Potions and Proposals
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Katie Callaghan

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and BooksGoSocial and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: In the mystical town of Foxford, tenacious translator Lucinda Hawthorne is on the brink of assuming the prestigious role of High Priestess. However, fate has a mischievous twist in store for her: an unexpected coven gathering reveals that her lifelong nemesis, Benedict Matherson, is also nominated for the esteemed position. They are presented with a grave ultimatum: either become magically bound to one another on All Hallows’ Eve… or risk a fateful vote that could strip them of everything.

Both fiercely independent and driven by their unwavering desires to lead, Lucinda and Benedict reluctantly agree to the binding ritual. Unfortunately, the spell Lucinda’s family casts to thwart the coven’s plot misfires with surprising consequences, and the pair find themselves magically intertwined in ways they never could have foreseen.

With the shadow of All Hallows’ Eve looming over them, the veil between love and hate blurs. Could it be that amidst their rivalry, they will unearth a hidden longing to remain united? Together, they must confront their demons and discover whether they truly desire to be parted after all.

My Thoughts: This is the PERFECT fall book heading into Halloween. I read it last year and fell in love with it. My apologies to the author and publisher for the delay in my review. As we approach Hallow’s Eve, the beautifully whimsical town of Foxford is looking to name the next High Priestess. Lucinda was to assume the role but as fate would deliver, her lifelong nemesis Benedict was also nominated for the prestigious role. The decision is simple, become bound to one another or risk the vote, which could leave one with absolutely nothing. While they agreed to the binding ritual, her coven fluffs the ritual causing misfires and consequences. Will the consequences be too great? Or will the attraction they feel explode into something more? This follows the tropes of arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, magic, small town, open door, fantasy, and witch coven.

The story focuses on our main characters, Lucinda and Benedict, however, we are introduced to a myriad of other characters through the story. The rivalry between them seems immature and even unnecessary. The first third of interaction between them was the rivalry and you did not get to experience their time toge to grow together to develop their relationship. The Foxford world that was being developed was absolute adorable. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, tension, and were intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, funny, spicy, swoon-perfection, and added the angst at the perfect moments. The author does build up the characters. Then the plot is intertwined with the characters. The magical world of Foxford is so beautifully whimsical, the author does a phenomenal job at setting the tone. It was cozy, while spooky, and just fall perfection. Then we wrap it up in a bow for a harmonious HEA.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to other readers. The paranormal aspect is more witchy magic than fantasy, which I love. I can read a good witch book at any time of the year and it will instill fall vibes through my core. This book screams Halloween charm. It is lighthearted and even a little hopeful.

I liked this paranormal romance! I really like the enemies to lovers trope and it’s really well done here. 4 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Oh my gosh!
Set in the magical town of Foxford, rival claimants to be the new leader of their coven Lucinda and Benedict have been chosen to be bound together with the eventual expectation of being married in a hope that it will unite their families and bring a peace to the town that is needed, especially after all their pranks against each other, but could those have been hiding their real feelings
I really liked both Benedict and Lucinda, they are both very different characters and I did spend a lot of time smiling whilst reading this book, especially as they grew closer following an accident with a potion. I think that this was a fun way to bring them together and make them acknowledge who they are and how much they could mean to each other. Their stories were entwined for many years and as I got to know them better as characters I liked them more and more
Another aspect of this book that I loved was the surrounding characters around Benedict and Lucinda, their friends, families and those close to them as well as the townsfolk led me deeper under the spell of Foxford and even made me wish it was a real place so I could go visit it!
Although there are a lot of traditional fantasy elements to this book, there were also a lot that aren’t as normal and the blending of that made it a book I really enjoyed and that will be added to my “I want to read it again pile”
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a romantic fantasy with a magical twist and characters who will draw you in from the very first page

Can't go wrong with a cosy, witchy book set in a small town! It was whimsical, quirky and swoonworthy at times. Definitely an easy read for a cold winter's day.

A delightful romp through a whimsical world where magic and romance collide in unexpected ways. I enjoyed the characters and Althea’s romantic entanglements. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
Many thanks to BooksGoSocial and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Not my cup of tea. The story felt like one I’ve read before. I was getting a serious case of Deja vu throughout the entire book. Due to that, I couldn’t really get into the story. I would be willing to try another book by this author.

I enjoyed this light, fun, witchy read. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. It's the perfect accompaniment to a afternoon drinking tea and relaxing on the sofa.

i did enjoy this by the end but the first ½ of the book was just really mundane and i just didn’t feel myself reaching for it. i was only reading a few pages at a time because i just wasn’t interested. that being said, i did like characters by the end (didn’t fall in love with them though) and was not expecting the book to become smutty at all (which was a nice surprise). i liked the writing style, there were whimsical bits. i just think the plot wasn’t engaging enough. there were plot points as i was nearing the end of the book that i thought were so abrupt and we’d had zero closure on, but then realised it was going to be a series (i imagine maybe with a different couple but that was not entirely clear). i would probably pick up the next book to find out the continuation of some of the mysteries.

A delightful mix of magic and romance, this book offers a fun and engaging read from start to finish. The story is light, charming, and filled with heart, making it perfect for fans of cozy fantasy. The characters are lovable, and the plot moves at a steady, enjoyable pace. A great escape for anyone looking for a magical love story.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I truly enjoyed it! It was fun and filled with engaging characters. I loved the storyline, which included a captivating enemies-to-lovers theme along with a hint of a Freaky Friday element. Honestly, what's not to love? I'm looking forward to returning to the village of Foxford next year!

Kate Callaghan creates a wonderful fantasy/romance with two intriguing main characters. They both want the same thing and will do what it takes to achieve their goals. In this enchanting story with spells and magic one's imagination is brought to reality. A fun enemies-to-lovers plot that had me wanting to read more in this genre.

Potions and Proposals is the perfect cosy autumn read. It's sweet and heartwarming, humorous and entertaining. It's a perfect read for rainy autumn days spent inside with a blanket and a cup of your choice of warm beverage.

DNF @ 35%
Sadly, the writing wasn’t working for me. I thought the concept was great, but I found myself getting annoyed with the main character too often, and I thought the world building was underdeveloped to the point that it was hard to visualize.

I did not review this book on Goodreads or Instagram since it was a DNF.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This was the easiest fall themed book to get into in preparation for all my fall plans. It was so quick and beautiful that it made getting into the world super easy.

It did however, have an aspect that made me think there was something missing for most of the story but yet I couldn't put my finger on it. Either way, this is a great read to kick of any fall or halloween season if you need one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kate Callaghan, I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Actual rating 3.5 stars.

This book was a slow start but I stuck with it as I love the author and I know what a story teller she can be. Once the story got started the enemies to lovers element really fleshed out I was gripped.
I enjoyed the pacing, the characters and the plot.

This was another enjoyable read that I highly recommend to fans of the author. I received an arc of this book and exchange for an honest review by NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

This is a captivating read for fans of magical romance, witches, and slow-burning, enemies-to-lovers tales, who will be swept away by the enchanting world of Foxford and the tantalizing dance between Lucinda and Benedict's forbidden attraction.

Loved this book I listen to the audio and hats off to the narrators was amazing listen kept me gripped the whole way through just enough magic and romance

Absolutely worth reading!

Lucinda Hawthorne and Benedict Matherson would rather anything to working together, but as the classic twist in a small town goes they end up being bound together in a ritual to save their coven.

Through mischief and plots, these two definitely start to feel the magic of their desire - in equal measure for themselves and to the coven.

This is a adult paranormal romance with spicy scenes set in a magical small town which makes it a lovely autumn read.

Thank you to the author, Kate Callaghan and MetGalley for a free copy in exchange for a review.

If you're a fan of cozy mysteries/fantasy/romance, you'll probably like this one. While it's not a mystery, there is a situation that the two main characters have to fix, with or without working together. I was really happy they decided to work together. It follows the enemies to lovers trope, but I feel that the "enemies" part was probably overstated, which I was happy about because it meant I really liked both of them and was rooting for them even early on. It was more accurately a rival with pranks that often got out of hand, and mostly stemmed from misunderstandings rather than ill-intent. I enjoyed the banter not just between the two of them, but also between friends and family. While this was a long book that I had to read whenever I had the chance, I always looked forward to getting back to it. It was one of those books I could have curled up with next to a fireplace and a cup of something warm. I don't know if there will be more books in this village, but if so, I would be up for it! In the meantime, I will be on the lookout for other books by the author.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.