Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: The Trouble With Spells
SERIES: Cauldrons and Kisses Multi-Author series
AUTHOR: Raiven Matthews
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 279 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2024
BLURB:
I swear I didn’t mean to bind my secret high school crush to me, it just happened.
I made a promise to my family that there would be no spell casting while they were away. It was well known in the Turner household that my spells tended to go a bit, shall we say, wonky. Like turning my ex-boyfriend into a frog when I’d been trying to conjure breakfast in bed. Complete accident, though my sister claimed he was better in frog form. She wasn’t wrong. So, for the next two weeks I would look after our family store, hang out with my cat, Hex, and enjoy having the house to myself for once. Peace and quiet and no hinky spell work business.
Then he blew into my store–literally. Michael Endicott the third. Or fourth? Maybe fifth? It didn’t matter. What did matter was that I was staring at my high school crush–who clearly did not remember me. Unfortunately, he still made me forget how to form words into a complete sentence. Seems a vengeful one-night stand had placed a bad luck spell on Michael, and he needed help. My help. I mean, what could go wrong? It was just an easy reversal spell. No problem. Only somehow instead of reversing the spell, I managed to bind us together.
The Trouble With Spells is an MM paranormal romance between Callum, a witch vexed with wonky magic and Michael, a nonbeliever human. Tropes include opposites attract, forced proximity, only one bed, tarot card readings, and an obligatory black cat.
TW & CW’s: While this book is mostly light and fluffy, it does contain brief instances that might be triggering to a reader. A severe allergic reaction resulting in a brief hospital stay, car accident, kidnapping, attempted murder and discussion of murder things.
Cauldrons & Kisses is a multi-author series of MM magical standalone stories. Each low angst read will feature a witch finding love.
REVIEW:
What a fun and intriguing tale to put you in the Halloween mood!
Callum knows better than to ever try casting a spell. The last time he tried to conjure up breakfast in bed he wound up changing his ex-boyfriend into a frog! And, no matter what his older sister Daphne says that the ex was better off as a frog, his spells are troublesome and wonky. So promising his Gran, his Mom and his sister that no spells are happening while they are away on their Witchy retreat up in Maine. He can hold down the store and do his tarot card readings and all will be fine. That is until THE Michael Endicott, his high school crush, blasts in during a storm and all goes awry! Because how could he ever send the poor cursed man away when it’s such a simple hex by a witch wannabe and Michael is frantic. And he didn’t mean to bind them together literally!
This was such a fun read and is easing my heart a bit that Author Raiven Matthews can lead me away from her wonderful Alphas and their adorable omegas in Sweet Alps and I will be fine. I have been such a fan of her books since I took that first chance on this new budding author and have feared when we would leave the Sinclair’s and all their loving family and friends. This book is completely out of that universe and I loved it. I loved that these two, when finally put in the right place at the right time with the right needs, their chemistry exploded and there was nothing but a bright and loving future for the nerdy witch with wonky magic and the nonbeliever human that fell head over heels in love with him. I love that Michael recognized all the wonderfulness that Callum was and that Callum finally got someone deserving of him and his sweetness. These two finally got their love they deserved but didn’t know they were searching for.
Just a bit of warning, in true Raiven Matthews fashion, there is some danger and a bit of violence, but all works out well for our guys in the end. I love that she weaves intrigue into her books but always gives me my much needed HEA in the end. Fun read for these cool Fall evenings.
RATING: 
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