I LOVED this book. Connor and Holly had such great tension and their journey was super believable. I loved the worldbuilding, the concept of Wickeds and Witches and the Shadow Council. It seems like the author is setting up for a series following the other sisters and fleshing out the world a bit more - I really hope that’s the case and can’t wait to read more about the Celeste women.

I really loved this book. The setting was perfect and I could not put this book down! I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC!

I love a good witchy romance set in the contemporary world and this was exactly that! Our world stars a cozy apple orchard, run by our three sisters and aunts who are desperate to keep their home afloat. Holly is forced to work with Connor Grimes, a TV ghost-hunting host - who I surprisingly liked a lot more than I thought, given my bias about a lot of these supernatural hunting shows and celebrities in general. We have a lovable cast with mysterious powers, with each woman in the family having their own set of lore. We also have a rival family that is...not so rival after all? (which I actually loved, because I'm tired of the woman cat fights in romance books.)

Holly needs to find a way to both keep her family's secret while pandering to Connor and his TV show hijinks, intent on discovering the story behind a ghost haunting the apple farm. Connor is portrayed as this very astute man, uncovering secrets...but I did ultimately find that one big reveal to be a huge letdown. The chapter ended with the classic, "That's when it hit me..." and I, as the reader, was left in the dark. I think it would've been wise in that lead-up (the mysterious German book!) to make it clearer to the reader when literally all other hints and facts have been dropped (ooh, stormy weather and Holly is upset! Whatever could that be???)

Ultimately, such a cozy sweet romance where we could root for both Holly and Connor respectively, and was intrigued enough by the plot to keep going. I read this all in one sitting! Think I'll be giving this a 3.75 stars, with a 2 for spice. I'm really excited for the next book, hopefully centered around second sister, Winter -- I loved her character in this book, to be totally honest, and the ways in which she dropped mysterious hints, and would love to know more about her vision and stone-cold badassery.

Title: Perfectly Wicked By Lindsay Lovise

Release Date: September ,17th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars

"Perfectly Wicked" by Lindsay Lovise is a delightful romp through the supernatural realm!

Holly Celeste and her sisters run an apple cider business in Maine, powered by a magical ingredient. Struggling to keep their orchard afloat, Holly agrees to let a ghost hunting series film on their farm. However, she's terrified that the show's host, Connor Grimm, will uncover their family's biggest secret. Meanwhile, Connor aims to explore supernatural occurrences on the farm to boost his show's success. Despite their initial animosity, Holly and Connor work together, and Holly begins to develop feelings for him. However, their relationship is complicated by Connor's nomadic lifestyle and Holly's reluctance to reveal her true self. As their bond deepens, secrets are revealed, forcing Connor to choose between his career and love for Holly.

With its quirky characters and whimsical storyline, this book is a charming escape from reality. While it didn't quite cast a spell to earn a perfect rating, it certainly left me enchanted. Lovise's imaginative world-building and witty dialogue kept me entertained from start to finish. I will be adding more of Lindsay’s work to my tbr.

If you're looking for a fun and quirky read that's perfect for a cozy night in, "Perfectly Wicked" is the one!

Tropes:

Supernatural Romance
Small Town Secrets
Forbidden Love
Witty Banter
Cozy Mystery


Thank you to Alcove Press, The Lindsay Lovise & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

This was a spooky little delight to read. Apples and witches and hauntings oh my! All characters were aptly named in a very spooky manner, and Charlotte was serving Penelope Garcia Criminal Minds realness. I think I would say the only thing I disliked about this book was the sort of primal play tropes and the painting during sex. Not really my thing, but sign me the hell up for a good spooky book (with a hedgehog!!)

I fucking loved this. All the banter, quirkiness and all the swooning made me feel like I was on fire.

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 If I can’t have apple picking , spooky season all of the time, then I am so glad I have this book! Holly’s family’s Apple orchard is flailing. However, word of some mysterious happenings has spread and caught the attention of a paranormal reality show, hosted by a very handsome Connor. I was initially intrigued at the premise of a witchy story line and then quickly became hooked by the wonderfully written, dynamic characters. Lindsay Lovise does a remarkable job bringing her characters from the page into our heart. The reader is instantly drawn in to share Holly and Connor’s same level of investment in their passions. Other favorite characters: the sisters and the hedgehog. What starts out as a professional goal to document the paranormal turns into an impossible decision that cuts straight to the heart. Just an all around wonderful read!

Review is on Goodreads and will be on Instagram well ahead of the publication date!