Books & Bewitchment

Filled with love, laughter, and no shortage of mystery, this cozy romantasy from Jewell (Wicked Ever After) introduces readers to characters they’ll cherish. Rhea Wolfe develops a bit of a martyr complex as she works to provide stability for her two grown but immature younger sisters. Then she’s fired from her dead-end office job in Alabama and breaks up for good with her on-again, off-again boyfriend. Fortunately, this coincides with her learning of an inheritance from her estranged grandmother. She grabs her pet cockatoo, Doris, and heads to Arcadia Falls, Ga., the town Rhea’s mother made her daughters promise never to visit. Upon arrival, Rhea takes over ownership of her grandmother’s floundering Arcadia Falls Video Emporium & Boiled P-Nut Palace, meets a cadre of quirky locals, and learns of her own magical lineage. Add in the romantic interest of hunky local carpenter Hunter Blakely, and Rhea’s life is looking up. But the long-standing magical rivalry between their families may tear Rhea and Hunter apart. There’s a welcoming, Gilmore Girls–esque feel to Arcadia Falls, enhanced with just enough fantastical elements. Rhea’s character growth is expertly handled as she settles into herself and finds a sense of belonging. This is a sweet treat for a cold winter night.