Fun, warm and cozy, Books and Broadswords is exactly what I need when my body so hurt because of period cramps, lol. 

I'm already familiar with Jessie Mihalik's work especially her space opera series, Consortium Rebellion. Her books is fun, complete with ass kicking heroines and badass heroes that love them. This is the first time I discover that Mihalik write fantasy romance (still refuse to call it romantasy). Books and Broadswords consist of two novellas that loosely connected in the end. Apparently, Mihalik publish the short story first to her web and then publish it in 1 book and add some epilogues.

Personally I like the second novella, Rocks and Rapiers compared to Books & Broadswords. Books & Broadswords remind me of some fantasy shojo manga that I'd read although it less juvenile. Both novellas are low stake, with Rocks and Rapiers is more fleshed out and longer than Books & Broadswords. Characters in both novellas are charming. Ansel, a beta cinnamon roll knights with his Lady Dragon, Feora, their story might be little simple but I still enjoy their relationship and how their story end is full of warm feeling. While sassy and feisty Hearth Witch Zenira charm the sulky manor owner called Baldric with her insistence to clean his huge manor. Oh, Baldric also a dragon, and like Feora, he can shapeshift into human. I think Zenira's hearth witch ability also unique because she feel restless if she discovered dirt and dust in the home. A handy ability to have for sure.

While the novellas's steaminess mostly just fade to black with hints of sexyyy times here and there, the bonus epilogue is when the smut happen. Explicitly of course. With details. So if you don't like a detailed smut scene, you can skip the bonus epilogue. Me? Heh, it will be crazy if I skip it and Mihalik did deliver. Not only the bonus epilogue have smuts, its also written from Ansel's PoV and Baldric's PoV. We will see that dragons are jealous and possessive af. A little bit control freak, but still bearable to read. IMHO, I like Ansel & Feora bonus epilogue rather than Baldric and Zenira, maybe because their novella written shorter.

Books and Broadswords is a anthology that I can see read it again in the future. Since the book have "volume one" of its title, I wonder if Mihalik will write about more dragon. Especially the story about Malaki, the mysterious dragon that also know Feora and Baldric. If you in the mood for fantasy romance with veryyy low stake, focus more on romance and have warm also cozy vibes, Books and Broadswords is a must read.