Gold & Shadow

Enchanted Hearts #1

by Madeleine Eliot

When Lis is hired to steal a valuable amulet by her unscrupulous employer, she doesn’t anticipate that she will be coming face-to-face with an angry bear-shifter.

But it’s not just the possibility of a big pay day that attracts Lis to the job, and getting snowed in with the bossy shifter in his secluded cabin leads her to question all of her life choices.

Gold & Shadow is the first in a series of seven spicy fairy tale retellings, each featuring a different magically gifted Nightshade sister as she finds both intrigue and romance.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Retellings, Novella, Fantasy Romance, Romantasy, Fae

173 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 15, 2024

About the author

Madeleine Eliot loves to read and write spicy romantasy with all of the best tropes. Dubbed the “Queen of Cozy” by her readers, Madeleine enjoys writing romantasy that is all vibes and spice, with a dash of adventure and world-building. She is always working on her next book, which is probably another spicy romantasy. Follow her adventures and latest works at instagram.com/madeleineeliotwrites

Reviews

[Aguslovesbucky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un retelling de Ricitos de Oro. La tradición, la historia y el sistema mágico están presentes.

Disfruté mucho de esta historia porque normalmente no leo recuentos, pero este fue realmente tierno y muy divertido. Lis y Orson tienen una química bonita y seria, y las escenas íntimas se desarrollan en un entorno romántico y acogedor.

Me encantó mucho. 🧚🏼‍♀️💓

[The Love Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a spicy, yet cozy, Goldilocks retelling featuring Lis, a hired thief sent to steal a valuable object from a home. Unbeknownst to her, the home belongs to bear shifter, Orson. In the midst of getting caught and thrown out, Lis is almost killed by wolves and who better to be her caretaker than the cuddly bear shifter who can’t stop sniffing her?

For a short read, the author did a great job of establishing Lis and Orson’s bond, including how the fated mates trope played into their instant attraction to each other. I read this in one sitting and can see the author set up an underlying plot to continue throughout the series with the sisters’ books!

TROPES: Goldilocks retelling, bear shifter, fated mates, novella, first in a series

[Linds (honeyy.fae) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Are you giving me orders now, Little Thief?" he teased, slowing even more. "You seem to need reminding of who is in charge here."

Madeleine cranked up the heat in this snowy vibes book - and I don’t just mean by fires and stew. We’re talking half feral, bearded and tatted bear shifters who know things. Spicy things. 😏

🐻 TROPES & THEMES 🐻
✔️ Grumpy x Sunshine
✔️ Goldilocks retelling
✔️ Enemies to Lovers
✔️ morally gray FMC
✔️ He falls first 🤌🏽
✔️ Hurt/Comfort
✔️ Bear Shifter MMC
✔️ sweet & spicy
✔️ cozy winter vibes

I had the privilege of reading this book before launch and I’m so glad I did! This novella keeps things short, sweet and quite spicy. We meet Melisande, or Lis, our half elven shadow wielding thief who takes shady jobs to help take care of her sisters. There are 7 Nightshade siblings in all, and this novella focuses on her! Each story will highlight a sister, which mini HEAs for each while we have an overall story arch going on.

Lis is tasked with stealing a golden amulet necklace, and things go awry when she decides to quickly rest up before leaving the cabin she broke into by having a very angry bear in her face.

Orson is our gruff, man of few words bear shifter who lives in solitude in this cabin in the woods. Lis injures herself when leaving and they are stuck together for a bit and the chemistry starts to simmer like Orson’s stews. 🤌🏽

Being a novella, this book was packed full of everything a romantacy reader loves and I cannot recommend it enough. The vibes are hot and the reader is left wondering things, slightly strange things, about bears… 👀🤣

This book is the perfect read to snuggle up under blankets with some hot cocoa and binge read for the evening. I’m looking forward to the next one already!

[Chanel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never seen someone do a Goldilocks Retelling so I was instantly intrigued. I will say it's more inspired than anything but you have Orson who is a bear shifter and Lis is a shadoweaver and a thief. She's caught trying to steal from Orson in his cabin in the woods. He ends up saving her from an attack and they begin to grow closer while snowed in during a blizzard.

I actually, really enjoyed this story -- surprising myself because I usually don't go for retellings but this was really cute and really fun. Orson was gruff but protective and Lis was just really down to earth even in the face of the unknown. The two of them had serious chemistry and the intimate scenes were definitely spicy! (This is open door explicit for those wondering). I will definitely be reading the next one because the author is really clever with the fairytale gems and I really like the world and want to see what happens next with her sisters.

[theromantasybookcorner._ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨♡❄️🐻♡❄️︎✨
📖🐻✨🄱🄾🄾🄺•🅁🄴🅅🄸🄴🅆✨🐻📖

📚✨𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊•𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒✨📚
🐻𝙶𝙾𝙻𝙳 & 𝚂𝙷𝙰𝙳𝙾𝚆 𝙱𝚈 𝙼𝙰𝙳𝙴𝙻𝙴𝙸𝙽𝙴 𝙴𝙻𝙸𝙾𝚃
🐻𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝟷 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙴𝙽𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙴𝙳 𝙷𝙴𝙰𝚁𝚃𝚂 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂
🐻𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙸𝙲 𝙵𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙰𝚂𝚈; 𝚂𝙿𝙸𝙲𝚈 𝙵𝙰𝙸𝚁𝚈𝚃𝙰𝙻𝙴 𝚁𝙴𝚃𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙶
🐻𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝙹𝙰𝙽. 𝟷𝟻𝚃𝙷 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺
╰┈❥𝙰𝚅𝙰𝙸𝙻𝙰𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝙺𝚄!✨
🐻𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 𝟻
🐻𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

✨✨𝑀𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠✨✨

Thank you SO much @madeleineeliotwrites for my gifted review copy of 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 & 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖!

This novella was AMAZING! It was the perfect blend of fantasy, romance, spiciness, coziness, and tension! It was absolutely perfect for the mood reader in me for this time of year - this is the kind of book you’re going to want to read in front of a fire, with a mug of hot chocolate, snuggled up under your favorite blanket on a cold winter night. Madeleine did such an amazing job with this book - she still kept some of the original aspects from the Goldilocks fairytale, but also managed to create a new, unique, and completely entertaining story!

I loved everything about this novella. It had my heart swooning and there were so many times I laughed out loud because Lis, our little thief FMC, and Orson, our grumpy bear shifter MMC, are just so adorable. Their banter and chemistry was wonderfully written and I fell in love with them right away. I loved the slow burn romance between them and thought it was perfect!

And I loved every scene with the sisters! Their interactions were hilarious and genuine and I’m really excited to see where their stories go and how everything is going to interconnect in the future of the series.

The ending was super exciting and action packed and I couldn’t put it down. It was a perfect, quick, and cozy read and I highly recommend it!

🐻✨𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄...✨🐻
❄️Goldilocks Retelling
❄️Cozy Winter Vibes
❄️He Falls First
❄️Enemies to Lovers
❄️Bear Shifter MMC
❄️Morally Grey FMC
❄️Grumpy x Sunshine
❄️Only One Bed

✨♡❄️🐻♡❄️︎✨

[disz · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3 stars

It's a cozy fairy tale retelling with a bit of spice if you're looking for a short and fun read.

[Rafaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun but I haven't read enough fanfiction in my life to prepare me for all the weird *male parts* in books nowadays. I'm clutching my pearls.

[Matilda (booksinwildplaces) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 stars.
Genre(s): adult fantasy romance novella.

Overall impression: a low-stakes cosy shifter romance novella with a grumpy grizzly bear and shadow mommy thief. It was a feel-good story that you'd definitely read for the couple and not the plot. But the wintery backdrop just made it so perfect and I felt spoiled with the snowed in, forced proximity and one bed tropes.

Tropes:
➵ Bear shifter MMC
➵ Shadow mommy
➵ Morally grey FMC
➵ He's the mark
➵ Strangers-to-lovers
➵ Grumpy x sunshine
➵ Insta-lust
➵ He heals her
➵ Forced proximity
➵ Snowed in
➵ Only one bed
➵ Fated mates
➵ He falls first
➵ Primal instincts
➵ Possessiveness
➵ Found family
➵ Unique magic system
➵ Fairytale retelling
➵ Winter wonderland
➵ Happy-ever-after (HEA)

⤷ Plot:
This is definitely a character-driven story with insta-lust and a steamy romance at the core. The whole book spanned around 3 days, which sounds kind of insane given how hard the characters fell for each other. It was very cutesy and cosy, and something that you'd read when you just want to feel good. There was a mild plot with low stakes but it was very forgettable. The villain was only really present for a chapter or two and got defeated almost instantly. I totally didn't mind though - I wanted more of the snowed in cabin scenes. SO FREAKING CUTE.

⤷ Characters:
Lis and Orson were the main characters featured in the story. They had an adorable grumpy x sunshine dynamic that quickly morphed into something more possessive and demanding. Their relationship progressed really fast and normally this makes me lose interest because I'm a slow-burn girly at heart but I found it just worked really well in this novella.

Lis' sisters were introduced in the last few chapters as a prelude to the rest of the standalone series I imagine. But we didn't really get to see their unique personalities or learn much about their past.

⤷ World-building:
I usually prefer more world-building in fantasy romance novels and novellas but I found that there was just enough to keep me interested. Despite the story being a fairytale reimagining, it felt like it had unique magical elements that made it stand out. I loved the winter imagery too, which made the whole book feel cosy and romantic. It made me wish I could go to a cabin and haul up for the winter, surrounded by blankets and books.

⤷ Writing:
Fast-paced with a simplified writing style, which allowed me to quickly digest the story and get to the heart of the romance. It definitely felt more unserious than Madeleine's other novels like Heart of Chaos but I still really loved the way it was written.

⤷ Everything else:
The book cover and chapter banners were so pretty. I loved the little bears and they added such a fairytale vibe to the book.

Statistics:
➵ Date read: 27/05/2025-27/05/2025 (1 day).
➵ Page count: 173.
➵ Type: e-book.
➵ Volume: standalone novella series.
➵ Challenge: Beat the Backlist 2025 Challenge 🍄, it's cozy time prompt (19/52).


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[María · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es un retelling de RICITOS DE ORO con un interés amoroso que: se transforma en oso, es medio grumpy, le cura sus heridas, le ayuda a contactar a sus hermanas, le da sopita, le hace un osito de madera, le coquetea, le teje unas medias, le dice amor en IDIOMA OSO. No puedo pedir nada más.

[Kelsey McCullar · Rating 5 out of 5]

…..tucked into his side, warm and cozy under blankets and furs with snow falling gently outside the window.


This is the type of story you read curled up on the couch under a thick blanket, a hot chocolate in hand, with a fire crackling and the peacefulness of watching snow fall outside. It’s cozy, romantic, quirky, and spicy.… and again Madeleine has me falling in love with yet another deliciously written male.

Loved loved loved!!! ❤️

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!
This book was everything in less than 200 pages! Adventure, magic, elves, shapshifters, romance, spice, and so much more! Can't wait to read all the Nightshade sisters stories! 💗💗🐻🐾

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Nikz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this with its cozy vibes, delightful tension & spice, and the air of mystery. It has a lot to offer, more than I expected, for a story with less than 200 pages! Proper review to come 👏🏼

[Satchel Paige (Southernbellbookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too fast? Too slow? Just right?

Definitely on the side of just right! I loved this Goldilocks retelling novella! It had the fun parts true to the story (there’s even porridge!) and the twists that keep you turning pages wanting more!

Orson is a grumpy bear shifter who finds Lis, a half-elf, has broken in and intends to steal from him. Lis is injured trying to escape and we now have the perfect opportunity for some of my favorite tropes: forced proximity, enemies to lovers, only one bed, fated mates, and a primal alphahole! I loved how the story is only over a few days but the world building and storytelling is weaved so well you don’t feel rushed and it all flows perfectly!

This novella brings the cozy romantasy vibes we love so much! It’s got the witty banter, the teasing, the spicy bits (and some bear 🍆 knowledge), the possessive caring mate, and dual plots where we have Lis and Orson’s partnership to an HEA, yet we also have the story arc flowing through the remainder of the sisters’ novellas. I’m excited for what’s to come!

Thanks Madeleine for the chance to ARC!

[Dee | shhh.thisisalibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet cozy wintery Novella this was!

From the beginning Lis was a little bad a** female lead and I loved it kind of reminded me of Celaena from Throne of Glass and her attitude!

The spice was just right (Goldilocks reference couldn’t help it) and the relationship between the main character and her sisters was really strong.

I liked that the pace kept moving and I got through it pretty quickly because the author just draws you in.

The fact that the character learns to be able to control himself while changed into a bear was an interesting development that I wasn’t expecting.
The character being able to shift from “human” to a bear.

I loved it and can’t wait to see what other retellings are next!

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

Once again I feel so blessed to be a part of the ARC team for Madeleine, this was amazing!

This was the super cosy read I needed to get me through the January blues! This is the kind of story I would read on a cold night, tucked up under my 500 blankets, heater on and a mug of hot chocolate! It can 100% be read in one night, it's fast-paced, spicy and so so cosy.

This is a Goldilocks retelling, full of spice, fantasy and magic?! Our Goldilocks in question is Lis, a shadowweaver who is actually a thief and has been tasked with stealing a gold bear amulet. Only problem is, it's from our bear - Orson, who, as you would expect, is not happy to find Lis not only sleeping in his bed, but she has also eaten all of his food!

In 170-odd pages Madeleine does it again! She makes me fall in love with the characters, the story and the setting and then I have to wait for more! I am so excited to see where she goes with this series, it has so much potentional. There are lovely little calls to the original Goldilocks as well as a little bit of Norse mythology (my fave!), I can't wait to see what book 2 brings never mind the rest of them!

What to expect:
• fated mates
• he falls first
• fairytale retelling
• cosy winter vibes
• magic/elves/shifters
• grumpy x sunshine

I would like to thank Madeleine Eliot for the opportunity to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.

[Clara (bookish_clara) · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s no surprise I absolutely loved this book. Once again the writing is beautiful and instantly pulls you into this fairytale esque world and for a short, sweet and spicy novella it had the perfect amount of plot, action and character development. It moved at a wonderful pace and I loved how Madeleine retold the fairytale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears in such an intriguing and enteresting way.

Orson our bear shifter and Lis the little thief were so adorable together, the slow burn build of their relationship was beautiful and believable especially as this is a novella it is written without being insta love/lust and you can see the growth which sometimes is lost. I really loved the Sisters relationship and their scenes were funny and wholesome at the same time. The last few pages were action packed and i can’t wait to see how this is developed more in future books around each of the sisters’story and how they are interconnected in the bigger picture to the insight of history we were given in Gold and Shadow.

Thank you so much to Madeleine for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing novella I can’t wait for more in this series.

[Chrissy ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now THIS was a fun Goldilocks retelling!! 🐻
Fairly fast paced romance, but still somehow did not feel rushed!!
The story follows our FMC who was hired to steal something from a home in the woods. Seems like no one’s home?? She ends up getting hungry, stealing some food, and then sleeping in her target’s bed only to wake up and find a handsome, yet understandably angry, Bear Shifter standing over her. Some chaos ensues and our cute little thief is now staying at his home 🤭

Excellent palate cleanser if you’re currently dealing with a book hangover or in a reading lull and need a little bit of momentum.

Lots of great world building I’m excited to get into! And I believe it’s an introduction to a longer series following the FMC’s sisters?

[brook.talks.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

GUYS! This 👏🏻 is 👏🏻 the 👏🏻 best 👏🏻 novella!

I just finished beta reading Gold & Shadow by Madeleine Eliot, which is a short and spicy novella retelling the classic story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. While it isn't my favorite fairytale, I absolutely adored this one! The Queen of Cozy does it again 🫠

Goldilocks in this story is actually a shadowweaver and talented thief named Lis, and the bear in question is actually a bear shifter named Orson... who is quite angry when he finds her sleeping in his bed.

There are so many references to the classic fairytale (even the porridge!), but this one has all the romantasy attributes we love! A grumpy bear shifter, shadow-wielding, banter, magic, enemies (or thief/homeowner?) to lovers, and fated mates! I don't know how Madeleine managed to pack such an incredible story into such a small book, but she did, and it's amazing!

Orson and Lis are perfect, and I loved the Norse tidbits here and there! He's bearded and tattooed (Vikings, anyone?), and I was simultaneously giggling and on the edge of my seat the whole time while reading. This is just seriously the perfect romantasy novella!

But don't just take my word for it, you can pre-order it now and read it on January 15th when it gets released! Madeleine has a pre-order incentive for it as well in the link in her bio! Gold & Shadow is the first in a series of seven novellas called Enchanted Hearts, and they're all fairytale retellings based on Lis and her sisters!

Seriously... you just gotta read them! 😏

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot WAIT to inhale more stories set in this world. Personally I'm a big fan of a shifter book, apparently I'm also partial to bear-shifters. Throw in a scrappy FMC who takes after Goldilocks in the classic children's story and I've found a new retelling type that hits better than Beauty and the Beast.

Written in single POV, the tale follows the shadow-wielding sister of the Nightshade sisters: Melisande, affectionately known as Lis. While they've struggled to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table, they've each used their half-elven gifts to make ends meet in outside-of-the-box ways. For Lis, that means employing her shadows to steal from unsuspecting magical and non-magical victims on behalf of a human.

She does NOT bargain for her latest assignment to put in her forced proximity to one rather rakish and direct bear-shifter. She is not expecting to get hurt and then be cared for by the gruff male and she is definitely not ready for the unleashing of feelings her closeness brings to the surface.

If you like:
- retellings that employ magic and just enough of the originally well-known tale to draw similarities while spinning a unique take
- interconnected standalones that look to follow one underlying mystery as each tale unfolds
- literally grumpy bears and their sort-of-shiny counterparts that are the only ones who keep them from going feral ..
.. you will very much enjoy this quick read. The action, the angst, the build up and the intimacy between the MMC and FMC is excellent. Sometimes novellas can feel rushed but this story was excellently paced and I am anxiously waiting to grab the next releases in 2024.

[Nirav · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly crafted masterpiece in a small package!

There’s so much story in this short 140 page book! It never feels rushed, everything is explained and we have time for some good action too! ;)

I am totally mesmerised by the skilfulness with which this series has started. It’s just book 1 now and wow! There are 6 more planned and I’m so ready for them!!

This is my first time reading a novella, and I’m going to default to recommending this one for anyone who hasn’t read one before!

A beautiful cozy read, perfect for a cold evening with a hot cup of cocoa..

[Amy Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spicy fast paced novella! Loved this Goldilocks retelling.

[Zoey Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the premise of this book! Mates who meet because she broke into his house intending to steal from him, but she gets injured badly and he takes care of her🥹

[Manda Kay's Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you are a big Fantasy/ Romantacy reader you pretty much know that the first 5-10 chapters are going to be heavy on the world building and very information heavy. It's sometimes what makes or breaks a book having to learn a magic system or hierarchy and it can sometimes be too much.

Let me say that one thing Madeleine Eliot does to perfection is having a fantasy novel not be centered around the fantasy. The characters may be elven or shifters but she has an amazing way of having the story be about the characters and their lives and interactions.

This book is no different, I have never found another author that makes it so easy to pick up a fantasy novel and not feel like you are reading another language. I Loved Orson and Lis! I can happily say I've read every Madeline Eliot book and I will continue to read them!!

[Jenessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh this was so fun! Perfectly encapsulated the Goldilocks vibes! Loved Orson and Lis together. Their dynamic was full of banter and sweetness 💖
Can't wait to dive into the next one!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

[Meg (bookish.apothecary) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gold & Shadow is a cozy and romantic story with tons of witty banter, spice, and magic! How the author has packed such a well-developed and complete story in a novella is marvelous. With a cozy cabin and tons of hot chocolate, this wintry tale was perfectly paired with a comfy blanket and mug of hot coffee.

This was also my first bear-shifter romance, and I had so much fun seeing Orson’s grumpy, growly self turn into a devoted, pampering mate. Lis has the born responsibility of helping provide for her sisters for so long, and it was such a relief to see her find a partner who can share the burden. This is loosely a Goldilocks retelling that fantasy romance fans will enjoy, even if you’re not a fan of the fairytale. I am looking forward to the rest of the sisters’ stories! Especially one hopefully featuring a certain captain of the High King’s Guard 👀.

[Kalee · Rating 5 out of 5]

❄️Arc Review❄️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Wonderful read! Cozy. Winter. Cuddles. Goldilocks references. Great banter and chemistry. Fun bear stuff.

This is the first story of the Nightshade sisters. Left to fend for themselves, they have turned to crime to pay the bills. It follows Lis, the shadow-wielding thief, who is hired to steal an amulet from a cabin in the wintery Deep Woods. But it turns out the cabin and the amulet are owned by bear shifter. Yes, this leads to some wonderful Goldilocks references!

This story has the most impeccable wintery cozy vibes. Cuddling, fires, cocoa, fur… The romance is a wonderful blend of cozy, hot, possessive, dominant, marshmallow goodness. The spice is great as it always is in Madeleine’s books. The story was interesting too. There are mysteries that begin to show up throughout. I am very interested to find out more about them as the series progresses. The sisterly dynamic were also fun. And there are six more sisters’ stories to follow!

This is a fantastic quick read for the cold time of the year especially! It is the first one of a series of seven novellas that will come out in the next 1-2 years. This was one of my favorite reads of the year! I loved it so much for the fantasy and the wonderfully cozy romance. And I absolutely cannot wait for the next one to come out!

[Malarie Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨The perfect quick, cozy, winter read, so grab your hot cocoa and a blanket, and cuddle up with this delightful, spicy retelling of Goldilocks!

In this book you’ll find:
🐻 a sexy bear shifter, but in his male form he’s a dark haired, tattooed & bearded mountain man who likes to growl 😮‍💨
🐻 shadow magic wielding FMC who is snowed in with said shifter
🐻 a cozy cabin in the snow and some good spice
🐻 grumpy/sunshine
🐻 forced proximity

A simple task of stealing an amulet. That’s all. Easy enough right? With her shadow magic, Lis thinks she has it all under control and will have the amulet for her demanding employer by morning. But Lis is caught red handed by Orson, who turns out to be a bear shifter with a grumpy attitude, and gets herself thrown out into the forest. When she’s attacked and injured she becomes stuck with him in his cozy cabin, and things…take a turn 😏 I’ll just leave it at that 😝

Madeleine gives a well rounded story with plenty of plot and a nice serving of spice, all packed into less than 200 pages. And ooof this MMC is def someone I wouldn’t mind getting snowed in with.

This book is part of the Enchanted Hearts series which is a series of fairytale retelling novellas. Each book will be centered around one of the Nightshade Sisters, who you’ll meet in this first book.

Get ready for all the cozy vibes 🤎

[B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You can tell me if this is all too fast.” He pressed a kiss to my jaw. “Or too slow.” Another kiss to my temple. “Or just right.”

This delightful winter novella strikes the perfect balance. Madeleine brings a charming romantasy twist to the classic Goldilocks tale, infusing just the right blend of magic, spice, humor, action, and a touch of bear anatomy.

In this novella, Lis, a shadow-wielding half-elf, attempts to steal from a grumpy bear shifter, Orson. However, her plans take an unexpected turn when she falls asleep in his bed – making her possibly the worst thief ever.

Throughout the story, I found myself laughing out loud and swooning over the “beary” endearing Orson, who can cook AND knit. The narrative is a delightful concoction of banter, magic, and romance that kept me thoroughly entertained.

If you’re looking for an adorable, low-stakes fantasy romance, look no further!

[Kendall Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

maybe i don’t like cozy fantasy?? i just don’t enjoy stories that make me feel “why did you even write this? like what’s the point of the book?” so yeah. it wasn’t bad it just wasn’t good either and sometimes a little cringy.