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

December 30, 2023September 19, 2023 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

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Book Review: Falling Embers (Tattered & Torn #2) by Catherine Cowles

June 28, 2023July 27, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 318 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: PageSmith LLC
Release Date: April 12th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I loved Calder Cruz from the moment he taught me to fly. He might’ve been my brother’s best friend but he was my everything.

The only who understood me. My safest place. My person.

Until one night changed it all and we became strangers in a single breath.

Now, years later, I see him every day at the fire station. I watch him raise adorable twin girls as a single dad. But he has no idea how hard it was to see him move on without me.

How much I still burn for him.

A twist of fate changes everything. When my life is on the line, it’s Calder who saves me–who comes charging back into my heart with a vengeance. And makes it clear he’s determined to stay.

But as long-buried embers light anew, there are those who lurk in the shadows. And they’ll do whatever it takes to extinguish that flame for good…

NEW FAV.

This is now my current favorite in the series. HOW I LOVED THEM.

Calder and Hadley have my whole heart. I loved this combination of second chance + friends to lovers + unrequited love. It worked so well and they were just so sweet on each other!! It’s fast paced and full of longing and hope. Many sentiments had me swooning and loving every moment.

These continue to lean towards the dramatics and I don’t care one bit. I love the suspense elements that keep me on my toes. Just when I thought the end was near, BAM, someone else came out and chose violence that day and I was on pins and needles trying to read fast enough to get to the resolution. I love all of the protective heroes and everything in this small town.

Hadley’s Mother is still enraging and hoping that continues to resolve over the course of the series.

Overall audience notes:

Romantic Suspense
Language: some strong
Romance: three very brief open door
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, extreme cyber bullying, near death car wrecks, child endangerment, stalking

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ARC Book Review: The Pocket Pair (Graham Brothers #3) by Emma St. Clair

June 9, 2023June 4, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 322 pages
Author: Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 9th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Do I have feelings for my sister’s best friend? Of course not.

That would be stupid, considering my sister once threatened to castrate me if I ever hurt Val.

Hurting her is the last thing I want to do, which is all the MORE reason I can’t have feelings for her. Val deserves the world, and I’m NOT the man who can give it to her.

But when Val announces she’s leaving town (and the country), I’m suddenly confronted with some very capital-F Feelings–ones that refuse to stay stuffed down deep where I’ve hidden them for more years than I care to admit.

Having her crash in my guest bedroom until she leaves only makes things worse.

Little by little, Val chips away at my defenses, and despite all the solid reasons I have, my resolve starts to crumble.

The thing is–none of the circumstances have changed.

Val is still planning to leave the country. And I … well, I might have gotten more in touch with my feelings, but I’m still the same man.

NOT a man who can promise things like life-long commitment. NOT a man Val can count on. NOT the good guy everyone seems to think I am.

If only I could get Val and the rest of this nosy, meddling matchmaking town to believe me–and if my own stubborn heart wasn’t trying to convince me otherwise.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

VAL & CHEVY.

This might be my new favorite in the series. I’m sure I probably say that about each book, but I just sincerely love each book that much. I love Emma St. Clair’s writing. I love the way she tells a story and the romances she creates. They are simultaneously funny and full of heart and make my day brighter when a new one drops on my kindle.

I adored Chevy. That sweet man trying to handle his daddy issues (and not doing such a great job). I loved his growth and acknowledgement of wrong doings. How he did work to be better and to be open. And OH MY GOSH he left me in a puddle with some of his moments.

“Good.” He pauses. “Because if I kiss you, it won’t go down like this. It won’t be quick. It won’t be sweet. And it won’t be with an audience. You got that?”

Val is one of the genuinely good souls type of characters. I loved her heart and mind and how good of a friend she was and everything in between. Val and Chevy have many moments that will have the angst turning up and you shouting KISS KISS KISS.

I love this small town, I love all of the glimpses of past book characters and new characters to come. I laughed, I cheered, I was giddy like a fool with the grand gesture. Another Sheet Cake winner!!

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent, parental abandonment, physical injuries

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Book Review: Wing and a Miss (Deadlights Cove #3) by B. Perkins and Aimee Vance

April 1, 2023February 14, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Paranormal Romance
Length: 324 pages
Author: B. Perkins and Aimee Vance
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: February 4th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Dr. Selene Flores spent the last 13 years in Boston creating a life outside of Deadlights Cove. Successful practice, her own condo, and a lackluster social life. When Mayor Orion calls in a debt, her life is turned upside down.

Ryker, supernatural bounty hunter and mercenary, is injured on his way back from tracking down the demon-witch causing chaos in their world. The wound should be impossible for an ancient magic-wielding dragon shifter, yet it’s not healing with magic, and Selene is the only witch medically-trained who might be able to help him.

Only problem is, Selene has been avoiding Ryker since their one-night stand on Halloween.

The two are forced to put their differences aside when chaos strikes again, impairing the magic in Deadlights Cove and beyond. Who better to continue the hunt for the culprit than the one witch who doesn’t rely on her magic?

Except there’s no way in Hel that Ryker is letting Selene take over his job. Not alone.

Follow Selene and Ryker’s story, along with the quirky band of local misfits, in Book 3 of the Deadlights Cove series, Wing and A Miss. While each book follows a different couple, the Deadlights Cove series is best read in order, starting with Smoke Show.

NEW SERIES FAVORITE.

I have highly enjoyed every book in this series, but Wing and a Miss is my new favorite. It hit a new level of perfectly placed banter and with a grumpy protective hero? SIGN ME UP.

Even though Selene and Ryker started off a one night stand (which yay for me was off page prior to the book) they built their relationship from that and I was very much connected to seeing them fall in love. There were so many good moments between them. The snarky taking care of you scenes, to the cabin in the woods, to every other stolen time they got. LOVED it all.

The over arching plot continues to keep my attention too. I like that it adds the action and intrigue while the romance stays at the fore front. This book are a lot of fun. I like that they make me laugh, swoon and sit on the edge of my seat. There’s multiple other couples I can’t wait to get books for!!

Overall audience notes: