Book Review: A Forbidden Fate (The Forbidden Fate #1) by Kaven Hirning

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 414 pages
Author: Kaven Hirning
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 6th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A centuries long war, an enchanted wood, and a curse.
Idalia leaves her castle to marry the new king of the Deep, certain that this union will be the final step in saving her kingdom. She must travel through the Florian Wood, a mysterious place shrouded in legend and myth. Things go awry when the Princess is captured by a band of thieves, and they soon discover that the stories of the Wood weren’t just stories afterall. To make matters worse, she is stranded in this nightmare with her rival; A shameless bandit who likes to talk and drink too much. Despite the dangers of the Wood, there is a threat far graver to the both of them–each other. Apart from their warring lands, they have also been cursed by the gods. They can never touch, or they will die and their entire kingdoms with them. Join Idalia and a group of misfits on this harrowing journey. One full of sorrow, terror, forbidden love … and plenty of drinks.

Thank you to LibroFM for the gifted audiobook.

I’LL READ BOOK TWO.

This book went on and off my TBR for a long time and when I saw an audio copy I snagged it and here we are. I thought the concept was good and I liked that they couldn’t touch each other. It added a level of tension that built in a nice slow burn over the book.

I didn’t have any big issues with pacing (which could be due to audiobook speed that kept things moving). It’s a travel plot with many diversions throughout a haunted wood. Some of the side quests seemed forced, but in the end it worked out well.

I loved the romantic aspects and getting those necessary flashback chapters to understand the character dynamics and how everything began when the curse tore them apart. The found family was SO GOOD. I loooved the banter and the respect and care that went into every relationship. I’m curious what will happen next!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: one open door
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Sports Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Jennifer Iacopelli
Publisher: GP Putnam’s
Release Date: December 2nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

For fans of Emma Lord and Abbi Glines, Jennifer Iacopelli’s swoony, romantic new novel follows elite ice dancer Adriana Russo as she finds herself drawn to both her old dance partner and her new one.

Adriana Russo is figure skating royalty.

With gold-medalist parents, and her older sister headed to the Olympics, all she wants is to live up to the family name and stand atop the ice dance podium at the Junior World Championships. But fame doesn’t always mean fortune, and their legendary skating rink is struggling under the weight of her dad’s lavish lifestyle. The only thing keeping it afloat is a deal to host the rest of the Junior Worlds team before they leave for France.

That means training on the same ice as her first crush, Freddie, the partner she left when her growth spurt outpaced his. For the past two years, he’s barely acknowledged her existence, and she can’t even blame him for it.

When the family’s finances take another unexpected hit, losing the rink seems inevitable until her partner, Brayden, suggests they let the world believe what many have suspected: that their intense chemistry isn’t contained to the ice. Fans and sponsors alike take the bait, but keeping up the charade is harder than she ever imagined. And training alongside Freddie makes it worse, especially when pretending with Brayden starts to feel very real.

As the biggest competition of her life draws closer and her family’s legacy hangs in the balance, Adriana is caught between her past and present, between the golden future she’s worked so hard for, and the one she gave up long ago.

I WILL NOT BE WATCHING THE SHOW.

I picked this up on a pure whim because the Olympics have me in an ice skating mood and I heard there’s a Netflix show so I decided to test the waters with the book first.

AAAAAND I shall not be watching the show (I also did discuss with a few friends spoilers about the show and I would be mad soooo). Ultimately this is a love triangle and if you get angry when your side isn’t chosen. which I totally did, then you’ll be upset. Reader discretion advised.

It was trying hard to be cool and edgy with the characters ages and some of the scenes but the overall vibe and dialogue reads as a young teen. The clash made it difficult to read and I was grateful that it’s a short book. It was one of those books with potential but too many eye rolls.

Also, if the FMC mentioned ONE MORE FREAKING TIME that she had outgrown her previous partner (literally) and that’s why she had to drop him I was going to light my phone on fire.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Sports Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: strained parent relationships

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Book Review: Mail-Order Duchess (Lords of the Rockies #1) by Misty M. Beller

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 254 pages
Author: Misty M. Beller
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 4th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Five sons of an English duke, all raised in the Rocky Mountains…
A marriage born of duty. A love neither expected.

When Enoch Balfour’s eldest brother tragically dies, the weight of family responsibility falls on his shoulders. Now this Montana rancher must train for his role as the next Duke of Clarence—and marry the mail-order bride his brother sent for. Hardened by loss, Enoch has no intention of opening his heart to a stranger, but duty demands he produce an heir.

Mandie Beaumont is a desperate young widow fleeing the sinister advances of her brother-in-law. After arriving in the Montana Territory to marry a man she’s never met, an accident leaves her robbed of her recent memories—memories that conceal a devastating secret. When she discovers she’s carrying a child conceived through betrayal and violence, Mandie fears rejection and ruin. Yet, in Enoch, she finds an unexpected protector whose fierce gentleness makes her long to trust again.

Though Mandie’s charm and resilience begin to thaw Enoch’s guarded heart, he struggles with his fear of loss. When Mandie’s past resurfaces, Enoch must risk everything to save her. If he fails, Mandie will be torn from him—and the love they’ve begun to embrace could be lost forever.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a royal family saga featuring a mail-order bride, amnesia, a secret baby, and an aristocratic marriage of convenience…all set in the rugged Montana Territory.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

SOFT & TENDER.

You kind of always know what you’re going to get when you pick up a MMB book. And that’s okay! I like knowing that it’s going to be a short closed door romance with some tender, protective men and strong FMC’s.

Mandie has gone through a devastating situation and chose to look forward and take the next best step. I loved the way Enoch protected and stood by her side no matter what. I also really liked Mandie’s parents too! I wasn’t expecting the turnaround with them and seeing supportive parents always pulls at my heart.

Beautifully tender and not overly preachy. Heading into the next book soon!

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild+
  • Content warnings: r*pe recounted, kidnapping, attempted murder, physical injuries

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Book Review: Unromance by Erin Connor

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Erin Connor
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: January 14th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sawyer Greene knows romance. She’s a bestselling author of the genre—or she was, until her college girlfriend left her with nothing but writer’s block and bitterness. So when Sawyer gets stuck in an elevator with a handsome stranger, she sees it for what it is: not a meet-cute but a chance encounter with a charming man whom she will sleep with exactly once and go on her way. Easy enough…until she runs into him again at a Christmas market straight out of a Hallmark holiday movie. 

EH.

I was drawn in by this beautiful cover and left with a meh feeling about this romance y’all. I mostly think it was trying too hard to be sexy. Some of the comments and innuendo didn’t land for me and didn’t seem necessary to the story other than to be able to call this a spicy book. Same goes for the spice too, I didn’t know this was a one night stand book and got off on a bad foot with this one.

The middle though was good, I thought the romance had some sweet moments and I loved that they were going on all of these dates together. I could see some growth and was interesting in the general trajectory of the plot.

But lo and behold, the third act made me cranky enough to comment on it. I just struggle with these y’all. If these things don’t bother you, I’d say give it a go. While not for me, I can see the appeal.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3+ open door; innuendo throughout

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