Category: Romantasy

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. *

 

Mermaid in Manhattan by Jessica Gadziala

On By TracyIn Contemporary, New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Rom Com, RomantasyLeave a comment

Mermaid in Manhattan: A Spicy Rom-Com and Urban Fantasy Novel of Magic and Arranged Marriage by Jessica Gadziala

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: April 23, 2026

When mermaid Princess Iris Marivelle is summoned to appear before her mother, Queen Tatiana of the Seas, she knows it is not going to be good. As the second born, she always knew that she would be slated for a political marriage, but she never expected that she would be betrothed to a human and forced to live on the surface! Iris is stunned by this development and her first meeting with Finn Westrock, NYC mayoral candidate, her intended does not go well – when she upturns her drink on him and returns to the sea. But her mother is not having it and sends her to live with Finn and informs her she will be married in a few months. Angry and hurt, Iris along with her “emotional support pelican” Monty, an enchanted pelican who can talk, she returns to the surface and begins to plot ways to make Finn break their engagement. But as much as she tries to force his hand, Finn is accepting and kind, and she can’t deny she desires him. But as tempting as life on the surface might be, Iris isn’t willing to give up her life under the sea for a man that has yet to reveal his true self to her.

Finn Westrock has been preparing to run for mayor of NYC for as long as he can remember. His best friend and campaign manager, Henry, has convinced him that marriage to a paranormal would be the best thing for his campaign. His first date with Iris doesn’t go as planned, but rather than being turned off, he is intrigued by her. When she moves in, it is clear that she is a fish out of water, and he wants to get to know her, but that isn’t easy when every minute of his life is scheduled. In the meantime, Iris has made some friends of her own and taken up some very weird hobbies. Spending time with Iris becomes a priority and not everyone is happy about that. Clearly, their voyage to HEA isn’t going to be smooth sailing, but will they find a way to make it work or is this relationship doomed to wreck?

This was a new to me author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect and honestly didn’t have high expectations. But I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed this fun fantasy rom com! Right from the beginning I was intrigued and fell in love with the characters. Iris and Finn are wonderful leads, and all the secondary characters are amazing! I did think the story dragged a little and I found Iris a bit self-absorbed at times, but overall, it was a fun read with likable characters, witty banter, a bit of spice and finally a happy ending. I will definitely be checking out this author’s backlist and looking forward to future books!

*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. *