Colleen Delaney

Hauntings and House Witchery is a cozy-but-dangerous paranormal romance that blends second chances, haunted houses, and emotionally messy magic in a way that really worked for me. Verbena’s morally questionable spellwork and fierce independence make her a compelling lead, while Luke’s hurt and hesitation add real weight to their reunion instead of smoothing it over too quickly. I loved the mix of domestic witchcraft, family secrets, and escalating supernatural threats, especially how the show more ghosts and magic mirror the characters’ unresolved guilt and longing. A few plot threads felt slightly crowded, but the emotional payoff, strong atmosphere, and soulmate tension kept me invested. This is a warm, witchy story with sharp edges, perfect for readers who like their romance haunted and their magic complicated. show less

Honestly I loved the setup for this book included right at the end of the first one (though the Witches of Star Island, as a series, builds onwards but I believe this one is cohesive and understandable without that background), and I was delighted to read through it with a bit more from Rosemary's perspective starting out here. (Though, like her sisters, I rolled my eyes at her reaction a bit.)

I continue to enjoy the worldbuilding and diversity of magical specialisation and talents in this show more world, which gets a boost and expansion with the shifted perspective! Rosemary, after all, has a very different skillset and focus than Laurel. (Sidenote: I'm quite interested in Verbena's history and in seeing more of Sage, especially from her perspective; I love a badass nature witch! Which made this one fun as well, because Rosemary? She can step up to that as well.) I would be happy with a little more about their world and its magic and structures, actually, but it doesn't feel too lacking - the Bay sisters are generally quite and understandably focused on their immediate issues as we peek into their lives, after all.

As a character I found Rosemary less grating than Laurel (who I did like somewhat, but also found to be very much the embodiment of an aged up - but not matured - Edgy Teenager; it grew tiresome very swiftly), but perhaps with some more foundation level issues - as in, I had issues with her choices and attitudes at times.

'Is it immoral to do a sex magic spell on a man I just met to make him trust me completely and implicitly? I don't know; no, actually, it's fine.'
. . .madam, let me count the ways that is not okay.
(Specifically, doing magic on someone without permission, and involving someone in sex magic without knowledge or consent, and doing a spell to make someone I've barely spoken to trust everything I say completely.)

While I'm glad it didn't force a misunderstanding argument and parting and take time to get over, as we had with Laurel and Owen, at that point in the book and their relationship, when Rosemary let that attempt slip and Asher found out, I do feel he could and likely should have been a teensy bit more upset. It felt rather jarring that he basically wasn't at all.

That aside, Rosemary feels like a more compelling character to me personally, albeit one occasionally a little hung up on her devotion to sex magic and recreational substances. (That aggravating and faintly caricature-esque set of traits did fade as the story developed; much as at least some of Laurel's dissipated through her own novel. I suspect part of the issue may be either Delaney's writing - a little sloppy at times - or editing process. There were likewise a couple of places where Asher's traits/opinions seemed to have changed without reason or acknowledgement (e.g. 'I can't imagine myself as anything but a cop' early on, when later he thought 'I should never have become a cop, it doesn't suit me' later, not as a progression but a fait accompli.).

I also deeply liked Asher, perhaps even more than Owen. I was not at all surprised by the revelation that he, too, is not a mundane human; I had been suspecting it since . . . the beginning, basically. I wonder if Delaney might be chickening out of making any of her heroines' soulmates a mundane, non-magical human, despite the fact that their father and grandfather were.

It felt like we spent even more time with Rosemary's past life than Laurel's, despite the fact that - as she's not a hedge witch - the only time we did was when she did her past life spell, going in blind. It was a compelling story and a good, full look at that life, however, and it was only a passing thought a couple of times that we were getting a lot of time in this that is not actually the story of the 'now' we're reading. . .

The heavy focus on sex (and occasionally a little dubious places and developments for sexy scenes, entirely aside from Rosemary's taste for exhibitionism and similar) remains similar to the first book, but I expected it this time . . . and it suited Rosemary a little more and mostly felt less out of place here.

Much like with Owen, it would have been (would be) nice to meet more of his family, but expanding the world a little with Guardians is interesting, as are the further hints of councils (even if the USA's is evidently very lacking). And necessary developments, perhaps, given the expansion of the Bay sisters' enemies coming after them!

Again, I'm left curious and hope to read further stories about the Bay sisters and their soulmates, and their world. show less

Your invitation to believe in the magic of love and fate
Hauntings and House Witchery is an enchanting mix of magic and mystery that feels both warm and a little spooky. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to grab a cup of hot tea and maybe even try to ward some spirits away!
This paranormal mystery paints a picture of a world where witchcraft isn’t just about spells and potions; it’s woven into the very heart of your home and hearth. The story beautifully balances the comforting show more rituals of house witchery with the eerie lingering presence of ghosts, creating a perfect blend of warmth and suspense.
The atmosphere of this book is like stepping into a world bathed in candlelight and filled with herbs, but there’s also a subtle, unsettling tension that you can’t quite shake or put your finger on, keeping you turning pages late into the night. The characters are charming and easy to connect with. Verbena has always been determined to keep Luke at arm’s length, whether it was through distance or spells. But when her carefully planned control of life is suddenly thrown into disarray, she can’t escape the past. The slow-burning romance between Verbena and Luke is incredibly tense, especially when hidden secrets come to light. If you love magical vibes with a hint of haunted house mystery, this cozy book is just what you need.
While this is book 3 of the series, I have yet to read the ones before this one, and I didn’t feel like I was missing much context. Perfect standalone read, but the other 2 books in the series are now on my TBR.
#HauntingsandHouseWitchery show less

Perhaps my favourite thing about this book was the worldbuilding - some fascinating hints of different types of magic, most granted by birth/blood, not disciplines you can simply learn and hop between. And sonofawitch being a specific Thing, not witch (or warlock) and not mundane human? Quite interesting!

Honestly, the book felt a lot like a YA in style and characterisation - an aged-up YA, with lots of sex and some more grown-up problems, but still handled and feeling very teenager. show more Especially Laurel felt very . . . fictional take on a trying to be edgy teenage girl, at times.

Also, while I expected - as it is - the feel of one of Those Series of romances, where each novel follows a different sibling or member of a group as they find love, and possessed of an overarching storyline but not necessarily deeply entwined, this one . . . did not feel like the first in the series. It was perfectly understandable, but it felt like a later book in one of those series, with the extras that make more sense or give more layers if you've read prior books. Only there aren't any prior books.

Truly, though it didn't wow me, I enjoyed the book overall!

That YA feeling? There were several points at which the very much adult characters were making decisions that felt very . . . adolescent. Also some decisions that were head-tilt inducing; not so much the ones where you (not in the situation, with a better grasp on it) can see are unwise, but ones where even in-story the decision seems ???

Such as Laurel's refusal to ask Owen's family for help - any of his family.

The book also seemed to flip back and forth frequently on how soulmates are with one another - how much that means, how much it jumpstarts relationships, whether the rapid recognition should be held back against and worked on to build a proper relationship and understanding or just given up to. . . And personally, Laurel and Owen being all over each other sexually even in the middle of tense, we-don't-know-each-others'-buttons fights - and, indeed, in general - felt a little 'really?' to me.

Also, the curse Amee put on Flavie, and Morana desperately wanted Laurel to remove . . . Laurel was so horrified by it - given the curse was enacted on the woman who purposely set her up to be burned alive, among other things, it didn't feel unjustified, and definitely not like an abuse of power, to me?

I'll admit, the wrap-up felt a little quick and easy, especially after the amount of tension and searching to find the identity of the mystery threat and further (any) information about her. And the ending after that felt even quicker and more hand-wavey. I'm curious about the cliffhanger and I may try and check out the next book in the series, but we'll see.

Oh, and the set up for the next romance? A quick note that was rather amusing in the middle of that speedy wrap-up of drama. show less