Bewitching You: A Maple Grove Halloween Romance

RATING 4.5 STARS
Bewitching You by Katana Collins is a Maple Grove Halloween Novella. Obviously I’m a little late getting to this but I’ve been wanting to read it ever since it came out. The cover is just so adorable. And that’s just what this book is, adorablely sugary sweet, just like the heroine. Let me tell you about her.

Kandi Cornne is twenty six years old and is known as Maple Grove’s bohemian princess. She’s living her dream owning her own candy shop in the small town she fell in love with. Several months earlier she got out of a two year relationship with a man who she thought she had loved until she finally saw him for the man he really was, no good. And that included his best friend, Ford, who she thought was just as bad.

Ford Kane is a farmer in Maple Grove. Part of his farm is a bountiful pumpkin patch that keeps him very busy in October. Ford had ended his friendship with Ben when he saw how he was treating his then girlfriend, Kandi. Ford puts all his efforts into his farm, staying completely away from women for the last couple of years. But that hasn’t stopped him from a few fantasies and it’s always Kandi’s face he sees.

When their paths cross, Ford and Kandi both realize that they have both been manipulated by Ben. Now that they are able to see each other truthfully, sparks quickly fly.

“Something in that deep gaze of his. Something kind and warm, but also raw. I found myself drawn to him in a way that I couldn’t understand.”

But what would someone like Kandi want with a farmer who has to go to bed early and get up even earlier to take care of his farm. Kandi was a city girl. Can their insecurities be overcome so they can give each other a chance to see where things go?

“We came from such different worlds. But right now? This was a world we both knew. A languge we both spoke. And I wasn’t about to let our differences get in the way of this, here, and now.”

This was short, oh so sweet and very sexy and so much fun. I adored these two. It is the perfect feel good, warm and fuzzy afternoon read for a rainy day which is exactly the sort of day I had when I read it. I haven’t read much by this author but have loved what I have read so far and can’t wait for more.

This light-hearted novella centered around Halloween was perfect. It was short and sweet and SEXY AF!

I fell for Kandi and Ford immediately. They were adorable together. Well, that is, once they got over their annoyances.

These two had the wrong ideas about each other.
Their misconceptions had them
wanting to steer clear of each other.
But their sizzling chemistry couldn’t keep them apart.

And once they were together, sparks flew! Fireworks went off! And kitties appeared. Yes, you read that correctly.

This was a delightful Halloween story that gave me all the feels. Exactly what I needed.

This book is just in time for fall, which is my favorite season. I loved Kandi and Ford. They were awesome characters that just warmed my heart. Super sweet and very handsome Ford was just what every girl needs. Awesome story line that sucked me in. Great description to detail, but did however need a bit tightening up and needs 1 more round of beta read for the mistakes I found.

Written as a 1st person, multi pov with a HEA.

Would I recommend this book? Yes

Would I read more from this author? Yes

Sassy Beta Reading and Review

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I’m in a Halloween novella mood, and this sweet and sexy Kindle Unlimited option hit the spot. It’s got the ex-boyfriend’s friend trope, half a dozen cats, and plenty of that Halloween atmosphere I was looking for.

Kandi Kornne (I know, right?) holds a pumpkin decorating fundraiser every year at her candy store in quaint Maple Grove. This year, though, the pumpkins are being delivered by Ford Kane, the local farmer who purchased the pumpkin patch. This is a novella, so there’s not terribly too much character development. Both start out prejudiced against each other due to Kandi’s ex-boyfriend, Ben. Kandi’s worried that Ford is cut from the same cloth as her selfish jerk of an ex-boyfriend, which isn’t a big stretch as they used to be best friends. Ford has a pretty big chip on his shoulder about being seen as a poor hick farm boy. Kandi comes from a rich family – the kind of girl who uses “summer” as a verb, as Ford says derisively – and Ben’s led him to think she’s nothing but a spoiled rich princess. On the other hand, Ben told Kandi that Ford tried to convince him to end their relationship and gave her the “Princess” nickname. Some of their preconceptions are true, and some are not, but early on in the novella they figure out that Ben lied out of his teeth to both of them.

“You’re fine Italian leather. And I’m worn in work boots. At some point, I fear you’re going to realize you don’t fit in here.”

Here we get to the one quibble I have with the book – the relationship moves very, very fast. They go right from “he’s a jerk!” and “she’s a spoiled princess” to “what Ben lied?!?!” and to screwing on a table filled with pumpkins. Afterwards, obviously, they have some recalibrating to do. Ford doesn’t want to be a rebound and worries that rich Kandi won’t fit in his farm-centered world, while Kandi views Ford’s attempt to put the brakes on as evidence that he’s not interested in a relationship. I loved how Kandi put her foot down on what she wanted from a relationship, and I loved how Ford accepted her list of rules and thoughtfully lived up to them. Aside from the obligatory black moment (courtesy of the ex-boyfriend), they had really great communication (and pretty hot sex), though, again, the speed of it gave me a bit of whiplash. It is a novella, though, and it was fun to see their relationship develop, even if it was only over a few days.

As for the Halloween content, it’s got a little bit of everything. There’s Halloween-named black cats, pumpkin decorating, trick or treating, sweet potato pecan pie, and apple cider. It’s cute and sweet, and aside from the ex-boyfriend content and one moment with a gun where Kandi and Ford think there’s an intruder in a candy store, pretty low-key. Overall, this is a fun and frothy Halloween novella, perfect for enjoying with a warm (preferably pumpkin spiced) drink.

I received this book for free from BookSprout in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This was a cute little story about candy store owner Kandi Cornne and farmer Ford Kane. This is kind of an enemies to lovers romance. They both had misconceptions about the other that led to some hostile interactions between them until the day he was delivering her pumpkin order and everything suddenly changed. Could it be that the perfect person for them was right under their noses the whole time? Can they move forward from any past hurts that may endanger a future together? Maybe the princess and the farm boy can have a happily ever after. This was a very charming small town romance with a little steam and a sweet family of felines.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.