"Sometimes love is too magical to ignore..."

Synopsis From Publisher: Gwyn Jones is perfectly happy with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mom, and her cousin, Vivi, 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.

Personal Review: 4 Stars

Last year, my bookclub selected The Ex Hex through Book of the Month to start out spooky season, this year I was lucky enough to get my hands on The Kiss Curse to add to my supernatural stack! Upon receiving the book, I dove right in, right back to Glens Grave with Vivi, Rhys, Gwyn, and Elena - but this novel focused on a new main character - Llewellyn "Wells" Penhallow and his enemy Gwyn Jones. This was one of my favorite romance tropes - enemies to lovers!

This book made me want to grab an hot beverage from the Coffee Cauldron and a warm blanket, as Erin Sterling took us back to the Georgia mountains. I wanted to transplant myself right into the book - get a Broomstick Burger and MacBeth Mash at Five Swords, spend an evening at the Cider Shack sipping a Wicked Queens Poisoned Apple cider with our favorite Penhallows! Graves Glen has all the magical elements we have came to LOVE during Spooky Season in The Ex Hex, and this book was no exception. It is the perfect book for the month of October, if you love romance, witty banter, and practical magic.

In The Ex Hex, we learned that Gryffud Penhallow, the man who founded the town and laid the ley lines of magic, had stolen magic from Aelwyd Jones, Gwyn's ancestor, killing her in the process. In The Kiss Curse, we follow Gwyn and Wells, the ancestors of Gryffud and Aelwyd, as they run opposite magic shops, and struggle for a solution to Gwyn's disappearing magic. Gwyn mentoring the small cell of "baby witches" seriously threw me such Sabrina the Teenage Witch vibes, as they called her Glenda the Good Witch and honed their witchery skills with her assistance. I loved the addition of these new characters. Without giving away too many spoilers - I loved Sterling's villain in the novel, and Wells transition from life in Wales running the Raven and Crown pub, to life in Glen Graves. The change in points of view from Vivi and Rhys, to Gwyn and Wells, was something I really enjoyed about the novel, generally series follow the same characters, but I adore when authors switch it up!

My only qualm with the book is that we spent an extended amount of time learning about the magical elements and the new coven of witches that migrated from Charleston, but in the rising action, there was very little detail of the conflict resolution that occurred in the attic of Morgan's mansion - that aspect felt rushed. The magical elements are something I like background knowledge on and I wanted to know exactly how this was solved.

Thank you Harper Collins and Avon Books for an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I will leave you with the sweetest quote that stuck with me from this novel. "She didn't know if he meant her cabin, or his haunted mansion, but it didn't really matter. Wherever the two of them were together, that was home."

If you love a quirky, but sassy heroine that has addictive banter with a grumpy, yet hot love interest all while taking on bad witches during the spookiest time of year this is the book for you!

What I loved about this book:

1. Hello well done and steamy s3x scenes! Sterling really out did herself with this one. The spicy bits will grab your attention without any cringiness while the witty bits will have you laughing out loud. I love a well done bedroom scene and funny banter so that's a huge plus for this book.

2. I loved seeing the baby witches grow a bit more throughout this one while visiting Penhollow once again. They were involved enough without taking over and it has me hoping one of them get their own book next. My 🤞 as I hope for a baby witch book in the near future.

3. This is a light, but fun cozy mystery/romance that is a perfect fall read. Even though fall feels a lot like summer in the desert, I still like to pretend we have sweater weather and leaves falling so this book did a great job of transporting me into the small town at the perfect time of year.

This light, but fun read is sure to bring you some laughs whike having you crave all things pumpkin spice. So grab a latte, your favorite fall blanket, and imerse yourself into Viv and Well's witchy fall romance!

This is the perfect book for fall! I loved the enemies to lovers plot with the same familiar characters from the Ex Hex. I also love how Erin Sterling adds a level of mystery and spooky suspense in this series. I loved jumping back into the Graves Glen magical drama. Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for the Arc.

This book hit all the right notes for me. A fun escape into approachable characters who speak like real modern people. This was a great follow up to the first book and I enjoyed seeing a HEA for these two characters.

Erin Sterling/Rachel Hawkins may just be my favorite writer! I absolutely devoured this book. Highly recommend!

This book has everything you can ask for in a witchy romance. Good witches, bad witches, new witches, oh my! The town is the perfect atmosphere, and I love any of the interactions between family members—If anything, my only critique would be that I wanted more!

Yet another amazing hit by Erin Sterling. Somehow she managed to outdo herself in this sophomore novel

Rating: 1000000/10
Spice: 8/10

Summary
Lewellyn "Wells" Penhallow is sick of running his family's run down, empty bar in Wales. His father *reluctantly* agrees to let Wells go hang out in Graves Glenn - the town where the Penhallow family magic was recently replaced (some might say restored) to the Jones family.

Gwyn Jones is going to be running the show in Graves Glenn this fall for her family - as her mother Elaine and cousin Vivi will both be out of town. She's honestly glad to have a brief reprieve from Rhys Penhallow and Vivi's newlywed bliss. But, she will be busy with running the family store, preparing for Halloween and mentoring the local college "baby" witches.

But suddenly - a sketchy group of witches return to the town. And suddenly a rival store opens *literally right across* from her family's. And ... her magic is acting up?

Saddle up for yet another book with your favorite witch coven.

Review
ONCE AGAIN, there is nothing better than an Erin Sterling book and a pumpkin spice latte to get ready for the fall season. And a rom-com, nonetheless.

Sterling is just amazing at painting senses and engrossing you into the world she's created. Graves Glenn is a perfect setting and I'm so sad that there's not endless amounts of books here (yet!).

Sterling manages to make a rom-com with subplots that are equally engrossing. The plot twists caught me by complete surprise.

All the secondary characters are once again SUPER well written. You can tell that a lot of thought and care is put into writing their stories. All the individual personalities and little details are just what makes Sterling's novels so special.

Once again, Sir Purrcival is a shining star. I was so happy that he was a central part of the book. I'm convinced Sterling has real experience with talking cats, this little magic kitty is just a bit too realistic.

Sterling proves herself to be a repeat hit author, and one I can comfortably continue raving about and following.

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling in exchange for an honest review.

So, let's get into the review:

I honestly loved this book. It's cute, funny, a little steamy and absolutely perfect for fall (my favorite season). The book takes place in the witch filled town of Graves Glen, Georgia and the town ambiance definitely shines through as you read. It follows witches Gwyn and Wells with competing businesses who eventually come together to combat nefarious forces that have come to town.

I read The Ex Hex (the first book in the series) last fall and while I thought it was super cute, I think The Kiss Curse has both a better plot and more character depth. The book was super funny with a ton of cute jokes. I thought Gwyn and Wells had great chemistry and (predictably for me) I loved the enemy to lovers thing they had going on. I also liked the plot twists that came up near the end end. The twists definitely made the plot a lot more engaging. While The Kiss Curse isn't the deepest and most complicated book I've ever read, I definitely recommend it. It's enjoyable and ultimately a perfect witchy fall read!

The Kiss Curse comes out September 20th, 2022. It can be read as either part of a series or as a standalone.

The Kiss Curse is a wonderful sequel to The Ex Hex. I loved returning to Grave's Glen and learning more about the Penhallows and Joneses as Gwyn and Wells got close. I also thought their story was quite adorable with his constant frustration at actually being attracted to her. While the plot did end relatively quickly, it didn't take me out of the overall story and it did make sense within the world that Sterling has created. Overall another 5/5 read and I can't wait for the third installment!

Star Rating: 4/5
Spice Rating: 1.5/5

As spooky season approaches, be sure to plan your return to Graves Glen with The Kiss Curse. In the follow up novel to The Ex Hex, Rhys's brother hangs his towel up at the family pub and moves to America for a fresh start.

Gwyn Jones does not trust Wells Penhallow. While he may have been popular amongst the ladies during their short overlap at the local college, Gwyn never trusted him and now he's back and threatening her business by opening his own store right across the road. Gwyn steps up to protect her store and her town from the man across the street until she realizes he may not be the greatest threat the town is currently facing.

With Vivi and Rhys on their honeymoon, it's up to Gwyn and Wells to get to the bottom of this threat and protect Graves Glen.

I really, really enjoyed The Kiss Curse. It was quite similar to The Ex Hex in many respects, but I didn't particularly mind. I think it helped that I did read them a year apart and that reading them back to back may make it harder to overlook some of the similar tropes, etc.

My only other complaint was that there was a plotline which was not properly wrapped up. I was really excited for the couple to resolve this one, very small, plotline but it got lost in the main plotline.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for access to the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

As a fan of fan of all the cozy, spooky vibes in The Ex Hex, I was not disappointed in Erin Sterling’s follow up The Kiss Curse. I loved Gwyn in the first book and was so excited to see her — and by association, Sir Purrcival! — shine in this book. Wells was a welcome add to the scene in Graves Glen and proved to be a worthy adversary-turned-ally for Gwyn. This is perfect for any reader that is looking to kick off the spooky season with a delightful, spunky, and ultimately heartwarming novel.

4⭐️

#netgalley #thekisscurse

Absolutely perfect read for fall. Especially if you’re a fan of Halloween and spooky fun year round. This is fun and sexy with a good mystery and difficult family dynamics. I’m ready for Bowen’s story, please and thank you

An amazing book again! Wells is the best for a grumpy sunshine trope! The ending was a little rushed and predictable but I loved the confidence! Definitely recommend!

First, thank you Netgalley and Avon books for this advanced copy. Second, this book was simply fantastic. Gwynn and Wells are fire together. Sir Purrcival is my absolute favorite character and I'm so glad he had a larger role in this book. I feel like this book was better than the first, and I'm truly hoping there is a third book about the last Penhallow brother.

Super cute book that is part of the 'ex hex' series but also can be read as a stand alone.

This book puts me in the mood for fall and spooky season, love it!

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

This book felt like a hug from pumpkin spice season. I loved jumping back into Graves Glen and getting to see all my favorites again. It gave me all the fall, breezy, witchy vibes I was looking for. The small town is so charming, with a lauded history. I enjoyed seeing Gwen’s character develop. Loved seeing the two love interests fall for each other, enemies to lovers style!

If you’re looking for a fun spooky season book to pick up while you drink your PSL in a new cozy sweater, as you stir your pumpkin soup, this is the book for you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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The Kiss Curse is the sequel to The Ex Hex and brings us another witchy romance in the cute, Georgia town of Graves Glen. TKC gives us Gwyn’s story, as the kitschy shop she owns is struggling and her cousin, Vivi, and her husband, Rhys, are going out of town for a few weeks, leaving Gwyn in charge of all of Graves Glen’s magic. She’s reunited with a piece of her past, and her cousin’s husband’s brother (lol), comes back into town. Wells, tired of doing his father’s bidding, returns to Graves Glen to open up a shop that just happens to be across the street with his new arch-nemesis, Gwyn.
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I thought that this was cute! I wished that it went a little deeper and thought we were left with some unanswered questions. I also found myself skimming a lot because I didn’t really CARE about the characters. It was a lot of telling as opposed to showing. It’s great for a cozy fall read, has a low spice level, and definitely reads fast!

* First I’d like to thank Avon Books and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*

I really liked this book. I thought Gwyn was a great main character because she knew who she was and didn’t really change much. And then Wells as a leading man was amazing because his seriousness complemented Gwyn’s optimistic and lighter personality. Their chemistry was off the charts.

I thought the plot was really well done too. Erin Sterling did a great job building on her world with the small town and university life. She captures the fear of seeing someone from your class years later and not knowing how to react. There were some twists that I could predict, and I feel like Sterling could have had the twists be presented in a different way. There was also one point of the story where I was waiting for Wells to have a clear recollection of Gwyn in school, but it was never explicitly said. So I’m unsure about that.

Regardless, this was one of my favourite books of the year, and I hope there’s more from Erin Sterling in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Kiss Curse delves into the witchy town Graves Glen. The town's history and magic were originally tied to the Penhallow family, but now the Jones family runs the show. Gwyn Jones is unprepared for Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow, who breezes into town from Wales to re-establish his family's claim. He sets up shop across from Gwyn and the competition is on.

Their initial rivalry is soon derailed. First, by a kiss. Then, by a suspicious group of new faces. Everything is worsened when Gwyn's magic starts draining away. Now, Wells and Gwyn are drawn together to solve the multiplying mysteries...and maybe fall in love.

I've previously read Erin Sterling's thrillers she writes as Rachel Hawkins and was excited to read this book. This is the second book in the series, but I was able to enjoy it as a standalone. The story moved a bit slow in the beginning, but I attribute this to the fact I haven't read the first in the series. Overall, a good read to prepare you for fall weather.

Super cute continuation of the Ex Hex series. The enemies to lovers thing Gwyn and Wells had going on was really well done. They resisted each other so much, of course you knew there was something else going on between them. Baby Witches and Sir Purrcival were also highlights! Can't wait for Bowen's story!

This sequel to The Ex Hex follows Vivi’s cousin, Gwyn, and Rhys’s brother, Wells. With the cozy and witchy town of Graves Glen, Georgia as the backdrop, Gwyn and Wells clash over their neighboring shops. They begin to work together when a former classmate returns to Graves Glen bringing some weird vibes with her.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. I read The Ex Hex last year as part of my October reads and reading the sequel has got me excited for fall. The romance between Gwyn and Wells was cute and steamy, but I wish it would have been developed a bit more. There were some things about this book that didn’t feel fully fleshed out. For example, the book starts with a scene from college where the two characters kind of meet but we find out Wells doesn’t realize it was Gwyn once he meets her later and Gwyn never tells him. I think the way the conflict with the dark magic was resolved felt rushed. I didn’t expect perfection from this book, but I did enjoy the atmosphere and characters. I hope there will be a third book in this series about the third brother, Bowen!

Read if you like:
-witches
-enemies to lovers
-grumpy / sunshine
-talking cats