Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Paranormal Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Erin Sterling
Publisher: Avon Books
Release Date: September 20th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Welcome to Spooky Season!! The follow-up to Erin Sterling’s New York Times bestselling hit The Ex Hex features fan favorite Gwyn and the spine-tinglingly handsome Wells Penhallow as they battle a new band of witches and their own magical chemistry.

Gwyn Jones is perfectly happy with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mom, and her cousin have formed a new and powerful coven; she’s running a successful witchcraft shop, Something Wicked; and she’s started mentoring some of the younger witches in town. As Halloween approaches, there’s only one problem—Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow.

Wells has come to Graves Glen to re-establish his family’s connection to the town they founded as well as to make a new life for himself after years of being the dutiful son in Wales. When he opens up a shop of his own, Penhallow’s, just across the street from Something Wicked, he quickly learns he’s gotten more than he bargained for in going up against Gwyn.

When their professional competition leads to a very personal—and very hot—kiss, both Wells and Gwyn are determined to stay away from each other, convinced the kiss was just a magical fluke. But when a mysterious new coven of witches come to town and Gwyn’s powers begin fading, she and Wells must work together to figure out just what these new witches want and how to restore Gwyn’s magic before it’s too late.

BETTER THAN THE FIRST.

I had some *thoughts* on the first book but felt inclined enough to give the second book a go and I liked it so much more!!

The romance was developed in a way I could get behind. There was still that lust component that isn’t for me personally, BUT, it was used here in an easier to handle light that ended with me actually liking this couple. A dash of enemies to lovers / workplace rivals that come together to save the town. Perfect for the season right?

It’s quirky and Gwyn is boisterous and full of banter that is well received by Wells. I especially liked that the third act wasn’t blown out of proportion. There was reasonable befuddlement that led to some simple answers and both Gwyn and Wells actually believed each other! YAY. There’s good tension and fluff mixed into a plot that has the same essence as the The Ex Hex.

Great for the season.

Overall audience notes:

• Paranormal Romance
• Language: strong
• Romance: multiple open door
• Violence: medium
• Trigger/Content Warnings: alcohol consumption, blood depiction, torture mentioned, kidnapping

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