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Tales of Love & Lore #1
Magic & Mochas
A cozy romantasy full of charm, coffee, and unexpected sparks.
Fake dating a grumpy shadowmancer wasn't part of the business plan...and neither was falling in love.
Three days after hexing her ex's underwear drawer, Clove Morelli returns to the magical town of Willowmere with nothing but her grimoire, her sassy feline familiar, and a dream she's finally ready to opening her very own enchanted coffee shop.
The only problem? The charming old café she buys comes with a surprise tenant in the upstairs apartment-Thorne, a handsome and mysterious shadowmancer with scars, secrets, and no intention of moving out. But when her ex suddenly shows up in town, Clove blurts out a desperate she's already moved on...with Thorne. Much to her shock, the reclusive mage agrees to play along-on one he gets to stay in the apartment, rent-free.
Thorne goes above and beyond; working in her shop, taking her on a date to the pumpkin patch, and helping her develop new drinks for the upcoming Halloween Masquerade Ball. But as sparks fly between them over pumpkin-spiced lattes and shadow-drenched secrets, Clove begins to wonder if their fake romance might just be becoming all too real.
Perfect for fans of small-town magic, grumpy-sunshine couples, and cozy vibes, Magic & Mochas is a heartwarming standalone novella full of charm, wit, and witchy wonder.
Fake dating a grumpy shadowmancer wasn't part of the business plan...and neither was falling in love.
Three days after hexing her ex's underwear drawer, Clove Morelli returns to the magical town of Willowmere with nothing but her grimoire, her sassy feline familiar, and a dream she's finally ready to opening her very own enchanted coffee shop.
The only problem? The charming old café she buys comes with a surprise tenant in the upstairs apartment-Thorne, a handsome and mysterious shadowmancer with scars, secrets, and no intention of moving out. But when her ex suddenly shows up in town, Clove blurts out a desperate she's already moved on...with Thorne. Much to her shock, the reclusive mage agrees to play along-on one he gets to stay in the apartment, rent-free.
Thorne goes above and beyond; working in her shop, taking her on a date to the pumpkin patch, and helping her develop new drinks for the upcoming Halloween Masquerade Ball. But as sparks fly between them over pumpkin-spiced lattes and shadow-drenched secrets, Clove begins to wonder if their fake romance might just be becoming all too real.
Perfect for fans of small-town magic, grumpy-sunshine couples, and cozy vibes, Magic & Mochas is a heartwarming standalone novella full of charm, wit, and witchy wonder.
146 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
June 11, 2026
M/F
Fake relationship
Tortured hero
Revenge romance
Grumpy x sunshine
Forced proximity
Paranormal
Cozy
Closed door 🌶️🌶️
So cute I already recommended it before I finished it! If you like witchy, pumpkin spice, cozy coffee shop vibes x cheating fiancé revenge, you’ll adore this. I loved the FMC and all her friends! And the descriptions of the other charming little businesses in this all-fantasy character town were just perfect. HEA guaranteed. First in a series!
Fake relationship
Tortured hero
Revenge romance
Grumpy x sunshine
Forced proximity
Paranormal
Cozy
Closed door 🌶️🌶️
So cute I already recommended it before I finished it! If you like witchy, pumpkin spice, cozy coffee shop vibes x cheating fiancé revenge, you’ll adore this. I loved the FMC and all her friends! And the descriptions of the other charming little businesses in this all-fantasy character town were just perfect. HEA guaranteed. First in a series!
October 16, 2025
2.5⭐
Bleh. I don't do cozy stuff and you can tell because I was sooooo bored. It's cute, overall, but that's all. It's not that bad but it wasn't for me I guess. First, I found the book so unoriginal. The 'evil' mother in law's name is Bellatrix, the FMC has a familiar sassy black cat, the MMC comes from Solo Leveling with his shadow soldiers and his raids/dungeons... The cheating ex was just annoying and dumb, all the characters felt very one dimensional. At least it was a fast read.
Bleh. I don't do cozy stuff and you can tell because I was sooooo bored. It's cute, overall, but that's all. It's not that bad but it wasn't for me I guess. First, I found the book so unoriginal. The 'evil' mother in law's name is Bellatrix, the FMC has a familiar sassy black cat, the MMC comes from Solo Leveling with his shadow soldiers and his raids/dungeons... The cheating ex was just annoying and dumb, all the characters felt very one dimensional. At least it was a fast read.
October 5, 2025
This was a cute novella. What a good Halloween / fall vibes!
Reminds me of Halloweentown with all the werewolves, witches, vampires, shadowmancers and lots more
I loved her sassy black cat and her best friend!
Reminds me of Halloweentown with all the werewolves, witches, vampires, shadowmancers and lots more
I loved her sassy black cat and her best friend!
October 16, 2026
This has everything I want in a short cosy romance. Fake dating, forced proximity, a touch of magic and a mysterious MMC. We also have a cat familiar with a perfectly sassy attitude.
Clover returns home to her parents after she finds her (now ex) fiancé in bed with another woman. She decides she needs a change and buys the local coffee shop to turn her dreams into a reality- she just didn’t realise her new property came with a lodger: Thorne.
Of course the ex come sniffing around trying to clear “his good name” and make Cloves life miserable. Enter the fake relationship!
I love when the lines begin to blur. When PDA to convince the ex boyfriend turn into kisses no one else will see. Moments of intimacy that are genuine and meaningful.
A perfect short romance with NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP!
Highlights:
* Thorne wrapping Rasmus in shadow when he insults Clove and tries to harm her.
* Thorne using his shadow soldiers to stand guard and look for threats. Protect Clove. Watch Rasmus and make sure the shop stays safe.
* Their kiss in front of of her ex in-laws
* Clove standing up for herself and telling Nyssa that she can keep Rasmus
* The tender moments where they open up to each other about their past. Thorne was used as bait but he survived when the rest of his crew ended up dead.
* Thorne threatening Rasmus (again) when he talks about Clove like property. Of course Thorne ends up with an injury and is surprised when Clove is worried about him.
* The ball drama. Of course the ex makes a scene.
* Thorne carrying Clove away back home
Clover returns home to her parents after she finds her (now ex) fiancé in bed with another woman. She decides she needs a change and buys the local coffee shop to turn her dreams into a reality- she just didn’t realise her new property came with a lodger: Thorne.
Of course the ex come sniffing around trying to clear “his good name” and make Cloves life miserable. Enter the fake relationship!
I love when the lines begin to blur. When PDA to convince the ex boyfriend turn into kisses no one else will see. Moments of intimacy that are genuine and meaningful.
A perfect short romance with NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP!
Highlights:
* Thorne wrapping Rasmus in shadow when he insults Clove and tries to harm her.
* Thorne using his shadow soldiers to stand guard and look for threats. Protect Clove. Watch Rasmus and make sure the shop stays safe.
* Their kiss in front of of her ex in-laws
* Clove standing up for herself and telling Nyssa that she can keep Rasmus
* The tender moments where they open up to each other about their past. Thorne was used as bait but he survived when the rest of his crew ended up dead.
* Thorne threatening Rasmus (again) when he talks about Clove like property. Of course Thorne ends up with an injury and is surprised when Clove is worried about him.
* The ball drama. Of course the ex makes a scene.
* Thorne carrying Clove away back home
October 9, 2026
Besides, I wanted to get a few of the tastier ones so that I can add pumpkin spice lattes to the menu." I trailed my free hand along the flowers that lined the path.
"Are those lattes popular?" Thorne frowned. "I can't say that I've tried one before."
I stopped dead in my tracks. "Seriously?!"
Honest to god, I only picked this up because it appeared on Kobo Plus when I was scrolling to decide whether or not I wanted to keep the subscription. I was even more jazzed when I realized it was a novella and took place in October. When I read it in the wee hour of the morning, I found myself enjoying it quite a bit. Sure, it was cheesy here and there but nothing I couldn't handle. However, after waking up and with fresh eyes, I finished the book and wondered if my enjoyment was clouded by my sleepiness.
It's really hard for me to rate Magic & Mochas because all my disliking of it can stem from the fact that it's a novella. I think the best way to describe the novella is that Vanna Woods wanted to only write the feel-good moments in a novel. This can either help or hurt a reader's experience. For me, it eventually hurt my experience. While it was cute at first, the fact that we had absolutely no stakes, no potentially complicated conflicts, one painfully obvious bad person in the entire story, it got really uninteresting.
Thorne was barely grumpy, and Clove was your average happy female protagonist. Everything, aside from Clove's ex and his mistress, I suppose, was all so pleasant that the story got too saccharine, even if they didn't constantly name drop autumnal drinks. There were no hiccups of Clove opening her café. Heck, even the main conflict of Clove's ex didn't amount to anything. His constant appearances were more annoying when I think they're supposed to be conflict. His appearances didn't being anything to the table because I knew nothing would happen (just based on the way the book is written), and he proved himself to be relatively incompetent the entire time. He was also so cartoonishly a bad boyfriend that I couldn't take him seriously as a character.
I didn't mind Thorne and Clove's relationship and romance, but I have to say it was truly an insta-love scenario. I GET IT, I GET IT. This is a novella. But I think it's crazy to have love declarations within knowing each other for about a month (and I think I'm even being gracious with that). This was supposed to be a fake dating scenario, but it barely feels like fake dating when the two main characters are falling for each other instantly. There was no fun build up of them eventually falling for each other since there was barely any conflict from the start.
This could've been cute, but I think the author wanted an obvious start, middle, and end to this novella instead of maybe keeping things a bit more open-ended. While I love a cozy fantasy, this more felt like being too swaddled in your blankets and sweater that you have a light film of sweat. A bit more conflict that actually amounts to something would've done this novella some good.
October 25, 2025
Possible spoilers below
Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of this book as a sort of ARC/ early reviewer.
*Star rating out of 5:
3/5;
*Would I recommend the book:
if you're seeking a cozy autumn novella
*My favorite character/why:
Silas
*My favorite part was:
The feel of the town, Willowmere was almost it's own character. I loved how cozy and inviting it was. Much like Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls. it reminds me of the Halloween favorites, Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown,
*Do i think the book is well written? Why is or isn't it? Was engaging, delightful, or inspiring? Was it staid, boring, or contrived?
The characters were a bit one dimensional and nothing about the book stood out as original. Sassy black familiar was a fun trope but it's overused, MMC raided dungeons for years and had a forced "bad guy" persona. I'd describe the book as a bit boring and staid but if you want cozy to the point of predictable this is for you. I still liked it even though it wasn't very original.
*Was it what you expected it to be?
I had slightly higher expectations
*How I discovered the book:
I was seeking ARCs and the author personally sent me a copy
*Format I read it in:
Physical copy
Possible spoilers above
Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of this book as a sort of ARC/ early reviewer.
*Star rating out of 5:
3/5;
*Would I recommend the book:
if you're seeking a cozy autumn novella
*My favorite character/why:
Silas
*My favorite part was:
The feel of the town, Willowmere was almost it's own character. I loved how cozy and inviting it was. Much like Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls. it reminds me of the Halloween favorites, Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown,
*Do i think the book is well written? Why is or isn't it? Was engaging, delightful, or inspiring? Was it staid, boring, or contrived?
The characters were a bit one dimensional and nothing about the book stood out as original. Sassy black familiar was a fun trope but it's overused, MMC raided dungeons for years and had a forced "bad guy" persona. I'd describe the book as a bit boring and staid but if you want cozy to the point of predictable this is for you. I still liked it even though it wasn't very original.
*Was it what you expected it to be?
I had slightly higher expectations
*How I discovered the book:
I was seeking ARCs and the author personally sent me a copy
*Format I read it in:
Physical copy
Possible spoilers above
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2025
Welcome to Willowmere, a small, cozy town whose residents are anything but human! Clove Morelli, a witch recovering from a bad relationship, has returned to create her dream life, buying a cafe and opening her very own magical coffee shop. There's one small problem though: the upstairs apartment has a very handsome surprise. His name? Thorne.
Thorne is a shadowmancer with a past and a reputation, hiding out in Willowmere and just laying low. Until bursts through the bathroom door and into his life.
When Clove's ex shows up unexpectedly, she panics and a fake relationship with Thorne is born. But the longer they fake it, the less fake it becomes, and Clove learns there's more to Thorne that meets the eye. Under his grumpy shadowmancer exterior is a man longing to be loved. They can't help falling for each other, and in this fake-to-real romance, there are no refunds.
I loved this story so much. It's like Hallmark meets magic and the coffee shop setting is brilliant for this pumpkin spice latte lovin' girlie! I'm thrilled to give it five pumpkin spiced stars!
Ravenheart Rating: 10/10
Spice Factor: Level 3
Thorne is a shadowmancer with a past and a reputation, hiding out in Willowmere and just laying low. Until bursts through the bathroom door and into his life.
When Clove's ex shows up unexpectedly, she panics and a fake relationship with Thorne is born. But the longer they fake it, the less fake it becomes, and Clove learns there's more to Thorne that meets the eye. Under his grumpy shadowmancer exterior is a man longing to be loved. They can't help falling for each other, and in this fake-to-real romance, there are no refunds.
I loved this story so much. It's like Hallmark meets magic and the coffee shop setting is brilliant for this pumpkin spice latte lovin' girlie! I'm thrilled to give it five pumpkin spiced stars!
Ravenheart Rating: 10/10
Spice Factor: Level 3
October 12, 2025
First fall book of the season and YAAAASS it delivered. Magic & Mochas was like stepping into a warm mug of your favorite drink on a crisp autumn morning- full of heat, fluff, and magic.
I live for romance + fantasy mixed with all kinds of magical species, like witches, warlocks, demons… shadow daddies 👀…and this one hits so many of those tropes in the best way. The heroine is coming home after a cheating-idiot heartbreak, trying to pick up all the broken pieces of herself, learning what boundaries mean (yes please), and then BAM - we have the best unexpected encounter.
Sunshine × grumpy? Locked in. Enemies-to-lovers (more like “annoying to lovers”): I was here for it. Fake dating? Got ya. Touch her and die? It’s here. And the little touches: the drink mixtures? So clever and adorable. The sidekick bestie, the grumpy cute cat, all of it adds layers of cozy and personality.
Honestly there’s nothing I can complain about here- it’s sweet, it’s charming, it makes me want hot drinks, scarves, candles, and all the autumn vibes. If you want a book that’s cute and soft but still has magic and those steamy moments? Magic & Mochas is your girl.
I live for romance + fantasy mixed with all kinds of magical species, like witches, warlocks, demons… shadow daddies 👀…and this one hits so many of those tropes in the best way. The heroine is coming home after a cheating-idiot heartbreak, trying to pick up all the broken pieces of herself, learning what boundaries mean (yes please), and then BAM - we have the best unexpected encounter.
Sunshine × grumpy? Locked in. Enemies-to-lovers (more like “annoying to lovers”): I was here for it. Fake dating? Got ya. Touch her and die? It’s here. And the little touches: the drink mixtures? So clever and adorable. The sidekick bestie, the grumpy cute cat, all of it adds layers of cozy and personality.
Honestly there’s nothing I can complain about here- it’s sweet, it’s charming, it makes me want hot drinks, scarves, candles, and all the autumn vibes. If you want a book that’s cute and soft but still has magic and those steamy moments? Magic & Mochas is your girl.
September 21, 2025
Magic & Mochas - Vanna Woods
5 perfectly cozy stars
This is a book that feels like home! This book is the embodiment of a warm embrace, your favorite latte & the sense of peace you get watching the autumn leaves dance in the breeze. The atmosphere and imagery is just perfection. This is most certainly the best Fall book I’ve read! It’s always fun picking up seasonal reads but sometimes they can be a bit corny - this one is seasonal & also so well done - you won’t be disappointed if you pick up this sweet cozy fall read! 🍁🍂🥰
✅ witch x shadowmancer
✅ cozy read
✅ small town romance
✅ fall / autumn atmosphere
✅ coffee shop setting
✅ fake dating
✅ cat familiar
Give it a go! 😍🎃☕️🐈⬛🧙🏻♀️
5 perfectly cozy stars
This is a book that feels like home! This book is the embodiment of a warm embrace, your favorite latte & the sense of peace you get watching the autumn leaves dance in the breeze. The atmosphere and imagery is just perfection. This is most certainly the best Fall book I’ve read! It’s always fun picking up seasonal reads but sometimes they can be a bit corny - this one is seasonal & also so well done - you won’t be disappointed if you pick up this sweet cozy fall read! 🍁🍂🥰
✅ witch x shadowmancer
✅ cozy read
✅ small town romance
✅ fall / autumn atmosphere
✅ coffee shop setting
✅ fake dating
✅ cat familiar
Give it a go! 😍🎃☕️🐈⬛🧙🏻♀️
September 3, 2025
So, I backed this book on Kickstarter, thus getting me an early copy of it and boy was this worth the read! The perfect cozy autumn read for the brrr months! I imbibed this book like a coffee I so would have loved to try of Clove’s! I loved everything about this book, especially the chemistry between Clove and Thorne! The author did an amazing job with the story and her writing just feels fresh and unique! Nothing felt forced for sure! Also, Clove’s familiar was so sassy, I loved him, lol! Highly recommend this book all the way! Please do check it out!
September 17, 2025
This is a book that could quickly become a favorite you come back to over and over again. It is so well written and cozy. There is no spice so people of all ages can read this book. I loved the small town atmosphere and sense of community. The town being paranormal makes it even better! You can never go wrong with a grumpy x sunshine trope either. Definitely would recommend this to anyone that love paranormal romance. I was given an advanced read copy and I have written this review voluntarily.
October 28, 2025
This novella length story is advertised as being full of charm and coziness, and I feel it definitely lives up to that description! There is really no angst to be found in these pages, so be forewarned if you are looking for angst in a story. This is also a clean romance if that's your style. Although I usually like my romance very spicy, I still enjoyed the story despite there being no heat beyond kissing. I very much want to visit the town of Willowmere after reading about its fantastical surroundings and will be excited to read the next books in the series.
October 7, 2026
It took me twelve days to get through this book, even though my total reading time for the whole thing was just under two hours. I think that says it all.
I’m giving it two stars because I genuinely enjoyed the cute descriptions of the town, the sky, and other inanimate objects.
If you’re looking for a quick no-spice read with Halloween vibes (and don’t mind if the MMC has a backstory literally ripped from World of Warcraft) then I would potentially recommend it. It’s just not my personal cup of coffee.
I’m giving it two stars because I genuinely enjoyed the cute descriptions of the town, the sky, and other inanimate objects.
If you’re looking for a quick no-spice read with Halloween vibes (and don’t mind if the MMC has a backstory literally ripped from World of Warcraft) then I would potentially recommend it. It’s just not my personal cup of coffee.
September 17, 2025
Magic & Mochas was like curling up with your favorite fall drink. Warm, sweet, and full of feel-good vibes. I adored the small-town magic of Willowmere, and the grumpy-sunshine dynamic between Clove and Thorne was super fun to watch unfold.
Fake dating a broody shadowmancer? Yes, please. Add in a sassy cat, magical coffee, and Halloween vibes, and this novella hit all the cozy romantasy notes I love.
Quick, cute, and perfect for a weekend read!
Fake dating a broody shadowmancer? Yes, please. Add in a sassy cat, magical coffee, and Halloween vibes, and this novella hit all the cozy romantasy notes I love.
Quick, cute, and perfect for a weekend read!
October 15, 2026
A cozy book for your autumn feels. This books was a great read with it being shorter than your typical novel, but not without it's neat and tidy storyline. Clove and Thorne are an amazing sunshine x grumpy duo with great chemistry! Honestly, I thought I would want more to this book, but it was actually a perfect cozy book for my autumn read!
September 15, 2025
I finished this book in 2 hours. It’s soooo cute!!! The perfect cozy, fall, witch x shadowmancer romance. It’s not spicy (just kissing). Soo stinking cute and I want my own Thorn! He’s so protective and only has eyes for Clove. I will definitely be reading this book again!
October 7, 2025
Magic & Mochas is a delightful mix of witchy charm, small-town magic, and slow-burn romance. The fake dating trope is done in such a fun way, and I loved all the cozy details: the coffee shop, the fall atmosphere, even the mischievous cat. Perfect light and cozy read.
October 21, 2025
I loved the story and autumn witchy vibes of this book. Great low stakes cozy romantasy. I wish there were more world building, and character back story, but overall this was great and I can't wait to read the next book.
October 26, 2025
Found this hidden gem on Kickstarter and devoured it in an evening. Very cute and cozy as one would expect from a romantasy. I did get the spicy version, I just wish it was slightly spicier, but overall, truly great book 😊
September 15, 2025
Super adorable! I absolutely loved it. Sweet, heartfelt, and magical..
September 19, 2025
Adorably sweet, it's the perfect book to gobble up with a cup of coffee and a cozy blanket. A clean and cute magical romance that gives all the warm fuzziness.
September 20, 2025
Fake dating, grumpy sunshine vibes and set around Halloween times! Such a cute clean cozy read
September 24, 2025
It’s giving.. Halloweentown meets The Pumpkin Spice Cafe 😍
September 30, 2025
Very cute and cozy magical read. Absolutely loved all the sassy banter. Clove and Thorne I just couldn’t get enough of. A must read!
October 3, 2025
I’m so happy I backed this on kickstarter!
I loved this book, it was so cute and magical. I’d love to try all her coffee concoctions.
I loved this book, it was so cute and magical. I’d love to try all her coffee concoctions.
October 9, 2025
Such a cute and cozy fall fantasy novella! The perfect seasonal read that would pair perfectly with a mocha (or pumpkin spice latte)! Love!!
October 9, 2025
I loved it. It's light, cozy and warm. Captivating to read and enjoy with great characters and romance.
February 1, 2026
So cute and sweet! Clove in a way is a great fmc! And she kept her head up high through and through.
Very cozy read indeed
Very cozy read indeed
March 11, 2026
Perfect for those looking for a fun Halloween romance. It was a quick read with likable characters and a unique atmosphere. I really enjoyed it!
May 4, 2026
Just a short, sweet, perfect book. Exactly what I needed and written beautifully. Can't wait to keep reading the rest of the series!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews