The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling

Vivi's cousin Gwyn meets her match in this book and it's Rhys's brother Lwellyn, better known as Wells. He is the oldest brother, the Golden Child of their father's eye. But being the Golden Child is wearing on him and he is ready to escape. Why not to Graves Glen? It's a place he can convince his father that it would be good to have a Penhallow (obviously Rhys doesn't count since he married a Jones woman) and it's not like the pub in Scotland is even getting any customers.

In Graves Glen, Wells first finds a bachelorette party in his family home (invited there by his brother.) Then he engages in a not-so-friendly rivalry with Gwyn when he sets up a true witch shop (as opposed to her... plastic pumpkins) right across the street, and he also encounters a face from the past who may or not be evil.

This was, overall, an enjoyable story though it meandered and crossed over itself without seeming rhyme or reason. I never really did understand why Gwyn and Rhys would be drawn to each other but, for folks looking to get into the Halloween season, this is a great read.

Three and a half stars

This book comes out September 20, 2022

Follows The Ex Hex

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyage and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

Prologue: Vivienne Jones has been dating a guy for three months. She finds out that he is actually betrothed to another woman. She takes a long bath and then hexes both he and his bloodline. But it's all in good fun. It wasn't even a real hex.

Nine year later Rhys Penhallow is back in town. He's only there to attend the town's 100th anniversary because his family founded the town. He's also there to reset the ley lines that his family set. Yes, he is a witch. To be fair, so is Vivienne though she didn't know that fact until later in life. And now it seems like the hex might be something more than a frivolous night of blowing off steam. And when Rhys resets the ley lines, his hex transfers from him directly into town.

Immediately, strange things start happening. Toy skulls surround customers in the shop Vivienne's cousin runs. A ghost is released from a binding. Basically, Rhys, Vivienne and her aunt and cousin are kept busy putting out both literal and metaphorical fires. But trying to solve the hex gives Rhys and Vivienne time to spend together.

This was a fun story and hopefully the start to a new series. I would love to see how Vivienne's cousin works things out with Mayor Jane. There are definitely a few things that threw me off including some pretty big time jumps where it seems like things were maybe settling down because there was no exposition but overall a fun, fast, and fluffy read.

Four stars

This book comes out October 5th, 2021

Followed by The Kiss Curse

ARC kindly provided by William Morrow and Custom House, and NetGalley

Opinions are my own