. It would take some major convincing to do so.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy
Language: low
Romance: closed door
Violence: high

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ARC Book Review: It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard

September 28, 2025September 17, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 432 pages
Author: Joss Richard
Publisher: Dell Romance
Release Date: September 30th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this sweeping, second-chance romance, a twist of fate forces two former roommates to move back into their beloved New York City brownstone and face the events that led to their estrangement—and confront their unresolved feelings for each other.

Subject 74 Perry Street

So begins the email that turns June Wood’s entire world on its head. Five years ago, she lived on Perry Street with her former best friend Adam Harper. But why is the management company reaching out to her about it now?

Still smarting from the news of her hit TV show being canceled, June has nothing else to lose. She boards a plane from Los Angeles to New York City to find out more about the mysterious email and the promised opportunity it alludes to. It turns out that, thanks to an unbelievable legal loophole, if she and Adam can live together in the stunning West Village brownstone for a month, it’s theirs. Any true New Yorker knows you don’t pass up prime city real estate, and that fall in the city is magical—so what’s there to think about?

And yet, though most things have changed in the time since they last spoke, one thing hasn’ June and Adam have unfinished business. They didn’t exactly end on good terms when they each went off to chase their dreams. Now, confronted with the consequences of their choices, they must navigate the minefield of their past the best way they know together.

Every day they move closer to owning Perry Street reveals misunderstandings, long-term resentments, and long-buried feelings . . . which are suddenly feeling very, very not so buried. But they’ve already lost their friendship once before, devastating them both. Can they risk losing it again for something a little different this time?

Thank you Dell Romance for the gifted ARC.

NOT ALL I HOPED FOR.

I liked this. I did. But the more I think about it the more I’m realizing it didn’t really invoke any emotion in me. I also thought it would be more fall adjacent (the cover seems to say so) and I wish that atmosphere had been more prevalent.

It’s a good enough second chance romance. Kind of typical careers (chef x actress) with an unique living situation. The flashback chapters added a little bit to the present plot but I would have loved more yearning and tension. By the time I got to the why the broke up the first time I was not surprised and honestly a little mad. I am incredibly tired of FMC’s running away.

Adam was super sweet and I did like him the most (give me dual POV!!). Learning more about him and seeing him on page was my favorite aspect of the book. And I did love June’s friend Chloe too!

It’s Different This Time is a debut and I would love to see what a sophomore book looks like from this author.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: 3+ish open door
Content warnings: loss of a mother (recounted, cancer), absent parents

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Book Review: Scorched Earth (Dark Shores #4) by Danielle L. Jensen

September 27, 2025September 14, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Upper YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 752 pages
Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: August 5th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The thrilling finale in Danielle L. Jensen’s Dark Shores series, which Sarah J. Maas calls “everything I look for in a fantasy novel.”

Lydia and Killian escaped their enemy’s grasp, but not without consequences. While they race to destroy the blight, Lydia fights an internal war against the Corrupter’s influence knowing defeat means death for those she loves. Tormented by a battle that can’t be won with blades, Killian must find the queen they risked everything to rescue without falling prey to Corrupter’s weapons, both living and dead.

Teriana and Marcus thwarted assassination, but now must live with the dark truths that have been revealed. As Teriana hunts for allies, she must face the dire circumstances of her imprisoned people, driving her to strike a dangerous deal with the Empire. Consumed by guilt over his crimes, Marcus embarks on an ambitious campaign to save those he condemned, which risks him becoming the conqueror the Empire desires him to be.

With the blight consuming everything in its path and the Empire crushing everyone who stands before it, Reath is falling beneath the tide of evil. Secrets will be revealed that break hearts even as they forge new alliances, but only the greatest sacrifices of all will turn the tide in the battle for the liberty of every nation on Reath.

ONE OF THE BEST.

I have been waiting for this book for so long and it delivered 1000x over. If you haven’t picked up this series yet YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD. DLJ does not miss and I hope she has a few more YA/NA stories in the future.

This is one of those big thick books where I don’t even notice the page length. It’s amazing as a physical read, it’s amazing on audio. I am obsessed with every single one of these characters. I loved their arcs and journey the ROMANCE, the action and tension, JUST EVERYTHING. I could go on and on about how beautifully crafted each POV was in this plot. (The only thing I would beg for were some POV chapters from a few others I love).

Without wanting to cross into spoiler territory, I will say it ends in all the ways you could hope for. Expect to feel every single emotion, shed a few tears, and ponder the fact you’ll never get to read this book for the first time again.

Overall audience notes: