Title: A Rivalry of HeartsAuthor: Tessonja Odette
Series: Fae Flings and Corset Strings #1
Pages: 407
Publication Date: June 12, 2024
Publisher: Crystal Moon Press
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical / Fantasy
Synopsis:
Two rival writers.
One prestigious publishing contract.
A bargain of hearts and seduction.
They say never bargain with the fae. They also say don’t get drunk on fae wine. Yet romance author Edwina Danforth has managed a blunder with both on her first visit to the infamous faelands. Now she’s trapped in a magic-fueled bet she barely remembers with a man she’d be happier to forget. The terms? Whoever can bed the most lovers during their month-long dueling book tour wins a coveted publishing contract.
The win should be easy for Edwina. She’s known for penning scintillating tales of whirlwind romance. There’s just one her imagination vastly exceeds her bedroom experience. But when failure means plummeting her career back into obscurity, losing isn’t an option.
Her handsome fae rival, William Haywood, poses an even greater challenge. Not only are his looks as aggravatingly perfect as his track record behind closed doors, but he has his own reasons for playing to win, and he won’t go down without a fight. Unless, of course, it’s a different kind of going down. In that case, he’s fair game.
Edwina and William clash in a rivalry of romance. But what happens when their objects of desire…turn out to be each other?
A Rivalry of Hearts is a spicy standalone adult fantasy romcom in the Fae Flings and Corset Strings series. Every book in the series can be read on its own in any order and ends with a HEA. If you like academic rivals, enemies to lovers, and quirky heroines, then you’ll love this sizzling tale.
The Fae Flings and Corset Strings series is set in the same world as The Fair Isle Trilogy and Entangled with Fae . Journey back to this beloved fae world or fall in love for the first time.
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This is a fun and sexy historical fantasy with a great rivals-to-lovers romance. The story follows writers Edwina and William as they become rivals on a book tour and make a bet that will change everything.
Edwina’s novel is very popular in the fae world, where she is going on her first book tour. When traveling plans cause her lateness, Edwina learns she must now share the tour with fellow writer William and compete for a publishing deal. Edwina and William are such fun characters, and I enjoyed their love story. It’s an interesting dynamic, considering William looks down on the romances Edwina writes, yet he’s the one who falls first. I just love that. They have a great enemies or rivals-to-lovers romance with the best banter and a ton of sexual tension. And William is so charming when he puts his mind to it. There were so many swoon-worthy moments that left my heart in a puddle.
The world is also really interesting. I haven’t read a ton of historical fantasy romances, and this is a fun blend of the genres. It’s like Bridgerton with humans and fae. lol And I really like the author’s writing style. It’s engaging and immersive with a bit of whimsy, and it pulls you right into the story and world. There are also some side characters that I really want to learn more about, so I’m hoping we’ll see more of them in future books in the story.
The only part of the story I didn’t love was the bet, but it definitely added to the sexual tension and high stakes the characters were already feeling. Overall, it’s a fun read and one I’d recommend to readers who like historical fantasy rom-coms.
- The romance
- The characters.
- The setting.
- The writing style.
- rivals to lovers
- he falls first
- competition
Tessonja Odette is a Seattle-based author of fantasy romance, epic romantasy, and fairytale retellings. She especially loves to write about brooding fae and the fierce women who hate-to-love them. When she isn’t writing, she’s watching cat videos, petting dogs, having dance parties in the kitchen with her daughter, or pursuing her many creative hobbies. In her books, you’ll find enemies-to-lovers, witty banter, cozy vibes, and a delicious dash of steam.
Oh this sounds so fun!!! And loving that cover too <3