Witches keep to themselves for their own good. Mingling with other witches is an invitation for trouble and against the rules. At least that’s what Mika has always been told. And she’s used to it; like all witches, Mika’s an orphan and was raised by a succession of nannies and tutors. Her only contact with other witches is on the third Thursday of every third month. However, when she gets a message online asking her to come and tutor three young witches at Nowhere House, Mika can’t help but be intrigued. What she finds is three magical children, their odd assortment of caretakers, and perhaps a place where she can belong. But Mika will also have to decide what she’s willing to risk in order to have that, including her heart.
This is just the perfect warm hug of a book. Reading it is like wrapping yourself in a fuzzy blanket warm from the dryer on a gloomy day. It has a lot of my favorite elements: found family, the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, a little touch of magic and romance. The characters are fantastic. Mika is a delight. She has the perfect balance of the sunshine personality with just enough sass to keep her from being obnoxiously cheerful, and her doubts and insecurities feel real. Jamie makes for a great romantic interest. His kindness and affection, especially for the three little witches, shines through his gruff exterior, and I especially liked the way he understood Mika once he let himself accept that she was going to be there. The three little witches themselves have distinctive personalities and really feel like real children, not just little adults. And there are just so many more memorable characters, even if they only appear for a short while. I also really loved the balance between the romance and the rest of the story, and how it all worked together as a whole. There’s just so many great things about this book. If you enjoy a cozy read, this is definitely one to read. It’s the perfect thing to read when you need a pick me up. Five out of five stars.
CBR15 Passport: Different Genres/Subgenres – Contemporary Fantasy
CBR15 Bingo: Adulthood – Mika is definitely figuring out what her life as an adult looks like.