This was a lot darker than I expected and a little fever dreamy at times, but the romance and realization of what was really going on with Rune’s magic was wild. It kept my attention and I finished it pretty quickly. The characters were super interesting and well thought out and the pace and world building were bith pretty great. Loved the book club coven ladies!

I would give the spicy scenes 3 chilies.

Thanks to Netgalley and Black Orchid Books for an advanced copy in exchange for a fair review.

This book was really fun and easy to read! I expected a cutesy little romance book with a little bit of fantasy mixed in there but it had more fantasy than I thought. This was actually my first book with witchy vibes and now I want to have more.
The love interest wasn't kinda annoying for not believing the main character but then again, he couldn't do anything about it. I did find the book a little bit confusing when the plot unraveled itself but still very enjoyable.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc of this book!

Rune has had the ability to see the future for as long as she can remember - but what <i>should</i> be a gift is turned into a curse because no one person believes in Rune's power of foresight. Rune is forced to cope with the responsibility of seeing the future on her own. However, doing things on her own isn't necessarily new to Rune, as she was orphaned as an infant and grew up in foster care, forced to fend for herself on several occasions.

In order to keep her premonitions at bay, Rune works remotely and keeps to herself - that is, until she finds out that she'll be required to go into the office to work with coworker Donovan Frost on a high-stakes and mysterious work project. At first, Rune and Donovan clash due to Donovan's prickly demeanor - until Donovan warms up and the two discover a deeper connection. When Rune and Donovan take the next step, Rune steps through the doorway into a premonition that reveals how her relationship with Donovan can only end in tragedy; immediately, she pushes Donovan away, even though it hurts them both.

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Prior to starting Cursed in Love, I did not realize how heavily the genre would fall into "fantasy" territory! The novel begins as if it is a typical romance with a slight witchy twist, but about half-way through, takes a somewhat sudden twist and becomes more of a "romantasy" and incorporates many more fantasy, paranormal, and some action-filled details. That being said, this is not a heavily-fantasy filled book in the slightest, and is still a good fit for those who do <i>not</i> enjoy intense fantasy reads, but like books with a hint of fantasy thrown in! For example, throughout the novel, the characters remain in "present-day" and in a modern realm and living alongside humans. In conclusion: Cursed in Love is a "romantasy" that has some modern fantasy/paranormal aspects that I would describe as "gentle" fantasy.

As other reviewers have noted, one aspect of the plot that tampered with my reading experience was the pace at which the romance unfolded. Rune and Donovan seem to instantly fall in love without even knowing much about each other. I think that the reader is supposed to understand that they were destined and prophesied to be together - however, I would have enjoyed a slower build of their relationship to allow the opportunity to see their characters get to know each other, operate around each other, and get a better glimpse into Donovan's character in general.

Another aspect of note is that there are a lot of sub-plots going on throughout this book to get you from beginning to end! Based on how the book began in chapter 1, I would not have anticipated the ending I found myself at. The book is decently long at 402 pages, and even within the span of 402 pages, so much more happens than you would expect! This is not necessarily a negative thing, as sometimes it can be frustrating when a plot moves too slowly or there is too much of a focus on one plotline for too long. However, with the fast pace, there were a couple smaller plotlines that I did find myself wishing had been expanded upon, to the point that I questioned the purpose of them being included in the first place.

Thank you to NetGalley and Emily Colin for a digital ARC copy of Cursed in Love in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. This was such a fun read. It was a mix a magic, drama, and romance, and a little bit of mystery. This book has a little of everything. If you enjoy magical romances, then you should give this one a try.

This was so drama filled and so funny. It was laugh out loud funny, very sensual and I constantly thought of the whodunit aspect. It’s the perfect cozy, slight murdery, very witchy romcom.

This an ARC review for Cursed in Love by Emily Colin, thank you to Netgalley for sending me this ARC.

This book was a 5-star read for me, I did not want to put it down, I found the story well-paced, I loved the storyline and characters, and the general vibes of the book just made me feel really good. I finished it and wanted to immediately re-read it!

Although there were hints of spice, I do think it was lighter on spice than some romance-based novels. The spice is very slow burn in that there is a lot of general desire between the two main characters, there are scenes of things almost happening, but the actual spicy events don’t happen until the end and it is not very graphic.

This book is a cute, cozy, small-town, paranormal romance and I would recommend this book to anyone who wanted to just curl up on the couch with their beverage of choice and settle in for a feel-good story with a little bit of drama- because we all need a little drama in our lives.

Set in the small town of Sapphire Springs, Cursed in Love follows Rune Whitlock, a thirty-two-year-old graphic designer who gets premonitions, usually of the tragic kind. Spoiler alert: no-one believes her, she is a modern-day Cassandra of Troy. Rune has a bit of a dark sense of humour, likely stemming from a traumatic childhood within the foster care system. She is a little chaotic and things often don’t go to plan, with her being arrested (and released), her car breaking down, falling over in a puddle, and also getting in a car accident (not her fault), within the first six chapters.

When she is paired with the hot as hell, Ice Man Incarnate, Donovan Frost, for a team project, she cannot comprehend how they will be able to work together when he seems to disdain her existence. Donovan likes order and data and logic. Office gossip suggests that ‘he never talks to anyone, prefers coding to conversation… probably has sex according to a colour coded spreadsheet…’. The chaos that Rune brings into his life begins to crack his cold exterior, but, when sparks fly, a premonition hits –they will fall in love, only for him to die at their wedding altar. Rune tries to push him away to protect him, but when he demands answers, she tells the truth, and he doesn’t believe her. Fate and circumstance still push them together despite Rune’s best efforts.

Like all small towns, the people of Sapphire Springs love a good bit of gossip, and what is more exciting than a potential new couple. The Sinsters certainly think so with social media posts with photos accompanied by hashtags such as #fatedmates and #firstdatemagic. The Sinsters is a spicy bookclub made up of a group of septuagenarians who enjoy reading and discussing spicy scenes from their book of choice in front of Rune and Donovan (on their not first date), they also happen to be a witch coven. Rune teams up with the Sinsters to uncover her past, break her curse, and hopefully prevent her premonition coming true.

Book Tropes:
- Forced proximity
- Forbidden Love
- Fated Mates
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Cozy, small town

Trigger Warnings: violence, references to child abuse, arson, and foster care placement, mentions of suicide, and parental death (before the story starts).

I really enjoyed reading this book! The romance was so sweet and cute and the plot was very interesting and I could not put this book down.

*Thank you so so much NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!*

This book was like a warm cup of hot chocolate that you discovered actually had a shit ton alcohol in it.

The way this book pulled me in as being a cute little rom com, like SIKE. This book was full on bananas and I loved every second of it. Rune is definitely my soul sister from another mister with her constant bad luck, major klutz vibes, and her quirkiness. She was just an absolute gem that I wanted to be besties with. There was so much going on in this book but I felt like it still came together at the end and made sense. Also, can we take a minute to talk about how absolutely FERAL Donovan was for Rune? Like he would be a normal, nerdy male, then Rune would touch him or look at him and he would be like “Rune I want to eat your face” LIKE SWOON.

The only thing missing for me was the spice, like I wanted it to bad and I know daddy Donovan wanted it too.

I just finished and I didn’t tought I would enjoyed it as much as I did.
It's one of those book that are easy and ejoyable to read.
The romance was an instant love but slow burn at the same time, but I don't know there was something in that mix that made me love it even more.
The subplot with the magic and the witches was so good I couldn't put it down.

'Cursed in Love' is a romcom with a surprising infusion of magic, following Rune, a chaotic but lovable FMC who meets Donovan, a straight-laced coworker and the opposites attract energy begins. Kept apart by a vision Rune has, the story follows the two of them as the twine in and out of each others lives. I will note, the magical element in this book is a bit darker than in other books of this genre. Given the title and cover, I was expecting more of a cozy novel vibe, but the magical system is quite complex, and the overall tone of the paranormal aspects of the book is dark. I still enjoyed it, but it wasn't what I was anticipating.

Thank you to Emily Colin and Black Orchid Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review of 'Cursed in Love.'

Thank you net galley for copy of the arc. 🫶🏻

I really enjoyed this book. I was going in-between 3 and 4 stars and i ended up settling on 3.5. I love Runes story and learning more about her back story. As well as the banter between her other characters. I just feel like it could off been a little longer because the ending felt very thrown together. But other wise I loved it!

First of all thank you to the publishers for asking me to review such a wonderful cosy read it was totally needed.

when i read this is a starshollow meets charmed darkly funny small town paranormal Rom-Com i was sold !! i love a witchy read and consumed this book.

I loved that there is so much happening from the start you take off on that flying carpet of adventure . if you love a fast paced book this is for you . i thought the plot over all was wickedly fantastic i needed to know what was going to happen next i could not put it down

The characters Donovan was quick witted very clever which i loved to hate lol totally swoon worthy the perfect grumpy sunshine .Rune character i thought was brilliant and funny and very clever cookie indeed totally could be friends .I thought the chemistry between both Rune and Donovan i loved so much the perfect enemies to lovers , there was times the emotions hit hard did have a little tear .

Overall the book was charming and cosy with all the magic you could need and want with some spice which us romance lovers all love .

i am giving the book 5 wicked swoon worthy stars

#CursedinLove #Netgalley

Book Review: Cursed in Love by Emily Colin

Big thanks to NetGalley and Emily Colin for the ARC of Cursed in Love! If you’re in the mood for a romantic comedy that blends quirky charm with a touch of the supernatural, then this book is calling your name! Set in the enchanting little town of Sapphire Springs, it mixes the delightful vibe of *Stars Hollow* with a sprinkle of magical realism, making it an absolutely captivating read.

Meet Rune Whitlock, a graphic designer cursed with the ability to see the future—except no one believes her. Imagine carrying the weight of knowing that something bad is around the corner while everyone around you thinks you’re just a bit eccentric. That’s Rune’s life. Alongside her adorable rescue cat, Valentine, she navigates her unconventional gift (or curse) while often feeling like an outsider in her own town.

Then enters Donovan Frost, the brooding yet charming data engineer who sparks all sorts of feelings in Rune. Their chemistry is electric, filled with hilarious banter that pulls you in. But when Rune experiences a chilling premonition of a tragic wedding day, she feels compelled to protect Donovan by pushing him away. It’s a classic case of wanting to shield someone from heartbreak, even if it means risking true love.

The vibrant characters in Sapphire Springs are a joy to meet—think quirky locals and cozy spots bursting with personality (seriously, there’s a café famous for its mouthwatering chocolate-caramel milkshakes that I’d love to visit!). Emily Colin really brings this town to life, making it feel both inviting and intriguingly mysterious.

What really sets *Cursed in Love* apart is the perfect balance of humor and deeper emotional themes. As Rune navigates her cursed existence, you can’t help but root for her. She’s not just battling her premonitions; she’s facing the isolation and misunderstanding that come with them. Watching her learn to embrace her uniqueness while grappling with the fear of a doomed fate is both heartwarming and relatable.

In short, *Cursed in Love* is a delightful mix of romance, humor, and a touch of magic that’ll keep you hooked from start to finish. It’s a beautifully told story about love’s unpredictability and finding your way in a world that doesn’t always understand you. So, grab your favorite snack, get cozy, and prepare for a charming escape into the enchanting world of Sapphire Springs. Trust me, you won’t want to put it down!

I LOVED this book! The plot was great and it was hard for me to even put down. I liked that there was a little bit of spice and romance tone, but also the supernatural witchy vibe. Will highly recommend to anyone looking for a good romance read!

The story's fast-paced plot unfolds over the course of a week, making it a quick and engaging read. Colin does a great job of balancing romance, humor, and suspense while keeping the reader invested in Rune and Donovan’s fate. The cozy yet eccentric setting of Sapphire Springs adds charm, and the mix of magic, destiny, and self-discovery keeps the story compelling.

If you enjoy love stories with a touch of the supernatural and high emotional stakes, Cursed in Love is an entertaining pick.

I give this cozy Rom Com ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“You were so… alive, is the only word I can think of. You called me black and white, before ? Well, it was like you stepped right into my world and filled it with color.” - Donovan

I absolutely loved Rune and Donovan's story and was entranced from the very beginning! The chemistry and banter between the two main characters had me laughing and sighing with heart eyes and the supporting cast of characters was GOLD! I'm looking at you Sinsters!!! This is my first book by Emily but it will certainly not be the last!

This book was such a cozy read with a hint of angst. The characters had me frustrated but I'm glad they got their HEA.

I went into this book expecting a cute fantasy witchy romcom and while it was part of that, it also got quite dark.

This is the story of Rune and Donovan and they are a forbidden couple who are destined to be together and at the same time, he will die if they are.

A lot goes on in this book, featuring a cute small town with some great characters, lots of magic, a workplace romance, and a cat named Valentine.

There are dark topics discussed in this book and the end of this book with the final meetup between the witches does end in quite a bit of bloodshed.

All that being said, I found the romance lacking in this book. Yes, Rune and Donovan are destined but it was more told than shown. Yes, they have great chemistry together but it was very much instalove and I didn't love that so much.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy.

Spice Rating: 2 Chili Peppers - few brief steamy scenes, 1-2 explicit

Cursed by Love took me on a fun, wild ride.
We have Donovan a grumpy, iceman, who is very particular about.. well everything. And Rune, a woman with premonitions cursed so that no one believes her and she attracts chaos like a moth to a flame. Which created a lot of fun moments between them.
They are thrown together at work, with an instant attraction on both ends. However, some forces don't want them together, and other forces do. So throughout the book, we have this will they, won't they, push/ pull attraction thing going on. The sexual attraction was on point, and I loved the mystery element. Their interactions had me laughing out loud, and rooting for them to make it to the end.
Once we reached a certain point towards the end everything kind of ramped up and I was thoroughly invested again and couldn't put the book down until I reached the end which I really enjoyed. I will definitely read more by this author.

The town of Sapphire Springs is full of quirky characters that make the story even more entertaining. The romance is a slow burn (but worth it), and the banter between Rune and Donovan is really well done. The magical elements add a fun twist, and while the book has a lighthearted feel, there are also some emotional moments that make you really root for the characters.

If I had to nitpick, the ending felt a little rushed after all that great buildup. But overall, this was a really enjoyable, cozy paranormal romance. If you like small-town settings, a bit of magic, and a romance with great tension, this one is definitely worth picking up!