Betwixt by Darynda Jones

Betwixt (Betwixt & Between, #1)

by Darynda Jones

Forty-something Defiance Dayne only recently discovered she comes from a long line of powerful witches. Added to that was the teensy, infinitesimal fact that she is what’s called a charmling. One of three on the entire planet. And there are other witches who will stop at nothing to steal her immense power, which would basically involve her unfortunate and untimely death.

No one told her life after forty would mean having to learn new lifeskills—such as how to dodge supernatural assassins while casting from a moving vehicle—or that the sexiest man alive would be living in her basement.

Whoever said life begins at forty was clearly a master of the underappreciated and oft maligned understatement.

Reviewed by EBookObsessed on

5 of 5 stars

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I love so many things about this new series. More please!

By age 44, life should be cruising along the way you plan it, shouldn’t it? But Defiance Dayne’s life has hit an all-time low. Her husband had everything in his name or his mother’s, which should not have been a problem until he filed for divorce and took everything, including Defiance’s restaurant.

With only a few dollars in her pocket, she drove her old mint green Volkswagen Beetle (the only thing that was in her name alone) to Salem, Massachusetts where a woman has bequeathed her a house. Defiance doesn’t know anyone in Salem, let alone someone who would give her a house. Defiance was adopted by her Dads when she was only three years old. But she had nothing to lose, really nothing to lose, and she decides to see what this is all about, and once again has her whole life is turned upside down.

It turns out that Ruthie Goode was her maternal grandmother who knew where Defiance was all these years, so why did she let Defiance be adopted by strangers rather than take her in herself and what happened to her mother? Having a long-lost grandmother is just the tip of the iceberg. Defiance’s new world will include untapped magic, a gorgeous live-in handyman, a possessed house, an ornery cat and a whole town who have been awaiting her arrival.

Looks like Defiance’s luck has taken a turn for the better…or has it?

I love sooo many things about this new series, it’s like a new drug and I want more, more, more. Let me tell you some of what I love.

I love Defiance and her BFF, Annette, who followed her to town. And yes, I like the idea of the older heroine. I caught someone's review complaining about them acting like 20-somethings.  Sorry youngsters, older doesn't mean stoic.  I plan on being someone's obnoxious grandma someday.  Think Betty White.

Roane, the hot handyman who lives in the basement, and has a backstory…holy sh*t, I never saw that coming.

Percival, the house has a name and it also has a personality.

Grandma Ruthie…yes, she is dead but she was also a witch, so we get to know the grandma after the fact.

Hot older guys, including the Police Chief and former boyfriend of Ruthie, and Defiance’s Dads. All sweethearts.

And I love, love, love that we learn everything and get it all out on the table. We learn about Ruthie and Defiance’s magic and what the heck is up with Percy and Roane. Everything is out! There are no dribs and drabs of information that we have to wait for over books and books or magic that will suddenly, magically, appear out of no where. We know it all now!

Now that doesn’t mean there will be no stories to tell. Defiance has magic and she will be able to tap into it before the end of the story, but nowhere near the ability she was able to do as a child before it was suppressed to protect her from evil witches killing her to steal it, and I am certain will be a problem to deal with in future stories.

I was so engrossed in what was unfolding when this story ended and I can’t wait to see what will happen next.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 27 March, 2020: Finished reading
  • 27 March, 2020: Reviewed