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Sweets and Sycamores
❤️ A cozy witchy slow burn romance ❤️
"Good Witch meets Gilmore Girls with K-drama vibes"
Allie Wells is a walking fire hazard. Having manifested her power twenty years later than her peer Witches, Allie struggles to master the wild flames burning inside her. When this lack of control threatens to set the coven’s manor on fire, Allie is sent away to learn how to use her power and has until Hallows Eve to do so, or she risks being kicked out of the coven.
Dominic Ranford has returned to his hometown after many years of carrying out his missions all over the world. While running the town’s bakery and being spectacularly unsuccessful at fulfilling the secret task that brought him to Sycamore Falls, Dominic’s life is upended by a clumsy Witch looking to work for him…and live with him.
The unexpected collaboration between Allie and Dominic sparks flames of power and love. Will they burn each other, or burn together?
"Good Witch meets Gilmore Girls with K-drama vibes"
Allie Wells is a walking fire hazard. Having manifested her power twenty years later than her peer Witches, Allie struggles to master the wild flames burning inside her. When this lack of control threatens to set the coven’s manor on fire, Allie is sent away to learn how to use her power and has until Hallows Eve to do so, or she risks being kicked out of the coven.
Dominic Ranford has returned to his hometown after many years of carrying out his missions all over the world. While running the town’s bakery and being spectacularly unsuccessful at fulfilling the secret task that brought him to Sycamore Falls, Dominic’s life is upended by a clumsy Witch looking to work for him…and live with him.
The unexpected collaboration between Allie and Dominic sparks flames of power and love. Will they burn each other, or burn together?
334 pages, Paperback
Published August 23, 2025
52 people are currently reading
1001 people want to read
About the author
Arianne Nicks
4 books69 followersHi there! I'm Arianne Nicks, a coffee-fueled self-published author who loves writing romance woven with magic ✨
My debut work is a paranormal romance trilogy, the "Soul Erosion" series, completed in 2024.
My upcoming book, "Sweets and Sycamores," is a cozy witchy slow burn romance releasing in September 2025!
If you want to become part of my lovely community, you can subscribe to my newsletter here:
https://ariannenicks.com/newsletter/
You can always find me on one of my Social Media accounts below:
Instagram - @authorariannenicks
Threads - @authorariannenicks
TikTok - @author.ariannenicks
My debut work is a paranormal romance trilogy, the "Soul Erosion" series, completed in 2024.
My upcoming book, "Sweets and Sycamores," is a cozy witchy slow burn romance releasing in September 2025!
If you want to become part of my lovely community, you can subscribe to my newsletter here:
https://ariannenicks.com/newsletter/
You can always find me on one of my Social Media accounts below:
Instagram - @authorariannenicks
Threads - @authorariannenicks
TikTok - @author.ariannenicks
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews
September 13, 2025
➸ 4 stars
𓈀 𓄹𓂃 thank you to arianne nicks for the arc <3
the perfect mix of cute and cozy and the perfect fall read!! if you like grumpy x sunshine, witches, magic, sweets and baking, this ones is for you!!! this book feels like a warm cup of coffee with a sweet pastry while the leaves outside are turning red. i just had so much fun with this book and was smiley the entire time!! i quickly fell in love with these characters and im eagerly excited for that’s to come!! i’m not ready to leave sycamore falls quiet yet!!
➺ quotes
“Don’t be afraid to burn bright. I will put out all your fires.”
“You are the best for me.”
“Let every damn person in this world frown upon him. As long as Allie smiled at him, he did not care.”
“He wanted her. All of her. Mind, body, and soul.”
“Hearing her say “we” was the highlight of his day, every day.”
“Allie trusted him with everything in their life. Every time he was away from home, every time she was scared of trying something new. Just every time.”
“When his lovely Witch wife gave him her heart, Dominic started a life-long mission that would end on his last breath: cherishing and protecting it.”
“To the readers who love falling in love”
𓈀 𓄹𓂃 thank you to arianne nicks for the arc <3
the perfect mix of cute and cozy and the perfect fall read!! if you like grumpy x sunshine, witches, magic, sweets and baking, this ones is for you!!! this book feels like a warm cup of coffee with a sweet pastry while the leaves outside are turning red. i just had so much fun with this book and was smiley the entire time!! i quickly fell in love with these characters and im eagerly excited for that’s to come!! i’m not ready to leave sycamore falls quiet yet!!
➺ quotes
“Don’t be afraid to burn bright. I will put out all your fires.”
“You are the best for me.”
“Let every damn person in this world frown upon him. As long as Allie smiled at him, he did not care.”
“He wanted her. All of her. Mind, body, and soul.”
“Hearing her say “we” was the highlight of his day, every day.”
“Allie trusted him with everything in their life. Every time he was away from home, every time she was scared of trying something new. Just every time.”
“When his lovely Witch wife gave him her heart, Dominic started a life-long mission that would end on his last breath: cherishing and protecting it.”
September 14, 2025
4.5 Stars
This was so fun. I loved the characters and the atmosphere of this. The setting of the bakery in Sycamore Falls was perfect for Autumn. The found family and the addition of Ekko the purple dragon were perfect. I'm so intrigued to know if we might get a second story from these characters with Mia and Brandon specifically - I'm desperate to know more about what's going on there.
The yearning had me giggling and kicking my feet with this book as well. And the fact that it was closed door was actually perfect, it only added to the anticipation and tension between Allie and Dom. Such a wonderfully, wholesome story.
I was on the street team for this book. Thank you to Arianne and her team for sending me an early copy.
This was so fun. I loved the characters and the atmosphere of this. The setting of the bakery in Sycamore Falls was perfect for Autumn. The found family and the addition of Ekko the purple dragon were perfect. I'm so intrigued to know if we might get a second story from these characters with Mia and Brandon specifically - I'm desperate to know more about what's going on there.
The yearning had me giggling and kicking my feet with this book as well. And the fact that it was closed door was actually perfect, it only added to the anticipation and tension between Allie and Dom. Such a wonderfully, wholesome story.
I was on the street team for this book. Thank you to Arianne and her team for sending me an early copy.
September 5, 2025
♡ the slowest of burns istg
♡ small cozy town
♡ grumpy/sunshine
♡ magic, witches & all the autumn vibes
♡ baby dragon!!! 💜
This was the sweetest, coziest read to start the autumn season with!! All the amazing seasonal feels — warm sweaters, pumpkin lattes, baking, pumpkin carving, stepping on crispy leaves for that satisfying crunch sound, harvest fall festivals. The vibes and setting of the book were absolutely immaculate and beautifully written.
I loved these characters so much, esp our baby dragon Ekko! There was a lot of build up for side characters too, enough so that there might be a second book?! I would love to read their story. Otherwise….I enjoyed the promise of this book but I also hoped for a bit more? I felt like some of the plot was left unanswered and wondering if it’ll ever be addressed tbh
💌 Thank you so much Arianne Nicks for the eARC! ♡
♡ small cozy town
♡ grumpy/sunshine
♡ magic, witches & all the autumn vibes
♡ baby dragon!!! 💜
This was the sweetest, coziest read to start the autumn season with!! All the amazing seasonal feels — warm sweaters, pumpkin lattes, baking, pumpkin carving, stepping on crispy leaves for that satisfying crunch sound, harvest fall festivals. The vibes and setting of the book were absolutely immaculate and beautifully written.
I loved these characters so much, esp our baby dragon Ekko! There was a lot of build up for side characters too, enough so that there might be a second book?! I would love to read their story. Otherwise….I enjoyed the promise of this book but I also hoped for a bit more? I felt like some of the plot was left unanswered and wondering if it’ll ever be addressed tbh
💌 Thank you so much Arianne Nicks for the eARC! ♡
September 7, 2025
“Imperfect things have a beauty of their own” -Dom
Y’all! This read was so much fun and cozy!
I will do my best to avoid spoilers, as I would really love for you to read it. However, let me tell you, this was incredibly entertaining. It is fast-paced, super easy to read, and for the reader to keep track of the world and how things keep developing. The slow burn man!!!❤️🔥so sweet, so cozy, and realistic. I enjoy being able to see a good FMC growing into what she was meant to be and how she can go over all the stereotypes and rise to be better.
If you still haven’t decided to read it and add it to your TBR, I don’t know what you are waiting for. This is a must!
Thank you, Arianne Nick, for this amazing, cute story. It was an honor to be able to read it as an ARC and to be part of your street team.
P.S. - I won’t lie, I did have a few unanswered questions about the side characters, but Ari has worked series before, so now I wonder if another book can rise for this world to answer those loose ends. Either way, if it comes to it, here I am ready for them…
Y’all! This read was so much fun and cozy!
I will do my best to avoid spoilers, as I would really love for you to read it. However, let me tell you, this was incredibly entertaining. It is fast-paced, super easy to read, and for the reader to keep track of the world and how things keep developing. The slow burn man!!!❤️🔥so sweet, so cozy, and realistic. I enjoy being able to see a good FMC growing into what she was meant to be and how she can go over all the stereotypes and rise to be better.
If you still haven’t decided to read it and add it to your TBR, I don’t know what you are waiting for. This is a must!
Thank you, Arianne Nick, for this amazing, cute story. It was an honor to be able to read it as an ARC and to be part of your street team.
P.S. - I won’t lie, I did have a few unanswered questions about the side characters, but Ari has worked series before, so now I wonder if another book can rise for this world to answer those loose ends. Either way, if it comes to it, here I am ready for them…
September 3, 2025
Disclosure: I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review. As someone who loves supporting indie authors, I always aim to share thoughtful, fair feedback. While I have personal reading preferences like a love for fantasy, horses, or specific tropes, I never let that impact my rating unless it is relevant to the book’s intent or audience. I review with the genre and readership in mind.
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: YA – fade to black
I think I needed this book to start autumn. I love cozy reads and Sweets and Sycamores gave me everything I wanted. The setting was perfect, the witch with a little chaos getting kicked out and ending up at a bakery? Absolutely adorable. Dom was such a treat (pun intended) grumpy, speaking in grunts, but secretly pining for the little witch, helping her with everything, and learning her quirks to make her comfortable. He really is a dreamy man.
I loved the little mystery woven in, just enough to make the village feel authentic and give the story extra depth. The side characters were amazing and I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the series. I have a feeling it’s going to be wonderful. I was also really happy to see even a tiny bit of LGBTQ+ representation, now I need those girls’ story so badly!
This is the perfect cozy autumn starter, a little witchy goodness in book form. Added bonus if you read it in a café with your favorite drink and a slice of pie.
My absolute favourite scene from the book:
Allie: *chats with customer who is also a friend*
Dom: *jealous* "Be friendly on your own time.
The friend: *notices jealousy, snickers, gets even more friendly with Allie*
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: YA – fade to black
I think I needed this book to start autumn. I love cozy reads and Sweets and Sycamores gave me everything I wanted. The setting was perfect, the witch with a little chaos getting kicked out and ending up at a bakery? Absolutely adorable. Dom was such a treat (pun intended) grumpy, speaking in grunts, but secretly pining for the little witch, helping her with everything, and learning her quirks to make her comfortable. He really is a dreamy man.
I loved the little mystery woven in, just enough to make the village feel authentic and give the story extra depth. The side characters were amazing and I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the series. I have a feeling it’s going to be wonderful. I was also really happy to see even a tiny bit of LGBTQ+ representation, now I need those girls’ story so badly!
This is the perfect cozy autumn starter, a little witchy goodness in book form. Added bonus if you read it in a café with your favorite drink and a slice of pie.
My absolute favourite scene from the book:
Allie: *chats with customer who is also a friend*
Dom: *jealous* "Be friendly on your own time.
The friend: *notices jealousy, snickers, gets even more friendly with Allie*
July 31, 2025
Rating: 4/5 stars
*Thank you to the author for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I loved this story! It has ALL of the cozy, witchy, fall fantasy vibes.
It's got so many of the tropes I love, and I was so invested in not only the romance but also the story! There's actual stakes alongside the slow-burn, yet fiery romance between Allie and Dom (which is only made better because he's a baker - um, yeah, sign me up). I appreciated how many different things happened in terms of the town of Sycamore Falls, the threat it's under, the challenges and tasks Allie and Dom are facing, and some intriguing twists and reveals! I loved how it was fast-paced in the sense that there was always something happening to drive the plot forward - a new challenge, a new danger, a new reveal/twist, a new secret!
The magic and world in the book was unique and SO fun to learn about - every time I had a question/thought things were confusing in that sense, it was answered! And I felt like it was unique, not just another cookie-cutter magic system or world.
I fell in love with so many of the characters - Allie, Dom, Mia, and THE LITTLE BABY PURPLE DRAGON EKKO, MY LOVE! I loved all of their distinct personalities. There were unpredictable reveals and some good character depth for Allie and Dom, though I wouldn't have minded more backstory for each/going more into depth about the details we did get.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fast-paced, cozy fantasy who loves witches and a fiery but slow-burn romance!
There were a couple things that didn't work for me in terms of the language/writing style:
- Became a bit repetitive to me
- I often felt that it read 'YA'/simple/overstated -> I would've enjoyed more complex writing/language and less overt statement of the themes
- the character's dialogue sometimes took me out of the story (some was a bit 'cringey'/young to me)
A few other things that didn't work for me:
- I loved how there was always something happening and moving the plot forward, but some significant events seemed to be brushed over too fast.
- Some characters weren't as developed as I was hoping for, and one of the relationships between side characters is full of tension and an insinuated past but never got an explanation.
*Thank you to the author for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I loved this story! It has ALL of the cozy, witchy, fall fantasy vibes.
It's got so many of the tropes I love, and I was so invested in not only the romance but also the story! There's actual stakes alongside the slow-burn, yet fiery romance between Allie and Dom (which is only made better because he's a baker - um, yeah, sign me up). I appreciated how many different things happened in terms of the town of Sycamore Falls, the threat it's under, the challenges and tasks Allie and Dom are facing, and some intriguing twists and reveals! I loved how it was fast-paced in the sense that there was always something happening to drive the plot forward - a new challenge, a new danger, a new reveal/twist, a new secret!
The magic and world in the book was unique and SO fun to learn about - every time I had a question/thought things were confusing in that sense, it was answered! And I felt like it was unique, not just another cookie-cutter magic system or world.
I fell in love with so many of the characters - Allie, Dom, Mia, and THE LITTLE BABY PURPLE DRAGON EKKO, MY LOVE! I loved all of their distinct personalities. There were unpredictable reveals and some good character depth for Allie and Dom, though I wouldn't have minded more backstory for each/going more into depth about the details we did get.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fast-paced, cozy fantasy who loves witches and a fiery but slow-burn romance!
There were a couple things that didn't work for me in terms of the language/writing style:
- Became a bit repetitive to me
- I often felt that it read 'YA'/simple/overstated -> I would've enjoyed more complex writing/language and less overt statement of the themes
- the character's dialogue sometimes took me out of the story (some was a bit 'cringey'/young to me)
A few other things that didn't work for me:
- I loved how there was always something happening and moving the plot forward, but some significant events seemed to be brushed over too fast.
- Some characters weren't as developed as I was hoping for, and one of the relationships between side characters is full of tension and an insinuated past but never got an explanation.
August 8, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
ARC Review💙
Such an adorable cozy fantasy! Grumpy/sunshine goodness with a baby dragon?! ✅ cozy fall vibes in a bakery ✅ witches and magic. ✅
If you’re looking for a sweet, quick, closed door, slow burn, cozy fall read- this is for you.
Honestly, the main reason I didn’t give this 5 stars is because of how slow the slow burn was. I think I need my slow burns to not be SO slow? Haha. Maybe I’m just a mild slow burn reader?! I don’t know. The only other thing that was mildly annoying to me (not enough to get mad at but enough to notice) was some repetitive descriptors. For example… their signature scents were brought up a lot. He could smell her- she could smell him. That kind of thing.
ARC Review💙
Such an adorable cozy fantasy! Grumpy/sunshine goodness with a baby dragon?! ✅ cozy fall vibes in a bakery ✅ witches and magic. ✅
If you’re looking for a sweet, quick, closed door, slow burn, cozy fall read- this is for you.
Honestly, the main reason I didn’t give this 5 stars is because of how slow the slow burn was. I think I need my slow burns to not be SO slow? Haha. Maybe I’m just a mild slow burn reader?! I don’t know. The only other thing that was mildly annoying to me (not enough to get mad at but enough to notice) was some repetitive descriptors. For example… their signature scents were brought up a lot. He could smell her- she could smell him. That kind of thing.
August 31, 2025
Sweets and Sycamores was exactly the cozy autumnal read I needed. With its small-town charm, witchy magic, and a touch of mystery, it delivered all the vibes of curling up with a warm drink and a blanket.
Allie is such a fun heroine to follow clumsy, determined, and trying to figure out her place in the world after her coven sends her off to learn control of her magic. Enter Sycamore Falls, a town full of fall vibes, a bakery that becomes central to the story, and one very grumpy baker, Dominic. The grumpy x sunshine dynamic between Allie and Dom was spot-on. He’s quiet, protective, and a little too good at scowling, while secretly caring deeply about her. Their slow-burn romance was sweet and had me rooting for them the whole time.
I also adored the side characters Mia and Brandon were standouts, and I’d happily read a whole book about them. And then there’s Ekko, the baby dragon, who completely stole the show. Every scene with him made me smile, and honestly, I wish we had even more of him sprinkled in.
The little mystery tied to the town’s magic gave the story extra depth and kept things interesting beyond just the romance. It added a layer that made the village feel authentic and alive, and I loved watching how Allie slowly earned her place there, despite the initial hostility from the townsfolk.
Overall, this book was cozy, heartwarming, and perfect for fans of witchy small-town fantasy romances with strong vibes and found family side characters. I’ll definitely be continuing the series I have a feeling the next installments are going to be just as magical. Thanks to the author for the gifted arc.
Allie is such a fun heroine to follow clumsy, determined, and trying to figure out her place in the world after her coven sends her off to learn control of her magic. Enter Sycamore Falls, a town full of fall vibes, a bakery that becomes central to the story, and one very grumpy baker, Dominic. The grumpy x sunshine dynamic between Allie and Dom was spot-on. He’s quiet, protective, and a little too good at scowling, while secretly caring deeply about her. Their slow-burn romance was sweet and had me rooting for them the whole time.
I also adored the side characters Mia and Brandon were standouts, and I’d happily read a whole book about them. And then there’s Ekko, the baby dragon, who completely stole the show. Every scene with him made me smile, and honestly, I wish we had even more of him sprinkled in.
The little mystery tied to the town’s magic gave the story extra depth and kept things interesting beyond just the romance. It added a layer that made the village feel authentic and alive, and I loved watching how Allie slowly earned her place there, despite the initial hostility from the townsfolk.
Overall, this book was cozy, heartwarming, and perfect for fans of witchy small-town fantasy romances with strong vibes and found family side characters. I’ll definitely be continuing the series I have a feeling the next installments are going to be just as magical. Thanks to the author for the gifted arc.
September 19, 2025
The cutest, coziest book I’ve read.
I don’t normally read this type of cozy fantasy but the cover caught my eye am I couldn’t resist. The pacing was great once I got settled in and realised I wasn’t reading some epic, high stakes fantasy lol and I couldn’t help but fall in love with the beautifully written characters. The world building and location provided the perfect autumnal setting, not to mention a bakery full of sweet treats. The purple baby dragon was a cute touch and overall the story left me feeling all warm and fuzzy. What more could you want from a cozy and witchy autumn read and perfect for snuggling up with on a rainy day.
-grumpy x sunshine
-forced proximity
-elemental magic
-no 3rd act breakup
-small town during fall
-a baby dragon
-delicious slow burn tension
-pastries served by a grumpy owner
-coming into power
-found family
Huge thanks to MTMC and Arianne Nicks for the copy for review.
I don’t normally read this type of cozy fantasy but the cover caught my eye am I couldn’t resist. The pacing was great once I got settled in and realised I wasn’t reading some epic, high stakes fantasy lol and I couldn’t help but fall in love with the beautifully written characters. The world building and location provided the perfect autumnal setting, not to mention a bakery full of sweet treats. The purple baby dragon was a cute touch and overall the story left me feeling all warm and fuzzy. What more could you want from a cozy and witchy autumn read and perfect for snuggling up with on a rainy day.
-grumpy x sunshine
-forced proximity
-elemental magic
-no 3rd act breakup
-small town during fall
-a baby dragon
-delicious slow burn tension
-pastries served by a grumpy owner
-coming into power
-found family
Huge thanks to MTMC and Arianne Nicks for the copy for review.
September 23, 2025
I couldn’t put this book down, finished it in less than a day. I loved the plot, the characters, and the amazing descriptions of food. Now time to go bake 🧁
December 8, 2025
Does the reader in your life love cozy fantasy, slow-burn romance, found family, grumpy x sunshine, small-town dynamics, character driven storylines, and/or super cute baby dragons? Get them a copy of Sweets & Sycamores.
I LOVED this book. Arianne Nicks has a writing style that is perfect for blending together a whimsical, cozy fantasy and a slow-burn contemporary. I cannot wait to see where else she is going to take us and will gleefully read whatever her next project will be.
I LOVED this book. Arianne Nicks has a writing style that is perfect for blending together a whimsical, cozy fantasy and a slow-burn contemporary. I cannot wait to see where else she is going to take us and will gleefully read whatever her next project will be.
August 9, 2025
ARC Review
This is the most perfect fall vibes, slow burn closed door cozy romance I have read in a while! I couldn't stop smiling at the chemistry between Allie and Dom! The slow burn was killing me as much as it did the character and I was 100% here for it!
I loved the story and the character development! He's broody and she's sunshine and the cutest side character! A baby Dragon named Ekko yes please! This is a must read to add to your list!
Also I low key hope we get a book for Brandon and Mia because I need more Sycamore Falls in my life!
This is the most perfect fall vibes, slow burn closed door cozy romance I have read in a while! I couldn't stop smiling at the chemistry between Allie and Dom! The slow burn was killing me as much as it did the character and I was 100% here for it!
I loved the story and the character development! He's broody and she's sunshine and the cutest side character! A baby Dragon named Ekko yes please! This is a must read to add to your list!
Also I low key hope we get a book for Brandon and Mia because I need more Sycamore Falls in my life!
September 11, 2025
The perfect cozy fall read!! He teaches her to bake???? She put his apron on for him!!! 🫠🤭❤️
September 23, 2025
There is just something about a well written cozy fantasy that I just love so much! A feel-good story that is low stakes but still captivating. Relatable and loveable characters, and great banter that keeps you smiling throughout the whole story. Last but not least, a sweet little town with the coziest fall setting. Sweets and Sycamores was all of this for me!
The grumpy/sunshine dynamic between Allie and Dom is very entertaining, and the edition of the baby dragon Ekko adds the perfect amount of cuteness. The romance was so well done, and I loved the dual POV, the inner thoughts of both Allie and Dom were one of my favorite aspects! Not to mention the yearning, that created the perfect slow burn romance.
My only complaint is that I need MORE! Seriously hoping for a second book!
Special thanks to Arianne Nicks for this lovely ARC! I can’t believe its finally out in the world!
The grumpy/sunshine dynamic between Allie and Dom is very entertaining, and the edition of the baby dragon Ekko adds the perfect amount of cuteness. The romance was so well done, and I loved the dual POV, the inner thoughts of both Allie and Dom were one of my favorite aspects! Not to mention the yearning, that created the perfect slow burn romance.
My only complaint is that I need MORE! Seriously hoping for a second book!
Special thanks to Arianne Nicks for this lovely ARC! I can’t believe its finally out in the world!
September 20, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶/🫑 - closed door
Hot take: Give me a grumpy MMC that is softened by his FMC, and Im gonna read it, and I'm gonna love it. Bonus points for the man bun. This came highly recommended by some friends, and now I, too, stand in line to recommend this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in this story. Like stayed up till 1:30am a.m., forced myself to sleep, and then read it as soon as I woke up. When it ended, I was sad because I didn't want to day goodbye.
Allie is an endearing, clumsy fire witch who manifested her powers very late in her life. In an attempt to follow tradition, she enters the coven her late mother was a part of, only to be sent away. In hopes to master her flames, Allie finds herself in Sycamore Falls, under the employ of the broody owner of Dom's Sweets.
Allie and Dom work the bakery together, and Ali continues to try to master her powers. Little does she know, there's a bit more to Sycamore Falls than what meets the eye.
In the beginning, I really felt for Allie. Her embarrassment over her late manifestation of powers, her humiliation over having no control, and her acceptance of others discriminating views over her heritage. She told the truth it was hard and stood strong on her path. I need to be a bit like Allie. She's clumsy and cute and just the kind of good that the world needs. Not to say that she can't handle her own. She knows her worth.
Dom is grumpy, broody, and a man of few words. But he finds himself inexplicably drawn to Ali's kind innocence. He steps in and considers himself her protector by allowing her to stay employed at the bakery despite having no experience.
The relationship between Allie and Dom is delectable. It's probably as good as the hazelnut croissants the Dom makes. The yearning and chemistry are off the charts. Dom protects Allie while Allie sees Dom and protects him in turn. The fade to black spice KILLED ME. Spice is not mandatory for me (but is very appreciated), yet I found I wanted more. BUT only beacuse the YEARNING and the SLOW BURN were IMMACULATE. The trust they built was so incredibly healthy.
All of Doms protective 'Where is Allie' or 'Keep your hands off my girl' had me GIDDY. And watching Allie find friends who genuinely loved her and stood for her was satisfying.
Also Ekko. Just Ekko 🫶🏻🫶🏻
With perfect autumn vibes, an adorable baby dragon sidekick, an endearing FMC, and a delicious MMC, Sweets and Sycamores has given my soul the perfect dash of seasonal sweetness and found its way to my favorites shelf. I can't wait to reread and watch Ali and Dom fall in love all over again. ❤️
🧁Witches
🧁Grumpy x Sunshine
🧁Autumn Vibes
🧁Grumpy Baker MMC
🧁Baby Dragon Sidekick
🧁Found Family
🧁Slow burn
🧁Slow Burn and Mutual Pinning
🧁She Takes Care of Him Sick
🧁He's Protective and Jealous
🌶/🫑 - closed door
Hot take: Give me a grumpy MMC that is softened by his FMC, and Im gonna read it, and I'm gonna love it. Bonus points for the man bun. This came highly recommended by some friends, and now I, too, stand in line to recommend this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in this story. Like stayed up till 1:30am a.m., forced myself to sleep, and then read it as soon as I woke up. When it ended, I was sad because I didn't want to day goodbye.
Allie is an endearing, clumsy fire witch who manifested her powers very late in her life. In an attempt to follow tradition, she enters the coven her late mother was a part of, only to be sent away. In hopes to master her flames, Allie finds herself in Sycamore Falls, under the employ of the broody owner of Dom's Sweets.
Allie and Dom work the bakery together, and Ali continues to try to master her powers. Little does she know, there's a bit more to Sycamore Falls than what meets the eye.
In the beginning, I really felt for Allie. Her embarrassment over her late manifestation of powers, her humiliation over having no control, and her acceptance of others discriminating views over her heritage. She told the truth it was hard and stood strong on her path. I need to be a bit like Allie. She's clumsy and cute and just the kind of good that the world needs. Not to say that she can't handle her own. She knows her worth.
Dom is grumpy, broody, and a man of few words. But he finds himself inexplicably drawn to Ali's kind innocence. He steps in and considers himself her protector by allowing her to stay employed at the bakery despite having no experience.
The relationship between Allie and Dom is delectable. It's probably as good as the hazelnut croissants the Dom makes. The yearning and chemistry are off the charts. Dom protects Allie while Allie sees Dom and protects him in turn. The fade to black spice KILLED ME. Spice is not mandatory for me (but is very appreciated), yet I found I wanted more. BUT only beacuse the YEARNING and the SLOW BURN were IMMACULATE. The trust they built was so incredibly healthy.
All of Doms protective 'Where is Allie' or 'Keep your hands off my girl' had me GIDDY. And watching Allie find friends who genuinely loved her and stood for her was satisfying.
Also Ekko. Just Ekko 🫶🏻🫶🏻
With perfect autumn vibes, an adorable baby dragon sidekick, an endearing FMC, and a delicious MMC, Sweets and Sycamores has given my soul the perfect dash of seasonal sweetness and found its way to my favorites shelf. I can't wait to reread and watch Ali and Dom fall in love all over again. ❤️
🧁Witches
🧁Grumpy x Sunshine
🧁Autumn Vibes
🧁Grumpy Baker MMC
🧁Baby Dragon Sidekick
🧁Found Family
🧁Slow burn
🧁Slow Burn and Mutual Pinning
🧁She Takes Care of Him Sick
🧁He's Protective and Jealous
August 9, 2025
Thank you so much, Arianne, for the opportunity to ARC read! Overall, this was a 4 star read for me. Let me start off by saying I really enjoyed the writing style here! You can obviously tell the author has a talent for strong storytelling. It's descriptive, immersive, and flows really well. The dual POV without specific chapters dedicated to each character can be hard to pull off without confusion, but it worked here! It was super easy to tell which character's mind we were in and I feel as though having access to both of their viewpoints on the storyline and plot helped me better connect to the story.
Let's be real... the star of the show in this book is clearly Ekko. I loved that little dragon SO much and I continuously looked forward to his presence as I read. Quite frankly, I wish we got more of him around the bakery! I also really loved the female cast of characters... Allie, Mia, and her two besties. As for the male characters, I loved Brandon's witty personality but struggled with Dom. While we can tell that Dom is the guarded, broody MMC... his "gruffness" was almost too much. A little off putting, honestly. Even as his feelings towards Allie progressed, his attitude stuck around. We didn't even see the man actually SMILE until 68% into the book. Which leads me to every other character in the book and their hatred towards Allie... it was overwhelming. I understand the residents of Sycamore Falls being cautious of her being a Witch due to past experiences, but their level of hatred immediately following how awful the other Witches of the Silverbarks were to Allie felt never ending. I just kept wondering, "when is someone going to be nice to this poor girl?!". It slowed the story down for me because I was so emotionally drained from all of the negativity.
While I enjoyed the story overall, there were a few plot holes that I felt left me hanging a bit in the wrong way...
1) How does Jared know Sam? After the interaction between Sam, Allie, and Dom when Jared comes to Sam's rescue, it's obvious the two know each other. But we never learn how or why... and considering Sam and Jared are two big antagonists in the story, it felt crucial to learn about their relationship.
2) Why did [XYZ] put the [ABC] on Allie's power? (bear with me here, trying to avoid spoilers). Again, with [XYZ] being such a big antagonist and the [ABC] on her power being such a huge piece of the plot, this lack of information detracted from the strength of the story.
These bothered me until the last page... I felt as though these were huge pieces of the plot we needed answers to in order to connect all the dots.
All in all, this was a great book! A super cute, feel-good, cozy, witchy romance. I would absolutely read other works by this author!
Let's be real... the star of the show in this book is clearly Ekko. I loved that little dragon SO much and I continuously looked forward to his presence as I read. Quite frankly, I wish we got more of him around the bakery! I also really loved the female cast of characters... Allie, Mia, and her two besties. As for the male characters, I loved Brandon's witty personality but struggled with Dom. While we can tell that Dom is the guarded, broody MMC... his "gruffness" was almost too much. A little off putting, honestly. Even as his feelings towards Allie progressed, his attitude stuck around. We didn't even see the man actually SMILE until 68% into the book. Which leads me to every other character in the book and their hatred towards Allie... it was overwhelming. I understand the residents of Sycamore Falls being cautious of her being a Witch due to past experiences, but their level of hatred immediately following how awful the other Witches of the Silverbarks were to Allie felt never ending. I just kept wondering, "when is someone going to be nice to this poor girl?!". It slowed the story down for me because I was so emotionally drained from all of the negativity.
While I enjoyed the story overall, there were a few plot holes that I felt left me hanging a bit in the wrong way...
1) How does Jared know Sam? After the interaction between Sam, Allie, and Dom when Jared comes to Sam's rescue, it's obvious the two know each other. But we never learn how or why... and considering Sam and Jared are two big antagonists in the story, it felt crucial to learn about their relationship.
2) Why did [XYZ] put the [ABC] on Allie's power? (bear with me here, trying to avoid spoilers). Again, with [XYZ] being such a big antagonist and the [ABC] on her power being such a huge piece of the plot, this lack of information detracted from the strength of the story.
These bothered me until the last page... I felt as though these were huge pieces of the plot we needed answers to in order to connect all the dots.
All in all, this was a great book! A super cute, feel-good, cozy, witchy romance. I would absolutely read other works by this author!
August 12, 2025
Cute witchy cozy read, perfect for the fall.
'Sweets and Sycamores is a stand alone by Arianne Nicks. All she wants to do is continue living at and being a member of her mother's Coven, but the longer Allie Wells remains there the more and more likely that isn't going to happen. After one too many incidents where she loses control of her fire power the Coven asks her leave, when she begs to stay they give her a mission. Learn to control your fire magic in 3 months time, on Hallows Eve or you'll never be allowed back. Having no where to go she lucks into an encounter with a farmer who knows a baker looking for help. The baker Dominic Ranford is willing to give Allie a chance but he's not simply a baker and Allie might get in the way of him completing his latest mission.
spoilers
This was really cute and cozy and I wish I had read it sitting next to a fire with a warm blanket but we've got heat waves hitting here so no cozy setting for me. The best part for me had to be Sycamore Falls. Nicks' write the small town vibe so good. There was a full cast of characters some more fleshed out than others. It felt like it was setting it up to not be a stand alone and to maybe have a second book featuring another couple, say Mia and Brandon.
This checks a lot of different trope boxes, everything from forced living together, small town, teacher/student, grumpy/sunshine. Theres even a bit where Allie thinks Doms sister is actually his girlfriend. I found the pacing a little slow at the beginning but once Allie left the coven it was a pretty fast paced steady story. While the story wasnt my favourite and it was still good and that is mostly the writing, it just flowed, it didnt feel like I was reading.
A few things that puzzled me was things like the coven kicking her out made no sense. In a world where you need money to survive what did they expect her to do? If Brandon hadnt come along she could have been weeks or months just trying to survive, homeless, jobless, probably starving. Then add in that none at the coven were elemental witches so they couldnt teach her how to do anything with her fire so sending her off on her own with zero resources shes just magically supposed to be able to do what she cant with their support and resources? This makes little to no sense. Also Sam, the ex, he put the block on right? But why? I feel like the whole backside and history to this block gets ignored. It felt like issues with plot and answers to why things are they way they are got swept away from being explained in the end in favour of finally having the super slow burn actually burn.
If this turns into a series I would probably check out book two.
'Sweets and Sycamores is a stand alone by Arianne Nicks. All she wants to do is continue living at and being a member of her mother's Coven, but the longer Allie Wells remains there the more and more likely that isn't going to happen. After one too many incidents where she loses control of her fire power the Coven asks her leave, when she begs to stay they give her a mission. Learn to control your fire magic in 3 months time, on Hallows Eve or you'll never be allowed back. Having no where to go she lucks into an encounter with a farmer who knows a baker looking for help. The baker Dominic Ranford is willing to give Allie a chance but he's not simply a baker and Allie might get in the way of him completing his latest mission.
spoilers
This was really cute and cozy and I wish I had read it sitting next to a fire with a warm blanket but we've got heat waves hitting here so no cozy setting for me. The best part for me had to be Sycamore Falls. Nicks' write the small town vibe so good. There was a full cast of characters some more fleshed out than others. It felt like it was setting it up to not be a stand alone and to maybe have a second book featuring another couple, say Mia and Brandon.
This checks a lot of different trope boxes, everything from forced living together, small town, teacher/student, grumpy/sunshine. Theres even a bit where Allie thinks Doms sister is actually his girlfriend. I found the pacing a little slow at the beginning but once Allie left the coven it was a pretty fast paced steady story. While the story wasnt my favourite and it was still good and that is mostly the writing, it just flowed, it didnt feel like I was reading.
A few things that puzzled me was things like the coven kicking her out made no sense. In a world where you need money to survive what did they expect her to do? If Brandon hadnt come along she could have been weeks or months just trying to survive, homeless, jobless, probably starving. Then add in that none at the coven were elemental witches so they couldnt teach her how to do anything with her fire so sending her off on her own with zero resources shes just magically supposed to be able to do what she cant with their support and resources? This makes little to no sense. Also Sam, the ex, he put the block on right? But why? I feel like the whole backside and history to this block gets ignored. It felt like issues with plot and answers to why things are they way they are got swept away from being explained in the end in favour of finally having the super slow burn actually burn.
If this turns into a series I would probably check out book two.
August 26, 2025
This is the perfect read to welcome those cozy autumnal vibes into your life!!
First of all, I love that I have FINALLY found a FMC who shares my name!! That was such an exciting little treat to enjoy throughout the novel 🥰
🥐 The vibes were EVERYTHING. Arianne knew what she was doing when she created Sycamore Falls. It has all the quintessential parts of what I would consider to be a witchy New England small town - how amazing is that!
🥐 I’ve seen and read A LOT of cozy fantasy novels that are described as being akin to Gilmore Girls, only to be let down because it’s TOO similar, or not even close to hitting the mark. Sweets & Sycamores incorporates the right amount of GG vibes to satisfy my craving, without it being too on the nose, and I appreciate that so much!!
🥐 Allie and Dom - UGH! 💕💕💕 The sweet and genuine personality that Allie radiated from the start, to Dominic’s grumpy yet protective persona - IT WAS A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN. I enjoyed the slow burn, but for some, it might be considered a tad too slow, so keep that in mind while reading! (PS: I’m gonna need a Mia/Brandon story like, yesterday 🙂↕️)
MY ONLY GRIPE:
🥐 THE TOWNSPEOPLE & COVEN WITCHES WERE SO DANG MEAN. After the tragedy experienced by the citizens of Sycamore Falls, I can understand their hesitation in welcoming Allie, an outsider witch, into the community with open arms. HOWEVER, you would think that after a while, they would come to accept her (Maybe even love her?? She’s seriously the sweetest!). BUT NO. They literally held on to their grudges until (almost) the bitter end. AND DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE SILVERBARK COVEN. Sometimes, their cruelty went a little too far, and I just wish that they would have come to their senses sooner 🥲
Huge thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC of this novel! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
🥐 Cozy Fantasy
🥐 Slow Burn Romance
🥐 Grumpy x Sunshine
🥐 Witches & Mages
First of all, I love that I have FINALLY found a FMC who shares my name!! That was such an exciting little treat to enjoy throughout the novel 🥰
🥐 The vibes were EVERYTHING. Arianne knew what she was doing when she created Sycamore Falls. It has all the quintessential parts of what I would consider to be a witchy New England small town - how amazing is that!
🥐 I’ve seen and read A LOT of cozy fantasy novels that are described as being akin to Gilmore Girls, only to be let down because it’s TOO similar, or not even close to hitting the mark. Sweets & Sycamores incorporates the right amount of GG vibes to satisfy my craving, without it being too on the nose, and I appreciate that so much!!
🥐 Allie and Dom - UGH! 💕💕💕 The sweet and genuine personality that Allie radiated from the start, to Dominic’s grumpy yet protective persona - IT WAS A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN. I enjoyed the slow burn, but for some, it might be considered a tad too slow, so keep that in mind while reading! (PS: I’m gonna need a Mia/Brandon story like, yesterday 🙂↕️)
MY ONLY GRIPE:
🥐 THE TOWNSPEOPLE & COVEN WITCHES WERE SO DANG MEAN. After the tragedy experienced by the citizens of Sycamore Falls, I can understand their hesitation in welcoming Allie, an outsider witch, into the community with open arms. HOWEVER, you would think that after a while, they would come to accept her (Maybe even love her?? She’s seriously the sweetest!). BUT NO. They literally held on to their grudges until (almost) the bitter end. AND DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE SILVERBARK COVEN. Sometimes, their cruelty went a little too far, and I just wish that they would have come to their senses sooner 🥲
Huge thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC of this novel! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
🥐 Cozy Fantasy
🥐 Slow Burn Romance
🥐 Grumpy x Sunshine
🥐 Witches & Mages
August 20, 2025
Sweets and Sycamores is such a cute cozy witchy romance!!! Allie is sent off by her coven to learn control over her magic, which leads her to Sycamore Falls and Dom’s Sweets. Dominic has moved back to his hometown on a mission to fix the spell of the sycamores and he opened a bakery and ends up hiring Allie.
I loved this book!! The magic was cool and easy to understand. The fall vibes were immaculate and we were in a small town! A big part of this story was Allie learning about her magic and finding where she belonged, which I throughly enjoyed.
The romance between Allie and Dominic was a slow burn and I adored them together! She’s sunshine, kind, patient, willing to work hard, and a little clumsy. He’s grumpy, cares about his town and family, protective, and totally a secret softie. I loved the yearning from both of them and how they brought what they were missing into each other’s lives.
In addition to the romance and finding out what was happening with the town’s magic I also loved the side characters. Mia and Brandon were amazing and I adored what they added to the story. Then there’s the baby dragon Ekko who is adorable and I loved how he acted with everyone, especially with Allie and Dom.
This was a perfect cozy fall romance that I recommend adding to your tbr! I definitely want a paperback and if the author writes another book in this town I’ll read it!!
🍂 cozy & witchy romance
💜 small town
🍂 fall vibes
🧡 grumpy x sunshine
🍂 forced proximity
💜 baby dragon
🍂 low stakes, high rewards
🧡 no third act breakup
🍂 found family
💜 slow burn
🍂 grumpy bakery owner mmc
I loved this book!! The magic was cool and easy to understand. The fall vibes were immaculate and we were in a small town! A big part of this story was Allie learning about her magic and finding where she belonged, which I throughly enjoyed.
The romance between Allie and Dominic was a slow burn and I adored them together! She’s sunshine, kind, patient, willing to work hard, and a little clumsy. He’s grumpy, cares about his town and family, protective, and totally a secret softie. I loved the yearning from both of them and how they brought what they were missing into each other’s lives.
In addition to the romance and finding out what was happening with the town’s magic I also loved the side characters. Mia and Brandon were amazing and I adored what they added to the story. Then there’s the baby dragon Ekko who is adorable and I loved how he acted with everyone, especially with Allie and Dom.
This was a perfect cozy fall romance that I recommend adding to your tbr! I definitely want a paperback and if the author writes another book in this town I’ll read it!!
🍂 cozy & witchy romance
💜 small town
🍂 fall vibes
🧡 grumpy x sunshine
🍂 forced proximity
💜 baby dragon
🍂 low stakes, high rewards
🧡 no third act breakup
🍂 found family
💜 slow burn
🍂 grumpy bakery owner mmc
August 30, 2025
"They were so busy that Dominic even allowed Ekko to help them. The dragon was beyond excited to be out of the boring studio, and he executed each order with adorable pride and care."
Sweets and Sycamores by Arianne Nicks is a cozy, charming witchy rom-com filled with laughs and giggles. I received an ARC, and here's my teary-eyed review of the book.
The story is built around Allie, a late-blooming witch who doesn’t have full control of her powers yet. She ends up in Sycamore Falls one day, and starts working with Dominic, a grumpy-but-sweet baker. (There’s even a goofy baby dragon!)
Reading Sweets and Sycamores felt like stepping into a world I never want to leave. Sycamore Falls, the small town at the heart of the story, is the kind of place I wish I could move to. It’s chilly, it's cosy, and it's full of character.
The writing is vivid but easy to read. I loved how cheeky and chirpy it is. Emotions and acts were described cutely. They give you goosebumps, and send you kicking legs with each new development in the romantic pair.
The mix of magic, autumn cosiness, and slow-burn romance makes it feel like the ultimate rom-com. And by the end of the book, I found myself shedding a happy tear.
I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever find a rom-com that tops this one. It’s sweet, funny and heartfelt. A perfect fall read.
If you love witchy romance, grumpy/sunshine tales, and small-town vibes, Sweets and Sycamores is a must-read.
September 2, 2025
One of my most anticipated reads, and it definitely did not disappoint 🔥
So, think … Hot chocolate ☕️ (marshmallows, whipped cream, and a sprinkle of cinnamon), cozy blanket, fuzzy socks + chilly Fall weather and … ✨This book✨
That’s the perfect combination and you won’t regret it, trust me!
Now, the characters…
Dominic, the grumpiest and sweetest man 🥹 and Allie was pure sunshine with the biggest heart! 🤍 Their dynamic was absolutely adorable!
Also… Ekko?! Why can’t I adopt a baby dragon??? Whyyy?? He’s the cutest thing ever and stole every scene he was in 🐉💜
This is honestly one of the coziest, most heartwarming books I’ve read in a long long time. The slow burn ❤️🔥… the yearning, and the way it was written as a closed door romance (which felt perfect for their story) made it so easy to fall in love with. And plot wise? Never a dull moment, there was always something happening!
Overall, this was sweet, cozy, magical, and just perfect. 🍁
P.S. I definitely can smell the deliciousness from the bakery… and now I need me some Hazelnut Cream! 🧁🫢 (iykyk).
So, think … Hot chocolate ☕️ (marshmallows, whipped cream, and a sprinkle of cinnamon), cozy blanket, fuzzy socks + chilly Fall weather and … ✨This book✨
That’s the perfect combination and you won’t regret it, trust me!
Now, the characters…
Dominic, the grumpiest and sweetest man 🥹 and Allie was pure sunshine with the biggest heart! 🤍 Their dynamic was absolutely adorable!
Also… Ekko?! Why can’t I adopt a baby dragon??? Whyyy?? He’s the cutest thing ever and stole every scene he was in 🐉💜
This is honestly one of the coziest, most heartwarming books I’ve read in a long long time. The slow burn ❤️🔥… the yearning, and the way it was written as a closed door romance (which felt perfect for their story) made it so easy to fall in love with. And plot wise? Never a dull moment, there was always something happening!
Overall, this was sweet, cozy, magical, and just perfect. 🍁
P.S. I definitely can smell the deliciousness from the bakery… and now I need me some Hazelnut Cream! 🧁🫢 (iykyk).
August 6, 2025
If you are looking for a cozy paranormal closed door romance that's a nice warm hug, this is the book for you! I am ready for Autumn (in August), and this book only made my longing for sweater weather and spiced lattes even worse.
The setting was just perfect, not too cute but not too serious either. I really dig Allie's personal and witchy development, and I love that everything was wrapped up with no unanswered questions, for either main character. Dominic is the classic grumpy, stoic love interest that I adore (so much so that I might have married someone like this). I really hope we can get a book for Mia in the future.
Tropes & Themes:
Closed Door
Grumpy x sunshine
Small Town
Slow Burn
No Third Act Breakup
Thank you to Arianne Nicks for facilitating me with a review copy of this book at no cost and with no obligation. I reviewed this book voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.
The setting was just perfect, not too cute but not too serious either. I really dig Allie's personal and witchy development, and I love that everything was wrapped up with no unanswered questions, for either main character. Dominic is the classic grumpy, stoic love interest that I adore (so much so that I might have married someone like this). I really hope we can get a book for Mia in the future.
Tropes & Themes:
Closed Door
Grumpy x sunshine
Small Town
Slow Burn
No Third Act Breakup
Thank you to Arianne Nicks for facilitating me with a review copy of this book at no cost and with no obligation. I reviewed this book voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.
August 15, 2025
A cute cosy witchy love story.
After Allie gets kicked out of the Silverbarks Coven because the other witches don't like her and Allie is a walking fire hazard to those around her. She made to leave and try and control her power's only then can she return to Silverbarks.
Her adventure starts from her all alone until someone picks her up and takes her to Sycamore Falls, where everything starts for her.
Allie meets her new boss, Dom, who owns a bakery.
Dom had grown up in Sycamore Falls, left but came back when his mission led him back here.
You will meet Ekko, the cutest Purple Dragon that becomes Allies' best friend.
You will love Allie and Dom relationship bloom. There will be heaps of laughing moments and sadness.
In the end, Allie thanked whatever God's were listening for this fortune and for all the pain and struggles of her past, If it wasn't for them, she wouldn't be here now.
After Allie gets kicked out of the Silverbarks Coven because the other witches don't like her and Allie is a walking fire hazard to those around her. She made to leave and try and control her power's only then can she return to Silverbarks.
Her adventure starts from her all alone until someone picks her up and takes her to Sycamore Falls, where everything starts for her.
Allie meets her new boss, Dom, who owns a bakery.
Dom had grown up in Sycamore Falls, left but came back when his mission led him back here.
You will meet Ekko, the cutest Purple Dragon that becomes Allies' best friend.
You will love Allie and Dom relationship bloom. There will be heaps of laughing moments and sadness.
In the end, Allie thanked whatever God's were listening for this fortune and for all the pain and struggles of her past, If it wasn't for them, she wouldn't be here now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2025
I had the pleasure of receiving this as an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion.
I really enjoyed Sweets and Sycamores from the first page to the last a cozy witchy read with fall vibes. The slow burn romance between Allie and Dom was well written. Sycamores Falls sounds such a quaint country town that would be amazing to visit. Allie’s character bloomed during her time in Sycamore Falls overcoming so many issues with her power. The little purple dragon has stolen my heart the darling Ekko. Would love to see the story of sycamore falls continue maybe following one or two of the other prominent characters. I really enjoyed Arianne Nicks writing style and everything flowed from one chapter to the next. I hope there is a follow up book to sycamore falls and would love to read the arc if this was to happen.
Arianne Nicks
I really enjoyed Sweets and Sycamores from the first page to the last a cozy witchy read with fall vibes. The slow burn romance between Allie and Dom was well written. Sycamores Falls sounds such a quaint country town that would be amazing to visit. Allie’s character bloomed during her time in Sycamore Falls overcoming so many issues with her power. The little purple dragon has stolen my heart the darling Ekko. Would love to see the story of sycamore falls continue maybe following one or two of the other prominent characters. I really enjoyed Arianne Nicks writing style and everything flowed from one chapter to the next. I hope there is a follow up book to sycamore falls and would love to read the arc if this was to happen.
Arianne Nicks
November 12, 2025
Allie Wells is, quite literally, a walking fire hazard. After manifesting her witch powers years later than everyone else, her lack of control threatens to burn down the coven’s manor, earning her a temporary exile to Sycamore Falls to learn magical discipline before Hallows Eve. There, she crosses paths with Dominic Ranford, a brooding baker with secrets of his own. As sparks fly in more ways than one, Allie must learn to balance self-control with self-acceptance, finding magic not only in her power but in the unexpected warmth of belonging, a kind stranger, and maybe even love.
I’ll admit, I’m usually skeptical when a book compares itself to Gilmore Girls, but this one earns it. Sweets and Sycamores captures that same blend of heart, humor, and small-town eccentricity without feeling derivative. Allie’s arc from self-doubt to confidence is paced beautifully, and the romance hits that ideal cozy-slow-burn rhythm. I also adored the baby dragon sidekick: charming, cute, and never overused. The writing is inviting without tipping into saccharine sweetness, maintaining an emotional maturity that makes this a truly satisfying autumn read.
It’s clear that Nicks understands the assignment when it comes to crafting comfort reads for adults. The book balances whimsy and warmth with enough surprise to keep things interesting. I also didn’t see a big reveal coming, and it made the story even better. Both the emotional and romantic payoffs feel well-earned, grounded in believable growth and tenderness. A perfect blend of cozy fantasy and heartfelt romance, this is a story about finding balance and belonging in a world that isn’t always kind.
5/5 The burn? Slow. Me after reading the descriptions of the baked goods? Hungry.
I’ll admit, I’m usually skeptical when a book compares itself to Gilmore Girls, but this one earns it. Sweets and Sycamores captures that same blend of heart, humor, and small-town eccentricity without feeling derivative. Allie’s arc from self-doubt to confidence is paced beautifully, and the romance hits that ideal cozy-slow-burn rhythm. I also adored the baby dragon sidekick: charming, cute, and never overused. The writing is inviting without tipping into saccharine sweetness, maintaining an emotional maturity that makes this a truly satisfying autumn read.
It’s clear that Nicks understands the assignment when it comes to crafting comfort reads for adults. The book balances whimsy and warmth with enough surprise to keep things interesting. I also didn’t see a big reveal coming, and it made the story even better. Both the emotional and romantic payoffs feel well-earned, grounded in believable growth and tenderness. A perfect blend of cozy fantasy and heartfelt romance, this is a story about finding balance and belonging in a world that isn’t always kind.
5/5 The burn? Slow. Me after reading the descriptions of the baked goods? Hungry.
September 19, 2025
First I want to thank the author for the opportunity to read this! I loved this so much!
I don’t know about anyone else, but I love a good Grumpy x Sunshine. I will always, ALWAYS, eat it up.
Allie and Dom fit that so well and it was so cute!!!
Allie, the sweetest witch you’ll ever meet, gets sent away from her coven because she can’t control her magic.
She ends up meeting Brandon, who then brings her to Dom.
Dom is a major grump and is the owner of Dom’s Sweets, I find that so funny. The grump is the baker, just amazing.😂
After a small incident, Dom agrees to let her stay and help her with her magic while Allie helps him with his bakery and his mission.
This is cozy, sweet, and with a bit of mystery mixed in there. I enjoyed every second of reading!
I don’t know about anyone else, but I love a good Grumpy x Sunshine. I will always, ALWAYS, eat it up.
Allie and Dom fit that so well and it was so cute!!!
Allie, the sweetest witch you’ll ever meet, gets sent away from her coven because she can’t control her magic.
She ends up meeting Brandon, who then brings her to Dom.
Dom is a major grump and is the owner of Dom’s Sweets, I find that so funny. The grump is the baker, just amazing.😂
After a small incident, Dom agrees to let her stay and help her with her magic while Allie helps him with his bakery and his mission.
This is cozy, sweet, and with a bit of mystery mixed in there. I enjoyed every second of reading!
August 5, 2025
It was cozy fall read – just what I needed. Sweets and Sycamores is a lovely slow-burn small-town witch romance with perfect chemistry and a well-written plot. Allie and Dom are a super cute couple, and Ekko… oh, he was definitely the sweetest part of the book (yes, I love purple and dragons so purple dragon stolen my heart). Grumpy\Sunshine is my fav trope and here its perfectly written. It’s a story about love, self-acceptance and collaboration. And I enjoyed it from the first page to the last. I hope we’ll get to read Brandon and Mia’s story, because they deserve their own book.
Thanks Arianne Nicks for ARC!
Thanks Arianne Nicks for ARC!
September 19, 2025
Sweets and Sycamores was the perfect cozy kickoff to fall, packed with warm sweaters, crisp leaves, and slow-burn magic that had me swooning nonstop. Allie is chaotic, fiery, and so easy to root for, while Dominic is the broody baker with a soft heart and a secret mission. Their tension-filled dynamic had me grinning, and the way their connection deepens—through forehead kisses, shared baking moments, and quiet emotional beats—was pure autumnal romance bliss. The setting of Sycamore Falls was dreamy and vivid, and the angst gave just enough bite to balance all the sweetness. I adored every page.
BABY EKKO KISSES FOR EVERYONE!!
BABY EKKO KISSES FOR EVERYONE!!
September 10, 2025
I received an ARC of Sweets & Sycamores from the author.
The cover was so enticing and screamed cozy fall romance! I had a great time reading this. It's a sweet, cozy fantasy romance with no spice.
The romance between Dom and Allie was cute, and full of grumpy x sunshine energy. I'm hoping there will be a second book focusing on Mia and Brandon. I loved Brandon as a side character. He was such a great guy, and I'm glad he helped Allie in the beginning.
The cover was so enticing and screamed cozy fall romance! I had a great time reading this. It's a sweet, cozy fantasy romance with no spice.
The romance between Dom and Allie was cute, and full of grumpy x sunshine energy. I'm hoping there will be a second book focusing on Mia and Brandon. I loved Brandon as a side character. He was such a great guy, and I'm glad he helped Allie in the beginning.
September 16, 2025
What a delightful story! The atmosphere is cozy, charming, and absolutely perfect for autumn reading.
I really enjoyed the way magic is portrayed here, blending both “old” traditions with a more “modern” take.
Another refreshing detail is that not every character is instantly thrilled about magic, which makes the world feel more realistic compared to many other stories.
Definitely a recommendation if you enjoy sweet, heartwarming romance!
I really enjoyed the way magic is portrayed here, blending both “old” traditions with a more “modern” take.
Another refreshing detail is that not every character is instantly thrilled about magic, which makes the world feel more realistic compared to many other stories.
Definitely a recommendation if you enjoy sweet, heartwarming romance!
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