Uncharmed

This cozy romantic fantasy from Wood (Rewitched) explores the strong bonds of found family. After Andromeda “Annie” Wildwood’s family falls into disgrace in the Selcouth witch community, she starts drinking a nightly potion to make herself “perfect,” hoping to avoid further shame. All seems to be going well until she’s tapped by Morena, the coven leader, to train teenage witch Maeve Cadmus, who must learn to control her erratic powers. With reluctance, Annie leaves her beloved London bakery to live in the countryside with Maeve. The coven puts up Annie and Maeve in a quaint if rickety cottage owned by warlock Hal Bancroft—without Hal’s knowledge or consent. When Hal visits the cottage unexpectedly, he’s initially less than pleased to find them squatting, but soon he and Annie strike up a slow-burning romance, bonded by their shared care and concern for Maeve. As the adults learn the full extent of Maeve’s power, they become increasingly concerned about an underground witch group’s sinister plans for her. The novel gets off to a slow start and the true stakes aren’t fully introduced until the middle, but once things pick up, readers will be sucked in. Anyone looking for a lighthearted autumnal romp to snuggle up with will be delighted. (Sept.)