If 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦 captured your heart, prepare to fall in love with this world all over again. ✨

Huge thank you to V.L. Bovalino + @ReadForeverPub + @NetGalley for an early copy of this incredible romantasy!

📖 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆 by V.L. Bovalino
🗓️ Releases 𝒮𝑒𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 𝟤𝟫, 𝟤❀𝟤𝟨

✨ Rich world building
✨ Unique magic system
✨ Spy FMC x Thief MMC
✨ Estranged married couple
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Second chance romance
✨ FMC in her 30s

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭
Nore Gordon is the crown's most trusted spy. When she's sent into enemy territory to retrieve a powerful relic, she's forced to work with the one person she never wanted to see again: her estranged husband, Caspian.

Now the two must pretend to be happily married while navigating secrets, danger, political intrigue, and feelings neither of them ever truly left behind.

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐜
Nore and Caspian were EVERYTHING.

The emotional tension starts immediately because these two already have history, heartbreak, and trust issues. Every conversation feels layered with years of hurt and longing. Watching them slowly rebuild trust while being forced to work together made this romance incredibly satisfying.

And I loved the spy + thief dynamic!

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
The Second Death of Locke was one of my favorite books of 2025, so my expectations were sky-high going into this one.

I'm happy to report that returning to this world felt like coming home.

I loved seeing familiar faces again (especially Grey and Kier!) while getting a completely new romance to root for. The world expands beyond what we saw in the first book, making the setting feel even bigger and more immersive.

The magic system remains one of the most unique aspects of the series: Wells hold the power, Mages wield it. It's fascinating, central to the plot, and unlike anything I've read before.

This book delivers the perfect blend of adventure, intrigue, romance, and magic, with characters you'll want to spend hundreds more pages with.

If you loved the first book, you're almost guaranteed to adore this one too. ✨
4.5 beautiful stars!

The Thief and the Traitor Bride is the second installment of The Hand and the Heart trilogy. The second book is an interconnected follow on, not a direct sequel to Locke, the first book.

Let me start by saying I was absolutely OBSESSED with The Second Death of Locke. I read it as an arc and read it several times before my NetGalley timer clicked down. I own every single edition I could get my mitts on for my library. So when I say my anticipation was astronomical, I am NOT kidding. Grey and Kier are THEM, I will not be taking questions.

I was so into Traitor Bride it's crazy. Tori (V.L.) does not disappoint. She has drawn a new setting in the same world with new characters drive by completely different motivations, histories and personalities. Nore is a canny, ambitious young woman trying to rise in her complicated world in Linden. ALL the while she is outrunning the memories of violent betrayal by her estranged husband, Caspian. When Cas comes crashing back into Nore's life (and she's stuck working with him), it sets off a chain of events the has sweeping consequences. The nation of Idistra is caught in the intrigue, along with our old friends on the Isle of Locke.

One of the things I love about the storytelling is the authenticity of the world building and dialogue. I feel immersed but not beat over the head. The moody settings and conversation feel natural. When old friends return, they are as they ever were from the first book which was immensely gratifying. Weaving the two world together is well done. Allread knowing the players from the first book make you feel like you are in on some secrets Nore and Cas are not.

There is yearning, secrets, lies, spice, scheming, double-crossing, violence and one very grumpy cat. It is very different from TSDOL but equal in excellence.