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A Winter Bliss Romance
Beastly & Bookish
This beauty didn’t ask for a beastly bookworm for Christmas, but maybe she should have . . .
All Noelle wants is to save the Winter Bliss library. She has a plan, too—a New Year’s Eve fundraiser during the annual fire-magic festival. The last thing she needs is a distracting romance with the sexy, binge-reading demon she hasn’t seen in over a decade. Too bad fate (and Mount Winter Bliss) has other plans.
Rom only returned to his small hometown to open Perkatory, his family's newest coffee shop. Seeing Noelle again is a welcome surprise, but there’s no way the beautiful librarian could ever fall for a scarred-up monster like him, right?
When an avalanche leaves Noelle and Rom snowed in together, the forced proximity might be their second chance at first love. But will their happily ever after come at the expense of saving Noelle’s beloved library?
Beastly & Bookish is a cozy, contemporary, holiday romance featuring a roller skating librarian and book-loving demon's emotional journey from friends to lovers.
Horned up for the Holidays is a series of three steamy, same-world, stand-alone novellas. Download today and escape to Winter Bliss.
All Noelle wants is to save the Winter Bliss library. She has a plan, too—a New Year’s Eve fundraiser during the annual fire-magic festival. The last thing she needs is a distracting romance with the sexy, binge-reading demon she hasn’t seen in over a decade. Too bad fate (and Mount Winter Bliss) has other plans.
Rom only returned to his small hometown to open Perkatory, his family's newest coffee shop. Seeing Noelle again is a welcome surprise, but there’s no way the beautiful librarian could ever fall for a scarred-up monster like him, right?
When an avalanche leaves Noelle and Rom snowed in together, the forced proximity might be their second chance at first love. But will their happily ever after come at the expense of saving Noelle’s beloved library?
Beastly & Bookish is a cozy, contemporary, holiday romance featuring a roller skating librarian and book-loving demon's emotional journey from friends to lovers.
Horned up for the Holidays is a series of three steamy, same-world, stand-alone novellas. Download today and escape to Winter Bliss.
205 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2024
361 people are currently reading
2079 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 445 reviews
December 8, 2023
This was cozy and sweet like a cup of hot chocolate. ☕️
I enjoyed this book, it was an adorable light read. The hero was such a sweet, capable and chubby but strong demon, and the body positivity in this was amazing. The story itself was like monster hallmark, and super cute.
The only thing I didn’t love was the heroine was such a manic pixie dream girl, the second she roller skated into the picture I got worried, but then she seemed to only exist for the hero to rescue her and teach her how to run her library (she supposedly has a masters in library science and yet he’s an expert and she lets him lead the way). I really wanted her to be more than just sweet. She was sweet and generous but also naive and dumb at times. This could be tweaked slightly and have her actually be capable of turning the library around with her own ideas after taking over for her uncle and the hero just partnering with her with his business acumen. I just wanted more from her in the brain department and less of her roller skating in the winter. The roller skating bothered more than it should have 😂. She basically was there to prop up there hero and make him seem amazing, which he was, but I needed her to be amazing too.
Anyway people looking for a cute, holiday damsel in distress read will enjoy this. The world building was solid and the feels were everything cozy.
I enjoyed this book, it was an adorable light read. The hero was such a sweet, capable and chubby but strong demon, and the body positivity in this was amazing. The story itself was like monster hallmark, and super cute.
The only thing I didn’t love was the heroine was such a manic pixie dream girl, the second she roller skated into the picture I got worried, but then she seemed to only exist for the hero to rescue her and teach her how to run her library (she supposedly has a masters in library science and yet he’s an expert and she lets him lead the way). I really wanted her to be more than just sweet. She was sweet and generous but also naive and dumb at times. This could be tweaked slightly and have her actually be capable of turning the library around with her own ideas after taking over for her uncle and the hero just partnering with her with his business acumen. I just wanted more from her in the brain department and less of her roller skating in the winter. The roller skating bothered more than it should have 😂. She basically was there to prop up there hero and make him seem amazing, which he was, but I needed her to be amazing too.
Anyway people looking for a cute, holiday damsel in distress read will enjoy this. The world building was solid and the feels were everything cozy.
December 29, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 stars.
➕ What I liked :
Cute/sweet and cozy read.
Curvy/full-figured heroine. 👍
A confident curvy/full-figured heroine.👏👍
A hero that was somewhat chubby and sturdy.
A cinnamon roll hero.
A scarred hero (so not “perfect”)
Book obsessed main characters.
Good romantic build up and chemistry.
Interesting world-building and description of the small town and its residents.
Holiday romance.
Second chance romance.
The character growth the hero did.
How kind and helpful the main characters are towards each other.
➖ What I disliked:
How much self-deprecation the hero did.
(About his scars and that he was a little bit chubby…. But towards the end of the story this changed so not too jarring.)
December 16, 2023
Beastly & Bookish was sweet, festive and so dang wholesome! Noelle and Rom were childhood friends who reconnected years later in the small town they grew up in. Getting to read about the yearn they have for each other got me kicking my feet at how bad they have for each other 😆 Throw in them getting snowed in and second chances at their HEA? SO. GOOD. Not to mention the dirty talking 👀👀👀
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an adorable festive monster read!
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an adorable festive monster read!
December 9, 2023
I am out of a few month of absolute crunch at work, so I am burned-out, which means I am in the mood for short, light romances. The cover art sealed the deal on this series. Plus, 'tis the season!
This entry in the series didn't work for me, though. I like competence and the fact Noelle had none whatsoever, nor did she have much capacity for adapting and learning, really got on my nerves.
Her job (which is the entirety of who she is) is not going well. The guy, being a businessman, tries several time to share some of his business acumen with her, to help out. To his credit, he was sooooo patient with her... when asked if she ever considered a simple loan "ahaha, I wouldn't even know where to start" or, when shown that her landlord is actually breaking the law and taking advantage of her "oh no, but I can't complain, because those people are nice". What is she? 3 year old? I get it, she is supposed to be that soft emotional person... but man that is the most misogynistic take possible on the good old "women are creatures of feelings" - one can definitely be attuned with her feelings while also not being an illogical passive imbecile. Come on!
The writing, and execution in general, were good however.
A couple quotes I liked:
About watching her uncle battle with dementia/Alzheimer's:
Looking out at the beauty and scale of nature, and thinking about how small one is:
The 3 novellas in that series cross over a bit toward the end, and it was well done actually (those things can really go into heavy-handed territory fast, but didn't here) and the fact it was so seamless while involving 3 different authors is pretty neat.
This entry in the series didn't work for me, though. I like competence and the fact Noelle had none whatsoever, nor did she have much capacity for adapting and learning, really got on my nerves.
Her job (which is the entirety of who she is) is not going well. The guy, being a businessman, tries several time to share some of his business acumen with her, to help out. To his credit, he was sooooo patient with her... when asked if she ever considered a simple loan "ahaha, I wouldn't even know where to start" or, when shown that her landlord is actually breaking the law and taking advantage of her "oh no, but I can't complain, because those people are nice". What is she? 3 year old? I get it, she is supposed to be that soft emotional person... but man that is the most misogynistic take possible on the good old "women are creatures of feelings" - one can definitely be attuned with her feelings while also not being an illogical passive imbecile. Come on!
The writing, and execution in general, were good however.
A couple quotes I liked:
About watching her uncle battle with dementia/Alzheimer's:
It’s simultaneously horrifying and fascinating to watch the mind of my favorite person twist itself up in a hundred new ways. And somehow, he finds the most interesting paths back home.
Looking out at the beauty and scale of nature, and thinking about how small one is:
A sense of fearlessness and humility wash over me, both at the same time.
The 3 novellas in that series cross over a bit toward the end, and it was well done actually (those things can really go into heavy-handed territory fast, but didn't here) and the fact it was so seamless while involving 3 different authors is pretty neat.
November 26, 2023
What a sweet, festive novella! 200 pages with a cute second chance romance featuring a small town librarian and her childhood friend: a scarred Demon who's back in town for a few weeks. Throw in a cottage, an avalanche, and boom - they're snowed in with another chance at love.
Winter Bliss sounds like a magical place and I can't wait to dive in further with the rest of the series.
I recommend this to anyone who wants a sweet and spicy holiday novella with some monster lovin'.
I was kindly given an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Winter Bliss sounds like a magical place and I can't wait to dive in further with the rest of the series.
I recommend this to anyone who wants a sweet and spicy holiday novella with some monster lovin'.
I was kindly given an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 13, 2024
Cute cozy read with a dad bod demon and plus size librarian. These 2 balanced each other out really well, with Noelle’s chaotic over reliance on herself and Rom’s ability to compartmentalize his life. Noelle was confident where Rom was insecure. Also, loved that Rom had a stutter. Never see enough rep with that. They were very sweet together.
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: reference to previous mountain accident, avalanche (everyone’s fine), panic attack, family never with dementia, body insecurity
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: reference to previous mountain accident, avalanche (everyone’s fine), panic attack, family never with dementia, body insecurity
November 15, 2024
This was a sweet, fast read between a shy, scarred demon and a librarian!
Rom and Noelle were friends as preteens until he moved away abruptly. They both liked each other but never got to tell the other their feelings.
They meet as adults, with Rom in town to open a chain of his family’s cafes.
I like how they compliment each other, with Rom helping her be more assertive and organized with the library, and her bringing more lightheartedness to his life. Honestly I think she could’ve had a little more growth and Rom helped her a lot, but it was a quick read so it was fine!
I liked their shared love of books and how soft Rom was.
There’s no ow drama (I really thought Rom would be a virgin since he’s sooo uncomfortable with his appearance and scars, but he said he had a few “in the dark” and causal flings hmm ok) and om drama only in the form of jealousy of her ex bf from high school, but there’s nothing on her side.
Overall, it was a cute holiday-ish read, and the town was quaint and magical.
Rom and Noelle were friends as preteens until he moved away abruptly. They both liked each other but never got to tell the other their feelings.
They meet as adults, with Rom in town to open a chain of his family’s cafes.
I like how they compliment each other, with Rom helping her be more assertive and organized with the library, and her bringing more lightheartedness to his life. Honestly I think she could’ve had a little more growth and Rom helped her a lot, but it was a quick read so it was fine!
I liked their shared love of books and how soft Rom was.
There’s no ow drama (I really thought Rom would be a virgin since he’s sooo uncomfortable with his appearance and scars, but he said he had a few “in the dark” and causal flings hmm ok) and om drama only in the form of jealousy of her ex bf from high school, but there’s nothing on her side.
Overall, it was a cute holiday-ish read, and the town was quaint and magical.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2023
I loved this little friends to lovers, second chance holiday Romance!
Rom was seriously such a sweetheart. I love how he cared for Noelle and spoiled her - what girl doesn't deserve the break!! I also love that he was a bookstagrammer - what a fun little detail! And of course, he falls for his own librarian. It was so sweet to see these two bond over books.
Seriously, this left me with such a warm and cheerful vibe - perfect for this time of year.
Thank you to the author for the early copy, this is my honest review & opinion.
Rom was seriously such a sweetheart. I love how he cared for Noelle and spoiled her - what girl doesn't deserve the break!! I also love that he was a bookstagrammer - what a fun little detail! And of course, he falls for his own librarian. It was so sweet to see these two bond over books.
Seriously, this left me with such a warm and cheerful vibe - perfect for this time of year.
Thank you to the author for the early copy, this is my honest review & opinion.
November 24, 2023
"My focus narrows to a single intention. Chase her down. Find her. Get her back."
Reasons why Rom would make the perfect husband:
1. He cooks for you. And forces you to rest and relax while he does all the work.
2. He reads. A lot. And that includes romances books.
3. He takes notes from said romance books.
4. Want to recreate a scene from a book? He's 100% into it.
5. Those books he reads a lot of? He collects special editions of them. But would gladly give one up if you needed the money. No hesitation.
6. He has a social media account solely to talk about books.
7. He drinks tea.
And if reading this list still doesn't make you want to read this book....it was such a cozy read! I felt warm fuzzies the entire time I read it. Noelle and Rom are perfect for each other. The spice was good.....CHASE SCENE. CHASE.....SCENE.
Reasons why Rom would make the perfect husband:
1. He cooks for you. And forces you to rest and relax while he does all the work.
2. He reads. A lot. And that includes romances books.
3. He takes notes from said romance books.
4. Want to recreate a scene from a book? He's 100% into it.
5. Those books he reads a lot of? He collects special editions of them. But would gladly give one up if you needed the money. No hesitation.
6. He has a social media account solely to talk about books.
7. He drinks tea.
And if reading this list still doesn't make you want to read this book....it was such a cozy read! I felt warm fuzzies the entire time I read it. Noelle and Rom are perfect for each other. The spice was good.....CHASE SCENE. CHASE.....SCENE.
June 11, 2024
Beastly and the Bookish by Catrina Bell is a sweet and cozy holiday monster romance. A second chance romance between childhood best friends . Hallmark but make it monsters , with a scarred and insecure demon hero , a curvy and kindhearted librarian , snow in by an avalanche, only one bed, vacation mode spoiling , hot springs and delicious steam 🔥🔥
January 23, 2024
Paranormal Christmas novella, Beauty & the Beast retelling, dual 1st POV, childhood friends-to-strangers- to lovers, small town, slow burn, shy bookish pining MMC , curvy librarian FMC (ADHD coded in a really bad, stereotypical, irrational, chaotic, space cadet kind of way), all the misogyny
I love that she is curvy & confident and helps him get over his body image issues (not just his scars but how he thinks he “let himself go.”)
Also, it doesn’t have that creepy Friend Zone MMC vibe that lots of friends-to-lovers has. While he likes her, he totally respects the prospect of her not romantically liking him back and still wants to be friends & help her with her business problems anyway.
If you don’t think about it too much, Rom & Noelle are an adorable couple and I can see people thinking this story is cute. However if you look even a little deeper, the premise doesn’t make any sense, or Noelle is a complete and total idiot, or maybe both. Noelle notes that her family has never owned the building the library is housed in, but the library has to move bc the building has major structural issues that she can’t afford to repair and the city won’t approve her grant money to repair. Noelle is just a renter, none of those expenses are hers. They are the expenses of the landlord, & it’s his legal duty to fix them. Since the repairs are not her expense, why does she need to move & why is she having a fundraiser? ( And if for some reason she is liable for capital repairs to the building (who has ever heard of a renter paying for a new roof?!?) why is she running around town like a chicken with her head cut off running a failing fundraiser? Apparently bc she “wouldn’t know where to start with a business loan”… bc she’s a total idiot? She can’t Google? ) And it never occurred to her to negotiate a lower rent? Especially since whatever racket the landlord is running allows him to not repair his own building, and she thinks it “seems fair” that she should have to pay for all the massive repairs to a building that she doesn’t own and she “doesn’t want to rock the boat”?!? WHAT does she think rent is supposed to go towards if not the owner’s building expenses?! Where is her lease agreement??
She has also specified that the library is privately owned (by her family) not publicly owned by the town, but later on said that her uncle set it up as a non-profit (meaning it can’t be privately owned by her family) and that he somehow got a contract with the town to make it their local library…but they aren’t giving her any funding either bc the contract specifies a set 20 year budget (which is not a thing. Budgets are annual. No budget is the same for 20 years. And if there was a contract it should include periodic increases to funding over time) Literally none of the library plot makes sense. It’s all contrived nonsense, at the expense of making the FMC a total moron, so the big smart man can come in and save her business…bc her teeny tiny woman brain couldn’t figure it out 🙄🙄
DNF’d when, instead of thinking through the situation rationally, the avalanche ends, Noelle immediately runs outside, sees that the road is blocked, & immediately runs off into the wilderness bc she is convinced she can hike down from the mountain, not die, & save the library (that we still don’t understand why needs saving) with her floundering, ineffective fundraiser. Then her recklessness and stupidity literally give Rom a panic attack. Rom deserves better.
I love that she is curvy & confident and helps him get over his body image issues (not just his scars but how he thinks he “let himself go.”)
Also, it doesn’t have that creepy Friend Zone MMC vibe that lots of friends-to-lovers has. While he likes her, he totally respects the prospect of her not romantically liking him back and still wants to be friends & help her with her business problems anyway.
If you don’t think about it too much, Rom & Noelle are an adorable couple and I can see people thinking this story is cute. However if you look even a little deeper, the premise doesn’t make any sense, or Noelle is a complete and total idiot, or maybe both. Noelle notes that her family has never owned the building the library is housed in, but the library has to move bc the building has major structural issues that she can’t afford to repair and the city won’t approve her grant money to repair. Noelle is just a renter, none of those expenses are hers. They are the expenses of the landlord, & it’s his legal duty to fix them. Since the repairs are not her expense, why does she need to move & why is she having a fundraiser? ( And if for some reason she is liable for capital repairs to the building (who has ever heard of a renter paying for a new roof?!?) why is she running around town like a chicken with her head cut off running a failing fundraiser? Apparently bc she “wouldn’t know where to start with a business loan”… bc she’s a total idiot? She can’t Google? ) And it never occurred to her to negotiate a lower rent? Especially since whatever racket the landlord is running allows him to not repair his own building, and she thinks it “seems fair” that she should have to pay for all the massive repairs to a building that she doesn’t own and she “doesn’t want to rock the boat”?!? WHAT does she think rent is supposed to go towards if not the owner’s building expenses?! Where is her lease agreement??
She has also specified that the library is privately owned (by her family) not publicly owned by the town, but later on said that her uncle set it up as a non-profit (meaning it can’t be privately owned by her family) and that he somehow got a contract with the town to make it their local library…but they aren’t giving her any funding either bc the contract specifies a set 20 year budget (which is not a thing. Budgets are annual. No budget is the same for 20 years. And if there was a contract it should include periodic increases to funding over time) Literally none of the library plot makes sense. It’s all contrived nonsense, at the expense of making the FMC a total moron, so the big smart man can come in and save her business…bc her teeny tiny woman brain couldn’t figure it out 🙄🙄
DNF’d when, instead of thinking through the situation rationally, the avalanche ends, Noelle immediately runs outside, sees that the road is blocked, & immediately runs off into the wilderness bc she is convinced she can hike down from the mountain, not die, & save the library (that we still don’t understand why needs saving) with her floundering, ineffective fundraiser. Then her recklessness and stupidity literally give Rom a panic attack. Rom deserves better.
December 2, 2023
This book is a perfect holiday monster romance novella!
Noelle is a small town woman, trying desperately to save her family's library. Trying to preserve the cosy bookish space she's created for the townspeople among the rapid changes happening to the town amidst its booming tourism. Rom has returned to the small town of Winter Bliss, where he fell for and had to leave behind his teenage love. He's looking to make a business deal, but also to see the woman he's thought of for years. When they end up snowed in together will their old flame rekindle?
Beastly & Bookish has absolutely everything I want in a cosy holiday romance. Noelle and Rom are so sweet and loveable, and Rom is just the perfect cinnamon roll demon. Their care and love for each other really comes through on the page! A small town library is the perfect romance setting for me, but then add some time in a snowed in in a cabin that only has one bed, and I am so here for it. This book really played on my emotions in a fantastic way, and by the end I was crying tears of joy for two characters I'd grown to really love.
On top of the wonderfully cosy romance, this book also packs plenty of spice. Rom has been dreaming of Noelle for years, and he wants to show her exactly how much she means to him. And the winter setting of a snowy small town is the perfect backdrop for some steamy scenes.
Set in the shared Horned up for the Holidays world, this holiday romance is the perfect book to give you all the feelings and leave you happy and warm!
Noelle is a small town woman, trying desperately to save her family's library. Trying to preserve the cosy bookish space she's created for the townspeople among the rapid changes happening to the town amidst its booming tourism. Rom has returned to the small town of Winter Bliss, where he fell for and had to leave behind his teenage love. He's looking to make a business deal, but also to see the woman he's thought of for years. When they end up snowed in together will their old flame rekindle?
Beastly & Bookish has absolutely everything I want in a cosy holiday romance. Noelle and Rom are so sweet and loveable, and Rom is just the perfect cinnamon roll demon. Their care and love for each other really comes through on the page! A small town library is the perfect romance setting for me, but then add some time in a snowed in in a cabin that only has one bed, and I am so here for it. This book really played on my emotions in a fantastic way, and by the end I was crying tears of joy for two characters I'd grown to really love.
On top of the wonderfully cosy romance, this book also packs plenty of spice. Rom has been dreaming of Noelle for years, and he wants to show her exactly how much she means to him. And the winter setting of a snowy small town is the perfect backdrop for some steamy scenes.
Set in the shared Horned up for the Holidays world, this holiday romance is the perfect book to give you all the feelings and leave you happy and warm!
December 3, 2025
This holiday short, paranormal novel was so cute!! This book is set in a shared world between three authors but keep in mind that I have not read the other books. I read this as a standalone.
Rom, our MMC, is a demon who is visiting his hometown to help open a local chain of his family very successful coffee shop. Rom runs into Noelle, his childhood best friend and former crush. Noelle is also a human and was totally crushed as a kid when her best friend and crush unexpectedly moved away one day without another word.
Read this if you like:
📚 paranormal romance
📚 cozy, holiday setting
📚 childhood friends to lovers
📚 mutual childhood crush
📚 spicy scenes
Rom, our MMC, is a demon who is visiting his hometown to help open a local chain of his family very successful coffee shop. Rom runs into Noelle, his childhood best friend and former crush. Noelle is also a human and was totally crushed as a kid when her best friend and crush unexpectedly moved away one day without another word.
Read this if you like:
📚 paranormal romance
📚 cozy, holiday setting
📚 childhood friends to lovers
📚 mutual childhood crush
📚 spicy scenes
October 12, 2023
I was privileged enough to be a BETA reader for this gem!
Bell slays again!
A little holiday novella that introduces us to Rom, Noelle and the cozy world of Winter Bliss
A sweet, friends to lovers with a roller-skating Librarian, a bookish demon and lots of holiday spice!
The pacing was great, the banter was top tier and the characters were immediately loveable.
I definitely loved the tie-ins to her debut novella "Hot Button Issue" and am excited to see more from her roller-skating witches in the future!
Bell slays again!
A little holiday novella that introduces us to Rom, Noelle and the cozy world of Winter Bliss
A sweet, friends to lovers with a roller-skating Librarian, a bookish demon and lots of holiday spice!
The pacing was great, the banter was top tier and the characters were immediately loveable.
I definitely loved the tie-ins to her debut novella "Hot Button Issue" and am excited to see more from her roller-skating witches in the future!
December 19, 2024
This book has zero redeeming qualities. I am not exaggerating when I say I despised this book.
Let's start with the writing. I will say that this isn't my preferred genre in the first place so while cheesy writing is not necessarily my thing, it was to be expected – What I cannot forgive however is this hot mess. If you're writing adult characters, please for the love of God just call it period or menstruation. Reading "Aunt Flo" made me want to kill myself. The mmc's pet names for the fmc weren't any better either. Repeatedly calling her Goddess (and throwing a "dirty girl" and various iterations in there) didn't feel sexy, it felt cringy as hell, especially within the context of the characters.
Second aspect: World building. Words cannot describe how bad it was. From general cheesiness that can be ascribed to the genre (Do they still call it Winter Bliss when it's not winter? I need to know) to straight up being nonsensical, this had everything. The whole library plot was ridiculous (Girl, you're a renter, you have rights) that existed only for the mmc to swoop in and save her, the whole demon thing was quite inconsistent, the whole anti outsider thing was just unreflected racism (that the author seems to be fine with for some reason?) that also just didn't make sense because we get inconsistent information on who "outsiders" are (unless Winter Bliss is somehow in New York which ... doesn't make geographical sense), sexual health only includes pregnancy and not. yk. diseases, the way the avalanche was treated was kind of idiotic, I could go on and on.
The last aspect I want to talk about (and by far the worst offender) are the insanely insufferable main characters. The fmc is a walking misogynistic stereotype – she's genuinely moronic, acts like a toddler, seemingly has no common sense and is overall a weird version of the damsel in distress stereotype. Not to mention that she's also just kind of an asshole.
She's written so badly that I'm on the side of the mmc (despite me having a bone to pick with him as well) which NEVER happens.
But not to let him off the hook – He has a bet going on about their relationship which is a horrible thing to do, he's annoying as hell (his self pity was horrifying to read) and he's condescending as fuck (Giving her a curfew? Really?). I have seen him being praised for not being a creep about her but like. Bare minimum, besties. (I do think he's weird as hell about her and it's highkey giving undiscussed Daddy Kink but at least he's not an incel? Wow, the standards are on the floor.)
Their relationship is entirely based on shit that happened over a decade ago, we get no genuine relationship building. Their communication is subpar which was annoying as hell to read and we get zero reason to root for them. The book thing which could've been sweet instead somehow managed to make their relationship worse to read about.
Genuinely, the most positive thing I can say about this is "There were aspects I don't have any feelings about whatsoever". Do yourself a favor and don't read this.
Let's start with the writing. I will say that this isn't my preferred genre in the first place so while cheesy writing is not necessarily my thing, it was to be expected – What I cannot forgive however is this hot mess. If you're writing adult characters, please for the love of God just call it period or menstruation. Reading "Aunt Flo" made me want to kill myself. The mmc's pet names for the fmc weren't any better either. Repeatedly calling her Goddess (and throwing a "dirty girl" and various iterations in there) didn't feel sexy, it felt cringy as hell, especially within the context of the characters.
Second aspect: World building. Words cannot describe how bad it was. From general cheesiness that can be ascribed to the genre (Do they still call it Winter Bliss when it's not winter? I need to know) to straight up being nonsensical, this had everything. The whole library plot was ridiculous (Girl, you're a renter, you have rights) that existed only for the mmc to swoop in and save her, the whole demon thing was quite inconsistent, the whole anti outsider thing was just unreflected racism (that the author seems to be fine with for some reason?) that also just didn't make sense because we get inconsistent information on who "outsiders" are (unless Winter Bliss is somehow in New York which ... doesn't make geographical sense), sexual health only includes pregnancy and not. yk. diseases, the way the avalanche was treated was kind of idiotic, I could go on and on.
The last aspect I want to talk about (and by far the worst offender) are the insanely insufferable main characters. The fmc is a walking misogynistic stereotype – she's genuinely moronic, acts like a toddler, seemingly has no common sense and is overall a weird version of the damsel in distress stereotype. Not to mention that she's also just kind of an asshole.
She's written so badly that I'm on the side of the mmc (despite me having a bone to pick with him as well) which NEVER happens.
But not to let him off the hook – He has a bet going on about their relationship which is a horrible thing to do, he's annoying as hell (his self pity was horrifying to read) and he's condescending as fuck (Giving her a curfew? Really?). I have seen him being praised for not being a creep about her but like. Bare minimum, besties. (I do think he's weird as hell about her and it's highkey giving undiscussed Daddy Kink but at least he's not an incel? Wow, the standards are on the floor.)
Their relationship is entirely based on shit that happened over a decade ago, we get no genuine relationship building. Their communication is subpar which was annoying as hell to read and we get zero reason to root for them. The book thing which could've been sweet instead somehow managed to make their relationship worse to read about.
Genuinely, the most positive thing I can say about this is "There were aspects I don't have any feelings about whatsoever". Do yourself a favor and don't read this.
January 13, 2024
"Is there anything better than two weeks off with nothing to do except read books?"
There truly is no better way to spend any free time than reading all of the books!
This was such a cozy, spicy, second chance romance. From the quaint small town, to all of the bookish vibes it was perfect.
Rom is just the sweetest little book nerd ever and I loved Noelle's cheery uplifting spirit! The growth from childhood friends/secret crushes to their adult relationship was so enjoyable to read.
And can we just bow down to Madame Catrina for throwing us a thick male character?? It was so refreshing to read about a man who had a little bit more cushion for the pushin'. wink wink
*I received a copy of the book from the author, but my review is entirely voluntary and honest.
There truly is no better way to spend any free time than reading all of the books!
This was such a cozy, spicy, second chance romance. From the quaint small town, to all of the bookish vibes it was perfect.
Rom is just the sweetest little book nerd ever and I loved Noelle's cheery uplifting spirit! The growth from childhood friends/secret crushes to their adult relationship was so enjoyable to read.
And can we just bow down to Madame Catrina for throwing us a thick male character?? It was so refreshing to read about a man who had a little bit more cushion for the pushin'. wink wink
*I received a copy of the book from the author, but my review is entirely voluntary and honest.
December 6, 2024
Authors Lark Green, Lucy Limón, and Catrina Bell teamed up to write a set of holiday books! A Winter Bliss Romance series features 3 standalone novels set in the same town around Christmas! These books are sweet, cozy, emotional, and full of love! They all get ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!
I’m such a sucker for holiday books! This is my favorite time of year and I’m so happy these books came out! They’re all amazing on their own, but the fact they’re intertwined via the town is amazing! I love when authors come together and collaborate on things like this. Bravo to you guys! I hope there’s more in the future! We need more hunky monsters under the Christmas tree 🫠…
I’m such a sucker for holiday books! This is my favorite time of year and I’m so happy these books came out! They’re all amazing on their own, but the fact they’re intertwined via the town is amazing! I love when authors come together and collaborate on things like this. Bravo to you guys! I hope there’s more in the future! We need more hunky monsters under the Christmas tree 🫠…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2024
Start was great, middle lost me, end was cute as hell again. It is a good book just not for me ✌😭
October 3, 2025
Heavy on romance tropes and light on Beauty and the Beast vibes (though there are a few cute and even at times intentionally silly nods to the Disney movie), Beastly & Bookish is for the most part a cute winter romance.
That said, I am definitely not the target audience for this one. I kept asking myself, "Why a demon?" over and over and over. Male love interest Rom is indeed a demon, but instead of using this in a dark (or even darkly funny way), author Catrina Bell makes him basically just this big, horned pink guy who likes heat and bargaining. Not that either of those things are exclusive to demons when it comes to supernatural creatures.... I kept wondering, why not just have him be a monster? Is there is a particular demon kink because demons are supposed to be bad/satanic, whereas monsters are more neutral or could even be seen as good, depending on the story? And yet, Rom has no evil intentions or background, nor do any of the demons seem to. They're just another group of supernatural characters in a very unified community. I ended up finding this a bit distracting, but I guess there is a staunch demon (evil or not) fandom out there, and all the best to them.
I also couldn't quite understand why Rom's scars, which are supposed to give him some of the same character conflicts as a typical "beast" character in a Beauty and the Beast story, were such a horrible thing to him. We never come across any other demon or other creature who mocks him or is repulsed by him, etc. I get that someone can still feel self-conscious about a physical feature without having been outright mocked, but while we do get Rom occasionally thinking about how he doesn't like how his scars or broken horn or nose look, I don't know, it just didn't seem as heightened or insisted upon as the physical features that hold the "beast" back in B&B retellings usually are. There might also be my own preconceived notions about demons at play here-- I expect them to look scraggly and possibly even fearsome, and the demons in this story aren't described as looking otherwise, so what would scars matter? I need to think outside the box more.
Also hard for me to understand: People (or demons) who don't just love books of all sorts but who actively collect shiny limited editions of random books promoted on TikTok. I get that this is a thing, but I don't know...it seems to make books superficial. Again, this means I am not the target audience for this novel.
As for Noelle, our female romantic lead, she's a spot of sunshine who I mostly found well-written, though as sadly sometimes happens in MF romances, the minute she gets involved with our male love interest, she seems to become a little stupider. I did feel like her not understanding business jargon and feeling intimidated by having to assert herself to a landlord was realistic (sigh for me...) but sometimes her complete lack of knowledge felt astonishing and like it was just there to make Rom seem more dominant or intelligent. She also seems to talk a lot less about books once she's with Rom, lets him read to her, etc. I'm probably overthinking some of this, but it put me a little on edge. I would have liked to see more equality between the two.
On the other hand, poor Rom, though; as in SO MANY female-targeted romances with spicy scenes, our male love interest never gets his
Dumbing down female characters (even slightly) and making it seem as though male characters don't deserve a little treat, especially after they've gone to town on you multiple times, feels like a disservice to us all.
One thing that DID make me feel like this story was for me was representation of bigger people. I love that Noelle is supposed to be a plus-sized woman and that Rom at least has the demon version of a dad bod or may even be a bit heavier, and both of their bodies are described in attractive, sexy ways.
Overall, I feel like Rom and Noelle make for a good couple, and the book was a fun and surprisingly cozy read, even with a bit of a bittersweet note involving Noelle's uncle who has early onset dementia. Certain character motivations at times felt unrealistic and the ending tied things up way too quickly, especially since , but this is a fun romance, so all is forgiven in the name of escapism and love, two things we all need, be we human, demon, monster, or otherwise.
That said, I am definitely not the target audience for this one. I kept asking myself, "Why a demon?" over and over and over. Male love interest Rom is indeed a demon, but instead of using this in a dark (or even darkly funny way), author Catrina Bell makes him basically just this big, horned pink guy who likes heat and bargaining. Not that either of those things are exclusive to demons when it comes to supernatural creatures.... I kept wondering, why not just have him be a monster? Is there is a particular demon kink because demons are supposed to be bad/satanic, whereas monsters are more neutral or could even be seen as good, depending on the story? And yet, Rom has no evil intentions or background, nor do any of the demons seem to. They're just another group of supernatural characters in a very unified community. I ended up finding this a bit distracting, but I guess there is a staunch demon (evil or not) fandom out there, and all the best to them.
I also couldn't quite understand why Rom's scars, which are supposed to give him some of the same character conflicts as a typical "beast" character in a Beauty and the Beast story, were such a horrible thing to him. We never come across any other demon or other creature who mocks him or is repulsed by him, etc. I get that someone can still feel self-conscious about a physical feature without having been outright mocked, but while we do get Rom occasionally thinking about how he doesn't like how his scars or broken horn or nose look, I don't know, it just didn't seem as heightened or insisted upon as the physical features that hold the "beast" back in B&B retellings usually are. There might also be my own preconceived notions about demons at play here-- I expect them to look scraggly and possibly even fearsome, and the demons in this story aren't described as looking otherwise, so what would scars matter? I need to think outside the box more.
Also hard for me to understand: People (or demons) who don't just love books of all sorts but who actively collect shiny limited editions of random books promoted on TikTok. I get that this is a thing, but I don't know...it seems to make books superficial. Again, this means I am not the target audience for this novel.
As for Noelle, our female romantic lead, she's a spot of sunshine who I mostly found well-written, though as sadly sometimes happens in MF romances, the minute she gets involved with our male love interest, she seems to become a little stupider. I did feel like her not understanding business jargon and feeling intimidated by having to assert herself to a landlord was realistic (sigh for me...) but sometimes her complete lack of knowledge felt astonishing and like it was just there to make Rom seem more dominant or intelligent. She also seems to talk a lot less about books once she's with Rom, lets him read to her, etc. I'm probably overthinking some of this, but it put me a little on edge. I would have liked to see more equality between the two.
On the other hand, poor Rom, though; as in SO MANY female-targeted romances with spicy scenes, our male love interest never gets his
Dumbing down female characters (even slightly) and making it seem as though male characters don't deserve a little treat, especially after they've gone to town on you multiple times, feels like a disservice to us all.
One thing that DID make me feel like this story was for me was representation of bigger people. I love that Noelle is supposed to be a plus-sized woman and that Rom at least has the demon version of a dad bod or may even be a bit heavier, and both of their bodies are described in attractive, sexy ways.
Overall, I feel like Rom and Noelle make for a good couple, and the book was a fun and surprisingly cozy read, even with a bit of a bittersweet note involving Noelle's uncle who has early onset dementia. Certain character motivations at times felt unrealistic and the ending tied things up way too quickly, especially since , but this is a fun romance, so all is forgiven in the name of escapism and love, two things we all need, be we human, demon, monster, or otherwise.
December 11, 2023
Tale as old as time… 😉
This was super cute and cozy 🥹 Catrina Bell is quickly becoming one of my favorites because of the flawless way she weaves important issues like reproductive rights and community-oriented non-profit libraries into these lovely romance stories without it feeling like a lecture or an afterthought thrown in for kudos. You can tell she’s passionate about the causes because it translates to the characters being passionate too, and I love that. Add to that her characters are unique and fun, her spicy scenes are very well-written, and so far, the love connections have been sugary sweet — I’m definitely a fan. ♥️
Rom & Noelle were adorable even when the heat & tension was 🔥 hot 🔥. I loved the chase/hunt and cave scene 🥵
(I also loved all the little nods to the story that inspired this one. The chipped cup especially 🥹)
This was super cute and cozy 🥹 Catrina Bell is quickly becoming one of my favorites because of the flawless way she weaves important issues like reproductive rights and community-oriented non-profit libraries into these lovely romance stories without it feeling like a lecture or an afterthought thrown in for kudos. You can tell she’s passionate about the causes because it translates to the characters being passionate too, and I love that. Add to that her characters are unique and fun, her spicy scenes are very well-written, and so far, the love connections have been sugary sweet — I’m definitely a fan. ♥️
Rom & Noelle were adorable even when the heat & tension was 🔥 hot 🔥. I loved the chase/hunt and cave scene 🥵
(I also loved all the little nods to the story that inspired this one. The chipped cup especially 🥹)
July 19, 2024
2.5 / 5
rounded up
Liked:
•How the MMC was a lil shy and insecure.
•MMC had scars, a little extra fat. Not your typical washboard abs hunk.
Didn’t like:
•I felt like the FMC came off really immature.
•The reason for the first kiss? 🙄
•Moving on so quickly from the first kiss like it never happened? Leaving the MMC confused as to where they stood.
•Same issue with the second kiss. Moved on from it quickly like it never happened with MMC being confused as to what it meant.
•Felt very surface level since most of their ‘connection’ was based off of when they were best friends, over a decade ago?
•Lack of communication, the MMC was very confused about where he stood with the FMC up until the end, even though they were fucking like rabbits. I’m sure a conversation would’ve helped 🤷🏻♀️
Overall, this just wasn’t for me. 🤷🏻♀️
rounded up
Liked:
•How the MMC was a lil shy and insecure.
•MMC had scars, a little extra fat. Not your typical washboard abs hunk.
Didn’t like:
•I felt like the FMC came off really immature.
•The reason for the first kiss? 🙄
•Moving on so quickly from the first kiss like it never happened? Leaving the MMC confused as to where they stood.
•Same issue with the second kiss. Moved on from it quickly like it never happened with MMC being confused as to what it meant.
•Felt very surface level since most of their ‘connection’ was based off of when they were best friends, over a decade ago?
•Lack of communication, the MMC was very confused about where he stood with the FMC up until the end, even though they were fucking like rabbits. I’m sure a conversation would’ve helped 🤷🏻♀️
Overall, this just wasn’t for me. 🤷🏻♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2024
This was super cute and it hit all the marks on second chance romance, friends to lovers, a minor version of the miscommunication trope, childhood crush to adult romance.....it has good tropes. It honestly wasn't even too heavy on the spice for me, even as a non-romance reader. It was a quick, easy, enjoyable enough read that was really cute.
However, the writing did lack some maturity and it often felt like I was reading from the perspective of high schoolers, not adults. Both characters are in their late 20s and have redeeming qualities and clear intelligence for sure....but their thoughts were often much more in line with the teenagers they were when they last knew each other, even on topics totally unrelated to their romance.
Overall, it was a super fast and easy read and was enjoyable. The romance was cute and I always enjoy MCs that don't fit the "typical" mold - pudgy, nerdy, introverted...much more like me than the gorgeous athletes these novels usually focus on! I think the characterizations just weren't totally for me, and that's fine! I think a lot of people would really enjoy this one.
However, the writing did lack some maturity and it often felt like I was reading from the perspective of high schoolers, not adults. Both characters are in their late 20s and have redeeming qualities and clear intelligence for sure....but their thoughts were often much more in line with the teenagers they were when they last knew each other, even on topics totally unrelated to their romance.
Overall, it was a super fast and easy read and was enjoyable. The romance was cute and I always enjoy MCs that don't fit the "typical" mold - pudgy, nerdy, introverted...much more like me than the gorgeous athletes these novels usually focus on! I think the characterizations just weren't totally for me, and that's fine! I think a lot of people would really enjoy this one.
March 4, 2024
3.0 / 5.0
This is just fine. It’s a little long-winded and the FMC always being in roller skates is a bit excessive. Their backstory flashbacks was a little annoying and the ongoing miscommunication is my least favorite trope.
Overall, it’s written just fine, it’s cute but not cozy, and there’s not too much wasted chapters of unnecessary filler… except from about 40% to 80%.
Until Next Time,
MC
This is just fine. It’s a little long-winded and the FMC always being in roller skates is a bit excessive. Their backstory flashbacks was a little annoying and the ongoing miscommunication is my least favorite trope.
Overall, it’s written just fine, it’s cute but not cozy, and there’s not too much wasted chapters of unnecessary filler… except from about 40% to 80%.
Until Next Time,
MC
December 30, 2025
Turns out this was one of those books I did not know I needed in my life.
A fantastic love story with a bit of spice and absolutely wonderful and charming characters.
The perfect read for the holidays or New Years Eve or Day.
Please excuse me whilst I'm now digging deeper into this series. Just like Rom I'm in need of a book vacation.
A fantastic love story with a bit of spice and absolutely wonderful and charming characters.
The perfect read for the holidays or New Years Eve or Day.
Please excuse me whilst I'm now digging deeper into this series. Just like Rom I'm in need of a book vacation.
November 22, 2023
Friends to lovers hallmark monster romance. Super sweet, librarian and a demon business owner. Slow burn. Childhood best friends and crushes. Absolutely precious. Sweet heat spice.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review and opinions.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review and opinions.
December 4, 2023
A frazzled librarian and a bookish demon get snowed in at a mountain cabin, and they just happen to be each other's teenage crush. How could this not be anything but adorable?!?!?
This is such a cozy (and spicy!) read, with just the right amount of holiday references to be perfect for the season, but not so much that it wouldn't be enjoyable all year round.
I am in love with Mount Winter Bliss.
I received an ARC from the author, my views and opinions are my own.
This is such a cozy (and spicy!) read, with just the right amount of holiday references to be perfect for the season, but not so much that it wouldn't be enjoyable all year round.
I am in love with Mount Winter Bliss.
I received an ARC from the author, my views and opinions are my own.
January 4, 2024
A cozy and cute holiday romance with lots of spice! A sweet and lighthearted story set in a winter wonderland.
March 14, 2024
Perfectly lovely bedtime holiday read with a fucking perfect hot springs scene
December 25, 2024
Aww this was really cute and cozy. Loved the childhood best friends to lovers vibe
Read
January 4, 2024I thought I’d try something different… but I was not the right audience for this. Also the female protagonist has the same name as my sister… and it’s a cozy romantasy so that got weird.
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