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Fae Flings and Corset Strings #1
A Rivalry of Hearts
Two rival writers.
One prestigious publishing contract.
A bargain of hearts and desire.
They say never bargain with the fae. They also say don’t get drunk on fae wine. Yet romance author Edwina Danforth has managed a blunder with both on her first visit to the infamous faelands. Now she's trapped in a magic-fueled bet she barely remembers with a man she’d be happier to forget. The terms? Whoever can bed the most lovers during their month-long dueling book tour wins a coveted publishing contract.
The win should be easy for Edwina. She’s known for penning scintillating tales of whirlwind romance. There’s just one problem: her imagination vastly exceeds her bedroom experience. But when failure means plummeting her career back into obscurity, losing isn’t an option.
Her handsome fae rival, William Haywood, poses an even greater challenge. Not only are his looks as aggravatingly perfect as his track record behind closed doors, but he has his own reasons for playing to win, and he won’t go down without a fight. Unless, of course, it’s a different kind of going down. In that case, he’s fair game.
Edwina and William clash in a rivalry of romance. But what happens when their objects of desire…turn out to be each other?
A Rivalry of Hearts is a spicy standalone adult fantasy romcom in the Fae Flings and Corset Strings series. Every book in this interconnected series is a complete story and ends with a HEA. If you like academic rivals, enemies to lovers, and quirky heroines, then you’ll love this sizzling tale.
The Fae Flings and Corset Strings series is set in the same world as The Fair Isle Trilogy and Entangled with Fae. Journey back to this beloved fae world or fall in love for the first time.
One prestigious publishing contract.
A bargain of hearts and desire.
They say never bargain with the fae. They also say don’t get drunk on fae wine. Yet romance author Edwina Danforth has managed a blunder with both on her first visit to the infamous faelands. Now she's trapped in a magic-fueled bet she barely remembers with a man she’d be happier to forget. The terms? Whoever can bed the most lovers during their month-long dueling book tour wins a coveted publishing contract.
The win should be easy for Edwina. She’s known for penning scintillating tales of whirlwind romance. There’s just one problem: her imagination vastly exceeds her bedroom experience. But when failure means plummeting her career back into obscurity, losing isn’t an option.
Her handsome fae rival, William Haywood, poses an even greater challenge. Not only are his looks as aggravatingly perfect as his track record behind closed doors, but he has his own reasons for playing to win, and he won’t go down without a fight. Unless, of course, it’s a different kind of going down. In that case, he’s fair game.
Edwina and William clash in a rivalry of romance. But what happens when their objects of desire…turn out to be each other?
A Rivalry of Hearts is a spicy standalone adult fantasy romcom in the Fae Flings and Corset Strings series. Every book in this interconnected series is a complete story and ends with a HEA. If you like academic rivals, enemies to lovers, and quirky heroines, then you’ll love this sizzling tale.
The Fae Flings and Corset Strings series is set in the same world as The Fair Isle Trilogy and Entangled with Fae. Journey back to this beloved fae world or fall in love for the first time.
416 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2025
1559 people are currently reading
29822 people want to read
About the author
Tessonja Odette
32 books3,564 followersTessonja Odette is a Seattle-based author of fantasy romance, epic romantasy, and fairytale retellings. Her different series range from cozy fae romcoms to dark and twisty fantasy. In her books you’ll find witty banter, sizzling romance, and breathtaking magic. When she isn’t writing, she’s watching anime, squeezing her pets, or dancing to the music only she can hear.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,470 reviews
June 18, 2025
reread with audio: really enjoyed the narrators, they brought some fun life into the characters!
___________
My beautiful bespectacled hellion. I’ll make you pay for doubting me.
this was so cute OMG. i wanted a fluffy fun historical fantasy romance and i got what i wanted and MORE.
two rival writers end up sharing a book tour. only one will get a book deal out of it, so they make a bet - whoever can seduce more ppl gets the deal. but can they fight their growing desires for each other? heheheeee
When Edwina’s around, it’s hard to concentrate on anything else. That’s how annoying she is.
this year historical fantasy has been my jam, so i loveddd this. there was some creative worldbuilding with this fae land and the courts, but the main focus was the romance (which is what i wanted anyhow).
“Have my words gone over your head?”
I roll my eyes. “On the contrary, your words are beneath me.”
“So you admit it. You’re not attracted to him.”
“Oh, I find him attractive. I think he’s very cute.”
He gives me a simpering look. “Cute. You mean like a puppy? How arousing.”
the banter between edwina and william is everythinggggg. i live for the dynamic where the guy gets a kick out of arrogantly annoying the fmc. but she also had her moments of being spontaneous and too curious for her own good that had him running to keep up with her.
“You don’t have to like me to use me.”
when he starts to beg her to use him for their bet? YOU KNOW I LOVE A PATHETIC FICTIONAL MAN. and the spice 🤌🏼 i was kicking my feet in bed giggling out loud at their back and forth, i was gasping at the proclamations, i was BLUSHING at the bedroom scenes... this gave me everything i want in my fantasy romances.
“How does she draw out this side of me? The side that dares her to be bold, only to raise the stakes and act bolder myself. The side that competes with her again and again, not to crush her, but to watch her clash against me.”
i felt like the backstories also helped keep them from being two-dimensional or flat and added organic conflict to their relationship. there is just a bit of angst thrown in there and i ate it up too.
“Shut up,” Daphne says, standing on her chair to get a better look at me and Edwina. “Things are about to get smutty.”
the side characters totally have my interest peaked, i can't WAIT for book 2! i will be reading her other books in the meantime 😌
___________
My beautiful bespectacled hellion. I’ll make you pay for doubting me.
this was so cute OMG. i wanted a fluffy fun historical fantasy romance and i got what i wanted and MORE.
two rival writers end up sharing a book tour. only one will get a book deal out of it, so they make a bet - whoever can seduce more ppl gets the deal. but can they fight their growing desires for each other? heheheeee
When Edwina’s around, it’s hard to concentrate on anything else. That’s how annoying she is.
this year historical fantasy has been my jam, so i loveddd this. there was some creative worldbuilding with this fae land and the courts, but the main focus was the romance (which is what i wanted anyhow).
“Have my words gone over your head?”
I roll my eyes. “On the contrary, your words are beneath me.”
“So you admit it. You’re not attracted to him.”
“Oh, I find him attractive. I think he’s very cute.”
He gives me a simpering look. “Cute. You mean like a puppy? How arousing.”
the banter between edwina and william is everythinggggg. i live for the dynamic where the guy gets a kick out of arrogantly annoying the fmc. but she also had her moments of being spontaneous and too curious for her own good that had him running to keep up with her.
“You don’t have to like me to use me.”
when he starts to beg her to use him for their bet? YOU KNOW I LOVE A PATHETIC FICTIONAL MAN. and the spice 🤌🏼 i was kicking my feet in bed giggling out loud at their back and forth, i was gasping at the proclamations, i was BLUSHING at the bedroom scenes... this gave me everything i want in my fantasy romances.
“How does she draw out this side of me? The side that dares her to be bold, only to raise the stakes and act bolder myself. The side that competes with her again and again, not to crush her, but to watch her clash against me.”
i felt like the backstories also helped keep them from being two-dimensional or flat and added organic conflict to their relationship. there is just a bit of angst thrown in there and i ate it up too.
“Shut up,” Daphne says, standing on her chair to get a better look at me and Edwina. “Things are about to get smutty.”
the side characters totally have my interest peaked, i can't WAIT for book 2! i will be reading her other books in the meantime 😌
August 19, 2024
A novel of “smut and drivel” exactly the way we like it!
This is the rom-com fantasy version of divine rivals with a work place rivalry! Two authors are competing in sales for a coveted contract. While this may be a tour of hearts, they need to protect their own.
A friendly rivalry turns into something more when a bargain is struck on a drunken whim. Queue fluffy banter, swoon worthy romance and authors getting to act out romantic scenes they’ve only ever imagined!
There are SO MANY Easter eggs in this stand alone story! (All non spoiler-y) If you have read her other books you will be so delighted to see! (Fair isle trilogy or any of the entangled with fae books!)
I loved every moment of this feet-kicking-giggling-smiling-ear-to-ear book!
Thank you so much to the author and thenerdfam for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own
This is the rom-com fantasy version of divine rivals with a work place rivalry! Two authors are competing in sales for a coveted contract. While this may be a tour of hearts, they need to protect their own.
A friendly rivalry turns into something more when a bargain is struck on a drunken whim. Queue fluffy banter, swoon worthy romance and authors getting to act out romantic scenes they’ve only ever imagined!
There are SO MANY Easter eggs in this stand alone story! (All non spoiler-y) If you have read her other books you will be so delighted to see! (Fair isle trilogy or any of the entangled with fae books!)
I loved every moment of this feet-kicking-giggling-smiling-ear-to-ear book!
Thank you so much to the author and thenerdfam for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own
March 14, 2025
╭ ✦ •
│ ⊹ 𝙳𝙽𝙵 - 𝟽𝟸%, 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐! ⊹
╰ ✦ •
What in the Wattpad did I just read?
The pretty cover and the concept of rival writers on a book tour immediately intrigued me. While I appreciated the plot idea, the writing style and world-building didn't quite work for me.
I REALLY struggled to get into this. I've had this ARC for over a month, and I wanted to give it a shot, but I couldn't get past the first 13% due to the overwhelming cringe.
Despite my efforts, I mostly skimmed through it. The plot quickly became boring, and the lack of chemistry between the characters... was bad, IMO. Their attraction to each other was almost non-existent as the author told rather than showed their connection. And don't even get me started on Will's nickname for Edwina, “Weenie”—it was beyond cringy for me. Why this nickname tho?? "wina" weenie? I guess it was a 'teasing nickname' but ... no.
The third-act conflict was sooo frustrating—it felt super unnecessary, just... WHY? 100% could have resolved it like mature adults.
Most scenes were cringeworthy, and I'm not sure how the characters' novels were so popular; they seemed poorly written. And by the time I got to the spicy scenes, I was just completely over the book.
Also the name of the fae realm??? Faerwyvae , I mean cool, original ig? but I wouldn't say I like it, it's kinda hard to say ;-;
Overall, I feel like this has a lot of potential, but the execution fell short for me.
Thank you for the ARC, Tessonja!
_________________________________
Blog ಇ StoryGraph ಇ Instagram ಇ Twitter ಇ Facebook
│ ⊹ 𝙳𝙽𝙵 - 𝟽𝟸%, 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐! ⊹
╰ ✦ •
“His proximity to the bookstore suggests he’s either a shop patron or perhaps a clerk out on his break. Or…maybe he’s here to see me? That is my purpose at Flight of Fancy; I’m here to sign books and meet my fans.”
What in the Wattpad did I just read?
The pretty cover and the concept of rival writers on a book tour immediately intrigued me. While I appreciated the plot idea, the writing style and world-building didn't quite work for me.
I REALLY struggled to get into this. I've had this ARC for over a month, and I wanted to give it a shot, but I couldn't get past the first 13% due to the overwhelming cringe.
Despite my efforts, I mostly skimmed through it. The plot quickly became boring, and the lack of chemistry between the characters... was bad, IMO. Their attraction to each other was almost non-existent as the author told rather than showed their connection. And don't even get me started on Will's nickname for Edwina, “Weenie”—it was beyond cringy for me. Why this nickname tho?? "wina" weenie? I guess it was a 'teasing nickname' but ... no.
The third-act conflict was sooo frustrating—it felt super unnecessary, just... WHY? 100% could have resolved it like mature adults.
Most scenes were cringeworthy, and I'm not sure how the characters' novels were so popular; they seemed poorly written. And by the time I got to the spicy scenes, I was just completely over the book.
Also the name of the fae realm??? Faerwyvae , I mean cool, original ig? but I wouldn't say I like it, it's kinda hard to say ;-;
Overall, I feel like this has a lot of potential, but the execution fell short for me.
Thank you for the ARC, Tessonja!
_________________________________
Blog ಇ StoryGraph ಇ Instagram ಇ Twitter ಇ Facebook
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June 12, 2024AUTHOR'S NOTE
Today is the big day that A Rivalry of Hearts officially releases! I'm so overwhelmed with gratitude because this book has gotten so much love already. I can't wait for everyone to fall in love with William and Edwina!
A Rivalry of Hearts was an absolute pleasure to write. I know I shouldn't play favorites, but this book was, without a doubt, my favorite to write. I kicked my legs and cackled like forest witch during my favorite scenes.
I'm now working on Book Two and am just...amazed that I get to do this. I get to write swoony, silly, and sometimes smutty books and my readers seem to like them.
You can now find A Rivalry of Hearts in ebook, kindle unlimited, paperback, and hardcover. Audiobook coming later in 2024. For a full list of where to find the book: http://tessonjaodette.com/book/a-riva...
Thank you times a million to all my new readers, long-time readers, ARC readers, and those thinking maybe they'll give this book a chance. You're amazing!
Happy Reading,
Tessonja
Today is the big day that A Rivalry of Hearts officially releases! I'm so overwhelmed with gratitude because this book has gotten so much love already. I can't wait for everyone to fall in love with William and Edwina!
A Rivalry of Hearts was an absolute pleasure to write. I know I shouldn't play favorites, but this book was, without a doubt, my favorite to write. I kicked my legs and cackled like forest witch during my favorite scenes.
I'm now working on Book Two and am just...amazed that I get to do this. I get to write swoony, silly, and sometimes smutty books and my readers seem to like them.
You can now find A Rivalry of Hearts in ebook, kindle unlimited, paperback, and hardcover. Audiobook coming later in 2024. For a full list of where to find the book: http://tessonjaodette.com/book/a-riva...
Thank you times a million to all my new readers, long-time readers, ARC readers, and those thinking maybe they'll give this book a chance. You're amazing!
Happy Reading,
Tessonja
June 8, 2024
Publication Date: 12th June 2024
3.7 Stars
One Liner: Lighthearted but could have been shorter
Romance author Edwina Danforth needs the book contract from a publisher in Faerwyvae. After all, her books have a greater readership in the fae land than in the human world. However, William Haywood, a handsome fae and poet, popped up as her rival.
Drunk on a fae substance, Edwina manages to make a bet with William. Whoever loses will have to give up their claim for the publishing contract. Both are determined to win but turns out there’s a lot more at stake. What happens when the rivals fall for each other?
The story comes in Edwina’s first-person POV with a few chapters from William’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
As the original blurb suggests, this is a steamy romance with enemies-to-lovers trope. It has a historical fantasy setting with a human FMC and a fae MMC. I’d put it somewhere around the Regency and Victorian eras, though the rules in fae land are different.
The book starts with a short note and a list of content warnings. I appreciate this. The themes have been handled with a light touch, but still, a list would help some readers.
Now, the first section is solid. I loved the introduction of the characters and the banter between the lead couple. We also get two colored illustrations, which makes it easy to visualize them. They are not perfect and continue to make mistakes. But they also realize and acknowledge the mistakes, so that’s nice.
The last section is again quite good despite the third-act breakup. There’s one conversation between two women which I liked a lot. It’s evident that the character arcs have been planned with care to not bring sudden and contradictory changes.
However, I wish the book was tighter in the middle. After the initial 30%, the pacing dips drastically until about 70%. Though we get new insights about the main characters, it feels like the story is going nowhere. There’s only so much banter and sexy talk one can read.
Still, I like that the characters take time to jump into ‘action’. There is still steamy talk and some scenes (with other characters). Some of it is almost presented in a clinical approach, which is fun to read.
I like it when the MMC also gets a POV. However, here, it is limited to his feelings for the FMC. The POV could have added more depth to his personality. A lost chance, IMO.
The side characters are fun. Daphne, Monty, Zane, and Cassie add to the story’s charm. They have distinct personalities and some depth.
The setting gives mixed vibes. It is not detailed enough to imagine everything but manages to paint a decent picture. Apparently, the setting is from another series (and a couple of characters have been in other books). Kinda standalone with a bit of crossover stuff. This may not work for everyone.
The ending is cute. There’s a bonus epilogue which is actually a teaser for the next book. For a change, I don’t mind this as I want to read their story.
To summarize, A Rivalry of Hearts is a fluffy, cute, and spicy romance if you want a low-stakes cozy fantasy. Despite the minor issues, I'm excited to read the next book with D and M.
Thank you, NetGalley, Crystal Moon Press, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #ARivalryofHearts
3.7 Stars
One Liner: Lighthearted but could have been shorter
Romance author Edwina Danforth needs the book contract from a publisher in Faerwyvae. After all, her books have a greater readership in the fae land than in the human world. However, William Haywood, a handsome fae and poet, popped up as her rival.
Drunk on a fae substance, Edwina manages to make a bet with William. Whoever loses will have to give up their claim for the publishing contract. Both are determined to win but turns out there’s a lot more at stake. What happens when the rivals fall for each other?
The story comes in Edwina’s first-person POV with a few chapters from William’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
As the original blurb suggests, this is a steamy romance with enemies-to-lovers trope. It has a historical fantasy setting with a human FMC and a fae MMC. I’d put it somewhere around the Regency and Victorian eras, though the rules in fae land are different.
The book starts with a short note and a list of content warnings. I appreciate this. The themes have been handled with a light touch, but still, a list would help some readers.
Now, the first section is solid. I loved the introduction of the characters and the banter between the lead couple. We also get two colored illustrations, which makes it easy to visualize them. They are not perfect and continue to make mistakes. But they also realize and acknowledge the mistakes, so that’s nice.
The last section is again quite good despite the third-act breakup. There’s one conversation between two women which I liked a lot. It’s evident that the character arcs have been planned with care to not bring sudden and contradictory changes.
However, I wish the book was tighter in the middle. After the initial 30%, the pacing dips drastically until about 70%. Though we get new insights about the main characters, it feels like the story is going nowhere. There’s only so much banter and sexy talk one can read.
Still, I like that the characters take time to jump into ‘action’. There is still steamy talk and some scenes (with other characters). Some of it is almost presented in a clinical approach, which is fun to read.
I like it when the MMC also gets a POV. However, here, it is limited to his feelings for the FMC. The POV could have added more depth to his personality. A lost chance, IMO.
The side characters are fun. Daphne, Monty, Zane, and Cassie add to the story’s charm. They have distinct personalities and some depth.
The setting gives mixed vibes. It is not detailed enough to imagine everything but manages to paint a decent picture. Apparently, the setting is from another series (and a couple of characters have been in other books). Kinda standalone with a bit of crossover stuff. This may not work for everyone.
The ending is cute. There’s a bonus epilogue which is actually a teaser for the next book. For a change, I don’t mind this as I want to read their story.
To summarize, A Rivalry of Hearts is a fluffy, cute, and spicy romance if you want a low-stakes cozy fantasy. Despite the minor issues, I'm excited to read the next book with D and M.
Thank you, NetGalley, Crystal Moon Press, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #ARivalryofHearts
June 1, 2024
5 Spontaneous Flower Stars ⭐
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️.5/5
This book just puts a smile on your face…
So it's not really a secret, just more of an unknown fact, that I used to be obsessed with Historical Romance. This was all before I started writing reviews and before my dreaded 3-year book slump. But I can actually say - I liked Brigerton before it was cool.. Now I am obsessed with Romantsy, it's like my literary catnip, that I can't seem to get enough of...
AND this book is a perfect blend of the two!
It took a beautiful mix of fantasy and historical romance and came up with a magical story that was utterly fantastical and brilliant. Some people have said it's like a Fae Bridgerton, which is correct but actually it's more than that. It's more akin to any great historical romance, such as Pride and Prejudice, just with a little more smut on the page and fewer hand flexes. Being within its pages as the story progressed felt like coming home after a long winter in the snow. It was like finding a long-lost love or turning nostalgic and wistful at a memory of a good time well spent.
This book follows Edwina Danforth, who is a human on a book tour in the Fae Islands for her spicy romance novels. Due to events out of her control, her book tour is hijacked by William Haywood as she missed her first two signings. William is a writer of poetry and is super arrogant and judgmental towards Edwina. The two realize that their publisher is going to award a three-book deal to the writer of the tour who sells the most books, and both of them have valid reasons for needing the money. Edwina - knowing she's missed out on two signings and is already behind William - strikes up a bet instead: the winner being awarded the contract. The bet: the person who can seduce and successfully perform an act of personal intimacy in their bedroom with the most people.
I adored the world-building as it was easy to understand and it felt exactly like a historical fiction novel. You could feel the period in the words, and see the time by the way the characters spoke and dressed. This gave a delightful blend of regency with the magic and wonder of fantasy, maintaining the propriety of the time but mixing certain aspects with the absurd. This wasn't a problem though because these eccentricities were accepted. After all, we were on the Fae Island, and the Fae were not as modest as the humans in Bretton. It was also thrilling to see something painted as "Historical" be so accepting. Some characters use "They" as their pronouns and Edwina's work in progress she is writing throughout the novel features an MM romance.
Edwina is an interesting character because she is incredibly stubborn and often prideful in how she reacts. She will let nothing stand in her way to win and is determined to make a name for herself. She is also very peculiar and curious - which puts her in some very interesting scenarios.
William has a secret. The person he portrays as William the Poet is not the same as the person who he is away from the spotlight and there is something about Edwina that makes him want to show her the true version of who he is. As he spends more time with her, he realizes how smart and beautiful she is and he finds it more and more difficult to get Edwina out of his mind.
Their chemistry was spectacular and well-developed. Their banter was giggle-inducing and there is probably one of the best "acted-out sexy" scenes in book I have ever seen. I was kicking my legs, screaming and squealing when this happened. I also liked that there was a balance of character development and plot.
Tropes in this include:
▶ Cosy Fantasy
▶ Dual POV
▶ Forced Proximity
▶Enemies Rivals to Lovers
▶ Touch Her You Die
▶ Voyeurism
▶ Nicknames
▶ "Use Me"
▶ Chin Lifts
Overall, this was a gorgeous, beautiful, cosy fantasy that made me reminisce on how much I used to adore historical romance and reminded me why I now love romantasy. I cannot wait to see the rest of the books in the series.
Thank you to Tessonja Odette and Netgalley for my gifted ARC copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️.5/5
This book just puts a smile on your face…
So it's not really a secret, just more of an unknown fact, that I used to be obsessed with Historical Romance. This was all before I started writing reviews and before my dreaded 3-year book slump. But I can actually say - I liked Brigerton before it was cool.. Now I am obsessed with Romantsy, it's like my literary catnip, that I can't seem to get enough of...
AND this book is a perfect blend of the two!
It took a beautiful mix of fantasy and historical romance and came up with a magical story that was utterly fantastical and brilliant. Some people have said it's like a Fae Bridgerton, which is correct but actually it's more than that. It's more akin to any great historical romance, such as Pride and Prejudice, just with a little more smut on the page and fewer hand flexes. Being within its pages as the story progressed felt like coming home after a long winter in the snow. It was like finding a long-lost love or turning nostalgic and wistful at a memory of a good time well spent.
This book follows Edwina Danforth, who is a human on a book tour in the Fae Islands for her spicy romance novels. Due to events out of her control, her book tour is hijacked by William Haywood as she missed her first two signings. William is a writer of poetry and is super arrogant and judgmental towards Edwina. The two realize that their publisher is going to award a three-book deal to the writer of the tour who sells the most books, and both of them have valid reasons for needing the money. Edwina - knowing she's missed out on two signings and is already behind William - strikes up a bet instead: the winner being awarded the contract. The bet: the person who can seduce and successfully perform an act of personal intimacy in their bedroom with the most people.
I adored the world-building as it was easy to understand and it felt exactly like a historical fiction novel. You could feel the period in the words, and see the time by the way the characters spoke and dressed. This gave a delightful blend of regency with the magic and wonder of fantasy, maintaining the propriety of the time but mixing certain aspects with the absurd. This wasn't a problem though because these eccentricities were accepted. After all, we were on the Fae Island, and the Fae were not as modest as the humans in Bretton. It was also thrilling to see something painted as "Historical" be so accepting. Some characters use "They" as their pronouns and Edwina's work in progress she is writing throughout the novel features an MM romance.
Edwina is an interesting character because she is incredibly stubborn and often prideful in how she reacts. She will let nothing stand in her way to win and is determined to make a name for herself. She is also very peculiar and curious - which puts her in some very interesting scenarios.
William has a secret. The person he portrays as William the Poet is not the same as the person who he is away from the spotlight and there is something about Edwina that makes him want to show her the true version of who he is. As he spends more time with her, he realizes how smart and beautiful she is and he finds it more and more difficult to get Edwina out of his mind.
Their chemistry was spectacular and well-developed. Their banter was giggle-inducing and there is probably one of the best "acted-out sexy" scenes in book I have ever seen. I was kicking my legs, screaming and squealing when this happened. I also liked that there was a balance of character development and plot.
Tropes in this include:
▶ Cosy Fantasy
▶ Dual POV
▶ Forced Proximity
▶
▶ Touch Her You Die
▶ Voyeurism
▶ Nicknames
▶ "Use Me"
▶ Chin Lifts
Overall, this was a gorgeous, beautiful, cosy fantasy that made me reminisce on how much I used to adore historical romance and reminded me why I now love romantasy. I cannot wait to see the rest of the books in the series.
Thank you to Tessonja Odette and Netgalley for my gifted ARC copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 11, 2024
The best cozy fantasy I’ve read yet
October 23, 2024
THIS IS THE KIND OF COZY FANTASY I ENJOY!
It's not high stakes, but there are some.
A smidge of magic.
A dash of smut.
Fun characters.
All I really needed.
Can't wait for the next one.
---------------
Happy audio publication day!
It's not high stakes, but there are some.
A smidge of magic.
A dash of smut.
Fun characters.
All I really needed.
Can't wait for the next one.
---------------
Happy audio publication day!
December 15, 2025
The regency + faerie world mash up that we need more of!
The rivalry + seduction bet turned romance was so much fun.
The steamy bits were deliciously steamy but not overdone.
The side characters were so cute!
Looking forward to continuing the series!
My one caveat is that the MMC narrator (audio) wasn't my favorite but still tolerable enough to request the next book on audio too!
🌶️- Open door
4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
The rivalry + seduction bet turned romance was so much fun.
The steamy bits were deliciously steamy but not overdone.
The side characters were so cute!
Looking forward to continuing the series!
My one caveat is that the MMC narrator (audio) wasn't my favorite but still tolerable enough to request the next book on audio too!
🌶️- Open door
4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
July 31, 2024
"It is a truth universally acknowledged in the fae fiction world, that a Tessonja Odette book in possession of a good story, must be entertaining and hilarious."
When I pick a book by T. Odette, I am guaranteed three things:
1- A good heartfelt cozy-like fantasy romance with a sprinkle of spice
2- Complex characters that are both relatable and flawed
3- Many, Many laugh out loud moments
So a huge thank you for the author for providing your humble fan with an ARC of this book
⚜Genre: Gaslamp High Fantasy
⚜Theme: Fae RomCom
⚜Targeted audience: Adults
⚜Characters: Fae - William, Human - Edwina
⚜Representation: non-binary side character
⚜TW: explicit sexual content
⚜ tropes: Forced proximity, career-rivalry, bet, rivals to lovers, hidden truths, medium-burn, one bed (parody)
⚜ POV: Double, though Edwina has the lion's share
⚜ spice 🌶🌶 🌶
⚜ rating: 4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟 🔅
⚜standalone: yes, but it is part of series
⚜Ending: HEA with an introduction to the 2nd book
Edwina and William
No two characters could be so different yet so suitable to each other
he writes bittersweet poetry
she is a steamy romance author
he is fae ( with a surprise magical ability)
she is human
he is experienced
she is not
he is younger (yes he is not the ancient old fae)
she is older (by three years)
They are forced to be on a book signing tour together at which by the end one of them will secure a publishing contract. They end up esueing a bet and a fae bargain where whoever manages to seduce the most partners wins the contract.
With surprizing reveals and unexpected character arcs, the story will hook you from the first page to the acknowledgment.
One of the things that made me fall in love with T. Odette's books is her flawed characters.
Her fae males are not these perfect "tall, dark and handsome" who can do no wrong and fall in love with their partners at first sight. They are a mix of arrogant and childish, dashing and stupid, loyal and pricks, but you cannot help but root for them.
William is so dedicated to his family that he is willing to do anything for them. He is not this rich Fae lord who could do anything. He is a struggling poet/actor.
Her female leads are as flawed. They are not the quivering bashful ladies (though some quivering occurs :) iykyk) who always sacrifice themselves for the greater good. Nope
these ladies know what they want and are not afraid to go after it come what may.
Edwina wants that publishing contract and she fights for it with everything she has. She acknowledges William's reasons also but hers are "as valid as his"
She knows it's a tough world in the publishing industry and it is even tougher for female authors who are asked to write under male pseudo names. Something that is still done for women authors to be taken seriously.
"But do you know what would make my work even better? If I were a man. If I'd cease writing about throbbing cocks and simply adopt one between my legs. At the very least, if I would only remove one letter from the end of my name and publish highbrow moral works...
I loved this outburst because it is so relevant to today when smut and spice books are still frowned upon and some still argue that romance authors are not real writers.
I absolutely loved the sense of humor in the writing style. Some phrases and lines just catch you unexpectedly and you find yourself laughing.
I also loved the jab at tropes with how Edwina points out some of them whenever she comes upon a similar situation
"What does that mean?" Monty asks, "Do we have at least one room?" "Oh no." Realization dawns at once, and I give the receptionist a solemn look. "I know what this is. I've written about it. There's only one bed, isn't there?"
My only criticism of the book, and it's a minor one, is that I did not feel that the magic/fae part was crucial in the story. As a matter of fact, if you take it out of the book, the story would still progress the same.
This was an absolute joy to read
and I cannot wait for Monte and Daphne's book
When I pick a book by T. Odette, I am guaranteed three things:
1- A good heartfelt cozy-like fantasy romance with a sprinkle of spice
2- Complex characters that are both relatable and flawed
3- Many, Many laugh out loud moments
So a huge thank you for the author for providing your humble fan with an ARC of this book
⚜Genre: Gaslamp High Fantasy
⚜Theme: Fae RomCom
⚜Targeted audience: Adults
⚜Characters: Fae - William, Human - Edwina
⚜Representation: non-binary side character
⚜TW: explicit sexual content
⚜ tropes: Forced proximity, career-rivalry, bet, rivals to lovers, hidden truths, medium-burn, one bed (parody)
⚜ POV: Double, though Edwina has the lion's share
⚜ spice 🌶🌶 🌶
⚜ rating: 4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟 🔅
⚜standalone: yes, but it is part of series
⚜Ending: HEA with an introduction to the 2nd book
Edwina and William
No two characters could be so different yet so suitable to each other
he writes bittersweet poetry
she is a steamy romance author
he is fae ( with a surprise magical ability)
she is human
he is experienced
she is not
he is younger (yes he is not the ancient old fae)
she is older (by three years)
They are forced to be on a book signing tour together at which by the end one of them will secure a publishing contract. They end up esueing a bet and a fae bargain where whoever manages to seduce the most partners wins the contract.
With surprizing reveals and unexpected character arcs, the story will hook you from the first page to the acknowledgment.
One of the things that made me fall in love with T. Odette's books is her flawed characters.
Her fae males are not these perfect "tall, dark and handsome" who can do no wrong and fall in love with their partners at first sight. They are a mix of arrogant and childish, dashing and stupid, loyal and pricks, but you cannot help but root for them.
William is so dedicated to his family that he is willing to do anything for them. He is not this rich Fae lord who could do anything. He is a struggling poet/actor.
Her female leads are as flawed. They are not the quivering bashful ladies (though some quivering occurs :) iykyk) who always sacrifice themselves for the greater good. Nope
these ladies know what they want and are not afraid to go after it come what may.
Edwina wants that publishing contract and she fights for it with everything she has. She acknowledges William's reasons also but hers are "as valid as his"
She knows it's a tough world in the publishing industry and it is even tougher for female authors who are asked to write under male pseudo names. Something that is still done for women authors to be taken seriously.
"But do you know what would make my work even better? If I were a man. If I'd cease writing about throbbing cocks and simply adopt one between my legs. At the very least, if I would only remove one letter from the end of my name and publish highbrow moral works...
I loved this outburst because it is so relevant to today when smut and spice books are still frowned upon and some still argue that romance authors are not real writers.
I absolutely loved the sense of humor in the writing style. Some phrases and lines just catch you unexpectedly and you find yourself laughing.
I also loved the jab at tropes with how Edwina points out some of them whenever she comes upon a similar situation
"What does that mean?" Monty asks, "Do we have at least one room?" "Oh no." Realization dawns at once, and I give the receptionist a solemn look. "I know what this is. I've written about it. There's only one bed, isn't there?"
My only criticism of the book, and it's a minor one, is that I did not feel that the magic/fae part was crucial in the story. As a matter of fact, if you take it out of the book, the story would still progress the same.
This was an absolute joy to read
and I cannot wait for Monte and Daphne's book
March 6, 2025
overall rating: 3.50 ★
genre/tropes: cozy fantasy, rom-com, rivals to lovers
slow start, but once the pacing picked up, the banter and tension were fantastic! ngl, edwina is very weird for an fmc with a slight voyeurism kink (?) but it’s funny because she does it mostly for research for her book lmao.
plus, she gets easily distracted which is relatable + she’s hardheaded and stubborn at times so it’s again relatable. to the point that it’s frustrating because she has privileges (aka money-wise & safety nets) that makes her act high and mighty. but hey, at least character development by the end.
also the spice delicious. the banter and the dirty talking, equally as delectable. the third act breakup? not so much. but it was bound to happen no surprises there.
i did enjoy the book tho! great read if you want something with cozy-fantasy + rom-com vibes!
quote-drop:
“Give me a reason not to go.” My breath hitches. “Give me one reason, Edwina. Just one.”
──────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────
pre-read: crossing my fingers that this will be an enjoyable read 😭 winter’s promise put me into a book slump and the other book i read just made me want to 😡 third time’s a charm, right? (fae + rivals + bickering)
genre/tropes: cozy fantasy, rom-com, rivals to lovers
slow start, but once the pacing picked up, the banter and tension were fantastic! ngl, edwina is very weird for an fmc with a slight voyeurism kink (?) but it’s funny because she does it mostly for research for her book lmao.
plus, she gets easily distracted which is relatable + she’s hardheaded and stubborn at times so it’s again relatable. to the point that it’s frustrating because she has privileges (aka money-wise & safety nets) that makes her act high and mighty. but hey, at least character development by the end.
also the spice delicious. the banter and the dirty talking, equally as delectable. the third act breakup? not so much. but it was bound to happen no surprises there.
i did enjoy the book tho! great read if you want something with cozy-fantasy + rom-com vibes!
quote-drop:
“Give me a reason not to go.” My breath hitches. “Give me one reason, Edwina. Just one.”
──────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────
pre-read: crossing my fingers that this will be an enjoyable read 😭 winter’s promise put me into a book slump and the other book i read just made me want to 😡 third time’s a charm, right? (fae + rivals + bickering)
June 6, 2024
arc provided in exchange for an honest review.
this book absolutely hit the spot for a light, easy, low-stakes romcom!! it was so much fun – the characters had the best banter and such a gorgeous development from rivals to almost-friends to absolutely in love. i loved the soft fantasy, with fae with fascinating unseelie forms, and unique magic. for once, the mmc didn’t have lightning or killing powers of anything – my baby had the cutest, unexpected power!
and while the plotline did have the underlying ridiculous plot of a battle to see who’s better at seducing (and when both characters are fully obsessed with one another), i didn’t mind it at all, and had a lot of fun with the low-stakes but nonetheless exciting adventures. the characters were utterly loveable, and overall this was just pure fun, swoonworthy pleasure. thank you to the author, publisher, netgalley for the arc!
“You are beautiful. Your words are beautiful.”
this book absolutely hit the spot for a light, easy, low-stakes romcom!! it was so much fun – the characters had the best banter and such a gorgeous development from rivals to almost-friends to absolutely in love. i loved the soft fantasy, with fae with fascinating unseelie forms, and unique magic. for once, the mmc didn’t have lightning or killing powers of anything – my baby had the cutest, unexpected power!
and while the plotline did have the underlying ridiculous plot of a battle to see who’s better at seducing (and when both characters are fully obsessed with one another), i didn’t mind it at all, and had a lot of fun with the low-stakes but nonetheless exciting adventures. the characters were utterly loveable, and overall this was just pure fun, swoonworthy pleasure. thank you to the author, publisher, netgalley for the arc!
“You are beautiful. Your words are beautiful.”
May 1, 2024
This was so dang cute.
- rivals to lovers
- he falls first
- fae bargain of seduction
- cozy and spicy
- witty banter
- rivals to lovers
- he falls first
- fae bargain of seduction
- cozy and spicy
- witty banter
December 19, 2024
4.75 stars
BOOMSHAKALAKA YES GOD! this is criminally underrated and so much fucking fun. i was on board from page one and went on the ride of my life! if you want a romance with a hint of fantasy, look no further.
the banter is top fucking tier. the tension! the jealousy! the longing! and don’t even get me STARTED on this man’s mouth. they’re work rivals which i always love. not to mention it’s also historical fantasy romance which i’m always looking for more of. also the fmc is a romance-book-loving author which is almost always a plus in my book.
i loved BOTH the fmc (edwina) and the mmc (william) along with all of the side characters which isn’t common for me. the world building was very minimal, but done well. this was definitely mostly a cozy fantasy romance, but there was the perfect amount of plot to keep it entertaining. i just can’t say enough good things about it and will definitely be looking into this author
BOOMSHAKALAKA YES GOD! this is criminally underrated and so much fucking fun. i was on board from page one and went on the ride of my life! if you want a romance with a hint of fantasy, look no further.
the banter is top fucking tier. the tension! the jealousy! the longing! and don’t even get me STARTED on this man’s mouth. they’re work rivals which i always love. not to mention it’s also historical fantasy romance which i’m always looking for more of. also the fmc is a romance-book-loving author which is almost always a plus in my book.
i loved BOTH the fmc (edwina) and the mmc (william) along with all of the side characters which isn’t common for me. the world building was very minimal, but done well. this was definitely mostly a cozy fantasy romance, but there was the perfect amount of plot to keep it entertaining. i just can’t say enough good things about it and will definitely be looking into this author
January 26, 2025
This book is such a joy to read! With its playful tension and witty banter, plus a dash of spice, it really keeps things fun and exciting. If you’re on the lookout for a charming historical rom-com, I recommend diving into this one!
***Thank you to NetGalley, Tessonja Odette, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
***Thank you to NetGalley, Tessonja Odette, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
May 7, 2024
Jane Austen meets The Hating Game in this irrestistible rivals-to-lovers romantasy. An absolute gem!
November 12, 2024
I recently read the first book in Tessonja Odette's Entangled with Fae series and absolutely fell in love with the writing style. I really enjoy the way that Odette blends elements of the historical fiction and fantasy genres. Additionally, I had heard great things about A Rivalry of Hearts, so I was all the more excited going into this book. Unfortunately, I found that this book strikes a vastly different tone than that of the author's other books. I found this book a little too blunt in its writing for my liking, as well as too quirky. In my opinion, the character's didn't feel very genuine, and I got tired of the same sex jokes. Overall, I did enjoy parts of this story. It just wasn't as great as I'd hoped.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
June 25, 2024
★★★.5 (3.5)
I enjoyed it at first because it was funny, and I liked their banter, but then halfway through, it started losing its charm. It felt off, like nothing really interested me enough, even when they finally got intimate. I still felt they were falling first for lust and only a little for genuine love. Additionally, the way both of them were mature adults but acted like teenagers playing a silly bet was so cringeworthy. Thankfully, this book was fast-paced, and the story was so easy to follow that I could finish it.
I enjoyed it at first because it was funny, and I liked their banter, but then halfway through, it started losing its charm. It felt off, like nothing really interested me enough, even when they finally got intimate. I still felt they were falling first for lust and only a little for genuine love. Additionally, the way both of them were mature adults but acted like teenagers playing a silly bet was so cringeworthy. Thankfully, this book was fast-paced, and the story was so easy to follow that I could finish it.
October 19, 2024
I was able to get an advanced listening copy of A Rivalry of Hearts by Tessonja Odette from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media and was pleasantly surprised that it was not just dual POV but also dual narration. Both narrators sold their character’s emotional turmoil well. This was a fun take on Fae that balanced world building with romantic tension and a heavy amount of well-done spice. It is a fun rivals to lovers competition with an added Bridgerton-but-make-it- Fae world vibe that I really enjoyed!
May 12, 2024
— 4.5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 407 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Tessonja Odette
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Crystal Moon Press
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 12 June 2024
What you can expect:
— Adult Fantasy RomCom
— Interconnected Standalone Series
— First Person X Dual POV
— Academic Rivals-To-Lovers
— Hate-To-Love
— Forced Proximity
— Reverse Grumpy X Sunshine
— Found Family
— Fae Bargain Of Seduction
— Slow-Burn Romance
— Open Door Spice
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: sexually explicit content (including public displays of sexual activity and voyeurism), alcohol and substance use, adult profanity, death of a parental figure (past, mentioned), chronic illness with poor prognosis, intended sexual assault of an inebriated person (non-explicit, perpetrator is stopped before the attempt).
𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:
A Rivalry of Hearts is the first instalment in the Fae Flings and Corset Strings series by author Tessonja Odette. Two rival writers. One prestigious publishing contract. A bargain of hearts and seduction. They say never bargain with the fae. They also say don’t get drunk on fae wine. Yet romance author Edwina Danforth has managed a blunder with both on her first visit to the infamous faelands. Now she's trapped in a magic-fueled bet she barely remembers with a man she’d be happier to forget. The terms? Whoever can bed the most lovers during their month-long dueling book tour wins a coveted publishing contract. The win should be easy for Edwina. She’s known for penning scintillating tales of whirlwind romance. There’s just one her imagination vastly exceeds her bedroom experience. But when failure means plummeting her career back into obscurity, losing isn’t an option. Her handsome fae rival, William Haywood, poses an even greater challenge. Not only are his looks as aggravatingly perfect as his track record behind closed doors, but he has his own reasons for playing to win, and he won’t go down without a fight. Unless, of course, it’s a different kind of going down. In that case, he’s fair game. Edwina and William clash in a rivalry of romance. But what happens when their objects of desire…turn out to be each other?
𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
A Rivalry of Hearts is giving 'Divine Rivals’ meets ‘Emily Wilde's' in the best possible way. Featuring a grumpy heroine with a compelling narrative voice and a dashing Fae rival that will get reader's heart racing... this is not a romantic Fantasy romcom to be missed in 2024. I went into the tale ready to be swept into a funny and banter-filled dialogue, and I was not left disappointed. This book delivered in everything that I hope it would, and I swear there is not better feeling as a reader when your expectations are met to the point you feel giddy and excited. Author Tessonja Odette delivers on the whimsical and romantic setting which was further supported through the narrative of our heroine, Edwina, as she discovers the isle of Faerwyvae for the very first time. A Rivalry of Hearts felt well-paced as it fairly balances the authentic relationship development with the sexually explicit content, and as this is my introduction to the author I look forward to going back and reading their earlier works. The story read with ease and before long I realised how quickly I had devoured its contents, and I look forward to the continuation of this standalone series with Daphne and Monty's story.
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭:
The overall plot in A Rivalry of Hearts was a lot of fun whilst leaving room for suspense and a keenness for more. The bet itself was a bit ridiculous in a quirky and comical way, especially in which the circumstances of the bet is established. Following Edwina and William as they traverse around Faerwyvae for their joined book tour created a beautiful and immersive setting for the plot as the reader is granted a deeper insight into the lifestyle of the fae and the differences to their courts. Rivals-to-lovers is a timeless-feeling trope and is one of my absolute favourites to explore across all genres, and it felt written to perfection between our two main characters. The best way I can summarise the plot is that it felt like a feel-good story with its themes of ambition, sense of found family and character growth. What's not to love about following two stubborn rivals who are determined to be come out on top as the declared winner, who in return find an unexpected love along the way with a guaranteed happily ever after? It’s the ultimate combination.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
I cannot begin to articulate how much I adored both main characters in A Rivalry of Hearts, and I'm beyond thrilled that we were granted an intimate insight into the inner workings to their thoughts in this dual-POV tale. Edwina felt raw and relatable as we follow her on her journey as a struggling and ambitious woman in a male-dominated field. Her unwillingness to publish under a male pseudonym regardless to the fact that it would serve to further her career was commendable as she continued to challenge a woman's role and identity in society. Edwina writes sex-positive romances in a world where human woman are still expected to maintain their propriety and become dutiful wives, mothers and homemakers. She continues to challenge those ideals simply by her way of life, and I found myself riveted by Edwina's passion and determination to make a name for herself as she truly is. Her flaws made her a raw and relatable character, and I felt proud of Edwina's growth as she worked towards holding herself accountable whilst acknowledging the luck she has had in life by being born into a wealthy family. Edwina's ambition and success is entirely her own, but that doesn't disregard the awareness that she has a life of stability to fall back on which is more than what many can relate to in her hometown. Her prickly, prideful and quick-tempered wit around her nemesis was a delight to follow, as was her inner turmoil as those feelings of resentment gradually developed into something more. Edwina Danforth was a wonderful main character to follow, and I'm happy to end her tale with a sense of gratification and pride for her overall development.
Edwina's first impression of William Haywood is not the best as he came across as arrogant, all-knowing and boastful. I found it really interesting to learn about the multiple layers that William possessed as we divulged past the façade he presents and got to know the 'real' Will. At his core, William is a family-orientated driven character that will go to any lengths to protect those that he loves, which is trait that is as admirable as it is formidable. His flirty persona and dedication to riling up Edwina was hilarious, and it was far too easy to fall in love with him as a reader. Will's protective instincts towards Edwina was everything and frankly, very much needed. Edwina's often displays a lack of consideration for herself in an unfamiliar setting, so despite their rivalry and original dislike towards one another, William often stepped up in defence of her when it was required. I enjoyed getting to know Will's character in a more intimate nature as the story progressed, especially the limitations he faced and the detrimental impact that had in his original career choice. I felt really bad for him, however I admit to enjoying those limitations as they worked in the favour of his relationship progression with Edwina. William's steamy lines and willingness to please as a lover made him the ultimate book boyfriend, and I couldn't love him any more.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
The development between Edwina and William in A Rivalry of Hearts was written to perfection and is what makes this story what it is. Their rivalry was immediate as they were quick to discover the high-stakes that was placed upon the success of their joined tour, and it was a lot of fun following the chaotic pair as they scrambled to best one another during their bet. Tensions were high, academic and sexual alike, and I really enjoyed following our two main characters as they develop from dislike to friends to... more amdist their rivalry. The longing and tension was had me screaming in delight as I eagerly awaited the 'first move' during their slow burn romance, and I definitely found it worth the wait. I adore how author Tessonja Odette navigated the spicy scenes and their underlining intimate nature. The emotions that surface during these moments added an emotional vulnerability that helped to further the romantic development, and I adore how well Edwina and Will compliment one another despite being opposites. Will's understanding and unwavering acceptance of who Edwina is was such an important distinction, as growing up Edwina constantly felt under pressure by her peers to conform to societal standards. His willingness to work with her when her creative mindset took control and his gentle approach to bringing her back to the present... this man can do no wrong. Edwina's keenness to learn about the way of the fae was endearing and enriching as the reader is also on this journey of learning along side her. Her main want being to know the real Will underneath the 'roles' that he plays, and her dedication to showing how treasured he is. Edwina and Will are so perfectly matched, and whilst they are faced with their struggles surrounding the impending contract and secrets, I was thrilled to see them prioritise communication and better as a couple in return.
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
I adored the first instalment to the Fae Flings and Corset Strings series, and I couldn't recommend it any more. It was fun and slightly chaotic. Unbelievable in a humorous way with a strong cast of endearing side characters that I cannot wait to explore in future instalments to this series. This is my first Tessonja Odette read and it will absolutely not be my last.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 407 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Tessonja Odette
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Crystal Moon Press
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 12 June 2024
What you can expect:
— Adult Fantasy RomCom
— Interconnected Standalone Series
— First Person X Dual POV
— Academic Rivals-To-Lovers
— Hate-To-Love
— Forced Proximity
— Reverse Grumpy X Sunshine
— Found Family
— Fae Bargain Of Seduction
— Slow-Burn Romance
— Open Door Spice
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: sexually explicit content (including public displays of sexual activity and voyeurism), alcohol and substance use, adult profanity, death of a parental figure (past, mentioned), chronic illness with poor prognosis, intended sexual assault of an inebriated person (non-explicit, perpetrator is stopped before the attempt).
𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:
A Rivalry of Hearts is the first instalment in the Fae Flings and Corset Strings series by author Tessonja Odette. Two rival writers. One prestigious publishing contract. A bargain of hearts and seduction. They say never bargain with the fae. They also say don’t get drunk on fae wine. Yet romance author Edwina Danforth has managed a blunder with both on her first visit to the infamous faelands. Now she's trapped in a magic-fueled bet she barely remembers with a man she’d be happier to forget. The terms? Whoever can bed the most lovers during their month-long dueling book tour wins a coveted publishing contract. The win should be easy for Edwina. She’s known for penning scintillating tales of whirlwind romance. There’s just one her imagination vastly exceeds her bedroom experience. But when failure means plummeting her career back into obscurity, losing isn’t an option. Her handsome fae rival, William Haywood, poses an even greater challenge. Not only are his looks as aggravatingly perfect as his track record behind closed doors, but he has his own reasons for playing to win, and he won’t go down without a fight. Unless, of course, it’s a different kind of going down. In that case, he’s fair game. Edwina and William clash in a rivalry of romance. But what happens when their objects of desire…turn out to be each other?
𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
A Rivalry of Hearts is giving 'Divine Rivals’ meets ‘Emily Wilde's' in the best possible way. Featuring a grumpy heroine with a compelling narrative voice and a dashing Fae rival that will get reader's heart racing... this is not a romantic Fantasy romcom to be missed in 2024. I went into the tale ready to be swept into a funny and banter-filled dialogue, and I was not left disappointed. This book delivered in everything that I hope it would, and I swear there is not better feeling as a reader when your expectations are met to the point you feel giddy and excited. Author Tessonja Odette delivers on the whimsical and romantic setting which was further supported through the narrative of our heroine, Edwina, as she discovers the isle of Faerwyvae for the very first time. A Rivalry of Hearts felt well-paced as it fairly balances the authentic relationship development with the sexually explicit content, and as this is my introduction to the author I look forward to going back and reading their earlier works. The story read with ease and before long I realised how quickly I had devoured its contents, and I look forward to the continuation of this standalone series with Daphne and Monty's story.
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭:
The overall plot in A Rivalry of Hearts was a lot of fun whilst leaving room for suspense and a keenness for more. The bet itself was a bit ridiculous in a quirky and comical way, especially in which the circumstances of the bet is established. Following Edwina and William as they traverse around Faerwyvae for their joined book tour created a beautiful and immersive setting for the plot as the reader is granted a deeper insight into the lifestyle of the fae and the differences to their courts. Rivals-to-lovers is a timeless-feeling trope and is one of my absolute favourites to explore across all genres, and it felt written to perfection between our two main characters. The best way I can summarise the plot is that it felt like a feel-good story with its themes of ambition, sense of found family and character growth. What's not to love about following two stubborn rivals who are determined to be come out on top as the declared winner, who in return find an unexpected love along the way with a guaranteed happily ever after? It’s the ultimate combination.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
I cannot begin to articulate how much I adored both main characters in A Rivalry of Hearts, and I'm beyond thrilled that we were granted an intimate insight into the inner workings to their thoughts in this dual-POV tale. Edwina felt raw and relatable as we follow her on her journey as a struggling and ambitious woman in a male-dominated field. Her unwillingness to publish under a male pseudonym regardless to the fact that it would serve to further her career was commendable as she continued to challenge a woman's role and identity in society. Edwina writes sex-positive romances in a world where human woman are still expected to maintain their propriety and become dutiful wives, mothers and homemakers. She continues to challenge those ideals simply by her way of life, and I found myself riveted by Edwina's passion and determination to make a name for herself as she truly is. Her flaws made her a raw and relatable character, and I felt proud of Edwina's growth as she worked towards holding herself accountable whilst acknowledging the luck she has had in life by being born into a wealthy family. Edwina's ambition and success is entirely her own, but that doesn't disregard the awareness that she has a life of stability to fall back on which is more than what many can relate to in her hometown. Her prickly, prideful and quick-tempered wit around her nemesis was a delight to follow, as was her inner turmoil as those feelings of resentment gradually developed into something more. Edwina Danforth was a wonderful main character to follow, and I'm happy to end her tale with a sense of gratification and pride for her overall development.
Edwina's first impression of William Haywood is not the best as he came across as arrogant, all-knowing and boastful. I found it really interesting to learn about the multiple layers that William possessed as we divulged past the façade he presents and got to know the 'real' Will. At his core, William is a family-orientated driven character that will go to any lengths to protect those that he loves, which is trait that is as admirable as it is formidable. His flirty persona and dedication to riling up Edwina was hilarious, and it was far too easy to fall in love with him as a reader. Will's protective instincts towards Edwina was everything and frankly, very much needed. Edwina's often displays a lack of consideration for herself in an unfamiliar setting, so despite their rivalry and original dislike towards one another, William often stepped up in defence of her when it was required. I enjoyed getting to know Will's character in a more intimate nature as the story progressed, especially the limitations he faced and the detrimental impact that had in his original career choice. I felt really bad for him, however I admit to enjoying those limitations as they worked in the favour of his relationship progression with Edwina. William's steamy lines and willingness to please as a lover made him the ultimate book boyfriend, and I couldn't love him any more.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
The development between Edwina and William in A Rivalry of Hearts was written to perfection and is what makes this story what it is. Their rivalry was immediate as they were quick to discover the high-stakes that was placed upon the success of their joined tour, and it was a lot of fun following the chaotic pair as they scrambled to best one another during their bet. Tensions were high, academic and sexual alike, and I really enjoyed following our two main characters as they develop from dislike to friends to... more amdist their rivalry. The longing and tension was had me screaming in delight as I eagerly awaited the 'first move' during their slow burn romance, and I definitely found it worth the wait. I adore how author Tessonja Odette navigated the spicy scenes and their underlining intimate nature. The emotions that surface during these moments added an emotional vulnerability that helped to further the romantic development, and I adore how well Edwina and Will compliment one another despite being opposites. Will's understanding and unwavering acceptance of who Edwina is was such an important distinction, as growing up Edwina constantly felt under pressure by her peers to conform to societal standards. His willingness to work with her when her creative mindset took control and his gentle approach to bringing her back to the present... this man can do no wrong. Edwina's keenness to learn about the way of the fae was endearing and enriching as the reader is also on this journey of learning along side her. Her main want being to know the real Will underneath the 'roles' that he plays, and her dedication to showing how treasured he is. Edwina and Will are so perfectly matched, and whilst they are faced with their struggles surrounding the impending contract and secrets, I was thrilled to see them prioritise communication and better as a couple in return.
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
I adored the first instalment to the Fae Flings and Corset Strings series, and I couldn't recommend it any more. It was fun and slightly chaotic. Unbelievable in a humorous way with a strong cast of endearing side characters that I cannot wait to explore in future instalments to this series. This is my first Tessonja Odette read and it will absolutely not be my last.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲.
April 9, 2025
5/5
Мені дуже сподобалося, я буквально не могла відірватися від цієї книги, поки не дочитала
Історія про ворожнечу і суперництво авторки еротичних романів і поета, яке переросло в кохання.
Едвіну запросили в книжкове турне по одному з її любовних романів, який набрав популярності в Фейрівеї - країні фейрі, але згодом з'ясовується, що разом з нею свої книги також просуватиме поет-фейрі Вільям. За результатами турне, комусь з них запропонують вигідний видавничий контракт. Обидві сторони мають вагомі причини і мотивацію для його отримання. Отож парочка заключає парі — хто спокусить більше коханців, той і виграє та забере контракт.
Це було дуже захоплююче і цікаво. Головні герої зводили з розуму своїми постійними перепалками, фліртом і підтрунюванням один одного. Напругу між ними відчував кожен, хто знаходився поряд.
Едвіна - дуже яскрава особистість, впевнена в собі, трохи егоцентрична, прямолінійна і завжди ставить себе та свої цілі на перше місце. Іноді вона дратувала мене своєю поведінкою, але більшу частину книги я сміялася над тим, що вилітало з її рота. Ця жінка не знає скромності щодо теми сексу, вільно про нього розмовляє і цілком комфортно себе почуває, коли навколо відбуваються всякі цікаві речі. Ба більше, її допитливість не знає меж😏😂
Вільям - ще та булочка з корицею. Турботливий, відданий, захисний, веселий і постійно фліртуючий хлопець. Мені дуже сподобалося , як він потроху усвідомлював свої почуття, не намагався їх заперечувати і завжди був чесним перед Едвіною. Яку б роль він не грав перед іншими з нею був справжнім. Вперше, я навіть не знаю, що ще сказати про чоловіка, бо головна героїня перетягнула на себе всю ковдру😂
Була одна суперечлива ситуація в їхніх стосунках, яка мені не сподобалася, бо в цілому, не люблю таке в книгах. Але я рада, що вони довго з цим не тягнули і швидко вирішили.
Окрім яскравих головних героїв тут також є чудові другорядні, які мене заінтригували, можливо, колись прочитаю і про них.
Також в книзі доволі простий і зрозумілий всесвіт. Світобудова трохи нагадувала ДШІТ, особливо з назвами дворів і перевтіленнями фейрі на тварин.
І хай вас не обманює обкладинка, це не зовсім миле фентезі. Було багато несподіваних для мене моментів, пов'язаних з сексуальністю і самовираженням.
В цілому, я отримала багато емоцій від книги, тому не бачу причин не поставити 5 зірочок
Мені дуже сподобалося, я буквально не могла відірватися від цієї книги, поки не дочитала
Історія про ворожнечу і суперництво авторки еротичних романів і поета, яке переросло в кохання.
Едвіну запросили в книжкове турне по одному з її любовних романів, який набрав популярності в Фейрівеї - країні фейрі, але згодом з'ясовується, що разом з нею свої книги також просуватиме поет-фейрі Вільям. За результатами турне, комусь з них запропонують вигідний видавничий контракт. Обидві сторони мають вагомі причини і мотивацію для його отримання. Отож парочка заключає парі — хто спокусить більше коханців, той і виграє та забере контракт.
Це було дуже захоплююче і цікаво. Головні герої зводили з розуму своїми постійними перепалками, фліртом і підтрунюванням один одного. Напругу між ними відчував кожен, хто знаходився поряд.
Едвіна - дуже яскрава особистість, впевнена в собі, трохи егоцентрична, прямолінійна і завжди ставить себе та свої цілі на перше місце. Іноді вона дратувала мене своєю поведінкою, але більшу частину книги я сміялася над тим, що вилітало з її рота. Ця жінка не знає скромності щодо теми сексу, вільно про нього розмовляє і цілком комфортно себе почуває, коли навколо відбуваються всякі цікаві речі. Ба більше, її допитливість не знає меж😏😂
Вільям - ще та булочка з корицею. Турботливий, відданий, захисний, веселий і постійно фліртуючий хлопець. Мені дуже сподобалося , як він потроху усвідомлював свої почуття, не намагався їх заперечувати і завжди був чесним перед Едвіною. Яку б роль він не грав перед іншими з нею був справжнім. Вперше, я навіть не знаю, що ще сказати про чоловіка, бо головна героїня перетягнула на себе всю ковдру😂
Була одна суперечлива ситуація в їхніх стосунках, яка мені не сподобалася, бо в цілому, не люблю таке в книгах. Але я рада, що вони довго з цим не тягнули і швидко вирішили.
Окрім яскравих головних героїв тут також є чудові другорядні, які мене заінтригували, можливо, колись прочитаю і про них.
Також в книзі доволі простий і зрозумілий всесвіт. Світобудова трохи нагадувала ДШІТ, особливо з назвами дворів і перевтіленнями фейрі на тварин.
І хай вас не обманює обкладинка, це не зовсім миле фентезі. Було багато несподіваних для мене моментів, пов'язаних з сексуальністю і самовираженням.
В цілому, я отримала багато емоцій від книги, тому не бачу причин не поставити 5 зірочок
June 7, 2024
A delightful fantasy rom-com between a romance author and a traditionally trained stage actor.
This book is pretty much everything I could want:
- A fantasy standalone to kick off a series of interconnected standalone books
- Fae bargains/Spicy bets
- Rivals to lovers
Edwina and William are both amusing, relatable characters, with chemistry and banter to back up their steady attraction to one another. Once they gave into their true feelings for one another, there was no one else for either of them.
I had such a fun time with this. Was it predictable? Sure, but I still ate it up in a matter of hours.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crystal Moon Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This book is pretty much everything I could want:
- A fantasy standalone to kick off a series of interconnected standalone books
- Fae bargains/Spicy bets
- Rivals to lovers
Edwina and William are both amusing, relatable characters, with chemistry and banter to back up their steady attraction to one another. Once they gave into their true feelings for one another, there was no one else for either of them.
I had such a fun time with this. Was it predictable? Sure, but I still ate it up in a matter of hours.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crystal Moon Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 29, 2025
💛 Whimsical Gaslamp Fantasy
✨ Bookish Summary:
This was exactly the cozy, whimsical fae romcom escape I needed! The vibes were charming, and I’m a sucker for enemies-to-lovers. Things got a little muddled around the 75% mark and dragged just a bit, but overall it was an adorable read!
📖 Tropes:
💞 Enemies to Lovers
💞 One Bed Trope
💞 Gaslamp Fantasy
💞 Forced Proximity
💞 Magical Bet / Deal with the Fae
🏰 Worldbuilding:
Whimsical, magical, and cozy! It’s like Bridgerton meets a magical romcom.
📝 Final Thoughts: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m 100% continuing with the series.
🎧 Narration Style: Dual POV
⭐️ Audio Score: 4 stars
🔁 Re-listen Worthy: For sure! Light, easy, and fun.
✨ Bookish Summary:
This was exactly the cozy, whimsical fae romcom escape I needed! The vibes were charming, and I’m a sucker for enemies-to-lovers. Things got a little muddled around the 75% mark and dragged just a bit, but overall it was an adorable read!
📖 Tropes:
💞 Enemies to Lovers
💞 One Bed Trope
💞 Gaslamp Fantasy
💞 Forced Proximity
💞 Magical Bet / Deal with the Fae
🏰 Worldbuilding:
Whimsical, magical, and cozy! It’s like Bridgerton meets a magical romcom.
📝 Final Thoughts: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m 100% continuing with the series.
🎧 Narration Style: Dual POV
⭐️ Audio Score: 4 stars
🔁 Re-listen Worthy: For sure! Light, easy, and fun.
May 31, 2024
This was SUCH a blast to read! Historical rom com with fae, steamy, rivals to lovers, is my perfect combination. The bargain and rivalry between Edwina and William was so juicy and fun! Their chemistry and hateful banter was truly fabulous and the use of nicknames made me giggle. I loved watching their tension grow and witnessing their characters develop this book. The side characters and overall atmosphere added so much to this book and I cannot wait for the next book in this universe!
Check this out for a fun, whimsical historical fantasy.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
Check this out for a fun, whimsical historical fantasy.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
October 11, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!!
This was an adorable and super fun book! I loved it so much that I read it in one sitting. I adored Edwina as the main character; she was such a perfectly weird lead, and I loved her so much! William was a really great MMC, and the side characters were super fun as well! I loved the relationship between William and Edwina; the banter was so good, the chemistry was amazing, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow. I enjoyed how both William and Edwina were complex characters with their own problems to overcome throughout the book. I also really appreciated that they had a pretty good level of communication! Overall, I absolutely loved everything about this book, and I cannot wait for the next one in the series!! :)
This was an adorable and super fun book! I loved it so much that I read it in one sitting. I adored Edwina as the main character; she was such a perfectly weird lead, and I loved her so much! William was a really great MMC, and the side characters were super fun as well! I loved the relationship between William and Edwina; the banter was so good, the chemistry was amazing, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow. I enjoyed how both William and Edwina were complex characters with their own problems to overcome throughout the book. I also really appreciated that they had a pretty good level of communication! Overall, I absolutely loved everything about this book, and I cannot wait for the next one in the series!! :)
July 23, 2024
it’s not perfect but it’s like a very smutty emily wilde, so if that strikes your fancy i recommend it! silly and fun times were had
August 11, 2024
This book promised enemies-to-lovers but delivered enemies-to-snoozers.
July 21, 2025
⭐⭐
2 stars.
➕ What I liked :
Bespectacled heroine.
The Fae hero is not the typical age a supernatural being is in many paranormal/fantasy books.
(He is not hundreds or thousands of years older than the heroine… but he is in fact a little younger than the heroine.)
A little tiny bit “older” heroine (29)
➖ What I disliked:
The banter is not really banter but more like spiteful/mean-spirited and hurtful bickering …. and sometimes it is also very cringey.
Cringey.
The world building feels all over the place and does not know if it wants to be a modern fantasy or historical romance with fantasy vibes/elements…. Or something totally different it was just confusing.
Rather bland plot.
Nonsensical even for this genre.
The heroines inconsistent and contradicting personality… especially with the part about the heroine writing/writes “steamy romance” but when doing “research” and taking notes for her book when watching people have sex … she is prudish and maidenly… that makes no sense if she writes “steamy romance” and is curious about sex etc. Even if she is a maiden/virgin… she could/would maybe be somewhat embarrassed ...but not that unsettled and prudish and maidenly.🤦♀️
Problematic moments.
(The rather offensive but also inane demisexual rep… but also some stupid and insensitive comments about SA etc.)
Verbose.
Unconvincing romance and chemistry.
Too much telling and not enough showing.
The heroine is 29 years old but acts like she is rather much younger than that…. With her immaturity etc.
Uninteresting main characters that also lack depth and have rather flat personalities.
Annoying main characters.
Unlikable hero.
Formulaic in the character description/visual appearance/character choice about both main characters.
(Heroine: petite/ very short etc. Hero= tall etc.)
2 stars.
➕ What I liked :
Bespectacled heroine.
The Fae hero is not the typical age a supernatural being is in many paranormal/fantasy books.
(He is not hundreds or thousands of years older than the heroine… but he is in fact a little younger than the heroine.)
A little tiny bit “older” heroine (29)
➖ What I disliked:
The banter is not really banter but more like spiteful/mean-spirited and hurtful bickering …. and sometimes it is also very cringey.
Cringey.
The world building feels all over the place and does not know if it wants to be a modern fantasy or historical romance with fantasy vibes/elements…. Or something totally different it was just confusing.
Rather bland plot.
Nonsensical even for this genre.
The heroines inconsistent and contradicting personality… especially with the part about the heroine writing/writes “steamy romance” but when doing “research” and taking notes for her book when watching people have sex … she is prudish and maidenly… that makes no sense if she writes “steamy romance” and is curious about sex etc. Even if she is a maiden/virgin… she could/would maybe be somewhat embarrassed ...but not that unsettled and prudish and maidenly.🤦♀️
Problematic moments.
(The rather offensive but also inane demisexual rep… but also some stupid and insensitive comments about SA etc.)
Verbose.
Unconvincing romance and chemistry.
Too much telling and not enough showing.
The heroine is 29 years old but acts like she is rather much younger than that…. With her immaturity etc.
Uninteresting main characters that also lack depth and have rather flat personalities.
Annoying main characters.
Unlikable hero.
Formulaic in the character description/visual appearance/character choice about both main characters.
(Heroine: petite/ very short etc. Hero= tall etc.)
November 8, 2024
“I will come back. I will always come back. It’s safe to let me go a little, and it’s safe to follow your dreams as well.”
4.25/5⭐️ and 2.5/5🌶️ on the spicy scale. This was a rec by Koisty and I adored it.
To start off, we have Edwina who is a human author making her way into fae lands to do a tour for her published books. However, due to a mishap, she is unfortunately forced to do a joint tour with another fellow author, William. It is hate at first sight and this results in an absolute tension filled bet between the two whereby they have to engage in physical intimacy with as many lovers as possible and this is what sets the whole tone for the book.
Edwina is a fiesty human woman who is very independent and takes a lot of pride in her works. Although she has experienced some sexism from her old publisher, it does not stop her from standing up for her rights and wanting to pursue her career even more. So when a mysterious contract comes to light, she will do whatever it takes to achieve it but that is where things get messy with the introduction of William.
William comes across as a very cocky fae and takes full advantage of his looks to appeal to his fans. This results in his first meeting with Edwina to become unsavoury, to say the least. He has started on the wrong foot and Edwina is going to step on the other and make him suffer. Due to their competitiveness and disdain for each other, the bet has been laid out and they have the whole book tour to get through to see who the winner will be.
This is where it gets good because seeing this happen in William's perspective made it even more exciting and I was secretly rooting for him all the way. The tension between these two had me holding my breath for moments and I could not stop rereading it several times to fully appreciate it. Their banter with each other was a real treat and I devoured every interaction.
I did appreciate how Edwina was so headstrong in her decisions even at the end and it makes it so relatable, even with knowing the real reason why William wishes to win their bet so badly. It was a nice little lesson for myself, I would say.
My only issue is towards the end. It seemed a little rushed to me and it altered my experience slightly but it all worked out fine and they got their happy ending. Overall, this was a lovely read and again, thanks to Koisty for recommending this to me. If you like enemies to lovers with some yummy spice involved, I would highly suggest reading this✨
4.25/5⭐️ and 2.5/5🌶️ on the spicy scale. This was a rec by Koisty and I adored it.
To start off, we have Edwina who is a human author making her way into fae lands to do a tour for her published books. However, due to a mishap, she is unfortunately forced to do a joint tour with another fellow author, William. It is hate at first sight and this results in an absolute tension filled bet between the two whereby they have to engage in physical intimacy with as many lovers as possible and this is what sets the whole tone for the book.
Edwina is a fiesty human woman who is very independent and takes a lot of pride in her works. Although she has experienced some sexism from her old publisher, it does not stop her from standing up for her rights and wanting to pursue her career even more. So when a mysterious contract comes to light, she will do whatever it takes to achieve it but that is where things get messy with the introduction of William.
William comes across as a very cocky fae and takes full advantage of his looks to appeal to his fans. This results in his first meeting with Edwina to become unsavoury, to say the least. He has started on the wrong foot and Edwina is going to step on the other and make him suffer. Due to their competitiveness and disdain for each other, the bet has been laid out and they have the whole book tour to get through to see who the winner will be.
This is where it gets good because seeing this happen in William's perspective made it even more exciting and I was secretly rooting for him all the way. The tension between these two had me holding my breath for moments and I could not stop rereading it several times to fully appreciate it. Their banter with each other was a real treat and I devoured every interaction.
I did appreciate how Edwina was so headstrong in her decisions even at the end and it makes it so relatable, even with knowing the real reason why William wishes to win their bet so badly. It was a nice little lesson for myself, I would say.
My only issue is towards the end. It seemed a little rushed to me and it altered my experience slightly but it all worked out fine and they got their happy ending. Overall, this was a lovely read and again, thanks to Koisty for recommending this to me. If you like enemies to lovers with some yummy spice involved, I would highly suggest reading this✨
April 18, 2024
This book was so good! The hate-to-love was immaculate and I absolutely adored the glares and quips that Edwina and William threw at each other. They had amazing chemistry and the build-up was so worth it.
Edwina is a bit of quirky heroine, which is why it took a few chapters for her to grow on me. She could be quite prideful and judgemental, but she is also capable of recognizing when she is in the wrong. She owns up to her mistakes. I really came to admire her inquisitive nature and determination as well. She was full of so much passion and sass and was the perfect complement to William. And my god, William! I fell in love with this man right from the start. His flirty persona and his smirks just had me in a choke hold. He was also respectful and protective. William can say that Edwina vexes him, but that doesn’t stop him from constantly looking out for her. I just loved the two of them together!
As for the plot, I found the whole bet a bit odd. I mean why would anyone bet their career on how many intimate encounters they can have. It just seemed a little ridiculous to me. But that was the only complaint I really had with the book.
Overall, I had so much fun with A Rivalry of Hearts and I’m itching for Daphne and Monty’s book. The crumbs we got between them… I have no words🤭
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Edwina is a bit of quirky heroine, which is why it took a few chapters for her to grow on me. She could be quite prideful and judgemental, but she is also capable of recognizing when she is in the wrong. She owns up to her mistakes. I really came to admire her inquisitive nature and determination as well. She was full of so much passion and sass and was the perfect complement to William. And my god, William! I fell in love with this man right from the start. His flirty persona and his smirks just had me in a choke hold. He was also respectful and protective. William can say that Edwina vexes him, but that doesn’t stop him from constantly looking out for her. I just loved the two of them together!
As for the plot, I found the whole bet a bit odd. I mean why would anyone bet their career on how many intimate encounters they can have. It just seemed a little ridiculous to me. But that was the only complaint I really had with the book.
Overall, I had so much fun with A Rivalry of Hearts and I’m itching for Daphne and Monty’s book. The crumbs we got between them… I have no words🤭
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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