In Charm's Way
The Witches of Thistle Grove
LGBTQ+ Romance
Berkley (August 22, 2023)
Six months after having been hit by a power surge that nearly obliterated her memory, Delilah Harlow is still picking up the pieces. Her once diamond-sharp mind has become shaky and unreliable, and bristly, self-sufficient Delilah is forced to rely on friends, family, and her raven familiar for help. In an effort to reclaim her wits and former independence, she casts a dangerous blood spell meant to harness power with healing capacities.
While the spell does restore clarity, it also unexpectedly turns Delilah into an irresistible beacon for the kind of malevolent supernatural creatures that have never before ventured into Thistle Grove. One night—just as things are about to go terribly sideways with a rogue succubus—a mysterious stranger appears in the nick of time to save Delilah’s soul.
Gorgeous, sultry, and as dangerous as the knives she carries, Catriona Quinn is a hunter of monsters—and half-human, half-fae herself, she is the kind of sly and morally gray creature Delilah would normally find horrifying. Though Delilah balks at the idea of a partnership, she has no choice but to roll the dice on their collaboration. As the two delve deeper into the power that underlies Thistle Grove, they uncover not only the town’s hidden history but also a risky attraction that could upend Delilah’s entire life.
Thistle Grove is a magical town of true witches living amongst mere mortals. The magical families for generations have kept their true identities secret by hiding in plain sight. To mundane folk, Thistle Grove is a touristy spot to experience things that feel magical, and that use plenty of cutesy puns. Delilah is the new “keeper” of information and Tomes at the magical bookshop. While tourists shop there for crystals, candles, and tarot cards, true magic users know that it’s also a place warded with magic to protect the knowledge and artifacts of their town.
Delilah is desperate to regain her truest self.
Thanks to an accident with a Blackmoore witch, Delilah can no longer trust her own mind. Several attempts at healing magic couldn’t repair all of the damage her brain sustained. The start of the book is filled with so much self despair and anger. Delilah was once so strong, and full of many spells by memory. Spells that are necessary to sustaining her store. So it is through grief and anger that she makes a risky choice to enter the woods alone and perform a dark spell to restore her mental health.
I could easily understand why she felt so desperate that she needed to use a forbidden spell to heal herself. My own mental health issues would love a quick and dirty spell in a forest for healing. The natural consequence for messing with dark forces is that it attracts dark beings. Suddenly Delilah has monsters trying to eat her. Unwilling to admit her mistake to her friends and family, Delilah chooses to trust a very attractive visitor passing through town.
Her romance is quickly ignited, and full of secrets.
Delilah quickly falls head over heels for Cat with little evidence that she’s trustworthy. It helps that Cat is a sexy half human half fae. She’s always there just in time to save her life. There’s the old saying “the proof is in the pudding”. That would explain the reasons Delilah found for trusting Cat right away. Cat had her back, every time without judging nor questioning her choices. Clearly it’s those insecurities that opened a window for Cat to come rescue Delilah.
Despite Delilah perceiving herself as weak, she turns out to be a serious badass. People tend to underestimate how hard it can be to stand up to someone you love. Delilah ultimately looks out for herself in the face of serious conflict with Cat. Yes, she made some big mistakes along the way, but she didn’t wimper and cower when faced with reality. She owned her mistakes, and really used compassion and forgiveness with others who deserved it. In Charm’s Way was a witchy take on individual growth and healing. Start to finish, I really enjoyed Delilah’s journey, and I hope we’ll see her again in future Thistle Grove books from Lana Harper.
Kristin lives in the PNW with her husband, and three kids. She loves to read YA fiction, fantasy, and romance. She enjoys a few side-hustles, including creating bookreels/booktoks for authors. The only shows she watches are re-runs, and if she’s not reading a book, she’s listening to one.
