I enjoyed the first book in the series last year (Witchful Thinking) and was excited to get a copy of book 2 - Kiss and Spell. These books published exactly a year apart, and I read the first exactly a year ago.

They take place in the same town, Freya Grove, a magical area. While the characters are related (same last name), you can read this as a standalone, and you will have no problem and need no background from book 1.

Kiss and Spell is about Ursula, who is trying to get her witchy life back on track after a spell gone wrong, so she’s helping out a stranger who has come to town with an unusual story - he’s a fae prince in need of a perfect true loves kiss to break a curse. She agrees to help him with finding his love and getting his kiss so he can be on his way, but of course doesn’t believe he’s fae or a real prince.

The two spend plenty of time together in the search, learning a lot about each other, and he begins to enjoy the town and this side of the veil between worlds.

Celestine Martin writes enjoyable witchy romance tales and this one is out just upon time to start your binge reading before Halloween - I definitely recommend including it in your TBR for the season!

I received a copy from NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and this is my honest feedback.

This book is focused on the romance story between a human witch heroine and a cursed fae prince hero. The hero is cursed by the Fae Queen to remain in the mortal world to find the "perfect kiss" and arrived at the heroine's hometown to find it. The heroine is trying to find herself again after being jilted by her ex-fiancé. The hero and the heroine struck a friendship to help each other but end up getting romantic feelings for each other. For the hero and the heroine to a future together, they must first face their own issues and other obstacles before they get their happy ending.

This is the second book in the ELEMENTAL LOVE series. Set in a charming town with some supernatural characters, the romantic story features lost souls trying to find themselves in love and life. The heroine went through a life-changing situation in the previous book that she's dealing with the consequences in this book, making her grow in character. The hero also changed in this book, from not believing in love to finding it with the heroine. Along with the main couple are secondary characters that surrounded them, including the heroine's family circle and those close to them. The story has a nice vibe, and I enjoyed the author's writing style. This book is an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more future works from the author.


** Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own. **

I received this as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The universe was kind to me when I read this. As a mood reader it was basically a miracle that I was in the exact mood for a fairytale-based romantasy!

Martin did it again with this novel. She showed a relatably flawed FMC working to overcome heartbreak and be vulnerable again.

This was a delight to read and I look forward to the next installment!

I didn’t love the first book in this series. I didn’t dislike it either but it was middle of the road enough for me that I wasn’t sure about this book. I ended up really liking it! Definitely an improvement from the first book.

This book is a warm hug and perfect to jump into fall with. I loved it! Thank you for letting me read an early copy.

I enjoyed Celestine Martin’s Witchful Thinking last October so requested the Netgalley of book two in the Elemental Love series. This book follows Ursula, a witch that can tell the future, and Xavier, a cursed fairy prince. Xavier leaves the fairy realm to try to find the perfect kiss to break a spell, after a chance meeting, Ursula agrees to be his wing woman.

What I liked: I had wanted more of Ursula’s story in book one so I was glad to see it expanded. She’s really trying to find herself after her wedding is called off and her previously perfect life is a bit of a mess.

The family element is great in these two books – the Caraway women are close and even after some fall out in book one, they still can come together.

What didn’t work for me: By about 75% I really wanted them to just talk to each other. You get insight into how both characters are thinking but they just won’t open up to each other. It gets a tad frustrating.

I still want more world building.

Who should read it: This picks up after book one but you don’t really need to read Witchful Thinking to dive into this one. In fact, I had to google a few plot points in Witchful Thinking to refresh my memory but it didn’t take away from the story. Read if you enjoy slightly steamy contemporary romance with magical elements.

!!!! this book was so cute !!!! 4 ⭐️

kiss and spell is about witch ursula and fae prince xavier in a small whimsical town. ursula is busy trying to repair her life after some stressful events, and xavier comes along searching for a perfect kiss to break a curse he’s under. that’s it! that’s the plot! just two magical folks searching for love and a kiss 💕 this book felt so cozy and mystical and pure. it’s also apparently the second book in a series (which i didn’t know until after reading) and i can’t wait to go back and read the first!

i absolutely recommend this cozy book and it’s here just in time for spooky season! this book comes out september 26 ✨ thank you to Forever for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ursula has been left at the alter. She meets Xavier a far prince who has been cursed by the Faerie Queen and is looking for a kiss to break the spell put on him. Ursula and Cavier are perfect for each other and I enjoyed the build up of their relationship going from strangers to friends to lovers. This was a little bit of a slow burn but it was a good read.

Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I Voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced copy of this book. All Thoughts and opinions are my own.
Kiss and Spell is a lovely follow-up to Witchful Thinking and is the story of Ursula Caraway. This was a great book. I really enjoyed it and will definitely be reading the next books in the series!

A big thank you to Celestine Martin, Forever Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Kiss and Spell comes out September 26, 2023.

Kiss and Spell was such a swoony and romantic read that is a perfect witchy read just in time for this Halloween season. A year after being left at the alter, Ursula needs to shake up this new life she has. This includes reconnecting with her magic and her magical family and befriending an enchanted prince. Xavier is a fae prince enchanted by the Faerie Queen to find his perfect kiss. teaming up to help him find his perfect kiss, the two will discover that maybe his perfect kiss is closer than they thought.

This was honestly a very enjoyable read. First the only problem I had was that I did not read the first one and for it being a standalone novel I was in the dark about the world building. Also there was very little mention about what happened in the previous novel that would have helped understand the tension between her and her cousins. Other than that both Ursula and Xavier were sweet and complex characters, that both went through amazing character growth. I loved seeing Ursula reconnect with her family and Xavier standing up for himself was amazing. Overall if you are looking for sweety, spicey and romantic witchy novel Kiss and Spell is for you!!

My main criticism of this book is that I feel like the world building needed a lot more explanation. It's possible that this is because I didn't read book one, but these are supposed to be stand alone novels and I felt like I was missing a lot of information. I loved the concept and the cozy magical vibes!

Title: Kiss and Spell
Author: Celestine Martin
Length: 385 pages
Format: ebook arc through NetGalley
Pub Date: September 26th
Genre: Contemporary Romance, ChickLit, Rom Com
Rating Out of 5: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Summary: Alright, so, you've got this lovelorn witch, Ursula Caraway, who just wants her perfect life in Freya Grove. But guess what? Fate's like, "Nah, not today." So now she's playing matchmaker for the heartbroken, selling some mystical crystals, and trying to get her lost mojo back. Oh, and did I mention she's got this seriously cute, enchanted prince on her hands?
And speaking of Prince Charming, Xavier Alder's got a real problem. Cursed by the Faerie Queen, he's on a quest to find true love's kiss. Ursula, in her quest for a little magic, agrees to help him out before Midsummer. But here's the catch: sparks are flying, but can they break the curse without falling head over heels for each other? It's like a romantic comedy with a magical twist, and trust me, it's gonna be spellbinding!

I really enjoyed this read! It had all the cozy, magical, witchy, autumn vibes (even though it’s set in spring/summer)! The perfect romance read for fall with just the right amount of romance, fantasy, humor, and spice 🍁. I didn’t realize this was #2 in the Elemental Love series, so I’m excited to go read the first one now!

Special thanks to NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for my honest review!

Memorable Quote: “Haven’t you heard? Halloween is a state of mind,”

Several months ago, Ursula made a wish for happiness, and her fiancé left her at the alter. The impact of being stood up wrecked her confidence and ability to make decisions, so she left her job and is working as a medium for her Mama’s shop. Tired of pitying looks and going no where, Ursula makes herself a list of to dos to take back her life.

Fae Prince Xavier has been cursed (enchanted?) to find the “perfect kiss” after he made some disparaging remarks about love to the Fae Queen. He’s had a number of dates but none lead to a kiss. Striking up an easy friendship, Ursula promises to help Xavier find his kiss so he can return home.

Kiss and Spell is Martin’s follow up to the delightful Witchful Thinking, which introduced Ursula and her magical cousins. In that first book, readers witness Ursula’s wish and the subsequent disintegration of her wedding plans. After reading Witchful Thinking, it seemed that Ursula was destined for her fiancé’s twin brother, but Marcus doesn’t even show up in Kiss and Spell. Honestly, I was a bit shocked, and this may be part of the reason I never got behind Ursula and Xavier as a couple.

While Kiss and Spell has some magical moments, I found it hard to relate to both main characters and the pair as a couple. Part of the issue is that readers don’t witness the time after Ursula’s failed wedding and her loss of confidence. Rather than being allowed to experience Ursula’s pain, readers are told she’s gone through a lot. I also cannot understand why Ursula, who blames that fateful wish on her ruination, is so obsessed with continuing to make different wishes. It’s just so contradictory. Finally, Ursula isolates herself from her cousins, which were a big part of the first book. While I can understand some embarrassment over her behavior, I don’t understand why she has cut her family off so completely.

Xavier comes off as formal and cold at first. He’s kind, but keeps everything at a distance. Even after we get to know him and the pair become friendly, Ursula continues to call him “Highness” and he calls her “Madame” which enforces a formality and distance between the pair in my mind. Additionally, readers are told that weeks go by, and the author doesn’t share the experiences that allow the pair to bond and become friends. I didn’t feel them growing closer, even though I was told they were.

In the end, Kiss and Spell was a disappointment, especially after I enjoyed the first book so much.

My Rating: C/C-

Ursula's fiance left her at the altar year ago. Xavier was cursed and needs a true love's kiss--but doesn't believe in love. And Freya Grove's three-month-long love festival is back. Ursula decides to help her new friend find his true love, but Xavier starts to wonder if she might be the one he's looking for.
I love Ursula's and Xavier's friendship, and their reasons for not wanting to date each other make a lot of sense, even as I was rooting for them to get together. I also love the dynamics between them and the other characters in their lives--Ursula and her cousins and sister; Xavier and his godmother. I also LOVE the idea of Freya Grove, and all the different supernatural beings living there.

There were a few moments I wanted a little more information--like, I forgot the specifics of Ursula's storyline from book one, and there was enough to remind me of what happened between her and Lincoln, but I didn't quite remember why things were so bad that she ended up estranged from her family, and I would have loved a refresher about that. There was also a line about how Xavier was a fae who couldn't even fly, and that seemed like a big deal--but it hadn't been mentioned before, and I wanted to know more. Things like that.
I don't want to give spoilers for the ending, but I also wanted a little more about how they both felt about choices that had to be made, considering similar choices had come up as a point of contention for them and/or their families before.

This book felt like a magical fairytale with its ups and downs, but sweet and romantic. Between feeling of sadness of the FMC to rooting for her to follow her heart and her vision (leap). The MMC was just charming and infuriating at the same time, but it was the in between parts of the budding romance. This was an exceptionally written magical literally magical story. This author just gave me butterflies from reading the characters finding out what love really is. Just an amazing amazing story.

Last fall I fell in love with the Caraway family of witches in Witchful Thinking, with the exception of Ursula, the bridezilla cousin who was stood up at the altar. I was slightly surprised to find that Ursula was the main character of Kiss and Spell and wondered how the author would make such an unlikeable secondary character into the heroine of the story. Celestine Martin must have some magic of her own because I enjoyed Kiss and Spell even more than Witchful Thinking!

There is so much more to Ursula than was portrayed in the first book. While she has learned and grown over the last year, she also needs to repair her relationship with her cousins and needs closure with her former fiancé. I ended up truly liking Ursula. I also appreciated the explanation as to the thoughts and uncertainties that pushed her into the bridezilla behavior in the previous book.

Enter a cursed, or enchanted depending on your point of view, Fae prince. After being enchanted by the Faerie Queen as a punishment for his rash speaking, Xavier Alder needs to find the perfect kiss before Midsummer if he wants to break the curse and return to his home in Faerie. If he fails, his father will choose a politically beneficial match for him. His lack of social skills and disbelief in love are hindering his quest. Who better than a witch who still believes happily ever after to help him change his mind about love?

It was a great read. It was a fairytale story with some witch elements. This one was a little long. Hopefully the book release is shorter. Ursula has earned my forgiveness.

3.75 ⭐️ rounded to 4
Witchful Thinking was my introduction to this magical realism subgenre of romance and I couldn't wait to hop into the second book. It did not disappoint.
Ursula is a down on her luck witch who's trying to find her way back to herself. Xavier is a fae prince who cursed or rather enchanted. Xavier is exiled from his home realm until he can find his perfect kiss. Only problem is, Xavier does not believe in love. After a few run ins, Ursula decides to help him and the story takes off from there.
I enjoyed the individual character development, as well seeing their friendship grow. This was such a cute, airy romance small town romance. Freya Grove (the town) has this magic about it that brings people/creatures together.

TROPES: friends to lovers, small town, slow burn, witches/faes, jilted bride

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for providing me with an ARC of this book!

This is a fun read set in a magical Jersey Shore town. Ursula is a witch and is still dealing with the aftermath of being jilted by text the day of her wedding last year. She ended up quitting her job and moved into the apartment above her mother’s psychic shop and works in the shop. While hanging out on the boardwalk one evening contemplating her future, a lost fae prince named Xavier mistakes her for his blind date. Ursula is kind and brings him to the correct location. When they run into each other again, they develop the beginnings of a friendship. Can he find his perfect kiss by midsummer and will she get her happily ever after? Read this enchanting tale to find out. Now I want to read the book before this one.

✨ PRINCEMAN REVIEW ✨

⁉️ What's your favorite fairytale?

📝 A year ago, Ursula wished for her happily ever after. Instead, she ended up jilted at the alter, estranged from her cousins and penniless. She wants to get her life back on track, but that's easier said than done. Fae Prince Xavier is "cursed" after mocking true love to the Fae Queen. In order to break it, he must experience the perfect kiss. 💋 Sent to the human world, he never expected a witch to alter his life so drastically. In real fairytales, witches never win.

What I 🤍:
✨ Paranormal Romance
😍 Sweet, Feel Good Read
💕 Strangers to Friends to Lovers
🏰 Fairytale Romance
🧚‍♂️ Fairy Godmother
📚 Picks Up from Book 1 in Series

I appreciated how "Kiss & Spell" picks up right where "Witchful Thinking" leaves off. Readers will appreciate this book more if you read Book 1. Ursula is in a really bad place, and a bit broken. Her character was really relatable to me. I just felt giddy reading this book because it was a modern day fairytale. It was sweet, light-hearted and the perfect mix between Cinderella and Beauty & the Beast.

Prince's Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steaminess: 🔥🔥🔥 (Open Door, but on the sweet side rather than spicy)
Read If ➡️: You love Disney or fairytales
Read 📅: March-May or October for Witchy Season
CW ⚠️: Jilted Bride, Estranged Family Members

Readers who enjoy sweet, and romances so perfect that they're written in storybooks will enjoy this. It's lighthearted with fairy godmother magic. 🪄 At times it almost felt too perfect, or cheesy, but that's EXACTLY the type of book I was in the mood for. Just know that going into it, and you'll love it!

Kiss and Spell comes out September 26. Thank you so much to Forever Publishing for a digital ARC of this book! My review will be posted shortly to my Instagram page (@LifeWithPrinceMan).