ARC Book Review: To Poison a King (The Heirs of Isla #1) by S.G. Prince

April 13, 2023April 5, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 427 pages
Author: S.G. Prince
Publisher: Summerhold Publishing
Release Date: April 4th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

S.G. Prince’s new standalone is a breathtaking fantasy about sacrifice, self-discovery, and a girl tasked with saving the very man she aimed to kill.

Selene is the youngest daughter in a gifted line of healers, born to serve as the king’s royal physician. Yet when Selene’s mother Persaphe embroils her in a plot to kill the king, Selene finds herself poisoning the very man she is sworn to protect.

Things seem bleak, but there is another problem—the poison doesn’t work, and the king doesn’t die. Rather, he awakes from his coma paralyzed, aware of the attempt on his life, and furious.

With the palace in a state of upheaval and everyone hunting the king’s poisoner, Persaphe flees, leaving Selene the task of rehabilitating the man she aimed to kill, all while hiding her true role in his demise. What follows is a journey spanning years and continents, as a king and his servant develop into unlikely friends…and more. Yet the closer Selene grows to the king, the more her secret weighs on her, as does her growing fear that Persaphe—having failed to kill him once—might return to try again.

Author’s Note: To Poison a King is an adult standalone fantasy romance featuring a brooding hero and a gifted yet self-conscious healer. The story is written for readers who want to know a character from the inside out, who are in it for the build, who like to watch a transformation take place over time, because that’s how you really feel it. I wrote this book from the heart, as true as I could make it. I think it changed me to write it. I hope it changes you, too. – S.G.

Content Warning: This book contains reference to attempted suicide, attempted sexual assault, violence, gore, death of an infant, and sex.

Thank you to the author for an ecopy!

SWEPT AWAY.

Oh my goodness. I really took a chance on this one with knowing nothing about it besides the summary (and I SUPER appreciate the way the author describes it too because it gave me great insight into the book and helped me want to read it). Don’t expect a fantasy world with heavy world building and a complicated magic system. This is heavily character driven and you’ll easily be attached to the main characters.

This is a SLOWW build. In the best way. Goodness. I LOVED watching Selene’s story develop over the course of years. By the time she’s aged a bit (it starts around age 14) I found myself completely attached to her whole life. I wanted to see it all and I just loved her as a character. She makes mistakes, works hard to fix them, truly is trying to do the best she can to move forward and make a little slice of life that she can be happy with.

And then the romance??? Oh gosh. It is subtle and dang sweet. It’s tender and loving and watching these two develop from acquaintances, to friends, to maybe lovers? Every single moment between Elias and Selene felt important. I hung on every word and scene clutching my book, waiting to see what would happen next.

Even when the inevitable conflict arose it was magnetic. I HAD TO SEE EVERYTHING RIGHTED. I couldn’t put the book down. I can’t come up with any better words than saying to READ THIS.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: very little
Romance: closed door
Violence: mild
Trigger/Content Warnings: attempted suicide, attempted sexual assault, violence, blood/gore depiction, death of an infant, loss of life

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Book Review: Reign & Ruin (Mages of the Wheel #1) by J.D. Evans

April 12, 2023May 28, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 420 pages
Author: J.D. Evans
Publisher: Whippoorwill Press LLC
Release Date: January 18th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

“All magic is beautiful,” she said, “and terrible. Do you not see the beauty in yours, or the terror in mine? You can stop a heart, and I can stop your breath.”

She is heir to a Sultanate that once ruled the world. He is an unwanted prince with the power to destroy.

She is order and intellect, a woman fit to rule in a man’s place. He is chaos and violence and will stop at nothing to protect his people.

His magic answers hers with shadow for light. They need each other, but the cost of balance may be too high a price. Magic is dying and the only way to save it is to enlist mages who wield the forbidden power of death, mages cast out centuries ago in a brutal and bloody war.

Now, a new war is coming. Science and machines to replace magic and old religion.

They must find a way to save their people from annihilation and balance the sacred Wheel—but first, they will have to balance their own forbidden passion. His peace for her tempest, his restlessness for her calm…

Night and day, dusk and dawn, the end, and the beginning.

NOT ALL I HOPED FOR.

Uhm, this was fine.

But I realize I don’t love a fantasy standalone series (turns out each of these books is a different couple). It makes the romance pacing feel too fast, but the larger plot and world building feel to slow. It is not a match made in heaven.

The book gets off to an awful start. Completely thrown in without any clue to the world and I was lost for at least the first 10%. Once I got a hang of things and settled in, the story was much more enjoyable. I liked the story and the general concepts of the larger overarching plotlines. The elemental magic, a woman rising in power, a wheel that needs to keep on turning, all things I like.

I did find that the romance grew on me (even if, as I mentioned, too fast). It was kind of an instant attraction but not instant love. They definitely got to know one another and figure out what side of the line they stood on, and if that was going to be together. I really think a slower burn would have helped over the course of multiple books, but it is what it is.

I don’t have plans to continue this series.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: open door
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, a parent losing their memories, battle themes

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Book Review: Funny Feelings by Tarah Dewitt

April 11, 2023September 27, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 392 pages
Author: Tarah Dewitt
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 28th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Farley Jones is being forced to date Meyer Harrigan, the man she has come to love, in order to make all of her stand-up dreams come true.

It’s agony— a tragedy, even. In lieu of flowers, please send cash…

Meyer and his daughter Hazel have been everything to her since they came into her life three years ago. So, all joking aside, the stakes really are high when it’s not only her career, but both of those relationships on the line.

A former stand-up star himself, Meyer has helped the trajectory of her career take off since he began managing her… Since he became her closest and most treasured friend, in the process.

This is the only reason why, when the biggest opportunity of Farley’s career includes thrusting him back into the spotlight to stir up publicity, he agrees— despite his grumpiness, his protectiveness over Hazel, and his disdain for public attention.

When helping her includes taking those barriers down, all those funny feelings start coming out into the open, and it quickly begins to feel like anything but a joke.

Funny Feelings is a swoony story about friendship, love, and looking for the laugh in life. It touches on the creative spirit and all that comes with sharing that gift, and how oftentimes the comedians in our lives are the most sensitive, or struggling. It features two friends, one incredible little girl, and a kaleidoscope of feelings along the way.

WONDERFUL.

I had mixed feelings towards Dewitt’s first book Rootbound. Funny Feelings on the other hand? This was an easy mark for the win column. The writing was better, the tension was sweeter and the story itself just had a lot of great aspects.

The grump and sunshine trope was awesome. I loved the dynamics between Farley and Meyer. Fiery banter and unrequited love that had me aching to know what would happen next. Also, Hazel???? OMG LOVED HER. Single Dad trope and his adorable daughter were AMAZING. I loved the deaf rep and I thought everything was handled well.

It was a bit crude/crass for me at times. Some of the jokes just weren’t my cup of tea (and that’s okay). I did truly laugh at others though! I liked the comedian angle and haven’t come across that in a romance read so learning about some of those dynamics was a nice touch too.

Third act conflict wise, meh. I don’t think Meyer and Farley needed it? It felt out of place, then dragged a little too long, with a super quick resolution. Not the end of the world, just not my favorite either. MEYER was my favorite though. Still swooning over many lines that man said.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: strong
Romance: multiple open door; medium explicit
Trigger/Content Warnings: grief and depression depiction, therapy, loss of a loved one, bullying

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Book Review: The Earl’s Hideaway, No Ladies Allowed (A Romance of Rank #2) by Esther Hatch

April 8, 2023January 9, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Esther Hatch
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 30th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

If there is one woman Samson Rutherford, Earl of Riverton, can’t abide, it is his meddling sister. He has spent his whole life being a pawn in her plans and tricks, but when one of her schemes leaves him dressed in women’s clothing, he has finally had enough. He cannot beat her at her games, or even say no to her, his only option to save his sanity and pride is to run away–and fortunately, his solicitor knows just the place…

Catherine Wallace wasn’t born to be a governess, but with her family’s fall from grace, she has become one. A good one. However, when the chance arises to stay at her uncle’s home so she can care for his horticulture project while he is absent, she jumps at the chance. Leaving her position, she plans to gather her sisters together so they can be a family again–even if it is only for a little while.

But the last thing Catherine expected to find upon her arrival was her childhood friend. Samson has sequestered himself at the cottage and claims to have been invited to watch over her uncle’s business while he is away. But Catherine insists that’s what she’s been asked to do. The quiet retreat is what they both need, but who will get to stay?

Not Samson, because he has never gotten the better of a woman, not since… well, not since Catherine let him kiss her years ago…

Come to think of it, perhaps it is time for Samson to win after all.

CINNAMON ROLL SWEETNESS.

I think it’s been a minute since I’ve noticeably read a more cinnamon roll/beta hero and I HAVE MISSED THIS. Samson was the absolute sweetest and just wanted a moment for himself but that turns into a wonderful second chance / childhood friends romance.

The cottage setting brought about the perfect dose of forced proximity (my favorite). I do think it slowed down a little in the middle with continuous talks of learning plays and such, but that’s my only minor complaint.

I looove the way Esther Hatch writes her characters. They’re all someone I want to be friends with and are filled with strengths and weaknesses that are worked through by the final pages. This book was light and made my heart just feel happy. Hatch’s regency romances are some of my favorite and can’t wait for what’s next!

Overall audience notes: