Book Review: A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton.

Product details:
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Release date: January 5th 2012.
Paperback, 368 pages.
Rating: 3½ out of 5.
Ages:12+

Anna Winterson doesn't know she's a witch and would probably mock you for believing in magic, but after moving to the small town of Winter with her father, she learns more than she ever wanted to about power. When Anna meets Seth, she is smitten, but when she enchants him to love her, she unwittingly amplifies a deadly conflict between two witch clans and splits her own heart in two. She wants to love Seth, to let him love her – but if it is her magic that's controlling his passion, then she is as monstrous as the witch clan who are trying to use her amazing powers for their own gain.

Although a perfect fit for the paranormal romance genre, A WITCH IN WINTER avoids fangs, excessive body hair and submissive female leads, and tells the heart-wrenching story of a couple meant to be together, but being forced apart. Seth is utterly irresistible and Anna is an empowered, proactive young woman with unimaginable magic inside her. This is fast-paced, sensuous writing with believable incantations inspired by Warburton's research into witchcraft legend and old English.

Fast-paced supernatural fun with danger and drama at every turn, A Witch in Winter marks the stars of an exciting new paranormal series from debut author Ruth Warburton.

When Anna Winterson relocates from the bright lights of London to the small town of Winter, she’s not expecting a whole lot in the way of excitement, but what Anna doesn’t know is that small towns sometimes hold the biggest secrets, and the hottest boys too, as she finds out when she meets Seth on her first day at school. Anna’s smitten, but like all the best guys, Seth’s already taken. Anna tries not to dwell on this fact, but she can’t deny her attraction to him, and when she decides to enchant Seth just for fun, things soon get out of hand, because unknown to Anna, she’s a witch, and a pretty powerful one at that. Anna’s life soon takes a turn for the crazy with Seth falling at her feet declaring his undying love for her, as her powers unleash havoc throughout the town of Winter. With hidden enemies and family secrets too, small town life isn’t quite what Anna expected.

Anna is a character that readers will love, she’s fun and feisty and prone to the odd tantrum when things aren’t going her way. Her character really rings true, as does the depiction of teens throughout the book. As for Anna and Seth’s relationship, well, it is very much an insta-love situation, but this case of love at first sight comes with a twist. Anna never quite knows if Seth likes her for her, or if he’s just so into her because she’s enchanted him. It makes for some humorous situations as Anna tries her best not to take advantage of the boy who can’t get enough of her, while all the time finding him pretty impossible to resist…

A myriad of plot twists and some full-on action scenes combine to make one exciting read, and I will be back for more when the second book in this trilogy A Witch in Love releases in July 2012.