I wanted to love this book, but unfortunately it was so fluffy and cliche, i simply could not go past it. I went on to skim most of the pages and do not regret getting through it. The author shows potential, but this story and writing style was not for me.

I don't usually enjoy fantasy romance but this was magical! I loved the characters and the story was interesting. The story flowed smoothly and the pace was well done. Hopefully there is more to come!

I wanted to like this book but unfortunately I didn't. I found a lot of cringy moments, most stemming from the goofy witch talk. If I heard "Hells Bells" or "Thank Goddess" one more time I was going to through my kindle across the room. Every time those phrases (and there were others just as cringy) were said it took me out of the story because they felt so over the top. Do people really say things like that all the time? I don't think so.

4 ✨
I am always in the mood for a witchy read and this book was no exception. Violet and Link are a trip!
Violet is a witch with no magic and Link is The alpha wolf that stood her up when she was a teen. Because Violet is the firstborn she must enter into a witch bond/marriage with someone. As the alpha, Link must also enter into a marriage. Even though they have not resolved the issues from their past, they decide to enter into a mutually beneficial agreement where they pretend to date one another. Soon their real feelings for one another begin to emerge.
I loved the banter that Violet and Link had. They had history, chemistry, and most of all, electricity. He seemed quite protective over her which is preferable to me at least. She is definitely more of an independent type of person, but by the end, she seemed to really give into his protective nature.
I love the grandma, she is by far my favorite character. She knew everything the whole time and really helped progress the story. I also loved the bond that the triad had! I am so tired of seeing siblings hate each other in books, specifically sisters, so it was super refreshing to see them be so close.
Overall, I found this book so fun and enjoyable, I absolutely devoured it and loved every minute.

My criticisms:
- There was little to no atmosphere described
- The paparazzi plotline disappears soon after it is introduced and reappears again towards the end
- She was able to control her powers so quickly

This was a second-chance fake-dating romance between magic-less witch Violet and alpha wolf shifter Lincoln. When an old Supernatural Law forces the two back together, sparks (or is it magic?) fly. I liked this! I definitely have to be in the mood for paranormal romance, and this was a great balance of magic and romance. Violet and Lincoln were great together, and I also enjoyed the side characters. I’m glad this is the first book in the series!

What a fun and unique rom-com story! I loved seeing our MCs’ love for each other re-appear, I’m a sucker for second-chance romances🥺 especially those with wit and humour. Throw in some magic and LITERAL sparks✨, I can’t wait to read the rest in this series and learn more about the secondary characters as well!

I will say, I wish I didn’t read this RIGHT after CRESCENT CITY: HOEAB because the magical elements are very similar in terms of witches and wolves, and the world-building is not the same due to the sheer difference of pages LOL so I found myself confused & mixing up the elements (but that’s definitely just a me thing). It definitely helped I was able to listen to this on audio thanks to Netgalley 💜 Then again, if you’re finished CC and looking for more, this could be the perfect series for you 👀

I love this book. Fake dating and enemies to lovers are both some of my favorite tropes. Violet and Lincoln are so great! This book was so entertaining. I cannot wait to read the net one in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ St. Martin’s Griffin for giving me this digital reviewer copy in exchange my honest review.

This was such a fun read! I loved the idea of these various supernatural's, and the council, and of course, these various singles who might not be so single for much longer! It was such a great paranormal romance, and this book kicked this series off with a bang, and I really enjoyed it!

Violet and Lincoln don't get along. They were childhood adversaries-and teenage sweethearts. But things went wrong, and they haven't seen each other in years. Though Violet doesn't know the whole story, which is pretty awful! So there were some pretty interesting dynamics surrounding them. And of course politics made things even more complicated.

Fake dating is just such a fun trope, especially with the stakes that these two have. I loved watching them spend this time together, that he wants desperately, and she's relearning who he is and old feelings are coming out to play. Of course an infuriating mistake causes things to fall apart!

The way things wrapped up was so excellent to read! That Violet showed her control of her magic to the Council-and they revoked an outdated rule. And how the alphas did vote to disband the elders. Everything worked out for them, and I'm really glad!

I had such a great time reading this book, and I can't wait for the sequel!

Tropes: fake dating, second chance romance

A fake dating paranormal urban romance with some spice, Not The Witch You Wed is about magic-less witch Violet Maxwell and her ex alpha wolf shifter Lincoln Thorne. Forced together by outdated supernatural laws, Lincoln and Violet agree to fake date in order to convince everyone they’re going to form a mating bond. This arrangement is supposed to take the pressure off them.

But is it so easy to ignore old feelings? Or Violet’s suddenly emerging magic?

Overall, I enjoyed the premise of the story since I generally love all things witchy and it was fun to see a lighthearted, occasionally spicy romance about characters in their early 30s. There were lots of cute moments between the two of them.

The relationship between her and Lincoln was interesting and I did find myself rooting for them. Even though it felt a little predictable at times.

However, the dialogue felt lacking or immature at times. Some of the references were kind of cringe and any time a character refers to their bra cup size and the cup sizes of others it conjures images of bad 2012 fanfiction. It made the description feel kind of lazy to me. It was also a symptom of a larger problem - the characters felt kind of immature. They definitely didn’t read to me like they were in their 30s.

3.5 stars, enjoyable and fluffy but not anything special and definitely lacked great description

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you Netgalley and Publishers for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I was given an Advanced Listener Copy and enjoyed the narration, no complaints for the audiobook and I recommend it for anyone deciding what format to read this novel in.

Disclaimer: I don't typically read Paranormal Romance and this is the first novel I've read by this author.

I LOVED THIS!
I was hesitant at first because the Vampires/Witches/Shifters/Demons/etc. seemed like a lot. However, the fact that this is set in NYC and the way it's written in similar vein to a fun light-hearted RomCom.

Violet "Vi" Maxwell is our main character. Believing that she's magicless for the thirty or so years of her life, a lot of drama follows in every single aspect of her life the very minute her magic ("Sparky") appears: familial, work, and witch laws.

While I enjoyed the magic system segway, I loved the subplot of the community center and them living in New York. It was just enough paranormal/magical realism that was easy to follow without being overwhelming. Violet and Lincoln have history that was depicted well. I feel if we didn't know what exactly happened in their prior history (and didn't get a follow-up resolution in the novel) then this novel wouldn't have worked. Instead, the author made sure to include those details that made for a great second chance romance.

I loved the sibling triad and Lincoln with his pack buddies. I'm excited to see what the author has in store for the rest of the Supernatural Singles series including with a follow-up to the little teaser in one of the last scenes in this novel.

So I read the synopsis on this one where a witch who should be all powerful is being dubbed the "Maxwell Dud" which peaked my curiosity. Add in some shifters and I was happy to find the audio version available on NetGalley. Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC with honesty.

Violet Maxwell is possibly the black sheep of the family - of course, her sisters (one third of a triplet set) still love her unconditionally and she them but she still feels like the outcast. Being from a powerful magical line, Violet with no magic to speak of, finds herself in an odd situation. That is until she's found out regardless of magic or no, she is the first born. And as the first born, predication states that she must be witchbound to another magical entity. With no way out of it, she finds herself in a hopeless situation. Get married/bound to someone and soon or the council would find someone for her.

In walks the past. The literal past of heartbreak. Her Ex. Lincoln Thorn. An alpha now of the shifters, Lincoln can't stop wanting to be with Violet who sadly, wants nothing to do with him. And he can't blame her. With their painful history, it's no wonder she looks ready to take him down - and not in a good way.

But fate is a crafty little witch herself when he's suddenly in a situation where he needs to be married or the council of shifters would appointment a mate for him (even if it isn't his true mate) that has the wolf shifter hatching a plan with the beautiful Violet that would buy them both some time.

Now if only things would just go according to plan...

This is a very fun read. It's funny and light (for the most part though there are some topics brought up to be wary of. Nothing graphic but violence is a part of the shifter past.) The narrator did pretty well with changing her voice to suit the characters speaking. Overall, it was good time and hope to read the next installment in the series.

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-audiobook ARC of this book. All opinions on this are my own.

If you're looking for a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers paranormal romance, then Not the Witch You Wed by April Asher is the perfect book for you! Beautifully narrated by Zura Johnson who helpfully adds a gruffness to her voice when voicing the male love interest - Lincoln, and beautifully narrates the female main character - Violet, the book flows smoothly.

While I found some moments eyeroll worthy, something that is not necessarily uncommon for me in romance, overall the book seemed like a good fit for anyone who loves paranormal romance. There is magic at play, fake dating, and an endearing nature between the two characters that cannot be denied. If you like surprises though in romance stories, this book is not going to do it for you. While predictable, it's what you kind of wanted for the characters all along anyway. It was ultimately a very fun read.

Tense and POV: This book was in past tense, third person.

This book is for you if you like the following:
-very horny magical folks
-complex supernatural power struggles
-triplets
-mates and such
-all sorts of magical creatures
-stories for black sheep

I'm gonna go ahead and admit that I don't read a lot of paranormal romance/erotica and thought this was more romance with a supernatural twist than it turned out to be. There was a lot of info dumping up front about magical politics and hierarchies and the wide variety of magical creatures there are in this book, and it was a lot to take in. It was as if I had thought I was dipping my toe in and ended up in a bit deeper than I expected. To be honest, I feel like I just need to stick to more familiar waters/genres for the time being. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't my thing. I am also accustomed to slow burns in my romances so it was jarring to have Vi talking about her lady bits getting wet in the first chapter and the first encounter with Lincoln we see in the book. It was just a bit much for me and definitely made me feel like I was the wrong audience for this book.
There were things I enjoyed like the fake dating bit and the sister relationship along with the Prima. I am a sucker for sister stories and sassy old ladies. I just kept finding myself feeling like I was the wrong audience and a lot of it just didn't land right for me.
I was very grateful to have access to the audiobook as audiobooks are my preferred form of media and the best way for me to read books. Thank you very much Dreamscape Media for giving me access. I am always interested when I see books narrated by narrators I haven't come across yet, I've gotten to know a lot of the usual suspects of voices so I always like to give new ones a shot, this time around, Zura didn't work for me. She just came off a little breathy. I feel like it worked for the character and it was in keeping and it's not like she was a bad fit but considering I was having problems connecting with the novel in general, I was feeling particularly nitpicky and unfortunately it translated to my reception of the audio. If I see her name again, I want to give her another shot on the book I hope to enjoy more. This book was just a miss for me in general and not a result of poor production on the part of the audiobook, more my lack of comfort with the writing style and content.

Not the Witch You Wed is the first book in the Supernatural Singles series by April Asher. I've read Asher's romantic suspense in the past (written under the name April Hunt) and was eager to see her take on PNR!

For me, the characters are what really shined here. I loved the chemistry between the two protagonists and Violet's bonds with her sisters and friends, and the exploration of a heroine who grew up in a magical family without having powers herself. I also just want to add that I love the way Violet is drawn on the cover.

There were times when the book felt a little overstuffed—between the number of tropes tackled, the various kinds of mythical beings in the world. There's a lot of setup happening, which makes sense as the first book in a series, but I did wish there had been a little less to digest. In particular, I didn't feel as though the fake relationship trope was the best fit for this pairing—when the second chance romance aspect with the forced proximity felt much stronger and delivered more of an emotional punch.

While not a new favorite, the audiobook was an enjoyable listen and has me wanting to check out more from this series in the future! Readers who are hooked on the current trend of witchy romances will likely find a lot to enjoy here!

Well, this is a magical, fun, delightful, sexy and heartwarming read! I just ate it up and didn't want it to end. this is such a great introduction into paranormal romance too. I can't wait for more from this series! The audio is so wonderful too - loved the narration.

I'm not sure why, but I just did not vibe with any of the characters or the plot of this book. Sometimes, a book just isn't what you need it to be, and that's okay. I hope others enjoyed it more.

Not the Witch You Wed is a cute paranormal romance about a salty, magicless witch, Violet, and her shape-shifter high school sweetheart, Lincoln.

Violet is known as the family "dud", the only of the three sisters without magic, who is overlooked at all the gatherings for the supernatural community. She finds herself on the radar of the ruling council, who demand she form a mate bond as a means to control her magic within 3 months. Which is clearly ridiculous since she is known to have no magic - although her magic HAS started to appear in strange ways recently, but she sure doesn't want them to know that. Her ex-boyfriend, Linc, who broke her heart when they were 18, has also started to appear in strange ways and is also required to have a mate by his 33rd birthday within a month. Even though Violet doesn't trust Linc in the least, they cook up a plan to convince everyone they're dating to take the heat off. And we all know fake dating never works!

The audio narration was good. I was confused about the title of the book because it made it sound like they had gotten married at some point and then there was a revelation - but there are no marriages in this book.

Not the Witch You Wed by April Asher was such a fun and sweet book. I really enjoyed the narration and felt it was so well done.
A great start to a new series that’s sure to please.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review

Not the Witch You Wed draw me in with that title and cover. So I immediately requested it, hoping for a cute paranormal romance and in the end, it's what I got, just not one I completely fell in love with.

In it, you'll follow a Violet, a witch without magic who was supposed to be the Head of witches. Her lack of powers ended up giving the role to her younger sister. And on the other hand we have the werewolf Alpha, or in other terms, her ex. They have history but when she is forced to find her mate and he is in the need of one, the pair will plan to fake date each other.

(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)

NOT THE WITCH YOU WED was recommended to me by a friend/fellow reviewer because I Iove Erin Sterling/Rachel Hawkins’s THE EX HEX. I’m excited to see that the genre of sexy contemporary paranormal rom-coms is continuing to be a trend in traditional publishing.

Despite the great time I had listening to this, I have to say that the writing and dialogue were quite corny. It tries too hard to be #relatable, and I don’t think it’s believable that these characters are in their thirties.

That said, this is still a lot of fun! The epilogue TOTALLY sets up another book, and as of now I am interested in reading it.