The Cozy Cauldron

4/5⭐

I first want to say thank you for this Arc Anne Adams, Ballantine, and NetGalley.

What originally drew me to this book was the cover. I’m not usually a huge fan of sports romance novels, but something about this one made me want to read it. The colors and the characters on the cover really captivated me.

The main character, Catherine, goes through a lot at the beginning, which completely throws off her plans for her rowing career and puts a halt to her dream of making it to the Olympics. She’s quite the character and definitely made me chuckle. Her lemon bar ritual is what really hooked me. She has so much determination, mixed with a touch of OCD 😅, and I couldn’t help but see a bit of myself in her.

Adrian is another great character. They butt heads at times, but he’s just as determined and truly looks out for her while she’s in training. You can feel the chemistry between them right from the start, along with a lot of tension—haha. Catherine’s passion for rowing really shines throughout the story, and Adrian pushes her outside of her comfort zone with her training. Even though it throws her off at first, it’s clear he does it to help her grow.

The spice in this was chef’s kiss. I really enjoyed the tension leading up to their time together. I also can’t forget to mention her relationship with her best friend—they take care of each other even when they’re apart. I loved how strong and consistent their relationship was throughout the book.