Delia Nightshade's life is turned upside down when her husband, Jasper Grimm, is murdered in the dead of night.
A powerful witch with a sharp tongue and a love for all things spooky, Delia won't let death be the end of their story. She uses her magic to stitch Jasper back together, but when he returns, he's a different man—one who doesn't love her anymore.
In fact, he finds her completely unbearable.
But there's no time for heartache. Someone-or something-has been collecting hearts across their cursed town, and Jasper's is the latest trophy.
Delia believes that if she helps him uncover who is behind the string of bizarre murders, she can retrieve his heart and, with it, his lost love.
But Jasper is less than thrilled by the idea.
He may need her help to uncover the murderer's twisted plan, but that doesn't mean he wants to rekindle the spark they once shared.
Still, as the two are forced to work together, their simmering tension grows. Delia is determined to get his heart back—literally and figuratively—however, Jasper's feelings are anything but cooperative.
But as the investigation unfolds, something inside Jasper begins to shift—something he can't explain.
And Delia's presence?
It's starting to feel less like an annoyance and more like the missing piece to a puzzle.
Bewitched by the Pumpkin Queen is a standalone book of the highly-addictive paranormal romance series, The Bewitching Hour. If you’re thirsting for magic and mayhem, spicy slow burn, and witty banter, then you’ll be ensnared by this quirky, sexy, and super fun series. Perfect for fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas, Wednesday Addams, Bewitched, and Practical Magic.
Amber is an author of Beautifully Broken Romance. She resides in Ohio with her amazing family and dogs. When she's not creating fantasy worlds and sinfully delicious romance, you can find her with her family, gaming, playing board games, or of course, snuggled up with a cozy blanket and a good book. Some of her favorite genres include fantasy, paranormal, mythological, ect. but she's a total sucker for any kind of romance. Amber has multiple tattoos and piercings but she wants/needs more. She has an unhealthy addiction to coffee and yes...she does believe in magic and you can't convince her otherwise. (Her pet dragon wouldn't allow it anyway.)
This was a cosy murder mystery, with some dark surprises, a mysterious killer, and a love story beyond death. With multiple supernatural murders Delia and her husband Jasper are trying to keep their town safe. But when Jasper is killed in the same way, Delia will stop at nothing to bring her love back. She turns to dark magic, but the man that returns isn't the same. Now partnered with a reluctant Jasper, they must work together to stop the killer and unearth their plans. I loved her familiar and their witty banter, and how the town comes together. The tension was fun, and I liked seeing Jasper fall for his witch all over again. There is a lot of sacrifice and heartache, high stakes, and an enduring love.
I enjoyed the story, the characters were well written and relatable. My favorite character was her familiar!! He was the one with the brains, plus he was witty and had spunk! The thing that threw me of the book was the repetition of a situation that, the first time it happened was devastating and when fixed was a wow factor but then she kept writing the same thing happening and fixed and took all the wow of it and just made feel like "no biggie, they'll fix it". Overall it was entertaining and nice to read, with a solid mystery to solve and with fun moments.
This was cute and fun. I do wish it was longer though. I felt like the romance was underdeveloped and I didn’t get super attached to the characters because of this. I did think the plot was creative and unique! It kept me entertained. If you are looking for a unique plot that keeps you entertained I would recommend giving this a go.
A murder mystery with the victim as the main investigator?? It’s par(anormal) for the course in Bewitched by the Pumpkin Queen.
In a bit of a twist, this story starts with our characters living out their HEA. Delia and Jasper are ridiculously in love couple, contentedly living their lives in harmony on their farm. They are preparing for the town’s Harvest Festival, making sure they have plenty of pumpkins ready.
Their bliss is rudely interrupted when Jasper is unalived and his heart is stolen. Not willing to take defeat lying down, Delia does what any powerful witch would do - she brings him back to life.
Unfortunately, Jasper is not quite the same when he is resurrected. The love he felt for his wife is gone, replaced by coldness and contempt. But they have no time to dwell on their marriage problems - paranormals are being hunted in their town, and it’s up to Delia and Jasper to save the day.
This was a touching story of the strength of love, and the sacrifices the characters were willing to make to protect and save those they care about. With a ferret familiar called Whiskers, Delia and Jasper make a formidable team despite Jasper’s emotional distance. It was desperately sad at times, and laugh out loud funny at others.
There is one short open door scene towards the start of the book. I wouldn’t characterize this book as slow or fast burn because the characters are married from the start. The book deals with serial killing, sacrifice, and emotional detachment in a relationship.
This a really great Halloween read and I’ve got no hesitation recommending it to fans of paranormal romance.
Bewitched by the Pumpkin Queen is an enchanting blend of romance, mystery, and spooky charm that completely swept me away. From the very first chapter, I was hooked by the witty writing and fast-paced plot.
Delia Nightshade is such a fun and memorable heroine — a powerful witch with a sharp tongue and a heart full of determination. Her dynamic with her resurrected husband, Jasper, was absolute perfection. Their banter had me smiling the whole way through, and the tension between them was both fun and emotional. Watching Delia fight for Jasper’s heart — while he slowly rediscovers his feelings for her — was so rewarding.
The mystery was just as engaging. The heart-stealing murders added the perfect dose of intrigue, and I loved how the quirky, cursed town came together throughout the investigation. And Delia’s familiar? The cutest little ferret who completely stole my heart!
If you love cozy witchy vibes, magical mysteries, and couples with irresistible chemistry, Bewitched by the Pumpkin Queen is an absolute must-read.
Thank you to Amber Bunch for the ARC — all opinions are my own.
Oh my goodnes this book is an absolutely wonderful read that captures all the cozy, magical charm of Practical Magic. From start to finish, it is a story that radiates warmth, enchantment, and above all else heart. Amber does a beautiful job blending, suspence and mystery with emotion, showing that love truly can overcome anything, no matter the odds or what may be missing.
The world-building is rich and pulled me into a world I wanted to stay in. It is filled with that perfect touch of magic and supernatural that makes me want to curl up with a blanket and a cup of something warm while reading. The characters are so easy to love, and the relationship between then was so sweet.
I also need a familiar for myself, especially a sassy one please!
This book is a fantastic addition to an already amazing series, adding new layers of magic and emotion while staying true to the cozy, feel that all the books have. If you love magical stories full of heart, spells, and a love that conquers all, I highly recommend this.
I really enjoyed this story!! It was more emotional than I was expecting and it really hit me in the feels! I liked that the premise was a little different, with Delia and Jasper already married and then having to work through some issues. The mystery was great and very engaging. The small town feel was a nice touch as well.
I really felt the deep connection Jasper and Delia had. I loved both characters and my heart broke for what they had to endure. Jasper was such a fun and complex character. I thought it was well done how he changed and had to find himself again. Delia was such a sweet and caring character. I loved how both characters were so devoted to the town and their farm. Whiskers was super cute as well, although he might get mad at me for saying that! :)
This was a well done story with some angst and suspense. I was hooked right away and didn't want to put it down. I would definitely recommend it!!
What lengths would you go for the love of your life? This question is explored in this fun mystery. She owns a farm and a large pumpkin patch with her husband. They participate in the halloween festival that is put on in town until she finds her husband murdered. This was such a cute mystery with a dash of romance. I loved reading this
The first thing that struck me with this book is the beautiful prose. Decorative and descriptively rich. I really love a well written book and this one sure as heck is! And this read is unlike any of the others in this standalone series. AND I was not expecting this! At all! Our MC, Delia, is a witch. She's also happily married. Delia and hubby Jasper are deeply in love, have a farm and she grows pumpkins. The first few chapters are warm and sweet and cosy and funny, thanks to Whiskers, Delilah's familiar, the snarkiest ferret ever. Then it changes. Dramatically. It gets dark, it gets bloody, it gets .. complicated. A killer is on the loose, one who leaves no scent or trace, one whose agenda is unknown.
Very much a "desperate times call for desperate measures" for Delia, she's going to do it. She's going to go against every rule, law and covenant and she does. As in the Meatloaf song, so will she, "I'll do anything for love". But the results aren't as she expected. I could feel every painful emotion coursing through Delia, I loved how much SHE loved, the lengths she goes through for the one she loves, irrespective of the consequences. Now that she's dabbled in the forbidden "art" of necromancy, her pressing urge, and need, is to find out whodunnit and why. And she's not alone in this task. Together with her sarcastic familiar and a very...changed.... emotionlessly Jasper, they seek answers. The entire town is in peril and what they discover, defies logic, defies, well, just about anything! Past events that have carried into the present, a clandestine operation that reveals a truth few can accept. And a fierce battle ensues.
Romeo and Juliet parallels are evident in this mystery murder read, except it carries it even further. While I enjoyed the uniqueness of this read, that part hinged on unrealistic to me. To me, it was a tad too much. This wasn't a classical enemies to lovers read, this was something different. Lovers separated, rejoined, then separated once more.... The twists, which caught me off guard, were well executed, this book was well crafted and fast paced, quick adrenaline pumping read, the emotion rife and vivid, with a very cool magic system. I thoroughly enjoyed the thriller aspect of this book, the support Delia and Jasper evoked from the townspeople in the tense final moments. If you remember, at the start of my review I mentioned how articulate the prose is, how well written it is, wrapped up well with how convoluted the plot is and the awesome HEA was beautiful to behold. .
Normally a contemporary romance begins with two strangers meeting, circumstances that bring them together often, and then falling in love happens. However, Amber Brunch starts at the end of the love story in her book Bewitched by the Pumpkin Queen. The next addition in the Bewitching Hour series, this paranormal romance defies death itself to show what someone is willing to do for the love of their life.
Jasper and Delia are married and so much in love right from the start! I loved getting to read their story and watching their love overcome everything. They are beyond content, very much in love, and so cute together. When tragedy befalls their small town, Jasper is found unalived with his heart missing. Due to Delia being a witch, she is able to bring him back to life, but the Jasper she loves isn’t the one who is resurrected. Not able to focus too long on what went wrong with her spell, she and Jasper are on the hunt for who is taking paranormals lives throughout their town.
As they work together to uncover the menace in their town and save the people who live within it, I could easily feel the longing Delia had for her husband and who he used to be. She knows she can fix her spell, but also knows the lives of her neighbors are in danger and is willing to put her own love on hold. As the mystery unfolds, I wasn’t ready for the twists and turns the plot line took.
Amber has written an almost lyrical love story that is so much more than enemies to lovers. With slight Romeo and Juliet vibes, the love story between Jasper and Delia was more like lovers separated. I was hooked by this book and wanted to find out how Delia and Jasper find their way back to each other. This was a great story to read the week of Halloween!
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect: 🎃High Stakes 💖Love to Hate 🎃Grumpy x Sunshine 💖Murder Mystery 🎃Necromancy 💖Magic
I didn't read the description before jumping in so when Jasper dies, I was shaken! Like what? Seriously? That's so messed up! By the end, the story is wrapped up neatly. I love that the town was akin to stars hollow. There was great banter and camaraderie around the fall festival. It's a fun read.
Didn’t expect that twist at the end. This one kept me interested and wanting to know what would happen next. I couldn’t put it down. It was a paranormal, cozy, murder mystery romance. The chemistry between the two main characters was perfect. The fact they solved the case themselves and figured out what was happening was great. It was a fun read and I really enjoyed this one!