Thank you to NetGalley and Crystal Moon Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed this! It was a delightful blend of fantasy and romance, the perfect cozy romance. It reminded me a lot of half a soul and divine rivals. The characters were so lovable and I really enjoyed their banter and chemistry. I appreciated how we got multiple scenes of them because of their “bet”. I was hooked up until the halfway point after which the story started to drag a little and get repetitive. I also feel like the way the main conflict between them was handled was a bit rushed, especially due to the all the build up throughout the beginning of the book. I’m excited for the next book in the series because the side characters were also so fun. Overall I really enjoyed this and looking forward to the authors next book!!

What a fun read! This book had the best banter, romance, and I loved the world of Faerwyvae! Odette has yet another winner with A Rivalry of Hearts.

I have gone back and forth on my feelings towards this book for awhile, it started out slow but the whole second half I was eating it up. I have never read a fantasy romcom mashup but it’s such a cool concept and so fun! That being said, it definitely reads more like a romcom than a fantasy, I did have a hard time feeling fully immersed in the world like I would in a typical fantasy novel I think because of the lack of in depth magic system and lore.

Edwina is a great strong willed, independent, lovable fmc who is perfect for William’s levelheaded charm. The playful dynamic of their relationship had me laughing out loud which helped me get through the extreme slow burn. This wasn’t a book I felt that I could really get into just reading a chapter or two at a time but once I let myself sit down and just binge I couldn’t put it down. This was a cute read with a fun twist on a romcom however not sure if I will read the next one just because I’m really not that interested in Monty and Daphne’s story but I was very pleasantly surprised by this one.

I went into this book having never read any of Tessonja’s stories before, and it has easily become one of my favourite books of this year! It is a fantasy rom-com set in a regency period that has such a wide range of tropes, with academic rivals to lovers, dual POV’s, forced proximity and a beautifully done slow burn romance.
The writing was incredibly compelling, making me feel as though I was truly in Faerwyvae, experiencing everything Edwina was feeling for myself, and no part felt rushed, the storyline having a great pace to it that felt authentic and real.
The chemistry between Edwina and William was so natural, their witty banter and snarky comments having laugh-out-loud moments that kept me hooked on each and every page.
I honestly can’t wait to see where this series goes next, and will definitely be reading the rest of Tessonja’s books in the future!

Rating: 5/5
A Rivalry of Hearts publishes on 12th June!

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Tessonja Odette for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review, which can be found on Goodreads 💕

💕My heart is so happy after having the honor of reading this book. Big thanks to @netgalley and @tessonjaodette for the privilege of this ARC of A Rivalry of Hearts (Fae Flings and Corset Strings #1)

I am a sucker for anything that has a quirky human FMC and a tall, brooding, fae MMC 🥵. On top of those already two selling points for me it is rivals to lovers with duel POV, and a fun little bet built into the storyline. (And 🌶️)

Edwina was such a lovable FMC, her banter with Will was some of my favorite. I also loved the supporting characters, I was able to connect to Monty and Daffy enough to want to read about them in the 2nd book.

I rated this a 4⭐️. If a book can make me giggle, and have the warm fuzzies it’s a winner for me. From the beginning I was hooked and engaged with the plot and quickly fell in love with the characters. I soooo look forward to reading book 2 in the future!

🌸SAVE THE DATE! A Rival of Hearts publishes on June 12!🌸

I really wanted to love this...

But unfortunately, it wasn't for me. The scatterbrained author and the brooding fae poet, is there anything that sounds more perfect for a romantic pairing?

Set in roughly what I think is the Victorian era, I couldn't get on well with the anachronistic tone of the characters voices, the nicknames (sorry, but they're CRINGE in this one), and the predictability of the story arc.

The premise of this novel is so lovely and has so much potential, it's a real shame that it fell short of the mark.

Overall, this book is an author and a poet, rivals to lovers, grumpy and sunshine, fae, historical romance, and a happy ending all in one book. With a handful more tropes, some taken seriously and some used as satire.

I wanted to fall in love with this love story, but I couldn't.

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 A Rivalry of Hearts is a delightful change of scenery; a whimsical escape to Faerwyvae, an island inhabited by humans and fae together. Edwina Danforth is welcomed to the island for her imaginative writing and her identity is quickly labeled as the“author of smut and drivel” by her new rival, William Haywood. Not the impression she hoped to make…until she learns that she is beloved by the Queen herself and actually famous around the isle! As she settles into this brand new world, an imbibed bet for a publishing contract turns things interesting very fast! A Rivarly of Hearts takes the enemies to lovers trope to a whole new level and I am here for it!!!

Review is posted on Goodreads and the final review will be posted on Instagram ahead of the publication date!

This is a cozy fantasy romance with just the perfect amount of spice, and it was absolutely one of the best books I’ve ever read. Oh was this book so magical and fun!! Rivals to lovers done exceptionally well, and I fell in love with every single one of the characters. I was literally giggling and kicking my feet the whole time.

This book has everything you want in a cozy fantasy rom: witty characters, immaculate vibes, fae creatures, good supporting characters, banter between the characters, nice paced relationship build up, etc. I will forever recommend it!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

A Short Synopsis 📑
Two rival writers.
One prestigious publishing contract.
A bargain of hearts and seduction.
They say never bargain with the fae. They also say do not get drunk on fae wine. Yet spicy romance author Edwina Danforth has managed a blunder with both on her first visit to the infamous Faelands. Now she's trapped in a magic-fueled bet she barely remembers with a man she is eager to forget. The terms? Whoever can bed the most lovers during their month-long book tour wins a publishing contract they do not want to lose. Their rivalry for the price is great. No one will seize any means to get it. Losing is not an option. Her handsome fae rival, William Haywood, a poet, poses an even greater challenge. Not only are his looks as aggravatingly perfect as his track record behind closed doors, but he has his reasons for playing to win, and he will not back down without a fight. Unless, of course, it is a different kind of going down. In that case, he’s fair game. They eventually clash in a rivalry of romance, but what happens when their objects of desire turn out to be each other? 😉

My Thoughts 💭
I loved the book so much, especially the characters and their unique traits. There were so many moments that made me giggle, and their rivalry was portrayed so well. I couldn't stop thinking about the memorable moments and quotes from the book. If you've read "Divine Rivals" and "Emily's Encyclopedia of Faeries," as well as "Bridgerton," you'll find that it gives off similar vibes with its charming banter and the dynamic between the grumpy and sunshine heroines. The dialogue is funny, and I adore their witty comebacks. This isn't my first time reading this author's work, and it certainly won't be the last. I'm eagerly looking forward to exploring more of this world and the characters in the next installment. If you're still not convinced, I urge you to give it a chance and fall in love with the story and its characters. It truly encapsulates everything you could hope for. Please consider giving it a chance; I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Tropes:
✨ Rivals-to-Lovers
✨ Reverse Grumpy X Sunshine
✨ Slow-Burn Romance
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Fluffy Banter


I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ebook of this book in exchange for an honest review. (Reviews were posted on Goodreads and Instagram as well)

This book is my new obsession! Never have I fallen in love so quickly.

It was cozy, cute, and it gave me so many butterflies. Edwina and Will were swoon-worthy, and their chemistry was undeniable. Will was such a funny and charismatic MMC. The world-building was beautiful and detailed, and it worked so well in this story. I loved Edwina so much, and I found her so relatable. Her story and growth was so fun and engaging to read. I wasn't sure the low-stakes fantasy would work for me, but I was so obsessed with it. The spice was also such a fun treat, and I loved all the tropes that were featured throughout.

This book went above and beyond my expectations. It was more than I could've ever expected and hoped for. It took my breath away and had me captivated from beginning to end! 1000% would recommend to anyone looking for a whimsical and lighthearted fantasy romance. I will reread this title time and time again.

I would like to give a huge thank you to NetGalley and Tessonja Odette for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 5/5

A Rivalry of Hearts is a whimsical and romantic tale of loving and being loved just as you are.

Edwina Danforth is a human romance writer whose books have yet to gain traction in her homeland, but are surging in popularity in the Fae realm. Her publisher requests that she tour the fae lands and meet her fans at a series of signings. The catch, she unknowingly has a fellow writer on tour with her - the handsome yet prickly poet, William Haywood. Edwina and William get off to a ricky start, but over the next few tour stops, Edwina finds herself falling for the Fae lands, and also perhaps her fellow author. William can't deny his attraction to Edwina, but falling for a human has its own complications. When an ill conceived bargain over which author is better at seduction goes awry, with a future publishing contract as the stakes, William and Edwina must decide which is more important - career success or love.

I adored this book so much! The wit! The banter! The tension!! It was all done so well, and I had such a tough time putting the book down, I finished in less than 24 hours. Edwina is adorable -imaginative and firey, she underestimates herself so much, while William sees it all and more. William is a complex character as well, an actor who writes poetry, with a complicated past. He cares deeply, and the risk of losing it all is what worries him the most. The side characters also have stories to tell, and I have a feeling we will be seeing more of these characters is future stories in this series. I loved that this was a standalone - it was easy to read and fall into, and wrapped up William and Edwina's story nicely. I really enjoyed this book so much, and I look forward to more from this author and series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tessonja Odette for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

DEVOURED this book in 2 days. This was my first time reading a book by Tessonja Odette and I fear I’m gonna go down a rabbit hole and read everything she’s ever written.

I loved the writing style, the pace and world building of this book, it kept me captivated at all times. I was genuinely giggling and kicking my feet from chapter 2 because of how OBSESSED Will was with Edwina. I loved their chemistry, the banter,THE PALPABLE TENSION. Everything down to the spice level in this book was absolutely fae-tastic and so easy follow. Also he falls first and hard so I was sold from the get go.

If you’re looking for a fluffy and cozy romantasy to get you out of a reading slump/ just an easy read, definitely read this book, you will not be disappointed.

I left a review on my good Goodreads and Instagram.

Thank you Tessonja and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this incredible ARC

This was SUCH an enjoyable read, I couldn’t put it down and fired through almost 70% in a single sitting. With charming characters, witty banter, a period setting and a touch of scandalous spice, A Rivalry of Hearts was the perfect cozy fae romance.
It has a ton of the tropes we love - rivals to lovers, forced proximity, he falls first and a modern take on period romance… but make it fae!
The dual POV was a delightful surprise. I loved hearing from both Edwina and William, with their conflicting opinions of each other that constantly yoyo’d back and forth. The bet added a fun element to their rivals story and I just LOVED the humour in this book. I chuckled my way through this read and have immediately sought out Odette’s other books!

A drunken bet between rivals leads to a whole lot of spice and feels. Edwina has finally arrived in the land of fae, and even better, she's there to lead her own book tour, things are looking up! Or, they were, until she's informed she'll now be CO-leading the book tour with William, a poet who makes it clear he thinks very little of her writing. Forced to compete for a new publishing contract, Edwina realizes she can't leave this decision up to fate and her books sales, and William - confident in both his sales and skills - agrees to a wager. Whoever seduces the most lovers by the tour's end will win the contract.

This is a fun, flirty, rivals-to-lovers tale that gave me Pride & Prejudice vibes. I found the cast of characters to be charming and the bet was entertaining - overall an enjoyable read!

5 stars!
I absolutely adored this cozy romcom, where bridgerton meets fae, magic and a beautiful whimsical world. I am a sucker for he falls first, and a man who says "love". This book had me smiling, gushing and having strong feelings over the plot of will they, won't they whilst being rivals in the book world for a publishing contract. The romance and banter was so sweet. I can't wait to read the next book!

I knew from the blurb that I would like this book, but I am BLOWN AWAY! This had everything I was looking for. While it is maybe a touch spicier than I normally read, it had a great balance of spice and plot, along with fun and emotional characters.

The story follows. Edwina and Willam, rivals on a shared book tour in an attempt to get a three book contract. Both have their own reasons for wanting it, and as they get to know each other, reasons, lust, and love get woefully intertwined. A diverse cast of supporting characters and a vividly described world allows you to fall into the action.

I’d describe this as incorporating elements of Bridgerton, Anne of Green Gables, Pride and Predjudice, and ACOTAR (particular the setting descriptions). It is a blend of what works well in each of these individual stories and winds them together.

This book was such an easy but grabbing read.

I loved the tension between William and Edwina and I loved their immediate attraction to each other and how they tried to avoid it for so long 🤭

As much as this book was low stakes. It was so entertaining! I would definitely be interested in checking out more books by this author!

Add a romance writer, a fae opposing author, and a spicy contest between them as part of a book tour competition, and you have a unique and charming romantasy tale that Bridgerton fans will adore. Enjoy!

Published via GoodReads on 5/17/24

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me access to this ARC copy!

I thought that this story was super sweet and had just the right amount of humor with this stance of rivals to lovers. I liked the dual first person POV where the reader can clearly see how the FMC and MMC navigate their inner thoughts and feelings with this fun bet. I did find that some parts of the story had me more hooked than others, but I did love the twist of conflict towards the end of the book.

Overall, this was a feel-good fantasy read and I look forward to reading the next installment!

I want to crawl into this world and never leave!

Fantasy Romcom is an itch I never knew that I needed to scratch. It has the fantastical world of the fae with a human world element without the heaviness of a Romantasy epic.

We follow Edwina, a human novelist, who is doing a book tour in a world that is known to be the only place where fae live. Edwina instantly gets her feathers ruffled by fae poet, William Haywood who now shares her coveted book tour. The two become quick rivals and enter into a bet to win a final prize at the end of the tour.

Edwina is stubborn, fantastical, whimsical, and delightful. She is awed by this glorious world that is so different from hers, she will do anything to stay there.

William is brash, prickly, and holds a lot of secrets in his past. He has built up a lot of walls, but those walls are at risk of crumbling where Edwina is concerned.

Watching Edwina and William go from rivals to lovers while navigating tricky contracts, past insecurities, and some damning secrets is so many things...Delicious, juicy, captivating, spicy, and ohhhh the second hand embarrassment in several scenes is so real!

I caught myself outwardly grinning, would have to peek through my fingers to read, and kicked my feet giggling at several scenes.

Such a fun, fun read!

Overall, highly recommend!