First-Time Caller by. B.K. Borison | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: First-Time Caller (Heartstrings, #1)

Author: B.K. Borison

Narrator(s): E.J. Bingham, Hathaway Lee

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Pages: 448 Listening Time: approximately 12 hours

Publication Date: 2/10/25

Publisher: Books on Tape

Categories: Contemporary Romance, Series

Aiden Valentine has a secret: he’s fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight.

Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life—or lack thereof—she begins to question if she’s as happy as she thought. Maybe a little more romance wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending… even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final call between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.

A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle-inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

Content Warning: cancer

+ The narrators are so great for this audiobook, their voices sound good and they kept me invested from start to finish.

+ I got the Sleepless in Seattle vibes right away from this story and fell in love (I loved that movie). Lucie is a single mom, and her 12 year old daughter calls into a radio station, to help her mom find a date! From there Lucie meets Aiden, the radio show host, who is going through some things of his own. He doesn’t quite believe in love, because he fears it, but he’s willing to help Lucie find love, mostly at first because he needs ratings for the show.

+ I love Lucie who is a mechanic, is co-parenting with her baby-daddy and his husband. She loves her family and honestly she’s just tired of the dating scene because it never works out for her. She’s relatable. Aiden is actually going through a a lot – he has lost the love for his job, he is trying to avoid his mom because her cancer scares have scared him, basically fear is preventing him from really living, until he meets Lucie.

+~ The romance is super cute, I loved it! I love how Lucie and Aiden take it slow and get to know one another. I love their time at the radio-station and how it builds up to the spicy scene. Of course there was a little conflict which made me want to shake Aiden a little, I got mad at him, but he has issues and he eventually figures it out.

Final Thoughts:

This was a very cute friends to lovers romance and a great edition to the When in Rome series! I enjoyed the audiobook a lot.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Good Spirits by. B.K. Borison | Audiobook ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In Your Dreams by. Sarah Adams | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: In Your Dreams (When in Rome, #4)

Author: Sarah Adams

Narrator(s): Chase Brown, Christine Lakin

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Pages: 358 Listening Time: approximately 11 hours

Publication Date: 12/29/25

Publisher: Books on Tape

Categories: Contemporary Romance, Small Town Romance, Series

A homecoming to Rome, Kentucky, sparks a new romance—and lots of drama—between two old family friends, from the New York Times bestselling author of When in Rome, Practice Makes Perfect, and Beg, Borrow, or Steal

Madison Walker left Rome, Kentucky, determined to prove she could make it in the culinary world. But after years of chasing success in New York, all she has to show for it is a shattered confidence and a desperate need for a fresh start. Coming home isn’t part of the plan—until an unexpected job offer lands in her lap, giving her a chance to rebuild everything she’s lost: the head chef position at a new farm-to-table restaurant in her hometown. The only catch? It comes from James Huxley, owner of Huxley Farm, her brother’s best friend . . . and the last person she wants to work for.

James has always played it safe, keeping his head down and doing what’s expected of him in the family business and never contemplating anything different—until now when Madison’s happiness is on the line. He’s loved her quietly for years, knowing she’s never seen him as more than an annoyance. Now that she’s back, he’s determined to change that–even if it means he can only ever be her friend. The one problem? His charming, wildly successful younger brother, Tommy, seems determined to win her over first.

Then Tommy is called away on business and Madison and James are tasked with launching the dreamy farm-to-table restaurant on their own. But as the town starts meddling in their relationship, Tommy’s pursuit of Madison grows more relentless, and Madison’s fears threaten to hold her back, keeping things strictly professional becomes impossible. And when an unexpected disaster on opening night collides with a long-simmering sibling feud, both Madison and James will have to face their biggest insecurities—and decide if love is worth the risk or if some dreams are safer left untouched.

Content Warning: smoking

+ The narrators did a fabulous job and kept me invested in this romance story!

+ This is book four in the When in Rome series, and I’ve read all the books except the first one, surprisingly. But once more we are back in Rome, Kentucky, a small town with good vibes. Madison left Rome to make her culinary dreams come true in NYC but it wasn’t what she thought it would be so she’s back home again, trying to figure out what’s next for her. James is Madison’s brother’s best-friend, and on a whim he tells Madison he has a restaurant he needs a chef for and thought of her for the position. Thing is James’ farm is on the verge of closing, and he needs this restaurant to work to keep it afloat.

+ This is a small town, brother’s best-friend, friends to lovers romance which I thought was really cute from beginning to end. Clearly James is crazy about her but doesn’t know where he stands with her – despite that he does everything to try and make her happy. Madison, is the youngest Walker sister and kind of the wild, flighty one. She’s a free spirit. She’s also had a crush on James for awhile now but has kept him in the friend zone so they can concentrate on being business partners with this new restaurant. It’s a very slow burn, and there is spice, but not a lot of it, just at the end of the book.

+ There is a lot of soul searching happening in this story. Madison is the free spirit who needs to put down roots somewhere. She feels like the family failure. James has taken over the farm from his parents and he feels like he’s letting them down because the farm isn’t doing well. Tommy’s brother is trying to help James but he’s also flirty with Madison, so there are some issues Tommy and James have to work out.

~ It’s a cute romance without much drama between Madison and James which is cute, but I wanted a little bit a drama to keep things interesting but that’s a personal preference!

Final Thoughts:

This was a very cute friends to lovers romance and a great edition to the When in Rome series! I enjoyed the audiobook a lot.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by. Sarah Adams | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Match by. Sarah Adams | Audiobook Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (When in Rome,

Practice Makes Perfect by. Sarah Adams | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Goodbye and Everything After by. Mae Coyiuto | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Goodbye and Everything After

Spice Rating:

Author: Mae Coyiuto

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 2/17/26

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Magical Realism, Filipino Representation

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A teen girl comes face to face with her dad’s spirit when she ignores a strict Filipino superstition in this contemporary young adult novel that tackles grief, family tension, and first love.

It’s been five years since Nika’s beloved father passed away, but her family has never fully grieved. They don’t speak of him much at all, except on the anniversary of his death.

Whenever they visit her father’s grave, Nika’s superstitious mother still insists on practicing pagpag, a Filipino belief that you can never go directly home after attending a funeral—or risk the spirit of the departed following you back home.

But when her mom’s new fiancé suddenly shows up at the cemetery for this year’s memorial for her dad, she furiously walks out, breaking the pagpag superstition. The next day, she finds herself face-to-face with the ghost of her dead father. . . and Nika’s the only one who can see him.

As she spends time reconnecting with her dad’s ghost, Nika learns about her parents’ past and how they started dating back in high school. And when she starts to fall for her neighbor Seph and accidentally re-creates memories of her parents’ love story with him, her dad’s spirit slowly becomes more solid and alive. Fearing that she’ll lose her dad again, Nika makes it her mission to find a way to make her dad stay permanently, no matter what the cost.

With a perfect blend of humor and heart, Mae Coyiuto artfully brings past to present in a way that explores grief head-on.

Content Warning: grief, cursing

Nika is a teenager and dealing with a lot of emotions. Her mom is engaged to be married to their dentist, and Nika feels like she is the only one grieving her dad’s death. She is a teenager, so she has some very strong feelings and thoughts about everything, and she curses.

What drew me to this story was the Filipino representation, more interestingly the Chinese-Filipino representation that I’m not to familiar with. I love seeing my people represented in books, so this was a great way for me to learn more about one of the many different cultures that thrive in the Philippines. Even though I’m not Chinese-Filipino I still recognized some of the foods they talked about, which I love. I related to the family expectations Nika is dealing with and family drama.

When her dad appears to her, I thought it was fitting, because it gave her a sense of closure at the end and helped the family come together to not only honor his memory, but deal with the grief each of them have been handling, almost alone, but not really alone.

There is even a little teenage romance, which I thought was cute.

Final Thoughts:

I loved the Filipino representation in this book with the cultural practices, the food, and the family dynamics. I thought this was a heart felt story that dealt with grief and moving on, which can be really strong feeling to manage when you are a teenager. But I thought this story did a great job of showing how closure, forgiveness, and moving on can be healing for everyone.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Lonely Hearts Day by. Kasie West | ALC Review | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: Lonely Hearts Day

Author: Kasie West

Narrator(s): Renee Dorian

Format: audiobook (NetGalley)

Pages: 113 Listening Time: Approximately 2 hours 52 min

Publication Date: 2/10/26

Publisher: Tantor Media

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Novella

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Tantor Media for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

It isn’t that Scarlett Landry doesn’t believe in love, her parents’ relationship is perfect, after all. It’s just that she doesn’t think she should be forced to celebrate it. Forced to listen to terrible poetry and watch Valentine’s Day roses being distributed to everyone around her at school. If there is a relationship status that deserves its own holiday, it’s single-hood.

Content Warning: divorce

+ This is a super cute Valentine’s Day romance. Scarlett throws a party for single people her Freshman year in high school, and she and her small group of friends have a blast. So they do it every year and the parties just get bigger.

+ The romance between Scarlett and her friend, Jack, is really cute. It follows them (quickly) through each year in high school on Valentine’s Day. They start off strong, but over the years grow apart when Jack dates someone else and Scarlett deals with her parents divorce. But in the end, their love is undeniable, they just had to wait for someone to make a move.

+ Narrator did a great job!

~ It is a teen romance so just expect party games like spin the bottle and 7 seconds in Heaven (but with a twist). Also there is teenage drama.

Final Thoughts:

This is a very cute, teen/young adult, childhood friends to lovers romance for Valentine’s day! It’s also a quick read because it’s a novella, and I thought the narrator did a great job.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Better Than Revenge by. Kasie West | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Maybe This Time | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Masquerade of Mirrors by. Samantha Hartwood | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Masquerade of Mirrors (Halls of Glass)

Author: Samantha Hartwood

Format: eBook

Pages: 592

Publication Date: 2/17/26

Publisher: indepdent

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Dark Academia, LGBT+

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Samantha Hartwood for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The only thing more dangerous than falling for a lie
is falling for the liar.

Don’t look at the desert. Don’t think about the desert. Never step onto the sand. Taera has followed these rules her entire life—until he arrives.

Impossibly gorgeous, with a face masked in magic, Nikolai kidnaps Taera and drags her deep into the dunes. He says she’s powerful and needs to be trained…if she ever wants to see her family again.

Thrust into a deadly school of illusions and lies, Taera can’t trust anyone. Especially not her breathtaking, ruthless captor. Top student and notorious liar, his secrets run deeper than the sand. He’s her worst nightmare—and everything she craves.

The cutthroat Halls of Glass have a mind of their own. Trapped within their looping corridors, Taera is surrounded by hostile students and forced to rely on Nikolai.

Taera knows she shouldn’t fall for his illusions. But magic requires a partnership, and he’s the only mage who can handle her wild, untamed power.

And the only way he’ll help her is if she pretends to be his.

Masquerade of Mirrors is a fast-paced, slow-burn fantasy romance. Taera and Nikolai’s story is for readers who love crackling chemistry, daring escape plans, and as many lies as truths. This book is highly addictive and contains adult content.

Content Warning: violence

+ I found the world building very interesting! Set in a desert with mages and magicians, Taera is terrified of what the desert storm brings – a sickness with no cure. But also, she’s traumatized by an event where a mage came and did something to her mother, so she’s terrified of mages/magicians. These magic wielders often where an illusion so you never know their true face, and Taera was taught to fear them until one magician takes her to the Hall of Glass, a training school where magic wielders (Conduits) and Sources go to train their powers and learn about magic. Most of the story takes place in the school, but there are moments we get elements of the desert.

+~ I found Taera an interesting FMC who is naive because she hasn’t left her village. She has a lot to learn about people, and magic. I liked seeing her grow, but there were times her character frustrated me. As far as Nikolai, he’s handsome, desired, powerful, a liar and a thief. I did enjoy some of the other secondary characters like Omi, and Annie. There was just a lot of times Taera didn’t know what was going on and she’s being bullied, and Nikolai just lets it happen because he’s not a good guy. So there were times, I didn’t like that Taera clung to him even when he was being horrible. But we do learn more about his past, which is a bit tragic. He has done a lot in his young life to be drowning in regret and guilt, and he has to choose to lose himself completely in pursuit of power to change what he can’t.

+ The romance is very much a focus and it’s enemies to lovers, who are forced to one room, and one bed. It’s hard not to be charmed by Nikolai – everyone wants him, and Taera falls hard for him. Even when he’s not treating her good! But it’s her love that helps him and changes him so by the end I was rooting for their romance. There are some fun spicy scenes between them.

~ The story does turn into a dark academia school drama, which at points made me wonder if this was young adult – but it’s not. Taera is 24, but she’s never been in a setting where there are students who are cutthroat and all about drama. They bully her and sometimes Nikolai doesn’t care about it. Also, it was frustrating how Nikolai explained nothing to Taera about the school. He kidnaps her, and tells her to do this or that, but never explains anything. He hands her a book to study! Thank goodness for Omi who helped her.

~ I don’t think the story about the desert sickness ever gets addressed and I felt like the situation with Omi was easily pushed aside. I needed them to be face to face to discuss what happened so I hope if there are more books in this world, Omi’s story could be told?

Final Thoughts:

I really thought the world building was unique. I loved learning about the magic system involving conduits and sources. Would love to learn more about the mysteries of the desert, the Labyrinth and the school. It does turn into an academic drama that at times felt like a young adult book. The romance definitely had me invested, and I’m glad there is growth in Taera and Nikolai. Overall, I enjoyed this one.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Author Website

Crown of War and Shadow by. J.R. Ward | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Crown of War and Shadow (Kingdoms of the Compass, #1)

Author: J.R. Ward

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 480

Publication Date: 2/17/26

Publisher: Bramble

Categories: Romantasy, Fantasy, Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Bramble for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

An outcast burdened with a curse and a mercenary who’s out for himself collide in this star-crossed, slow-burn, high-stakes romantic fantasy from #1 New York Times bestseller J. R. Ward.

In the dead of night, passions rise and empires fall.

Welcome to Kingdoms of the Compass.

The Fulcrum is failing, and demons are slipping into the mortal world, stalking the night.

No one is safe.

Especially not Sorrel. An orphan and an outcast, she’s spent her whole life within the walls of her small village, ostracized for her mystical abilities. She wants to survive…and maybe find somewhere she can call her true home. But Fate has other plans.

Sorrel has been chosen. Cursed.

She must cross the Badlands to return the Queen’s crown and convince the fearsome female to save their world from destruction.

Well aware she’s no brave hero, Sorrel makes a dangerous deal with Merc, a brooding, commanding mercenary known only by his unscrupulous profession.

The deal? A night in his bed that she will never forget, in exchange for her safe passage.

But Merc has secrets of his own, and even though passion runs hot between them, enemies are around every corner, and danger and betrayal threaten at every turn.

Content Warning: violence, death, maternity death, animal death

I haven’t read a J.R. Ward book since the first few books of her Brotherhood Dagger series! So it’s been a decade maybe? So I was excited to be approved to read this book.

Sorrel hasn’t had an easy life, she’s an orphan and hiding behind a hooded shroud covering her face. She has some powers of healing, but also to look into the eyes of someone and determine how they will die. She also bring something back to life. When a mercenary comes into the tavern her fate and future is tied to him in good ways and bad.

I was actually surprised this didn’t have as much romance as I was expecting. I loved the bickering between Sorrel and Merc and right away there is a physical attraction – and though his request of payment for his protection is sex with her – it’s not something he pushes onto her and actually backs off. There is maybe 2 spicy scenes. Also, for all their bickering, and forced proximity whether it’s on one horse or one bed, the romance didn’t feel like the main focus at all.

The main focus was Sorrel’s journey from a young woman always hiding, to coming to terms of all that is revealed at the end of the story. She grows a lot. But there are times where she doesn’t know how to swim, and then swims like a fish. Or can’t ride a horse, and then ends up being exceptional on a horse. I wasn’t sure what was going but I went with! I actually loved all the moments when she connected to people, like her friend Mare, or a stranger like Lena. It was heartfelt because you knew Sorrel had a good heart. But she did test my patience at times because she didn’t Merc to even tell him about her powers, yet he’s almost dying on this quest with her.

And speaking about journey? This story has Merc and Sorrel traveling from town to kingdoms and back again. It’s a travel adventure story filled with a lot of action fighting off scary creatures. There are even dragons!

There is a twist at the end I wasn’t expecting but makes what comes next in book two very interesting.

Now because this was an arc copy, there were a lot of typos or missing words. Also there is a lot going on in the story, and I felt like it was a never ending things of what could happen to Sorrel next. At times it was too much that it felt comical.

Final Thoughts:

I read this one in two days because with everything going on in the story, it was hard to put down! But some things also felt off in this story because too many things were happening. I liked seeing Sorrel’s character grow so much. It was kind of nice not having the romance as a main focus, because that left more time for action and adventure. But I also wanted a tiny bit more romance. The ending had an unexpected twist and I’m wondering what will happen in book two.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Black Dagger Brotherhood Books 1-8

Maybe This Once by. Sophie Sullivan | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Maybe This Once (Rock Bottom Love, #3)

Author: Sophie Sullivan

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 2/10/26

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Categories: Contemporary, Romance, Cozy, Series

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Two people end up with more feelings than they bargained for after pursuing a summer fling, in this small-town, opposites-attract romance from Sophie Sullivan.

Charlotte “Charlie” Ashford has worked hard to become her own person. Tired of living in the shadow of her famous parents, she gladly left behind a life of glitz and glamour to pursue her true passion: becoming a counselor. However, when a viral video upends Charlie’s plans, she wonders if the real key to discovering herself is through her late father.

Grayson Keller has finally found his footing. He’s settled in one place, surrounded by family, and secure in his business. By his third summer as owner, Get Lost Lodge is showing a steady profit and seeing its fair share of repeat visitors. Whatever happens, Grayson is perfectly content with his quiet life and careful heart. That is, until he meets Charlie, who he can’t seem to get out of his head.

On the surface, Charlie and Grayson seem to have nothing in common more than a growing attraction that neither of them can fight. Trusting each other isn’t easy. They’ve both been hurt before, and they’re not looking for anything serious. The solution is easy: they’ll date, have some fun, and walk away unscathed. Right? Or, maybe this once, they can see past the hurt to what, or who, is on the other side waiting for them.

Content Warning:

+ I did read book one in this series, but not book two, and this one is book three but I don’t think it’s the type os series you need to read in order. If you like small town romances, with lots of characters that are family and good people, then you will enjoy this author’s books. I do like to read her holiday romances.

+ Charlie is from LA but she’s in Smile at Get Lost Lodge avoiding a scandal and just trying to discover more about her dad’s side. Grayson’s family is a staple in Smile, and it’s basically his family which this book series is about. They get to know each other while Charlie is at the Lodge and she gets to know his whole family also and feels safe there.

+ There isn’t much conflict in the story, just a situation with Charlie’s ex and someone trying to put Get Lost Lodge into a reality tv show. There’s always mild spice in these books, same with this one, and it fades to black.

~ I usually like a little more angst and drama in my romance, but once in awhile, I try a small town romance to change it up. So if you like easy going romances, this is for you, if not and you want more conflict, then this might not be for you.

Final Thoughts:

This one is a small town romance filled with family, a sweet romance and a happy ending.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

You Make it Feel Like Christmas by. Sophie Sullivan | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Get Lost with you by. Sophie Sullivan | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️💫

Wicked Onyx by. Debbie Cassidy | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Wicked Onyx (The Veritas Legacy, #1)

Author: Debbie Cassidy

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 410

Publication Date: 2/10/26

Publisher: Page & Vine

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Dark Academia, Paranormal

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from the NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Page & Vine for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

In a ruthless magical academy where she’s cursed and powerless, the last Onyx must unravel dark family secrets and navigate dangerous alliances to reclaim her legacy and make those who betrayed her pay.

You don’t graduate Nightbridge Academy—you survive it.

Born into a sorcerer bloodline, cursed, and cut off from my power, I was accustomed to being an outcast. For generations, my bloodline carried the weight of a crime committed by our ancestor. But my mother’s death changed everything. She left a clue that could prove our an ancient text hidden deep beneath Nightsbridge Academy.

The Academy is a fortress of power, housing the most dangerous incantors and sorcerers, conscripted to keep Horrors and Echoes at bay. And as the last surviving Onyx, I’m owed admission.

My plan is simple—find the book and expose the Imperium as the liars they are.

But I didn’t plan for the whispers that haunt my dreams. Or the complication of feelings I shouldn’t be capable of—stirred by two men bound to the very institution I’ve come to destroy. One sees too much yet says too little. The other is steady, protective, and always in my corner.

I can’t have either.

Yet when I’m in their presence…my curse begins to crack.

If they discover my true purpose, I’m dead.

But some truths are worth dying for.

The Imperium cursed my bloodline. Stripped us of our magic. Branded us as traitors. And now they will pay.

Content Warning: violence, death

+ I love the world building of this story and the dark vibes from start to finish. Set at Nightsbridge Academy where magic wielders like Incantors and Sorcerers study alongside future Hunters. Hunters are made up with shifters and dhampirs. I really loved all the supernatural and paranormal elements of this story. I like the magic system and everything just work well together. I was hooked on the story!

+ Not only was the world building lush and intriguing, the characters really got me invested in this story. Anamaya’s bloodline has been cursed and stripped of magic because something her ancestor did long ago. Now she wants to prove her innocence and get her power back but many people at the academy don’t like her because of her bloodline. But Ana is tough with a little sass, oh I loved it. She’s smart and funny too! I also loved her new found friends, Dori, Clary and Benedict – such a fun group and they get under Ana’s barriers. I loved to see it!

+ I also loved all the action we get at the ending.

+~ There is also a cast of characters that could be potential romances for Ana but by the end of the book, there was no MMC for her. There was barely any spice (there was a fantasy), but lots of sexual tension. I wanted spice in this story because it had all the perfect elements for it! I respect that Ana said multiple times she wasn’t there for romance, but the romantic in me wanted something to happen!

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this one and it was so hard to put down! I loved the FMC and the characters we meet. I love the world building, the dark academia, the action, and magic. All I want is the romance to develop more and hope we get more of it in book two. This was a fun read and I can’t wait for the next book!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |Author Website

Mate by. Ali Hazelwood | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: Mate (Bride, #2)

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Narrator(s): Ellie Gossage and Teddy Hamilton

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Pages: 457 Listening Time: approximately 14 hours

Publication Date: 10/6/25

Publisher: Books on Tape

Categories: Paranormal Romance, Series

A Human hybrid and an Alpha Were claw against the bonds of fate in the highly anticipated companion novel to the New York Times bestselling Bride.

Serena Paris is orphaned, pack-less, and one of a kind. Coming forward as the first Human-Were hybrid was supposed to heal a centuries-long rift between species. Instead, it made her a target, prey to the ruthless political machinations between Weres, Vampyres, and Humans. With her enemies closing in on her, she has only one option left—if he’ll have her.

As Alpha of the Northwest pack, Koen Alexander commands obedience. His authority is so absolute, only a fool would threaten his mate. It doesn’t matter if Serena doesn’t reciprocate his feelings, nothing will stop him from keeping her safe.

But power-hungry Vampyres and Weres are not the only threats chasing Serena. Sooner or later, her past is bound to catch up with her—and Koen might be the only thing standing between her and total annihilation…

Content Warning: violence, death

+ First off, the narrators did an amazing job with voicing the characters. And I think if I didn’t listen to this as an audiobook, the rating would have been a smidge lower. It’s the narrators that kept me invested in these characters and story.

+~ Back in the Bride series of Vampyres, Weres and Humans, now this book follows Serena who is a hybrid. There is a whole mystery about what she is and her background so most of the story is trying to uncover that. Her mate, Koen is a Were, and though they are mates he has pledged a covenant to basically not take anything far between them – even though they are mates. We learn more about the different packs, and Misery from Bride, who is Serena’s bestie, makes a few appearances – I do love their relationship. The one issue I had, which I didn’t mind a lot because I was listening to this story at 2x the speed…is not much happens for the first half of the book. Yes, Serena and Koen are getting to know one another but it’s more like Serena is learning about pack life, and learning about her biology because it’s different. I did enjoy the scientific angle about the biology of being a Were but it just felt like nothing much was happening.

+ Serena is miss sunshine and needy and so many things are happening to her and because of her. Koen is sarcastic, he acted like an alpha male alright. The two of them together was fun. But this is a SLOW BURN romance. Slow for the first like 75% of the book and then BURN for the last 25% of the book. I was waiting and waiting for some of their rising tension to even move into something more…and then we kind of get too much of it at the end. It’s smutty, and if you know anything about Werewolves having sexual relations, they get into heat and then there is the whole “knot” issue. So yes, by the end of this book these two couldn’t keep their hands off one another. But…I did love their relationship. He protected her and she brought joy to his life.

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed this audiobook and glad I decided to listen to it than read it because the narrators did a great job. I think this is a great edition to the Bride series and I did like Serena and Koen, one is sunshine, the other is full of sarcasm but in the end, they fall in love. There is a big cast of characters and I enjoy the community that is always so present in these packs. There is a lot of werewolf spice in this one – knot and all, but you have to wait until near the end of it to get your fill and it’s a lot. It will be interesting to see who’s story is next in the series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Deep End by. Ali Hazelwood | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Check & Mate by. Ali Hazelwood | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bride by. Ali Hazelwood | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Love Hypothesis by. Ali Hazelwood | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fated Skates by. Victoria Schade | ALC Review | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Fated Skates

Author: Victoria Schade

Narrator(s): Katie Schorr

Format: audiobook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352 Listening Time: Approximately 9 hours 26 min

Publication Date: 1/13/26

Publisher: Avon a

Categories: Sports Romance, Olympics Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to HarperCollins for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

She’s chasing gold. He’s chasing forgiveness. The Winter Olympics heat up as two comeback stories collide.

Quinn Albright was America’s figure skating darling until a humiliating Olympic performance splashed her across every headline. Now she’s back, stronger than ever, ready to claim the gold medal on her own terms—no PR fluff, no perfect princess act, just the real, unapologetic Quinn.

But the one distraction she didn’t train for? Bennett Martino. Once the golden boy of speed skating, Bennett’s reputation took a hit he’s still paying for. The chance to host a sporty news magazine show is the perfect redemption arc, and nothing would boost his ratings more than an inside look at Quinn’s comeback. There’s just one issue—she’s the last person who wants him around.

As this year’s Olympic Games commence, past mistakes, shared secrets, and unrelenting chemistry collide. With cameras rolling and the ice melting under their skates, Quinn and Bennett must figure out if they can rewrite their stories—or crash and burn.

Content Warning: narcissistic mother, eating disorder, depression

+ I thought this was a very timeline romance book since the 2026 Winter Olympics is about to start in Italy! I used to love watching figure ice skating when I was younger, not so much now as an adult, but I wanted to try this one. The narrator did a great job with this one in being Quinn’s voice.

+ Quinn is chasing gold after losing in the last Olympics. She is putting pressure on herself but there is lots more pressure from her mother who is a narcissist. To help her image, her mom signs her up to do a sports documentary – but the person in charge of interviewing her is her one-night stand, Ben. I liked Quinn’s story because she deals with her humiliation from losing, her awful mother, struggling through an eating disorder and fighting to climb back up and win gold.

+ I love Quinn’s support group, her friend, and her coach.

+~ I enjoyed how the romance progressed. They were a one-night stand 4 years ago, after she lost, he was there to listen to her. Now working together, they put up boundaries, but spending a lot of time, makes them remember how much they enjoyed each other’s company years ago. I like how they build a friendship and open up to one another. We learn how Ben had depression and how winning didn’t necessarily equate to happiness. They are there for one another as Quinn chases gold. I do feel like their love story was more cozy rather than filled with sparks. They found comfort in each other’s company and yes there is spice, but it’s mild.

Final Thoughts:

I thought it was cool to get a peak into Quinn’s life as an ice skater trying to compete for gold. There is so much pressure, down to the outfit she wears on the ice. The romance was cozy, and I like their support for one another. If you like ice skating romances and the Olympics, you will enjoy this one.