Under Your Spell: A Romance Boxed Set of Masked Balls, Haunted Gardens, Magic, and More

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Synopsis:

Fall under the spell of ten up-and-coming romance authors. When the clock strikes midnight on Halloween, you’ll want to read every one of these all-new, original novellas. From enchanted gardens to mystic curses, you’ll find something to make your spine shiver and your heart beat faster. Fall in love with a cursed werewolf, a heartbroken ghost, a true southern gentleman, and many more. There’s something for everyone, with contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal and shifter romance. 

Everyday is Halloween with this spellbinding collection!

Review:

Since this is a boxed set I am going to write a small review for each story, but I wanted to start off with my thoughts of this as a whole. Under Your Spell is an awesome read! Probably the best boxed set I have ever read. I really enjoyed most of the stories. I don't read a lot of novellas, only ones from authors I already like, so I was quite pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed these ones. Most of them were amazing and I instantly went to look up the authors and see what else they have written. Oh, this was such a fun read. Definitely grab yourself a copy as it is amazing. Now onto the reviews!


The Killing Touch by Elana Johnson
★ ★ ★

At first I forgot I was reading a spooky collection of novellas just in time for Halloween. The Killing Touch is a bit old-timey and you start reading it and quickly get to a part where you are wondering what is going on. It is the story of Robert and Anna (and Charles). The idea was an interesting one - what happens to Robert after a tragedy and how he deals with his situation is one I haven't seen before. I enjoyed this story. It a quick read, but fun.


One Touch of Silver by Elizabeth Cole 
★ ★ ★ ★1/2

I really loved this story. The writing, the characters, the world, everything about it was amazing. When Silver shows up in a bit of a ghost town with her cat Piewicket things are not as they appear. For one she is there to do some translating work for Mr. Dunne, work she really needs now that she doesn't have anyone else, but he is not inclined to let her help. He asked for her father, not her, but with nowhere else to stay and the late time she will have to spend the night. Of course things are not always what they seem and I loved this story so much. It takes place in a world full of magical things, but it reminds me of some dark, gothic stories I love. I will definitely have to read more from this author as this was a wonderful read.


Sweet Lavvy by Amanda Gale 
★ ★1/2

This story is just okay. It was kind of obvious what would/was happening and it was not my cup of tea. It is a story of a guy who meets a mysterious stranger in the graveyard. When the stranger shows up while he is having a drink the stranger tells him the story of Levinia and Theodore. It was okay, but the ending was a bit much for me (even though it was what I expected). Also I kept thinking what time period is this? The "present day" time seemed like it should be older the way it was written, like maybe the 50's or prior, but at one point the one guy takes out a phone and shows the other guy some photos so it can't be that old. The writing for me didn't fit a present day story. It felt too old-timey, but it wasn't so...it just wasn't for me.


To Hell With Love by G.G. Andrews 
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

To Hell With Love was a lot of fun. If you have read the author before you won't be disappointed, and if not then you are in for a treat. It is the eve of Daisy's thirtieth birthday and she doesn't have any fun exciting plans for her big day. Only she goes to a new bookstore and meets her prince charming! Just like in all the books she has read since she was little! This is it! She just knows it. Only things don't turn out how she expects. A few bumps in the road, some trips to Hell and back and a cast of really fun characters and you have a really entertaining read. It made me want to go to take a trip to Hell as it was so much fun!


Montgomery Mansion by Sara Spencer 
★ ★ ★ ★1/2

What do you get when you cross a haunted mansion on Halloween, a girl afraid of all things scary, potential ghosts, and hot new guys? This super fun story! I loved that it is just the story of two friends going to a party at a haunted mansion. It feels like a simple spooky story, nothing super crazy, which is why I really enjoyed it. Sometimes it is nice to have a classic kind of story like some of the old ghost movies I used to watch. This is another author I will have to read more of.


Gavebound by Rachel Shane 
★ ★ ★ ★1/2

I have really enjoyed most of the stories thus far and Gravebound was no exception. This is the story of Delilah, a divorce attorney for magical and non-magical situations. She helps people who have curses or spells placed upon them who want them gone. When Cole bursts into her office in need of help she only has a few hours to figure out who cursed him and why. It was a lot of fun watching the two of them run around town and try to figure everything out, all the while Cole is trying to fight the curse. These story are all so great!


Wicked Garden by Bryn Donovan 
★ ★ ★

Wicked Garden was an okay read. The story opens with Nicole moving to the south after things didn't work out so well for her in Chicago. She is housesitting for a month before she will have to find her own place and start her new job. She is exited to be on her own and prove that she can be independent. No more men for her in the near future...only she almost immediately meets Aaron, her neighbor. They were cute together, they both have some issues or problems that came up in past relationships, but I liked them. Add in some spooky things happening, a ghost, and you have a cute story. The only thing that kept me from loving it was the ending and what Nicole realized and did and whatnot. It is not completely my cup of tea, but it was still an enjoyable read.


Of Scares and Smooches by Nicole Zoltack
★ ★

This story wasn't my favorite. I know all of these stories move quickly, the people fall in love fast and whatnot, but I just didn't see it with these two. Jade has hired Ryder to renovate her family home, only there is a curse to deal with. Can they figure out how to break the curse before it ends up getting Jade? The issue for me was that Jade and Ryder didn't seem like they even liked each other so it didn't work for me. I never felt the connection. Plus I didn't like the ending, how everything was resolved.


The Skeptics' Guide to the Mysteries of the Universe by Jessica Arden 
★ ★ ★ ★1/2

Oh this was another great read. I loved Julie and Griffin right from the start. They both love the same things and it was so much fun to read. I loved the banter and all the witty comments and everything about this story. It was so much fun! It had me grinning so big the whole time I was reading it. So this is the story of Julie and Griffin as I have said. They both are big into history, especially ghosts stories. Julie doesn't want to every be in a relationship, she doesn't want the potential heartache, so she tries to keep things simple. Only when she meets Griffin things start to change. He was amazing. I loved him. He was always willing to do whatever Julie needed. There are lots of other details, like Julie trying to find proof that a lady accused of murder is actually innocent, but it was really just Julie and Griffin getting to know each other. Oh it was a wonderful read. Loved this one.


Unmasked by Saskia Blake 
★ ★ ★ ★

This story was really short, but you had everything you needed for a fun read. Julia has been obsessed with Willingdon Manor for a few years now. She saw it once when she was hiking, but after that she couldn't find anything out about it. Or find it again. Or anything. So when her friend calls her with a job at Willingdon Manor and her college crush will most likely be there she is in. This is very exciting for her, but things don't turn out the way she expected. It was a cute story, and really just the start, but it felt complete. I am glad the author didn't try to rush everything and make it more than it was.


So there you have it. All my reviews for the stories in Under My Spell. As I said I don't read a lot of novellas, or boxed sets, but I might have to give more a try if they are going to be as awesome as this one was. Go. Grab yourself a copy and enjoy these wonderful stories.

*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review