Thanks netgalley for the arc. Unfortunately, I couldn't read much of it. The makeout session in chapter one just happened out of no where. Maybe I'll find time to finish it in the future.

Rating: 5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Fangs for Nothing !!

This book completely hooked me from the very first page! Steffanie Holmes delivers a captivating blend of paranormal intrigue, sharp wit, and gripping suspense. The story moves at a great pace, keeping the tension high and the stakes even higher. I was fully invested in the characters and the world they inhabit—and just when I thought I had things figured out, the book ended on a jaw-dropping cliffhanger!

I absolutely loved this story and can’t wait to get my hands on the next book. If you’re a fan of supernatural twists, compelling characters, and addictive storytelling, Fangs for Nothing is a must-read.

'Things that break can be repaired, and become all the more beautiful for the cracks. Even hearts. Even souls.'

This book was a light-hearted romp through a cluttered, gothic castle and I really enjoyed myself!

There's something really charming about this book. I loved the characters and the setting was really quite cosy, despite the close proximity of the vampires. I thought Winnie's backstory and the darker themes in this book were handled well. The bookclub members were the right amount of kooky and endearing, and I would love to be at one of their meetings!

I did find this book was slightly on the longer side, and my interest was dwindling just a little bit towards the end. However, this was still the perfect read to snuggle down with in this wintry weather, and I can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A fun Paranormal fantasy about vampires. For years Winnie Preston has struggled with her other’s addiction to hoarding. She came up with a plan to help people get organised but could not help her mother. Winnie has nightmares about mountains of junk and vermin.

Winnie takes on the task of helping Lord Valerian declutter Black Crag Castle in the village of Argleton. Lord Valerian introduces himself as Alaric. Alaric’s faithful secretary and assistant Reginald keeps things running for Alaric in the castle, but he needs assistance from Winnie to
help sort out the accumulation of hoarded items.

Winnie and Alaric are attracted to each other. Alaric has a secret that prevents him from having a relationship with Winnie. Winnie is getting over a broken relationship and tries her best not to be attracted to Alaric. There is a lot of sexual tension between Winnie and Alaric.

I loved the description and interaction of characters especially the members of the Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven.

I love books about old houses and castles, so I especially loved the description of Black Crag Castle and it’s eight turrets.

Lots of fun to read with a few twists at the end.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers ATRIA Books and Simon & Schuster for a chance to review this E-Book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed Fangs for Nothing.

I always love a girl gang book club and the whole fun supportive vibe.
I also really liked the feeling of knowing something one of the MC's didn't know.
It made me feel like part of the club.

The love story was cute and compeling.
You got to fall in love with Alaric, Reginald and their whole way of living.

Even though you were 'in the know', there was still alot lot of lore and twists you learnt with the FMC.
So even though at the start I was like "obviously, hes a vampire", I was still able to engage and empathise with her.
There were even some twists that no-one in the book saw coming too.
Like even Alaric and The Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven had no idea.

As much as I liked it, there was almost too much spice for me and some of the descriptions were really off-putting.
Like when it reminded you he wasn't living and some kinky vampire shit. Too much for me, but if your into that you'll love it.

The world building and lore was really well done. It wasn't shoved down your throat all at once which was nice.
I found the idea of the courts and their rules really interesting as well as the intricacies around it.

If you like a spicy book with a proper story and immersive world then I would definitely reccomend this one!
There is going to be a sequel, but this is also a spin-off of the Nevermore Bookshop Mysteries and the main character, Mina, is in this book.

You don't have to have read it but it is referred to by Mina and the bookclub.
It's included as a memoir of Mina's life which she sells as fiction.

If you do read them, let me know what you think!

Buy Fangs for Nothing here: https://amzn.to/45By6mt

Buy the Nevermore Bookshop Mysteries here: https://amzn.to/46d2YKc

This was such a cosy, whimsical read—I absolutely adored it! It was my first book by Navessa Allen, and I’m already excited to read more. The gothic vibes, found family, murder mystery, and fake dating tropes were blended so well with the warm, slightly spooky atmosphere

Winnie and Alaric’s grumpy x sunshine dynamic was charming, with a slow-burn romance that was both sweet and spicy in all the right ways. I loved how her background as a professional organiser added depth, and Alaric was the perfect brooding vampire hero

The book club, the murder mystery, and the hilarious side characters brought the story to life. I’m thrilled it’s the start of a series! Plus, the NZ author and stunning cover were big bonuses

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster AU for the ARC, highly recommend if you love heartfelt vampire romances with charm, mystery, and a touch of spice

This is a fun paranormal romance that holds no great surprises but is a really enjoyable reading experience. I found it slightly unhinged, in the best way, and genuinely humorous.

There is some predictability to the plot, given this is a romance and uses romance tropes through the novel. However, there are also some more unexpected moments. This adds a freshness for dedicated romance readers, and a bit of extra interest for those who dip into the genre more casually.

I particularly enjoyed the fact that there are some great turns of phrase in here. Some of them were such a genuine delight that I lingered, re-reading them. It’s not often I do that, and it was so wonderful to find multiple instances in the one novel. This is one of the best written romances I’ve read in a while.

I also appreciated the humor. The novel is intentionally humorous in many places, but the author doesn’t push it too far. So many “humorous” novels wind up strained, but I didn’t feel that here. Holmes hits the right note consistently.

Some loose ends in the plot leave room for a possible sequel, but the main story is brought to a satisfactory place. I suspect a sequel would be very popular, and I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out in case.

This is highly recommended for all sorts of readers: romance readers, paranormal romance fans, readers who like humor, readers who appreciate a well turned phrase. All of them will find something to enjoy here. This light hearted novel is enormous fun and enormously well written.

A wildly entertaining, quirky vampire romance, featuring a wonderfully supportive yet meddlesome smutty book club.

This had me laughing out loud, gasping, and seriously questioning why I have never read 'womb broom' in any other stories.

What to expect:
🩸 Grumpy x sunshine romance
🩸 Gothic castle
🩸 Vampire lore
🩸 Found family
🩸 Fabulous female friendships
🩸 Amateur sleuthing
🩸 Witty banter
🩸 Fun bookish references

Some heavier topics are explored through this story, although they are handled with nuance and sensitivity.

I am very excited to read what comes next from Steffanie Holmes.

This was a fun and lighthearted paranormal romance. I really enjoyed the concept of this book - a professional organiser coming to a (secret) vampire's castle to tame the mess? Amazing.

I found all of the characters amusing which is what kept me interested, however this is quite a long book and honestly not that much happens plot wise. There are some murders that are being 'investigated' but not much investigating really happens tbh.

Overall it was entertaining and funny, but didn't quite live up to it's potential in terms of execution for me.

A vampire hoarder and a professional organiser walk into a gothic mansion... and yes, it’s exactly as chaotic as it sounds.

Fangs For Nothing kicks off with a fun and quirky premise, packed with offbeat humour, found-family feels, and a coven of supernatural misfits I’d absolutely die (and be resurrected) for. The Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven stole the show — their banter is sharp, their quirks are endearing, and their fierce loyalty adds a real warmth beneath the chaos.

The MMC Alaric was a true gentleman — old-school in the most charming way — and I adored the way he described Winnie, the FMC, as smelling like strawberries. It was oddly tender and stuck with me, a sweet little moment that added depth to their dynamic.

While I was charmed by the silliness and setup, the story lost me a bit toward the end. The third-act breakup and miscommunication trope felt more frustrating than earned, and some of the spicy scenes leaned a little cringe for my taste. I also wasn’t expecting such in-depth (and occasionally stomach-turning) descriptions of hoarding — it made the tone feel uneven when I was hoping for more light-hearted, goofy banter.

That said, if you’re after a paranormal romance with heart, humour, and a house full of lovable oddballs, this could be your jam — especially if you like your heroes haunted and your heroines ready to sort it out, emotionally and logistically.

A spicy Paranormal Romance, it’s a little instalove and slow burn, but super rewarding.

Parts of Fangs for Nothing felt cozy and although there was many characters introduced quite quickly, I can see how they contribute to the world building and future stories to come out of this series.

Alaric was broody and grumpy, as any centuries old lonely vampire would be… but I loved to see his outlook change and the tension between him and Winnie build. Even though Winnie was annoyingly naive to begin with.

There was some tongue in cheek jokes and references to this genre throughout as well, mostly due to the Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Covern, which I loved, and thought worked really well to contribute to the cozy vibes.

I loved all the women from the Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Covern, and would love to see them staring in their own paranormal stories, hopefully soon!

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I’m super grateful to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC! Can’t wait to see what the rest of this series has in store!

Fangs for Nothing by Staffanie Homes introduces us to Winnie, a sunshine human clutter buster employed to whip Alaric, a brooding, smexy good-looking creative vampyr recluse into gear for ball his estranged mother insists on hosting at his cluttered castle. Said ball is sure to have multiple bloodsuckers in attendance and humans might be well advised to steer clear. However, Alaric, our 500 year old enigmatic vampyr sees an opportunity to avoid his mothers meddling and initiates a fake engagement with Winnie.

This was a long book (496 pages) with a very deliberate and cruisey first half.  The cosy detail held my attention for the most part but I admit to skipping pages. No one is in a hurry but with so many characters to be established, a romance to spark and a side dish of local murder to solve it needed to move a little quicker for me.

I thought this was a standalone but, given the familiarity of the members of The Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven members maybe not?

The banter and language felt juvenile at times. While I could chuff at the Stabby Chic decor maybe I like my puns a little less obvious? I think this compounded  my confusion regarding what era the story wants to lean into... we're very modern with our LAN-Helsing internet connection but the  comedic effect of a 500 year old mmc grappling with modernity didn't pop off the page. This leads to the popculture references that didn't hit the mark for me, which is a personal preference. I understood the context of the name drops but, it felt out of synch. Examples included referencing a current NYTimes bestseller.

On the positivies, the story balances levity with weighty themes pertaining to both Winnie and Alarics' backstories. The explanation of hoarding behaviour and the empathy brought by Winnie was a standout. The trauma they both bring and their different coping mechanisms to living in the present are nicely dealt with.  Their fears, hopes and desires were very human at their heart. Even after Winnie discovers Alaric vampyr history she is able to see the "man" beneath the monster.

This was a quirky vampyr human romance with a murder mystery going on in the background.  I can see how this has a cult following in the indie market and the transition to mainstream will see Fangs for Nothing sink it's teeth into a brand new audience looking for a satisfying paranormal romp.  Perfect for the upcoming October spooky season.

A real take it or leave it story for me. Four stars because there's nothing wrong with the plot, characters or atmosphere. It's been well edited and it certainly establishes a world in which more stories can take place.

With thanks to the author, Steffanie Holmes, Simon and Schuster (Australia) and Netgalley for a copy of the eARC to read ahead of publication.

4 stars
Content warning: murder, death, injury, blood, toxic ex, betrayal, PTSD from traumatic upbringing, hoarding disorder, panic attacks, reoccurring nightmares, strained relations with a parental figure, mentions of war and torture

Fangs for Nothing was my introduction to Steffanie Holmes' writing, and goodness me, what a hilarious delight this story was. Sure, there are quite a few really serious disorders and subsequent conditions that are discussed and shape Winnie as a main protagonist, but I really enjoyed this book for the quirky, laugh-out-loud moments. As a seemingly sunshine-fuelled character, it was rewarding to read through Winnie's journey from her stringent organisational skills and what drove her to become a professional organiser in the first place. Coupled with Alaric's aloof, tortured artist persona, the pair working under one (castle) roof leads to great character development and hot chemistry.

Add in some fun side characters that keep this book lively, a murder mystery, and vampires being not only real but in abundance in the strange yet whimsical town of Argleton, Fangs for Nothing offers the reader a multi-faceted story filled with recovery, finding your people, allowing yourself to be vulnerable, well-needed hard truths, and endless laughter along the way. And for fans of spice, once the physical aspect of the romance comes into play, you will be pleased to have a lot of spicier scenes that are built upon a solid foundation of understanding, trust and believable connection. Oh, and the MMC has a ginormous 🍆 if that's something you're really into.

Fangs for Nothing is a little predictable in storytelling, but the journey is worth the ride - though, if Reginald's driving, you might want to hold onto something! I cannot wait to sink my teeth into the sequel of this series, and check out Steffanie's back catalogue too.

*4.5 stars*

*Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for providing a digital copy to review*

This book was such a joy to read, and I just kept loving it more as I got through the book. It’s got cosy small town vibes, a hot vampire, and a book club that reads smut while also solving murders.

I found the vampire lore so interesting! Parts of it kind of reminded me of Vampire Academy which is a series I read when I was younger and still love. I loved all the politics related to the vampire society and hope to see more if there’s another book.

This is a grumpy/sunshine romance where he’s a reclusive vampire who falls head over heels for the woman hired to organise his castle. It’s amazing. As the book progresses, we get to see so much depth with these characters. Alaric has centuries of trauma, and Winnie has her own issues, which still affect her every day.

I loved their relationship so much and how bad Alaric falls for her. He is definitely one of my favourite MMCs now, and I just love him so much.

The smutty book club is also amazing. It’s like found family with the way they adopt Winnie and accept her in their group. I just love the female friendships. However, I did get confused about who is who (there are a few of them), and there’s a backstory from a previous series that I haven’t read, so I did feel like I was missing things.

This is the perfect paranormal romance book, and I'm hoping there’s a second book!

Fangs For Nothing is a cozy paranormal romance following a professional de-clutterer hired by a vampire to organise his centuries of mess before his mother arrives for a ball. It's a cute premise, especially with the growing popularity of organisers like Marie Kondo. The vampire is of course hiding his supernatural nature, drawing protagonist Winnie into a (lightly - this is only cozy, not action/horror) dangerous situation where she is surrounded by vampires without knowing it. The sleepy little village of Nevermore has its own additional secrets and paranormal circumstances, including a book club that moonlights as amateur murder-solvers (can't really call them detectives since they only care about murders... which begs the question of how many murders has this town HAD?).

I was suckered in by the pun title, not for the first time, and I thought this might be a winner because it starts off strong. There's plot, there's a murderer, there's female friends for Winnie. I like how the magic and vampires are casually introduced (but still not common knowledge to most, it seems). A little too much insta-lust for no reason, maybe, but that isn't necessarily a showstopper depending how things develop from that point. Winnie also had larger concerns than just romance, but by the time I'd reached several chapters in I could already see... she had TOO many problems.

Checking the ebook progress told me we were only 3% in - I'd expected to be much further, given how many chapters had occurred, how many characters introduced and first meetings had happened. This novel is unfortunately too long for what it is (cozy and romance). Winnie has too many sideplots of her own. She only needs a single personal-life problem at the start of the novel. Instead she has three. So before we even introduce any other character, we have the following subplots occurring: 1) fiance/boyfriend and best friend cheated behind Winnie's back and are now together, 2) her mother is a hoarder & everyone has made this Winnie's responsibility to fix, 3) her business partner gives her 90% of the work while taking 90% of the credit, 4) the actual work job she's here to do of tidying the castle, 5) the romance with her client, vampire Alaric, and 6) a fake engagement with Alaric to get his mother off his back (as told to us by the back blurb).

That's 6 subplots before any side characters appear. Including the LITERAL MURDERER (sideplot #7).

And maybe 7 subplots would be doable if that was all of them. But although this book is advertised as the first in a series, it is actually book #6. There are five novels before this one about the women of the book club - you know, the book's subtitle, so you can tell they're important. These women get much more attention than they need in what's meant to be Winnie's romance - you can tell they're the author's darling Mary Sue/s. They did not need to be in this novel, as they pad an already long novel out even further while adding very little to the actual plot or development (they mostly just seem to be there to make Winnie doubt Alaric and delay the romance). This novel would have worked far better as a stand-alone, not a secret continuation of the author's previous series.

I wish this novel had been edited down. Winnie and Alaric are engaging and have good chemistry. Winnie's profession is unique and her reasons for doing it are compelling. Normie x secret-vampire is always a fun time, especially with a whole horde of vampires descending on the main couple for a ball while he still hasn't told her. There's just too much waffle - the plot, and therefore the romance beats and romantic tension, draaaaag. The fake engagement (told to readers by the blurb, so not a secret by any means) doesn't happen til the 50% mark of the book. That's far too late. What was a fun premise and a strong start become a tiring slog to get through.

Ultimately I think romance readers may still enjoy this one, if they like long, slow novels. But for me, it was only 'okay'.


Rating: 2.5 stars, rounding down as always.

3.5 stars but bumped to 4 for reviewing sites.

This was a very cosy read, perfect for rainy days. The beginning had me hooked, and I powered through 70% before I finally had to call it a night.

The humour was brilliant. I found myself laughing out loud at the quick wit and quips, and quickly came to loving Winnie as a character. As for Alaric, his portrayal played on my heart strings and I was genuinely so eager to see him open up and find happiness. The portrayal of both of their struggles and the juxtaposition between them was well done, and I was able to see both sides and empathise with them for different reasons.

Despite this being a long book, I was never bored. I was actually grateful for it because I was really immersed in this funny, romantic little town. Where the book lost points for me is that for perhaps the last 20% of this book, everything felt rushed, like it was suddenly realised that it needed to wrap up all its plots. I think there could have been more exploration of Alaric’s hoarding and how he overcame it, and definitely more emphasis on when, how and why Winnie decided she would be turned into a vampire. It seemed to just be “Because I love you and you bought me a house so all good”.

Overall, I loved the characters, the plot, the vibes, the wit and the romantic development. I wasn’t a huge fan of the pop culture references, but that’s a me thing and I didn’t include it in my rating. Moreover I wish I had known there was a predecessor to this series that explained Mina’s experience. However, this was a perfectly cosy and spooky read and I’d definitely read the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This book was such a fun read. While it was cosy and felt like home. There were some lines that had me screaming.

Immaculate, perfection, a cosy vampire read. If I could live in a book this would be the one. All the characters are witty, charming and full of charm. We've got a fake marriage, he falls first and harder, vampires and secrets.

I just love Winnie, she's such a gorgeous and fun bubbly character despite the hardships and trauma she has with her hoarder mother. Even if she's oblivious to signs about Vampires lurking in the town.

Alaric is such a sweet kind gentleman who has a taste for blood and is incredibly hot. Like "I want her so badly that I might have to stake myself through the heart just to keep her safe from me. " Their chemistry and relationship is adorable. The yearning is to die for.

Now the links between Steffanie's other work (Nevermore Bookshop and Grimdale Graveyard) are perfect. I had a serious chuckle at some of the references. And the dynamics of the bookshop coven are so much fun. I adore Mina the blind bookshop owner.

Definitely recommending this book for those who love vampire books like interview with a vampire, drama and heavy metal.

I really struggled reading this book, it didn’t catch my attention right from the good go, which is something I always look for in a book.

I found that it wasn’t similar to other books that I had read the past.

Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me.

ARC Review✨
I loved this book, it was so much fun to read and I was hooked from the start. I liked both the FMC and MMC and was cheering them on, the side characters were memorable and so much fun and I also liked that the plot stood out just as much as the romance between Winnie and Alaric.

I liked the growth between Winnie and Alaric both together and individually, it was set at a really great pace and had the right amount of angst for me.

I also loved the friendships that were formed, and I just want to join in for all their book clubs! Might be dangerous, but it would be so much fun.

This was the first book by Steffanie that I have read and I now want to go back and read her other books.

I definitely need book 2 in the series now!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for providing me with the eARC.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Winnie Preston is a professional organiser brought in to whip a castle into shape for a vampire lord’s party—except, of course, she doesn’t know he’s a vampire. Cue the grumpy/sunshine dynamic: Alaric Valerian is broody, immortal, and vaguely exasperated by the whirlwind that is Winnie. She’s sunshine in a messy bun; he’s one dramatic piano sonata away from full Edward Cullen.

This is the first book in The Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven series, and while it technically stands alone, it clearly shares DNA with Holmes’s Nevermore Bookstore world. Characters from that series pop in, and there’s definitely a sense of setting the stage for a longer arc—not just for Alaric and Winnie, but for the entire kooky coven. If you like series with ensemble casts and crossover characters, you’ll likely enjoy the vibe.

The tone is fun, flirty, and spicy, with a side of fake dating chaos when Alaric’s youthful-looking (but ancient) mother shows up with a potential bride in tow. Naturally, Alaric ropes Winnie into pretending to be his girlfriend. Cue the awkward encounters and simmering chemistry.

The romance has plenty of sparks, and I appreciated the emotional complexity woven into the story—especially the thoughtful exploration of hoarding and its emotional roots. Winnie’s reflections on her mother’s hoarding, and how she brings that empathy into her work, added unexpected depth. Her attempt to apply that same understanding to Alaric? Clever, and honestly, one of the most unique aspects of the book.

That said, the pacing didn’t always work for me. The murder mystery simmers somewhat on the backburner, and the middle section gets bogged down in repetitive internal debates and slow emotional push-pull. It dulled some of the swoon factor and made the book feel longer than it needed to be. And honestly, for someone surrounded by vampire red flags—coffin, nocturnal lifestyle, no food, pale AF—Winnie’s not clueing in that Alaric is, in fact, a vampire stretched belief a little too far. Girl, connect the dots.

Alaric is your classic tortured vampire—gorgeous, artistic, honourable, sexy—and those inner monologues hit all the right bloodlust-meets-heartache notes. Winnie, on the other hand, brings a grounded, emotionally intelligent energy to the page. They’re a good match, even if their romantic arc felt like it stalled halfway through.

Overall? This was fine. Fun in places, thoughtful in others, but not quite enough to hook me into the next book just yet. But if you’re into spicy paranormal romance with vampire angst, fake dating shenanigans, and a bit of murder mystery (or if you have read the author's previous books) you’ll probably enjoy this one.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC - all opinions, as always, are my own