Book Review: Exes Don’t (Fall in Love #3) by Leah Dobrinska

March 4, 2025December 26, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Christmas Sports Romance
Length: 292 pages
Author: Leah Dobrinska
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 8th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A fast-paced and fun sports and spy romantic comedy…let the games begin!

Rose Kasper has a secret. A big one. She’s a spy. Okay…not exactly. She works as an undercover security specialist. For a decade, she’s used dry humor, deflection, and self-deprecation to keep herself distanced from her sisters and friends in order to hide her double life. But when a man she dated for the job years ago—the same man she foolishly let herself get close to—is in danger, she must place herself in his playing field yet again. Whether he likes it or not.

Anton Bates has a full life juggling his roles as star quarterback of the Green Bay River Foxes and Prince of Penwick, a small island nation off the coast of Norway. He’s slow to trust, having been used for his position—both of them—on more than one occasion. So when Rose Kasper, a woman whom he loved and lost, sweeps back into his life, he wants nothing to do with her. Or does he?

Anton audibles and decides to use his unexpected reunion with Rose as an opportunity to prove to her that the two of them together are a touchdown. Rose knows she doesn’t deserve Anton—not with all the lies and deceit. But his gameplan is working, and she starts to believe that if she’s honest with him, maybe things between them can be different this time. But when the truth comes out and Anton’s life is at risk, their second chance looks like it’ll end in a loss.

Because exes don’t fall in love…do they?

MY KRYPTONITE.

I don’t know what it says about me that one of my favorite tropes is a man obsessed. But it is what it is and it’s really easy to win me over at that point. I loved this book, it’s my current favorite of the series and I had such a blast with it (especially after just finishing Wind and Truth, IYKYK).

The quarterback/prince dynamic took a little more suspension of my reality than I prefer, but the author made this work. It’s quirky and you don’t have ALL the information, yet the romance really shines and I loved that this had just the right amount of flashback chapters to add to the history between Rose and Anton.

Also, praise dual POV. I loved seeing both of their mindsets and personalities behind all of the hard decisions that were being thrown at them. I loved all of Anton’s teammates and Rose’s sisters. Strong support systems make a book really sing for me.

The confession of love about melted me through the FLOOR. Oh gosh it was perfect. I loved all of the heated kisses and mounting tension that broke away for a second chance and a true relationship. The drama played well into the finale and it’s a quick, lighter read that even has a little bit of holiday cheer.

Overall audience notes:

Sports Romance
Language: none
Romance: heated kisses
Violence: mild
Content Warnings: brief gun violence

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ALC Book Review: The Favorites by Layne Fargo

January 16, 2025January 3, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: Sports Romance
Length: 448 pages
Author: Layne Fargo
Publisher: Random House
Release Date: January 14th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

To the world, they were a scandal. To each other, an obsession.

An epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating about a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice

She might not have a famous name, funding, or her family’s support, but Katarina Shaw has always known that she was destined to become an Olympic skater. When she meets Heath Rocha, a lonely kid stuck in the foster care system, their instant connection makes them a formidable duo on the ice. Clinging to skating—and each other—to escape their turbulent lives, Kat and Heath go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, captivating the world with their scorching chemistry, rebellious style, and rollercoaster relationship. Until a shocking incident at the Olympic Games brings their partnership to a sudden end.

As the ten-year anniversary of their final skate approaches, an unauthorized documentary reignites the public obsession with Shaw and Rocha, claiming to uncover the “real story” through interviews with their closest friends and fiercest rivals. Kat wants nothing to do with the documentary. But she can’t stand the thought of someone else defining her legacy either. So, after a decade of silence, she’s telling her story: from the childhood tragedies that created her all-consuming bond with Heath to the clash of desires that tore them apart. Sensational rumors have haunted their every step for years, but the truth may be even more shocking than the headlines.

Inspired by the powerful love and hate that fuel Emily Bronte’s classic, Wuthering Heights, The Favorites is an exhilarating dance between passion, ambition, and what it truly means to win.

Thank you LibroFM (LibroFM Parnter) for the gifted audiobook.

DRAMA BE DRAMAING.

I FULLLLLLLY admit that I usually hate books like this. I am not a drama drama drama kind of gal when it comes to my contemporary reads, but when I tell y’all this book had me in a CHOKEHOLD, you would not believe. It took every turn you can imagine and I was gasping over and over again every time the next hit came. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. Which obviously means I gave it five stars because the chaos was beautifully crafted and these unlikable characters had my full attention.

I loooooved that this was a full cast with excerpts from a documentary style (so lots of narrators and it read really awesome over audio). I’m curious to see how it looks in printed format. I think that’s what made it all the more exciting and intense too. The narration was just expertly done and I could not stop listening.

Will people hate this book? Absolutely. But I think it’s going to be a popular one too. There’s something about the insane drive to succeed and be the top contender that makes you put away any moral compass that becomes fascinating to watch. Read it and then come find me to talk about it.

Overall audience notes:

Sports Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: closed door, quick fade to black
Violence: mild
Content Warnings: cheating, mentions of past child abuse, loss of life

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Book Review: O Goalie Night by K.M. Gillis

December 28, 2024December 13, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Christmas Sports Romance
Length: 333 pages
Author: K.M. Gillis
Publisher: Literary Lupin
Release Date: November 1st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

‘Tis the season to be tempted.

All Beth Michaels wants for Christmas is a fresh start. A new job in a new city is her chance to finally break free from her overbearing yet well-meaning mother, not to mention her small-town notoriety as NHL superstar Ben Michaels’ little sister. But her dream of independence hits an unexpected snag when a housing mishap leaves her with no choice but to move in with Ben’s best friend and teammate, the broody (and gorgeous) Foster James.

As a top goalie, Foster has always been great at handling high-pressure decisions and sticking to the rules. But there is one rule he finds impossible to follow: don’t fall for your best friend’s sister. After years of being alone, resisting the sweet and funny Beth may be the toughest challenge he has ever faced.

The goal was to keep their relationship under wraps, but plans have a way of becoming tangled during the holidays.

O Goalie Night is a holiday hockey romcom. It’s the first novel in the Ottawa Otters standalone series.

NO COMPLAINTS.

I was dragged in by this cover and title. I COULD NOT RESIST. And the book was a great read too. Just the right book for the right moment. This is a low angst and tension, a little bit of insta-connection and allllll of the Christmas moments you could want. I loved the skating and tree decorating and many moments in between. Foster James is a walking green flag and I love that for Beth.

There’s not a lot to the plot (which is fine!!). It hit all the best notes for me in what I enjoy in a Christmas romance. I like it to feel simple but engaging and please bring all the swoon. I appreciated that the spice didn’t overwhelm the plot (though some of the innuendo did feel a little out of pocket). It’s fast paced and there’s plenty of hockey content to be able to say this is a sports romance too. I enjoyed the whole cast and look forward to continuing this series.

Overall audience notes:

Christmas Hockey Romance
Language: mild
Romance: 3 open door
Violence: low

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ARC Book Review: Home Run Heart by Hailey Gardiner

October 23, 2024October 17, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 300 pages
Author: Hailey Gardiner
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 23rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

There have only ever been two things that Brooks Alden can say he truly baseball and Nora Foster, the girl he dated in high school.

Returning home in the off-season gives Brooks an opportunity he never thought he’d get a second chance encounter with a now-divorced Nora. Suddenly, the hometown he’s avoided for so long becomes a place to make new memories together. They make a bargain that entails spending five Fridays sharing new experiences in the hopes that Brooks will discover that there’s more to life than baseball, while also helping Nora cope with the resulting grief of her divorce and the demands of single motherhood.

In this second chance, sweet romantic comedy, Brooks and Nora must find the courage to discover what makes them happy and learn what it feels like to have their hearts hit a home run.

Home Run Heart is a closed-door, second chance, sweet baseball romance that delivers on all the swoon without the spice. Books in the Kitt’s Harbor series are stand-alone novels but might be best enjoyed if read in order.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

IN LOVE.

You know what really makes me smitten? Second chance romances written like this. Good heavens y’all. IT WAS SO GOOD. What I loved most, is that this story was low on the drama and high on the romance. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I’m in the mood for drama, but what I crave other times is a slow, steady, soft and tender romance. If you need the soft and sweet right now, READ THIS BOOK.

I adored Brooks and Nora (hello dual POV, I love you). I loved the focus on therapy and working through past trauma and high pressure life styles and learning to balance what needs to be done and what you can do for yourself. There were many deep conversations and I am always looking for true communication and I liked seeing those moments between Brooks and Nora. And also, Ollie?? He was so precious!! And let it be known I was a puddle on the ground anytime he and Brooks interacted. PUDDLE.

This is a very fast paced read and will absolutely suck you in. I am now demanding that more closed door baseball romances because this is a niche I didn’t know I needed. I am such a fan girl of Hailey Gardiner’s writing and story telling abilities. Do not skip out on her books.

Overall audience notes: