Joy to Noel

About the Book:

Joy to Noel: A Sweet Christmas Romance (Christmas in Noel Book 2)

Title: Joy to Noel
Series: Christmas in Noel
Author: Tracy Baack
Release Date: November 5th, 2025
Genre: Romantic Comedy

There’s an expiration date to their proximity. Is that enough to extinguish the explosive chemistry between them?

Madison Wheeler is the definition of a responsible adult, living and working in Kansas City—right up until her life implodes. Convinced by her best friend Clara, she retreats to the small town of Noel for a reset. If Clara’s Christmas spirit managed to save the town last year, maybe that same magic could rescue Madison’s unraveling future.

Liam Park is sent to Noel for a short-term work assignment, and he is not happy about the destination. When he crosses paths with Madison, he’s intrigued by the sassy woman who doesn’t back down from a good verbal sparring. But Liam refuses to truly open up to a temporary acquaintance. He refuses to open up to anyone.

Despite their attempts to maintain distance, the fiery tension between them only grows. Will they ultimately push each other away or embrace the pull they can’t deny?

Joy to Noel is a small town Christmas romance. Readers who enjoy sassy banter, holiday vibes, and a hefty dose of forced proximity will enjoy this story. You’ll find all the swoon with no spice in this closed-door contemporary romance.

This is the second book in the “Christmas in Noel” series. While written as a standalone, reading the books in order will provide the best reader experience.

See Author’s Note for minor content considerations.

Book Review:

Oh my goodness! This book was completely adorable. I love how well Liam and Madison fit together, and it was cute to see their journey to find each other.

I liked Liam from the start! As an Asian American, I identified with some of his struggles. The family dynamics are definitely complicated, and I think they were conveyed well in this story. He was trying to grow from his past hurt and open up to Madison, but it was still hard to get over those habits. I really liked how his whole personality didn’t change though. He learned to open up and be more aware of his words, but he also was still extremely driven and focused. I thought it was sweet too how he not only found Madison but also the whole town of Noel. They truly embraced him.

I thought Madison was such a fun character! Her drive to be perfect was so relatable, and I love her fieriness. She was the perfect match for Liam, and I thought it was sweet how they both matched each other in every way. In the past, Madison had felt like she was too much, but Liam helped her see that she was just right. Her struggle with self worth felt real, and I think the complications in their relationship made sense for both of their characters.

I loved this story! I read it as a standalone, and I was still able to enjoy these characters. This is a closed door romcom perfect for anyone who loves banter.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Perfectly Complicated Christmas Romance

About the Book:

Perfectly Complicated Christmas Romance: A Sweet Hockey RomCom (Perfect Crush Hockey Romance Book 4)

Title: Perfectly Complicated Christmas Romance
Series: Perfect Crush Hockey Romance #4
Author: Grace Worthington
Release Date: November 21st, 2025
Genre: Romantic Comedy

He’s allergic to Christmas. She practically bleeds tinsel. Their holiday collision is about to get complicated.

Single mom Janie Bennett has one goal: pull off the perfect Christmas pageant for her kindergarten class. What she doesn’t need is the world’s grumpiest hockey player ruining her holly-jolly plans.

Enter Rourke Riley, Mr. “I Hate Christmas” himself—who’s been sentenced to play Santa in her pageant and is determined to get fired from this nightmare before Christmas.

Janie can’t let his humbug ruin her fa la la, so she calls his bluff with a Christmas challenge: if she can prove he’s secretly got some holiday spirit, he has to help her pull off the most magical pageant ever.

But if she loses? She’s wearing his jersey and going on a date with the grinch himself.

To be clear: She’s not losing.

Not when her secret weapon is taking Rourke on a road trip to the most over-the-top Christmas festival in existence.

Cue the holiday chaos.

Between an unexpected snowstorm, sharing a one-bedroom cabin, a hockey team text thread gone awry and a mistletoe kiss that’s life-changing—suddenly, winning doesn’t matter anymore.

Turns out, the holidays are full of surprises. But her falling for the grump—and his jersey?

It’s the biggest complication of the season.

Perfectly Complicated Christmas Romance is a closed-door Christmas hockey romcom, featuring a grumpy athlete with a soft heart, a sunshine single mom, and a bet that proves opposites don’t just attract—they make a perfect mistletoe match.

Book Review:

This was such a lovely read. I definitely relate to Janie in how I love Christmas but Rourke was also a sweetheart underneath his grumpiness. Perfectly Complicated Christmas Romance is the 4th book in Grace Worthing’s Perfect Crush Hockey Romance.

I really liked both Janie and Rourke, they felt real. They both had strong feelings about Christmas for different reasons. It was so fun to read about them interacting and pushing each other’s bottoms. Their romance was so sweet. I was rooting for Janie and Rourke as they fell in love. I liked how they could be real with each other.

Rourke was such a teddy bear underneath his grumpiness around Chrismtas. I loved how he interacted with the different children and how he connected with Aria, Janie’s daughter. I loved Janie in how passionate she was about Christmas and creating the best play. She had been hurt before so it was sweet to see Rourke slowly break down her walls. But I also loved how strong she was and how much she had overcome.

I adored this book and read it so quickly! The hockey team was as always so much fun and I am so excited for the next book. I would totally recommend this book! I didn’t want to put it down. Perfectly Complicated Christmas Romance is a closed door romantic comedy.

Book Highlight:

Children and a Christmas play
Single mom
Grinchish MMC
Christmas loving FFM
Hockey team and family
Christmas festivities and fun

I received a complimentary copy

Love in a Blizzard

About the Book:

Love in A Blizzard: Christmas at the Lodge (Christmas at Coldwater Creek Book 1)

Title: Love in a Blizzard
Series: Christmas at Coldwater Creek #1
Author: Britney M. Mills
Release Date: October 30th, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance

His heart is closed off, her life is mapped out, and the snowstorm that forces them off course.

Jobless and heartbroken, Lauren Burke returns home to Coldwater Creek hoping to find comfort. On her way home, a blizzard hits, sending her car into a fence and her into the arms of her longtime teenage crush, Walker McBride.

After being dumped, ex-bull rider Walker McBride throws himself into restoring an old lodge in his small hometown of Coldwater Creek. With the grand opening only weeks away, he has no time to rescue damsels in distress, or for that matter, love. But when Lauren shows up, the loneliness he’s been ignoring quickly bubbles to the surface.

Now snowed in, they’re forced to confront their past.

Two hearts.

One snowstorm.

And the chance to find love.

Book Review:

What an adorable story! This was such a sweet romance with Christmas themes. I loved the small town vibes and family aspects.

I really felt for Lauren. She found herself at a loss when she returns home, after breaking up with her boyfriend and quitting her job. I was rooting for her from the start. She really tried to put in her best for her work and relationship and did not really receive back. I admired her courage and how she jumped in to help at Coldwater Creek. It felt very natural to read about her there. It was close to her home and I think it showed in the way she fell into place with Walker. I loved getting to see her family too!

Walker was so sweet! He was pretty serious and cared a lot about his work. He really wanted the lodge to do well and had put so much of himself in it. He found in Lauren someone who was willing to work alongside him. They really supported one another and enjoyed each other’s company. I love that it grew from a friendship. I also loved getting to know some of the other characters in Coldwater Creek and am excited to read more! This was a lovely Christmasy romance with only kissing.

Insta Family

About the Book:

Insta Family: A Sweet Romantic Comedy (The Insta Series Book 4)

Title: Insta Family
Series: The Insta Series #4
Author: Jen Atkinson
Release Date: September 14th, 2023
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Meeting your birth family is nerve-racking. So, it’s helpful when tall, dark, and lovable shows up to hold your hand.

Coco had never planned to find her birth parents. But when Jude finds her—confessing that he knows her birth mother and he wants to set up a meeting, it’s suddenly all she can think about. Okay… maybe not all she’s thinking about. The messenger, Mr. Jude Taylor, himself, is pretty difficult to get off the brain.

Still, Coco’s working on becoming a partner at her clinic. She’s got friends and clients and a life—she can’t just pick up and leave. Can she?

Jude has enough on his plate—single dad, crazy ex, boring job. Yep—he’s got plenty to take up his time. But when his best friend’s mom asks him to do her a favor, he knows he’ll come to the rescue. Lucy has always been like another mom to him—often more supportive than his own mother. The only problem—Lucy’s favor is a big one. He isn’t running to the store to pick up groceries, but flying one thousand miles to find a stranger and inform her that he happens to know who her birth mother is.

That’s a big ask. Huge. What about his job? What about his daughter? It’s too much. So—of course he’ll do it. Yep, he’s the best… or maybe he’s just a sucker who can’t say no to Lucy Bailey.

But Jude is logical and organized. He’s got a plan. He can get this job done in less than a day. Or at least he could if Coco would follow along with the plan. It also isn’t helpful that somehow this girl, Lucy’s daughter, is sending sparks throughout his sparkless body. Forget tugging, Coco is the commander in control of Jude’s heartstrings.

But Jude has a daughter to consider and Coco has an entire family to get to know. This isn’t the right time or the right place to fall in love. Too bad Jude’s heart isn’t listening to logic.

Book Review:

I loved this book! I actually read the Insta series way out of order, so Coco’s was the first one that I read. Even though it was not the first one, I loved the characters so much. I wasn’t confused at all, and it made me want to see everyone’s stories.

I loved Coco! I can’t imagine what it would be like to find a new family, but she handled it all with so much grace. I loved her spirit and her love for animals. She truly loved her job, and I think her enthusiasm was super fun to watch. Her struggles with deciding whether to even meet her siblings felt really real. I think even her struggles with Levi in the beginning made sense for the story.

I loved Jude! He was just the sweetest book boyfriend. I really liked how he genuinely cared for Coco even in the beginning. The insta attraction was out of character for him, and he didn’t know what to do with his feelings. I think his hesitation really made sense for his character especially because he had Alice to worry about. I loved Alice! She is so funny, and her advice was so wise for a little five year old. I think her character made sense for her age, and I like how she was written like a kid.

The Bailey family is the sweetest! I love how they supported each other and welcomed Coco in. I think Lucy’s decision made a lot of sense for her character, and I love her and Coco’s connection. I cannot wait to see all of the Bailey brothers find love. This is a clean romance which is a part of a series but can be read standalone.

Tell Me True

About the Book:

Title: Tell Me True
Series: All’s Fair #4
Author: Carina Taylor
Release Date: November 20th, 2025
Genre: Romantic Comedy

We were just supposed to be roommates—marriage wasn’t even a thought. Yet here I am taking his last name before I’ve ever kissed him.

When I moved to Oregon, it was for two reasons: a new job at a veterinary clinic and to be closer to my sister. In desperate need of somewhere to live, I moved in with Miles Granger. It was purely out of necessity—I was tight on cash but definitely didn’t want to resort to sleeping on my sister’s uncomfortable couch.
Miles and I don’t even really know each other. Green Valley’s self-appointed grandmother, Margaret, worked it out for us, promising me that Miles was harmless.

Except he’s not harmless.

Not to my heart.

I thought I had a thick enough wall around my heart to protect me, but then Miles carefully dismantled it piece by piece. He shows me that he’s best-friend material, can handle any teasing I hand out, and isn’t afraid to dish it back. Soon, he wiggles his way past my defenses and is much more than just a housemate.

When a family bet gets a little out of hand, Miles asks for my help. I know I should keep an emotional distance between us, but if we get married, it solves both of our problems. Miles gets to win the bet and I get to pay off a huge student loan.
It’s a marriage in name only. If I keep all these messy feelings packed away, everything will turn out fine.

All I know is that I can’t risk falling for him when he sees me as just a roommate that he happens to be married to.

Because if I do? I’m afraid Miles will have the power to shatter my heart.

Book Review:

Tell Me True by Carina Taylor

I adored this book. The characters feel like your friends. Carina Taylor’s books are the perfect low stress books with lots of feels. Tell Me True is the fourth book in Carina Taylor’s All’s Fair series. It was a perfect marriage of convenience.

The characters definitely felt like your friends. I was cheering for Miles and Lucy as they tried to figure things out. I loved reading about them together. They connected with each other so easily and they were so fun to read about. They were both a little scared of a romance but they found comfort in each other. I loved their little quirks like how Lucy kept on stealing Miles’ cup but he ended up being okay because she made great food.

The story was interesting and I wanted to see how Miles and Lucy would end up together. I loved the scenes with their families. They were so wild and reminded me of being with my family. This was just the perfect pick me up story. I would totally recommend Tell Me True. I loved it! Tell Me True is a closed door romantic comedy.

☕️Book Highlights☕️

☕️Lucy and Miles together
☕️Banter
☕️Siblings
☕️Pets
☕️Baking
☕️Falling in love

I received a complimentary copy

Hate You, Maybe

About the Book:

Title: Hate You, Maybe
Series: Part of the Harvest Hollow Love Stories
Author: Julie Christianson
Release Date: October 8th, 2025
Genre: Rom-Com

When the stakes are win, lose, or fall … and love is not in their lesson plan.

Sayla Kroft has only two goals this year:

Score the big district grant to rebuild her high school’s dilapidated theater.
Avoid Dexter Michaels, the flirty-flirt athletic director who wants those same funds for the gym.

Losing to her workplace enemy—again—is not on Sayla’s never-ending to-do list. Neither is being trapped with her maddening coworker at a professional retreat.

Or noticing his relentlessly crooked smile is actually kind of … hot.

But just as she’s beginning to believe Dex might not be the devil himself, the two are forced to switch job titles to prove their collaborative spirit. That’s when Sayla realizes her competition is fiercer than she imagined, which leaves her with an impossible choice:

Fall for Dex and risk losing the grant … or stop at nothing to win, and risk losing everything.

Hate You, Maybe is a closed-door romantic comedy with all the sizzling chemistry, crackling tension, and laugh-out-loud humor of an enemies-to-lovers romance, without all the spice. You may find some mild language and innuendo, but the heat stops at passionate kisses.

This standalone love story is part of the Harvest Hollow Love Stories series.

Book Review:

I had so much fun reading these! All of Ms. Christianson’s books are so enjoyable and I love her characters. They are always ones that I would love to be friends with!

Sayla was a lot of fun. She was organized and driven, but was also very careful with letting people in. I loved her POV, she was hilarious! After Sayla was thrown together with Dex, she was forced to re-evaluate him and her opinion of him. Sayla had to also consider her own background and how she responded to it.

Dex was really sweet! I loved his relationship with his family and his dedication to his job. He had a teasing relationship with Sayla and had to gain her trust. He also had past issues that still influenced his decisions. I was super invested in seeing his story unfold.

Sayla and Dex were able to open up with one another and share their past. I loved how they learned to support and trust one another. I loved the setting of the retreat and all the quirky activities they did. It was also really fun to get to come back to the setting of Faking the Fall! I am excited for this new series to start and to see all of the characters again! Hate You Maybe is a closed door romcom that does not go beyond some passionate kisses and also has the past death of a loved one.

I received an ARC.

Insta Kiss

About the Book:

Insta Kiss: A Sweet Romantic Comedy (The Insta Series Book 3)

Title: Insta Kiss
Series: The Insta Series #3
Author: Jen Atkinson
Release Date: June 20th, 2023
Genre: Romantic Comedy

I’ve kissed a few guys. Okay, a lot of guys. But always on my terms—one kiss, that’s it. Then I let them go.

Bethany Barns has one mission—to hate Tate Wilhelm. He stole her job and now she has to answer to him. Her plan to make his life miserable is going great—except for one tiny hiccup: the mistletoe incident at the office Christmas party. That kiss? Totally not her fault. She was stressed, sad, and, well, there was mistletoe.

Tate may be new to Seattle, but he’s no rookie. A killer editor with a knack for connecting with his team, Tate is the kind of boss everyone loves—everyone except Beth. She kisses him—one incredible kiss, by the way—and then spends the rest of her time treating him like he’s the enemy. It doesn’t add up.

Tate just needs to convince Beth they can be friends. No need to be embarrassed about the mistletoe kiss. He’s going to be the best boss she’s ever had. Simple, right? Except he didn’t plan on falling for her fiery wit and those lips.

Getting Beth to warm up—let alone see him as more—won’t be easy. But Tate’s not giving up. She’ll come around… if she ever stops glaring at him.

A sweet, feisty RomCom with You’ve Got Mail vibes!

Book Review:

I loved this book! The Christmas vibes are so much fun, and Beth and Tate are the sweetest together.

I loved Beth! She was such a complicated and feisty character. Her sense of humor was amazing, but she also had a lot of depth to her. It was hinted at in Ebony’s book, but we really got to see her layers in this one. She had been through a lot, and she hadn’t been allowed to process it at all. It was fun to see her open up to Tate, and her pranks on him were too funny! While they were a bit devious, they were not mean spirited and it fit with the vibes of their relationship.

I really felt for Tate! He had been thrown into this job, and when he first meets Beth, he’s instantly intrigued. I thought his more chill but still determined personality fit well with Beth. He wasn’t offended by her hot and cold act because he could see the softy underneath. Also, he had a hint of mischief in him too, so he and Beth worked well together.

I loved seeing this one unfold! I thought the romance was really interesting as they got to see different sides of each other. This is a perfect romcom for anyone who loves complicated FMCs and MMCs who won’t give up on them. It is a part of a series but can be read standalone.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Planes, Reins and Automobiles

About the Book:

Planes, Reins, and Automobiles: A Grumpy Sunshine Road Trip Romcom (Catching Feelings Book 2)

Title: Planes, Reins, and Automobiles
Series: Catching Feelings #2
Author: Kate Watson
Release Date: November 14th, 2025
Genre: Romantic Comedy

She’s sunshine. He’s frostbite. They’ve got 1,600 miles to go before Christmas—and he’s about to discover his new enemy might be his anonymous online soulmate.

Oliver Fletcher has one goal, and he’s not happy about it: get home for his brother’s wedding. After extreme weather cancels every flight, his only option is to share the last (and smallest) rental car with the last (and most infuriating) woman he could ever want to be stuck with.

Poppy Lewis is everything Oliver isn’t—joyful, optimistic, and prone to random acts of kindness. She finds the perpetually cynical ex-athlete totally maddening. Their only truce is found online, where Oliver (GreenArrow11) trades secrets with his anonymous confidante (GracieLou).

But Poppy IS GracieLou. And as the cross-country journey forces them together through storms, car troubles, and not enough hotel rooms, Poppy discovers her new enemy might be her anonymous online soulmate. But when her career as a sentencing advocate collides with Oliver’s family tragedy, the truth she’s been hiding could destroy everything.

Oliver demands justice; Poppy champions compassion. As their disastrous road trip pushes them closer, Oliver must confront the truth: the woman who drives him crazy might be the only one who can stitch his broken heart back together.

It’ll take planes, reins, and automobiles to get them back home to their families. But once the secrets are exposed, will they ever want to see each other again? Or never want to be apart?

Book Review:

This was just perfect! Kate Watson’s books always tug at your heart strings and this one was no different. Planes, Reins and Automobiles is the second book in Kate Watson’s Catching Feelings series. Ah, Fletch had so much backstory and it was a much needed book.

Oliver Fletcher had trauma but he was trying to work through his feelings. He was a bit angry and a bit grumpy but you couldn’t help but root for him. I felt for him as he tried to figure out life. Fletch had to learn to let others in and see that he didn’t want to live with his anger. I love how Poppy broke through his walls and how he learned to heal.

Poor Poppy, she had been beaten down. I love how she tried to stay positive and encourage others. She was such an interesting character and it was cool to read about her growth throughout the book. She was trying to find her hope in a sense. She saw the good in others and I really admired her dedication to helping people. She felt deeply for others and it definitely weighed on her.

The romance was honestly the sweetest because Fletch and Poppy got on each other’s nerves. I liked how their relationship felt real and although they irritated each other, they still cared for the other person. They had some obstacles to overcome but I loved reading about their journey. The book was engaging and I wanted to see how it would end. I despised Fletch’s grandpa, he was the worst.

I really enjoyed this book and I would totally recommend it! It is a book that definitely makes you feel so be prepared for the emotions. The characters grow so much but they have a lot of trauma to work through. However it is still a lovely story about falling in love and learning to forgive. Planes, Reins and Automobiles is a closed door contemporary romance.

I received a complimentary copy

Insta Connection

About the Book:

Insta Connection: A Sweet Romantic Comedy (The Insta Series Book 2)

Title: Insta Connection
Series: The Insta Series #2
Author: Jen Atkinson
Release Date: April 12th, 2023
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Butterflies have invaded my body. They’ve been dormant for years and now suddenly they are attacking my stomach, my heart, and quite possibly my ovaries. All for a man I’ve never met.

Ebony McCoy is already married to her job… which means she doesn’t have time for a man. However, a little playful banter online never hurt anyone—especially when it’s a man she doesn’t know and never plans to meet. And seeing how he is more than two thousand miles across the country, that shouldn’t be a problem.

Yep. It’s all fun and games, and totally innocent… until that darn organ inside of Ebony’s chest decides to betray her. Ebony is falling—fast and hard. For someone she can’t have.

Jet Jacobson has never been afraid of a challenge—so he’s still healing from a knee injury, so he’s working on making it into the MLS, so he’s got teammates and siblings who all want his attention. So what? He can add a girl into the mix. This is more than the fun, playful, long distance thing that Ebony keeps saying it is. This, boys and girls, is the real deal. Jet will stop at nothing to make Ebony a believer. This will work—even 2,634 miles apart.

So it may not be the right time or the right place—but one thing’s for sure, she is the right person.

A long-distance, quick connection, sweet romance.

Book Review:

I thought this was a super sweet romcom! Jet and Ebony had a lot of chemistry, and their romance was fast but adorable.

I really liked Ebony’s character! She was so strong and determined, and she was extremely good at what she did. I think sometimes her strength could come off a little harsh, but at the same time, she was trying to succeed in a very male dominated world of sports. I admired her willingness to persevere and how she knew her worth. While Ebony was trying to keep her heart in check, she ended up falling for Jet even though they were far away from each other. Her romance with Jet was out of character and adorable! I love how Beth supported and pushed her!

The side characters in this one really made the book for me! I really loved Jet’s teammates and every scene at the diner cracked me up. They were the perfect foil for Jet as he fell head over heels for Ebony. Jet was so cute! I loved how much he cared for Ebony, and the little ways that he showed up for her even though he was far away. He and Ebony fit well together, and there were some fun twists in their HEA. I feel like those twists made a lot of sense for both of the characters.

While at times it took me a little bit to get into this story, I ended up really enjoying it. It was fun to get to see some characters from other books too like Iris and Dean! I would totally recommend this book. It is a part of a series but it can be read standalone.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Ocean of Ink

About the Book:

Ocean of Ink (The Obsidian Academy Duet Book 1)

Title: Ocean of Ink
Series: The Obsidian Academy Duet #1
Author: A. R. Conwell
Release Date: October 21st, 2025
Genre: Fantasy

She can sense emotions.
He’s trained to be emotionless.

Wren’s quiet life is upended when her brother’s body is delivered to her family’s estate by the elite academy he was attending. Consumed by grief and bound by a past debt, she goes to the Obsidian Academy to uncover the mystery behind his death and avenge the only person she’s ever trusted.

A deadly forest surrounds the dark halls of the exclusive university, but the competitive, bloodthirsty students might be more vicious than the nightmarish creatures that haunt the woods. The most conniving of them all being Castien Valengard, the only one whose emotions Wren can’t sense. And a man she believes is connected to the secret society her brother was a part of.

Wren devises a plan to uncover Castien’s role in her brother’s death, and in the meantime, works to balance her studies and her secrets. Then: another student is killed.

Stuck on the island with no way out, Wren must find her brother’s killer before she turns into the next victim.

Ocean of Ink is book one of a slow burn romantasy duology set in a dark academy surrounded by magical, deadly waters. If you love mystery, letters, and men who yearn, this series is for you!

Book Review:

Oh my word! What an absorbing story! This is Ms. Conwell’s debut fantasy and I so enjoyed reading it!

The world that was created was so intriguing and I appreciated how the worldbuilding was slowly unfolded. It felt natural to learn about the world through Wren and Castian’s eyes. It was interesting to learn about the magic of the world and all the secrecy of the inner politics of the academy.

Oh, I felt for Wren! Her ability to sense emotions and the deep tragedies of her past left her wary and burdened. Her brother’s death weighed heavily on her and so many of her decisions were influenced by discovering the truth about his death. I admired her courage and determination. She was facing so many fears in coming to Obsidian Academy and her mission forced her to learn new skills. Castian was really interesting. I really enjoyed getting into his head too. He was so strategic and evaluated everything. It made him such an interesting character to follow.

Wren and Castian had such an interesting relationship! I loved how they pushed each other and intrigued one another. From the start, there was such an interest in each other. Neither could quite figure the other out and all of the secrets they were searching for seemed to circle around the other. There were so many mysteries around Heron’s death and the implications for the Academy. I liked getting to know the other students and the staff, it really filled out the world. They also were really interesting characters in their own right.

I am so excited to read the next book. Fair warning, this does end on a cliffhanger. It is a darker fantasy with no language or explicit scenes, but heavy themes of trauma, depression, and anxiety. Full list of content warnings are found on A.R. Conwell’s website as it includes spoilers.

I received an ARC.