C.N. Crawford

On the worst birthday of my life, I come home to find my boyfriend in bed with another woman. Within hours, I’m drunk, homeless, and pledging to stay single forever. And that is when the dangerously sexy Seelie King rolls through town, looking for fae like me.

Every generation, the king holds a competition for Seelie queen. But for reasons he won’t explain, Torin is looking for a charade, not a real marriage. So when I drunkenly sling insults his way, I have his attention.

When Torin offers me fifty million to participate, I think, “What have I got to lose?” The answer turns out to be “my life,” because my competition will literally kill for the crown.

And the more time I spend with the seductive king, the harder it becomes to remember it’s all supposed to be fake. Now, my life—and my heart—are one the line.

Frost and Nectar #1

Frost

Abigail | 

The thing about heartbreak was that I knew how to cover it up so I didn't bring everyone down with me. 

When I turned to look out the front, my breath caught at the sight of a castle on a hill. The place of dark stone and sharply peaked towers, with gothic windows that glittered under the winter sun. 

With a groan, they swung open to reveal a hall of stunning stonework. Pointed arches soared above us, and candles flickered in high iron chandeliers. Skilled stone masons had carved wicked-looking creatures beneath the arches-demons and dragons hewn from the rock in such a way that in the dancing candlelight, they almost seemed to be moving. But the most unsettling thing in this place was a set of ivory stag antlers jutting above the entryway, gleaming with ice. I couldn't explain why but as soon as my eyes larnded on them, a sense of dread slid over me. Somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I knew the castle didn't want me here.

"Because you like forming snap judgments about people you just met? Oh, shit. Do we have something else in common?" I shuddered. "We should probably stop talking before we get involved in a messy emotional entanglement." "Right." A smile ghosted over his lips, just for a moment.

The image was strange and beautiful, and I couldn't take my eyes off it. It entranced me, and yet, as I stared at it, a corrosive sorrow pooled in my chest. A sense of loss I couldn't name.

He removed his thick black cloak and stepped behind me, wrapping the garment around my shoulders. I pulled it close. It had retained some of his heat, and instantly, my muscles began to relax. I inhaled his scent, picking out the particular notes that identified him: moss, wet oak, and the faintest hint of pine straw. 

When was the last time you lost yourself in a pleasure so intense, you forgot your name? That you forgot your own mortality? Because that is what it means to be fae. I could make you ache with pleasure until you forget the name of every human who made you think there was something wrong with you." 

He raised his face again, and our clouds of breath twined together in the frozen night air. "Nor you me. That is why you are perfect, my changeling And that is why I crave your company" His eyes closed, and his lips brushed against mine. Even though the touch was light, it sent molten heat sliding through my core. The effect was instant, like I was melting over the ice.

We are a match made in hell, but I have never wanted anyone more, Ava Jones," he rasped.

There was nothing in the world now but our limbs entangled, our lips moving against each other, and our hearts pounding.

Boy, this was a struggle for me. This is my first fantasy/romance. I liked mixing the of the “real” world with the Fae world. However, I did not like the characters or the pacing of this book. It kept my attention for the most part. If you like fantasy/romance I would recommend it. 

Rodney Crawford

I liked the idea of this book but it could have been longer. I love the world building & character development in stories & it kind of lacked that buttt I did love the modern twist on fae! I also never get enough of the enemies to lovers trope 🫶🏽

Mariah crawford

I am torn between rating this book a 3 or 4. The main character's motivations are shallow, her past purposely left frustratingly vague. Her relationship with Torin is clearly an enemy to lovers trope that is painstakingly slow to develop and is mostly a tease. Left in a complete cliffhanger. Most goodies promised for the sequel. Yet I wanted to keep reading and still want to follow these characters to the next tale. The world in which the characters live is messy, and complicated. The characters themselves are interesting and their drama promises intrigue. I want to praise the author for these developments. For this, I want to put a 4.

I think I will go with a 3, after writing this all down. The story is purposely left incomplete in order to do a second book. Thus leaving me as a reader unsatisfied and dependent on getting my Ava and Torin fix with a secondary purchase. I, unfortunately, am not made of money, and have to carefully deliberate each purchase. Especially in the current economy. So, it will be some time, most likely, before I can pick up the next. Even though at the moment I really, really want to. This is a testament to the author's writing and storytelling, but use of shameless tactics. As it sits with book one, the story is incomplete. There is not a satisfying conclusion or tie up of at least some events. Majority of what Ava "discovers" by the end didn't take much investigative work and was known, as the reader, before the first half. It needs more. So as a stand alone, yes a 3 rating will do. With its sequel (or sequels?) together, most likely higher. 

Ariel Johnson

Requires the Sequel

I am torn between rating this book a 3 or 4. The main character's motivations are shallow, her past purposely left frustratingly vague. Her relationship with Torin is clearly an enemy to lovers trope that is painstakingly slow to develop and is mostly a tease. Left in a complete cliffhanger. Most goodies promised for the sequel. Yet I wanted to keep reading and still want to follow these characters to the next tale. The world in which the characters live is messy, and complicated. The characters themselves are interesting and their drama promises intrigue. I want to praise the author for these developments. For this, I want to put a 4.

I think I will go with a 3, after writing this all down. The story is purposely left incomplete in order to do a second book. Thus leaving me as a reader unsatisfied and dependent on getting my Ava and Torin fix with a secondary purchase. I, unfortunately, am not made of money, and have to carefully deliberate each purchase. Especially in the current economy. So, it will be some time, most likely, before I can pick up the next. Even though at the moment I really, really want to. This is a testament to the author's writing and storytelling, but use of shameless tactics. As it sits with book one, the story is incomplete. There is not a satisfying conclusion or tie up of at least some events. Majority of what Ava "discovers" by the end didn't take much investigative work and was known, as the reader, before the first half. It needs more. So as a stand alone, yes a 3 rating will do. With its sequel (or sequels?) together, most likely higher. 

Really quite boring and disjointed. Multiple times I had no idea what was going on. A guilty pleasure read though, so stuck through it. 

Samantha Waterson

thank god I’m reading this when the sequel is already out. This book was such a fun read! I couldn’t put it down. I will be buying physical copies asap! 

Cass Paul

i’m not saying that this is bad but i’m just not for modern world fantasy and faerie and humans living in peace!

i love ava and shalini and toren and orla and eliza and aeron.

there was no true enemies to lovers here tbh. i’d say dislike to agreement/partnership of convenience to starcrossed lovers.

i’m not saying that this is bad but i’m just not for modern world fantasy and faerie and humans living in peace!

i love ava and shalini and toren and orla and eliza and aeron.

there was no true enemies to lovers here tbh. i’d say dislike to agreement/partnership of convenience to starcrossed lovers.



Farra McChesney

Easy to read.
Great plot.
I felt it lacked some development but otherwise a mysterious, fascinating story. I'll be excited to read the 2nd.

Cliffhanger!!!!! This was amazing Torin was an amazing King and I loved the story of this. I loved the princesses in the book as well, the writing was amazing

Cierra 

This book is my first from the author and will be not the last! I hated how it ended but this is a book that had me letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding. The exquisite world-building and clever plot are incredible. I need the second book now! 

mikee ♡

Frost is addictive and a page-turner! 

This book is my first from the author and will be not the last! I hated how it ended but this is a book that had me letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding. The exquisite world-building and clever plot are incredible. I need the second book now! 

While the competition aspect of the story is something we often see with our dramatic fae royals, C.N. Crawford managed to breathe fresh air into this trope and make something new and addicting out of it, and the merit goes especially to the book’s wonderful cast of characters. I was sold from the first time Ava and Torin interacted. The banter, tension and chemistry made the pages fly. And the thing is, you can’t not root for them to be together, but giving in could prove fatal for Ava…oh the agony!

This book also introduces a very fascinating worldbuilding that will undoubtedly grow with the rest of the series. I’m very curious to see how the story continues, especially after that ending! I’ll know no rest until I see this curse through.

I recommend this to lovers of fae, arranged marriage/fake dating-ish types of stories, and curses! I mean, who doesn’t love a cursed king?

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own!

P.S. I hope Andrew steps on a beehive or something equally dreadful.

Maria Elena Vitale Zelaia

C.N. Crawoford does it again!

While the competition aspect of the story is something we often see with our dramatic fae royals, C.N. Crawford managed to breathe fresh air into this trope and make something new and addicting out of it, and the merit goes especially to the book’s wonderful cast of characters. I was sold from the first time Ava and Torin interacted. The banter, tension and chemistry made the pages fly. And the thing is, you can’t not root for them to be together, but giving in could prove fatal for Ava…oh the agony!

This book also introduces a very fascinating worldbuilding that will undoubtedly grow with the rest of the series. I’m very curious to see how the story continues, especially after that ending! I’ll know no rest until I see this curse through.

I recommend this to lovers of fae, arranged marriage/fake dating-ish types of stories, and curses! I mean, who doesn’t love a cursed king?

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own!

P.S. I hope Andrew steps on a beehive or something equally dreadful.

FROST is such a treat for fans of fae, cursed princes, arranged marriages and the fake dating trope. These are some of my favorite, and the way they came together in this book was an absolute delight!

This is an excellent choice for a binge read. The pacing was excellent, with just the right amount of action and character interactions to keep the pages flowing. When I tell you that I was holding my breath for every interaction between the protagonists, Ava and Torin, I am not lying to you. I read most of the book in a day because I was gobbling down every interaction! I wouldn’t say it’s a classic hate-to-love, but there’s definitely enough antagonistic banter to keep their interactions sharp and entertaining. However, my favorite moments had to be the ones where all that banter became tension because the angst was exquisite! So much chemistry in this couple, I think they’ve become my new C.N. Crawford favorites.

Another aspect I really enjoyed about this book was the world-building, even though we only scratched the surface in this first book. However, what we get is enough to create a very interesting frame. We have curses, seelies and unseelies, unexpected rivalries and even mentions of dragons! There is so much to explore in the future books in the series, and I’m very excited for it all.

Chiara Vitale Zelaia

FROST is such a treat for fans of fae, cursed princes, arranged marriages and the fake dating trope. These are some of my favorite, and the way they came together in this book was an absolute delight!

This is an excellent choice for a binge read. The pacing was excellent, with just the right amount of action and character interactions to keep the pages flowing. When I tell you that I was holding my breath for every interaction between the protagonists, Ava and Torin, I am not lying to you. I read most of the book in a day because I was gobbling down every interaction! I wouldn’t say it’s a classic hate-to-love, but there’s definitely enough antagonistic banter to keep their interactions sharp and entertaining. However, my favorite moments had to be the ones where all that banter became tension because the angst was exquisite! So much chemistry in this couple, I think they’ve become my new C.N. Crawford favorites.

Another aspect I really enjoyed about this book was the world-building, even though we only scratched the surface in this first book. However, what we get is enough to create a very interesting frame. We have curses, seelies and unseelies, unexpected rivalries and even mentions of dragons! There is so much to explore in the future books in the series, and I’m very excited for it all.

Frost Frost and Nectar #1

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