As You Wish by Danika Brown

On By TracyIn Contemporary, New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Romantasy, Tracy's Reviews, Young AdultLeave a comment

As You Wish (A Brim's Hollow Romance #1)As You Wish by Danika Brown

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: A Brim’s Hollow Romance #1

Release Date: April 14, 2026

For the last ten years Honey Baxter has been the most efficient wishing well auditor at the NYC Bureau of Magical Compliance and is now eligible for a promotion. She has worked hard for the honor of being promoted to Assistant to the Director of Arcane Relations and knows that is her year! She arrives at work expecting to have her review and be informed of her promotion but is instead blindsided by her boss and sent to the small rural town of Brim’s Hollow to audit an old wishing well that has not been audited in over 20 years! Her boss makes it clear that her promotion hinges on the outcome of this case. Honey has rarely left the city and is not prepared for farm life and especially not the Hale Family! When she notices something off about the magic on the farm, she makes a note in her report, never realizing that little note could take everything from the family that she is starting to love.

As a single dad of three lively young girls, Ethan Hale has barely been keeping things together since his wife left. He is on the brink of losing everything he has spent a lifetime building if he can’t find a way to turn things around. At first, he refuses to let Honey access the well, but then decides it is easier to keep your enemies closer; he has big secrets and believes that if he lets anyone in, he will lose everything. But he seriously underestimates Honey, is she the answer to all his problems or is she the straw that breaks the camel’s back?

This was a cute story with very likable characters and a slow-burn (no spice) romance. I loved the idea of this book, and I was thrilled to find a new romantasy author who writes Third Person Narrative with a dual character POV. But as much as I liked this story, I felt like it could have been better, the world building is a bit weak, and the magic system is not clearly defined. I finished the book with a warm, fuzzy, feel-good feeling, but I still had a lot of unanswered questions – primarily about Honey’s family and Ethan’s ex-wife. I sincerely hope the next Brim’s Hollow book might provide some answers to the lingering questions I had with this book and (fingers-crossed) some heat. Overall, it was a cute read with a cozy small-town fantasy romance and a YA vibe.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

 

Fast and Fastidious by R M Caldwell

On By TracyIn Debut Novel, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Mystery, New To Me Author, Regency Era (1811-1820), Standalone Title, Tracy's Reviews, Young AdultLeave a comment

Fast and FastidiousFast and Fastidious by R.M. Caldwell

Tracy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: April 14, 2026

Outwardly, Miss Lucy Elliot fits the mold of the perfect Regency lady, but what drew me in was her secret passion for engineering that made her feel both relatable and refreshingly original to me. Watching her sneak into the Night Races was a highlight; it showed her curiosity and her willingness to challenge the expectations placed on her. Captain Dashwood, her neighbor, is an interesting character, as the story unfolds, I enjoyed seeing new layers to his character and how his interactions with Lucy brought out her strengths. Meg and the rest of Lucy’s friends were unwavering in their support. The story mixes carriage racing with a mystery involving robberies and espionage. There are action scenes and technical details about carriages, and while some readers might find these engaging, I felt that slowed the story down. The Night Races add excitement and help blur class lines, giving the book its unique twist.

Overall, this was a fun Regency adventure with some fresh ideas and entertaining moments. While I admired Lucy’s neurodivergent traits and the way her personality shines through, I sometimes wished the story gave a bit more attention to the other characters who also had so much potential and while Lucy’s perspective made the novel feel personal and heartfelt, I felt it lacked the emotional depth I was expecting and considering this was billed as a romance, I found the story completely lacking romance and ultimately it doesn’t deliver the emotional payoff I was hoping for. If you’re looking for a historical story with good character development and a mystery plot, this book is worth checking out. However, if you want a romance-driven read, this is probably not the story for you.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *