Tag: novella

ALC Book Review: Fall Into Me (Willow Creek) by Juliana Smith

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance Novella
Length: 3 hours
Author: Juliana Smith
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Release Date: September 22nd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Brimming with Southern charm, Juliana Smith is back with a new adult novella in the same world as her Willow Creek series. When Oak Ridge’s biggest wedding of the year puts Dakota and Elliot face-to-face with their exes—who just happen to be dating each other—the solution is fake date their way through the weekend.

Thank you Sourcebooks for the gifted ALC.

GOOD NOVELLA!

After enjoying Smith’s young adult novel in Willow Creek I jumped at the chance to try out this novella. It is adult!! Just going to declare that again in case you missed it. It’s closed door but there is some light innuendo and overall adult vibe to the story.

I LOVED the duet narration. Gosh it’s just the best way to listen to a book. Both narrators did a fantastic job and it was easy to lock into this romance.

The fake dating to get back at exes isn’t always my favorite because I feel like the exes play too much into the story (and that did happen here to a degree) but I loved all of the moments that Dakota and Elliot had together. There’s a good amount of wedding shenanigans alongside times where they got to be by themselves. I loved the contrasting personalities and the banter. Elliot is such a cinnamon roll and I loved his nature. And I loved that SHE was the professional bull rider.

Things move quickly but without feeling like it’s insta-love. I thought the connection came across genuine and I would love to see these two pop up in a future Willow Creek book to see how they are doing.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance Novella
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses; light innuendo

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ARC Book Review: Roots of Darkness (The Ashen #2.5) by Demi Winters

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance Novella
Length: 178 pages
Author: Demi Winters
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 10th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Traveling the Road of Bones was only the start of Hekla’s troubles.

The Bloodaxe Crew have arrived at the village of Istré—beleaguered and missing three of their members. They might be down in numbers, but Hekla ‘Rib Smasher’ is determined they’ll complete their job all the defeat the evil mist with a heartbeat and keep the citizens of Istré safe. What she didn’t expect is for Istré’s bull-headed chieftain to block her every move.

Exasperated, Hekla throws caution to the wind for a single passion-filled night. But to her horror, the mysterious, red-cloaked warrior to whom she’d spilled her deepest secrets, is the Bloodaxe Crew’s new temporary leader and ally—Eyvind Hakonsson.

Hekla must now learn to play by Eyvind’s rules while guarding her heart. But when it becomes clear that his plans align with the chieftain’s, Hekla takes matters into her own hands.

Nothing will stop her from keeping the innocent people of Istré safe—not even the man who haunts her thoughts.

Join Hekla and the remnants of the Bloodaxe Crew as they battle the evil, poisonous mist threatening the citizens of Istré—and perhaps all of Íseldur. This Ashen Series novella should be read after Kingdom of Claw.

Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for a gifted copy.

SUCH A GOOD STORY.

This was a novella I didn’t know I needed. I loved getting this deeper glimpse into Hekla and the way this excited me for book three. Hekla is a fierce FMC who has walked a hard road and I think getting her back story made me fall in love with her more. It made her character feel layered and complex and I hope we get to see more of her POV.

The romance was heated and a good example of making a one night stand trope work well for a short story. I am highly invested in these two and them finding a way to work together as the mist starts closing in. This is one of my favorite active fantasy romance series and I beg of you to pick it up.

Note this is a companion novella and must be read after book two!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance Novella
  • Language: molderate
  • Romance: 3ish open door scenes
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Content warnings: spousal abuse (recounted), ableism

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ARC Book Review: The Haven, the Hallow, & the Highborn (A Roots of Magic Series Novella) by Jessa Grey

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 218 pages
Author: Jessa Grey
Publisher: Paper Heart Publishing
Release Date: April 15th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In facing her finest opponent, she will uncover her greatest strength.

Eedy Blackthorn wields a rare and mystical witch magic—she can become a conduit to harness the raw forces of lightning itself. But her abilities do not make up for her painful past. After a tragic accident claims her beloved father, Eedy inherits his seat on the mage-led council. Consumed by guilt over her father’s death and determined to honor his legacy, she refuses to be silenced, no matter how often the male-dominated council disregards her suggestions.

When a mysterious disruption in magic threatens the kingdom’s balance, Prince Caelum is sent to join the council. Discovering Eedy’s identity reawakens a grudge tied to her late father, who ridiculed his family for years. With old wounds resurfacing, every council debate between them crackles with tension. As they clash over how to restore the magical order, their arguments become charged with something neither of them is willing to name.

With duty and destiny colliding, Eedy and Caelum must navigate their forbidden feelings for each other while racing to restore the kingdom’s magic before the winter solstice. As the solution to the magical crisis becomes clear, the couple is faced with an impossible decision, one that will test the limits of Eedy’s power and the depths of Caelum’s heart.

Love, magic, and sacrifice intertwine in this rivals-to-lovers romantasy novella. This novella takes place a century before the start of the related Roots of Magic main series.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

I LIKED IT.

I didn’t have any set expectations for this because it’s an author I’ve never heard of but a novella seemed like an easy way to try a new author and it was good! I am intrigued enough to read a full novel and see more of this world and the characters.

This has a lore novella vibe where I feel a lot more will make sense with larger expansion of the world, magic system and characters. I did like the few characters I saw and I thought the writing was great.

It does have that more instant love (even though their “rivals”) which was my biggest issue. It felt rushed for the timeline, even when I could see the necessity of the decision for the plot. I just needed more between them to really feel the connection.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance Novella
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: one open door
  • Violence: mild – moderate

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: November 2024

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BEST MONTH OF THE YEAR!

Favorite books this month:

  • Perfect Distraction
  • Pictures of You
  • Lost and Lassoed
  • The Muse of Maiden Lane
  • If It Makes You Happy
  • Five Stolen Rings
  • Broken Harbor
  • The Road of Bones
  • The Shadowed Land
  • A Reign of Rose
  • Brielle and Bear
  • The Myths of Ophelia
  • Yuletide Bride
  • Not in My Book
  • Oathbringer
  • Izzy and Her Off-Limits Love

Least favorites:

  • Merry Ever After
  • Perfect Distraction by Allison Ashley
  • The Quit List by Katie Bailey
  • [ARC] Pictures of You by Emma Grey
  • Lost and Lassoed (Rebel Blue Ranch #3) by Lyla Sage
  • Never Forgotten by Hannah Linder
  • [ARC] The Muse of Maiden Lane (Belles of London #4) by Mimi Matthews
  • Perfect Fit by Clare Gilmore
  • If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia
  • The Temptation of Magic (Empyreal #1) by Megan Scott
  • [ARC] Five Stolen Rings by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
  • Bane of Asgard (Runestone Saga #2) by Cinda Williams Chima
  • Creatures of Chaos (Creatures of Chaos #1) by Julie Hall
  • [ARC] Broken Harbor (Sparrow Falls #3) by Catherine Cowles
  • [Novella] A Royal Possibility (Royal Hearts #4.5) by Amanda Schimmoeller
  • The Blood Orchid (The Scarlet Alchemist #2) by Kylie Lee Baker
  • [Novella] Cruel Winter with You (Under the Mistletoe #1) by Ali Hazelwood
  • [Novella] Merry Ever After (Under the Mistletoe #2) by Tessa Bailey
  • [Novella] All by My Elf (Under the Mistletoe #3) by Tessa Bailey
  • [Novella] Merriment and Mayhem (Under the Mistletoe #4) by Alexandria Bellefleur
  • [Novella] Only Santas in the Building (Under the Mistletoe #5) by Alexis Daria
  • Saved by Noel by Tracy Baack
  • The Road of Bones (The Ashen #1) by Demi Winters
  • [ARC] The Shadowed Land (The Lost Queen #3) by Signe Pike
  • A Reign of Rose (The Sacred Stones Trilogy #3) by Kate Golden
  • [ARC] Brielle and Bear (Once Upon a Time Vol. 1) by Salomey Doku
  • [ARC] The Myths of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #4) by Nicole Platania
  • The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
  • Wreck My Plans by Jillian Meadows
  • Christmas With a Crank by Courtney Walsh
  • The Shadows Rule All (Dominions #3) by Abigail Owen
  • Yuletide Bride (Regency Christmas Brides) by Kasey Stockton
  • [ARC] Not in My Book by Katie Holt
  • [Novella] The Best You’ve Ever Had by Amelia Chasen
  • [Reread] Oathbringer (The Stormlight Archives #3) by Brandon Sanderson
  • [ARC] The Seaside Homecoming (On Devonshire Shores #3) by Julie Klassen
  • Fledgling by S.K. Ali
  • Heist Royale (Thieves’ Gambit #2) by Kayvion Lewis
  • [ARC] Izzy and Her Off-Limits Love (Oakley Island #3.5) by Jenny Proctor and Emma St. Clair
  • Where the Library Hides (Secrets of the Nile #2) by Isabel Ibanez
  • Only in Your Dreams (The Mountains are Calling #2) by Madison Wright
  • The Songbird and the Heart of Stone (Crowns of Nyaxia #3) by Carissa Broadbent

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