title: The Ex Hexauthor: Erin Sterling
series: Graves Glen #1
published: 28 September 2021
publisher: Avon
genre(s): paranormal, romance
pages: 308
source: Book of the Month
format: hardcover
buy/shelve it: Amazon | B&N | BookBub | Goodreads
rating:
| series rating: the blurb
New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins, writing as Erin Sterling, casts a spell with a spine-tingling romance full of wishes, witches, and hexes gone wrong.
Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.
That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.
Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late.
my review
I had high hopes for this novel when I first came across it, as it is written by Rachel Hawkins incognito. And every one of those high hopes was met and surpassed.
This was such a deliciously wonderful, perfectly spicy, witchy rom-com! It was like a sexier, more comedic, more foul-mouthed Practical Magic, which is a book/movie I adore, so that’s saying something for me. The chemistry and dynamic between Rhys and Vivi was perfection in words. Equally delightful as the connection between Vivi and her best friend/cousin Gwyn. Gwyn is everything a woman could want in a wingwoman… funny, direct, supportive, and willing to walk through it to protect you and your heart. Sterling/Hawkin’s comedic timing is wonderful, adding humor in unexpected place. And yes, the f-bombs are rampant, well placed, and full of comedic value.
And on top of all that is a perfectly crafted setting. Set in Georgia, it felt like it could be a small town in the fall in Anywhere, USA. It was so easy to imagine every detail, and I loved it so much!!
Great, great read, and I can’t wait for the next!
About Erin Sterling
Erin Sterling is the pen name of Rachel Hawkins.
She was a high school English teacher before becoming a full-time writer. She lives with her family in Alabama, and is currently at work on the third book in the Hex Hall series. To the best of her knowledge, Rachel is not a witch, though some of her former students may disagree….
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