Jennifer K. Lambert lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with her husband of over thirty years, his chocolate-lab assistance dog, two Maine coon cats who assist no one, and plentiful free-range lizards. Her high fantasy novel, Never the Roses, fell on her from out of the sky and became a dream come true. She also writes under the name Jeffe Kennedy, where she is a multi-award-winning and bestselling author primarily in epic fantasy romance, and is a Past-President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA). She is represented by Sarah Younger of Nancy Yost Literary Agency.

"Just beautiful. It's beautifully written. Academic, intellectual, poetic... it's everything." --Katherine Heigl on #booktok

"Such an extraordinary novel! Full of unexpected love, magic, heartbreak, and healing, it completely stole my heart! I absolutely loved it!" --Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

"[A] fresh take on enemies to lovers that will have readers swooning. A must-add for any romantasy shelf." --Booklist, starred review

"A heart-wrenching tale of guilt and longing...This captivating romantasy is a resounding delight." --Library Journal, starred review

"Absolutely exquisite. Never the Roses is a stunning entry into the realm of romantasy with a broken yet fiercely powerful heroine, a hero who will wend his way into your heart and set up camp, and a story you will not be able to stop reading until you have savored every delicious word. No, really. Every. Delicious. Word." --Darynda Jones, New York Times bestselling author of the Charley Davidson Series

"Every time I think that the borders of fantasy cannot be stretched, Jeffe Kennedy proves me wrong." --Maria Vale, award-winning author of The Legend of All Wolves series and Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death.

"Both ethereal and sensuous--and with a story as arresting as its pink-pebbled beaches and lavender roses, Jennifer K. Lambert's Never the Roses is a fantasy as seductive (and dangerous) as the Dream through which it often wanders. An absorbing read!" --Connie Willis, Nebula and Hugo-Award winning author of Doomsday Book and The Road to Roswell

"Jennifer Lambert has created a world and characters every reader of epic fantasy will love and reread time and time again." --Grace Draven, USA Today bestselling Author of Radiance.

"Never the Roses is never anything less than enchanting." --Jennifer Estep, New York Times bestselling author of the Crown of Shards and Gargoyle Queen series

"Step into an enchanting tale filled with heartache, mystery, a lush and vibrant world, and the slow burn delight of two compelling characters at war with desire. Never the Roses delivers a lyrical feast for the imagination." --Charissa Weaks, author of the Witch Walker Series

"Masterfully crafted, Never the Roses will entice you with its lyrical narration, powerful characters, and magical enchantments. Beware, it'll also capture your heart with its sharp thorns." --Maria V. Snyder, New York Times bestselling author of Poison Study

"I just love a good epistolary romance, and the debut novel by Jennifer K. Lambert, Never the Roses, delivers. Readers are in for a treat." --Melinda M. Snodgrass, author of the Imperials & Carolingian series

Publisher: Bramble

Pub date: 2026-06-02

Length: 384 pages