library book – GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 512 pages
Author: Rebecca Ross
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: December 6th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

East and West. Humans and Spirits. Breccans and Tamerlaines. The Isle of Cadence has always held itself and its residents in a tenuous balance. But now Bane, the spirit of the North Wind, has pushed everyone and everything in his path off-kilter in a bid to claim dominion over all.

In the West, Adaira struggles to adjust to the more brutal, bitter ways of life among the Breccans. Striving to find her place in the clan, she swiftly realizes that it just might be the last role she desires to hold. And while magic blooms effortlessly for the Breccans in the west, the spirits continue to suffer beneath Bane’s harsh power, felt in every gust of wind.

In the East, Jack is adrift without Adaira until he sings to the ember-weak fire spirits, acquiring a dangerous mission he never expected. One that is destined to lead him westward. Likewise, Torin and Sidra are consumed by a new mystery as sickness spreads first amongst the crops, and then to the people of the Tamerlaine clan. While Sidra desperately searches for a cure, Torin dares to strike a bargain with the spirits–a precarious folly anytime, but especially now as the days grow darker.

With the island falling further out of balance, humans and spirits alike will need to join together to face Bane, and Jack’s gift with the harp will be called upon once more. Yet no one can challenge the North Wind without paying a terrible price, and the sacrifice required this time may be more than Jack, Adaira, Torin, and Sidra can bear to pay.

WONDERFUL CONCLUSION.

I know, I know. You see that four star there and wonder WHY. I’ll give you why.

One of my biggest frustrations with any book that has a heavy romance plot is the separation of love interests for an extended period of time. I felt that with this being a duology, I didn’t like waiting around until 40% for one couple to be back on the same page. Pacing wise, it caused a, nothing is happening, slow down.

BUT OTHERWISE. I thought this was lyrically beautiful. I’m especially grateful I went ahead and waited for the audiobook because I love the Scottish narration. It adds a whole new layer and really transports me into this story.

I do love both of these couples. That second half had my heart wrapped in a vice. Pulling at every emotion. I loooved the quiet moments they both got and the strength they gave each other to keep rising. I adored this whole cast. Every character held value and the progression for everyone was great to watch.

The ending will leave you turning pages faster than you can read. It felt classic to Ross’s nature (as I’ve read all of her other books) and I love how she does it each time.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: a little strong
Romance: fade to black
Violence: medium
Trigger/Content Warnings: weapons and physical violence, poisoning

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Book Review

Book Review: The No-Show by Beth O’Leary

March 6, 2023May 1, 2022 GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Beth O’Leary
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: April 12th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Three women who seemingly have nothing in common find that they’re involved with the same man in this smart new rom-com by Beth O’Leary, bestselling author of The Flatshare.

Siobhan is a quick-tempered life coach with way too much on her plate. Miranda is a tree surgeon used to being treated as just one of the guys on the job. Jane is a soft-spoken volunteer for the local charity shop with zero sense of self-worth.

These three women are strangers who have only one thing in common: They’ve all been stood up on the same day, the very worst day to be stood up–Valentine’s Day. And, unbeknownst to them, they’ve all been stood up by the same man.

Once they’ve each forgiven him for standing them up, they let him back into their lives and are in serious danger of falling in love with a man who seems to have not just one or two but three women on the go….

Is there more to him than meets the eye? And will they each untangle the truth before they all get their hearts broken?

WHOA.

Can we just marvel at O’Leary’s writing ability? To weave this story with so many moving parts and to leave you in the dark just enough to keep going. AND THEN to rip your heart out?! before putting back together? Oh my, what a read.

I devoured this audio in a day because I needed to know what exactly was happening. I loved how things came together and all of these subtle stories. While it was a romance, each of the women’s lives was also enriched by much more. Making new friends, finding new paths, working through mental health concerns, there’s a lot here.

The major trigger for this story is actually one of the few I don’t love reading about and may have not picked this up had I know about it. Luckily it was held off to almost the end that I was fine, but I wanted to note that in my review.

I loved getting Joseph’s story in-between everyone else’s. We never realized the ways that someone might alter our course when they’re apart of our lives. This was a great read and the audio was solid too. I would say you might pick up on more of the little clues if you’re reading physically though.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: closed door
Violence: medium
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a partner, sexual harassment, cheating, dementia, panic attacks, self-harm, pregnancy, miscarriage, stalking

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Book Review

Book Review: Before I Let Go (Skyland #1) by Kennedy Ryan

March 4, 2023December 10, 2022 GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Kennedy Ryan
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: November 15th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Their love was supposed to last forever. But when life delivered blow after devastating blow, Yasmen and Josiah Wade found that love alone couldn’t solve or save everything.

It couldn’t save their marriage.

Yasmen wasn’t prepared for how her life fell apart, but she’s is finally starting to find joy again. She and Josiah have found a new rhythm, co-parenting their two kids and running a thriving business together. Yet like magnets, they’re always drawn back to each other, and now they’re beginning to wonder if they’re truly ready to let go of everything they once had.

Soon, one stolen kiss leads to another…and then more. It’s hot. It’s illicit. It’s all good—until old wounds reopen. Is it too late for them to find forever? Or could they even be better, the second time around?

ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

This book wasn’t initially on my radar until a trusted friend was talking about how much she loved it. I downloaded immediately, AND FELL IN LOVE.

I feel like this is a really hard book to put into words. It’s raw, human, and shows the lowest of lows alongside the highs. It’s complicated and shows how many things in life are not linear. We get knocked down, dragged around, and fight to stand back up. And that’s the amazing power of our souls.

Every single one of these characters had me wrapped up in their story. I loved the way the side characters were used to further the plot (and I Hope we get more stories from some of them???). I LOVED the children and the way divorce and therapy were discussed in regards to how it effects them. There’s a massive theme of mental health and I was teary eyed many times at the moments of despair and the moments of breakthroughs and triumphs.

I don’t have one bad thing to say. I loved this book. This was my first Kennedy Ryan book and it will definitely not be my last.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: multiple open; high explicit + high innunedo
Violence: low-medium
Trigger/Content Warnings: divorce, depictions of grief and depression, suicidal ideation, stillbirth

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Book Review

Book Review: The Wedding Season by Katy Birchall

February 7, 2023July 3, 2022 GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Fiction
Length: 384 pages
Author: Katy Birchall
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Release Date: May 3rd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Freya Scott is getting married. Her wedding to Matthew, her long-term boyfriend, is the first of eight in her calendar this year, and as someone who prides herself on being meticulously organized, Freya is intent on making it the perfect day to remember.

But when Matthew calls things off hours before they walk down the aisle, Freya’s entire life plan goes up in smoke. Humiliated and heartbroken, the last thing she wants is to attend a summer of other peoples’ nuptials on her own.

Fortunately, her friends have an idea: together they devise a series of outrageous challenges for Freya to complete at each event, designed to distract her from Matthew and what might have been. From getting stuck in an old church bathroom and needing to be rescued by the vicar to making out with a barman at a French chateau, Freya realizes that despite herself, she might just be having fun.

By the time the final wedding arrives, she will discover that the road to a happy ending sometimes has unexpected detours, that “I do” is only the beginning––and that perhaps her own love story isn’t over just yet.

GREAT READ.

I’m not really a fiction reader. I either lean towards fantasy or romance, but I picked this up on a friends recommendation and it did not disappoint!

I really loved the vibes of this entire book. I found myself laughing out loud and cheering Freya on after a devastating break up at very much the wrong time.

Her friends were lovely and they were incredibly supportive and just there for her. I looove a good friend moment and this delivered. There’s also a subtle romance that had me smiling too.

I do wish the ex plot line didn’t take up the ENTIRE book. I thought we had essentially moved past his awfulness until he showed up late in the game which made me give a big sigh.

Still a great read about moving on when plans drastically change. Leaning in to the chaos of life and trying new things, and just maybe falling in love.

Overall audience notes: