Book Review: House of Eclipses (House of Eclipses #1) by Casey L. Bond

November 27, 2023November 29, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 380 pages
Author: Casey L. Bond
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 31st, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Capture his heart.
Steal his crown.

Noor is the unwanted, unloved third born of the Aten, chosen vessel of the sun goddess, Sol. While she has no chance at inheriting her father’s title, what she truly longs for is peace from his unrelenting hatred. Hope builds that she may finally be able to claim that reprieve when a missive arrives from the House of the Moon.

The new Lumin, chosen of the moon god, Lumos, seeks to broker peace with the Kingdom of Helios for the first time in ages. He envisions open trade routes and an end to archaic rivalries. His dedication to this cause extends to visions of a union between the two families by marrying one of Aten’s daughters, if one of the matches is a fit.

Driven by his own twisted agenda, Noor’s father is willing to sacrifice his daughters as pawns to steal the crown for him to further his despotic reign, pitting sister against sister in a brutal battle for power. But Noor must come out the victor, either by capturing the Lumin’s heart or stealing his crown. For whomever wears the crown of moonlight, holds the power of the moon itself. With such strength at her command, she could finally defeat her tyrannical father.

Yet this endeavor cannot be accomplished without great sacrifice. As Noor learns more about Lumin Caelum, guilt over her betrayal consumes her, burning hot as the sun itself. If only he wasn’t kind, and selfless, and exactly what she wanted. If only she had greater dominion over her heart…

Can Noor carry out her plan and end her father’s vile reign? Or will unlikely alliances allow a new day to dawn?

NOT FOR ME.

I would have DNF this book pretty quickly if it wasn’t a book club read that I knew I had to get through.

The romance was lackluster and dry. It was very insta-lovey and not in a way I could get behind. It all felt too easy and there was no true conflict or anything between them. I’m not saying I need a third act breakup but I do want to see some tension and working to be with one another.

I also hated Noor’s sister. She was whiny, pointless and over the top. Moving on.

The plot was boring. I spent a lot of time skimming over things and hoping to see some true action and FANTASY elements. Instead I had the love interest throwing Noor a surprise birthday party that did not fit the tone of the novel.

This was my second, and last book by this author.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: a little
Romance: kisses
Violence: low-medium
Trigger/Content Warnings: physical abuse

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Book Review: The Goddess Eye (The Blood and Water Saga #1) by Cassidy Clarke

November 19, 2023September 7, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 651 pages
Author: Cassidy Clarke
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 25th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

RAQUEL ANGELOV is going home.
To keep yet another Atlas royal from falling to a deity’s influence, Raquel must return to a place she was banished from long ago…Skyhaven, a community of Tempest-blessed zealots that exists outside all kingdom borders. But she vowed never to return for a reason, and when seeking the God of Nature’s relic puts her in the path of a dangerous old “friend,” it will take all her strength to escape from Skyhaven a second time…and to protect the Atlas princes who followed her there.

THE ATLAS BROTHERS are fighting a new war.
Taunted and tempted by deities intent on their own purposes, Kallias and Finnick Atlas are in for the fight of their lives. Long-kept secrets and long-held grudges threaten the vows sworn between them, and if the brothers can’t find their way through the kingdom of their enemies, Atlas may lose its last line of defense..and its last remaining successors.

SOREN ATLAS loves both her kingdoms…but torn loyalties are the perfect seeds for chaos to bloom.
On the run from mercenaries who would see the host of a goddess dead or worse, Soren and Elias find themselves taking shelter somewhere they never thought they’d see again…home. But things in Nyx are not the same as they were. Corrupted magic has crept its way across the Atlas border and brought Tenebrae’s influence with it, wiping out entire towns without a single soldier in sight. With the Chaos God gaining ground, the weight of a goddess’s soul breaking her body piece by piece, and both of her families in danger, Soren must find a way to save one without sacrificing the other…and without falling prey to the song of discord winding its way through the very heart of Nyx.

THE EMOTIONAL DESTRUCTION.

I HAVE NOT RECOVERED. How does Cassidy Clarke right these massive fantasy books that don’t feel long at all? I am in love with all of these characters and now I’m sad I have to wait for book four. READ THIS SERIES.

I love how heavily character driven this series is. I am deeply and emotionally attached to each and every one and I love how many POV’s we get. This book was the most romantic book of the bunch. I loved the increase focus on some of the couples and where there stories are taking them. While this book HURT it also had this softer quality that I’m absolutely sure is gearing up for some destruction in future books.

This is such a hidden gem of the indie fantasy world and I beg of you to give it a try. There’s MEDDLING GODS, politicking, battles, ROMANCE, magic and world building that is well crafted and not overwhelming. I love this series so much.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: closed door
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: torture, whipping, loss of life, loss of loved ones, physical and weapons violence

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ARC Book Review: The One with the Kiss Cam by Cindy Steel

November 16, 2023November 13, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 317 pages
Author: Cindy Steel
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 16th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It was just one date.

My friend told me I needed more fun in my life, so I reluctantly said yes. Fun wasn’t exactly in my wheelhouse. After watching my own mother’s love life implode time and time again it’s only natural that I have a few rules to protect myself.

Actually, it’s just one rule…
Avoid relationships with men so I don’t get attached.

I wasn’t worried. Getting attached has never been a big problem for me. This guy was just a warm body in a chair. I was here for the basketball game. I was absolutely NOT here for my date.

Or the kiss cam.
Or the kiss.
Or the impromptu evening with the one man who seems bent on throwing my tidy world off of its axis.

But when my life takes a nose dive, he’s also the man who seems bent on proving to me that good men do exist, dreams can come true, and sometimes throwing out the rule book is when the magic really starts to happen.

★ The One with the Kiss Cam is the first in a series of standalone romantic comedies by Cindy Steel. It is a sweet, closed-door romance full of sizzle, witty banter, and chemistry, but without explicit content.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

THIS BOOK.

Cindy Steel really is absolutely incredible at creating beautiful rom-coms. Books that make you smile, swoon, squeeze your heart and cheer on the characters. I loved this one so much. The meet cute was clever and the story that followed brought out all the feels.

The banter and dialogue between Duke and Nora had me grinning like a fool for most of the book. This had reverse grumpy x sunshine vibes and it was immaculate. The office setting had me waiting for any moment that would force them together and it did not disappoint. Add in some eccentric and sweet side characters and this was a recipe for a five star book from the get go.

One of my favorite (more subtle) aspects was that Duke and Nora argued. I actually enjoy seeing this in romances. When things need to be said and discussed and really letting those walls come down, and that they also worked together too!! Some of those closing scenes sent me. Nora finally got the break and love she deserved and Duke just being completely gone for Nora from the get-go is everything I could hope for.

READ THIS BOOK Y’ALL.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Trigger/Content Warnings: manipulative parenting situations

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Book Review: The Fall Back Plan (Sweater Weather #2) by Melanie Jacobson

November 16, 2023September 11, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 234 pages
Author: Melanie Jacobson
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The bad boy and the golden girl have traded places…

I’m back in Harvest Hollow after ten years to prove a point and to even a few scores. I’ve opened a new bar, and anyone expecting the old sweet and shy Jolie McGraw to be running it is in for a shock.

I’m not the only one who’s changed: when the sheriff comes to tell me I’m the prime suspect in the most ridiculous crime in town history, it’s none other than Lucas Cole, the former star of my teenage stress dreams, wearing the badge.

Seriously? The smack-talking punk I was forced to tutor in math is now one of the town’s most upstanding citizens? This isn’t what I had in mind for turning the tables on my former tormentors.

I blow him off…until I meet the niece he’s raising. I see so much of my younger self in her. But when I agree to help when she needs a woman in her life, Lucas uses it as a chance to build a case that he’s the man I need in mine.

That’s a hard no. No to love. No to Lucas.

But when Harvest Hollow’s nosiest forces combine to push us together, I’m not sure my heart stands a chance.

ENJOYED.

The second book in the sweater weather series was good! I flew through this and I am totally smitten with the sheriff, Lucas. He was my favorite part of the whole book. I loved that you could clearly see the turnaround he made and how he apologized and watched out for Jolie over and over again.

I liked Jolie, but I struggled with her need to come back home to be petty and mean to those who were petty and mean to her. I think a rise above situation would have come off better in the end.

The romance is good. It’s a suuuper slow burn and the pay off is sweet. I liked Brooke (though I still don’t get the point of the mentor/mentee plot??). All in all, a good read. Plenty of cozy autumn vibes and a few spooky dolls to boot.

Overall audience notes: