I was so happy to get this book as an ARC and I can safely say that it did not disappoint at all!

We get to see a very passionate and unabashed fmc named Edwina transition from a world of propriety and social status, to a world of freedom and debauchery. When she travels to the fae lands, everything is different from the people to the social norms. It is wonderful to read about a main character that isn't scandalized by this new world, but rather takes it by storm.

We are also introduced to a wonderful mmc and oh are they rivals indeed! I enjoyed how the reason for their rivalry never felt silly. The plot was so thought out and interesting that I couldn't get enough of it. Our mmc, William, is a vain poet that does not welcome our Edwina with a warm welcome. Instead of the proper greeting for such a lady, she is met with names such as Ed and even Weenie! From there, their relationship rides a wave of hatred, intrigue, kindness, humour and lots of spice!

It was wonderful to see both sides of their stories since this book is a dual pov! I could do nothing but sympathize with both parties and fall in love with these characters. This was a hilarious read that I had no issue assigning 5 stars. I cannot wait to continue with this series and read about the rest of the crew!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tessonja Odette and Victory Editing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was hard for me to put down and I read it one sitting. I love a well written and easily digestible rom-com. It was so cozy, fun and I fell in love with all of the characters fairly quickly.

I usually don’t bother with all the details about settings in books and they become an afterthought, however in this one I enjoyed being a tourist with Edwina. The romance was top tier as well.

5✨
2 🌶️

First I want to thank @t and @nerd as well as NetGalley for this eARC opportunity. I wasn’t taking any chances when it came to getting my hands on this 😂. But as always this review is completely honest and voluntary 🤍

🌷I think I really needed this cozy fantasy romcom. I had so much fun reading this. I’m honestly slacking and have only read one of Tessonja’s other books but they’ve all always been on my radar. And this one is only pushing those ones further up the list 😂

🌸 I absolutely adored Edwina. I connected with her on so many things. Her age, her writing, the insecurity she has and has come to accept. She was also just hilariously odd and it was funny to see how her banter with Will evolved. While she tended to stay stubborn and prideful, seeing her acknowledge it and learn for it was kind of heartwarming.

🌼Will, oh gosh, my heart breaks for him. He’s used to putting on performances and Edwina makes him break character more than he cares to admit. He’s doing everything he can to take car of his sister and his past has him so broken he thinks he doesn’t deserve to be happy. And while he was sweet and charming don’t let that full youuu. He’ll have you fanning yourself with the things he says 🫠🫠 omg.

🌷The relationship and understanding between Will and Edwina was wholesome and mature even though their conversations and banter sometimes wasn’t. But… balance 😂🙌🏼

🌸I adored Monty, Daphne, and Zane. Monty and Zane’s plotting and scheming had me rolling 😂

🌼I can’t wait to delve deeper in Faerwyvae with Entangled with the Fae, the rest of the Fair Isle Trilogy. And I can’t WAIT for the next couple in Fae Flings and Corset Strings! 😍😍

A Rivalry of Hearts (Fae Flings and Corset strings #1) is everything you need from a cozy fantasy romance wrapped up in an adorable little floral package. Needless to say my love for a slow burn rivals to lovers made this book an incredibly easy read (I read this book in two sittings, and if I did not have to work it probably would have been done in one.)

Two authors find themselves on a book tour together, both vying for a coveted three book deal from their publishing company. A quirky bespectacled romance author and a gorgeous and slightly full of himself fae poet makes up our main couple of this book, and I adore William and Edwina with all of my heart. The witty banter between the two of them is swoon worthy and I love how William falls for Edwina with all of her quirks. Also, an incredible balance between smutty drivel and tender moments that made me giggle and kick my feet as I read.

I have no words for how much I enjoyed reading this book, whenever I was not reading it I thought of it and the unique cast of characters, the fae world that Tessonja Odette has constructed is the perfect mix of modern and historical with a heavy handed dose of fantasy. It has such a cozy feeling to it as you read; the way fae are described in this book as tricky and some having more animal like features was a breath of fresh air to someone who is used to fae just having pointed ears.

Needless to say I am honoured to have been able to read this book before it's release, but catch me on June 12th running to my local bookstore to grab a copy of one of my new "go-to" feel good fantasy romance novel!

Thank you to the publisher for this eArc.

This book originally came up on my Instagram feed and I knew I had to read it, and I’m so glad I was given the chance to!

It took me a bit to get into (I’m blaming a reading slump) but the writing was charming and the romance ended up being really cute. I loved the dynamic between Edwina and Will and thought that their relationship progression was done quite well. It was also really nice to see such sex-positivity and inclusion written into the book and it only made me like it more.

One thing that did hamper my experience a bit was how often the conflict of the publishing contract and bet came up. This may be just me personally but at times it felt like I was reading the “third act breakup” multiple times throughout the book and it took away from the cozier vibe of the book overall.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to try out cozy fantasy but still wants some spice and angst thrown in.

Not always the case, but I liked the characters in this book from the very beginning and I ended up reading it every available moment I had.

The rivalry between Edwina and Will is silly and immature, but in a way that is good natured and had me entertained, rather than rolling my eyes.

I ended up laughing out loud quite a few times and became really invested in the bet, but also the romance between them.

Will and his sister don't always have the easiest time in the book, but it's still pretty light-hearted and funny and one that had me smiling through til the end.

This was the first book I'd read by the author but it definitely won't be my last!

4.5⭐ rounded to 5.

Thank you to Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

This is really really cute and I really enjoyed this! I enjoyed the two main characters and the MMC having constant wars in his head and justifying everything he does for the MFC.

I loved edwina! I felt so bad for her a lot of the time!

This was an unusually plot line where they had to bed the most people… also the “twist” of him not neing the actual author was very predictable. I was heavily hinted all the way though.

I did still like this and it was cozy vipers with a bit of spice!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this arc in exchange of my honest review

This was a fun read and was definitely cost with no high stakes... Wish I had read it in a cosier environment.
3.5 Stars
Excited to read more by this author

This is the first book I have read by this author, and she has now become one of my favourites! This book was incredible. Tessonja's writing is so fun, flirty, and easy to follow. The premise of the book sounded interesting, and as I became immersed in this new world, I immediately fell in love with Edwina. Edwina was independent, headstrong, and passionate. I wish I could read her books right now!

The banter and rivalery between Edwina and William were perfect, and I enjoyed watching their relationship change as they slowly admitted their feelings for each other. William fell first, but he didn't realise what was going on (but we did 😏).
We gradually learned more about Edwina and Walliam's personality, dreams, desires, and fears as we follow them along on their book tour in this wonderful Romantasy, and I can't wait to see what else Tessonja will give us!

I had SO MUCH FUN!! As with many romances with clumsy quirky heroines, there were some predictable parts, some cringe parts, and some parts where she seemed to be ignoring obvious things for no reason other than plot conveniences and romantic angst, but all of that is part of the genre and completely expected.
I in particular loved the subplot of Monty and Daphne, and am excited for their book! Bringing in characters from some of Odette's previous works was a brilliant move, as it made me want to go back and read the others novels to know what they were referencing!
Okay, the spice. The spice was H O T. 4/5 peppers I'd say, a reasonable and expected amount appearing after the halfway point and leveling up at a steady speed. Odette was descriptive without being gauche, and I was BLUSHING!!
I wish that Edwina hadn't been so oblivious obtuse and making problems out of nothing (i.e. Cassie's work and Will's right to do whatever tf he wants) but once again I understand that an unreasonable heroine is par for the course in the genre, so I'm not too upset about it.

Thank you to Netgalley for this free copy in exchange for an honest review!

A Rivalry of Hearts
by Tessonja Odette
5 ⭐️

fae bargain ✨
rivals to lovers
historical fantasy romance 🌸
cozy slow burn
dual POV📚

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopeadia of Faeries meets a slightly more modern Bridgerton! I picked this ARC because the premise sounded like something I would love. I was a bit hesitant because these types of books can either be great or fall very short but I’m happy to say this was amazing!! Edwina reminds me a more modern Emily Wilde especially in the narration/tone of the book. This the the perfect cozy, fantasy rom com. There is so much tension and quick witty banter!! I loved the slow development between Edwina and Will. The only things that made me consider lowering my rating slightly was that the dialogue did not actually give regency vibes and the ending felt a little rushed. I still loved it and now I’m considering buying the hardcover as my trophy because I’m a sucker for under the jacket designs and this was truly SO good!

I’m so excited for Daphne and Monty’s book! I was really hoping for a work place romance but I’m sure that whatever it ends up being will be amazing! I really loved them and I’m SO interested to see how their relationship happens! This was my first Tessonja book but definitely not my last! Currently trying to pick the next book of hers that I plan to read!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing Co-Op for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

*IG review will be posted on 5/30/24 on https://www.instagram.com/rasberryreads*

I was drawn to this book after seeing the NerdFam marketing on Instagram and it sounded like such a fun and spicy fantasy.

This book was such an original story and also felt like a combination of so many of my favorite tropes. Cozy spicy fae 😍. The FMC and MMC banter was everything. The perfect enemies/rivals to lovers.

I really appreciated the effort put into the ARC digital file. It was beautiful and so easy to read! Very much looking forward to this coming to print, so I can add the gorgeous to my shelf.

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=1.5 | 😘=5 | 🤬=4 | ⚔️=1.5 | 18+

summary: rival authors (one human, one fae) on a book tour are mean and bantery at each other (in a manner either genuinely hurtful or extremely cringey). and they like make a deal about who can seduce the most people but then the deal goes literally nowhere because the guy’s POV is 99% “omg how does she not notice that I want to seduce her” so what was even the point??

thoughts: oh dear. oh no. okay. well. here are the few things I did like:

- the fae love interest isn’t 500 billion years old! he’s actually a couple years younger than the heroine, which is so much better than him being an ancient old man like in 99% of other fae romances!!

- I loved that there was a map inside. I never once referenced it, and it was extremely frivolous and useless. iconic.

stuff I didn’t like

- prose style was cringe??

- their nicknames for each other 😭 he calls her “Weenie” (short for Edwina; I wish I was kidding). it is used excruciatingly often to devastating effect on my mental wellbeing. I can not emphasize enough the great extent to which this will haunt me for the rest of my living days. horrifying.

- the guy’s POVs were there solely so he could talk about how in love he is with the heroine, which I always find to be boring and unnecessary. male characters deserve diverse personalities and actually interesting wants that aren’t primarily centered around the love interest!! #givemenrights (I’m kidding) (but it is boring to have male POVs entirely centered around the FMC) (with hardly a care for any other character traits whatsoever) (looking at you, Divine Rivals )

- speaking of the MMC’s primary want (outside of banging Edwina)!! the resolution was super weird?? I’m struggling to explain why exactly I didn’t like it and I can’t so I guess I’ll leave it there
the scene where the sleazy fae guy almost assaults her is solely there so that the MMC can heroically and possessive rescue her and I don’t love that? like it serves no other narrative purpose??

- the world building is so strange in a way that made me giggle. like there is corsets and sexism and the heroine is, like, the property of her male relatives until she gets married, but simultaneously there are fae orgies and the phrase “R rated” (though bizarrely it refers to plays??) and other bizarrely modern turns of phrase?? like this is a cozy romantasy so chaotic, silly world building is par for the course, but this one didn’t work for me.

- those are just the ones off the top of my head lol

anyway. this wasn’t for me! cozy silly witty romantasy has been one of my favorite genres lately (see The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love , Half a Soul , The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy , etc) and this one did not give what was meant to be gave. sorry. yikes.

This book was so so fun! I loved the fae elements, and world-building was really well done and made me feel like I could actually picture these settings. I loved the FMC and the MMC, and loved the delicious tension between the two of them. I will definitely recommend this book to readers who like cozy romantasy, and I think that this title will reach a broad demographic of readers. Thank you to NetGalley, Tessonja Odette, and Crystal Moon Press for the chance to read and enjoy this advanced copy!

A drunken bet turns into something more than what Edwina (a human author) and William (a fae poet) hoped for. The bet? Whoever can bed the most lovers during their month-long book tour wins the highly coveted contract with a publishing company. At first, they absolutely despise each other. Overtime, they begin to have feelings for each other (Will falls first), and, thanks to a “free pass,” Edwina can finally act out the *spicy* scenes she describes in her novels.

I love a good enemies-to-lovers trope, and this one does it so well. Edwina and Will are both flawed characters, each having their own secrets, habits, and other personality traits, and it makes for funny (yet somewhat adorable at times) interactions between the two (and the rest of the characters). Throughout the book, I noticed both of them had valid reasons why they needed the publishing contract, and I’m glad it ended the way it ended. The world-building is pretty good too - each tour stop had a different vibe and charms to it, and I could picture the settings well. Overall, its cute, but be warned: it gets a spicy at times ;)

This is my first title from this author, and I will definitely be reading more of her work! This book was such a fun approach to the rivals to trope that magnificently combines top-notch banter, great spice, and swoon-worthy romance. This book is well-written, inventive, and should appeal to any romance reader, even those not keen on fantasy. Edwina and William were such great characters, well-developed and witty. I loved watching them both navigate their highly unexpected competition, all the while falling for each other. Anyone looking for a charming romantic comedy with a flare of historical romance and fantasy will adore this one.

This book gets all the stars because this was SUCH an amazing surprise! The synopsis definitely sounded intriguing, but I didn't expect to be sucked in the story from the very beginning. I'm so glad I did! Edwina and William's story was amazing, and I could not get enough of their banter and sexual tension. This is definitely a must read!

Oh my goodness! This book was so much fun! If you love "Enemies to Lovers", "He Fell First", fantasy & fae, and you love making fun of yourself as a smut/romance reader, then this book is for you! Our two main characters Edwina and William had be cackling with laughter. Their banter, and relationship development was simply the best. This was a fun read that had me grinning and blushing the whole time.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A huge thank you to Netgalley for this ARC! I absolutely ADORED this story from start to finish. I was literally giggling and kicking my feet all throughout - it was just so lovely. The romance, the spice, the banter - perfect. I will be purchasing a physical copy once it's released so I can read it again.

Prepare to be swept away on a whimsical journey into the enchanting world of 'A Rivalry of Hearts,' where rival authors find themselves entangled in a seductive game of hearts and words. In this spicy standalone fantasy romance, Tessonja delivers a delightful blend of wit, charm, and steamy chemistry that will leave readers utterly captivated.

What sets 'A Rivalry of Hearts' apart is its irresistible blend of humor, romance, and fantasy. Edwina's quick wit and determination make her a heroine to root for, while Will’s charm and complexity add depth to their fiery dynamic. As they navigate the twists and turns of their unconventional “relationship,” they discover that sometimes the greatest rivalries can lead to the most unexpected love stories.

I adore this book so much! I love this world created by Tessonja and I love all the characters - especially the FMC, Edwina, and the MMC, Will. This book was utter perfection and had me swooning, giddy, and kicking my feet. The banter between the main characters was chef’s kiss And the mouth on Will 🥵🥵🥵.

I highly recommend this book if you adore spicy, fantasy romance stories with rivals to lovers!