A Rivalry of Hearts stole my heart as it delivered me to this magical alternate fae world. When I first began reading this, I was so strongly in Edwina's corner I was angry at Willam Haywood, the snooty and rude poet who 'steals' her book tour. With an attitude like that, I thought there was no way this guy deserved Edwina. Of course, I am a romance reader, and I should have known better, but Enemy to Lovers/Grumpy Sunshine was such a different take on the genre, and it truly surprised me.

I don't want to give away too much, but the reason for William's attitude was a fun twist on navigating the fae rules. I loved how William and Edwina very slowly warmed to each other, got to know each other, and (obviously) fell for each other. Edwina is a very likeable female MC and you can't help but root her for.

This is my first book by Tessonja Odette, but I will certainly dig into her back catalog after this.

This audiobook was PERFECTION! I not once stopped smiling, laughing, and longing for more of their story. It was the perfect low stakes fantasy rom com and I WANT MORE! Truth be told, I attempted to read this book on KU, however the length of the story was a bit off putting for what I had once deemed a 'fun read'. I WAS WRONG! This book was the perfect length, just enough conflict to keep the reader/listener engaged, and a happy ending to tie it all together.

The narrators were fantastic, the use of dual POV *and* dual narration for William and Edwina only added to the story and I can truthfully say that this was one of my favorite reads of 2024.

Wow, I actually did not expect I’d like this one as much as I did. I LOVE duel narrative, which is why I applied to get an ARC of this audiobook. It’s a period romance with fantasy elements. To me, the fantasy elements aren’t super important, but add a nice level, especially since I prefer fantasy. The budding romance rivalry was all I could ask for in a book. I’m giving it 4/5 stars because it didn’t blow me away but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

Its been a long while since Ive read a cute Romantasy. And this isnt your typical one either its more like a Rom Com Fantasy with Fae and humans and honestly Tessonja created a fantastic world between humans and Fae.

Without knowing all the little details of Faes in general, I felt like anyone who likes a good rom com will follow the storyline really well. I really enjoyed the fun banter between Edwina and Will, and the shenanigans they get up to during their book tour. I honestly didnt know what to expect when i requested this advanced listening copy, but Im really glad I did because the storyline, great narrators and characters kept me wanting more and more! Cant wait for book 2!

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸…
📝Cozy / Rom Com Fantasy
📝Enemies to Lovers
📝Close proximity
📝Slow Burn
📝Fun Banter
📝Dual POV
📝Open Door- mild
📝Can be read as standalone

I received an advance listening copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

ALC Review: A Rivalry of Hearts by Tessonja Odette
Pub Date: October 22

A Rivalry of Hearts follows Edwina, a human author who is embarking on a book tour in the Fae world. Little does she know that she is sharing the tour with Fae poet William Haywood. And the prize for the most successful author on the tour is a book contract. Will and Edwina are immediately at odds and after a night of fae wine, they enter into a bet with each other - whoever can bed the most lovers during their tour will be declared the winner of the contract.

This book was such a romp of a time! I loved the world and the vibes in general. The banter between Edwina and Will was utter perfection. The book is cozy but also sexy and funny and just hit a great balance for me.

I loved the narration by Rusty Mewha and Dani Cochrane, neither of who I believe I've listened to before! They really brought the characters to life.

Read this for:
- Rivals to Lovers
- Authors
- Fae World
- Sex Bet
- Regency but also Fae

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I had the pleasure of receiving an audiobook ARC of A Rivalry of Hearts from NetGalley, and I'd like to extend many thanks to Dreamscape Media, the author Tessonja Odette, and NetGalley for this opportunity. Overall, I would rate the novel a 3.75 rounded up to 4 stars!

⭐⭐⭐.75/5
🌶️🌶️/5

The story begins with a captivating premise that feels reminiscent of Bridgerton, infused with a delightful fantasy twist. I was immediately drawn into the world of Edwina, a talented author whose experiences highlight the challenges faced by female writers in receiving due recognition. Edwina's latest novel—a charming rom-com about a human and a faerie—gains traction in the fae realm, paving the way for an enticing book tour.

Throughout the first half of the book, I was thoroughly engaged with the plot and character development. Edwina's journey was intriguing, and the introduction of William Hayward, a handsome rival poet, added a compelling layer of tension. Will’s character, while smoldering with charm, is also steeped in complexity as he grapples with family obligations and personal secrets.

However, as I delved deeper into the story, I found that the tale began to lose some of its initial appeal around the halfway mark. The narrative felt slightly muddled, with a surplus of elements competing for attention, which led to my interest waning. Although I loved the concept, the execution seemed a bit overloaded with plot twists and character arcs that did not quite hold my attention for the full duration of the story.

In summary, A Rivalry of Hearts is an enjoyable read that paints a vibrant picture of creativity, rivalry, and romance within an enchanting fantasy world. Despite my mid-narrative dip in enthusiasm, the book concluded on a satisfying note. I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a mix of romance and magic, perfectly suited for fans of whimsical storytelling.

This book was so fun and made even more enjoyable by these great narrators.

Two rival writers have to battle it out on a book tour to win a publishing contract. During the tour the rivals start to get feelings…

I devoured this book in a day… the banter, the scenes, and the characters draw you in and keep you!

I loved this story so much and how it reflects how us book girlies feel about a fae love story with “smut”! This is not “drivel”. The main characters and side characters were all so fun and lovable. I can’t wait to read the next story in this world.

I read the ARC for A Rivalry Of Hearts earlier this year and it became an all time favourite for me, so I was thrilled to get an early copy of this audiobook!

Rusty Mewha and Dani Cochrane did an incredible job of bringing our beloved characters to life! I loved the book just as much if not more than I did the first time. Whether you’ve read it before or not, I highly suggest you listen to this one soon! There’s something so unique and charming about the characters and the world Tessonja Odette created and the banter and spice is *chef’s kiss*

Still one of my favourite reads this year, and a great refresh for me before book two comes out in December!

**Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing me the advanced listener copy to review. All opinions are my own**

Where has Tessonja Odette been all my life?! This audiobook was fun, flirty, filthy and hella sexy! Odette has added the spice to my pumpkin this fall. Spice level 11 out of 10! The wonderful narrators swap chapters between female and male voice with the main couple's POV. I can't wait to read the rest of this series!

I both liked and loved each of the main characters - Will & Edwina. Two kind, likeable people is always a good start. Will & "Wienie" (Will's nickname for Edwina = LOL) are two struggling authors (one fae, one human) who are stuck on a book tour together in the fae world and go from bickering enemies to slow burn lovers. They end up making a bet about who can get the most action during the tour. The one who wins will get the singular book contract they're competing for. Soon, Will begins to regret the bet as he falls first and falls HARD for Edwina. So many scorching romance scenes had me turning up the AC in my car as I listened and turning down the volume at stop lights.

The fantasy setting didn't take away from the plot or even add much to it for me. They never did anything so magically outlandish that you couldn't also do on a book tour in England and I felt the characters both had very human problems and baggage to work through. It felt very close to a historical romance. I highly recommend it for romantasy readers.

Anyone have a recommendation about Odette's other series? Where should I start?

Edwina, a human author, travels to fairy to promote her new book, only to find that she's been joined by a fae poet William. He instantly gets under her skin and to make matters worse, they are competing for a new publishing contract.

Read if you like:
-Rivals to Lovers
-Teach Me
-Bets/Wagers
-Forced Proximity
-Regency vibes but with Fae

A Rivalry of Hearts was rivals to lovers goodness wrapped in a sexy wager. I ate this book up. It was so fun, addictive, and hard to put down. I loved the slightly regency feel to this one. And the mouth on William...phew.

I had been seeing this book all over instagram a few months back, and I was really intrigued about it! I absolutely love rivals to lovers, especially when you add an academic setting/plot point. Immediately requested the ALC and I was not disappointed!

The banter is top notch, I was giggling and kicking my feet the entire book! It's a perfect mix of laugh out loud funny, sweet, and spicy! Both Edwina and William were such compelling characters, I greatly appreciate the dual POVs!

The narrators, Rusty Mewha and Dani Cochrane were both excellent! I love getting a different narrator for different POVs, and I enjoyed both of them. They brought out personality to both characters and read with enthusiasm for the story! Great production quality as well.

I immediately ordered a copy of this book before I even finished it, and I'm so excited to receive it!

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ALC!!

Everything about this book felt abundantly cozy. It has the same delightful mix of bookish and fantastical elements as Bookshops & Bonedust, while also being quite steamy. The storyline was quick-paced without any noticeable lulls. I often find that third act arguments are overblown and can sometimes ruin my desire for the characters to end up together, but not here! The communication between the characters was relatable and respectable. Big love.

Thank you Tessonja Odette, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for my advanced review copy. My opinions are my own.

This was so darn cute! I've never read anything by this author so I didn't know what to expect. This book was a very unique blend of genres: dash of historical romance, a splash of rom-com and a lot of fun fae realm fantasy, with amazing world building. The prose was beautiful and almost lyrical without being clunky. Highly recommended for the romantasy girlies who want a break from high stakes/angsty books like ACOTAR and just need a fun, fluffy but well written, palette cleanser.

I adored this book. This will be added to my 'feel good fantasy reads to reread.'

It was such a fun, cute read! The tension on the book tour, their bet and notes. OMG.

Edwina and Will are total opposites and I loved seeing them interact. And even with their differences, Will still had the pull to protect her.

I am so excited for this series and as this is my first Tessonja book, I will be going back reading her other series while I wait for book 2 in this series.

Hearing Dani Cochrane and Rusty Mewha bring Edwina and Will to life was the best thing ever. This book was already on my reread list, but this will definately be an audiobook that I will be listening to again and again. I highly recommend this in any format, but audiobook is amazing.

What a delight!
I really didn't know what to expect as this is a new author for me. I was so thrilled with this story!
It's a little bit regency romance, a little bit naughty and it all works!!
The main character Edwina is sharp and talented. William, her rival for the coveted 3 book contract, is handsome but annoying. He's a Fae, and so unbeatable thinks Edwina.
They each have their reasons for wanting to win and that drive pushes them to strike a bet that has danger all over it.
It's a great ride watching them banter and play...and play (!) to get what they want. There is nothing as sexy as a good competition!
I love the name of the series too "Fae Flings and Corset Strings" so clever! I'm excited to read more from this series.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of the audiobook and it was SO WELL DONE! The production was clear and sharp. The narrators Rusty Mewha and Dani Cochrane played this perfectly! Their voices really made the characters come to life for me.
My rating is 4.25 rounded up

Thanks to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, Crystal Moon Press and of course Tessonja Odette, for the chance to read and review this story!

This is now my second time reading this book, this time via audiobook.

I have an incredible love for books about books, so I was already hooked on A Rivalry of Hearts from the blurb alone. Add in rivals to lovers and I knew Odette had a winner on her hands. This book is spicy and just fun. This is one of those stories you can’t help but smile while reading. I love how unashamed the female MC, Edwina, is about her sexual curiosities - queue visiting an exhibisionist display. The relationship development between Edwina and William is also a major selling feature. The transition from writing rivals to more had me rooting for them from their initial introduction. I also really appreciated the world building and how each stop along their tour was distinctly different. I also just really loved Edwina’s character as a whole - she’s a little awkward but shines when talking about her genuine love for books. As a lifelong reader, that speaks to my soul. The other piece of this story that I loved was the supporting characters. They were as engaging and easy to get invested in as a the main characters. There were even a few times where Monty and Daphne stole the show. I was ecstatic to see the next story will feature those two. This book is an absolute treasure for its writing alone. However, the narration is absolutely stellar. Rusty Mewha and Dani Cochrane nailed their characters and brought their trademark banter to life. There was so much emotion and chemistry woven into their performance that I loved it even more as an audiobook. If you’re looking for a genuinely fun, cozy fantasy romance read, make sure to check this one out. I highly recommend reading it.

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3.5 Stars! I was torn between 3 and 4 stars.

A slow start but a fun read. Lovable characters that will have you laughing out loud! I would love another book that dives more into the cat fae.

This book was so perfect and cozy and soft and I NEED a physical copy STAT. If you love cozy fantasy with romance, enemies to lovers, awkward main characters, and a love story that makes you giggle, you need to read this. The audiobook was top tier.

5 stars

This is such a charming, magical, cozy romantasy and I loved getting swept up in all the fae worlds you get to see. Edwina is such a fun fmc. She’s smart, independent, and a little headstrong but she’s also so amazed by all the magic she’s surrounded by and she’s quick to let people into her life and make friends. Will seems like your typical playboy but he’s secretly such a sweetie and looks out for everyone in his life. The progression of their relationship was so fun and I loved seeing them start to trust each other more and more and open up.

The audio for this book was done really well. I thought both authors brought so much to the book and did a really good job portraying not just the main characters but all the side characters as well. I was really able to feel all the emotions and get immersed in the book through their narration.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC!

Overall I thought this was a pretty good book I thought the writing style flowed really nicely there was good balance between the smut and the plot line. The story was interesting enough that it kept me roped in from the beginning to the end I never found a spot in the book where I was kind of bored or that I thought it moved too slowly but it also didn't move too quickly to where I couldn't keep up. I definitely think if you enjoy historical romance along the lines of enemies to lovers that has some good smut and a friendly rivalry thrown in I think you will love this book