Thanks to Netgalley and CallaghanWriter for this ARC in return for an honest review.

Potions and Proposals, is the second book I’ve read by author, Kate Callaghan.

I loved the charming setting of the town of Foxford, and all the different characters. However, I felt like this story took forever to get going, then the characters instantly fell in love, even after knowing each other their whole lives. I know for the enemies to lovers trope, a reader has to withhold their judgement and just go with it, but this story went a little too quickly.

I like some heat with my romance. I know not everyone does but with the disclaimer at the beginning that this book was for readers 18 and over, I was expecting more…fire. It lacked heat and spice for me.

Overall, I felt like Potions and Proposals had a lot of promise, like a really well written first draft that was missing heat and spice.

I thought the setting was really enjoyable and just a nice vibe. Unfortunately, I am a character driven reader and I just didn't connect with the characters. They just weren't unique or as engaging to me.

My thanks to the Publishers via NetGalley for a copy of this story.

This was a gentle cosy story of a developing relationship of sorts between two hugely independent characters both striving to achieve the same goal in the mystical town of Foxford that they both live in. As fate has plans in store for Lucinda and Benedict, that neither of them had envisaged ~ what will they decide to do?

I enjoyed this story and found it pure escapism, which was just what I needed. Sometimes, it's great to be able to disappear among the pages of the book that you're reading and forget about what is happening in your world and immerse yourself in the world of the characters in the story. This is what I was able to do when I found myself in the world that Lucinda and Benedict lived in. With some twists and turns along the way it was a great story.

I will look for more books by this author.

“Potions and Proposals” has a charming atmosphere and would be a cozy read during the fall! Unfortunately there were several aspects of the story that left me wanting.

The dialogues were unnecessarily wordy and the prose suffers from unnecessary verbosity. Concise and direct sentences would have been more effective.

The world building doesn’t exist and the magic system is poorly explained. I still can’t visualize the town and I felt the reader isn’t given enough background info to really understand why all these mythical creatures live in Foxford.

Both the plot and romance felt rushed. There wasn’t any tension or buildup. Nothing really significant happened and the MCs went from enemies to being in love very quickly. It didn’t help that the characters’ ages and their maturity levels did not match. They read more as recent high school grads than the adults they were supposed to be.

This book really has the potential to be great, especially if the magic system was flushed out. It is a decent cozy fantasy for fall lovers.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

2.5 stars

I enjoyed this book! I would give it like a 3.5/3.75 star rating. The book setting is definitely unique and I LOVEEE me a paranormal romance. I found the world-building to be very easy to read and perfect for readers who like fantasy but aren’t like hardcore fantasy fans.

The relationship between Benedict and Lucy had really good banter which is my FAV. they’re more of like rivals to lovers, but the arranged marriage made their relationship more enjoyable to read. Benedict was obsessed with Lucy and it’s described in a way that almost makes me jealous??? Haha. The side characters were also memorable and really added to the close knit small town vibe.

My only issues was that I wish they described the whole community of vampires, werewolves, witches, etc. a bit more. and while I enjoyed the cozy vibe, I think the plot could’ve benefited from some conflict.

Such a fun and swoony witchy romance! I had a great time reading this one and recommend it for the spooky season.

This book was cute and perfectly cozy. I liked the characters and the interactions between them. I feel like this is a great fun read for anyone who likes cozy fantasy.

I thought the premise was interesting and fun, but it was so badly written. The "enemies" of enemies to lovers seemed really forced and was essentially 2 immature adults pranking eachother and acting like teenagers. I just couldn't take them seriously.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for this advanced copy of Potion and Proposals, I devoured this quant small-town romance.
4 ★★★★'s!!!!
I wanted to also include how much I adore Kate Callaghan!! Since I've requested this book on NetGalley, I get her email updates and promotions. She's a self-publisher, which is hard work, and it's clear to see she's putting in a lot of effort and rewards her fans with giveaways and cute gift boxes! Potions and Proposals is also available on Kindle Unlimited!!
https://www.amazon.com/Potions-Proposals-Arranged-Marriage-Paranormal-ebook/dp/B0CGJDJZ3J#detailBullets_feature_div

Potions and Proposals by Kate Callaghan is a delightful blend of magic, romance, and small-town charm. Set in the enchanting town of Foxford (Book 1 of 3!), the story follows Lucinda Hawthorne, the presumed next High Priestess, and Benedict Matherson, her lifelong rival. Their playful childhood pranks escalate as they grow up, leading the coven to mandate their union under magical bonds. As they navigate this unexpected arrangement, their relationship evolves from rivalry to a deep connection.
This is the perfect novel for a fall read! So prepare your shelf for this one. I particularly love how there is a dual third-person perspective which provides intimate insights into both Lucinda's and Benedict's thoughts, enriching the narrative and world-building. This October, Kate Callaghan is releasing the second book in the Village of Foxford series, which builds on some of the side-characters!! I absolutely love when books do this, good things come in threes.

If you are wanting to pick up a book to read this was a good book worth reading. This was a cute read to me and would recommend this book.

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!