Keep Your Witches Close

Love & Magic #2

by Colette Rivera

Can a Witch who trusts no one count on an old rival to keep her safe?

Paranormal Investigator, Juliet Herrera has a painful past. A secret. She doesn’t need anyone from before. Especially not a certain Witch who inspires as much lust as she does loathing.

Unfortunately, Juliet can’t seem to stay away from the woman.

Authority Witch, Mea Dubois swears Juliet used to like her. She’d give anything to get their friendship back, and more to follow the spark Juliet ignites… if only Juliet didn’t hate her.

When Witch disappearances bring Mea to town, Juliet resigns herself to working together. She didn’t expect to become the centre of the case.

A target.

Mea is tasked with keeping an eye on Juliet, who doesn’t like what being stuck with Mea is making her want…

Juliet has to decide, if she can’t face the threat alone, can she trust Mea with the truth? And what about with her heart?


Keep Your Witches close is a grumpy/sunshine forced proximity sapphic paranormal romance. Themes include: healing from past trauma and standing up to those in power. It is book two in the Love & Magic series but can be read as a stand alone. HEA guaranteed! 

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Lesbian, LGBT, Queer, Fiction, Witches

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 6, 2023

About the author

Colette (she/they) is an author of queer paranormal romance novels living in New Zealand. Colette loves to write couples who take care of each other and show their soft sides in love, even when they’re prickly in other facets of their lives. Sugar, spice, and magic are key ingredients in all of Colette’s books.

Reviews

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic, spells, kidnappings, a grasp for power and second chance at love all come to play in this witch infused story. Witches go missing and an investigation is ordered involving paranormal investigators and authority witches. These two groups don't exactly see eye to eye.
Rivera writes the push and pull between investigator Juliet and authority Mea quite well leading to a softening of Juliet and eventual reconnection with Mea. Of course that is intertwined with the plot and side characters.
This is my first read of the author's work. While I did a bit of back and forth to sort out a few scenarios and characters that didn't impact my overall read. However, I think reading the books in sequence would add to the flow of the series.
3.5 stars rounded to 4 to encourage the author.

[Anniek · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading book 1, I was really intrigued as to what Juliet's book would be like, and I ended up really enjoying it. This book mainly centers a mystery, making it reminiscent of a cosy mystery, which I thought was really fun. Juliet sees herself as an unlikeable character, but she's someone I couldn't help rooting for. I thought she was a really interesting, well fleshed out character to read about. I've really enjoyed this series so far, and would definitely be interested in reading Edwin's book as well.

[Star.e.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is story about Juliet a Witch who is a private investigator with a painful past that has led her to be protective of the people she lets into her personal life.

A new mysterious case that is connected with the disappearance of some of Julia’s clients’ leads to the involvement of the Witch Authority and that team brings someone from her past. Mea an old college friend is now an Authority investigator, they haven’t crossed paths much since school, but deep down both of them wonder if there was something left unresolved from their past. They are forced to work closely as they work on solving the case.

I had so much fun reading this, I love a world full of magic and witchy powers and this delivered. Not going to lie, these types of books similar to fantasies tend to take me a bit longer to read, but I just want to make sure I’m not missing any details.

The story has plenty of mystery, with a few twists. The balance and chemistry between Juliet and Mea was lovely and I enjoyed the chance to see the story move along from both of their perspectives. I have to give a shout out to Mea. She is understanding, kind and open to all of the complicated layers that make Juliet who she is.

Last, but not least... I’m clearly a sucker for supportive characters and Juliet and Edwin’s friendship was everything. They are so aware of each other’s potential triggers and they are there for one and another unconditionally.

This is the second book in the Love & Magic series, but you can read it as a standalone or you can check out Give a Witch a Chance first then read this one.

Thank you so much Colette for creating this world and for sharing this ARC with me. I will definitely be picking up the first book in the series, and after reading the last few pages of KYWC... I cant wait to see what you have in store for us with Edwin’s book!

[Weekend Reader_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 really lays out the inner workings of the Authority, whereas Book 1 is tertiary because it comes in only with Aria and Owen's HEA. It was very intriguing/interesting, which made this entry read more like a cozy mystery rather than a romance. Missing witches has Juliet and Bickel center stage. However, Juliete can sleuth as she wants because she is a suspect. We get these 2 backstories, which makes Bickel even more endearing. We understand why he is so protective of Juliet. We also understand why she is on the outskirts of the Authority even though her mother is so high up in the food chain. I initially thought that when Juliet was introduced, she may have been neurodivergent (still could be), but in this book, we learn a little more about what's happening and how her brain works. Enters a blast from her past, which complicates the life and order Juliet has made for herself, and of course, Mea throws everything off balance. We love to see it! But I'm not sure where her thing for rescue ducks comes from, but it was hilarious. Back to the missing witches, the reader is clued into a few pieces of info, so we were able to figure out pretty early who was behind the kidnappings, but we were along for the ride for the why. What was smart about it was that Juliet became an unreliable narrator, so our confidence in who/why became unclear. I thought it was also clear how nepotism, entitlement, and power are akin to each other, particularly in hierarchies like the Authority. The punishment for not being in the system and bucking the system can have drastic impacts on a witch's existence. In the end, the why wrapped up too quickly for me. It felt too easy, but I think based on the bonus chapter, it makes me think this isn't over. Bickel's book is next. I also wanted to cameos of Owen and Piña 🤭

Thank you to the other for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

CN: emotional abuse, gaslighting, abuse of power, strained relationship with mother, kidnapping, disorientation, isolation, backballing, sexism

[Kelsey Schulz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep Your Witches Close by @colette_rivera was the perfect book to finish up on the first day of pride!

Book 2 in the Love and Magic series is a sapphic, witchy romance with a touch of mystery and humor & is the perfect mix for all the magical vibes this summer.

When witches are disappearing, the only person to keep paranormal investigator, Juliet Herrera, safe is an Authority Witch, Mea Dubois who is convince Juliet liked her in the past. While Mea begrudgingly keeps an eye on Juliet, their acquaintanceship grows in to friendship which grows into more.

Overall I loved the plot and the characters of this story. I love the communication between the FMCs and seeing them grow together was so great.

Keep Your Witches Close released June 6th on Kindle Unlimited!!! Plenty of time to fit in book 1 of the Love and Magic series, Give a Witch a Chance before then!!

Thank you Colette for the ARC 🥰

[wicked🖤 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Keep Your Witches Close, here is my review. I really enjoyed this book! It was fun, full of heart, and kept me on my toes. I’m a sucker for great friendships and this book has that. There is so much heart in all of the relationships I found myself attached to each character for different reasons. Juliet has a complicated past that has shaped her into who she is as a woman, but Edwin is her rock and they have each others back through thick and thin despite each other’s past. When Mea comes back into Juliet’s life, Juliet is challenged to open herself up again and accept that Mea wants to be in her life. Watching the dynamic of Juliet and Mea’s relationship change was probably my favorite thing about this book. Edwin is that ride or die best friend that you’ll never get rid of and you never want to.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a light hearted romance with strong friendships and a bit of mystery.

[amanda kt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 2nd standalone in the Love & Magic series. So far these have proven to be very character-driven paranormal romances, where the characters have been very self-aware as they experience their journeys. I’ve really liked that each feels unique and grounded. Even when magic plays into it, which it did here in such a heartbreaking way, the conflict is ultimately very human. I loved prickly Juliet, who has overcome so much, learning to open up again while still staying strong in her hard won identity. Her deep unconditional friendship with equally misunderstood Edwin was a highlight. I do feel like there is SO much inner monologue (it’s dual POV) I found myself skimming and wish more was shown not told. The mystery solving though was properly complex and kept me guessing! I’ll likely continue but maybe not right away.

[Thea Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every second of this! The characters are wonderful and Mea and Juliette's relationship had me rooting so hard for them. I love the little connections between Give a Witch a Chance through the coffee shop, and the tension between Juliette and Mea had me biting my nails at certain points. Colette is such a gifted writer. The world building is immersive without bogging the reader down with exposition, and her characters are so much fun. Thank you so much for this ARC!

[tenthmuse ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

LESBIAN WITCHES MY BELOVED

[Laura Jutras · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was book 2 in the Love and Magic series. I really liked this book! Juliet Ferrara is the featured character. We were introduced to her in book 1. She is a paranormal investigator that is now the #1 suspect in a series if kidnappings. Her old college friend, Mea Dubois, is part of a team from the Authority investigating what is happening. Juliet is a closed off person who only has one friend - Edwin Bickle.
Can Juliet, Edwin and Mea figure out who is framing Juliet? And, if they figure it out, will anyone believe them?
I like that Colette has her characters grow, learn and change. She also links the two stories through side characters and the coffee shop they visit repeatedly. I can’t wait for book 3 - I want to read Edwin’s story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lauren Elora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got sent an ARC for Keep Your Witches Close and absolutely loved it! The characters were amazing and I actually had so much fun reading this!! The plot of this book is amazing, I loved all the different twists and turns
Juliet and Mea were so cute, I loved their love. Their ending screen was adorable and made me fall in love with them even more!
Overall, this book was well written, plot driven (with romance!!) and inspiring. 4.5⭐️

[Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two of the Love & Magic series and the main characters are independent paranormal investigator Juliet Herrera and Authority Witch, Mea (Meadow) Dubois. Juliet owns Herrera Investigations with psychic witch Aria Belmonte, not ever wanting to work for the Witch Authority, even after graduating top of her class at the Investigators College over two decades ago. Mea knew Juliet form the college, both attending at the same time. Mea thought they were friends at the start, but Juliet suddenly switched off her feelings after just a few weeks and she never found out why. Something happened to Juliet and she closed off from everyone and her painful past is a secret only one other knows. When she visits a source of information of hers, witch Sarah Arroyo, and finds that she has suddenly disappeared, with all magical signatures cleansed from her home, she has to call in the Magical Authority in LA. Waiting for them to do something is slow, until she and Aria get called to a home on a cliff that belongs to another missing witch, Lana Blakely, a client of hers. Again the home has been magically cleansed, which needs a much older witch or one who is very powerful to manage.

Juliet would have preferred to work with Edwin Bichel, from the Authority, who she normally worked with when necessary. Instead, Mea and her partner Terra Reyes, are there with the lead pair of investigators, Grant Easton and Isabella Torres. Mea has always thought Juliet liked her at one time and would do anything to get their friendship back, but Juliet can barely even look at her! Juliet clearly has some feelings she can’t allow herself to recognise, for Mae, but won’t act on them. Her only real friend is Edwin and when Juliet is thought to either be involved in the witches’ disappearances or the next target, Mae is placed in her life to watch her and keep her safe! Juliet comes from a family of great magical power which she refuses to take advantage of, or be used by the Authority, as her magical power has a capacity for invasive misuse. Her anti-social tendencies are well known and her upbringing has made her suspicious by nature. Mea has been chosen for this case due to her previous contact with Juliet, not really for her abilities. The Authority runs on who is more powerful and lots of one up man ship, something even Mae is getting a bit tired of.

Juliet doesn’t want to be the person that Mea liked at the start of college, because that wasn’t the real her. Juliet is soon taken off the case, just as a third witch goes missing, but more connections to Juliet are being made and somehow she has an inkling of who might be behind everything. A couple of low level witches from the Authority network in New York going missing as well, son has her and Edwin making further connections, but unable to get any actual evidence. It all leads back to someone very high in the Authority, who wants Juliet’s very special magical power for their own use. They are also trying to frame Juliet for the crimes, to force her hand. On top of all this, Mea and Juliet have given in to their feelings for each other finally, but it isn’t easy for Juliet to put aside her years of isolation. Edwin turns out to be pretty key to their ability to find out what has been happening and using his powers to transport them as needed and some well-timed spells. Certainly shows how power can totally corrupt and that sometimes it is better to do without than be tempted to follow along as others do for power, prestige and promotions. If those who should keep you safe and protect others, are the ones doing wrong, who is going to keep them in line? An interesting look at the damage childhood terrors can bring on years later. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too Many Language Errors and Annoying Author Trend (See Content Warnings at End)

I love paranormal romance, and I so wanted to like this sapphic one! Unfortunately, I didn’t get far because I just couldn’t take the innumerable errors of grammar, punctuation, and usage. Commas—as they often are—were the most problematic. I did receive an ARC copy, which may not have been through its final edits. But, as I always do, I checked the look inside of the published edition at Amazon, and the errors seen in the initial 10% of the ARC persist in the published edition. This was so pervasive and bothersome that I DNFed the book after I just couldn’t stand to read one more error.

Can I say that I h@te, h@te, h@te a recent trend I’m seeing with authors? Instead of being upfront and honest about possibly disturbing content in book blurbs or even at the start of a book (which I still think is a cop-out), the author simply provides a link to their site (usually just the front page, not a specific page) for any content warnings or “guidance.” To my mind, this disrespects the reader. If an author has content that may be triggering or offensive to some readers, be honest… right here! Any author who makes you work that hard to understand whether a book’s for you shouldn’t get your hard-earned dollars! I firmly believe a book blurb should not only strive to attract readers who will most enjoy a book; it should also alert those who won’t like the book to bypass it. This author provides a link to her site’s front page in her author profile on Amazon and the first page of the book to check out “content guidelines” (the latter at least points to the proper page!) I despise this practice so much that it’s an automatic 1-2 stars off the review… and I share what the author should have revealed on the bookseller page.

Book content includes gaslighting, blackmail, kidnapping, magical mental manipulation, on-page magical violence, being framed for a crime, victim blaming, steamy (for mature audiences), and abusive parental relationship.

I received a free digital copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

[MC Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the blub, you learn that witches are going missing. Juliet, a paranormal investigator, and Mea, an authority witch, are forced together. Partly because Mea's partner believes Juliet has something to do with the missing people and partly because they worry that she may be next. 

Overall, the premise was interesting, and I liked the bones of the story, and I feel like the author has the makings for a good series as long as future installments have a little more depth and more polished prose.

The Good: 
The development of the relationship made sense and was mostly believable. I appreciated how Juliet healed from her trauma. It was nice to see how she went from keeping people at a distance to slowly trusting herself to allow others close. It was an interesting take on the lost connection or second-chance romance trope. 

My Bad: 
The magic system seemed a little overloaded, and, in some cases, it seemed limitless. Because the few limits were easily negated by Edwin(a very powerful magic user and Juliet's best friend). The antagonist didn't seem fully fleshed out, and we didn't get to see their motivations until the VERY. Also, the way evidence was stacked for and against the characters in the story wasn't believable.  

The Meh:
The grumpy-sunshine trope seemed a bit forced, and the rivals/enemies to lovers arc seemed a little overblown. I understand why Juliet pushed Mea away, but the way the story was written, I found myself eventually skimming a few pages while Juliet outlined her frustrations with Mea.

With that being said, the writing was decent, and I might not reread this book, but it was worth a full read. 

Overall rating:⭐️⭐️1/2
Characters: 3/5
Prose: 3/5
Plot: 2/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Keep Your Witches Close" by Colette Rivera is an enticing second installment in the Love & Magic series. The story follows paranormal investigator Juliet Herrera, a Witch with a painful past and trust issues. Despite her disdain for an old rival, Authority Witch Mea Dubois, Juliet finds herself drawn to her in ways she can't explain.

Mea, who longs to rekindle their friendship and explore the undeniable spark between them, is determined to win Juliet's trust. When Witch disappearances occur, bringing Mea to town, Juliet reluctantly agrees to work with her. Little does she know that she will become the focal point of the case, putting her in danger.

As Juliet and Mea spend more time together, their relationship evolves from grudging partners to something more. However, Juliet struggles with her conflicting emotions and the fear of vulnerability. She must confront her past and decide if she can trust Mea not only with her secrets but also with her heart.

"Keep Your Witches Close" is a captivating grumpy/sunshine forced proximity sapphic paranormal romance. It delves into the complexities of love, trust, and healing from past trauma. Juliet's journey involves confronting her fears, standing up to those in power, and finding the strength to embrace her feelings for Mea. While it is the second book in the Love & Magic series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone story.

Colette Rivera weaves together a tale filled with emotional depth, suspense, and a touch of magic. The dynamic between Juliet and Mea is both fiery and tender, creating a compelling push-and-pull dynamic that keeps readers engaged. "Keep Your Witches Close" offers a blend of romance, paranormal intrigue, and personal growth that will leave readers eager for more from the Love & Magic series.

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

[Holly Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I loved diving deeper into the world Colette had created! Mea and Juliet are quite honestly my favorite. I loved once again that there was a mystery that needed solving. There was so much going on in the best way! It could have easily been tangled up and confusing because everything was so complicated! But it was so well thought out and just written so well. I love this little witchy universe so much.

First and foremost Mea and Juliet are my favorite. I loved their second-ish chance romance?? Not quite second chance?? But there were some leftover feelings from so many years ago?? And there was heavy frenemies to lovers energy which was amazing. They had such good banter! And tension! And they clearly liked each other so much 🥹 they just didn’t know what to do about it. And once they figured some stuff out they were so SWEET. They were both so soft and so good for each other!

This story dug a little deeper. Juliet’s backstory was heavy. And it wasn’t written in a way that was difficult to read, but it was clear that she has really gone through a lot. Once she was able comfortable to share with Mea about her past and they were then able to come to a better understanding of each other and I loved watching them grow. Even though it took Juliet awhile, and she was so scared and reserved. But Mea was patient, even before she knew the full story.

I also LOVE Juliet and Edwin. I can’t wait for his book to get more of his story. But their friendship makes me so happy. They were bonded in such a strong way and it’s so important to the both of them. And I just love them so much.

Thank you so much to Colette Rivera for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Ashlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this witchy book, Juliet and Mea are both great characters with nice chemistry together. I liked the way the mystery of the missing witches was woven into their story and kickstarted their relationship. The backdrop with the Authority and hidden witches within the mortal world was interesting as well and I‘m hoping to see more sapphic additions to this series.

This is a second chance romance as the MCs knew each other back in college but really were only friends there for a short time. There were two things that kept this from being a 5 for me. First was that Mea is almost unbelievably patient in the beginning with Juliet’s attitude. I know she’s the sunshine in this grumpy/sunshine pairing but she takes some abuse that is absolutely not warranted and happily comes back for more though it is fairly short lived. The second was how quickly Juliet went from aggressively grumpy to in bed with Mea. That I’ve felt a bit out of character for Juliet and wasn’t quite how I would have expected. I did like their little bits of back and forth afterwards and how they played into the mystery these two were trying to solve.

Unfortunately this is the only sapphic book in the series (so far) but it was a lot of fun and I would definitely pick up any others that may be added later. The character featured in the first book features here as well and I’d love to see the same in book 3 with Juliet and Mea but that one will be a m/m romance which isn’t my cup of tea so I’ll likely be skipping it. It also looks to be only the second book for this author and I look forward to reading her future books!

[Alicia Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colette Rivera
Keep Your Witches Close (Love & Magic Book 2)
New Release


Review


In this captivating tale, we follow the journey of Juliet Herrera and Mea Dubois, two witches who were once schoolmates in their youth. However, their paths diverged and they lost touch until they are reunited under mysterious circumstances. One of their fellow witches has gone missing, and Juliet finds herself the primary suspect. The plot thickens as the supporting characters add to the suspense and we are left wondering who is setting Juliet up.

The author skillfully weaves in a backstory to explain Juliet's trust issues and her dependence on her assistant, Edwin. He is the only one who knows her deepest fears and worries. Juliet's past trauma has left her unsure of whom to trust, and she fears the return of a witch who had previously cast a spell on her.

The chemistry between the two main characters is palpable, and the story is made all the more interesting by the introduction of Juliet's family history. The suspense continues to build as we follow the characters on their quest to uncover the truth about the missing witch and the mysterious events surrounding her disappearance.

Overall, this book is a thrilling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is perfect for those who enjoy paranormal stories with a great storyline. I highly recommend it and it is available now on Amazon. If you have a Kindle, it is even free!

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is perfect for fans of A Discovery of Witches and books of the same sort.

There is a really strong and solid storyline in here. A big detective like mystery to slowly be uncovered. Including people close to the MC's that are betraying.
The mix of Witches and Magic gave me really cool vibes, very akin to Vampire Diaries. Solid magic written into the plot, spells, curses, and all the sorts. This would add to the mystery element, as these things need to be uncovered with care and with witches that know that type of magic.
This element was probably one of the best I have read with newbie authors. It is really obtainable for someone slow like me lol. I felt in the know of the metaphysics.

BUT knowing that this was a romance and I spent a lot of my reading time looking and waiting for more swoony dialogue and moments, it was a bit of a let down. I would almost consider this Women's Lit with a romance arc in there.
NOW when it came to the steamy moments with the characters and when they were finally close enough for me to feel the chemistry, it was GLORIOUS. I really wished there was more of that, the author does it so well.

The mystery def took most of the book which is why I think if you love fiction books about witches and all the laws of magic, metaphysics, with a bit of a mystery to uncover, THIS is your book!

[Beth (bethsbookshelfx) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep your witches close is a beautiful story that follows Juliet and Meas old friendship/crush relationship to a new time where they are forced to reconnect. It shows Juliet finally feel like she’s in a safe space to try and let her walls down and let new people in!

•

OKAY I LOVED THIS. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series BUT this one hit better, I think it’s cause I fell in love with Juliet’s character prior to this one!

You get so much more of an insight into Juliet and Bickels friendship which was the sweetest thing ever and you can really see how they’ve been each others sounding board all these years!

Juliet and Meas relationship was so amazing, it shows how you can go from frenemies with hardly anything in common to really similar, trusting in eachother and falling in love. They are the sweetest who always had eachothers back even when they didn’t want to!

It also throws out a few hints into book 3, here’s looking at you Bickels! I so can’t wait for that, that one will be in October of this year!

Thank you Colette for letting me ARC read this!

TROPES/INFORMATION :
🖤 Dual POV
🖤 Frenemies To Lovers
🖤 LGBTQ+ Representation
🖤 Sapphic Romance
🖤 GrumpyXSunshine
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Found Family
🖤 Paranormal Investigators
🖤 Past Catches Us To Them

[Emme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep your Witches Close is a cozy and quick read. I absolutely devoured this book in a day. Although this is the second in the series I read this as a stand-alone I never felt lost or confused reading out of order.

Former friends/rivals Juliet and Mea are forced to work together when local Witches disappear. This was the perfect mix of mystery and romance for me. There were a lot of moving parts and theories but Collette made it flow seamlessly.

We follow Juliet a Paranormal Investigator as she works through resurfacing trauma with the help of her friend and fellow Witch Edwin, her Physic assistant and Mea an Authority Witch. The four create the perfect dynamic. Edwin and Juliet’s friendship is so special and treasured between them.

Mea and Juliet’s relationship over came great lengths from when we first see them on the page together. They worked through a lot and became stronger together.

I loved the magic aspect of the book too, each person had their own specialities and contributed to the investigation in a different way.

This was my first Colette Rivera novel but it definitely won’t be the last! Thank you for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! I can’t wait to read book one and book three when it’s published!

[Kristel Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟This is Book 2 in the Love & Magic series and I am hooked. We met Juliet in book 1 as she assisted Aria and Owen with their magical problems. This story focuses on Juliet’s past/family secret and how that plays into her connection with Mea and why they became estranged in the first place. This had an enemy to lover’s vibe but only from Juliet’s perspective because Mea is too adorable to be anyone’s real enemy. Mea and Juliet are strongly attracted to each other, are forced to share a living space, and are constantly fighting an internal battle to confront their feelings and trust the other but are both afraid (especially Juliet). Discovering Juliet’s family secret was heart-breaking as she suffered deep emotional trauma. I am not surprised she doesn’t trust easily but Mea is the most patient and loving person making her the perfect match for Juliet’s closed heart. Another will they/wont they slow burn romance, but this book had more angst, action, Witchy Authority drama and developed her awesome, life affirming friendship with Mr Bickel which I highly approve of. An intriguing and sexy adult sapphic romance with my favourite pairing of grumpy/sunshine.

[Marlena Fisher]

I read this novel outside of the series, but I did not feel like there was anything missing. It can be enjoyed as a standalone. The universe is immersive, consistent and well-described and the characters are complex, with many facets to their personalities. I liked how they all grew and evolved during the story.

Juliet’s journey was so hard and full of obstacles… which made it even more rewarding at the end. I loved that she had Edwin in her corner and that she eventually learned to trust and accept Mea. On the other hand, Mea’s efforts were adorable and heart-warming.

I really enjoyed reading about the hard won happily ever after of those two confident and sexy witches. I recommend this to anyone searching for a paranormal romance set in a completely believable universe with strong-willed and complex characters that find their happiness by the end.

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

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another 3.75 just like the first book.

This books relies a lot on backstory and having it all tie together. Juliet's backstory, which ties into her history with Mea and her history with Edwin. Then also Edwin's backstory, though not as much as I'm sure it'll be touched upon in book three since that'll be where he's one of the main protagonists.

The only problem for me was that it dragged on in spots because there was so much of it. Sometimes there were even long, drawn out thoughts / flashbacks in between dialogue and that really threw off the pacing for me.

But overall, I thought the story was good. I enjoyed seeing Juliet come out of her shell a bit and finally act on her long harbored feelings. I liked seeing the softer side of Edwin and the little hints of flirting with Tristan that'll feature more in book three. And while Aria didn't play as much of a role here, I did enjoy the ties back into book one.

[Celia Ochoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't think of a more perfect book to read during pride month. This is the second book in the series and just like in the first it features queer characters.

Juliet was introduced in the first book and was one of my favorite side characters so when I found out she was getting her own book I was excited to read it. Colette's stories are my first in reading queer paranormal romance and I have really enjoyed them.

Juliet, a paranormal investigator and Mea, an authority witch are forced to work together when witches start disappearing. They are no strangers and have history. The paranormal aspects are intriguing and make for a fun mystery but the romance is the cherry on top. I was rooting for these two from the start.

This one is out today and while it's an interconnected standalone I definitely recommend reading book 1 first.

[monika_is_booked · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd spent more time learning how to pretend to be fine than figuring out how to genuinely get there" (Juliet)

As witches disappear, the Authority comes to investigate and with them Mea Dubois.
Suddenly, Juliet Herrera is confronted with her past in more ways than one. Will she be able to solve the case and overcome her fear of opening up to others?

I really liked Juliet in "Give a Witch a Chance" and I loved the way we got more insight in her and Bickel's past in this book.
As mystery's begin to pile up, Juliet needs to really face her past in order to deal with her future. Fortunately, she has the help of friends, old and new, to do just that.
A great story with a bit of spice and lots of heart!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book of the Love & Magic series features an F/F romance between Juliet, a private investigator and witch who was introduced in the first book, and Mea, an investigator for the Witch Authority council. They met years ago at school and instantly became friends, but then Juliet pulled away from everyone with no explanation, due to personal issues, leaving Mea wondering what had gone wrong. Their paths have crossed occasionally since then but Juliet has always maintained a hard and almost antagonistic shell toward Mea. When they are assigned to work together to investigate the disappearance of some local witches, Mea yearns to get closer, while Juliet keeps holding her at a distance.

I enjoyed the first book and was intrigued by Juliet there, but in this book, it almost seemed like she wasn't the same character as was originally introduced. I didn't really understand why she was so antagonistic to everyone, including Mea. The plot and pacing also seemed a bit off. It seemed like nothing at all happened for the first half of the book, then the action finally picked up and raced toward a conclusion. I still really like Juliet's best friend, Edwin, a very powerful witch who has been crushing on a cute mortal barista for two books now, so I will probably read the third book.

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

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

what should a talented witch do when the folks who are supposed to protect her and other witches are the ones most at fault - most abusing power and authority?

two talented witches with very different skills sets once studied together. their realities then and now were very different

can they find their way together? could that bond survive heavy power and magic struggles?

throw in a flock of relatively innocent folks and a best friend or two, alongside the might be couple, friends and associates- its a drama and action packed paranormal thriller with a few creepy twists

a story you cannot wait to read to the end - then read again!

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

[Happyscribe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a lot reading this! I'm not a huge paranormal romance reader but this sounded too cool a story to miss. So my verdict? This is a story with so much heart in it! The main characters (I am jumping into the series in Book 2) feel authentic and are written with an emotional depth that really shone through for me. I didn't get that from the antagonist though - but meh, I'll go with it.
A nice "who done it" plays in the background as Juliet and Mea embark on their journeys of self-healing and forgiveness and lurve.

I truly enjoyed this read! Thanks so much for writing it!.

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

[Niamh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah first and foremost thank you so much @colette_rivera for allowing me early access to Mea and Juliet’s story! It was a pleasure getting to know Juliet more and being introduced to even more characters in this universe🫶🏻

KYWC was such a nice second instalment to the series, we see the inner workings of the Authority that we were briefly introduced to in book 1 in more detail. I really liked how the world was built on even more and we saw more of the magical society and government.

This definitely reads more as a cosy mystery with romance. The mystery of the missing witches, with the secrecy of Juliet’s past build tension then we got the second chance romance happening alongside it, the whole book just gave me so many good feels and I couldn’t put it down. Mea and Juliet’s character developments just made me feel all happy and warm🥺

The thing I loved the absolute most about this book (but it’s purely because I’m bias and I’m in love with our Mr Bickel) was having Juliet and Mr Bickel’s backstories and learning about their past. It made me connect even more with these two characters that we only saw glimpses of in the first book🫶🏻

Pick up this book, and my KU friends you will have access to this (along with the first book also so go and read that before Tuesday) if you like:
✨cosy mystery
✨magic and mayhem
✨second chance romance
✨grumpy x sunshine
✨found family
✨sapphic romance