Book Review: Empire of Shadows (Raiders of the Arcana #1) by Jacquelyn Benson

March 20, 2026March 25, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fantasy Romance
Length: 478 pages
Author: Jacquelyn Benson
Publisher: Crimson Fox Publishing
Release Date: April 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Nice Victorian ladies don’t run off to find legendary lost cities.

One trifling little arrest shouldn’t have cost Ellie Mallory her job, but it’s only the latest in a line of injustices facing any educated woman with archaeological ambitions.

When Ellie stumbles across the map to a mysterious ancient city, she knows she’s holding her chance to revolutionize Pre-Colombian history. There’s just one teensy complication. A ruthless villain wants it, and Ellie is all that stands in his way.

To race him to the ruins—and avoid being violently disposed of—she needs the help of maverick surveyor Adam Bates, a snake-wrangling rogue who can’t seem to keep his dratted shirt on.

But there’s more than Ellie’s scholarly reputation (and life) on the line. Her enemies aren’t just looters. They’re after an arcane secret rumored to lie in the heart of the ruins, a mythical artifact with a power that could shake the world.

Between stealing trousers, plummeting over waterfalls, and trying not to fall in love with her machete-wielding partner, will Ellie be able to stop the oracle of a lost empire from falling into the wrong hands?

Empire of Shadows is the first book in Jacquelyn Benson’s smart, swashbuckling Raiders of the Arcana series. Read it now and dive into a rip-roaring historical fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Romancing the Stone and The Mummy.

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

This has been on and off my TBR since it released but I finally dove in when the audiobook was available and I do NOT REGERT MY DECISION Y’ALL. If you loved What the River Knows, I need you to go pick this one up too. I loved the historical fantasy vibes with some Indian Jones and The Mummy mixed in.

I was smitten from the beginning. And loved the way the romance flowed throughout the story. There’s heated tension, lots of action and perilous danger around every corner and the audiobook production is just fantastic. I could not get enough of listening to this book and the hours flew by.

(I realized that I had read the first book in this author’s previous series and had mixed thoughts on it so this just goes to show you that trying an author a second time can be a win).

I immediately downloaded book two and will be getting to that ASAP. I am obsessed with these characters, the SWOONY romance, and the fast action-packed plot.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Fantasy Romance
Language: low
Romance: heated make-outs
Violence: moderate – high
Content Warnings: weapons violence, near death experiences, attempted murder

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Book Review: The Silent Canary by Angela Bricker

March 14, 2026February 18, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: Historical Fiction
Length: 354 pages
Author: Angela Bricker
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 4th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

1916, England
War pacifist Poppy Pemburton celebrates her twenty-third birthday on the front steps of the Chilwell, England ammunition factory with her favorite anti-war sign and her well-loved marching boots. War tears families apart and Poppy will certainly not allow it anywhere near the only family she has left. But when Poppy’s dearest friend, Luca, answers the Great War’s call to enlist, Poppy is willing to set aside her morals and join forces with the yellow-skinned Chilwell munition workers, known as canary girls, to bring Luca home safe. Because the only thing worse than the possibility of Luca dying in war, is Luca dying without knowing Poppy loves him.

German spy Jakob Kirtchner is sent to England with one chance left to prove himself. Jakob’s assignment: infiltrate the Chilwell ammunition factory by any means necessary. New employee Poppy Pemburton proves the perfect means. Germany will win the Great War. If Poppy falls with England, so be it. He just can’t fall with her. Or for her.

Based on the true story of the Chilwell ammunition factory explosion and inspired by real people, The Silent Canary stretches our understanding of what it means to find bravery in the depths of our darkest moments, and forgiveness despite our deepest fears.

WONDERFUL DEBUT.

I’ve been on the fence about reading this one but I’m grateful I waited for the audiobook and went ahead and took a chance anyways. I had a very hard time putting it down and thought the audiobook production and narrators were awesome.

While this is romance heavy I do think it maintains a fiction focus with strong romantic lines. It’s not a linear journey by any means and I guarantee at some point you’ll feel angry and full of anguish. But there’s hope and light between the pages too.

I won’t speak too much to the romance because it is a love triangle with a lot of moving parts that I think are best read without commentary. I will note I was okay with how things came together in the end and thought it made the most sense (and this was the angle I was hoping for too).

There was one small plot point that I’m iffy on. I don’t know that I feel like it was absolutely necessary to tack on at the end when it could have been left out. But that was my only issue. I will definitely be picking up whatever Angela Bricker decides to write next.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Fiction
Language: low
Romance: closed door
Violence: high
Content warnings: themes and setting in WW1, loss of life, torture, prisoners of war, mass losses of life

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ARC Book Review: Bridge of Betrayal (Falcon Point Historical #3) by A.L. Sowards

March 3, 2026February 12, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 310 pages
Author: A.L. Sowards
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: March 3rd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sometimes it takes a small deception to uncover the truth.

England, 1954

Anna Lang lost everyone she loved during the Second World War—except her cherished music teacher, Esther Haymann. When Miss Haymann dies under suspicious circumstances and rumors of suicide swirl, Anna doesn’t want to believe them. Her doubts intensify when she catches a stranger rifling through Miss Haymann’s papers, claiming a link between her death and that of renowned scientist Alan Turing.

Arthur Cavendish, a former prisoner of war in Korea, can’t completely escape the nightmares of combat and captivity. Nor can he forget that Dr. Turing’s advice once saved his life, so Arthur is determined to get to the bottom of his associate’s alleged suicide, even if it involves trespassing and danger.

When a suspicious fire nearly kills Arthur and Anna, they form a reluctant alliance to clear their mentors’ names. From shadowy corners of seaside resorts to the guarded gates of a secret government agency at Hanslope Park, Anna and Arthur chase elusive clues—and wrestle with their growing attraction for each other. With divergent goals and hidden secrets, a future together seems unlikely. Yet as more and more pieces of the puzzle fall into place, a sinister pattern unfolds, and they find that their hearts are not the only things at risk. Uncovering the truth might cost them their lives.

Thank you to the publisher and the author for a gifted copy.

BEAUTIFUL STORY.

This was incredibly easy to fly through. I loved being back with these characters and getting to see Anna’s story. Her growth in learning to let go of the things she couldn’t hold on to was full of strength. I love reading about resilient characters. And I really liked the spy mission vibes of this one!

I loved the connection between Arthur and Anna. It had the essence of being what the other person needed, while also meeting each other where they were on their path. The soft moments combined with the protective hero moments are always my favorite.

The historical points were great and it was interesting to see a 1950’s England and how perilous things still were post WW2. It’s well research and in combination with the author notes at the end I felt like I learned a lot (and that’s one of my favorite aspects of historical fiction books).

Overall audience notes:

Historical Fiction Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: moderate
Content warnings: gun violence, physical altercations, PTSD, war themes and multiple mentions of torture (recounted), near death experiences, loss of loved ones

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ARC Book Review: A Love Most Daring (Bow Street #3) by Joanna Barker

February 28, 2026February 10, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Joanna Barker
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Release Date: March 3rd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From best-selling author Joanna Barker: Proper romance meets page-turning mystery in this captivating tale of danger, redemption, and love worth fighting for.

After years of whispered gossip and quiet exile in the countryside, Beatrice Lacey arrives in London determined to reclaim her life. But her resolve is shaken when she witnesses a horrific attack tied to a chilling high-profile murder case gripping the city.

Thrust into sudden danger, Beatrice finds herself under the reluctant protection of Alexander Rawlings—a brooding Bow Street officer with a guarded heart and a fierce sense of duty. Though it’s clear he’d rather be chasing the killer than shielding a scandal-stained Society miss, their forced closeness begins to unravel his defenses. In the unnerving moments between danger and discovery, every sharp exchange and lingering glance fans a slow-burning connection—one neither of them expected and neither can resist.

With danger closing in and old wounds resurfacing, trust may be their only refuge—and love their most daring risk of all.

Thank you Shadow Mountain and Joanna Barker for the gifted copy.

THE SWOOOOOOON.

This felt very Pride and Prejudice coded to me. In allllll the best ways. Add in some suspense and I became a goner. I could not get enough of each and every page. I LOVE both of these characters and the banter will have you giggling and kicking your feet like none other.

I’m a sucker for forced proximity that doesn’t feel forced and the natural way of the romance was amazing. Stuck in a home together? FOR PROTECTION? Say less. I loved the impeccable slow burn and the intensity of feelings you could feel coming off in waves from Beatrice and Alexander. I also forgot how much I love in historicals when they use their first name??? Good heavens.

I loved the setting, I loved the mystery of the suspense and how the added elements only increased my enjoyment. Everything is balanced beautifully and I know you’ll have a hard time putting this one down. READ IT OKAY.

Overall audience notes: