A Fragile Enchantment is the romantic tale of a prince and a magical dressmaker. Niamh never imagined she’d be making clothes for a prince. However, her magical talent has caught the eye of royalty and she’s been summoned from her homeland. Niamh soon finds the prince isn’t very princely and instead is a sulking grump. As she makes various outfits for his engagement, Niamh grows closer to Kit and learns his true personality. When scandalous gossip singles out Niamh, she must try and uncover who is targeting her. Will Kit go through with his engagement? 

Kit and Niamh have incredible chemistry! They have a delightful grump/sunshine dynamic. Kit is protective of Niamh and Niamh is very intuitive when it comes to truly understanding Kit. I absolutely loved the scenes between them, they were filled with longing and heat. Niamh is the most clumsy heroine and I love that for her, as it means Kit must constantly be catching her. The cast of characters surrounding them are equally wonderful. I especially liked Rosa (Kit’s intended bride). I loved Rosa’s personality and who she ended up with. There is LGBTQ+ rep in this story, though it is not widely accepted everywhere in the world yet. This doesn’t diminish the joy and happiness that LGBTQ+ characters find in the story. 

I love all of Allison Saft’s books but this is my favorite one yet! Allison Saft’s writing is lyrical and filled with descriptive prose. Niamh’s talent for imbuing emotion into the fabric of clothes was such a creative form of magic. The magic does come with a price that forces Niamh to reckon with her own mortality. This book would be perfect for readers who enjoy Regency romance with a magical twist. Readers who seek a grump/sunshine romance, atmospheric writing, and beautiful prose will love A Fragile Enchantment. 

Thank you to Allison Saft, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Second Chances in New Port Stephen is the story of Eli and Nick- two high school sweethearts who reunite when Eli returns to his family home in Florida. Eli is a trans man with a comedy career, but has unexpectedly lost his job. Nick is a divorced dad with a demanding job. Despite losing touch, Nick and Eli can’t seem to stop running into each other and hanging out. Soon Nick is learning all about Eli and questioning his own sexuality. Meanwhile, Eli struggles with how to deal with his supportive, but confused family. Holiday shenanigans ensue and romance sparks between them. Do Eli and Nick have a future beyond the holidays?   

I absolutely loved this book! This was my first book from TJ Alexander, but will definitely not be my last. It was the perfect balance of romance, comedy, and dealing with serious issues. The pacing was excellent and I couldn’t put this book down! One of my favorite parts was seeing Nick come into his queer identity later in life and exploring that. I loved how Nick's family and friends were very supportive. Eli also had supportive friends and family, though his family sometimes made well-meaning errors. 

Nick and Eli have incredible chemistry and I loved watching them fall for each other. TJ Alexander’s dialogue was so funny. I love how specific and realistic it is, while being very witty. This would be the ideal LGBTQ+ romance book for the holidays. I would recommend this for readers who enjoy Alexis Hall, Ashley Herring Blake, and Alison Cochrun. Readers who seek second-chance romance, queer joy, and hilarious dialogue will love this book! 

Thank you to TJ Alexander, Atria Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

Two Twisted Crowns picks up where One Dark Window ended, rejoining Elspeth as she finally pays the price for her magic use. Ravyn is tragically late to save Elspeth and the two must reckon with how to free themselves from their circumstances. Ione and Elm have a larger role to play in this sequel, which involves hunting for magical cards and navigating treacherous politics. As time begins to run out, Elspeth and her friends must decide how far they will go to save the kingdom and themselves. 

I really enjoyed Two Twisted Crowns! It is a very satisfying sequel that contains the delightful atmosphere and creative characters from book one. I particularly loved Elspeth and Ione’s journeys and how in some ways they mirrored each other- both fighting for freedom from magic that comes with a terrible price. Ravyn and Elspeth have wonderful chemistry and I loved how they found their way back to each other. The Nightmare was one of my surprise favorite characters! His dry and witty sense of humor was hilarious. I enjoyed learning about his past and why he made some of his unfathomable choices. Ione and Elm’s relationship deepened as they searched for Ione’s card and led to some fantastic scenes and chemistry between them. 

In this duology, magic always comes with a price that will be collected at the worst possible time. The magic system that Rachel Gillig has designed is truly ornate and beautifully detailed. I enjoyed this story of dreams, nightmares, action-packed adventures, and romance against all odds. I would highly recommend The Shepherd King duology, especially for fans of Hannah Whitten, Ava Reid, and Allison Saft. I can’t wait to see what Rachel Gillig writes next! 

Thank you so much to Rachel Gillig, Orbit Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.