I am definitely not complaining, I just did not expect this to be smut. But it isn't for a while and they actually build up to it and it is actually romantic and I loved it. It isn't isn't aggressively hetero like the smut I have been reading lately. I love that! This is cute and I love the narration.

The Fae Flings and Corset Strings series is off to an excellent start with this enemies to lovers first installment! It's everything I like rolled into one and done well! It's historic fiction, a rom-com, and fantasy, with a bookish heroine and a hero that's more than just a pretty face!

The banter in this book is on point! The main characters Edwina and William up the tension as they move from event to event in their joint book tour. I love that even though they are competitors, they continue to learn about each other and grow throughout the book. They relied on friends and family along the way as well, many of whom I hope to see in future books!

Overall this was a great read. I felt like I blew through the audiobook! Not only was it well written, but the narrators Rusty Mewha & Dani Cochrane really brought the characters to life! I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Thank you Dreamscape Media for the ALC!

I love Tessonja Odette so much and I was honored to get an ALC of A Rivalry of Hearts! This was like the adult version of Divine Rivals which I am not mad about 😍😍 I loved the spice, the banter between the main characters and the rivalry turned romance 🥰

An incredibly fun read, filled with sizzling tension!


I first read this book in the traditional way, but with the release of the second book in december I wanted to do a reread and this audiobook was the perfect way to do this!

The narrator did a fantastic job of bringing this story and its characters to life.
The book is in dual narration with chapters being either from the FMC or the MMC POV, so the dual narration was perfect
Perfect for anyone in the mood for a well written rivalry to lovers story set in a magical world filled with fae with a mixture of modern and historical elements.

It’s also quite spicy! A bit on the kinky side of things 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Definitely add it to your TBR if you love….
🦄 Rivals to lover
🦄 Fae
🦄 Sizzling tension
🦄 Competition/bet
🦄 Banter
🦄 Standalone

Narrator: first person, dual POV

A Rivalry of Hearts is a delightful and captivating read, blending whimsy, humor, and just the right amount of fantasy. The story centers around Edwina and William, whose playful banter and growing romance are the highlight of the book. The rivals-to-lovers dynamic is executed perfectly, with plenty of fun twists, like a bet involving a fae deal. The competition they face feels real, with meaningful stakes, and the characters' chemistry had me rooting for them from start to finish.

What makes this book stand out is the balance it strikes between world-building and romance. The fantastical elements are accessible without overwhelming the plot, and the side characters are well-developed, adding depth without stealing focus. The humor and heart throughout make this a joy to read.

Overall, A Rivalry of Hearts delivers everything you'd want in a romantic fantasy, with great characters, clever dialogue, and a world you’ll want to revisit. I can't wait for the next installment! The narrators, Rusty Mewha and Dani Cochrane, bring the characters to life beautifully, enhancing the story’s dual POV with their engaging performances.

Special Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the early audiobook copy.

A Rivalry of Hearts by Tessonia Odette. Rating 3.5

This book was a fun and definitely spicy audiobook. The FMC was sassy and smart but got a tad annoying at the end of the book though. The MMC was sarcastic and brooding but I actually like him more than the FMC once I got to the end of the book honestly. The narrators did a great job, I loved that it there was dual narrators for this book. Dani Cochrane was great and I loved Rusty Mewha’s portrayal of the MMC.

This is cozy/rivals to lovers book with a Fae deal to pull in the “fantasy” elements of the book. It definitely is more romance with a tinge of fantasy though. It was definitely spicy, a little too spicy for me and there was scene in this book that made me uncomfortable so I actually took down a star because of it.

Overall I did enjoy this book and I loved that a second book was set up at the end with the bonus chapter. I just wish there was more plot in places where spice was the main focus. Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I am intrigued to see what Tessonja Odette does with her second book in this series!

Book Title: A Rivalry of Hearts
Author: Tessonja Odette
Narrated by: Rusty Mewha & Dani Cochrane
Rating: 4.25/5 ⭐️

This was such a fun, spicy read! A Rivalry of Hearts turns the smut genre on its head with its blend of humor, worldbuilding, and the classic academic rivals-to-lovers dynamic.

The story follows Edwina Danforth, a human romance (okay, smut) author on a book tour in the fae lands, where she's thrown into a rivalry with William Haywood, a pretentious fae poet who looks down on her steamy novels. Things get extra interesting when they make a deal: whoever sleeps with the most lovers by the end of the tour wins a publishing contract. And since William is fae, the deal is binding. Cue the witty banter and sizzling tension as they clash, compete, and inevitably, fall for each other.

I loved how this book took on multiple sides of the genre. You’ve got the chaotic fans who adore Edwina’s smut and then William, the snob who dismisses it. The book is written for romance-lovers, and so I think a lot of people will see themselves on this spectrum. Plus, the fae worldbuilding is fantastic, with binding deals, Seelie forms, fae court, Lionid characters, and even explanations on how alcohol affect fae differently, all adding depth to the story.

The character backstories were woven in beautifully. Edwina’s struggle to be taken seriously as an author and her past rejects, and William’s background in acting and relationship with his sister gave the story an extra layer of complexity, making their journey even more compelling. While reading, I couldn’t tell who would win the competition or who truly deserved it, which I think is a good sign that it wasn't completely obvious.

Narration-wise, Dani Cochrane was solid, but Rusty Mewha really stole the show for me as William. His portrayal of the pretentious poet was spot on. He captured the confidence of an actor, and haughtiness with his accent, which added so much personality to the character.

Overall, A Rivalry of Hearts is an enjoyable and engaging read, perfect for fans of the fantasy romances and those who love a good rivals-to-lovers story.

This was brillante! Funny, cute, cozy and oh the tension!
A sassy and smart FMC and a sarcastic and intens MMC. A Rivalry of Hearts will defently end a win in my heart.

The banter, the spice and the way the story and lovable characters evolved! Go read this, a dare you.....

And specially if you liked the world and cozyness of Emily Wilde's encyclopaedia and the rivalry of Divine Rivals, but wanted them together and with spice, well, try this one! Laughed out load so many times!

Great as audiobook!


Post on IG 15. nov 2024

This book has been on my KU TBR for awhile so I was excited to get the audio ARC for this.
I tend to go into books totally blind but I knew this book was steamy, this was definitely a spice > plot book though and I’m just not the target audience for that.
There was some character growth and good themes but they were overall lost in the spice.
The dual POV audio was done very well though!

I wish there would have been a little more world building. The story takes place on a fae island and they travel around. It is somewhat described but for there being fae and different magical powers and shapeshifting, it was not utilized very much or significant to the story.

Overall still cute, enjoyable and a great audio if you are into spice > plot.

Thank you Tessonja Odette and Dreamscape Media for my ALC.

This was an entertaining AUDIOBOOK. It’s a dual POV story with dual narrators. Both had great voices and the accents went perfectly with the story.

The story is a mixture of Fantasy with Fae and Historical Romance. A little like ACOTAR meets the Bridgertons!

The fantasy/magic system was pretty simple and unfolded as the story went along so you never felt overwhelmed by learning a new magic system.

Edwina, a human author, writes steamy romance novels. She ends up writing a novel about a human and a Fae that becomes hugely popular in the Fae lands. Her publisher invites her on a book tour in the Fae lands to promote her book. Edwina’s ship is delayed in arriving to the Fae lands so they invite William, a Poetry author at the last minute to join the book tour in case Edwina doesn’t make the tour in time.

Edwina arrives a week into the tour and discovers her now tour partner will be competing with her for the one and only “3 book contract” the publisher has available after the tour. The contract will be given to the author with the most book sales.

After several warnings to not drink the Fairy wine, Edwina ends up drunk and overflowing with confidence, and accepts a side competition with her rival William to battle it out for the beloved book contract.

The story is Dual POV
Rival to lovers
He falls first

The more I got to know William, the more I liked him! Edwina had moments when she shined, but her pride and defiance was annoying to me at times. I was very happy with the ending of the story!

Romance content: Open-door 🌶️🌶️ with explicit language.

Audiobook publishes Oct 22, 2024

This was a fun read. It had vibes of a spicy Divine Rivals meets Acotar. Rival authors competing for a publishing contract, enter into a magic bet. What’s the worst that could happen?

I was provided with a review copy of the audiobook and this is my honest opinion. I gave this book 3.5 stars. (If I am unable to leave partial stars, I will always round up.)

Narration was great. I plan to continue on with the series.

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Tessonja Odette!

Wow! This audio book was such a delight! First, Rusty Mewha and Dani Cochrane did a fabulous job embodying these characters. The accents fit perfectly and they both kept me entertained the entire listen through.

This fae/human romcom is about a human romance writer who becomes famous in the fae lands for her smutty fae novels. When she gets the opportunity to go on a book tour in the exclusive fae lands, she's unexpectedly pitted again a swoon worthy fae poet. A competition for a book deal thrusts them into a competition that neither can afford to lose. Both hold their own secrets and both hold hidden attractions for one another. Find out who comes out on top.

I adored these characters, especially the FMC Edwina. Their banter was unmatched and the way they navigate their growing feelings for each other had me kicking my feet with glee. I highly recommend this to anyone in the mood for a romcom but are craving some fae action in an adorable fantasy setting.

I absolutely adored this book. The narrators did a great job and they really brought the characters to life. I thought the story was whimsical, fun, sexy, and original. There was world building that wasn't overwhelming, fantastical elements that didn't feel too heavy fantasy, humor and romance and so much heart. I was rooting for Edwina and William the entire time and their entire courting and romance and banter was perfection. I thought the side characters were well-developed without feeling like they either stole the show or weren't necessary. I have no complaints about this book, I just want the next one!

Thank you to Tessonja Odette, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a nice romance but I needed breaks from it or I'd tune it out. It's a very busy story in which not much actually happens---a lot of it is world building. We just go on this book tour with the hero and heroine and they banter and snipe at each other until they fall in love. Pretty conventional, actually. *shrugs*

I knew it would be spicy, but I expected it to be spicy behind closed doors, if you know what I mean? Like just explicit internal monologue and sex scenes. I suppose because of the regency flavor of the setting. Instead, sex topics are discussed openly throughout. There's an orgy scene. (They observe, not participate, though it's a bit of a close thing.) So fyi.

The entire plot is William and Edwina's bet. Both vying for a coveted publishing contract, they wager on who could take the most lovers while on their tour. Winner gets the contract. Which alarmed the hell out of me, coming on the back of realizing the book was not shy. I was afraid they were each literally going to fuck a parade of strangers every night. I was not going to listen to that and almost quit the novel.

But then they specified any acts of intimacy in a private setting would count in the bet, even just a hug. I still didn't want the hero and heroine getting any level of intimate with other people during their own romance, so the book nearly lost me anyway. Then excuses began to be made, and neither of them could bring themselves to make points---and finally I realized the bet was hollow and they'd only be intimate with each other despite it all. At that point I relaxed and enjoyed their development.

Edwina didn't have much of an arc. She mostly just fell in love. William's the one who had secrets and facades and changed the most emotionally. Both were likable with sympathetic conflicts, and their chemistry was through the roof.

Overall a fun story with unique world building. I just wish I'd known better what tone to expect going in so I wouldn't have spent so much time cringing and worrying the book would go somewhere I didn't want to follow. I hate surprises.

5/5

Amazing. Terrific. Mind-blowingly good!

A Rivalry of Hearts had absolutely everything that I love in a rivals-to-lovers book. We have a competition with actual stakes, good communication when issues arise, a fun bet (fae deal), and characters who made me root for them through it all. This book was such a joy to read. I can't wait for the next installment of Fae Flings and Corset Strings.

Rusty Mewha and Dani Cochrane did a wonderful job with the narration! I love a good dual POV book with the accompanying narration.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for an early audiobook copy of A Rivalry of Hearts in exchange for a fair review.

I was able to get an advanced listening copy of A Rivalry of Hearts by Tessonja Odette from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media and was pleasantly surprised that it was not just dual POV but also dual narration. Both narrators sold their character’s emotional turmoil well. This was a fun take on Fae that balanced world building with romantic tension and a heavy amount of well-done spice. It is a fun rivals to lovers competition with an added Bridgerton-but-make-it- Fae world vibe that I really enjoyed!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to receive an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Edwina Danforth is a chronically late, sassy, writing obsessed human author from England who gets the opportunity of a lifetime to visit the infamous faelands. When she arrives in the faelands for her book tour late, she discovers that it will no longer be a solo book tour, but that she will be sharing her tour and the chances at getting a publishing contract. . Enter William Haywood, a handsome fae poet who becomes her rival. After getting drunk on fae wine, she manages to get trapped in a magic fueled bet to see who can seduce and have intimate moments with the most people during their month-long book tour. The prize? The winner gets the coveted publishing contract.

This book has such rich character and world building. I found myself laughing out loud listening to it quite often. The narrators did a fantastic job and I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! I cannot wait for the next one!

3.5 ⭐

Edwina is an author in the human world and her stories are mainly read by those on the fae side. She was given an opportunity for a contract from a fae publisher. *MMC William makes his arrogant presence known....* Guess what? William needs that publishing contract as well...

They are both stuck on tour now, TOGETHER, and they are very much 'rivals'. Until Edwina strikes a drunken deal with William for the winning rights of the publishing deal.

I really enjoyed the audio, the narrators helped bring the story to life. Honestly, I think it helped me get through the story a little easier. The pace during the middle of the book is a bit slower.
A Rivalry of Hearts is a very cosy romantasy story. It was just a tad bit too long for my personal taste.

Thank you to the author & NetGalley for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

The narrators do a wonderful job of bringing these sassy and quirky characters to life! I particularly adored the edge and personality that Dani Cochrane added to Edwina's inner dialogue. Normally personality is only added to the dialogue, so I was very surprised and pleased!

The rivals-to-forced proximity-to-lovers between two authors (one a smut-loving romance author, the other a by-the-books poet) is chef’s kiss and led to some hilarious moments, as well as some swoon-worthy tension as I sat there going “Will they or won’t they?” Who doesn’t love a good romcom?! The characters were so well developed, and there is an introduction to the next book’s main couple. We keep talking about how we cannot WAIT! This series is just so fun.

I received an gifted audiobook ARC from Netgalley. I voluntarily read this and am leaving an honest review.

I stayed up way too late reading this because I just couldn't press pause on it. I am so excited to read future books following side characters. I loved these characters so much. I felt ALL the feelings and I'm OBSESSED.