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Bella Heartwood Book Reviews
💌 Bookish thoughts, cozy vibes, and honest feelings — all in one place. I mostly review romance and romantasy books, from sweet to steamy (and all the messy feelings in between!), but I also like to explore other genres. I hope my reviews help you discover your next favorite read! 📚✨
Booked at Midnight
⭐ 5/5 stars
Author: E. W. Andersen
Release date: March 23, 2026
Genres: Romance | Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Women’s Fiction
Spoiler-free review
E. W. Andersen did it again! Booked at Midnight, book two in the Midnights on the Square series, is a wonderful sequel to The Midnight Book Club, and I loved it!
In Booked at Midnight, we get to follow Aurelia’s journey as a writer, bookshop owner, and now in her relationship with Oliver, which has grown and deepened. When I started reading this book, I wondered if it would follow a similar storyline to book one (with some differences, of course), especially regarding Aurelia’s relationship with the fictional characters—but oh wow, I loved the twist this second book had. I won’t say much because it would spoil key parts of the story, but the different direction this book takes worked so well, and I was completely here for it!
In this second book, we still get that magical realism I loved in book one, set in the beautiful, perfectly suited setting of Aurelia’s magical bookshop. This time, though, we meet a whole new group of literary characters, and they were just as amazing and wonderfully written as those in the first book. I’ll admit that when I first “met” Harriet from Little Dorrit, I wondered how Aurelia would write her story based on Harriet’s personality—but that concern quickly disappeared as I kept reading, which also ties into the twist I mentioned earlier.
I also really enjoyed how Aurelia handled the “complications” of meeting with the characters every night after Oliver moves in with her. There are some very funny moments, along with others that are wholesome, lovely, and sweet. We get to see much more of Aurelia and Oliver’s relationship, and it’s truly heartwarming. Even during moments of tension between them, you can feel the love they share, and I really appreciated that. I also loved Aurelia’s personal journey, which continues beautifully from book one while exploring new layers that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about.
Booked at Midnight has love, grief, tension, sadness, and joy. It’s a wholesome story, and I love its characters and plot so much :) Aurelia is one of my favorite female main characters—someone I can relate to deeply at times, especially in her journey as a writer.
Thank you to NetGalley and author E. W. Andersen for the opportunity to read this wonderful story. I received an advance copy, and all opinions are my own.
Author: E. W. Andersen
Release date: March 23, 2026
Genres: Romance | Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Women’s Fiction
Spoiler-free review
E. W. Andersen did it again! Booked at Midnight, book two in the Midnights on the Square series, is a wonderful sequel to The Midnight Book Club, and I loved it!
In Booked at Midnight, we get to follow Aurelia’s journey as a writer, bookshop owner, and now in her relationship with Oliver, which has grown and deepened. When I started reading this book, I wondered if it would follow a similar storyline to book one (with some differences, of course), especially regarding Aurelia’s relationship with the fictional characters—but oh wow, I loved the twist this second book had. I won’t say much because it would spoil key parts of the story, but the different direction this book takes worked so well, and I was completely here for it!
In this second book, we still get that magical realism I loved in book one, set in the beautiful, perfectly suited setting of Aurelia’s magical bookshop. This time, though, we meet a whole new group of literary characters, and they were just as amazing and wonderfully written as those in the first book. I’ll admit that when I first “met” Harriet from Little Dorrit, I wondered how Aurelia would write her story based on Harriet’s personality—but that concern quickly disappeared as I kept reading, which also ties into the twist I mentioned earlier.
I also really enjoyed how Aurelia handled the “complications” of meeting with the characters every night after Oliver moves in with her. There are some very funny moments, along with others that are wholesome, lovely, and sweet. We get to see much more of Aurelia and Oliver’s relationship, and it’s truly heartwarming. Even during moments of tension between them, you can feel the love they share, and I really appreciated that. I also loved Aurelia’s personal journey, which continues beautifully from book one while exploring new layers that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about.
Booked at Midnight has love, grief, tension, sadness, and joy. It’s a wholesome story, and I love its characters and plot so much :) Aurelia is one of my favorite female main characters—someone I can relate to deeply at times, especially in her journey as a writer.
Thank you to NetGalley and author E. W. Andersen for the opportunity to read this wonderful story. I received an advance copy, and all opinions are my own.
Scythe & Sparrow
⭐ 5/5 stars
Author: Brynne Weaver
Release date: February 11, 2025
Genres: Dark Romance | Romance | Contemporary
Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver is a dark romance that completely pulled me in. I especially loved how the characters’ darker sides were explored in a way that felt fresh and different from the previous two books in The Ruinous Love Trilogy. While this book came very close to becoming my favorite, Butcher & Blackbird still holds that top spot for me.
Rose Evans, the female main character, has spent years traveling with the Silveria Circus, constantly on the move and without close family or lasting connections. Fionn Kane is a doctor living a quiet, isolated life in small-town Nebraska after experiencing a deeply impactful heartbreak.
Both Rose and Fionn have their own ‘dark instincts,’ and while they approach them very differently, those instincts play an important role in both their lives and their connection.
Rose and Fionn are perfectly matched, and I loved experiencing both their individual emotional journeys and the slow, meaningful development of their romance 🩷🤗 Their connection felt authentic, intense, and incredibly satisfying.
Overall, Scythe & Sparrow is fun, hilarious, witty, sexy, deep, and dark. It truly delivers a little bit of everything and serves as a strong, emotionally rich conclusion to Brynne Weaver’s Ruinous Love Trilogy. The subtle connections to the previous books (no spoilers!) are beautifully done and absolutely the cherry on top.
Author: Brynne Weaver
Release date: February 11, 2025
Genres: Dark Romance | Romance | Contemporary
Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver is a dark romance that completely pulled me in. I especially loved how the characters’ darker sides were explored in a way that felt fresh and different from the previous two books in The Ruinous Love Trilogy. While this book came very close to becoming my favorite, Butcher & Blackbird still holds that top spot for me.
Rose Evans, the female main character, has spent years traveling with the Silveria Circus, constantly on the move and without close family or lasting connections. Fionn Kane is a doctor living a quiet, isolated life in small-town Nebraska after experiencing a deeply impactful heartbreak.
Both Rose and Fionn have their own ‘dark instincts,’ and while they approach them very differently, those instincts play an important role in both their lives and their connection.
Rose and Fionn are perfectly matched, and I loved experiencing both their individual emotional journeys and the slow, meaningful development of their romance 🩷🤗 Their connection felt authentic, intense, and incredibly satisfying.
Overall, Scythe & Sparrow is fun, hilarious, witty, sexy, deep, and dark. It truly delivers a little bit of everything and serves as a strong, emotionally rich conclusion to Brynne Weaver’s Ruinous Love Trilogy. The subtle connections to the previous books (no spoilers!) are beautifully done and absolutely the cherry on top.
The Rain I Couldn't Let You Walk In
4/5 ⭐️
Author: Kayne Ellis
Spoiler-free ARC Review
The Rain I Couldn't Let You Walk In is a short literary romance based on a true story and real conversations, which made for a very unique reading experience—one that I genuinely enjoyed.
I was intrigued throughout the entire book. Its fast-read nature means that a lot happens in a relatively short amount of time, with something unfolding on nearly every page. While there are a few slower moments, for the most part this felt like a fast-paced read.
This is a character-focused story, where we follow the personal and romantic journey primarily through Kai’s point of view (POV). Kai and Elena’s story is told entirely through online conversations, which was an interesting concept for me and may not be for everyone. Keeping in mind that this book is based on a true story also makes the format easier to understand and process, adding a sense of authenticity to the storytelling.
There were a few moments where I felt slightly confused, particularly around certain situations or why some things happened. I also occasionally found myself unsure about the meaning of some abbreviations. However, none of this took away from my overall enjoyment or the intrigue of the story.
I recommend this short literary romance to readers looking for an emotional, character-driven story with a strong slow-burn element.
Thank you to Kayne Ellis for the opportunity to read and review The Rain I Couldn't Let You Walk In. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Author: Kayne Ellis
Spoiler-free ARC Review
The Rain I Couldn't Let You Walk In is a short literary romance based on a true story and real conversations, which made for a very unique reading experience—one that I genuinely enjoyed.
I was intrigued throughout the entire book. Its fast-read nature means that a lot happens in a relatively short amount of time, with something unfolding on nearly every page. While there are a few slower moments, for the most part this felt like a fast-paced read.
This is a character-focused story, where we follow the personal and romantic journey primarily through Kai’s point of view (POV). Kai and Elena’s story is told entirely through online conversations, which was an interesting concept for me and may not be for everyone. Keeping in mind that this book is based on a true story also makes the format easier to understand and process, adding a sense of authenticity to the storytelling.
There were a few moments where I felt slightly confused, particularly around certain situations or why some things happened. I also occasionally found myself unsure about the meaning of some abbreviations. However, none of this took away from my overall enjoyment or the intrigue of the story.
I recommend this short literary romance to readers looking for an emotional, character-driven story with a strong slow-burn element.
Thank you to Kayne Ellis for the opportunity to read and review The Rain I Couldn't Let You Walk In. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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