Second Time's a Curse

Grimalkin Academy: Kittens #2

by Laura Greenwood

I never wanted a cat, but the ever-kittens don't seem to care, and now I have more than ever.

The last thing I expected when I came to Grimalkin was to learn I'd been cursed. And yet, now I am. I have no choice but to find a way to break it. But first, I need to work out who cast it in the first place.

At least I have some warlocks by my side to lend a helping hand.

-
Second Time's A Curse is the second book in the Grimalkin Academy: Kittens Trilogy. It is a slow burn academy reverse harem.

Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Witches, Paranormal Romance

166 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 26, 2019

About the author

Laura is a USA Today Bestselling Author of fantasy romance and urban fantasy. She lives in the UK, where most of her books are set, with her partner. When she's not writing, Laura can be found exploring worldwide cusine with her partner, drinking tea, and reading fantasy books. Laura specialises in quick reads, featuring healthy relationships and consent-positive moments, regardless of whether she's writing light-hearted romance, mythology-inspired modern fantasy, cozy fantasy or anything in between.

Discover one of Laura Greenwood's most popular series:
- The Apprentice of Anubis (mythology inspired modern/urban fantasy)
- Forgotten Gods (mythology inspired fantasy romance)
- Jinx Paranormal Dating Agency (mythology inspired paranormal rom-com)
- House of Blood and Roses (vampire romantasy)
- Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries (urban fantasy murder mystery)
- Scales of Justice (mythology inspired modern/urban fantasy)
- Purple Oak Oasis (cozy fantasy romance)
- Falhaven Castle (cozy fantasy romance)

You can find a full book list and more information on her website, or in her Facebook Reader Group.

Happy Reading!

Reviews

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a lot happens in this one. Mona's still trying to figure out why she's conjuring kittens nearly every time she casts a spell and for a second there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. So of course it goes wrong.

I still liked it, and she's dating one of the guys for sure now.

Ryan is getting better and Caspian is the opposite, sort of. What was that at the end??? Why? I'm so confused. It's not like anyone forced him to do the thing that led to that happening. He was fully on board.

Thomas struck me as older before, but now I think him being around 20 (and a younger doctor) is more fitting. Will we ever find out his age? Anyway, he's a bit power hungry...or in his case research hungry so I'm not sure if I'm liking him so far.

Maybe boring ol' Ryan isn't so boring after all.

The Ivy twist is alright if it turns out to be true, we'll see yet. I want to know why Caspian seems so haunted.

[Danielle's · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook read. This series is great and as an audiobook I’m hooked on every word on my way to work. This is the second book in a continuous series and a slow burn romance with a main character who’s cursed.

Mona’s life is a mess. Her magics always going wrong and her furry family is growing at speed. Her love life is complicated and the answers to all this are as unclear as the spell that got her into this situation.

Loved every minute. Highly recommend. The narrator is great and the story had me fully engaged.

[Brianna Belbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible sequel! Mona is still cursed, conjuring kittens, and having boy troubles. Daphne puts the idea of polygamy into her head and she’s trying to find out if that’s what she wants with Caspian, Ryan, and Thomas. They’re all more than willing, along with Daphne, to break the law and help her uncurse herself, but things don’t go according to plan. I loved the mystery of possible sirens attending the school and that Mona’s magic is finally working correctly despite the kittens. Her kittens have definitely affected her and her love for them only grows for each one despite her frustration of constantly gaining more. Along with the first four in First Time’s A Charm, she now has eight kittens and the new additions are Seth, Romeo, Aspen, and Asia. Rhubarb is still my favorite since he was the very first one, but Romeo is a close second. Laura has managed to give all of them different personalities and I love seeing their interactions on the pages! Her and Ryan’s relationship makes progress and I’m glad that their feelings are finally out in the open.
*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

[Laura Greenwood]

Grimalkin Academy: Kittens Series:
1. First Time's a Charm: books2read.com/firsttimesacharm
2. Second Time's A Curse: books2read.com/secondtimesacurse
3. Third Time's A Crime: books2read.com/thirdtimesacrime
4. Fourth Time's A Cure: books2read.com/fourthtimesacure
5. Fifth Time's A Crisis: books2read.com/fifthtimesacrisis

Prequel: Curses Start Somewhere: Grimalkin Academy: Kittens Prequel: books2read.com/cursesstartsomewhere
Prequel: Witch Friends Are Forever: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/ya4mv0g55e

You can also join my Goodreads Reader Group for new release alerts, spoiler threads, and more!
==> https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in this series continues on from the previous book with Mona, Caspian, Ryan, Thomas and her friend Daphne still trying to find a way to break her curse. Which brings on more kittens popping up, as well as romance, trouble and spells brewing. Cute kittens, hot guys and laughs make for simply a fantastic book and series to read

[Rhonda Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Laura Greenwood's third book in her "Grimalkin Academy: Kittens" series and 'Second Time's a Curse' truly just adds to the kitten count. LOL Mona now has eight of them, Rhubarb, Ginger, Felix, Isla, Seth, Romeo, Aspen, and Asia, who all have very distinct personalities that have kept me chuckling at their antics. Not only that but she's gained a best friend in Daphne, who amongst other things, has put the idea of polygamy in her head since she's fallen for three guys: her nemesis's step-brother, her roommate's brother, and her teaching assistant. Caspian, Ryan, and Thomas are working along with Daphne to find a way to break the curse that seems to have been placed on Mona. The adventure and antics continue but I'm really wondering what happens to all these kittens!

[Nathalie Bookwurm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Time’s a Curse is a fun, fast-paced paranormal romance that’s easy to get hooked on. Mona is a relatable and engaging main character, with a great mix of strength, vulnerability, and dry humor. One of my favorite running moments is that every time Mona tries to do magic, she ends up conjuring kittens, which adds a lot of humor and charm to the story. I really enjoyed watching her navigate old mistakes, complicated emotions, and her growing feelings for Ryan, Caspian, and Thomas. Each relationship brings its own dynamic, full of chemistry, tension, and banter. Mona’s emotional journey feels natural, and the balance of magic, romance, and character growth makes this a thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish.

[LMR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Time's A Curse (Grimalkin Academy: Kittens Book 2) By: Laura Greenwood
A Great Li'l Read That Surely Doesn't Disappoint!! One-Click "Second Time's a Curse!"
The "First Time's a Charm," or Sooo they say... But only if YOU WANT a bunch of Kittens hanging around to STAY!
Cuz, IT seems Her Magic IS quite messed UP...
NO it's NOT Charmed... Her Magic's Wonky, as IN cursed!
That's Right! The "Second Time's a Curse," or Sooo they say...
And this Gal just is hav'n Trouble with Each & EVERY Spell...
It Started Right after She came to this School,
That's when Her Magic Turned OFF, Flipped a Switch,
And Suddenly the "First Time's a Charm" didn't WORK AnyMore!
But... Maybe there's Some Hope com'n Her Way...
As a THREE Guys Start Sniffing around Her & Her cute Kitties want'n to Play!
One's Even a Teach who's doing some ReSearch,
Try'n to find a Cause... And Maybe a Cure before She becomes a Cat Lady!
'Til then... She can ONLY Hope the CURE isn't WORSE than the CURSE!
And That She's NOT OverRun by the Kittens arriving with Each Spell She Casts!
I rarely give Coveted 5 STAR ratings; they're saved for Books/Items that Outshine, Outclass, & Outperform their competition... They've gotta give me something MORE! Laura Greenwood does just THAT In Her WORK. Each book's World Building is Exquisite & Unique... Not to Mention the RoMANce & Drama; She's TRULY Won Distinction as a 5 STAR Author for Her Catalogue of Work, Especially for "Second Time's a Curse;" Kudos, Ms. Greenwood, for ALL your Stellar work!!!!!
I was granted, via B00|{$P®0UT, an ARC of Laura Greenwood's "Second Time's a Curse (Grimalkin Academy: Kittens Book 2)." I highly recommend this book to others based upon its own merits. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given!
Until next time... Happy Reading!

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

Even more magical kittens!

Well, yes, what should we expect from a cursed witch who produces kittens with every spell? More kittens, of course! Wow, I’m not really sure how’s she’s going to have space for all of them if this keeps on happening!

Mona is slowly coming to terms with the fact that she has more than one love interest, partly buoyed by her best friend (and what doesn’t help is that one of the love interests happen to be said best friend’s twin brother…). Yet she has other things on her mind, namely this damned curse! Yet, despite the curse, she doesn’t want to do anything that might jeopardise the lives of her kittens, even if she’s frustrated that she keeps on producing them. I mean, they’re all seriously cute and all that, but a dorm room is only so big!

So, her friends pool together to try and find a fix for this wretched curse, in a less-than-legal manner, which, of course, doesn’t quite go to plan, or solve the problem of the curse itself.

Things not quite going to plan appears to be the name of the game, as serious trouble falls upon them once again. Well, there’s no “I told you so” in there, but there appears to be no clean way out of things this time.

Just as fun as the first book, with just as much cuteness, awkwardness, and trouble, this series is turning out to be fantastic so far! I just wish that the characters could see past the end of their noses sometimes…

Final rating: ★★★★☆ – Really liked

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our heroine has a curse on her that causes a kitten to appear when she works magic. Plus she has three guys she is attracted to. Too many all around.

This is book two of the series. It works okay as a standalone, but you will be missing most of the setup. Best option is to start with book one.

This is a paranormal reverse harem story. The story is well written and easy to read. The kitten-curse adds humor to the story but makes me think of crazy cat ladies. The characters are good and we are getting more details on them as they go along, but so far they don't seem to have gelled as a group. Let's just call it a work in progress. Speaking of which, the story does end in a bit of a cliffhanger, so if that thing bothers you, you might want to wait until the entire series is out. Other than that, the story still makes for a fun and interesting read.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.

[Daisy Sauceda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a a good quick read. The characters are wonderful to read about.

So we continue with Mona quest to find a way to break a curse. Her relationship with Caspian is rocky, and something may be developing a relationship with Ryan. What about Thomas? Does she think that she needs to choose between them? Will there be a better option for all of them? She still conjures kittens when she uses magic however there is a twist she is able to actually able to do the spell but is rewarded with a kitten. So you will go though all the ups and downs with Mona. Be prepared for a cliffhanger. Let's just say that this may have been a turning point in a relationship for Mona.

Once you read this series you are going to want more. I enjoyed this little gem.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tera Comer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Grimalkin Academy Kittens series and we get to watch poor Mona still having issues conjuring anything without a new kitten showing up. With more and more kittens showing up and boy problems around every corner Mona is dealing with a curse that can't be broken while dealing with fun, adventure and learning. I love this slow burn reverse harem series as well as the other stories that have are spin off series and can not wait to read more.

[Mona Livsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining

This second in this series is as delightful as the first. The continuation of this lovely read is entertaining and a quick read. The characters remain delightful as Mona continues on her discoveries of what has happened with her magic. The little s are an added bonus!

[Jacquie Stolz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Mona and the kittens. The mystery of her curse and the great group of friends helping her. This is a fun magic filled slow burn paranormal RH. Highly recommend!

[Victoria Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too short

This book is too short for the price this is really a Serial book I like the storyline that's frustrating short

[Ketty · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Academia/Magic University
- Witches and warlocks
- Setting up Why Choose/Reverse Harem
- Slow Burn
- Low Heat
- Lots of cute kittens
- Best friend's brother
- Teacher (Kinda, teaching assistant)
- Major cliffhanger

Well it's official, Mona is cursed...great. Now she needs to figure out who cursed her and how to break it. Why would anyone want to curse her though? What did she do? Luckily for her she has a few sexy warlocks to help her.

I love love love this universe, and the fact that the author wrote so much in it makes me super happy, and it's been interesting seeing so low heat options for a trope I didn't think was really...low heat. Seeing a why choose without characters being thrown over the nearest surface or even it being a tagteam sort of thing has been nice. Not that I don't love a good tagteam where you have to draw diagrams...it's just nice. And the slow burn? Perfection. Always down for a good slow burn.

Kittens. I love the kittens....so much. The fact that there are so many and the constant struggle to name them is really the icing on the cake really. It's a realistic struggle. The naming part...not the conjuring of ever-kittens anyways. Naming things are hard. Especially when you didn't think you'd have to do it...let alone this much.

Who cursed her? Why? Well I know why...I read the prequel. But it's a fun mystery if you didn't. Perfection.

[Marcia - itsabookthing2021 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great

I love reading this series, it's so cosy but each book gives more suspense. I love the underlying story arc of how to solve Mona's curse, I love how it's entwined in the story and there's other stuff going on, like her love life and her best friend's life.
I really like the creation of Thomas, Caspian and Ryan, I can't say which is my favourite yet though but I like how each one brings different things to the table. Though Caspian for me is the one that gets my suspicions raised. Like with the others the writing pulls me in and I get gripped with the storyline. I need to know how this series plays out, can't wait to read the next one.

[Heather Freeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are good but too short lol. Mona’s curse search is at an impasse. The only option seems to be attempting a black magic spell. She’ll need everyone to do it, but can she really let her friends do something illegal. To top it off her relationship with Caspian is strained, who knows what’s up with Ryan, and Thomas is still a TA.
She gets answers to questions she didn’t even know she had in this book. But sadly it only brings up more problems. And kittens!
This series is a quick, enjoyable read. I still haven’t figured out if the Academy is high school or college level though

[Nancy S Robison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mona Black is still magically producing kittens, but she's a whiz with potions.

Turns out Mona has been cursed and a teaching assistant wants to research her problem in order to break the curse. Mona also has caught the eyes of both her roommate's handsome twin and those of another attractive fellow student and both of them have caught hers. Luckily, they both love kittens, too.

[Cara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm disappointed. I should have guessed based on the length of this novel though. Book one introduced several characters which was fine. Book two was quite repetitive and barely developed any of the love interests.

Ick. Why did one of the love interests become her teacher? That's just wrong. Also, to be honest, I find Thomas incredibly creepy. I would not be surprised to find out that he is the mastermind behind her curse because he wants to steal all her magic.

[Dawn Cruikshank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second Time's A Curse

Ok, the story is getting interesting! Mona is still conjuring up kittens who are adorable! The ending has us wondering who tattled on Caspian. Excited to start book 3. Great job Laura! I would recommend this book!

[Dschaper54 · Rating 5 out of 5]

cliff hanger

OH NO!!! So much is going on! What will happen now!! This is such a cute YA series and I think anyone who loves novels about witches, magic etc will love these.

[Wetdryvac Wetdryvac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kittens. I'm in.

[Jennifer G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mona never expected that when she went to Grimalkin Academy that she would be cursed and that each time she used magic, she would produce a tiny fluffball. She never expected to fall for more than one guy. She never expected to take part in a black magic spell encouraged by her best friend. Honestly, she only hoped for a best friend, never expected one. But that's exactly what has happened. First, her magic wouldn't work at all. Now it seems strong but with each use, she produces an adorable kitten. At last count, she has 8 kittens. She has fallen for three guys: her nemesis's step-brother, her roommate's brother, and her teaching assistant. They have found a spell that could remove the curse placed on her but it's black magic, a detail that seems worrisome only to Mona and is fully supported by her best friend, her pink-haired roommate. Why did life become so complicated?

This is an adorable, fluffy series full of silly sweetness. I can't get enough of the kittens but I can't imagine how this continues. I mean Mona already has 8! If she can't find the countercurse, she will soon need a barn to house them all since she doesn't seem inclined to give them away. I try not to think of the true reality of 8 kittens in one room and concentrate on their cuteness. I do have one question I need answering; do they stay kittens (I hope) or will they grow to adult cats and lose the adorable factor? Anyway, for now, we have Rhubarb, Ginger, Felix, Isla, Seth, Romeo, Aspen, and Asia in all their delightfulness. They are the true magic in this story. Their little antics and playfulness, their kitten love, and their general cuteness are captivating. I couldn't get enough. The humans weren't quite as appealing. Mona was too full of worry, understandably but it didn't make her much fun to be around. She was estranged from Caspian a large part of the book, keeping Ryan at a distance for a good part, and Thomas as a teacher was limited as to how much he could be around as well. The guy situation improved in the second half of the book but I would have liked more. There's slow-burn and there are classmates... Each guy did at least have one moment. I would have also liked more progress on the curse but I guess deadends and unsuccessful attempts are progress in a roundabout way.

The ending is a cliffhanger and not my favorite kind. Yes, it makes me anxious for the next book to see what happens. I need this situation cleared up. What I don't like is the apparent lack of trust. I demand a few things from my RH relationships: the girl must be the center of all of the guy's universe, I must feel their connection, there must be trust and it can't be broken. Without these traits, the relationships won't work for me. I hope that the ending wasn't like it appeared or I may just want Mona to stick with her kittens.

[Mx Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mona is on the search for a cure while still conjuring kittens and side-stepping what is becoming a confusing love life for her.

We left Mona having figured out someone cursed her magic to not work. While trying to work her magic she created the cutest kittens: Rhubarb, Ginger, Felix, and Isla. She gained a suitor in new student Caspian. She gave up on her crush on her best friend’s twin brother Ryan only to find out that he might like her too. Then there is Thomas the warlock teaching assistant who is helping her on her quest to reverse the curse. Whew...Mona was busy.

Thomas may have found the answer to reverse the curse. Unfortunately it involves four people and black magic. Mona is completely against it as it is illegal and someone could get hurt.

Ivy, our mean girl on campus, reveals a secret which throws Mona for a loop. We find out that there is more than one spell casted on Mona, one of which seems to come from someone close to her. Caspian tells Mona he is fine with her dating others, which Daphne had already thrown out the poly-relationship idea.

Did I forget to mention that Mona created diamonds? Real diamonds...she also created some new kitties.
Which leads to a dangerous decision which has consequences that only Mona saw coming.

I never know how much to tell in synapsis sometimes because so much happens in a book and Laura Greenwood once again packed a lot in Second Time’s A CurseI (Drowlgon Press, B07SKS9CYF, 2019). This is the second book in the “Grimalkin Academy: Kittens” series and the betrayals and twists keep coming. This is truly a mystery and a fun one too.

I think so far this is my favorite series of all of Greenwood’s because it allows Greenwood to show the bonding of all of the characters instead having to rush anything due to page count. We are getting a solid foundation in Mona’s friendship with Daphne, the kitties (who I wonder might play a part later), and with the guys.

If you have not started this series, you need to.

[Starla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this series.i absolutely love all of the kittens and due to the detailed description of each kitten I can visualize all of cuteness and antics kottens do

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE WILD ADVENTURE!!!
Fantastic! Laura hits this thrilling delight out da park in all it's splendor with hustles and bustles and spins, melding this bad boy together sleek, shiny and tight. Laura pulls us into her imagination weaving a world around us until everything else ceases to exist. I can't wait for the next installment. I'll be the bald woman whose pulling out her hair waiting to get my hands on it. Buckle up babe, you're in for the long haul. We have foes to fight, enemies to conquer and people to save. A spinning eddy of daunting events and vexing circumstances running rampant, propelling this jewel to life flawlessly. You have all the intense drama, chilling danger and electrifying suspense compounds as tension spirals. Twists and turns abound with such sharp corners and thin lines it makes for one enjoyable experience. The characters personalities are solid and strong with individual traits and qualities that balance and blend, playing off one another brilliantly. The scenes are so vivid and descriptive as its easy to interpret each scenario as out perfectly. Amazing job Laura, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.

[Nina Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Time’s a Curse by Laura Greenwood is the second book in the Grimalkin Academy Kittens series. In this book, Mona a witch student at the Grimalkin Academy magic is still acting wonky. She is trying to figure out why every spell she completes correctly has the side effect of a living kitten appearing. Thankfully, all of Mona’s friends are helping research the problem to find the answer. She is also trying to keep up with her magical studies and decide which of the boys who are interested her she should date. This book is full of exciting young romance, twists, turns, mystery, and suspense. I love reading about Mona and her magically appearing kittens. This book is cute, funny, and full of irreverent irony. This is the perfect paranormal academy read for anyone who finds humor and suspense a delightful combination. Second Time’s a Curse is a wonderfully humorous and suspenseful tale.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never wanted a cat, but the ever-kittens don't seem to care, and now I have more than ever.
The last thing I expected when I came to Grimalkin was to learn I'd been cursed. And yet, now I am. I have no choice but to find a way to break it. But first, I need to work out who cast it in the first place.
At least I have some warlocks by my side to lend a helping hand.
-
Second Time's A Curse is the second book in the Grimalkin Academy: Kittens Trilogy. It is a slow burn academy reverse harem.

Wonderful addition to this new series.
Love the plot and story line so much.
Well written characters that I am enjoying getting to know and follow.
You have got action and romance both in this.
Lots going on in the plot as well.
Can't wait to get the next one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mari C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kittens, kittens, and more kittens. I was’t too sure about this to being with, but it quickly grew on me and I love the little tid bits about the kittens. The stories mystery is deepening and adding more along the way in this book. Mona's is gathering admirers fast and now is faced with the question what to do with all 3 of them. As answers are being looked for about Mona's cursed magic, more and more questions are being found instead. Now thrown in is the mystery of an unnamed brother-sister set of Sirens at the academy and a betrayal. This had a heartbreaking ending that leaves you dying to read the next one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.