Category: New To Me Author

Summerween by Joss Wood

On By TracyIn Contemporary, New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Rom Com, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Summerween (Halloween Town, #1)Summerween by Joss Wood

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Halloween Town, #1

Release Date: July 16, 2026

After a soul-crushing breakup with the man she thought was her soulmate and an even more humiliating livestream proposal from her rebound fling, choreographer Wren Dunlop needs a break from the madness that is her life and longs for her childhood home of Solstice Springs. She arrives to town to see that her godmother, Luna, the mayor, has gone all out turning Solstice Springs into, Halloween Town (aka H-Town), a year-round Halloween destination and Wren arrives just in time for Summerween. Though Wren plans to have a romance-free, work-free and drama-free summer – it is clear that fate has other plans for her – as do the ghosts that call Solstice Springs home.

After suffering from PTSD, trauma surgeon Dr. Dane Trafford needs to relax and regroup. He loves his work, but the pressure of the job and everyone’s expectations have left him burnt out and he needs time to heal. He recalls spending a happy summer in Solstice Springs with his father as a child and longs to recapture that happiness. He was not expecting to find the town had turned into a supernatural tourist hot spot or that the mayor of the town would insist that he become the town’s new doctor, and he certainly didn’t expect to fall in love. This summer is going to be interesting!

What a fun start to a new series! I loved Wren and Dane, they are such relatable characters, they both have their own reasons for being in Solstice Springs, and falling in love was not one of them. But they have instant chemistry and the heart wants what the heart wants. This story has that delightful small-town vibe, great secondary characters, ghosts (think the TV show Ghosts), some self-worth issues, healing, steamyish love scenes, compromise, mutual support and true love. This author is new to me, and as an American reader, reading a book about Americans, I did get a giggle or two about some of the phrases that clearly called the author out as someone who doesn’t use American English, but it was completely endearing and I can’t wait to check out her backlist! If you enjoy a fun, spicy, small-town romance with a hint of supernatural – this is a book you need to read!

*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. *

Wench by Erynne Rivers

On By TracyIn Debut Novel, Fairytale Retelling, Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Movie / Story Retelling, New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Romantasy, Standalone Title, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

WenchWench by Erynne Rivers

Tracy’s Rating: 2.5/3 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone (?)

Release Date: July 16, 2026

After her father arranges her marriage to the Sheriff of Nottingham, Marian is sent through Sherwood Forest on the way to her unwanted future. When her carriage is attacked and she is taken by the Merry Men, Marian is forced into the world of the fae she has always been taught to fear. As the Sheriff’s men search for her, the story builds around Marian’s conflict between returning to the life chosen for her by her family and choosing a different path among the fae.

This retelling blends Robin Hood elements with romantasy, fae politics, gendered power dynamics, and a romance that develops while Marian reassesses what she believes about humans, the fae, and herself. Her exposure to Sherwood Forest, the Merry Men, and “Lox” who is the fae version of Robin Hood (with antlers). Marian begins the story resistant and distrustful, while Lox is presented as protective, mysterious, and closely tied to the forest and its people. Marian slowly begins to change her stance on the fae thanks to Lox and his Merry Men and her experience with the magical community, which finally gives her a chance to form her own opinions and make her own choices.

Overall, I thought Wench had an interesting premise and had the potential to be a unique Robin Hood-inspired romantasy, but it did not fully work for me. I struggled with Marian at the beginning because her prejudice toward the fae made her difficult to connect with, and the romance felt too rushed for me to feel fully invested in it. I also didn’t like the present tense limited third person narrative, because it made the storytelling feel more distant and harder to sink into, especially in the first half. While the book was easy to read and had some engaging ideas, I wanted more depth from the characters, more development in the romance, and a stronger resolution to the conflict with the Sheriff. In short, I wanted to be wowed and I wasn’t.

*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. *