Book Review: Knitted Hearts (Poplar Falls #6) by Amber Kelly

May 6, 2022July 1, 2021 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 234 pages
Author: Amber Kelly
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: June 29th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An emotional, passionate second-chance romance in the Poplar Falls series from Amber Kelly

Sometimes you have to lose control to have it all…

I’ve always longed to start a family of my own. I throw everything I have into every relationship. Too bad I seem to attract the fixer-uppers. You know the type—the boys with all the potential but none of the drive. I thought Ricky was different, the one who would finally step up and be the man I’d been dreaming about all these years—ever since I lost my father when I was a little girl. I didn’t realize the dream would turn out to be a nightmare.

So here I am. Twenty-four years old, on the verge of divorce, and trying not to think about what my daddy would say while I hold on to the last threads of my life to keep it all from unraveling.

It’s all going fine until Foster Tomlin swaggers into my life. The sexy-as-sin former soldier works on my best friend’s family ranch, and there’s no getting around him or what I’m feeling. He doesn’t need fixing up. He’s perfect the way he is. The way he looks at and treats me makes me feel things I’ve sworn off for good. And when he wraps his arms around me, I find myself letting go of all the things I thought I wanted and needed.

The question is…can I take a risk and put my heart on the line again?

POPLAR FALLS FOREVER.

I can’t believe I finished this series! Or maybe I can because I loved it that much. A small town romance series you need in your life y’all!!

Getting Sonia’s story last was the best. I loved her romance with Foster and the second chance love between them was perfect. Sonia and Foster both had pasts that they needed to repair in their hearts as they also learned to lean on their new love and each other. It was all sorts of sweet and a little spicy.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about the relationship conflict because it’s usually not a trope I love, but the more I sat on it the more I liked it in the end. It worked for this story and I’m fine with that!

Sometimes the plot focused too much on the previous couples in the series when I just wanted more Sonia and Foster. That was my only complaint. Otherwise all of the dates and romancing under the moonlight was fantastic.

Another quick read I flew through in one morning because I needed to know how everything worked out. It was emotional and tender and I can’t wait to see what Kelly writes next.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary romance
Language: some strong
Romance: kisses to open door scenes (2-3)
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent (on page), divorce and separation

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: April 2022

April 30, 2022 GoodeyReads2 Comments

A wishy washy reading month. I threw away way to many DNFs, but there were some diamonds in the rough here.

Favorites: The Godborn and the King, Double or Nothing, The Love Connection, Long Story Short, Lodestar, A Brush with Love, The Saltwater Heir, Heir of Fire, The Diamond Eye

[ARC] The Godborn and the King (The Raven and the Dove #4) by Kaitlyn Davis
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
Mr. Hoa (Fake It #1) by Carina Taylor
[Novella] Inheritance (American Royals #0.5) by Katharine McGee
Souls of Fire and Steel (Frozen Sun Saga #3) by Jill Criswell
The Atlas Six (The Atlas #1) by Olivie Blake
[ARC] Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle
[Novella] Passion or Penalty by Leah Brunner
[Novella] Falling for Your Brother’s Best Friend by Emma St. Clair
[ARC] Double or Nothing (A Pride and Pranks Romance #2) by Cindy Steel
[Novella] There Goes the Groom (Romance of Rank #1.5) by Esther Hatch
The Shadow Rising (The Wheel of Time #4) by Robert Jordan
[Novella] The Love Connection (Airport Novellas #1) by Denise Williams
The Ace of Hearts (Larkhall Letters #1) by Ashtyn Newbold
One for All by Lillie Lainoff
[Novella] Below Zero (The STEMinist Novellas #3) by Ali Hazelwood
The Fine Print (Dreamland Billionaires #1) by Lauren Asher
[Novella] Somewhat of a Ruse by Jess Heileman
Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor
Lodestar (Keeper of the Lost Cities #5) by Shannon Messenger
[Reread] Air Awakens (Air Awakens #1) by Elise Kova
[ARC] Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor
My Fine Fellow by Jennieke Cohen
In a New York Minute by Kate Spencer
Four Aunties and A Wedding (Aunties #2) by Jesse Q. Sutanto
A Brush With Love by Mazey Eddings
Scarlet Princess (The Lochlann Feuds #1) by Robin D. Mahle and Elle Madison
[ARC] The Dachshund Wears Prada by Stefanie London
The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa
[Novella] Finding Cinderella (Hopeless #2.5) by Colleen Hoover
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
Tarnished Crown (The Lochlann Feuds #2) by Robin D. Mahle and Elle Madison
An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgertons #3) by Julia Quinn
The Saltwater Heir (The Blood and Water Saga #1) by Cassidy Clarke
[Reread] Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas
Pretending at Love (Greenbank Romances #2) by Karen Thornell
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
Terms and Conditions (Dreamland Billionaires #2) by Lauren Asher
Crimson Kingdom (The Lochlann Feuds #3) by Robin D. Mahle and Elle Madison
Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson
The No-Show by Beth O’Leary
[ARC] When in Rome by Sarah Adams

Did we read any of the same books? See any you want to read? Leave a comment!

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Book Review: Only When It’s Us (Bergman Brothers #1) by Chloe Liese

April 29, 2022June 28, 2021 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 382 pages
Author: Chloe Liese
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: April 1st, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Prepare for an emotional rollercoaster brimming with laughter, tears, and slow-burn sexiness in this new adult romance that tackles the vulnerability of love with humor and heart.

Ryder

Ever since she sat next to me in class and gave me death eyes, Willa Sutter’s been on my shit list. Why she hates me, I don’t know. What I do know is that Willa is the kind of chaos I don’t need in my tidy life. She’s the next generation of women’s soccer. Wild hair, wilder eyes. Bee-stung lips that should be illegal. And a temper that makes the devil seem friendly.

She’s a thorn in my side, a menacing, cantankerous, pain-in-the-ass who’s turned our Business Mathematics course into a goddamn gladiator arena. I’ll leave this war zone unscathed, coming out on top…And if I have my way with that crazy-haired, ball-busting hellion, that will be in more than one sense of the word.

Willa

Rather than give me the lecture notes I missed like every other instructor I’ve had, my asshole professor tells me to get them from the silent, surly flannel-wearing mountain man sitting next to me in class. Well, I tried. And what did I get from Ryder Bergman? Ignored. What a complete lumbersexual neanderthal. Mangy beard and mangier hair. Frayed ball cap that hides his eyes. And a stubborn refusal to acknowledge my existence.

I’ve battled men before, but with Ryder, it’s war. I’ll get those notes and crack that Sasquatch nut if it’s the last thing I do, then I’ll have him at my mercy. Victory will have never tasted so sweet.

Only When It’s Us is a frenemies-to-lovers, college sports romance about a women’s soccer star and her surly lumberjack lookalike classmate, complete with a matchmaking professor, juvenile pranks, and a smoking slow burn. This standalone is the first in a series of new novels about a Swedish-American family of five brothers, two sisters, and their wild adventures as they each find happily ever after.

FOUND A NEW SERIES.

I have sat on this series since the first book came out last year. I was worried the spice was going to be too much for me. And it was at the end (and I’m talking 90%) where I could easily skip past. But it was also less than I was thinking, So if that’s a possible hang up for you, I’ll mention as well that this story was FANTASTIC and definitely worth the read.

Ryder and Willa were the definition of frenemies. Forced to work together in a college class where the game became teasing/pranking each other until they couldn’t keep their hands off of each other. I loved it. The banter and chemistry. The heated glances and moments caught under a waterfall. All amazing stuff.

There were a lot of deeper conversations about disability, coping with loss, grief, depression and more. It’s heavily character driven plot (my fav) and brought about many heart-filled moments where I wanted to yell at the characters, and also hug them fiercely. This will bring out plenty of emotions.

And I loved that Willa was the soccer star! It was different from the majority of sports romances and I am here for it. I really enjoyed this writing style and how involved I became in Willa and Ryder’s lives. I’m happy I picked this one up and have already grabbed book two.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary sports romance
Language: some strong
Romance: kisses to very open door scenes
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent, cancer, depictions of grief and severe depression

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Book Review: The Roommate Situation (Only in Atlanta #1) by Katie Bailey

April 25, 2022June 26, 2021 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 278 pages
Author: Katie Bailey
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: June 15th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Conor Brady is the hottest man I have ever laid eyes on. Ever. He’s also my new roommate. In the past few days, I became jobless, homeless, and boyfriendless.

So, I did what any 28-year-old woman with her life together would do: I ran. Far, far away from my life in New York and straight to my big brother’s house in Atlanta.

Only, it turns out that my brother is away on a business trip. And, he failed to tell me that a full-on, godlike hottie—who happens to be a premier house flipper—has taken up residence in the spare bedroom while his enormous new house is being renovated.

There’s a million reasons why I shouldn’t fall for Conor.

But our chemistry is undeniable.

Which means I have a teeny, tiny situation on my hands…

The Roommate Situation is a laugh-out-loud funny, swoony, closed door romantic comedy. Expect some mild language and suggestive jokes alongside sizzling hot chemistry and tension you could cut with a knife—all without the explicit scenes.

BLAND.

This book was too easy.

From the moment they met it was instant EVERYTHING. And I will acknowledge instant attraction can work, but it just didn’t do it for me here. I wanted to feel like there was some angst, some will they/won’t they. Conor and Jess were practically a couple from the get-go (and you can’t convince me otherwise). It led to a really boring plot that could have been great. It’s a brother’s best friend’s trope. THERE WAS SO MUCH TO WORK WITH.

If I was going to pick something I did enjoy, I liked the initial set-up. I’m all for a roommate situation and how it can build with some good ol’ forced proximity. The banter and conversations were fairly humorous and it was written well. So even though I didn’t click with much of this it could definitely be different for you.

I was looking for a lot more and I’ll wait to see about reading the next in the series (though that looks like an enemies to lovers story, so I’m hopeful).

Overall audience notes: