ARC Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

That cover???! Yes please.

I adored the witchy touches and the free flying magic. This is a cozy hallmark story full of spirit and small town charm.

The story drags a bit in the middle, but a fun winter filled holiday story about coming home and really finding themselves hidden under the fear. I wanted a bit more magic and romance, but this was a cute read.

Thank you NetGalley and Dutton for the ARC.

This was a fun witchy Christmas romance.
I love the book cover….thats what drew me to the book ;)
Definitely Hallmark vibes going on in A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart.
I enjoyed the small town aspect as well as the magical elements.
All in all, this was a cozy fantasy romance with touches of holiday vibes.
Are you in the mood for a festive romance? Here is the book you should add to your tbr list!
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton for an early copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. I enjoyed this book and read it in one day. I loved the storyline and the characters. I thought the characters had great growth. I liked the little of magic in the book. I would definitely recommend this book.

“That isn’t how I kiss when I mean it.”

“What’s the difference?”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5🌶️

A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart was a cute and fun witchy holiday romance. Rowan Midwinter has sworn off magic but this year for Yule she is finally returning home to her family and coven.

Gavin and Rowan haven’t seen one another in years but reunite when she returns for the Yule festival. Their families have always been adversaries and now Gavin’s dad is part of a group that’s trying to buy out the town and with that would come the end of their celebrations.

As Rowan rediscovers her magic and her and Gavin try to figure out a way to save the festival sparks stir up between them again, but she must decide whether or not to let him in on the truth about her magic.

This is a quick, lighthearted read that’s perfect for the ber months.

Thank you to Dutton books for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.

May I just say this is probably one of the most inclusive holiday themed books I’ve ever read. I was looking up characters mentioned every once in a while to see which culture or religion it had been pulled from.

Nothing beats a “let’s come together to save the small town from capitalistic corruption” especially in this day and age. Throw in a second chance trope and I’m an absolute goner. The main characters had their beautiful quirks that were essential to the story.

Love comes in so many forms. The love shown whether blood or found highlights the many layers and complications that comes with maintaining relationships.

I would absolutely love to visit Elk Ridge any time of the year!

Pub Date September 23 2025

ARC provided by Dutton and NetGalley. Thank you.

review posted to NetGalley & Goodreads

This book was like a witchy hallmark movie in all of the best ways!
Rowan Midwinter is a witch who hasn’t used her magic in years after a bad accident. She’s headed back to her home town to celebrate the annual Yule Festival. Upon arrival, she discovers that a large corporation is looking to buy the festival. And the man ready to sell it is, the father of the man she has had a crush on since she was a kid. Rowan teams up with him and a few friends to try and save the festival.

This would have definitely been a perfect book to read in the winter to really soak up the holiday (and witchy) magic. I enjoyed the magic side of the book and the spells sprinkled throughout. The closeness of the town and Rowan reconnection with her coven was also great to read. This book had so much going on it really could have been longer. I wish a few more things were fleshed out better but overall it was an enjoyable read!

3.5 ⭐️

This book felt like a cute Hallmark Christmas movie.
Rowan Midwinter goes back to her hometown for Yule season. She wants to help save the towns winter festival. Even though she told herself she would never do magic again, the coven needs her.

It’s a very cute and magical story. Ideal for december!

Thanks Netgalley for letting me read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

cute, fun, hallmark christmas romance with a nice touch of magic and a strong touch of sizzling chemistry. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

3.5 stars

This combines my love of silly holiday movies and witchy vibes. Perfect if you're looking for a fun holiday read.

“There are as many kinds of kisses as there are moments in life. Kisses of hello and of good-bye. Kisses for beginnings and for ends. Kisses that mean nothing, and kisses that mean everything. Some are questions. Some are threats. Some are promises. They challenge us, charge us, and comfort us. The kiss Rowan and Gavin shared was one of new beginnings, of hope renewed and uncertain futures embraced.”


ARC PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW


This book was definitely a surprise for me. The synopsis made me curious and the inside was definitely much more. I'm so delighted after finishing it.

It wasn't only Rowan's journey and her love story with Gavin, but also her reunion with her family and the found family element.

The magical aspects, folkloric and historical make it much more different and special, like Christmas is closer than around the corner.

I'm super happy and excited about Christmas coming soon and I'm open to reading more books about this author in the future.

A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart by Morgan Lockhart
Narrator: Bailey Carr
Rating: 3.5 stars
Pub date: 9/23

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Dutton for my advanced copy and to PRH Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

Rowan Midwinter is a witch who’s sworn off magic after a spell went wrong years ago. Now she’s back in her hometown just in time for Yule, hoping to save the winter festival from being swallowed up by a corporate buyout. But there’s no snow, her old coven wants her help, and her childhood rival Gavin keeps showing up.

This book felt like a Hallmark movie in book form. I loved how it blended classic small-town holiday romance vibes with a witchy twist. Rowan and Gavin had plenty of chemistry and were generally adorable together. I especially loved the cozy vibes and found family aspect with Rowan reconnecting to her coven and her roots.

I listened to this one while reading along, and I loved Bailey Carr’s narration! She made me believe I was in a snowy, small town with these quirky characters.

This is definitely one of those books best read when it’s actually cold outside, with a blanket, twinkly lights, and maybe a mug of hot chocolate. It’s festive, sweet, and a little magical. If you’re looking for something to get you in the holiday spirit, this one’s worth adding to your TBR.

I will say, I was drawn to this book because of the summary and the colors and vibes of the cover. It definitely delivered exactly what I was expecting in that regard; a little witchy with a winter vibe. This would be a perfect cozy and cute read for the fall to winter transition!

I really liked both of the main characters Rowan and Gavin and enjoyed getting to know them. I thought Rowan’s growth was realistic and seeing her flourish with her magic and in the relationships in her life was very satisfying. Their relationship was sweet and I was definitely invested! I do think different POVs would’ve helped the story, especially Gavin’s side. I liked him, I’m just not sure I really knew him.

I thought the small town setting was very well done. I enjoyed the town of Elk Ridge, especially the festival! I loved what it added to Gavin and Rowan’s lives and how it played into their history. I also really enjoyed all of the side characters. From the “regular” townsfolk to the members of the Coven, everyone had a distinct personality that complimented Rowan and Gavin’s growth as individuals and as a couple.

I did wish there was more information about the magic system. It felt like I wasn’t getting all the information I needed to make it make sense to me. I did get lost in the middle of the book, but once things picked back up it was fine. I just hit a lull at one point and was waiting to get back into the story (I did though!).

Overall, this was cute and I liked it! I would recommend this for a late fall read if you still want the fall vibes but are looking forward to more winter based reads! Catch this when it releases September 23.

Thank you NetGalley and Dutton for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a fun read, and I liked it! I feel like I would’ve enjoyed it more if I read it in the winter, and not the tail end of summer, but that’s a me problem. I liked the development of the MC, and the writer definitely knows how to transport the reader into the setting. 3.5
stars, rounded up.

Thanks to Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was cozy and a totally fine read but not one that I was deeply invested in. The main characters felt like they had zero chemistry and whole they were well devloped characters they just fell flat to me. I liked that the side characters were more fleshed out although some were too cliche that it wss hard to read sometimes. I just didn't love it.

After years of not practicing magic, Rowan Midwinter returns home to Elk Ridge, Washington to help her mother’s coven cast the annual snow spell at the winter festival. Rowan, who has avoided magic for years after past mishaps, is hesitant to jump back into the magical world. And to make matters worse, she crosses paths with her old high school rival and secret crush, Gavin McCreary, whose family is entangled in a corporate scheme threatening the town’s charm. As Rowan grapples with rekindling her magical abilities, confronting old wounds, and possibly rekindling romance with Gavin, the fate of the town’s festival hangs in the balance.

When I read the blurb for this book my first thought was that it was going to be a cute Christmas story with magic and Hallmark vibes and for the most part that is exactly what it was. I did enjoy learning more about Yule traditions, but the story lacked real depth, and I really had a hard time believing Rowan and Gavin as a couple. I just didn’t feel the chemistry and wanted more magic. The book does have a very diverse cast of characters, great family and holiday vibes, but it was a bit too predictable and fluffy for me. However, if you are looking for a light, cozy holiday read with witchy vibes, second chances and happy endings – you might want to give this book a read.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

This book was pretty boring. I don't have much else to say...

Thanks to Dutton Books via NetGalley for inviting me to read this e-arc in exchange of my honest opinion.

This is THE cozy holiday romance of the year if you ask me.
It’s like a christmas hallmark movie jumped onto pages, it’s charming and sweet and it even made me WISH it was winter.
I hateee being cold.

It’s absolutely a lovely contemporary romance, with the perfect amount of magic dropped in

A Spell for Midwinter's Heart sounded absolutely adorable and I loved the cover. While it does give cozy, small town holiday vibes, it didn't really quite hit the mark for me.

A Spell for Midwinter's Heart by Morgan Lockhart completely enchanted me. The story is magical and heartfelt, with just the right mix of romance and adventure to keep me hooked. I loved how the characters are relatable and full of charm, making their journey feel real and engaging. It’s the kind of book I didn’t want to put down and will be thinking about long after I finished.

This book didn’t exactly thrill me but I also didn’t hate it? I loved the witchy/magic vibes and the idea of rivals to lovers, but I’m not sure it was executed as well as it could have been. The characters were also kind of hard to root for! I’m not sure if I’d recommend this. I think if someone asked if they should get it, I’d say yeah because you can never have enough books, it just won’t BLOW your mind. Cute, not great.