ALC Book Review: Autumn On My Mind (Falling for Autumn) by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

August 19, 2026August 15, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 378 pages
Author: Gracie Ruth Mitchell
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: August 19th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

What happens when two exes find out their parents are dating?

When Reese and Dominic secretly dated and then broke up years ago, they knew they’d have to see each other again. They were from the same small town of Autumn Ridge, Vermont. Their families still lived there. It was inevitable.

What Reese didn’t expect was to see Dominic across the table from her, being introduced as the son of her mother’s latest boyfriend.

Dom and Reese can be exes. They can be neighbors. They could even maybe someday be friends. What they cannot be is siblings.

But Reese’s mother has her eyes on the prize, and she’s not walking away without a ring on her finger. So even though part of Reese’s heart still hurts from the past they share, she and Dominic agree to team up and separate their parents.

Spying? A necessity. Sneaking around? Obviously. And sabotage? Well…never say never.

But the further apart they attempt to push their parents, the closer Reese and Dom get—until the lines between past and present begin to blur, and they find themselves with the stickiest conundrum of owning the truth of what really happened between them…and deciding if their love deserves a second chance.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.

PRETTY CUTE.

The second book I have happened to read in this series and it was a sweet read too! I am seriously in love with the setting. Maybe I’m desperately craving all things fall and small town right now (as I’m sitting here in 100+ degree weather with a massive highway under construction nearby BUT ANYWAYS).

I adored the audiobook! You can’t go wrong with it. It’s only about nine hours and flies by. She did a fantastic job with the narration for Reese.

I’m not sure I ever fell in love with the larger plot of Dominic and Reese trying to break up their parents dating. It wasn’t a bad concept perse, it just didn’t work for me? I think the focus kept tilting to what the parents were doing and I wanted more of the focus back on the Dom & Reese. They did have some great moments together and I loved the tender touches and glances and realizing that they both weren’t quite over each other. I did enjoy having the flashback chapters because that gave needed context to the present storyline.

There’s some shenanigans and quirky humor I have come to love from Gracie Ruth Mitchell. I do think these two were a match and I liked seeing them fall in love [again and again].

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: none
Content warnings: loss of a parent (recounted)

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Book Review: Entreat Me by Grace Draven

August 19, 2026September 7, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 461 pages
Author: Grace Draven
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: December 16th, 2013
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Afflicted by a centuries-old curse, a warlord slowly surrenders his humanity and descends toward madness. Ballard of Ketach Tor holds no hope of escaping his fate until his son returns home one day, accompanied by a woman of incomparable beauty. His family believes her arrival may herald Ballard’s salvation.

…until they confront her elder sister.

Determined to rescue her sibling from ruin, Louvaen Duenda pursues her to a decrepit castle and discovers a household imprisoned in time. Dark magic, threatening sorcerers, and a malevolent climbing rose with a thirst for blood won’t deter her, but a proud man disfigured by an undying hatred might. Louvaen must decide if loving him will ultimately save him or destroy him.

A tale of vengeance and devotion.

ONE OF THE BETTER.

I don’t think I’ve read many Beauty and the Beast retellings lately (honestly, they haven’t charmed as of late), but this was recommend by a few friends and it delivered!!

This was easily one of the best retellings I’ve read for B&TB. I loved the expansion of the main idea, It was dark and gothic and the atmosphere was amazing. I loved the addition of characters and how the structure of the plot was crafted. It was easy to listen to and see how all the things came together.

I will say the spice took me out of the story a bit. I could skip an entire 30 minute chapter and not miss anything (so it is skippable), just bugged me.

It is a standalone and wraps up all of the things. I enjoyed the characters arcs and many things in between. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve read a Grace Draven book and I’m grateful it did not disappoint.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance Retelling
Language: strong
Romance: 4+ long open door
Violence: high

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Book Review: The Heart of War by Olivia Snow

August 16, 2026June 6, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★.75
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 364 pages
Author: Olivia Snow
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: April 7th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

London, 1815

If love is war, then London’s marriage mart is a battlefield—and Helena Weston is its most cunning general. As the diamond of the season, Helena has never struggled to collect suitors. But when her father’s fortune collapses, she faces the unthinkable: marriage not as a conquest, but as survival.

Using Sun Tzu’s The Art of War as her courtship playbook, Helena has only two months to secure a husband rich enough to save her family from destitution. She selects three candidates for her scheme, including Edmond Hawke, a handsome newcomer to London with a mysterious past and an insufferable tendency to jeopardize her carefully laid plans.

With her future on the line, Helena must decide what victory truly means—and whether surrendering to love is the most strategic move of all.

QUITE GOOD.

I ate this up. I was a sucker from a reel I saw and here we are. This was a solid historical romance that I can totally recommend. Even if I have a few caveats.

One of those being the girl vs. girl drama. I just get tired of that narrative and while I would have been fine with an instance (maybe even two) I was not okay with it being such a larger part of the plot. It was aggravating and frustrating and I really just need Sybella to go away. My other caveat is how long it takes the FMC, Helena, to DO anything. She talked a lot of game but the follow through took much longer to achieve.

I did think the romance was a unique case that I haven’t come across (off the top of my head) before in historical romance. I loved the MMC’s back story (would have loved his POV too!). I liked how earnest he was and how gosh dang down bad this man was for Helena. I am a sucker for the small and subtle moments because that’s what makes a lasting romance and this book delivered. I also adored the little side plot with Mrs. Sweete. I loved how tight the friendship was between Helena and Mrs. Sweete. Definitely needed more of that.

I would totally be interested in reading another book from Olivia Snow. This was a fun find and for my closed door readers this was kisses only too!

Overall audience notes:

Historical romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: mild
Content warnings: sexual assault, physical altercations, minor injuries, loss of a parent, emotionally abusive parent

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Book Review: Epics Etched in Echoes (Tales of Wonder and Woe #1.5) by Renee Dugan

August 14, 2026September 3, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 448 pages
Author: Renee Dugan
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 23rd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Experience the thrilling sequel to A STORY SPUN IN SCARLET’S heartwrenching conclusion…

AUDRA JASHOWIN is a storyteller without a tale of her own.

Her quiet life shattered by the revelation of a past she doesn’t remember and the false memories she’s long believed, Audra follows the compulsion to reclaim her forgotten years…and the power that shaped them. But when a simple quest to the Isle of Misspoken Stories proves to be far more treacherous, Audra finds herself pitted against a foe that represents her past…all the best and worst parts of it.

Is it worth it to reclaim all the loss and hurt that brought her this far? Or would a quiet life be better in the end?

JAIK GRISSOM is a soldier surviving on desperation and a forgotten dream.

Haunted by memories of love lost and a sacred oath only he remembers, Jaik is determined to help Audra find her memories…by any means necessary. But as their quest for the truth grows more perilous, and a vengeful force pits beasts of nightmare against them, Jaik must confront his own greatest fears.

That Audra might be better off without her memories, after all…and better off without him.

While danger rises and their journey pushes them closer together and pulls them apart again, Audra and Jaik face the most difficult choice they’ve ever known and ever whether to fight for the past, the future, and each other…or learn to live in a world their story has no part of.

THIS PAINS ME.

I love Renee Dugan’s book and it hurts to feel like this was missing something for me. Mainly surrounding the point of,,,why? If you’ve read A Story Spun in Scarlet, I feel like that books ends where it needs to (or if not, an extra chapter or long epilogue would have sufficed). Instead, a companion novel that was one long meandering story covering the same things book one already did just felt redundant.

I do love these characters and the writing style. It’s not a bad book by any means, and I’ll still read RD’s next book. There’s some good scenes and allusions that added a story telling quality I appreciated. I’m hopeful that the next book has a different vibe for me.

Overall audience notes: