Rating: 4/5 Stars
Pub Date: 4/5 Stars
•
The Wedding Witch is the third installment in The Ex Hex series. I absolutely adored the first two books, and this one was also a great addition to the series.
•
In this story, we follow Bowen as he and Tamsyn into the past (quite literally). I really enjoyed this different aspect in the story. Each one in the series brings a new type of magic into the mix which makes each of the stories refreshing and new. I really enjoyed the text conversations between Bown and Tamsyn; all of the banter and awkwardness had me cracking up. While this story mostly focuses on Bowen and Tamsyn, beloved characters from past novels to make small appearances (I know, I know, I wanted more of them too, but hey, it really was Bowens turn to shine).
•
This is more of a slow burn compared to the other two, but this was still very much a bingeable read and a perfect cozy mystery / romance. While each of these books can be read as a standalone, I still think reading all of them will give you a bigger picture into each of the Penhallow brothers.

•
Overall, this is a great witchy read to pick up during spooky season. Be sure to check out this series. A huge thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyage and Erin Sterling for the eARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.
•
If you could have any magical power which would you choose and why?
•
#netgalley #netgalleyfourstarread #netgalleyfourstarreview #netgalleyearc #earc #electronicadvancedreaderscopy #ebook #bookthreeintheseries #thirdintheexhexseries #witches #romance #cozymystery #standalonebooks #penhallowbrothers #bowen #tamsyn #magicalartifacts #backtothepast #theweddingwitch #erinsterling #avonandharpervoyage

I intentionally waited until October to read this book and I am so happy I did! The witchy/magical aspect helped deliver the perfect fall atmosphere. That, combined with the Yuletide setting, was all so perfect to me!
In this book, we follow the last Penhallow brother, Bowen, as he works even more closely with none other than Tamsyn Bligh. After a spell gone wrong, Bowen and Tamsyn find themselves time traveling back 50 years, and now they need to make Bowen's grandparents marry or else the future will be changed for good.
This book was so fun and magical! I loved Bowen and Tamsyn together, whether they were bickering, working together, or swooning over one another. I loved it all! The banter was there, the spice was there, and of course, the magic was there. This was definitely a solid 4-star read!
Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Erin Sterling for this arc!

This was a cute, quick, witchy/halloween read. It’s been about a year since I read the other two books in the series, so I had forgotten some of the other characters, but after a bit, I was able to pick up on things again. I liked the concept, but it isn’t a story that will stick with me or stick out has having an amazingly cozy Halloween vibe. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What a fun book! This is book 3 in The Ex Hex series by Erin Sterling. This book is about the last Penhallow brother named Bowen, who is my new favorite brother! It had the best of both worlds. A story blending Halloween’s spooky elements with the festive charm of Christmas, creating a unique and enchanting atmosphere. The main characters were such a great combo and so much witty banter going on. Good banter really elevates a story, it added humor and depth to the relationship here. If you enjoy witty interactions and entertaining dynamics then this is a book for you. There are a couple spicy scenes, these scenes are easily skip-able. I enjoyed this book. If you are looking for a quick witchy romance then this is the one.

Enjoyable content:
💚 Grumpy sunshine
🧙 Spooky season: Yuletide Edition
💚 Forced proximity
🧙 Time traveling witches
💚 Mistletoe
🧙 Handsome man in sweaters
💚 Ghosts

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Quotes:
"From the moment you walked into that pub. I knew you'd be the making and the ruin of me all at once, woman."

"It really is stupid how much I love you."

Thank you to the author Erin Sterling and NetGalley for the electronic copy of the book.

Erin Sterling’s The Wedding Witch is a spellbinding mix of romance, magic, and time-travel adventure that keeps readers entertained from start to finish. Bowen Penhallow, a solitary and brooding witch who prefers studying ancient magic in isolation, and Tamsyn Bligh, a witty and resourceful magical artifact dealer, make for a delightful pairing. Their paths cross at a grand Yuletide wedding in Wales, but the real magic happens when a spell gone wrong transports them back to 1958. The book blends paranormal mystery with slow-burn romance, creating a charming and fast-paced read.

Tamsyn is a standout protagonist, with her street-smart attitude and mischievous streak making her an enjoyable character to follow. Her banter with Bowen—whose grumpy, lone-wolf personality provides the perfect contrast—adds humor and warmth to the story. The chemistry between them builds gradually as they navigate the mystery of Tywyll House's haunting, all while being swept up in a magical atmosphere of mistletoe, Yuletide bonfires, and snowy Welsh countryside. Sterling does a great job balancing the romance with the supernatural elements, making their growing connection feel natural amid all the magical mayhem.

While The Wedding Witch is an engaging read, the plot involving the time-travel twist and Tywyll House’s haunting could have been explored in greater depth. Some of the magical mechanics and historical details feel rushed, leaving readers wanting more development. However, the delightful romance between Bowen and Tamsyn, coupled with the festive Yuletide setting, more than makes up for it. Fans of witchy rom-coms and magical mysteries will find plenty to enjoy in this cozy and enchanting story.

I really liked this book, I read it in one sitting! I loved the time travel premise, it was so well done, as was the romance.
Tamsyn is not a witch but she’s a finder of magical objects. One of her customers is a gorgeous loner warlock named Bowen Penhallow, who lives in a remote castle.
When Tamsyn hears about the “wedding of the century” at Tywyll castle, a grand magical castle in Wales, she has to attend. One magical object from Tywyll could set her up for life. She figures out how to get in, and is surprised to see Bowen there. An unexpected magical event sends them back in time to 1957, where they meet some of Bowen’s relatives as young adults.
It’s a great story and I couldn’t wait to get to the end to see what happens!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What I thought was going to be the perfect witchy read for October turned into a great witchy read for the Holidays as well! This is the third book in The Ex Hex series, and we have waited quite a while for Bowen’s story. Overall, this was a fun read that was different from the previous two books since it didn’t take place in Grave’s Glen, but rather in Wales where the third Penahallow brother, Bowen lives and works. I liked that this story didn’t took place where he is, since he is a bit of a grumpy recluse and didn’t force him into the hustle and bustle of the small town. The time travel aspect was a nice added touch and I think Tamsyn made the perfect match for Bowen as they navigated their work relationship that is clearly something more!

I received this book from NetGalley as an advance reader's copy, and let me tell you I am glad that I did! This is the third book to the Erin Sterling's "Ex-Hex" standalone series. I came into this book completely blind because I had not read her other two books before reading this one. So with that being said, I do think it would be better to read the other two books first. While you can kinda read these out of order (you will be spoiled with who gets together, but that's usually a given in romance books), I did feel a bit like walking into a party where I knew no one, yet everyone else knew each other. You kinda have to know what went on in the other books to feel like you get a full picture. And I also think that sort of lends a hand to why while I did love Tamsyn and Bowen (their dynamic, intimacy, etc.), I did feel it was a bit rushed for a 26 chapter book. Sterling does try to show the passing of time with the first couple prologue chapters being months to the first chapter being present day, but I still felt like it was too manufactured. Again, I haven't read the other books so it could seem more authentic if Bowen and Tamsyn's relationship was slowly woven into the other books, but I am not 100% sure it did. I know Tamsyn makes an appearance in the first book, but that's about all I know. The chemistry of these two were spot on and it's been a while since I felt giggly over a fictional couple! My only other critic is that I've read three books now in the past month that have witches and time traveling (I think most witch related books end up having time travel anyway: Discovery of Witches, Harry Potter, Outlander, etc.), so it felt a bit repetitive. I do plan to read the other two books since I enjoyed this one so much, so I am hoping they leave time travel out of those to give me some palate cleansing on that sub-genre.

All in all of very cute-witchy book for this October!

A fun quick witchy read with both fall and holiday season type vibes which made for an interesting mix.

I enjoyed getting to see the final Penhallow brother find his match - and I loved the time twist. I’m a sucker for a time travel adventure or misadventure as it were. The characters were fun and engaging, I liked the different side characters and I was happy with the wrap up of the story and series overall. Even with the time element, book 2 was probably my favorite (I’m a sucker for a four legged friend 🐾)

I would say it was a charming and cute read, but want to also forewarn that it does have some open door spice. Easy enough to read around for those that do not prefer it. So if you’re looking for a witchy romcom to get in a Halloween or festive spirit look no further.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the opportunity to read an early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy and chance to read early.

The Wedding Witch is the third book in the Ex Hex series. Bowen and Tamsyn travel back through time and must parent trap their way out of the situation and back to their own time. I loved the build up and romance between our two main characters. I was expecting more magic though. Especially for a book about witches.

Cute, cozy and quick read. Just how I like them!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ (2)
Tropes: co-workers/forbidden romance, time travel, instalove

This is the third installment in the Penhallow series and focuses on Bowen Penhallow, the reclusive witch who has been studying dark & ancient magic in Whales. He hires Tamsyn Bligh to retrieve certain artifacts that he needs for mysterious reasons. We come to discover that it’s due to an accident that occurred during school by his best friend Declan and he turns into a ghost. Bowen has worked tirelessly since then to reverse the spell, with no success.

Declan has never asked Bowen to dedicate his life to fixing the spell, but he does ask him to attend his ex-fiancee’s wedding. Tamsyn has invited herself to the same wedding to steal a magical artifact as “one last deal” despite her exclusive contract with Bowen.

There is a sequence of typical hijinks that occur because they’re both attending the wedding for personal reasons, but things go awry when they’re thrust into the past from a spell gone wrong. They work together to resolve what goes wrong in their “present” and “past” before everything is wrapped up nicely with a bow. I’m hesitant to mention this, but overall the magic was not well established and seemed like we discovered the magical system at the same time as the main characters. (Note: I realize magic and witches do not require explanation, but some plausibility would’ve been helpful.)

I have similar thoughts about plausibility of their romance since there was very little build-up from their instant attraction to internal declarations of love. However, it was a quick read that kept me entertained. I will always remember that The Ex-Hex was one of the first books that got me back into reading in 2021 so I’ll forever be grateful of this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for access to this e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Time travel, magic, and spooky fun! I enjoyed this third in series! Bowen & Tamsyn were a great duo, and their grumpy/sunshine personalities definitely added to their chemistry.

My favorite thing about a series, is to visit previous places & characters and see how their lives have changed. Sterling did a great job of giving us that insight, while weaving this story in and giving us another layer with Bowen & Tamsyn.

[Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.]

The plot of this was really fun to follow and unexpected in the best way. There was no point while reading this that I knew what was going to happen next, which was a breath of fresh air for a romance book. This felt very much like instalove, which I don't really care for, but I think it was done well. I enjoyed the chemistry between Bowen and Tamsyn. And despite being a witchy book, I think it actually would be classified better as a good Christmas-y read, rather than Halloween! Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Tamsyn + Bowen = SWOON ♡︎

Whereas the other two books in this series focus heavily on Halloween this one focuses on Christmas, and it turned out to be a welcome change. The magic was still there, literally and figuratively. I enjoyed the 'Back to the Future' vibes and I just had SO much fun reading! Move over Rhys and Wells, Bowen is now my favorite Penhallow brother.

So sad to see this series end, but so overwhelming happy with this last installment. I was a little skeptical of the time travel angle at first. However, Erin Sterling really brought to life the chemistry between the bearded Bowen and the reformed Tamsyn. So much so I completely overcame any hesitations. Fabulous end to this paranormal romance.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Oh how I love this series! Such a great continuation of Graves Glen! While this book does not disappoint in the romance department - hello bathroom scene - but it is also full of suspense and mystery. Perfect book to get you into the spooky season!

Giving four stars because I feel like some story lines weren’t explained or not completed.

But overall - wonderful book!

I wish I had read the first two books in this series more recently so I could remember more details of the characters in this world, but from my hazy memory, this was a bit of a departure from those two. For one, it was not in the cute witchy town that I loved. And so, other than the MMC being a brother of the other MMC's, there wasn't much overlap within the series. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but it just wasn't what I was expecting.
Other things I wasn't expecting: time travel, ghosts/not ghosts, and watching grandparents get it on. These were some of the problems I had with the book. There was a weird fixation with the MFC on how good looking the grandparents were. The non ghost best friend was a big enough mystery, then time travel was thrown in, so I was confused for way too long. We got a little bit of the relationship developing over email, which was a lot of fun, then it took a sharp departure into the Declan mystery. I thought there wasn't enough build up with the two MC's together before they decided they were in love, even though they didn't tell each other.
The time travel did end up being a neat way of solving the big mystery, so I ended up liking that aspect. And once the MMC and FMC got together I enjoyed their dynamic.
Overall, I would recommend this to readers who like spice, magic, broody & academic MMC's, and holiday vibes. It wasn't a favorite of mine, but it may be worth a read if you really love witchy books and want something set during the winter holidays.

The Wedding Witch, the third in Erin Sterling’s witchy romance series, is a light, fun, and fast read with a cozy Christmas backdrop. Part magical adventure, part insta-love romance, it offers plenty of charm for fans of the genre. While I hadn’t read the previous books, and thus didn’t fully grasp the Penhallow family history, I still enjoyed the witty banter between the leading characters and found their dynamic very cute—though the insta-love element felt a bit rushed for my taste.

The plot had its clunky moments, which detracted from the flow, but overall, it's a nice read for those looking for a whimsical, holiday-themed romance.

THE WEDDING WITCH • Erin Sterling • Pub Date: October 8, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an eARC. All opinions shared in this review are my own.

Abridged Goodreads Synopsis: Bowen Penhallow has always been a loner, studying dark and ancient magic on a mountaintop in Wales. But when his friend Declan—who happens to be a ghost—asks him to attend a Yuletide wedding at a grand estate known as Tywyll House, Bowen reluctantly agrees. Tamsyn Bligh is not a witch, but she makes her living off of them. She’s finagled an invite to the Witchy Wedding of the Century in the hopes of finally making a score big enough to retire. Tamsyn isn’t the only one sneaking about in Tywyll House though, and the mix of a very strong spell combined with a wedding mishap transports Bowen and Tamsyn into Tywyll House’s past. As Bowen and Tamsyn work together to get back to the present, they must also face off with the origins of Tywyll House’s haunting, the suspicions of their fellow witches…oh, and the fact that, they might be falling in love.

The third installment of "The Ex Hex" series has finally arrived! "The Ex Hex" and "The Kiss Curse" both gave off cozy fall vibes. "The Wedding Witch" on the other hand seems to focus more on the winter holidays. However, there is still plenty of witchy, spooky vibes to suit whether you read the book in October or December! Now I have to admit, my goldfish memory did not remember Tamsyn (or really anything...) from the last two books. With that being said, I still fully enjoyed this story! So for those asking if you should read the other books first? Probably yes, but I would bet you'd still like this one anyway.

This book was like candy. I enjoyed the love story, the plot, and the pacing. While some may see this book as edging towards "instalove," there is a yearlong background between Bowen and Tamsyn that is alluded to. Instead of having to suffer through the buildup though, Sterling skips right to the good part! Considering this book is meant to be a more fun, light-hearted read, I thought this worked wonderfully. And the banter between these two? OBSESSED. The spicy scenes mixed in was just icing on the cake.

Overall, this was a satisfying addition to the Graves Glen universe. Now that the third Penhallow brother has found love, I am curious if Sterling intends to keep adding books to this series or plans to end it on a high note?

4.5🩷

Me gustó mucho🥹 creo que es mi favorito de los 3, me encantó que sea una historia ligera y rapida de leer🤍 justo como los libros anteriores🥰, y también leer a los otros hermanos estando presentes con Bowen me encantó, y mas leer al bebé de Rhys y Vivi, oww🤍

Ahora la historia, super sencilla, super rapida de leer y también entretenida, no es una historia larga, realmente es una historia para pasar el rato, cuando quieras leer algo ligero, es súper recomendable (los 3 libros son igual) ✨

Bowen y Tamsyn, LOS AMO, el contraste de uno “callado” y la otra muy hiperactiva jajaja estuvo lindo, me gustó mucho.

El viaje al pasado, fue lo que me gustó muchísimo, y el como él conoció a sus abuelos, me dio mucha risa lo loquitos que estaban los abuelos jajaja también me dió sentimiento cuando tuvieron que regresar. La abuela de Bowen? Omg🥵jaja

En fin, 100% recomendado para estas temporadas spooky 🥰