Recent Reads: The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling

The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling 
Series: The Ex Hex #2
Publisher: Avon Books
Publication Date: September 20, 2022 

 

Format: Paperback
Source: Bought/Own

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Welcome to Spooky Season!! The follow-up to Erin Sterling’s New York Times bestselling hit The Ex Hex features fan favorite Gwyn and the spine-tinglingly handsome Wells Penhallow as they battle a new band of witches and their own magical chemistry.

Gwyn Jones is perfectly happy with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mom, and her cousin have formed a new and powerful coven; she’s running a successful witchcraft shop, Something Wicked; and she’s started mentoring some of the younger witches in town. As Halloween approaches, there’s only one problem—Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow.

Wells has come to Graves Glen to re-establish his family’s connection to the town they founded as well as to make a new life for himself after years of being the dutiful son in Wales. When he opens up a shop of his own, Penhallow’s, just across the street from Something Wicked, he quickly learns he’s gotten more than he bargained for in going up against Gwyn.

When their professional competition leads to a very personal—and very hot—kiss, both Wells and Gwyn are determined to stay away from each other, convinced the kiss was just a magical fluke. But when a mysterious new coven of witches come to town and Gwyn’s powers begin fading, she and Wells must work together to figure out just what these new witches want and how to restore Gwyn’s magic before it’s too late.

Review: 

Book 2 in the Ex Hex series following the Jones family and their interesting luck with the men of the Penhallow family. Gwyn is living in Graves Glen happily running her tourist- aimed witch shop with trinkets and nothing magical being sold when Wells Penhallow comes back to town. He decides he is also going to run a withcy shop right across the road from Gwyn's and make it slightly more upscale. While they are feuding Gywn starts to notice that her magic is on the fritz and that is an issue since the Jones' family magic is helping run the town magic now. 

Wells and Gwyn bicker a lot and their banter is so cute, sometime obnoxious and childish, but also swoony. There isn't too much depth in their conversations but the plot of the book moves quickly and the romantic elements are nice. The plot itself is kind of meh, whereas the romance takes the forefront. The conflict (aside from the bickering) is both developed and resolved very quickly, and the ending was a bit strange. 

I liked Gwyn and Wells well enough, but LOVED the 'baby witches' that Gwyn is mentoring. They were such a fun comic relief throughout the book. Gwyn is determined and will not be taken advantage of and that comes through with her stubborness. Wells is just as stubborn and sometimes too trusting, which becomes a problem for him. There are also a few instances of miscommunciation/ no communication that are so frustrating but lend to the plot. 

I have seen this series and installment described as spooky meets Gilmore girls, and the small town/ Halloween/ witchy vibe certainly does give that. I found the overall book pretty good, it has a lot of romance and spicyness as well. There is also one Penhallow brother left... hoping we see his love story in book three.