Tag: goodeyreads

Book Review: The Splendor of Fire (The Hebridean Shield #2) by Ashley Worrell

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Christian Romance
Length: 376 pages
Author: Ashley Worrell
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: October 22nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Left without a voice after being lost at sea, and unable to communicate except with the man she calls Father, Moira Allen has spent her life running wild among the treetops on the Isle of Skye. Observing and sketching everything around her, and assisting Father with the care of “prestigious guests” inside the walls of Cràdh Prison, Moira’s untamed heart and sharp instincts have made her uniquely positioned to change the course of history.

Imprisoned by his brother Niall for disgracing his family and killing his sister Elspeth, Léo MacKinnon has known nothing but a life of loss. First the murder of his parents, then his abandonment in France by his brothers, his wife’s tragic death, and now his imprisonment and separation from his only child. Tragedies all spurred by Léo’s darkest and most painful secret. The secret that no one can ever know, yet it is the secret God will not let him forget.

As the Wolf and the MacKinnons tighten their hold on the Isle of Skye and the Kingdom of the Isles, Léo’s survival lays in the hands of a most unlikely champion—a mute and vibrant beauty who will slip into the heart of his captor, risking her safety, her virtue, and her life, all to ensure the freedom of the man she loves.

A GOOD SEQUEL.

(Though I don’t think you HAVE to read these in order, I would recommend it).

I find these books so intriguing. The stories pull you in with the intensity of the moment and the chaos of not knowing where things will go next. The need to know everyone makes it out alive and that the leads get their HEA. It’s easy to follow and read and highly engaging.

The instant love was a little meh to me. I thought things got off a little too quickly. There were some good gaps that helped but I think they argued about the same thing one too many times. I did love Leo and Moira though. They were both fantastic characters with a lot of strength and perseverance. The faith elements were woven in naturally and I look forward to continuing this series.

Overall audience notes:

  • Christian historical romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: attempted sexual assault, kidnapping, near death experiences, loss of life

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: We Were Liars (We Were Liars #1) by E. Lockhart

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: YA Mystery
Length: 242 pages
Author: E. Lockhart
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: May 13th, 2014
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from New York Times bestselling author, National Book Award finalist, and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.

Read it.

And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

WELL WELL WELL.

Honestly this book didn’t have a lot going for it but I will give it up for the twist, that one got me (and now I understand more why there’s over a million ratings for this on goodreads). The writing style is definitely unique and I actually enjoy an unreliable narrator so those were all good points for me.

Somehow for 250 pages though there were scenes that dragged or didn’t feel totally necessary. As previously mentioned though, the twist was interesting and gave me a better view point of the whole book.

I’m curious how this has a sequel?? I’m going to pick that one up soon.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Mystery
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: traumatic brain injury, loss of loved ones, arson

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: The Curse of Sins (The Curse of Saints #2) by Kate Dramis

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 640 pages
Author: Kate Dramis
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: June 25th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

STAY ANCHORED IN THE LIGHT, THEY TOLD HER. BUT WHAT HAD THE LIGHT EVER DONE FOR HER?

After discovering she’s prophesied to save the realm, Aya’s duty should be clear: return home with once-sworn enemy Will to serve their queen in the coming war against a rival kingdom…one whose pursuit of dark magic could bring the realm to its knees.

But with part of the prophecy still undiscovered, and their queen’s intentions increasingly suspect, Aya’s very purpose is quickly brought into question. With betrayal lurking around every corner, she and Will are forced to lie, manipulate, and hide what they’ve become to one another as they struggle to learn the truth before dark magic destroys them all.

And with secrets and lies trailing Aya wherever she goes, she has to wonder…do the gods truly want her to save the realm…or simply watch it burn?

TOOK TOO LONG.

I feel like everything in this book took too long to accomplish. Most of these characters were having the same thought throughout but weren’t actually getting anywhere to get it done until near the end when I was like FINALLY.

The romance continued well. I liked it overall. There’s good tension while still working together and figuring each other out. And I do like Aya and Will as complex characters. I mostly like the other point of view characters too. So while the book isn’t bad and has good bones and good moments, the length of this sucker started to wear on me. I hope the next book changes the pace a bit to move things around rather than feel stagnant.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: high
  • Romance: 3+ open door
  • Violence: high

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: July 2025

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

SHUT UP ABOUT THE SUN.

I will never stop using that quote. This is the lowest amount of reading I have done in a long time! And that’s okay. There was a LOOOOT of life happening and I needed to focus on that. Luckily the majority of these books were great. Some reviews are out now and others will be out soon!

  • Sunrise Nights by Jeff Zentner
  • Into the Abyss (Into the Churn #3) by Hayley Reese Chow
  • The Nightblood Prince by Molly X. Chang
  • [ARC] Wes and Addie Had Their Chance by Bethany Turner
  • [ARC] All’s Well that Friends Well (Lucky in Love #2) by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
  • Heir of Storms (Storm Weaver #1) by Lauren Hamilton Murray
  • Let’s Make a Scene (Theo & Cynthie #2) by Laura Wood
  • A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly (Compelling Fates Saga #1) by Sophia St. Germain
  • Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston
  • [ARC] Of the Curse of the Crown (The Veridian Empire #2) by V.B. Lacey
  • [ARC/ALC] Chasing Shelter (Sparrow Falls #5) by Catherine Cowles
  • Into the Dark (Magnolia Parks Universe #5) by Jessa Hastings
  • [ALC] The Enchanted Greenhouse (Spellshop #2) by Sarah Beth Durst
  • [ARC] A Tartan Love (The Earls of Cairnfell #1) by Nichole Van
  • [ARC/ALC] Steel & Spellfire by Laura E. Weymouth
  • Wicked Sea and Sky (Curse of Ever #1) by Jenna Collett
  • The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy (Dearly Beloathed #1) by Brigitte Knightley
  • Pros Don’t (Fall in Love #4) by Leah Dobrinska
  • Lore of the Tides (Lore of the Wilds #2) by Analeigh Sbrana
  • [ARC] If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair
  • [ARC/ALC] Soulmatch by Rebecca Danzenbaker
  • Family of Liars (We Were Liars #2) by E. Lockhart
  • [Reread] Gilded Serpent (Dark Shores #3) by Danielle L. Jensen
  • Soulgazer (The Magpie and the Wolf Duology #1) by Maggie Rapier
  • Wandering Wild by Lynette Noni
  • Trial of Bronze and Blood (Bronze and Blood Saga #1) by M.K. Deoradhan
  • Keeper of the Lost Cities The Graphic Novel: Part 1 by Shannon Messenger
  • Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge
  • [ARC/ALC] Falling Into Place by Allison Ashley
  • A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph