I don’t read a lot of romantasy – yes, even thebig one that came out this week. But this one was absolutely a great read and I recommend it if you like a steamy urban/high-fantasy read or if you can look past the steam, which is normally my jam.
About the Book
Step into the heart of New Orleans, where legends of vampires, witches, spells, and curses are as alive as the city itself. But what if there’s a nugget of truth to the stories?
Alard Fairchild isn’t your average man—he’s a fairy prince from the Kingdoms of Earth and Sky, hiding in plain sight as a poverty lawyer in the French Quarter. All he wants is a normal, human life. That is, until he meets Razi Miller, a hot tourist with a wild side who’s looking for a little adventure—and ends up entangled in something far more dangerous than he ever expected.
After one unforgettable night together, Raz wakes up to find himself magically bonded to Alard by an ancient marriage tattoo. Neither of them knows how it happened or why, but one thing’s for sure: the consequences are far-reaching—and deadly.
As Raz is dragged into a hidden world of legendary creatures and mystical portals between realms, he faces a terrifying new reality: Alard is already betrothed to Meyda, the ruthless Princess of Fire and Ice. Their accidental marriage could ignite a brutal war between the kingdoms, and Raz is now a pawn in a deadly political game.
With danger closing in, Alard and Raz must work together to undo the chaos they’ve unwittingly unleashed. But the more time they spend together, the more they realize the one thing neither of them can control… is love.
Packed with sizzling romance, high-stakes adventure, and dark magic, A Happy Beginning will keep you hooked until the very last page.
My Thoughts
Heads up: This one is way steamier than I prefer. However, the story around the likes open-door spicy (very graphic) scenes was good enough to keep me reading. Then when I came across a character who was on the ace-spectrum with a loving, supportive life partner -I couldn’t put the book down. Great ace rep is hard to come by! Love it! I realized a while back my preference for so-called “clean” romance had a lot to do with me being on the acespectrum.
Anyway, being from New Orleans, I was also excited to see my city on the pages – especially in a way that isn’t the 100% typical tourist depiction. There were several scenes that weren’t just Bourbon street debauchery, and there were several mentions by the main characters about how New Orleans isn’t what people expect. I could see pieces of the city I love in their descriptions. Speaking of those main characters, they were both – or all three if we include the fairy best friend – charming. I enjoyed viewing the relationships blossoming and seeing them tackle the big issue at hand. I don’t want to discuss that too much because – spoilers.
But in addition to the main characters there are of course a ton of awesome supporting ones. James, Fi, Timmie, and Monique are among my favorites. Some big surprises happen surrounding some of them and – Wow!
So grateful to the author and LBT for including me on this tour and can’t wait to see what they write next!
Who’s It For?
If you love steam-filled, LGBTQIA love stories, this is a great pick for you. It features a lot of great tropes from one-night stands and accidental marriages to fabulous best friends and fear of true love. Also probably lots of others. It has a great blend of urban and high fantasy for lovers of both!
Content Warning: Veiled racism among species, Graphic Adult scenes, Adult Language, Betrayal, Dysfunctional Family, Violence/ War, Forced/Arranged Marriage , Kidnapping
Question of the Day
Have you ever been to New Orleans? If not, is it on your list? If so, what was your favorite experience or place you visited?
Answer of the Day
This marks 10-years of living in the New Orleans area – technically moved out of the city proper in May. But even still I visited often as a kid. I always loved visitid the Audubon Aquarium, which is still amazing!
Links
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Happy-Beginning-B-Richards-ebook/dp/B0DPJFMTL1
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Beginning-B-Richards-ebook/dp/B0DPJFMTL1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222838296-a-happy-beginning
Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.