A Quick, Fun and Cozy Novella Series
Witchfished & Vampboozled: Lovespelled Novellas by E. F. Watson
Genres: Cozy Romance, Paranormal Mystery, Novellas
Series: Lovespelled novellas
Witchfished
Published: May 24, 2024
Ratings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 (4.25 stars)
CW/TW: sexual content, bullying/harassment, kidnapping, murder, mentions of cheating, death, property damage, injured animals, blood, misogyny and violent use of magic.
Starting Over
Everyone needs a new start once in a while. After catching her werewolf (ex) boyfriend in bed with another witch, a new start is exactly what Enoki needs. She sets up her coffee/apothecary shop in a small town and starts an online dating profile.
The problem is the town isn’t so welcoming, and tourists are going missing. But meeting a stranger online is fine, right?
Read in an Afternoon
This was a quick, fun and easy read. I loved the magical elements and the relationship development between Enoki and Rex. The pacing was perfect for a novella and I felt like nothing was left out or needed more time on.
E. F. Watson perfectly balanced the cozy paranormal mystery and the romance. Tying these different aspects in helped move the story along and made sure there was alway something going on.
More Please
I definitely got the sense that certain characters would be expanded upon/get their own book next – and I was right. I loved the entire experience of reading Witchfished, and can’t wait to read more of the series.
Vampboozled
Published: October 18, 2024
Ratings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
Disclaimer: Thank you E. F. Watson for sending me this book. All thoughts and opinions are 100% honest and my own.
CW/TW: blood, sexual assault (non-consensual kiss), drug use, mentions of a drug overdose, death, non-consensual photography, blackmail, accidental poisoning, kidnapping, murder, intentional vomiting, professor/student relationship (consenting adults) and sexual content.
NOTE: This review discussed ADHD symptoms and experiences. I understand that ADHD is a varying neurodevelopment disorder with many symptoms. The symptoms discussed in this review (and this novella) apply to me (and Anita). I am not discounting the experiences or symptoms of others with this condition.
Everything’s Fine Until It’s Not
Anita is struggling. Her ADWitchD symptoms are making it impossible to focus but she is determined to make it through her last term of college – no matter what.
To make focusing on studies even harder, all she can think of is the private investigator she met months ago, but then he disappeared. It doesn’t help that when he does show up it’s not to confess his undying (like him) love for her. No, it’s to teach one of her classes.
On top of all that, someone’s going around tampering with the not-so-legal supply of ADWitchD medication that Anita uses to get through her studies.
Romance, Tension & Insta-Love
I really enjoyed the beginning of this novella. The tension between Anita and Cal was great and I felt extremely seen and represented with the ADHD representation (ADWitchD). I lost a little love (but not too much) for it when the characters actually got together, as insta-love isn’t something I usually enjoy. However, I do understand the author’s choice to include it with a nod to the impulsive nature of ADHD and the difficulty regulating our emotions.
Bite-Sized Perfection
Again, like Witchfished, the pacing in Vampboozled was great, and I didn’t feel like anything was skipped or missing. Which is an incredible accomplishment in under 120 pages. This is the kind of book you can finish in an afternoon. The author has also set up the possibility for a third novella with Millie which already seems like an interesting story that I intend to read.
Let’s Talk ADHD
I’m a sucker for representation and the real-world issues regarding ADHD; the stigma that it has, the difficulty of getting diagnosed (especially a late diagnosis as a woman/person with non-male symptoms and traits) and the difficulty managing and functioning in a world that isn’t built for you to succeed were perfectly reflected in Vampboozled. Not only did I feel extremely seen and represented, but as someone with ADHD, I had a deeper understanding of Anita because of this.
Final thoughts on the series so far
The Lovespelled novellas are such fun bit-sized reads that you can get through in a couple of hours. These are the types of stories that I enjoy to get me out of a reading slump or for something more light-hearted and fun to read between longer and more intense books and series. I’m excited to see where the E. F. Watson takes us next.
I HIGHLY recommend these novellas if you enjoyed Keira Rose’s Mothers of The Claw series, they definitely have the same vibe, although these novellas are more romance-focused between younger characters than the Mothers of The Claw.
Both novellas are available to read on Kindle Unlimited.
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