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A Curse for Christmas Past: A Novel
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
7 days and 05:37:04
50 copies available
U.S. only
For fans of Good Spirits, Hallmark holiday movies, and general witchy shenanigans, this charming holiday romance follows a woman with a curse and the handsome witch she reluctantly enlists to help her break it.
Hayleigh Gray is cursed. For real.
After losing her job, her savings, and her relationship, it's the discovery of a lump on her beloved horse’s neck that finally sends Hayleigh looking for solutions. And she knows where to Elk Ridge, Washington, a seemingly innocuous small town with a cliched winter festival and a whole lot of witches.
There, she crosses paths with Stephan Midwinter, an animal-rescuing artist with a reputation a mile long and a whole lot of magic that Hayleigh wants nothing to do with. Adamant that his coven wasn’t involved in the curse, he offers to help her find the real culprit and break the curse before Christmas Day.
As Hayleigh and Stephan face ancestral secrets, mischievous holiday spirits, and being snowed into the world’s kitschiest holiday train B&B, Hayleigh finds her heart opening to magic, and to Stephan.
But Stephan and his way of life are in direct opposition to everything she’s been taught to want. With the curse amping up and time running out, will Hayleigh embrace a new kind of holiday magic, or will she be trapped in the patterns of Christmas past?
Hayleigh Gray is cursed. For real.
After losing her job, her savings, and her relationship, it's the discovery of a lump on her beloved horse’s neck that finally sends Hayleigh looking for solutions. And she knows where to Elk Ridge, Washington, a seemingly innocuous small town with a cliched winter festival and a whole lot of witches.
There, she crosses paths with Stephan Midwinter, an animal-rescuing artist with a reputation a mile long and a whole lot of magic that Hayleigh wants nothing to do with. Adamant that his coven wasn’t involved in the curse, he offers to help her find the real culprit and break the curse before Christmas Day.
As Hayleigh and Stephan face ancestral secrets, mischievous holiday spirits, and being snowed into the world’s kitschiest holiday train B&B, Hayleigh finds her heart opening to magic, and to Stephan.
But Stephan and his way of life are in direct opposition to everything she’s been taught to want. With the curse amping up and time running out, will Hayleigh embrace a new kind of holiday magic, or will she be trapped in the patterns of Christmas past?
Audible Audio
Published September 22, 2026
About the author
Morgan Lockhart
6 books115 followersMorgan's debut novel, A Spell for Midwinter's Heart, first in the Elk Ridge series, released 2025 with the second, A Curse for Christmas Past, out fall 2026.
Having spent almost twenty years filling digital worlds with stories, she has had the fortune of being involved in many blockbuster and critically acclaimed video games. Her work has been recognized with wins and nominations from GLAAD, BAFTA, WGA, the Game Awards, and more.
She writes speculative fiction that explores the messy business of being human. Working across fantasy, magical realism, romance, science fiction, and horror (and often the spaces between), her stories center complicated characters confronting the social, psychological, and generally supernatural forces shaping their lives. With wit, imagination, and an interest in the strange and unsettling, she explores identity, belonging, power, and the ways our world can become extraordinary. Her work often centers on characters as neurodiverse as she is.
She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her partner, children, and pack of fur babies.
Having spent almost twenty years filling digital worlds with stories, she has had the fortune of being involved in many blockbuster and critically acclaimed video games. Her work has been recognized with wins and nominations from GLAAD, BAFTA, WGA, the Game Awards, and more.
She writes speculative fiction that explores the messy business of being human. Working across fantasy, magical realism, romance, science fiction, and horror (and often the spaces between), her stories center complicated characters confronting the social, psychological, and generally supernatural forces shaping their lives. With wit, imagination, and an interest in the strange and unsettling, she explores identity, belonging, power, and the ways our world can become extraordinary. Her work often centers on characters as neurodiverse as she is.
She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her partner, children, and pack of fur babies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
October 9, 2026
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
ok listen i know i said spooky season=spooky tbr, but 1) it's the -ber months so all things seasonal go and technically, this is a christmas witchy novel since our fmc hayleigh is cursed, and 2) my libby audiobook hold is expiring so...
a curse for christmas past was a great romance novel not just because there’s a wonderfully sexy (and magical!) love interest, but because there’s character development and growth for our fmc, in addition to an overarching plot!
i enjoyed the eastern european magic and cultural aspects that were woven into the story✨
as for the audiobook, the narrator did a great job! i wish it was a duet narration, or even dual, but this was great nonetheless.
ok listen i know i said spooky season=spooky tbr, but 1) it's the -ber months so all things seasonal go and technically, this is a christmas witchy novel since our fmc hayleigh is cursed, and 2) my libby audiobook hold is expiring so...
a curse for christmas past was a great romance novel not just because there’s a wonderfully sexy (and magical!) love interest, but because there’s character development and growth for our fmc, in addition to an overarching plot!
i enjoyed the eastern european magic and cultural aspects that were woven into the story✨
as for the audiobook, the narrator did a great job! i wish it was a duet narration, or even dual, but this was great nonetheless.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✨🎄🪄 A Curse for Christmas Past 🪄🎄✨
Aw, this was super cute! And the spice was 🔥🥵
Stephan?? Mountain daddy lumberjack, I didn’t know I needed. And the fact that he loves animals just made him hotter ☺️
Kayleigh is really going through it in this book. I can see why some people might read her as entitled or a little bratty, but I honestly just felt bad for her. Her situation, especially with her family, was rough. I wanted to punch her dad the entire time, and her mom did absolutely nothing to help, which made it even more frustrating.
The ending was perfect and wrapped up nicely! Overall this was such a fun, mostly lighthearted read.
💖 What to Expect
• Small town
• Witch x non believer
• Curse breaking
• Holiday festival
• Snowed in proximity
• Animal loving MMC
• Redemption
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 22, 2026
Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Aw, this was super cute! And the spice was 🔥🥵
Stephan?? Mountain daddy lumberjack, I didn’t know I needed. And the fact that he loves animals just made him hotter ☺️
Kayleigh is really going through it in this book. I can see why some people might read her as entitled or a little bratty, but I honestly just felt bad for her. Her situation, especially with her family, was rough. I wanted to punch her dad the entire time, and her mom did absolutely nothing to help, which made it even more frustrating.
The ending was perfect and wrapped up nicely! Overall this was such a fun, mostly lighthearted read.
💖 What to Expect
• Small town
• Witch x non believer
• Curse breaking
• Holiday festival
• Snowed in proximity
• Animal loving MMC
• Redemption
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 22, 2026
Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
October 13, 2026
This was a somewhat challenging book. For at least the first 50% of the book, the FMC Hayleigh was very unlikable. Yet, the MMC Stephen was immediately drawn to her and the only thing I could think of was "why?" Given how disagreeable Hayleigh was during the beginning of this book, it certainly made it a difficult book to get into and when she's supposed to be drawing closer to Stephen, it just felt unlikely and not believable due to her attitude.
Hayleigh is cursed and there is quite a bit of Ukrainian folklore peppered throughout as part of this curse, her past, and her own experiences. In addition, this background obviously peppered throughout her own story and more importantly her mother's who valued financial security over everything else including love and respect.
In addition, it felt a bit disjointed at times. There is open door spicy times but then in the next breath she's talking about religion and how that does or does not work within the context of witchcraft (Stephen and his family are witches). Then there was the pacing. It went from her arriving in town, meeting Stephen, to traveling with him, sleeping with him, and him wanting her to move in within the span of two days. I get insta-love is fast but dang, that fast?
It was a unique story in terms of the folklore and magic. So I'll give it that. But the issues with this story meant it was a challenging one to like. So while not horrible, it also was not great. It was just okay. Three stars.
Hayleigh is cursed and there is quite a bit of Ukrainian folklore peppered throughout as part of this curse, her past, and her own experiences. In addition, this background obviously peppered throughout her own story and more importantly her mother's who valued financial security over everything else including love and respect.
In addition, it felt a bit disjointed at times. There is open door spicy times but then in the next breath she's talking about religion and how that does or does not work within the context of witchcraft (Stephen and his family are witches). Then there was the pacing. It went from her arriving in town, meeting Stephen, to traveling with him, sleeping with him, and him wanting her to move in within the span of two days. I get insta-love is fast but dang, that fast?
It was a unique story in terms of the folklore and magic. So I'll give it that. But the issues with this story meant it was a challenging one to like. So while not horrible, it also was not great. It was just okay. Three stars.
September 29, 2026
Despite the rocky beginning this was a cute and heartfelt book. I did love Hayleigh and was rooting for her, but I never liked her. I did appreciate that she was so flawed but eh? Just didn’t like her which hindered my enjoyment for this book. I also couldn’t get past the rocky beginning.
September 22, 2026
Hayleigh spends the first part of this book having the kind of week where the universe keeps making eye contact before throwing another brick through the window. She loses the job, loses the relationship, watches her savings disappear, and then her beloved horse develops a lump. At that point I wasn't even questioning whether she was cursed. I was ready to help her pack for Witch Town myself.
The funniest part is that she marches into Elk Ridge fully prepared to blame witches for everything, while the witches are basically standing there going, "Can everyone calm down for five minutes?" Enter Stephan Midwinter, who somehow manages to be an artist, an animal rescuer, an actual witch, and the human equivalent of someone handing you hot cocoa after you've cried in a parking lot. Meanwhile Hayleigh keeps looking at this walking green flag like he's probably another problem she has to solve.
I did spend a good chunk of the beginning feeling like everyone else had gotten the group chat before I arrived. People would reference things that clearly mattered, Hayleigh had history with half the town, and I kept nodding along like I totally knew what was happening. Eventually everything clicked, but there were definitely moments where I felt like I'd wandered into Christmas dinner halfway through dessert.
Stephan deserved an award for patience alone. This man rescues animals for a living, which honestly explains why dealing with Hayleigh probably felt familiar. She has the exact personality type that hears, "Maybe don't jump to conclusions," and immediately starts sprinting toward three new conclusions. Watching them stumble through breaking curses, dodging magical chaos, and getting snowed into what might be the most aggressively festive train B&B ever created was equal parts adorable and exhausting.
The holiday magic was genuinely fun, though. Mischievous spirits, witches, folklore, snowy festivals... it all had that cozy Hallmark feeling, except someone remembered to invite Baba Yaga. Every time I thought we'd settled into simple Christmas romance territory, another magical creature wandered in like it had an appointment.
What surprised me most was that underneath all the holiday sparkle, Hayleigh's story is really about realizing how much of her life has been spent trying to become the version of herself other people wanted. That landed. Sometimes you get so busy chasing someone else's definition of success that you don't notice you've become miserable until the universe practically throws a curse-shaped intervention at you.
This ended up being a solid 3-star read for me. Stephan absolutely carried this book on his broad, lumberjack witch shoulders, and I loved the festive setting, but I never fully connected with everything that was happening around the romance. I still had a cozy time, though, and now I kind of want every Christmas movie to include at least one sarcastic witch and an animal-loving magical handyman.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Convincing Me That Even Magical Curses Should Probably Leave Innocent Horses Out of It
And thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC. I came for a cozy Christmas romance, accidentally signed up for witches, folklore, holiday spirits, and one extremely attractive magical man rescuing both animals and emotionally exhausted women. Frankly, that's a festive surprise I can live with.
The funniest part is that she marches into Elk Ridge fully prepared to blame witches for everything, while the witches are basically standing there going, "Can everyone calm down for five minutes?" Enter Stephan Midwinter, who somehow manages to be an artist, an animal rescuer, an actual witch, and the human equivalent of someone handing you hot cocoa after you've cried in a parking lot. Meanwhile Hayleigh keeps looking at this walking green flag like he's probably another problem she has to solve.
I did spend a good chunk of the beginning feeling like everyone else had gotten the group chat before I arrived. People would reference things that clearly mattered, Hayleigh had history with half the town, and I kept nodding along like I totally knew what was happening. Eventually everything clicked, but there were definitely moments where I felt like I'd wandered into Christmas dinner halfway through dessert.
Stephan deserved an award for patience alone. This man rescues animals for a living, which honestly explains why dealing with Hayleigh probably felt familiar. She has the exact personality type that hears, "Maybe don't jump to conclusions," and immediately starts sprinting toward three new conclusions. Watching them stumble through breaking curses, dodging magical chaos, and getting snowed into what might be the most aggressively festive train B&B ever created was equal parts adorable and exhausting.
The holiday magic was genuinely fun, though. Mischievous spirits, witches, folklore, snowy festivals... it all had that cozy Hallmark feeling, except someone remembered to invite Baba Yaga. Every time I thought we'd settled into simple Christmas romance territory, another magical creature wandered in like it had an appointment.
What surprised me most was that underneath all the holiday sparkle, Hayleigh's story is really about realizing how much of her life has been spent trying to become the version of herself other people wanted. That landed. Sometimes you get so busy chasing someone else's definition of success that you don't notice you've become miserable until the universe practically throws a curse-shaped intervention at you.
This ended up being a solid 3-star read for me. Stephan absolutely carried this book on his broad, lumberjack witch shoulders, and I loved the festive setting, but I never fully connected with everything that was happening around the romance. I still had a cozy time, though, and now I kind of want every Christmas movie to include at least one sarcastic witch and an animal-loving magical handyman.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Convincing Me That Even Magical Curses Should Probably Leave Innocent Horses Out of It
And thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC. I came for a cozy Christmas romance, accidentally signed up for witches, folklore, holiday spirits, and one extremely attractive magical man rescuing both animals and emotionally exhausted women. Frankly, that's a festive surprise I can live with.
October 12, 2026
Synopsis: 🎄🎅🏼🐎🧙🏼♀️
Hayleigh Gray is having the WORST time. She’s lost her job, her savings, and her relationship, and when she discovers a lump on her beloved horse’s neck, she’s officially had enough. Convinced she’s cursed (and honestly, girl, I would be questioning the universe, too 😭), she heads to Elk Ridge, Washington, hoping to find a way to break it.
What she finds? A small town full of witches, Christmas festivities, and Stephan Midwinter—a mysterious, animal-rescuing artist with a reputation and a whole lot of magic. He insists his coven isn’t responsible for Hayleigh’s curse, but he’s willing to help her figure out what’s going on before Christmas Day.
AND NOW WE HAVE A DEADLINE?! 🎄😂
I absolutely loved the combination of Christmas magic, witches, animals, and romance. The small-town winter festival setting was such a fun backdrop, and I am ALWAYS going to be a sucker for a character who loves animals. Give me the animal rescuer, give me the magic, give me the holiday vibes, give me EVERYTHING! If you love witchy vibes, Christmas magic, small-town festivals, and a little romance sprinkled in, add this one to your holiday TBR! 🎄📚✨
And yes, I’m officially ready for more Christmas books. It’s never too early, y’all. 😂❤️
Thank you NetGalley, Dutton, & the author for my copy of this ARC! All opinions are my own.
Hayleigh Gray is having the WORST time. She’s lost her job, her savings, and her relationship, and when she discovers a lump on her beloved horse’s neck, she’s officially had enough. Convinced she’s cursed (and honestly, girl, I would be questioning the universe, too 😭), she heads to Elk Ridge, Washington, hoping to find a way to break it.
What she finds? A small town full of witches, Christmas festivities, and Stephan Midwinter—a mysterious, animal-rescuing artist with a reputation and a whole lot of magic. He insists his coven isn’t responsible for Hayleigh’s curse, but he’s willing to help her figure out what’s going on before Christmas Day.
AND NOW WE HAVE A DEADLINE?! 🎄😂
I absolutely loved the combination of Christmas magic, witches, animals, and romance. The small-town winter festival setting was such a fun backdrop, and I am ALWAYS going to be a sucker for a character who loves animals. Give me the animal rescuer, give me the magic, give me the holiday vibes, give me EVERYTHING! If you love witchy vibes, Christmas magic, small-town festivals, and a little romance sprinkled in, add this one to your holiday TBR! 🎄📚✨
And yes, I’m officially ready for more Christmas books. It’s never too early, y’all. 😂❤️
Thank you NetGalley, Dutton, & the author for my copy of this ARC! All opinions are my own.
Read
September 29, 2026A Curse for Christmas Past has a fun paranormal world, but I'd recommend you read a A Spell For Midwinter’s Heart before diving in!
A Curse for Christmas Past began with some awkward recap that made me suspect it could be part of a series, or a set of interconnected standalone books? Is Hayleigh a character from A Spell For Midwinter’s Heart, which I haven’t read? If so, please tell me in comments because I’m still confused.
What I did understand: A Curse for Christmas Past opens with main character Hayleigh unemployed, dumped by her ex, and the victim of some sort of financial fraud. She decides that a curse is to blame that the local Elk Ridge Coven is somehow responsible for her problems. So Hayleigh heads to speak to Stephan Midwinter.
When Hayleigh is told that she has to figure out who cursed her in order to break the curse, she and Stephan jump on the case.
In the process Hayleigh has some important revelations about how she’s always tried to please others rather than spend time firing out what she wants out of her life.
Thanks to Dutton for the advance copy!
A Curse for Christmas Past began with some awkward recap that made me suspect it could be part of a series, or a set of interconnected standalone books? Is Hayleigh a character from A Spell For Midwinter’s Heart, which I haven’t read? If so, please tell me in comments because I’m still confused.
What I did understand: A Curse for Christmas Past opens with main character Hayleigh unemployed, dumped by her ex, and the victim of some sort of financial fraud. She decides that a curse is to blame that the local Elk Ridge Coven is somehow responsible for her problems. So Hayleigh heads to speak to Stephan Midwinter.
When Hayleigh is told that she has to figure out who cursed her in order to break the curse, she and Stephan jump on the case.
In the process Hayleigh has some important revelations about how she’s always tried to please others rather than spend time firing out what she wants out of her life.
Thanks to Dutton for the advance copy!
Read
May 12, 2026ARC Received
September 8, 2026
I thought this was going to be really cute and heartwarming and magical but it just didn’t do anything for me at all. I was just kind of bored for the entire book? The plot was a bit odd, I felt like I was missing pieces of information. This was also barely Christmassy…
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 30, 2026
I simply loved A Curse for Christmas Past!
After reading A Spell for Midwinters Heart last Christmas, and remembering how much I fell in love with it, I was excited to be approved for this ARC! This was cute, magical and a little spicy but it was also deeper than that.
It begins with the female main character Hayleigh realising she’s cursed, and enlists the help of Stephan Midwinter to help her break it.
Hayleigh was flawed and a little unlikeable to begin with but it made for a really satisfying character arc. I enjoyed learning about her childhood and it gave a good understanding of why she was the way that she was.
I’m a sucker for found family and mythical creatures, which were strong themes throughout this book and complimented the plot in a special way.
I did think that the attraction between Hayleigh and Stephan was super quick, but it still worked, and contributed nicely to the character arcs.
A Curse of Christmas Past was full of love, acceptance, healing and a bit of spice. I highly recommend this one for lovers of magical and romantic Christmas stories. I’d actually read it any time of the year!
Thanks so much Dutton and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.
After reading A Spell for Midwinters Heart last Christmas, and remembering how much I fell in love with it, I was excited to be approved for this ARC! This was cute, magical and a little spicy but it was also deeper than that.
It begins with the female main character Hayleigh realising she’s cursed, and enlists the help of Stephan Midwinter to help her break it.
Hayleigh was flawed and a little unlikeable to begin with but it made for a really satisfying character arc. I enjoyed learning about her childhood and it gave a good understanding of why she was the way that she was.
I’m a sucker for found family and mythical creatures, which were strong themes throughout this book and complimented the plot in a special way.
I did think that the attraction between Hayleigh and Stephan was super quick, but it still worked, and contributed nicely to the character arcs.
A Curse of Christmas Past was full of love, acceptance, healing and a bit of spice. I highly recommend this one for lovers of magical and romantic Christmas stories. I’d actually read it any time of the year!
Thanks so much Dutton and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.
August 31, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC for an honest review.
Grumpy sunshine trope - check
Hot male lead - check
Witches - check
Christmas / Yule cozy vibes - check
Character growth - check
Adorable romance - check
What more could you want? Perfect for a witchy cozy romance Christmas vibe, out September 22!
Grumpy sunshine trope - check
Hot male lead - check
Witches - check
Christmas / Yule cozy vibes - check
Character growth - check
Adorable romance - check
What more could you want? Perfect for a witchy cozy romance Christmas vibe, out September 22!
September 27, 2026
A Curse for Christmas Past by Morgan Lockhart is the kind of holiday romance that takes everything I love about Christmas coziness and adds a little witchy chaos, a little mystery, and a whole lot of magic.
Hayleigh Gray is having what can only be described as a spectacular run of bad luck. Job? Gone. Savings? Not looking great. Relationship? Over. But when something happens to her beloved horse, she starts to wonder if all of this is more than just terrible luck. Turns out, Hayleigh is cursed—and finding a way to break it sends her straight to Elk Ridge, Washington, a small town full of Christmas festivities, witches, and one very intriguing man.
Stephan Midwinter was such a fun romantic lead. He's an artist, an animal rescuer, a witch, and exactly the kind of person Hayleigh probably shouldn't be drawn to considering how wary she is of magic. Their dynamic worked so well because the romance isn't simply about attraction; Stephan represents a life completely different from the one Hayleigh thought she was supposed to want.
I especially loved the combination of romance and magical mystery. There are ancestral secrets to uncover, a curse with a rapidly approaching Christmas deadline, mischievous holiday spirits, and plenty of magical shenanigans along the way. And then there is the kitschy holiday train B&B. Being snowed in there together? Absolutely ridiculous in the very best Christmas-romance way.
Underneath all of the holiday fun, though, there's a lovely story about questioning the expectations we've inherited and deciding which ones actually deserve a place in our lives. Hayleigh has to figure out whether holding onto what is familiar is really worth sacrificing something unexpected that could make her happy. That gave the story a little more emotional depth beneath all the Christmas sparkle.
Cozy, romantic, magical, and wonderfully festive, A Curse for Christmas Past feels like a Hallmark Christmas movie wandered into a witchy little town and someone cast a spell on it. If Christmas festivals, small-town witches, forced proximity, magical mysteries, and holiday romance sound like your kind of seasonal reading, put this one on your holiday TBR.
I received an advance copy of A Curse for Christmas Past in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Hayleigh Gray is having what can only be described as a spectacular run of bad luck. Job? Gone. Savings? Not looking great. Relationship? Over. But when something happens to her beloved horse, she starts to wonder if all of this is more than just terrible luck. Turns out, Hayleigh is cursed—and finding a way to break it sends her straight to Elk Ridge, Washington, a small town full of Christmas festivities, witches, and one very intriguing man.
Stephan Midwinter was such a fun romantic lead. He's an artist, an animal rescuer, a witch, and exactly the kind of person Hayleigh probably shouldn't be drawn to considering how wary she is of magic. Their dynamic worked so well because the romance isn't simply about attraction; Stephan represents a life completely different from the one Hayleigh thought she was supposed to want.
I especially loved the combination of romance and magical mystery. There are ancestral secrets to uncover, a curse with a rapidly approaching Christmas deadline, mischievous holiday spirits, and plenty of magical shenanigans along the way. And then there is the kitschy holiday train B&B. Being snowed in there together? Absolutely ridiculous in the very best Christmas-romance way.
Underneath all of the holiday fun, though, there's a lovely story about questioning the expectations we've inherited and deciding which ones actually deserve a place in our lives. Hayleigh has to figure out whether holding onto what is familiar is really worth sacrificing something unexpected that could make her happy. That gave the story a little more emotional depth beneath all the Christmas sparkle.
Cozy, romantic, magical, and wonderfully festive, A Curse for Christmas Past feels like a Hallmark Christmas movie wandered into a witchy little town and someone cast a spell on it. If Christmas festivals, small-town witches, forced proximity, magical mysteries, and holiday romance sound like your kind of seasonal reading, put this one on your holiday TBR.
I received an advance copy of A Curse for Christmas Past in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 26, 2026
Exactly the magical holiday read I dream about! This is a bit like a grownup fairy tale with a pinch of romance, spice, ‘good witches,’ and cheer. Think a mashup of The Good Witch, Hallmark, and a romance novel, tied up with a charming bow.
This is a follow-up book to A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart, and I was thrilled to visit the witches of Elk Ridge again! This is a must read for anyone who has read that first book. However, this can be read as a stand-alone and you can jump right into the magic with this book first. I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is a follow-up book to A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart, and I was thrilled to visit the witches of Elk Ridge again! This is a must read for anyone who has read that first book. However, this can be read as a stand-alone and you can jump right into the magic with this book first. I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
October 15, 2026
A Curse for Christmas Past is a must add to your winter TBRs!
I ARC read the first book in this series of interconnected standalones and enjoyed it but I really LOVED this one. It was a solid 4.5 star read in my opinion.
I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t very excited to read a book about Hayleigh after her behavior in A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart but WOW I ended up totally rooting for and invested in her redemption! I thought this was such a fun, loose interpretation of the Scrooge story and I especially loved the incorporation of Ukrainian and Eastern European winter folklore.
Stephan and Hayleigh seemed like a very balanced pair, he really did not let her shy away from the tough stuff which was much needed but he did it in a way that was supportive and didn’t feel too heavy. I think in general I loved that he was optimistic, goofy, and generally a happy go lucky character but written in a way that still felt mature and grounded in reality.
The deep dive into Hayleigh’s family life, her upbringing, and her past in general really helped soften me to her almost immediately in the story. It’s definitely very clear why she was the way she was. I think her character and redemption arcs were done beautifully, she really was a person who seemed to feel stuck in a box but also know she needed to step outside of that place and make things right. I think her journey from point A to point B was paced perfectly and felt realistic of someone trying to unlearn certain behaviors and make positive changes.
Something I love about this series is that it’s such a unique and fresh take on holiday romance. The first book centered around the winter solstice and Yule and was such a refreshing deviation from your typical Christmas romance. This book, while Christmas was a part of it Hayleigh’s winter celebration, it included so many characters from Slavic culture that I had never heard of before and enjoyed learning about. Dvoeverie especially, the concept of dual faith and blending or practicing multiple religions was so interesting to me.
The relationship development in this book was great. It was a slow progression from allies to friends to lovers. Lots of great forced proximity along the way. Stephan was such a solid companion for Hayleigh at every stage and I loved that she let herself rely on him (however reluctant at first) when he offered to help break her curse.
I would highly recommend adding this book to your winter/holiday TBR. Please know that you should read book one first so you can fully understand and appreciate Hayleigh’s story and growth.
Huge thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC to read and review!
I ARC read the first book in this series of interconnected standalones and enjoyed it but I really LOVED this one. It was a solid 4.5 star read in my opinion.
I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t very excited to read a book about Hayleigh after her behavior in A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart but WOW I ended up totally rooting for and invested in her redemption! I thought this was such a fun, loose interpretation of the Scrooge story and I especially loved the incorporation of Ukrainian and Eastern European winter folklore.
Stephan and Hayleigh seemed like a very balanced pair, he really did not let her shy away from the tough stuff which was much needed but he did it in a way that was supportive and didn’t feel too heavy. I think in general I loved that he was optimistic, goofy, and generally a happy go lucky character but written in a way that still felt mature and grounded in reality.
The deep dive into Hayleigh’s family life, her upbringing, and her past in general really helped soften me to her almost immediately in the story. It’s definitely very clear why she was the way she was. I think her character and redemption arcs were done beautifully, she really was a person who seemed to feel stuck in a box but also know she needed to step outside of that place and make things right. I think her journey from point A to point B was paced perfectly and felt realistic of someone trying to unlearn certain behaviors and make positive changes.
Something I love about this series is that it’s such a unique and fresh take on holiday romance. The first book centered around the winter solstice and Yule and was such a refreshing deviation from your typical Christmas romance. This book, while Christmas was a part of it Hayleigh’s winter celebration, it included so many characters from Slavic culture that I had never heard of before and enjoyed learning about. Dvoeverie especially, the concept of dual faith and blending or practicing multiple religions was so interesting to me.
The relationship development in this book was great. It was a slow progression from allies to friends to lovers. Lots of great forced proximity along the way. Stephan was such a solid companion for Hayleigh at every stage and I loved that she let herself rely on him (however reluctant at first) when he offered to help break her curse.
I would highly recommend adding this book to your winter/holiday TBR. Please know that you should read book one first so you can fully understand and appreciate Hayleigh’s story and growth.
Huge thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC to read and review!
September 24, 2026
Loved it
🎄 Cozy Christmas Romance
🧙♀️ Witch x Non-Believer
🎄 Small Town
🪄 Curse Breaking
❄️ Snowed In
🪵 Lumberjack MMC
🐴 Animal Lover
👨👩👧👦 Found Family
🐺 Magical Creatures
🔥 Spice
I loved book 1 (A Spell for Midwinter's Heart) so much and was excited when I found out there was a 2nd interconnected book and then was approved for the ARC.
I felt baddish for Hayleigh from the beginning and my irritation with her ebbed and flowed throughout the entire book which, I think, made her relatable. She is absolutely going through it, and while I could understand why some of her choices were frustrating, getting more of her backstory made it much easier to understand why she was the way she was.
Then there’s Stephan. From the beginning he was too sweet for his own good, and I knew he was going to be the man to finally make a believer out of Hayleigh. This animal-loving mountain man was such a perfect match for her, and watching their relationship develop was adorable.
Stephan being able to mend the bridge between Hayleigh and the Midwinters was everything I wanted it to be and more. It made my heart so happy! Seeing how they were all there for her in the end was everything I wanted for Hayleigh and it made me happy that Stephan was the one to be able to give it to her.
I loved all the magical elements woven throughout the story, but I kinda really liked the Baba Yaga character the most out of all the supernatural characters. The witches, mythical creatures, holiday magic, and snowy small-town setting gave this such a fun, cozy Christmas feel.
The romance moves quickly, but it worked for these two, and I loved seeing Hayleigh find healing, acceptance, and a family that wanted her exactly as she was.
This was such a sweet, magical, fun holiday read with just enough spice. And honestly, I’d happily read this one any time of year!
Thank you, Morgan Lockhart, NetGalley, and Dutton for the ARC.
🎄 Cozy Christmas Romance
🧙♀️ Witch x Non-Believer
🎄 Small Town
🪄 Curse Breaking
❄️ Snowed In
🪵 Lumberjack MMC
🐴 Animal Lover
👨👩👧👦 Found Family
🐺 Magical Creatures
🔥 Spice
I loved book 1 (A Spell for Midwinter's Heart) so much and was excited when I found out there was a 2nd interconnected book and then was approved for the ARC.
I felt baddish for Hayleigh from the beginning and my irritation with her ebbed and flowed throughout the entire book which, I think, made her relatable. She is absolutely going through it, and while I could understand why some of her choices were frustrating, getting more of her backstory made it much easier to understand why she was the way she was.
Then there’s Stephan. From the beginning he was too sweet for his own good, and I knew he was going to be the man to finally make a believer out of Hayleigh. This animal-loving mountain man was such a perfect match for her, and watching their relationship develop was adorable.
Stephan being able to mend the bridge between Hayleigh and the Midwinters was everything I wanted it to be and more. It made my heart so happy! Seeing how they were all there for her in the end was everything I wanted for Hayleigh and it made me happy that Stephan was the one to be able to give it to her.
I loved all the magical elements woven throughout the story, but I kinda really liked the Baba Yaga character the most out of all the supernatural characters. The witches, mythical creatures, holiday magic, and snowy small-town setting gave this such a fun, cozy Christmas feel.
The romance moves quickly, but it worked for these two, and I loved seeing Hayleigh find healing, acceptance, and a family that wanted her exactly as she was.
This was such a sweet, magical, fun holiday read with just enough spice. And honestly, I’d happily read this one any time of year!
Thank you, Morgan Lockhart, NetGalley, and Dutton for the ARC.
November 9, 2026
This cute paranormal romance had all the tropes that can make the genre so much fun: enemies to lovers, insta-lust, snowed in and only one bed. Although this book can be read as a standalone, it became obvious during the first chapter that this was actually a sequel to A Spell for Midwinter's Heart. Unfortunately there is no series label to give a potential reader the heads up. Despite the info dump the premise caught my attention. The mountain man witch that the female main character blames for her curse, is actually a cinnamon roll sweetheart despite the female characters attitude. Her selfish sense of entitlement was a bit off-putting which made it hard for me to connect with her. I felt sorry for the man. But the book does have a bit of witchy magic and a lot of spice, If that is your cup of tea, then this book will keep you hot and happy.
July 26, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the Advance Reader copy of this book.
This book follows Hayleigh Gray as she tries to discover her connection and relationship with magic, specifically a curse she believes was placed on her.
Well initially I didn’t love Hayleigh, I grew to appreciate her and understand her more as the story went on and really liked her by the end of it. Her journey of self discovery happened slowly but surely throughout the book.
AND THE MAGIC! I love a book with magic realism and this did not disappoint!!! There were witches and brownies and folk lore and it was so fun!!! You don’t see a whole lot of Christmas Romances with fantasy woven in but Morgan Lockhart nails it. Also Stephan is so loveable from the first scene he’s featured in and you really can’t help but fall in love with him.
If you are a fantasy fan looking for a fun Christmas read, dive into this!!!
This book follows Hayleigh Gray as she tries to discover her connection and relationship with magic, specifically a curse she believes was placed on her.
Well initially I didn’t love Hayleigh, I grew to appreciate her and understand her more as the story went on and really liked her by the end of it. Her journey of self discovery happened slowly but surely throughout the book.
AND THE MAGIC! I love a book with magic realism and this did not disappoint!!! There were witches and brownies and folk lore and it was so fun!!! You don’t see a whole lot of Christmas Romances with fantasy woven in but Morgan Lockhart nails it. Also Stephan is so loveable from the first scene he’s featured in and you really can’t help but fall in love with him.
If you are a fantasy fan looking for a fun Christmas read, dive into this!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC via NetGalley!
If you are looking for that perfect romance to bridge the gap between spooky season and Christmas, look no further!!
This was a sweet Hallmark movie feeling RomCom with a little bit of magic. Our cursed FMC goes on a quest to find who cursed her and along the way meets a lumberjack witch (yes, you heard that right) that helps her right her wrongs and get her lift back on track. It was a sweet romance with a little magical realism that definitely gave the prefect vibes for the holidays and was the perfect length for a holiday romance book. If you don't mind suspending reality for a cute heartwarming story, then you will adore this.
If you are looking for that perfect romance to bridge the gap between spooky season and Christmas, look no further!!
This was a sweet Hallmark movie feeling RomCom with a little bit of magic. Our cursed FMC goes on a quest to find who cursed her and along the way meets a lumberjack witch (yes, you heard that right) that helps her right her wrongs and get her lift back on track. It was a sweet romance with a little magical realism that definitely gave the prefect vibes for the holidays and was the perfect length for a holiday romance book. If you don't mind suspending reality for a cute heartwarming story, then you will adore this.
October 10, 2026
I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley and Dutton in exchange for an honest review.
This was super cute and a very easy read. I read the first book in this series and didn't realize that the main character in this book was the "enemy" from the first one. I was pleasantly surprised by that. I liked seeing the journey that Hayleigh goes on with her curse to see the error in her ways and be a better person. Though even with her journey you can tell she still hasn't lost her personality.
Stephen is a literal golden retriever MMC. He's adorable and I liked that being a golden retriever wasn't his main characteristic. He had some background that he also needed to work through a little bit that made him just a little bit more interesting.
I also loved the magic that was introduced in this book. The idea that there are these little creatures that exist all around us that we just can't see is an amazing idea. I would definitely read another book by this author.
This was super cute and a very easy read. I read the first book in this series and didn't realize that the main character in this book was the "enemy" from the first one. I was pleasantly surprised by that. I liked seeing the journey that Hayleigh goes on with her curse to see the error in her ways and be a better person. Though even with her journey you can tell she still hasn't lost her personality.
Stephen is a literal golden retriever MMC. He's adorable and I liked that being a golden retriever wasn't his main characteristic. He had some background that he also needed to work through a little bit that made him just a little bit more interesting.
I also loved the magic that was introduced in this book. The idea that there are these little creatures that exist all around us that we just can't see is an amazing idea. I would definitely read another book by this author.
November 13, 2026
I'm so happy I finally got to this one. I've been in the mood for all the holiday reads. This was such a unique romance. A cursed woman, Hayleigh, who meets a witchy man, Stephen, and he helps her to "break the curse". This was a fun read. Nothing too in depth, just an overall cheerful cozy fantasy.. I'm happy I got to it. It was cute and festive.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
September 11, 2026
I recently finished reading A Curse for Christmas Past by Morgan Lockhart, and I enjoyed it! This fantasy story drew me in with its intriguing premise and a cast of characters that felt comfortable. Each character had their own quirks and motivations, making their interactions engaging and fun to follow.
The pacing of the story kept me turning the pages, and the holiday-themed fantasy setting gave it a cozy yet whimsical feel. I particularly appreciated how the narrative built up to a satisfying, happy ending that tied all the threads together without feeling rushed.
The pacing of the story kept me turning the pages, and the holiday-themed fantasy setting gave it a cozy yet whimsical feel. I particularly appreciated how the narrative built up to a satisfying, happy ending that tied all the threads together without feeling rushed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I throughly enjoyed this book. This book follows Hayleigh Gray (Fmc) who trys to uncover a curse that she believes was placed on her as well as discovering her relationship with magic in the process. I absolutely loved the folklore and magic system throughout this read. From the cozy yule vibes to the absolutely adorable romance this is a must read. Highly Recommend!
September 22, 2026
Thank you to Dutton and Netgalley for an advanced copy of A Curse for Christmas Past in exchange for an honest review.
The book was better than expected. Hayleigh was unlikable in the first book so I was not sure how I would feel about her being a protagonist. However, the book went deeper than I expected with Ukrainian mythology and mental/emotional/financial abuse. The latter was hard to read at times because I could easily picture myself in her shoes. Nevertheless, we get growth! We get confidence! And that was wonderful to read. Oh, and the horse lives :)
The book was better than expected. Hayleigh was unlikable in the first book so I was not sure how I would feel about her being a protagonist. However, the book went deeper than I expected with Ukrainian mythology and mental/emotional/financial abuse. The latter was hard to read at times because I could easily picture myself in her shoes. Nevertheless, we get growth! We get confidence! And that was wonderful to read. Oh, and the horse lives :)
October 6, 2026
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was refreshing! It had a different and unique plot. I was excited to read it but once I started I could stop and walk away. That’s why this is a 4 star read, I could put it down for days at a time.
I truly enjoyed the story and loved the magic behind it. I would suggest this book if you are interested in different kinds of romance. Romance with a little magic and mystery. 💜
This book was refreshing! It had a different and unique plot. I was excited to read it but once I started I could stop and walk away. That’s why this is a 4 star read, I could put it down for days at a time.
I truly enjoyed the story and loved the magic behind it. I would suggest this book if you are interested in different kinds of romance. Romance with a little magic and mystery. 💜
Did Not Finish
November 6, 2026DNF @ 25% If she mentioned Starbucks one more time I was going to snap… and then she started talking about jesus and I sent it back to the library so quick. I also didn’t realize this was part of a series so I was VERY lost in the beginning, but that’s on me!
November 5, 2026
Super Cute, spicy, and christmas with witchy vibes, completely sold! Definitely a good quick read for the holiday season.
May 23, 2026
Mix Ghost of Christmas Past with the lore in The Bear and the Nightingale & you have A Curse For Christmas Past.
A tall, blonde, calming lumberjack witch paired with a rich girl who has spent her whole life controlled & blindly following the rules set for her. When she has no choice but to go to her enemies for help, she starts to realize the harm caused by the choices she knowingly & unknowingly made in the past and has to find the courage to make things right.
This was such a cute & cozy standalone series supernatural holiday romance with a redemption arc. It was an easy read and simple to immerse yourself in the Christmas spirit and magical world.
A tall, blonde, calming lumberjack witch paired with a rich girl who has spent her whole life controlled & blindly following the rules set for her. When she has no choice but to go to her enemies for help, she starts to realize the harm caused by the choices she knowingly & unknowingly made in the past and has to find the courage to make things right.
This was such a cute & cozy standalone series supernatural holiday romance with a redemption arc. It was an easy read and simple to immerse yourself in the Christmas spirit and magical world.
July 19, 2026
This was a Hallmark movie in book form, and I loved every second of it.
I loved how it had all the classic holiday romance chlichés while still being so different and unique. My favorite part was learning so much about Slavic folklore. I thought it added amazing dimension to the story, something that you don't always find.
Hayleigh was an interesting character. I had a bit of a hard time liking her, but by the end I was fully convinced that she deserved everything she was working towards. Stephan was a lot of fun, though sometimes a bit underdeveloped. I felt like we could have learned a bit more about him, seeing as he plays such big part in the book.
This is the perfect holiday read, with a generous dash of magic.
Thank you Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC.
I loved how it had all the classic holiday romance chlichés while still being so different and unique. My favorite part was learning so much about Slavic folklore. I thought it added amazing dimension to the story, something that you don't always find.
Hayleigh was an interesting character. I had a bit of a hard time liking her, but by the end I was fully convinced that she deserved everything she was working towards. Stephan was a lot of fun, though sometimes a bit underdeveloped. I felt like we could have learned a bit more about him, seeing as he plays such big part in the book.
This is the perfect holiday read, with a generous dash of magic.
Thank you Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC.
September 4, 2026
This is a fun, wintry story that has a feeling of A Christmas Carol, with the main character Hayleigh fulfilling the role of Scrooge. She's now unemployed, and on a downward spiral as she suspects being cursed by a witch following actions from the first book in this series.
Through a series of events she ends up working to break her curse with the help of Stephan, and a cute romance ensues. My favourite aspect of this novel was Hayleigh reconnecting with her family's heritage and the role of the unseen beings throughout. The romance was very Hallmark and enjoyable, and I want to believe that the two would make it long-term.
Overall this was a good read, and I'd recommend to anyone looking to get into a festive mood with a witchy twist. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Through a series of events she ends up working to break her curse with the help of Stephan, and a cute romance ensues. My favourite aspect of this novel was Hayleigh reconnecting with her family's heritage and the role of the unseen beings throughout. The romance was very Hallmark and enjoyable, and I want to believe that the two would make it long-term.
Overall this was a good read, and I'd recommend to anyone looking to get into a festive mood with a witchy twist. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2026
A Curse for Christmas Past is a standalone contemporary paranormal romance by Morgan Lockhart.
Hayleigh has had a run of very bad luck, and she believes she has been cursed by a witch, so she travels to a small town full of witches to try to find the witch who cursed her, and to try to convince her to remove the curse. There, she runs into Stephan, the brother of the woman she believes cursed her. He ends up helping her find out what is going on and, since this is a romance, it isn’t a surprise that they fall in love.
I thought this was an okay paranormal romcom. I did find parts of it generally funny, but I was frustrated with Hayleigh and how she allowed people, especially her parents, to walk all over her and push her around. Rather then try to stand on her own two feet, she would rather allow them to make important decisions for her so that she didn’t lose their monetary support. So many times I wanted to tell her to grow up and get a backbone.
I really liked Stephan’s character, although he could be a little too good to be true at times.
I also found that at times there were some moments where religious questions were brought up in relation to witches and they felt awkward and out of place, and almost made me cringe when I was reading. It was just kind of weird to me.
If you’re looking for a quick, funny, romance then give this book a read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Hayleigh has had a run of very bad luck, and she believes she has been cursed by a witch, so she travels to a small town full of witches to try to find the witch who cursed her, and to try to convince her to remove the curse. There, she runs into Stephan, the brother of the woman she believes cursed her. He ends up helping her find out what is going on and, since this is a romance, it isn’t a surprise that they fall in love.
I thought this was an okay paranormal romcom. I did find parts of it generally funny, but I was frustrated with Hayleigh and how she allowed people, especially her parents, to walk all over her and push her around. Rather then try to stand on her own two feet, she would rather allow them to make important decisions for her so that she didn’t lose their monetary support. So many times I wanted to tell her to grow up and get a backbone.
I really liked Stephan’s character, although he could be a little too good to be true at times.
I also found that at times there were some moments where religious questions were brought up in relation to witches and they felt awkward and out of place, and almost made me cringe when I was reading. It was just kind of weird to me.
If you’re looking for a quick, funny, romance then give this book a read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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