eloquentmuse's reviews
1003 reviews

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Winterfrost Market by Jenny Sandiford is a clean Christmas fantasy romance set in a richly imagined world populated by humans, fae, vampires, werewolves, witches, and more. The story centers on Elsie, the human FMC, and Kit, the fae MMC.

Elsie and her family run a tea shop in Winterfrost Market, a human town, but they’re used to moving from place to place due to her mother’s restless tendencies. This time, however, her mother has left on a mysterious trip to the dangerous Midwinter Haven to obtain a secret tea ingredient and hasn’t returned. Worried, Elsie’s family is desperate for answers.

Enter Kit, a handsome and enigmatic stranger with a magical white dog named Pepper. Rumored to be headed toward Midwinter Haven, Kit becomes Elsie’s hope for finding her mother. But instead of agreeing to search alone, Kit challenges Elsie to accompany him—a challenge she unexpectedly accepts.

The story that follows is an adventurous journey filled with growing trust, cultural misunderstandings, and a romance that develops naturally as Elsie and Kit confront their prejudices about each other’s species.

 • The central message of breaking stereotypes and learning about other cultures before passing judgment was beautifully woven into the story.

 • The romance between Elsie and Kit felt natural and well-paced.

 • Pepper, the magical dog, was a delightful addition.

 • The hints about Kit’s brother’s intentions were intriguing, and I suspect he’ll play a key role in a future installment.

 • Elsie’s naïveté, while understandable due to her youth, was sometimes frustrating.

 • Her self-absorption made her a difficult character to root for at times, though I can see how these traits were integral to her character arc.

Overall, Winterfrost Market was a fun and festive read, even if Elsie’s personality occasionally grated on me. Fans of clean fantasy romance with a holiday twist will likely enjoy it!

Spice Scale: Pimiento (100-500 Scoville)

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I finished this book because it was fast-paced and a quick read, but it left me feeling conflicted. Hunted in Holly is a dark romantic fantasy with a Christmas vibe, set in a world where supernatural beings like saints and gods exist. Caroline, the new queen of the South Pole, is out for revenge after her family is annihilated. She suspects Saint Nicolas, the King of the North Pole, and sets out to kill him.

What follows is a deadly game of hide and seek in the Arctic, where Caroline must use her powers, survival skills, and knowledge of the icy terrain to escape Nicolas. If he catches her, she’s forced to marry him—and endure some very spicy consequences.

While the concept had potential, I struggled with the execution. Nicolas’s character felt more power-hungry and violent than passionate, and I found some of his actions, particularly involving Caroline while she was unconscious, deeply unsettling. While I can appreciate dominance in dark romances, this crossed a line for me.

Additionally, there’s more spice than substance in this story—if you’re here for plot-driven fantasy, you won’t find much of it. The book also ends on a lackluster note, which left me feeling underwhelmed. If you’re into heavy spice with minimal plot and don’t mind darker themes, this might be for you. Personally, it wasn’t my cup of tea.

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When She’s Merry by Ruby Dixon is the 9th book in the Risdaverse series, but it works perfectly well as a standalone. This novella blends Christmas cheer with alien science-fiction romance in a sweet, light-hearted package. 

 

The FMC, Devin, is a human woman with a big heart who notices her older neighbor showing signs of depression. Seeking to help, she enlists the charming but corny Sinath, an alien with a similar big heart and a penchant for awkward humor. While they initially clash due to cultural differences, their understanding of each other grows as they team up to bring holiday joy to the neighbor’s life. Devin introduces Sinath to Christmas traditions, while Sinath, drawing on his own experiences, helps Devin better understand depression and how to offer meaningful support. 

 

This was a quick, predictable, and enjoyable read that handled heavier themes like depression during the holidays with care. I especially appreciated the mature communication between Devin and Sinath—misunderstandings never dragged on unnecessarily, which is such a refreshing change from the usual “just talk!” frustrations in some romances. 

 

While the story didn’t blow me away, it was sweet and satisfying. If you’re looking for a cozy Christmas romance with a sci-fi twist, this is a great pick. Solid 3 stars. 

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This book is a unique twist on The Nutcracker, blending fairy tales, romance, and an otherworldly adventure. The story follows sisters Clara and Louisa, whose lives are upended after the death of their strict father. They move in with their eccentric godfather, Drosselmeyer, who lives in a mansion filled with peculiar wooden dolls and holds lavish, mysterious parties. Soon, the sisters discover these “dolls” are actually cursed fairies, and they embark on a daring journey into the fairy realm to break the spell.

Clara, the reserved and organized artist, finds herself drawn to Fin, the wild, mischievous sugarplum fairy with pink hair. Meanwhile, Louisa, the free-spirited and boy-crazy sister, is paired with Lir, the uptight and regal nutcracker prince. Both romances are believable, with well-rounded characters who grow and change throughout the story, including Drosselmeyer, who has his own arc.

The fairies are written as morally gray characters, which adds depth to the story. Fin, with his mischievous yet soft-hearted personality, stood out as my favorite character. In contrast, the Rat King serves as the book’s one truly evil presence, which keeps the stakes high.

The world-building is surreal and vivid, drawing on traditional folklore about fairies. The depiction of Fairyland is rich with details. 

There’s plenty of adventure and spice in this story, making it an engaging read for fans of dark fantasy romance. While I enjoyed the character growth and intricate setting, I’m rating this 3.5 stars because some parts felt a bit predictable. Still, it’s a promising start to the series and leaves me curious about what’s next.

Possible Spoilers I guess…

Well, folks, I walked into this one expecting a “holiday monster romantic fantasy.” The cover promised me Krampus with feelings, maybe a festive love story involving some creatively placed tinsel. What I got instead was… uh… let’s just say Krampus forgot the romance and brought a very different kind of sack.

This isn’t a holiday story. It’s a horror story with smut. Scratch that—calling this “smut” is generous. Smut usually has a plot. Maybe a cheeky banter scene, some light emotional connection, even a character arc. This? This is pure monster porn with just enough context to make me question my life choices.

We start with Twyla, a journalist sent to interview Krampus, who is both the CEO and the main attraction of “Krampus World.” Twyla, armed with no self-preservation instinct and even less brainpower, finds herself whisked off to another dimension with this festive fiend. That’s about where I stopped—around 30% in—because by then I still couldn’t tell you anyone’s personality, but I could give you a detailed rundown of Twyla’s questionable decision-making skills and Krampus’s… erm… talents.

I’m not rating this because I didn’t finish, but I will say this: If you came for plot or even vaguely likable characters, keep moving. If you came for 100% unfiltered, unapologetic monster erotica… well, Merry Christmas, I guess?

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The fourth installment in Ruby Dixon’s Ice Planet Barbarians series follows Harlow, a mechanically minded human woman, and Rukh, a big blue barbarian alien who has grown up isolated from the rest of his tribe. After being abandoned on an ice planet by cruel aliens, Harlow finds herself resonating with Rukh, who lives in the wilderness with minimal communication skills and knowledge of the world due to being orphaned at a young age. Their relationship starts off dramatically—Rukh literally knocks Harlow out and drags her to his cave—but the story explains this behavior within the context of his isolation and lack of social norms.

While the premise is compelling, I found myself rating this book lower than the others in the series. My main issue was with Rukh’s childlike nature early in the story. His limited understanding and lack of communication skills gave him a vibe that felt unsettling when paired with the romantic aspects of the story. However, this does improve in the second half, where Rukh matures and their dynamic becomes more balanced.

On a positive note, I appreciated the realistic portrayal of Harlow’s struggles with the fear of her brain cancer returning, particularly during her pregnancy. This added a layer of tension and depth to her character. That said, the unresolved questions about the advanced computer from earlier in the series—like why it missed Harlow’s tumor and whether it’s reliable—left me wondering if it actually successfully removed Kira’s translator, with its tracker, in the last book. 

Overall, while Barbarian Mine is a solid entry in the series, it’s my lowest-rated so far. It’s still worth reading for fans of alien romance or those following the series, but it didn’t quite “resonate” (haha) with me as much as the earlier books.

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This cozy paranormal holiday mystery delivers a light, charming read with a touch of romance. Set in a small Maine town during winter, the story follows Halliday “Hal” Valentine, a witch who hides her psychic abilities behind the guise of severe migraines. Hal runs her family’s Christmas-themed factory while navigating her quirky life, complete with a British-accented, hummingbird familiar and a Nana reincarnated as a candy cane-thieving, flirtatious reindeer.

When a shady real estate developer planning a Christmas theme park is found dead, Hal teams up with Hobbs, a mysterious and handsome newcomer from Texas, to investigate. As they dig deeper, they uncover surprising truths about their neighbors—and themselves—while discovering the town’s relentless gossip mill. The budding chemistry between Hal and Hobbs adds a sprinkle of romance.

The book is packed with unique and whimsical details, from Hal’s magical antics to her neighbors’ eccentric charm. The ending teases a mystery involving a typewriter glimpsed in Hal’s visions, setting the stage for the next installment.

This story is a cute, cozy, light read, and the quirky characters and festive setting made for an enjoyable read. I’m rating it 3.5 stars—a fun, feel-good holiday mystery perfect for fans of magical small-town tales.

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Barbarian Lover by Ruby Dixon is the third book in the Ice Planet Barbarians series, and it focuses on Kira and Aehako. Kira is a serious and guarded character who has endured a lot, being one of the first humans (outside of the tanks) abducted and tagged with a translator device in her ear that she can’t remove. Her primary struggle is feeling unworthy—of love, happiness, and connection—while also worrying incessantly.

Aehako, on the other hand, is her opposite: carefree, patient, kind, and relentlessly charming. His pursuit of Kira is persistent, and while in real life such persistence could feel like harassment, in the context of this story, it works because Kira genuinely likes his attention. Her hesitance stems from fear and self-doubt, not lack of interest. A highlight for me was his amusing courtship gift—lighthearted moments like that really added to the story’s charm.

A major hurdle for Kira is that she’s barren, which feels significant in a culture where having children is a key goal, especially given how small their tribe is. She’s afraid that Aehako will eventually leave her for someone he can “resonate” with—someone who can give him children.

I really appreciated the character growth in this book. Kira learns to trust, embrace her worth, and live in the moment, while Aehako balances his carefree nature with genuine concern and seriousness about their relationship. Their dynamic is sweet, and I enjoyed their journey together.

That said, I had mixed feelings about the ending. While the implication that they may now be able to have children is a “happy ending” in many ways, I wish the story had left them unable to conceive. There’s something powerful about the idea of two people choosing each other despite that obstacle, and it would have been refreshing to see them remain childless but fulfilled. Instead, it felt like the story defaulted to children being necessary for a happy ending.

This is a very spicy science fiction romance, with plenty of heat and humor to keep things entertaining. Overall, this book is light, fun, and an easy read, keeping me hooked on the series. While it didn’t fully meet my hopes for Kira and Aehako’s story, it was still an enjoyable addition. I’d rate it 3.5 stars—entertaining, but I wish it had taken a more unconventional route with the resolution.

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Barbarian Alien by Ruby Dixon is the second book in the Ice Planet Barbarians series, and wow—there are 21 books in total! This installment focuses on Liz, a feisty and rebellious human, and Raahosh, a grumpy, brooding alien.

First off, I loved Liz. She’s spunky, outspoken, and stubborn—a total troublemaker who refuses to let anyone silence her, even in a situation where the humans are heavily dependent on their alien hosts for survival. Despite the unavoidable bond created by their Khui (the alien symbiont), Liz isn’t about to just roll with the alien mating customs; instead, she’s determined to shake things up.

Raahosh, on the other hand, is a lonely, scarred outsider who doesn’t quite fit into his own culture. His desperation after finding Liz as his mate leads him to make some questionable decisions—like abducting her and hiding her away—but you can’t help but sympathize with his backstory and loneliness.

What makes this book shine is how Liz and Raahosh are both fiercely independent and yet manage to come together, learning that while they don’t need each other, they definitely want each other. Their dynamic is fiery, fun, and packed with tension. Liz’s antics especially kept me entertained throughout.

Oh, and yes—it’s spicy. Very spicy.

I’m giving this one a solid 4.5 stars. It looks like the next book will follow Kira (a quiet and level-headed human) and Aehako (an endearing, free-spirited alien). I’m excited to see how their story plays out!

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If you’re into science fiction romance with a healthy dose of humor and action, this book is a wild ride. It takes every alien abduction cliché you can think of, cranks them up, and somehow makes it all ridiculously entertaining.

The story kicks off with Georgie, our FMC, being abducted by some nasty aliens who plan to sell her and a group of other women. But their plans go sideways when they’re dumped on a frozen planet for temporary storage. Georgie quickly steps up as a leader, even though she’s injured, terrified, and frankly disgusted by her situation.

Enter Vektal, the blue, muscle-bound barbarian alien with a heart of gold and the temperament of a Labrador Retriever. He’s sweet, protective, and surprisingly patient, even as he realizes Georgie might just be his fated mate. Cue the survival-meets-romance setup with plenty of spice.

There’s also a bigger twist: the planet’s atmosphere is slowly killing the women, though the humans don’t initially realize this. Turns out even the locals need a symbiotic Khui to survive—a detail tied to their forgotten history and old tech. Oh, and these barbarian aliens are seriously lacking women, so the arrival of these human women causes all kinds of intrigue and chaos.

The story has constant action, a touch of monster romance vibes, and lots of setup for future books—like Liz and Raahosh, who already seem primed for a fiery romance next. It’s funny, fast-paced, and spicy enough to keep you hooked.