This was a good, holiday/winter witchy romance. A well-written story with a good message to remember you're not alone & there's purpose in finding your community. A witchy Yule romance with a little bit of spice that is helping me during these hot, summer months. Overall, a solid 3.75-4 star read, I look forward to more from this author.

A very sweet Hallmark-esque romantic comedy with the added bonus of real magic (and some spicy bits). You have the strained family relationships to fix, a Winter Festival to save, and some magic that has gone awry thanks to adolescent heartbreak. This took me a few chapters to get invested (and to like the main character and she's tough at times) but once I was into the story, it flies. The banter is hit or miss for me but still a fun seasonal read.

Magical and tender, this novella blends romance and fantasy with a quiet warmth. The world was light but lovely, and the emotional resolution felt earned. A short, sweet story perfect for a cozy winter evening.

A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart is such a cozy, wintery romance with just the right touch of magic. I loved the sweet storyline, the festive small-town vibes, and the rekindled love between Rowan and Gavin. It’s the perfect cuddle-up read for the holiday season—heartwarming and absolutely charming.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy!

Set in fictional small town Elk Ridge, Washington, witch Rowan has given up magic for years, focused on her career in the LA area. When she returns home for Yule, she ends up working to save the town festival with her high school rival Gavin. Along the way, she confronts what happened years ago, learning the importance of community and love.

I loved the Cascade Mountain small town setting as well as Rowan's family and friends. The magic system for these witches was interested and unique!

Unfortunately, this story wasn't a great fit for me. I struggled with Rowan's choices throughout the story, the slow pacing in the middle, and felt like we could have had more time for the main couple to be together at the end. Also, the specifics of the external conflict didn't resonate with me, including the other woman drama.

Read this for:
❄ Witches and magic
🌲 Slow burn, second chance romance
❄ Multicultural take on the winter holiday season
🌲 Finding support from your community
❄ Nods to Dickens (including a mystical being)
🌲 You can always go home
❄ Small town needs saving

Open door / spicy (one scene)

2.5 / 5 stars

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC!

This was just what my holiday/winter-loving little heart needed. It gave me all the Hallmark holiday movie vibes in book form, and I ate that up. Rowan and Gavin were both adorable, and their chemistry was palpable, even when they were working together a little begrudgingly. This was a charming romance with plenty of heart, banter, and slow-burn chemistry to spare. Thank you so much to Dutton for the e-arc!

This book absolutely felt like I was watching a Christmas Hallmark Movie in book version. Rowan is a witch who has refused to use her magic. After a disastrous work event she heads home for her town's annual Yule festival. She finds out that her town is in danger of losing their festival to a corporation. To complicate matters, the man who she has had a crush on since she was in high school is part of the reason their family is losing the festival. Rowan must figure out a way to save the festival, get the guy, and figure out how to use her magic responsibly.

This book was charming and sweet. I read it in the summer so it did lose a little of its magic as I was reading about hot chocolate and winter time events when it was 90 degrees outside. However, I do think this would be the perfect winter read and a great book to cozy up by a warm fire. Rowan being a witch was a great touch as I enjoyed reading about her magic abilities. It led to some cute and funny moments. If you are a fan of contemporary romances with some magic sprinkled in you will enjoy this novel.

4/5 stars

Thank you to Dutton Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Morgan Lockhart does a fantastic job in writing this type of romance book, it had that element that I wanted in this type of book. I was invested in the characters and enjoyed the holiday element to this book. It had that plot element that I was looking for and was glad I got to read this.

I thought this one was better than the first book in the series. It followed your typical romance story line and the two main characters had cute chemistry.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy to honestly review.

A cozy holiday romance with a magical twist

A Spell for Midwinter's Heart was a sweet, festive read with all the makings of a charming holiday romance—small town vibes, a sprinkle of magic, and a second-chance spark between a witch and her childhood rival. Rowan’s journey of self-acceptance and reconnecting with her roots was heartwarming, and the Yule setting gave it that nostalgic winter magic.

That said, some parts felt a bit predictable, and the pacing dragged in the middle. I wanted more depth from the side characters and more tension from the central conflict, which felt a bit too easily resolved. Still, if you're looking for a light seasonal read with cozy charm and a hint of whimsy, this one might warm your heart like a cup of spiced cider.

I received a free copy of, A Spell for Midwinter's Heart by Morgan Lockhart, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Rowan Midwinter is a witch, who is not happy to be going back home. Rowan wants to save her towns winter festival, and make sure the town has snow. This is a sweet and magical winter love story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (rounded up)
🌶️🌶️

✔️ Second Chance
✔️ Holiday Romance
✔️ Small Town with Witches

Thank you @netgalley for providing me with an earc and the opportunity to read this book early! 🫶

I’m a sucker for a good holiday romance (thanks Hallmark for the lifelong addiction 😂) so when I saw this witchy holiday romance I knew it would be right up my alley. This book is the perfect cozy, magical, read that will be sure to put you in the holiday season. With that said it might be best to wait until the season to read it. 🤣 Personally I live in the inferno known as Florida so reading a book about snow while it’s 90 degrees outside just seems rude.

Anyways, the characters in this are truly adorable. I loved both Rowan and Gavin - both truly embodied the holiday romance cutesy vibes. Their storyline was truly Hallmark worthy between the struggling small town and budding relationship. I really enjoyed the twist on the romance, while it was heavily hinted at I thought it was a really nice add that made it different from your normal cookie cutter holiday romance. I also enjoyed the found family aspects with Rowan and the town. Overall I think this book would be great to read to get you into the holiday spirit. ❤️

“Which is why when you appeared in the chaos at the airport the other night, looking like you’d stepped off the pages of a storybook, it was like . . .Holiday magic.”

This was very charming. I liked how the magic was important, but not everything to the story. Family and community really took center stage here. And the romance was sweet and spicy and developed at just the right pace. Thanks to Dutton for the ARC.

A charming witchy romance that takes place during the winter holidays? Yes please! This had all the things I love in a holiday romcom- small town, relatable characters with witty banter, plenty of festivities, and lots of heart. Add in a dash of magic, and I was hooked! I fell in love with Rowan and Gavin from the start, and I was rooting for them as they sought to save their small town’s traditions.

The expected publication date for A Spell For Midwinter’s Heart is September 23, 2025. I think it will make a great read this holiday season! Thank you NetGalley and Dutton Publishing for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This one’s for you if you enjoy:
***Witches and magic
***Strong family dynamic
***Slow burn
***Great chemistry

This was a cute and charming romance. Rowan is done with magic, but she needs to save her hometown. This has a great cast of side characters; lots of funny moments. Loved the magic aspect of this novel!

Thank you to Dutton, Penguin Random House, and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

A Spell for Midwinter's Heart is a cute story about a witchy family, in a winter town that's struggling to avoid selling out to the highest bidder. Of course there's a little romance mixed in for good measure. It's a fun read for getting into the seasonal offerings.

Morgan Lockhart’s A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart is such a charming witchy romcom. The atmosphere of this book was heartwarming with plenty of holiday festivities and magic! I was totally invested in Rowan and Gavin right from the start. They were both relatable characters and loved the banter between them. This seasonal escape has everything you could want in a holiday romcom. The plot (saving a small town) second-chance romance, the main characters, supporting characters, holiday vibes, chemistry and magic. The storyline delivered plenty of heart and I absolutely loved it!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Dutton for the advanced copy.

This author is new to me, but I will be keeping an eye out for anything else they publish. I loved the story and the characters. The pacing of the story was great and the characters were relatable.

This story had a lovely seasonal atmosphere and a charming setup that blended romance and fantasy in a sweet, wintry setting. The magical elements were whimsical, and the overall tone made for a cozy, easy read.

That said, the plot moved a bit slowly, and I found myself wanting more depth from the characters and their relationships. Some emotional beats didn’t quite land, and the conflict felt a little too low-stakes at times. It had potential, but it didn’t fully draw me in.

Still, if you're looking for something light with a bit of magic and heart, this might be a good fit — just don’t expect anything too groundbreaking

A sweet and cozy holiday romance. Rowan is back in her home town to visit her family for Yule. She is also grappling with her magical powers and inconvenient crush on her high school rival, Gavin. However, the more she gets to know Gavin, the more she thinks she’s mischaracterized him. Can she move past her past judgment?

This was adorable. Rowan and Gavin are cute together and the author has created a cozy setting/world. I’d be happy to read more stories set in Elk Ridge. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.