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Witches and Mothman
Some romance novels come with brooding Highlanders. Others come with witches, enchanted bourbon and a winged cryptid who might just be boyfriend material. October reading, apparently, has range.
For a paranormal romance pairing, Nicole chose In the Shadow Garden by Liz Parker while Meghan picked I’m in Love with Mothman by Paige Lavoie. One delivers small-town witchcraft, family feuds and some seriously complicated memories. The other gives readers a misunderstood monster, a beauty influencer in need of a reset and a surprisingly compelling case for dating outside one’s species.
Both books bring something different to the paranormal romance table. And naturally, there were cocktails and a few opinions involved. (Also, true confessions time: we almost recorded the whole episode without hitting record.)
Nicole Danielle’s Book: In the Shadow Garden by Liz Parker
Nicole’s pick, In the Shadow Garden, takes readers to Yarrow, Kentucky, where a family of witches tends a magical garden fueled by pain and sadness. And the townspeople drink enchanted bourbon to forget unwanted memories. It’s a rather tempting proposition until an entire summer disappears from the collective memory of the town.
While Meghan and Nicole remember the summer of 1997 (it was the year the both graduated from high school), the entire town of Yarrow can’t seem to remember a thing about it … and that’s not a good. Although the book’s premise is supernatural, its questions about memory, grief and the things people would rather forget feel decidedly human.
At the center of the story are the Haywood women, whose magic is tangled up in family legacy, responsibility and the emotional weight of caring for others. Their rivals, the Bonners, bring generations of resentment and a healthy dose of small-town feud energy. Think Practical Magic meets Hatfield-McCoys.
What makes this story particularly interesting is the way the garden reflects the town itself. When the garden suffers, so does the community’s carefully maintained balance. Magic becomes more than a plot device. It’s a way to explore what happens when people bury their pain rather than confront it.
And the romance? Expect slow burns, closed door love, emotional complications and intimacy that prioritizes connection over spectacle. Readers who enjoy atmospheric paranormal fiction with a mystery to unravel will find plenty to dig into.
A Little Garden Magic for Your Reading Experience
Naturally, a book featuring enchanted bourbon was going to inspire something beyond a reading recommendation. Nicole created a custom cocktail inspired by In the Shadow Garden for readers who want to bring a little Yarrow magic to their own happy hour.
And because the book’s magical garden deserves a moment of its own, she also put together a shadow garden inspiration list for anyone who loves the idea of a moody, mysterious garden filled with real plants you can create your own version.
Because a bookish cocktail and a witchy garden sound like a perfectly reasonable way to spend an afternoon.
Meghan Leigh’s Book: I’m in Love with Mothman by Paige Lavoie
Meghan’s selection takes a decidedly different paranormal detour. In I’m in Love with Mothman, a burned-out beauty influencer retreats to a rural cabin in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, hoping to escape the internet drama and public scrutiny that have taken over her life.
Instead, she encounters Mothman.
Yes, THAT Mothman.
The setup combines monster romance, forced proximity and a heroine who desperately needs a break from performing for everyone else. Her mysterious, winged neighbor might look intimidating, but his approach to romance is surprisingly thoughtful.
He notices her needs, accommodates her dietary restrictions and finds small ways to make her feel cared for. There are baths, braided hair and the kind of attentive gestures that make a person wonder why so many fictional humans struggle with basic consideration.
The appeal goes beyond the novelty of dating a legendary cryptid. Beneath the supernatural premise is a story about being seen as a person rather than a public image. Both characters have been misunderstood by the world around them and their connection grows as they learn to see one another more clearly.
It’s quirky, sweet and a reminder that sometimes the biggest green flag in romance is a love interest who actually pays attention. (And Nicole 100% picked up a stuffed animal version of Mothman for Meghan on one of drives up from NC to WI.)
What These Two Books Have in Commone
Witches and Mothman might seem like an unlikely literary pairing but these books share a surprisingly relatable thread: the importance of care, connection and being understood.
In In the Shadow Garden, that means confronting painful memories rather than relying on magic to erase them. In I’m in Love with Mothman, it means looking beyond appearances and finding someone who offers genuine care instead of another performance.
Both stories also play with the idea of what makes someone a monster. Sometimes the frightening thing isn’t supernatural at all. It’s a family feud that has gone on for generations or a society that refuses to see someone beyond a label.
Of course, these books have very different approaches to spice. One favors a slower, closed-door romance while the other turns up the heat. Paranormal romance readers can appreciate both, depending on the mood.
Have you read either of these paranormal romances? What did you think of them? Comment below! We’d love to hear from you. Interested in reading these novels yourself? Get them here:
I’m in Love with Mothman
In the Shadow Garden
To learn more about romance writer Liz Parker, click here. And to learn more about author Paige Lavoie, click here. Want to listen to the podcast episode? We’re available on pretty much all your favorite podcast streaming services. Or you can visit our podcast player page here.
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