In this witty fantasy romance, a widow attempts to resurrect her dead husband by blackmailing her rakish necromancer neighbour—only to find herself falling for him instead.
“Witty, whimsical, and deeply kind, A Widow’s Charm is beyond charming—it’s wholly enchanting.”—Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author of The Everlasting
Lady Hildegarde Croft is accustomed to changes in position. After all, she rose from maidservant to lady of the manor when she married Lord Thorgoode Croft. But when he drops dead quite unexpectedly, the plans that would have protected her and the people of Croftholde from her malevolent brother-in-law die along with him. What’s a widow to do?
Fortunately, potential salvation arrives in the form of Lord Erol Elmwood, who is fleeing the consequences of using his forbidden Charm to raise the dead and save his own life. Now he’s injured, destitute, and miserable, stuck hiding out at the neighboring estate.
For Hilde, blackmailing Lord Elmwood to resurrect Thorgoode seems like the perfect solution. For Elmwood, beautiful Lady Croft seems like the ideal distraction from his troubles. The problem is, all she wants from him is the horrifying power he knows he can never use again.
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Praise for A Widow’s Charm:
“Debut author Paxson playfully toys with tropes in this heartening and hilarious romantasy… The ensuing comedy of errors is almost Shakespearian in scope… The romance that blooms between Hilde and Erol adds to the charm and the delightfully drawn supporting cast is similarly easy to love. It’s a joy.—Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)
“Witty, whimsical, and deeply kind, A Widow’s Charm is beyond charming—it’s wholly enchanting.”—Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author of The Everlasting
“Engrossing, flirtatious, sensual, spirited, and highly original.”—Connie Willis, bestselling author of The Road to Roswell
“Clever, funny, charmingly written, this tale of unexpected love and, yes, dead bodies, will run away with your heart. I was rooting for Hilde and Elmwood from the very first page.”—Lucy Holland, author of Sistersong
“A lovely story full of heart, wit, and whimsy, with complex, broken characters it’s hard not to root for . . . This is a novel about loyalty and trust in all their forms, forbidden magics, and forbidden romance.”—Marianne Gordon, author of The Gilded Crown
“A clever, unconventional fantasy with a fascinating magic system, A Widow’s Charm was an absolute delight. All hail Lord Rollo and his darling waggy tail!”—Olivia Atwater, author of The Witchwood Knot
“A Widow’s Charm is a delightfully grown-up fairy tale: witty, sexy, and deeply romantic. Hilde and Elmwood are instantly loveable leads-two bruised charmers in a broken world, drawn together by love’s irresistible spell. This is a warm, glowing hearth of a book, perfect for a night when the world seems too cold.”—Tessa Dare, author of The Duchess Deal
“Bursting with humor, heart, and healing love, A Widow’s Charm is as sweet and sparkling as Wylderuckus cider. I was utterly charmed by Hilde, Elmwood, and, of course, the dashing Lord Rollo. An unmissable debut.” —Allison Saft, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wings of Starlight
“A rake on the run, a heroine who wields the double entendre like weapon, a dash of necromancy, and a very good dog—Caitlyn Paxson’s debut had me smiling (and swooning) from page one. Witty, magical, and utterly charming.” —Kate Robb, author of This Spells Love
“Funny, sexy, and unbelievably charming—this novel is a new forever favorite. Full of complex characters, delicious yearning, and earnest heart, A Widow’s Charm is a brilliant debut.” —Alexandra Vasti, USA Today bestselling author of Ladies in Hating
“Full of wit and cleverness, Caitlyn Paxson’s A Widow’s Charm is a complete delight. I adored Hilde and Elmwood, and of course, Lord Rollo— this is a story with real depth and emotional connection underlying the sparkling banter. A brilliant debut that is fun and moving and, yes, wonderfully charming.” —Kat Howard, Alex Award-winning author of An Unkindness of Magicians
“Caitlyn Paxson’s A Widow’s Charm is hair-raising, dead-raising, and utterly arousing. Sexy, absurd, cozy, lovable, hold-on-to-your-pants thrilling. The whole thing charmed the hell out of me. What even is this book? It’s everything I want to read!”—C. S. E. Cooney, author of World Fantasy Award-winning Saint Death’s Daughter
“A Widow’s Charm is an absolute delight from start to finish: a lush garden of warmth, wonder, and appetite that will leave you pleasantly sated and hungry for more.”—Amal El-Mohtar, NYT bestselling co-author of This Is How You Lose the Time War
“Paxson deftly explores themes of social justice, war, and PTSD while balancing them with the hijinks of a romantic comedy full of witty banter, misunderstandings, and peculiar situations… Paxson’s debut is a cozy and whimsical tale for those who enjoy magical found families and mischievous pet sidekicks.”—Library Journal
Content Note: This book is a cozy romcom, but it does contain mature themes. There are multiple deaths as well as a greater or equal amount of undeaths. There are several brief depictions of violence and warfare. Characters struggle with PTSD, grief, and depression. On a lighter note, it contains rather a lot of delightfully foul language as well as a shocking number of filthy innuendos. The innuendo gets everyone riled up and then there are multiple on-page sex scenes.
Cover illustration and design by Lydia Blagden.
Caitlyn Paxson - Writer and Storyteller 