Tag: romance

Let’s Talk Bookish:  Romance Books | 2/13/26

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme originally created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits, where every Friday, bloggers write discussion posts based on a weekly prompt and Dini @ dinipandareads has cohosted since the beginning of 2025.

This week’s topic is:

February 13: Romance Novels

Prompts: It’s almost Valentine’s Day, which means that the most popular book genre is bigger than ever! Do you like to read romance novels? Who are your favourite fictional couples? Which characters from different books or series do you think would be perfect for each other?

**********

Do you like to read romance novels?

I love romance novels – it’s the genre that got me started reading when I was in my teen years. Most of the books I read are romance – whether it’s romantasy, fantasy with romance, contemporary romance, historical romance….yes, I love romance!

Who are your favourite fictional couples?

Yikes…this is a hard one and I don’t know which type of romance we are talking about here so it’s going to be RANDOM choices because there are so many I love but I can’t remember them all, so here are some that just are kinda memorable to me as I scroll through my blog posts😅:

  • Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, of course…Pride and Prejudice by. Jane Austen
  • Daphne and Miles – Funny Story by. Emily Henry
  • Vanka and Emeric – Little Thieves by. Margaret Owen
  • Guinevere and Oskar – Tusk Love by. Thea Guanzon

Which characters from different books or series do you think would be perfect for each other?

This is an even harder question and I have no brain capacity for this 😅.

February 2026 Topics:

February 6: Reading with Friends

Prompts: Do you enjoy buddy reading or participating in group reads? If you do, what do you like most about them? Do you prefer reading 1-1 or in a big group? For those who might not have access to in-person group reads, do you have a recommendation about where to join online reading groups?

February 13: Romance Novels

Prompts: It’s almost Valentine’s Day, which means that the most popular book genre is bigger than ever! Do you like to read romance novels? Who are your favourite fictional couples? Which characters from different books or series do you think would be perfect for each other?

February 20: What do you collect besides books? (Suggested by Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly)

Prompts: Do you own a lot of books? Do you think of yourself as a book collector? Outside of reading, do you have any other hobbies that involve collecting things? What would you love to have a collection of?

February 27: Reading Star Ratings

Prompts: This topic is inspired by Krysta @ Pages Unbound, who posted about it earlier this year. How do you read star ratings from other bloggers/readers? Do you consider star ratings seen on a book blog, Bookstagram, or BookTok differently from ratings on sites like Goodreads? How much does a star rating affect your decision to purchase/borrow/read a book, and does it depend on who/where the star rating comes from?

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

Version 1.0.0

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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Weekly Wrap Up | 2/8/26

Aloha friends!

Another week is over and here’s what happened:

+ Just getting through life while our country is in a dumpster fire! What else is new this year? 😒

+ Well my daughter started off the week with sniffles and then a cough, but no fever. Just figure it was allergies from our crazy weather of wind and vog (volcanic smoke), hot, cold, rain! So just had her start her Flonase – she’s still coughing but she’s much better now. My son had an itchy throat on Thursday and he had no school that day because it was a waiver day off. Friday I took him to urgent care because it was still itchy and uncomfortable – he had no fever, tested negative for strep and flu…so they said keep an eye on it and prescribed Tylenol and a cough expectorant. But he woke up yesterday with a 103 fever so his body is definitely something viral – I did a covid test on him and it’s negative also. 🤷🏻‍♀️. Both my kids have a three day weekend – lucky them, no school after the Super Bowl! But they are spending it trying to get better.

Blog Posts:

Books I Finished

  • Mate by. Ali Hazelwood (audiobook)
  • In Time with You by. Kristin Dwyer
  • Lonely Hearts Day by. Kasie West (audiobook)
  • The Sun and the Starmaker by. Rachel Griffin (audiobook)
  • Keeper of Lost Children by. Sadeqa Johnson
  • Toe to Toe by. Falon Ballard

Currently Reading:

  • A Promise of Lies by. Claire Sager
  • A Vow in Vengeance by. Jaclyn Rodriguez
  • She Drinks the Light by. Yasmin Angoe (audiobook)
  • I, Medusa by. Ayana Gray
  • The Last Wish of Bristol Keats by. Mary E. Pearson (audiobook)

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

  • Today is the Superbowl – don’t really care who wins, I’m just there to watch Bad Bunny’s performance!

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

Instagram | Tiktok

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.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Sun and the Starmaker by. Rachel Griffin | ALC Review | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: The Sun and the Starmaker

Author: Rachel Griffin

Narrator(s):  Suzy Jackson

Format: audiobook (NetGalley)

Pages: 448 Listening Time: Approximately 11 hours 7 min

Publication Date: 2/17/26

Publisher: Recorded Books

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Fairy Tale

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

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


There once was a village so far north that most considered it the top of the world… and in that village, the Sun fell in love with her Starmaker. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Nature of Witches comes a whimsical and sweeping romantic fantasy.

Nestled deep in the snowy mountains of the Lost Range, the small village of Reverie endures on a miracle. Beyond the reach of the Sun, Reverie is dependent upon the magic of the mysterious Starmaker: every morning, he trudges across a vast glacier and pulls in sunlight over the peaks, providing the village with the light it needs to survive.

Aurora Finch grew up on tales of the Starmaker’s magic, never imagining she’d one day meet him. But on the morning of her wedding, a fateful encounter in the frostbitten woods changes everything. The Starmaker senses a powerful magic within her and demands she come study under his guidance. With her newfound abilities tied to the survival of the village, Aurora is swept away to his ice-covered castle at the mountain’s peak.

The Starmaker is as cold and distant as the dark woods, leaving Aurora to explore his enchanted castle with only an immortal rabbit for company. Yet the more she discovers about the sorcerer, the stronger their ruinous attraction grows, pulling her closer to the secrets he refuses to share. A deadly frost approaches, and Aurora must uncover what the Starmaker is hiding before she is left in an endless winter that even the Sun cannot touch.

Content Warning: death, grief

+ The narrator did a great job voicing all the characters in this story.

+ This is a beautifully told story that starts off with a fairytale. It definitely gave me Frozen + Beauty and the Beast vibes. Aurora loved the story of the Starmaker as a child, a Sun goddess who fell in love with a human, who then becomes the Starmaker. And when Aurora becomes the next Starmaker Rising, her whole world changes! I loved all the magical elements of the story. This story is set in a very cold climate and it felt like it from start to finish.

+ Aurora has a deep love for her family and she does a lot of things for them. I liked that about her. Her character goes through a few things and find that she wants to shine on her own, without being a bride until it was her choice to marry. She trains to be the next Starmaker with the current Starmaker’s help. The Starmaker (Caspian) is not a happy man, he’s a grouch and wants to be left alone – he’s been alive too long, lived with loss and pain and now with Aurora becoming the next Starmaker, he knows his own time was coming to an end. So they clash a lot because Aurora is so stubborn.

+ The romance is emotional, heartbreaking and bittersweet. Aurora and the Starmaker clash a lot, but being forced to train and live together, makes something more grow between them. Friendship and then love. There is a big price to being a Starmaker – it causes pain, it causes death, and yet without a Starmaker, a whole village could die. So there is big responsibility in the role, but the price that has to be paid is painful – as Aurora finds out. This is categorized as young adult, but there is one spicy scene which isn’t very graphic, but it is there. So I don’t know if this is more New Adult? Not sure.

~ I enjoyed the story a lot but Aurora was so stubborn and always fighting Caspian for no real reason except being mad at him because he revealed she was the next Starmaker and it changed her life. Yet it wasn’t his fault, it was the sun who chose her! He keeps telling her if she fights her role as Starmaker she will die, but she keeps fighting it and him. She took out her anger on him every chance she got…which was frustrating. I wanted her to grow up. So I didn’t totally love her character – there is growth at the end when she is again forced to face her responsibilities, but she is very stubborn.

Final Thoughts:

This story is told like a fairytale with magic, lovable creatures, and themes of family. I didn’t quite love Aurora all the time throughout the story but I guess her stubbornness is what kept her love with Caspian going. I still enjoyed her story about falling in love with the Starmaker, it’s beautiful and heartbreaking. This is a beautifully told and narrated story about love, magic, fate, sacrifice, stubbornness and grief.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Bring Me Your Midnight by. Rachel Griffin | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Nature of Witches by. Rachel Griffin | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Heart’s Gambit by. J.D. Myall | ALC Review | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: (closed door)

Title: Heart’s Gambit (#1)

Author: J.D. Myall

Narrator(s): Khaya Fraites, Eric Lockley, Alaska Jackson

Format: audiobook (NetGalley)

Pages: 335 Listening Time: Approximately 12 hours

Publication Date: 2/3/26

Publisher: Macmillan Young Listeners

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Time Travel, Young Adult

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

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


A thrilling and romantic debut fantasy where competitors from two prominent, time-traveling Black families must fight in a deadly magical duel – and find themselves falling in love.

The Baldwins and the Davenports have been sworn enemies for centuries. Ever since Venus Davenport and Titus Baldwin, two enslaved kids, fell in love, tried to run away, and got caught by their mistress, Sabine, a powerful witch. Desperate for freedom, they struck a bargain, and she gifted their families the ability to exist outside of time, along with magic to survive and thrive.

Those gifts came at a price.

Once a generation, their families must put forth a competitor for a magical duel to the death to feed Sabine’s immortality. This time, Emma Baldwin – a wish spinner – and Malcolm Davenport – a maker of illusions – are chosen.

But when they meet to check out the competition, sparks fly. Soon, the two are exchanging letters, having secret meetings, and fighting off their cursed urges to hurt one another, all while trying not to fall in love. And if they are ever going to have a chance to be together, they only have one choice: to put an end to Sabine’s curse, once and for all.

J.D. Myall’s Heart’s Gambit is an irresistible journey of dazzling magic, unforgettable first love, and daring to dream of something more.

Content Warning: violence, death, trauma, slavery, racism

Sworn enemies, a family curse, slavery, history, trauma, a deadly game, and forbidden love? I was intrigued by the synopsis. And let me say the narrators did such an amazing job – it was the reason why I was riveted to the story!

I don’t usually like stories where there is a lot of time jumping and travel but this story has a lot of it but I didn’t mind. I like the years Emma and Malcolm would travel to. We would get a sense of how Black people were treated in certain eras but it let us know that no year has been good to them and they have had to survive anyway they could through every era since they were brought as slaves to the USA. Emma’s family runs a circus and performs but Malcolm performs too, as a singer. These young ones are raised to hate each other’s family but a forbidden love grows between them.

I was rooting so hard for Emma and Malcolm because I love that they found love with all the hate going on. They try to work together in coming up with a plan to beat their common enemy Sabine at the deadly games they have to fight in. But they fall in love, like their ancestors, the reason why the curse on their families exist in the first place. Their love isn’t easy because with the curse comes bloodlust to kill one another. So throughout the story not only are they falling in love and trying to figure out a plan, but they are trying to hold back feelings of wanting to kill one another also!

There is a strong element of family in this book. At some points Emma and Malcolm were so conflicted about their love because their families were against it. But they had to make some strong and almost heart-breaking choices.

One issue I had with the story was all this talk about these deadly games they have to compete in, but these games/trials only start at 80% in the book. I wish it started earlier.

I do think things for the most part things get wrapped up especially when it comes to Emma and Malcolm’s forbidden love but the ending definitely let’s us know what is to come in book two.

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoyed the story telling, and the narrators. The time travel was important in giving us insight and history about what Emma and Malcolm, their ancestors and people had to go through. I thought there was a lot of action and magic, but I did want the games to start earlier in the book. Overall though, I found this to be a really entertaining story that was emotional at times.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble