Not the Witch You Wed follows Violet Maxwell, the oldest sister of a set of triplets and the only one who doesn’t have any magic. Content with her role as magicless black sheep of the family and letting her sisters having the spotlight of the magical community, the rug is pulled out from under her when the supernatural council orders her that, as the oldest sibling, magical or not, she has to find a mate right away. Lincoln Thorne, an alpha wolf shifter who broke Violet’s heart when they were both teens, finds himself in a similar conundrum. To remain the alpha of his pack, he needs to find a mate before his fast-approaching birthday. Struggling to find a partner, Violet and Lincoln agree to fake-date their way to a fake mating in order to give themselves time to find another solution. But when old feelings resurface—along with Violet’s unexpected magic—they both realise there’s nothing fake about their love. Yet with old secrets, family meddling and past hurt trying to tear them apart, can Violet and Lincoln find their way back to each other for real?
Can you hear my paranormal romance-loving heart beat like a drum? Not the Witch You Wed was, in a word, fun. There are so many elements in this book that just worked exceptionally well together: supernatural characters (and stereotypes that are turned upside down like the possessive alpha trope), relatable family dynamics (who hasn’t had their parents and siblings meddling in their love lives, honestly), a patriarchal (and super outdated) council and last but not least, a smart, sassy and savvy protagonist that neatly ties the narrative together.
There’s also something to be said for worldbuilding in this story. Without boggling down the narrative with too much information, Asher introduces the history of the magical community, the archaic power structures and the young generation’s struggle to create a new, more inclusive community and gives an outlook on what’s to come for Violet’s sisters. I also really liked how seamless the transitions were between the overarching romance and Violet’s relationships with her friends and her family, but most of all, her relationship with her self and her powers. Violet’s a genuinely kind character and it was interesting to see her invest so much time into other people and showing them how great they are while also battling her own insecurities, especially once her magic surfaced. Violet’s struggle to figure out her magic added so much to the story and seeing her friends help her any way they can was just so sweet.
I’m also willing to bet that it’s physically impossible not to be smitten by Violet and Lincoln’s romance. I’m a sucker for love interests that are devoted to their partner and Lincoln definitely delivered on that. Stories where the reader knows the reasons for a break up or someone getting their heart broken yet not the protagonist knowing it can be so nail-bitingly dramatic and that’s the case in this book. I loved how we got to see Lincoln try and make up for what he did and Violet giving him the pieces of the puzzle he was missing, and vice versa. The banter between Violet and Linc also just felt so genuine and even in the beginning stages when you know Violet just wants to tear his head off for how he broke her heart, there’s no denying their chemistry. From unexpected run-ins to downright heartwarming displays of affection, these two were explosive to follow.
While I won’t spoil the ending, I will say that I didn’t expect the outcome but genuinely wanted to cheer for the Maxwell matriarch who adds another layer of awesomeness (even in her eighties) to the story. Honestly, I’m so stoked to read the romances of the other Maxwell sisters!
A juicy cocktail of steam, snark, and secrets, Not the Witch You Wed is a playful paranormal second chance romance, perfect for fans of Charmed and The Ex Hex!
Not the Witch You Wed is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of February 8th 2022.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
A fake relationship between a magic-less witch and a wolf shifter turns to more in the start of a bewitching new paranormal rom-com series.
Magic-less witch Violet Maxwell wants nothing to do with alpha wolf shifter Lincoln Thorne—the man who broke her fragile, teenage heart. But when the two of them are forced by arcane Supernatural Laws to find mates, Violet and Lincoln agree to fake-date their way to a fake-mating in order to conjure themselves some time.
The joke’s on them. When old feelings make a reappearance—along with Violet’s magic—they both realize there’s nothing fake about their feelings. But there are old secrets and looming threats that could snatch away their happily ever after, again. One thing’s for sure: magic doesn’t make dating and love any easier.
In Not the Witch You Wed, April Asher brings all the hilarity and sweet, sexy moments you love in a romantic-comedy—plus a fun dose of magic—to this spell-binding new series about being sexy, single, and supernatural in New York City.
