When I heard about this romcom with magic, I couldn’t wait to read it. It’s a second chance, small town romance with angst and longing, but while I enjoyed it, I didn’t love it.
Romina Tempest makes floral fortunes (bouquets with love spells) in her magic shop in the small town of Moonville, OH. She shares her business, The Magick Happens, with her sisters, Luna, who makes magic candles and Zelda, who has a paranormal bookstore. Romina and her sisters are successful witches and their business is doing very well.
Their friend Trevor is an investor in their business and handles their marketing. He is one of my favorite characters in the book. He is like a younger brother to them and is lighthearted, funny and steals every scene he’s in. Romina introduces Trevor as her boyfriend when his friends embarrass and tease him in front of everyone about how quickly he goes through girlfriends to protect him. Trevor goes along with it but soon he wants to tell the truth. This part gets funny because Trevor is not good at fake dating and keeping secrets. They are afraid of what everyone will think, especially his dad, if they tell them that they aren’t really dating. It makes them sound dishonest, which isn't good since they are asking him for a loan.
The sisters recently purchased a lot they want to put a night market on but they need funds to help prepare the lot for vendors. Trevor asks his father, Daniel Yoon, a wealthy businessman, if he would invest in their plan and Daniel makes a trip to Moonville to see them. They are all surprised when he introduces them to his fiancé, Kristen, who is Romina’s old high school boyfriend’s mother. And, surprise surprise, Alex (the old boyfriend) is with them too.
Romina and Alex dated for two years when they were teens and broke up before college. Their storyline interested me and I wanted to know what caused their break up. Even though it’s been eleven years since their break up, they still have strong feelings for each other and Alex is very jealous of Trevor. He doesn’t believe that Romina and Trevor are really dating and behaves badly and is arrogant while trying to get Romina to admit Trevor isn’t her real boyfriend. I didn’t love this part of the story - it felt like they were just trying to antagonize each other every chance they got.
There is a big twist in the middle of the story I didn’t see coming that I won’t reveal because it’s a big spoiler! I did enjoy the second part of the story more because it was more romantic as we see Romina and Alex begin to heal and reconnect. Alex lives in a nearby town where he works as a roofer and he begins to come over to Moonville to visit Romina and does kind things for her to win her back and we see a more playful and loving side of them as they rekindle their old flame. The spice level felt mild although the one sex scene is an open door scene.
Romina had a recent breakup which was pretty sad to read about. There’s also a lot of angst between Romina and Alex in the first half and while I rooted for them to get back together, I didn’t love their characters and then there’s the surprise spoiler that was awkward.
The story really shines in the descriptions of Moonville, especially the Night Market. It sounds so beautiful - it has trees with fairy lights, moonflowers, and vendors with magical trinkets, Tarot, teas, tapestries, crystals, suncatchers, tote bags, love oil, and Rowena’s midnight floral fortunes. I could feel the magic! It was fun to read about the meanings of the different flowers and charms used in the bouquets. I also liked Romina’s sisters who helped each other and I admire how passionate they are about their family and business.
I think readers who like second chance, small town romcoms with a little witchy magic might enjoy giving this a chance. It wasn't my favorite but there's much to enjoy here.
Sensuality: Warm
Publication Date: 04/2024
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