The Wedding Witch is the third novel in the Ex Hex series. These novels are fun as they are standalones with connecting points. This story follows Bowen Penhallow whose friend Declan, a ghost, invites him to attend a Yuletide wedding at an estate in the Welsh countryside. While at Tywyll House, the two get into hijinks involving the wedding and getting to know each other. The romance in this story was interesting, but it felt incomplete. The two characters spent time together as about year passes in the book, but, as a reader, I did not feel as connected to it. I’m not quite sure if this was meant to be friends to lovers or another trope as it did not fully explore the friendship side.

Tamsyn has a nice inter monologue that sometimes go out in the real world. She and Bowen are both fairly open with their communication which is a more refreshing take on romance as many novels of the same genre tend to have the couple want to be with the other without saying anything for a long time. The time travel aspect was enjoyable but felt more like an addition than seamlessly integrated into the story and add something more to the plot. While the past elements were nice, I actually would have preferred the story to just stay in the present. It was still a nice easy read where there was not a lot of conflict, so the stakes were lower. Overall, this was a nice addition to the series, and I look forward to read more from the author in the future.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Headline Eternal, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

A Spellbinding Finale: The Wedding Witch Weaves Magic and Romance!

The Wedding Witch is the whirlwind romance we’ve all been waiting for! In this heartwarming finale, we finally get a peek into the life of the last elusive Penhallow brother, Bowen, as he steps out of the shadows and into the spotlight. And who better to light up his world than the fan-favorite, Tamsyn? Their love story is filled with the sweetest moments that will make your heart melt.

From their charming first meeting to their playful email and text exchanges, Bowen and Tamsyn’s connection unfolds in the most endearing way. The setup is absolutely delightful, and watching their bond grow is a treat. Just when you're basking in the cuteness of their journey, the story throws you into an epic hunt that leads to a swoon-worthy happily ever after.

But it’s not just about romance – the mystery in this story is what kept me hooked. What starts as an innocent puzzle quickly spirals into a multi-layered family secret spanning decades. It’s a rollercoaster of intrigue that you won't want to step off until the very last page. And without giving too much away, there’s a second love story woven into the narrative that adds an extra layer of charm.

Fans of the series are in for a real treat! The Wedding Witch delivers everything we've come to love – romance, mystery, and plenty of magical moments. It’s the perfect conclusion to a captivating trilogy. Don’t miss it!

I loved the first two installments of the Ex Hex series but this one was disappointing. The characters were instantly obsessed with each other in a way I did not understand and the plot felt rushed and confusing. It read like someone else wrote it entirely.

Thank you to Avon Books and Erin Sterling for this ARC.

I absolutely loved The Ex Hex and The Kiss Curse, the first two books in the Ex Hex series. As soon as I saw Sterling was coming out with a third book, I immediately added it to my TBR.

This delightful magical rom-com was hilarious, fast-paced, and peppered with a few spicy scenes. I loved the whole plot line: from the wedding in a haunted castle to accidental time travel, it all worked perfectly. It felt like a holiday version of “Back to the Future.”

All of the books in this series can be read as stand-alone. Each focuses on a different Penhallow brother, but all characters appear in each book.

Unfortunately, I felt the romance was way underdeveloped. We went from 0 to 100 in one chapter, and I am not a fan of insta-love. I actually enjoyed reading the emails between our two MCs and wish there was more of this banter and foundation. However, both Bowen and Tamysen were such a delight to read about, and their chemistry was very well written.

Because the first two books in this series have more of a fall vibe, this is what I expected. Instead, I was met with a Christmas atmosphere. I'm not mad about it, but just be warned if you were expecting something more autumn-y.

Overall, these two charming characters were delightful to read about, and I loved seeing more of the Penhallow family. If you want a magical rom-com with 1-2 spicy scenes, try “The Wedding Witch.”

This is the third Ex Hex novel and follows the last Penhallow brother, Bowen, and a minor character from the first Ex Hex book, Tamsyn. Bowen lives in a remote part of Wales and spends his time researching magical items and spells that may help his friend Declan, who is trapped as a semi-ghost after a spell gone wrong. Bowen hires Tamsyn, a human who acquires magical items, to help him find what he's looking for. Tamsyn and Bowen both get invited to a Yuletide wedding in Wales where the nuptials don't go as planned, and they both get sent back in time to 1957 in a wayward spell. As they work to get back to their timeline, they give in to their attraction to each other and fall for each other.
I adored this book, as I have all of the Ex Hex books! Normally I feel like these books are absolutely perfect for October, but this one takes place in December (Yule) and has very festive/Christmas vibes, so you could really read it during October or December. These characters have been very much in the background of the first two books, so it's not necessary to read those books first, but it would definitely help to have some knowledge of the Penhallows/that magical world.
Swipe for a synopsis!
Thank you to NetGalley, and Avon and Harper Voyage for the ARC.
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Erin Sterling’s Graves Glen series has captivated me from the start and I have been waiting eagerly for this final installment. Bowen Penhallow has always been a bit of an enigma, referred to as a reclusive Welsh mountain man, so I was excited to learn more about his character. Sterling also brings back Tamsyn Bligh (a con woman featured in The Ex Hex) as Bowen’s love interest, and I couldn’t get enough of their dynamic.

The Wedding Witch gives off Back to the Future meets The Parent Trap vibes! While attending a wedding at the esteemed Meredith family’s Welsh estate, Bowen and Tamsyn find themselves the victims of a powerful time travel spell that sends them back to the 1950s. Bowen and Tamsyn arrive at Meredith manor, decades prior, and discover that they are to be guests at a different set of nuptials — this time for Bowen’s own grandparents. Except, the bride has just called off the engagement and it’s up to Bowen and Tamsyn to get the two spurned lovers back together before it alters the present timeline. While engaging in holiday festivities, and attempting to play matchmaker, Bowen and Tamsyn are on the hunt for a mystical brooch that may be the key to their problems, but time is running out and the circumstances of their arrival are more dire than either Bowen or Tamsyn realize.

Bowen and Tamsyn were just adorable together! In the prologue, we get a sense of their rapport through text and email exchanges, after the two enter into a business arrangement, and their banter is unmatched. Due to the shorter length of the book, they went from “like” to “love” pretty quickly but I was so utterly charmed by the story that I didn’t mind. There were also a few intimate scenes that perfectly portrayed the sizzling connecting these two have.

Unlike its predecessors, The Wedding Witch is set predominantly in Wales rather than Graves Glen, though the beloved Georgia town does make a couple appearances. I thought this was going to bother me more but the Welsh countryside was the perfect setting for this book! Instead of a Halloween atmosphere, The Wedding Witch takes place firmly during the Yule season, another departure from the first two books. I particularly loved this balance between holiday and witchy vibes. I thought the magical Yule traditions were delightful and could fully picture the sprawling gothic mansion that Bowen and Tamsyn find themselves holed up in.

I am so sad to see the Graves Glen series come to an end but I fully enjoyed my time with the Penhallow brothers and the enchanting women that keep them on their toes!

What You’ll Find:
Time travel magic
Yule festivities
Gothic mansion
Boss x Employee
Witch x Human
Character cameos
Ghosts with unfinished business

Thank you Avon Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I have been a fan of this series from the start, and I was so excited to read Bowen and Tamsyn's story.

Erin Sterling is the pen name for Rachel Hawkins, and I enjoy her writing style, whether it's a witchy rom-com or a twisty thriller. This is set in the Welsh countryside at a Yuletide wedding and has time travel, ghosts, magic, a strong and funny FMC, a swoony MMC, and some spice.

Tamsyn is a human who procures rare and often dangerous magical artifacts. She is a fun character and has some great lines. And I loved handsome, smart, sexy Bowen. He hires Tamsyn to obtain items for him, and these two cannot resist mixing business with pleasure. I enjoyed the grumpy/sunshine romance, the setting, the banter, the time travel to the 1950s, and the dash of mystery.

If you're looking for a fall/winter read with witchy, paranormal vibes but lighthearted, cozy, and romantic rather than scary, check this one out. Quick reading and entertaining, it will work as a stand-alone for those who haven't read the previous books. I'm sad to see the series end, but looking forward to whatever Sterling writes next!

Thank you to Avon Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the gifted ARC!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Wedding Witch was the unexpected boost of serotonin I needed after months of books I mostly liked, but didn’t necessarily adore beyond words, or books that fell short of expectations. And it’s especially shocking, since while I liked the first book, the second book was a disappointment. But this was a case of all the stars aligning and creating my ideal paranormal/fantasy romance: whimsical and escapist, yet still packed with decent stakes that aren’t fixed with a deux-ex-machina.
I was a little surprised at the winter setting, but it’s a fun compromise, given that so many holiday/wintry books come out so unreasonably early, and often don’t give the “spooky season” books the same time to shine. This book almost feels like what The Nightmare Before Christmas would be in terms of vibes, but if it was a romance book.
I genuinely liked both Bowen and Tamsyn, especially as there’s somewhat of a sense of camaraderie between them from the start of the book, a refreshing change from the prior books, which had varying levels of animosity between the couples. I loved how she seamlessly fit into the family dynamic, albeit not without some drama due to some events from their recent past, and they have a fun bond as reluctant coworkers that grows into more as they go on their adventures together.
And the plot this time was just so fun! There’s a haunted house and time travel, along with some of the typical mishaps that you might expect where that’s concerned. I’ve always enjoyed the light smattering of Penhallow and Graves Glen lore, so getting more of it, in the context of a light spin on Back to the Future and The Parent Trap absolutely delighted me.
This is also the most action-heavy installment, so there was a lot to keep me flipping pages. And with a page count of around 288 pages, the story flew by quickly, yet left me satisfied that everything had been wrapped up nicely.
I absolutely loved this book, and would recommend it to readers who enjoy witchy romance.

Like the other two in this companion series, this one was a light-hearted, spicy, entertaining read with cozy small-town vibes. The writing isn’t overly cheesy, the characters are likable, it’s nothing deep but it’s not super clichéd either so they’re really good palate cleansers or books to get you in the mood for the season 

Will post review on Tiktok 10/2/24

The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling we finally get to know the third Pennhallow brother. Bowen is described as a hermit in the previous books with only brief cameos featured. In this book we get to know his back story and little about what he is up in his Welsh mountain home.

The story also features another series character with acquisitions expert Tamsyn - a human who specializes in finding magical objects. In the course of Bowen’s quest to save his ghostly friend, be and Tamsyn are transported to the past where they must work together to find a way back their own time before they fade from existence.

It is a cute instant-love story with witty banter leading to a light, quick read. The story differs from the previous two in that it has Christmas/Yule vibes instead of Halloween and is set in Wales instead of the magical Georgia town. Overall, it will be enjoyed by fans of the series and easy for new readers to follow as well.

Okay, I love the Graves Glen series & this book did not disappoint. The majority of it does not take place in Graves Glen, but the setting for this is amazing in its own right. Now even though we’re talking about witches, this book is set in winter and has lots of Christmas vibes to it. The time travel aspect was really fun & comedic. It was also bittersweet. It always tugs at my heart strings when you’re able to see the past & present versions of characters particularly when you see the past versions of characters that aren’t alive in the present day. I was really curious how the story would resolve itself & I was happy with how it turned out. Time travel can be hit or miss & I think this was a hit. I highly recommend. I love this series. I can’t get enough of it.

Thank you NetGalley & Avon Books for the advance copy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy. This is a cute, fluffy, magical rom-com like the other books in this series, so if you enjoyed those, you will enjoy this one. I liked this one slightly less than the other two. The romance felt a little underbaked and there wasn't much "will they, or won't they" as you would expect from this type of book. I was also a little confused by the setting. It wasn't really a Halloween vibe and also wasn't exactly a Christmas feeling, so I was a little thrown off by that. I did enjoy the time travel aspect and some of the secondary characters were delightful. Overall, this is probably a 3-3.5 star read for me.

Unfortunately The Wedding Witch was not the conclusion I was hoping to read for the Ex Hex Trilogy. There wasn’t really physical descriptions of the characters (my complaint in all the books) and almost no character development for Bowen and Tamsyn. It was straight up insta-love trope and I didn’t vibe with it. The fact it was Christmas/Yule themed not Halloween was kind of a bummer.

The story felt like a rough draft that needed some plot work. The only upside was seeing the other couples from the previous books. The time travel/Parent trap story is tired and most of the conclusion is rushed with no real explanation.

Spice 🌶️ (1.5).

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and HarperVoyage for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A delightful and enchanting read that will captivate fans of lighthearted, romantic, and adventurous stories, especially those who adore Christmas-themed tales, witch romance, and fluffy, feel-good fiction.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishing company for the opportunity to read this book early!!

I love the october feel and the witchy vibes it gives off, which is why i’m always trying to get my hands on any early copy of any cozy book that fits the feels of the month! Unfortunately this book did fall flat for me and i couldn’t connect to the characters as much as i wanted. I did DNF this book and was not able to make it to the end.

This series keeps getting better and better! Bowen Penhallow, at the request of his ghostly friend Colin, travels to Scotland to crash the wedding of Colin's former fiancee, only to find the Tamsyn Bligh, an expert in locating magical objects and under an exclusive contract with Bowen, also attending having taken on one last freelance job. The bride is miserable, and inadvertently casts a spell that sends Bowen and Tamsyn back to 1958, to the same castle and to Bowen's grandparents wedding did they can stop arguing and agree to go through with the ceremony. Can helping his grandparents wed get the two home, or is the another task they need to accomplish before their time runs out and they fade away from existence. Tight plotting and likable characters make for a fun read

Thank you Netgalley, and Avon for letting me read this eARC. "The Kiss Curse" and "The Ex Hex" were two of the first two books I truly like; they both had a very warm, fall vibe about them. Even so, the book was adorable, and I'm glad another Penhallow brother was able to find love. The relationship seemed a little undeveloped to me. There was no build-up in between; it was all or nothing. As always, I really enjoyed the amusing banter between the two major characters! To be honest, I thought this one had more spiciness than the previous two. I would recommend this book to those who are looking for a Fall/Christmas spooky romance vibe. The setting of this book is a little confusing not sure if its Fall or Christmas time. It is still a cute book with good humor and romance. 3.5/5. I did enjoy the first two books a little more than this one. Overall a good read and I did not get bored with it.

The 3rd in the The Ex Hex series - but I will admit that I haven't read the second book in the series. The MMCs in all of the books are brothers but their stories can be read as standalones.

This one is set at Christmas/Yule and is not a classic Halloween or Fall romance like the other 2 books. But there are still ghosts, magical items, spells, and witches.

It is fast paced and adorable without a 3rd act breakup. I enjoyed the writing and the great banter. Plus there is a wonderfully spicy scene in a bathtub (and the woods) that is a must read.

As soon as I read the description/blurb of the book, I knew that I would love it. Time traveling, witches, mystery, and spells with a Christmasy setting in Wales! I was here for it all and I was so glad that I was!

Yule at a wedding in a haunted home in Wales. What could possibly go wrong? Tamsyn is there to steal a brooch. Bowen is there out of a sense of duty to an old friend. But soon it's not a matter of 'where' they are but 'when' they are. Can the two work together to make everything right?

Read if you like:
-Time Travel
-Christmas Kisses under the Mistletoe
-Zany Hijinks
-Happily Ever After

I loved the first two installments in this series, and while The Wedding Witch did not disappoint, it also felt somewhat removed from the series. Tamsyn and Bowen were in their own little bubble, but that also fit their characters. Two people on the fringes finding the one meant for them.

3.5 stars

Reclusive Bowen Penhallow hires Tamsyn Bligh to find artefacts in his quest to return best mate Declan from liminal space after a spell went wrong a decade earlier. Despite being hired exclusively by Bowen, Tamsyn can’t resist the lure of $1m to recover a brooch from the same house Bowen is staying at for a wedding.

After feeling lukewarm about the first book ‘The Ex Hex’, I enjoyed this one. This was a an easy read, though at times it did drag a bit, especially to get to the time travel part. However, everything seemed to be a bit undercooked, with an ending that suddenly works out without any real explanation. For instance, how is it that fixing everything didn’t upset other things in the timeline? Also, how does Emerald’s role in this be the catalyst event for Declan? It just seems like the author threw out things but didn’t work through the timeline. Furthermore, the romance seemed to be a bit too much tell not show. I liked the characters, but I didn’t feel like Bowen really knew Tamsin well.

Overall, cozy witchy, time travelling fun.

Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC.