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Cover of Rise of the Witch

Rise of the Witch

by Deanna Chase

🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate·spoiler·Witches of Keating Hollow #17·Ongoing Series

Why Read This?

A cozy paranormal romance with a fake engagement that feels warm and magical. The enchanted small-town setting wraps around a sweet friends-to-lovers dynamic that long-time series fans will devour.

Synopsis

Briggs Williams has a problem. For years he’d been unable to control his magic. But all that changed when he moved to Keating Hollow. There’s just something about the enchanted town that settles him. But when an old flame shows up in Keating Hollow out of the blue, his magic flares out of control again. Suddenly he’s a walking disaster. And there appears to be only one person that can help him keep his magic in check—Melissa Benson, the one woman he wants but knows he can never have. Melissa Benson is determined to find her Mr. Right, instead of Mr. Right Now. If only she had a little bit of magic, she’d cast a love spell to help her find him. Unfortunately, she’s never been magical. It appears her only talent is dating emotionally unavailable men. Which is why she has sworn off the very handsome Briggs Williams, who has made it clear he’s not interested in anything permanent. But when his ex walks into town and Briggs asked Melissa to pretend to be his fiancée, she finds herself unable to refuse his insane request. Now she’s spending all her time with a man she can’t resist who is destined to break her heart. Just when Melissa is determined to break off the charade, it becomes clear that she has magic after all, and if she leaves Briggs’s side now all hell will break loose. In order to keep Briggs and the residents of Keating Hollow safe, Melissa has no choice but to go through with the fake engagement at least until Briggs can regain control of his magic. But will she lose her heart in the process, or will she and Briggs find they can’t live without each other after all?

At a Glance

4.63 ★ Goodreads
Spice Level🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate
Endingspoiler
PairingM/F
Romance Pacingmedium burn
Energylow

Top Tropes

forced proximityfriends to loversopposites attractmagic bondfake engagement

Mood

romanticmagicalengagingemotionalhopeful

Book Details

Goodreads Rating

4.63 ★

Page Count

250 pages

Published

2025

Primary Genre

Paranormal Romance

Pairing

M/F

POV

Dual POV

Romance Pacing

Medium Burn

Cliffhanger

spoiler

Audiobook

Available

No

Format

N/A

Tropes

RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

Mood

Writing Style

conversationalwarmengagingemotional

Story Pacing

fast

Emotional Weight

light

Energy Required

low

Vibes

cozymagicalfestivemutual piningenchanted small town

Characters

FMC Archetype

caretakersurvivorsecretly soft

MMC Archetype

soft/gentleprotective love interestsecretly soft

Relationship Dynamics

friends to loversmutual piningpush and pullprotective love interestfake dating to real feelings

Spice Details 🌶️

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Spice Level 3

Spice Style

sweet / tendergentle / romantictension / anticipation focus

Getting Steamy

tensionanticipationpossessive/protective

Bringing the Heat

None
Browse more books by spice level →
jealous exmagic instability
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

World Type

paranormalcontemporary

Primary Setting

enchanted small town of Keating Hollow

Fantasy Creatures

Representation

N/A

Reading Context

Emotional Payoff

Best Time of Year

anytime

When & Where to Read

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