I chop at the bit for Sarah Hogle’s new books. I can still remember exactly where I was when I read You Deserve Each Other and if you haven't read it, I HIGHLY recommend you do as soon as you finish this magical read first!

I devoured this book over the weekend and am now actively trying to figure out how I can be a flora fortunist. I became a plant mom this year and am flourishing (pun intended) in my green thumb glory and would LOVE to be able to magically make someone’s hopes for true love come true using my own floral arrangement creation!

There is so much about this story that you are going to love. The witchy vibes, the second chance romance, the humor, the banter, gosh just the vibe of the book will put a smile on your face! I loved the characters and the magical small town too.
I also really loved how the chapters are labeled with types of flowers and little descriptions.

This is a romance you are definitely going to want to get your hands on and the perfect story to kick of spring!

Old Flames and New Fortunes by Sarah Hogle ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this e-ARC I’m exchange for an honest review. There was so much that I loved about this book. The small town of Moonville, The Magick Happens shop, Romina’s magical connection to flowers, her understanding of their symbolism, and her skills to combine them in a fortune-telling bouquet. I am also such a sucker for a great sister dynamic. I loved that Romina, Luna and Zelda each had their own unique talents and paths but they felt supported by one another no matter what the future held. I also felt that Hogle’s writing style really conveyed Romina’s emotions about having Alex back in her life and processing the fears and trauma from her past relationship. I literally had my heart in my chest for the last third of the book. Surprisingly, the fake dating and the romance was my least favorite part of the book. I found that Trevor didn’t seem to put forth effort into making his fake relationship with Romina seem believable. It annoyed me that Trevor immediately wanted to end their scheme once he found out that his potential love interest was jealous of Romina. I also had a love-hate relationship with the love interest, Alex. He and Romina had great banter and sexual tension, but he always seemed to act like he knew better than Romina and appeared to judge her for the ways her life had changed since they’d been together. I also thought that Alex rushed their relationship, even after hearing Romina’s fears due to her last relationship.

Overall this was a really enjoyable read, and I hope we get to see the love stories of Romina’s sisters in future books! Old Flames and New Fortunes will be published April 2nd 2024.

I don’t typical enjoy books with fantasy undertones but I was pleasantly surprised by this story. It had everything you could want from a romance book – angst, banter, slow-burn, and spice. All mixed up it created the perfect potion for an enjoyable read ❤ Right from the get-go you can’t help but laugh at Romina’s misfortune while attending what she thought was going to be a meeting with her shop owner’s father for a potential loan to complete repairs. Her “business meeting” ends up being an announcement of her financier’s engagement to none other than her former high school sweetheart’s mother. What’s a girl to do but to pretend to date her financier’s son and her ex-sweetheart’s future stepbrother? The chaos that ensues from this decision made me literally laugh out loud.

I did get frustrated at some point’s with Alex’s (the HS sweetheart) teasing and overall lack of communication and there are some important details about his life that he leaves out and doesn’t disclose to Romina despite her sharing serious details of what has happened to her in the past. Without any spoilers but once Romina disclosed these details, it does seem odd to me that Alex at that point would not have opened up about his life and been forthright about what he has been up to. Aside from this slight plot hole, I enjoyed the re-blossoming relationship between them enough to ignore this fact.

And the ending! Chef’s kiss to Sarah Hogle for tying together everything at the end with a pretty little bow. I low-key teared up a bit with how sweet it was.

This book is one that I knew would be up my alley, fake dating, fated love, and witches? Sign me up! However, it was actually harder for e to get into than I anticipated. I did power through since I liked the character of Romina so much and thought she and Alex made a great couple. I think my main issue was that there were parts of the conflict that I just couldn’t identify with, and that took me out of the story. By the end though, I was back in it and loved the conclusion!

Title: Old Flames and New Fortunes
Author: Sarah Hogle
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"Old Flames and New Fortunes" by Sarah Hogle

My Thoughts:
If you are into 'fake dating, second chance romance, scavenger hunts, small town, florists and weddings', family dynamics, and sister's relationships, then you have come to the proper novel to get a little bit of it all from this story. Also, if you are into the magic and fantasy this author brings to the story, you will also be in for a delightful read. The part I enjoyed best was the various descriptions of the flower arrangements presented since I love flowers. This novel may be riveting if you want an easy romantic second chance read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for gifting me a copy of OLD FLAMES AND NEW FORTUNES in exchange for my honest review.

Sarah Hogle writes in such a sweet, magical way that just feels so cozy! I loved this new little magical world that Sarah created! And I LOVE a second chance romance so much!! And this one had a little bit of fake dating for revenge! But not in the way that you’d think! And the tension and the pining and the banter that Alex and Romina had!! It was good!

The first half was…not it for me? I didn’t love it, but it was needed? But also I thought it was SILLY. But it was fast paced enough that I just flew right through it! But I also think that’s part of the reason why I didn’t like it much. I also found Alex irritating at first.

But the second half!! It was fantastic! Once their feeling came back to the surface and they actually TALKED it was so good. Everything came up and they were able to really talk about why they broke up and their miscommunications and how much it hurt them. The way Alex loved her SO MUCH. And the way they both were PINING so hard for each other FOREVER.

If there are going to be more books about Romina’s sisters though count me in! I’d love to be back in this little universe!

Thank you so much to Putnam for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really wanted to love this book. Witches, flowers and second chance Romance. Yes, please. The writing never grabbed me. I didn't feel happy vibes from the main characters. Especially Alex, I hated him. I wanted more magical vibes. I loved learning about the flowers and their meaning. This book just fell flat for me.

Filled with laughs and swoon, Old Flames and New Fortunes is a cute and cozy magical romance with a sprinkle of angst.

GENERAL INFO

Old Flames and New Fortunes: Book #1 A Moonville Novel

Publication : 4-2-24 , Read 3-31-24

Format: eBook, 382 pages

Source: Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC💚!  I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Setting: Moonville, OH

Genre: paranormal, fantasy, rom-com

Tropes: witches, magic, fake dating, 2nd chance romance, high school sweethearts, small town

 HEA/HFN ending: HEA

Epilogue Included: no

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Synopsis/Plot Summary: Romina and her sisters bought a lot and greenhouse after their grandmother Dottie's flower shop was sold off by their mother. The Magick Happens was given to their mother in a divorce settlement with their father. They ended up in debt because they didn't do their due diligence, so they are willing to ask Trevor(the current owner's father) for a loan. But Trevor's father Daniel announces he's getting married to Kristin, Romina's first and only love Alex's mother. Can Romina be around Alex or will she be completely miserable?

M/F-M/M-M/M/F-etc: M/F

Flashbacks: Yes, Romina and Alex in high school dating and Romina's parents constant arguments prior to divorce.

Jealy/Possy/OTT H/h : Yes, both Romina and Alex are jealous of each other

Amount of Sex In The Book: enough

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION

Romina Tempest-29, floral witch who uses the language of flowers to manifest love.

Luna Tempest-Romina's oldest sister. Has an eleven year old daughter Aisling. Into candle making.

Zelda Tempest-lives in VA, a paranormal writer owns The Cavern of Paperback Gems.

Alex King- a roofer, has a 4 year old son, Miles. Dated Romina in high school eleven years ago.

Trevor Yoon-the sisters' landlord and business partner at the flower shop. Handles their social media.

Daniel-Trevor's father, very rich business owner marrying Alex's mother.

Kristin King-Alex's mother who is marrying Daniel. Cared about Romina since her and Alex dated in high school.

Dottie Tempest-Romina's deceased grandmother who was a psychic. She told the sisters they would all find their true loves within the same year when a silver moth appears.

H /h RELATIONSHIP INFO

OW/OM/Exes: Romina's current "bf" Trevor and ex bf Spencer. Alex's ex Kelsey-mother of his son.

AUTHOR OVERVIEW 

Sarah Hogle-I read Twice Shy and gave it 4

PERSONAL OVERVIEW

Overall Rating: 4 

Do You Recommend This Book: yes

Will You Re-read This Book: yes

Would You Read More Books by this Author: yes

COMMENTS/NOTES: This was a cute and cozy romance featuring two people who tried to move on with other people, but still have an attraction to each other. There's angst, healing the past, and believing they both were worthy of love. I will read more in this series, no question!

Where to start with OLD FLAMES AND NEW FORTUNES? From the very first lines, I had a great feeling about this story. I immediately wanted to know more about Romina’s life, her magical abilities, the shop she ran…everything. This was my first Sarah Hogle book and I can say with certainty that it won’t be my last.

Moonville was such a cute and perfect setting. Filled with unforgettable characters, I wanted to visit this small town even if the only way I could do that was by continuing to read. And read I did, every chance I got—especially when Alex came back into Romina’s life.

What can I even say about Alex except SWOON? Seriously. Probably my new number 1 book boyfriend. The little bit of history we got about him and Ro just kept me turning the pages, eager to see where this second chance romance would go. I loved Romina’s fake-dating plot with Trevor because it was great seeing a jealous Alex.

And the second act! Oh my. I was so surprised going into part two. At first I wasn’t certain how to feel about the twist, but it added a lot of layers to the book.

AND THE ROMANCE??? While there weren’t a lot of spicy moments, what there *was* absolutely felt so well done and the emotional pay-off was there.

Filled with character growth, laughs, sighs, and swoons, OLD FLAMES AND NEW FORTUNES was amazing.

Cute, whimsical, and the trademark chaos that I expect from Hogle. Her romance novels are always a joy, and this one is no exception. Set in a cute little town, with a swoon second chance romance, it was incredibly easy to fall into this book!

Although I enjoyed it, this does have a small element of fantasy in it. I was disappointed that it didn't play much of a role later on, but it just petered off in lieu of the romance. Oh well.

I really enjoyed this book! If you are looking for a whimsical setting for your next rom com, I recommend this. Thank you to the publisher for giving me an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Romina is one of three Tempest sisters running a magical shop in a tourist town. She gets roped into a fake dating situation with her friend which becomes more complicated as her ex-boyfriend returns to town for his mother’s wedding…to Romina’s fake boyfriend’s father. The whole setup of characters and plot here is ridiculous and funny. The book takes place over the course of a very short time, I think about a week or so in the springtime.

I loved the whimsical setting, the tropes of fake dating and second chance romance. Some scenes needed to be more fully fleshed out, and there was some clunky writing that occasionally pulled me out of the narrative when I tried to figure out where in space and time the characters were. This issue is more present in the first half of the book, and I didn’t notice it by the second half of the book.

I think if you enjoyed whimsical witchy rom coms you will enjoy this book! Without giving away any spoilers, I really loved how the author resolved the third act here. If there ends up being another book following another Tempest sister, I’ll definitely pick that up.

Romina is part of a trio of magical sisters that live in Moonville, Ohio. The run a family shop that has been handed down through the generations. Romina’s gift is growing and making flower arrangements. One her way to make a sales pitch for a loan, she runs into the one she never got over, Alex King. It’s been 11 years since either had laid eyes on the other, and all those feelings and past hurt bubbles right up to the surface, not to mention their instant attraction. You can’t change the past, you can only move forward. The only question becomes: will Romina allow herself to open up to love with Alex?

The story just about wrecked me; especially with the ending of Part One – this book is split into two sections: Part One and Part Two. I loved watching their delicate little dance in learning and letting go past hurts and misconceptions. To open up to the thought of possibly being together once again. You should definitely check this book out, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the chance to read and review this story.

3.5 rounded up.

Old Flames and New Fortunes is a new whimsical novel by Sarah Hogle, following a magical florist helping others find love through flowers all while struggling for love in her own life. This novel features a second chance romance, small town vibes, and a new take on fake-dating.

This book had a really solid premise and I jumped at the chance to get this ARC, but parts of it left me a bit disappointed. The characters sometimes felt a bit too silly, often acting more like children than adults. Sometimes I thought that was fun, but other times it was too much and took me out of the story, especially when it came to how the love interests treated each other throughout the first half of the book.

My other large qualm with the book was the magical elements. The three Tempest sisters center their lives and careers around their unique forms of magic, but we never really see it executed throughout the story. We’re told more often than shown, and I would have really liked to have seen the magic played out more.

Overall, I still thought it was a fun story, although I imagine it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. If you’ve read Sarah Hogle’s Christmas novel Just Like Magic and enjoyed it, I think you’ll like this! Out of all of her books, I’d still recommend You Deserve Each Other most!

Thank you to @netgalley and @putnambooks for the e-arc!

Romina Tempest is the ultimate plant mom and the tenderness and loyalty within her nurturing heart emanated off the page. I enjoyed watching her blossom and bloom throughout this sweet story as she knocked down the thorns around her guarded heart and allowed the possibility of magic and second chances to take root.

The banter between the characters was delightful and Trevor, Luna, and Morgan were particularly ridiculous and hilarious. The relationship between the Tempest sisters was relatable and full of warmth.

While the magic and quirkiness of this story and Moonville’s residents were enchanting, I found myself puzzled at times. The writing lacked finesse and focus and the story seemed to jump around - scenes and conversations wouldn’t entirely finish, before something new started again. This also proved tricky when the story would pivot mid chapter from the present to past.

Overall, I liked the whimsical, coziness feel of the book and enjoyed all of the floral descriptions and magic, but I found the slightly chaotic writing hindered me from fully connecting with the story. I also wish the book had had an epilogue! I do hope that with the open ending, this means each of the Tempest sisters is getting a book because I would love to read more about Luna and Zelda.

While still really great, I think this is my least favorite book by Sarah Hogle so far. Ro and her sisters are great, but I didn't really resonate with the rest of the cast. Also, while they were executed well, the tropes of this book are some of my least favorite in the genre. Still eagerly looking forward to reading everything else she writes though and I'll likely revisit this one again in the future.

Thank you to penguin group putnam for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed but didn't totally love Old Flames and New Fortunes. I had a hard time getting past the secret the MMC, Alex, had. It was a much bigger deal than I think the others characters made it to be. Lots of flowery language in this one which makes it a great read for spring. I just don't think this story left much of an impact on me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin GROUP for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. Old Flames and New Fortunes will hit shelves on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

I would like to officially apply for the job of 'Sarah Hogle's grocery list reader'
I LOVE the world this woman lives in. I love her characters, I love how silly everything is, how earnest the characters are, how everything she touches turns to magic.
I cannot say enough good things about this book, I want to live in this town, I want to marry all these characters, I would read 100 more books of every side character. I love that the fake dating was silly but didn't rule the entire narrative. I love her sisters (Praying we get side books of each of their moth-related escapades)

This was such a fun, witchy second chance romance! Sarah Hogle has such a knack for off the wall humor while still grounding the reader in the characters’ world and this one was no different. Another home run!

another absolutely beautiful story from Sarah Hogle!!! her books have the absolute sweetest characters with the most tender story. I loved Alex and Romina's second chance to be with each other in this story. they are dealing with years long, pent up frustrations and hurt with each other and themselves at how their relationship ended back in high school. they worked through so much of that before finding love and comfort in each other again, and I loved seeing that because it showed how they needed to clear the air and heal before taking a chance on each other again. I loved the side characters and the magical elements of this book as well! I loved the idea of flowers and nature working magically in our lives that show how intricately and helplessly nature ties to our lives and experiences.
overall, just the lovliest, sweetest, tenderest story. thank you so much for the arc :)