This was very cute! A magical enemies-to-lovers romance with strong environmental themes, which I wasn't expecting but appreciated.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

First I want to say thank you to NetGalley and Morgan Lockhart and her team for giving me an ARC for this read!
I had a lot of fun with this read! It was like a witchy hallmark movie and I enjoyed every minute! It was a slow burn but definitely worth it once they got there! I though the plot and writing was entertaining and Gavin and Rowan were so cute 🥰
I definitely would recommend this book for a short/fun holiday read!

I could not connect with this story. I stopped reading at 52%. I usually feel some sort of way about a few of the characters by this point and I just was not feeling it with this story. I had to force myself to keep going back to it.

I do not feel it’s fair to give a star rating to a book I did not finish. NetGalley requires this so I will comply. I will also not post on social media or Goodreads because I did not finish and that is an unfair representation.

I would still like to extend my gratitude to the author, Dutton and NetGalley.

this was such a fun read. hallmark movie meets charmed. i love a good set up - and the story really kept you interested the whole time. the “memory” reveal was slightly predictable once you read it - but not the whole time before the scene - which makes it fun! Gavin himself is a strange MMC but likable. Rowan is definitely good anxiety representation especially even after “remembering” she still isn’t suddenly fixed and super confident.

First of all, I simply adore the book’s cover. It’s so pretty. However, I didn’t like the book itself as much and found it to be a rather mediocre story.

The plot was alright, but not overly engaging, and I never got to the point of really caring about the characters and their romance.

Nevertheless, I feel like this book will be a hit with many readers.

Love the mountain holiday vibes in this cute magical holiday rom-com! I enjoyed the characters, setting, and writing. This is perfect for the holiday season.

This author is new to me, so that can be nerve racking. However, this was a very beautifully written story weaving in grief, small town conflict, holidays, and magic.

I look forward to finding more from this author. Thank you to them, the publisher, and NetGalley for this arc!

A spell for midwinters heart is a charming, witchy romance. I really loved Rowan and Gavin together. This was a super slowburn that was worth the wait and has plenty of plot to keep you entertained! I enjoyed the depiction of learning to set boundaries with people that you love. It was refreshing to see tight knit families that weren’t painted picture perfect, but showed some of the realistic, messier parts of complicated family dynamics.

Thank you so much to Dutton for sending me a copy of this book through NetGalley. My review is voluntary and my honest opinion

“A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart” was a cute story. Rowan is a witch, but for a variety of reasons she is afraid of her magic, afraid of who she might become if she used her magic, which is “mind magic.” However, she will have to confront her fears if she wants to save her hometown of Elk Ridge and preserve what makes it so unique and special. A difficult task, as her mother is resistant to making the changes necessary for the town and its winter festival to survive, while Dennis McCreery, the most prominent business owner and landowner in the area, who also owns half the festival, wants to sell the festival and has a prospective buyer who has big plans that will dramatically alter the town. There is also the issue of Gavin McCreery, Dennis’s son, who gets under Rowan’s skin in a way no one else can. The twelve days of Yule will be even more important this year.

The story has an enjoyable and eclectic cast of characters. There is a good mix of humor and drama. The story has important messages about family, relationships, self-worth, using one's talents, trust, and not letting grand ambitions prevent you from accomplishing smaller goals.

A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart was a delightful seasonal escape full of small-town charm, second chances, and a touch of literal holiday sparkle. Rowan Midwinter made for a relatable and endearing heroine—her magic avoidance and emotional baggage felt honest, and her reluctant return to her hometown set the perfect stage for a festive, magical redemption arc.
The chemistry between Rowan and Gavin crackled from the start (along with the actual holiday lights!), and their banter brought warmth to the snowy backdrop. The storyline delivered both heart and humor, even if some plot points were a little predictable. Still, the magical touches, the sweet message about community and self-acceptance, and the nostalgic winter festival setting made this an enchanting read perfect for curling up with on a cold night.
A spellbinding holiday rom-com with enough heart to melt even the frostiest reader.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved Rowan and Gavin! There was just enough magic, and just enough conflict, and just enough communication. Chef’s kiss.

what a fun read! i had a great time every time i picked the book up, i enjoyed the romance, the dialogue between characters. i wished there was a little bit more depth to them, but that’s okay. it helped to get me out of a slump and sometimes that’s all you need!

I almost held this one to do a Christmas in July type read, but I am glad I didn't. It was just what I needed. Thanks for the opportunity to read this one!

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you the publishers and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. Through their algorithm they thought “she likes Winter holiday books” and they weren’t wrong. 🤣

I will say, I don’t know if I would have chosen this book to read on my own. I have a TBR pile a mile long and growing but when I was sent this book it definitely seemed intriguing. I knew nothing of Yule holiday and they thought of incorporating traditional Christmas into a witchcraft holiday was interesting. I’m all about inclusion and this was not dark at all. Very light and sweet.

I enjoyed all the characters and especially that it wasn’t perfect. Some not so great things happened to each family that was storybook telling but they all rose above it. It made it more real life. I enjoyed reading it, would read it again and would recommend for 16+ up.

“and I think I’m just understanding now, is that none of us are just one person. We’re someone different to everyone in our lives, and even different people on different days. Which is one of the reasons it hurts so much to lose someone. We not only lose them—we lose who they were to them.”

“‘Life isn’t fair, it’s just fairer than death.’

Watch out for each other. Love everyone and forgive everyone, including yourself. Forgive your anger. Forgive your guilt. Your shame. Your sadness. Embrace and open up your love, your joy, your truth, and, most especially, your heart.—JIM HENSON

“Better to frustrate people being who you are than hide yourself to avoid ruffling feathers.”

That thing you do where you think everything’s all on your shoulders? You should really cut that shit out. Taking on too much blame when things go wrong isn’t unfair to you, it’s unfair to all the other people it infantilizes.”

I’m absolutely smitten with Rowan and Gavin. They are exactly what I look for in a witchy romcom “couple”. In fact, this whole story carries the exact perfect formula (in my opinion) to make a great witchy romance, The MCS, the supporting characters, the plot (small town needs saving), the tropes (friends to lovers, small town romance, second chance romance, magic goes awry), the chemistry between all the characters, and the HEA. I ate it all up.

Hallmark vibes and magical elements. The storyline dragged a bit in the middle for me but came together well in the end.

Thanks to Dutton for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart to come out September 23, 2025.

This was an adorable holiday romance with sprinkles of magic and a swoon worthy romance. I absolutely adored Roman and Gavin separately and together. I recommend this one for a perfect holiday season read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart is a cozy little holiday read with some charming magical vibes and a cute small-town setting. I wanted to love it, but it didn’t totally click for me. The atmosphere was really lovely, and I loved the idea of a witch returning home to face her past and help save her town’s winter traditions. So much potential!

But the romance kinda missed the mark for me. I know Rowan and Gavin were supposed to have this big history, but I just didn’t feel it. Their connection moved a little too fast, and I wanted more tension or chemistry to make that final payoff worth it.

I did enjoy the magic. It added a nice touch and worked well with the story’s tone, but overall, I just wanted more depth from the characters. Some of the side characters seemed like they had cool backstories, but they didn’t get much time on the page. The pacing also dragged a bit in the middle, and the ending wrapped up a little too neatly.

Still, if you’re in the mood for a light, magical winter read, this could be a cozy pick for a snowy weekend.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!

unfortunately this was a disappointing read. it was cute in a hallmark christmas movie way but it unfortunately had the same lack of substance i find in many of those movies. everyone felt very one-dimensional, the plot was predictable, the romance was a bit stale. the side characters were much more interesting but got barely any page time.

the pacing also held this back quite a lot. i understand that the book takes place during a short time between right before christmas up to new year's, but if there was eveb just 100 more pages i think the author could've done so much more with this story. at times it felt like it was trying too hard to be more than it is. i just didn't get the point of the story or why i should care about the characters. everything got wrapped up too quickly.

overall, this was a disappointing read. if you love hallmark movies and don't mind stories that don't have much going on below the surface, maybe you'll enjoy this more than i did

"A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart" by Morgan Lockhart is a charming blend of romance and magic set against the backdrop of a cozy winter festival. The story follows Rowan, a witch who returns to her hometown to help save the festival from a corporate takeover. Her journey is filled with personal growth as she reconnects with her roots and embraces her magical heritage. The chemistry between Rowan and Gavin, the corporate heir, adds a delightful spark to the narrative, with their playful banter bringing warmth and humor. While the pacing slows a bit in the middle, the story's heartwarming climax and satisfying conclusion make it a perfect holiday read. This book is ideal for anyone who enjoys a cozy romance with a touch of magic and small-town charm.