What do you think?
Rate this book
Lies and Lavender
In a world full of flowers and festivals, sunshines and rainbows, not everything is as it seems. The King’s only daughter is finally of age, and the time has come to unite the Kingdoms. The prince of petals and the lavender King's lifelong rivalry has finally reached its peak, fighting over the heart of the princess who took their breath away when they were mere children. There is no length that they wouldn’t go, or boundary they wouldn’t cross, to win the heart of the Princess who stole their heart all those years ago. Leaving the question, is it her that they truly love, or is it beating the other once and for all that they love the idea of the most?
174 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 12, 2026
11 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
About the author
Ashley J. Vinson
8 books44 followersAshley J Vinson is the author of swoon worthy and spicy adult romances. Originally from the Midwest, she currently resides on Oahu due to her husband's military orders.
Follow her on Instagram @authorashleyjvinson
Follow her on Instagram @authorashleyjvinson
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
October 15, 2025
This story is fantastic, and I absolutely love everything about it. I'm glad those jerks got what was coming for them after they treated Eloise like they did. Ashley, thank you for trusting me to proofread this beauty for you! I cannot wait for it to publish because it's going to need a home on my shelf!
February 12, 2026
I was selected to read the ARC for this book. I was so honored to be selected and given early access!! This book was really cute and fun. I couldn’t put the book down I had to know what happened next. I love Eloise and Adonis relationship, how they interacted with each other was sweet and cute.
With it this being the ARC version there were some grammatical errors in some the sentences. But other than that this was easy to read and flow well. I love your writing style and how you describe everything. Made it wonderfully clear to see my head while reading. Thank you writing this beautiful book and I can’t wait for the official release to read it!!!
With it this being the ARC version there were some grammatical errors in some the sentences. But other than that this was easy to read and flow well. I love your writing style and how you describe everything. Made it wonderfully clear to see my head while reading. Thank you writing this beautiful book and I can’t wait for the official release to read it!!!
December 1, 2025
Lies and Lavender is a short and sweet multi pov romantasy filled with forbidden love, court politics, amnesia, and a fierce FMC who refuses to stay quiet. Eloise absolutely shines with her white hair and purple tips and I loved watching her fight for her freedom and her heart.
Spoiler Alert below
Before I get into the twists and chaos, I have to mention the cover and teaser art because it is absolutely beautiful. The colors, the floral details, and the way the characters are portrayed match the entire vibe of the story perfectly. Even just from the tease alone, it captures that dreamy, romantic, dangerous energy that fits this book so well.
Adonis is the Lavender King with violet eyes and dimples for days and Ambrose is the prince of petals who is handsome and charming but absolutely chaotic in the worst way. Childhood promises, broken trust, and a destiny Eloise never asked for all crash together once Adonis comes back into her life and sweeps her toward his kingdom. There is a touch her and die energy, a dagger to throat moment, a bath scene, and a whole lot of burn the kingdoms for her passion.
The lovers to enemies to lovers again arc was so fun to follow and the amnesia twist added just the right amount of heartbreak. I really enjoyed the way Eloise gets her memories back and the soft romantic moments that follow. It has sweet heat with fade to black scenes that leave plenty to the imagination. The final rescue, the showdown with Ambrose, and Eloise reclaiming her throne made the ending feel powerful and satisfying. The HEA was beautiful and the epilogue wrapped their story in a warm ribbon.
Overall a solid 4 star read for me. I loved the characters, the tension, the magic, and the emotional payoff. I would absolutely read more about Eloise and Adonis if Ashley ever continues their story. And honestly… I adore every book I read by Ashley.
Spoiler Alert below
Before I get into the twists and chaos, I have to mention the cover and teaser art because it is absolutely beautiful. The colors, the floral details, and the way the characters are portrayed match the entire vibe of the story perfectly. Even just from the tease alone, it captures that dreamy, romantic, dangerous energy that fits this book so well.
Adonis is the Lavender King with violet eyes and dimples for days and Ambrose is the prince of petals who is handsome and charming but absolutely chaotic in the worst way. Childhood promises, broken trust, and a destiny Eloise never asked for all crash together once Adonis comes back into her life and sweeps her toward his kingdom. There is a touch her and die energy, a dagger to throat moment, a bath scene, and a whole lot of burn the kingdoms for her passion.
The lovers to enemies to lovers again arc was so fun to follow and the amnesia twist added just the right amount of heartbreak. I really enjoyed the way Eloise gets her memories back and the soft romantic moments that follow. It has sweet heat with fade to black scenes that leave plenty to the imagination. The final rescue, the showdown with Ambrose, and Eloise reclaiming her throne made the ending feel powerful and satisfying. The HEA was beautiful and the epilogue wrapped their story in a warm ribbon.
Overall a solid 4 star read for me. I loved the characters, the tension, the magic, and the emotional payoff. I would absolutely read more about Eloise and Adonis if Ashley ever continues their story. And honestly… I adore every book I read by Ashley.
November 17, 2025
I was very lucky to have received an ARC for this book and this is my honest review.
Lies and Lavender is such a beautiful little Novella, I honestly wished it was longer.
The story dives right into the plot, with no wasted time. All three main characters are introduced in the first chapter and their dynamic between eachother is written so well, you know from the start how the relationships between them is.
Eloise is exactly what you think of a Princess when you hear the "princess-trope", she is sweet, kind, not a fighter in a traditionel sense. But she is outspoken, she knows what she wants and does not shy away and voices her wants explicitly.
Adonis is the villain mixed with Prince Charming. He is such a sweatheart, who also takes no chances when it comes to his true love and gladly becomes the villain if needed.
Ambrose is, well... he is a little whiney b**ch with a huge "nice-guy syndrom" I wanted to punch him so bad... But he gave us such good tension in this story, he was truly perfect.
There is not a lot of complicated world-building or politics and its not supposed to be this kind of story. It is a short Novella that concentrates on their characters, their feelings and what they go through. Its a character driven story.
What we get though are beautiful describtions of the world in forms of color and feeling. Its a lavender and pastel colored dream. All places and characters are described as almost ethereal, its wonderful to imagine.
Ashley Vinson also uses the shortness of the book to her full advantage, there is never a dull moment, every page there happens something new to up the tension. I held my breath so many times, especially when I thought there was a quiet moment BAM new tension coming in.
Overal a 5 Star read, can really recommend it for everyone that is looking for a short, beautiful and exciting book.
Especially if you want to take a breather from long or unfinished series and just want to dive into a new story on a rainy sunday, its the perfect book.
Lies and Lavender is such a beautiful little Novella, I honestly wished it was longer.
The story dives right into the plot, with no wasted time. All three main characters are introduced in the first chapter and their dynamic between eachother is written so well, you know from the start how the relationships between them is.
Eloise is exactly what you think of a Princess when you hear the "princess-trope", she is sweet, kind, not a fighter in a traditionel sense. But she is outspoken, she knows what she wants and does not shy away and voices her wants explicitly.
Adonis is the villain mixed with Prince Charming. He is such a sweatheart, who also takes no chances when it comes to his true love and gladly becomes the villain if needed.
Ambrose is, well... he is a little whiney b**ch with a huge "nice-guy syndrom" I wanted to punch him so bad... But he gave us such good tension in this story, he was truly perfect.
There is not a lot of complicated world-building or politics and its not supposed to be this kind of story. It is a short Novella that concentrates on their characters, their feelings and what they go through. Its a character driven story.
What we get though are beautiful describtions of the world in forms of color and feeling. Its a lavender and pastel colored dream. All places and characters are described as almost ethereal, its wonderful to imagine.
Ashley Vinson also uses the shortness of the book to her full advantage, there is never a dull moment, every page there happens something new to up the tension. I held my breath so many times, especially when I thought there was a quiet moment BAM new tension coming in.
Overal a 5 Star read, can really recommend it for everyone that is looking for a short, beautiful and exciting book.
Especially if you want to take a breather from long or unfinished series and just want to dive into a new story on a rainy sunday, its the perfect book.
December 8, 2025
Lies & Lavender by Ashley Vinson was a fun read full of adventure, romance, betrayal and revenge.
Eloise, Adonis and Ambrose are childhood friends. Adonis and Ambrose both seek to wed Eloise when she comes of age but for very different reasons; one for love and one for selfish purposes.
Eloise is set to marry Ambrose but is stolen away by Adonis, now the Lavender King. With her memories erased, Eloise has to determine just who the villain actually is. Things are not always as they appear.
There was a lot of story packed into this novella. I do appreciate a quick read to cleanse the reading palate and this was a great read to do just that. I would love for it to have been a little longer, to have some more private moments between Adonis, Ambrose and Eloise to really see how their relationship began, how they changed and how love eventually bloomed.
I received an ARC of Lies & Lavender for an honest review.
Eloise, Adonis and Ambrose are childhood friends. Adonis and Ambrose both seek to wed Eloise when she comes of age but for very different reasons; one for love and one for selfish purposes.
Eloise is set to marry Ambrose but is stolen away by Adonis, now the Lavender King. With her memories erased, Eloise has to determine just who the villain actually is. Things are not always as they appear.
There was a lot of story packed into this novella. I do appreciate a quick read to cleanse the reading palate and this was a great read to do just that. I would love for it to have been a little longer, to have some more private moments between Adonis, Ambrose and Eloise to really see how their relationship began, how they changed and how love eventually bloomed.
I received an ARC of Lies & Lavender for an honest review.
December 10, 2025
Thank you, Ashley J. Vinson, for this beautiful ARC. I absolutely love the graphics of this book. It is not only a beautiful plot, but beautiful physically! This book was the cutest and most interesting short novella that you will not want to finish. Adonis and Eloise were goals! This book was sweetness overload despite the dark plot points. I honestly loved the beautiful picture that was created through the world building, and it didn’t take away from telling the story. The love story between these two was so sweet and honestly growing in a manner. I love that they both grew only closer through the obstacles that they faced.
December 7, 2025
There is nothing I love more than a happy ending. This book was so easy to follow along and the way Ashley wrote this world had me daydreaming about being a princess in a lavender field. I absolutely loveddd the FMC so much and seriously, just finished the book feeling so warm on the inside. I can’t wait for hardcovers because I absolutely have plans of buying it. 💜🥹
December 7, 2025
This was a much needed palate cleanser. While there were dark moments and scenes that had my heart racing, at its core, Lies and lavender is a short sweet romantasy with such satisfying ending.
The Author hooks you on her characters early and gives a story worthy of staying up all night to read the ending.
The Author hooks you on her characters early and gives a story worthy of staying up all night to read the ending.
December 15, 2025
I was lucky enough to ARC read this and I loved every moment of it. It was so good I wished it was longer / was a series because I couldn’t put it down!
February 7, 2026
I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of Lies & Lavender by Ashley J. Vinson through R&R Book Tours, and I genuinely did not expect to be this obsessed… but here we are.
First of all, the fact that Ashley managed to pack such a fun, intricate, twisty, emotionally satisfying story into under 200 pages is actually unreal. Not a single page is wasted. Every chapter adds something—whether it’s world-building, character depth, or another layer of intrigue that made me go wait… hold on… WHAT?
Lies & Lavender may be short, but it is lush. The evolution of the characters, the shifting dynamics, and the growing tension within the story are done so intentionally and with so much care. You can feel the stakes rising, even in quiet moments. And the atmosphere? Absolutely immaculate. The kingdoms, each wrapped in their own jewel-toned identity, felt vivid and purposeful—like the setting itself was a character in the story. The lavender motifs woven throughout added this soft, dreamy contrast to the secrets and lies simmering underneath… and yes, as someone who loves anything lavender-colored or scented, this book had me in a chokehold.
Eloise is such a compelling main character—curious, resilient, and quietly powerful in a way I adored. And Adonis?? I mean. Come on. Their chemistry is subtle, sweet, and so well-paced. No insta-love, no over-the-top drama—just genuine connection, meaningful moments, and a romance that unfolds naturally alongside the plot. Every interaction between them had me kicking my feet.
The plot itself is clever and engaging, with twists that actually land and revelations that feel earned. I loved how the story balanced mystery, heart, and just a touch of romance without ever overshadowing the core narrative. It’s cozy, magical, and emotionally satisfying all at once—which is not easy to pull off, especially in such a short format.
All in all, Ashley J. Vinson has written a beautiful, lush, and thoughtfully crafted story, and I truly think everyone needs to read this. It’s the perfect one-day read that somehow still leaves a lasting impression long after you turn the final page.
So please. Go pick this up. Read it in a day. Fall in love.
Thankssss, love y’all 🫶
KAY BYEEEEE 💜✨
First of all, the fact that Ashley managed to pack such a fun, intricate, twisty, emotionally satisfying story into under 200 pages is actually unreal. Not a single page is wasted. Every chapter adds something—whether it’s world-building, character depth, or another layer of intrigue that made me go wait… hold on… WHAT?
Lies & Lavender may be short, but it is lush. The evolution of the characters, the shifting dynamics, and the growing tension within the story are done so intentionally and with so much care. You can feel the stakes rising, even in quiet moments. And the atmosphere? Absolutely immaculate. The kingdoms, each wrapped in their own jewel-toned identity, felt vivid and purposeful—like the setting itself was a character in the story. The lavender motifs woven throughout added this soft, dreamy contrast to the secrets and lies simmering underneath… and yes, as someone who loves anything lavender-colored or scented, this book had me in a chokehold.
Eloise is such a compelling main character—curious, resilient, and quietly powerful in a way I adored. And Adonis?? I mean. Come on. Their chemistry is subtle, sweet, and so well-paced. No insta-love, no over-the-top drama—just genuine connection, meaningful moments, and a romance that unfolds naturally alongside the plot. Every interaction between them had me kicking my feet.
The plot itself is clever and engaging, with twists that actually land and revelations that feel earned. I loved how the story balanced mystery, heart, and just a touch of romance without ever overshadowing the core narrative. It’s cozy, magical, and emotionally satisfying all at once—which is not easy to pull off, especially in such a short format.
All in all, Ashley J. Vinson has written a beautiful, lush, and thoughtfully crafted story, and I truly think everyone needs to read this. It’s the perfect one-day read that somehow still leaves a lasting impression long after you turn the final page.
So please. Go pick this up. Read it in a day. Fall in love.
Thankssss, love y’all 🫶
KAY BYEEEEE 💜✨
February 22, 2026
2⭐️
I had high hopes for this novella, but sadly it just was not my cup of tea. I think the author had an interesting idea for a story, but just did not spend the time on this book that it needed in order to make it a good reading experience.
For starters, the plot had good bones but poor execution. The fact that we got multiple point of views really made things worse, imo, because it meant there was no sense of surprise. I always knew what to expect because I knew what each of the main characters was feeling/planning at any given time. There was no question about whether the “villain” MMC really cared for the FMC, because we spend half of the book in his POV. Even the one time the book did attempt a surprise twist, it was unfortunately just too obvious that something like it was bound to happen.
The characters either felt completely flat or inconsistent. The FMC had almost no agency throughout the entire book, and spent most of it waiting to be rescued by one prince or the other. The author did seem to try to fix this towards the end of the novella, but it just wasn’t enough for me. The “villain” MMC was also not very interesting, and by far was the most inconsistent character in the story. Apart from one or two overly dramatic scenes that felt like he was just being evil for the sake of it, he was pretty much just the standard cardboard cutout of a fairy tale prince (or king, I suppose). Likewise, the prince who the FMC was betrothed to at the beginning was just “generic evil royal” - though at least he was consistent in his cruelty.
By far, the writing style was the thing that bugged me most. It was full of punctuation errors, problems with using the wrong tense, and sentences that just weren’t structured well/correctly. There were also a few sentences where it would switch between first person POV and third person - though it wasn’t nearly as often as the other issues listed. I wish the author had taken the time to run the story through at least a couple more edits to fix some of these mistakes.
TL;DR: I really liked the idea of this book, but not the actual book itself. The characters were not enjoyable, the plot didn’t live up to its potential, and the writing was full of grammatical errors.
I had high hopes for this novella, but sadly it just was not my cup of tea. I think the author had an interesting idea for a story, but just did not spend the time on this book that it needed in order to make it a good reading experience.
For starters, the plot had good bones but poor execution. The fact that we got multiple point of views really made things worse, imo, because it meant there was no sense of surprise. I always knew what to expect because I knew what each of the main characters was feeling/planning at any given time. There was no question about whether the “villain” MMC really cared for the FMC, because we spend half of the book in his POV. Even the one time the book did attempt a surprise twist, it was unfortunately just too obvious that something like it was bound to happen.
The characters either felt completely flat or inconsistent. The FMC had almost no agency throughout the entire book, and spent most of it waiting to be rescued by one prince or the other. The author did seem to try to fix this towards the end of the novella, but it just wasn’t enough for me. The “villain” MMC was also not very interesting, and by far was the most inconsistent character in the story. Apart from one or two overly dramatic scenes that felt like he was just being evil for the sake of it, he was pretty much just the standard cardboard cutout of a fairy tale prince (or king, I suppose). Likewise, the prince who the FMC was betrothed to at the beginning was just “generic evil royal” - though at least he was consistent in his cruelty.
By far, the writing style was the thing that bugged me most. It was full of punctuation errors, problems with using the wrong tense, and sentences that just weren’t structured well/correctly. There were also a few sentences where it would switch between first person POV and third person - though it wasn’t nearly as often as the other issues listed. I wish the author had taken the time to run the story through at least a couple more edits to fix some of these mistakes.
TL;DR: I really liked the idea of this book, but not the actual book itself. The characters were not enjoyable, the plot didn’t live up to its potential, and the writing was full of grammatical errors.
Read
February 11, 2026I'm so appreciative that I had the opportunity to read the ARC for this book! At only 174 pages, I ended up finishing this in a couple of hours! It was such a fun and adorable story! I always love the villain as the love interest as well.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Writing Style: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Atmosphere/world-building: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: None
Characters
It cannot be easy to write characters in a story <200 pages. There's so little time to establish SO MUCH. I was really impressed by how much foundation Ashley gave her characters in that short time span.
Eloise was ready to fight for her future, however she could. Adonis was ready to do anything to save her even if that meant becoming a villain himself. Ambrose did love Eloise in his own way but it was twisted and selfish. All while Eloise's father had given up on everything except power.
Writing Style
The writing was clear and made for a fun, adorable, and easy read. The pacing was fast but I never felt lost or confused about what was happening.
Atmosphere/world-building
I waffled between giving this a 3 and a 4. There's certianly enough world building for you to understand what's happening between the three kingdoms. There just isn't enough pages for as much world building as I would have liked! I wanted to know more about the relationship between the three kingdoms, the conflict between them, etc.
Spice
There are some closed door scenes but nothing other than that!
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Writing Style: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Atmosphere/world-building: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: None
Characters
It cannot be easy to write characters in a story <200 pages. There's so little time to establish SO MUCH. I was really impressed by how much foundation Ashley gave her characters in that short time span.
Eloise was ready to fight for her future, however she could. Adonis was ready to do anything to save her even if that meant becoming a villain himself. Ambrose did love Eloise in his own way but it was twisted and selfish. All while Eloise's father had given up on everything except power.
Writing Style
The writing was clear and made for a fun, adorable, and easy read. The pacing was fast but I never felt lost or confused about what was happening.
Atmosphere/world-building
I waffled between giving this a 3 and a 4. There's certianly enough world building for you to understand what's happening between the three kingdoms. There just isn't enough pages for as much world building as I would have liked! I wanted to know more about the relationship between the three kingdoms, the conflict between them, etc.
Spice
There are some closed door scenes but nothing other than that!
January 10, 2026
This was BEAUTIFUL and I was so lucky to receive an ARC! If you want a novella that feels like a full blown novel this is the one for you.. The story was captivating and drew me in from the first moment! Eloise has had everything stolen from her but manages to stay strong willed and true to herself through it all! Ambrose the typical villain is so smooth talking you almost want to believe he can be the one, the good guy. But Adonis, Adonis I would die for. He cared for Eloise so gently and lovingly through everything until she came back to him mentally and physically. This was a 5 star love story for me and one of the best HEA’s I’ve had the chance of reading
February 12, 2026
5 stars 🌟
Lies and Lavender by Ashley J. Vinson is a cute, closed-door, fantasy romance novella. I was so excited to dive into L&L, and it did not disappoint! Thank you for having me ARC read!<3 After reading, I'm definitely looking forward to more works by the author.
While it honestly did take me a few chapters to get into, I was in love with the story and the characters by the end. Adonis and Eloise were adorable, and they had me smiling! The story was very well written, paced, and I loved how the storytelling was done!
ADONIS!!! My consent KING! He was incredibly swoon-worthy, and I'm pretty sure most of what I quoted was him. Honestly, I know he's supposed to be a villain, but I never got those vibes from him. However, Lavender is literally my favorite color soooo 👀💜✨️
Lies and Lavender by Ashley J. Vinson is a cute, closed-door, fantasy romance novella. I was so excited to dive into L&L, and it did not disappoint! Thank you for having me ARC read!<3 After reading, I'm definitely looking forward to more works by the author.
While it honestly did take me a few chapters to get into, I was in love with the story and the characters by the end. Adonis and Eloise were adorable, and they had me smiling! The story was very well written, paced, and I loved how the storytelling was done!
ADONIS!!! My consent KING! He was incredibly swoon-worthy, and I'm pretty sure most of what I quoted was him. Honestly, I know he's supposed to be a villain, but I never got those vibes from him. However, Lavender is literally my favorite color soooo 👀💜✨️
December 18, 2025
Rating - 4/5 ⭐️
Spice - 1/5 🌶️
I really liked the world of this novella, and the relationship between Eloise and Adonis. I was intrigued to read this book because of the character art and got even more pulled in by touch her & die vibes with yearning, and villain gets the girl - yes.
Eloise and Adonis had such Princess Bride vibes. I really liked their relationship and thought it was very adorable how they’d known each other from childhood. I thought it was so cute how supportive and protective he was of her and the forbidden love angle made it even better. Some of Adonis’ lines were so good.
Seeing Eloise’s transformation at the end was really satisfying, and the ending was so sweet and wholesome!
Spice - 1/5 🌶️
I really liked the world of this novella, and the relationship between Eloise and Adonis. I was intrigued to read this book because of the character art and got even more pulled in by touch her & die vibes with yearning, and villain gets the girl - yes.
Eloise and Adonis had such Princess Bride vibes. I really liked their relationship and thought it was very adorable how they’d known each other from childhood. I thought it was so cute how supportive and protective he was of her and the forbidden love angle made it even better. Some of Adonis’ lines were so good.
Seeing Eloise’s transformation at the end was really satisfying, and the ending was so sweet and wholesome!
January 11, 2026
*ARC review* if you grew up on classic fairytales, you’ll enjoy this story. A man painted as the villain but is the tru love of her life. HEA. Kissing, close door spice level.
February 6, 2026
3.5 ⭐ Rounded up to 4
Closed Door 🫑
This book had a really strong start and immediately pulled me in! While it slowed a bit for me in the middle, I still enjoyed the overall experience. I found myself wishing for a little more tension between the two MCs, and some of the dialogue felt repetitive at times. Adonis definitely had a few unhinged moments that made me laugh and raise an eyebrow like, was that really necessary, Adonis? 😂 Eloise didn’t fully click for me, but I did love how deeply obsessed and in love Adonis was with her. Overall, it was a cute, short story set in a beautiful world! 😍🪻
Thank you so much to the author for sending me this eARC! 🫶
Closed Door 🫑
This book had a really strong start and immediately pulled me in! While it slowed a bit for me in the middle, I still enjoyed the overall experience. I found myself wishing for a little more tension between the two MCs, and some of the dialogue felt repetitive at times. Adonis definitely had a few unhinged moments that made me laugh and raise an eyebrow like, was that really necessary, Adonis? 😂 Eloise didn’t fully click for me, but I did love how deeply obsessed and in love Adonis was with her. Overall, it was a cute, short story set in a beautiful world! 😍🪻
Thank you so much to the author for sending me this eARC! 🫶
December 13, 2025
I loved this lilac fairytale vibe book with the villain gets the girl twist. Not only was it a perfect length to read but it was nicely told and summed up with the BEST fairytale ending. Ashley did such a great job, just like every one of her books i read!
January 2, 2026
Thank you for the ARC 💜
This book had a really nice concept about a king and a prince fighting for a princess but personally it missed the mark for me.
The FMC felt like a damsel in distress for the entire book, at one point she had the opportunity to become a badass heroine but even when she got her revenge, it didn't feel cathartic. Her character was waiting to be saved the whole book which made her less likeable honestly.
As for the MMC, he felt a little corny for me especially when he started chopping heads off and his interactions with the FMC were not it at all.
The world building was cute and whimsical, for me personally that was the best part of the book.
I see the vision, I really do but the delivery could have been better. Maybe this kind of story is not for me but I'm happy to see others enjoying it.🫶
This book had a really nice concept about a king and a prince fighting for a princess but personally it missed the mark for me.
The FMC felt like a damsel in distress for the entire book, at one point she had the opportunity to become a badass heroine but even when she got her revenge, it didn't feel cathartic. Her character was waiting to be saved the whole book which made her less likeable honestly.
As for the MMC, he felt a little corny for me especially when he started chopping heads off and his interactions with the FMC were not it at all.
The world building was cute and whimsical, for me personally that was the best part of the book.
I see the vision, I really do but the delivery could have been better. Maybe this kind of story is not for me but I'm happy to see others enjoying it.🫶
February 28, 2026
Lies & Lavender 🪻
my first ARC ever and last read of the year!! 🥹
- three POVs 😌
- quick and easy read, sad that it’s a standalone 🥲
- Adonis Lavender King vs Ambrose Prince of Petals fighting for their childhood sweetheart ⚔️
- Eloise isn’t a damsel in distress, she’s the rightful heir to the throne 👑
- found myself questioning who the real villain was but he does get the girl 😉
- happily ever after 💖
- floral vibes & dance parties 💐
fav quotes~
- “It was better to be hurt by the truth than to be comforted by lies.” 💯
- “What do you want?” — “For you to have your memories back and remember me, Lou. Even if you don’t love me anymore, I want you to remember that I am not the person you paint me out to be.” 😭
- “My dearest Lou, you have no idea what you do to me.” 💜
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
my first ARC ever and last read of the year!! 🥹
- three POVs 😌
- quick and easy read, sad that it’s a standalone 🥲
- Adonis Lavender King vs Ambrose Prince of Petals fighting for their childhood sweetheart ⚔️
- Eloise isn’t a damsel in distress, she’s the rightful heir to the throne 👑
- found myself questioning who the real villain was but he does get the girl 😉
- happily ever after 💖
- floral vibes & dance parties 💐
fav quotes~
- “It was better to be hurt by the truth than to be comforted by lies.” 💯
- “What do you want?” — “For you to have your memories back and remember me, Lou. Even if you don’t love me anymore, I want you to remember that I am not the person you paint me out to be.” 😭
- “My dearest Lou, you have no idea what you do to me.” 💜
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 11, 2026
THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING ID EVER WANT!!!!!! Lavender king, political intrigue, amnesia, villain gets the girl, and feminine rage with a hea!?! Can I please have Adonis , the Lavender King in rl?? i was obsessed with the details of the world, with the lavender fields and lilac floors of the castle. I adored the fact that it ended in everything I was hoping for.
Adonis, Eloise, and Ambrose POV brought so much depth to the story. I could not put it down once I started..but could you blame me? Some of my favorite tropes wrapped with lavender!? Will always recommend this book!!!
Adonis, Eloise, and Ambrose POV brought so much depth to the story. I could not put it down once I started..but could you blame me? Some of my favorite tropes wrapped with lavender!? Will always recommend this book!!!
February 16, 2026
💜🪻𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪🪻💜
📖 Lies & Lavender by @authorashleyjvinson
🗓️ 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: February 12th 2026
🪻 𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: Enemies to Lovers Romantic Fantasy
💜 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦: Standalone
“I would risk my life for you time and time again. I would do terrible, unforgivable things to get you back. To protect you, to ensure that no one will ever dare harm you, never again. Eloise, you must understand that without you, I have no life — no purpose. I have nothing. You are everything to me, and regardless of what your feelings are for me, that will never change. There is no length I would not go to ensure you’re happy.”
⇢ 🅠🅤🅘🅒🅚 🅣🅗🅞🅤🅖🅗🅣🅢:
🪻 Short & sweet read that was super lush!
🪻 Really enjoyed the fairytale/purple/lavender vibes of this book!
🪻 Villain👏🏻Gets👏🏻The👏🏻Girl👏🏻Is👏🏻My👏🏻FAVORITE!👏🏻
🪻 The purple vibes were giving me life!
⇢ 🅡🅔🅥🅘🅔🅦:
Thank you so much to @authorashleyjvinson & @rrbooktours for my #gifted copy of Lies & Lavender! This review is comprised entirely of my own thoughts & opinions, & is based on the copy I received.
I was immediately drawn to this book for the cover art alone, and I’m SO happy that what is inside the book is just as amazing as the cover art🥹 this was SO good! I absolutely loved it. It was a short and quick read, fast paced, and had so many of my favorite tropes in it! Forbidden love?! VILLAIN GETS THE GIRL?! Feminine rage?! Yes please!! This was an amazing palette cleanser and I loved that it simultaneously felt like a full blown Romantasy novel while still holding a lot of those whimsical fairytale vibes. And this just being a huge love letter to purple and lavender and lilac? Absolutely amazing!!💜 I am actually a little bit obsessed with all the purple imagery and descriptions!
Eloise is an amazing FMC and I love how strong she is - she isn’t afraid to push back and question things and she holds her ground. Adonis is major book boyfriend material. The burn the world down vibes…. Ugh just give me all the burn the world down for her vibes. I love that he never gave up on her🥹
I loved this so much and it is a perfect read for someone looking for something quick that also still feels like you’re getting everything you’d want in a full blown Romantasy, and also has some amazing purple fairytale whimsy!💜🪻
⇢ 𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗕𝗥 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲:
💜 Forbidden love 🪻 Warring kingdoms 💜 Political intrigue 🪻 True love 💜 Feminine rage 🪻 Touch her & d!e 💜 Amnesia 🪻 One horse 💜 Villain gets the girl 🪻 Forced/Arranged marriage 💜 Fast paced read 🪻 HEA
━━ ༻❤︎︎༺ ━━
📖 Lies & Lavender by @authorashleyjvinson
🗓️ 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: February 12th 2026
🪻 𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: Enemies to Lovers Romantic Fantasy
💜 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦: Standalone
“I would risk my life for you time and time again. I would do terrible, unforgivable things to get you back. To protect you, to ensure that no one will ever dare harm you, never again. Eloise, you must understand that without you, I have no life — no purpose. I have nothing. You are everything to me, and regardless of what your feelings are for me, that will never change. There is no length I would not go to ensure you’re happy.”
⇢ 🅠🅤🅘🅒🅚 🅣🅗🅞🅤🅖🅗🅣🅢:
🪻 Short & sweet read that was super lush!
🪻 Really enjoyed the fairytale/purple/lavender vibes of this book!
🪻 Villain👏🏻Gets👏🏻The👏🏻Girl👏🏻Is👏🏻My👏🏻FAVORITE!👏🏻
🪻 The purple vibes were giving me life!
⇢ 🅡🅔🅥🅘🅔🅦:
Thank you so much to @authorashleyjvinson & @rrbooktours for my #gifted copy of Lies & Lavender! This review is comprised entirely of my own thoughts & opinions, & is based on the copy I received.
I was immediately drawn to this book for the cover art alone, and I’m SO happy that what is inside the book is just as amazing as the cover art🥹 this was SO good! I absolutely loved it. It was a short and quick read, fast paced, and had so many of my favorite tropes in it! Forbidden love?! VILLAIN GETS THE GIRL?! Feminine rage?! Yes please!! This was an amazing palette cleanser and I loved that it simultaneously felt like a full blown Romantasy novel while still holding a lot of those whimsical fairytale vibes. And this just being a huge love letter to purple and lavender and lilac? Absolutely amazing!!💜 I am actually a little bit obsessed with all the purple imagery and descriptions!
Eloise is an amazing FMC and I love how strong she is - she isn’t afraid to push back and question things and she holds her ground. Adonis is major book boyfriend material. The burn the world down vibes…. Ugh just give me all the burn the world down for her vibes. I love that he never gave up on her🥹
I loved this so much and it is a perfect read for someone looking for something quick that also still feels like you’re getting everything you’d want in a full blown Romantasy, and also has some amazing purple fairytale whimsy!💜🪻
⇢ 𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗕𝗥 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲:
💜 Forbidden love 🪻 Warring kingdoms 💜 Political intrigue 🪻 True love 💜 Feminine rage 🪻 Touch her & d!e 💜 Amnesia 🪻 One horse 💜 Villain gets the girl 🪻 Forced/Arranged marriage 💜 Fast paced read 🪻 HEA
━━ ༻❤︎︎༺ ━━
February 13, 2026
This was a good, short little palate cleanser. It’s a fairytale-esque story about childhood friends turned lovers, tangled up in political scheming when a rival suitor sets his sights on the heroine’s hand in marriage. This book has a cute, fairy-tale-inspired premise. The idea of rival kingdoms fighting over the same princess should be juicy, especially with themes of love versus possession and what really makes a villain. Unfortunately, a lot of those ideas felt heavy-handed instead of naturally unfolding through the story.
The love interest calling Eloise “princess” and insisting she belonged to him came across as possessive rather than romantic. We’re told these three (Eloise, Adonis, and Ambrose) were childhood friends, but they don’t actually behave like friends at all, which made that emotional foundation feel hollow. Even their childhood scenes didn’t ring true to me; the kids didn’t act like kids, and some of their choices felt wildly out of place. Character-wise, everyone felt pretty one-dimensional. Eloise spends most of the book waiting to be rescued, but I did like how she saved herself to some degree. It endeavors to play with the idea of what actually makes someone a villain in a story like this. Is it cruelty, ambition, or simply being on the wrong side of the story? I do understand what the author was trying to do there, but the message felt a bit too blunt.
The worldbuilding was the most interesting part for me. The flower-themed kingdoms were whimsical and visually charming, even if they felt more like neighboring houses than separate nations. The politics were a little shallow, but the concept itself had potential.
I genuinely think this could work well as a palate cleanser between heavier reads. It’s fast-paced, dramatic, and leans into its tropes. And that cover is gooorgeous, am I right?
Overall, I see the vision. I really do. The idea of rival kingdoms, blurred villainy, and a princess caught in the middle is a good one; it just needed more depth, stronger characterization, and better dialogue to get my interest. If you enjoy short, whimsical fairy-tale-style romances and aren’t too bothered by depth, this might still be a fun, quick read for you.
Thanks so much to the author and R&R Booktours for the gifted copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
The love interest calling Eloise “princess” and insisting she belonged to him came across as possessive rather than romantic. We’re told these three (Eloise, Adonis, and Ambrose) were childhood friends, but they don’t actually behave like friends at all, which made that emotional foundation feel hollow. Even their childhood scenes didn’t ring true to me; the kids didn’t act like kids, and some of their choices felt wildly out of place. Character-wise, everyone felt pretty one-dimensional. Eloise spends most of the book waiting to be rescued, but I did like how she saved herself to some degree. It endeavors to play with the idea of what actually makes someone a villain in a story like this. Is it cruelty, ambition, or simply being on the wrong side of the story? I do understand what the author was trying to do there, but the message felt a bit too blunt.
The worldbuilding was the most interesting part for me. The flower-themed kingdoms were whimsical and visually charming, even if they felt more like neighboring houses than separate nations. The politics were a little shallow, but the concept itself had potential.
I genuinely think this could work well as a palate cleanser between heavier reads. It’s fast-paced, dramatic, and leans into its tropes. And that cover is gooorgeous, am I right?
Overall, I see the vision. I really do. The idea of rival kingdoms, blurred villainy, and a princess caught in the middle is a good one; it just needed more depth, stronger characterization, and better dialogue to get my interest. If you enjoy short, whimsical fairy-tale-style romances and aren’t too bothered by depth, this might still be a fun, quick read for you.
Thanks so much to the author and R&R Booktours for the gifted copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
February 12, 2026
ARC REVIEW FOR LIES & LAVENDER
BY @authorashleyjvinson
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Blurb: In a world full of flowers and festivals. sunshines and rainbows, not everything is as it seems. The King's only daughter is finally of age, and the time has come to unite the Kingdoms. The Prince of Petals and the recently crowned Lavender King's lifelong rivalry has finally reached its peak, fighting over the heart of the princess who took their breath away when they were mere children.
There is no length that they wouldn't go, or boundary they wouldn't cross, to win the heart of the princess who stole their hearts all those years ago.
Leaving the question is it her that they truly love, or is it beating one another once and for all that they love the idea of the most?
Tropes:
💜Forbidden love
💜Touch her & die
💜Feminine rage
💜One horse
💜Amnesia
💜Political intrigue
💜Villain gets the girl
💜Forced + arranged marriage
💜Happily ever after
Thoughts:
Lies and Lavender completely pulled me into its world.The standout for me was Adonis , easily one of my favorite characters this year. I loved how fiercely loyal he was to Lou. The way he would go to the ends of the world for her — even kill for her — was both terrifying and beautiful. Their love felt so pure and unconditional that it made the heartbreak even sharper when Lou lost her memories.
Watching Adonis choose patience instead of bitterness during her amnesia was devastating in the best way. Even when Lou believed he was the villain, he stayed by her side, fighting for her quietly rather than forcing her to remember. It showed the depth of his love in a way words alone never could.
On the other hand - Lou’s father and Ambrose made my blood boil. Their cruelty, especially Ambrose’s “she should know her place” mindset, was infuriating. And the moment he burned her hand? I don’t think I’ll ever get over how much I hated him for that. They created some of the darkest moments in the story, but they also made Lou’s fight for herself even more powerful.
Henry surprised me the most!
It made me ache, it made me angry, and it made me root for two people who deserved happiness more than anyone.
BY @authorashleyjvinson
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Blurb: In a world full of flowers and festivals. sunshines and rainbows, not everything is as it seems. The King's only daughter is finally of age, and the time has come to unite the Kingdoms. The Prince of Petals and the recently crowned Lavender King's lifelong rivalry has finally reached its peak, fighting over the heart of the princess who took their breath away when they were mere children.
There is no length that they wouldn't go, or boundary they wouldn't cross, to win the heart of the princess who stole their hearts all those years ago.
Leaving the question is it her that they truly love, or is it beating one another once and for all that they love the idea of the most?
Tropes:
💜Forbidden love
💜Touch her & die
💜Feminine rage
💜One horse
💜Amnesia
💜Political intrigue
💜Villain gets the girl
💜Forced + arranged marriage
💜Happily ever after
Thoughts:
Lies and Lavender completely pulled me into its world.The standout for me was Adonis , easily one of my favorite characters this year. I loved how fiercely loyal he was to Lou. The way he would go to the ends of the world for her — even kill for her — was both terrifying and beautiful. Their love felt so pure and unconditional that it made the heartbreak even sharper when Lou lost her memories.
Watching Adonis choose patience instead of bitterness during her amnesia was devastating in the best way. Even when Lou believed he was the villain, he stayed by her side, fighting for her quietly rather than forcing her to remember. It showed the depth of his love in a way words alone never could.
On the other hand - Lou’s father and Ambrose made my blood boil. Their cruelty, especially Ambrose’s “she should know her place” mindset, was infuriating. And the moment he burned her hand? I don’t think I’ll ever get over how much I hated him for that. They created some of the darkest moments in the story, but they also made Lou’s fight for herself even more powerful.
Henry surprised me the most!
It made me ache, it made me angry, and it made me root for two people who deserved happiness more than anyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2025
🚨ARC REVIEW🚨
HOLY SHIZ!!! This was so phenomenal!!!
AND THE COVER GIRLLLLLL IT IS SO GORGEOUS.
FIRST OFFF I LOVE A YEARNING MAN!!
Can I talk about how Adonis LITERALLY WAS DOWN BAD FOR MY GIRl Eloise YESSS SIRRR POP OFF KING (and he literally is a king so it fits)
The way he would literally burn the whole kingdom down for her AHHH THAT IS A FREAKING MANNNN!!!
And I think the part that made me scream like literally because it was like okay Mr purple hair I see you was … THE DAMN STAINED GLASS PORTRAIT OF HIS GIRL (even during what happened, the man was so determined to get back his girl, his queen, HIS PRINCESS his LOU like AHHH LIKE GIRLLLL
When I was reading, my favorite part is when he had us pov because how could you not love him, so YES MR MAJESTY LIKE AHHHHH!!
I highly recommend this book, super sweet so fantastic, the yearning, the chasing, the feeling of not being able to life without one of them, the lies, the heartbreak THE ENDING LIKE GIRLLL THIS IS PERFECT…
The dedication legit made me so happy cause YESSS
Sometimes the Villan isn’t the Villan sometimes they are judges that way.
Thank you Ashley for trusting me with the arc it was so fantastic I’m so happy for you and I hope you have a great release cause this is so fantastic … I can’t wait to read more you write !!!!
TROPES:
💜🪻amnesia
💜🪻Forbidden lovers
💜🪻feminine rage
💜🪻YEARNING KING ( LITERALLY)
💜🪻TOUCH HER AND DIE
💜🪻HE WOULD BURN THE KINGDOM DOWN FOR HER
💜🪻Villan gets the girl ( I love me some villains)
💜🪻strong characters, no spice but the story was strong without it so AHHHH fantastic
💜🪻 short read = fast paced book
💜🪻 lavender-fields
💜🪻portrait of her in his study
💜🪻childhood friends
HOLY SHIZ!!! This was so phenomenal!!!
AND THE COVER GIRLLLLLL IT IS SO GORGEOUS.
FIRST OFFF I LOVE A YEARNING MAN!!
Can I talk about how Adonis LITERALLY WAS DOWN BAD FOR MY GIRl Eloise YESSS SIRRR POP OFF KING (and he literally is a king so it fits)
The way he would literally burn the whole kingdom down for her AHHH THAT IS A FREAKING MANNNN!!!
And I think the part that made me scream like literally because it was like okay Mr purple hair I see you was … THE DAMN STAINED GLASS PORTRAIT OF HIS GIRL (even during what happened, the man was so determined to get back his girl, his queen, HIS PRINCESS his LOU like AHHH LIKE GIRLLLL
When I was reading, my favorite part is when he had us pov because how could you not love him, so YES MR MAJESTY LIKE AHHHHH!!
I highly recommend this book, super sweet so fantastic, the yearning, the chasing, the feeling of not being able to life without one of them, the lies, the heartbreak THE ENDING LIKE GIRLLL THIS IS PERFECT…
The dedication legit made me so happy cause YESSS
Sometimes the Villan isn’t the Villan sometimes they are judges that way.
Thank you Ashley for trusting me with the arc it was so fantastic I’m so happy for you and I hope you have a great release cause this is so fantastic … I can’t wait to read more you write !!!!
TROPES:
💜🪻amnesia
💜🪻Forbidden lovers
💜🪻feminine rage
💜🪻YEARNING KING ( LITERALLY)
💜🪻TOUCH HER AND DIE
💜🪻HE WOULD BURN THE KINGDOM DOWN FOR HER
💜🪻Villan gets the girl ( I love me some villains)
💜🪻strong characters, no spice but the story was strong without it so AHHHH fantastic
💜🪻 short read = fast paced book
💜🪻 lavender-fields
💜🪻portrait of her in his study
💜🪻childhood friends
February 6, 2026
First, I want to thank the author for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest and spoiler free review!
Blurb:
In a world full of flowers and festivals, sunshines and rainbows, not everything is as it seems. The King’s only daughter is finally of age, and the time has come to unite the Kingdoms. The prince of petals and the lavender King's lifelong rivalry has finally reached its peak, fighting over the heart of the princess who took their breath away when they were mere children. There is no length that they wouldn’t go, or boundary they wouldn’t cross, to win the heart of the Princess who stole their heart all those years ago. Leaving the question, is it her that they truly love, or is it beating the other once and for all that they love the idea of the most?
My Thoughts:
I thought that this was a fun, quick little romance read. The world building was pretty simple and easy to understand and I liked how there wasn’t too much for me to remember in terms of all the different kingdoms. I think this story made for a simple yet fun little rivalry story between the two princes: Adonis & Ambrose. Seeing both princes try to keep princess Eloise close to them throughout the story and how they both would stop at nothing to win definitely did bring about a thought of if they truly loved the princess or if they just wanted to win for the sake of winning. Overall, this book was a decent read and I am glad I read this one. Also, who wouldn’t love the beautiful cover of this book?!
Blurb:
In a world full of flowers and festivals, sunshines and rainbows, not everything is as it seems. The King’s only daughter is finally of age, and the time has come to unite the Kingdoms. The prince of petals and the lavender King's lifelong rivalry has finally reached its peak, fighting over the heart of the princess who took their breath away when they were mere children. There is no length that they wouldn’t go, or boundary they wouldn’t cross, to win the heart of the Princess who stole their heart all those years ago. Leaving the question, is it her that they truly love, or is it beating the other once and for all that they love the idea of the most?
My Thoughts:
I thought that this was a fun, quick little romance read. The world building was pretty simple and easy to understand and I liked how there wasn’t too much for me to remember in terms of all the different kingdoms. I think this story made for a simple yet fun little rivalry story between the two princes: Adonis & Ambrose. Seeing both princes try to keep princess Eloise close to them throughout the story and how they both would stop at nothing to win definitely did bring about a thought of if they truly loved the princess or if they just wanted to win for the sake of winning. Overall, this book was a decent read and I am glad I read this one. Also, who wouldn’t love the beautiful cover of this book?!
December 13, 2025
At first glance, Lies and Lavender feels simple and familiar: a colorful world, a beautiful princess, and two princes vying for her affection. The world-building is light and straightforward, and the plot initially seems equally so. But what truly carries this story isn’t the setting or the premise, it’s the characters.
The characters and their choices are the heart of this book. As the story unfolds, what seems clear-cut slowly becomes more complicated. By the time I finished, I found myself questioning everything I thought I knew, especially the idea of who the real villain might be. One scene toward the end completely caught me off guard and made me realize the author may be intentionally playing with the reader’s perceptions. That lingering uncertainty stayed with me well after I closed the book, which I always appreciate.
This isn’t an epic fantasy filled with massive stakes or intricate lore, but it doesn’t try to be. Instead, it’s a charming, thoughtful story that works beautifully as a palate cleanser between heavier, more complex reads, something I think is often underrated and very much needed.
There is no spice in this book (only light suggestion), so readers who need explicit romance may want to look elsewhere. But if you enjoy character-driven stories that appear simple on the surface while quietly challenging your assumptions, Lies and Lavender is well worth picking up.
The characters and their choices are the heart of this book. As the story unfolds, what seems clear-cut slowly becomes more complicated. By the time I finished, I found myself questioning everything I thought I knew, especially the idea of who the real villain might be. One scene toward the end completely caught me off guard and made me realize the author may be intentionally playing with the reader’s perceptions. That lingering uncertainty stayed with me well after I closed the book, which I always appreciate.
This isn’t an epic fantasy filled with massive stakes or intricate lore, but it doesn’t try to be. Instead, it’s a charming, thoughtful story that works beautifully as a palate cleanser between heavier, more complex reads, something I think is often underrated and very much needed.
There is no spice in this book (only light suggestion), so readers who need explicit romance may want to look elsewhere. But if you enjoy character-driven stories that appear simple on the surface while quietly challenging your assumptions, Lies and Lavender is well worth picking up.
February 13, 2026
I apologize greatly, but I'm having to DNF @ 22%.
I'm going to attempt to pick it up and finish it at some point but man it's rough.
The writing, in my opinion, is super juvenile and incredibly repetitive. There are several paragraphs in the book where the author has to repeat herself several times in order to get her points across.
One prime example of this:
"....turning just enough to swipe my arms across his desk. Everything that was placed atop went flying.......... "god damn it !" I shouted. Papers went flying everywhere."
Now I understand that this might not be an issue for most readers, and it's typically not an issue for me either, but I found things like this through out the first 7 chapters. It became too much.
The dialogue is also super robotic.. it doesn't flow like a natural conversation would, but rather feels as if the other character is waiting for whomever is speaking to stop so they get their time to speak. I realize its a book, I also realize you must stop one statement to start another, but it just felt super stiff.
On a good note though - the plot is super interesting. I'm really loving the love triangle, fantasy, forbidden aspect of it! I'm really curious to see how this book ends... so genuinely, this is a soft DNF... I will attempt to finish it possibly this week and will update my rating based on that.
I'm going to attempt to pick it up and finish it at some point but man it's rough.
The writing, in my opinion, is super juvenile and incredibly repetitive. There are several paragraphs in the book where the author has to repeat herself several times in order to get her points across.
One prime example of this:
"....turning just enough to swipe my arms across his desk. Everything that was placed atop went flying.......... "god damn it !" I shouted. Papers went flying everywhere."
Now I understand that this might not be an issue for most readers, and it's typically not an issue for me either, but I found things like this through out the first 7 chapters. It became too much.
The dialogue is also super robotic.. it doesn't flow like a natural conversation would, but rather feels as if the other character is waiting for whomever is speaking to stop so they get their time to speak. I realize its a book, I also realize you must stop one statement to start another, but it just felt super stiff.
On a good note though - the plot is super interesting. I'm really loving the love triangle, fantasy, forbidden aspect of it! I'm really curious to see how this book ends... so genuinely, this is a soft DNF... I will attempt to finish it possibly this week and will update my rating based on that.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.✨ (4.5/5)
This novella is the perfect palate cleanser when you’re coming off those thicc reads. It’s drenched in lavender-and-violet vibes, wrapped in fairytale atmosphere, and powered by the kind of devotion that screams, “touch her and see what happens.”
Eloise is gaslit to hell by her betrothed and her father (wtf, Dad???) and stripped of her memories, including the love she once had for another man. On her wedding day, she’s kidnapped by Adonis, the Lavender King, but with her memory wiped, she doesn’t remember loving him at all, and that makes everything messy in the best way.
What I loved is how Eloise holds her ground. She resists, questions, pushes back. She refuses to be swept along just because someone insists she’s “meant” to be his. Meanwhile, Adonis is fully in burn-the-world-down mode, determined to get her memories back and willing to do whatever it takes to earn her love again.
Expect true love, feminine rage simmering under the surface, and a delicious twist on who the real villain is. If you’re craving something quick, punchy, and fairytale-vibes with a streak of vengeance, add this to your TBR.
Thank you to Ashley Vinson for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
This novella is the perfect palate cleanser when you’re coming off those thicc reads. It’s drenched in lavender-and-violet vibes, wrapped in fairytale atmosphere, and powered by the kind of devotion that screams, “touch her and see what happens.”
Eloise is gaslit to hell by her betrothed and her father (wtf, Dad???) and stripped of her memories, including the love she once had for another man. On her wedding day, she’s kidnapped by Adonis, the Lavender King, but with her memory wiped, she doesn’t remember loving him at all, and that makes everything messy in the best way.
What I loved is how Eloise holds her ground. She resists, questions, pushes back. She refuses to be swept along just because someone insists she’s “meant” to be his. Meanwhile, Adonis is fully in burn-the-world-down mode, determined to get her memories back and willing to do whatever it takes to earn her love again.
Expect true love, feminine rage simmering under the surface, and a delicious twist on who the real villain is. If you’re craving something quick, punchy, and fairytale-vibes with a streak of vengeance, add this to your TBR.
Thank you to Ashley Vinson for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
February 7, 2026
Lies and Lavender was a very quick read. I felt that the plot was easy to follow. There are a few violent scenes in the books, but overall, it was pretty tame for a romantasy. Any hints of explicit, on page intimacy were met with closed doors, so for those who are looking for a spicy romantasy novella, this is not the book for you. I do wish that we got more of a glimpse into Eloise's time with Ambrose. While I am happy about the way the book ended, I do feel that there could have been more to the Ambrose's and Eloise's father's character arcs. Adonis is a great MMC and he really does love Eloise, so it makes their story sweeter. It also shows that he is a man who would do anything for the woman he loves.
Overall, this book was a 3.5 (rounded up to 4) for me. While I do enjoy romantasy, I just didn't feel as connected to the characters. (This very well could have been because of how short it was) Also, this is just my opinion, so I do think that people should still read this so they can form their own opinion of it instead of relying on it from others. I do highly recommend readers who prefer clean romance and shorter books. I also recommend this book to readers who enjoy reading about MMC's who would do anything for the women they love.
Overall, this book was a 3.5 (rounded up to 4) for me. While I do enjoy romantasy, I just didn't feel as connected to the characters. (This very well could have been because of how short it was) Also, this is just my opinion, so I do think that people should still read this so they can form their own opinion of it instead of relying on it from others. I do highly recommend readers who prefer clean romance and shorter books. I also recommend this book to readers who enjoy reading about MMC's who would do anything for the women they love.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews