Magic and Mocktails: a cozy fantasy romance

by Amber L. Werner

Welcome to Stellar Spirits, where hilarious magical hijinks blend deliciously with sweet small-town romance...

After an injury destroyed his career, Kieran longs to return to his life as a spy in the capital. When his best friend’s mother offers a risky solution, he seizes it, even though it means helping the woman he yearns for and resisting a temptation he may no longer be able to fight.

Nora’s living her dream, running a successful tavern in her hometown, until a brawl shatters her hard-earned success. With her shelves bare, and her signature spirits spoiled, she has no choice but to accept help from her brother’s best friend—her childhood crush who rejected her.

But the problems don’t end; they multiply. Soon, weird accidents and strange mishaps pile up, until Nora fears she’s been cursed. With debts mounting and only mocktails left to serve, will she overcome the hardships, or be forced to close the tavern doors for good?

Perfect for fans of cozy fantasy, Magic and Mocktails serves up sweet romance, laugh-out-loud humor, quirky animal sidekicks, and tight-knit friendships across fantasy races. Grab your favorite mocktail and prepare to be enchanted…

Genres: Cozy Fantasy

315 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 27, 2025

About the author

Amber L. Werner loves to write about magic, monsters and mythical creatures. She lives in Norristown, PA with her husband and two children. The Palisade Trilogy is her debut series.

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Reviews

[Sarah (iliveinbookworlds) · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️Fall vibes
✨️Second chance romance
✨️Brothers bestfriend
✨️Found family
✨️Familiars
✨️Cozy romance

It was a really cosy, light story where Nora runs a tavern and she runs into some hardtimes and bad things keep happening but secrets will unravel and answers will be found. Nora's brother Seth and his best friend Keiran come to help after Keiran makes a deal with her mother to help her. He is put into an impossible position with the girl he yearns for. But eventually is faced with an ultimatum which he must make an impossible choice.

I really enjoyed this book it was lighthearted, cozy full of magic. Definitely worth picking up on the 27th September if you want something light to read this autumn.

[Jessica DeArmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

What’s cozier than snuggling with a soft blanket to read while your pup naps next to you? This freaking book, that’s what. I absolutely adored this story and would love to fall into Everpass and visit Stellar Spirits myself! Cozy romcom vibes but in a magical fantasy setting with witches, orcs, elves, nymphs, etc, this was a great way to kick off my fall reading list! Thank you so much Amber L Werner for the ARC in exchange for my review!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
No spice, but several suggestive jokes that had me cackling 🤣

[VenusReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review:
This book is one of the cutest ones I’ve ever read. It’s Cozy, has Fall vibes, is a second chance romance, taboo(ish) brothers best friend 😏 with quirky animal sidekicks and friendships such tightly woven it gives a sense of family.
The story was so easy to follow and was such an immersive experience to read. It grabbed my attention from the first few lines and had no issue keeping it until the very end. For those who love to get lost in fantasy worlds, this book is perfect for you. It’ll have you giggling and kicking your feet as you read. Perfect for a calm fall evening ✨

[SheaLeigh Wooten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for fall! I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick and cozy read. I love all the characters and cant wait to read more about them!

[PrincessStitchy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic and mocktails by Amber L Warner

The dynamics are great from the start Nora is the owner of a tavern which is has worked hard to get to. Unfortunately an accident in the shape of an orc and Yalti
Means her dreams maybe crashing down.

She pops home to see her mum and her mum is also struggling to make ends meat but her home is filled with so much love even though there isnt money there.

Then you meet Kierans parents who you can't believe has made such a nice guy! Where is his love, why does his dad expect him to be perfect and trust me at some points you wanna bop that dad on the nose (but you do find out more later 😉)

Then there's her brother Seth half orc half human and Kieran is half elf and Seths best friend.

Seth is brother goals if you ask me! Will stand up for her to anyone but also tell her she need to chase those dreams when needed. But he's also such a softie, another story I need to know!

Ali - Noras best friend and single mum of dreams, hard working, sass pot says it how it is and amazing friend/best mum. Now I need follow on for her possible love interest too.

I mean from word go you can tell there's sexual tension between Kieran and Nora! The amount of times I wanted to reach into the book and say tell her the truth or just tell her was ridiculous

When Nora thought the dream of running a bar wasn't going to happen like meeting the man of her dreams her response to herself "Don’t lie to yourself. You’ve met him already." *swoon*

Kieran's cheekiness “You know,” he drawled, “the guy you’re waiting on so he can stuff your back door with his hard wood.”

I honestly really enjoyed this book so much a great romance book but with a hint of magic and mayhem....what more could you want....oh wait ROO 🐭🐁


received free as an arc for my personal opinion I received nothing for this

[NariaS · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute book. I love a cozy fantasy!
The author definitely set this up for future books featuring others characters we meet in this one. I already want to read the next in the series.
This book keeps you engaged with the main love story, as well as all the other things going on in their lives! You get to find out why Nora is having a string of bad luck, follow Kieran on his journey of life after a career ending injury, find out if Nora's mother is a witch, and if Kieran's father is as bad as we suspect.
There are so many lovable characters in this. I can picture myself being friends with all these characters and immersed in this world.
Anyone that enjoys cozy fantasy should pick this up.
I read this as an ARC. Thank you!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

- Dual POV
- World full of different magical races
- Witty banter
- Sexual tension
- Fun and adorable animals
- Great recipes

I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait for the next installment! Nora was very relatable and Kieran and Seth were hilarious. I appreciated all the jokes and innuendo throughout the book, it made it very fun. I was kicking my feet as I read.

I lived for the banter between Nora and Kieran. The sexual tension was palpable, and I loved it! I also loved the banter between Seth and Paige, possible enemies to lovers? We'll see!

I whole heartily recommend this book if you are looking for a cozy fantasy novel with relatable characters you'll feel for. Prepare to laugh, question your sanity, cry (just a little), and get some new ideas for drinks. I was very happy with it.

4.5/5 stars

* I received this book as an ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Wonky Chomp 1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review:

🍂 Brother's Best Friend
🍂 Fantasy Species
🍂 Second Chance Romance
🍂 Dual POV
🍂 Will they/Won't they
🍂 Quirky animal sidekicks

This book follows the story of Nora and Kieran (her Brother's best friend) in a dual POV. Nora is running her own tavern in her small hometown, but has a string of bad luck and needs to make some huge repairs. Luckily, her brother Seth and his best friend Kieran arrive home from their exciting lives in the city after an injury forces Kieran to quit his job as a spy.

What follows is an easy reading, lighthearted, cosy, small-town romance with plenty of will they/won't they, while Seth and Kieran help Nora to repair the tavern.

There are plenty of other characters that add to the storyline, creating the sense of a wonderfully cosy little town with a close-knit community where some friends feel more like family.

One of the things I really liked about this book was the fact that feelings were admitted right at the beginning of the story (on both sides). Sometimes it can take until halfway through a book before a main character will even admit to themselves that they have feelings, and that can sometimes be frustrating!!

There was flirting and little hints of jealousy along the way and some sweet kisses but no on page spice.

The author has included the potential for other stories to follow in the future for some of the other characters, which would be lovely to see their stories unfold.

Was so pleased to be invited to the ARC team for this book!!

* I received this book as an ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bekki's Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute small town fantsy romance with a wide variety of characters and a simple lot. The drama comes from miss communication that could easily be resolved.

[Kiya Dowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really just loved this book it was everything I needed in a cozy magic story.
Best friends little sister
Hidden powers
Just simple and happy.

[Ian Sellers · Rating 3 out of 5]

*ARC Review*

oh boy. I have typed and retyped and tried to make this the fairest and most informative review I've written for a book. I feel so privileged to have been chosen for this ARC.

I really enjoyed the main characters and their plotlines separate from the romance. Their individual personal struggles really helped flesh them out as characters and made them feel more alive. As an avid reader of cozy fantasy, I was thrilled to be selected for this ARC, and the book delivered a lot of the feel good vibes I come to the genre for.

While the story was fun and easy to fall into, I did feel that certain elements could have used a bit more depth. Some parts felt rushed, and I found myself wishing for just a little more substance to fully round out the world and its characters.

That said, this book was an enjoyable ride, and sometimes that's exactly what you want, a comforting, light read that leaves you smiling. If that’s your jam, you’ll likely have a great time here. Still, I couldn’t help but feel there were missed opportunities to take what was already a solid story and elevate it to something even more memorable.

A few things stood out: the side characters could have been more fleshed out, and the central conflict leaned heavily on the miscommunication trope one that might have been resolved with a couple of honest 20-minute conversations with a total of three characters. The romantic tension, while intriguing at first, started to feel unnecessarily and artificially lengthed.

The adoption plotline, introduced early on, disappears for much of the book only to resurface late in the story. A bit more foreshadowing there would have made the reveal land with greater emotional weight. Similarly, Roo’s entrance into the story could have been seeded earlier for better impact.

I want to be clear I didn’t dislike this book at all. I had a lot of fun reading it. It's only when I stepped back and looked at the story as a whole that some of these areas for improvement became more apparent.

Lastly, a romance doesn't need spice to be good or even worth reading. That said, this book kept the tone and language and activities (the FMC is in a smutty book club) well within the bounds of smut. So when the romantic leads finally get over their crap and confess love/do the do, it's odd that the author chooses then to make it pretty PG13/fade to black. Again, I don't need spice, but the book made it seem like it was down to be spicy and then pulls the rug out. So smut readers be aware of this.

All in all, it’s a cozy, enjoyable read with a lot of heart and if the sequel goes in the direction I suspect, I’ll be checking it out.

[Donna Gentile Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a pretty new genre to me.
I was privileged to get the ARC of the first three chapters, and I am really enjoying this book.
Love the characters. Orcs, Imps, elves trolls and humans are all in one town. Nora took her savings and opens Stellar Spirits, but it comes with some headaches.
I Can't wait to find out what happens next.

[Sarah Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cozy fantasy is filled with humor, fun, magic, found family, and an imperfect yet sweet love story!

Nora finally feels like her lifelong dream of running her own tavern, Stellar Spirits, is not only coming true but is taking off nicely. That is until a pub room brawl destroys her inventory. All she has left to serve is mocktails, and she isn’t so sure that mocktails will keep business going or earn the money she needs to pay off business debts. When her brother Seth, and his best friend, Kiernan, who Nora has been crushing on for years, make an unexpected appearance to their hometown, the boys quickly offer to help Nora fix up the broken parts of the tavern. Nora never expected that the man who broke her heart in the past would be the one to put the pieces of heart back together, and Nora soon realizes that Kiernan’s own past haunts him and left his heart broken too.

This story was so much fun! The found family dynamic, the banter, and hilarious Shenanigans, made this story a heartfelt and enjoyable adventure. I am looking forward to the next story in this series!

Romantic Content: Some Innuendos, Physical Attraction Mildly Described, Low Spice, Fade to Black

TW: Trauma, Parental Strife, PTSD from Physical Injury, Explicit Swearing Scattered Throughout

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute cozy fantasy read. With fall vibes, quirky animal sidekicks, a found family that is protective and a brother’s best friend who is charmingly annoying, it was easy for me to fall in love with all of the characters.

We meet both Nora and Keiran when they are trying to figure out what comes next. We open the book at Nora’s tavern as a fight is breaking out that breaks not only the bottles her inventory was in, but also her spirit seeing her life’s work spilled on the floor. We meet Keiran as he is on his way home after a career ending injury. His best friend (and Nora’s brother) Seth is coming back home too.

Keiran confides in Nora that he doesn’t know what to do since he has always wanted to go on adventures and doesn’t see how he can do that with his injury. Nora reminds him that adventure is all around us, and we can always make our own adventures if we don’t find one we want to join.

When Nora seems to have the worst luck ever with her tavern, and learns that her life isn’t exactly what she thought it was, she has to decide if she should push away a life she didn’t see coming just because it wasn’t what she had always envisioned for herself.

The two go through a lot of self discovery in the book, and I loved that they were “older”, in their 30s, trying to figure themselves out. Watching them work through their feelings for each other after 10 years since they last saw each other was well written, I laughed at all of the unintentional innuendos made during the first day of Keiran and Seth helping Nora fix up her tavern.

I liked that this fantasy was more rooted in a reality that didn’t come with a lot of world building. I felt it made it easier for me to get into the story. I hope there are other books to come because there are plenty of side characters I need to know more about, especially Maalik!

Thanks to the author for the ARC, I look forward to reading more in the future!

[M Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic and mocktails is a cosy fantasy of 300 odd pages. It had a bit of a slow start but I was fully tangled up in the story after a few chapters and enjoying the ride.

To me the setting felt like a modernesque fantasy world and I hadn't realised how much I liked that interpretation until this author built her charming realm. The language in some of the scenes gave that vibe and established the tone of a contemporary wash over an old world village. It's a fun mix of past and present.

I loved watching relationships change throughout the story. Character growth appeals strongly to me and there is plenty of it here. Nora and Kieran in all their iterations, parents and offspring, acquaintances becoming friends, siblings finding places in each other's lives after a period of reduced contact.......the author has really had fun showcasing her understanding of interpersonal dynamics! It gives a solid footing to the narrative and as this is sold as a series of interconnected standalones, I feel I've made tentative friendships that I can't wait to explore in future books.

Miscommunication is my least favourite trope.......but Ms Werner opened my eyes to how it can be understandably justified and used to direct a narrative - without sending me around the twist! The dual POV helped immensely with that and I continue to love this style of writing as a tool.

The romances/potential relationships offered plenty of flavour. More innuendo than I expected, maybe an enemies to lovers thing, some serious long term pining....just lots of room for the author to play and me to enjoy the results.

This is an entertaining tale with newly discovered magic, developing relationships and a message about finding your authentic self. I can't wait to continue this writer's creative journey with her.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝘋𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘖𝘝
𝟥𝟢 𝘺/𝘰 𝘍𝘔𝘊
𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥
𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳
𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯
𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘣 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘴
𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴
𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺/𝘸𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺

✨ This cover is adorable, and the map inside? Absolutely stunning! ✨

I read and loved Amber L. Werner’s 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨 trilogy, so the moment I saw she was releasing a cozy romantasy, I knew I had to dive in. And let me tell you—it did not disappoint.

This charming tale gave me all the feel-good vibes I wanted: small-town atmosphere, laugh-out-loud humor, quirky animal sidekicks, and a romance that is as sweet as it is swoony. I devoured it in less than 24 hours and closed the final page with a big smile.

At the heart of the story are Nora and Kieran. Nora, a 30-year-old tavern owner, has built her dream life in her hometown—until a disastrous brawl and a string of strange mishaps threaten everything she’s worked for. Cue Kieran: her older brother’s best friend, one-time crush, and a former Crown spy with meddlesome parents and wounds of his own. When circumstances push them together, sparks fly, old wounds resurface, and secrets start to unravel.

Between the tight-knit friendships, witty banter, and heartwarming romance (fade to black), this book truly feels like a warm hug in novel form. If you’re looking for a super cute, cozy romantasy to brighten your TBR, add this one—you won’t regret it.

“𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”

I love that each book in the series will feature a different couple, but all the stories will revolve around the same friend group. The full mystery of Nora’s family will be revealed in book 4. I cannot wait for more of this world! 📚
Rating: 4.75/5

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the ARC.

It took me a bit to get into this book. Like others in the recent lean towards cozy fantasy, it brings a modern lean to aspects which has some cultural mishmash in that the world leans towards women expecting to be married and modest with a noted difficulty for single parents, but there is also tank tops and a smutty book group.

Nora is the sole owner of her tavern, freshly opened and depleting her savings, when her brother half-orc Seth and childhood friend/current crush half-elf Kieran return from their time in the army. Kieran is recently disabled through the loss of his hand and is keen to escape his parent's attempts to set him up with a suitable elf bride.

There is a lot of subplot threads involved in this novel and not all of them are used to their fullest potential, instead setting up the side characters for their own novels in the future which does make for a fun guessing game but can get a bit repeptitive when the plot doesn't move along with the actions. The plot is easy to follow, I was slightly off with my inheritance guess but the major plot beats held true. There's mention of fantasy racism which happens at the start and end of the book, as well as Kieran's disability which only factors in truly right at the start of the novel and I would have liked to see more realism about that. He has no lingering pain or muscle spasms, or even, with the exception of one scene, difficulty in everyday life.

Conflict in the book comes as a result of miscommunication which is Fine but distinctly not my favourite way of going about things, especially when it happens not once, not twice, but three times. Nora is strong-willed to the point of her own detriment and Kieran is similarily stubborn but there's not much else about him that doesn't revolve around Nora.

It's a good read, but some elements just weren't for me.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic and Mocktails follows the story of Nora, a barkeep who goes through a very unfortunate run of bad luck, as she tries to repair her business from disaster. We also follow the story of Kieran, an elf who is having a tough time adapting to something that completely changed his life. The two go through ups and downs, refusing to get along at first, but by the end of the book there’a a beautiful system of support established amongst the characters and everything concludes in a heartwarming end - one that has a lot of exciting set-ups for future stories!

I couldn’t have chosen a better book to start my autumn reading! Cosy and full of humour, M and M is an easy read tyat will have you giggling but also gasping at the misfortune Nora goes through. If you’re looking for a book where the characters have great development throughout the story, without wanting anything too heavy, this is for you.

I love the little twinges of jealousy passing between Nora and Kieran as they try and deny their connections. That combined with his flirting had me kicking my feet!!

In any future stories, I would like to see a bit more world building. Fairvale and Everpass seem like intriguing places - I would love a few more descriptives to really be able to picture the settings and see the architecture in my mind.

Grateful for be on the ARC team for such a heartwarming light read!

[Bookwyrm_in_KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic and Mocktails is adorably cozy. It's a perfect autumn read. It's got forbidden-ish romance (brother's best friend/wrong side of the tracks), found family, magic, secrets and fun animal companions.

Nora is determined (to a fault) to make her own way and make her tavern into a thriving business. But a series of misfortunes threaten her ability to keep afloat. When her brother, Seth, and his best friend Kieran come back to town after 10 years away, she finally gets the help she needs, but refuses to ask for.

The problem is, Kieran was her first love, but life, circumstances, and Seth (to a degree), have kept them from acting on any attraction. And when both are on the verge of taking the plunge, circumstances once again try to get in the way.

I really like how the author tackled the issue of Kieran's new disability. I felt it was handled very well. And while there were times I wanted to shake Nora and yell "Accept the help your friends are willingly giving" deep down I understand her desire to do things independently.

Overall, highly recommend to fans of cozy romantasy with more mature (30+) protagonists, especially those who like their spice on the milder side. The spice is open door, but not wildly descriptive.

I really hope there are more stories set in this same universe, because there are so many amazing side characters that I want to learn more about.

[eclecticbychoicereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s nothing quite like curling up with a cozy fantasy book on a crisp fall afternoon. The air is sharper, the leaves are brighter, and the whole world feels touched with magic. Add in a perfectly sweet-and-spicy mocktail (or two), and you’re in for pure delight.

Oh, and if said cosy fantasy happens to have a lovely FMC who is driven and determined, passionate about her work, always ready to help those in need, could you even ask for more? Maybe I could entice you with an MMC haunted by ghosts of his childhood, lost in the aftermath of the accident that changed his life forever, and unsure of his future path? Or perhaps I could sprinkle on top some lovely (found) family and friendships, new and old? Oh, oh, oh, could I delight you with the cutest animal sidekick?

All of this and more awaits you in Amber’s Magic and Mocktails, a story that warms the heart with second-chance romance, fills the belly with mouthwatering food, and tickles the palate with drinks tailored perfectly to each character’s soul.

I absolutely loved stepping into Amber’s enchanting new world, and I can’t wait to meet the next set of protagonists she has in store. Thank you, Amber, for having me on your ARC team time after time; it's always a joy!

[Ash M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was kind of up in the air for me. It had so many elements I usually love: cozy fantasy vibes, a charming small-town setting, a sweet slow-burn romance, and some genuinely heartwarming character dynamics. But even with all of that, I struggled to fully sink into the story. The setup was promising and the chemistry between the main characters was definitely there, but it never quite pulled me in the way I hoped it would.

I did really enjoy the main characters and their individual journeys outside of the romance. Nora’s determination to rebuild her business and Kieran’s struggle to adjust after his accident both felt authentic and gave the story some emotional weight. Their growth, along with the shifting family and friendship dynamics, kept me invested. The side characters: Seth, Ali, Lio, and even the meddling parents, added warmth and humor, and I especially liked how the book played with the theme of connection. The dual POV was another highlight, making miscommunication moments feel a bit of believable, while also frustrating.

Where it fell a little short for me was in the worldbuilding and pacing. Some parts felt rushed while others dragged, and at times the cozy fantasy world seemed more sketched out than fully fleshed. The romance was sweet, but I found myself a little let down by the way it wrapped up. The tension and buildup were so strong, but the closed door romance undercut some of the payoff. I don’t think it needed explicit spice, but I do think it could have landed with more satisfaction.

That said, there’s still a lot here to love. You get familiars, book clubs, a sprinkle of magic, and plenty of moments that made me laugh and swoon. The setting was another pleasant surprise. It felt like a modernesque fantasy world, mixing the charm of an old village with touches that gave it a contemporary vibe, and I really enjoyed how that came through.

In the end, Magic and Mocktails was a light and cozy read that left me smiling, even if it didn’t quite deliver the full cozy escape I was hoping for. I think readers who enjoy low-stakes fantasy with romance will find it a fun and heartwarming story, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next book. The author has built a world that feels like it has plenty more magic to share.

[Montana P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic and Mocktails 🍹 By Amber L. Werner Review:

I received this wonderful book in turn for a review and I am so happy to do so. Magic and Mocktails is a fun cozy fantasy read with the best fall vibes. With Amber Werner's writing, it takes no time at all to fall in love with the characters (and fuzzy little friends) and feel like you're right in the story with them.

Small-Town romances are quickly becoming my favorite, and if you read this book, I think you’ll agree with me! Nora and Kieran are cute, sweet, and a little 🌶️. If you like close-tied families, found family and a touch of magic, this is the book for you!

I also have to say something about our wonderful side characters. I love love love them so much! Too many stories I read are solely focused on the main characters, which is fine, but also feels isolating in a way. Ali, Seth and even Maalik were some of the best parts of this book. They’re funny, while also giving some insight on our main characters too. I would love to read more about them if they ever have books of their own 👀

This was such a cozy read that I sped through just because it was so good. I happily rate this book 5 ⭐

[Zanna Bear · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Romantasy!
Solid romance plot, sweet kisses, personal resolutions.
I also love the more contemporary choice of dialogue – the banter and silliness between friends – and the found family aspects. The main characters were very relatable. And the immortal pet was also a cute find.

There are some points of critique, that could’ve added just that bit more to story.
The distribution of information and how easily new facts are accepted by Nora feels unbalance. Except for when it comes to Kieran, she just rolls with it, which I find odd.
The familiar got very little screentime, but has supposedly been around all of Nora’s life. This could’ve been woven into the story better.
The biggest missing resolution is around Nora’s biological parents. Even if she never truly figures out where she came from, I feel there could’ve been a bit more information for the reader.

All in all, this is definitely an enjoyable read, especially for the romance addicts among us.
The mocktail recipes in the back were the cherry on the cake.

[Ninja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was chosen to receive an arc for my honest opinion.

This story is about love, being brave enough to want it and new discovery


Let start off with the cover.
Not my favorite not how I picture the characters. Didn’t like it much.

This book had me laughing through most of it.
All the little innuendos in there. I could not get enough.
The plot was your normal romance plot.
All the predictable scenes and plot twist were all there.
Even so I enjoyed it all.

Toward the end of the story the MFC did get on my nerves but hey can’t have it all.
The romance from her fell short for me but she’s a sweet girl.

The MMC was good overall. There was times where I felt is personality/demeanor was a little love sick puppy and that was a little annoying but that’s just him.

Once again my favorite characters were the side characters.
Love their attitude and remarks.

I already see a couple of love stories coming.

I enjoyed reading Nora’s and Kieran’s story.
They’re cute.

Glad I got to read Magic and Mocktails by Amber L. Werner.

[BOOK IT BISHES · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy romance that will have you smiling throughout the story. A 4.5 star read for me!

Nora is determined to have her business flourish in her hometown, working hard and keeping her bar running smoothly until a brawl sets her back and has to rebuild. Her brother Seth is happy to lend a hand and bring his best friend Kieran to help unknowingly rekindling Nora's feelings for the handsome soldier.

Kieran suffers a devastating accident and is back in his hometown trying to adjust to his new life. He is roped into helping Seth's little sister Nora and finds himself unable to stay away from the feisty woman he can't seem to stop thinking about. Kieran doesn't mind that he has to spend time with the beautiful Nora despite his promise to himself to keep his heart guarded.

I absolutely adored this story; Amber has a magical way of keeping you in her world and rooting for her characters! Seth and Ali deserve a nod as they allow Nora and Kieran to figure out what is important to them. (I would love more of them and Lio in the next book!)

Throw in a book club, familiars, and meddling parents, you get this fun and cozy story that has everything you would want! I was laughing out loud and swooning throughout, a fantastic story from start to finish.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This one was sooo cute! It was such a comfy cosy fall read.

I loved Nora as a character, even if I wanted to shake her a little bit and beg her not to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. Keiran returns home with Nora’s brother Seth after an injury to try and figure out what to do next.

This book was a lovely read about two characters finding and accepting themselves after some big changes to their lives and it was so much fun to go on this journey with them. The side characters also made this book so much fun and I hope we get more of this series in the future. It’s definitely the perfect fall read to read on the couch with a cup of cocoa.

Thank you to Amber L. Werner and BookFunnel for an advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lisa Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a fun and cozy way to start my autumn reading! Magic and Mocktails has all the vibes I love-magic, romance and a small-town tavern that feels like somewhere i would want to hang out.
The story follows Nora, who runs a super cute tavern called Stellar Spirits, and Kieran, a former spy who’s back in town after an injury. Things really kick off when a fight breaks out in the bar, leaving Nora to clean up the mess—literally and emotionally. But then some strange magical stuff starts happening, and it turns into more than just fixing broken furniture.
Amber L. Werner does a great job blending fantasy with cozy vibes, and the chemistry between Nora and Kieran adds the touch of romance. If you’re looking for a magical autumnal read with heart, humor, and a splash of intrigue, this is a book worth checking out.

[Dominie Mcmillin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic and Mocktails is a cozy and fun fantasy that will make you wish you could patronize this tavern in this charming small town blends small-town charm, laugh-out-loud chaos, and a romance so sweet and worth the wait

Nora, a hardworking tavern owner, struggles to keep her bar running while falling for her childhood crush Kieran a half elf who has lost a hand and his sense of purpose. Between bar fights, magical mishaps, and constant mayhem, the story stays lighthearted and full of sparks between the two, witty banter and parts that you’ll need tissues for. There are also some surprising family secrets

I can’t wait for future novels as there were some little teasers at the end about the extra characters, loving family, loyal friends and eccentric bar patrons.

If you love found family, slow-burn romance, and a sprinkle of magic, this book is a perfect cozy escape.

[Tiahne Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled to get into this one, even though it had elements I usually enjoy. The setup was promising, and the chemistry between the leads was definitely there, but overall the story never fully pulled me in. Some parts felt rushed while others dragged, and I often found myself wishing for a bit more depth to the world and side characters.
The romance was sweet, but the way it handled intimacy felt a little off. With all the buildup and tension, the fade-to-black resolution landed strangely—it almost undercut the chemistry the book worked so hard to build. It didn’t need explicit spice to work, but the way it was handled left the payoff feeling unsatisfying.
That said, it was still a light, cozy read with some heartwarming moments, and readers who enjoy low-stakes fantasy with a touch of romance may still find it enjoyable. Personally, though, it wasn’t quite the cozy escape I’d hoped for.

[Hilary Brenneman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute and Cozy ✔️
Found Family ✔️
Witches, Elves and Orcs ✔️
Endearing Characters ✔️
A Little Romance ✔️
An enjoyable Read ✔️

I received “Magic and Mocktails” as an ARC and enjoyed every minute of it. It was a fast read, easy to sink into and full of characters I want to hang out with. This story follows Nora, a woman who runs a tavern and has had a string of bad luck, and her brothers best friend, Kieran, back from the big city with a life-changing injury. Reunited, the pair tries to sort through their circumstances, some bad luck and their long-held feelings for each other.

“Magic and Mocktails” left me wanting more and if the foreshadowing is right, there’s more to come with equally enjoyable characters. I recommend picking up a copy of your own!