This book is pure fun—whimsical, witty, and full of charm!

I picked it up because it was recommended as Anne and Gilbert coded, and it definitely delivered—like an adult version of their delightful rivalry!

Edwina and William’s rivals-to-lovers tension is fantastic, with banter that kept me hooked. The fae magic, quirky side characters, and cozy fantasy vibes create a warm escape. The spice was just right, though there were a few scenes I didn’t quite care for.

Overall, it’s lighthearted, enchanting, and perfect for anyone who loves a good historical fantasy romance!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review

Oh my goodness! This book had the best banter! Two rival authors are vying for a publishing contract and are stuck on tour together. He's fae. She's human. They make a bet for the contract, and it has nothing to do with writing 😏 The banter, the spontaneous flowers, the side characters that know when to leave a room - seriously, the best! I can't wait for the sequel!

LOL moments -
"Is it poop?" 😂
“Am I fucking swooning is swooning a real thing?”
Plus many, many more

I went into "A Rivalry of Hearts" expecting a quaint and charming universe, perhaps along the lines of something like Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries. However, what I found was a much spicier ride than anticipated! Tessonja Odette’s world-building was intriguing, but the book leaned more heavily into the realm of spicy romance than fantasy, which wasn’t quite what I had hoped for.

Though I enjoyed aspects of the setting, the plot didn’t grab me as much, as I was expecting more of a fantasy with romance woven into the story rather than the reverse. That said, the audiobook narrators were fantastic. Dani Cochrane’s warm and inviting voice was especially lovely, making his parts of the story a joy to listen to.

If you’re looking for a fantasy romance with a steamy twist, "A Rivalry of Hearts" might just be up your alley, but if you're expecting a more traditional fantasy adventure, you might want to adjust your expectations accordingly.

Thank you to Tessonja Odette, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for sending me the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved everything about this audiobook! The narration was like a cozy cup of tea! I can’t wait to dive into more from this author! I will be recommending!

I liked this book a lot. It was unexpected, with a lot more emotional depth and steam than what I thought it would have. Edwina and William are a great pair, stubborn both, but great. Their sparring, changes to more, but as rivals they each refuse to step aside. William,who starts out as a rogue is actually going through a lot of struggles and is guilt ridden. I liked how his story is revealed throughout the book.

The narration was very well done with all the main and side characters depicted with different intonation.

#netgalley #ARivalryofHearts

5-Star Audiobook Review of A Rivalry of Hearts by Tessonja Odette, Narrated by Rusty Mewha and Dani Cochrane

From the very first chapter, A Rivalry of Hearts is pure enchantment. Tessonja Odette masterfully conjures a world where romance and rivalry intermingle with fae mischief, drawing listeners into a whimsical yet fiercely competitive narrative. The plot crackles with chemistry and unexpected tenderness, elevating the traditional romance to a delightful challenge of hearts.

Rusty Mewha and Dani Cochrane’s narration adds the perfect charm, with Mewha’s cool, confident portrayal of William balancing Cochrane’s engaging, vulnerable Edwina. They bring these vivid characters to life, amplifying each sassy exchange and sultry scene with pitch-perfect timing and emotional depth. Mewha captures William’s frustrating allure, while Cochrane gives Edwina the mix of boldness and inexperience that makes her so relatable.

Odette’s clever dialogue and plot twists ensure every moment is a delight. As Edwina and William’s rivalry simmers, so does their unexpected connection. The audiobook format enhances the tension, making it impossible to turn away. Fans of magical romance and humor will be thrilled by this fae-fueled story. This is a must-listen that left me eagerly anticipating Odette’s next release!

Thank you @NetGalley for the ARC. A Rivalry of Hearts was such a good book. This was fun to read about Fae and Humans fighting over a book competition. Yet, the spice was on point. The banter between Edwina and William is so much fun, I found myself laughing out loud. This is a must read.

This enemies to lovers with a Fae world set in regency esc timeline was a perfect meld of so many good tropes. I feel the story was well written and my first into this world and author. I now have to go and read their backlog. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. I cannot wait for more from this author and narrator.

4/5 stars for story
5/5 stars for narrators

This story gives Emily Wilde vibes, only instead of being a socially awkward academic, Edwina is a socially awkward romance writer. Rivalry to lovers is my new favorite trope and this one does it fairly well, though it is very obvious from the beginning how things will go. The overall premise is kind of silly - rival authors Edwina and William make a fairy bargain/bet that whoever sleeps with the most people during their book tour wins a publishing contract. It is definitely the kind of thing that stretches crediblity as something that would ever happen or make sense in the real, especially when employees of the publishing house are involved in/refereeing the bet.

The characters are interesting. I did like the author's unique twist on the "fairies can't lie" folklore when it comes to our dear poet William, and the banter between Edwina and William is silly and cute. There is some spice, but it worked with the story and didn't feel forced. It did sometimes feel like the author was trying very hard to push a "sex-positive" kind of vibe, but it does feel forced sometimes. I also found that the writing could be a bit long winded, which led to moments of being irrationally annoyed by a character as they drone on and on about something.

The narrators are both excellent and add to the vibes of the book in a great way.

Things I liked: the dual narrators of the audiobook, the cozy fantasy vibes, the idea of the book tour!

Things I didn’t vibe with: the writing style, the typical and predictable romance tropes/plots, the length of the story.

Though I love a cozy fantasy, I don’t think I’m the right audience for this book. If you love romance, that this is probably a better fit! Thanks NetGalley and publishers for the audio ARC!!

This was the first Tessonja Odette book I've read, and I'm prepared to go binge her entire backlist. This book was fun from start to finish. I was incredibly interested in the worldbuilding of Faerwyvae, and am hoping to get even more of it in future installments (or maybe when I read previous works, as it sounds like they're set in the same place?). The tone of the book throughout was light and sometimes over the top, which is my preferred cozy fantasy style. The main four characters - Edwina, William, Daphne, and Monty - were interesting to follow throughout the tour. Edwina and William's rivalry on the book signing tour while battling for a publishing contract was a great way to cause some tension without it being too heavy, though they both have serious reasons for wanting to win the contract. The bet on the tour was the only downside for me, as it really didn't add anything to the story, and having recently read another book with a similar bet I wasn't as interested. Overall, definitely recommend this read, and the audiobook in particular. Both narrators were fantastic! I cannot wait until we get Daphne and Monty's book!

"A Rivalry of Hearts" by Tessonja Odette was an absolute delight!

It's a charming, low-stakes, rivals-to-lovers fantasy rom-com that's both steamy and sweet. Edwina and William's rivalry on their fae book tour is filled with witty banter, hilarious scenes, and a touch of magic. The characters are lovable, and the banter is top-notch. It's a cozy read that kept me smiling and rooting for the main pair throughout.

This book is perfect for fans of lighthearted romantasy!

A hilariously fun time! Rivals to lovers fantasy romcom that I could not put down! Certainly can’t wait to read more from this series. The narrators did a great job bringing the story to life and certainly added to the humor.

This is an honest arc review, I was hesitant in the beginning of the book because I couldn’t connect with the characters. I would say 10% in I was hooked though. The narrators did a spectacular job of showing emotion, vulnerability, and overall bringing life to these characters. I absolutely loved the bet and “free pass” being used, it was so cute. This was my first rivals to lovers book I’ve read that actually fell through with the trope. I cannot wait to read the next book, the bonus epilogue at the end left me with wanting more! This book was easily a 4.5/5 for the giggles, tears, and hugs overall a good time.

I enjoyed the narrators and at first I really liked the story, but it felt a lot longer than it needed to be so I ended up getting really bored.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this audiobook.
A very entertaining light hearted story that was wonderfully narrated.

4 ☆
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This was a fun, historical fantasy romance book. A Rivalry of Hearts is Book 1 in the Fae Flings and Corset Strings series. Two rival writers, one book contract on the line, and a bargain of hearts and seduction. I enjoyed this book, with the human vs. fae. Also, this book is dual POV!
The audiobook is good. I love that it is dual narrated. They did a good job bringing this story to life, and it was easy to follow along.
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Thank you, Netgellay, and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely love this book and the dual narration is great. The narrators did a great job at bringing the characters to life. I look forward to listening to the second book in thr series when it's out.

Story: 5 ⭐
Spice: 2 🌶
Narration: 4 ⭐

This book is real in a dual narration, and it was FANTASTIC! The narrators matched exactly out Edwina and William in my opinion.

I read the eBook when it first came out and freakin' loved every moment of it and when I saw that the audio book was available, I jumped. Thank you so much Dreamscape for the approval. This was a re-read for me, which is perfect because book 2 is coming out in December.

If you are looking for a fantasy based romcom with rivals to lovers; where a human woman who writes steamy romances is pinned against (literally and figuratively) a Fae male who writes poetry in a contest of sales, to win a book deal. Then look no further.

You will fall in love with the banter, sweat from the tension, and need a cold shower once the spice hits by the end you will be completely satisfied with this standalone happily ever after.

A Rivalry of Hearts by Tessonja Odette
Narrators, Rusty Mewha and Dani Cochrane
Fae Flings and Corset Strings Book One
I picked this book on a whim with not much in the way of expectations having never read any of this author’s previous works. I thought the premise sounded mildly entertaining and the cover was pretty. So imagine my surprise when I found it enthralling with great characters, lots of humor, and steam besides. And a little plot twist at the end plus a setup for the next book. Can’t wait.
My only mild criticism is that the author has a completely different concept of the meaning of seelie and unseelie than everyone else but it’s her book so I will just have to live with it. And I can.
The steam factor is mostly innuendo in the first half of the book but after that, hold onto your hat,
The narrators were unknown to me but the voice characterizations were very good. There some minor mispronunciations . It was just unfortunate that one was the word mauve since it was mentioned frequently as the color over Edwina’s book color. (mauve rhymes with grove, if you care)
Otherwise, looking very much forward to the next book.