new orleans rush – GoodeyReads

Top Ten Tuesday: The Last Ten Books That Gave Me a Book Hangover

February 18, 2020February 19, 2020 GoodeyReads

Had to think about this one a bit. It’s like the book hangover happens, then I find another book and keep going. I ended up scrolling through my reads from most recently til about last summer and found a great list of books that definitely gave me a book hangover.

I will recommend these books up and down all day. If you haven’t read them, YOU SHOULD.

A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR #2) by Sarah J. Maas

This may be the…fifth? time I’ve read this book since its release and still every dang time, I get a book hangover. I love it so much and I know I subconsciously compare fantasy romance books to it because Rhys and Feyre are forever favorites.

The Winner’s Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski

I recently re-read these in just the last month and book two WILL ALWAYS BRING A HANGOVER. One so bad that I feel the immediate necessity to read book three and I know exactly what happens. That’s an amazing series.

Faking Under the Mistletoe by Ashley Shepherd

BEST CHRISTMAS READ EVER. I have plans to read it again in December because I loved it so. An indie author that deserves all the praise. This enemies to lovers book is just that fantastic.

New Orleans Rush by Kelly Siskind

You know what’s my favorite? This book is my favorite. Magical and romantic with a solid plot. I can’t wait for her new book this year!

If I’m Being Honest by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. It is one of the best YA Contemporaries I have ever read. I love the character arc, the sweet romance and the real feel of high school. It has all the things.

Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove #1) by Shelby Mahurin

Top debut of 2019. Yup, I said it. THIS WAS AMAZING. I love a good forced marriage plot line. And the romance is MMM SO GOOD YES. Book two is sure to be one of my favorites of 2020.

The Bridge Kingdom (The Bridge Kingdom #1) by Danielle L. Jensen

Were you waiting for this one? I have made my love for this book KNOWN. I’m even listening to it for a third time in preparation for the sequel. And I’m getting giddy all over again!

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

Ooooo yes. I read this book in one sitting. ONE SITTING. And an actual I started it in the evening and didn’t go to bed until I had my ending. I loooooved this second chance romance. It left me dazed in the best way.

Air Awakens Series by Elise Kova

**Air Awakens | Fire Falling | Earth’s End | Water’s Wrath | Crystal Crowned**

I also have a very clear obsession for this series. I binged this all within two months because I couldn’t get enough. Fire Falling probably gave me the worst hangover. The entire series itself was such a masterpiece.

All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover

Hoover’s ability to take real and utterly raw emotions of the human condition and make them a beautiful romance that makes you want to cry and cheer all in the same breath is unbelievable on it’s own. And that very long sentence is all this book needs for me to hopefully convince you to read it.

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Book Review

Book Review: New Orleans Rush by Kelly Siskind

January 23, 2020January 30, 2020 GoodeyReads

Rating: ☆☆☆☆ 1/2
Audience: Contemporary romance
Length: 310 pages
Author: Kelly Siskind
Publisher: Everafter Romance
Release Date: April 23rd, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Falling for your surly boss is a rotten idea.
Letting him saw you in half is even worse…

Beatrice Baker may be a struggling artist, but she believes all hardships have silver linings…until she follows her boyfriend to New Orleans and finds him with another woman. Instead of turning those lemons into lemonade, she drinks lemon drop martinis and keys the wrong man’s car.

Now she works for Huxley Marlow of the Marvelous Marlow Boys, getting shoved in boxes as an on-stage magician’s assistant. A cool job for some, but Bea’s been coerced into the role to cover her debt. She also maybe fantasizes about her boss’s adept hands and what else they can do.

She absolutely will not fall for him, or kiss him senseless. Until she does. The scarred, enigmatic Huxley has unwittingly become her muse, unlocking her artistic dry spell, but his vague nightly activities are highly suspect. The last time Beatrice trusted a man, her bank account got drained and she almost got arrested. Surely this can’t end that badly…right?

WHERE CAN I GET A MAGICIAN LIKE HUXLEY?

This quick romantic comedy is a hidden gem in the genre. I absolutely adored this and it took me a day to finish because of it!

Beatrice is effervescent and optimistic about most things in her life. Being betrayed by the men she’s known (including her Father) she ends up in New Orleans, single, without a job or a home. But then she meets…HUXLEY. Oh their chemistry is dynamite y’all. Sparks flying every which way it could light up a night sky.

I couldn’t get enough of their banter and flirtatious moments. It was purely them meeting and getting to know each other that formed their friendship turned romance. I usually prefer a stand-out trope (like enemies to lovers) but this worked in such a magical way I was smitten with them. I love that Huxley took care of Bea and helped her get on her own two feet. Not only that, but Bea helped Huxley see the glass half full rather than empty. These two peas in a pod really completed each other. THEY’RE JUST SO PRECIOUS OKAY? Trust me on this.

Huxley and his brothers, Axel and Fox are also what brother goals are made of. These three had an incredible dynamic too. I love the different personalities and banter that made up their daily conversations. They all kind of grew up (even though everyone is in their late 20s and 30s) as they started to take care of each other. Huxley as big brother never got a chance to take a breath and his brothers (plus Beatrice) helped him step back and enjoy the finer moments of life.

The only reason I took off a half a star was a personal preference. I didn’t love that there was a whole chapter and a half dedicated to the sex scene. It was a bit much and a bit too detailed for me. It’s easily skipped over though so if this also isn’t your scene I promise the rest of the book is gold.

I liked the plot of this as well. It was different than other rom-coms I’ve read before. I felt there was a bit more at stake and it upped the drama overall. It never over took the romance, but wove seamlessly with it.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary romance
Language: some strong language
Romance: kissing, make outs, flirting, innuendo, Chapter 23 & beginning of Chapter 24: detailed love scene; Chapter 30: fade to black with a little detail
Violence: physical, being held at gun point
Trigger warnings: gambling addiction, gambling in general

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Monthly Wrap-Up

Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: November 2019

December 2, 2019November 30, 2019 GoodeyReads

My birthday month is over. And I’m a bit sad about it. BUT NOW IT’S ACTUALLY CHRISTMAS SEASON. Yes, I only truly dive into the Christmas holiday AFTER Thanksgiving. Because that’s how it works.

Put the Christmas tree out yesterday, played some Christmas music and am currently rounding up the gifts I’ll need for this year. Happy Holidays everyone!

Lots of good reading this month. I did DNF three books (Hidden Huntress, The Rage of Dragons and Truth or Beard) which is unheard of for me. I still managed to make it through 20 books though so YAY.

All reviews will be coming out in the next few weeks. I’m ahead of posting reviews vs. monthly wrap-ups. Stay tuned if there’s a book that sounds good to you! (Or ask me in the comments!)

Be the Girl by K.A. Tucker – (☆☆☆☆)
Field Notes on Love by Jennifer E. Smith – (☆☆☆ 1/2)
A Treacherous Curse (Veronica Speedwell #3) by Deanna Raybourn – (☆☆☆ 1/2)
Storm and Fury (The Harbringer #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout – (☆☆☆)
Imber (Thanatos Trilogy #1) by Tyffany Hackett – (☆☆☆☆)
Supernova (Renegades #3) by Marissa Meyer – (☆☆☆☆☆)
The Alchemists of Loom (Loom Saga #1) by Elise Kova – (☆☆☆ 1/2)
Say You Still Love Me by K.A. Tucker – (☆☆☆☆)
New Orleans Rush by Kelly Siskind – (☆☆☆☆ 1/2)
Always Never Yours by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka – (☆☆☆☆)
One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns #2) by Kendare Blake – (☆☆☆ 1/2)
The Valiant (The Valiant #1) by Lesley Livingston – (☆☆☆☆)
Green Rider (Green Rider #1) by Kristen Britain – (☆☆☆☆)
The Bromance Book Club (Bromance Book Club #1) by Lyssa Kay Adams – (☆☆☆☆)
The Queen of Nothing (Folk of the Air #3) by Holly Black – (☆☆☆ 1/2)
Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin – (☆☆☆ 1/2)
Give the Dark My Love (Give the Dark My Love #1) by Beth Revis – (☆☆☆☆)
[ARC] The Raven and the Dove (The Raven and the Dove #1) by Kaitlyn Davis – (☆☆☆☆ 1/2)
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary – (☆☆☆ 1/2)
Rebel (Legend #4) by Marie Lu – (☆☆☆☆)