Review: The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
(An Erin Book)

Recommended: not really…
stay away if you want a story (but if you’re just here for the sexy stuff then you’re in luck!), stay away if you don’t want to groan at the resolution of the big issue

Summary

Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.

That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.

Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late.

Thoughts

Dear Erin,

Ugh, yet another BOTM title that let me down. At least my hopes were pretty mediocre for this one, and that’s about what I got.

It was ok. The fact that the resolution could have been done at ANY point during this whole thing was annoying and made it feel like a wasted journey. There was — I can’t believe I’m saying this? — maybe too much sex?? In the middle portion it felt more like light erotica than a story with some romance and steam. It went from one loosely plot-focused sex scene to the next. I’m sure for some that’s a pro and not a con, but it wasn’t really what I wanted from this book.

And the resolution of their relationship. 😐 (Click to open for spoilers)

At no point did either of them say what they wanted to the other. Instead they just assumed they knew what the other wanted and didn’t say “Hey actually I’d really like to give this a shot.” And Rhys just showing up a few months later apparently self-assured that she wanted to be with him, too, was very confusing since it conflicted completely with the reason he went back to Wales at the end of everything. He left because he thought she didn’t want to be with him. He suddenly MOVES TO ANOTHER COUNTRY because he now is confident she does? What the fuck? There was no conflict here, there was not even any poor conflict, just… unnecessary nothingness.

So I guess the best thing I can say about this book is that I read it really quickly. It’s fluff, but not in a nice way that leaves me with warm fuzzies and a happy little glow. More like a book I can read once and donate or leave in a hostel.

Good luck!
~Jennifer