Early Reader Review: A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez

Source: From the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez  

Series: Immortal Desires #1
Publisher: Slowburn
Publication Date:  January 13, 2026

 

Format: Paperback ARC


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Deadly tarot, wicked schemes, dangerous alliances . . . can you survive the Forge?

Sexy, action-packed, and brimming with magic, A Vow in Vengeance is an unputdownable romantasy debut.

Rune Ryker has nothing left to lose. Everything’s been stolen by the Immortals—her family, her home, her freedom. But she’s done playing by their rules.

Each year, humans are forced to journey into the Immortal Realms, but twenty-year-old Rune orchestrates her own selection, determined to find her family and destroy anyone who stands in her way. Rune is used to doing whatever it takes to survive, and now she must endure the Forge, a cutthroat college for the Immortal druids’ elusive tarot magic. When Rune’s magic reveals itself to be the rarest and most powerful, she must live with its only other wielder—Prince Draven. As arrogant as he is ruthlessly ambitious, he’s the last person she can trust.

Rune’s abilities also draw the eyes of the most dangerous druids in the realms. Some want to use her. More want her dead. Draven offers to train her . . . for a price. As Rune becomes ensnared in Draven’s dangerous games, she learns there are secrets at the heart of the kingdom that some will kill to protect.

And Rune and Draven’s growing attraction may be the spark to ignite a brewing war.

Tropes

Enemies to Lovers

Fake dating/ fake fated mates

Coming of rage

There’s only one bed

Review: 

This book... was... so... good. I read most of this book in 2 sittings and it was only because I had to force myself to put it down to go to bed. I learned about this book during a virtual author panel and have been thinking about it non-stop since August. I received a review copy and had to force myself not to read it immediately... because I knew that it was going to give me a book hangover and it wasn't out until now (January 2026)

I am so happy that it lived up to my expectations and I am thrilled to have read it. 

The book follows Rune, a mortal who is part of the Selection, a ceremony by the magical realms to claim mortals for their use. She is taken by the Druids and now has been transformed into an immortal being. Part of this race is their magic, a tarot card based system where you are attuned to a power/ Arcane Major and not surprisingly, Rune gets a very good one. She comes with a lot of hatred and rage for the immortals and now especially for the Prince that is always around her. 

This book packs a punch, it is action and adventure, and romance and swooning and the magic system is my new favorite thing for a book. 

Characters - 

Rune is determined, super stubborn, and consistently aggressive. She has had to pave her own way making her independent and high-strung. As she progresses through this story, she learns that she is able to find joy and love in things that she was scared to before. She seems like a force and I can only imagine the rage that will progress through this series. I am so excited for it. 

Draven, the princeling, is a World magic user and he is both feared and revered, but he is lonely and withdrawn until meeting Rune. Their banter and flirting is delicious and the lead up to their feelings is intense and so swoon-worthy. 

The side characters Ember, Wynter, Morgan, Kesper, etc were also SO well formed. Each had a distinct personality and something to add to the story. While there were a lot of them, I never found it hard to tell them apart or understand their motives. So very impressive. 

The magic system - this was the first sell. Magic based on the Tarot. Each Druid is attuned to one and each has a very interesting power. Immortals use the power for a variety of things that the book does a really good job of teaching Rune about the system, so as the reader you get that education as well. Between her classes and the practical uses of the magic in the plot, the build up here was wonderfully done. The other races - Seraphs and Elves also have magic but they operate differently. 

The world - this was such an interesting world-build. We start in the mortal realms and then head into the Druid lands of the immortal realms. I really appreciated having a map, but the author also did a fantastic job piecing it all together throughout the story. 

Overall, if you are looking to dive into a new romantasy series... this IS IT. 

Recent Reads: Good Spirits by B.K. Borison

Good Spirits by B.K. Borison  

Series: Ghosted #1
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date:  October 21, 2025

 

Format: Paperback
Source: Bought/own

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

He’s the Ghost of Christmas Past. She’s not exactly Scrooge.

Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan intends to spend this holiday haunting like every other—get in, get out, return to his otherwise aimless existence as a ghost awaiting the afterlife. But when he’s faced with Harriet York, the sweetest assignment he’s ever had, he suddenly finds himself wishing for a future.

Harriet York has no idea why she’s being haunted. She’s a good person—or, at least, she tries to be. A people pleaser to her core, she always does what’s expected of her. But as she and Nolan begin to examine her past, they discover there are threads that bind them together— and realize there might be more to moving on than expected.

With the deadline of Christmas Eve fast approaching, will they find the key to their futures in each other’s pasts? Or will they stay firmly in the present, indulging in their unexpected, spirited connection?

Filled with magic, mayhem, and cozy holiday charm

Review: 

This was such a feel-good, fun, and charming holiday romance. Harriet is struggling through the Christmas season when she’s unexpectedly visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past - Nolan. She’s not convinced she qualifies as a Scrooge, and Nolan himself is unsure why Harriet has been assigned to him, making this holiday mission a mystery for them both. As they work through Harriet’s loneliness and Nolan’s uncertainty, a genuine connection begins to form, and feelings slowly bloom between them.

The story is so cozy, with a holiday atmosphere that feels warm and comforting from start to finish. The reimagining of the Ghost of Christmas Past was especially well done, adding a fresh, magical twist to a familiar concept. It’s impossible not to fall for both Harriet and Nolan; their chemistry is delightful, the banter is spot-on, and the magical whimsy adds the perfect finishing touch.

The vibes were immaculate, the romance was charming, and this was the perfect festive read to curl up with during the holidays.

Recent Reads: Books & Broadswords by Jessie Mihalik

Books & Broadswords by Jessie Mihalik 

Series: Books & Broadswords, Volume One
Publisher: NYLA
Publication Date:  Jun e11, 2024

 

Format: Ebook
Source: Borrowed from the Library/ Libby

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

This novella-length volume includes two romantic fantasy stories set in a shared world, each with a guaranteed happily ever after, plus a new bonus epilogue.

Books & Broadswords

The only thing Feora likes more than stealing the king’s gold is using it to buy books. But when a handsome, persistent knight interrupts her day, Feora must decide if saving his life is worth revealing her true nature.

Rocks & Rapiers

Zenira never wanted to sell her rock collection, but when the new landowner raises her rent, she’s out of options. Armed with a sketchy rumor about a collector who will pay for stones others might consider worthless, Zenira sets out, but she’s met with an icy scowl, a muddy manor, and the overwhelming urge to mend the mess—owner included.

Review: 

Books and Broadswords was recommended to me by a friend. She said it was very quick and it certainly was at ~150 pages. The book has 2 short stories about dragons. 

Story one follows Feora, a dragon that hoards books. The king is after her for stealing gold and so she meets a knight that is on the hunt for the dragon. They get into a battle, and he is hurt and comes home with her. The story is a very cute love story. It was a low-stakes fantasy and was so cozy. 

Story two follows Zenira, a girl that must sell of her rock collection to make rent. She is told that there is a mysterious man that will by them. When she sees the state of his home, she returns and offers to clean it for him for pay. Both are magical and again it was a quick romance with cozy vibes. 

The epilogue brings both couples together and introduces more dragons, so I am hoping there will be more of these stories to come. 

I liked both of these stories. They had good build up and the romance was quant and cute. I also really appreciated that their hoards were not gold and gems but books and rocks.

Early Reader Review: Alice with a Why by Anna James

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Alice with a Why by Anna James 
Publisher:  Flamingo Books
Publication Date:  January 6, 2026

 

Format: Paperback ARC

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

England, 1919. Alyce – with a Y – lives with her grandmother, the original Alice, having lost her father during the Great War. When a mysterious invitation to a tea party hits her square in the face, Alyce realises her grandmother’s strange stories of a place called Wonderland might have some truth to them after all.

But the land Alyce finds herself in feels different from the Wonderland of her grandmother’s stories – for it is trapped in its own war. The Sun King and the Queen of the Moon are fighting over a stolen hour, and soon Alyce is tasked with setting it right. With the help of the Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and a Sailor Fox, Alyce will have to solve Wonderland’s problems and, eventually, find her way back home.

Enter an enchanting adventure through Wonderland. Starring new characters and old favourites, Alice With a Why is both a celebration of Lewis Carroll's beloved original story, and a modern masterpiece.

Review: 

Alice with a Why follows Alyce,  Alice’s granddaughter, who is staying with her for a bit after her father’s passing. While she is there, she receives an invitation to Wonderland.

This was a delightful reimagining of the wonderful world of Wonderland and its familiar characters. We are reunited with the Mad Hatter, the Door mouse, and March Hare as well as Cheshire cat. We are also introduced to some new characters as well, like Captain Fox, Queen Moon, and King Sun. The plot follows Alyce as she is brought to Wonderland to help the residents convince the King and Queen to stop fighting and end their war with each other. 

The story is still full of nonsense at times, which I loved, as it captures the Wonderland vibe. I thought that the characters were creative and fun but probably not as unique as the originals. 

The adventure was beautifully written and very much as charming as its original. That said, I think I wanted more whimsical though and a greater sense of danger… there is no feeling of urgency or peril to the adventure (which some might enjoy).  

Overall, it was a great story, charming and enjoyable that offers a fresh take on a classic.

Building the Book Pile #510

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Happy Sunday

Happy New Year everyone, I hope you had a great holiday season! I am mentally preparing to go back to work tomorrow and my motivation is severely lacking... but break was so nice. I got to spend time with family, we had more progress on house projects, I read a bunch, and sadly also had a few sick days in there. 

Overall, except for being sick, it was productive and lovely. I am happy we got some time to relax. Did you get some time off? How was it?

Linking up this week with the Caffeinated Reviewer and her Sunday Post series.

xo steph

Coming up on the Blog

Early Reader Review: Alice with a Why by Anna James (MG)

Recent Reads: Books and Broadswords by Jessie Mihalik (Adult)

Recent Reads: Good Spirits by BK Borison (Adult)

Books Received Recently...  

 

From Publishers for review consideration:

Behind Closed Doors by Shain Rose - won

Gifts

Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher 

Strange Pictures by Uketsu

He Knows When You're Awake by Alta Hensley

Murdle Volume 2

Have you missed anything lately?

Recent Reads: Fall I Want by Lyra Parish (Adult) -5 stars

Recent Reads: Love & Other Killers by Brynne Weaver (Adult, Novella) -4 stars

Recent Reads: Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood (Adult, Novella) -4 stars

Early Reader Review: An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole -4 stars

Early Reader Review: Bed Chemistry by Elizabeth McKenzie -4 stars

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What have you been reading?  How was your week? Feel free to leave a comment!

Happy Reading! 

Happy 2026!

🎉✨🎉Happy New Year Everyone.🎉✨ 🎉

As we step into a brand new year, I want to thank you for being here. Your presence, support, and conversations have brought so much light to this space. Whether this past year was a whirlwind, a turning point, or simply a mix of everything, I hope the year ahead brings you clarity, joy, and moments that feel genuinely yours.

Here’s to fresh starts, steady growth, and choosing what matters most. 

I’m grateful to be sharing another chapter with you, and I can’t wait to see what we create and discover together.

Wishing you a peaceful, hopeful, and beautifully bright New Year! 

XO - Steph

Early Reader Review: An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Publication Date:  December 30, 2025, TODAY

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

A modern-day dark academia fantasy with a twist, perfect for fans of Babel and A Deadly Education.

Warren University has stood amongst the ivy elite for centuries, built on the bones―and forbidden magic―of its most prized BIPOC students…hiding the rot of a secret society that will do anything to keep their own powers burning bright. No matter who they must sacrifice along the way.

Ellory Morgan is determined to prove that she belongs at Warren University, an ivy league school whose history is deeply linked to occult rumors and dark secrets. But as she settles into her Freshman year, something about the ornate buildings and shadowy paths feels strangely…familiar. And, with every passing day, that sense of déjà vu grows increasingly sinister.

Despite all logic, despite all reason, despite all the rules of reality, Ellory knows one thing to be true: she has been here before. And if she can't convince brooding legacy student Hudson Graves to help her remember a past that seems determined to slip through her fingers as if by some insidious magic…this time, she may lose herself for good.

Review: 

An Arcane Inheritance is a great addition to the dark academia genre. I really enjoyed both Babel and A Deadly Education, and so I was very pulled in when the synopsis compared it to those books. It feels very Deadly Education around the school atmosphere, full of dark secrets, secret societies, and magic and it feels very Babel because of the social commentary around issues of privilege, power, and sacrifice as they pertain to marginalized students.

The story follows Ellory Morgan, our BIPOC female main character as she navigates being in college and the pressures of it all. Her class nemesis Hudson Graves is also a POC, but he has it all. The privilege and power that many in Ivy league schools come with that Ellory has not. She is determined to ‘beat him’ in her journey to succeed at school.

 

Ellory was a good FMC, she is determined and pushes forward toward her goals, even to her detriment. The plot overall was less about character growth and more about her solving the mystery of her school and magic there, so I felt like something was a bit missing from her development in this way.

The setting, Warren University, was its own character in this book and plot. The author is able to craft an immersive environment for readers and throughout Ellory’s investigation becomes more. There is great detail and with both the sense of grandeur but also its creepiness it contributes to the heavy mood and foreboding that Ellory is experiencing. That said, sometimes the pacing is impacted by the atmosphere and Ellory’s thoughts about her environment. While the pacing does lag at times, the plot had some fun twists and turns, and the social commentary added a lot of depth. 

Overall, the book does hold up to its comparisons, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. All that said, I felt the ending was too quickly paced and flew by and that it felt like a bit of a cop-out for what was happening (but no spoilers). Its strengths and representation outweigh this though and if you are a dark academia fan, I recommend this one. 

Early Reader Review: Bed Chemistry by Elizabeth McKenzie

Source: From the publisher for review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Bed Chemistry by Elizabeth McKenzie

Publisher: Alcove Press
Publication Date:  December 9, 2025 

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

With a fun and steamy twist on the only-one-bed trope, this debut contemporary romance will delight fans of THE PARADISE PROBLEM and THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS

Chemistry teacher Ashleigh Hutchinson knows better than anyone that love and lust don’t mix. The feelings come from different hormones, they trigger different responses, and they demand different reactions. Which is why she doesn’t date. She hooks up. No catching feelings required.

When Ashleigh is fired from her job without notice, she signs up to participate in a month-long sleep study, which will pay her enough to cover rent while she job hunts. It seems easy enough—until she walks into the clinic and finds herself staring right into the gorgeous eyes of Xander Miller, the only man to have ever tempted her to abandon her no-relationships rule.

When Xander and Ashleigh realize the study is only looking for couples, they agree to pretend to be together—which means sleeping in the same bed every night for the next few weeks. How hard can it be to keep their cool under the covers?

You can expect...

- Fake dating (for science)

- Only one bed (every night)

- No feelings (allegedly)

- Second chance romance

- Golden retriever MMC

- Hot mess FMC

- Banter as a love language

- Undeniable chemistry!

Review: 

Ash is a teacher who, because of her one-night stand policy, has now lost her job. Looking for a way to make rent she comes across a sleep stuff that could be her meal ticket, the only problem is, they are only taking couples now. In a hilarious turn of events, there is a guy she has had one-night with, and he is also determined to do the study. They team up in a fake dating scheme to ensure they can both participate.

This was a quickly paced, hilarious romance. Ash was such a mess, she will not allow herself to have feelings or get attached to anyone, so she only allows for one-night stands. She is hung up on issues her mother has projected onto her after her own marriage failed. 

Xander gives golden retriever, he has feelings for Ash and has had them since they met and became friends. He also suffers from insomnia and so he is determined to get through the sleep study in hopes of helping him sleep. 

They are hilarious together and the banter is often playful and funny. Their relationship grows through the book as Ash starts to realize she might have doomed herself to feelings. I enjoyed the quick pace of the book overall. The dialogue was so funny and while there was character growth, I appreciated the realness of some of the hang ups both of them experiences in learning more about each other. 

Beyond the fun, playful banter, the story has themes of vulnerability that the characters must face. The sleep study allows Ash to open up a bit more than normal and for Xander he must learn about learning on others for help. They both have to be honest with each other in ways that certainly are not normal for Ash and Xander is coming to terms with still being hung up on her. 

Overall, this was a fun romance with a few fun spicy moments. If you like a fake dating trope and that he falls first (and acknowledges it) energy, this will be a good read for you. 

Merry Christmas 2025

Merry Christmas, my friends! 🎄✨

Wishing you a day filled with joy, love, and all the little moments that make this season so special. Whether you’re spending today surrounded by family, cozied up with a good book, or simply enjoying some quiet time, I hope your holiday is everything you need it to be.

Thank you for being part of this amazing community. Your kindness and support are truly the greatest gifts, and I’m so grateful for each and every one of you.

Stay merry, stay bright, and have the most wonderful Christmas!

 

Recent Reads: Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood

Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood 

Series: Part of the Scared Sexy collection
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Publication Date:   September 23, 2025

 

Format: Ebook
Source: Kindle Unlimited (at time of posting)

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

When a vampire slayer loses all his memories, the only person who can help him is the vampire he’s tried to kill for centuries in this unforgettable short story by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood.

When Aethelthryth—“Ethel” to her modern-day Manhattan neighbors—finds her sworn nemesis Lazlo Enyedi with no memory of who or what they are, an ancient hunt becomes an unexpected chance at forbidden passion. He’s crashing on her couch, solving her sudoku puzzles, and looking at her like she’s his eternal flame (minus the whole bursting-into-ashes part). As his memories slowly return, Ethel realizes she might be in danger of losing more than just her head…

Ali Hazelwood’s Hot for Slayer is part of Scared Sexy, a deliciously dark collection of Halloween romance where things that go bump in the night might just steal your heart. These seductive stand-alone stories blend chills and heat in the perfect Halloween treat—each designed to be devoured in one sitting.

Review: 

Forever trying to keep up with Ali Hazelwood and read all of her books/stories. She has SO MUCH though. 

This was a novella of 94 pages, that follows a vampire and a vampire hunter. Ethel, the vampire has been running from Lazlo, the hunter, for centuries. However in a strange turn of events, they are forced together when he loses his memory and she feels obligated to take care of him. 

The story is told from Ethel's point of view and is a quick enemies to lovers romance. Ethel is oblivious and Lazlo has fallen first, it was so adorable and sometimes sad at times as they figure each other out. The forbidden longing that they are both going through it so swoon. 

I really enjoyed this from Ali Hazelwood - would love a longer version.