Belinda Kroll

I experienced this rivalry in high school, except there wasn't any romantic tension beneath it. At least, not on my side. I still refer to him as “my bully” to people today. I'll never know what was going on in his head. Anyway, that made the first section of this book so hard to read. It was so real. I had flashbacks to the cruel things that were said to me, making me the class entertainment when I just wanted to be left alone. And I got so angry thinking about all the people in high school who thought it would be such a riot if we showed up at a reunion married with kids.

I was determined to hate this book. But it made me cry. Their vulnerability, taking the chance on each other. It felt real in the right way, and I stopped projecting my trauma on them. Genuinely enjoyed this one.

I don't usually enjoy short story collections but I devoted every one of these. Ms Burgis is an absolute whiz at drawing you into worlds, caring for characters, and left wondering what happened after the story ended. Chef's kiss

If you could look up the perfect mashup between Once, Lost, Winter Soldier, WandaVision, and The Great British Bake Off, you would find this book in the middle of that complex Venn diagram. Delightful read.

Super easy to read, with actionable content. I sat with my Kickstarter campaign draft open as I read this book, making tweaks as I learned tidbits from each chapter. Excellent resource for Kickstarter creators, whether you're brand new or experienced.

And for our newbie friends, I know it seems like some of these hints and tips shouldn't be true, but they are. Believe Anthea and all the knowledge she's gathered from her amazing Facebook community!

This book took a while for me to chew on, mostly because I was reflecting between pages and chapters. As 4w5, I've learned to learn into my creativity, but it was also helpful to set where my growth opportunities are, in and out of the writing world. I tabbed my book, and plan to copy out the 4-related bold text insights into a personal worksheet and reminder set

It's rare that I get to read a romantasy about a middle-aged (50s) woman. I'm about to be 40, and soooo many of Twyla's thoughts and insecurities were shockingly relatable. I adored her journey with Frank, I was annoyed at her for not seeing him and his feelings, but also got it because I've been there, so deep in your own feelings and troubles that it's hard to look up. I couldn't read this fast enough.

This novella had me chuckling multiple times in the first opening pages, setting us up for a sweet, low stakes, no-spice cozy romantasy + Jane Austen spin on The Frog Prince fairytale. While this is book 6 in the series, you can pick this up as I did, having not read the others yet. However, be warned, I now have five more books on my TBR now that I've finished this book.

A delightful story, easy to read, and paced well enough so you're constantly turning the page wondering how Ms. Prokopovits will twist Regency England with this fairy tale. I wish we knew who the mystery magician was that bespelled our hero, though! I kinda want him to have a story, because I'm contrary like that. Could a spell like that backfire?

Ohhh yes I needed this book to jolt me out of a funk. This felt like I was watching Buffy as a teen for the first time on the WB. Or maybe the OG Roswell.

If you're a fan of the old 1930s Cary Grant movies like His Girl Friday, Arsenic & Old Lace, or The Philadelphia story, then you know EXACTLY how Eugene speaks. Go find some clips on YouTube, then come back and read Eugene's dialogue. It's spot on! I couldn't stop picturing Cary Grant, and it had me grinning for the entire book. Honestly, picture Cary Grant playing Angel + the weird smexy creepiness from Hexus in Ferngully and you've got the dynamic right there... Except with a little less slapstick and a little more slow burn angsty romance, explosive love scenes, and a delightful autistic representation in Ella.

I enjoyed Ella's growth throughout the book, partially because of the forced proximity. It gives us time to see her process things in HER way. The threats are very real and just scary enough to be both entertaining and startling.

Is cozy horror a thing? If so, I think this book is at the top of the list for me, and I can't wait for the sequel.

So excited and pleased to have read an ARC in exchange for this review.

Better than the original

Considering how much I dislike Mansfield Park, I spent the entire book dreading its traditional ending only to stop, surprised, and then barrel forward to read the remainder of the book. I'm glad, because you know, even Jane thought Fanny was “too good,” and I think she foisted Edmund upon her because she despises her own character. This book feels more balanced, and now that I know the ending, I want to reread and give it another go without my original heavy suspicions it would end poorly (like the original).

And not to go completely off topic since this is more about the original text than this retelling..... but really Fanny.

Edmund?!

Mooning after some other woman for the entire book and Fanny just accepts his inconstant feelings in the last chapter of the book? I've only ever thrown two books across the room, and Mansfield Park was one of them, even for all that I adore Pride & Prejudice.

An entertaining cozy mystery, cozy fantasy, and slow-burn romance all in one! It was refreshing reading about an attractive matron getting her second chance at romance while re-learning how to be just herself; not mom, not wife, not widow. I felt like I was reading a slower-burn, closed door version of Amanda Quick's historical fantasy romance mysteries. If you like CJ Archer or Deanna Raybourn, you'll be right at home! While this is a spin-off series, you don't have to read the Lady Jewel Diviner to dive into this world. In fact, I've had that book in my TBR for a while and intend to devour it now that I've fallen in love with that heroine's mother.

The interludes were well-done, slowly unfolding a sad romantic past and building the tension in the present. Indeed, this is a very slow-burn. Don't expect anything physical to happen in this book, my guess is we won't get anything until Book 2 or maybe even Book 3. The mystery had twists and turns, and were a good plot device to force the hero and heroine to work together after a long separation.The banter got better as the story moved along and emotional walls broke down between our hero and heroine.

All in all, a fun, cozy, second-chance mystery that promises a satisfying series and I hope a delightful interlude where the slow-burn catches fire.

A delightful read, good for an evening escape. I've read the entire trilogy and loved the cameos that appear in this story. You don't need to read the full length books to enjoy this, but some of the world building and magic details teased here are explained fully in the books.

Pen's plight is felt, and the mysterious omnimancer's assistant is just the sort of Rumpelstiltsken to tickle fans of the TV show “Once.” It is a slow burn to steam, tastefully done, and a satisfying rebellion against their fates. Read it, and deep dive into the land of omnimancers and clever women. I really enjoy Cowley's writing style and hope to read more spin-offs in this world.

Distinctly darker and decidedly more Gothic than her original faerie tale series, Atwood's Witchwood Knot compels you deep into the plot just as the faerie knot traps its victims.

Winifred is the perfect heroine for this tale, being so very human and with faults that you wonder whether you're supposed to like her even as you're cheering her on. Mr Quincy is the epitome of the morally gray hero, and I was in turn concerned by him and wanting more. The romance is “sweet” by the definition of what happens between the hero and heroine, but the story around them is not, and Atwood's warning at the start of the book should be taken seriously. A satisfactory ending to our other morally gray character who too many people have experienced in this world. The ending also left no doubt this is clearly the first of what I hope is a trilogy, centering on each of Winifred's sisters, perhaps?

An excellent read for this Halloween season, and a special thanks to the author for allowing me to read this in advance of publication.

An excellent pre-wrap up to a charming series... I hear there will be one more novella to truly wrap up the series. Readers will enjoy seeing old favorites return, and there are many chuckle and laugh out loud moments as we embark on a cozy journey to confront Moriath once and for all. I was honored to be a sensitivity and beta reader for this book, and can't wait for others to enjoy it as I have.

A delightful, cozy, charming, two-evening comedy-of-manners read where we get to see what Mr Aubrey was so desperate to discover when the events of Scales & Sensibility waylaid him. You don't need to read the first book, but I did think thid book more entertaining knowing what Aubrey knew, and Rose didn't know, and waiting to see how it would all come out.

I really enjoyed the dragons in this book, they somehow reminded me of my dearly departed dogs. If this had been a Heyer story, it might have been about illegal dog handling instead of dragons, which really lent credibility to the story. I love this type of low fantasy story, and it's a cute way to jump into fantasy if you're typically a Regency historical fan.

I enjoyed this book, it just totally threw me when the narrative said they were 15 and 16. I kept double-checking after reading that. Xavier and Clara read like 25 and 26 to me, and I think I'm going to keep it that way in my head because there wasn't much about their characters that made me believe they were teenagers. Otherwise, a delightfully cozy fantasy romance.

For those seeking the sweeter, closed door side of loving monsters, with a heavy dose of what it might have been like if Sara had worked in the Labyrinth for a good while before facing Jareth. Slow burn romance, heavy focus on world building, a good way to spend a weekend.

An entertaining read with plenty of footnotes, reflecting the scholar heroine... But I'll admit I have to go back and read half of them because I was enjoying their growing intimacy.

And that epilogue. Friends, you're gonna enjoy that epilogue.

I wish the story had taken more of what the blurb promised, which was to give Robert Darcy's side of things. It would have lightened the tale and made it more entertaining to see him undo Caroline's defenses. Instead, I'm left wondering why he likes her at all, and on top of it, we're barely given any hint about their relationship once it's resolved. ☹️

A slow start, slower than Howl's Moving Castle, which is the book I'd say is most similar/comparable. Our narrator isn't very friendly or really have much to recommend her, except for her passion for studying faerie. As with Howl's, the story picks up with Wendell's appearance, and it is their dynamic that compells you to devour the rest of the book. By the end, I felt like I read a satisfying sibling of Howl's Moving Castle, and given I'm obsessed with the book and movie editions, please take that as a compliment! Definitely a slow burn, as well, we will have to wait for the second book to get anything past a kiss on the hand or cheek. I really hope we'll get something a bit more, that Emily will thaw and allow herself to feel her feelings rather than deliberately shove them away. It's almost as if she's under a spell of her own making, that.

Enjoyable, but wanting more!

A rather too loyal narrative style to Jane Austen's, with fades to black on things that seemed most interesting, including conversations and consummations. Her later works definitely address these issues and I'm looking forward to reading more.

Delicious, clever, compelling

I'm obsessed with this book. I've recommended it to everyone I know who loves regency fantasies. I loved it so much that when I finished the eBook, I bought the print copy and was shocked. No wonder I was up untill 4:45 AM on a work night knowing I'm going to have to get kiddos to school and myself and a husband to work at 8 am... this book is huge! Totally worth it. I loved the world-building, the Bennet family's relationship with the Fae, the slow burn between Darcy and Elizabeth...everything.

Closer in plot and narrative style to Jane Eyre than Rebecca, this is a traditional Gothic tale with a slow burn, sweet romance and tidy ending.

This went places I didn't expect, but it was definitely a more hopeful end than The Great Gatsby, which I kept thinking of while reading even though it was supposed to be more Mean Girls inspired.

This was one of those books that grabbed my interest, and I devoured it in a couple days between full time job, mom duties with two under 4, and house chores. I find myself wondering if the plot might have benefitted from a Part 1 (Silas), Part 2 (Merritt meets Hulda), and Part 3 (narratives collide) instead of interspersing the character narratives based on the timeline. I get why we have the story we have, and I really enjoyed Merritt and Hulda's storyline. I kinda feel like I would have loved it even without the whole Silas horror thread, but then that would have been a different, closer to historical fantasy romcom, story.

I struggled with some of the vocabulary, even being a historical fiction, romance, and fantasy reader by preference. Even Kindle and Google didn't have definitions for some of the words! The writer storyline was cute and relatable. Very interested to see where this goes in the second book.

This book follows a similar narrative structure to Jane Eyre, and actually did feel rather gothic upon further reflection. We deep dive into a serious study of heroine's slice of life prior to meeting the hero. The hero is absent, distracted, and talks pretty but struggles to act in a way that benefits the heroine, ever.

This was a slow burn that feels like part one of a duology. By the end, the hero and heroine have just realized they MIGHT be able to be friends, despite already being married. There are many loose plot threads that also imply this is not the end, such as a random chapter about a bespelled arm chair in the library.

An interesting debut with many ideas, I wish the story had allowed the hero and heroine to actually be in love by the end of the book. This could have been an excellent “falling in love with your own husband” story, which is one of my favorite tropes, but the constant misunderstanding and refusal to even try to communicate made their eventual attempt at a real conversation, at the very end of the book, fall flat for me. Especially since that's literally how the book ends, with their first real conversation as two adults trying to understand each other.

I do look forward to future works, as this author has some really creative ideas. Definitely give this book a read, just go into it knowing there is some experimenting with narrative structure, and it's not a typical regency romance HEA despite hints from the title and cover art.

I received an ARC for free in exchange for an honest review.