Book Review: In Spotlight and Shadow (Doors to the Past #11) by Rachel Scott McDaniel

February 21, 2024February 22, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Christian Romance
Length: 256 pages
Author: Rachel Scott McDaniel
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Release Date: February 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Elise Malvern has a habit of letting people down. Her former boyfriend who hoped she’d be his bride. Her grandfather who hoped she’d take over the family’s auction company. But mostly she’s disappointed herself. What’s the point of pursuing her passion as a violinist, if she is too scared to audition for a seat in the Pittsburgh Symphony? Her internship at the elegant Heinz Hall places her in the wings of the stage, but never on it. By accident, she discovers an old stage prop. Her instincts tell her there’s more to the paste necklace than meets the eye. Whether a good idea or not, she accepts help from a childhood friend, who happens to be country music megastar—Peirson Brooks. Peirson and Elise share a history; one she doesn’t care to repeat. The more involved they become in the mystery, the more things get tangled, including her heart.

A century earlier…
Sophie Walters longs for center stage, her name on the marquee, and all that jazz, but climbing her way into an acting career is more difficult than she imagined. Having spoiled all her chances in Hollywood, she returns to Pittsburgh, accepting an insignificant role in a popular production. She watches her dreams pass by from behind the curtain at the illustrious Loew’s Penn Theatre. She finally gets the coveted spotlight, but not for her talent. No, her surge to fame is all one terrible mistake. Somehow, she’s suspected to be a notorious jewel thief known around Pittsburgh as The Mirage. The man she pleads for help is none other than the man she jilted at the altar five years before, Sterling Monroe.

SWEET ROMANCES.

I really enjoyed this one! This was my second McDaniel book and I would easily continue picking them up. I love the themes and the characters are well written. Filled with strengths and weaknesses to work through.

The mystery element here was a lot of fun. I would not have guessed the final reveal and actually thought it was in of itself an interesting twist. There’s some intense what’s going to happen next moments that had me listening to this in one day (side note: loved the audiobook).

I thought both romances were super sweet. They were both second chance romances (with different reasonings) and I thought all of the moments were tender. Elise and Sophie both had plenty to learn about themselves and finding forgiveness within their actions and things out of their control.

Just one of those really solid books. Easily recommend if you’re okay with Christian themes (I’d say a moderate faith vein throughout) and looking for past/present timelines!

Overall audience notes:

Christian Historical Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: medium
Trigger/Content Warnings: physical and weapons violence, theft, grief

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Book Review: The Work of Art (Somerset Stories #1) by Mimi Matthews

February 19, 2024February 21, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 392 pages
Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
Release Date: July 23rd, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An Uncommon Beauty…
Hidden away in rural Devonshire, Phyllida Satterthwaite has always been considered more odd than beautiful. But in London, her oddity has made her a sensation. Far worse, it’s caught the eye of the sinister Duke of Moreland — a notorious art collector obsessed with acquiring one-of-a-kind treasures. To escape the duke’s clutches, she’s going to need a little help.

An Unlikely Hero…
Captain Arthur Heywood’s days of heroism are long past. Grievously injured in the Peninsular War, he can no longer walk unaided, let alone shoot a pistol. What use can he possibly be to a damsel in distress? He has nothing left to offer except his good name.

Can a marriage of convenience save Philly from the vengeful duke? Or will life with Arthur put her — and her heart — in more danger than ever?

STUNNING.

I just want to sit and read Mimi Matthews books all day. She is the QUEEN of closed door historical romances and I am obsessed.

This marriage of convenience story hit me in the feels. I adored our FMC Phyllida. She was filled with compassion and kindness and continually looked at the glass half full. All she wanted was a safe space to land and thank heavens for our unlikely hero, Arthur. Super swoony, PROTECTIVE (my kryptonite) and a wounded soul who found healing through love. And I love all of the heat that is still very much present without wide open doors. It’s tender and passionate. Everything I love seeing in romance books.

I thought the plot was interesting and I liked the little bit of mystery and intensity brought about by the awful Duke. I adored all of the dog content and how they played a true role in the story too. I just really love the way Matthews crafts stories. Her writing is gorgeous and fluid and brings about all of the emotions.

I am turning into a super fan and will not be turning back.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: very little
Romance: closed door
Violence: medium
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents, war injuries, PTSD, gun violence, animal attacks, near death experiences

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Book Review: Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

February 9, 2024February 12, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Nicole Platania
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. So when an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, to join her at a sprawling country estate, she jumps at the chance. Thinking she’ll be able to relax and enjoy her beloved English countryside while her sister snags the handsome heir of Edenbrooke, Marianne finds that even the best laid plans can go awry.

From a terrifying run-in with a highwayman to a seemingly harmless flirtation, Marianne finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure filled with enough romance and intrigue to keep her mind racing. Will Marianne be able to rein in her traitorous heart, or will a mysterious stranger sweep her off her feet? Fate had something other than a relaxing summer in mind when it sent Marianne to Edenbrooke.

PHILIP.

This was a reread.

I still whole heartedly love this book. It was one of the first romances I ever read and Philip is straight SWOOOOONY. I tabbed many pages because the chemistry is FIRE. I love how romantic the whole story is as a whole.

But I also must recognized that now, 10 years later and the first time I’ve ever reread Edenbrooke, there are some things that are in it that aren’t my favorite romantic tropes (i.e. miscommunication, and stepping aside for the sister).

It’s a gem in the end and completely holds my nostalgic heart.

Overall audience notes:
– Regency Romance
– Language: none
– Romance: kisses
– Violence: mild
– Trigger/Content Warning: kidnapping, gun violence, loss of a parent (off page)

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ARC Book Review: A Heart Sufficient (The Penn-Lieths of Thistle Muir #4) by Nichole Van

February 7, 2024January 21, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 430 pages
Author: Nichole Van
Publisher: Indie Published
Release Date: February 7th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Tristan Gilbert, the autocratic Duke of Kendall, has a clear plan for his future—destroy his father’s memory, obliterate his enemies, and become Prime Minister. Fortunately, he can accomplish all three goals by convincing Parliament to prosecute the Scottish Earl of Hadley. Once Hadley is vanquished, surely the Queen will recognize Kendall’s readiness for the role of Prime Minister.But in order to succeed, Kendall must first conquer his own unnerving attraction to Hadley’s hoyden of a daughter—Lady Isolde Langston. No matter his efforts, Lady Isolde lingers in his blood, a sort of love-potion madness Kendall struggles to suppress.Lady Isolde Langston knows impulsivity will be her downfall. Case in point, her heedless actions triggered the Duke of Kendall’s current vendetta against her father. Isolde needs to right the wrongs she caused and force the duke to surrender before Hadley ends up jailed. To do this, she decides to torment Kendall at every turn—at balls and musicales and even in his own library. The arrogant Sassenach will rue the day he crossed her.But when an unfortunate accident fractures both their lives, Kendall and Isolde unexpectedly face a future neither of them wished. Adrift, they are forced to call a truce. As their romance deepens, can Kendall change his heart sufficiently and Isolde forgive past hurts in order to form a love all their own?

Thank you to Nichole Van for the eARC.

ONE OF THE BEST.

This is without a doubt, one of the best books I have read and will ever read. It was one of those soul altering books for me y’all. This redemption arc for Tristan is everything I was hoping to see and then blew all of those expectations out of the water.

I will say, I think this book is best read blind and after reading the previous books in the series. The way things came together to provide this beautiful and engaging story of hope, grief at a loss of childhood, and the acknowledgement that you are worthy of love.

When I read, I’m not really a highlighter and I marked 10x more passages than I have with a book in a long time. The amount of moments that made me swoon, want to cry, and made me kick my feet giddy all deserved to be tabbed so I can return to this story again and again and again. This is a reread book.

I love these characters eternally, I love this story with my whole heart and will be begging everyone that I can to read A Heart Sufficient. My review will never do it justice. READ IT.

Overall audience notes: