Rating: 5/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

This is the second book of the Toil and Trouble series, I received book one and loved it, I needed book two right away so when I saw that it was up, I knew that I had to grab it. This book was perfect just like book one, I loved that you will find a cute witchy romcom, with drama, a little bit of action, the perfect amount of found family and cute rescue animals.

I thought the author did a great job with the plot for Leah and Gabriel. She brought in a little bit of mystery and a whole lot of romance into this book. I liked that not once in the book didn't I feel like the pace was slow or lacking in something. I was able to read this book in 1 day because of the loveable characters, the chemistry between them and the well-developed plot with of course a HEA. I Loved that the author brought back characters from book one and it was like I was just starting this series all over again. In this book you will find topics like trust, forgiveness, loyalty, determination and of course love (the kind that you will risk it all for).

The characters are the shining light in this book. I loved Leah in the first one, but to hear her story was amazing. Leah is the sweetest, funniest, caring person. She does want to find love and be swept away with it, but she hasn’t been able to find that yet, until she meets a handsome warlock at a masquerade ball, later to find out that he will be working in the bar that she co owns with Emma and Tia. She is the only human that knows about witches and magic, only because of her friendship with them. She knows it’s a secret that she can’t let anyone else know about and she can’t let the high witch council know that she knows, or she might be mind wiped. In this story you will see her push Gabriels buttons just because she knows it will get under her skin but while doing so she starts to understand him and starts to fall for him, but she knows he doesn’t want to be with a human but their chemistry is off the charts so she comes up with a 1 night to get it out of their system…and we all know how that always ends up going lol. I found her character to be easy to connect with and I could relate to her in a lot of ways.

Gabriel, he was a tough character to unlock, but once you start to understand him more when he opens up, you will see him to be the world's perfect guy. He is protective, kind, sweet and thinks of others. However, if it’s the first time you met him you wouldn’t think of him like that at all. You would see a snotty rich alphahole lol. I loved that he was able to understand that he was wrong and would do things to make up for it not just with words but actions too. When he was sent to work as a human with limited magic, he did try his hardest to work and found that it’s a lot harder to be a human and not use magic. He is let go from the bar and starts to work at the animal shelter and that is where you will see the most growth from his character.

I cannot wait for book three to come out, and I am praying that I get the opportunity to review it like I have the first two books.

I want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin for the opportunity to review this book.

De-Witched is the second book in the Toil and Trouble series which is an interconnected stand-alone series. This book follows Leah and Gabriel who we meet in the first book. Gabriel is very broody and standoffish but once he warms up to Leah he opens up a lot more. Leah is a super passionate character to read about and I loved the dynamic between her and Gabriel. Not only is the romance great in this book but it also has perfect fall vibes. Since the characters are witches you have that but the story is cozy with a bit of mystery as well. I would definitely recommend reading this in the fall season even if you haven't read book one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review!

This was such a cute and easy read. I especially loved Chuck and his dynamic with Gabriel, specifically the contrast between Chuck's unrelenting excitement and Gabriel as the reluctant dog trainer.

What a spellbinding and fabulous read! This is the second book in the Toil and Trouble series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. But I will be picking up the first book because Emma and Bastian (the MCs from the first book) are adorable and sweet, and I just loved the vibes coming from them. This was an enjoyable read. I loved the world-building and magic system that Sophie created in this series. It's simple enough to understand what is what but also complex and interesting enough to capture and keep my attention. This story has a lot going for it. There is plenty of humour, drama, a bit of mystery, magic, and, of course, forbidden romance. What's not to love?

Leah is a human who knows that witches and warlocks exist. She is good friends with Emma and Tia, who are both witches and together, the three of them own a bar called Toil and Trouble. The problem is that Leah is not supposed to know that witches exist, and if anyone finds out, there will be major trouble for all three of them. Gabrielle is on the cusp of becoming the CEO of his family's company, but he has one more hurdle to overcome. He has been tasked with living amongst humans for a few months with limited access to his magic. The problem is Gabrielle hates humans because they were the ones who killed his parents. He thinks all humans are dangerous and should not be trusted. Gabrielle ends up working at Toil and Trouble and eventually at the animal shelter where Leah volunteers. Sparks fly, and I mean fly, between Gabrielle and Leah. There is a fun, witty sharpness to their banter for the first half of this book. That I just ate up. They don't get along, which is solely because Gabrielle acts like a grumpy ass. I love watching MCs who are constantly clashing with each other. It just scratches an itch that I didn't know that I had. I think it's because, underneath that dislike, there is often a lusty attraction that the MCs cannot ignore. That lusty attraction is usually why they clash so often. I loved watching Leah and Gabrielle interact. Sophie really captures that grump-sunshine essence and creates a love story that is truly spell-binding.

The story has a pretty steady pace to it. There are lots of fun fish-out-of-water moments when Gabrielle tries to learn how to do things without magic. Leah is also a wonderful, cheerful ball of sunshine, and I really enjoyed watching her ruffle Gabrielle's feathers. Leah is amazing right from the start. She knows who she is, and she is genuinely a good person. You can't help but root for her. Leah likes Gabrielle but has a hard time figuring out where she stands with him because he runs hot and cold with her so often you almost get whip-lash. Gabrielle's character is the one who goes through the transformation or growth in this story. At this book's beginning, Gabrielle is grumpy, abrupt, and closed off to the world around him. The only things that matter are his sister and being a CEO. But as the story progresses, Gabrielle starts to realize that maybe his attitude towards humans is wrong, and even though falling in love might mean he might lose his job, Leah is worth it.

I adored Leah and Gabrielle. I am a sucker for a good grumpy sunshine, forbidden romance, and Sophie took these tropes and created an unforgettable love story. I love it when the heroine befuddles, bewitches, and destroys a hero's carefully ordered world. And that is exactly what Leah does to Gabrielle. The spice in this book is also oh-so-nice. Those button-up, gruff heroes are always the dirties in the sheets, and Gabrielle is no exception. He may be a man of few words, but he knows how to talk dirty when the occasion calls for it. Besides all the sharp banter and spice, there are plenty of quieter moments between these two. It's those moments where you see Leah breaking down those walls Gabrielle had built. I really liked these two as a couple.

De-Witched is a fun, witty, and sexy grumpy sunshine witchy romance.

This was a great little paranormal rom-com!

I’m a big fan of the witchy romance formula: secret society of paranormal beings hidden in plain sight. And in this case, the human who knows about them but has to hide it. Leah was a favorite of mine in book 1, so I was super excited to see her lead in book two!

Leah and Gabriel first meet at a witch society party where Leah is hiding behind a masquerade mask, and they come oh-so close to having a moment, only to have it interrupted. Later, Gabriel is being forced to live amongst the humans (and with minimal power) and he gets a job at Leah’s bar. What’s more, he… does not make the same impression he did that first night.

I definitely had a good time with this. Sophie H. Megan has an easy, funny & charming writing style that’s easy to sink into. One thing I didn’t like quite as much as the first book, though, was what generally felt like a lack of actual… witchiness in this one? I know Leah is the resident human of the bunch, but the paranormal aspects kind of disappeared quite a lot of the time in this one. Also, while I enjoyed Leah as an MC, I found Gabriel to kind of just be “fine.” I loved the relationship he and Leah have with his little sister, but much of the time I was a little bored by him. The ending also felt a bit too easy, and like a lot of the actual plot conflict happened in a very short section of the book.

Regardless, if you’re a fan of the witchy rom-com, this series should absolutely be on your radar. Thank you so much to Harlequin and NetGalley for this eArc!

In order for Gabriel to inherit the CEO position at his family’s company, he needs to live amongst the humans with little access to his magic. He despises humans, especially since he blames them for his parents’ deaths. Leah is fascinated by witches and magic but she’s not supposed to know about their existence even though her two best friends are in fact, witches. Leah and Gabriel eventually grow close and give into their attraction for each other even if the consequences of their actions have very serious repercussions.

Magical worlds are something we love to read about but we felt that there was not enough explanation of the magic, magical world or magical community. Especially since this is the second book in a series! Leah is obsessed with getting with a warlock and being included in witchy society but it seems like her friends never really told her what the consequences of her knowing are.

Gabriel was a great grumpy MMC who just needed to see more of the world. His saga with toasters was entertaining. Leah on the other hand, wasn’t our cup of tea and we can’t really figure out why! Overall their pining and attraction was exciting but we just wish there was more to the story. The highlight of the book is Chuck! Why are dog characters the best?!?

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for my complimentary eARC of De-Witched. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

De Witched is the second installment in the Toil and Trouble Series. This book focuses on Leah (a human) and Gabriel Goodnight (a warlock).
This is a fun witchy story with some heavy elements. They are dealt with carefully and there is no heavy cloud hanging over the fun.

Perfect if you like
Magic
Grumpy Sunshine
Slow Burn
Dogs. Lots and lots of dogs *

*thankfully I read/finished this one before we unexpectedly lost our sweet pup this past week.

De-Witched is the second book in the Toil and Trouble series, following two witches and one human who open a witchy-themed bar in Chicago, far away from the stifling magical high society in New Orleans.

Leah grew up in Chicago and has always felt like an outsider - from her mother’s society scene to being the only human in her best friend’s magical world, that she isn’t supposed to know about. She begged her friend Emma to take her to New Orleans for her birthday masquerade ball, and slipped away for a deep conversation with a mysterious warlock in a dark corner before being interrupted.

Gabriel is trying to ascend to role of CEO in his deceased parent’s holistic remedies company, but has to live with bound magic for 3 months among humans to prove he can empathize with them. He begs his friend Bastian to put in a good word to Emma to be allowed to work in their bar, where he can be among humans but still work with witches.

Leah recognizes Gabriel as the mysterious warlock, but he doesn’t realize that it was her that night. They work together at the bar and the animal shelter she volunteers most of her time at, and slowly open up to each other and rekindle the spark that lit at the gala.

You can expect:
Paranormal Romance
Warlock Lord with Bound Magic x
Animal Shelter - Bar Owner Human
Grumpy/Sunshine
Forbidden Love
Fun Banter
Found Family
Cute Animals
Chicago Workplace
late-20s MCs
Dual, 3rdP POV
2nd Book in Trilogy

I loved the banter and tension in this forbidden romance. She brought out his soft side and he soothed her dark places. As with book 1, it was a romcom with surprisingly deep topics touched upon. All the cute animals were a bonus.

I am looking forward to Tia’s story in book 3 as well. It is set up now with her ex Henry coming around again, as both Bastian and Gabriel’s friend. Emma’s brother Kole was also secretly pining for Leah and was left with some rejected feelings, so I’m excited to see how it works out for all of them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing an eARC for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
What a sweet story about magic, selflessness, and a reluctant slide into love. I ate this book up and already know a re-read of Gabriel and Leah’s story will be a “must.”

THOUGHTS 💭
✨The found family of this series keeps growing and I love each and every one of them. The cast of characters in this book, both human and animal, was so wonderful.
✨ Gabriel is charmingly off-putting, dedicated, blunt, and hilariously helpless at “human things.” I loved watching uptight, robotic, human-disliking warlock Gabriel soften for the “willful individuals, animal or human,” who he found himself surrounded by.
✨ Leah is bubbly, pushy (in a kind way), and has a huge heart. She is truly the sunshine (with a bit of snark) in this grumpy/sunshine book.
✨ This book was so funny and I loved seeing the author’s sense of humor shine through our characters’ internal and actual dialogues.
✨ The forbidden nature of this couple’s connection is P H E W and the possessive side of Gabriel is 🔥.

Thanks so much to Sophie H. Morgan and Harlequin Books for the ARC of this book!

A spicy grumpy/sunshine, oppposites attract, dual POV, forbidden romance between a non magical human and a warlock whose been punished to live without his magic for three months like a mortal among humans in order to take over as CEO of his family's company.

Leah is friends and business partners with two witches and illegally knows about the witch community even though she could be punished if reported. She has a big heart and a soft spot for the local animal shelter. When forced to work with Gabriel, the two find a combustible chemistry neither can deny.

I loved the heat, the heart and the way Gabriel tries to better understand Leah and her world and the way he cares for his orphaned younger sister! Great animal sidekicks abound in this paranormal witchy romance that was great on audio too! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I had to DNF. I wasn't a fan of the writing and I could not connect with the characters. I tried a few times and just could not get into this.

Read 2 times. Last read August 19, 2024 to August 20, 2024.

4 -⭐⭐⭐⭐

"You drive me mad," he murmured against his skin. The need for her was a drumbeat in his soul. "I see you, hear you, feel you all day, all night, in my dreams. You've bewitched me."

De-Witched is the second novel in the adult paranormal romance series, Toil and Trouble, which consists of interconnected standalones following a group of magical and non-magical friends and the bar they run together. In this instalment we follow Leah and Gabriel.

Leah is a human with knowledge of the magical world...knowledge she should not have. When she finally gets to secretly attend a high society masked ball for witches and warlocks she finds drawn to an enigmatic warlock. Fast forward six weeks Gabriel, said enigmatic warlock, is showing up at Leah’s bar in need of work. In order for Gabriel to gain the CEO position in his family's legacy business he must prove himself by living for three months in the world of humans with limited magic. And while he may not know who Leah is or that she knows magic she sure knows him...let the games begin!

This was a fun book!

Leah is a passionate and open character who easily is able to worm into anyone's heart. She loves what she does and helps people whenever they need...though she will sometimes have some fun with it as well. I felt she was the perfect person to challenge Gabriel's beliefs on humans and she shined with such positive energy. This doesn't mean she can't lay down the law; it just means she generally stays towards such positivity and care.

Gabriel is a bit of a gruff character at first. He avoids humans aggressively and can come across aloof but it is very much a facade brought on by his parent's death. It is truly an adorable scene seeing this suit wearing stuffy character trying to help in a bar to prove he can run the business without magic before being forced to work with pets when the bar goes about as well as you would think. As time goes on you get to see a truly caring character and he won me over.

I want to give a shout out to the variety of side characters. From the characters of the last book who helped add tension and break it for levity but also Chuck deserves his own spot light for being the bestest boy.

This book does contain spice. I would say 2 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. We start to see spice around the 50% mark and there are 2-3 scenes if I can recall correctly? What I liked about the spice in this book was that it really helped show how much was simmering under the surface between these characters. We had amazing banter and connection but seeing Gabriel lose control was an ABSOLUTE delight. It still takes time for them to pursue their relationship further with each new spice moment making a small change to their relationship in the best way. The spice is well written and explicit with magic, ripping clothes, and foreplay involved.

"I am Gabriel Goodnight. I do not indulge in scandalous behaviour. I do not cause scenes. But you tempt me to it, Leah...Oh, you tempt me."

The story itself is pretty straightforward with Gabriel having to work a human job and navigate a world with minimal magic. What I wasn't expecting was the twists that would come with Leah and the animal shelter she sponsored. I felt the pacing worked well for the story; we got plenty of slices of life; fun character interactions and tension that ebbed and flowed from a variety of places - Leah's friends having given Gabriel a bad rep, Cole and his unrequited love, Gabriel and his uncle, the failing animal shelter. These never felt overwhelming and while there is some angst in the romance with Gabriel's time limit and his refusal to accept he could love, I felt they were able to confront situations supporting each other rather than against each other. I really liked the climax and how it brought everything together with a nice bow. The ending was sweet and we really got to enjoy a final moment with them. Though...Cole!

Overall, I definitely had a lot of fun with this book!

Thank you so much Harlequin for this arc!

Oh my gosh! This book was the goofiest I've read in a while! Also, in a way, it reminded me of "A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon."

Leah, human, manages a bar with her best friends who are witches. No one knows that Leah knows about the existence of witches. Enter Gabriel, he is verything a Higher family warlock should be. Still, before he can inherit his parents’ business, he’ll have to prove his merit to the board one final time…by living among humans, without his powers, for 3 months.

Honestly this was sassy and humorous to begin with. Gabriel & Leah have the grumpy × sunshine thing going on with Leah trying to keep Gabriel on his toes and Gabriel worrying about doing peasant work which will ruin his Prada shoes. (You see?) And so much of Gabriel's personality (the sassy one) reminded me of Lestat de Lioncourt, played by Sam Reid specifically!!

Leah & Gabriel's chemistry was epic and their hearts were so in sync. I loved the slowburn and getting to know each other before falling in love. Leah was so passionate about everything & gave her all to it. The romance was satisfying & wholesome & I absolutely loved the ending!

Ps can't stop thinking about the scene where Gabriel thinks Leah is broke (which she is) because she's wearing ripped jeans... I meannn😆.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The gang is back and I am so happy that got the honor to read book 2 of the series. We Leah’s love story and no one deserved it better than her, and she’s with a Grumpy witchy-man??!!!!! Sign us up!!!!!! This romance was too smooth for my own good, and it was so sweet and funny. The spicy was GIVING me EVERYTHING, and it was MAGICAL, and I seriously need a part 2 to their story.

Looking for your next witchy romcom (but HE’S the witch) then you need to check out this one. I adored this so much! This is a slow born, grumpy/sunshine romantic comedy between a human and warlock. There’s a great story about friendship, figuring out what matters the most to these characters, and of course a sweet romance that I just ate up! If you’re looking for a book that’s PERFECT for fall and the witchy/spooky season, then this one needs to be on your list. There’s even another book in this series that I think readers will love which is called The Witch is Back!

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

If you are looking for a book to keep you hot while the weather starts to cool, De-Witched is the perfect choice.
Following Leah, a human, and Gabriel, a warlock, as they navigate their lives in a world where Leah's knowledge of witches and magic is a danger, and Gabriel must reluctantly immerse himself in the lives of humans.

With a delicious blend of opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, found family, forced proximity, and witchy vibes, I had so so much fun with this one. I can't wait to see what else is in store for this series!

This is my first book from Sophie H. Morgan and I was not disappointed. This is book two of the Toil and Trouble series. This is true opposites attract/grumpy x sunshine- Leah (human) is so sweet and passionate while Gabriel (warlock) is serious and not outgoing- and I loved it. This is a perfect book for the Fall Season (cozy spicy romance).

Also throw in the fact there Leah is an animal lover <3. She is a likable character for sure.

The mix of their personalities and the banter alone made me speed through this book.

I'm excited to read the next book in the series!

A hidden secret
Book 2 in the Toil and Trouble series can be read as a standalone. Some characters from the first book are in this one, but they are explained in this book if you’d not read book 1. Our main character is Leah Turner, human, with two best friends who are witches and use magic around Leah so she knows about it. Our second main character is Gabriel Goodnight, warlock, from on of the highest families. Leah and Gabriel meet, and this book tells the story of a non-magical outgoing friendly woman and a magical self-centered grumpy man and how this changes both of them.
Sophie Morgan has written a fun book, with well developed characters and a good plot. Easy to read and follow, I enjoyed this book and hope she continues to write about these characters she’s created.
I was given an ARC of the book by NetGalley, and this is my honest opinion.

People It's almost time for the Fall season and witchy reads and let me tell you that you NEED to add this to your Fall TBR !

So, be ready to be bewitched in this amazing Paranormal romance.

I read the first book in this series and loved it but this one was just so freaking good. It kept me reading in the middle of the night !

Gabriel is just the perfect grump to Leah's sunshiny personality! The Grumpy x Sunshine vibe in this book is just absolute, divine perfection 👌 👌 👌.

The banter between the main characters was so entertaining. The spice was absolutely delicious 🥵🥵🥵. And GABRIEL! Yes I'm shouting !

And Leah, I loved her so much. I love her personality, her drive, her loyalty and her love for animals !

She was the best.

Thank you so much Harlequin for gifting me a digital copy of this book. It was amazing !

Read this if you love :

✨ Paranormal Romance ;
✨ Witch ;
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine ;
✨ Frenemies to Lovers ;
✨ Spicy ;
✨ Cute dogs.

This book kept me up WAY past my bedtime! This is book two in the Toil and Trouble series. The series is about a trio of friends, Leah, Emma, and Tia. They own the Toil and Trouble bar. Two of them are witches. In a drunken girl's night, Emma divulges the secret to Leah, who is human. Leah is sworn to secrecy and has been silent for years.

Gabriel Goodnight is the heir to the Goodnight company, which makes magic-infused treatments like skin creams, burn solutions, and headache treatments. Gabriel is set to become the company's CEO when a clause in his parent's will changes everything. Gabriel must live among the humans without using his magic and get a job for three months prior to inheriting. Gabriel agrees and moves from New Orleans to Chicago. Friends get him a job at Toil and Trouble.

Gabriel and Leah are a grumpy/sunshine couple, and this story was very sweet. There were some spicy parts, but overall, I enjoyed the story line and like I said, stayed up too late reading just one more chapter.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun paranormal romance.