Potions & Proposals, Village of Foxford Book #1

By ~ Kate Callaghan-new to me author

Rating ~ 5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre ~ paranormal romance, fantasy

Setting ~ mystical village of Foxford

Publication date ~ August 24, 2024, Read ~ August 22, 2024

Est Page Count ~ 440 (40 chapters + epilogue 1mo. later)

POV ~ dual, 3rd person

Featuring ~ rivals to lovers, arranged marriage/binding, fated mates, small town romance, magical elements, family heritage, and opposites attract

Summary ~ Lucinda Hawthorne and Benedict Matherson have been rivals since childhood, and now will be magically bonded to each other to lead their coven. They become reluctantly entangled after a love spell gone wrong. They must politick, work together to get their elements back, and show they are leaders in the town.

🤔My Thoughts ~ I loved this witchy romance between enemies. They pulled pranks and made each other's lives miserable until they agreed to be bonded for life. They got to know each other realizing there were assumptions made and misunderstandings that kept them from becoming friends. Lucy's mother Wilhelmina (the High Priestess) and Gram meddled too much, but they didn't want her in a loveless marriage. Benedict and his mother Gwendoline have just been accepted back into society after his father and brother Peter's mistakes. He managed to turn Matherson Manor into a successful hotel and charmed those suspicious of his family's dark magical bloodline. I loved all the witty banter and potions and spells with a HEA. I would definitely read more in this world.

🙏🏽Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this ARC 💜! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks for this opportunity. This was such a fun book, Love that it develops on a magical town and is a bit enemies to lovers. I really like how charming and easy to read was tge whole book. It leave you wanting more from this world

- Magical Small Town
- Elemental Magic
- Spell Gone Wrong
- Arranged Engagement

I have been craving witchy romances lately and this one scratched the itch for me. I loved the cozy, magical small town vibes. I personally wouldn’t call this an enemies to lovers, but more misunderstood rivals maybe. Overall I found Benedict and Lucinda’s story entertaining and sweet. I was left wanting more from the side characters as I felt like there were a lot of bread crumbs dropped on possible storylines to come. I am excited to see that the authors has more coming for the residents of Foxford in 2025.

I loved this book! It Lucy and Benedict are frenemies to lovers with moms who are best friends. It’s magical filled with pranks, spells, potions and love! I highly recommend reading this fall.

I enjoyed the book until the cuss words started happening. They didn't seem necessary to the story. Other than that I enjoyed the romance/fantasy aspect. While I'd be interested in seeing what happens to the characters, it is unlikely I'll read another.

Super cute fun small town rom-com with bickering rivals !

I loved the characters, they were really endearing and fun. The romance was very well done, you really grow to love the characters and their quirks as they do.
And also I loooved the magical small town of Foxford ! This made me want to pick up more witchy books !

I knocked a star out because there was an unused storyline with Emerson being secretive, or if it will continue into the next book there should have been more hints to it.

I will definitely pick up the next book in the series !

Potions and Proposals is the perfect october, cozy fantasy read! If you're looking for something that feels like a warm hug and reminds you of halloweentown then this book is for you! I felt like I was being transported back to my childhood while reading Potions and Proposals.

As an absolute fiend for marriage of convenience/arranged marriage this book hit the spot! The first half of the book is a ton of world building and often times I did wonder if there was a book before this one. But overall, I recommend for fantasy readers who are trying to get out of their intense reads and looking for something much more low key.

Tropes:
Small Town but make it halloween town
Witches, vampires, and werewolves
Arranged Marriage

I will be honest the first 10% of the book was awesome especially the Piranha incident.
Then from 10-50% it lost me a bit, nothing bad happened but also nothing happened really. The last half of the book was better. I will say nothing huge happened in this book it had aspects of a unique magical system but I felt like it wasn’t explored much but the rivals to lovers was really well done.

The characters were alright, they lacked growth and I felt like a lot of things just changed overnight with them. I did like the romance it was cute nothing to spicy though. By the end it felt like a nice cozy book.

*Potions and Proposals* by Kate Callaghan**

I didn’t know what I was getting into when I started reading this book.

I liked the plot and loved that the book exceeded my expectations. The small-town setting with magic was charming. I enjoyed watching the relationship between our main characters, Lucinda and Benedict, develop. They weren’t exactly enemies to lovers, more like magical rivals.

The side characters were also great, and I can’t wait to learn more about them in future installments. The author did a fantastic job balancing mystical creatures with elemental magic, potions, spells, romance, and even humor. It’s the perfect fall read.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author when I’m in the mood for something light, fun, and cozy. I am so ready for fall and Halloween now!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest and fair review.

"Potion and Proposals" takes place in the magical town of Foxford. The story centers on Lucina Hawthorne and Benedict Matherson, two rivals confronted with an ultimatum to bind themselves magically by All Hallows’ Eve. I enjoyed the charming atmosphere and breezed through the first half of the book; however, there were several aspects of the story that left me wanting, and ultimately, it fell short of my expectations.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *. read on for a more in-depth review .* :☆ﾟ. ───

✒️ the writing
⤷ The prose suffers from unnecessary verbosity, frequently providing information in a way that gives it an amateurish quality. Concise, direct sentences would be more effective than the drawn-out, passive ones that dominate the narrative, leaving little room for subtlety.

⤷ Even the dialogues are wordy, unnecessarily stretching out points that could be conveyed more effectively with fewer sentences. Moreover, several misspelled words and grammatical errors suggest the need for thorough editing before publication.

⤷ The world-building feels almost non-existent. Despite the presence of witches, hunters, vampires, werewolves, grim reapers, and more, we're given little background on them. The town itself is barely described, making it difficult to visualize. Even the magic system is poorly explained; characters have elemental powers, but also teleportation, object-charming, and who else knows what.

🎥 the plot
⤷ Despite the flaws in the narrative, I liked the cozy atmosphere and found myself constantly flipping pages, eager to uncover what would unfold next. But I finally hit a wall when I reached 60% of the book and realized nothing significant was happening. There was no climax. No real conflict. Nothing. I kept waiting for something big to happen, but it never came.

⤷ The majority of the book focused on "planning" how to switch back their elements, and it wasn't until near the end that any progress was made. Everything in between was uneventful and lackluster. The story would've been more engaging if Benedict and Lucinda had spent their time teaching each other how to wield each other's elements. The story appeared to lack careful planning, feeling more haphazardly written as it unfolded.

💗 the romance
⤷ They go from "enemies" to engaged to being in love with each other very quickly, without any significant build-up. Where was the tension? The angst? The pining? A few chapters in, we learn Benedict has been in love with Lucinda for a long time. Suddenly, he starts holding her hand, kissing her cheek, and acting jealous and possessive whenever she interacts with another man.

Lucinda swiftly reciprocates his feelings, and less than a month after their initial confession, they begin making grand declarations like, "I want to be with you in this lifetime and the next." It's puzzling and lacks the expected gradual development of their relationship. The abruptness makes their love story feel corny instead of sweet.

🧸 the characters
⤷ It would have made more sense if the characters were at least five years younger. In that case, the petty pranks they played on each other might have seemed less immature and more amusingly silly. However, given their proximity to thirty, I struggled to find any humor in their behavior.

⤷ Lucinda occasionally frustrated me. As the next high priestess, I anticipated more judicious decisions from her, as well as maturity. Instead of confiding in her mother (the most powerful witch in town) and her Grams, she took matters into her own hands and made several reckless choices, which didn't strike me as a wise move on her part.

⤷ Without dialogue tags, it's challenging to discern who is speaking because the characters lack distinctive voices and strong personalities. They all appeared too similar, with Peter being the sole standout character in the entire book. Everyone else was one-dimensional and utterly bland.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
bottom line: i expected more from this book, but it fell short in several ways. the characters lack depth, the plot lacks intriguing twists, the romance lacks development, the writing feels unrefined, and the world-building is severely lacking. i managed to overlook these shortcomings because of my anticipation for something significant to unfold, but it never came. nevertheless, i would recommend this book to anyone looking for a cozy fantasy read.

- Thank you to Kate Callaghan and Net Galley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Small town enemies to lovers romance with magic? Sign me up. This book did not disappoint, I loved Lucy and Benedict’s banter and the way they obviously care for each other without admitting it. The magic system is simple and easy to follow, which I personally prefer. The characters are fun and quirky without being distracting or unrealistic. This is a great cozy book for the end of summer / start of fall.

Dual POV, 1 Spicy Chapter, Arranged Marriage, Elemental Abilities, Witches & Magical Creatures, It Was Always You, Jealous MMC, Opposites Attract

A cozy, witchy slow burn romance featuring plenty of yearning, magical hijinks, and magical creatures. There's something about a jealous man that gets me every time and Kate Callaghan delivers Benedict Matherson who is willing to do anything to prove to Lucy that he's always wanted her for real and not just because of their arranged marriage including threatening anyone who looks at her the wrong way.

I loved the banter between Benedict and Lucinda, I especially loved that there was no third act break up or easily fixable situation made impossible by miscommunication. This was a fun read with all the whimsy!

“You bewitched me, body and soul, long before any spell or potion.”

ARC REVIEW: Potions and Proposals by @callaghanwriter

Release: August 23, 2024 (Paperback Release - OUT NOW on Kindle Unlimited)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: eBook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book # for 2024: #73

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

SYNOPSIS: In the mystical town of Foxford, tenacious translator Lucinda Hawthorne is on the brink of assuming the prestigious role of High Priestess. However, fate has a mischievous twist in store for her: an unexpected coven gathering reveals that her lifelong nemesis, Benedict Matherson, is also nominated for the esteemed position. They are presented with a grave ultimatum: either become magically bound to one another on All Hallows’ Eve... or risk a fateful vote that could strip them of everything.

MY THOUGHTS: I absolutely adored this book! I was immediately sold on this book once I found out it was enemies to lovers and the main characters are rival witches. It did not disappoint! It was the perfect book to get into the spooky season mood.

I loved Benedict and Lucy separately as characters and as a couple. They are polar opposites, but that’s what makes them work so well together. The side characters were wonderful too. I especially liked Peter, Benedict’s brother, who is now a Grim Reaper. (The second book in the series is about him and I cannot wait!)

I also really enjoyed the dynamics of the town. Foxford is considered a sanctuary town where all types of magical beings are welcome. It’s great to have a book where everyone coexists (for the most part) peacefully.

If you love books with witches, enemies to lovers, and small town vibes, I highly recommend this one!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

This was such a fun read! This was my first try at reading a cozy fantasy and man! It didn’t disappoint, I’ll be on the hunt for more by this author.

This was so fun! Loved all the ✨magic✨ in this story. Our main characters were amazing and I really enjoyed them. I enjoyed the relationship they ended up having and the fun banter between the two. Highly recommend

A really solid 3.5 star witchy rom com.

Really well done RIVALS to lovers, though I hope in future visits to Foxford they still tease and prank each other just a tinyyy bit! I still want that bit of banter and back and forth to keep their relationship interesting. They’ve pushed each other to be better their whole lives and I want them to continue to support each other and grow together.

I was definitely here for the Freaky Friday element that was done simply but effectively. I enjoyed the light meddling from family and friends while still giving Lucy and Benedict lots of focus and agency in their decisions and actions.

Overall it was a lighthearted and fun adventure into a more mature Halloweentown meets Stars Hollow community. It gave me the HEA I was looking for with just enough conflict. Thank you for not throwing the 3rd act break up into the trope mix! I was happy to see two late 20’s adults with educations and careers navigate their predicament with understanding and empathy while still giving us glimpses of their past prank wars and youthful naivety.

Basically I’m super excited to return to Foxford. I need more of this supporting cast! Emerson has something he needs to tell us, Peter needs some more misguided adventures and Luisa needs to bring more tea.

This was such a cute, fun read. I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between Lucinder and Benedict, their rivals -to- lovers relationship was such fun to follow. The whole book had me laughing a lot and I sped through it as I was desperate to know what would happen.

3.75/ 5, cozy fall read with small town romance rivals to lovers, forced proximity with witchy vibes, werewolves and HEA. Perfect read for a fall night in.

In the magical town of Foxford, Lucinda Hawthorne is a librarian and magic texts translator who is soon slated to take over her mother’s prestigious role of High Priestess. Lucy and Benedict Matherson are rivals and have been pranking each other since childhood, except her last prank jeopardizes the Matherson manor and the town’s reputation and the coven gathering presents them with an ultimatum: Lucy and Benedict are to complete the binding ritual in 1 month on All Hallows’ Eve and co-lead the town, or have the coven vote on the next leader and banish the other from the town. They reluctantly agree to the binding ritual, meanwhile Lucy is hoping to get out of it and unbeknownst to her, her family brews a potion for her to find her perfect match hoping to nullify the binding ritual, but it results in unforeseen consequences with Lucy and Benedict’s elements of Water and Fire are swapped. There’s a fine line between hate and love

“You bewitched me, body and soul, long before any spell or potion”

Benedict has secretly had feelings for Lucy since he was young but Lucy wars with her feelings, not knowing if it’s the spell or her growing fondness for him. I enjoyed their witty banter and slow burn chemistry. Kate Callaghan did a great job on side characters Rosie (&Emerson) and Peter (&Faye) and I could easily read books with each of them as the MC. I loved the small town vibes with the gossip among the townspeople and Grams is that feisty grandma we all wish we had.

“I’d rather spend the rest of my life bickering with you than at peace with anyone else. I’ve never had to be perfect with you”

Thank you Kate Callaghan and NetGalley for this ARC for my honest review
Pub date: Aug 24, 2024

My second book by this author, and first that is in her comfort genre- fantasy. I am impressed. The book follows the enemies to lovers trope, but more than pure hatred, it's mostly harmless rivalry and pranks. The MCs had great chemistry and had me loving the book from page one. I loved seeing their bond evolve over time, as did their understanding of magic and their elements. The side characters are so much fun and the banter in this book is top notch. The magical elements in the story were just the perfect amount so that I wasn't very overwhelmed with the worldbuilding, yet perfectly engaged. I will be reading more books by this author in the future and recommend this book wholeheartedly.