I'm kind of ashamed of how long this took me to read but good lord was it worth the wait! I love the Witches of Thistle Grove series - they are cozy, emotional, heartfelt, and have a great plotline to follow! Lana Harper (also writing in the YA sphere as Lana Popović, which makes me once again interested in the series starting with Wicked Like a Wildfire) can really write her heart out! It is rare to find a string of characters, and a community really, that I would like to read from for the rest of time! The familiar politics are fantastic, the various magic systems/affinities are so well done and interesting, and the pacing makes it so difficult to put down. I have quickly picked up "Back in a Spell" so I'm ready for more Thistle Grove!!

This one took me way too long to get to, but it was worth it in the end! I'll read every book Lana writes for the dialogue alone. It's so witty and realistic. I loved Issa and Rowan's dynamic, especially tied into all the family drama. I loved the forced proximity of them working together, and I appreciated that the 'mystery' was super obvious from the start. That allowed me to really concentrate on their blossoming romance, rather than try to solve the mystery along with them, especially because I came for the romance!

**3.5-stars**

From Bad to Cursed is the second novel in The Witches of Thistle Grove Paranormal Romance series. For those unfamiliar with this series, the books are companion novels. They take place in the small, magical town of Thistle Grove following the same timeline, but each book focuses on different main characters.

In this installment, we're treated to Isidora Avramov and Rowan Thorn in a classic enemies-to-lovers scenerio; one of my favorite romance tropes. With the Beltane holiday approaching, the whole town of Thistle Grove is gearing up for the celebration. Unfortunately, before it even begins, their festival prep is sabotaged by a dark magical attack and a member of the Thorn family is seriously injured.

The four families end up selecting Issa and Rowan to investigate the mysterious attack. The two aren't happy about the pairing. They have a bit of a past. It involves a falling out at a local animal shelter that ended in Issa cursing Rowan with a batch of evil squirrels. Nevertheless, as they begin working together, the chemistry is evident. Before long, they're dropping their guard and getting to know one another better. Maybe they should have done this years ago.

This was a fun story. I love the feel of Thistle Grove. It's cozy and magical, full of interesting characters and events. I will say that I'm not sure how memorable this installment will be for me, but I definitely enjoyed it. There were some solid steamy scenes, a compelling mystery and charming magical elements. The plot itself is low-stakes, but that's not a bad thing. It was a relaxing, fun read and everyone needs one of those occasionally.

Additionally, I appreciated the backdrop of family dynamics. Issa and Rowan both come from close-knit families, but the functioning of those families is very different. I like how that was explored a bit. It was sort of a great example of how there is no one set way to be a loving family; it comes in all forms and functions. Every family is different, it doesn't mean they love less.

I'm definitely planning to continue on with this series. I like returning to the town and getting to know different people every time, but also seeing a bit of the previous characters. It feels like meeting up with old friends.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I am looking forward to the next book, Back in a Spell.

3.5 stars!

I’m a big fan of a witchy romance, so of course I was delighted to read the latest installment in The Witches of Thistle Grove series.

FROM BAD TO CURSED is an opposites attract/enemies to lovers romance with plenty of family drama, as the Avramovs and Thorns find themselves at the center of the feud.

I loved the sexy chemistry between Issa and her nemesis Rowan, as they put their differences aside to discover the mystery in the town of Thistle Grove.

Each story gets better and better and I can’t wait to continue on with this series.

*many thanks to Berkley Romance for the gifted copy for review

Lana Harper brings the magic one more time with From Bad to Cursed. Any time spent in Thistle Grove is a good time IMO. Loved reading Issa and Rowan's story and being reunited with other characters from the first book. It's definitely able to be read as a stand alone, but check out Payback's a Witch first if you can.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

I don't know what I was expecting from this book, but it was really not the right fit for me. This book was way more focused on romance than it is on fantasy. I wish I had known that going in. I also wish I knew that it was a straight romance because the first book was queer.

Like the first book, I enjoyed the world though still have questions about how their magic works and the town. They still have not answered that if this town is magical, what happened to the native Americans who lived there before? I think that's something that they probably should address, especially like in this book they did start talking about modern issues like racism and misogyny.

The characters were just okay in this book. I liked Rowan well enough, even if we didn't learn much about his thoughts and thought process. Isidora was a little too petty and immature. She also was way too horny way too fast. They needed more time to develop an actual relationship than what we got. This also happened in the first book, but now I know I guess this is just the author's style. Also, they never contradict that having anxiety or anxiety attacks is a weakness. I thought they were going to address that at the end that she's now going to therapy, taking medicine, or realizing she needs help, but it's never addressed. Yes, Rowan seems to have the right opinion, but Isadora never reflects on it. I also rolled my eyes so badly about her secret from her family. it seemed very dumb compared to like coming out.

I will say that the steamy parts were well done, and I enjoyed the mystery aspect. I did guess what happened, but it still was an interesting idea. Also, love the atmosphere of the different witches' nights and celebrations.

Overall I realize this series is not for me it's just too much focused on romance versus fantasy.

it was fine, i liked the romance but it focused a lot more on the mystery which is fine but like… i’m reading a romance not a mystery book.

In this second book from Lana Harper of the Thistle Grove witches follows Isadora Avramov as she investigates an attack on another witch from Thistle Grove. But she has to work with Rowan Thorn, her sworn enemy. After they tried to work together several years ago and he kept her from staying at the animal shelter. They are tasked with figuring out who attacked Holly Thorn at the first celebration of Spring. But Isa is having her own problems. Though she loves working her family’s haunted house and planning each one with her cousin, she really wants to do fashion design for normal people. As she and Rowan work together they get closer and come to a different conclusion about their time working together and their feelings for each other. But the family histories run deep in this town and they discover something that is a threat to everyone. In this book of the Thistle Grove series, we have a mystery to solve and two people from opposite types of magic have to work together to figure out who the threat is. I’ve enjoyed the first two books now and I can’t wait to read the third one. It’s a great read for a cold weekend.

I am so glad to be back with these characters and getting to experience the romance blooming between Issa and Rowan. I adored this magic-packed adventure. I can't wait to see what Lana Harper created next. I never want to leave Thistle Grove!

Harper has created an amazing spell in Thistle Grove. Just as immersive as Payback's a Witch and will definitely recommend this to romance readers that depend on fully fledged and dependable world building.

This was okay. It started off really good but fell a bit flat for me towards the end. I don’t know if I’d recommend.

I had a different idea of how the characters would be from what I saw in book 1, so it was a little bit of a surprise and a letdown. I had pictured more darkness and more angst and enemies in this book than what we received.

The romance scenes were good, and the increased insights into the magic world of Thistle Grove were good I like seeing another family from behind the scenes. But the story wasn't enough for me.

This is the second book in the Witches of Thistle Grove series, and in my opinion, Lana Harper can do no wrong. I've loved every one of her books so far and am eagerly awaiting the third in this series, Back in a Spell, which comes out in January.

Isidore Avramov loves her family and town but dreams of becoming a fashion designer and moving away, leaving her family’s witchy business behind.

But when the Avramov family gets cast under suspicion following a dark magic accident, Issa joins Rowan Thorn in investigating the matter. The only problem is, she can’t stand Rowan…at least that’s what she’s always thought.

Rowan Thorne is by-the-book in everything he does, and he and Issa have been archenemies for years. Can they put aside their differences to get to the bottom of this dangerous mystery before anyone else gets hurt?

I adore a good enemies-to-lovers story, and throw in a family feud and you’ve got me hooked. The pacing of this book was spot-on, and discovering more pieces of the puzzle as Issa and Rowan worked to solve the mystery was so much fun. Even though the two of them were clearly going to end up together, getting to know them on a deeper level, as they learned more about each other was really wonderful. I can’t wait to read more from Thistle Grove!

This was the perfect October read, I can’t recommend it enough, so if it’s not already on your TBR you need to change that.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get passed the narration style. I don't mind modern/slang being used in the narrative but when it's constant, it gets old pretty quickly and that's how I felt about this book and the way it was written. I know some people really DO like that when reading so I'm sure there's an audience for it, but I'm just not part of it.

This book has it all! Enemies to lovers + forced proximity + witchy romance. Everything I love. I loved being back in this series and back in Thistle Grove. I also loved the diversity and representation in this book. Looking forward to the next book in the series!

This was a lot of fun and the perfect witchy read for October! I enjoyed being back in Thistle Grove and even though this story was more mystery than adventure, it was still the same vibe and feeling.

A delightful romp, back in the world of Thistle Grove, & its witchy families. This was a lot of fun, and I really enjoy learning more and more about the town, it’s history, and it’s traditions. These Thistle Grove books are becoming “must reads” for me, and I can’t wait for the next one!

It’s great when the second book in a series is as fun as the first! In this installment, Issa is paired with her arch nemesis Rowan to find out who is throwing curses at the Thorn family. Favorite characters from book one make appearances- Emmy, Talia etc but you don’t have to have read the first book- this is complete on it’s own. Thanks Netgalley for the arc- looking forward to book three!

Forget your teenage magic schools — I yearn to visit a witch-themed bar with artisanal cocktails, ghostly guests and opinionated magical trees.

Isidora Avramov delights in her family’s demon-summoning, ectoplasm-manipulating, ghost-communicating death magic. But when someone uses an heirloom Avramov curse to attack one of the witches of the rival Thorn family, Isidora is determined to prove it’s a frame-up job. Even if that means teaming up with her archnemesis Rowan Thorn, a too-handsome witch and veterinarian, whose empathic life-centered healing magic is as far from Issa’s as you can get.

This book puts the romance in necromancy: Issa is a sharp and impulsive narrator, and it’s wonderful to get a new angle on Thistle Grove and its history. And much as I love a tragically orphaned governess heroine, there’s always room for more “I love my family and they’re ruining my life” in romance. A mother who insists her way is the only right one, a daughter so invested in appearing strong that she hides the things she most needs help and comfort with — these are hammers to the heartstrings, and the reader reverberates in sympathy.

Paranormal romance has always been one of my favorites, and it’s been especially wonderful to see how many queer variations have appeared in this latest wave. Harper’s got her hooks in me now, along with C.L. Polk, Olivia Atwater and Freya Marske. As we move into fall and the fading of the year, we need a bit of magic to see us through.

I thoroughly enjoyed another visit to Thistle Grove for Payback’s a Witch's sequel From Bad to Cursed By Lana Harper. This time around it spring in Thistle Grove and time for the annual spring traditions of the founding witch families. However a malevolent force is at work and brings the opening festivities to a halt when a hex strikes an unassuming witch from the Thorn family. Polar opposites Rowan Thorn, whose family practices life & healing magic, and Isidora Avramov, whose family practices necromancy are appointed to investigate who is responsible for casting the hex. Unfortunately, Rowan and Issa don't work well together, as Issa holds a grudge against Rowan for getting her fired from her volunteer job at an animal scheduled shelter years earlier. This is an enemies to lovers romance, and in a make believe town of Thistle Grove, I totally believed and enjoyed the progression of Rowan and Issa's romance as they hunt down the source of the evil hex.