Category: Novella

One Dark Night: A Spooky, Steamy Small-Town Romance Anthology by Various Authors

On By TracyIn Author Collaboration Series, Contemporary, First Person Narrative, New To Me Author, Novella, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Romantasy, Series Crossover, Standalone Title, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

One Dark Night: A Spooky, Steamy Small Town Romance AnthologyOne Dark Night: A Spooky, Steamy Small Town Romance Anthology by Andrea Jenelle

Tracy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone & Connected to Ongoing Author Series

Release Date: September 15, 2025

One Dark Night is a collection of spooky and steamy small-town romances, featuring the following novellas: No Ghosts by Andrea Jenelle, Scared to Love by Angi N. Black, Fascinated by His Fangs by Christi Barth, Love is a Thorn by Karson Dickinson, A Knight for Fears by Kay Lucas and One Little Dare by Nikki A. Lamers.

All the novellas are well-written and have varying levels of spookiness and steam, but if I had to pick my favorite it would be, Fascinated by His Fangs by Christi Barth, which is the story of Anthropologist and supernatural podcaster Lucy Hinton who has traveled to Badnaban PA, dubbed the “Scariest Town in the Country” for a Halloween podcast, which she hopes to have at the uber spooky MacKillop Mansion. She meets the mansion’s new owner, Duncan MacKillop, a lawyer from NYC who just inherited the property from a grandfather he never met. After getting over a frighting introduction to the mansion and the shock of learning the Duncan and most of the townsfolk are vampires, she agrees to work with Duncan to figure out the secrets of the house and the mystery of Life Art and shadow warriors. As the only novella written in the third person, I really enjoyed this story, it was the perfect blend of spookiness and steam, and I would love to read more about Lucy and Duncan.

Overall, this is a great collection of spooky and steamy romance novellas that are perfect for the Halloween season!

*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. *

Snowbound with the Earl by Shana Galen

On By TracyIn Christmas, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Novella, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

Snowbound with the EarlSnowbound with the Earl by Shana Galen

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Snowbound #2

Release Date: October 14, 2025

Noelle Bonneville, the widowed Viscountess Bonneville, is finally free, trapped in a loveless marriage for ten years, she is now out of mourning and ready to reenter society. When her friend Lady Dorsey invites her to a Christmas house party, she accepts, something she immediately regrets when she learns that Graham Birmingham, the Earl of Evergreen will be there. Once upon a time, Noelle and Graham were in love, but she broke his heart when her parents forced her to marry Viscount Bonneville. She wonders if enough time has passed that they can finally talk about what happened and move on. But that thought is crushed when they meet at the house party, and he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with her.

Graham was devastated when Noelle broke his heart ten years ago. He asked her to marry him and she accepted, only to renege the next day because her parents didn’t approve of him and wanted her to marry the elderly viscount. Back then he had not inherited the title of Earl and had no expectations to do so, as his uncle was alive and well with two married sons. But after Noelle married the viscount, the unthinkable happened and his uncle and both cousins passed away in an accident leaving Graham as the Earl. He wonders if she is at the house party to reconcile with him as he now has a title and she is widowed, so at the first chance he gets, he makes it clear that he is no longer interested in her and wants nothing to do with her, even if she is even more lovely than he remembered. He is firm in his convictions, but when she comes to his rescue, he wonders if it is time to let go of his hurt and let her speak her piece. Is it the season of second chances or is he setting himself up for a holiday heartbreak?

This was a delightful, well written, nicely paced, second chance romance novella filled with emotion, regrets and wonderful characters. Noelle and Graham light up the pages of this charming Christmastime story set in Regency England and gives readers the gift of hope and holiday cheer. I love a good second chance romance and this story checked all the boxes for me; I loved it and would happily recommend it to my fellow HR readers and anyone who enjoys a second chance romance with a bit of spice and a HEA.

*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. *