Even though in tone and setting this book starts like an ordinary contemporary romance, the “spell” in the title is no accident. In fact, the addition of fantasy into what could be considered a small town contemporary becomes absolutely charming the more one reads.

Widow Olivia Baldwin and her 8-year-old daughter Sophia live at a family-oriented camp in Maine owned by Olivia’s in-laws. Olivia runs the camp while her mother-in-law provides the counseling for families in trouble.

As the new summer session approaches, Olivia is struggling to get the camp in shape, trying to hire help and refurbish the place. Into their lives arrive Maximilian Oceanus and his 6-year-old son Henry. Henry’s single-parent mother has just died, and Max, not knowing he even had a son, embraces the job of fatherhood, even though he has no idea what to do. He arranges to arrive early at the camp hoping Olivia will give him enough parenting tips that he’ll be able to keep his head above water during the summer.

Quickly the gregarious Sophia bonds with the little more reticent Henry, which bring their parents together. Unlike some books where children are either too precious to be believed or adult caricatures, these two are a delight just as are all the other children in the book. Chapman obviously knows and loves a great variety of kids.

Olivia and Max’s coming together must surmount more obstacles than their children, however. Olivia’s marriage hadn’t been a happy one, so she’s leery of getting involved. She thinks a summer fling with hunky Max might be fun, but how can she arrange to sneak off somewhere to meet him when she has the camp to run?

Max for his part has been given a time limit by his domineering father to find a mate or one will be found for him. As Olivia gives him realistic parenting advice, he reacts not only to her overall sexiness but also to her genuine love and regard for children. That Henry likes and then loves her is no small consideration.

However, as the son of the architect for Atlantis and a powerful theurgist (a magician who aids supernatural beings), Max isn’t sure Olivia will have him when he reveals his true self. Henry’s mom sure didn’t. In fact, she went running the other way and refused to marry him.

No dummy, Olivia knows Max isn’t a regular guy, but sees past his superficial façade and into his heart.

Olivia, who has abandonment issues, and Max, whose world has turned upside down with the arrival of Henry, make a wonderful couple, full of charm and wit and the kind of joie de vivre that jumps off the page and into the hearts of readers.

If there’s a character who isn’t true to his description, it’s Max’s father who is said to put fear into everyone’s heart, including his children. When he turns up at the camp, however, he doesn’t act like the non-compromising despot he’s made out to be. And Max’s mother is a cypher.

Other than that little glitch, however, the first of Chapman’s series augers well for the future. I can’t wait to read about Olivia’s friend Peg, the single mother of four children including 4-year-old twin boys, and the brave man who comes to love her in the next book.