A fun and whimsical fall read with kooky townsfolk and magical mysteries. The opening was a little out of the blue for me with how the protagonist discovered the town she had just moved to was a supernatural hotspot, but I was able to suspend my disbelief after a bit and settle into the story.

Read if you like: Alpha werewolves, mysterious rituals, characters who discover they’ve become the main character in a small town, and if a Gilmore Girls/Vampire Diaries mashup sounds like a good time to you haha

Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for providing me with a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

In Always Carry a Silver Cross, Selene is unknowingly thrust into a world of paranormal creatures after she moves to Avondale to take care of her deceased best friend's daughter, Allie. This all begins the first night, when Selene learns that 16 year old Allie's boyfriend is actually a werewolf. Through the book, Selene has to navigate being a guardian to Allie amidst this strange setting while dealing with numerous surprises and challenges including her (rather fast) relationship with the mysterious Fen and a myriad of very dark subplots.

I picked this up because the marketing made it seem as though this book was a romcom with fun fantasy/paranormal elements. The latter part of that idea is true; there are a lot of quirky characters and interesting introductions featuring paranormal themes. However, I did not feel that this book could be classified as a romcom for a couple of reasons.

First, romcoms tend to appeal to romance readers who fully expect an HEA at the conclusion of the book. HEAs can cause readers to overlook things that they don't necessarily like about the plot. In this case, I didn't love the speediness of Selene and Fen's relationship between meeting and becoming mates. While this feels really rushed, I recognize that fast-paced relationships can be common in romance books. HEAs give the reader the satisfaction that the relationship is meant to be despite how quickly it moves along in the book. Unfortunately, this book does not deliver an HEA and instead alludes to a sequel, which--for someone expecting a romcom--left me disappointed. I will certainly continue reading the series, but I would have adjusted my expectations going into this book. I think the pacing of the romance could have also benefitted had most of the body of the book been written to set up the sequel.

Secondly, there are some dark themes going on in this book that I did not expect with, again, a romcom marketing slant. I wished to see some trigger warnings for these topics because I think it helps set reader expectations and is only fair when such heavy topics such as assault of various types and death are involved.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this and will read more from this world and this author. I just think the marketing can be adjusted to better fit the book you are getting.

Unfortunately, this one wasn’t the right fit for me, and I chose not to finish it. The premise really intrigued me, and I can absolutely see how this book will work for the right reader but the plot just didn’t quite click for me personally.

That said, I appreciate the opportunity to read an early copy and can tell a lot of care went into the story, If the premise appeals to you, I’d still recommend giving it a try- it might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Great fun concept, with lots of tropes to entice any reader, but lacking depth. Everything feels a little undercooked, or under considered. The story flows well, but the supporting cast feel like obvious plot devices, and at times the two female leads seem entirely unrelatable in their reactions and thoughts. Was also annoyed by the ending, and realising this is one of a series - I felt catfished by this fact!

For some reason, I didn’t realize this was a monster, paranormal romance.

Those typically are not the romances that I enjoy unfortunately.

I totally grabbed this book based on the cover, oops!

I will say I enjoyed the portion that I did read (about 50%). There was some fun humor and I enjoy the writing style so I do want to see what this author has written outside of this book. I just could not keep going with this particular plot and set of characters.

I will say the first few sentences of the book talking about candy bars, having saturated fats and whatnot; it was I think supposed to be funny and for me it just felt like a dig on women eating snacks which, what are we allowed to enjoy? Eat your snacks.

I also was so grossed out at what the cashier at the store and I think that’s kind of part of the reason why I can’t do paranormal romances. I will not ever be able to get past that. I assume that these two individuals are bound to be together but I’m not gonna be able to stop thinking about the fact that he licked it. That’s just so gross.

If you are a paranormal romance fan, you like monster romance, and you want like a quick read that has a little bit of humor in it. This one’s perfect. I just am not a fan of those types of books and this one just did not connect with me. It was all, but I enjoyed what I did read. It just is not for me and I can’t force myself through a book.

Thank you for approving me for this ARC. I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily.

If Always Carry a Silver Cross had been marketed as urban fantasy I would have rated it five stars. I thought the idea of having a guardian have to handle a teen in a paranormal relationship was a really fun plot idea and I loved learning about their paranormal small town. The characters are interesting and well developed. I liked that we mainly got Selene's POV but we got glimpses into other characters.

The problem is that this book is being marketed as a romcom and is being published by a romance imprint. This means I was anticipating a story focused on the romance between the main characters with an HEA. Instead this is a story with a strong romantic sublot that I am guessing will continue in a sequel. From a story perspective I was happy to see this because I don't think the romance was well developed enough for it to be wrapped up in this book BUT a romance book absolutely requires an HEA. I am aware romance readers read more books than any other readers but fantasy readers exist too and bait and switch marketing is not the answer.

If you like a cozy fantasy with a strong romantic subplot with humor that is likely the start of a fun series I highly recommend this one. If you need an HEA or HFN skip it.

This book is perfect for the fall season! The story was very well written and I could not put it down! Highly recommend!

Loved the story, would read more from this author! A perfect spooky fall vibes read! Fans of PNR will enjoy

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

DNF 30%

I was really looking forward to this book because the synopsis sounded exactly like something I would love, unfortunately this was not case. I couldn’t connect to any of the characters, and found myself getting distracted to the point where I’d stop reading to find a different book. The writing is very well done, and I am a mood reader so it could very well be that it was the right book, wrong time, but this just didn’t work for me right now.

When Selene's best friend is killed, she becomes the guardian to her teen daughter Allie and moves in with her, in a small town that seems like any other until she finds out it's mainly a town for the supernatural....

While still mourning her best friend, Selene has to find the best way to parent a teenager newly in love, learn all she can about her supernatural neighbors, and also deal with her own attraction to a very handsome man who watches over the town. What could go wrong?...

after the death of her best friend, selene is thrust into a life full of werewolves, vampires, fae and witches while taking care of her friend’s daughter, navigating a teenager’s first love and the broody pack leader fenris hall.
this had major the vampire diaries vibes just with werewolves. however, i had a bit of trouble with the pacing, as the plot and relationships developed a little too quickly to feel organic. this world lacked world building for me, it was just all thrown out there with no further explanation and contextualization.
the ending was pretty anticlimactic and frankly made me a little mad, because it felt like everything that lead to that point was, well, pointless. the story feels unfinished, so i am hoping there will be a sequel. regardless of my issues with this book, i would pick that up for a quick no-brainer read.

⭐ 3.25/5 stars
📖 ARC provided by NetGalley

Always Carry a Silver Cross is a quirky paranormal rom-com that blends supernatural intrigue with heartfelt moments and a dash of small-town charm. Andrea Robertson crafts a whimsical world where vampires, witches, and werewolves coexist with PTA meetings and emotional baggage.

The story follows Selene, a reluctant guardian thrust into a magical mess after her best friend’s death. The setup is compelling, and the early chapters promise a fun, mysterious ride. The town’s eerie atmosphere and the slow unraveling of secrets are definite highlights.

That said, the pacing falters midway. The romantic subplot with Fenris, while swoon-worthy in theory, feels rushed and underdeveloped—he doesn’t even appear until a good chunk into the book. The shifting points of view can be jarring, and the ending leans heavily on cliffhanger territory, which may frustrate readers looking for closure.

Still, the book shines in its emotional beats and humorous tone. Selene’s growth, the bond with Allie, and the exploration of grief and belonging give the story depth beneath the supernatural surface.

📚 Verdict: A fun, if uneven, read for fans of cozy paranormal tales with a touch of romance and mystery. Worth picking up—just manage your expectations on pacing and resolution.

This book follows a story where Selene is left to take care of her friend teenager Allie in a strange town where there are supernatural creatures. It’s look liked it might be interesting but I didn’t like the three point of view. It didn’t allow me to feel for the characters or understand them better.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the advanced copy of Always Carry a Silver Cross.

This story takes place in a paranormal small town.
Tropes
- found family
- paranormal romance
- vampires Vs wear wolves
- fated mates
- magical realism

The story was enjoyable and easy to follow. It just lacked something. The romance between the FMC and Fen wasn't believable. ( They hardly even spent time together but were suddenly in love and planning forever together)
However the ending leads me to believe there will be more books to come from this story and that could be a chance to explain their attraction to each other and possibly if the FMC has any link to the paranormal world.
Sometimes things don't make sense in a first book but end up coming together further on in a series. I'm hoping that is the case with this story because I would be keen to read more after the ending to this book.

Fun quick read that definitely gets you in the spooky mood! The writing was quick and witty, unfortunately it did fall a little flat sometimes and just didn’t really keep my attention. The premise was so great and I definitely enjoyed it!

3/3 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley for offering me an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well, well, well... summer just beginning and I'm already longing for autumn and Halloween!

Even though I can't find any information about it, it appears that 'Always Carry a Silver Cross' is the first book in a paranormal romance series. It follows Selene and her niece Allie who move back to the town of Avondale after the tragic death of Allie's mother. Now Selene must navigate being a guardian to a teenage girl who has paranormal boy problems and everything else that comes with that.

To be honest, when I picked the book up I was expecting something a lot more lighthearted and easy- something along the lines of Halloweentown and Gilmore Girls. Whilst there were elements similar to that vibe, I wasn't expecting the more sinister subplots happening. A murder being uncovered, weapons trafficking, mentions and depictions of abuse and assault, all things that were surprising to me but fit into the story quite well.

I enjoyed the characters, the paranormal introductions and the whimsical creatures and traditions that were described. I loved the fact that humans and paranormal beings lived together in harmony and that everyone felt safe in this mixed environment. I enjoyed our lovely side characters and new friends to Selene; the loyalty and found family aspect was so sweet to read about. Everyone embraced her right away and did everything in their power to support and protect her.

One thing that felt a little rushed, I hate to say, was the romance. While I really cheered for Selene and Fen, I thought their love had little to no time to develop. It all spanned a matter of days if I remember correctly. We go from meeting to instantaneous connection and chemistry, to lust and to a ritual that seals them as mates within a couple of weeks of their meeting. I so enjoyed Fen as an mmc and I loved how headstrong and levelheaded Selene was but I just think their relationship should have had the time it deserved to develop organically. It does seem like we're probably getting a second book and I can't wait to see what happens with them with that cliffhanger of an ending.

Overall, this was a good time. I read this in a couple of days and I really enjoyed myself.

This was a fun, spicy and enchanting autumnal romance! Fans of The Ex Hex, you need to pick this up! Whimsical and thrilling, dive into Selene and Ally's new life together and the people they meet along the way.

⭐️⭐️½ (2.5)
The book Always Carry a Silver Cross had an interesting concept but failed to deliver the promised weirdness. Selene's transition from Los Angeles to guardianship happens without much emotional impact because it feels like moving furniture instead of a life-changing decision and Allie's energetic personality shifts from appealing to annoying.

The ritual scenes create expectations of intense magical moments but fail to deliver anything beyond dim lighting effects. The "mysteriously magnetic" stranger fails to make an impact because his seduction attempts feel more dull than exciting. Every ceremony functions as a blueprint for "paranormal world" yet the actual worldbuilding remains extremely thin.

The found-family moments appear too short in the story. The plot requires a pulse so the neighbors and spirits disappear like paper cutouts without delivering any emotional weight. The romantic plotline pushes out any genuine supernatural tension so that magic fans will experience disappointment when they finish the story.

This is a 2.5-star read. The story provides a suitable guardian-child narrative with gentle romantic elements for readers who want this type of content. The story lacks genuine paranormal elements and meaningful scares so readers should bring their own silver cross and stronger magical abilities.

At times it felt like we are in a car and the author kept going from speeding to slamming on the breaks with how the plot developed. I enjoyed the characters but I also had a hard time understanding their motivations and, at times, there was only surface level character development.

Wow!!! I could not put this down. This paranormal romance was so well written and the world built so well.
I loved Fen so much!!!
There was plot and spice and the side characters really contributed to the story.
I can’t believe we have to wait for the next book😢

Thank you Netgally and the author for the eArc in exchange for my honest review