Witchy Woman

by Zoe Shae

Is love worth the pain of loss?

Laura Hollis has spent her life knowing that love is not worth the pain of loss. After the death of her father as a child and the subsequent mental breakdown of her mother, Laura knew that love was not going to be in the cards for her. Spent years building up walls around her heart, hiding behind the façade of an unlikeable, blonde, pink-loving persona.
The death of her mother only solidified this belief.
Enter Ash Cedar. The sunshine-infused lumberjack of a man who can’t stop following Laura around like a lost puppy. The worst part? He’s her soulmate and the only person who cares enough to break down Laura’s walls.
As Laura’s magic becomes more unstable, so do the bonds to the only family she has left. Will Laura be able to let down her walls long enough to let love save herself—and her family? Or will she be lost forever, just like her mother?

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Witches, Paranormal

Paperback

Published July 8, 2025

About the author

Zoe Shae has always been fascinated by stories. Whether she was creating them with her father, or reading them, they have always been a constant. Creating them now is a dream come true.
Zoe enjoys writing, singing, reading, info-dumping about her special interests, and spending time with her family.
You can follow Zoe on social media everywhere at @AuthorZoeShae.

Reviews

[Brooke Crosson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 🌟 I’m loving the Pruitt Witches series! The end of Spell Ya Later had me so excited to read Laura’s story and Witchy Woman did not disappoint.

Laura is such a fiery FMC and I loved her lumberjack man 🫶🏼 As an older sister I definitely found myself relating to Hazel more but Laura’s story gives such a unique perspective into the hurt and coping mechanisms younger siblings can use to shield themselves. She had so much growth throughout the story on her own but then also with her family and Ash. Also the spice was spicing 🌶️ and I am really interested to see how book 3 is going to go (that ending?!)

Overall, this series is cute, cozy, spicy, and balanced with addressing and overcoming family trauma that I find really delightful. I recommend giving this series a try and can’t wait for book 3!

[Lainey Gillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 2nd absolutely amazing book in The Pruitt Witches trilogy. The follow-up to the equally amazing 'Spell Ya Later'.

Best read in order, in my opinion, there are details in book 1 you will need for book 2.

What did I enjoy about this book? Just about everything, the story is well thought out and with just enough detail to allow my own imagination to fill in the blanks... especially where the male 'love interest' is concerned!! Man, I had some fun with him!!

Look, I could sit here and tell you all that's good about this trilogy so far but all I will say is go and find yourself a copy, it's on KU and physical copies can be purchased where books are sold (online) or on the author 's own website, https://www.authorzoeshae.com

[Mackenzie Hirschmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read!
I loved Spell Ya Later and loved this one just the same. I loved reading Laura’s perspective. She’s more of a complex character and I liked getting to see things from her point of view. She’s fiery and sarcastic. And I loved Ash so so much it’s not even funny. He’s the quiet to her storm. He’s so caring and patient and in all ways so perfect for her. If you’re looking for a cozy fantasy series this is a great one to start. It gives Halloweentown vibes in the best way. And even better reading them during the cozy seasons. Thank you to Zoe for sending me an early copy of this book. I look forward to book 3 🥰

[TC Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura is the snarky one

Okay, so I recently read Spell Ya Later and thought that Laura was the sister I was most intrigued by, and so reading this one, I absolutely affirmed that Laura is the best witchy witch of the Pruitt line.

Read this for:
- axe throwing
- cat familiar
- soulmates
- fire witch
- chasing dreams
- fiery rescue
- group therapy

My thoughts: Loved Laura and Ash’s relationship as they go from snarking to falling in love. I loved the stubbornness of all of the Pruitt women, and how they clashed and fought, then finally breaking the bad habits of bottling up emotions.

Recommend for those who love witchy stories with a winter vibe.

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up as a "blind date with a book" from my local bookstore. It was an enjoyable read, but definitely not a standalone. There were many references to what happened in book one that left me confused because I didn't read it. That's more on the bookstore's labeling than the author, but it still impacted my experience.

The plot felt pretty up in the air for most of the book, and even when it came together, it was a bit weak. The real focus was the romance, which felt a little over the top with a love interest who was too perfect. The fun, snarky banter kept me entertained though. I also loved the main character's growth as she healed from her trauma and opened up more. I’m actually curious enough to go back and read book one. I wonder if having the full backstory will bump up my rating for this one!

[Audra · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75⭐️

[Kaytee Pett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m loving the Pruitt witches series, but excuse me Zoe that bombshell drop at the end?!

I loved watching Laura’s character evolve and her emotional maturity throughout the book. Ash is swoony that’s all I have to say about that. 🤣🫠

[Megs · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌲🔥ARC Review🔥🌲

Thank you Zoe Shae for this ARC copy of Witchy Woman! I absolutely loved Spell Ya Later, so the second I saw the ARC signup drop for Witchy Woman, I was there!

Not gonna lie, in Spell Ya Later Laura was a brat and kinda obnoxious and oblivious to everyone around her. But after getting her POV on how everything went down and how guarded she is, I just wanted to give her a hug.

It takes a strong determined woman to stay away from a soulmate, the fact that she did for a month and was still trying all in the name of protecting him, because whether she could admit it or not that’s how much/hard Laura loves!

Everything about this book was so good! It wasn’t just a love story of found soulmates it was the reality and heartbreak that even your family has no clue who you are. The struggle and healing of Laura and Hazels relationship was so real!

Laura and her sass and snark was everything and the banter between her and Ash was Spectacular!

I highly recommend reading Spell Ya Later first! Since one of the main plots of Witchy Woman is dealing with the after math of Spell Ya Later.
🌲Soulmates
🔥Elemental Magic
🌲Black Cat/Golden Retriever
🔥No Third Act Break Up
🌲Forced Proximity
🔥She is sassy AF
🌲He says it first but she felt it first

[Megan Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

***ARC Review with potential spoilers****

I have been waiting to read Laura’s story (Witchy Woman by @authorzoeshae ) since I closed the cover of “Spell Ya Later” and was OVER THE MOON when I got chosen for an ARC. Needless to say it did NOT disappoint! The fire is hot with her and Ash (see what I did there? She’s a fire witch) once she gets over herself and lets him in of course (stubbornness is a Hollis family trait apparently).
I love the whole real family dynamic. Things are raw, people are hurting, and resentments are high as the Hollis sisters and their grandma go to family therapy (the therapist is a witch BTW) air their grievances (with the help of a special tea of course) and finally rediscover themselves and change the dynamic from “caregiver and child” to “sisters” just in time to save the one person they never thought they would see again, and who neither of them can stand - their mother.

if you LOVE the following tropes, you will adore this book:
(TBH Any variation of “you’re mine” will hit every single time.)

✨ alpha hero
✨ elemental magic
✨ first love
✨ grumpy x sunshine
✨ lumberjack daddy
✨ s̶e̶x̶ magic
✨ small town romance
✨ soulmates

Only 2 more days until this book hits the shelves - preorder your copy TODAY!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Pruitt Witches series

"𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒽𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝐼 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝓀𝓃𝑒𝓌 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝑜𝓇"

Ahhh, we’re back in Chagrin, Ohio with Summerween in full swing and I couldn’t be happier.

This one follows Laura as she navigates life after that wild plot twist from book one. Once the sheltered and sassy “golden child,” she’s now stepping into adulthood, discovering her magic, and maybe her soulmate?

Enter Ash Cedar 😮‍💨 the soft hearted lumberjack who had me melting every time he opened his mouth. He was absolutely perfect for Laura (his Goldilocks!), and I adored every moment they shared. Especially the kink thrown in with s*x magic 👀

Laura’s journey of self discovery was so well done. Her growth, especially alongside her sister and yes, which family therapy was a thing! made this feel like such a rich, heartfelt read. And that ending? Gagged!

If you haven’t started this series yet, run. It’s everything you want in a cozy fall witchy read!

I've preordered mine and it includes an art print and stickers, run 😍 thank you Zoe for this eARC, I cannot wait for more to come!

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

YOU NEED THIS BOOK IN YOUR LIFE. When I tell you the BANTER, the TENSION, the CHEMISTRY. Absolutely delicious. I was sooooo hooked.
If you love an FMC who has a bit of bite to her, sass and heart you will adore Laura. Then we have our gorgeous sweet, giant lumberjack witch who takes it all on the chin and is determined to get his girl. They're so hot and whew the spice!
Their love story is woven so beautifully in with the plot that you will be addicted. All I'm going to say is buckle up for the ride, We love a lil bitchy witch!
When I tell you Zoe Shae knows how to deliver a GORGEOUS book and writes SO damn well.
I was feeling so slumpy when I started this arc and it quite literally yanked me right back out.

Thank you sooooo much to Zoe Shae for the opportunity to arc read, this was such an anticipated read of mine and it is the cosiest beautiful witchy romance with plot and spice!

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friends all know that one of my absolute favorite reads of last year was Spell Ya Later by Zoe Shae. The Pruitt witches have me in a chokehold.

And let me tell you, Laura is THAT girl. I’m a sucker for the soulmates trope always and as a Sagittarius, I know a little bit about fire and ice 😉

Bringing all of the cozy vibes that Spell Ya Later kept me clinging to along with the added struggles of Laura coming into her own, Witchy Woman is a story that I just could not put down. Playing catch-up to her sister’s newly acquired confidence and magical training, Laura fights her own battles both internal and external. Her journey shows the strength that is found in vulnerability, even when we can’t always be honest with ourselves. She just needed the right person in her corner to remind her.

If you love character growth and a cup of hot cocoa, this one is for you.

[DoctorCopper · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
A vast improvement over the first book. Finally, the author delved into building more the characters and their relationships than just the surface-level storyline that was the first book in this series. I finally felt drawn into the story the author was telling.

Laura’s character still irked me, even though it was quite obvious, at least in part, as to why she treated her family the way she did. It took the majority of this story for her to do some of the growing up she needed to do in order to stop turning her anger towards everyone else. But she finally seems to be working through it.
Ash was a fantastic addition to the series, I wanted more of him and still want more of a deeper dive into his life.

Their mother is someone who is quite an easy character to despise. Not any growth happening thete with her character. We’ll see what happrns if this series continues…

[Fantasy Fables · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of The Pruitt Witches series follows Laura, Hazel’s younger sister. She’s been holding onto a lot emotionally, and she’s not quite as gung-ho about learning more about her magic and the Pruitt family history as Hazel was. But to try to save their mother, she’s willing to try.

Laura was a fiery FMC, and she’s doing the best that she could to cope with the hurt she’s been feeling since the end of Book 1. She had so much growth throughout this short book, and I was so glad that she was finally willing to come together and work with Hazel as they each tried to work through their family trauma.

Being a Pruitt witch, of course Laura finds her own soulmate. And Ash was a delight. Their dynamic was great, and the spice between these two was spicy. 🌶️

Again, Zoe Shae found a way to fit so much into this short book, and she does a fantastic job of delivering a well-rounded story in under 300 pages.

[Vanessa Carrasquillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been ready for Laura’s story since the ending of Spell ya Later. Her’s didn’t disappoint! It was really nice to read about Laura and her feelings with everything. We have romance with Ash who we met in book 1, then we have our magical area with her learning more about her powers. I really liked how Laura and Hazel’s were different powers from each other so we understood why they had these particular powers. What I love about this series is how the main characters really let you know how they’re feeling and why. There were some twists in here as well which I love. I would definitely read the first book in the series to really get the whole story since they tie into each other. I can’t wait for what’s next.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witchy Woman is such a fun read, maybe better than Spell Ya Later (the first book in the series). I found myself not wanting to put it down. I was arguing with the character and then cheering them on. The family dynamics were painfully relatable and made me want to call my sister. The first person POV had a very distinct voice that sounded real, if not a little trendy, so I would recommend reading a sample before purchasing if that would be a concern for you. My only other "criticism" is that I wish it were a bit longer. Specifically, I wish the last big conflict near the end was more drawn out. I didn't want the book to end, and I can't wait for the third in the series.

[Karen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reverse grumpy sunshine, witchy small town romance was super sweet and cozy. A guarded witch who is regaining her magic and searching for her mother refuses to accept her feelings for a local lumberjack of a man, who she knows is her soulmate. Laura tries hard to resist the sunshiny Ash, who is supportive and persistent in his pursuit of her. There’s tension and banter, and so much chemistry that eventually brings the spice too. I enjoyed the continuation of the plot from the first book, the family drama and the magical, witchy references.
Thanks to the author for the eARC.

[Heather Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

I freaking love this series! Every. Single. World. from Ash’s mouth was perfection. 🫠 I loved that the main character was hard to like, but somehow I found myself still rooting for her. (Definitely giving Nesta vibes). This book was just as cozy and lovable as the first one and I can’t wait for the next! 😱

Things to know:
- Black Cat x Sunshine
- Soulmates
- Elemental magic
- Alpha lumberjack daddy witch
- Small town witch vibes

[Emily C · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️’s, I just love this series!! I enjoyed Laura’s story and getting to see her growth and Ash is amazing, but I think I related to Hazel’s story more than Laura. I loved that amount of Hazel and Noah cameos we got in this book. I actually wish this book was a bit longer so that we would’ve gotten more development of certain parts of the story, it felt a bit rushed at times. Also… that ending!!! I need book 3 to come so soon!!

[Ashley Jacobs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book but it wasn't as good as book 1. Laura was whiney and annoyed me after a while. instead of being supportive of her sister finally finding her confidence she was mad that Hazel wasn't there to cater to her every need. Laura spends most of the book in a pity party for herself.

I liked Ash and wish there would've been more of him in the book. To learn more about who he was. We also learned more about their powers in this book which I enjoyed.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good second installment but not as good as the first.

In this one, I felt that Laura was so unfair to everyone around her. Even when she knows Ash is her soulmate, she is kind of rude to him. I think she acted this way though because of how she had been treated all her life, especially by her own mother. I wish Hazel had gotten to actually know her sister better but I'm glad they figured some things out when they had to rescue their mother.

[Jakki (BizzyBookNook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pruitt witches are becoming one of my favorite witchy families. I really enjoyed this second installment. I love Hazel and Grandma and while I do love Laura man did she get on my nerves this go round. However for the sake of character arc I get it. I love love Ashe and think that he is the perfect sweet to her sour. Really the only character in these books that I love to hate is the Mom. And the bombshell that was thrown there at the end.... holy crap.

[Rebecca Goss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this second book in The Pruitt Witches series. Laura struggles with family issues and readers will see things through the younger daughter’s perspective. Ash is a wonderful character and a perfect counterbalance for Laura. I think I liked this second book better because I identified more with Laura.

[Kendal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Witchy Woman!!!

I am obsessed with Zoe Shae's books!

I flew through this book because I could not stop reading.

I loved Laura and Ash so much! They had the best chemistry. I also loved how Laura was the grump and Ash was the sunshine.

I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Thank you so much Zoe for the ARC!!!

[Kim Finazzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

witchy woman

This is the 2nd book in the series by Zoe Shae. It’s about the baby sister and her powers. It leads into the 3rd book in the series that will be out sometime in the spring of 2026. I’m so looking forward to reading it. 🥰

[Julia Dwyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t like the first book in the series, but I bought the first two books together so I felt like I had to read it. Didn’t really care about any of the characters, dialogue got real cringy at times.

[Lori Kern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witchy Woman book 2

WOW another fantastic book that I just devoured. I don't think I could read fast enough for my liking. Fabulous characters and such a great development of their personalities. Looking forward to the next book!

[LAURA ANDERSON · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ash cedar

First, his family names are ridiculous and I love them. Second, the amount of times I squealed over this book.... omg
Also had to message the poor author to tell her I kept yelling at her fmc lol. Loved it. I need book three like yesterday

[Kayla Lipker · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you're looking for a book just for the vibes this is it. It's not horribly written or anything but feels like something I would read on Wattpad in middle school with adult level spice. Not my favorite read.

[Habibah · Rating 3 out of 5]

took a while

The author can write the fire and rage excellently! Laura’s personality stayed perfectly her and that’s a difficult feat. But the story sort of dragged on… took a few breaks in reading because I was easily losing interest.