I love the Ex Hex series and Graves Glen. This book, The Wedding Witch, was quite different from the rest of the series but fun nonetheless. Whereas I go for more that autumnal dark academia witchy vibes, and thus love the first two books in Graves Glen and Penhaven College, my sister will absolutely love this one with Wales and time travel and castles and ghosts and Christmas. Overall really fun!

The Wedding Witch pairs mostly-reclusive mountain man Bowen Penhallow with outgoing rule-bender Tamsyn Bligh. He hires her to procure magical artifacts for him, and, since he’s her employer, she vows not to date him.

But they’ve felt a connection since the moment they met.

And they both end up at the same Yuletide wedding in Wales, where they magically get transported back to 1957.

And, well, in circumstances like those, some things are just too tough to resist.

While this is book 3 of the series, we only interact briefly with characters from the first two books, so you could easily jump straight into this one without reading books 1 and 2 first.

Highlights for me:
- How she challenges him
- The BANTER (Yes, that does deserve all caps.)
- How much I grinned and giggled through this one
- The text messages and emails (Seriously, I could eat epistolary elements up with a spoon. I love them that much.)
- How down bad Bowen is
- Honestly, just Bowen in general (One of the notes I jotted down while reading it just says, “Oh my gosh, I love him.”)
- All of the Welsh phrases and endearments
- The middle-of-the-night confessions

I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the buildup in the relationship but understand that the bulk of the book takes place in the short block of time centered around the wedding and time travel back to 1957. I also would have liked more clarity about how everything becomes magically resolved. All-in-all, though, it’s a quick, fun read with a really strong beginning that will suck you in.

I received an advance copy of the book from Avon. All review opinions are my own.

This is book 3 in the Ex Hex series featuring Bowen Penhollow and Tamsyn Blygh . I loved this fun, magical romance that is perfect for the holiday season. It has time travel, witches, ghosts, and romance. I read the other books in the series and was waiting for Bowen’s story! He is a loner who lives in the Welsh countryside. He is studying magic so he can bring his friend, who after a spell gone wrong is a ghost, back. The sassy banter interactions between Tamsyn and Bowen were perfect. They are my favorite characters in this series. It has a tiny bit of spice, but not too much. I loved the side characters who brought so much to the story. I can’t wait to see what Erin Sterling brings next and hope we get more Graves Glen! Thank you NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the chance to read and give my honest opinion.

The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: 1 chili
Pub date: 10/15

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Avon for my advanced copy.

This is the third book in Sterling’s witchy romance series, and this time, the focus is on Bowen Penhallow, a reclusive and brooding witch, and Tamsyn Bligh, a charming magical item procurer. When they both show up at a Yuletide wedding in the Welsh countryside, they are transported back in time to the house’s haunted past, forcing them to work together and confront their growing attraction.

This is such a fun story! The book captures the magic of the holiday season, blending romance, humor, and a touch of mystery. Bowen, with his gruff demeanor, contrasts beautifully with the bubbly Tamsyn. I love a good grumpy/sunshine trope, and these two delivered! Their chemistry was undeniable, and their witty banter was too cute. Their shared adventure through time added charm and excitement to their relationship.

Fans of Sterling’s previous books will love the cameos of past characters from the series, which makes the world feel rich and interconnected.
If you’re seeking a light, festive read with a dash of magic and romance, The Wedding Witch is the perfect choice for the holiday season.

Read if you like:
*witchy rom-coms
*grumpy/sunshine
*time travel
*holiday reads
*dual POV
*open door spice

This was an incredibly fun and flirty book! Witches, time travel, co-workers, spice, family and holiday fun, this book truly has it all.
Bowen and Tamsyn are perfect and their adventures had me flying through this book and wanting to grab everything else from this author.
This was an adventurous and fun deviation from my normal drama fantasy reads, the perfect palate cleanser for the upcoming holidays and a perfect happy ending.

Each book in the Graves Glen universe gets better and better! It’s a blessing and a curse that each book is so short. On one hand the main characters fall in love too quickly and everything is just too nicely concluding. On the other hand, the speed keeps the anticipation up and there’s keeps the storyline concise. I hope these books are made into movies.

I have loved the previous Erin Sterling books. The Ex Hex was one of my most recommended books for a long time. The Wedding Witch unfortunately fell very flat for me. It felt like the author didn’t really know what to do with these characters but knew there needed to be a conclusion to the Penhallow brothers love story. Bowen felt underdeveloped and boring and there was no chemistry. The plot was messy and the first 20% could’ve been shortened to the first 5%. I know this book was delayed a year so I’m sure it was a rush to get it written and published but it was just a huge disappointment to close the Graves Glen series this way.

As someone who thoroughly enjoyed The Ex Hex and The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling, I was excited to return to this series with the third Penhallow brother, Bowen. The prior two Graves Glen books both gave lighthearted Fall witchy vibes. This book was distinctly different - it took place in Wales around Yule, and had time travel involved. Tamsyn and Bowen have instant chemistry that is palpable from the first meeting. I loved how the author built on it, introducing their personalities and professional relationship through emails and texts at the very start of the book. Even though it takes quite a bit of time for the event promised on the back cover (going back to 1957), it feels like the perfect amount of time. You understand the characters, their motivations, and feelings. The plot was excellently executed - the pacing done so very well, with enough backstory to flesh out the characters but not too much to bog down the plot. I was invested and absolutely adored their love story. This book is hilarious - there are great lines! And I love the Welsh vocabulary interspersed. And even though I missed Graves Glen and the previous main characters from the first two books, I appreciated their brief appearances and the fact that they weren’t completely absent. This was the perfect way to end the trilogy. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Wedding Witch is the third witchy installment about the Penhallow brothers. This time we get to follow the most reclusive brother, Bowen. We also get to know Tamsyn Blight, who appeared briefly earlier in the series. (FYI: You could totally read this book without having read the others. There are fun little cameos from prior characters, but everything you need to know to understand/appreciate this story is explained.)

This book has all the elements that made me love the original two: fun banter, magic gone awry, and lovely tension. There is one major difference, however. Where the first two took place in Graves Glen around Halloween, The Wedding Witch mostly takes place in Wales around Yule, giving this book a sort of holiday vibe. (You could read this book anytime between October and New Year's and it would hit perfectly.)

The only thing holding me back from giving it five stars is that I wanted more sometimes. There are a lot of threads in this story (time travel, fixing a spell gone wrong, retrieving a special necklace), and I would have liked to have sat in some moments a bit longer or seen them developed a bit more since they were really intriguing.

Overall, this was a quick, fun read. It's perfect for someone looking for a cozy witchy book to curl up with while sipping a coffee or hot cider on a crispy day.

Many thanks to the publisher for an early copy of the book. All thoughts/opinions are my own.

i was so excited 4to receive an arc for The Wedding Witch! after reading the first two books, this one was greatly anticipated. Erin Sterling did not disappoint! i absolutely loved this book! it's perfect for a fall witchy vibe. you will fall in love with Bowen Penhallow, as we get to know more about the third Penhallow brother, and his budding romance with his new hire Tamsyn. without giving to much away i will definitely recommend! 5 star read for me!!

I absolutely loved this book! Everything I wanted in a fall witchy rom com. I enjoyed learning more about the third Penhallow brother! His banter with the love interest was so cute and kept me turning the page. I appreciated the time
travel aspect and I always love the way Erin weaves magic into the story. A definite win for me! Thank you so much for the advanced reader copy.

Bowen Penhallow, a witch from a powerful family, hires Tamsyn Blight, a human acquirer, to work exclusively for him as he attempts to bring his best friend back from a purgatory-like state. While still able to communicate with his best friend, Declan, he feels a responsibility for his death and, as a result, agrees to attend Declan's ex's wedding. Tamsyn accepts "one last job" despite her exclusivity clause, and ends up at that same wedding. Chaos ensues, and Tamsyn and Bowen end up in 1957.

I hadn't realized this was the third in a series, but it didn't impact the plot for me. The only issue I ran into was not understanding some of the references to previous actions in the earlier novels. Those references felt innocuous enough that I could go back and read the first two without much being spoiled (except for the outcome of the primary relationships, but in a romance, I expect the main characters to get together). What fell flat for me was the romance between Tamsyn and Bowen. One minute, Bowen and Tamsyn are in the thick of sorting out their time-travel mishap, and the next, they're in love. I didn't have enough time with each character to feel a genuine connection between the two, and their relationship felt forced. I was also under the impression (due to the "witch" of it all) that this would be more of a fall/Halloween read. However, the time of year is the Yuletide, so in my opinion, it makes for a better winter/Christmas-time read.

Thank you NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved being able to jump back to the Penhallow's family and revist the other brothers (+Vivi and Gwyn)! This story follows the broody Bowen as he is trying to solve the mystery of his friend Declan who's stuck as a ghost. Insert the best finder of magical items, Tamsyn, who Bowen hires to help him solve the mystery of his friend.

Just like you find in the other two books, The Wedding Witch is a great blend of comedy and romance with a splash of witchcraft gone messy! I loved the "lost in time" subplot and how they were going to get their way back. I enjoyed both characters and thought they had a great dynamic but it is heavy on the insta-love troupe! I was hoping for a bit more twist and turn when they were stuck in 1957 but I enjoyed meeting and following the "older" family members!

This book can almost be read as a stand-alone as it is very few intereaction with the prior cast. However, to get the most out of the relationship Bowen has with his brothers then I would suggest reading the first two prior!

The Wedding Witch
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As always, Erin Sterling brings a perfect witchy vibe!

Bowen, the last of the Penhallow brothers, ends up lost in time with Tamsyn, his business partner/con artist for hire. The two have to survive getting back into this century if they want to keep their family alive.

I loved being back with these characters that surround Bowen and Tamsyn! It was fun to see their family history as well. Such a cute witchy/Christmas read!

The Wedding Witch is book 3 in the Ex Hex series. In this story Bowen Penhallow seeks out Tamsyn to employ her the acquire magical artifact for him. In the beginning, they pretend to not have feelings for each other. Tamsyn was to only work for Bowen. However, she took a job without telling Bowen to steal a necklace for a million dollars. Both of them end up at the same wedding and Bown found out why Tamsyn was really at the wedding. He offers to help her obtain the necklace. The bride at the wedding had possession of the necklace. She ran from dinner with Bowen and Tamsyn following her into the garden. The bride cast a spell while holding onto the necklace which sent Bowen and Tamsyn back into time. While trying to figure out to get back, they meet Bowen’s grandparents. His grandparents were squabbling and announced that they were not going to get married. If this happened, Bowen would have not existed in the future. Both Bowen and Tamsyn feel in love with each other while scheming to get his grandparents to marry each other. They also had to get ahold of the necklace while they were back in time. Once the necklace was obtained, they traveled back to the present day. There was a lot going on in this story. It’s a good wrap up to the Ex Hex series, just not a favorite. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced e-copy.

the biggest misstep of the wedding witch was the inclusion of too many characters, magical elements, subplots, etc. that didn't ultimately amount to much. rather than spend time seeing the development of bowen and tamsyn's budding romance, they spent much of the book chasing a solution to a problem, one that gave the audience little pay-off.

in particular, the subplot surrounding bowen's best friend, declan, held such potential. there was history and angst there, possibility for a huge climax towards the end of the book that never came. the resolution of that story was so quick and without much explanation. in fact, I don't think he even got a mention of him in the epilogue, once a year had come and gone.

bowen and tamsyn had their share of sweet moments and I enjoyed the cameos of the couples from the previous two books, to see what their lives look like now. sadly, it just wasn't enough to ignore the stumbles elsewhere.

thanks to erin sterling and avon for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bowen and Tamsyn make for a delightful couple to read about, with their playful banter and gloomy yet sunny vibes. After their earlier encounters in The Ex Hex and The Kiss Curse, it was a delightful surprise to have Tamsyn as Bowen's love interest. However, I feel that placing her and Bowen somewhere other than our typical small town would have allowed for more of those encounters.

Having said that, the contrast in pace between Bowen and Tamsyn's lives and those of the regular protagonists created a fascinating new magical path and inspired the introduction of a few new witchy characters. Even though I thought the plot lacked excitement overall, I was still appreciative of the happy ending overall.

Easily my favorite of the series! Cozy magical mystery romances (is that an official genre yet?) are right up my alley, and this was the perfect example of an easy, pleasurable read. I read most of it with a cup of coffee on a rainy fall morning—pure perfection. The banter had me laughing and kept the pace lively. Tamsyn is the perfect mix of sweet and sass, while Bowen’s rugged, tortured vibe pulls at the heartstrings. The change of setting was a refreshing shift from the first two books, and while it works as a standalone, it’s even better with the context of the others. I’ll always pick up an Erin Sterling book—and probably a Rachel Hawkins one too!

Bowen Penhallow is the last remaining single Penhallow witch… or probably a werewolf if you’ve seen his beard. The reclusive mountain man that loves to research obscure and dangerous magic from his cabin in the Welsh mountains.

Tamsyn Bligh specializes in procuring hard to acquire magical items. After working on several jobs for Bowen, she is hired to work exclusively on acquisitions for him. Until about a year later, when bored, she finds a job that's a little too good to ignore, causing her and Bowen to infiltrate a wedding, establish a fake relationship, and accidentally travel back in time.

Once stuck in the past, they have to unravel the magic gone awry, their repressed feelings, Parent Trap a couple, and a cherry holiday wedding (or two).

******************************************************************************

I was so excited to see Tamsyn as a character reappear after her short introduction in The Ex Hex (Book #1). I love her spontaneous and carefree nature as a complement to Bowen’s gruff and studious personality. I also greatly appreciated that this was not a Hate-to-love or enemies-to-lovers story like the other two books in the series. The friends-to-lovers aspect of their relationship was really compelling especially in concert with the slightly forbidden element with Tamsyn’s rule to not date her boss.

However, I thought that the romance between Tamsyn and Bowen was overshadowed by the external plot. There were a lot of moving parts between getting Bowen’s grandparents back together, the time travel plot, and saving Declan. How this is accomplished on the page is that the connection is built off-page, and the resulting mutual pining reaches a pinnacle during the forced proximity of the job they are working.

Additionally, I picked this up before realizing that it had time travel as an element. I found that this book fell into the trap of a lot of time travel stories: once they successfully make it back to the current timeline, the plot points are not cleanly or clearly completed in a satisfying manner. While I can understand the desire to justify this with *magic* in a paranormal romance, there is just not enough resolution to the involved time travel plot.

I will say, this book is well written and thoroughly entertaining. I appreciate that both Tamsyn and Bowen strongly communicate throughout the story and are able to work as a team throughout the circumstances regardless of the fact that Bowen is a witch and Tamsyn is a human.

One last thought, as I assume this is the last book in this series, I wish there was a little more clarity regarding Simon Penhallow, the father of the male protagonists of this series. While I completely respect all the Penhallow’s cutting off Simon after his actions in The Kiss Curse, the handful of mentions of Simon in this book were very wistful and sympathizing. I guess if we are committing to Simon being a villain, then the tone with regards to Simon was a little incongruent.

3.75⭐️3🌶️

Witchy rom com
Contemporary fantasy
Romantic fantasy
Winter setting
Dual POV
Grumpy sunshine
Mythical creatures
Allies to lovers
Holiday/winter setting
Time travel
Insta-attraction/love
One bed


wonderful recap of the previous books! And I needed it because of the time since I read the second book and this. Seeing little glimpses of couples from previous books was nice.

It was a very cozy witchy book. One I would recommend reading around Yule time.

The plot was a little too ambiguous for me. The angst and high stakes were only expressed in spicy moments rather than plot moving ground work. It made it a fun time, so long as you didn’t judge them for their lack of common sense and desperation to fix the problem.

The relationship was emotionally established very early on, making it an insta-love.

There is something about the FMC finishing the MMC’s sentences in a know it all kind of way that annoyed me.


Thank you NetGalley and Avon Harper Voyager for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.