This was cute and fluffy, and loaded with some cheese (fitting for a romcom set in a fantasy world). I had some minor gripes, but I think overall this was great! Looking forward to the 2nd stand alone installment!

I loved this so much! I was so anxious for the mc for the first 20%. Don't worry--you're supposed to be--she was making questionable decisions for pride, but the way it made me squirm is indicative of how quickly I was drawn into the story. The chemistry between these rivals was wonderful, and the second we switched from prideful boasts to starting to see the person behind the bets, I was absolutely hooked. I finished it from 30% forward in a day :)

Sugar, spice and everything nice! What a swoon-worthy book! It has everything I want in a fantasy rom-com with high stakes! I loved all the characters and how everything came along together. The banter, the camaraderie, the tension is just incredible. Tessonja, you have stolen my heart and soul yet again. Edwina and William are made for each other!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author and the publishing company for this E-ARC 🫶🏼

FREE PASS PPL FREE. PASS.
I’m screaming. I loved this book so much. I never once got bored or tired. From the start, this book introduces you to interesting and unique characters in just as interesting and unique situations. If you enjoy historical romance, fantasy, and rivals to lovers, READ THIS. The sexual tension is so good in this book 😭😭😭 I literally had palpitations while reading certain scenes between Edwina and Will. It was so cute, but so nastyyyyy 😏😏 I’m in love.
I CANNOT wait for Monty and Daphne’s story omgggggg. Their characters are so cute and funny; I need their book yesterday.

**Blessed with this ARC by NetGalley**

The writing style of this one just didn't do it for me, I'm not sure why, so I had to put this one down.

If Anne Shirley lived in a Fae world, this would be it! The writing was done very well, and I loved the banter between the main characters. Perfect to read if you are looking for a fluffy cozy fantasy with spice.

My second Tessonja book and I truly enjoyed it. A Rivalry of Hearts was a cute story about two rival authors on a book tour set in Tessonja’s world of Faerwyvae. Our MMC is a Fae Poet who considers our human FMCs book “just smut and drivel”. They make a bet of seduction to win the publishing contract which only brings only the steamy tension between these two. While this was so fun our third act conflicts were a little ridiculous but thankfully resolved quickly. Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/💋💋/🌶️🌶️

With A Rivalry of Hearts, Tessonja writes another splendid chapter in the world of Faerwyvae. This time, the story follows Edwina Danforth, a human romance writer from the town of Bretton who is embarking on her first book tour that happens to be on the Fair Isle. However, upon arriving late due to unforeseen circumstances, the publishing company sends poet William Haywood ahead as an added author to her tour. Not only is William stunningly handsome, but his charm also poses a threat to Edwina when she learns he is to be her rival for an impressive publishing contract.

This story fits well with the others from this universe, even including a few cameos, and I loved the characters in this one. Edwina is a strong, independent main character, and I loved her enthusiasm and her quirks, including how she completely loses herself to her writing. Her storyline is really a love letter to writers, their fans, and book tours. William initially comes off as an arrogant author, but very quickly, he turns the tables on Edwina and us, showing his true colors as an absolute cinnamon roll! I love how protective he is of others and the vulnerability he shows Edwina, not to mention the adorable banter he uses to get under Edwina's skin!

While I loved this one overall, there was one scene involving a voyeurism club that was a bit too much for me personally. That said, the romantic scenes between the leads in the story were well done.

Some other highlights include:
✨ Cozy Fantasy
✨ Rivals-to-Lovers
✨ Enemies-to-Lovers
✨ Close Proximity
✨ Bets and Bargains
✨ Travel to different kingdoms
✨ Theater Experiences
✨ Banter
✨ Spice

Thank you to Netgalley and Tessonja Odette for this ebook ARC!

4.5 STARS

I really enjoyed this book! I wasn't really sure what to expect when I started reading, I only knew this was a fae meet regency kind of romance, but it blew me away.

The tension and the build-up between the two main characters was perfection and who wouldn't love William Haywood!?

It was very smart on the part of the author to create a world where each of the fae courts have wildly different cultures etc. It allowed for there to be moments where the characters had to maintain that overly polite propriety, as well as times where they could be a little more adventurous.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange of an honest review!

I think this book will be absolutely perfect for anyone who loves either romance or fantasy (or both) and finds themselves in a reading slump!
The pacing was great, and it didn't feel like the story dragged more than it needed to. I'm personally a huge fan of banter and the more there is, the happier I am.

I was elated to read about an 'unconventional' beauty (or whatever society thinks that is) like Edwina being at the center of a a passionate love story! I feel like a lot of the times, the female main characters in romance tend to have this unachievable super model look and I loved how relatable Edwina was.

Will is a complex character, which I was also happy to see. I don't agree with some of his choices, but I'm also not the kind of reader than enjoys perfect characters. I'd much rather have them make mistakes, learn from them and go through a development of their character instead.

I'm really curious about Daphne and Monty's story -- he's got a lot of groveling and explaining to do!

4.5/5 ⭐️ (Rounded up)

This was such a delightfully cozy story! It is well thought out and flows so nicely. It has a regency feel to it, but mixed with fantasy elements.
This book was full of exquisite banter between the MCs. The witty quips and stubbornness that went back and forth between the two, had me giggling with delight. The romantic tension was palpable during the first half of the book. I could feel the angst radiating from the pages. The characters were well fleshed and so likable. Edwina, a human romance author, is quite unique, sincere and knows what she wants. There is no question she will do what she must. William, a poet, is her rival. He can be brash and grumpy, but the fact that he falls first is so sweet. I love their relationship dynamic.

This is not my usual genre of books, but I knew if Tessonja Odette wrote it, it had to be good. And, she certainly didn’t disappoint. I look forward to the next book, between Daphne and Monty.

Thank you NetGalley and Tessonja Odette for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

I loved Edwina and William's story!

There was so much tension in the first half of the book and I loved every minute of it. I also loved when Edwina and William gave into each other. Basically I just loved all of their interactions with each other throughout the whole book.

Zane and Monty were great co-conspirators and I enjoyed their meddling.

The world building was fun to read about and I can't wait to read the next book to find out more about the Fae.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, the cover for this book is to die for.

A Rivalry of Hearts is a fantasy rom com, and it lived up to its name. It is a lighthearted, cozy read that you can probably read through in one sitting.

I normally don't give romance books more than 3 stars, but I absolutely adored this. The story is very well written and the pacing was great. I didn't feel bored at any point. I'm also not a big fan of stories set in historical or victorian times, but that didn't bother me at all with this one. Tropes that can be found in this book are: rivals to lovers, forced proximity, and found family.

I absolutely loved both Edwina and William as well as all of the other characters in the story. The banter and romance = chef's kiss. I love that there's a build up and you can tell that the FMC and MMC actually got to know each other before diving into any sort of relationship. I hate when they fall in love immediately.

Definitely recommend reading this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ARC! All reviews below are my own.

This book was everything I wanted it to be - we're dropped into plot immediately, as we navigate Edwina finding her way to her own book tour -- 2 weeks late. This gave me so much anxiety, especially after finding out this tour was supposed to be the make-it moment for her and a three-book contract for her smutty fae romance series! We also have a subtle Regency setting, in the sense that the "human" world is still very much entrenched in those ideals, and Edwina, as part of that world, is writing the dirtiest smut to never have been experienced, while learning about real-life fae and what that might mean for her novels. She's up against Will, a poetry writer who's POV we also!! get, and he definitely falls fast and first. We're getting a reformed player who thinks our heroine is special and adorable, and also, is inherently bound into this competition for the book contract!

What makes this book special for me though, is the world and side-characters we get. Daphne is a fae who prefers her marten form (does it help that I was maybe obsessed with martens in my middle school days??) And we get our manager of the tour, a hot fae who's afraid of connection, but serves to poke and rile up William and move along their romance in the best of ways. Tessonja has created this fun fae/regency world that I'm excited to live in - and has done it all with not a dull moment. It feels like the book is missing a piece at the start almost, that bit where author do all the world building -- and to be honest, I'm not mad about it. I felt like this way, I learned just as much as I needed to along the way and never felt like the book dragged. Here's to hoping for more books!! (also, the cover is absolutely gorgeous!!)

A RIVALRY OF HEARTS
By @tessonja
ARC opportunity thanks to @netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

I saw this cover EVERYWHERE and rushed to request to be considered for an ARC from Netgalley. Next day, it was in my inbox! Woohoo!

First of all, the cover is so damn cute. I was so excited to add this to my feed. But it doesn’t end at the cover! Inside, I felt like I was reading a romcom version of Bridgerton and I was here for it. Dualing authors, high stakes, a binding bet, book signing events, a slow burn, cute romance - all sprinkled with some fae magic.

I loved the Dual POV here. Without it, we would have missed a lot of important inner thoughts and feelings from Will.

Monty and Daphne and Zane were really fun side characters as well.

This needs to be on your preorder list! Save the date - June 12th!

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, & the nerd fam for the gifted arc! (I accidentally applied for an arc through two different platforms and got accepted for both…oops)
Wow I LOVED this. I was giggling and kicking my feet the entire time. I absolutely adore Edwina and Will. And the side characters?? I cant wait for the next book. This was such a great little standalone and exactly what I was in the mood for—lighthearted and cozy. I was smiling the whole book.
I loved this so much that I now want to read Tessonja’s entire backlog. It was so well-written and the characters were developed perfectly. All of the relationships felt so natural. I was so hooked in the story that I forgot I was reading.
READ THIS BOOK!!!

4/5🧚‍♀️ this book was BEAUTIFUL & everything a romantasy should be! i want to thank tessonja for allowing me to read her ARC- i’ve truly been blessed by this one!

short summary:
edwina and william are rival authors vowing for the same publishing contract. because of some unfortunate circumstances that make edwina late, william crashes edwina’s book tour and takes it over for himself. after two weeks of this, edwina arrives and there are instant sparks…. of hatred LOL they do not get along (but that’s just what makes it SO GOOD 😏). after a night of HEAVY drinking on edwina’s part, a bet is made between the pair on who can have the most intimate moments w/ strangers from their touring cities. whoever wins, wins the contract as well.

things i loved:
🖋️ i love the fae x regency era vibes👗
🖋️bantering with her is his favorite thing (& man does tessonja write some good banter 🤪)
🖋️ Monty is an INSTIGATOR LOL he’s baiting them and I LOVED IT- i love when their friends are meddlers 😉
🖋️ something as small as holding hands is so beautifully written and makes you feel THE HEAT OF A THOUSAND SUNS
🖋️they both have cute nicknames for each other
🖋️THE TENSION IS CRAZY- even though the goal was to get with strangers, almost 100% of the time, they couldn’t go through with it or would use the opportunity to make the other one jealous
🖋️william is himself with her, in the best way possible 🫶🏼
🖋️william was willing to not only fight WITH her but fight FOR her 🥹

chapter notes:
-CHAPTER 16-THE TENSION 😙🤌
-CHAPTER 31 I’m throwing something across the room
-chapter 34- CRYING CRYING CRYING

tropes:
slow burn
enemies to lovers
rivals to lovers
forced proximity
found family

microtropes:
competition (bet)
‘let’s make him jealous’
nicknames
meddling friends
*leans hand on wall, caging her in*

would i recommend? HECK YEAH 😍

First, I want to extend infinite thanks to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and the author for access to an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I could not have been more excited to be granted access to this book since I had already preordered a copy!… needless to say my expectations going in were high.

4.5⭐️ This book was pure magic! It met my expectations in every way. It was the *perfect* combination of rivals to lovers banter, regency romance, cozy fantasy, and spice within a book about books!! It was like a turducken of romantasy and I gobbled it up!! The characters were feisty and fun, the pacing was consistent, the world building was excellent, and the writing was evocative. It was just an absolute delight. Don’t pass this by if you have enjoyed other books by Tessonja Odette, Olivia Atwater, and Heather Fawcett.

Story: 5⭐
Spice: 2🌶
Vibes: 10⭐

This was such an adorable read. The dynamic between the two main characters was perfection.

Truth time, I requested this book based solely on the cover. It's freakin' gorgeous. I give you permission to judge this book by its cover. The insides are just as good as the outsides. Thank you so much for the approval!! 😉

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.

The stakes are high, and the hem lines are low. (Don' t mind me..... they pay me the big bucks.)

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

A Rivalry of Hearts is my second book by author and I LOVED it! It was such a light hearted and fun story. From start to finish, every page was a joy to read.

Here are a few things I loved about this book:
- The main characters! Edwina and Will had such great banter and jokes throughout the story. I loved Edwina's determination and passion and Will's ability to be vulnerable in the end.
- The secondary characters! I enjoyed all the supporting characters and look forward to seeing some of them again in book 2.. There was a fun pop out of characters from a previous book. I love when authors write surprise appearances from past characters.
- The world the author has created is cozy and magical.
- I enjoyed reading about the love of books in this story.
-Spice! There are some great spicy scenes in this book. The main character writes smutty romance books, so you get a lot of fun conversations about smut.

Read if you love:
-Rivals to lovers
-Fae world but not overly complicated
-Regency era vibes
-Fun bet between MMC and FMC
-He falls first
-Sexy rom-com
-Humor
-Spice

Overall, this book made me excited to read more from this author. I cannot wait for book two in this series!