Book Review: Creatures of Chaos (Creatures of Chaos #1) by Julie Hall

December 12, 2024November 10, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 445 pages
Author: Julie Hall
Publisher: Julie Hall LLC
Release Date: October 29th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Perfect for fans of forbidden love, high-stakes games, and everything supernatural. Creatures of Chaos is a fast-paced YA urban fantasy series that’s being called The Serpent and the Wings of Night meets Crave.

Chaos, the vicious supernatural competition where heroes are born and riches are won.

To most, it’s just an urban legend whispered in the darkest shadows, but that all changes when my best friend drags me into a savage world where vampires, shifters, and fae compete for glory and fame.

As a creature without magic, I’d be a fool to enter Chaos, but the prize—a dagger of untold power—could change my powerless existence. With that dagger, I could wield magic, earn respect, and maybe, just maybe, win the heart of the dragon heir… it’s a risk I have to take.

Now, I’m pitted against beasts in a ruthless battle with no powers, no plan, and an infuriatingly attractive ally who’s just as likely to slit my neck as save it. Every round of Chaos leads me closer to seizing my deepest desires or losing everything.

In Chaos, survival is the only rule. And winning is all that matters.

Thank you to Book of Matches Media and Julie Hall for the gifted copy.

AN AUSPICIOUS START.

I haven’t read a fantasy in about a week (which is a long time for me okay?) and this reminded me that I need to deep dive right back in. I loved all of the different creatures and shifters and look forward to seeing further explorations of everyone’s powers and how they work in the world.

The games really did bring the chaos and I loved the added elements of the different activities and surprises that were involved. The love triangle had my attention and I am hopeful about the direction for future books. What’s also nice about this book is that is YA. And it stays too that. The language level and romantic aspects are low while still bringing plenty of swoon and heated moments.

There were other tropes woven in that I loved seeing (aka found family). The early beginnings of those strong bonds that will carry through the series are some of my favorite. I liked the high action and intrigue, deadly trials and a FMC who is tough beyond doubt. OKAY AND I would also love to give a quick nod to the fact that Locklyn has supportive and “normal” parents because I don’t think those kind of family dynamics are seen enough in books.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy
Language: low
Romance: heated kisses
Violence: moderate

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Book Review: The Rules of Mistletoe by Taylor Epperson

December 11, 2024November 8, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 203 pages
Author: Taylor Epperson
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: October 5th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s got a list of rules and he’s about to break them all.

Rules for my future boyfriend (husband):

3. He always opens doors for me
6. He has to lean (like in While You Were Sleeping)
8. He has a good relationship with his mother
11. He loves watching romcoms and thrillers (because I have excellent taste in movies across a variety of genres)

I, Holly Nelson, have been dreaming about the perfect romance my entire life. You know the kind: guy and girl have an adorable meet cute and slowly, over the course of the movie, fall madly in love. I have spent hours of my life watching romcoms and I now have a list of qualities and rules for my perfect man.

I finally found him, but I haven’t figured out how to get him to notice me. Instead, I’m stuck with Drew Rossi.

Andrew (Drew) Rossi doesn’t fit a single item on my list and yet he’s coming home with me for Christmas, posing as my boyfriend. He breaks every single one of my rules, well, except for maybe #5, because he does have an arm full of tattoos. But Drew is not my perfect guy, and we both know it.

This fake relationship started because of a misunderstanding, but when Drew agrees to help me land my dream man & he agrees to follow my rules, I reluctantly agree. We don’t actually like each other, so what could go wrong?

FLOUNDERED.

I wanted to love this, instead I really struggled with multiple aspects and unexplained plot points that were never resolved. Why the list? Why did we never get more true details about it? Those are the beginning of the questions I have.

There’s plenty of holiday cheer and I like seeing big families come together for the holidays. I will say there were a few cute moments between the main couple and it is dual POV which is always a nice bonus in a romance.

The third act aspects also didn’t quite make sense. I felt like there was an imbalance of “heavy” topics and the “light Christmas rom-com” vibes that I thought this book was going for.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Holiday Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: recounting loss of a mother, mentions of cheating (in the past)

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Book Review: A Song of Shadow and Starlight (Shadow and Starlight #1) by Morgan Gauthier

December 6, 2024November 8, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 334 pages
Author: Morgan Gauthier
Publisher: Midnight Tide Publishing
Release Date: August 2nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Ilaria Shaye Kitarni is the sole heir to the Midorian Throne, but she will never be permitted to rule.

On the eve of her wedding to her childhood best friend, she unwittingly thwarts an assassination attempt, and is kidnapped by the Tronovians, the sworn enemy of the Midorians.

Determined to escape her captors, she burns their boat and swims to the shores of the Jungle Kingdom of Bava. But instead of getting away, she thrusts herself, and the three magic-wielding brothers who captured her, into perils she’s only ever read about in books.

During the long trek through Bava, she discovers hidden truths not only about the people she loves most, but about herself as well.

Never trust a Tronovian. That has been beaten into Shaye’s head for as long as she can remember, but could it be, the only people she can trust are her enemies?

A Song of Shadow and Starlight is the first book in a NA Fantasy Romance and Adventure series, perfect for fans of Avatar the Last Airbender, ACOTAR (Steamy vibes without Explicit Spice), and Dungeons and Dragons!

NOT QUITE RIGHT.

This started off well, but unfortunately went downhill for me in the end.

My biggest issue involved the writing style. The EASE of the writing was great, there was a fast quality to it and I felt like the pages were flying by. But there was a lot of modern dialogue/lingo + modern amenities that didn’t fit into the world that had been constructed. It took me out of the book over and over again. If this had been an urban fantasy (or at least those vibes) I think things would have made a lot more sense.

The romance is FAST. Shaye flips a switch so fast I got whiplash. From being “upset” with her kidnappers to “being one of them” in like 3 days. WHAT. There’s some good found family pieces slipped in, but I couldn’t wrap my head around the rest. This is NOTTTT enemies to lovers.

I don’t really have plans to pick up the second book. Not worth the time.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: low innuendo; kisses
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, murder, blood/gore depiction

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Book Review: If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia

November 28, 2024November 7, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 510 pages
Author: Julie Olivia
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 19th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My new next-door neighbor seems to have everything figured out. Small town golden boy? Check. Single dad extraordinaire? Check. Hot baker forearms? I didn’t notice them, I swear.

I, on the other hand, don’t–at all–have anything figured out.

Trust me, I didn’t think taking over my mom’s dream bed and breakfast in Copper Run Vermont was going to be easy. It should be a good place to heal after my divorce. But apparently my scones belong in the garbage with my small talk skills. As pointed out by none other than Cliff.

Cliff is inescapable. He knows exactly what people need–always. His charm, the way he wears flannel, and even his pastries, make not wanting to be friends with Cliff and his daughters pretty hard.

Friends? I can make friends. That’s safe.

Except I’m leaving in three months to pass the inn off to my little sister and get the promotion in Seattle I’ve been working towards.

So ask me why I’m thinking about kissing my hot neighbor.

WHAT AN ABSOLUTE GEM.

YOU SHOULD GO READ IT TOO. This book blew up on my feed, and for good reason. I was obsessed with this from the beginning. The 90’s nostalgia was in full force and I could not get enough of the fall vibes too. I adored the small town and all of the local shenanigans but also how everyone took care of each other too.

The romance is the best kind of slow burn. I forgot how much I LOVE an amazing slow burn (please bring those back). The mounting tension, almost kisses, brief touches, gosh it all had me BEGGING for more. And while this is an open door book, plot > spice reigned and it became my favorite type of romance.

I loved the characters. The black cat x golden retriever was crafted with the perfect banter and shade between Cliff and Michelle. I loved the family aspects and the reconnections and growing pains that came with it all. The characters really showed the best of be yourself and how someone out there is your match and things will fall into place. Love love love love. Catch me reading all of Julie Olivia’s books now.

Overall audience notes: