Tag: kindle unlimited

Book Review: Things We Left Behind (Knockemout #3) by Lucy Score

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 650 pages
Author: Lucy Score
Publisher: That’s What She Said Publishing
Release Date: September 5th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

There was only one woman who could set me free. But I would rather set myself on fire than ask Sloane Walton for anything.

Lucian Rollins is a lean, mean vengeance-seeking mogul. On a quest to erase his father’s mark on the family name, he spends every waking minute pulling strings and building an indestructible empire. The more money and power he amasses, the safer he is from threats.

Except when it comes to the feisty small-town librarian that keeps him up at night…

Sloane Walton is a spitfire determined to carry on her father’s quest for justice. She’ll do that just as soon as she figures out exactly what the man she hates did to—or for—her family. Bonded by an old, dark secret from the past and the dislike they now share for each other, Sloane trusts Lucian about as far as she can throw his designer-suited body.

When bickering accidentally turns to foreplay, these two find themselves not quite regretting their steamy one-night stand. Once those flames are fanned, it seems impossible to put them out again. But with Sloane ready to start a family and Lucian refusing to even consider the idea of marriage and kids, these enemies-to-lovers are stuck at an impasse.

Broken men break women. It’s what Lucian believes, what he’s witnessed, and he’s not going to take that chance with Sloane. He’d rather live a life of solitude than put her in danger. But he learns the hard way that leaving her means leaving her unprotected from other threats.

It’s the second time he’s ruthlessly cut her out of his life. There’s no way she’s going to give him a third chance. He’s just going to have to make one for himself.

WORTH THE WAIT.

I know we have been all waiting for this story and for me, IT ABSOLUTELY WAS EVERYTHING I COULD HOPE FOR. Oh my gosh I was in love with Lucian and Sloane from the beginning and I loved how this wrapped up everything.

They have the perfect contemporary enemies to lovers banter. You actually felt the hatred, but also the passion and intensity in the emotions both of them are trying to hide. I loved watching them battle it out and also let go. And some of those second half scenes?? Where everything was finally being laid out?? I AM A PUDDLE NOW. I love endearing moments. I also love possessive moments. This had both. ALL THE MOMENTS.

I love this small town and all of the characters. I loved getting to see everyone from previous books again. I was laughing, swooning and on the edge of my seat throughout the story. 650 pages blew by before I could even blink because this is an addictive read.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance + Suspense
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 4+ open
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: domestic abuse, gun violence, murder, attempted murder

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph || TikTok

Cait’s Greats 2023: Fantasy Favorites

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Y’all know this is my favorite genre. I live and breath fantasy books. Below you’ll find my five stars from 2023. I hope you find some good books for your TBR! Find me on Instagram (@goodeyreads) if you have any questions about any of them!

It’s interesting to me that this is smaller than my contemporary category, though I read twice as many fantasies. It’s a coveted spot to make it on this list.

And I know some of these might lean towards dystopian or paranormal/urban, I did my what I could in putting them in the category I thought would work best.

A few things to note:

  • I don’t include rereads on this list! But I did read Divine Rivals and Fourth Wing twice this year.
  • Scroll down to see which books are open, closed or sweet romances!

Open Door:

  • Six Scorched Roses
  • Lady of Darkness
  • The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King
  • Fourth Wing
  • Jade Shards
  • The Endless War
  • Celestial
  • Spark of the Everflame
  • The Shards of Ophelia
  • The Bones of Benevolence
  • Glow of the Everflame
  • A Fate Inked in Blood
  • Heat of the Everflame
  • Two Twisted Crowns
  • The Hurricane Wars
  • Iron Flame
  • Bride

Closed Door / Fade to Black:

  • Dragonfire
  • Wildheart
  • The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
  • To Poison a King
  • Light Bringer
  • Assistant to the Villain
  • The Goddess Eye
  • The Fragile Threads of Power
  • The Unmaking of June Farrow
  • An Heir of Frost
  • Divine Rivals
  • What the River Knows
  • Bring Me Your Midnight
  • Foxglove
  • Silence & Shadow
  • Blade Breaker
  • Reign
  • The Scarlet Veil

Sweet (kisses/make-outs):

  • Tress of the Emerald Sea
  • The Jasad Heir
  • Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
  • Babel
  • The Sunlit Man
  • The Binding Season
  • Into the Churn
  • A Tournament of Crowns
  • Last Violent Call
  • The Isle of the Gods
  • Foul Heart Huntsman
  • Realm Breaker
  • Face the Night
  • Her Radiant Curse
  • Vengeance of the Pirate Queen
  • Drift
  • Sinner’s Isle
  • Lost Kingdom
  • This Dark Descent
  • Well of Dreams
  • Powerless

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph || TikTok

Book Review: Solo for the Season (Gift-Wrapped Romance) by Martha Keyes

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 206 pages
Author: Martha Keyes
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 8th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

MAGGIE

After being dumped last Christmas, I’m taking extreme measures to ensure nothing and no one ruins my happy holidays this time around. I’ll be safely wrapped in a cocoon of kitschy Christmas decor, complete with surrounding winter wonderland at the ultimate holiday mountain cabin. So what if the countless elf figurines make me a little uneasy or if there are a couple hiccups with cabin maintenance? There’s a bigger the assistant manager happens to be one of (many) teasing classmates from my childhood and my former crush. He keeps showing up to my cabin to fix things. I’m more worried about what he might break…. WES Here at Crystal Peaks Resort, I’ve got everything I tall trees, fresh air, and no cell phone service. This is my happy place, and if I prove to my boss I can handle the job, the management position here will be mine. Everything is falling into place. Until the newest guest arrives. The quirky cabin she’s in is the bane of my existence, causing issue after issue. But the more I’m there, the more I realize the real obstacle between me and my future proving to my boss I can keep a professional relationship with the guests. Or one guest in particular.

A Gift-Wrapped Romance is a five-part multi-author series that can be enjoyed in any order!

THIS WAS SWEET.

I love short and sweet Christmas romance books. This was a gem and I loved Wes and Maggie. The setting was fun with the explosion of kitschy holiday goodness and all of the snow that I’m grateful I never see in real life.

One of my favorite aspects was that even though Maggie was still a little affected by some of the teasing from high school she didn’t let that completely overwhelm her being kind to Wes initially. And the fact he gave her a genuine apology was beautiful. I love see characters act their age and to try their best to communicate instead of running away.

The only tiny thing I didn’t love was Brielle. The conflict that came to that added pages, but not content. I just could have done without.

That last 20% though? I loved it. I loved how not for one second did Wes try to hide that fact he had fallen for Maggie and that they found a way to make things work between them. It was precious.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph || TikTok

Book Review: Isle of Brine and Bone (Halcyon Bay #2) by Natalia Macias Lucia

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★☆
Genre: Paranormal Mystery Romance
Length: 526 pages
Author: Natalia Macias Lucia
Publisher: Lightkeeper
Release Date: November 17th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The sea remembers, and so do I.

Dell Costa is reeling from the events that transpired on Halcyon Bay. Since learning the truth about her sister, she’s been haunted by grief and cruel memories of her time at Cliffmoor House. To make matters worse, the search for her fugitive uncle has hit a dead end. That is, until Dell’s cousin Tristen unexpectedly arrives in Woodbridge, bringing news that leads her back to the island—and the mansion—of her nightmares.

But it’s not all pain and desolation on Halcyon Bay. Dell’s romance with Hatch, the charming fisherman who captured her heart last summer, blossoms into a sultry, irrepressible love. Her ties to the Klyne brood are strengthening too, as Dell grows closer to her family and more desperate than ever to protect them from looming danger.

Hunting for clues as to her uncle’s sinister ambitions, Dell explores the island’s dark underbelly, confronting old mysteries that refuse to stay buried, as well as her own inner demons. She soon uncovers secrets that threaten to unravel her fragile world, and a scheme that will wreck everything she treasures most—unless she can stop it first.

In this mesmerizing second book in the Halcyon Bay series, author Natalia Macias Lucia tells a heart-pounding tale of love and vengeance, with higher stakes and strange, new perils lurking around every corner.

STILL IN SHOCK.

I’m not really a thriller gal, but y’all, this series absolutely has all of my attention. I loved book two and I can’t wait for the last book!!!

I really like all of the characters. Dell, Tristen, HATCH, Palmer, seriously the whole crew. There’s a good mix of personalities and decision making skills (or lack thereof) that creates an awesome dynamic. The book has this haunting atmosphere surrounded by a small town that holds one too many secrets. I loved the paranormal aspects too and thought they wove well into the plot without being outlandish. Everything just makes sense.

My one little nugget would be what happened with Dell and Hatch for 15% of the book, I’m personally not a fan of this plot choice, but otherwise it was an incredible read. I was finishing this while at the gym and I’m pretty sure I got some concerned stares as I had a shocked look on my face for the last 30 minutes of reading. GOODHEAVENSWHATHAPPENSNEXT.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Mystery Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, murder, kidnapping, weapons violence, mentions of past abuse

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph