This was a great little paranormal rom-com!

I’m a big fan of the witchy romance formula: secret society of paranormal beings hidden in plain sight. And in this case, the human who knows about them but has to hide it. Leah was a favorite of mine in book 1, so I was super excited to see her lead in book two!

Leah and Gabriel first meet at a witch society party where Leah is hiding behind a masquerade mask, and they come oh-so close to having a moment, only to have it interrupted. Later, Gabriel is being forced to live amongst the humans (and with minimal power) and he gets a job at Leah’s bar. What’s more, he… does not make the same impression he did that first night.

I definitely had a good time with this. Sophie H. Megan has an easy, funny & charming writing style that’s easy to sink into. One thing I didn’t like quite as much as the first book, though, was what generally felt like a lack of actual… witchiness in this one? I know Leah is the resident human of the bunch, but the paranormal aspects kind of disappeared quite a lot of the time in this one. Also, while I enjoyed Leah as an MC, I found Gabriel to kind of just be “fine.” I loved the relationship he and Leah have with his little sister, but much of the time I was a little bored by him. The ending also felt a bit too easy, and like a lot of the actual plot conflict happened in a very short section of the book.

Regardless, if you’re a fan of the witchy rom-com, this series should absolutely be on your radar. Thank you so much to Harlequin and NetGalley for this eArc!

In order for Gabriel to inherit the CEO position at his family’s company, he needs to live amongst the humans with little access to his magic. He despises humans, especially since he blames them for his parents’ deaths. Leah is fascinated by witches and magic but she’s not supposed to know about their existence even though her two best friends are in fact, witches. Leah and Gabriel eventually grow close and give into their attraction for each other even if the consequences of their actions have very serious repercussions.

Magical worlds are something we love to read about but we felt that there was not enough explanation of the magic, magical world or magical community. Especially since this is the second book in a series! Leah is obsessed with getting with a warlock and being included in witchy society but it seems like her friends never really told her what the consequences of her knowing are.

Gabriel was a great grumpy MMC who just needed to see more of the world. His saga with toasters was entertaining. Leah on the other hand, wasn’t our cup of tea and we can’t really figure out why! Overall their pining and attraction was exciting but we just wish there was more to the story. The highlight of the book is Chuck! Why are dog characters the best?!?

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for my complimentary eARC of De-Witched. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

De Witched is the second installment in the Toil and Trouble Series. This book focuses on Leah (a human) and Gabriel Goodnight (a warlock).
This is a fun witchy story with some heavy elements. They are dealt with carefully and there is no heavy cloud hanging over the fun.

Perfect if you like
Magic
Grumpy Sunshine
Slow Burn
Dogs. Lots and lots of dogs *

*thankfully I read/finished this one before we unexpectedly lost our sweet pup this past week.

De-Witched is the second book in the Toil and Trouble series, following two witches and one human who open a witchy-themed bar in Chicago, far away from the stifling magical high society in New Orleans.

Leah grew up in Chicago and has always felt like an outsider - from her mother’s society scene to being the only human in her best friend’s magical world, that she isn’t supposed to know about. She begged her friend Emma to take her to New Orleans for her birthday masquerade ball, and slipped away for a deep conversation with a mysterious warlock in a dark corner before being interrupted.

Gabriel is trying to ascend to role of CEO in his deceased parent’s holistic remedies company, but has to live with bound magic for 3 months among humans to prove he can empathize with them. He begs his friend Bastian to put in a good word to Emma to be allowed to work in their bar, where he can be among humans but still work with witches.

Leah recognizes Gabriel as the mysterious warlock, but he doesn’t realize that it was her that night. They work together at the bar and the animal shelter she volunteers most of her time at, and slowly open up to each other and rekindle the spark that lit at the gala.

You can expect:
Paranormal Romance
Warlock Lord with Bound Magic x
Animal Shelter - Bar Owner Human
Grumpy/Sunshine
Forbidden Love
Fun Banter
Found Family
Cute Animals
Chicago Workplace
late-20s MCs
Dual, 3rdP POV
2nd Book in Trilogy

I loved the banter and tension in this forbidden romance. She brought out his soft side and he soothed her dark places. As with book 1, it was a romcom with surprisingly deep topics touched upon. All the cute animals were a bonus.

I am looking forward to Tia’s story in book 3 as well. It is set up now with her ex Henry coming around again, as both Bastian and Gabriel’s friend. Emma’s brother Kole was also secretly pining for Leah and was left with some rejected feelings, so I’m excited to see how it works out for all of them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing an eARC for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
What a sweet story about magic, selflessness, and a reluctant slide into love. I ate this book up and already know a re-read of Gabriel and Leah’s story will be a “must.”

THOUGHTS 💭
✨The found family of this series keeps growing and I love each and every one of them. The cast of characters in this book, both human and animal, was so wonderful.
✨ Gabriel is charmingly off-putting, dedicated, blunt, and hilariously helpless at “human things.” I loved watching uptight, robotic, human-disliking warlock Gabriel soften for the “willful individuals, animal or human,” who he found himself surrounded by.
✨ Leah is bubbly, pushy (in a kind way), and has a huge heart. She is truly the sunshine (with a bit of snark) in this grumpy/sunshine book.
✨ This book was so funny and I loved seeing the author’s sense of humor shine through our characters’ internal and actual dialogues.
✨ The forbidden nature of this couple’s connection is P H E W and the possessive side of Gabriel is 🔥.

Thanks so much to Sophie H. Morgan and Harlequin Books for the ARC of this book!

A spicy grumpy/sunshine, oppposites attract, dual POV, forbidden romance between a non magical human and a warlock whose been punished to live without his magic for three months like a mortal among humans in order to take over as CEO of his family's company.

Leah is friends and business partners with two witches and illegally knows about the witch community even though she could be punished if reported. She has a big heart and a soft spot for the local animal shelter. When forced to work with Gabriel, the two find a combustible chemistry neither can deny.

I loved the heat, the heart and the way Gabriel tries to better understand Leah and her world and the way he cares for his orphaned younger sister! Great animal sidekicks abound in this paranormal witchy romance that was great on audio too! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I had to DNF. I wasn't a fan of the writing and I could not connect with the characters. I tried a few times and just could not get into this.

Read 2 times. Last read August 19, 2024 to August 20, 2024.

4 -⭐⭐⭐⭐

"You drive me mad," he murmured against his skin. The need for her was a drumbeat in his soul. "I see you, hear you, feel you all day, all night, in my dreams. You've bewitched me."

De-Witched is the second novel in the adult paranormal romance series, Toil and Trouble, which consists of interconnected standalones following a group of magical and non-magical friends and the bar they run together. In this instalment we follow Leah and Gabriel.

Leah is a human with knowledge of the magical world...knowledge she should not have. When she finally gets to secretly attend a high society masked ball for witches and warlocks she finds drawn to an enigmatic warlock. Fast forward six weeks Gabriel, said enigmatic warlock, is showing up at Leah’s bar in need of work. In order for Gabriel to gain the CEO position in his family's legacy business he must prove himself by living for three months in the world of humans with limited magic. And while he may not know who Leah is or that she knows magic she sure knows him...let the games begin!

This was a fun book!

Leah is a passionate and open character who easily is able to worm into anyone's heart. She loves what she does and helps people whenever they need...though she will sometimes have some fun with it as well. I felt she was the perfect person to challenge Gabriel's beliefs on humans and she shined with such positive energy. This doesn't mean she can't lay down the law; it just means she generally stays towards such positivity and care.

Gabriel is a bit of a gruff character at first. He avoids humans aggressively and can come across aloof but it is very much a facade brought on by his parent's death. It is truly an adorable scene seeing this suit wearing stuffy character trying to help in a bar to prove he can run the business without magic before being forced to work with pets when the bar goes about as well as you would think. As time goes on you get to see a truly caring character and he won me over.

I want to give a shout out to the variety of side characters. From the characters of the last book who helped add tension and break it for levity but also Chuck deserves his own spot light for being the bestest boy.

This book does contain spice. I would say 2 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. We start to see spice around the 50% mark and there are 2-3 scenes if I can recall correctly? What I liked about the spice in this book was that it really helped show how much was simmering under the surface between these characters. We had amazing banter and connection but seeing Gabriel lose control was an ABSOLUTE delight. It still takes time for them to pursue their relationship further with each new spice moment making a small change to their relationship in the best way. The spice is well written and explicit with magic, ripping clothes, and foreplay involved.

"I am Gabriel Goodnight. I do not indulge in scandalous behaviour. I do not cause scenes. But you tempt me to it, Leah...Oh, you tempt me."

The story itself is pretty straightforward with Gabriel having to work a human job and navigate a world with minimal magic. What I wasn't expecting was the twists that would come with Leah and the animal shelter she sponsored. I felt the pacing worked well for the story; we got plenty of slices of life; fun character interactions and tension that ebbed and flowed from a variety of places - Leah's friends having given Gabriel a bad rep, Cole and his unrequited love, Gabriel and his uncle, the failing animal shelter. These never felt overwhelming and while there is some angst in the romance with Gabriel's time limit and his refusal to accept he could love, I felt they were able to confront situations supporting each other rather than against each other. I really liked the climax and how it brought everything together with a nice bow. The ending was sweet and we really got to enjoy a final moment with them. Though...Cole!

Overall, I definitely had a lot of fun with this book!

Thank you so much Harlequin for this arc!

Oh my gosh! This book was the goofiest I've read in a while! Also, in a way, it reminded me of "A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon."

Leah, human, manages a bar with her best friends who are witches. No one knows that Leah knows about the existence of witches. Enter Gabriel, he is verything a Higher family warlock should be. Still, before he can inherit his parents’ business, he’ll have to prove his merit to the board one final time…by living among humans, without his powers, for 3 months.

Honestly this was sassy and humorous to begin with. Gabriel & Leah have the grumpy × sunshine thing going on with Leah trying to keep Gabriel on his toes and Gabriel worrying about doing peasant work which will ruin his Prada shoes. (You see?) And so much of Gabriel's personality (the sassy one) reminded me of Lestat de Lioncourt, played by Sam Reid specifically!!

Leah & Gabriel's chemistry was epic and their hearts were so in sync. I loved the slowburn and getting to know each other before falling in love. Leah was so passionate about everything & gave her all to it. The romance was satisfying & wholesome & I absolutely loved the ending!

Ps can't stop thinking about the scene where Gabriel thinks Leah is broke (which she is) because she's wearing ripped jeans... I meannn😆.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The gang is back and I am so happy that got the honor to read book 2 of the series. We Leah’s love story and no one deserved it better than her, and she’s with a Grumpy witchy-man??!!!!! Sign us up!!!!!! This romance was too smooth for my own good, and it was so sweet and funny. The spicy was GIVING me EVERYTHING, and it was MAGICAL, and I seriously need a part 2 to their story.

Looking for your next witchy romcom (but HE’S the witch) then you need to check out this one. I adored this so much! This is a slow born, grumpy/sunshine romantic comedy between a human and warlock. There’s a great story about friendship, figuring out what matters the most to these characters, and of course a sweet romance that I just ate up! If you’re looking for a book that’s PERFECT for fall and the witchy/spooky season, then this one needs to be on your list. There’s even another book in this series that I think readers will love which is called The Witch is Back!

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

If you are looking for a book to keep you hot while the weather starts to cool, De-Witched is the perfect choice.
Following Leah, a human, and Gabriel, a warlock, as they navigate their lives in a world where Leah's knowledge of witches and magic is a danger, and Gabriel must reluctantly immerse himself in the lives of humans.

With a delicious blend of opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, found family, forced proximity, and witchy vibes, I had so so much fun with this one. I can't wait to see what else is in store for this series!

This is my first book from Sophie H. Morgan and I was not disappointed. This is book two of the Toil and Trouble series. This is true opposites attract/grumpy x sunshine- Leah (human) is so sweet and passionate while Gabriel (warlock) is serious and not outgoing- and I loved it. This is a perfect book for the Fall Season (cozy spicy romance).

Also throw in the fact there Leah is an animal lover <3. She is a likable character for sure.

The mix of their personalities and the banter alone made me speed through this book.

I'm excited to read the next book in the series!

A hidden secret
Book 2 in the Toil and Trouble series can be read as a standalone. Some characters from the first book are in this one, but they are explained in this book if you’d not read book 1. Our main character is Leah Turner, human, with two best friends who are witches and use magic around Leah so she knows about it. Our second main character is Gabriel Goodnight, warlock, from on of the highest families. Leah and Gabriel meet, and this book tells the story of a non-magical outgoing friendly woman and a magical self-centered grumpy man and how this changes both of them.
Sophie Morgan has written a fun book, with well developed characters and a good plot. Easy to read and follow, I enjoyed this book and hope she continues to write about these characters she’s created.
I was given an ARC of the book by NetGalley, and this is my honest opinion.

People It's almost time for the Fall season and witchy reads and let me tell you that you NEED to add this to your Fall TBR !

So, be ready to be bewitched in this amazing Paranormal romance.

I read the first book in this series and loved it but this one was just so freaking good. It kept me reading in the middle of the night !

Gabriel is just the perfect grump to Leah's sunshiny personality! The Grumpy x Sunshine vibe in this book is just absolute, divine perfection 👌 👌 👌.

The banter between the main characters was so entertaining. The spice was absolutely delicious 🥵🥵🥵. And GABRIEL! Yes I'm shouting !

And Leah, I loved her so much. I love her personality, her drive, her loyalty and her love for animals !

She was the best.

Thank you so much Harlequin for gifting me a digital copy of this book. It was amazing !

Read this if you love :

✨ Paranormal Romance ;
✨ Witch ;
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine ;
✨ Frenemies to Lovers ;
✨ Spicy ;
✨ Cute dogs.

This book kept me up WAY past my bedtime! This is book two in the Toil and Trouble series. The series is about a trio of friends, Leah, Emma, and Tia. They own the Toil and Trouble bar. Two of them are witches. In a drunken girl's night, Emma divulges the secret to Leah, who is human. Leah is sworn to secrecy and has been silent for years.

Gabriel Goodnight is the heir to the Goodnight company, which makes magic-infused treatments like skin creams, burn solutions, and headache treatments. Gabriel is set to become the company's CEO when a clause in his parent's will changes everything. Gabriel must live among the humans without using his magic and get a job for three months prior to inheriting. Gabriel agrees and moves from New Orleans to Chicago. Friends get him a job at Toil and Trouble.

Gabriel and Leah are a grumpy/sunshine couple, and this story was very sweet. There were some spicy parts, but overall, I enjoyed the story line and like I said, stayed up too late reading just one more chapter.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun paranormal romance.

De-Witched is book two in the Toil and Trouble series by Sophie H. Morgan.
I loved book one The Witch is Back! And book did not disappoint either.
It was a quick read and entertaining from the beginning.
A sweet, charming and witchy read with the best tropes ever.
A well written fantasy romance story!

Thank You NetGalley and Harlequin Feature for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I picked up De-Witched by Sophie H Morgan because the cover was cute and the description cuter. I really went into this hoping it would just be a sweet, well written romance. I am BEYOND EXCITED to report back that it was everything I wanted when I picked it up. The pacing was quick enough to keep the story going but not overwhelming. The romance was CUTE. And! There was spice!

Leah has to be one of my most favorite FMCs. She's head strong and assertive, but not aggressive. She's clever, funny, kind, and sticks up for herself. So many times, I feel like I'm promised an assertive FMC only to see her fold when it comes to her love interest. Or, she'll be 'assertive' but actually just be annoying and difficult for no reason the entire time. Leah is simply the perfect in between. She knows what she wants and what she feels and she isn't shy on vocalizing it. Which is good because MMC Gabriel is so endearingly awkward and out of his element, and I don't just mean because he's lost most of his magic temporarily. He is not good at peopling. He cares of his teen sister and loves his uncle that has been there for him since the death of his parents over a decade ago, and that's pretty much it. Emotions are sticky. They complicate things and lead to heartache. So, of course he has no idea how to respond to Leah. And that's not even considering the fact that he's a warlock and part of a super secret magical community, and she's a 'plain ole human' who shouldn't know about his world.

Sparks literally fly between the two and it is so sweet to watch. What I especially loved is that whatever miscommunication there is between Leah and Gabriel is almost instantly resolved because they do communicate. Gabriel can tell when he says or does something that sets Leah off and instead of ignoring it like so many other MMCs do, he asks Leah what's wrong. And Leah, bless her, tells him and is honest. She tells him if he hurt her feelings. She asks him what he feels for her. They act like a mature couple that really is trying with one another. This is what makes the relationship so good. Plus, there were some decent low grade spice (I say low-grade, but remember I have been deep into dark romance and omegaverse.)

Apart from the relationship, we do get snippets of plot. Gabriel has to live for a few months amongst humans and not use his magic so that he can appreciate his parents' legacy - their company that makes pharmaceuticals for humans. We see him struggle (purchasing 12??? toasters because he doesn't realize they need to be plugged in.) And we get a brief glimpse into the magical politics at play as he is sabotaged. The romance was so well done that I completely didn't pick up on the reason behind all of the bad luck going on, and didn't even pick out who the perpetrator was (Kole, my love, I'm sorry I thought it could've been you.)

De-Witched by Sophie H Morgan was such a treat to read. I absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a sweet romance between a grumpy but not really just awkward MMC and an assertive yet bubbly FMC. There's a touch of spice, a whole heaping of romance, and so many great side characters that I honestly am going to go back to read the first book in the series and make a note to follow-up on when the third book comes out.

This was such a cute read with just enough magic to make it fun. Gabriel has to spend three months in the human realm so that he can inherit his family’s business. He is my favorite kind of MMC! He is grumpy and broody and does everything by the book. And he is a powerful warlock that doesn’t like humans. When he meets sweet and bubbly Leah they instantly clash with each other. And it doesn’t help that she is a human. I loved the chemistry and banter between these two! I really enjoyed watching these two grow and help each other. I also loved her group of friends and how they were there for each other. This was such a cozy and *magical* read and will be a perfect fall read!

Genre: Witchy RomCom
Trope(s): Grumpy/Sunshine, Opposites Attract

One-word review: Charming
Emojis: 😉😂🥰🫠
Rating: 4.5 🌟s

Favorite Character: Tia Hightower. She's a witch and a confident, determined, and straightforward woman. No one is more loyal than Tia; I love her energy and strength. The main character of this story, Leah Turner, is a close second. She is human, and everything is upbeat and light, with a heart that shines as brightly as the rest.

My Top-Five-style Review:

5. I'm eagerly anticipating booking 3 to delve deeper into Tia's story and the High Family of the Witching World. The prospect of finally meeting the enigmatic and always-absent Henry is also a thrilling thought!

4. The found-family themes in this story are not just heartwarming, they're downright soul-stirring. They beautifully illustrate the unbreakable strength of these bonds.

3. The chemistry between Leah and Gabriel is so authentic, it's palpable. She fills the void in his life, and her unwavering determination to help him brings about a genuine transformation.

2. I'm a sucker for a story full of magic, and De-witched doesn't disappoint despite the premise. This story's magical world still holds some mysteries, but I enjoy its many facets.

1. I love an excellent grumpy/sunshine romance, and this one always delivers. Leah is everything sunshine should be, and Gabriel, well…his baggage definitely weighs down his disposition. I always enjoy the transition from the grumpy character to an individual who is complex, nuanced and has learned to laugh.