Book Review: The Ladies Rewrite the Rules by Suzanne Allen

May 7, 2025March 25, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 272 pages
Author: Suzanne Allen
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: January 9th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the author of Mr. Malcolm’s List comes a delightful romantic comedy set in Regency England about a widow who takes high society by storm.

Diana Boyle, a wealthy young widow, has no desire to ever marry again. Particularly not to someone who merely wants her for her fortune.

So when she discovers that she’s listed in a directory of rich, single women she is furious, and rightly so. She confronts Maxwell Dean, the man who published the Bachelor’s Directory , and is horrified to find he is far more attractive than his actions have led her to expect. However, Diana is unmoved by Max’s explanation that he authored the list to assist younger sons like himself who cannot afford to marry unless it’s to a woman of means.

She gathers the ladies in the directory together to inform them of its existence, so they may circumvent fortune hunters’ efforts to trick them into marriage. Though outraged, the women decide to embrace their unique position of power and reverse the usual gender roles by making the men dance to their tune. And together… the ladies rewrite the rules.

IT WAS CUTE.

This was one of those books that I liked listening when I was, but now that it’s over I don’t remember all that much. It’s a sweet book and the general premise was fun. I liked seeing the women fight back against ridiculous rules while finding love.

I don’t love this story telling style though with multiple POV’s in a short book. It lacks the character depth I often crave and feels more superficial overall.

But if you need something short and sweet and are in the mood for a historical romance I wouldn’t hesitate to say try this one out.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: April 2025

May 1, 2025April 29, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

New look who this?

I feel like this month got wildly out of hand. I even had MULTIPLE two star books sooooo that was fun. Anywho, here’s the list!

Debt of My Soul by K.P. Haven
The Ragpicker King (The Chronicles of Castellane #2) by Cassandra Clare
[ALC] Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
[ALC/ARC] The Wind Weaver (Reign of Remnants #1) by Julie Johnson
Clean Out of Luck (Only Magic in the Building) by Carina Taylor
Out with the Tide (Never Harbor #2) by Julie Olivia
[ALC] The Love Haters by Katherine Center
Direbound (The Wolves of Ruin #1) by Sable Sorensen
[ARC] The Haven, the Hallow, & the Highborn (Roots of Magic Novella) by Jessa Grey
Daisy Haites (Magnolia Parks Universe #2) by Jessa Hastings
Fearless (The Powerless Trilogy #3) by Lauren Roberts
[ARC] Saving the Mountain Man’s Legacy (Brothers of Sapphire Ranch #8) by Misty M. Beller
[ALC] Enigma by RuNyx
Just Our Luck by Denise Williams
Off the Wall (Only Magic in the Building) by Julie Christianson
[ARC] The Ashfire King (The Sandsea Trilogy #2) by Chelsea Abdullah
The Shadow Bride (The Scarlet Veil #2) by Shelby Mahurin
I Knew He Was Trouble (Sweeter Than Fiction #1) by Amanda Schimmoeller
Swept Away by Beth O’Leary
The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor
A Proper Governess (Hearts of Harewood #2) by Kasey Stockton
The Book That Held Her Heart (The Library Trilogy #3) by Mark Lawrence
Signed, Sealed, and Smitten (Only Magic in the Building) by Melanie Jacobson
The Notorious Virtues (The Notorious Virtues #1) by Alwyn Hamilton
[ARC] Shield of Sparrows (Shield of Sparrows #1) by Devney Perry
Wild and Wrangled (Rebel Blue Ranch #4) by Lyla Sage
Voice of the Ocean by Kelsey Impicciche
[ARC] Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt
The Splendor of Fire (The Hebridean Shield #2) by Ashley Worrell
The Wolf King (Wolf King #1) by Lauren Palphreyman
The Escape Plan (Only Magic in the Building) by Katie Bailey
His Mortal Demise (The Last Bloodcarver #2) by Vanessa Le
Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine
Nightshade (Sorrowsong Duology #1) by Autumn Woods
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
[ALC] Jilted by Vi Keeland
[ARC] Every Hour Until Then (Timeless #5) by Gabrielle Meyer
[ALC] The Thrashers by Julie Soto

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ARC Book Review: Saving the Mountain Man’s Legacy (Brothers of Sapphire Ranch #8) by Misty M. Beller

April 30, 2025April 11, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 210 pages
Author: Misty M. Beller
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 29th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune.

Sampson Coulter is determined to undo his disastrous mistake that is jeopardizing his family’s future. Now he’s deeply embedded in the corrupt mining empire of the ruthless Mick McPharland, and has earned the trust of Jedidiah, the brutal right-hand man. The threat reaches much farther than his own family, and he knows he must dismantle the operation from within…or die trying.

Grieving the loss of her mother, Grace Hampton is shocked to discover a newborn baby on her doorstep. When she seeks help from her father, Jedidiah, she never imagines he’ll force her to marry Sampson Coulter, the kind man who only gave her a ride to town. Though her father has always been willing to pass her off, at least she has Sampson’s promise to protect her and the baby. It doesn’t hurt that he’s the most handsome man she’s ever seen.

Marrying Jedidiah’s daughter adds an impossible complication to Sampson’s mission. It seems he can’t have it all—redemption for himself, justice for the victims of the corruption, protection for the innocent…and a life with the woman and babe he’s coming to love.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes the gripping series finale filled with high-stakes danger, a marriage of convenience, an instant family, and love that heals wounded hearts.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

ENJOYABLE CONCLUSION.

I appreciate that all of these books can be read as standalones. I’ve read only books seven and eight and haven’t had any issues in enjoying the stories. You do get to see all of the previous characters so I imagine reading them in order would add to that, but it’s okay if you want to start here too!

This is a sweet historical romance with one of my favorite tropes, marriage of convenience. I liked Sampson and Grace a lot and looooove getting dual POV and understanding both of their mindsets and decisions. The only thing I was missing were some more interactions between them. I would have loved the relationship to have more development and really see that chemistry being built.

I liked the suspense elements added in and not quite knowing how things were going to work out in the end. It’s a wonderful balance of light and dark and I think the faith aspects are preachy, just woven in to add another layer to the story.

I loved seeing the epilogue and where all the characters have ended up and thought this was a beautiful book.

Overall audience notes:

Historical romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: mild – moderate
Content warnings: gun violence, physical violence, loss of life

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Book Review: An Improper Gentleman (Improper Agreements #2) by Audra Wells

April 18, 2025March 6, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 271 pages
Author: Audra Wells
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 28th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Bridget has learned not to trust an easy smile or flattering tongue, and Lord Archibald has both in spades. To make her time with him at Brookside Manor more tolerable–and to use it to her benefit–she agrees to do one activity with him every day in exchange for a fact about their host, Lord Eaton. However, she will only agree on one condition: there must be no touching of any kind.

Archie is used to young women swooning whenever he is near, so Miss Hall’s obvious reticence intrigues him. He has never had to prove himself and is more than willing to try to win her over. Much to his chagrin, his efforts only seem to make him look foolish while in her company.

When a woman once scorned refuses to fall victim to charm, and a man of leisure finds himself falling short at every turn, a hilarious battle of wills ensues.

An Improper Gentleman is a clean romance and is the second book in the Improper Agreements series. It can be read as a stand-alone but is best enjoyed in order.

LOVE THE BANTER.

Two books read from Audra Wells and I am becoming an absolute fan. I love the way she writes banter and dialogue between the love interests. It’s cheeky, yet there’s so much sincerity as the romance develops that the swoon factor is also high.

I did want to shake the FMC a little bit towards the end. I understood her difficulty trusting, but I thought she’d stop running away at last. With very little change in setting I thought the plot moved well. It’s short and fast paced and I loooved Archie. The opposites attract was in full force here and I love love love when there’s lots of forced proximity.

Overall audience notes: