The Trouble With Witches by Kristen Painter

Posted January 3, 2021 by Marsha in Paranormal Cozy Mystery, Series / 0 Comments

Shadowvale isn’t a typical small-town America. The sun never shines, the gates decide who enters, magic abounds, and every resident bears some kind of curse.

No one knows this as well as raven shifter Deacon Evermore, who, like everyone in his family, has a curse. While his position as Shadowvale’s peacekeeper lets him use that curse for good, he’d rather live anywhere else. He stays for his family, but doubts he can last much longer.

Fledgling witch Emeranth Greer is determined to escape her past and make a fresh start in Shadowvale with the aunt she’s never met. Her aunt and the town prove to be far better than she imagined. There’s no way Em is leaving this magical place. Especially when staying means more time with the handsome Deacon.

But when Em’s troubled past catches up with her and nearly destroys the romance budding between her and Deacon, her instinct is to run again. Except there’s magic in the mix now and the town won’t let her leave. Only Deacon can save her, but can a cursed man clear her name…or will her history destroy them both? 

Titles in the Shadowvale series include – The Trouble with Witches – The Vampire’s Cursed Kiss – The Forgettable Miss French – Moody and the Beast –

Title:  The Trouble with Witches
Series:  Shadowvale #1
Author:  Kristen Painter
Paranormal Genre:  Paranormal Cozy Mystery/Romance
Publication Date:  May 13, 2019
Rating:  4 stars

The Trouble with Witches begins the Shadowvale series, and it’s the exact opposite of another of this author’s series, Nocturne Falls, as one could possibly get.  While Nocturne Falls celebrates its paranormal abilities with a year-long celebration of every day being Halloween – Shadowvale is hidden, oppressive, and does everything possible to push people away – only opening the entrance to the town to those under a curse (even if they are unaware of that curse).

This is how Emeranth (Em) finds herself in a place where just about everyone she meets is trying to get her to leave town including her aunt and the man she’d just love to get to know better.  Em is trying to start fresh, to escape her past and her mother as well.  Yet, even discovering she comes from a long line of witches it seems that her aunt just doesn’t want her moving in, at all, and will take rather extreme measures to ensure that Em leaves.  Not that Em intends to leave – no, she’s found her place and she’s going to make a fresh start right here.

The Trouble with Witches is one of those stories where I’m simply going to trust an author that I’ve enjoyed for years.  The opening story was, for me, mostly world building, getting to know the town, why only the cursed can find there way here, and the determination of some to get Em to leave with the impression of “before it’s too late” being very strong.  While I’m not against insta-love, insta-lust (I’m a lover of anything Shifter and used to that) I just didn’t feel much of a connection between Em and Deacon.

So, while I’m somewhat torn on the beginning I’ll be giving the series a chance to draw me in with the next title, The Vampire’s Cursed Kiss, and I’ll see how I feel after that one.  It’s a good story just not one that blew me away as I’m accustomed to by this author.

I own a Kindle edition of this title.

Available for your favorite e-reader.

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