Book Review: The Heart of the Rebellion by Sian Ann Bessey

January 28, 2026January 18, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 276 pages
Author: Sian Ann Bessey
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: November 1st, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

September 1400

King Richard II of England is dead. And after three years in His Majesty’s service, Rhys ap Tudor and his brother Gwilym are finally free to return to their ancestral home in North Wales. Their long- anticipated homecoming is overshadowed, however, by the harsh changes they encounter in their once peaceful land. The new king, Henry IV, rules with an iron fist, and the country is ripe for rebellion. Instantly thrust into the forefront of the conflict, the proud Tudor brothers enter the fight for their freedom.

Lady Catrin Buckley is alert to the unrest swirling around her. As the daughter of an English father and a Welsh mother, she knows too well the trouble her lineage poses. Her own battle, however, is one of the heart: she is to be married to a man she neither knows nor loves. Then an unexpected encounter with the enigmatic Rhys ap Tudor changes everything. Soon, Catrin finds herself swept into a rebellion that could not only change history but also rewrite her own future.

GOOD HISTORICAL.

I am trying to clear out my audible line up so it doesn’t make me anxious with how many books I want to get through and a libby lull allowed me to get some good back list books! I enjoyed this historical a lot. I loved the unique time period setting and the intensity of emotions between characters.

It’s a great audiobook and I loved the narrator. I love when historical feel well researched and I always walk away feeling like I learned more about the setting (even when the characters are fictional). The romance is sweet and passionate too. The draw between Rhys and Catrin can be felt through the pages. Filled with action and betrayals this was a fantastic listen.

Overall audience notes:

Historical romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: high

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Book Review: Seeing Miss Heartstone by Nichole Van

January 26, 2026January 18, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 315 pages
Author: Nichole Van
Publisher: Fiorenza Publishing
Release Date: November 1st, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Miss Belle Heartstone—heiress and savvy businesswoman—needs a husband. Immediately. As in, yesterday would not have been soon enough. Her mother’s attempts at matchmaking have been disastrous. So Belle decides to solve the problem her way—survey the market and purchase the best groom available.

Colin Radcliffe, Marquess of Blake—debt-ridden and penniless—needs a large infusion of cash. Desperately. Preferably cash that does not come with a wife attached. It is no surprise, then, when he receives Miss Heartstone’s brazen proposal—her cash, his title, their marriage—that he politely declines.

But before he leaves her, Blake suggests something truly radical: Maybe before finding a husband, Belle should find herself.
His simple words send them both on an unexpected journey, spanning continents and years, entwining their lives in ways neither could have foreseen. Can two lonely souls move past societal expectations and forge a unique life together?

LOVED THE CONCEPT.

I am on a quest to finish Nichole Van’s backlist and I loved checking this one off. The premise is unique and crafted beautifully. Those starting chapters were a hoot and there was an easy dynamic between Colin and Belle. I enjoyed the progression through letters and seeing Belle really own herself and what she wants in a time period where that wasn’t always possible.

The chemistry was undeniable and I loved all of the moments that Colin and Belle found to be together. It’s one of those slowww burns that brings out all the feelings of JUST KISS ALREADY.

The audiobook is great and I had some minor quips about some plot things but otherwise, a lovely regency romance that brought the swoon I was looking for.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Content Warnings: loss of a parent (recounted)

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Book Review: Yuletide Bride (Regency Christmas Brides) by Kasey Stockton

December 3, 2025November 23, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 245 pages
Author: Kasey Stockton
Publisher: Golden Owl Press
Release Date: November 18th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When a marriage of convenience becomes inconveniently complicated…

Mercy Caldwell, the vicar’s eldest daughter, has watched her younger sisters march down the aisle while she remains resolutely on the shelf. When a chance at matrimony arrives mere hours after her youngest sister’s engagement, Mercy seizes the opportunity—and the man she’s secretly admired for years.

Colin Birchall’s grand estate is crumbling, and his aunt’s generous inheritance comes with one he must be married by Twelfth Night. In Mercy, he finds the perfect candidate to meet his aunt’s exacting standards. It seems an ideal arrangement—until they’re forced to actually live together.

From differing views on marriage to clashing Christmas traditions, Mercy and Colin discover that convenience and compatibility are two very different things. But when Colin’s aunt arrives unannounced demanding proof of their love, they must convince her—and perhaps themselves—that their hastily forged union is more than just a festive facade.

Can Mercy and Colin turn their paper marriage into a love match before Twelfth Night? Or will their convenient arrangement crumble faster than Colin’s ancestral home?

Book three in the Regency Christmas Brides series,Yuletide Bride is a heartwarming holiday romance that proves love often arrives in the most unexpected packages—no bow required.

A DELIGHT.

I loved this book. I loved how fast pace it was and that it was just the right length to convey a full story and make for a quick read during a busy season. I haven’t read a regency in a minute and this reminded me of why I love them.

The holiday charm was in full swing and I love all of the historical aspects of those moments. And y’all know I’m a sucker for marriage of convenience so I knew I had to pick this one up. I looooved Mercy and Colin. They had a lot of differences to work through and I appreciated them learning how to communicate and be friends as that turned into love.

I appreciated that the aunt was eccentric but not overly dramatic. She provided the little spark for Colin and Mercy that really got the romance swinging and I loved all of the little tender moments and the slow burn on the kissing scenes brought the tension. You won’t regret picking this one up.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Christmas Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: none

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: November 2025

December 1, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Celebrating another turn around the sun! I hit it hard with holiday romances and found a couple new gems! Future reviews will be out soon or check my socials to see more breakdowns.