Such a fun book!!!! I absolutely loved the premise! Vampire and a decluttered/organizer? Oh this was good! And the humour! Quick and easy read and so much fun.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fangs for Nothing

The Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven, book 1

I loved this book.

Alaric is a vampire recluse and Winnie is the human employed to clear the clutter from his castle.

Although I really enjoyed Alaric's frequent funny remarks and Winnie's relatable upbringing and fears, I found myself loving all of the supporting characters.

The Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven are hilarious and an amazing group of characters, I found myself wanting more.

I felt satisfied with the ending, even though I wanted Faye to get her comeuppance! The book had a good ending where you felt satisfied but still wanted more.

It's out now and I would highly recommend.

This ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

FfN by new to me author S. Holmes, published by Baccanalia House, is the first book in the new The Nevermore MC and SBC.
Meet Winnie and Alaric.
Winnie is an organiser hired to organise a castle.
Alaric is the lord who needs her help.
Include meddling members of the local bookclub, mix it up with an eclectic story set in the english countryside, and voila, you have a wonderful entertaining loughin g out loud read that gives all the feels.

Steffanie Holmes had me laughing out loud with her characters' jokes and wit.

Sexy and sweet supernatural romance, with grumpy/sunshine vibes similar to Assistant to the Villain. There's also a fantastic supporting cast of characters, I want to join the Nevermore Murder Book Club Coven, and send Reginald on a much deserved Spa retreat.

Name dropping real books and authors by the characters discussing romance books, will always having me giggling. But what cruel punishment to have characters admonish a third act break up so early in the story..

Just enough mystery to keep you intrigued, but it doesn't overshadow the romance. Can't wait to find out more, especially about the girls in the book club. I want to know what Celeste, Dora, and Arabella are hiding and what their HEA look like..and maybe just maybe Reginald will have a super special someone too one day?? I'll be going back to read Mina's story with her boys straight away!



Favourite Tropes:
Forced proximity
Not-so-fake fake dating
Overhearing "solo" time
Grumpy/Sunshine


Thank you Bachannalia House for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

This was fun concept that I was really into for the first half of the book. Winnie, a down on her luck professional organiser, is hired to de-clutter a hoarder vampire's ancient castle. Alaric was so obviously a vampire it was like a crack-comedy. Everything around him was screaming vampire, from the creepy castle, to the loyal man-servant, to only being seen at night, to the lack of eating, to the ancient clothes and centuries worth of hobby paraphanalia. SHE FINDS A COFFIN IN HIS ROOM FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. I think Winnie's niavity about it all went on for far too long though. In fact, that is my biggest issue with the book - it is far too long. We are over 50% of the way through before Alaric's mother shows up and the fake dating/fiance trope starts to come into play. It felt like the book should have ended when she finally realises he is actually a vampire to be honest.

The romance was fine, but like I say I preferred it before Winne discovered Alaric was a vampire - the tension was much more enjoyable than all of their love confessions and spicy scenes (which were not to my taste). Their miscommunications after they did get together were just frustrating and a bit pointless imo.

The narrative style is super casual (reminds me of Mackenzie Lie or Lex Croucher's style), and made me laugh out loud a lot, particularly the tongue in cheek vampire references throughout. But in sort of fell flat when the author was trying to talk about serious things, like both Winnie and Alaric's past trauma, the murders in the village etc.

I enjoyed the book club - particularly at the start of the novel it gave me really cosy, autumnal, Legends and Latte's vibes. It makes me want to read the Nevermore bookshop mystery books because to be honest I found those characters the most compelling part of the novel, and literally none of the context around the bookclub or its characters are properly explained.

Overall I enjoyed it, and I'd recommend if you like the narrative style of Mackenzie Lee or Lex Croucher, or just want a light (but lengthy...) read for spooky season

This was so much fun! Witty and sassy, our main characters bring us an entertaining grumpy sunshine romance with fangs.

Winnie Preston agrees to a new client, coming to help declutter his life. She has three weeks to sort through a professional mess... and what a mess it is. Her new client, Lord Alaric Valerian has a castle full of hobbies and a deadline to clear out the ballroom so that his mother can host a ball. But the ball is just the start of his mother's plans...

Why I started this book: Title of the series. Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven? Yes, please. That's perfect for the fall vibe that I want.

Why I finished it: The female friendships in this book are the reason that I will go read more from this author. The main romance was good, with both characters working through believable hurtles to a relationship. And this world has promise... I'm eager to add Holmes to my list of paranormal romance authors.

Was such a fun read, I love anything vampire and this just hit the spot perfectly. I loved the grumpy sunshine vibes too, perfectly coupled with the fake dating was just so fun to read.

Rating: 2.5 Stars/Review Contains Spoilers
Chili Peppers: 🌶️🌶️.5

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ebook.

At first, I was very *enthralled (teehee)* about the the description for "Fangs for Nothing", we've got a cute puns, well executed timing for spooky season, and the classic trope of grumpy vs. sunshine + bonus trope: Fake Dating. This story follows the Winnie, a professional organizer (with childhood trauma associated with hoarding), and Alaric, a 500 year old vampire hoarder. She's trying to help him navigate through 500 years of different hobbies/clutter on a tight deadline related to his mother throwing a ball. There's also a lot going on in the background (her mother, her partner, ex-fiancé/ex best-friend) back in London and new characters from the 'Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven.' I think it started off strong with the world building, 1st murder case, and the lead up to Alaric and Winnie's intimate relationship.

However, I felt like there was too much going on in the book. Around 50% I just felt so bored and the cute banter was not enough to sustain me. We've got the incoming texts from Faye (partner), her Mother (source of trauma), the Book Club (great banter, but also way to many members) (Side note: I understand from looking at the author's history that Smutty Book Coven Members have their own separate series, but this is the first book I've read from her and their very set in their ways--I don't feel like this book was treated a start to a new series and you would have needed to read the others to get the full benefit). The spicy scenes were OK, but Alaric and Winnie weren't described very well--it just seemed like they had so many unnecessary up and down's and it wasn't that special of a relationship. The most maddening thing to me is that the murders popping up (it's a romance/murder mystery/trauma dump) --AND the murder mystery was NOT solved by the end of the book (supposed to open to book 2 with Arabella and Gideon's relationship).

Overall, there were good things about the book but felt like a lot of could have been cut out and wrapped up better than the way it was. I didn't care enough by the end of the story to find out who was the murderer or to stick around for book 2. If you want smut and silly banter, this one may be ok but there are less dense options out there as well.

“Fangs for Nothing” by Steffanie Holmes is a fun, secy and brilliant fantasy read that tells the story of Winnie, a professional organiser who finds herself unknowingly decluttering a vampire’s castle. Coming from a traumatic background of family hoarding, Winnie is employed by the devastatingly handsome Lord Alaric, who lives an eccentric and isolated life inside of his castle. Unknown to Winnie, Alaric’s hoarding habits have stem from his traumatic and lonely eternal life as a vampire. He does his best to conceal the truth from Winnie while she is hired to help him declutter and clean out his castle for a ball he is set to host on behalf of his terrifying and despised mother. However, one thing goes awry: Alaric and Winnie begin to fall for another another, making it increasingly difficult for Alaric to hide his true self from this woman he craves. While Alaric struggles with his deepening feelings of passion and love for Winnie, his mother arrives with a bride she has chosen for him to marry. Desperate to avoid this chosen marriage, Alaric leaps into a fake marriage with Winnie, causing an absolute uproar.

Readers are going to absolutely devour this book. There are so many great aspects that will engage readers and keep them interested for hours. This novel contains a number of tropes that ensure all readers will find something they love. There’s the fake dating/marriage aspect, the found friendship among woman, a series of mystifying murders, and the essential ‘whodunit’ murder club element, along with the beloved sunshine female character and grumpy male character dynamic. Not to mention the spicy and passionate love that builds between Alaric and Winnie, which will leave readers swooning. This book also does an amazing job of incorporating serious topics that help the reader make an emotional connection. Steffanie Holmes has skilfully addressed the traumatic reality of hoarding and its impact on loved ones, ensuring the topic receives the respect it deserves. I found the characters to be likeable and well-developed, with enjoyable banter between them that I loved as a reader. I also think the author did an amazing job of setting and describing the scenes, making me feel like a fly on the wall in the castle, observing Winnie and Alaric rather than just reading about them. I throughly enjoyed this read and was immersed in it right from the beginning until the end. I will be eagerly awaiting the second book in this series.

I grew up a big Twilight, Buffy and interview with a vampire fan so when I read the description for this book I was all in. A years old vampire scared of his mother who’s forcing him to have a ball so he hires a human to help him organize and clean his gothic castle. Her first night in town for this new job Winnie, said human, is saved by a stranger in a bar. That stranger turns out to be her new boss Alaric. And he’s a vampire. This book really fulfilled the twilight for the older readers for me. I also really liked how Winnie’s childhood with a hoarder mother shaped who she was and what she did for work.
The only thing I didn’t love about this book was that Winnie kept mentioning Patrick and Claire. Which when Winnie was saying Patrick told Winnie that she “ organised all the fun out of our lives. When I’m with Claire, I have the freedom to be myself.” We learn why Patrick left her. But before we even learn Patrick cheated on Winnie she kept brining it them up and it got a little repetitive.
I did love this book and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a vampire romance novel for those loved the Twilight books when they came out but wanted more romance.

I should’ve known when it popped up on NetGalley a day before it was published what I was in for. Part of this is my fault for not researching the author and seeing she writes in first person POV. Once they kissed within the first few pages I was out.

It was fun to be back in this world but I have enjoyed other books by this author more. This is still a fun read though if you enjoy Paranormal rom coms with a side of mystery.
You don't have to have read other books to follow this story, but it would be nice to have a better understanding of who's in the book club.

This was the perfect romance I just loved it and it was great. I love Winnie and Alaric it had insta love vibes touch her and die vibes. He was jealous a part from good looking. She didn’t know he was a vampire at first and she went to his gothic castle I just love gothic romance books and this really hit all the marks for me. I love when she found out later in the book that he was a vampire and was scared at first, how his mom wanted to marry him off. winnie ended up staying with him. It was a perfect love story plus she was part of a book club too for smut and romance novels.

Thank you netgalley for letting me review this book! 100% my own opinion.

I absolutely devoured this book. he falls first, touch her and die vibes but a vampire and human? mix in a murder mystery, spice, and a little bit of comedy and you have a brilliant fantasy romance. I loved Winnie’s character, she was well-rounded in terms of her personality. Alaric was broody, in a good way, and I loved how obsessed with her he was. the only thing that was a little eh was the predictable third act breakup but it didn’t drag on for chapters so I didn’t mind it as much.

This review is currently posted on my Goodreads. It will be put on Amazon and might be put on my bookstagram as well.

“I’m being lured into a trap, like a fly caught in a web, but part of me is excited to meet the spider….”

Who knew being a professional junk cleaner could be so cool! Winnifred Preston is a force to be reckoned with but she might have met her match in the vampire Alaric Valerian.
I love the way the author wrote the story. I didn’t feel like it was filled with corny jokes or strange phrasing. The author did a really great job helping me to visualize the characters visualize the town that they were in and really see them in my minds eye. Having the text messages at the beginning of each chapter was amazing and really gave you some background on what was happening in between chapters; little things that added another layer to the story. The sexual tension between Winnie and Alaric was amazing throughout the entire book. I didn’t feel like Winnie was trying hard to get Alaric to like her and I didn’t feel like Alaric was forcing himself on Winnie, it was the complete opposite. Seeing the way that he tried to protect her from his vampiric while she, pretty much inserted herself into every aspect of his life was both hilarious and really endearing.

I have so many parts of this book highlighted, either with sentences or phrases I thought were funny or noting the modern day insertions, like Taylor Swift!

All in all this was a great read, and I can’t wait to read what’s next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bacchanalia House for the ARC

Such a fun paranormal fantasy! Vampires, a fake engagement and a bothering mother. What could go wrong? It was a pleasure reading this book. The pages flew by because of how much I enjoyed it. It was funny, cute and easy to read. Highly recommend!

Thanks so much to Victory Editing and NetGalley for this ARC! (All opinions are my own)

This was the PERFECT vampire novel. I can honestly say I enjoyed it from start to finish and fell in love with every character. The world that Steffanie created felt like home. Bookstores, vampires, witches and more! It's everything a spooky girl could need. The author also did such a good job of balancing the humor with the seriousness of Winnie's mental health and trauma. And the respect shown by all characters towards her and no one minimized her struggles. The romance was the best! Right from the very first meeting in the bar between Winnie and Alaric I was in love. There were so many quotes I highlighted from this book; one of my favorites was "I tumble like an autumn leaf, tossing on a crimson river, drenched in sunlight and the blush of summer's first fruit".
The spice was so rewarding. Holmes really knew what us vampire girlies needed and more! As a huge Dracula fan, I appreciated all the little details the author added and the vampire lore woven into the story. There's definitely so much more to learn and uncover and I can't wait until book 2!
This is definitely the type of book I would recommend to all my friends and one I would re-read over and over again.

Full review to be published 9/18/24 on Goodreads and on my Instagram book blog @_archiveofmymind

**Book Review: Fangs for Nothing by Steffanie Holmes**

"Fangs for Nothing" by Steffanie Holmes offers readers a delightful, light-hearted escape into the world of vampires, fake dating, and unexpected romance. Set in the spooky yet charming atmosphere of a centuries-old castle, the book follows Lord Alaric Valerian, a brooding, reclusive vampire with a passion for art and a desperate need to clean up his chaotic home before his mother visits. Enter Winnie Preston, the bubbly, professional organizer who unknowingly turns Alaric’s life—and heart—upside down.

Holmes masterfully balances humor and romance with moments of deeper introspection, as both Alaric and Winnie grapple with the scars of betrayal. Alaric, centuries removed from his past heartbreak, faces the challenge of opening up to love again, while Winnie’s warmth and meddling energy slowly chip away at his icy exterior. Readers who enjoy the "grumpy sunshine" trope will find it delightfully represented, with the twist of Alaric also being a tortured artist, adding more depth to his character.

The fake-dating storyline, spurred by Alaric’s need to fend off his mother’s matchmaking attempts, provides plenty of laugh-out-loud moments—particularly with Winnie’s quirky book club ladies inserting themselves into the narrative, even going so far as to suspect Alaric of murder! Holmes’ clever mix of humor, mystery, and slow-burn romance makes this book a fun, engaging read, especially for fans of supernatural romance.

While "Fangs for Nothing" leans heavily into its light-hearted, comical tone, it still explores deeper themes like learning to trust and love again after being hurt—especially when that hurt spans centuries. Alaric's journey to rediscovering love through Winnie's influence gives the story emotional resonance beneath its playful exterior.

Overall, *Fangs for Nothing* is the perfect blend of spooky and sweet, making it an ideal read for the fall season. With its quirky characters, charming romance, and witty dialogue, it's a must-read for anyone seeking a lighthearted vampire romance filled with warmth, humor, and heart.

as a fan of anything with vampire vibes, this book really didn’t for me! it gave me that nostalgic twilight feeling i've been chasing since middle school. the vampire lore and the lighthearted tone made it a fun read. the banter between the main characters was a highlight, keeping me engaged and invested in their dynamic. i also enjoyed the murder mystery elements woven into the story.

however, it didddd lean a bit too heavily on overused tropes—there was so much drama packed in that it became overwhelming at times. the mix of fake dating, forced proximity, miscommunication, one bed, other woman drama, and other common plot devices felt like too much all at once. more romance and mystery, and little to no drama would’ve made this perfect for me.

overall, it was an enjoyable read, and i appreciate bacchanalia house for the arc!