ARC Book Review: Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham

August 13, 2024August 9, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Rachel Fordham
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: August 13th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Beauty and the Beast meets A Light Between Oceans in historic small-town America where a wealthy reclusive bachelor and an unlikely ally join forces to solve a family secret and inadvertently find belonging along the way.

Early 1900s. When an accident leaves Sadie West’s family in dire financial need, she nervously leaves the land she loves to work in the Hoag duster factory. But sending all her money home means that she has nowhere to board, and she’s forced to take up residence in an abandoned building–a choice that throws her in the path of the town’s mysterious bachelor.

Recently returned from exile, and determined to keep his arrival a secret, Otis Taylor makes the impulsive decision to hire the woman he finds hiding on his family’s property with the strict instructions she tell no one he has returned. The dark halls of his boyhood flood him with memories he’s long tried to forget. The only bright light is the woman he has hired. Can the optimistic Sadie teach the wounded Otis to trust again? To love? Can the pair unravel the family secrets that have long cast a shadow over the mansion and those who reside within?

With the same heart as Rachel Fordham’s fan-loved previous historical novels, Beyond Ivy Walls takes readers on an emotional journey full of character development, historical nuance, and a deeply satisfying happily ever after.

Thank you to Austen Prose and Thomas Nelson for the gifted copy.

MISSING SOMETHING.

I adored the first book in this series so much I jumped at the chance to receive a copy of book two (these can be read as standalones with no issues!!). But then I feel like I struggled way more than I hoped for getting through it.

The Beauty and the Beast vibes were definitely woven into the story. I could see the nods to the original and how it was adapted for a historical romance setting. I loved the unique set up for the FMC and how she came to meet the MMC. They had some sweet moments throughout and there’s good themes too. I enjoyed the small faith elements too. The side characters were charming and added to the story too.

I had issues with the aura and writing style of the book. And it’s hard to explain but it came across as if it was written as if the main cast were younger characters and not fully grown adults. I had a disconnect and struggled to stay engaged reading.

The audiobook was fantastic though. I love having two narrators for both the male and female leads. I thought they did a great job and if you want to try this book, absolutely recommend this format.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisse
Content Warnings: child abandonment and abuse

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Book Review: Wishtress by Nadine Brandes

October 13, 2023October 24, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 464 pages
Author: Nadien Brandes
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: September 13th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She didn’t ask to be the Wishtress.

Myrthe was born with the ability to turn her tears into wishes. It’s a big secret to keep. When a granted wish goes wrong, a curse is placed on her: the next tear she sheds will kill her. She needs to journey to the Well and break the curse before it claims her life–and before the king’s militairen track her down. But in order to survive the journey, she must harden her heart to keep herself from crying even a single tear.

He can stop time with a snap of his fingers.

Bastiaan’s powerful–and rare–Talent came in handy when he kidnapped the old king. Now the new king has a job for him: find and capture the Wishtress and deliver her to the schloss. But Bastiaan needs a wish of his own. When he locates Myrthe, he agrees to take her to the Well in exchange for a wish. Once she’s fulfilled her end of the deal, he’ll turn her in. As long as his growing feelings for the girl with a stone heart don’t compromise his job.

They are on a journey that can only end one way: with her death.

Everyone seems to need a wish–the king, Myrthe’s cousin, the boy she thinks she loves. And they’re ready to bully, beg, and even betray her for it. No one knows that to grant even one of them, Myrthe would have to die. And if she tells them about her curse . . . they’ll just kill her anyway.

MISSING.

This book was missing quite a bit for me. I even realized in the first half that things weren’t going well and hoped for a better second, but alas. I’m left with more questions than answers.

Plot wise I felt like there were many holes. There were quite a few things that I kept wondering, why did that happen? What did it serve? And moments where sub plots just didn’t track. Even the ending was suuper open and didn’t satisfy anything I needed.

One good sub plot I did like was about mothers. The things mother’s are willing to do and stretch for to save their children, help them, or just be in the same space as them. A lot of these sentiments were great and maybe this as an adult book with more of that would have hit better.

The romance was super underdeveloped. I wasn’t even marginally invested and confessions of love were being thrown about. The villain’s were too obvious and one dimensional. And I’m not even sure the FMC did anything?! A bunch of stuff was happening to her, but she barely made any moves until the last few chapters.

The base of the writing was fine and the audiobook was great. This was not for me though.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: medium
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of children (side character, off page but recounted), loss of parents, mentions of child prostitution

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Book Review: The Do-Over by Bethany Turner

March 15, 2023May 6, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★☆ (3.5)
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Bethany Turner
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: March 15th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When McKenna Keaton walks into the boardroom of Wallis, Monroe, and Burkhead, she expects to be named senior partner. Instead, she learns she’s being investigated for embezzlement. To wait out her unpaid leave, McKenna sublets her Upper West Side apartment and goes home to Durham, North Carolina, to save money. Saving face is going to be another thing entirely, but she assumes her problems will blow over soon.

While living in her childhood hometown, McKenna learns about a family curse that—if real rather than imagined—could suggest she has less than a year to live. This information is troubling (of course!), but it’s the reunion with former classmate Henry—Durham’s favorite son—that flips her world upside down. Henry is now a celebrated documentarian, back in town to premiere his latest masterpiece. Vulnerable to (and desperately needing) a distraction as her life falls apart, McKenna begins seeing the shy nerd from high school in a whole new light.

As she waits out the results of the investigation and wonders if her literal life is hanging in the balance, McKenna debates her future and questions her past. She might survive it all in one piece—but a new love and a newly-examined life might be the only things that can save her.

ENJOYABLE.

This was my first Turner book and I don’t think it’ll be my last. I really enjoyed this story and all the different nuances it held.

With a, we knew each other in high school and are now reconnecting, trope (one of which I didn’t know I’d love), I was wrapped up in this romance. It’s very fast paced and at times I could have used a bit more. Yet, it held some sweet moments. Some where I wanted to shake the characters, but a happy ending for all.

I liked that McKenna had a lot of opportunity for growth. She’s very much stagnant in HER mindset and making people understand that’s who and what she wants to be. While nothing wrong with that, I loved that she found ways to reconnect with her sisters, slow down a bit, AND still accomplish professional goals she was after. The bit of mystery with her career was a nice added touch.

There was a big theme of family history here and I’m not sure I’ve read much of that as a subplot. I really liked the background and passion McKenna’s Dad and Henry had for telling stories from the past. This plot wove well into the full story and I thought it was a unique writing choice.

I struggled with the conflict, that’s mostly why I took off that last 1/2 star. Just became frustrating and drawn out a bit too long. It was a fantastic audiobook and still a solid read and I look forward to more!

Overall audience notes: