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This Is Not Love at First Sight: A Cozy Fantasy Romance
When two rival chefs with a royal feast to prepare get snowed in, it’s not just the oven that’s heating up . . .Hating Liam Wolvern is in Elowyn’s blood. Their families have been rivals for centuries, each generation vying for the job of castle chef. It doesn’t help that Liam won the coveted role and now cooks for the high prince while Elowyn is stuck working at her family’s failing tavern.
Elowyn’s ready to prove herself when she’s invited to prepare the upcoming Winter Solstice feast at the castle. Yes it means working with Liam, but it’s also her chance to shine.
Unfortunately, Elowyn’s plans are thrown out the window when a storm hits and she’s snowed in with Liam. Now they not only have to make this feast, but they have to do it in a mischievous sentient kitchen with plans of its own.
Worse, once they stop fighting long enough to cook, Elowyn realizes they might be a great team, that maybe she got Liam all wrong. But as tension builds and things start to heat up, she has to wonder . . . what happens when the snow melts?
This Is Not Love at First Sight is a standalone spicy, cozy romantasy with forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, and a magical kitchen with an attitude problem.
Elowyn’s ready to prove herself when she’s invited to prepare the upcoming Winter Solstice feast at the castle. Yes it means working with Liam, but it’s also her chance to shine.
Unfortunately, Elowyn’s plans are thrown out the window when a storm hits and she’s snowed in with Liam. Now they not only have to make this feast, but they have to do it in a mischievous sentient kitchen with plans of its own.
Worse, once they stop fighting long enough to cook, Elowyn realizes they might be a great team, that maybe she got Liam all wrong. But as tension builds and things start to heat up, she has to wonder . . . what happens when the snow melts?
This Is Not Love at First Sight is a standalone spicy, cozy romantasy with forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, and a magical kitchen with an attitude problem.
124 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2025
24 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 17, 2026
Light and fluffy fantasy romance with humor and some heart centered around two main characters who are trapped by their families’ expectations for them and the rivalry that’s been boiling between them for generations. The baking moments were sweet and the sentient castle with its magic working in its own way were nice touches.
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and both seemed to be experienced (relationship history is kind of shared during a dream the h has and not discussed during waking hours).
Some tropes/themes:
☆ Both are cooks
☆ Known each other since they were children
☆ Families hate each other and are rivals
☆ FMC is creative and wants to try new things
☆ MMC gets overwhelmed by decisions and prefers order
☆ Family pressures and challenges
☆ Forced proximity when they have to work together for a feast
☆ And get snowed in
☆ Learning to be vulnerable and lower their masks
☆ Complimentary skills
☆ Kitchen sex
☆ Element of hiding their relationship
☆ Magic castle
☆ Hidden magical town
☆ World building is light
The h works in her family’s tavern, stifled from trying new recipes by her family who only want to preserve their ancestors’ recipes. The H is the royal chef, a hotly contested position that’s been passed between the two families for generations. But he’s unhappy in his role just as the h is in hers. They know each other from the small town they live in, but have only ever noticed the worst in each other because of their families and own personal judgments.
Then comes the plot device to bring them together - the prince invites the h to cook with the H for the winter feast. At first they’re at odds with each other and continuing to see the worst. A snow-in, the fire dying, and some opening up leads to an actual sense of teamwork and admiration coming forth. Attraction’s bubbling too because the H’s noticing her laugh and she’s noticing his forearms lol. Their families are psycho about this rivalry though, yelling at them through a dumbwaiter and right there as soon as there’s a way through the snow.
I appreciated that the two of them didn’t develop a physical relationship before they began to emotionally see each other. There are a couple of spicy scenes and they’re good though. The best scenes are the intimate ones of them sharing the pressures they’re under and the fears each has. The question hovering over them both is how they could possibly make a relationship work when their families literally threaten each other with physical violence. As adults, I did wish that they had been able to stand up more for their dreams without needing the support that came from the other. However, the grievances between these families is huge and ingrained in them as children, as was needing to be the royal chef. It made sense, even as I wanted them to worry less about their families and just speak up for themselves.
The author’s choice of how the main couple revealed their relationship and how they resolved the rivalry issue was well done. It’s simple and lovely, plus it fit both the characters well and forced their families to calm the hell down, especially after they have a freak-out moment that draws the censure of the whole town earlier. The last chapter is 10 months later with them working together, in love, and with a proposal. It’s very HEA feeling and nice closure with a hint of the next book in the series.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and while I like the premises, I never feel like they’re compelling. Both have been cozy, and nailed that, so maybe I’ve read them at off times when I wasn’t in the right mood for cozy or something else. I liked this book but I won’t reread it either.
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and both seemed to be experienced (relationship history is kind of shared during a dream the h has and not discussed during waking hours).
Some tropes/themes:
☆ Both are cooks
☆ Known each other since they were children
☆ Families hate each other and are rivals
☆ FMC is creative and wants to try new things
☆ MMC gets overwhelmed by decisions and prefers order
☆ Family pressures and challenges
☆ Forced proximity when they have to work together for a feast
☆ And get snowed in
☆ Learning to be vulnerable and lower their masks
☆ Complimentary skills
☆ Kitchen sex
☆ Element of hiding their relationship
☆ Magic castle
☆ Hidden magical town
☆ World building is light
The h works in her family’s tavern, stifled from trying new recipes by her family who only want to preserve their ancestors’ recipes. The H is the royal chef, a hotly contested position that’s been passed between the two families for generations. But he’s unhappy in his role just as the h is in hers. They know each other from the small town they live in, but have only ever noticed the worst in each other because of their families and own personal judgments.
Then comes the plot device to bring them together - the prince invites the h to cook with the H for the winter feast. At first they’re at odds with each other and continuing to see the worst. A snow-in, the fire dying, and some opening up leads to an actual sense of teamwork and admiration coming forth. Attraction’s bubbling too because the H’s noticing her laugh and she’s noticing his forearms lol. Their families are psycho about this rivalry though, yelling at them through a dumbwaiter and right there as soon as there’s a way through the snow.
I appreciated that the two of them didn’t develop a physical relationship before they began to emotionally see each other. There are a couple of spicy scenes and they’re good though. The best scenes are the intimate ones of them sharing the pressures they’re under and the fears each has. The question hovering over them both is how they could possibly make a relationship work when their families literally threaten each other with physical violence. As adults, I did wish that they had been able to stand up more for their dreams without needing the support that came from the other. However, the grievances between these families is huge and ingrained in them as children, as was needing to be the royal chef. It made sense, even as I wanted them to worry less about their families and just speak up for themselves.
The author’s choice of how the main couple revealed their relationship and how they resolved the rivalry issue was well done. It’s simple and lovely, plus it fit both the characters well and forced their families to calm the hell down, especially after they have a freak-out moment that draws the censure of the whole town earlier. The last chapter is 10 months later with them working together, in love, and with a proposal. It’s very HEA feeling and nice closure with a hint of the next book in the series.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and while I like the premises, I never feel like they’re compelling. Both have been cozy, and nailed that, so maybe I’ve read them at off times when I wasn’t in the right mood for cozy or something else. I liked this book but I won’t reread it either.
December 27, 2025
Title: This is Not Love At First Sight
Author: Tee Harlowe
Synopsis: When two rival chefs with a royal feast to prepare get snowed in, it’s not just the oven that’s heating up . . .Hating Liam Wolvern is in Elowyn’s blood. Their families have been rivals for centuries, each generation vying for the job of castle chef. It doesn’t help that Liam won the coveted role and now cooks for the high prince while Elowyn is stuck working at her family’s failing tavern.
Elowyn’s ready to prove herself when she’s invited to prepare the upcoming Winter Solstice feast at the castle. Yes it means working with Liam, but it’s also her chance to shine.
Unfortunately, Elowyn’s plans are thrown out the window when a storm hits and she’s snowed in with Liam. Now they not only have to make this feast, but they have to do it in a mischievous sentient kitchen with plans of its own.
Worse, once they stop fighting long enough to cook, Elowyn realizes they might be a great team, that maybe she got Liam all wrong. But as tension builds and things start to heat up, she has to wonder . . . what happens when the snow melts?
Review: What a fun cozy novella! The chemistry between Elowyn and Liam was so good! It was believable and the rivalry between their families was completely understandable! It was so perfect for this holiday season! If you want a great rivals to lovers romance and a sentient castle thrown into the story this is the perfect read!
Author: Tee Harlowe
Synopsis: When two rival chefs with a royal feast to prepare get snowed in, it’s not just the oven that’s heating up . . .Hating Liam Wolvern is in Elowyn’s blood. Their families have been rivals for centuries, each generation vying for the job of castle chef. It doesn’t help that Liam won the coveted role and now cooks for the high prince while Elowyn is stuck working at her family’s failing tavern.
Elowyn’s ready to prove herself when she’s invited to prepare the upcoming Winter Solstice feast at the castle. Yes it means working with Liam, but it’s also her chance to shine.
Unfortunately, Elowyn’s plans are thrown out the window when a storm hits and she’s snowed in with Liam. Now they not only have to make this feast, but they have to do it in a mischievous sentient kitchen with plans of its own.
Worse, once they stop fighting long enough to cook, Elowyn realizes they might be a great team, that maybe she got Liam all wrong. But as tension builds and things start to heat up, she has to wonder . . . what happens when the snow melts?
Review: What a fun cozy novella! The chemistry between Elowyn and Liam was so good! It was believable and the rivalry between their families was completely understandable! It was so perfect for this holiday season! If you want a great rivals to lovers romance and a sentient castle thrown into the story this is the perfect read!
December 10, 2025
This is a cosy festive rivals to lovers romantasy, with a sentient castle, forced proximity, and lots of family drama.
Elowyn and Liam are forced to cook together for the winter feast at the castle, but their opposite personalities and rivalry tension makes things difficult. When they are snowed in together, their feelings shift and they decide to work as a team.
It's a sweet and cosy romantasy, and I enjoyed the interfering gargoyles and family bickering.
Elowyn and Liam are forced to cook together for the winter feast at the castle, but their opposite personalities and rivalry tension makes things difficult. When they are snowed in together, their feelings shift and they decide to work as a team.
It's a sweet and cosy romantasy, and I enjoyed the interfering gargoyles and family bickering.
January 11, 2026
Two rival chefs have to learn to work together in this enemies to lovers romantasy prequel.
Elowyn Carragh and Liam Wolvern have been raised to be enemies since their births. Ever since one of their ancestors stole the other's family's recipe (no one knows who the real culprit is anymore), the Carragh/Wolvern rivalry has been going strong. Now, Elowyn and Liam are competing to be the royal chef. Well, technically Liam already has the job, but the high prince of the realm recruited Elowyn as backup for the holiday banquet. Forced to cook together, Elowyn and Liam reluctantly get to work. Suddenly, the two of them find themselves snowed in the royal kitchen together. As the two are forced to spend time together, they begin to realize that they are actually quite compatible and they've only disliked one another due to their family history. Can Elowyn and Liam overcome their heritage, or will their happily ever after fall apart before it's even given a chance to blossom?
I figured I should try to stay caught up on Tee Harlowe's new releases so that I can continue to partake in her street team for her next release "This Damsel is Not in Distress." This book is the prequel to the "Brothers of Fairwitch Isle" series, so I'm glad to have gotten this one checked off my list of books I need to read.
The concept of this one is something I've seen done quite a few times now: two children of rival families spend some quality time together and realize that they could actually be friends without the constant supervision of their families. I honestly am getting a bit sick of this premise, but I tried to look past it for the sake that I love Harlowe's work.
I personally like how Harlowe forced Elowyn and Liam to spend time with one another by getting them snowed in together; I find this trope to be so fun and it always invokes such a cozy wintery vibe for me.
One thing I really enjoyed about Eloywn and Liam's relationship is that they feel the same type of pressures from their family. The Wolvern's expect Liam to be the royal chef, just like his ancestor was. The Carragh's demand that Elowyn bury her creativity in the kitchen and prepare the recipes that have been passed down by their ancestor's. Both children feel trapped in their current situations and yearn to escape their family's toxic grasp on them.
I must say, the steamy bits in this one didn't work all that much for me. I feel that Elowyn and Liam's attraction for one another came on a tad too fast for my liking and that they were quick to reject their family values just because they were stuck together. Also, people having sex in kitchens has always been an ick of mine, so that certainly didn't help.
I think my favorite part about this book is its sentient castle. Castle has such a vivid personality, and I'm really excited to see more from it in the future installments in this series. The two gargoyles are also an absolute hoot, and I need more of their incessant arguing. The way that book one was teased in the epilogue was also fun, so I'm looking forward to exploring more of this series as time progresses!
Overall, "This is Not Love at First Sight" wasn't my favorite romantasy ever, but it was a quick and fun novella that acts as a great introduction to the "Brothers of Fairwitch Isle" series. Some of my favorite parts of this book was the sentient castle, the snowed in situation, and the bickering gargoyles. I look forward to reading more of Harlowe's work in the near future!
Elowyn Carragh and Liam Wolvern have been raised to be enemies since their births. Ever since one of their ancestors stole the other's family's recipe (no one knows who the real culprit is anymore), the Carragh/Wolvern rivalry has been going strong. Now, Elowyn and Liam are competing to be the royal chef. Well, technically Liam already has the job, but the high prince of the realm recruited Elowyn as backup for the holiday banquet. Forced to cook together, Elowyn and Liam reluctantly get to work. Suddenly, the two of them find themselves snowed in the royal kitchen together. As the two are forced to spend time together, they begin to realize that they are actually quite compatible and they've only disliked one another due to their family history. Can Elowyn and Liam overcome their heritage, or will their happily ever after fall apart before it's even given a chance to blossom?
I figured I should try to stay caught up on Tee Harlowe's new releases so that I can continue to partake in her street team for her next release "This Damsel is Not in Distress." This book is the prequel to the "Brothers of Fairwitch Isle" series, so I'm glad to have gotten this one checked off my list of books I need to read.
The concept of this one is something I've seen done quite a few times now: two children of rival families spend some quality time together and realize that they could actually be friends without the constant supervision of their families. I honestly am getting a bit sick of this premise, but I tried to look past it for the sake that I love Harlowe's work.
I personally like how Harlowe forced Elowyn and Liam to spend time with one another by getting them snowed in together; I find this trope to be so fun and it always invokes such a cozy wintery vibe for me.
One thing I really enjoyed about Eloywn and Liam's relationship is that they feel the same type of pressures from their family. The Wolvern's expect Liam to be the royal chef, just like his ancestor was. The Carragh's demand that Elowyn bury her creativity in the kitchen and prepare the recipes that have been passed down by their ancestor's. Both children feel trapped in their current situations and yearn to escape their family's toxic grasp on them.
I must say, the steamy bits in this one didn't work all that much for me. I feel that Elowyn and Liam's attraction for one another came on a tad too fast for my liking and that they were quick to reject their family values just because they were stuck together. Also, people having sex in kitchens has always been an ick of mine, so that certainly didn't help.
I think my favorite part about this book is its sentient castle. Castle has such a vivid personality, and I'm really excited to see more from it in the future installments in this series. The two gargoyles are also an absolute hoot, and I need more of their incessant arguing. The way that book one was teased in the epilogue was also fun, so I'm looking forward to exploring more of this series as time progresses!
Overall, "This is Not Love at First Sight" wasn't my favorite romantasy ever, but it was a quick and fun novella that acts as a great introduction to the "Brothers of Fairwitch Isle" series. Some of my favorite parts of this book was the sentient castle, the snowed in situation, and the bickering gargoyles. I look forward to reading more of Harlowe's work in the near future!
December 22, 2025
My Thoughts: 👉 I absolutely adored this novella! (Already pre-ordered the next book in the series!)
Two rival chefs from two feuding families wind up having to work together in a shared space. Not only that, but they get trapped together due to a blizzard. Once old misunderstandings and hurt feelings are laid bare, some steamy tension heats up the kitchen in this sentient castle, but can their feelings for each other come to fruition when their families hate each other so very much?
This novella was jam packed with humor, spice, a chef off? (Cook/bake off?), a sentient castle, humorous gargoyles, a feud, snow, and realizing that sometimes you just gotta stand up for yourself in order to be truly happy!
There were a couple typos, but they didn’t really detract from the story. I adored everything about this novella and am eager to return to this world in the next book!! 10/10 recommend reading this!!
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3.5/5
Tropes 👇
- Sentient castle 🏰
- Funny gargoyles
- Rivals to Lovers
- Rival families
- Chef off 👩🍳🧑🍳
- Snowed in ❄️
- Holiday Feast
- Family expectations
- Growing a backbone
- Dual POV
- First person POV
Quotes (“”) 👇
My Thought: Good example of parental expectations getting in the way of allowing your child to be themselves, whoever that may be. 👇
“I don’t even care anymore that my father doesn’t see the real me—I’m thirty years old, and I abandoned the hope long ago that he’d ever accept me for who I am.”
“What was he doing out there with me? Defiling me with his mouth in the absolute best way. Filling me with a need so fierce it terrified me. Kissing me like no man had ever kissed me before, like I suspected no man would ever kiss me again.”
“Ava running away was a wake-up call, one that reminded me we have a single life to live, and I’m done living my life for someone else. I’m done living to please my father and fulfill his dreams while letting mine slip away. I want to cook, but I also want to have a life.”
“Every time she laughed, it lit up the space she was in.”
My Thought: I feel this in every fiber of my being 👇
“Our families hate each other.” - “Who gives a f*ck?” Wolfe asked. “Life is precious — You never know when it’s going to be your last chance to see someone, to touch them, to tell them you love them.”
“Don’t waste the time you have being unhappy.” 🙌
Two rival chefs from two feuding families wind up having to work together in a shared space. Not only that, but they get trapped together due to a blizzard. Once old misunderstandings and hurt feelings are laid bare, some steamy tension heats up the kitchen in this sentient castle, but can their feelings for each other come to fruition when their families hate each other so very much?
This novella was jam packed with humor, spice, a chef off? (Cook/bake off?), a sentient castle, humorous gargoyles, a feud, snow, and realizing that sometimes you just gotta stand up for yourself in order to be truly happy!
There were a couple typos, but they didn’t really detract from the story. I adored everything about this novella and am eager to return to this world in the next book!! 10/10 recommend reading this!!
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3.5/5
Tropes 👇
- Sentient castle 🏰
- Funny gargoyles
- Rivals to Lovers
- Rival families
- Chef off 👩🍳🧑🍳
- Snowed in ❄️
- Holiday Feast
- Family expectations
- Growing a backbone
- Dual POV
- First person POV
Quotes (“”) 👇
My Thought: Good example of parental expectations getting in the way of allowing your child to be themselves, whoever that may be. 👇
“I don’t even care anymore that my father doesn’t see the real me—I’m thirty years old, and I abandoned the hope long ago that he’d ever accept me for who I am.”
“What was he doing out there with me? Defiling me with his mouth in the absolute best way. Filling me with a need so fierce it terrified me. Kissing me like no man had ever kissed me before, like I suspected no man would ever kiss me again.”
“Ava running away was a wake-up call, one that reminded me we have a single life to live, and I’m done living my life for someone else. I’m done living to please my father and fulfill his dreams while letting mine slip away. I want to cook, but I also want to have a life.”
“Every time she laughed, it lit up the space she was in.”
My Thought: I feel this in every fiber of my being 👇
“Our families hate each other.” - “Who gives a f*ck?” Wolfe asked. “Life is precious — You never know when it’s going to be your last chance to see someone, to touch them, to tell them you love them.”
“Don’t waste the time you have being unhappy.” 🙌
January 27, 2026
Oh boy, where do I start?
Logic:
The sun is glaring through the windows, just for the sky to be cloudy and grey one sentence later.
They’re snowed in, they have no servers to help them prepare the feast, but one page later her 80yo grandma and his elderly father walk through the, apparently getting from the town to the castle without problems.
Later in the novella they have rooms in the castle. Why to the relatives of the freaking cooks have living quarters in the castle? Especially the one who’s only a temporary replacement? And why do the cooks don’t get a room and have to sleep in front of the hearth?! The only door out of the kitchen LEADS OUTSIDE? I buy that the road into town is blocked, but they can’t even go around the castle?
Setting/Aesthetic:
The setting seems to be a medieval fantasy (hearth, tavern, icebox, castle, magic kitchen items, no running water, no heating), but the language, manners and some of the items used are way too modern (veggies, Parmesan, „I’ll go for a run“ - which peasant goes for a run after a hard day of work?!),
Names: Some people have very mythical names (Elowyn, Eamon etc…) and then there’s the MMC Liam…
I really cracked when the talked about past relationships… her ex boyfriend is named Conan… like Conan the Barbarian. And his ex is named Fiona… like from the movie Shrek. Weren’t any less popular names available?
Same plot devices over and over:
It’s getting boring that the reason the have to depart or are not getting closer is the same over and over and over again… her grandma and her father are showing up and are interrupting them… was this the attempt of a running gag? Also why are those to always together if they hate each other so much???? The deeply rooted conflict between their families is one of the main motives of the story.
PROFESSIONALISM:
Is Liam actually a professional cook? he needs WEEKS to decide if he would want to put seeds in a bread recipe? Really? Professional cooks alter recipes so often, sometimes daily. That’s so unrealistic. I get it that he is not so spontaneous, but that’s over the top.
Last but not least: All I could think of when they made out in the kitchen was how unsanitary that is. You’re not cooking for yourselves but for others as well!!!
Logic:
The sun is glaring through the windows, just for the sky to be cloudy and grey one sentence later.
They’re snowed in, they have no servers to help them prepare the feast, but one page later her 80yo grandma and his elderly father walk through the, apparently getting from the town to the castle without problems.
Later in the novella they have rooms in the castle. Why to the relatives of the freaking cooks have living quarters in the castle? Especially the one who’s only a temporary replacement? And why do the cooks don’t get a room and have to sleep in front of the hearth?! The only door out of the kitchen LEADS OUTSIDE? I buy that the road into town is blocked, but they can’t even go around the castle?
Setting/Aesthetic:
The setting seems to be a medieval fantasy (hearth, tavern, icebox, castle, magic kitchen items, no running water, no heating), but the language, manners and some of the items used are way too modern (veggies, Parmesan, „I’ll go for a run“ - which peasant goes for a run after a hard day of work?!),
Names: Some people have very mythical names (Elowyn, Eamon etc…) and then there’s the MMC Liam…
I really cracked when the talked about past relationships… her ex boyfriend is named Conan… like Conan the Barbarian. And his ex is named Fiona… like from the movie Shrek. Weren’t any less popular names available?
Same plot devices over and over:
It’s getting boring that the reason the have to depart or are not getting closer is the same over and over and over again… her grandma and her father are showing up and are interrupting them… was this the attempt of a running gag? Also why are those to always together if they hate each other so much???? The deeply rooted conflict between their families is one of the main motives of the story.
PROFESSIONALISM:
Is Liam actually a professional cook? he needs WEEKS to decide if he would want to put seeds in a bread recipe? Really? Professional cooks alter recipes so often, sometimes daily. That’s so unrealistic. I get it that he is not so spontaneous, but that’s over the top.
Last but not least: All I could think of when they made out in the kitchen was how unsanitary that is. You’re not cooking for yourselves but for others as well!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2025
Niamh found a tower where she could live and it took care of everything for her, cooking a library full of books. Whatever she needed it did for her. She had left a bad relationship and found this tower to hide away from ever being hurt again.
This book was such a great read that it was over before I knew it. The descriptions of the tower were so well drawn out that I was there in the castle seeing everything that happened. I felt like a fly on the wall through the entire book.
I would highly recommend this book
This book was such a great read that it was over before I knew it. The descriptions of the tower were so well drawn out that I was there in the castle seeing everything that happened. I felt like a fly on the wall through the entire book.
I would highly recommend this book
December 26, 2025
4⭐ | 3🌶️
A long-standing family rivalry, a sentient castle,
food at the center of everything, and two bickering gargoyles, all wrapped in a cozy atmosphere. A combination I did not know I needed.
We follow Liam and Elowyn on a culinary journey as they prepare a royal banquet that, unsurprisingly, does not go according to plan.
It’s a short book, and the writing flows well. It blends romance, spice, and healing effortlessly, while laying the foundation for a shared universe with more standalone stories to come.
A long-standing family rivalry, a sentient castle,
food at the center of everything, and two bickering gargoyles, all wrapped in a cozy atmosphere. A combination I did not know I needed.
We follow Liam and Elowyn on a culinary journey as they prepare a royal banquet that, unsurprisingly, does not go according to plan.
It’s a short book, and the writing flows well. It blends romance, spice, and healing effortlessly, while laying the foundation for a shared universe with more standalone stories to come.
December 31, 2025
This was a perfect final full read for the 2025.
This was a lovely short read, it was more novella length at just under 130 pages. It had the perfect blend of romance, charm, spice, had a little magic, and just overall left me with warm happy vibes. I will be reading the sequel when it comes out. Not a huge suprise as I have really enjoyed all books by this author so far.
This was a lovely short read, it was more novella length at just under 130 pages. It had the perfect blend of romance, charm, spice, had a little magic, and just overall left me with warm happy vibes. I will be reading the sequel when it comes out. Not a huge suprise as I have really enjoyed all books by this author so far.
January 11, 2026
A good novella
This is a good wintery story. The details of the world were light, but I enjoyed the sentient kitchen. I liked the two main characters once they stopped fighting. I did not like their families at all. Still, this was a a fun story and had some decent light spice. I enjoyed this one.
This is a good wintery story. The details of the world were light, but I enjoyed the sentient kitchen. I liked the two main characters once they stopped fighting. I did not like their families at all. Still, this was a a fun story and had some decent light spice. I enjoyed this one.
December 27, 2025
This was a cute and cozy holiday novella. I loved watching the long-held rivalry between their characters melt as they started to warm up to each other. The ending was absolutely adorable, and all the little hints have me excited for the next book in the series.
December 21, 2025
Such a cute, wonderful read. I loved the characters, the world, the writing style. I can already tell Tee Harlow is going to be a favorite author.
December 26, 2025
I love a cute, quick read. These two were adorable, bringing childhood rivalry, meddling family and a sentient castle into play. I appreciated the hint what the next book was going to be!
January 14, 2026
Tee Harlowe is definitely good at wholesome, cozy and spicy stories. The chemistry between Elowyn and Liam is really good and I'm sad the book was only 120-ish pages.
February 2, 2026
Cozy, feelgood story! Really liked it!
February 3, 2026
Cosy enough but didn’t really draw me into the world and captivate me like some others in the genre. Might try the next one in the series.
January 19, 2026
I enjoyed reading this book.
It was a nice cosy read to read on a cold wet day.
I felt like it flowed really well and you can see who will be future characters in the series.
Can't wait to read the next one :)
It was a nice cosy read to read on a cold wet day.
I felt like it flowed really well and you can see who will be future characters in the series.
Can't wait to read the next one :)
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