A Wish on Willow Way

Haven's Hill #2

by Caroline Laine

Sienna Rivers never quite fit in.

As the half-human daughter of The Fairy Godmother, Sienna fled the fae realm with its hierarchies and machinations as soon as she could. When she settled in Haven’s Hill and found her friends, her job, and her cozy little apartment, she thought she’d finally built the simple life of her dreams.

But nothing stays simple when fae politics are at play. And when ghosts of the past show up on Sienna’s doorstep with a contract betrothing her to a prince she’s never met, her life is turned upside down once again. Worse still, the bodyguard assigned to make sure she doesn’t cut and run before her wedding is another specter that’s haunted her dreams: Amaias Wintervale, sibling of her betrothed, her mother’s guard captain, and Sienna’s first kiss.

As Sienna navigates the Yule season in Haven’s Hill, she searches desperately for a way out of the marriage while fighting her growing feelings for Amaias. But when those feelings bubble over, will Sienna and Amaias choose love…or duty?

Trope list:

Fae roommates
Arranged marriage
Queer representation
Sibling rivalry
Only one bed
They were each other's first kiss
A solstice ball
Open-door spice

Genres: Fantasy, Romance

341 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 21, 2024

About the author

Caroline Laine is a paranormal romance author who loves all things witchy, cozy, and magical. She lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband, Zac, her two stepdaughters, one velcro dog, and a very sweet but extremely dumb kitty. When she isn't creating whimsical small towns for witches and supernatural creatures to find love in, she can usually be found outside hiking, camping, or backpacking.

Get updates, bonus content, and more by subscribing to Caroline's newsletter at www.carolinelaineauthor.com/newsletter.

You can follow Caroline on Instagram and TikTok under @carolinelaineauthor.

Reviews

[Beatrice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
Thank you PenPal pr and Caroline Laine for the ARC in exchange for a honest review
This was a really cozy and lighthearted read, i really liked the characters and the queer representation.
The plot was really interesting and at the beginning i was enjoying the pace, it was fast and because of that i was really engaged in the story. Towards 40% the pace slowed down and i started getting bored, since i had the impression that things were being dragged out, both romance and plot. Firstly at 40% it was clear that the protagonists were into each other so i don’t understand why they decided to be friends, especially because this decision didn’t last long; lastly they could have resolved the arranged marriage contract thing earlier, but they kept postponing looking at it and analyzing it

[Julia Townsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC for this book. I have not read the others in the series, but it was easy enough to follow along the standalone storyline. I enjoy the fantasy setting of this romance novel. It was unique and charming. I loved all the details of both the familiar mortal world and the fae courts. I thought the pacing was perfect and I enjoyed the growth of the main characters through their love story. I won’t leave any spoilers, but this book definitely kept me wanting to know what would happen to Sienna and Amaias as they worked to handle a tricky situation and make sure everyone got their happy endings. This is a great holiday read for sure!

[Ashley Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of A Wish on Willow Way. This is book 2 in the Haven's Hill series but I read it as a standalone and I give it a solid 4 stars. It was a great "cozy" Holiday/Fantasy read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I'd give it a full 5 stars if there was a little bit more spice. Don't get me wrong, there is spice towards that latter half of the book but had there been just a bit more, a full 5 stars ;)
What I thought was really well written was the inclusivity of the entire story with LGBTQ+ characters. I will be reading book #1 of Haven's Hill and all others that come because I loved all the characters. If you enjoy a nice cozy, quick read with a sprinkling of spice, this is your book.

[Jessica Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, thank you for the ARC! This was a cute and cozy book that I really enjoyed! I have not read any of the other books in this series and you could kind of tell there was some other world building but it did not hinder understanding this book at all! The side characters were so fun and the found family tones were beautifully done without being too over done! Amaias and Sienna were so sweet and I really enjoyed getting to know them! I now need to read the rest of their world and get to know their friends more!

[Courtnee McGrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet book! Love the 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️! Thank you Caroline for the ARC!

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

She has done it again! I have loved every single thing Caroline Laine has written and this is no exception. I want to say a huge thank you for an ARC of this book! I loved the relationship between Sienna and Amaias so much and I love that we get to see all of our favorite characters from the first book! Forced proximity is one of my all time favorite tropes and it was done sooo well in this book. I highly recommend this if you love A Hex on Honeysuckle Lane, and if you haven’t read either I recommend them both so much!

[Noriboo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main characters in this cosy fantasy series keep having to clean up the messy consequences of decisions that were made by their parents before they were even alive.
Despite that, the story of Sienna and Amaias was an incredibly enjoyable and easy read. Barely any angst makes this a great story for the holiday season.
I really like the interactions with the friend group, and I'm secretly hoping that we get Blake's story next.

[Tristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Caroline Laine and Pen Pal PR for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars (rounded up to 4 stars)

A Wish on Willow Way by Caroline Laine is a cozy, low-stakes holiday romance that serves as a delightful palette cleanser for readers seeking a lighthearted escape. Set in a queer-normative world brimming with fae politics and sprinkled with holiday magic, this book delivers an easy-to-follow story with charming characters and a touch of slow-burn romance.

Sienna Rivers, the half-human daughter of The Fairy Godmother, is a relatable protagonist navigating unwanted family obligations and rediscovering past feelings for Amaias Wintervale, her first kiss and now her assigned bodyguard. Their romance unfolds amidst Yule festivities in Haven’s Hill, with a sprinkling of tension as Sienna tries to escape an arranged marriage while coming to terms with her feelings.

The plot is simple and straightforward, making it a perfect cozy read. However, the pacing occasionally falters, with some repetitive moments and areas that dragged, which slowed my reading. For those unfamiliar with the broader world in which the story is set, there are references to prior events that might feel out of place, but they are minor enough not to detract from the overall experience.

The spice, appearing toward the end of the book, is well-written though predictable and doesn’t add much depth to the characters or their relationship. I appreciated the queer representation throughout the book. The queer-normative world felt natural and unforced, adding warmth to the story’s cozy vibe.

A Wish on Willow Way is a charming, cozy holiday read with light romance, low-stakes drama, and a touch of spice. It’s a fun escape for fans of seasonal romances who want a straightforward story with a dash of magic.

[Gleeful Goblin Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gleeful Goblin Review: As a non-binary gender gremlin, I totally connected with Amaias and I almost cried happy tears when I kept reading those they/them pronouns. And seeing a non-binary character in a romance is still pretty uncommon, so therefore really exhilarating.

I loved in equal measure and for different reasons Sienna. As someone who spent a lot of my childhood in libraries and for whom books are deeply meaningful I absolutely adored this aspect of Sienna: “What a mess,” I muttered to myself, walking back inside and sidestepping the boxes to plop down on the sofa. “At least you’ll all be gone by Yule.” With any luck, I thought, crossing my fingers. I’d developed a knack over the years for matching people to the right book — books they didn’t even know they were looking for sometimes, and I was hoping to leverage that skill into a little side hustle. Maybe then I could afford that vintage, midnight blue velvet ottoman I’d had my eye on at Something Old, Something Brew, the antiques store next to The Brew House. My days working at the town library afforded me a lot of time to read. Most folks used the open community days at Haven’s Hill College to explore their wider offerings instead of our small one-room selection, especially on magic itself. So on slow days, which were most days, I read. Over the years, I’d taken careful notes on stories I read, noting themes, authors, who liked them, and who needed them. Now, I’d lumped together books into bespoke box sets, bound in one-of-a-kind covers using a rudimentary book binding setup that I’d built by myself in a tucked-away corner of my bedroom."

I had so much fun reading this story and with every new addition to this world I feel like I gain a new comfort read. 5/5 Stars

[thisgrlreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit that when I began reading A Wish on Willow Way I had no idea what was in store for me. I went in blindly with an open mind and an open heart and boy am I so happy that I did. The storytelling was done in a way that I have never experienced before which was the alternating pov of the two main characters. What I loved about this take was that the story continued while changing perspectives rather than reiterating what had just happened in a new pov. This allowed for a story to take a more nuanced and deeper look into the characters' feelings and thoughts and experiences. The spice level on this was very fun. I really appreciated how the author built up the sexual tension in a way that made you so excited and eager for them to finally get together. I loved the magical details and the bits of holiday magic throughout the story that really made this a cozy read. It was interesting how the author brought together two different worlds because our female lead lived in today’s mortal realm. Current pop culture references were a fun way to relate. By the end of the story, I was deeply invested in how everything was going to play out, and I was pleasantly surprised at the twist and turns that lead us to the finale. I devoured this book in two days and would gladly recommend it to someone who is a lover of fantasy and spice and wants a great standalone novel to enjoy with a hot cup of cocoa by a fire.

[Ciara Hartman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Book 2 in the Haven’s Hill Series.

A small Georgia town that houses a bunch of magical and partly magical beings. This series has LGBTQIA rep and small town/found family vibes! So far Book 1 has been my fave (A Hex on Honeysuckle Lane), but the novella/book 1.5 that I recently reviewed was quite cute as well. Although these books have cozy magical vibes, there’s also mystery/intrigue/drama and spice!

In this story, we have a contractual marriage being called in. This news bodes ill for Sienna, a half fae who resides in Havens Hill. She has no desire to marry a fae Royal she doesn’t know or love (and who’s in love with someone else), but unless a loophole can be found, she won’t have much choice, as refusing would cost her fathers life and take away her mothers powers as fairy godmother. - Perhaps the royal guard she once loved, the brother of her betrothed, can help her find a way out? But in the meantime, he’s been sent to guard her and after all these years, the chemistry between them is still heating things up and it’s time for past hurts and misunderstandings to come to light.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3.5/5

- Arranged marriage/contractual
- Miscommunication
- Contract loophole search
- Friends to not friends to lovers
- The one that got away
- Fae Court Politics
- Found family
- Small town
- Holiday/winter festivities
- LGBTQIA rep/characters
- Bodyguard Fae MMC
- Half Fae book loving FMC

[Yugie Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is my first time to read a Caroline Laine book, and I was thankful to have been able to do an ARC read of this book for her. It's a lighthearted read with a fairly simple plot where the main characters, Sienna and Amaias (I love that name!) have been into each other forever but now are trying their best to figure out a way to be rid of the arranged marriage planned for Sienna and Amaias' brother, Cirrus. Unless they find a way out, the two of them cannot have a future together. It's cute how both Sienna and Amaias try to deny their attraction and affection for one another, only to finally give in to it fully soon enough.

I found the story's pacing to have slowed a bit down at that point where nothing else significant was happening to the plot. This is why I could not give the book a solid 4 stars. But what kept me committed to the story was my fondness for Amaias' journey in figuring out what and where he truly wanted to be in his life. It was evident how he struggled to find his place in their fae world, and I loved the notion that Sienna became pivotal is his finally realizing who and where he truly wants to be. Cliché as it sounds, but for Amaias his home was truly was where his heart was.

I received an ARC of this book from PenPal Pr and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[TeagzReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never read a Caroline Laine book, and I didn’t know exactly what to expect going into this one but I ended up really enjoying it!

Cozy romantasy, spice, holiday vibes, and queer representation with one of the main characters using they/them pronouns. I had such a fun time with this one! Sienna and Amaias had so much chemistry and it made for some great tension while they were her bodyguard and she was betrothed to their brother. Forced proximity one bed anyone?

I also really loved the found family aspect of Sienna’s friend group and how Amaias found a sense of belonging with them. I believe there are other books centered around her friends, and I definitely want to read them now too. I thought Caroline did a great job of introducing them just enough to feel like you knew them without spoiling their whole stories if you wanted to go back and read them!

I won’t forget this one anytime soon!

**Thank you to Pen Pal PR and Caroline Laine for the eARC! All opinions are my own.**

✅Available On KU

[shelly myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did receive an Advanced Reader Copy, however all views, reviews and opinions are my own.

I adored this story!!! Sienna and Amias are so fun together, even through the tension and misunderstanding at first. I also very much enjoyed Cirrus' story as a side character in this book.

The tropes include: arranged marriage, found family, forced proximity, one bed, second chances, and friends to lovers/enemies to lovers (don't want to say too much on that last one due to spoilers.)

Sienna is the half fae daughter of the Fairy Godmother and Amias is one of the seven children of the winter court, who became the Royal Guard for the Fairy Godmother when he was 17. Sienna's mother and Amias' father entered into an agreement many years ago as an exchange of power, and now Sienna and Amias' brother may have to pay the price.

This story is set in a cozy southern magical town, right at Yule.

Overall, a wonderful read to get into the holiday spirit!

[Hali Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Wish on Willow Way by Caroline Laine is the perfect cozy holiday read. Set in a LGBTQ+ world filled with fae politics and a sprinkle of holiday magic, this book is a real treat.

The story follows Sienna Rivers, the half-human daughter of The Fairy Godmother. She's a relatable character dealing with unwanted family obligations and rekindling old feelings for Amaias, her bodyguard. Their romance blooms amidst the Yule festivities in Haven’s Hill, as Sienna tries to dodge an arranged marriage and confront her true feelings.

The plot is very straightforward but the pacing was off, and some repetitiveness that slowed down the pacing and became somewhat boring and hard to read at times. The spice in the book comes towards the end, and it’s well-written and doesn't overtake the overall story.

A Wish on Willow Way is a charming holiday read with light romance, with a touch of spice.

[TheeBeezKnees Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caroline Laine’s A Wish on Willow Way is an enchanting holiday escape full of fae magic, heartfelt emotions, and sparkling romance. Sienna Rivers, as the half-human daughter of The Fairy Godmother, is a relatable protagonist with her yearning for a simple life, and her struggle to escape the pull of fae politics is compelling from start to finish.

The story beautifully weaves humor, tension, and romance as Sienna faces an arranged marriage, meddling fae hierarchies, and her complicated history with Amaias Wintervale. The “only one bed” trope and their rekindled connection as first loves were executed perfectly, adding layers of longing and chemistry. There is also main character queer representation, with the “MMC” identifying as they/them. The rich world-building that made Haven’s Hill feel like a magical but very real place.

If you’re looking for a cozy, steamy, and festive read, A Wish on Willow Way delivers on every level.

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the second I set foot in (eyes on?) Haven’s Hill, I knew it was a special place. I love stories where the setting itself feels like a character, and that was instantly true for me with the first book in this series. So reading this next entry kind of felt like sitting down with an old friend.

The wintery holiday vibes are phenomenal, and it felt like the perfect book to read while getting cozy under a fluffy blanket. Which is exactly what I did. Highly recommend. Discussions of finding your home and choosing your own path hit me right in the heart. And I’m at a point in my life where I really appreciate that there’s no evil mastermind out to ruin everyone’s love life to amass power or something like that. I absolutely love that it’s flawed people, both past and present, making flawed decisions and doing their best to make up for it. That’s so much more in line with how I want to see the world, and it’s exactly the kind of story I needed right now.

Oh, and of course, Sienna and Amaias are just astoundingly precious. Their love is so amazingly pure and super intense, and watching Amaias find their place in the town was a true joy to read.

Ugh, I just love this world so damn much. It’s the kind of place I’d want to live. And it’s the kind of place I want to keep reading about.

[Katelyn Silveira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caroline Lanie has done it again! I really enjoyed reading the first book and the novella of this series, so I was so excited to read this one and let me tell you it did not disappoint! I'm so thankful to have received an ARC of this book thank you so much Caroline Laine and Pen Pal PR. I was hooked from the start this is such a cozy fantasy read. The characters and the friend group are once again everything. I really enjoyed the writing style; Caroline Laine knows how to write stories that have laugh out loud moments but also heartfelt emotional moments. I cannot recommend this book enough, it's just in time for the holiday season, and I can't wait to see what's next in the Haven's Hill series!

[JJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me smile so, so much as I read it. Technically this book is the second in the Haven's Hill series, but I didn't find it too confusing to jump right into this story. As someone who currently has green hair and has had purple hair, I was immediately smitten with Sienna. Plus, her love of books made her a great character to read for me.

I loved the nonbinary language used for Amaias and how they identified. It was so fitting for how fae are just different in how they think of categories (for anything!) as opposed to humans.

I loved the banter and the love of a found family with a sprinkling of familial love as well.

This is a slow burn romance but you will be rooting for them the whole time! Thank you to PenPal PR for the ARC!

[Katelyn Kongable · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorable, cozy romantasy that has some fun holiday vibes. Sienna is the daughter of the fairy godmother and a half fae living in the mortal world. Amaias is her mothers personal guard and the brother of her betrothed. The story was fun and light but had some pacing issues throughout. The characters did a lot of holiday exploring but her fathers live was on the line so it felt like the focus was a little bit confused throughout. I enjoyed the main characters and the romance. Overall it was a cute easy read.






Thank you PenPal pr and Caroline Laine for the ARC in exchange for a honest review

[Kayleigh Kurtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad I got the chance to read this book! I decided that even though all the books can be stand alone, I would read its 2 predecessors. All have been cute but Amaias and Sienna's story has been my favorite of all! I adored watching them rekindle friendship to love. I loved watching them fight for each other, as well as Ellerie and Cirrus. This book was a great mix of emotional and funny. It was such a cozy book to read and often found myself giggling and kicking my feet. The fact that I'm reading it during holiday season made it even better. I encourage cozy romantasy lovers to check out this series.

[Arianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Some things are worth letting burn, wildfire.”

What I liked:

This was cozy and low stakes - it felt like the type of read I needed right now.

Haven Hill is a cute, little magical town. Get me some pancakes from Lucinda’s please.

I do enjoy a bodyguard romance.

What didn’t work for me:

I felt like everything was very surface level, and because of that I didn’t really care about the romance.

The steam was not to my taste for the most part. Some of the talk was a bit cringey.

Thank you to the author and PenPal PR for this e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jo King · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad I was picked for an ARC. First off, I love alliteration, so the title grabbed me right away. I've never much cared for arranged marriage plots, so I was glad the premise was spoiling the heck out of it with a forced proximity/old flames arrangement instead. Loved the NB representation! The lack of communication was killing me though. Let your friends help you! I wanted to shake everyone involved and say "Just talk already!" These books are quick reads though, so I wasn't unhappy for long. The ending was satisfying and the requisite HAE.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Wish on Willow Way by ARC REVIEW 📚
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This was my first book by Caroline Laine and it was so so precious!!! Sienna and Amaias were couple goals!! Although it starts as an enemies to lovers/miscommunication it turns beautiful love story! The way Amaias felt about Sienna 😻OMG!!! I need an Amaias in my life!!! I also loved how supportive the town of Haven’s Hill was of each other! All Sienna’s friends were so kind and funny!! I can wait to read Cricket and Holly’s story and hopefully there will be many more Have’s Hill stories to come!!!

[Vanessa Trejo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read, especially if you like cozy fantasy with spicy paranormal romance and queer representation with one of the main characters. Sienna is half human/fae & the daughter of the Fairy Godmother, Amaias is her mother’s guard captain. Sienna and Amaias had so much chemistry and it made for some great tension while they were her bodyguard and she was betrothed to their brother. I also really loved the found family aspect of Sienna’s friend group and how Amaias found a sense of belonging with them.

[Moving Pages with Andreea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC. Never read the first book as I understand this is the second. It can be definitely read as a standalone.

This was a cute Hallmark movie in the East Coast but make it magical world. There is magic, fae and love.

Perfect story for Christmas time if you like reading the cute cozy books around this time of the year.

We got found family, marriage alliances and well LOVE around the holidays.

Recommend it!

[Kari Byron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, cozy and cute holiday fantasy. Sienna is a half fae living her best life in the human world when she finds out an old contract has her to be married to a fae prince. Her body guard is the princes brother and someone she’s been obsessed over for years. I loved the found family in this book. Their friend group is everything. Amaias was my favorite though. The way they loved and cared for Sienna with everything they had was perfect.

[JeanieG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sienna is finally a part of a community. Being half fae/ half human, she always felt like an outsider in the fae realm. But in Haven’s Hill she has friends, a job, and an apartment she loves. But when a fae from her past shows up, will this be the end of her freedom? Or the start of an exciting new chapter. I love this book. Sienna and Amaias are some of my favorite characters so far. Haven’s Hill is an amazing place to escape to.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute holiday romance book. I did like that even though it is a fantasy book, it was not overwhelming with the details and the world that was built. I was never lost and actually enjoyed reading the story.

The romance that began for Sienna and Amaias was adorable. They both seemed so fond of each other yet so different, but at the same time so perfect for one another.

Loved the spice. You can never go wrong with the explicit scenes.

I loved the book overall.

[Laura S · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Oh my gosh I loved Haven Hill and this book so much.

I need more people to read Caroline Laine’s books because the magical cosy romances are where it’s at. I feel sucked into the world straight away, I love the characters and the romance!!! I also love how much these books thrive on friendship and found family. Plus this book is such a great cosy winter read. I can’t wait for the next book now!