Twilight's Secrets

Toronto Fae Court #1

by C.J. Holmes

An arrogant fae lord with enough secrets to destroy us both.

Phelan is everything I should despise. He’s adored and his success earned him the Toronto court.

And now I’m facing him again.

My exile kept me free of him and the fae but when the Key of Transitions resurfaces, I’m forced to fight the gods again. All I have to do is find the key before the god of change causes chaos. Before he controls the gateways between this world and all the others. If it wasn’t my burden, the fae would ask someone else to do it.

Someone powerful. Relentless. Gifted. Someone like Phelan.

He’s a world of promise in a realm that offers none but he might destroy everything I want. He’s lethal and he’s dangerous. He’s everything I should stay away from.

And he’s hiding something. Something deadly.

His secrets consume him but I won’t let them destroy me. Or take my future. I can’t fall for him, even if he isn’t the villain I thought he was. Even if I want to.

If only it was easy to keep that secret.

Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Fae, Romance, Fantasy Romance

265 pages, ebook

Published June 25, 2024

About the author

CJ Holmes lives in England, where it's cold and damp, and it's always raining - which provides her with enough time to write stories about magic, fantasy and romance. She'd like to escape to somewhere warm but that might mean that she spends too much time sunbathing and not enough time writing books.

She lives in a quaint English cottage which would have one of those idyllic gardens if her fingers weren't the opposite of green. Fortunately, her husband and children don't seem to mind that almost everything she tries to grow ends up dead. She enjoys drinking wine and gin, which conveniently coincides with her love of reading and writing, as well as running and watching bad TV shows. You have been warned....

Instagram ➜ @cjholmes_writing

Find me on threads ➜ @cjholmes_writing

Reviews

[Rebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twilight's Secrets by CJ Holmes is a captivating and enchanting paranormal romance that weaves together an intricate tale of love, self-discovery, and the power of hidden secrets. The story introduces readers to a world where the fae and humans coexist, with the Toronto Fae Court at its center. When the Key of Transitions resurfaces, threatening to unleash chaos and destruction, the protagonist must confront her past and face the enigmatic and powerful Phelan, a fae lord whose secrets could destroy them both.The novel's beautifully crafted world is a seamless blend of urban fantasy and romance, with intriguing supernatural elements that add depth and complexity to the narrative. The characters are well-developed and relatable, drawing readers in with their unique personalities and emotional journeys. As the protagonist navigates the challenges of her quest and her growing attraction to Phelan, she must confront her own fears and insecurities while facing external threats that could tear them apart. The story is a testament to the power of love and the transformative magic that can be found in vulnerability and trust. Twilight's Secrets by CJ Holmes is a captivating and enchanting paranormal romance that delivers a spellbinding tale of love, self-discovery, and the power of hidden secrets. With unforgettable characters and a beautifully crafted world, this book is a must-read for fans of urban fantasy romance. Highly recommended!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sharon Gillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always loved the Fae and was pleasantly surprised at the different world presented in this offering.

They stress never bargain with a fae but from the get go there is plenty of bargaining and political manipulation.

Our MFC, Calla, is living in exile from her family and the Fae Realm and is manipulated from the start into accepting a task. She must find an artifact to help her brother, who owes a blood debt to Janus, the god of Chaos. Unfortunately, the task involves her facing off with her arch nemesis, Phelan, who helped to get her exiled in the first place. I really loved Calla as she showed she was definitely a fighter as she bravely takes on the fae lord of Toronto.

This was very well written, which had me reading long into the night. I enjoy a book with twists, and now I'm looking forward to book 2, Twilight's Veil, in the future. If you love the fae, I highly recommend Twilight's Secrets.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lulu Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what an epic beginning to a new series. This a first read from this author for me and it definitely did not disappoint. For this is a raging tempestuous delight it stirs emotions, passions.intrigues.one of my favorite quotes””I want to give you the whole fairytale “ this book has vampires fey, gods,were wolves. This an enemies to lovers, fated mates, high spice for those who like their men rough and dominant.I absolutely love this book and could put down and I cannot wait for book 2.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[sycokittykat - Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you bully and family nemesis is suddenly your everything

Calla has been living in exile. Suddenly her old teacher shows up with a proposition that could allow her to return home. She want's to say no but the stakes are higher than she expects and she isn't sure how she feels knowing just who she will have to deal with next.

Phelan who is now the leader of the Toronto Court is in for a surprise when Calla shows up on his doorstep. He must deal with how he and his family treated her when they were young because they are about to be forced together in more ways than one.

This story is filled with twists and turns that leave you wondering what will happen next. Can these 2 work together to remove Calla's exile? Will they discover the secrets from their past and the ones that they will be facing together?

I absolutely can't wait to see what will happen in book 2 because so much was revealed and so much is left in the air.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

The overall story was so interesting, I really wanted to like this more. The relationship felt very bizarre. It seemed like Calla was holding out for no real reason. Loved phelan and would love to see more of his court developed.

[Brooklyn L. Wolves · Rating 2 out of 5]

Twilight’s Secrets was an alright story, it felt to much like Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. This just wasn’t for me unfortunately as I love Vampire Books.

[SKP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall it’s a good and well written story. I like Calla and the others we meet in Phelan’s court. The banter is good and I wish we had more time with the inner circle. Lots of action, magic, and spicy scenes.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Terri Touchet-Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again CJ Holmes has managed to take me into the world of the Fae and fall in love with the characters she creates. Phelan and Calla are the perfect enemies to lovers duo and I couldn’t get enough of them. I swooned HARD for Phelan! I can’t wait for the rest of the world to love this book as much as I did!

[PrettyLadyMaine Writes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got the honor to be a ARC reader for this story.
I love the spicy ness and how you explain what’s going on in the story it’s a great enemies to lovers story. I definitely wasn’t expecting the end to go down like that I love it I will definitely be reading this story again 💚

[Doonut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly and 100% suggested to read this!!
I loved the characters and the whole plot Omg I love Phelan he's the best MMC[better than a certain fae in London whom I shall not ever mention]. I love the storyline created here and the way the FMC is so strong and can do amazing thing s without requiring Phelan's help!! And the ending is aaahhh!!! Freaking fates really didn't turn out in the way I expected at all!!! Cj has put me in a chokehold as she holds my life on a thread!!! I'm certainly addicted to this series already😍😍 Can't wait for book 2

[Madalina-Elena Kallanxhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, I am thrilled and amazed by this fantasy story! I loved the story line, the urban locations of the events and their descriptions, the strong FL and ML characters, their intriguing powers! The book gives you another level of emotion and feelings. I could feel them in my bones. The language is exquisite and easy to understand and the events are well connected to each other.
Loved it and can't wait for its sequel!❤🧡💛

[bookish_adventurer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read for sure!
And a new book boyfriend? 😌
This was my first book from this author, and I was not disappointed. The characters are relatable and well developed. The plot flows well while engaging the reader. This story is full of emotion, trials, and more. Looking forward to reading more from this author!

[Amy H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bully to lovers done right!

Another stellar book by CJ, I have a bit of a crush on Phelan, after reading this book. They way CJ portraits her characters is amazing. They're flawed and relatable and that's why I love Phelan and Calla so much. This is one of those books I could not put away.

It's funny, well written and I love the story line, it's full of twist and turns. It starts out strong with some *chefs kiss* smut. But as always with CJ there is more to the story, despite his past, his cocky even arrogant nature Phelan is a sweet swoon worthy guy. I actually want him to have the fairy tale he wants to have with strong-willed, stubborn, independed Calla! Unfortunately their path to that fairy tale is full of obstacles. Some of them are their own doings, others because of a power hungry God. Others because of things from their combined past and lineage.

If you want a book that will make your toes curl, makes you swoon and makes you laugh out loud this is the book for you. And while this book has an ending that is definitive enough to leave it at that, I am sure like me you will not be able to not read the next books in the series. This book will have you craving for more.

[Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book one of the Toronto Fae Court series and the main characters are Calla and Phelan, both high born fae, whose families have hated each other in a long held feud. Calla has only hatred for Phelan for how he treated her as she grew up and who she blames for her being exiled form Elisium. Alban, the Commander of the Elite Guards, in Elisium, who was her mentor and also secretly her lover, finds her in the woods outside the small human village she now lives in and wants her to do something. He is not her mate, however much her body reacts to him, and he was the one who insisted she was exiled, to save her life and that of her family, as the fae king Dillon wanted her dead! She knows he has not come here just for a night with her and finally finds out what he wants. If she does as he asks, he can probably get her exiled reversed and restore her family’s name, but there are no guarantees. He wants her to find the Key of Transitions, which is her family’s birthright, and which he thinks she is ideally suited to find. It has been missing for centuries and he wants her to go to Toronto and speak to the Lord of the Fae Court there, who seems to have gained information about its location. The only problem is that Lord is Phelan and Alban knows the problems she has with him!

Phelan got his current position because of his family and success, he is adored by many and is everything Calla despises, especially for how he treated and tormented her as a child. But going to his court is the only way she can get the key and save her brother form his blood debt to Alban! There is also something strange going on, with the vampires, witches and werewolves in the area not acting normally, or even following their normal rituals. She needs to find out why and what is causing it. She has little choice in this and ends up flying to Toronto, refusing to go into Elisium to use their portals. When she arrives at Casa Loma, she is met by his third, a young woman called Avery, who turns out to be pretty unsuited and untrained in her position to Calla’s surprise. Of Phelan there is no sign and he ignores her arrival, leaving her with his second Liam, and friend Aiden. She needs warmer clothing and has to relent to Avery taking her shopping, but they soon come under attack by vampires, quickly becoming overrun, thankfully having someone else come to their assistance. It turns out to be Phelan, who has grown into a fierce fighter and even more handsome. He also calls her his aeterna, his fated mate, but that is not something she will accept, believing the gods are playing with her!

He had not known what she was to him, until she arrived, which was why he was trying to avoid her until he was under control and could get her alone. She doesn’t want it, especially with him and will fight it for as long as she can. But rejecting a fated bond is very rare and painful for both parties, with shame being levelled on both fae for refusing a gift from the gods. Their families believe hers is tainted and his is cursed, but there is far more to it than they know. Now she has a hard choice, with Alban hating Phelan and having worked against him for years. He is not exactly going to be happy to hear he is her aeternus! Calla is hiding just what it is that makes others think she is tainted, whilst Phelan is keeping a secret of his own. Their secrets will in fact make them the perfect counterfoil for the other, something they don’t learn until after yet another attack on Calla and his friend Aiden, by the vampire leader Harland, who has made a deal with the god Janus, who has a need for her talents! Janus is a god of two faces, neither of which can be trusted and he wants the key to be the god with power over all the portal gates, and thus the other gods. A dangerous time for both Phelan and Calla, as they must try to stop a god’s plans whilst sorting out their own fated bond and if she can ever trust him enough to let her guard down. Their lives will depend on whether she can learn to trust him and both reveal their secrets to the other, whilst dealing with the chaos caused by a god who wants ultimate power. But Phelan has made his own deal with the god and that causes a few more complications! More chaos is coming and Calla will have more than the fae against her.

I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

4 ½ stars

[C. Jennings Penders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Winner from my Indie Book Group

This is the second book I’ve read by CJ Holmes and once again a winner.
Calla, the protagonist of Twilight’s Secrets has entered into a bargain she didn’t really want in order to save her brother from a debt to someone higher up on the “food chain.”

This is another page turner and I have yet to be disappointed in any one of my indie book group’s books.
Be prepared for some spicy scenes but these only lend more to the story. They are not thrown in for merely throwing them in.

If you like urban fantasy with a touch of fae and a touch of enemy to lover romance, I highly recommend this book and while you’re at it you should definitely check out Ms. Holmes other books

[Sara Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the concept of this book! Very fresh take on fantasy and quite different to some of the books that I’ve read.

I absolutely adored the relationship between Phelan and Calla and how this develops throughout the book, again it’s not the traditional way and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The way that the world is built is brilliant, it’s easy to follow along with and not overly complicated. The side characters are fantastic.

This book has everything that a fantasy book could need and I’m so here for it! I cannot wait for the next one.

🌟🌟🌟🌟.5/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

[Tracy Morrissey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this raw and riveting filled story filled with fantasy and magic. The story of Calla and Phelan is one to hook you from beginning to end with experiences from different worlds. Grab your comfy blanket and start the quest of Twilights Secrets. A definite read if you enjoy spicy 🌶️!!

[Christine Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

An action packed enemies to lovers adventure with great spice and a suspenseful storyline. A great introduction to the Toronto Fae Court.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[JennyO · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great. The writing is tight and funny, the plot is full of action and suspense. The characters are real and believable, but also magical - and the side characters aren't written in to add a bit of padding. Expect fae, werewolves and vampires vying for power and a God who can't be trusted all trying to interfere will the FMC and MMC try to save each other and themselves (if they can only get over the fact that she does not want to be his mate).

If you like fast-paced paranormal romance with strong characters, and a good plot but a strong dash of spice and dry British humour then this is a book (and I suspect a series/author) for you. I also really liked the twist on fated mates and appreciated the MMC who was strong but sensitive to the FMC's needs, and the touches that made this read like a very real relationship. Definitely a 5 star review, and I can't wait for the next one.

[NeedMoreBookSpace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did really enjoy this book. It had great smut, an interesting plot, the different types of magic that could be wielded were cool. I liked the fact that it was an urban fantasy with paranormal creatures existing in the city of Toronto. The bullies to lovers was nice, and I love fated mates. But sometimes I just couldn't understand why Calla was being so pig-headed. Like be stubborn, be upset, it was sometimes justified. But constantly locking yourself in your room to pout...unnecessary. It ended in a good spot and with a clear premise for what will happen in book two. Which I will certainly still read, unless she locks herself in her room again, lol.

[Nina F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never read this author before, but I definitely will from now on.

I’m a little bit envious, not gonna lie, because not only is the author’s imagination incredible but she skillfully brought it to life. Smack from the opening, you’re in pain along with the main character. The writing takes you along for the ride so effortlessly that the book is over before you know it, and you’re left craving more. I lived and breathed this story, and the emotional impact it had on me still lingers.

🌸 Fantasy Romance
🌸 Enemies to Lovers
🌸 Fae
🌸 Spicy

[Ash_Azalea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting play on time, portals, gods, and fae. I loved how the romance added to this story. It feels like it’s just getting started. I definitely am feeling the need to read more. The main characters are interesting and the bonds are really well done! Looking forward to book 2!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nikki South · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fae, werewolves, vampires and gods. This book has it all! A story about an exile who finds her fated mate is her childhood bully and that she is the key to stopping a power hungry God. Lots of adventure and SPICE 🌶🌶🌶. Can't wait for the next in the series!

[Whitney Anderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just could not get into this story - seems to bounce around a lot & not much in the way of plot. DNF this book at 63%.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amanda O'Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is fantasy / fae realm and is enemies to lovers forced proximity. It’s a really good read and will keep you wanting more ! I look forward to reading more of this series ❤️.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Didi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ARC read.

The premise of the book was super intersting.
Phelan remained annoying for the whole story while Calla was confusing.
What I strongly disliked was the prologue. It confused the story when you got to that part in the main chapters 🫣
Just wishing we had more of the fantasy than intimacy as the world created seemed interesting.

[Lex · Rating 3 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️ 2/5 🌶️

I received this book as an arc but the review is all my own. Thank you so much for sending me this book early C.J Holmes!

So I will admit I was unsure of the book initially but in the end I thoroughly enjoyed it!

It’s a story that keeps you guessing. This is a Bully / Enemies to Lovers. The writing was good and the twists as the story went on had me hooked. I also had a few good laughs reading it. I found the ending to be solid and I’m definitely interested in reading the second book.

If you love Spice, Adventure, Suspense, Magical creatures, and Bully / Enemies to Lovers then this is for you.

[Riv · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this novel, CJ Holmes has forever cemented her work in my heart and has become one of the few authors whose work I would read (and splurge on) without needing or caring about the description.
From the first chapter, you get sucked in and slowly disappear into the world the author so carefully built. The characters are well-written, relatable, and motivations are easily displayed. I loved the banter, and the subtle cultural elegance that became hilarious as the story progressed.
The Plot was everything you want in a fantasy novel, it's edgy, spicy, and intriguing enough to make you fully invested. I couldn't put it down and at the end... I was left needing more...
I can't wait for Book 2...