Category: Debut Novel

Samantha Spük: Paranormal Wedding Planner by Aleese Lin

On By TracyIn Contemporary, Debut Novel, First Person Narrative, New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Romantasy, Standalone Title, Tracy's Reviews, Young AdultLeave a comment

Samantha Spük: Paranormal Wedding PlannerSamantha Spük: Paranormal Wedding Planner by Aleese Lin

Tracy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: June 2, 2026

Samantha “Sabby” Spük is an accountant who has spent years trying to distance herself from her family’s supernatural roots, but after her grandmother’s death, a magically binding will pulls her back to Salem and keeps her there until the estate is settled. As she adjusts to her unwanted return, she becomes an accidental wedding planner for the town’s paranormal community, juggling vampire brides, fae clients, a disembodied head, a pixie assistant, and a complicated connection with Hanry. The story follows Sabby as she moves through a mix of cozy fantasy, light mystery, and romance while confronting her family legacy and deciding whether the ordinary life she imagined is really the one she wants.

For me, this had a fun premise and some charming side characters, but the execution never fully matched the idea. Sabby often felt emotionally distant, and the romance was not strong enough to carry the story when the plot started to wander. I think my biggest issue was the clunky first-person narrative, which made the humor and character voice feel more forced than natural and kept me from getting completely immersed in the story. There are flashes of quirky appeal here, especially in the paranormal wedding setup, but overall, this landed at about 2.5 stars for me.

*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. *

 

Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan

On By TracyIn Debut Novel, Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Interwar Period (Nov 1918 - Sep 1939), New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Romantasy, Standalone Title, Tracy's Reviews, Young AdultLeave a comment

ThistlemarshThistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: April 21, 2026

Though Faeries had not been seen in England for over a century, Misneach “Mouse” Dunne had always been fascinated by Faerie lore thanks to her mother and planned to study Faerie anthropology at university, but life had other plans. When the great war steals her beloved cousin and leaves her brother a mere shell of himself, she abandons her dreams of Faeries and travels abroad to become a nurse and to try and save her brother. But when their uncle dies and she is named as his heir, she returns to Thistlemarsh Hall. If she can meet the terms of her uncle’s will and either restore Thistlemarsh or marry within 30 days, the estate will be hers, if she fails, she loses everything and the estate goes to a much-despised distant cousin. The task seems impossible, until she meets Thornwood and does the one thing no mortal should ever do…make a deal with a Faerie.

Thornwood has been waiting for almost a century to be freed from the spell that frozen him in stone. Now he is free and needs Mouse to help him exact his revenge. But when his magic is thwarted by protection spells, he will need Mouse even more to help him break the spells and restore Thistlemarsh to its former glory. Only then will he be able to find the prize that has kept him motivated for years. He never imagined that he would actually fall for a mortal, but Mouse is unlike anyone he has ever known. But in order to attain his revenge, he will have to betray her and ruin any chance for a HEA.

This was a vivid story by a new to me author. And while I enjoyed the story, I have mixed feelings about this book, I liked the idea of the story and the magic was well defined, but it was a bit wordy, parts of the story dragged and apparently in this England primogeniture doesn’t apply. Mouse and Thornwood have a very slow burn / enemies to friends type of relationship and while they declare their love, I honestly wasn’t feeling the romance. Overall, it was an interesting, immersive read and while it does drag a bit and the romance is very young adult, I did enjoy the book and would happily recommend it to those who enjoy a no-heat fantasy romance.

*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. *