A Taste of Revenge

by Amber Bunch

Sometimes revenge is best served warm...

Genres: Retellings, Fantasy, Dark, Dark Romance

346 pages, Hardcover

Published May 26, 2024

About the author

Amber is an author of Beautifully Broken Romance. She resides in Ohio with her amazing family and dogs. When she's not creating fantasy worlds and sinfully delicious romance, you can find her with her family, gaming, playing board games, or of course, snuggled up with a cozy blanket and a good book. Some of her favorite genres include fantasy, paranormal, mythological, ect. but she's a total sucker for any kind of romance.
Amber has multiple tattoos and piercings but she wants/needs more. She has an unhealthy addiction to coffee and yes...she does believe in magic and you can't convince her otherwise. (Her pet dragon wouldn't allow it anyway.)

Reviews

[Cecilie Karlsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A taste of revenge is the newest instalment in the twisted princess collection by amber bunch
This one is a reimagining of “the princess and the frog” 👑🐸 with a feeling of the show “criminal minds” that’s suddenly throw into the universe of “once upon a time” and make it spicy.🥵

Fans of the originals are going to love this setting as it’s in our favourite New Orleans French Quarter.

If all this isn’t enough to make you wanna read it, then how about some of our favourite tropes ?
- Murder/mystery
- Forensic science vs ancestral magic
- Lovers to rivals
- BAU FBI
- He falls first
- Interracial relationship
- Morally grey fmc
- FBI agent Mmc
- Tragedy/heartbreak

This book gave me all the feels.
Had me crying within the first 100 pages, but also laughing at our couples banter throughout the book.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

✨Blurb ✨
Laissez les bon temps rouler-Let the good times roll.

New Orleans is a city known for its vibrant culture of food, music, and parties. But beneath the surface of the city lies a dark underbelly of secrets waiting to be uncovered.

And I intend to unveil them all-one by one.

For too long justice has been denied and I have been biding my time, waiting for the perfect moment to dish out my own form of retribution.

My plan is flawless-or so I thought.

Just when everything falls into place, a charming FBI agent throws a wrench in my plans and turns my world upside down.

It's been a while since l've enjoyed a man's company this much-too bad he has to die.

[Adrianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Taste of Revenge is a dark romance retelling of....The Princess and the Frog!

How does she do it you might wonder, take these fairytales and turn them into incredible dark romance books?
Well, she's a genius is all I can figure.

The FMC Tia lives in New Orleans with her parents as a child, until a horrible act of injustice tears them apart.

As an adult, Tia returns to New Orleans set on two goals:
To open the restaurant she and her father always dreamed of having,
And take justice into her own hands.

This is a dual POV story, and our male lead is FBI Agent Cade Holloway. After a particularly rough case, he's reassigned to the Big Easy to investigate some mysterious deaths.

Now you might be wondering, Princess and the Frog, how does this tie in? Trust me, it does. There's plenty of magic and mystery in this book and you might even be a little shocked along the way.

[Trine ||| danereadingromance · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars*

Genre: Dark fairy tale retelling
Tropes: Murder mystery, FBI agent MMC, revenge, insta-lust, lovers to rivals, magic.
Trigger warnings: Yes.

ARC review:
I really liked the premise of this story. A dark retelling of 'Princess and the frog' with a bit of magic mixed with Criminal Minds vibes and some great spice.
However, I'm not completely sure as to how to rate this book. Some twists came out of nowhere, which added a good development of the story, but I thought something about the pacing was a bit off. The jumps from one chapter to the next was a bit hard to follow, but I was also very drawn in to the story, and really rooted for Tia to succeed and get Cade's unconditional love.

I really liked the characters, especially Cade. He had some trauma from the job, but his protective streak and his loyalty was on point, and he also has quite a mouth on him!
Tia was an interesting character. My heart ached for her with the flashbacks and I am really in awe of her strength and determination. Something about her annoyed me a bit at times. Her actions were unreasonable, but I appreciate her need for revenge and her reasoning.
I both felt like there was quite a lot of depth to the characters, but at the same time the story was also a bit shallow-ish. Cade and Tia were really good together, and complemented each other very well. They each had different opinions and personalities, but the love they shared were undeniable.

It might seem difficult to for an unaliver and a FBI agent to be together, which added some angst and depth to the story. Also, the haunting vibes, the sprinkles of magic and the setting of New Orleans were nice additions to the story.

[Meghan Ryder · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited about this book—the premise seemed so promising. The first half had me completely hooked. The pacing was spot-on, and the banter between Tia and Agent Holloway was witty and charming. Their dynamic really drew me in. I also loved the small Princess and the Frog references, especially in the beginning—they added a delightful touch 🐸👑✨

However, as the story went on, it started to lose its momentum. The plot began to feel stretched, SO much was happening and it felt a bit rushed, making it hard for me to stay invested 😕

Despite the strong start and the appealing chemistry between the characters, the book ultimately fell flat for me. It had a lot of potential, but the latter half just didn’t deliver. If you enjoy fun dialogue, it might be worth a try. Also, make sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in ⚠️

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

A taste of revenge by Amber Bunch
5⭐ 5🌶

Trope
- he falls first
- Princess and the frog reimagined
- murder mystery
-lovers to rivals


A Taste of Revenge is a dark romance retelling of....The Princess and the Frog!

The FMC Tia lives in New Orleans with her parents as a child, until a horrible act of injustice tears them apart.

Tia returns to New Orleans as an adult and she is taking justice into her hands and open the restaurant she and her father dreamed of doing

This is a dual POV story, and our male lead is FBI Agent Cade Holloway. After a particularly rough case, he's reassigned to the Big Easy to investigate some mysterious deaths.

This book is a page turner and I could not put it down.

[Lisa Conant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶1/2 out of 5

Tropes:
🎭New Orleans Murder Mystery
❤️‍🔥Lovers to Rivals
🐸Princess and the Frog Inspiration
🚔FBI MMC
👿Revenge
✨️Magic

📖Review:
This was will definitely hit the spot for those seeking a "Criminal Minds" type vibe mixed with magic and even dark humor! We start out on a rather grim note as we meet Tia (FMC). She has a brutal loss in her childhood which is what steers her toward a path of revenge against those responsible for her pain.

Agent Hollway (MMC) is an FBI agent reluctantly assigned to New Orleans to investa series of odd murders. He's sharp, warm, immediately likable! He begins a relationship with Tia but the tension comes when we fear how these murders and their relationship will pan out.

There are fireworks between them and it's charming to watch them enjoy the Spanish moss laden streets of New Orleans. From descriptions of the lantern lit alleys of the city center NOLA to the outer murky banks of the bayou...I loved feeling and seeing every bit of it through the prose...not to mentions the smell of the food lol.

About 75% in the tale actually takes quite the twist so I don't want to spoil it, but it definitely kicks in with the quick witted tongue in cheek banter, thanks to a "magical" conundrum 😏 It may feel a bit sudden of a tonal shift, but enjoy the ride, it's fun.

Then we get a more dramatic, suspenseful final act, oof!

Overall, very happy to visit this sparkling city and characters tinged with magic. A fun murder mystery tinged with a bit of darkness.

[Kaila Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Taste of Revenge ( The Princess and the Frog Re-imagining) 👏🏼🥪☕️🐸🖤

This story was so…delicious!
The details, the romance, the FOOD!
Honestly, it made me want to visit NOLA.

Tia is smart, beautiful and a mastermind in the kitchen, but is haunted by the trauma of her past.
Cade is a man in uniform. The FBI to be exact! And who doesn’t love a man in uniform?! But he’s crashed landed in New Orleans by orders of his superior to keep him safe and to investigate an alleged homicide.
He’s dang good at his job, but outside of the office and his badge, he’s ever the romantic gentleman! 🥰
I loved the chemistry between them! How he’s instantly head over heels for her.

I was halfway done with this story and I’m like, “but when’s 💩 going to hit the fan?” 😅
And boy did the 💩 hit! 🤣🤣🤣
I did NOT see that coming, and neither did Cade! Bless his heart!

The added humor in this story, along with the thrill of what’s going to happen and the romance between the characters, was the 🍒 on top! I laughed as much as I swooned! And the dashes of spice 🌶️ were an added bonus!

If you’re a lover of princesses, revenge, food, romance, magic and frogs, this story is for you! Loved it! 🫶🏼

[Ashley Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spicy romance between an investigator and a chef, infused with elements of “Princess and the Frog” makes for a fun and spicy story. Spice in the interrogation room with handcuffs, anyone?
The story was overall engaging but had a few parts that moved along too slowly with no action, interspersed with entirely too much action too quickly. The character development was also a bit lacking. I also found a few things that didn’t line up, leading to plot holes. In particular I was bothered by a police officer attempting to rape a minor in the beginning, leading to the murder of her father, but the fellow police officers covered it up. Murder is one thing, covering up blatant pedophilia was a bit over the top. The chapter in which this occurs was also written using language and ideas way beyond the age of the character at the time.
The banter was very good and the dialogue quite realistic. The secondary characters in particular were quite loveable.
The elements from PATF were very artfully woven in, making the connection obvious but not overdone. There were a couple of twists/surprises that were quite enjoyable. Overall, I’m looking forward to Aurora’s story next!

[Holly Rife · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘A Taste of Revenge’ is a haunting retelling of ‘The Princess and the Frog’ and it is beyond anything I could even dream of!!!

Tia was in a horrific situation in the past. She ran away and is back for her revenge on those that hurt her family… if only FBI agent Cade Holloway wasn't in the center of her scheme. They are smooth as jazz together and I loved every single tantalizing moment. They yearn for each other — an unknown force draws them together in an indescribable manner. It's fantastic. The layers of this story work so well together - the dark, the magic, the suspense, the humor – it is deliciously spun together like wisps of cotton candy.

‘A Taste of Revenge’ is Book 2 of ‘The Twisted Princess collection and can be read as a standalone. As there are some sensitive subjects in these volumes, please read the content warnings before proceeding.

I know the enchantment of this book will stay with me for some time. I'm so excited to see what spell Ms. Bunch will have us under next.

[anglg0re (nik) · Rating 5 out of 5]

** i was sent this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review **

A Taste of Revenge

"revenge is a dish best served with a side of bread and a dash of poison" 🐊

tropes:
🐸 princess and the frog reimagining
🪷 dual POV
🔍 FBI agent MMC
☕️ serial killer / revenge fueled FMC
✨ forensic science vs ancestral magic
🎭 new orleans heritage
🧺 murder mystery
🥂 he falls first
🍰 lovers to rivals

⊹˚₊‧───────────‧₊˚⊹

i loved this installment of the twisted princess collection!
i loved the pace, dual POVs for both characters. both characters have traumas from their lives tia, from her childhood and loss of a parent. cade, from his time working for the FBI.

it's genuinely one of my favorite princess and the frog reimagined! cannot wait for the rest of this collection to be out.

i enjoyed this and if you're a fan of Once Upon a Time, Spencer Reid from Criminal Minds and the Originals from The Vampire Diaries you're going to love this retelling!! ❤️‍🔥

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Full of Twists and Turns! ✨

This was captivating! It was completely different from what I expecting when I heard princess and the frog retelling but oh my god was it GOOD. It was hot and spicy, it was comedic and sweet, it was completely heart wrenching and surprising! I went through all the emotions with this and it was just beautiful! There were moments where I was left completely FLABBERGASTED but in the best possible way! Tia was the most cold and calculated yet kind and selfless person I have ever read. She was struggling with her grief and trauma for so long, it was eating her alive but she never let the darkness seem into her goodness, she was just an amazing character, and Cade was so quirky yet dominant and I loved him, literally made me swoon. He was also funny. I can’t wait for the rest of this series! 🖤

[B.K. Cavaleri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing Dark Twist On A Great Fairytale

I will start off by saying it was the dedication page that hooked me…I actually never wondered about…(you’ll have get this book to understand) until I read it AND then I just had to know.

I just love the imagery of this story. I was there, I was in it, and it was hot!

Also any MMC named Cade sort of had my heart anyway but I couldn’t help but love his character; intelligent, strong, sweet, and polite on the outside but then…

You just have to read it!

It hit everything that I needed for a late night read and left me on a happily ever after note that was so endearing I wished there was more.

Thank you for yet another lovely story author Amber Brunch. I can’t wait to see what else you have in store for the Twisted Princess Collections!

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book from this author that I read and I loved it!

Tia is out for revenge after returning home to New Orleans from London, 20 years after the murder of her father.

Cade Halloway is a FBI agent looking to take down the cartel in NYC but is relocated to New Orleans to help investigate two deaths that seem suspicious.

When suspicions hit a little too close to home for Tia, at what lengths will she go to keep her secrets safe? Will the love between Tia and Cade be able to withstand the biggest test they will have to face?

Revenge is a dish best served cold in A Taste of Revenge sprinkled in with some spiciness that turns up the heat on this delicious meal.

[Kendralynne Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Taste of Revenge
4 ⭐️ 💫
This is a retelling of the movie we all know and love… The princess and the frog 🐸 👑
If you are into retellings, romance, twists and turns, and a setting in New Orleans then this book is for you !
There is action and of course magic to keep you turning each page.

Do not hesitate to check this out! It will also be available on kindle unlimited

Please note that there is spice and to check trigger warnings before entering !

This is the second book of the standalone collection from Amber !

[Dani LaDue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all…this book had me captivated on the first page! This is a twist on the Princess and the Frog and let me tell you…the twists! I did not expect the tie in with P&F that it had!

After the murder of Tia’s father, she plans to take revenge on those that covered it up. Enter Agent Holloway, an
FBI agent tasked with finding a potential killer.

This book had the spice I crave and so much more going on than I suspected! If you love spice, romance, murder, magic, and NOLA, you will love this book!

Tropes: he falls first, lovers to enemies, revenge, voodoo magic

[Mads ✨️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a twisted, dark, and sexy retelling of The Princess and The Frog, following Tia a successful business woman and chef, and Cade, a regimented FBI agent. This story was super fun, spicy, mysterious, and overall a great read that kept me on my toes. Set in New Orleans, magic takes hold and nothing is what you expect I found Tia and Cade's chemistry to be palpable and I loved how their relationship was playful and mysterious. With procedural, fantasy, romance, and contemporary romance elements, this book has it all.

[Nita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an interesting take The Princess and the Frog. Tia comes back to her home town of New Orleans 20 years after her father was murder by dirty cops. With a taste for revenge for the men who took her father from her. Cade is an FBI agent from New York sent to New Orleans to investigate the strange deaths of prominent men in the community. Tia and Cade's paths cross and sends them down a path neither expected.

[Alonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is amazing! You have female serial unaliver and a FBI agent, one on a revenge plot to avenge her father's death and one that has to find the murderer. Problem is, romance has come into the picture and that definitely complicates things. Then there is a touch of magic of the dark variety that waft through these pages, leaving our lovely FBI MMC, Cade, in trouble and Tia scrambling to fix what she has done. The spice is great and doesn't overtake the plot and that interrogation room scene was oohh nice. Definitely hoping that the random waitress may be a clue to book three.

[Krysta Hoover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I enjoyed the read! It was a fun take on The Princess and the Frog!!

Loved Tiana’s character so much, loved the banter between Cade and Tiana, and Cade being FBI was pretty cool! However, it felt a little rushed. It was a pretty short read but it felt like certain parts definitely were missing something so I would have enjoyed the book being a little longer for more detail or more plot in certain areas.

[emilee · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I like to say thank you to Amber for sending me the ARC to ATOR! Also I would like to say that princess and the frog is my favorite Disney movie ever!! And I was so happy when I found out that a ATOR was princess and the frog retelling! Miss Amber Bunch really outdid herself with this book. I’m not really interested in forensic science but this book had me interested in it😂😂!! I love how it ended, it was beautiful!!💚 and omg, it made me laugh when Cade turned into a frog 😭😭!!

[♥︎Obsidian°Scorpio°Reads♥︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow where do I even start!.

This book is based off the princess and the frog. Iv never read anything like this before. The way this book grips you from the fist page is so beautifully breathtaking. The revenge the FMC is hell bent on getting until the FMC decides to make a dent in her plans for the time being!. The August, the heartbreak, the revenge is all worth it ✨️ .

P.S.
Please be mindful of triggers.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶🌶🌶/5

[Alysa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ Such a great read, I was hooked right away! The way these two completely different things (princess and the frog mixed with fbi/crime suspense) meshed together into a dark romance was just better than I could have ever imagined. I love the magic and suspense, the revenge plot was done so well, and the romance and spice was just perfect! Highly recommend!

[Trysta Hurley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A princess and the frog retelling. For about 75% of this book I was sure it was just a contemporary retelling. Then magic is officially introduced at 76% and stuff starts happening with increased speed. It was a decent story, but I think it could use some edits- there was some dialogue that didn’t make sense but as a general story it was entertaining.

[book_lover_jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only thing I could think of while reading this was the fact that MMC was giving Spencer Reid vibes from Criminal Minds Spence is my favourite character from the show btw.

I loved this retelling I have been a fairytale retelling kick this year and I am loving it!

This book was giving everything it was dark it had humour it was smutty it fucked up it was just perfect.

Stars: 4.8/5
Smut: 4.6/5

[Janet Guzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book1 hooked me but this one has me obsessed now!!!! Looking forward to the next book! I love the play on the story lots of heart stopping moments and hilarious banter and whewwwww the spice was spicin🔥

[Readingwithdesi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! This was the one of my favorite retailing of the princess and the frog with a detective aspect to it just was a quick read. I loved every second of it. I can’t wait for more.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is sooo cute (and dark)! It’s not a dark romance, but does have dark themes handled very well. I loved it.

[Payt Parnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book. A solid 4.8 from me.


A retelling of The Princess in the Frog, but it includes the FBI,death, and much more.

[Jennifer Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ate this book up!! Loved everything about it. Has drama,humor, banter, sex!, hey cade.. let's play a little game of 20 questions!! 🔥

[Frankie Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiana is a woman hell bent on getting revenge for her father who was killed by a corrupt cop.
Cade is an FBI agent that’s been sent down to New Orleans after the healthy Sheriff died all of a sudden.
Cade happens to meet Tiana, not knowing she has dark secrets.
Dark magic is at work, and some secrets are meet to stay where they lay. Can Cade understand Tiana’s secrets and thirst for revenge or is the FBI side of him going to out weight the feelings his heart has for her?
This book is a fairytale retelling but on the darker side. Are you ready to take the leap and jump into the darkness?
……
Book was beautifully written and had me on the edge of my seat! Could not walk away no matter how hard my forgotten chores screamed at me! 100% recommend to anyone who loves a fairytale retelling with a chefs kiss of dark romance.