Source: Audible

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst | Book Review

Posted July 10, 2025 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 5 Comments

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
Series: Spellshop #1
Narrator: Caitlin Davies
Published by Macmillan Audio on July 9, 2024
Genres: Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Romance, Romantasy
Pages: 377
Length: 12 hours and 11 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Audible
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The Spellshop is Sarah Beth Durst’s romantasy debut–a lush cottagecore tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams, and even sweeter love.

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she and her assistant, Caz—a magically sentient spider plant—have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite.

When a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz flee with all the spellbooks they can carry and head to a remote island Kiela never thought she’d see again: her childhood home. Taking refuge there, Kiela discovers, much to her dismay, a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor who can’t take a hint and keeps showing up day after day to make sure she’s fed and to help fix up her new home.

In need of income, Kiela identifies something that even the bakery in town doesn’t have: jam. With the help of an old recipe book her parents left her and a bit of illegal magic, her cottage garden is soon covered in ripe berries.

But magic can do more than make life a little sweeter, so Kiela risks the consequences of using unsanctioned spells and opens the island’s first-ever and much needed secret spellshop.

Like a Hallmark rom-com full of mythical creatures and fueled by cinnamon rolls and magic, The Spellshop will heal your heart and feed your soul.

Do you need a warm hug? How about a cozy evening by the fire with your pet, a snack, and your favorite blanket? Or maybe a kiss on the cheek from your favorite person in the world? That’s what The Spellshop is. This book is cozy and wholesome and sweet and magical, and it was just the balm my world-weary soul needed. I loved it so, so much that it’s taken me nearly a year to read it because I have no words. I loved everything about it, and I know that this is a book I will turn to again and again when there’s too much going on and I need an escape.

The heroine, Kiela, is a librarian who works with now outlawed spellbooks. The library is attacked by rebels and she takes her library assistant (Caz, a talking spider plant who I simply adored. He’s hilarious.) and the most valuable spellbooks and flees to the little island where she grew up, Caltrey. The island was once controlled by magic, so the crops flourished and there were magical animals (merhorses). But now since magic is banned, the place is falling apart. She and her plant start using magic to grow fruit so they can make jam to sell, plus home remedies (aka secret, illegal magical spells) to help people revive their plants. So there’s lots of magic, a cute little cottage with jams and herbs, magical beings (like a centaur baker), a merhorse farmer (baby merhorses!), forest sprites who come to Kiela for help and give cute gifts in return, and a love story blooming on the side. The secondary characters are all like family, and the entire island is peaceful and happy. Everyone knows everyone, and they take care of each other. The writing is really pretty, with lots of descriptions of the scenery and this place sounds stunning. Very low stakes (but there are stakes, so I was fully invested and eager to see how certain things played out), precious characters, and an absolute joy to read. The audiobook was wonderful! The narrator did a great job, especially with Caz’s voice. She made him even cuter than he was on the page!

All in all, I highly recommend this sweet little story. As soon as I finished listening to the audio, I ran and bought the beautiful hardcover with lavender sprayed edges so I can gaze at it and hug it like a silly person. I am just about the start the next book in this series, The Enchanted Greenhouse (I promised myself I would write this review before starting it), and am so excited to return to this world! The Spellshop is the perfect gateway book to the cozy fantasy genre, and I want to curl up here and stay a while.

Do you have any cozy fantasy book recommendations for me?

My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine | Book Review

Posted February 27, 2025 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine
Series: My Vampires #1
Narrator: Gilli Messer
Published by Berkley on August 29, 2023
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 341
Format: Audiobook
Source: Audible
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True love is at stake in this charming, debut romantic comedy.

Cassie Greenberg loves being an artist, but it’s a tough way to make a living. On the brink of eviction, she’s desperate when she finds a too-good-to-be-true apartment in a beautiful Chicago neighborhood. Cassie knows there has to be a catch—only someone with a secret to hide would rent out a room for that price.

Of course, her new roommate Frederick J. Fitzwilliam is far from normal. He sleeps all day, is out at night on business, and talks like he walked out of a regency romance novel. He also leaves Cassie heart-melting notes around the apartment, cares about her art, and asks about her day. And he doesn’t look half bad shirtless, on the rare occasions they’re both home and awake. But when Cassie finds bags of blood in the fridge that definitely weren’t there earlier, Frederick has to come clean...

Cassie’s sexy new roommate is a vampire. And he has a proposition for her.

That was one hot mess! Most of this book was cringeworthy for me. Frederick is such a simp, and Cassie has pretty much no redeeming qualities. I found Frederick’s lack of understanding of the modern world to be endearing, and his proper behaviors and mannerisms were amusing. He was cute in a Leopold from Kate & Leopold kind of way (although he’s no Hugh Jackman). I did not like Cassie, though. Her constant surprise that he likes her drove me nuts. “Who me? Little old me? I’m nothing special, how could he like me?” Over and over again. She was constantly begging for compliments and not believing any of them. A person would have to be dumber than a rock to not know that a guy like Frederick is in love with them. And I have no idea why he loved her either. Like, he just fell in love with her for no reason other than that she was there and he was incredibly isolated. He would have fallen in love with anyone. There was no romantic development, no world-building, no vampire lore, and no real depth to this story. I know nothing interesting about any of these characters. The dialogue is so cheesy and over the top. The major conflict was cartoonish and ridiculous.

I did like the epistolatory aspects of the story. Frederick and Cassie talk through written notes for a while because of their differing sleeping schedules, and the letters were fun for a time.

Audio notes: The narration was horrible. Frederick sounds irritatingly posh with an American accent, even though he’s British. His mother, also British, actually has a British accent and sounds like a high and mighty snob. Cassie sounds like a child. And then Reginald, Frederick’s frenemy, sounds like some empty-headed frat boy.

Bottom line, this book is a train wreck. And I couldn’t look away, hence the two stars instead of one. lol.

The Lord of Stariel by A.J. Lancaster | Book Review

Posted April 25, 2024 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 1 Comment

The Lord of Stariel by A.J. Lancaster
Series: Stariel #1
Narrator: Finty Williams
Published by Camberion Press on November 1, 2018
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 315
Length: 10 hours and 46 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Audible
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The Lord of Stariel is dead. Long live the Lord of Stariel. Whoever that is.

Everyone knows who the magical estate will choose for its next ruler. Or do they?

Will it be the lord’s eldest son, who he despised?

His favourite nephew, with the strongest magical land-sense?

His scandalous daughter, who ran away from home years ago to study illusion?

Hetta knows it won’t be her, and she’s glad of it. Returning home for her father’s funeral, all Hetta has to do is survive the family drama and avoid entanglements with irritatingly attractive local men until the Choosing. Then she can leave.

But whoever Stariel chooses will have bigger problems than eccentric relatives to deal with. Winged, beautifully deadly problems. For the first time in centuries, the fae are returning to the Mortal Realm, and only the Lord of Stariel can keep the estate safe.

The Lord of Stariel is the first book in the Stariel quartet, a romantic cozy fantasy series about fae, magical estates, and complicated families.

I’m trying to continue on with one of my 2024 bookish goals, which is to read more titles off the beaten path and share my feelings on them. I was in the mood for a fun, cozy, low-stakes fantasy that would sweep me away and keep me entertained while I crocheted. The Lord of Stariel was the absolute perfect choice for me! I don’t know that I would have stuck with it had I been reading it instead of listening to it, but the narration is wonderful and I liked the writing style a lot. It was easy to listen and enjoy the relatively simple, if not forgettable story.

This story is very light, with enough world building to place me in the setting but not so much that I had a bunch of information to absorb and keep track of throughout the book. The characters, while all likeable, were not very fleshed out or developed. But that meant I could sort of mindlessly listen without paying attention at all times and not having to worry that I missed anything important. It was very easy for me to pause when I got to a tricky part of my crochet pattern and then press play again 15-20 minutes later without having to go back and remember where I was. It just flowed and delivered a story in a very soft, meandering sort of way.

This review isn’t sounding so good, is it? lol. Why the 4 stars? Well, I tend to rate my reads based on how they make me feel and how entertained I was while reading, more than on a set of pre-determined criteria that don’t actually mean anything. The stakes are very low. The magic is quite simple. There’s no real angst. There’s a very faint mystery that had me intrigued, but not ravenous for answers. The sweet romance is barely there, and only kisses when it is. The atmosphere is very cozy and comforting in the way an old favorite movie playing in the background is. It’s been two months since I read The Lord of Stariel and I don’t remember much. I don’t remember the names of the characters or any huge plot twists, but I don’t care! I feel like I can easily start the next book in the series without worrying about whether or not I’ll remember enough to enjoy it. What I do remember is how warm and happy I felt while listening, and that’s exactly what I was looking for. This is the kind of book you can pick up for a little while, set aside, and come back to easily. It’s a great book for falling asleep at night, not because it’s boring, but because it will relax you and let you go when you need to turn out the light. I will absolutely be continuing the series, and already have book two ready and waiting for the next time I need a cozy little getaway to a magical land.

With Any Luck by Ashley Poston | Book Review

Posted March 28, 2024 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 1 Comment

With Any Luck by Ashley Poston
Series: The Improbable Meet-Cute #5
Also in this series: Rosie and the Dreamboat, Drop, Cover, and Hold On, The Exception to the Rule
Narrator: Amy McFadden
Published by Amazon Original Stories on January 23, 2024
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 43
Length: 1 hour and 11 mins
Format: Audiobook
Source: Audible
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Every person she kisses finds their true love, and it’s never her—until now, in this funny and magically romantic short story by the New York Times bestselling author of The Dead Romantics.

Audrey Love is cursed to be the person before you find your soulmate, the girl you dump for your true love. So when her best friend disappears hours before his Valentine’s Day wedding, Audrey fears that she did the unthinkable and kissed him at last night’s bachelor party. With help from the best man, she retraces her steps to find the missing groom and, with any luck, a true love of her own.

Ashley Poston’s With Any Luck is part of The Improbable Meet-Cute, irresistibly romantic stories about finding love when and where you least expect it. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Let’s make a date of it.

The Improbable Meet-Cute series has been pretty hit or miss for me, but I did enjoy listening to them all back to back on a lazy Sunday while I crocheted. Each story in this series focuses on two love interests meeting. Then it ends. Don’t be bamboozled and go in thinking you’re getting a quick romance. Every book ends right when the meet-cute is over, which can be disappointing if you’re invested in the characters. You’ve been warned! I didn’t realize this going in to my first one, but once I came to terms with the fact that I was going to be getting an incomplete story I was able to enjoy my time.

With Any Luck was pretty meh for me. I really didn’t like this narrator and have made a note to avoid them in the future, but I don’t think reading the kindle copy would have helped me like it any more. If I’m being honest, I’m a bit behind on my reviews, so it’s been a few weeks since I listened to this one but I seriously remembered nothing about it. Usually I see a title or a cover and I remember parts of the story or how the book made me feel, even years later. My mind was blank on this book until I went and read the synopsis to refresh my memory. There was very little substance to hold on to, and at one point it was hard to tell who the love interest even was. I wish the story had been fleshed out a little more. It was missing a lot of info that I needed to feel like I really cared about what happened. I did empathize with Audrey, as I also always seem to be the last girl a guy dates before getting married. lol. And I always enjoy a good friendship. But the “curse” was silly and unconvincing, and the fact that the entire story was about Audrey thinking she was powerful enough to make her best friend ruin his entire life against his will rubbed me the wrong way. I just didn’t buy it. There was too much going on for such a short book, and I really wouldn’t even call this a meet-cute. There was no spark between the two main characters, and then it ended. And then I forgot it all. lol.

Drop, Cover, and Hold On by Jasmine Guillory | Book Review

Posted March 7, 2024 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 3 Comments

Drop, Cover, and Hold On by Jasmine Guillory
Series: The Improbable Meet-Cute #4
Also in this series: Rosie and the Dreamboat, With Any Luck, The Exception to the Rule
Narrator: Aure Nash
Published by Amazon Original Stories on January 23, 2024
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 40
Length: 1 hour and 5 mins
Format: Audiobook
Source: Audible
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It takes nothing less than a fateful natural disaster to throw two opposites together in a ground-shakingly charming short story by the New York Times bestselling author of Drunk on Love.

This Valentine’s Day, Daisy Murray has her heart set on binge-watching rom-coms. Instead, an earthquake traps her inside a bakery with its impossibly rude and insufferably handsome owner and head baker. They already have a history: she’s always smiled, he’s always scowled. Where better to finally get to know each other than amid the disaster? Then again, they have no choice. Besides, it could have its sweet, undeniable, and unpredictable perks.

Drop, Cover, and Hold On is another book in the Improbable Meet-Cute series, but my least favorite of the ones I finished (I read 4 of them and DNFed 2). As the title of the series suggests, this book is all about two love interests meeting. And then it’s over. So there’s no actual romance in these “rom-coms”. Knowing this before jumping in will most likely help you enjoy the books more because you will go in knowing that the book will end before things get good. lol. This story is about the owner of a bakery and the woman who can’t stand him but keeps coming in because she loves his pastries. Enemies to lovers is one of my least favorite tropes because they’re usually full of contention and sometimes toxic behaviors. If they’re done right, I love them. This… was not done right. The story is just too short to resolve an enemies to lovers kind of relationship. They don’t get to know one another at all, but I feel like I can’t really get into anything specific without spoilers. Let’s just say there was no development and the conversation was extremely shallow. I don’t know how you can go from disliking someone so much to wanting to jump in bed with them in such a short amount of time, especially when there’s just been a major earthquake and maybe you should be checking on your family and your house, perhaps. I loved the pastries and was hungry hearing about them, but other than that I was not a fan. I suggest you skip this one.