Signed, Sealed, and Smitten

Only Magic in the Building #7

by Melanie Jacobson

The last thing she needs is another off-limits work romance. He’s fine playing the friendly flirt . . . until he falls for real.

Embarrassing breakups at work cost you promotions. Phoebe learned that the hard way. So when a patron’s will names her as the director of a new museum in Serendipity Springs, she jumps at the chance to prove her professionalism.

Her new plan: focus on work. Ignore distractions. Definitely ignore men. Easy peasy.

But then the mailbox in Phoebe’s quirky apartment building starts delivering a series of old love letters written between strangers…sixty years ago.

She can’t afford the distraction, but she also can’t ignore the letters, so she enlists the help of Jay, the flirty heir to her benefactor’s fortune, to help her solve the mystery of who they belong to.

Jay is exactly the history pro she needs, but he’s also the kind of handsome charmer Phoebe always falls for, and since he’s on the museum board, she’s not about to risk her recovering reputation. Despite their sizzling chemistry, she quickly sends Jay to the friend zone.

Until the mysterious letters from the past lead them to surprising discoveries in the present, and serendipity steps in with an irresistible nudge and a memorable, magical kiss.

Genres: Romance, Rom Com, Magical Realism, Contemporary, Clean Romance, Workplace Romance, Contemporary Romance

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 16, 2025

Reviews

[Alysha (For The Love of Christian Fiction) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all. If you are looking for a book that personifies both the feeling of a warm summer breeze and a hug from your favorite person — look no further than this story!

It has the charm of a small hometown RICH in history, with the undercurrent of the sparkle of a new adventure around the bend!

Phoebe & Jay were ummm THE CUTEST! And their chemistry from the second they met was *chefs kiss*
I loved every one of their interactions and conversations! The constant push and pull - “forbidden” (but like not reeeaalllyy) love - the draw to be WITH each other as people. The DREAM TEAM they made. Listen…they found their perfect nerdy match in each other. And I wish they were real just so I could cheer them on with every fiber of my being. 😂

Their jobs were the COOLEST thing EVER! And the historical adventure they went on with the letters?! HAD ME SAT!

Seriously, I adored this book! And the epilogue made me tear up a little - not gonna lie to you…

4.5/5 stars

*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*

[Patricia Rupell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the seventh book released in the Only Magic in the Building series and can be read as a standalone. It is Phoebe and Jay's story. It had history, magic, and a little mystery. I really liked the museum setting, complete with a library ladder and secret passageway. It was a fun read.

[Angie Miale · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! What a wonderful book! I loved it. This is my favorite of the Only Magic series, because it involves not only whimsical closed door romance, but also history and a bit of a mystery. Phoebe is a museum docent starting a Serendipity museum. She was bequeathed it by an old ma on the board of the museum in Boston she runs. Her career has taken a backseat thanks to an embarrassing situation with an ex. She has vowed no more workplace romance.

The building has other ideas for Phoebe and Jay, Foster’s grandson. He is a history professor, history book writer and Ivy League type. He is also handsome and funny! Phoebe starts getting letters in her mailbox for Smitten Kitten signed from Dear Heart. The letters are from the 60’s, and together Phoebe and Jay try to determine who they are from.

I prefer and loved closed door romance, j am not a fan of spice in the page- to each her own, it’s not for me.

Unfortunately, a lot of closed door or sweet romance also is served along with a vague sense of purity culture or hints of patriarchal values. This makes me WAY more uncomfortable. I can always skip a spicy chapter or two, but these themes are impossible to spot then hit me in the face.

That isn’t the case here. It isn’t the case with any of the authors in this series, but this book in particular felt empowering and inclusive. The historical aspects were so respectful and refreshing. I was so surprised by the conclusion and I was so rooting for Phoebe and jay’s happiness.

6 out of 5 stars.

[Morgan Giesbrecht]

Full disclosure: the romance was a bit more than my personal preference but I ADORED the magical letter mystery! It felt a bit like the Postables, haha. 🤭 Phoebe and Jay have great banter and the museum angle was so fascinating!

Content: passionate make outs; mild innuendo

[yasmin⭑.ᐟ · Rating 5 out of 5]

❝🪄 𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓭, 𝓼𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓮𝓭, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓶𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓷 💌❞
╰┈➤ 𝟓/𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 ⭐

❝𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘩, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐'𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘺-𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥. 𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦? 𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴?❞ (page 281)

this book just healed me in ways i can't explain. wait...maybe i can explain! 🥹🤗

𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽 👀:
this was my first experience of the 'only magic in the building' series and i'm excited to dive in the rest of the books! the plot of SS&S is so cute, two people solving a mystery of love letters, while also falling in love w/ each other, loved it!! 🥰 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝟒𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞!!!! 😁 and the fact that 'the serendipity' was basically shipping people together was so funny. 😭

𝓹𝓱𝓸𝓮𝓫𝓮 + 𝓳𝓪𝔂 💌:
the first time i heard their names together, it sounded like PB & J! and i think it's because they're meant to be!! 🥹 their banter and silly moments together warmed my heart and soul! 🫠 these 2 history nerds deserve the world. 😭 jay was 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐛𝐚𝐝 for pheebs and it was funny reading that she tried to resist his "west coast charms," even though he fell for her 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝! 🤭 WHERE IS MY JAY MARTIN?!?!?! 😔 and the communication-OH MY GODDDDD!!! they talked their issues out together to prevent any problems between them, and i'm so glad!! 🥹

𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 🪄:
❝𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘪𝘵. 𝘐 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.❞ (page 1)

❝𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳 𝘏𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘺 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱, 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘳. 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶--𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵.❞ (page 4)

❝𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦, 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘬𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘵-𝘳-𝘰-𝘶-𝘣-𝘭-𝘦.❞ (page 8)

❝𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘦", 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘺, 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦: 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦'𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴.❞ (page 26)

❝𝘚𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘵. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺. 𝘈𝘩, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴. 𝘐 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳.❞ (page 30)

❝𝘏𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘯 𝘯𝘰𝘥. "𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥. 𝘔𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴." "𝘋𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦." "𝘠𝘦𝘴, 𝘮𝘢'𝘢𝘮." 𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦𝘴. "𝘋𝘰...𝘣𝘦𝘵...𝘵𝘦𝘳...𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵...𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.❞ (page 37)

❝𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘉𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯-𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯. 𝘏𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵.❞ (page 46)

𝓹𝓻𝓮-𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭 💟:
after having 2 DNFs in a row, i'm ready to read something I'll actually enjoy!! 😔 let's hope I don't suffer! 😁🤗

[Madison Allshouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75/5⭐️
What a flippin’ adorable book! Like?!? I absolutely loved the banter between Jay and Phoebe; the romance in this story in particular gave me butterflies a couple times😍🦋

I think what made this book stand out above some others in the series was how seamlessly the plot was intertwined with all the characters and the magic of the Serendipity. The magical “dead letters” portion of the story was so well done; I loved how everything was so interwoven and had that magical, whimsical touch to it!

[Hannah Leutzinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute and gave the Hallmark show Signed Sealed Delivered vibes. Which I love!
I really liked that the letters gave Phoebe and Jay a mystery to solve together. And it was cute that they nerded out about their common passion for history.
Super fun!

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is now one of my favorite books of Melanie Jacobson, and it will be yours - I promise. This book is SO FREAKING CUTE!! It is so hilarious, has the most amazing back and forth banter between Phoebe and Jay, it actually made me care about history (which I've always struggled with so that says A LOT), and I had a very physical reaction to their bidding romance. THAT KISS ❤️ my goodness. This book has EVERYTHING you ever want in a romance!! I was literally laughing out loud and sighing with love - literally!! Melanie Jacobson hit it out of the park 20 times over with this book ❤️ I cannot imagine the amount of research she did for this book - but it shows how much she cares about getting the story right. I will be thinking about this book for a long, long time ❤️ and Dear Hart and Smitten Kitten, I mean....COME ON!!!!! Talk about freaking amazingly adorable ❤️

Tropes to find:
-Workplace Romance
-Forbidden Romance
-He Falls First
-an amazing library and ladder scene that will make EVERY bookish girl jealous
-cute meddling grandpa ❤️

[Maggie - Busy Moms Read Too · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was ADORABLE! It had a perfect balance of “hallmark” sweetness and historical “nerdiness”, combining two things I didn’t know that I actually love in a romance book until now. It was cute, funny, and refreshing. The series as a whole is delightful!

[Alicia (aliciasalwaysreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

GENRE
-magical realism

CONTENT
-🤬: none
-❤️: kisses only
-⚠️: none

This series is so fantastic, and Melanie Jacobson's story added to the magic perfectly. Phoebe is the director of the brand-new museum in Serendipity Springs. She gets the curse and blessing of working closely with Jay, grandson of the benefactor of the museum and also highly-attractive historian. Phoebe's been burned by a work-adjacent relationship before, so she is adamant about not dating Jay. The Serendipity has other ideas though!

There are so many things to love in this book:
-the meet cute!
-the "peach farmer" hahaha
-the banter between Jay and Phoebe
-the mystery of the letters
-the SLOW BURN
-the nod to the love flower from Petals and Plot Twists!
-the epilogue

Favorite Quotes:
-"Show me a girl who loves to read who hasn't had the same fantasy, and I'll show you—nothing. That girl doesn't exist." (talking about riding a rolling library ladder like Belle does)

-"What's wrong?"
"I had to deal with a sudden urge to push you up against a wall and make out with you."
Oh.
Oh.

-Her voice is pleasant, but something is off. I frown. "Am I...not supposed to date?"
"Date all you want."
"Your face isn't saying the same thing as your mouth," I inform her. "The subtitles are big."

*I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own. No positive review was required.

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

~ 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝑺𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝑲𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏…
𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔, 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 ~

This was another thoroughly enjoyable addition to the Only Magic in the Building series! If you’re anything like me, then a story involving a library with a secret passageway and a rolling ladder will immediately interest you. Well, let me be the bearer of good news and tell you that this book has the library of your dreams! I’ve always hoped to someday ride a rolling ladder, but I guess if that wish never comes true, at least I can read about someone else doing it 😄

Jay was a complete goner for Phoebe, and I absolutely ate it up! Between her enticing lipstick and alluring eyes, he found it impossible to keep his eyes off of her. Meanwhile, Phoebe was not one to put up with nonsense of any sort—especially not when it involved the grandson of Foster Martin. Their interactions involved some of the BEST banter, and I adored how talking history was their own special kind of love language! The time when Jay eavesdropped while Phoebe conversed with her bestie about a certain “peach farmer” absolutely killed me 😂 These two history fanatics had a knack for getting into the most delightfully awkward situations—the kind that are highly entertaining for readers!

I love that this book dug a bit more into the history of Serendipity Springs and told about its origin. I find the tidbits that we get to learn about this town to be so fascinating!

Once again, we had some characters from previous OMITB books, and boy, was I thrilled to see Gloria again! She never fails to crack me up whenever she decides to show up in these stories. I love how she has made it her mission at The Serendipity to get as many female tenants as possible to read her favorite romantasy trilogy. Those who decide to give her books a shot never fail to absolutely love them!

The magical element in this book—the seventh in the Only Magic in the Building series—involved old letters that refused to stay out of Phoebe’s temperamental mailbox, all addressed to “Smitten Kitten”. Let me tell you, they were quite the letters! If nothing else hooked me into this story, the letters certainly did! You should probably go read this book to find out what they said 😏

Read it for:
💌 Flirty MMC
💌 No nonsense FMC
💌 Library w/ a rolling ladder
💌 Off-limits workplace romance
💌 Mysterious letters
💌 Forced proximity
💌 Hilarious banter

[Kim Golding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh; Phoebe and Jay, how I love thee!! As a long time fan of Melanie Jacobson books, I was beyond excited to read Signed, Sealed, and Smitten and I loved it so much!!

Phoebe is the new director of the Serendipity Springs Museum, appointed by her dear friend ,Foster Martin, before he passed away. Little does she know, his grandson, Jay, a museum trustee is about to enter the picture in the most adorable/hilarious meet cute! However, Phoebe knows all about Jay‘s “type“ and is bound and determined to keep him in the friend zone! But, as we all know, not even the best laid plans work out how we think they will. 😏

There are so many things to love about this book I loved the meet cute, the “peach farmer,” the secret passage, the forced proximity, the slow burn, the “crackle” between them, the magical mailbox, the Smitten Kitten letters/mystery, the rooftop scene, the appearance of the floris amoris, the epilogue, and their happily ever after!!

A few quotes to love:

“I have no idea what I thought a museum director named Phoebe would look like. Phoebe is kind of an any-era name. I guess I imagined a middle-aged woman with sensible shoes and an air of terrifying competence. When I caught a hottie with a nice body and long dark braids joyriding on the library ladder in cutoffs and sneakers, I did not expect her to be the new museum director.”

“I’ve had a lot of first kisses, many good, some great. That kiss between Phoebe and me was next level. I’ve never experienced anything like it before, an electric newness combined with a sense of recognition, of the realization that this is how it’s meant to be and everything else was a warmup.”

I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Stephanie P (Because My Mother Read) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this new release two history loving people connect over the creation of a museum and a mystery of miss-delivered letters from decades ago. This is book 7 in a multi-author series that is set in the same area with light magical realism elements and small crossover elements. It can definitely be understood on its own and out of order with the other books as well.

I thought the museum premise was really fun as the female main character had the unique role left to her by a benefactor to turn a mansion into a museum. I loved watching her dive into what made the town special and how to showcase that in creative ways. I would definitely go visit that museum!

The romance was really fun with plenty of banter and humor between the leads. It was a slow burn, but thankfully not riddled with miscommunication.

I didn't have any big issues with any parts of the story and found it very enjoyable all throughout, but it was just missing a little extra spark that makes me fly through the pages or pushes a book to 5 stars for me.

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book that isn't historical fiction, but had a lot of history in it, which made my historical-loving heart so happy.

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take sweet romance, add a mystery and some small-town charm, then wrap it in love—both past and present, and you'll get Signed, Sealed, and Smitten, part of the Only Magic in the Building multi-author series.

Phoebe's trying to rebuild her career and her confidence after a workplace romantic misstep. Starting fresh in Serendipity Springs as the curator of the new Serendipity Museum comes with a drama-free future, but an old, temperamental mailbox in The Serendipity apartments has other plans for Phoebe. Jay, the charming grandson of Phoebe’s benefactor and a member of the museum board, is committed to helping her unravel a 60-year-old love letter mystery. How long can Phoebe stay professional and resist Jay's charms?

Phoebe tries her best to be professional. From the way she dresses, how she speaks at board meetings, and her vow to keep Jay strictly in the friendzone, despite their sizzling chemistry. But The Serendipity works its magic, and while figuring out the mystery of who Smitten Kitten and Dear Heart are, Phoebe eventually throws caution to the wind.

What I loved:
💌 All the banter!!
💌 Dual POV
💌 Library rolling ladder
💌 Secret passage
💌 He falls first
💌 Art Deco was the best deco
💌 The meet-cute

These two are so freaking adorable! I laughed out loud at the awkward situations they managed to get themselves into. I loved the mystery of the letters and could not have predicted the ending in a million years!! Oh, and that epilogue! Well done Melanie Jacobson! This sweet romcom will leave you with a smile and a happy heart.

I received a complimentary ecopy of the book. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! One of my favorites from Melanie period.

Phoebe was such a fun protagonist. I loved her passion for history and the museum she is directing. I loved seeing her connect with Serendipity Springs and build a beautiful life there. And I loved seeing her with Jay.

Their chemistry is obvious from their first meeting in the library. I loved their banter and their shared love of history. I loved their discovers of the old letters and solving that mystery together. I love their first kiss on the rooftop garden of the Serendipity. I loved how kind Jay is to Phoebe and how he treats her with respect and also finds himself falling in love with her so soon after meeting her. Phoebe fights their attraction for a while (and she has reasonable reasons for doing so). That leads to some hilarious moments and some sad moments. But ultimately it leads them to each other and true love.

The magical elements in this story are so fun!! I loved the mysterious letters from years ago that keep appearing in Phoebes mailbox. Figuring out that mystery was so clever! I really enjoyed the connections the letters have to Phoebes and Jays current lives. So fun to see how those letters connect them to each other and others around them.

I loved seeing lots of familiar faces from the other Only Magic in the Building books. This series has been so fun!

[Megan Crofton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was unique and very well-written. I enjoyed the love story and all the well-thought out and intriguing history of the town. I really enjoyed the way the author wrote, very eloquent, and great word choice. It flows very nicely.

I knew this one would be unique from beginning to end because the characters were unique and very thought out. Jay and Phoebe were very layered and interesting. I loved their bond over their shared love of history. I loved that Jay was attracted to her intelligence and struggled keeping his distance in this workplace romance. Their journey to find out more about The Serendipity and the history there was fun. I loved all the sleuthing they did to figure out the letters that magical would appear. Great magical element! They had some great banter and tons of intellectual debating. Loved seeing the past characters from other books of the series.

I loved the premise of the story, though I had a little bit of a hard time relating to the characters. I struggled with some things that kept pulling me out of the story and the romance. But towards the end of the book, I really fell back into the story more and enjoyed all the surprises and twists and turns at the end!

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE all of Melanie Jacobson’s books! The stories are so well written they seem real. And she is funny! Many authors try to write humor into their books, and it’s not bad, but Melanie is hilarious and it feels so natural. This book was perfect, with a bit of mystery added in. I loved the little bit of magic sprinkled in this series. Jay and Phoebe were so fun to watch fall in love, and the little cameos of previous books characters was a nice touch.

[The_Power Of_The Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute! I loved the magical aspects. The wit and banter. And of course the slow burn!

This series is a delight or as the commercial says “Magically Delicious!” So many fun scenes! My favorite is the meet cute in the library and the Gaston song parody!

Phoebe is determined not to derail her career by dating the museum benefactor’s grandson. It was great to watch her struggle against her feelings. She was so back and forth it’s a miracle Jay didn’t get whiplash! lol.

Come for the magic and stay for the romance. Such a great unexpected ending! How can you not love this book?

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"There's nothing I'd rather do than run a thirty-minute errand with Phoebe and tell her what I found. Is that a love language? Being really into each other's random history investigations?"

Phoebe sighs. "I told you, I don't know how not to have something with you. But honestly, I don't want to not have something with you. I mean, I do want to have something with you."

OH-MY-WORD I LOVED THIS! I was simultaneously laughing and swooning throughout. Like serious gut-busting laughter to the point my son left his screen time to see what was so funny, because if mom was laughing that hard it must be better than what he was watching. 😂

The characters, dynamic and setting were perfection. I loved how in spite of Phoebe's past hurt and preconceived judgements of Jay, their shared interests and respect for each other's work kept drawing them together. How they found each other's nerdy interests sexy. That once Phoebe moved past her biases, she could recognize Jays quality, and how they both recognized and brought out the best in each other - not pushing each other to change but to embrace ALL of who they were. And their dynamic was both hilarious and swoony!

I also really loved the history and investigative research aspects with the museum and mystery letters. Jacobson brought these themes to life in a way that was intriguing and engaging, it made me more fascinanated by the characters jobs and interests rather than bored by random information. And I LOVED the conclusion of the mystery letters! It was so unexpected, and it brought everything together perfectly.

There's a reason Jacobson is a favorite rom-com author. This was an absolute delight!

~

More quotes I love:

The distance while he was gone worked great...ish, but in a catastrophic rebound effect, his powers seem to be twice as strong when he returns. A handsome man left on Tuesday, and I got breathing room. A devastatingly sexy man returned on Friday and took my breath away.

I can spend the weekend figuring out how to defend against that.

~

Jay hasn't said anything, and I glance back at him. He's staring at the map, and his expression is somewhere between serious and dazed. "You don't think this is a good idea? You're wrong. It is."

He doesn't answer. Instead, he walks into the kitchen and pulls a glass from a cabinet. He fills it with water before he drinks it over the sink, staring out of the window.

"Jay?"

He holds up a hand, finishing off the water. He sets the glass on the counter and braces his hands on the sink, keeping his eyes on the view. "I'm okay."

"What's wrong?"

"I had to deal with a sudden urge to push you up against a wall and make out with you."

~

"Also, there's more. About Jay. That you should know, I mean."

I've never heard Phoebe so off-balance.

"I kissed him," she says, and it's loud enough that a couple of heads turn toward us. "A lot."

Catherine says nothing but looks at me as if considering this development.

"It was after the cookie thing," Phoebe says. "Not that day. Later. At the time, the cookie thing was what I told you it was." She bites her lip. "Mostly? And there will be more. Kissing, not cookies."

I straighten. "What? No, I like cookies."

She glares at me, and for the first time since I've known her, a full blush sweeps up her throat to her face.

"There will be kissing and cookies," she amends.

[Kaci Bonar · Rating 5 out of 5]

When this story begins, it’s evident that a lot of research went into this book and it’s intriguing to see how some of the most unlikely of things are intertwined throughout the story! But first, let’s acknowledge that a rolling ladder was used and who doesn’t love that?!

Phoebe Hopper is the newly appointed director of what will ultimately become the Serendipity Springs Museum in the old Martin house. Color me excited! She may be young, but she knows her stuff! Upon her first private investigation of the house, she runs into Jay! Jay is the grandson and active family member on the Board of Trustees! He’s a wealth of knowledge on his family and proves to be an asset to Phoebe, although he’s a distraction too!

Jay Martin stays in the groundskeeper’s cottage on the property while working on drafting his latest book! While he’s happy to give Phoebe a private tour, he can’t deny his attraction to her despite her apparent dismissal. As time rolls on, Jay’s path gets entwined with hers as they chase down the mystery behind “Smitten Kitten” letters that keep turning up in her mailbox!

This subplot was fun and unexpected! I loved following along with the protagonists of what all the letters could mean, who were behind them, and how it all related to the museum and the city itself! A+ for thinking outside of the mailbox on this one Melanie! There were very subtle nods to other characters from the previous books, but the main supporting character of Catherine was one for the ages! This woman was compelling as she was the only link between Phoebe’s past in Boston and the present in Serendipity Springs! She may have come across as a bit overbearing at times, Catherine had quite the personality too! Overall, I enjoyed the variety of elements that were thrown into this story and the unexpected links to history were fantastic! Bravo!

[McKenna Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @melaniejacobson_books for the #gifted e-book.

This closed-door, multi-author series called Only Magic In The Building is set in Serendipity Springs, where a legendary fountain brings good fortune. A whimsical romance with light magic, it follows a matchmaking building—no spells or shifters, just charm.

Melanie Jacobson’s Signed, Sealed, and Smitten is a delightful addition to the Only Magic in the Building series, set in the enchanting town of Serendipity Springs. This standalone novel weaves together elements of magical realism, workplace romance, and cozy mystery, all wrapped in the charm of a small-town setting.

Jacobson masterfully crafts a slow-burn romance that is both heartwarming and engaging. The magical elements—subtle yet impactful—add a whimsical touch that enhances the narrative without overshadowing the characters’ development. The historic building, central to the series, continues its role as an inadvertent matchmaker, adding layers of intrigue and charm.

Fans of closed-door romances will appreciate the clean yet emotionally rich storytelling. The blend of humor, heartfelt moments, and a touch of magic makes this novel a standout in the series. Signed, Sealed, and Smitten offers a cozy escape into a world where love and magic intertwine.

✨Authors in the series:
Emma St. Clair, Courtney Walsh, Jenny Proctor, Savannah Scott, Julie Christianson, Carina Taylor, Melanie Jacobson, Katie Bailey

[Riella Cristobal · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun story! I have really enjoyed this whimsical romance series and this one was really sweet.
I felt for Phoebe. She really wanted to prove herself in her new position and was determined to present herself as competent and professional. That desire had her being very cautious with Jay, even though she was drawn to him. I loved her passion for her work and her ambitions. It was sweet to see her get to build relationships within Serendipity Springs and have the chance to evaluate what her goals were. Phoebe was so driven that at times, she lost sight of herself. I was frustrated with her at times, but really enjoyed her journey.
Jay was a lot of fun. He was definitely gregarious and charming, but he was also very sweet and genuine. It was really fun to get to know him throughout the book and see him grow as well. Both of the characters were settling into themselves. I loved their banter!
The mystery of the letters was really engaging and it was so satisfying to see the clues come in. The historical and museum specific elements were really interesting and I loved the setting overall. Serendipity Springs is also home to so many quirky characters, so it was fun to see some of them pop up! Overall, I really enjoyed reading this closed-door whimsical romance! It has only kissing and some innuendo.
I received an ARC

[Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy Release Day to the second to last book in the Only Magic In The Building series!

This series is perfect for anyone looking for a fun, quick read with a splash of magic sprinkled through the residence of The Serendipity… a vintage apartment building.

Phoebe is new to Serendipty Springs with a job opportunity of a lifetime…to become a director of a new museum included an apartment at the Serendipty apartment building. She is really focused on work but is getting slightly distracted by the old post showing up in her mailbox. Love letters from 60 years ago. Not only that but the heir of the museum Jay works himself into Phoebe’s day to day… a distraction she doesn’t really mind.

I thought this one was so fun… from the ins and outs of museum life and investigating the mysterious love letters. The sly banter back and forth between Jay and Phoebe plus all the dang tea sets! If you enjoy a bit of history, rare books and ballrooms turned into shuffleboard courts then this one is for you!

Thank you Melanie Jacobson

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ONLY MAGIC IN THE BUILDING series gets better with each book. Perhaps it’s the cumulative effect. Maybe it’s the combination of contributions from many talented writers. Whatever the reason, this series and these books are fun and flirty with just the right amount of magic.

SIGNED, SEALED AND SMITTEN is Phoebe and Jay’s story and it is delightful. Phoebe has been personally selected as the curator of the soon to be opened Serendipity Museum. Jay is vice chair of the museum board of directors. Despite their attraction and obvious chemistry, Phoebe knows the last thing she needs is a workplace romance.

But Phoebe’s apartment building thinks differently. Envelopes addressed to Smitten Kitten keep appearing in her mailbox despite her attempts to return them to sender. The letters are decades old from a writer only identified as Dear Heart. It seems like the perfect mystery for a lover of artifacts and history novelist to solve.

There’s something especially romantic about handwritten love letters. They proved to be the perfect magical element for this sweet romance. This series is a definite mood lifter.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it's official. Signed, Sealed & Smitten is my favorite of the series; the favorite of favorites if you will. I literally just closed the book and I am already thinking about when I will reread it.

Phoebe and Jay are the perfect couple for this history nerd. I loved their banter, their nerdiness and the million of tiny different ways that the two of them just fit! Without giving any spoilers, I think Melanie truly made these two the perfect, serendipitous couple. (Iykyk)

I loved Phoebe's vibrance and ideas. I loved how she approached her research for the museum and the enthusiasm she had for it. I wish this museum was a really place that I could go and visit. (Although, I think she would have a hard time getting me to leave.)

Jay is a wonderful, handsome, history nerd. I loved his personality, his quirks and his love for his family. I apologize to all of the book boyfriends I have had before...because Jay is the one! Lol Also, Melanie, can you please write his book series, Rogues of the Revolution?! You made this man's expertise my absolute favorite time period of history and I really, really want to read them!

All in all, this book was perfect. Every single page, every single chapter. I loved every second that I spent reading it. So, thank you Melanie for this beautiful story! I can tell you right now that I will enjoy many hours of rereading it in the future.

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Brief: Phoebe receives an opportunity to be the director of a new museum and it comes with a place at the Serendipity. A mysterious letter keeps showing up in her mailbox, so she decides to put her research skills to work, preferably without the help of the hot prof looking grandson.

The Debrief: This book is filled with plenty of flirty and literary banter that is reminiscent of Gilmore Girls. And the town. So funny! Sign me up for all the quackery. The mystery that takes Phoebe and Jay down all kinds of paths was pivotal to the story and a bit magical. We also catch glimpses of other residents we’ve come to love and that made the story extra sweet. Blooming flower for the win. Enjoyed this great addition to the whimsical Only Magic in the Building Series. I feel like I read it at 2.0 and think the audio would be fantastic!

The Rhyme: Phoebe is determined to not fall for Jay and stick to the tasks she’s written. When the mystery of the letters keep bringing them together, can she keep her distance or be a smitten.

Advanced copy. My thoughts. Kissing only.

[Ally | SkipTheSpice · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable whimsical romance with a healthy dose of historical mystery, Signed, Sealed, and Smitten had me hooked from Phoebe and Jay’s first hysterical meet-cute. I could vividly picture the entire scene in my mind, and immediately knew I was going to love this book.

From the start, Jay’s flirtiness had me smiling ridiculously to myself as I read. I loved how he pursued Phoebe while still respecting the boundaries she set for their friendship. She tried so hard to resist Jay’s charm, and I enjoyed the dual POV so I could get inside both of their minds throughout their journey.

In addition to their romance, the mysterious letters that kept arriving for Phoebe added another layer to the story. I enjoyed trying to piece together the clues along with Phoebe and Jay, as well as all the quirky personalities they encountered while trying to solve the mystery.

The conclusion was highly satisfying, both in the solved mystery and the happily ever after. Another five star review for the Only Magic in the Building series, Signed, Sealed, and Smitten is a must-read!

Intimacy: Level 2 (Kisses only)
Language: None

[Ru4repeat · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Love always finds a way.”

"My grandmother used to say, “Love always finds a way.” Once again, she was right."

“I don’t have a great poker face, do I?” “Your face comes with subtitles. I like it.” “You like my subtitles?” “I like that you’re transparent.”

I could just gush about this book for hours! Witty banter, hilarious mishaps, engaging adventures, adorable romance with all the cute butterflies and swospoons. Loved when the author said "....liberal in their interpretation of Presidents’ Day, and it’s somehow grown to encompass a five-day weekend in February." However, in the author note, I totally rolled my eyes when she said, "....explore the influence of the indigenous people who were the first stewards of the land." We don't know who the first people were, don't ruin a great book by making things political.

Only Magic in the Building: a whimsical romance series
1. The Serendipity by Emma St. Clair – Archer and Willa – A transporting closet
2. The Cupid Chronicles by Courtney Walsh – Iris and Matteo – A newspaper
3. Petals and Plot Twists by Jenny Proctor – Sophie and Peter – A love flower
4. Misfortune and Mr. Right by Savannah Scott – Olivia and Logan – A fortune cookie, or two
5. Clean Out of Luck by Carina Taylor – Scarlett and Wade – A mop
6. Off the Wall by Julie Christianson – Nori and Cash – A mirror
7. Signed, Sealed, and Smitten by Melanie Jacobson – A delivery of old letters
The Escape Plan by Katie Bailey – Beckett and Keeley – A stuck elevator

[Taylor Doran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jay and Phoebe have my heart! I think this was my favorite of the Only Magic in the Building series.

I loved this story about two history nerds falling in love. Phoebe is hired as the museum director for the new Serendipity Springs museum and Jay is on the board of directors for the museum. Jay is super interested in her but Phoebe doesn't want a man to come in between her and her dream job so she keeps her distance. Magical love letters keep showing up in her mailbox and they need to solve the mystery together.

If you want to get a true behind the scenes of museum curation, this one might be for you! The banter between flirty Jay and closed off Phoebe is so good!

The vibes:
Magical realism
Interconnected standalones
No spice or language
Deep dive into museum curation
Flirty MMC
Professional FMC

This was my first book by this author but definitely not my last!