I really enjoyed reading Bargains With Benefits, I really enjoyed the writing style and how the story developed. I loved the characters and how they interacted with each other. The pacing of the story was great and I felt myself being pulled into the world with ease. I really enjoyed how this novel played out.

Thank you NetGalley and Jillian Witt for a copy of this book!!
Okay, I actualli really liked this story! I'm very picky when it comes to romance and this hit the spot just nice! The meet cute of Luna and Vincent was really cute, they had chemistry from the very start, it was kinda instant love, which i'm not a fan of, but in this case it was dragged and it wasn't so sudden or in the very begginig of the story, which I loved. For them to get to know each other better, to grow as characters before actually jump at each other was perfect. Also they are such good persons, like yeah, i was rotting for them. They were so good at comunicating too, loved to see that.
Loved the world the sory takes place in, the fae lore, the family dynamics, the evolution the main characters go through. Over all it was really good!!

So I LOVED this cozy fantasy with a slight hint of spice and a lot of cute,warm atmosphere the characters were super lovable and I really enjoyed watching their development and relationships unfold. I really think this would make for a sweet and easy read to get you out of that slump

This is my favorite book this year! No third act breakup, real communication between the fmc and mmc! I can’t wait for the next one in the series! It was a breathe of fresh air! The fmc didn’t lose abilities or lost purpose in love it is just soooooo good!

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a romance book in a cozy fantasy world. A romantasy, if you will. It was sweet and wholesome, but also just a little bit shallow and the messages and arcs were a little bit of the ‘subtle-as-a-smack-in-the-face’ variety.

Luna and Vincent were, again, wholesome, but I just wanted more from them. More banter and tension. And just a little bit more personality out of both of them.

If you are in the mood for a short, sweet romance in a fantasy setting that doesn’t require a ton of thought, pick up this book, as I think readers in that mood would enjoy this book.

Bargains with Benefits by Jillian Witt was such a fun and cozy read! I highly recommended this book for those looking for their next cozy-fantasy read.

This story follows Luna Pierce- a half-fae who is the daughter of an old Fae named Darius Pierce. Working currently as a bartender in Sandrin, Luna’s father approaches her with a proposition- bring visitors back to Cliff House Inn or have it shut down for good. Since Cliff House inn is near and dear to Luna’s heart she accepts.

Then there is Vincent Andiveron- A reporter for Bayside times known for his recommendation columns. Vincent is then tasked to find more information about events surrounding the opening of the school of magic- events having to deal with Luna’s father. He then finds himself at the tavern where he and Luna have a rather interesting first meeting. Luna knows who Vincent is- and decides to strike a bargain with him. You’ll find that they get more than they bargain for.

I really enjoyed Luna’s carefree spirit and following her journey of trying to find how to dim that down to please the old fae side

Watching Vincent and his absolute lust for this girl was amazing. I especially loved when Luna decided to make his ex jealous!

Bargains with Benefits is a new romantic fantasy novel by Jillian Witt, set in the same world as her Compass Points series. With fae courts, a strong female main character, and elemental magic, there's a lot to love. Witt's world building is exceptional, and the main characters are engaging. My only complaint was that the dialogue occasionally felt immature for the characters and their ages. It's an adult romantasy that will appeal to a younger crowd, I think.

Luna is a half-fae living in the groundskeeper's cottage on the property of Cliff House. The inn belongs to her father and is managed by a man who wouldn't accept Luna's advice for promoting the property. So while the city was being filled with visitors, Cliff House remained empty. "It was six weeks until Long Night, the celebration of the winter solstice in Sandrin. The city by the bay was a crossroads on the continent. It might not be Compass Lake, where the fae courts were ruled, but it was an energetic mix of human and fae, history and innovation."

When Luna's father tells her the manager has quit and he's decided to sell the inn, Luna begs for a chance to save it. If she can fill the inn by Long Night, her father won't sell the inn and she can keep managing it for him. The conversation is the longest one she'd ever had with the old fae lord, and she resents him for his disappointment in her inability to use magic. As an old fae, he is powerful, and her mother left him because "he only cared pureblood fae and power." When her mother died, he'd let her move into the cottage on the property, but she'd never been invited to the family home. All she's ever wanted since she moved to the city was to manage the inn, and she is determined to fill Cliff House with guests by the winter solstice.

Vincent is the only son of a powerful old fae house, but he's left the family home to earn a living on his own. He currently writes an article for The Bayside Times called "Benefits of Magic." Everything he promotes becomes fashionable, but that only encourages people to try using him to market their products. He wants to write editorials, but hasn't been given the chance to try for a big story. Until a big story lands in his lap - someone accused of bribing people to stop the creation of a “magic school for humans, half-fae, and those of multiple courts.”


After meeting in a bar, they both see an opportunity. They strike a bargain and plot to investigate her father while learning why the inn remains empty despite the influx of visitors. Could a mysterious locked door be the reason the inn was failing? Was her father corrupt? Ambition and attraction tangle as Luna and Vincent work together to find answers and evidence.

Overall I don't think this book is a strong as Witt's first book, Compass Points, but the world is enchanting and I'd love to see more.

If you are looking for a story that feels like wrapping yourself in a soft blanket beside a crackling fireplace with a little fae mischief and a swoony romance thrown in then this is the book for you. I just finished the book with a cup of tea and a full heart.

This charming cosy fantasy romance follows Luna Pierce, a half-fae groundkeeper with a stubborn heart and a crumbling legacy Cliff House Inn and Vincent Andiveron, a fae journalist with too much polish and not enough purpose. Their first meeting is as delightfully chaotic as their growing bond and from that moment on, I was hooked.

Luna has to save the Cliff House before The Long Night starts which is a celebration of the winter solstice in Sandrin. Luna also works in Parkview Tavern wherein she prepares a drink – the Sweet Solstice Sip from Benefits of Magic.

Sandrin was split into four quadrants or districts, one for each of the fae courts – Norden was the northern district for the water fae, Suden was the southern for the earth, Vesten was the western for the fire and Osten was eastern for the wind.

The magic of Bargains with Benefits isn’t just in its twinkling lights, secretive old houses or fae politics – it’s in the way Luna and Vincent slowly begin to understand and challenge each other. Luna’s inn, the Cliff House, becomes more than a setting; it’s a character in its own right, filled with memories, mysteries and a magical room that simply won’t open until it’s ready.

Luna is fiercely warm and wonderfully real, the kind of heroine you root for instantly. And Vincent? He is the kind of love interest who sneaks up on you a little too clean-cut at first but with a depth and tenderness that slowly unfolds like a flower in winter sun.

Their romance is sweet and crackling with tension, full of stolen glances, quiet confessions and a slow-burn vulnerability that made me smile more than once. But what really sets this story apart is how deeply it weaves in themes of self-worth, legacy and learning to stand on your own while letting someone in.

This story is for anyone who believes a good cup of tea and a better bargain can change everything. It is the kind of story that leaves you with a full heart and a wistful sigh.

A whimsical, warm-hearted delight. Bring on more Sandrin stories, please!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for honest review.

This book was SO CUTE! A great intro to romantasy and super cozy!

We're first introduced to Luna in this book. She's half-Fae, half-human and has been left in charge of her Fae Father's inn. It's been struggling for a while and Luna gets a deadline to save the inn or it will be sold.

We also meet Vincent, a powerful Fae with wind magic. Vincent writes a column in the paper and his recommendations have saved many businesses. However, he wants to break into more investigative journalism. He's given a chance to delve into who is trying to sabotage the half-Fae school that would help educate them in their magic. But is the saboteur Luna's father?

Luna and Vincent team up. He will give her inn a good review if she helps him gain information about her Father.

However, Luna discovers so much more about herself, including magic, lies told by her mother, details about her Fae family and so much more!

I absolutely loved the cozy romance, the complexities of the characters and the way the magic was written. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series and recommending to all my friends!

Bargain with Benefits is a cozy fantasy romance about a half fae and a high fae who strike a bargain to help each other achieve their goals. Luna wants to get her inn to full capacity by winter solstice, and Vincent hopes to finally write a featured article for the local newspaper. All the while trying to overcome prejudice and to not fall in love. This story was so charming that I could not put it down. I enjoyed the longing and tension between the two main characters and was rooting for them more with every chapter. The magic system was easy to understand and written in a refreshingly adorable way.

I absolutely loved every part of this book and look forward to reading the rest of the series. This is the first book, but it is set in the world of Compass Points, which is the author's previous trilogy. It makes mentions of what happened in the Compass Points multiple times, but as someone who has not read that trilogy yet, it did not take away from Bargain with Benefits or divulge any spoilers. If you like to read books in chronological order, you may want to read Compass Points first.

This is a perfect book for someone looking for a lighthearted cozy fantasy or a romcom set in a fantasy world. Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I really wanted to enjoy this however this ended up being a DNF for me. The story can concept were great but I just couldn't get behind the wind magic. I'm sure this will be a great read for most fantasy lovers but unfortunately this wasn't the read for me.

There was so much that I loved about this cozy, fae romantasy!

Half fae Luna, and old fae Vincent strike a mutually beneficial bargain to push forward their careers. Through Vincent's recommendation in their newspaper, Luna hopes to propel her inn out of the depths of despair before she's forced to part with her childhood vacation spot. These two knit themselves together in such a natural flow, and both of these characters see growth and healing throughout the story.

What struck me the most about this book was truly the communication. I have been plagued recently by miscommunication tropes/plots, and I was so pleasantly refreshed by this book. These characters conquered problems through open and honest communication, which made every piece of the romance in this book sweeter. The communication did not stop with them, as their transparency helped heal decades-long wounds of familial relationships.

As a romantasy, I was not bombarded by lore and world building that felt heavy or overbearing. The elemental magic and fae politics were easy to grasp, and that wind was a character in its own right.

The spice in this book shows up after a wonderful slow burn, and the characters have done such an amazing job connecting and supporting each other that you feel like they've earned every bit of it.

Thank you so much, Jillian Witt, for that breath of fresh air (and wind)!

A huge thank you to Victory Editing and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion

This is a standalone romantasy book in the Fae by the Bay series, set in the same world as Compass Points. You will be introduced to new characters and see how the characters across the Compass Points are doing now. I loved the cozy read, it was full of mystery, magic and romance. You will find characters that are likable, great plot, mystery and understanding of found family and acceptance. You will still find that there is still Fae who want to live by the old ways, and you will find in this book that most fae don’t mind the new changes to their world. You will meet Luna who has never cared about her fae side or does she have any magic. She believes what her mother had told her years ago that she was just human and that her father who was fae didn’t want anything to do with her. You will meet Vincent who is considered “old fae” but who could care less about it. He just wants to be writing for the newspaper and would love to write about something else that was important. Little does he know that he was writing important articles.

When Luna's estranged father offers her a chance to save the inn that she loves so much she jumps to agree, but she might have to strike a bargain with a very handsome fae journalist to get it done. In this book, as you get to know the characters more you will see that both are driven by their ambitions and good will, but at the same time they are weighted down by what society has told them for years and their own family dramas. With the help of each other and their friends they both get to see what understanding, acceptance, and support means and of course love. There is some spice in this book so don’t be picking it up thinking it’s going to be a closed-door romance. I loved the mystery of who was doing what in their town to take away the rights of half fae. I found the side characters to have been well developed, and I can’t wait to see who will be in the next book.

Overall, this was a cute, easy, fun read and I really enjoyed going back to the Compass Points world.

I want to thank NetGalley and Jillian Witt for the opportunity to review this book.

3.5 STARS!

This was a super cute cozy fantasy centered around two very different Fae who end up making a bargain for what they both believe to be their own benefit. The setting is more modern and integrates some of the well known attributes of the Fae and their heritage with real world situations such as prejudices, running businesses, the politics of powerful people, and how to navigate real relationships. I loved all of these elements.

The FMC has a great backstory and is not afraid to be herself, while understanding sometimes sacrifices must be made to accomplish your dreams. The MMC is afraid to be himself and go against how he was raised. They both bring out the best in each other and it's a cute slow burn. Loved the elemental magic, especially how it came out of the MMC (kind of outed him and his real feelings quite often).

Overall, would definitely recommend, especially if you love a good cozy fantasy. Will be continuing the series to see how the other standalones compare.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the eARC and opportunity to review.

Bargains with Benefits is a heartwarming, low-stakes cozy romantasy that blends magic, slow-burn romance, and the comfort of found family into a charming and engaging story. Luna and Vincent’s relationship starts with a mutually beneficial bargain but quickly blossoms into something deeper. Their bond is sweet, genuine, and spiced with just the right amount of heat. The world-building adds to the book’s cozy appeal, with an inviting inn, a bustling tavern, and a close-knit town that feels like home. Themes of trust, healing, and chosen family are woven beautifully throughout, and readers will find themselves rooting for the lovable cast of characters. With its well-paced plot, adorable dynamics, this story is a perfect pick for fans of cozy fantasy with a romantic core. A delightful and quick read that leaves you eager to return to this magical community.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A Cozy, Magical Delight

Bargains with Benefits is a heartwarming and enchanting tale that seamlessly blends cozy fantasy with slow-burn romance. Jillian Witt crafts a story that's both comforting and compelling, making it a perfect escape for readers seeking a feel-good read.

The story follows Luna, a determined half-fae innkeeper striving to save her beloved Cliff House Inn, and Vincent, a charismatic fae journalist with ambitions beyond his current fluff pieces. Their paths cross in a mutually beneficial bargain: Luna needs publicity to attract guests, and Vincent seeks access to Luna's estranged father for a groundbreaking article. As they navigate their deal, sparks fly, and their relationship evolves from reluctant partners to something much deeper.

Witt's world-building is immersive, with a magic system that's both whimsical and integral to the plot. Vincent's wind magic, which exhibits a personality of its own, adds a delightful touch to the narrative. The dynamics between fae and humans are explored thoughtfully, providing depth to the characters' personal journeys.

What sets this novel apart is its emphasis on character growth and emotional resonance. Luna and Vincent's interactions are filled with witty banter, genuine support, and a gradual build-up of trust and affection. Their journey is not just about romance but also about self-discovery and challenging societal expectations.

In summary, Bargains with Benefits is a charming and cozy romantasy that offers a perfect blend of magic, humor, and heart. It's an ideal read for fans of low-stakes fantasy romances with rich character development

Thank you Jillian Witt and Victory Editing for providing me with this arc through NetGalley! This was such a cute read and I’m so thankful I received a copy of it. If you’re looking for a cozy romantasy, this is it!

Luna is a half-fae who makes a bargain with a fae journalist. They both make a deal to help each other — he helps her by writing a recommendation for her failing inn and she helps him try to move up in his career by providing a source for an article. But have they both gotten more than they’ve bargained for? Bargains with Benefits will be a part of an interconnected standalone series.

There is found family, he falls first and hard, fae, magic, and his wind is obsessed with her! I loved how Vincent’s wind is personified and how cozy this whole book felt. It was perfect to read for the days we got some rainy weather and I just wanted something cozy.

There are about two open door scenes, so if that isn’t something you enjoy or are okay with skipping, then maybe this isn’t for you. But if you’re okay with that or fine with skipping two shorter scenes, where you don’t miss the plot, then you might enjoy this!

I’m already seeing who some of the next books might be about and can’t wait!

Thank you Jillian Witt, Victory Editing, and NetGalley for this ARC, in exchange this is my honest review.

Bargains with Benefits by Juilliard Witt is an okay, cozy romantasy.

Witt writes a world of fae, half-fae, and humans where they are just coming out of a deep sleeping curse and people are starting to travel again. Luna is the half-fae daughter of an old established fae family finally getting her chance at running her father’s inn, hoping the winter solstice festival can bring in much needed customers. Vincent is an old fae journalist who wants a chance at writing something more impactful than his advice column Benefits of Magic.

Vincent is given the opportunity to investigate Luna’s father about potential bribes against building a magic school where all will be welcome regardless of if they are fae of mixed fae heritage, or race. Luna wants Vincent to write about her inn so her father won’t sell it.

Honestly the writing was lack luster compared to the plot. There was a lot of repetitive lines “I felt my wind swirl/surge/(insert verb here) in me” (or something like that). Some of the side characters were honestly annoying (Daisy, I really found her attitude tiresome and irksome). The racism between humans and fae is an old used trope that Witt didn’t add anything new to. Also that fae look like humans but they are hotter is overused and also means they aren’t like humans inherently and that annoyed me some. The plot had opportunity and I didn’t feel it shine.

I felt very neutral towards this book in the end. The mystery element of the journalism. Vincent and Luna’s romantic pull. All potentially fun and cute, but the writing didn’t meet the expectation of the plot and honestly made it harder for me to enjoy. I didn’t hate this ARC, and I didn’t love it I just felt “meh”. Overall a 3/5 read for me. Bargains with Benefits is out now.

This story really drew me in with its adorable meet-cute and fun setup. I especially appreciated how both Luna and Vincent had complex relationships with their families, and the way their personal growth intertwined with those dynamics felt more thoughtful than what you usually see in half-fae stories.

The plot was on the simpler side and the pacing a little slow at times, but that actually worked in its favor! t’s the kind of book you reach for when you want a soft, comforting read rather than something high-stakes. The romance was sweet and straightforward, nothing too intense, but still enjoyable.

It reminded me a lot of Tessonja Odette’s fae series, so if you’re into that cozy, character-driven romantic fantasy vibe, this will hit the mark. I'm especially intrigued about where things go next. If the sequel follows Luna’s friend and a certain rival, I’m definitely picking it up.

Vincent and Luna were both easy to love. Their bargain-based relationship started with mutual suspicion, but watching it shift into trust and affection was really satisfying. I loved how Vincent’s wind magic added another layer to the romance, it was like his powers had their own feelings about Luna from the beginning, and that gave everything a whimsical charm.

The world has a gentle, regency-style feel to it, with light mystery, a dash of spice, and just enough intrigue surrounding Luna’s family and the inn she’s trying to save. The friendship between Luna, Evelyn, and Seraphina was another highlight, offering warmth and support throughout the story.

All in all, Bargains with Benefits is a cute, low-stakes fantasy romance full of likable characters and magical charm. It’s cozy, sweet, and just enough spicy to keep things interesting.

What a cute cozy standalone romantacy! I loved the story line with Luna and Vincent. I read this book quickly. I thought this book was absolutely a great time! If you like fae books, romance, enemies to lover vibes, fae bargains, opposites attract type books with spice—then this is for you!