Review: Dawn of the North by Demi Winters

Dawn of the North is an epic saga packed full of action, intrigue, danger, mystery, secrets, betrayals, old enemies, new enemies, gods, monsters, and SO much more!

About the Book

A new age begins in the Kingdom of Íseldur in this sizzling third installment of the Viking-inspired Ashen romantasy the series.

The lost Volsik heir has finally returned to the people of Íseldur, and even with the warrior who’s captured her heart standing by her side, Silla’s task is monumental. She must earn the loyalty of the northern jarls to drive Ivar Ironheart from the throne and restore peace in the kingdom. But the secret she vigilantly guards threatens to ruin all her plans: A shard of a god lives in her mind, twisting her thoughts and deeds to His will.

Meanwhile, held captive on the mysterious isle of Zagadka, Saga Volsik fights to return to her sister in Íseldur. But when King Ivar sets his sights on the Zagadkians, she’s forced to make an impossible choice: fight for the man who stole her—and is now hell-bent on marrying her—or let the innocent people of his kingdom die.

As a poisonous mist threatens the realm, the sisters will delve into the unknowns of their magic to battle against evil. Return to the land of ice and fire, where a god awakens, a queen finds her power, and sisters must unite against the darkness threatening their realm.

My Review

The story is massive and the stakes are monumental as each character finds themselves facing adversity, hardships, trials and tribulations.

Silla: Trying to embrace her destiny as Eisa Volisk but wishing she could just be herself while constantly fighting the god of chaos in her mind, falling in love with Rey, and desperately trying to find her sister Saga.

Saga: Glad she is no longer under King Ivar’s tender mercies but is currently in a foreign land kidnapped by the roguish and deadly Kassandr, making plans to get back to Íseldur to find her sister Silla, carefully evaluating the Zagadka people as friend or foe while waiting for a knife in her back and fighting a deeply personal battle with herself.

Hekla: Trying to complete the job the Bloodaxe Crew was tasked with to eliminate the mist while dodging two suitors and the misogyny of the pig-headed warrior band that joined their cause in Roots of Darkness. Men, ugh! She is one of the toughest and most resilient warriors in the series.

Rey: Torn between protecting Silla and watching her walk into a birthright that’ll most certainly put her in more danger than ever before while navigating the sharks at court and preparing to join the in the fight against the mist, separating him from Silla. One must wonder if a more nefarious plot is afoot to cleave him from her side. Ha! He’d like to see them try, and so would Silla. 

Kassandr: Has brought trouble to his people but he did it to protect Saga. He wants to claim her for himself but faces an uphill battle with his father (the king) and brother to keep her in Zagadka all while secretly preparing the kingdom for the inevitable war he knows is coming despite the arrogant naysayers.

Eyvind: Second heir to Jarl Hakon, striving to get back in his father’s good graces after several “failures” but has been completely enchanted by the lovely–and magnificent–Hekla. He’s a bit of a mystery. 

Queen Signe: Wife of King Ivar, in mourning for her daughter and hungers for vengeance against Saga. Currently making plans of her own despite her husband’s scorned pride and war plans for retribution. Totally evil, cunning, duplicitous, and gravely underestimated.

And the list goes on and on and on… 

I was on the edge of my seat as I read chapter after chapter, hungrily devouring page after page. I knocked this thing out in 2 days. It was SO hard to put the book down to eat, sleep or do anything else. 

There are so many brilliantly crafted characters, dynamic landscapes, climactic story arcs, intricate plots and subplots, dangerous political climates, duplicity in all shapes and sizes, and SO many surprises! 

Demi Winters is a masterful storyteller and Dawn of the North her shining opus!

I cannot recommend this book enough! The Ashen series is a juggernaut in the fantasy genre and Dawn of the North is the absolute highest standard of excellence across all genres of literature.

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.

Purchase Links*

Penguin Random House | Demi Winters Website

About the Author

Lover of all things fairy tales, fantasy, and romance, Demi lives in British Columbia, Canada with her husband and two kids. When she’s not busy brainstorming fantastical worlds and morally gray love interests, Demi loves reading and cooking. Learn more at demiwinters.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Today

This blog is a safe place to champion authors and their books and share stories that help us escape when life gets a little too tough. Right now we need that more than ever. We are living in scary and uncertain times. Please know you are not alone in your worry, your heartbreak, your fear, your anxiety, your anger, your disgust, and your resolve to speak truth to power. You are not alone. 

Books fuel my soul and empower me to keep moving forward. So I will keep going. I will keep exercising my rights and my freedoms of free speech and expression. I will keep sharing the works of others and uplifting authors, book friends, and my community. I will not let these heinous actions disparage, censure. or defeat me. 

I will continue to let my light shine. Dark times may be ahead, but we are not without defense. We have words and voices. We have strength and courage. And we have each other. 

With love always,

Elizabeth

Review: Get What You Need by Jessica Topper

I read this book almost a year ago and I couldn’t really review it because I love the series so much and this story is just as exceptional as the first book in the series. I don’t have adequate words to describe how amazing it is and how wonderful the storyline is. How lovingly and purposefully crafted each and every character is. I gave this review my best shot and I still don’t think it’s good enough, but it’s definitely from the heart.

About the Book

From the author of “Louder Than Love” comes a long-awaited return to Lauder Lake…ten years later

Sometimes getting what you want is the easy part.

Katrina Lewis-Graves isn’t the type of woman to run from problems. But she knows to get out while the getting’s good. Fourteen years ago, she left Manhattan for small town solace after a freak train accident left her widowed with a one-year-old. Seeking sanctuary in her hometown of Lauder Lake, Kat ended up stumbling upon a soul mate of legendary proportions: famed guitarist Adrian “Digger” Graves.

Now she’s fleeing Manhattan once again: this time with her rock star husband and troubled teen daughter in tow. This time, it’s to save Abbey…even if it means dragging her, kicking and screaming.

Across the pond, another woman is taking flight. Adrian’s estranged daughter Natalie has not wanted for much in life back in England. Horses, houses in the country, cars, closets full of couture – all courtesy of, but with no thanks to, Digger Graves’ heavy metal music success. Her parents’ divorce had robbed Adrian of much of his fortune, as well as any meaningful place in his daughter’s life. But as her own marriage and entire privileged pinnacle comes avalanching down, Natalie jumps on a desperate whim at the open invitation her stepmother Kat has made to “come stay anytime you want.”

Lauder Lake may not be what Abbey or Natalie want, but it holds some surprises – and may just be exactly what they both need…

My Review

When I read Louder Than Love almost 13 years ago, the story just stayed with me. These characters crawled in my chest and made their home right inside my heart and I haven’t been able to shake them since, nor would I want to. 

Back when I first read Louder Than Love, it was just a standalone story about a washed up British rock star and a widowed librarian with a 4-year-old daughter crossing paths in New York, discovering so much about themselves. Learning how to heal, how to find peace, and how to love again. It is a beautiful story about love, loss, rock ‘n’ roll, and second chances. 

Then something wonderful happened, the author expanded this world by making it into a series and gave us more books and more wonderful characters to love. I was over the moon! And now we get a 5th book and I am so excited to tell you all about it. Here we go!

Get What You Need takes place 10-ish years after the events of Louder Than Love. Adrian (British rocker) and Kat (widowed librarian) have been in wedded bliss for years now. Adrian’s rock career has been revitalized. Adrian and Kat have a beautiful son together along with Kat’s daughter and Adrian’s adult daughter from his first marriage. Their family is a beautiful kaleidoscope of hopes, dreams, music, and so much love.

The story follows Abbey’s adjustment to a new school, a slower lifestyle, and the daily desperation she feels being far away from her “boyfriend” and Natalie’s (Adrian’s daughter) healing journey after a failed marriage. We’re gonna need lots of funny movies, chocolate, and salty snacks to even crack the surface of all the feelings that need feeling. 

I absolutely loved–and cringed–watching Abbey’s teenage struggles. We’ve all been enchanted by a cute bad boy, but her relationship could be easily summed up in Taylor Swift’s I Knew You Were Trouble. I don’t have a daughter but I could easily empathize with Kat and Adrian’s parenting struggles. Thankfully, Abbey has a lot of people who love and support her.

Natalie has only been mentioned in the books but we finally get to meet her in this story and she’s absolutely lovely. You’d think she was a spoiled princess with her dad being a rock god, but I found her to be sincere and approachable. Natalie has experienced tremendous heartbreak and I just wanted to give her a big hug and tell her everything was going to be okay. I really enjoyed getting to know her and watching her healing journey.

What really tugged at my heartstrings was Kat and Adrian’s son, Blu. He’s a beautiful neurodivergent boy that is the apple of everyone’s eye. Having a son on the autism spectrum myself, I really appreciated the way the author respectfully portrayed the character. The representation was beautifully done. As much as I love Kat and Adrian, I think Blu is my new favorite. 

Get What You Need is a beautiful story of family, healing, self discovery, forgiveness, and faith and is a testament to the heart of the book. 

The Rolling Stones say it best: “You can’t always get what you want. But if you try sometimes you just might find, you get what you need.”

Purchase Links

Jessica Topper Website*

About the Author

Jessica Topper has been in love with the beauty of the written word ever since she memorized Maurice Sendak’s Chicken Soup with Rice at the age of three.

After earning a B.A. in English Literature and her Master’s Degree in Library Science, Jessica went on to work as a librarian in New York City before trading in the books for bookkeeping. For seventeen years, she worked in the production office of an international touring rock band.

Jessica broke the rock romance mold with her 2013 debut novel LOUDER THAN LOVE. Her follow-up romantic comedy, DICTATORSHIP OF THE DRESS, was named one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 2015.



She lives in Western New York with her family – including two cats that love to walk across her keyboard. Learn more at jesstopper.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Review: Christmas With A Chimera by Isabelle Taylor

Christmas With A Chimera is a grumpy/sunshine second chance romance that’ll exasperate your patience and melt your heart.

This is a novella in Isabelle Taylor's Claw Haven series and is super spicy! 

About the Book

Cozy fantasy meets Christmas in this charming, spicy, second chance romance novella.

Welcome to Claw Haven, where monsters go to find some peace and quiet.

Going home for Christmas wasn’t on chimera Arthur Pineclaw’s to-do list, not since he left the sleepy town of Claw Haven over a decade ago. He’s back now for one reason only—to film a cozy holiday romance. Two weeks of smiling for the cameras and charming his fans, and he can go back to LA. Easy. After all, there’s no one he can’t charm.

No one except for Emma Curt, the high school sweetheart he dumped on Christmas Eve. The same woman who apparently owns the café they’re filming in.

Emma never would’ve agreed to let her café be a filming location for a rom-com if she’d known Arthur Pineclaw was the lead. She’d rather eat rocks than be civil to the guy who abandoned her to become a movie star—on Christmas Eve.

But as the two spend more time together, it’s easy to fall into old habits…and into bed. Just because things are still good between them doesn’t mean Emma’s ready for anything more, but when their unexpected reunion stirs up old feelings—and old arguments—a second chance romance might be the gift they both need.

My Review

I am a sucker for the second chance romance stories and if they’re set in a small town, even better! I am fully enchanted by the idea of a remote town in Alaska where monsters can get some peace and quiet and not be bothered by the outside world. Well, all that changed when a short and wiry human woman crashed into town… and into the local inn’s welcome sign. 

Luna Stack accidentally mated a werewolf and ended up falling in love and staying with him and his pack that run the Musgrove Inn. She’s a marketing genius who’s revamping the town and turning it into a hot tourist destination, exploding the local economy,  greatly helping the town and its proprietors. 

The town has gained so much notoriety it has attracted the attention of a film company and now a cute holiday rom-com is going to be filmed at one of the local coffee shops. The dashing romantic lead of the movie grew up in Claw Haven and is back after years of being gone. Great for the town, not so great for the coffee shop owner whose heart was broken into pieces when Arthur left Emma behind to pursue his acting career many years ago.

I actually read Christmas With A Chimera out of order because I thought it was the first book in the series but it’s actually Book 2. Not to worry though, the story can easily be read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading the first book, too. It’s a hoot and there’s a lot of backstory that will enrich your reading experience.

I really enjoyed the story and I love the idea of a town of monsters, there are so many kinds and they are just so cool and act like everyday people… well except they are monsters, but that just makes them cooler! You’re in for a real treat!

Emma and Arthur’s story is a little rough, a little sweet, and a lot spicy! Their chemistry never dissolved, it was just banked until a chance meeting ignited the flames of a fiery passion so hot it’ll steam up your Kindle screen or sear your book pages 😉

I am totally a fan now! I can’t wait to learn more about the monsters of Claw Haven! I highly recommend the series!

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.

Purchase Links*

Harlequin Romance 

About the Author

Isabelle Taylor writes sweet, steamy fantasy romance. She works in a bookstore in New Zealand and has a Creative Writing Masters from the International Institute of Modern Letters. She can be found on Instagram and Tiktok @isabelletaylorauthor.

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Review: Thaw of Spring by Rebecca Zanetti

Rebecca Zanetti returns us to the small town of Knife’s Edge, Alaska where a powder keg of secrets is just waiting to explode! 

About the Book

Welcome to Knife’s Edge, Alaska, where the four Osprey brothers return from military service with shadows in their eyes and secrets in their hearts. As danger looms, new romances ignite, and these rugged men must fight for love…and survival.

Christian Osprey prefers the wilderness to the company of people. A former Navy Special Operator, he’s built for isolation and thrives in the untamed wild. He doesn’t want ties, doesn’t need anyone—but he can’t seem to stay away from Amka, the soft-eyed tavern owner who always greets him with a warm smile, a hot cup of coffee, and no expectations.

Amka Pinga has spent her life being strong for everyone else, even as her own life unravels. Trapped in an engagement that feels more like a cage, she’s tangled in obligations that threaten to break her spirit. Christian’s quiet strength feels like a lifeline she doesn’t dare reach for—but danger is circling Knife’s Edge, and this time, she’s at the center of it.

When Amka becomes a target, Christian will stop at nothing to protect her. But their simmering attraction explodes into something fierce and undeniable, and keeping her close blurs the line between protection and possession. In a town where secrets run deeper than the icy rivers and trust is as treacherous as thin ice, survival means risking everything—even their hearts.

My Review

Thaw of Spring starts with a bang and ends with a WTF revelation that will leave you breathless! I was on the edge of my seat with nail-biting anticipation! 

Knife’s Edge is a sleepy town full of secrets. Not everything is what it seems. Who can you trust? And why are the Osprey brothers so broody and too gorgeous for their own good? That is one mystery I don’t mind waiting to unravel. Drag it out, make us readers work for it 😉

OMG I absolutely LOVE this book! I love the dynamics and the simmering chemistry between Christian and Amka. There is so much going on in this story. If you blink you’ll miss it. 

Thaw of Spring can easily be read as a standalone but I encourage reading the first book, Dead of Winter to get the backstory on the town and its people. This book is explosive, mysterious, and so much fun to read. I highly recommend the series and can’t wait to find out what happens next!

Purchase Links*

Rebecca Zanetti Website

About the Author

New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly and #1 Amazon bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti has published more than sixty novels, which have been translated into several languages, with more than five million copies sold world-wide. Her books have received Publishers Weekly starred reviews and have been featured in Entertainment Weekly, Woman’s World, and Women’s Day Magazines. Her novels have also been included in Amazon best books of the year and have been favorably reviewed in both the Washington Post and the New York Times Book Reviews. Rebecca has ridden in a locked Chevy trunk, has asked the unfortunate delivery guy to release her from a set of handcuffs, and has discovered the best silver mine shafts in which to bury a body…all in the name of research. Honest. Learn more at rebeccazanetti.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Review: Accidentally Wedded to a Werewolf by Isabelle Taylor

The grumpy-sunshine appeal of It Happened One Summer meets the cozy fantasy vibes of The Baby Dragon Cafe in this utterly charming, spicy, Alaska-set fated-mates romance

Accidentally Wedded to a Werewolf is a fun read with extraordinary characters and a romance so spicy it’ll fog up your Kindle screen!

About the Book

Welcome to Claw Haven, where monsters go to find some peace and quiet.

Spoiled heiress Luna Stack is meant to be sipping mai tais on a beach with her fun-loving fiancé. Instead, a snowstorm strands her in Claw Haven, Alaska, a cozy town full of monsters living the quiet life. At least the werewolf innkeeper’s hot—until he opens his mouth. 

Luna’s more than ready to leave the grumpy wolf and his decrepit inn behind as soon as the snow clears, but when a potion mishap bonds the two of them together, she resigns herself to staying in Claw Haven, just for a little while.

She’s only werewolf married, though, not married married, like, legally. No big deal.

Oliver Musgrove wants nothing to do with his new “wife.” He has annoying, friendly townsfolk to ignore, and he’s lost his ability to shift, which means his alpha ambitions are currently on hold.

Unfortunately, no matter how much Oliver wants to keep his distance from Luna, the bond says otherwise. Even though the two can’t stand each other, maybe they can stop bickering long enough to explore the magical spark between them…

After all, what’s a little knotting between enemies?

My Review

The story begins with Luna somewhere in Alaska trying to get to the airport. She was at a work convention representing her family business and is trying to catch her flight to the Bahamas to meet up with her fiancé. The trip is important to her because it gave her the opportunity to show her father she’s more than just a party girl. 

As the weather gets worse, Luna realizes she’s not going to make it to the airport and ends up in a small town named Claw Haven trying to find a room. She loses control of the car and runs over the inn’s sign and almost hits the building! 

Luna apologizes to the grumpy–yet super hunky–innkeeper and promises to pay for the sign. She gets a room, takes a shower, goes in search of a hair dryer and then BING BANG BOOM she’s accidentally mated to a werewolf! 

I know what you’re thinking: 

“But she has a fiancé?!?!?” 

“How can she be mated to a werewolf?!?!?!” 

“HOW did she get mated to a werewolf?!?!!?” 

“Consent much?!!?!?”

All your concerns are valid and will be answered as you read the story. That’s why I picked up the book. I have to know how this happened and what are they going to do about it? Hold on to your hats people, it’s about to get wild!

I absolutely adore wolf shifter romances/stories and I love that the author puts a unique twist on the werewolf legend, especially the mating parts. I love the big, boisterous pack Oliver has and I love how welcoming they are of Luna… well with a few exceptions. You can read about that later 😉 

I will say though, because Luna is engaged to another person and she seems to be in a new “relationship” with Oliver as his mate, some lines get crossed. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that it does get a little messy, but I can’t say more without spoiling things. I will say though that I am not a fan of cheater books. I hate them with a fiery passion and if there is cheating between an FMC and MMC, it’s an automatic DNF. That being said, how things turned out between Oliver and Luna, it wasn’t enough to make me DNF this book. So, if you have issues like this, please read at your own discretion. 

I absolutely loved the story and am completely in love with the town of Claw Haven. I am so excited to read more stories from this fun and enchanting series.

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.

Purchase Links*

Harlequin Romance

Ebook and Audiobook: on sale October 7, 2025

Trade Paperback: on sale March 24, 2026

About the Author

Isabelle Taylor writes sweet, steamy fantasy romance. She works in a bookstore in New Zealand and has a Creative Writing Masters from the International Institute of Modern Letters. She can be found on Instagram and Tiktok @isabelletaylorauthor.

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Review: The Inheritance by Ilona Andrews

Ilona Andrews turned a serial story on their blog into a series! I'm not sure what kind of magic they possess but I'm totally here for it!

We are at war. The interdimensional invasion brought us unimaginable suffering, but it also awoke talents slumbering deep within us, a means to repel and destroy our enemy.  Every day new gates open, leading to breaches filled with monsters and valuable resources. If you are a Talent, your country needs you. The world needs you. Be the hero you were born to be.

About the Book

Adaline is a Talent. Ten years ago, she had a happy marriage and a job she loved. The invasion shattered both. Now she works for the government, searching the breaches for magic metals and medicine to help Earth repel an interdimensional enemy. Two kids, one cat, bills, benefits, mortgage and school tuition…  Risking her life became routine.

She had gone into the dimensional gates hundreds of times. She was always well protected. This time everything goes wrong. Now Ada is trapped in a labyrinth of alien caves unlike any other. Her only companion is a scared German Shepherd named Bear. Together they must uncover the breach’s secrets and escape, because Ada promised her children that she will come home.

The future of humanity depends on it.

My Review

What started out as a serial story on Gordon and Ilona Andrews’s blog turned into a new and colorful world full of danger, mystery, and survival. 

Ada and Bear get trapped in an interdimensional cave when their mission goes tits up. Trying to find a way out takes them on a wild and dangerous journey through portal after portal, encountering all manner of deadly creatures, plants, and civilizations. What motivates Ada is a promise. A promise to her kids that she’d come home to them. And I’ll tell you one thing, there ain’t nothing stronger than the will of a parent trying to get home to their children.

The Inheritance is a brilliantly crafted universe with vibrant worlds, monstrous adversaries, and takes readers on a journey of strength, self discovery, and courage.

Like all Ilona Andrews books, I highly recommend this and every book from the author.

Purchase Links*

Ilona Andrews Website

About the Author

“Ilona Andrews” is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.) 

We write together, we live in Texas, we have two daughters and way too many animals. Learn more at ilona-andrews.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.