The Viscount at Midnight by Jane Charles

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Magic and Mystery, #3

Release Date: March 26, 2024

Last season, Lady Antonia Kerrigan had hoped that something would develop between herself and Philip Cardwell, Viscount Chedworth, as he seemed interested in her. But thanks to her “gifts” she mistakenly gave him the impression that she was not interested in him and any hope she had for courtship was dashed. But months later they meet again when they both attend the Witches Ball at Nightshade Manor in Bocka Morrow. Antonia stays at the manor after the other guests depart, hoping to find a spell to veil her gift of empathy, which is so overpowering, she can barely tolerate attending social gatherings. While participating in a magical ceremony during the new moon, Antonia accidently recites part of a spell to turn a man into a wolf, never imagining that it would affect anyone!

Philip, Viscount Chedworth is not magical, but he has Drakos blood and is expected to marry a witch, he thought that Lady Antonia might be the perfect candidate. Hoping to court her, he dances with her at each ball they attend, but she always leaves him standing on the dance floor and disappears, refusing to see him when he calls on her. He finally decides she is not interested in him and stops trying to court her, but his feelings aren’t as easy to turn off and when he sees her again at the manor, he wonders if maybe he was wrong. He follows her into the garden when she meets with the other witches and inadvertently becomes the subject of her partial spell. Now he is changing and seems to have formed a bond with Antonia. Their feelings seem real but what is real and what is magic? Until they reverse spell they won’t know, but unfortunately time is running out.

This was another fun and magical addition to the Magic and Mystery series! I loved this story, Antonia and Philip are both wonderful characters who have a true chemistry and work well together. I enjoyed the magical component to this story, returning to Nightshade manor in Bocka Morrow, revisiting previous characters and the happy ending. I do wish there a bit of steam in the story, but if you have read other books then you know why there isn’t any, more’s the pity. If you enjoy a bit of magic and low steam in your historical romance, this series is for you!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*