Category: Paranormal / Fantasy

The Cupid Dilemma by April Asher

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

The Cupid DilemmaThe Cupid Dilemma by April Asher

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone (?)

Release Date: May 12, 2026

Adalyn “Addie” Whitlock is not having a good day, as the wedding planner to a social influencer, she needed this event to go off without a hitch, but luck has not been on her side for months and today is no exception. You would think that being the daughter of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, she would have all things love in the bag, but when the reception goes sideways and the bride takes to social media, Addie’s life becomes a nightmare. With her business, Happily Ever Forever, on the brink of ruin, she needs a miracle! Enter her oh so sexy rock star neighbor, Phoenix “Nix” Cross, the man who may make her rethink her long held beliefs on love.

Phoenix “Nix” Cross is the drummer and songwriter for the popular band The Stone Talons, but lately his creative juices have dried up and with the record label demanding new music, he is feeling the pressure. But when he meets his gorgeous demigoddess neighbor, and feels the music again, he offers to make a deal with her, they will have a “fauxmance” and she will be his muse. At first, she resists, but when she steps in to help his sister plan her wedding and sees the benefits of being linked to Nix, she agrees. But when the fauxmance starts to feel real, will they grab their chance for HEA or will Addie’s fear of love rip them apart?

OMG – what a cute story! I loved Addie and Nix immediately, their chemistry was amazing and I couldn’t put this book down. This book had it all, likable characters, fantastic secondary characters, steamy love scenes, witty banter, a hero with a heart of gold, a possessive and protective nature while still giving bad boy vibes (Yum!), a very cute three-headed puppy, wrapping up with a very sweet and satisfying ending. Overall, I found this to be a delightful, light, fun read, but I did think the world building was a bit weak, and fantasy aspect was too understated, however, even that didn’t diminish my enjoyment of this book! Highly recommended and I am really hoping this is the start of a new series!!!

*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. *

Death Meets Cute by J. Penner

On By TracyIn Book Publicity, Paranormal / Fantasy, Rom Com, Romantasy, Standalone Title, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Young AdultLeave a comment

Death Meets Cute by J. Penner

Tracy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: April 28. 2026

Iris Weyward is the middle sister in a family of witches. For years she has been working together with her sisters Dahlia and Poppy plotting to enhance their villainous natures and hopefully find a way to build an evil empire and take over the realms. But when their magic starts to fail and they begin to turn on each other, Iris has had enough and leaves them. She settles on the outskirts of Fraywell with her familiar, a hedgehog named Quince and starts an evil potion & hex business. Things were going OK, but recently her magic has been getting weaker and her bodyguard leaves and doesn’t return, and she is not sure what to do. But when everything changes when an injured orc bangs on her door and then dies in her backyard. Since she is in need of a bodyguard, she sees this as an opportunity for evil. She casts a spell that lets her interview the dead orc and when she decides that he would be perfect for the job, she casts another spell to “re-alive” him. But the re-alived orc is nothing like the dead orc and she is pretty sure she is going to have to re-unalive him, that is until her sisters show up and chaos ensues.

Talon Gefroy has only vague memories of his life before he woke up in Iris Weyward’s house. But he is immediately smitten with her and dives right into setting her house in order and baking. He accepts his new position and when her sisters show up, he is happy to take care of all of them and help them find a way to regain their powers. He settles in and feels like he is finally happy with life and thinks he might have a future with Iris, but then he learns the truth of how he ended up in her house and he is heartbroken. Can he reconcile the truth of who he is and what he has done with the orc he is now and can he forgive Iris for keeping the truth from him?

OMG! I loved this book, Iris and Talon were so cute together and Iris’s reactions to her feelings had me laughing out loud. This book was a quick, easy read with likable characters, a lot of emotion, wonderful secondary characters, a journey of self-awareness, acceptance, reconnecting with family and finally finding love and happiness. The story is promoted as a romantasy, but it is definitely geared more towards a young adult reader, as there is no intimacy beyond chaste kissing. So, if you are looking for a fun read with amazing characters, laugh out loud dialogue and a low heat romance – look no further – this is that book! I highly recommend this story, and I am hoping that there will be more stories featuring her sisters in the future.

*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. *