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There are currently 23 member reviews
for Stay for a Spell
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Millicent G. (Cypress, TX)
Thank You For Letting Me Stay A Spell!
Dear Amy Coombe,
This was the book I needed to read today. I needed to quietly slip into the pages and live there for hours with characters who made me think, relax, laugh and have fun in a setting that is my very idea of heaven... a bookstore! Your characters are magical but I have met them all in my very human world. You have a gift for writing words that sprinkle human qualities all over your characters but they never become flat predictable caricatures. They are fully developed, unique, special, real, lovable and so delightful. The Kingdoms you create are painted into reality in my imagination by your words. I was there, right there, in the bookstore with the Princess, cheering her on as she figured out her heart's true desire. Your book was an escape for me but not it was not mindless escapism. Embedded were messages about the value of a life lived with meaningful purpose, the importance of friendship and community and how love sometimes shows up when we just become our real selves. Thank you for this wonderful book!
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Cheryl R. (Jeannette, PA)
Girl Power
I loved the story and the characters. Sometimes, quirky characters just don't work together; but they played well off each other here. I laughed out loud in some places. It was refreshing to see a cursed Princess who held the key to unlocking her own curse. I'll admit that my mind wasn't heading in that direction. The gifts presented to Sasha showed the respect each Prince had for Tandy and Sasha. That section really touched my heart.
It was nice to read a light story with no violence or sex. OK, a slight bit of sex but it was sweet not crude. Because of that, I would suggest this book to anyone 14 or older. I'm looking forward to another book about the Princess and the Pirate.
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Karen Riccio
Delight fairy tale for adults
I just loved this book. An adult fairy tale. I always love books with strong female main characters and found family. Highly recommend
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Kathryn T. (Geneseo, NY)
You'll Stay a Spell Reading This Clever Book
Usually, I don't pick a fantasy/romance book. Too often, I feel that genre is superficial and not worth my time. In Stay a Spell's case, I couldn't stop reading and usually, laughing out loud. I was surprised, and I didn't want the book to end.
I was genuinely drawn into the story and would have loved to be in the bookshop with Tandy and her collection of new friends, princes, and even the special pirate. Bookstores are like second homes to me, too, and everywhere I travel, I search out a new one.
The plot flowed well, and the author made every effort to engage the reader through her character's conversations, filled with wisdom and sometimes plain silliness.
I was a bit confused about the spell on the pirate. Perhaps that needs cleaning up.
There was depth to the novel, leaving the reader thinking about what it takes to be happy. I highly recommend Stay a Spell to YA and adult readers.
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Shabella G. (Salina, KS)
Funny, cute book
This was such a cute and funny book. Exactly what I needed to get out of my slump. I loved the banter between the FMC and the MMC. The main setting is a bookshop. Could you really go wrong there? The character growth of the FMC during the book was amazing to see. I really liked that throughout the book.
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Annette
Cute Cozy Fantasy
This was a fun fairy tale like story. It was a nice light read that I enjoyed with the cute setting of the bookstore and the dragon, the princess and the cat and all.This reminded me some of Legends and Lattes and those types of cozy fantasies, which are some of my favorites.
If you want to escape and have a light hearted comfy cozy read, then make sure to check this super cute and fun story out.
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Sandi W. (East Moline, IL)
Fairy tale dream
4 stars Thank you to Ace Publishing and BookBrowse for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. Publishes April 14, 2026
I really enjoyed this book - which surprised me. I am not much for fairy tales and don't read romances at all. However, I picked this up at a good time because I immediately got right into this book.
A Princess is cursed when she unthinkingly accepts a key from a sweet little old lady bookshop owner. The cursed is to remain in a run-down small town bookshop until she unlocks her heart's desire - but for the Princess this is far from a curse - it is more like a dream. Then enters the elves, draconians and dancing blue belles, along with a cursed pirate. Unable to leave the bookshop her parents send in all 7 of the Shining Realm Princes to break her spell. But low and behold only one person can release her and she must determine who that person is.
Again I am not much on fairly tales, but I thought this one was really cute and I enjoyed it.
