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Hand-Fasting and Other Hazards: A Forced Proximity Cozy Paranormal Romance
From the author of the bestselling Tricky Magic series comes a witchy small-town forced marriage romantasy full of magical mishaps, cozy chaos, and a slow burn that turns seriously spicy.
When Lochlan and Nia wake up naked, hungover, and magically married in a field, neither remembers saying “I do,” and both are absolutely sure it wasn’t their idea.
They aren’t the first witches in Stella Rune to have a hand-fasting mishap, but this one won’t be easily undone. The culprit behind their accidental marriage refuses to help unless they can prove, beyond a doubt, they’re completely incompatible.
Easy. They’ll fake their way through a relationship, make it clear they’re terrible for each other, and be back to their normal lives.
The only problem is Lochlan, a disgraced prince haunted by the scars of his past, finds himself falling for the secretive and fiercely independent Nia, who’s built walls around her heart so high, no one else has dared to scale them. And Nia, who has sworn off love in favor of a life of extortion and charitable causes, can’t help admiring the steadfast, guarded man who stirs emotions she’s never allowed herself to feel before.
What started as a magical mistake might turn into something real, if they’re brave enough to stop pretending and start telling the truth.
For fans
-Accidental/Forced marriage
-Forced proximity
-Magical bargain
-He falls first - she falls harder
-Morally gray FMC
-Hidden magic systems
When Lochlan and Nia wake up naked, hungover, and magically married in a field, neither remembers saying “I do,” and both are absolutely sure it wasn’t their idea.
They aren’t the first witches in Stella Rune to have a hand-fasting mishap, but this one won’t be easily undone. The culprit behind their accidental marriage refuses to help unless they can prove, beyond a doubt, they’re completely incompatible.
Easy. They’ll fake their way through a relationship, make it clear they’re terrible for each other, and be back to their normal lives.
The only problem is Lochlan, a disgraced prince haunted by the scars of his past, finds himself falling for the secretive and fiercely independent Nia, who’s built walls around her heart so high, no one else has dared to scale them. And Nia, who has sworn off love in favor of a life of extortion and charitable causes, can’t help admiring the steadfast, guarded man who stirs emotions she’s never allowed herself to feel before.
What started as a magical mistake might turn into something real, if they’re brave enough to stop pretending and start telling the truth.
For fans
-Accidental/Forced marriage
-Forced proximity
-Magical bargain
-He falls first - she falls harder
-Morally gray FMC
-Hidden magic systems
434 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 14, 2025
32 people are currently reading
944 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
October 9, 2025
₊˚✧𑁍.ೃ࿔*:･ A cozy but spicy small-town romance about a shadow witch and a plant witch who wake up married after a wild night! ₊˚✧𑁍.ೃ࿔*:･
Thank you LL Campbell for the arc, I had the best time reading your book. Hand-Fasting and Other Hazards is definitely my type of book, hands down. It has characters that you can relate to, secrets, a very swoon-worthy romance, heart-warming moments, steam, YEARNING, magic, and so much more. It's the perfect cozy fantasy romance yall and you need to read it as soon as it comes out!
I'm in love with Lochlan LIKE ✨ THAT'S MY MAN ✨ He cooks for Nia, is always there for her, cuddles with her, has ducks and a dog, looks so good 24/7, protects Nia - he is literally the very best of the best. Everyone will adore him as soon as you meet him. He's shy, gentle, and very caring. HE'S A PLANT WITCH so his whole house is filled with plants and he's always touching plants to make them grow and... everything about him is *uuuugh* SO CUTE.
Nia, my girl જ⁀➴ I love her to the moon and back. I loved her journey and her as a character. She rides a motorcycle, hates her dad, dislikes that she's growing attached to this gentle plant witch, adores that his dog loves her, is tired of ordering takeout so now that her husband is cooking for her she's so happy??? SHE'S THE BEST 👑 I seriously miss her already.
I hope there are more books in this town? I feel there are some characters that could, I don't know, have a lil romance in their lives so hopefully we get their stories 💫
Thank you LL Campbell for the arc, I had the best time reading your book. Hand-Fasting and Other Hazards is definitely my type of book, hands down. It has characters that you can relate to, secrets, a very swoon-worthy romance, heart-warming moments, steam, YEARNING, magic, and so much more. It's the perfect cozy fantasy romance yall and you need to read it as soon as it comes out!
I'm in love with Lochlan LIKE ✨ THAT'S MY MAN ✨ He cooks for Nia, is always there for her, cuddles with her, has ducks and a dog, looks so good 24/7, protects Nia - he is literally the very best of the best. Everyone will adore him as soon as you meet him. He's shy, gentle, and very caring. HE'S A PLANT WITCH so his whole house is filled with plants and he's always touching plants to make them grow and... everything about him is *uuuugh* SO CUTE.
Nia, my girl જ⁀➴ I love her to the moon and back. I loved her journey and her as a character. She rides a motorcycle, hates her dad, dislikes that she's growing attached to this gentle plant witch, adores that his dog loves her, is tired of ordering takeout so now that her husband is cooking for her she's so happy??? SHE'S THE BEST 👑 I seriously miss her already.
I hope there are more books in this town? I feel there are some characters that could, I don't know, have a lil romance in their lives so hopefully we get their stories 💫
September 19, 2025
OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!
*deep breaths* oh. my. GOD!!!!!!!! Have y’all seen the video of the guy on a motorcycle freaking out about the mini horses? Yeah that was me the entire time I read this book. I’m still just repeating OMG over & over again. What the heck was this book?! I’ll tell you what it was. It was everything. EVERYTHING I TELL YOU! I am so happy that this exists.
I couldn’t stop smiling 99% of the time. The other 1% made me sad & mad at how Lochlan was treated. If you are wanting a major cinnamon roll MMC he takes the cake hands down. He is number 1. I love him so much. The way I giggled & kicked my feet. Ugh I can’t get enough. I just… AHHHHHHH! When you read it you will understand. He is literally everything. When Nia was trying to get their marriage annulled I just wanted to scream “don’t do it! Don’t loose him!” When she finally starts to let her walls come down & they were together. Ugh it made my heart so happy 😊.
The world that was created sounds insanely cozy & I want to live there… in Lachlan’s house. I will definitely take his food. It sounds like a place I’ve been dreaming of going to for a while & it sounds magical. Perfect for fall. This book is exactly what I needed. It’s been a hard year & this just put a smile on my face when I needed it. This book gets ♾️ stars & deserves all of the pretty editions. Please, please, please add this to your TBR. Everyone needs to read a cozy, feel good book with a thicc plant daddy & a sassy shadow mommy!
*deep breaths* oh. my. GOD!!!!!!!! Have y’all seen the video of the guy on a motorcycle freaking out about the mini horses? Yeah that was me the entire time I read this book. I’m still just repeating OMG over & over again. What the heck was this book?! I’ll tell you what it was. It was everything. EVERYTHING I TELL YOU! I am so happy that this exists.
I couldn’t stop smiling 99% of the time. The other 1% made me sad & mad at how Lochlan was treated. If you are wanting a major cinnamon roll MMC he takes the cake hands down. He is number 1. I love him so much. The way I giggled & kicked my feet. Ugh I can’t get enough. I just… AHHHHHHH! When you read it you will understand. He is literally everything. When Nia was trying to get their marriage annulled I just wanted to scream “don’t do it! Don’t loose him!” When she finally starts to let her walls come down & they were together. Ugh it made my heart so happy 😊.
The world that was created sounds insanely cozy & I want to live there… in Lachlan’s house. I will definitely take his food. It sounds like a place I’ve been dreaming of going to for a while & it sounds magical. Perfect for fall. This book is exactly what I needed. It’s been a hard year & this just put a smile on my face when I needed it. This book gets ♾️ stars & deserves all of the pretty editions. Please, please, please add this to your TBR. Everyone needs to read a cozy, feel good book with a thicc plant daddy & a sassy shadow mommy!
September 22, 2025
Amazing!!
Absolutely love the small town and witchy vibes!
Lochlan was so beautiful! Everything you could want in an MMC 🫡💖 The forced proximity was hitting & the spice was 🥵🥵!! Lochlan and Nia were meant to be!
Absolutely ATE this up! Perfect for your FALL TBR👌
Absolutely love the small town and witchy vibes!
Lochlan was so beautiful! Everything you could want in an MMC 🫡💖 The forced proximity was hitting & the spice was 🥵🥵!! Lochlan and Nia were meant to be!
Absolutely ATE this up! Perfect for your FALL TBR👌
November 24, 2025
What the hell? How is this rated so highly? The world building is incomplete and also all over the place, and as a result this entire book falls flat. The MC's are completely unbelievable characters, their motivations unclear. Too many things happen way too conveniently for me to be in any way engaged with this story. I guess it's one of those books where you have to put away critical thinking for awhile, but I just couldn't do it.
November 3, 2025
the little angel baby that is lochlan
October 14, 2025
Well, shit. Color me surprised!! I went into this without any specific expectations. This author is Chloe Walsh's good friend and assistant, and when I found out that she had a new book coming out, I decided to give it a shot! The cute title and cover were irresistible haha 🥰
I truly had a blast!! It was an adorably cozy, tastefully spicy, fun read, with emotional depth and an intriguing (yet not heavy)✨magical world✨
If you are looking for a witchy, Halloweenie, easy-to-read fun story, this is it!! 🎃🍁👻🍂🧙♀️🎃
I truly had a blast!! It was an adorably cozy, tastefully spicy, fun read, with emotional depth and an intriguing (yet not heavy)✨magical world✨
If you are looking for a witchy, Halloweenie, easy-to-read fun story, this is it!! 🎃🍁👻🍂🧙♀️🎃
September 28, 2025
I was in a reading slump when I went into this book… It was a perfect thing to drag me out of that slump.
Cozy, fun, and with a great magic system, I very quickly fell in love with both Nia and Lochlan. I loved their dynamic, how much they care for each other (even when they might have trouble saying it), and the fact that she’s the “badass” of their relationship.
Lochlan is a beautiful soul with a lot of lingering trauma who cares so deeply for those around him. Nia is an independent witch who has worked so hard to make the world a better place. I didn’t know who to trust around them and was constantly trying to figure out where the major threats to their relationship were going to come from (other than the glaring problem).
I rated it a 4/5 because I found that it was a little slow to get into, but once I was into it, I was fully hooked! I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read a cozy small town romance between witches.
Here’s to hoping that we get a book about Ivy next!
Cozy, fun, and with a great magic system, I very quickly fell in love with both Nia and Lochlan. I loved their dynamic, how much they care for each other (even when they might have trouble saying it), and the fact that she’s the “badass” of their relationship.
Lochlan is a beautiful soul with a lot of lingering trauma who cares so deeply for those around him. Nia is an independent witch who has worked so hard to make the world a better place. I didn’t know who to trust around them and was constantly trying to figure out where the major threats to their relationship were going to come from (other than the glaring problem).
I rated it a 4/5 because I found that it was a little slow to get into, but once I was into it, I was fully hooked! I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read a cozy small town romance between witches.
Here’s to hoping that we get a book about Ivy next!
September 20, 2025
This book is everything I didn’t know I needed for fall — witchy, cozy, a little chaotic, and absolutely addictive. The magic system is clever and playful, adding so much personality to the small-town setting.
If you love witchy vibes, clever magic, small-town charm, and a story that keeps you laughing, swooning, and turning pages way too fast, this one is an absolute must-read.
If you love witchy vibes, clever magic, small-town charm, and a story that keeps you laughing, swooning, and turning pages way too fast, this one is an absolute must-read.
October 10, 2025
✨“Lochlan,” she murmured, her voice low and breathless. “I need you.”✨
Let’s talk about this book, okay? You want cozy? You want witchy? You want spicy? You want a man who YEARNS? points aggressively at this book Here ya go, darlin’.
Nia is a black cat witch with shadows who shakes down men for money… for charity. I know, right? She’s perfect. She’s a little scary—but only to the bad guys. To everyone else? She’s the Duchess of Charity.
💬 “You’re bold and beautiful and a little bit wicked,” he said, his voice admiring. Heat rose to her cheeks. “I’ve been told,” she replied, her grin sly but not quite hiding the warmth in her expression.
See? Loch gets it.
So Nia goes to a party in the woods, gets into some fairy wine (as one does), and wakes up naked and married. As one does. Enter Lochlan.
Loch is a plant witch with the cutest dog and the softest heart. All he wants is to make sure his new wife is fed. (I know. He’s perfect.) He doesn’t think he’s good enough for her—but oh, does he YEARN. Meanwhile, Nia can’t understand how this tall, thicc, beautiful man hasn’t already been snatched up.
🔥 It could be worse. As far as husbands went, Lochlan was hot—no denying that. He was the classic tall, dark, and handsome cliché, all sharp cheekbones, broad shoulders, and just the right amount of scruffy stubble. And, well… that ass. She swallowed a groan. 🔥
This book has lovable side characters, adorable animals (mail-delivering cats! ducks!), a dash of mystery, and so much heart you’ll never want to leave its pages. It’s cozy, spicy, and absolutely enchanting. You’ll finish it and immediately want to start again—or scroll through all the gorgeous art the author’s posted.
Let’s talk about this book, okay? You want cozy? You want witchy? You want spicy? You want a man who YEARNS? points aggressively at this book Here ya go, darlin’.
Nia is a black cat witch with shadows who shakes down men for money… for charity. I know, right? She’s perfect. She’s a little scary—but only to the bad guys. To everyone else? She’s the Duchess of Charity.
💬 “You’re bold and beautiful and a little bit wicked,” he said, his voice admiring. Heat rose to her cheeks. “I’ve been told,” she replied, her grin sly but not quite hiding the warmth in her expression.
See? Loch gets it.
So Nia goes to a party in the woods, gets into some fairy wine (as one does), and wakes up naked and married. As one does. Enter Lochlan.
Loch is a plant witch with the cutest dog and the softest heart. All he wants is to make sure his new wife is fed. (I know. He’s perfect.) He doesn’t think he’s good enough for her—but oh, does he YEARN. Meanwhile, Nia can’t understand how this tall, thicc, beautiful man hasn’t already been snatched up.
🔥 It could be worse. As far as husbands went, Lochlan was hot—no denying that. He was the classic tall, dark, and handsome cliché, all sharp cheekbones, broad shoulders, and just the right amount of scruffy stubble. And, well… that ass. She swallowed a groan. 🔥
This book has lovable side characters, adorable animals (mail-delivering cats! ducks!), a dash of mystery, and so much heart you’ll never want to leave its pages. It’s cozy, spicy, and absolutely enchanting. You’ll finish it and immediately want to start again—or scroll through all the gorgeous art the author’s posted.
October 14, 2025
the soft, gentle kind of love, in this 🥹
arc rating & review:
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
there was no doubt in my mind this was five stars. i loved every second of this. every word, letter, page, all of it.
sometimes i struggle with arcs and feel i HAVE to give them good reviews, but this book??? i never once felt bored, tired, annoyed, ANYTHING bad. from beginning to end it was perfect to me. the town/setting was beautiful and i loved how we got that small side plot between the supernaturals and humans. i loved how passionate they both were about their jobs or life in general. and the letters??!! i loved how we got a little piece of nia’s life/past, though i hated we don’t do anything with them until the end :(
AND THE ANIMALS! ong i loved that dog more then i loved anyone else in this book. she was perfect and nothing better ever happen to her. i think it was really refreshing to have a softer mmc. i’m used to the big scary shadow daddy types, so having a kind, gentle, patient, pays attention to the small details, texts her to make sure she eats, plant witch of a man was like a TREAT. he was still hot but in a way that was through his gestures and not his appearance alone. he literally would text her or send her food if she hadn’t eaten. i just loved how soft their relationship felt. it was sweet and carefully curated over time. it was like they became friends before actually trying to be a married couple and it was really refreshing.
i also loved the magic and how it all worked! nia was a grumpy badass shadow mommy and loch was a soft hearted plant lover/restorer and it was such a good dynamic. i think it was cool their magic would mix together and how it was sweet to see what they’d each do with that. and the side characters 😭 i love them and i hope we get another book between two certain people because i need more!!!! the underlying plot and story was absolutely beautiful and i loved how the relationship would take a second in the spotlight and then we’d focus on the plot, but it was all woven together perfectly.
i could write an essay about how much i loved this book, not a single thing did i not enjoy or put me off, IT WAS EVERYTHING TO MEEEEE.
release day is today!!! go support this beautiful woman and amazing writer!! 🤎
arc rating & review:
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
there was no doubt in my mind this was five stars. i loved every second of this. every word, letter, page, all of it.
sometimes i struggle with arcs and feel i HAVE to give them good reviews, but this book??? i never once felt bored, tired, annoyed, ANYTHING bad. from beginning to end it was perfect to me. the town/setting was beautiful and i loved how we got that small side plot between the supernaturals and humans. i loved how passionate they both were about their jobs or life in general. and the letters??!! i loved how we got a little piece of nia’s life/past, though i hated we don’t do anything with them until the end :(
AND THE ANIMALS! ong i loved that dog more then i loved anyone else in this book. she was perfect and nothing better ever happen to her. i think it was really refreshing to have a softer mmc. i’m used to the big scary shadow daddy types, so having a kind, gentle, patient, pays attention to the small details, texts her to make sure she eats, plant witch of a man was like a TREAT. he was still hot but in a way that was through his gestures and not his appearance alone. he literally would text her or send her food if she hadn’t eaten. i just loved how soft their relationship felt. it was sweet and carefully curated over time. it was like they became friends before actually trying to be a married couple and it was really refreshing.
i also loved the magic and how it all worked! nia was a grumpy badass shadow mommy and loch was a soft hearted plant lover/restorer and it was such a good dynamic. i think it was cool their magic would mix together and how it was sweet to see what they’d each do with that. and the side characters 😭 i love them and i hope we get another book between two certain people because i need more!!!! the underlying plot and story was absolutely beautiful and i loved how the relationship would take a second in the spotlight and then we’d focus on the plot, but it was all woven together perfectly.
i could write an essay about how much i loved this book, not a single thing did i not enjoy or put me off, IT WAS EVERYTHING TO MEEEEE.
release day is today!!! go support this beautiful woman and amazing writer!! 🤎
October 5, 2025
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶/5
TW - death of a parent (past, mentioned incl while pregnant), familial death (mentioned), kidnapping, breaking and entering, animal cruelty (sc, briefly described), illegal gambling (sc, mentioned), money laundering (sc, mentioned), sex work (sc, mentioned), alcohol consumption, infidelity (parents, past, mentioned), manipulative parent, forced marriages, familial abandonment, family outcast (MMC), fire (arson, past, recounted, resulting in scars / burns on the MMC), death / murder (past, mentioned incl blood), drugging of the MCs, food insecurity / poverty (sc, past, mentioned), bullying / abuse from a sibling (past), blackmail, extortion, panic attack (brief), grief, insurance fraud (scs), xenophobia (supernaturals & regulars), divorce (scs, mentioned), crime / imprisonment (scs, mentioned)
CW - semi public play, light spanking
Tropes - forced / accidental marriage, small town, fake dating, one bed, forced proximity
I applied to this ARC with absolutely no context on what this book was about but missing LL Campbell’s writing enough to want to read it anyway.
This follows Nia (FMC) and Lochlan (MMC) who find themselves married with no recollection of the ceremony and no way to get an annulment due to other factors at play.
I really liked the characters and the setting of this story. The full cast was so enjoyable to read about and the world of Stella Rune gives cozy small town vibes. I did like the characters more than the plot as there were a few bits that annoyed me but, the characters were so enjoyable for me to the point where I didn’t feel like it was a detriment to the story as a whole.
I hope we get a few more books in this world!
Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪
🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek/ The Naughty List / The Naughtier List
TW/CW not to be repurposed by authors / publishers for website / book / content use without permission
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶/5
TW - death of a parent (past, mentioned incl while pregnant), familial death (mentioned), kidnapping, breaking and entering, animal cruelty (sc, briefly described), illegal gambling (sc, mentioned), money laundering (sc, mentioned), sex work (sc, mentioned), alcohol consumption, infidelity (parents, past, mentioned), manipulative parent, forced marriages, familial abandonment, family outcast (MMC), fire (arson, past, recounted, resulting in scars / burns on the MMC), death / murder (past, mentioned incl blood), drugging of the MCs, food insecurity / poverty (sc, past, mentioned), bullying / abuse from a sibling (past), blackmail, extortion, panic attack (brief), grief, insurance fraud (scs), xenophobia (supernaturals & regulars), divorce (scs, mentioned), crime / imprisonment (scs, mentioned)
CW - semi public play, light spanking
Tropes - forced / accidental marriage, small town, fake dating, one bed, forced proximity
I applied to this ARC with absolutely no context on what this book was about but missing LL Campbell’s writing enough to want to read it anyway.
This follows Nia (FMC) and Lochlan (MMC) who find themselves married with no recollection of the ceremony and no way to get an annulment due to other factors at play.
I really liked the characters and the setting of this story. The full cast was so enjoyable to read about and the world of Stella Rune gives cozy small town vibes. I did like the characters more than the plot as there were a few bits that annoyed me but, the characters were so enjoyable for me to the point where I didn’t feel like it was a detriment to the story as a whole.
I hope we get a few more books in this world!
Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪
🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek/ The Naughty List / The Naughtier List
TW/CW not to be repurposed by authors / publishers for website / book / content use without permission
September 28, 2025
✨ ARC Review: Hand-Fasting and Other Hazards by L.L. Campbell ✨
A small-town romantasy brimming with witchy charm, magical mishaps, and a slow burn that sparks into something undeniable.
For readers who love:
🍁 Accidental/forced marriage shenanigans
🍁 Forced proximity and undeniable chemistry
🍁 “He falls first, she falls harder” energy
🍁 Fiercely independent, morally complex heroines
🍁 Magic that’s equal parts cozy and dangerous
🍁 Old wound healing
When Lochlan and Nia wake to find themselves in a field hungover, unclothed, and inexplicably bound by magic the last thing either of them wants is marriage. But breaking the spell isn’t so simple, and what starts as an inconvenient bargain soon becomes a journey of trust, vulnerability, and the chance at real love.
What captured me most was how relatable the characters were, both characters products of their pasts but presenting very differently. Lochlan, a gentle soul weighed down by past scars, is equal parts nurturing plant/dog dad and painfully awkward introvert. Nia, with her razor-sharp independence and shadow wielding power, is fierce, guarded, and impossible not to root for.
Together, they’re all sparks and softness full of banter, tension, and tenderness that sneaks up on you. And the side characters? Brimming with mischief, love, and charm I wanted more of every single one.
This book isn’t just about romance; it’s also about self-discovery, trust, and learning to lean on someone else without losing yourself. The emotional growth feels authentic, the dialogue shines, and the magical world strikes a perfect balance between cozy whimsy and genuine depth.
The mix of autumn-festival warmth, found family vibes, and just the right dash of spice made this impossible to put down. It’s heartfelt, funny, tender, and keeps you guessing just enough to stay hooked. Lochlan and Nia’s story is the perfect autumnal read, and one I’ll be recommending again and again.
My only complaint? I need more, I feel there is plenty more to say from the residents of Stella Rune.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pure romantasy delight.
A small-town romantasy brimming with witchy charm, magical mishaps, and a slow burn that sparks into something undeniable.
For readers who love:
🍁 Accidental/forced marriage shenanigans
🍁 Forced proximity and undeniable chemistry
🍁 “He falls first, she falls harder” energy
🍁 Fiercely independent, morally complex heroines
🍁 Magic that’s equal parts cozy and dangerous
🍁 Old wound healing
When Lochlan and Nia wake to find themselves in a field hungover, unclothed, and inexplicably bound by magic the last thing either of them wants is marriage. But breaking the spell isn’t so simple, and what starts as an inconvenient bargain soon becomes a journey of trust, vulnerability, and the chance at real love.
What captured me most was how relatable the characters were, both characters products of their pasts but presenting very differently. Lochlan, a gentle soul weighed down by past scars, is equal parts nurturing plant/dog dad and painfully awkward introvert. Nia, with her razor-sharp independence and shadow wielding power, is fierce, guarded, and impossible not to root for.
Together, they’re all sparks and softness full of banter, tension, and tenderness that sneaks up on you. And the side characters? Brimming with mischief, love, and charm I wanted more of every single one.
This book isn’t just about romance; it’s also about self-discovery, trust, and learning to lean on someone else without losing yourself. The emotional growth feels authentic, the dialogue shines, and the magical world strikes a perfect balance between cozy whimsy and genuine depth.
The mix of autumn-festival warmth, found family vibes, and just the right dash of spice made this impossible to put down. It’s heartfelt, funny, tender, and keeps you guessing just enough to stay hooked. Lochlan and Nia’s story is the perfect autumnal read, and one I’ll be recommending again and again.
My only complaint? I need more, I feel there is plenty more to say from the residents of Stella Rune.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pure romantasy delight.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2025
this is so bad i want to give you a zero but that’s not possible so i’ll give you a one
tinha a faca e o queijo na mão sabe
o universo mágico mais desorganizado impossível
a protagonista é uma pessoa horrível e ela não aprende nada no final
se fosse uma adolescente escrevendo eu dava três estrelas. mas é tão ruim pra uma autora publicada.
quase não existe conflito na narrativa todos os problemas são praticamente imaginários INCLUSIVE O ENREDO PRINCIPAL DE acordamos casados um ao outro
a quantidade de hot RUIM desnecessária junto a explicação desnecessária sobre o trabalho incrivelmente chato da nia
quase não terminei
foi só na esperança de pode ser bom no final. é bom se você quiser um filme do hallmark sem sal
TLDR: mais um caso de livro construído em cima de tropes que não funciona
tinha a faca e o queijo na mão sabe
o universo mágico mais desorganizado impossível
a protagonista é uma pessoa horrível e ela não aprende nada no final
se fosse uma adolescente escrevendo eu dava três estrelas. mas é tão ruim pra uma autora publicada.
quase não existe conflito na narrativa todos os problemas são praticamente imaginários INCLUSIVE O ENREDO PRINCIPAL DE acordamos casados um ao outro
a quantidade de hot RUIM desnecessária junto a explicação desnecessária sobre o trabalho incrivelmente chato da nia
quase não terminei
foi só na esperança de pode ser bom no final. é bom se você quiser um filme do hallmark sem sal
TLDR: mais um caso de livro construído em cima de tropes que não funciona
October 13, 2025
This book was everything I didn’t know I needed🤎💜🧡 Cozy, heartfelt, and full of magic, it felt like my favorite rom-coms but with a whimsical twist. Stella Rune had that perfect small-town, magical charm, the kind of setting that makes you want to curl up with a blanket and never stop reading. 🍂
I loved watching Lochlan and Nia’s relationship unfold, they felt so real and relatable, and I was cheering for them every step of the way. It was so fun seeing how the animals contributed to the story as well 🥹 If you’re in the mood for witchy vibes, cozy small-town charm, and a romance that’ll make you melt, this one deserves a spot on your TBR🫶
I loved watching Lochlan and Nia’s relationship unfold, they felt so real and relatable, and I was cheering for them every step of the way. It was so fun seeing how the animals contributed to the story as well 🥹 If you’re in the mood for witchy vibes, cozy small-town charm, and a romance that’ll make you melt, this one deserves a spot on your TBR🫶
October 2, 2025
I was kicking my feet and screaming when I got this ARC!
Well I adore @authorllcampbell and everything she writes! I was so excited when she started her Tricky Magic series (that I love) and now this series too. It’s fun, has a good magic system, and I found myself smiling throughout the book.
This book is a small-town, witchy romance. It starts with our main characters Nia and Lochlan waking up naked in a field and married. This accidental marriage starts the course of this love story of these characters finding their home in each other.
Nia is our badass leading lady who’s hiding her past while trying to make a name for herself and to make her town a better place. Let me tell you how nice it is to read about a shadow mommy in a sea of shadow daddies?! (This is no way a slight against shadow daddies, I eat those stories up in a heartbeat!) Lochlan is our shy plant daddy trying to find his place in the world after he’s constantly been alone. These two try to navigate this unexpected marriage and what it means to have someone in your corner.
This book was the perfect way to kick off the fall season for me! It’s coming out October 14th and I’m encouraging everyone to read this!
Well I adore @authorllcampbell and everything she writes! I was so excited when she started her Tricky Magic series (that I love) and now this series too. It’s fun, has a good magic system, and I found myself smiling throughout the book.
This book is a small-town, witchy romance. It starts with our main characters Nia and Lochlan waking up naked in a field and married. This accidental marriage starts the course of this love story of these characters finding their home in each other.
Nia is our badass leading lady who’s hiding her past while trying to make a name for herself and to make her town a better place. Let me tell you how nice it is to read about a shadow mommy in a sea of shadow daddies?! (This is no way a slight against shadow daddies, I eat those stories up in a heartbeat!) Lochlan is our shy plant daddy trying to find his place in the world after he’s constantly been alone. These two try to navigate this unexpected marriage and what it means to have someone in your corner.
This book was the perfect way to kick off the fall season for me! It’s coming out October 14th and I’m encouraging everyone to read this!
October 7, 2025
This book was perfect for kicking off my spooky season reads! 🎃 It was filled with all the cosy, witchy, small-town romance vibes that I absolutely adore!
This book follows Nia, our fiercely independent FMC who’s sworn off love & marriage, and Lochlan, our shy & awkward MMC who has a soft spot for his ducks, dog & plants 🍂 Lochlan is actually the cutest, sweetest MMC I have read in a while - I just want to wrap him in a hug 🥹
It was such a refreshing change of pace to see an FMC be a strong, shadow-magic wielder 🖤 The connection that grows between Nia & Lochlan throughout this book was heart-warming!
This book was a perfect blend of cosy and spicy, with a twisty plot that kept me hooked throughout & both characters going through healing journeys from differing past traumas!🫶🏻
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this ARC!
This book follows Nia, our fiercely independent FMC who’s sworn off love & marriage, and Lochlan, our shy & awkward MMC who has a soft spot for his ducks, dog & plants 🍂 Lochlan is actually the cutest, sweetest MMC I have read in a while - I just want to wrap him in a hug 🥹
It was such a refreshing change of pace to see an FMC be a strong, shadow-magic wielder 🖤 The connection that grows between Nia & Lochlan throughout this book was heart-warming!
This book was a perfect blend of cosy and spicy, with a twisty plot that kept me hooked throughout & both characters going through healing journeys from differing past traumas!🫶🏻
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this ARC!
October 6, 2025
Hand-fasting and Other Hazards gives Gilmore Girl cozy vibes, if Gilmore Girls featured spicy witch festivals instead of town festivals.
Lochlan is perfect, swoon-worthy, and not even remotely morally gray. Nia is definitely morally gray, with a hardened heart, but she loves her people hard. And Jade. The other woman. Just you wait.
I loved the cozy, magical vibes this book gave off. It’s a pretty low-stakes tale, if you consider being married forever to a stranger low-stakes. Also the fact that not everything is quite how it seems that leads our MCs to a HEA makes my heart happy. Definitely would read a spin off - maybe for Thane or Beckett and Ivy? LL Campbell always puts out amazing works with some great spice, so can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
Lochlan is perfect, swoon-worthy, and not even remotely morally gray. Nia is definitely morally gray, with a hardened heart, but she loves her people hard. And Jade. The other woman. Just you wait.
I loved the cozy, magical vibes this book gave off. It’s a pretty low-stakes tale, if you consider being married forever to a stranger low-stakes. Also the fact that not everything is quite how it seems that leads our MCs to a HEA makes my heart happy. Definitely would read a spin off - maybe for Thane or Beckett and Ivy? LL Campbell always puts out amazing works with some great spice, so can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
October 6, 2025
Thank you so much LL Campbell for the ARC opportunity. 🫶🏿
I missed LL Campbell's writing so much. She always creates such unique magical worlds.
This book was the perfect fall read. If you like romantic fantasy, witches, suspense, an immersive world building, a great magic system and cast of characters, you need to read this!
I was laughing and smiling for nearly the entirety of the story. I wish I was one of the characters. The small town of Stella Rune with its community vibes gave me life. The chemistry and tension between Nia and Lochlan was hot as f*ck.
🪄 Forced/Accidental marriage
🪄 Shadow mommy and Plant daddy
🪄 He falls first / She falls harder
🪄 He cooks for her
🪄 Bad*ss FMC
🪄 Found family
I hope we'll get a book on Becket and another one on Thane.
I missed LL Campbell's writing so much. She always creates such unique magical worlds.
This book was the perfect fall read. If you like romantic fantasy, witches, suspense, an immersive world building, a great magic system and cast of characters, you need to read this!
I was laughing and smiling for nearly the entirety of the story. I wish I was one of the characters. The small town of Stella Rune with its community vibes gave me life. The chemistry and tension between Nia and Lochlan was hot as f*ck.
🪄 Forced/Accidental marriage
🪄 Shadow mommy and Plant daddy
🪄 He falls first / She falls harder
🪄 He cooks for her
🪄 Bad*ss FMC
🪄 Found family
I hope we'll get a book on Becket and another one on Thane.
October 9, 2025
If you love plant and shadow magic , accidental marriages and meddling in -laws then you will love this latest book from LL Campbell. Loc and Nia are easy to connect with as main characters and the story is in a well written and interesting setting. I love the besties of the two main characters and I hope the next story is about their romance. I enjoyed this authors first two books (the decorative hardback books are gorgeous ) and this newest story did not disappoint. Her writing style is perfection and the story moves along at a comfortable pace.
October 22, 2025
I loved this book so much 😍 Perfect for spooky season! 🎃 Lochlan and Nia are perfect together, I'm completely hooked! ✨ Lochlan had me like 🫠🫠🫠 the whole book! A plant daddy who has a super cute dog and ducks as pets??? 🫠 I loved the plot and the little clues they dropped with the journal entries! P.S. Betting my chances in an Ivy and Becket's book? 👀👀👀
December 11, 2025
Really enjoyed it.
Only con is that I do wish we got more depth in it and for the characters.
Only con is that I do wish we got more depth in it and for the characters.
November 21, 2025
3.5 rounded down. super cute and romantic story. some plot points were a little too glossed over making character motivations a bit confusing at times. I still for example don't really understand what happened to Nia's mom. her relationship with her dad was almost creepy at times, his interest in her love life kind of gave me the ick. overall though her and Lochlan were awesome MCs.
October 4, 2025
Umm a perfect cozy magical book. I ate this up Nia and Lochlan are perfect.
Lochlan is cinnamon roll precious angel who has ducks, a dog, herbal witch and makes sure she has eaten.
Nia is a little morally grey and doesn’t believe in marriage or love.
✨forced marriage and proximity
✨hidden magic systems
✨found family
✨he falls first- she falls harder
Lochlan is cinnamon roll precious angel who has ducks, a dog, herbal witch and makes sure she has eaten.
Nia is a little morally grey and doesn’t believe in marriage or love.
✨forced marriage and proximity
✨hidden magic systems
✨found family
✨he falls first- she falls harder
September 27, 2025
Ideal pick for anyone who loves witchy/paranormal romance, tension, small town charm, emotional arcs, and a mix of comedy and spice. I loved this book and wish I had more to read. I'm hoping for Beckett to have his own book. He was a delightful side character.
Little things had me snickering. Lochlan eyeballing a particular gargoyle or Nia's shit list. Others times I found myself muttering, "my resolve wouldn't have lasted", the man cooks dinner, has a dog and ducks. I mean the three D's. 😊 But so many times I wanted to wrap both characters in a hug and tell them they will heal.
Campbell wrote so much depth into this book. Not just with the world building, use of magic and characters, but their emotional healing, trust and vulnerability.
Perfect fall vibes, and it's release is just in time for Samhain
Accidental Marriage
Forced Proximity
Slow Burn
Magical Bargain
Plant Daddy
Shadow Mommy
Thank you L.L. Campbell for this ARC.
I received an advanced reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Little things had me snickering. Lochlan eyeballing a particular gargoyle or Nia's shit list. Others times I found myself muttering, "my resolve wouldn't have lasted", the man cooks dinner, has a dog and ducks. I mean the three D's. 😊 But so many times I wanted to wrap both characters in a hug and tell them they will heal.
Campbell wrote so much depth into this book. Not just with the world building, use of magic and characters, but their emotional healing, trust and vulnerability.
Perfect fall vibes, and it's release is just in time for Samhain
Accidental Marriage
Forced Proximity
Slow Burn
Magical Bargain
Plant Daddy
Shadow Mommy
Thank you L.L. Campbell for this ARC.
I received an advanced reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 4, 2025
Holy shittttt. I LOVED this book, Lochlan and Nia are such a vibe. Such an easy book do dive into and get absolutely immersed in their world. I love a book I can truly escape into and this ticked all the boxes. Also, the spice is TOP TIER 🥵
October 13, 2025
Where do I begin? L. and the stories she tells have a very special place in my heart. Her street team was the first one I was ever a part of, and a big reason why I finally made an account on bookstagram. I will never get over the wonderful, magical, and engaging worlds and characters she creates. If you know me, you know I LOVE Tricky Magic, and to no one's surprise, I LOVED HF&OH.
Nia and Lochlan's story is full of cozy vibes, mystery, fun magic, an accidental marriage, and enough angst and spice to keep you on the edge of your seat, waiting for more😏 I mean, waking up naked, in a field, with the walking personification of "yearning"?? Who wouldn't want that?! We have a shadow mommy and a plant daddy who were made for each other, and their journey to figuring that out is definitely a fun one.
'"Yes, love," she teased, warmth threading through her voice as she tossed his own endearment back at him. The word settled over him like a spell, quiet and powerful. Love. He held on to that possibility all the way home.'
Not only do we have this relationship brewing between our two main witches, but, as always, L. has a GREAT cast of side characters that you grow to love just as much as the mains. Becket, Ivy, Thane?! Gods Thane!!!🫠 There are so many little scenes and tidbits in this story that contribute to the lore and world building, which could totally be expanded upon, and I can. not. freaking. wait. to see what L. does with them!
“No, no— don’t Beck me.” Becket leaned forward, all keen eyes and mischief. “You’re blushing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you blush over a girl. This is fantastic.”
If you're looking for a fall read and you like, thought out magic systems, mysterious lore, mail delivered by cats, fake "dating", a dog dad whose favorite thing is to take care of his wife, and a motorcycle riding baddie who doesn't trust easily, then PLEASEEEE give this baby a try!!
Nia and Lochlan's story is full of cozy vibes, mystery, fun magic, an accidental marriage, and enough angst and spice to keep you on the edge of your seat, waiting for more😏 I mean, waking up naked, in a field, with the walking personification of "yearning"?? Who wouldn't want that?! We have a shadow mommy and a plant daddy who were made for each other, and their journey to figuring that out is definitely a fun one.
'"Yes, love," she teased, warmth threading through her voice as she tossed his own endearment back at him. The word settled over him like a spell, quiet and powerful. Love. He held on to that possibility all the way home.'
Not only do we have this relationship brewing between our two main witches, but, as always, L. has a GREAT cast of side characters that you grow to love just as much as the mains. Becket, Ivy, Thane?! Gods Thane!!!🫠 There are so many little scenes and tidbits in this story that contribute to the lore and world building, which could totally be expanded upon, and I can. not. freaking. wait. to see what L. does with them!
“No, no— don’t Beck me.” Becket leaned forward, all keen eyes and mischief. “You’re blushing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you blush over a girl. This is fantastic.”
If you're looking for a fall read and you like, thought out magic systems, mysterious lore, mail delivered by cats, fake "dating", a dog dad whose favorite thing is to take care of his wife, and a motorcycle riding baddie who doesn't trust easily, then PLEASEEEE give this baby a try!!
September 24, 2025
From the very first page, this story wrapped me up like a favorite autumn sweater and never let go. I barely put it down once.
The village of Stella Rune feels so alive. Fesatival lights, crisp air, that warm, small-town magic that makes you want to pack a bag and move in. Every scene radiates cozy fall vibes, yet there’s a gentle edge of excitement that keeps the pages flying.
Nia and Lochlan? Absolute perfection. Their dynamic is everything I crave: funny, tender, a little bit spicy, and completely natural, like two puzzle pieces finally clicking together. Their banter made me laugh out loud, their quiet moments made me melt, and their chemistry is the kind that makes you believe in soulmates.
The balance of cozy and spice is spot-on. Just enough heat to keep a grin on your face, never so much that it overwhelms the heart of the story.
If you’re searching for a book that feels like an autumn festival wrapped in a love story, with characters you’ll root for and a setting you’ll want to live in, this is it. Hand-Fasting and Other Hazards is a five-star, can’t-put-down read I’ll be recommending all season long. 🍂✨
The village of Stella Rune feels so alive. Fesatival lights, crisp air, that warm, small-town magic that makes you want to pack a bag and move in. Every scene radiates cozy fall vibes, yet there’s a gentle edge of excitement that keeps the pages flying.
Nia and Lochlan? Absolute perfection. Their dynamic is everything I crave: funny, tender, a little bit spicy, and completely natural, like two puzzle pieces finally clicking together. Their banter made me laugh out loud, their quiet moments made me melt, and their chemistry is the kind that makes you believe in soulmates.
The balance of cozy and spice is spot-on. Just enough heat to keep a grin on your face, never so much that it overwhelms the heart of the story.
If you’re searching for a book that feels like an autumn festival wrapped in a love story, with characters you’ll root for and a setting you’ll want to live in, this is it. Hand-Fasting and Other Hazards is a five-star, can’t-put-down read I’ll be recommending all season long. 🍂✨
September 26, 2025
ARC Review: Oh WOW! If I could give this book 6 stars I would! I’m a reader who needs to change pace every once in a while to keep me invested in reading and boy was this exactly what I needed. I loved being transported to the quaint town Stella Rune and experiencing Nia and Lochlan’s life together (and Jade and the ducks of course).
This is a cozy fall must read for those who enjoy the he falls first but she falls harder and morally gray FMC, plus magic, witches and a secret that must be revealed for everything to turn out right. And for my spice lovers don’t worry, she’s got that too! 🤭
This is a cozy fall must read for those who enjoy the he falls first but she falls harder and morally gray FMC, plus magic, witches and a secret that must be revealed for everything to turn out right. And for my spice lovers don’t worry, she’s got that too! 🤭
October 31, 2025
"I'm sorry, I should've fed you sooner" this man gets it
September 22, 2025
This was such a super cute read! It’s got all the spooky cozy vibes that make it the perfect book to curl up with this fall. Think witchy small town charm, a sprinkle of magic, and that warm Stars Hollow-esque atmosphere that makes you want to move right in. The mix of humor, heart, and a little bit of spooky fun made it such an enjoyable escape—I couldn’t stop smiling while reading. If you’re looking for a light, witchy cozy to kick off your autumn TBR, this is it. 🍂🕯️✨
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