Marry Me

by Shanna M. Rogers

“Rogers creates a rich world of deep friendship, fear, high charged sexuality, magic expressed uniquely, and incredible emotional entanglements both personal and intra-personal.”

“Set in the modern world, this magical story swooned my heart. The characters captured my attention from the very start.”

“This is so much more than a love story. The healing that happens in this book is truly magical.”

Misty Hayes is a witch down on her luck. Recently fired and freshly walked out on by her girlfriend—for the sixth time—she’s taken to spending her days at a best friend’s bar. Being with at least one other person helps keep the constant swells of sadness at bay. So when her roommate invites her out on a Wednesday afternoon, she goes. She’s got nowhere else to be, after all.

In walks a mysterious wizard into her favorite dive bar and her aimless life. As a water witch, she can sense there’s something special about him. As a tipsy thirty-year-old drowning her sorrows with martinis? She senses that maybe her luck is turning around. So she thinks.

In a stranger’s bed with hazy memories isn’t the worst place to wake up. Waking up to your engagement to a total stranger announced all over the internet? That’s an altogether different story. Who’s the wizard with which Misty shared an ill-fated one-night stand? Why are gossip columns being written about them? And most importantly, why won’t the engagement ring come off?

348 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 12, 2024

About the author

Shanna resides in Raleigh, North Carolina, with her two cats, a million hobbies, and a few deeply passionate dreams. After college, she flourished in a career of story-telling through data analysis. When pushing Excel buttons grew too monotonous, she decided it was time to put pen to paper again (okay, fingers to keys…), and draft the stories that played out in her mind while falling asleep or doing the dishes or walking, breathing, showering, eating…You get the picture. Honing her craft through FanFiction, she found a renewed love for the art of writing and never looked back.

Reviews

[Laura C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, let me just say I had SO much fun reading this!

Our feisty FMC is Misty, a wonderfully relatable and sassy(in the best way) water witch trying to find herself after some unfortunate life events, while also struggling with some self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy.
Throughout the story we get Misty’s point-of-view and the author does an amazing job keeping you in the loop so you don’t feel like you’re missing much without the MMC’s side at all. Most conflicts are resolved fairly quickly instead of dragging through multiple chapters (minimizing that anticipatory anxiety) which, honestly, is refreshing and makes for a fun, minimal-angst read. A light fantasy theme of magic and mythical creatures using modern, real-world locations makes for light world building so you can jump right in and start enjoying the story ASAP.
The author did a great job of mixing in a broad range of representation with topics such as unique family structures, relationships, gender identity, mental health struggles/support, positive vs negative inner monologues, and identifying toxic behaviors.
The growth our FMC experienced over the course of this book was amazing to see. We are shown that not all healing is linear or simple, and that some wounds may be deeper and/or more impactful than they appear.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this and would definitely recommend this for readers looking for a spicy and enchanting self-rediscovery love story.


Bonus(My favorite quote from the book):
“You don’t have to apologize for existing and feeling your feelings. Not to me. Not to anyone.”

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shanna does an amazing job of making magical elements feel so real & natural. I love the authenticity in the growth of the affections of the main characters & the intensity & devotion of all of the side characters. I love that the side characters also had big personalities. By far my favorite aspect of this book was the practicality of how anxiety & grief play their roles in growth & development. I was a little annoyed that there was an attempt for this story to be meta. While I liked that a side character presented the ideas of “views your relationship like a romance book,” for some reason it annoys me when I read it in a romance book. My favorite FAVORITE thing in this book is the avoidance of a third act break-up through open communication. Cade + Misty 4ever ♥️



*I am honored to have received this ARC

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an eARC.

I have been reading (and loving) Shanna’s fanfiction for years, so when she announced that she was writing an original novel I was immediately all in.

The two main characters, Misty and Cade, are so perfect for each other.
Misty is a bisexual woman who is getting over a breakup when we meet her. Her character growth throughout the story is honest and inspiring.
This might be her and Cade’s love story, but it’s also her story of learning to accept that she is allowed to be happy, and that she deserves good things.
Cade is a genuinely good guy. The more you learn about him, the more you fall in love with him. Or maybe that was just me (and Misty 😏)? He’s been through some serious shit in his life, but he doesn’t let it make him bitter or mean.
This review would not be complete without mentioning Jae, Misty’s best friend. Jae is the best friend we all hope we deserve. She is unwavering in her friendship and support of Misty. She helps Misty realize that she actually is a good person. She’s not afraid of telling it like it is (in the most loving way), and she consistently encourages Misty to be the best version of herself. Jae is fun-loving, logical, and a force to be reckoned with. She also roots for Cade to win Misty over from the moment she meets him.

Overall, this is a low angst, beautiful love story that I enjoyed from start to finish. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

[Tarra Woosley · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, let me start off by saying I received this as an eARC! ^-^
A drunken one night stand, with an accidental proposal, and a magical ring.
Set in the modern day, the world building is more around how the mystical is a part of the world. It was beautifully done.
The FMC, Misty, is first introduced while down on her luck and broken. The MMC, Cade, waltz into the bar, plopped himself down, and proceeded to seem like he was going to be the Grump of the story... only for it to end up the opposite way around.
After their one night stand, how much of a feral little black cat Misty is comes into play after learning that the ring on her finger won't come off and she has to work with Cade to get it off.
Both characters' back stories pulled at the heartstrings, and the side characters left me begging for more of them on scene.
This isn't just a love story it is one of healing. Misty was learning how to pick the pieces of herself back up and glue them back together with the help of her friends, Cade, and therapy.

[Jessica (jessdonareads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this book as an eArc in exchange for my honest opinion*

I absolutely adored this book! Author Shanna M. Rogers has a way with words that just captivate you from the get-go. Writing in a more sophisticated style then you find in a traditional rom-com makes this a fresh and exciting read. I loved Misty and Cade (and all the side characters (except Amber *spits*)) and how they communicated through an odd situation and eventually came to realize they were meant to be. I was so proud of Misty working through her past trauma and emotions with help but more importantly on her own. She's a bad@$$! I also really enjoyed the modern witchy elements sprinkled throughout! Overall this was a super solid novel and I can't wait to read more of what this author comes up with!

Thank you for the eArc!!

[Aubrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given the honor to read this book as an ARC and I absolutely LOVED IT!!! I have been a fan of Shanna’s writing for quite some time, so to be able to read an original work is so cool!

The character dynamics were so well done and I felt like I could really get to know the characters throughout the story. I honestly could relate to the characters in so many ways and I loved the representation given. I laughed, giggled, yelled, and teared up several times so truly this book had me feeling all the emotions. I cannot recommend this book enough!!! Please give it a read when it’s released!!

I will add, there is NOTHING i love more than a man absolutely obsessed with the woman (or should I say witch??) he loves!! So so good and I want more!! (Shanna, this is me asking for some little snippets or scenes from Cade’s POV please and thank you)

Go read this book!!!

[Sarah Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read. As someone who typically prefers high fantasy over urban fantasy, I am so impressed with how Shanna wove magic into our familiar world. It felt seamless! As an avid reader of fanfiction, I absolutely devour any type of “marriage law” -adjacent stories, and I was squealing and kicking my feet at the take this story has on it. If you’re looking for a fun, magical story that has an amazing journey of healing, I highly recommend this story!

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is beautifully written. It's tough to put down at the end of a chapter as the next chapter is just begging to be read. The real love story in this book is the main character (Misty) learning to love herself. It just takes some help from her long time best friend (Jae) and new love interest (Cade) for Misty to finally see how amazing she is. This one deserves 6 out of 5 stars.

[Consuelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an eARC. This book has my heart. It had me kicking my feet, crying, laughing, squealing with glee. We meet Misty, our FMC, at her favorite bar and down on her luck. In walks our MMC Cade who is not having a great day. Words are said, water gets thrown, apologies happen, flirtation begins all leading to what our FMC believes will be a one night stand until she finds an engagement ring on her finger and it won’t come off. I absolutely adore Cade with all of my heart. I relate with Misty on such a deep level. This is so much more than a love story the healing that happens in this book is truly magical.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.*

This was a very cute, heartwarming story about self discovery and healing from past relationship mental scars. It did take me a bit to get into it, but I honestly think that's because I've been so consumed by the current election that no matter what book I was reading, I would struggle. I really enjoyed how after the ring debacle happened, Cade and Misty's relationship grew organically. And I loved that Cade was just so patient with Misty and really helped her adjust her mindset on her self worth.

[Nupur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the modern world, this magical story swooned my heart. The characters captured my attention from the very start. The Accidental Proposal, the Magical ring, and the mysterious Man are all things that make this story more interesting. I enjoyed every bit of it, and I was amazed at how wonderfully this book was crafted. I loved it. It is definitely recommended.

[melinajudgereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, sweet, heartwarming, and healing.
This book was everything 🥹🥹💙

Full review to come

[Jessica Cummiskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a first book, very impressed. Very sweet and cute, good way to break up all my normal dark books.

[Cherise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book from start to finish was such a treat. Watching Misty’s journey and healing, with the support of her found family, was incredibly beautiful. Jae reminds me of my own best friend and many times while reading I found myself brought to tears by how affirming and encouraging Jae is - and with the perfect amount of tough love. The love interest is…swoooooooon! Perfect book specimen and a supportive king. Definitely a must read, and will be reading anything else Shanna puts out!

[Michelle Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC. Black cat and golden retriever, He falls first, Found family, Witches and Magic. Shanna has combined some of my favorite elements of story telling to make a wonderful novel. The characters are lovable from the very start and the world of magic they inhabit is beautifully crafted.

[Ash - chasingwistoragic · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Want me to throw the water in my own face this time?” “And deprive me of the pleasure?” I scoff. “I was wrong. You don’t know how to woo a woman at all.” “I’d only deprive you of pleasure if you asked nicely.” The shock of that statement drops my jaw, at which a smirk turns his lips.

Spicy. Funny. Magical. I enjoyed this book so much. The magic system was fun. The characters were funny! The spice was spicing! All things I want in a book.

[Brittany Mooneyham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so incredibly excited to read this book and it did not disappoint one bit. The way Misty feels about herself & questions things in her relationship reminded me so much of myself. I felt like Shanna truly captured that feeling of always having that thought in the back of your mind but then having to take a moment to over come it. And the way Cade just absolutely loved her through it all. I have so many favorite parts from this book, however one of my favorite favorites was Cade telling her to stop saying sorry. It’s something I say all day long and this made me realize how much and how long I have been saying it. All of that to say that this book is just absolutely amazing, I wasn’t ready for it to end. I cannot wait to see what Shanna brings us in book 2.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was privileged to get an ARC of this book, and it was delightful! It is such a sweet story. The characters are funny and charming. The setting is an interesting one, the modern world with just a hint of magic throughout. I really appreciated the depth of discussion and unraveling the trauma of emotional abuse and manipulation in relationships. How they impact a person's perceptions, self-worth, and can taint future relationships.

I am looking forward to the continuation of Misty and Cade's story. The mother confrontation should be epic. I would be interested to know more about the magic Cade has, I got a good sense of Misty's magic, and that of Jae, but there wasn't a whole lot of discussion about magical powers specifically. That being said, the magical elements weren't strictly needed, but they definitely added to the atmosphere and the overall feel of the story.

[Rich Perrotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I am new to Threads and while exploring my feed, I happened upon an excited post by a Shanna M. Rogers revealing that her first ever book, Marry Me, was literally being released the next day. I was unexpectedly inspired to support her initial launch into the sprawling world of authorship, purchasing her book. Now as someone who is a 68 y.o. male who rarely deviates from reading non-fiction, this was an unexpected stretch.

Well the book is based on an highly unexpected meeting between protagonists Misty and Cade in a world where magic isn't hidden or shunned but readily integrated into our normal everyday human world. Within the first chapter, I was intrigued and kept reading and by chapter two, I was hooked.

Rogers creates a rich world of deep friendship, fear, high charged sexuality, magic expressed in a unique way (to me) and incredible emotional entanglements both personal and intra-personal. It was a captivating, erotic, sensual read that leaves me eagerly waiting for the next installments of her Enchanted Carolina series. If any of this sounds intriguing to you, I encourage you to grab Marry Me, a highly engaging read.

[Tessa Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any time I see another Dramione writer turned author I have to check out their work, so of course I read ‘Marry Me’ by Shamione (her AO3 name).

This book was not at all what I was expecting. Usually with fantasy romance there’s the relationship happening, but it’s often interrupted by a larger, sinister magic plot in the background. I kept expecting evil witches to appear and threaten the MCs, but in this story the magic is a setting woven into the story and not THE story. So this would be a good first romantasy book for people who love romance but are wary of having to keep up with a complicated fantasy plot.

The main story is the relationship, with a large dose of MC self-reflection mixed in, as she tries to rediscover her self worth. If you like stories heavy on relationship work and healing with a unique setting, this one is for you.

My one complaint is that I think the MC spent a tad too much time over-explaining herself in her narration. As a reader, I would have liked to do some of that detective work on my own, rather than having Misty tell me why she was thinking and feeling and acting how she was.

[Kelsey Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

GO BUY THIS BOOK

I randomly found this book on Threads yesterday, bought it, and read it today. This is the best impulse decision I’ve ever made tbh. This book was flawless in every way. The spice was incredible but the STORY?! Ugh I loved it so much. I have been smiling and happy crying literally all day. Cade is the most perfect MMC of all time and I live for the way he helped Misty grow into herself. There were so many standout scenes in this but the first date😭😭😭😭😭 and also everything that happens at Beltane is incredible. I truly hope Shanna writes more books because I will happily read them all. This was the 107th book I’ve read this year and it’s without a doubt my favorite.

[Abbey Selph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Shanna created such a relatable character in Misty. There were many times I was reading exactly what was running through Mistys head and feeling like I have been in that exact scenario with the same response. Not only that, but Shanna covers heavy traumas relating to past relationships in a way that most can understand. It's a beautiful, funny, and healing journey of one accidental night turning into a future of healing, confidence, and the ability to recognize and overcome our traumas. Also, it deserves a shout-out for beautifully showing how we can find our family within those around us (represented by multiple lgbtqia+ characters, which I adored).

[Amanda C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a girl in a bad place with herself—she believes the narratives manipulation and misogyny have taught her. FMC Misty goes on a journey that leads towards a man who cherishes her, but also towards a life in which she might one day be able to cherish herself. It felt honest—anxiety, fear, self-defeat were not too easily overcome. Mental health wasn’t set up as part of a plot that resolved 80% of the way through the book—it’s part of who the character is. I loved every minute of this book.
PS—the FMC’s bestie reads romance novels and there’s some really cute references to the tropes of a genre that I read so, so, so much of… :) Super fun!

[Bri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more or less a DNF for me. At 200 pages I ended up just sort of flipping through the remainder of it. I loved that it is set in Raleigh and familiar territory. I also really was intrigued by the magic system as well, but there wasn't enough of it. Outside of the ring it seemed not even a thing at all. I even loved Misty and Jae. What I just couldn't get into was Cade and the relationship as a whole. I sort of figured that the whole point was to go on the journey with Misty into learning to fall in love with Cade, but I just never liked their interactions. It always felt too fast/faked/forced with Cade from the start.

[Audrey (BooksandAudities) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took my time with this because I wanted to savor it. And I’m so glad I did.

First, thank you to the author for the free ARC 🫶🏼
Second,this was so swoony 🩷

Misty, the feisty vs. Cade, the cuddly (MAJOR golden retriever vibes)

These two were fun to read. Great banter, very sweet and sexy. Awesome friends with a bit of angst. I can’t wait to see where Shanna takes these characters and what other challenges they’ll face together.

[Rae Caputo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a blast! Such an easy, quick read. Simple magic system, no worldbuilding info dumps. 3/5 spice scale. Got it on Stuff Your Kindle Day and am so glad I chose it for my first read of the year!

[Marque Jaggers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters are so well developed as well as their healing journeys! Misty and Cade are fascinating and so enjoyable!

[CelesticSkye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Debut for this Author!!!

This was an absolutely amazing read, and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series when they finally come out!

[Mimie Be · Rating 4 out of 5]

C’était doux, mignon, drôle, une petite comédie romantique avec de la magie au milieu.
Je l’ai lu en 2 jours, autant dire que j’ai vraiment bien aimé.

[Aja James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love!! Watching Cade mend Misty’s heart, and break down her walls, was everything! And no third act breakup makes a book even better, in my opinion! So good!