Thank you for providing me a copy of this book to review!

My favorite part about reading is when I get lost in a book, and Not the Witch You Wed was one of the most entertaining books I've read in a while. I kept smiling while reading this book, and I became so invested in the relationship in this book. If you like paranormal romance books and are looking for something funny and fast-paced, Not the Witch You Wed is the perfect read.

It's an enemies to lovers romance with fake dating, and the banter between Violet and Lincoln was one of my favorite parts of the book. I read this book during my morning commute, and I kept trying not to laugh and disturb the complete silence of the 8 am train. I was also hoping no one on the train saw how much I was blushing while reading this because the tension between Violet and Lincoln is also great. They had so much chemistry, and I found their relationship believable.

I also really liked Violet's character. She has her own problems outside of her relationship with her new magic, and I loved seeing the way she handled it. She's a confident and self-reliant character. I liked seeing her have a strong relationship with Lincoln while still maintaining her own life, from learning to control her magic to nurturing her relationships with friends and family. She's also a curvy character, and I appreciated how she was depicted.

My only critique of this book was that I wanted a little more backstory. Not the Witch You Wed is fast-paced and the story gets started quickly, which makes the book engaging but there were some details that I felt I was missing while I read. Firstly, I needed a little more explanation of supernatural politics and society. I wanted to know more about the supernatural council responsibilities outside of just ensuring that people get married or bonded. Violet's grandmother is on the council, so I'm sure that they aren't all evil and do good things too.

I also wanted more of Violet and Lincoln's relationship in high school. We're told that they had a strong relationship and that's why Lincoln becomes so enamored with Violet quickly. However, we don't know much about what that relationship looked like. I think a longer flashback to a scene in high school with Lincoln and Violet would've strengthened the backstory that becomes the foundation for their love. I kept forgetting that they had been romantically involved before the events in the story.

Ultimately though, I loved the romance in this book, and I couldn't put it down, so it's one I would recommend to everyone.

This was a delightful read and I am so excited there will be more books since we're introduced to three sisters in this book and I need to know what happens to the other two now that we have Violet, the oldest of the triplets, off on the right track. This was laugh out loud funny in parts (Violet may have some of the best friends and family in a rom-com in awhile) and I also appreciated that while this is fantasy, it's still taking place in the "real" world and Violet has the same crazy family that we all do, just add magic. The only thing I would note is a few times the story was slightly disjointed - I wondered if I'd missed a scene a few times which, since I was reading an ARC, is a possibility but it was never bad enough that I felt I missed anything that vital. Loved this and can't wait for more!

Absolutely loved this one! Really enjoyed this one! It was a just what I was looking for. Definitely will recommend to friends.

I absolutely loved this book and I hope there are more to come. It was so fun and exactly what someone needs to get into the fall spooky season mood! Violet was such a great main character and I loved the chemistry in the book!
All opinions are my own, thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC ebook.

This story was such a fun and magical ride! I loved the world that the author created and the characters were all amazing in their own unique ways. I will have to say though, I absolutely loathed Violet’s mother, I hope she can redeem herself in the following books to come. I thoroughly enjoyed Violet and Lincoln’s story, especially their sweet and steamy connection. This book is everything I could want in a second-chance romance. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next one!

Not the Witch You Wed is an adorable paranormal romance that I finished in 2 days. Violet is a great character who you can't help but like from the start. Her chemistry with Lincoln is great and I was rooting for these two throughout the entire book. This is the first book I read on this subject and it won't be my last it was AMAZING!!!!

Vi and Linc have great chemistry, and there is nothing fake about their romance. Couldn't put it down. The opening of the book is fast, and it felt like I was reading a second book instead of a first in a new series, especially in the beginning. Perfectly set up for a prequel, and I hope one is written.

I loved this! I loved every single thing about it! I've been leaning more towards paranormal romcoms these last couple of months and this one in particular delivered! I can't wait to read more from the author in the very near future! Highly recommend. This will be a hit in 2022!

4.5. Not the Witch You Wed
April Asher
Violet and Lincoln
Violet is witch royalty and Lincoln is the shifter head for North America. They have a history together that involves Lincoln standing her up during an attempt to run away together. Lincoln’s father forced a pact on Lincoln: in order to save her life he had to sever all ties. And he put a hex on Lincoln, he could never talk about the reason for his jilting. Violet hates him but he still wants her. And maybe she still has feelings for him. In the present day both have only months to find a mate before one is forced upon them. After some magic gone bad/good on Violet’s side they decide to fake date each other to gain some time. But is it fake or could they be True Mates?
I would recommend this book to my patrons.

I really liked this book. I've never read anything from this author before but I sure will read more of her work in the future.
This was a good little novel. It was fast, had a few plot threads that all tied up nicely by the end, had some fun supernaturals, and also had a bit of character development. It all came together in a sweet, enjoyable package. I absolutely adored how April Asher made Violet and her sisters so unique and sweet each in her own way right from the beginning. I enjoyed this story a lot and really liked getting to know Lincoln and Violet and her sisters as well. This book was exactly what expected it to be in the best way possible. When I read the blurb I was intrigued and I'm happy to say the book didn't disappoint at all. Everything I hoped for when I started reading this book I got: magic & interesting heroine, the action, sparks filled relationship between Violet and Lincoln, fabulous secondary characters, interesting mythology... There are also some great relationship dynamics that I'm hoping get explored more in the following books (if we get them).
All in all this was a fun little story - I wouln't have minded if it were a bit longer though.

This was a great fantasy read! I really enjoyed the characters and I would definitely be interested in reading the sequel!

DNF @ 27%

I was really enjoying this book because it’s funny and mostly light so far, and I <I>love</I> antagonistic banter, but a throwaway comment about virginal Succubus not having “technical intercourse” hit me as not welcoming to me as a queer person. I was already a little side-eye for comments on bra cup sizes because that really doesn’t say anything about a characters appearance, but this crossed the line for me personally. I may pick it back up, because as I said I was definitely enjoying the book and I was just about to get to the fake dating (one of my favorite tropes) and it kept making me giggle, especially the witchy cursing (what the hex!), but idea of “technical intercourse” hit me badly and I can’t convince myself to read past that line…

The story is a romance between a witch and the leader of a wolf pack who by product of each of their circumstances are forced to fake a relationship. Throw in the fact they were in love when they were younger and things get messy.

It’s a super quick and easy read and is frankly perfect for this time of year. The characters themselves are charming and the magical politics keep it interesting.

Corny phrases often made Violet’s voice seem unrealistic. I can’t remember the exact phrase but one in particular occurs earlier on in the novel and I actually cringed while reading it and screamed “what person actually talks like that?”

Lincoln being a shifter is most irrelevant to the story other than to serve as a rationale behind his importance to the community. I for one would have liked to have seen more scenes where he was shifting. Otherwise his wolfish nature was just depicted with statements saying he got a wolfish look in his eye, which after a while became slightly repetitive.

I could see how the groundwork was being laid for future spin-offs and the world was interesting enough that I would definitely be interested in picking up future books if that is the case.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good shifter romance. Honestly it didn't seem like the shifter part mattered all that much, except that Lincoln was magical enough to be important. I liked the enemies to lovers, and the strong friendships in the book as well. It did feel like I was missing something to set up the detonation of Rose's engagement but maybe that's just to keep me wondering about a future book? It did feel like most of the ends were tied off, if you're not a fan of cliffhangers.

*copy provided by Netgalley

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. . In a way, I almost felt like this was the middle of a series but once I figured it out I did enjoy the book. it’s not your typical shifter which book and it was very entertaining. I would read the next book in the series. I like Lincoln and I liked Violet. The ending felt a bit rushed to me and It also took a minute for me to get into the book but overall it was an enjoyable read.

What a weirdly entertaining book! I anticipated some crystal touting white girl witch book but then I get slapped in the face with “Hex me” and “his inner Wolf” and I let out a deranged scream because I’d unknowingly walked into an omegaverse adjacent book. Luck for me, this book didn’t seem to take itself too seriously because the silly phrases and light tone continued so I was able to thoroughly enjoy the campy nature of literally everything this books out out. Except not a single ethnic/BIPOC or queer person was explicitly mentioned soooooo that’s a bit of an issue considering this is literally a 2022 pub book, you’d think minorities and queer folks in a universe where succubi and demons exist. Either way, I had zero hopes for this book and therefore that made whatever this mess was quite enjoyable. Would definitely recommend this to people

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 stars

Linc and Vi’s romance was a fun witty read. I enjoyed the childhood crush but wrong timing trope. I also enjoyed the world building and over all premise of the story.

Vi doesn’t have magic until a certain shifter shows up. Then her magic seems to go haywire. It was fun watching her learn how to control her magic. I also enjoyed the witty banter between her and Linc. I do wish we got to see her interact with Linc’s pack. I also thought it was interesting that Linc commented on the true mates option but Vi didn’t really touch on it.

Linc was a fun male character. I enjoyed seeing the possessiveness of the alpha and seeing him and Vi go at it. I do wish we got to see him running the pack. And more flashbacks to when him and Vi were children. I felt like part of the story was telling us rather than showing.

Overall I really enjoyed this rom com. It was witty and cute. I loved the premise of it and enjoyed seeing Linc and Vi find their love story. Looking forward to Ro’s story!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC copy in exchange for a review.

This is not your typical paranormal rom-com. We do have the banter and the communication problems in this enemies to lovers romance but we also have some pretty interesting world building and political intrigue. The two main characters-a witch and a shifter- would mutually benefit if it was thought they had a relationship so they decided to fake it. What could possibly go wrong? This was a fast paced story with the added bonus of some interesting side characters. I hope to visit their world again in another book!

I enjoyed this one.
It did take me a bit longer to get into it than I would have liked and in a way it felt like this was part of a series that I dove into smack in the middle....:/

This one will def be a series and looking forward to the next 2 books with the sisters.

Mare~Slitsread

OMG! Somebody plays trombone inside my head! I have to admit: this book was crazy, entertaining, wild ride as a production of urban fantasy waltzing with young adult romance. But it was also a little complicated for me to pick up the entire concept at the beginning !

The thing confused my mind : its ultra fast opening with bombardment of extra information summarize the detailed world building. I have reread some pages to make sure who’s who, what sister has more powers ( at least I got that our heroine is the one who has less power, witty, sarcastic, quiet lovable one)

There are so many supernatural entities in this book which deserve their own novels : witches, shapeshifters, werewolves etc. As you can see there is enough material to write more stories and sequels!

So I was a little disappointed with the extra fast, crashing beginning and I thought I would have hard time to catch up all details to understand how the entire system of arcane Supernatural Laws.

But when wolf shifter appears Lincoln Thorne on the pages, my interest also shifted to him. The playful, entertaining, sassy banters between him and Violet who were lovers in the past and now fueling their enemies to lovers attraction as pretending soon to be married lovers: things get more and more interesting! I smiled and lied down on my couch to enjoy the full smart and enjoyable, sparkling romance with powerful paranormal vibes.

After the complicated beginning, the pacing and development were balanced and the mix of humor, passion, fun, drama with supernatural concepts fit so good and promise you to have relaxing , less complicated, intriguing reading time.

This is a great fit for wine- popcorn- Friday night binge reading concept! I highly advise not to skip it especially you’re into entertaining paranormal romance and fantasy genres!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ St. Martin’s Griffin for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.