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Not Your Ex's Hexes (book #2 in the Supernatural Singles series) was just as fun and flirty as Not the Witch You Wed (book #1 in the series). Rose and Damien had a great story arc, I love that their FBA turns into true love, reminds me of Friends With Benefits starring Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake.

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When a dreamy half demon vetinarian meets a sassy witch, sparks fly. From the moment this book this opened, I was invested in this supernatural rom-com. Damian is the son of one of the Princes of Hell and is trying to make up for his dark teenage years by running an animal sanctuary. Rose was supposed to be the next Witch Prima but that fell through leaving her searching for her place in the world. When Rose gets ordered to do community service at Damian's animal sanctuary, there is no denying the attraction between the two.There's one small problem and that is Damian has been hexed by a pissed off teen witch and things will go very badly for everyone if he falls in love.
While I found the storyline to be a bit predictable, the story was so fun! I loved the Rose's sassy sisters and grandmother. And a hot male character who loves and rescues animals? SWOON.

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Probably should have read the first one before this one. Would have maybe made more sense? Still this wasn't for me!

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I loved the first book in this series, so I was excited for this one. It did not disappoint! The narrator was pure perfection. Her different character voices, inflections all of it was so fantastic and I was hooked listening.

Rose Maxwell, one of the Triplet Maxwell witch sisters, gets sentenced to community service by the local witch council to work at the local Animal Sanctuary after trying to ‘rescue’ a horse already in their care. The sanctuary is run by a sexy demon shifter, Damien Adams, that just happens to be one of Rose’s old one night stands. What’s a witch to do?

What I loved:
▪️Hell Demons, Shape Shifters, Witches, Werewolves, Guardian Angels, Bounty Hunters, Gryndors, Vampires, a Scubas and even the Prince of Hell. This book had ALL the supernatural creatures and I was so entranced by it all.
▪️Mr. Wiggles 😆 (IYKYK)
▪️Loved all the Magical puns
▪️Many returning characters from book, including Violet and Lincoln.
▪️Rose. She was fearless and I loved her witty personality. She also didn’t hesitate to tell everyone (including Damien) what she wanted. She was an amazing FMC.
▪️The sanctuary. All the rescue animals had my heart ❤️
▪️The flirty banter, electricity and tension between Rose and Damien was WOW! Spicy, but also sweet at times and I loved all of it so much.
▪️The Gryndor battles!
▪️The little surprise twist at the end. There were a lot of exciting things going on and it never got boring. I didn’t want this book to end!

What I disliked:
ZERO…I absolutely loved this book! The Maxwell sister continue to be one of my favorite series. I can’t wait to read book 3 about the third sister, Olive, next! Thank you to @netgalley for the #arc in exchange for my honest review.

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April Asher knows how to write a witchy, paranormal rom-com that's for sure! Not Your Ex's Hexes is the next book in their series after Not The Witch You Wed. I adored the first book and loved this one even more. There is demons, witches, laugh out loud moments, chemistry off the charts, and a wonderful feel-good time all around. Can't wait for more by April Asher!

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I voluntarily agreed to read and honestly review this book.
This romantic comedy had me a laughing out loud so many times. Then there were the parts concerning animal abuse that had me almost crying. The thing that really made me love this story were the references to supernatural shows that I have watched and loved.
Our main characters were a female witch and a male half-demon. She was in line to become the Prima of witches and part of the Supernatural Council. He had left his father’s domain to become a veterinarian that worked at an animal Sanctuary. There was a lot of chemistry between these two, but they both had issues with relationships. But, in the end, they ended up getting their HEA.

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I’ve been reading a lot of rom-coms recently so it was really refreshing to read a paranormal romance. Plus I loved Not The Witch You Wed so I was very excited to be approved for this arc! Witty banter is one of my favorite elements in a romance, and this book was full of it. You get a friends with benefits relationship between a witch and a half-demon and the tension was palpable. April Asher also gives us grumpy/sunshine which is one of my all time favorite tropes. It was really interesting to watch Rose figure out her passion since she’s no longer the Prima which she’s trained for her entire life to become. It was so much fun to meet her in book one and now we got to see her get her happily ever after! I also really adored that Rose and Damian were both animal lovers which really played a part in their story. I didn’t know a half-demon veterinarian was something I needed in my life but thankfully here we are. I really enjoyed April Asher’s writing and I will definitely continue to read and recommend her work!

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Preface
I went into this story without reading the first book in the series, Not the Witch You Wed. While I think reading that book first would have lend some context to this one - especially due to all of the characters, some back story, and the organic reveal of a big spoiler at the end of NtWYW - I thought Not Your Ex's Hexes stood alone just as well.

Summary
Not Your Ex's Hexes focuses on the second Maxwell sister, Rose Maxwell. As the former Prima-in-training, Rose is now adrift, on a search to find her "thing". But after a night to rescue two emaciated horses - from an animal sanctuary (unbeknownst to her at the time) - she had to perform community service...at the animal sanctuary with the hot half-demon vet, Damian Adams, who she may-or-may-not have had a one-night-stand with and hasn't been able to stop thinking about since. In close proximity, sparks fly, and it doesn't take the two long to come to a no-strings "arrangement".

Verdict
I read an article (https://bookriot.com/why-more-men-should-read-romance/) recently that less than 20% of men read romance - which is a shame, really. Romance is, of course, a nice fluffy genre mostly tailored to women - often with some (or a lot of) spice - but a genre where you know the story will end in happily ever after for the main characters, despite any difficulties they might face along the way. And while not everything in the real world always ends in sunshine and rainbows, romance allows for a nice escape. Beyond that, romance is a genre that allows for men to be vulnerable and tend to showcase healthy masculinity for the MCs and their group of friends (any toxic masculinity is something to be disposed of - quite literally in this book). [I mention this specifically because it definitely applies to this book.]

One thing I think this book did really well was the portrayal of the two main characters, Rose and Damian - or "Little Witch" and "Doc", as they so sarcastically (then, affectionately) call one another.

Rose is a 5'8" curvy woman who is comfortable in her own skin - her curves and figure are mentioned several times, but they're never the source of any insecurity, nor does Rose ever feel the need to change her appearance. It is a fact that she is curvy, but it is not a plot point. She is powerful in her own right: strong, independent, stubborn, opinionated, and not afraid to speak her mind. An all-around great character who I enjoyed getting to know.

Damian, on the other hand, is tall, brooding bad-boy. While there were some things that I didn't like that romance seems to often do - i.e. making the men large both in height and, er, in other things - it wasn't as overt as some others (e.g. The Hating Game). But what really sold me on Damian's character was that he was allowed to be vulnerable. Yes, he had the typical "bad-boy" exterior, complete with a leather jacket and motorcycle who was literally a half-demon, but he learned to keep his demon in check to do what he loved - rescue animals and care for his small circle of people. Sure, he wasn't perfect, but he was allowed the space to be imperfect and vulnerable, and I loved watching the transformation as we peel back the layers to the gem of his true character underneath.

I also really liked a lot of the secondary characters. Since Vi and Rose already have a story, it was interesting to see the author's slight hints to Olive's. I'm also hoping for a future story about Harper because, I mean, c'mon. She was great.

As I mentioned in the beginning, there were a few points where a little bit of context from the first book would've been nice. The first was the triplets' relationship with their mother: from the context, it seemed like she had been overbearing (and borderline abusive, depending on how much you read into it) to the girls for their whole lives, and for a while, I wasn't sure why they weren't completely NC (no contact). I was also concerned how drastic their mother's personality purportedly changed (though it was later explained). The second was Olive's seemingly drastic personality change; although it was blamed on a roommate with a potion business that saw clients out of their apartment at any time of the day or night, it felt a little strained of an explanation; maybe knowing Olive better from the first book would've lent insight, or maybe it's another set-up by the author to lead in to the third book (which I'm assuming is about Olive).

The only other quasi-qualm that I wanted to mention about this book was that, although set in NYC, it didn't really *feel* like it was set in NYC - it lacked the overall hustle and bustle and *magic* that NYC has (albeit for some passing remarks about traffic and tourists, etc.). Granted, most scenes took place in more personal spaces - animal sanctuaries, bars, bedrooms, etc. - but unless NYC was specifically mentioned, I would've never known that was where they all lived. Not necessarily a good or bad thing, just a thing.

Also, I just want to mention that it took me until almost the end of the book to realize that each triplet's magic color was related to their name - Violet's was purple, Rose's was pink, and Olive's was green. A little on-the-nose, but it's a detail I can appreciate.

Audiobook Review
I really enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook, who I think was a great fit - they were quirky and funny and banter-y and voiced both Rose and Damian well.

Rating
3.5/5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Dreamscape Media for an advanced copy of this eBook and eAudiobook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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An entertaining read with great dialogue and likeable MC's. The supporting cast was awesome and I can't wait for Olive's book. *I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.

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There's something about a witchy romance that just gets me. I loved this book; the characters were well written, and I felt that they had great development throughout the story. I have a real weakness for a brooding grump and Damian definitely checked all my boxes. I loved that he was a veterinarian that that he his care for the animals kept his humanity in check. I really liked Rose, she wasn't your cookie cutter leading romance mc. I think she brought a lot of that fun sunshine magic to the story. In this instance i did not read the first book in this series. I don't feel like I missed anything, but I enjoyed the writing style and story line of this installment so much that I will be circling around to the first! And I definitely can't wait to see if there is a third book.

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Thank you so much to St. Martin Griffin and Netgalley for letting me read an eARC of Not Your Ex’s Hexes! This is the second book in the Supernatural Singles series and I loved book one, so I figured I’d enjoy book two, and I was so right!
Not Your Ex’s Hexes 5/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads: In April Asher’s next Supernatural Singles novel, Not Your Ex's Hexes, a one-night-stand between a willful witch and a broody half-demon conjures an adventure that wouldn’t be complete without several magical mishaps.
For her entire life, Rose Maxwell trained to become the next Prima on the Supernatural Council. Now that she’s stepped down, it’s time for this witch to focus on herself. And not think about her impulsive one-night stand with Damian Adams, a half-Demon Veterinarian who she can’t get out of her head. Neither of them is looking for a relationship. But when Rose is sentenced to community service at Damian’s animal sanctuary it becomes impossible for them to ignore their sparking attraction. A friends-with-benefits, no feelings, no strings arrangement works perfectly for them both.
After a sequence of dead-end jobs, it’s not until Rose tangos with two snarly demons that she thinks she’s finally found her path. However, this puts Damian back on the periphery of a world he thought he left behind. He doesn’t approve of Rose becoming a Hunter, but if there's one thing he's learned about the stubborn witch, it was telling her not to do something was one sure-fire way to make sure she did.
Working—and sleeping—together awakens feelings Damian never knew he had...and shouldn't have. Because thanks to his ex's hex, if he falls in love, he'll not only lose his heart—but his humanity.
I enjoyed this book so, so much! I really liked Rose as a main character a lot- we didn’t get to know her too, too much in book one, but here, we got to know her really well as she got to know herself and she what she’s supposed to do with her life now that she’s not the Prima Apparent anymore. I also really liked Damian as a love interest- his curse was a really interesting one and his lineage is interesting too and of course, I really love that he’s a vet and has an animal sanctuary/rescue! There were so many cute coincidences throughout the book that really helped push the story and then so many adorable situations where Rose and Damien were thrown together in the best way possible. I also liked their friends with benefits situation, because those never work out the way people want them to. I also liked that we got to see how Violet and Lincoln were doing and I cannot wait for Olive’s book next! Definitely go out and grab Not Your Ex’s Hexes today!

Link to be added once post goes live

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The second book in the series, Not Your Ex’s Hexes was a fun and sexy romp. I like this world that Asher has created and the Maxwell sisters are a delight. I’ll be checking out the next book!

<i>ARC Provided by NetGalley<i>

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I really enjoyed this. It is a pretty average, by-the-numbers paranormal romance. I think the ending is a little over-the-top (if they had managed to reign that in a bit, I would have easily given this 4 stars) But it was a funny, romantic number overall. The hero was grumpy and possessive, but not so much that it was problematic. There was good consent and it was pretty steamy. I don't know that this needed to be paranormal honestly like I guess the whole concept is the hex.. but I often forgot that they were supposed to be a witch and a half-demon. The book most often feels like a contemporary. (that might be a good or a bad thing for you)

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My thoughts:
This is such an adorable read! The romance in this was kind of simple but the angst and tension were off the charts and I found myself anticipating what was next for them! I love Damian and Rose's interactions especially when it came to any animal sanctuary shenanigans, it made me giggle and laugh out loud. Their chemistry was really well done and I found myself rooting for them right from the start! The side characters were also witty and charming which makes me want to know more about this world!

Plot-wise, I felt like it moved a bit slow for my taste but the slow plot was made up of action sequences and minor plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I will have to say though, I took a LONG time to finish this book and I think its because of the plot, I felt like the plot points didn't flow with one another as well so it felt like reading one mini story after the other instead of one book

The magical aspects of this book were integrated with contemporary society so it was a fun concept to read about! I loved the integration and kinda wished there was more elaboration on the system (this is the second book in the series though so maybe there's more in the first book!)

Overall, this was a fun read and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
My Rating: 4/5 stars

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I enjoyed this continuation of the previous book. The allusion to the couple that became MCs in this book were great at the end of book 1, so I was glad to continue with this ARC.

The MC felt like a good match and the conflict made sense and was set up well.

I'll look forward to book 3!

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Damian is a half-demon veterinarian at a local animal sanctuary. Rose is forced to work at this animal sanctuary as part of community service hours she has to meet.

Damian and Rose also had a one night stand not too long ago. Did we mention that Damien has a hex on him that will be dangerous if he falls in love? So they enter into a FWB situation to prevent feelings and scratch the itch they both have.

I would give this a solid 3.5 stars - it was a cute story and while it had burn & spice, it also had a good plot. This would be a book that I would definitely recommend for a Halloween/fall season read.

Thank you NetGalley & St Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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Not my usual genre but what a fun story. Vampires, witches and so much more. I liked the characters and the family ties. A nice romance wrapped in a fantasy. It was a good escape read.

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Funny and light hearted. It has some of my favorite tropes, friend with benefits. You know they're gonna catch those feelings. This was a cute read, and I can't wait for the next.

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Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for my e-arc in exchange for a review!

I loved this second book in April’s Supernatural Singles series! This one was fun, sexy/steamy, starts with a one night stand and is full of lots of challenges and adventures (including a puppy rescue and fighting demons) we also get to see lots of the MC’s from the first book too!

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Not Your Ex’s Hexes is the second of a series by April Asher, which tells the romantic tale of witchy triplets and I’m guessing their best friend as well, set in NYC. I didn’t read the first book and while I did occasionally wonder about the backstory of the two main characters from that book, it didn’t distract me much. I found this book delightfully entertaining on its own.

Our heroine is Rose Maxwell, the middle triplet, until fairly recently the Prima in Training (translation: future witch leader), and now is adrift in the unknown of what to do with her life. She has a one night stand with a hot dude who turns out to be our hero. Damian Adams, demon/veterinarian, who is pretty grumpy and trying to save his animal sanctuary.

The two meet again after Rose, her sisters, Violet and Olive, and their succubus bestie, Harper are caught carrying out Operation Equine Freedom. Turns out, the horses they are trying to liberate have already been liberated and are finding refuge in Damian’s sanctuary. Drat. Now Rose has been sentenced to community service at the sanctuary. Imagine what happens from there!

I think there’s a potential gold mine in romance heroes that are veterinarians. I recently read another one where the story wasn’t as good, but the attraction of the vet is real. Especially if you are a sucker for animals in romance like I am. There are sweet side stories involving some puppies and another one involving a high-spirited stallion, which both help to develop the characters and relationships of the MC’s, and I approve.

Rose and Damian agree to a no-strings solution to their sizzling attraction and the evil hex Damian’s ex placed on him years ago prevents the possibility of anything more serious from developing in the future. Obviously this is the cause of the third-act breakup, and it’s flimsy but most third-act breakups are.

The story is decent and overall it’s fun. The relationships between the triplets and Harper are #girlfriendgoals, and there are family dynamics on both sides that add to the richness of the story. There is also the blatant layout of the next two romances and I’m hooked!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

#ReadForeverPub #NetGalley #Romance #Bookstagram #ReadingRomance

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