Tag Archives: Lana Harper

ARC — Back In A Spell — Lana Harper

“I don’t think I’m as amazing as you think I am. (…) But thank you anyway, for thinking it.”
“You’re right. (…) What you are is even better than that.”

Genre: Romance (advertised as LGBTQIA+ as well, but I did not see it tbh)
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 5 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Discussed unhealthy relationships, abandonment, chronic illness in a parent, and child neglect. Contains explicit sexual content.

“Back in a Spell” is the third installment in the The Witches of Thistle Grove series, and it follows Nina Blackmoore, of the Blackmoores that used to essentially own Thistle Grove and all its magic for decades, as she goes for a one night stand after being pretty much left at the altar by her ex. What she did not expect was that she’d end up being magically bonded to said one night stand, Morty Gutierrez, a normie who lowkeyloki hates the Blackmoores because they keep trying to buy off his family’s business.

Well, this was the first Lana Harper book that’s made me cry, I’ll give it that. Like literally sob. That’s how much and how deeply I connected with the main characters, Nina and Morty.

But there is one thing I need to disclose pretty early on—Morty is described on the summary of the book as nonbinary, but it isn’t really addressed much throughout the advanced reader copy of the book. Perhaps that changed in the final copy, but I still felt like it was something that I had to bring up. Tho, the fact that his nonbinary expression was overlooked didn’t quite stop me from loving this book.

“Back in a Spell” has been my favorite The Witches of Thistle Grove book so far and that really caught me by surprise because I hated no founding family more than I hated the Blackmoores, I swear. Yet Nina truly stole my heart. And then bring in Morty, a normie we already learned to love in the other books, and I fell in love with his humor and true admiration for all things magic. I think their match was meant to be, beyond them being bonded by a goddess.

I would highly recommend this series as a whole, but I would like to remind everyone that these books, although part of a series, still work pretty well as standalones. Lana Harper makes sure to give you the context and background in every single story she’s told, and it’s been truly awe-inspiring. I really wish I could live in Thistle Grove, even if I fell under the glamour that makes all magic seem normal for us normies.

If you’re a fan of close proximity romance, aren’t afraid of things getting too explicit, and you enjoy books with monumental personal growth and character development, then “Back in a Spell” is for you.

If you click here, you’ll be redirected to Goodreads, so you can add the book to your TBR list.

Or you could click here, and be redirected to Amazon, so you can order the book.

Review posted as part of a blog tour.

ARC provided by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: January 3, 2023

And finally, Lana Harper isn’t a new found love for me—she’s been one of my favorite authors ever since I grabbed her books for the first time. So, here are some excerpts from my reviews of the books in this series, just so you can get a sense about how wonderful The Witches of Thistle Grove series is:

About “Payback’s a Witch”
“I was essentially in a reading slump and this book is entirely responsible for me getting out of it.”
“I would recommend this book to any readers who enjoy LGBTQIA+ romances, witchy books, and who like series like Riverdale and the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. This book is fast-paced and dynamic, you’ll definitely finish it in one sitting if you have the time.”

About “From Bad to Cursed”
“Thistle Grove is such a cozy, warm setting. I personally wouldn’t mind living there—or reading 10 more stories set in it either.”
“Sadly, “From Bad to Cursed” does not have the LGBTQIA+ aspect that the previous book had going for it, but I must say the romance aspect of this second installment is still heartwarming and fun.”
“I would recommend this book to fans of the close-proximity troupe and for all who enjoyed the character dynamics and setting of the first book in this series: “Payback’s a Witch”.”

Payback’s a Witch — Lana Harper — The Witches of Thistle Grove #1

“It’s just like chess; there’s cheating, and then there’s outwitting your opponent. (…) One is dishonorable and vile. The other? Just good strategy.”

Genre: Romance, LGBTQIA+
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Content Warnings: Has explicit sexual content, curse language, and mentions infidelity.

“Payback’s a Witch” is the first book in the The Witches of Thistle Grove series. Thistle Grove is a magical town, founded by 4 families (the Blackmoores, the Avramovs, the Thorns, and the Harlows), and set up as a whimsical and magic attraction for tourists—who won’t ever know the magic they see is 100% true. This book follows Emmy Harlow, a witch from the weakest founding family and who has actually even lost her magic due to staying away from Thistle Grove. But in a turn of events, she decided to go back and serve as Arbiter—a judge—, in the competition that will decide who the ruling (and strongest) magic founding family will be. The Blackmoores have almost exclusively ruled over Thistle Grove since it was founded… but what if this was bound to change? Gareth Blackmoore has inflicted heartbreak through every single over founding family, so what if the competitor and the Arbiter were to form a sort of alliance? What if the Blackmoores weren’t the center of Thistle Grove anymore? Oh, how wonderful that would be.

In total honestly, I only read this book because I was approved in Netgalley to get the advanced readers copy (ARC) of the second installment in this series, but I am so happy I grabbed this book. It is SO good. It definitely has a YA feel to it and it’s so entertaining. Is Thistle Grove a real place? Because I really want to go there.

This book is lighthearted, adventurous, and very very witchy-spooky. I was surprised most of my Goodreads friends didn’t enjoy this book as much as I did, but I stand by it: this first installment in the The Witches of Thistle Grove series is amazingly entertaining, charming, and captivating. I was essentially in a reading slump and this book is entirely responsible for me getting out of it. I can’t wait to get my hands on the second book, which will be released next week.

I would recommend this book to any readers who enjoy LGBTQIA+ romances, witchy books, and who like series like Riverdale and the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. This book is fast-paced and dynamic, you’ll definitely finish it in one sitting if you have the time.

If you click here, you’ll be redirected to Goodreads, so you can add the book to your TBR list.

Or you could click here, and be redirected to Amazon, so you can order the book.