March 30, 2020
The late Chapman (1951–2017) weaves a tangled web of magic and mystery in her sweet but overstuffed seventh Spellbound Falls fantasy romance (after The Highlander Next Door). Katy MacBain’s new job as a paramedic for Spellbound Falls Fire and Rescue in Maine sends her to Colorado for training, after which she disappears. Worried, Katy’s best friend entreats Gunnar Wolfe, Spellbound Falls’s interim fire chief, to find her. But he searches to no avail and the two don’t meet until a clearly traumatized Katy reappears in Maine and reports for duty at the fire house, refusing to talk about what happened. Sparks fly between Katy and Gunnar from the jump, but he is determined to find out what happened to Katy in Colorado. His curiosity only grows when he witnesses her miraculously heal a cat that he’s sure was dead. The mystery of Katy’s disappearance provides a dark, emotional through line, but new readers will struggle to make sense of the extensive backstory required to piece together the plot. Though fans will appreciate the many familiar faces, the inclusion of so many nostalgic callbacks to earlier installments detracts from the central romance. This charming return to Spellbound Falls will primarily appeal to steadfast Chapman fans. Agent: Grace Morgan, Grace Morgan Agency.