Fall for a Fairytale by Isabelle Taylor

On By TracyIn Cozy Fantasy, Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Paranormal / Fantasy, Romantasy, Standalone Title, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Fall for a FairytaleFall for a Fairytale by Isabelle Taylor

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: November 10, 2026

When Orc Jayce Rivendale enters a tavern in the backwoods of Feylight, he couldn’t begin to imagine how much his life was about to change. For years Jayce has been wandering around the country and supporting himself running cons, so when he spots a barmaid who he is sure could pass for the lost fey princess of Feylight who disappeared fifteen years ago when Lord Blackwood staged a coup against the crown, killing the fey Queen and disappeared along with the princess. The king was left heartbroken and has become a recluse while the country has fallen on hard times. Jayce is sure he can convince the King that she is his long-lost daughter and collect a reward that will set him up for life. But before he can charm her into helping him, his past catches up with him in the form of two Lycan henchmen for the crime lord Silver. Lucky for him, the little barmaid steps in and saves him, now he just has to con her into helping him claim the reward. Simple enough, until his heart becomes involved.

Clove has been alone for years, she has no memory of her life prior to waking up with a torn wing in a hospital in Wingspire City after the coup and being transferred to an orphanage where she stayed until she was eighteen, since then she has been working odd jobs trying to earn enough to return to Wingspire City, where she hopes to find answers about her past life. When the charming orc who was flirting with her is grabbed by some shifty looking Lycans, she steps in to help and finds herself on the run with him. When they escape the tavern, he explains that he knew the princess as a young girl and is sure that she is the lost princess and offers to help her reclaim her life. She is pretty sure he is not being honest, but the more time she spends with him the less she cares and actually begins to hope that he is right and that she can have the fairytale ending, complete with a handsome orc hero.

This was such cute story with amazing characters and lots of surprising twists and turns, not to mention a decent amount of spice. Clove and Jayce are both likable characters with pain and loss in their past that have shaped their lives, but they have not completely lost faith. Together, they bring out the best in each other and support each other without question. The book has a lost princess, an adorable hootbear, a charming orc, relentless henchmen, sky bandits, a very persistent villain, a heartbroken Fey King, steamyish love scenes, lots of action and finally a fairytale ending. I do wish there had been a definitive declaration between Clove and Jayce and some idea of their future together, but overall, it was a fun read and one I would happily recommend to readers who enjoy a spicy fantasy romance with a bit of whimsy.

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

 

To Vex and To Hex by Neena Noon

On By TracyIn Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Cozy Fantasy, Paranormal / Fantasy, Standalone Title, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

To Vex & To HexTo Vex & To Hex by Neena Noon

Tracy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: November 3, 2026

For years Lucinda “Lucy” Ansari has worked at Crawley Books, first in high school and college, and then on weekends after she got a corporate job. And when she lost that job, she worked there full-time as the manager, much to her overachieving parent’s dismay, but working at the bookstore and baking is what makes Lucy happy, that and her deep friendship with Charles Crawley, the elderly owner and fellow witch. Everything was going well until Charles fell and broke his hip, requiring surgery. And instead of call her, they called his grandson, Grayson in Ireland and that is when everything started going south. He is handsome, smart and annoying, and she will do anything to get rid of him…

Professor Grayson Crawley has been living in Ireland with his uncle for most of his life. His parents died when he was just six years old and he stayed with his grandparents for about a year, before he was sent to Ireland to live with his uncle and he hasn’t been back since. When the hospital called about his grandfather, he took a sabbatical and came to the States to help him, hoping to get answers and maybe even renew their relationship, but instead of a warm welcome, he is greeted by his grandfather’s employee and apparently very good friend, Lucy, who also is a witch, something that Grayson is not, despite his mother being one. He is convinced that Lucy is stopping him from having a real relationship with his grandfather and decides she needs to go…

I really wanted to love this book and it started with promise, but as the story progressed, the characters seemed to regress. Lucy and Grayson act like middle schoolers for most of the book, they are immature, petty and annoying. They both have insecurities and long for a true family bond, which could have been something that brought them together, instead they become jealous of each other and act like idiots. Even after Charles gets upset with them and they call a truce, they continue to behave like children, except when they are getting hot and heavy with each other – until they aren’t. By the end of this book, I was sick of both of them and didn’t care what happened and while the idea was cute and there was spice, the constant back and forth pettiness just ruined the book for me. And I couldn’t help but wonder why doesn’t anyone in this book celebrate Christmas or any other holiday? Overall, I didn’t hate the book, but I wouldn’t read it again.

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