Category: Contemporary

Christmas with a Chimera by Isabelle Taylor

On By TracyIn Christmas, Contemporary, New To Me Author, Novella, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Rom Com, Romantasy, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Christmas with a Chimera: A cosy, spicy, Alaska-set second chance romance – perfect for Christmas 2025 (Claw Haven Book 2)Christmas with a Chimera: A cosy, spicy, Alaska-set second chance romance – perfect for Christmas 2025 by Isabelle Taylor

Tracy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Claw Haven #2

Release Date: October 9, 2025

Chimera Arthur Pineclaw left his hometown of Claw Haven, Alaska twelve years ago to pursue his dream of acting in Los Angeles. Now a successful actor, Arthur has returned to film a holiday rom-com and is a bit surprised at the changes in the small town. But one thing hasn’t changed and that is Emma Cult, the girl he loved and left behind all those years ago. Arthur is still drawn to Emma, and she is still as shrewish as ever – why does that still turn him on? As Arthur reconnects with his past and Emma, he wonders if he can convince her to give them another chance and move with him back to LA. He is sure he will win her over, after all, he can charm anyone!

Emma Cult is now the owner of Cozy Grotto Café and let newcomer Luna Musgrove talk her into allowing the film crew to use her café for the movie, but no one told her that her ex-boyfriend, Arthur was the star! Emma was devasted when Arthur left her on Christmas Eve all those years ago and hasn’t spoken to him since. She is determined to keep him at an arm’s length, but Arthur is just as determined to make her forgive him and give him a second-chance. Let the battle of wills begin!

This was a reverse grumpy/sunshine romance that definitely had a Hallmark rom-com vibe, just with monsters. The book is a cute and spicy second chance romance with long separated high school sweet hearts, Arthur is very charming and likeable and cannot handle anyone not liking him, but he hasn’t let anyone really know him since Emma, Emma is his complete opposite, she is angry and apparently has been that way all her life, and despite her denial, she is still hurt by Arthur’s abandonment. Together, they will have to come to terms with the past and move forward, but before they can do that, they will each have to look inside and be honest with themselves. This was a cute story with a happy ending, making it a quick, holiday read that leaves with that Hallmark-like feel good feeling.

*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. *

Druid Cursed by C.J. Burright

On By TracyIn Contemporary, Paranormal / Fantasy, Romantasy, Standalone Title, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Druid CursedDruid Cursed by C.J. Burright

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: October 7, 2025

Kellen Ravenwood is an Irish Druid who was cursed centuries ago by a witch named Sorcha, for a crime he did not commit, thankfully his twin brother Caedmon was able to cast a spell that allowed Kellen to be free one week every 50 years, and offered them time to try and break the curse, but the catch is that Kellen is trapped in the enchanted prison for the rest of the time and is not able to help find a way to break the curse, but their time is running out and this will be the last time Kellen will have a reprieve before he is trapped for eternity. When Caedmon summons Kellen from his prison, he is happy to tell him that he may have finally found a way to break the curse. They will need to sacrifice Sorcha’s descendant, and Caedmon has invited her to the Ravenwood Samhain festivities. Kellen refuses to even consider spilling the blood of an innocent to save himself and insists that Caedmon find another way. A conviction he holds on to even stronger about once he meets Maggie O’Malley, Sorcha’s descendant and realizes she is his soulmate.

The last year has been hard for Maggie O’Malley, her marriage ended in divorce and then she learned that her ex not only hadn’t paid the taxes on the house her father built and left her, but unbeknownst to her, took out a loan against the house and defaulted on it, leaving her jobless, and on the brink of losing her home. Thankfully her best friend Wendy has stood by her throughout it all and somehow managed to secure Maggie an invitation (with Wendy as her plus one) to the Ravenwood Samhain festivities in Ireland giving her the opportunity to win enough money to save her house and set her up in the business she has dreamed of starting for years. But almost from the moment they arrive, things start to go wrong, and Maggie finds herself navigating the house party alone. Even more troubling is her reaction to Kellen, she has just gotten out of a relationship and has no desire to start something new, but Kellen makes her feel things that she has never felt before, but can she trust him?

This was such a nicely paced, well written story with wonderful characters and a complex, mysterious plot with a bit of spooky vibe, that had me wondering how this could possibly have a happy ending. The story is filled with emotion, loss, curses, lies, secrets, a crazy ghost witch, possession, warm love scenes, magic ending in an epic battle of good vs evil. I have read reviews of other readers who felt the ending was a bit cliché, but I loved it. I am hoping that there will be another book so Caedmon can find his soulmate!

*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. *