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.

De-Witched is book two in the Toil and Trouble series by Sophie H. Morgan.
I loved book one The Witch is Back! And book did not disappoint either.
It was a quick read and entertaining from the beginning.
A sweet, charming and witchy read with the best tropes ever.
A well written fantasy romance story!

Thank You NetGalley and Harlequin Feature for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I picked up De-Witched by Sophie H Morgan because the cover was cute and the description cuter. I really went into this hoping it would just be a sweet, well written romance. I am BEYOND EXCITED to report back that it was everything I wanted when I picked it up. The pacing was quick enough to keep the story going but not overwhelming. The romance was CUTE. And! There was spice!

Leah has to be one of my most favorite FMCs. She's head strong and assertive, but not aggressive. She's clever, funny, kind, and sticks up for herself. So many times, I feel like I'm promised an assertive FMC only to see her fold when it comes to her love interest. Or, she'll be 'assertive' but actually just be annoying and difficult for no reason the entire time. Leah is simply the perfect in between. She knows what she wants and what she feels and she isn't shy on vocalizing it. Which is good because MMC Gabriel is so endearingly awkward and out of his element, and I don't just mean because he's lost most of his magic temporarily. He is not good at peopling. He cares of his teen sister and loves his uncle that has been there for him since the death of his parents over a decade ago, and that's pretty much it. Emotions are sticky. They complicate things and lead to heartache. So, of course he has no idea how to respond to Leah. And that's not even considering the fact that he's a warlock and part of a super secret magical community, and she's a 'plain ole human' who shouldn't know about his world.

Sparks literally fly between the two and it is so sweet to watch. What I especially loved is that whatever miscommunication there is between Leah and Gabriel is almost instantly resolved because they do communicate. Gabriel can tell when he says or does something that sets Leah off and instead of ignoring it like so many other MMCs do, he asks Leah what's wrong. And Leah, bless her, tells him and is honest. She tells him if he hurt her feelings. She asks him what he feels for her. They act like a mature couple that really is trying with one another. This is what makes the relationship so good. Plus, there were some decent low grade spice (I say low-grade, but remember I have been deep into dark romance and omegaverse.)

Apart from the relationship, we do get snippets of plot. Gabriel has to live for a few months amongst humans and not use his magic so that he can appreciate his parents' legacy - their company that makes pharmaceuticals for humans. We see him struggle (purchasing 12??? toasters because he doesn't realize they need to be plugged in.) And we get a brief glimpse into the magical politics at play as he is sabotaged. The romance was so well done that I completely didn't pick up on the reason behind all of the bad luck going on, and didn't even pick out who the perpetrator was (Kole, my love, I'm sorry I thought it could've been you.)

De-Witched by Sophie H Morgan was such a treat to read. I absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a sweet romance between a grumpy but not really just awkward MMC and an assertive yet bubbly FMC. There's a touch of spice, a whole heaping of romance, and so many great side characters that I honestly am going to go back to read the first book in the series and make a note to follow-up on when the third book comes out.

This was such a cute read with just enough magic to make it fun. Gabriel has to spend three months in the human realm so that he can inherit his family’s business. He is my favorite kind of MMC! He is grumpy and broody and does everything by the book. And he is a powerful warlock that doesn’t like humans. When he meets sweet and bubbly Leah they instantly clash with each other. And it doesn’t help that she is a human. I loved the chemistry and banter between these two! I really enjoyed watching these two grow and help each other. I also loved her group of friends and how they were there for each other. This was such a cozy and *magical* read and will be a perfect fall read!

Genre: Witchy RomCom
Trope(s): Grumpy/Sunshine, Opposites Attract

One-word review: Charming
Emojis: 😉😂🥰🫠
Rating: 4.5 🌟s

Favorite Character: Tia Hightower. She's a witch and a confident, determined, and straightforward woman. No one is more loyal than Tia; I love her energy and strength. The main character of this story, Leah Turner, is a close second. She is human, and everything is upbeat and light, with a heart that shines as brightly as the rest.

My Top-Five-style Review:

5. I'm eagerly anticipating booking 3 to delve deeper into Tia's story and the High Family of the Witching World. The prospect of finally meeting the enigmatic and always-absent Henry is also a thrilling thought!

4. The found-family themes in this story are not just heartwarming, they're downright soul-stirring. They beautifully illustrate the unbreakable strength of these bonds.

3. The chemistry between Leah and Gabriel is so authentic, it's palpable. She fills the void in his life, and her unwavering determination to help him brings about a genuine transformation.

2. I'm a sucker for a story full of magic, and De-witched doesn't disappoint despite the premise. This story's magical world still holds some mysteries, but I enjoy its many facets.

1. I love an excellent grumpy/sunshine romance, and this one always delivers. Leah is everything sunshine should be, and Gabriel, well…his baggage definitely weighs down his disposition. I always enjoy the transition from the grumpy character to an individual who is complex, nuanced and has learned to laugh.

DE-WITCHED – Sophie H. Morgan
Toil and Trouble, Book 2
Harlequin Feature
ISBN: 978-1-335-14664-9
August 20, 2024
Fantasy Romance

Chicago – Present Day

Leah Turner co-owns a bar with two witches but very few people are aware that she knows about witches and warlocks because the magical beings walk among us, and she needs to keep their secret. One night a few weeks ago, Leah snuck into a witches and warlocks masked ball and met Gabriel Goodnight. He is everything she would ever want in a man; except he is a warlock. Weeks later, Gabriel shows up at the bar with the express idea that he will work there. He doesn’t recognize Leah but still charms her despite his churlish attitude. When his job at the bar ends up not being his forte, it is suggested that he work at the animal rescue where Leah spends time when she’s not in the bar. Surely he would get along better with animals than humans?

Gabriel doesn’t want to be here in Chicago, but his parents’ Will requires that he spend time working among and caring for humans. The other stipulation is that he can’t reveal that he is a warlock, and his powers will be reduced. In other words, he has to mostly live like a human. Gabriel is not a pet lover, but he soon becomes fond of the various dogs there. Of course, he still acts churlish at times with Leah, though she can see beneath the surface. He’s trying to hide the real Gabriel Goodnight. They are falling in love, though the chances of a warlock and human mating would cause a scandal in the witchery world. Is there any hope for them?

While DE-WITCHED is a fantasy, it is set in modern-day Chicago with magic in the background. Gabriel’s family owns a company that employs humans and he expected to become the CEO upon his parents' death. But they wanted him to be more like them—working with humans and helping them. Gabriel would prefer to be his usual debauchery warlock self but now he has to live amongst humans and act like them. While Gabriel and Leah met weeks before, it takes him just a little longer to realize who she is. One of the rules is that witches cannot reveal themselves to humans. Unbeknownst to the higher witch’s council, Leah knows about witches and warlocks since she co-owns the bar with two.

There are a few funny scenes in DE-WITCHED as Gabriel, who never had an animal, falls in love with those at the pet rescue. Meanwhile, he is growing more attracted to Leah. There is no future for them, especially since he will be gone in a month. The first thing Leah thinks of is to have a fling with her sexy warlock. Will Gabriel jump at the idea? What happens when the month is up? Readers will laugh and cry at the emotion and passion flowing between Gabriel and Leah. We also meet Gabriel’s little sister, as well as other characters, mostly from his group of friends/company associates.

If you love a bewitching tale about forbidden love with a touch of humor, then don’t miss DE-WITCHED. Readers will be rooting hard for our couple to have their happily ever after.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

I loved the first book in the series and was excited to read the next one. This was an interesting read but I did not feel as invested in Leah and Gabriel as I was in Emma and Bastian’s story. The chemistry between our two leads was okay and it watching that connection build and develop and wondering how it would work out given the obstacles kept me reading. I liked that we got a glimpse of the mysterious high family. I really hope we get Tia’s story next as her experience and view of which society compared to Emma’s has it intrigued me and I want to know what the Henry of it all is. 3 🌟

📖: De-Witched, e-book, 273pgs.

🖋️: By Sophie H. Morgan-I read The Witch is Back gave it 4 ⭐

🗓️️: Publication 8-20-24, Read 8-16-24

💬 Summary: Leah Turner (28) is a human who co-owns Toil and Trouble bar with her witchy friends Tia and Emma. Gabriel Goodnight is set to inherit the family business Goodnight's Remedies. The board wants him to prove himself by living among humans with minimal magic.

⚠️: death of parents-H, estranged parent-h's father, human hate, arson, robbery, assault

Genre:
✨Paranormal/Contemporary Romance
✨Fantasy
✨Adult Fic

Tropes:
✨grumpy/sunshine
✨forced proximity
✨witches/magic
✨pet friendly/animal shelter

🤔My Thoughts: Leah was a tough cookie but knew what she wanted, and didn't care what anyone thought-especially Gabriel. Things started rocky between them but with the help of some rescue animals and good friends, Gabriel softened towards Leah. They went from a no strings attached affair to true love. I loved Melly and Gabriel's relationship and can't wait for Tia's book!


Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 3/5🔥🔥🔥

🙏🏽Thank you to Sophie H. Morgan, Harlequin-Romance, and NetGalley for this ARC 💜! As always, my review is my opinion and thoughts.

De-Witched is a witchy rom-com with plenty of grumpy/sunshine banter! The second in the Toil and Trouble Series.

Our main girl, Leah, is a human who happens to know the huge secret that witches exist—a knowledge that is forbidden. Gabriel is our broody and serious MMC who happens to be a warlock and believes that witches and humans are better off not interacting.

Leah sneaks into a high-society witchy masked ball with the help of some friends (characters from Toil and Trouble Book #1). While at the ball she steals a quick kiss with Gabriel (unbeknownst to him she is a human) before she is whisked away from the ball romanticizing about her handsome warlock.

Gabriel is set to take inherit his parent’s company but first he must jump through one large hoop—spend 3 months in the human world using little to no magic. When Gabriel manages to snag a job at Leah’s bar, sparks fly! Gabriel has no idea that Leah is the woman he kissed at the ball and Leah can’t understand how this stuffy, three-piece suit wearing snob is the same charming man she flirted with before.

The snarky banter between our love interests was hilarious to read! A cute, quick, witchy read.

Grumpy/sunshine
Extreme dislike to love
Paranormal
Forbidden love
Found family

This was such a cute story. Leah is so fun and spunky. She’s an easy character to love. Gabriel is your definitive grump to her sunshine. The angst. he has for life in general is palpable but watching her melt his icy heart is happy making. This is such a fun and whimsical story. I can’t wait to read the next one.

Leah Turner, human, animal lover, and co-owner of popular bar Toil & Trouble is fascinated by magic and Witch Society. The only problem, it’s against the witches laws for humans to know about the magical world and she’s been sworn to secrecy. When Leah’s friends give her the chance to attend a masked witch’s ball, she jumps at the opportunity to get a taste of the world she’s longed to be a part of. During the party, Leah makes a connection with an intriguing warlock, a man she will probably never see again. When her mysterious warlock unexpectedly turns up at her bar, Leah is surprised and delighted, until she realizes he is nothing like he seemed at the ball. Gabriel Goodnight is uptight and laser focused. As the heir to his high society family’s company, he must prove to the board that he’s capable of becoming CEO. After his parent’s deaths, Gabriel has been nothing but responsible, raising his younger sister and planning for the future. To convince the board, Gabriel agrees to live amongst the humans with limited access to his magic and Leah’s friends offer him a job at their bar. Gabriel doesn’t recognize Leah and the two immediately clash. Outgoing, romantic, kind hearted Leah is the exact opposite of stodgy, snobby Gabriel. While Gabriel unsuccessfully tries to live as human and hide his powers and Leah tries to hide her knowledge of Witch Society, their attraction and connection only grows stronger. Now they must discover if they can make peace with their differences and the secrets they’ve been keeping or if the obstacles in their path are just to big to overcome.

Sophie H. Morgan’s De-Witched is sweet, romantic and brimming with magic. A charming, witchy read. It’s a strong second entry in her Toil & Trouble series. Morgan expands and builds on the world she set up in The Witch is Back. She’s developed an interesting and creative magical society. The characters are well written and we get to peek in on some favorites from the first book. The strong family and friend bonds woven into the story are wonderful and real. I love a good opposites attract storyline and Leah & Gabriel are definitely opposites. Leah is pure sunshine and Gabriel is a stormy little thundercloud, yet they work perfectly together and bring out each other’s best qualities. They have a true partnership. By working on their relationship, they work on themselves which helps to heal childhood traumas for them both. A heartwarming story of love overcoming loneliness.

I received an advanced copy for review.

Chuck is the absolute BEST and I love him. He is the goodest boi. I am always a sucker for a dog in a book, but he's an elderly (young at heart) retriever and I just wanna squish his face.

Anyway.

We met Leah in <i>The Witch is Back</i> (def recommend, btw, this is such a fun series). She's the only non-magical in a trio of bar owners, her partners Emma and Tia are witches. Leah isn't supposed to know about witches and magic, but she does, and when she sneaks into a magical masquerade, she has a <i>moment</i> with Gabriel Goodnight. She never expected to see him again, but a few weeks later, he shows up to work at her bar.

Gabriel's life goal is to take over the business his parents left behind, but when the board declares he has to live as a human before taking over, he doesn't expect to find an infuriating woman as his boss. When Gabriel tries and fails to work at the bar, Leah suggests he work at the animal shelter where she volunteers, and there they grow closer until they can no longer ignore the sparks between them.

I really enjoy this series! I love a hidden magical society, and this hits a sort of fanficy spot (in a good way!) of a modern, magical AU. My favorite thing about De-Witched (Chuck aside) is Leah and Gabriel's bickering that turned to bantering. The cast of characters in this series is such a fun group, and I love their friendships! I can't wait to see who Tia will end up with! I'm betting she's next, but I hope we get a book for Kole too, because he is so obviously in love with our girl Leah, and she is OBLIVIOUS.

Also, A+ spice in this one. Excellent use of neckties 😉

Thanks to Netgalley, Harlequin, and Sophie H. Morgan for the ARC! This is my own opinion.

Gabriel Goodnight is a warlock, and the heir to his parents’ pharmaceutical empire. Leah is a human who co-owns a bar with two of her friends—who happen to be witches. In order for Gabriel to inherit his role at the company, however, he must satisfy a clause set forth by his deceased parents: spend three months living as and among humans. So, Gabriel finds himself unwillingly working at Leah’s bar, and the two are catastrophically antagonistic until the sparks ultimately begin to fly in a more romantic direction.

This companion to The Witch is Back features many of the same characters and settings as were introduced in that book, though this one can stand on its own, if desired. The story is told from the alternating perspectives of Gabriel and Leah in the third person, giving readers insight into each of their feelings about one another as the narrative progresses. Readers will appreciate the approachable nature of the storytelling and the casual blend of magic and reality throughout the novel, especially as the focus turns to how the two can work well together.

A romance novel at its heart, this book does not disappoint in its level of intensity and intimacy. Detailed descriptions of romantic interludes are included, and occasional profanity peppers the story, as well. While there are formulaic elements of the plot because of its nature as a romance novel, it is still fun to follow the characters from enemies to lovers, especially across the invisible barrier between warlock and human. Readers who enjoy paranormal romances will appreciate the heart and delivery of this book, and they will likewise enjoy the companion novel if they have yet to read it. This is a fun escape from daily life for mature readers in need of a little steamy romance.

A very delightful story that will surely draw you in until the end. A test of character rolls through the scenes as a human and a warlock have a battle of strong wills while opening cracks in the walls around their hearts. The evolution of the resistant warlock, Gabriel, is magical. Leah’s persistence is fabulous. Their connection will keep you captivated.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

De-Witched by Sophie H. Morgan is a charming and imaginative novel that cleverly combines elements of fantasy with contemporary themes. Morgan’s engaging narrative and inventive plot offer a refreshing and entertaining read, making it a delightful escape into a whimsical world.

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

Unfortunately, I DNF'd this book around 30%. I had a hard time with the MMC and level of grump he exuded. It made it hard for me to read.

With this book being a continuation of book one (just focusing on different characters) it was hard for me as I read the first book so long ago. I wish there had been a bit more re-hashing done in order to get readers acclimated to the setting and characters before diving in again.

De-Witched is the second book in the Toil and Tr'ouble series and it follows Leah as she finds her Prince Charming. Well kind of. Leah isn't supposed to know about magic but her best friends are witches so she does. So when a handsome warlock, Gabriel, comes into her bar she recognizes him but he can't know she knows him. Gabriel is being forced to live among humans for three months to prove his worth. They are very much grump meets sunshine. De-Witched was cute but I didn't love Leah and Gabe as much I thought I would. It still fun to see all the different characters pop in and out the books.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Harlequin - Romance, Harlequin Feature. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Witchy Romance, Romcom, Contemporary Romance, Spicy Romance
Spice Level: High (sex on the page—too much for me to read, and I skipped)
Language: Some profanity

*DE-WITCHED* is a world where magic collides with the human world. It's particularly hard for Gabriel Goodnight, who has to dampen his powers and live in the human world to prove he's capable of running his family's business that works with humans.

If you've read book 1, you already know how Leah is fascinated with the magic world that's out of her reach. Even though Gabriel is a jerk to Leah, she's kind-hearted enough to work on finding him a position to fulfill the contract. He doesn't really see how she's helping him.

My 2 top funny moment to watch for:
- Toasters!
- Dogs

I think these will delight everyone.

The friends having such serious doubts about Gabriel is fun too because Leah sees a different side of him. It's wonderful to see how much others love Leah and want to help her.

There was a twist I didn't see coming. That's always fun too.

If you're a paranormal spicy romance reader, this book is for you!

Happy reading!