I love reading Halloween-esque books in February!

Sometimes you just have an urge to read something spooky and witchy, so when that craving hits, what better way to spend that time reading about witches and a wolf shifter?? This book was very fun and exactly what I needed in my life at the right time. I love reading romances with paranormal aspects and magic!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the earc in return for an honest review.

I'm a huge paranormal romance fan and I'm always willing to give authors a try when they dive into a new sub-genre. This was actually my first read by April and I couldn't wait to dive in.

I loved that this was going to be a witch and wolf shifter romance, I'm a fan of both of those elements in my PNR reads. And I love fated mates, which I'll get to in my review.

For the most part, I liked the tropes in this book except for one, which was the fake dating trope. This trope is definitely on the rise in the romance genre, but it's one of my least favorite. Yet I've been reading them more than normal, I'm definitely willing to give it a try.

But the other tropes were second chance, a dash of enemies to lovers and lastly, friends to lovers. Those are solid tropes I enjoyed and my favorite parts of Violet and Lincoln's story.

When it comes to shifter romance and fated mates, I'm very specific about how I like my reads to be. And it wasn't working for me in Not the Witch You Wed, however, it may not bother everyone. I love the element of insta-love when it comes to fated mates, it's probably the only time I like the insta-love trope. There were all the signs that they were meant to be together, but didn't recognize it.

So yeah, this was an okay read for me. There were a lot of characters mentioned and we're in deep into the politics of their paranormal world. It felt like a little bit too much for me. And there was also a little dig about paranormal romances, I'm sure it was a joke, but meh, didn't work for me.

I might give the rest of this series a try because it definitely sounds like there will be more. I think this book will absolutely work for those that are new to paranormal romance!

I'm a sucker for a good witchy rom-com and this one did not disappoint. A cute, fun, quick, read. Totally recommend!

I enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to the next book in the series but I didn't really enjoy the sexy time scenes. They were very short and Lincoln didn't do nearly enough foreplay on Violet. Maybe I've just been spoiled by other authors.

Not the Witch You Wed
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @stmartinspress & @netgalley for the #gifted copy

This book was a wild ride and not at all what I expected. I loved the fake dating trope with the magical twist, and it was a fun paranormal romance.

I liked the chemistry behind the characters, but I found that I was dragging my feet finishing this. I didn’t get attached to any characters where I needed to finish it right away which happens with other books for me. I also wanted a little bit more when it came to understanding witches and shifters.

I did think the book had a lot of good one liners, and overall was a good book. I would probably read the second book in the series.

Synopsis: Magic-less witch Violet Maxwell wants nothing to do with alpha wolf shifter Lincoln Thorne—the man who broke her fragile, teenage heart. But when the two of them are forced by arcane Supernatural Laws to find mates, Violet and Lincoln agree to fake-date their way to a fake-mating in order to conjure themselves some time.

The joke’s on them. When old feelings make a reappearance—along with Violet’s magic—they both realize there’s nothing fake about their feelings. But there are old secrets and looming threats that could snatch away their happily ever after, again. One thing’s for sure: magic doesn’t make dating and love any easier.

The glistening of magic and the power of shifters come alive on the pages. This is such a fun and exciting story of a powerless witch and an alpha stud, once teen lovers, who mutually form a fake romantic pact to achieve their supernatural life desires. It all goes this way and that in an adventure to love.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for a digital copy of this book!

3.5/5 stars rounded up. This was very cute! I thought the dynamic between Linc and Violet was sweet and I loved that he mainly tried to stand beside her rather than in front of her (i.e. making himself her defender instead of realizing she can defend herself). There were times where he did cross that line, but they were related to people being weird and he eventually let Violet handle it. I had never read a shifter romance before, so this was interesting for me!

There were a few aspects of the book that were off putting, hence the 3.5 stars. I didn't like that every character had a nickname and was referred to by that nickname by both the characters and the author. The name 'Violet' isn't that long and should've been used in the narration instead of 'Vi'. The other main aspect I didn't like is that I could tell that this was written by an elder millennial from the language. Reading the word sex-alicious made me cringe so hard, and I've never heard that word used in serious conversation like it was in the book. There were some other smaller things that bugged me, but overall I thought this was cute, fun, and entertaining!

This was a super solid urban fantasy romance that didn't veer too far into the inevitable cringe factor that sometimes comes with talk of "mates" and an "inner capital-w Wolf". The world building was neat, the side characters were a lot of fun (there was definitely set up for romances in future books), and overall the plot was fun. It did definitely get quite cliche toward the end and felt very formulaic for a paranormal romance but it had great writing which was enough to lift it above some of its peers. Overall, very fun read and I will definitely be looking out for the next one!

DNF at 33%
I wanted to fall in love with this book, it has so much going for it. The paranormal witchy & shifter vibes, the fun cover, a second chance romance (one of my favorite tropes), and the summary had me. Unfortunately, I couldn't get into it. It seemed overly sexualized and maybe that's simply the bits that caught my attention as I didn't immediately feel invested in Violet's troubles.
Based on other reviews and ratings, it seems like it could be my current reading mood or seasonality. I've not read a book in this genre in a handful of months so I was eager to dive in. Sometimes, I know my expectations and other books that I've recently consumed can shed a different perspective than in other circumstances. I'm interested to see if my thoughts will adjust if I come back to it later in the year.
Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy and Macmillan Audio for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I loved this book! The characters are fun and quirky, and the plot was very creative. A perfect example of the second chance romance trope. It’s set in NYC, where the “supes” live alongside the normal people.
This is book 1 in the Supernatural series, and I’m looking forward to future books.

Violet Maxwell is called the Magicless Maxwell by the supernatural community. She’s the eldest Maxwell from of a set of triplets, and the Supernatural Council has decided she must find a husband, even though she’ll never be Prima and head of the Council without her magic.
Her old boyfriend, Lincoln Thorne, who broke her heart when they were teenagers, is now the head of the wolf shifters and must also find his companion by his next birthday.

To make matters more complicated, Violet’s magic is appearing and she has no way to control it. Violet and Lincoln decide to pretend to be engaged even though Violet has never forgiven him. Can they pretend well enough for everyone to believe them? Can Violet forgive Lincoln when she finds out the circumstances of the ghosting incident that broke her heart?

This is a really entertaining supernatural romance that I highly recommend, 4 Stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Lincoln abandoned Violet when they were teenagers. With him showing up everywhere she turns, her anger and hurt resurface. Both of them are in a predicament where they need to get married, at least until they can figure out a way out of those laws. So when Lincoln proposes they "date," Violet is not quite sure about it but does agree. As they "date," Violet's magic is finally coming in but her feelings for Lincoln are coming back full force. She has to decide whether or not she can trust him.
Opinion
Yes, yes and yes! This book is phenomenal. From a magicless witch to an shifter Alpha, this book is a recipe for success. The two MCs find themselves in many hilarious situations and the romantic tension is high throughout. This book, though somewhat long, is a fast read. Best yet is that it has the promise of more to come in the series. Paranormal romance fans will flock to get this book.
Many thanks to Net Galley and St. Martins Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Not the Witch You Wed was a cute fake dating second chance paranormal romance with fun friends and two sisters clearly lined up for their own books. I enjoyed much about the book which pushes dud Witch Violet and her high school love shifter Lincoln together to avoid other mating matches being forced upon them. I liked how the connection between the pair never really died, despite Lincoln's apparent youthful betrayal and I liked how Violet blooms and reaches her own potential by the end of the story. I thought Violet's BFF's - a succubus and a a guardian angel - were fun and I loved her powerful, and of course wise, witchy Grandmother who sets everything straight when things go awry.

I really look forward to further stories for Violet's sisters and will be checking out the author's paranormal back list.

ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley Release date 08 February 2022

This was adorable!!!

This was an Urban Fantasy rom-com that had a slightly convoluted magic system (though easy enough to understand the jist of), but was full of female empowerment.

If you're looking for a second chance romance that's hidden under the guise of fake dating, along with different supernatural powers & creatures, and women who come to their power on their own, this is the book for you. Lots of laugh out loud moment.

My only complaint was the world building itself - it was almost none existent, except for the tiny pieces of lore we were given.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC, I am leaving my review voluntarily.

This is a fun, magical, second-chance romance book and it was a great read. It was a fun fake dating romance, and I enjoyed reading about Violet and Lincolns relationship. I think I have an idea with where the author will go in the following books and I'm excited to read about the other relationships in this fun world!

For anyone who feels like they met their witchy-book quota back in October, I urge you to give this book a second look! Not the Witch You Wed features triplet witches. Violet is the oldest by two minutes, but never received her magical powers, so the middle triplet is first in line to be prima. If “Encanto” turned you into a big pile of mush, this is exactly the type of enchanting, magical story you need in your life (but add lots of adult language and some, ahem, extra heat)...

Violet finds out she’ll be forced into a witch bond if she doesn’t find her own mate within a few months. Her high school boyfriend–alpha wolf shifter Lincoln Thorne– is at the bottom of her list for a potential mate. He broke her heart into a million pieces a decade ago. But Lincoln is also on a reluctant hunt to find a mate. When the two keep crossing paths, they agree to fake date to appease the Supernatural council–but those old, very real feelings don’t take long to resurface, along with an unexpected extra spark for Violet.

This book is different from a few other witchy stories I’ve read in recent months in that the “supes”, aka witches, wolves, vampires, and more live “openly” among the norms. There’s a super fun/hip granny involved, which I have to say is a favorite for me! I also liked that there wasn’t too much tension or competition between the triplets when it came to power/opportunities. I feel like there is a ton of potential to see where the two other sisters end up, so we get a mild cliffhanger to finish up this story. Thanks to SMP Romance and NetGalley for a gifted digital review copy!

Hell's spells, what a hexing awesome book!! Not the Witch You Wed by April Asher is a wickedly funny, charming and enjoyable read.

I love so many things about this book but at the top of my list is the witty banter between Violet and Lincoln. Absolutely brilliant. I had so many laugh out loud moments.

In addition to Vi and Linc, I really loved the cast of characters and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book.

Thanks to SMP and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Violet Maxwell doesn't have magic and wants nothing to do with the wolf shifter Lincoln Thorne. He broke her heart when they were teens, and feelings had never really gone away. However, the Supernatural Laws declare that they must find mates, so the two decide to fake date to stave off the laws. Those old feelings resurface, as does Violet's magic. Can old secrets derail their relationship again, or will they find a happily ever after?

Not the Witch You Wed is the first volume of the Supernatural Singles series. This is a world where witches, shifters, vampires, angels, and succubi now live openly throughout the world, but laws dating back hundreds of years exist in order to control their power so that normal people wouldn't get harmed by the supernatural. Part of that is controlling the magic of witches by bonding them to another supernatural creature, particularly that of the Prima, or the witch with the most Magic; if it goes out of control, it can become something akin to a nuclear bomb, flattening everything around the witch. Obviously a bad thing. By the same token, Alphas of shifter packs must also be bonded so that their animal side doesn't go on a rampage.

While sexuality and supernatural ability are openly accepted, those in roles of power still are expected to adhere to old rules. Lincoln, having gotten control of the North American Pack from his father, who had been ruthless and bloodthirsty in his quest for power, wants to change those rules. Violet, having grown up without magic or the expectation of being Prima despite being the oldest of the triplets, retreated from that society. Which of course means that they're thrown back together for mutual benefit. On top of the fake dating trope, we also have a second chance romance; they had been teenagers when Lincoln was forced to walk away from Violet, which she had seen as being ghosted. Of course, they bring out the best and worst in each other and must work together to save the supernatural society from being overrun by those that would keep it as the secretive and bloodthirsty oligarchy it had been, rather than change to a meritocracy.

This is a straight up rom-com with mention of shifting and magic, so it's not the same as other shifter romances on the market. We get traces of those tropes, but the Alpha is a title, not an excuse for toxic masculinity to reduce the heroine into a damsel in distress. She does a good bit of saving herself, and I love how Violet is with her friends as sisters as well as with Lincoln. She's a smart-alecky bartender, and I really felt for her and the pressures she was under throughout the book. I'm not sure if the next in the series will feature her sisters, her friends, or Lincoln's second in command, but either way, it's going to be fun. This is a great start to a new series.

This is such a fun and cute rom-com!

The fake relationship trope has a new and refreshing take with an adorable paranormal pair: a witch and a shapeshifter. Though, this witch actually doesn’t have any magical powers, and this wolf broke her heart in the past. They’ve got to convince everyone that their relationship is real, so that no old fashioned laws are broken. Facing the past while faking the now? Nothing can go wrong, right?

I enjoyed this story! It was fun and engaging! I look forward to reading more of this series in the future!

I would like to thank April Asher, St Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book in exchange for my honest review.

Publication date : 02/08/2022

💜Happy Pub Day & Book Review 💜

Happy publication day to Not the Witch You Wed! Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the eARC.

Are you looking for a fun, paranormal romance read for this Valentine’s Day? I would definitely recommend Not the Witch You Wed!

Let’s take a magic-less witch, Violet, and a shapeshifter wolf, Lincoln, that are both facing forced matches due to their own factions’ arcane laws.

Sidenote: everything about Violet is purple…her hair, she smells like lavender and there’s even some other purple witchy stuff! 😲💜💜💜

Enter the fake dating trope!! Have I mentioned they were amorous as teens, but now loathe each other? Well, she does anyway. 😏

Lots of witty banter, a few overused puns and cutesy exclamations for this fun paranormal romance. Nothing too deep here, but a little spicy 🔥 and I look forward to reading a second book…the ending showed you who’s next in line!

What a delight!
This is a second chance fake dating romance with a paranormal twist. The characters and world are so entertaining.
It’s witty, funny and sweet. The steam level on this is low but the romance certainly makes up for it. I liked that Violet and Lincoln had a complicated history and they had to really rebuild their relationship. I also enjoyed their banter and chemistry!