April’s Book: Spellbound

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Author: Crystal J Johnson and Felicity Vaughan

Character: Gemma, Soren, and Archer

Willa Drew: Hi there. Whoa, it's a whole crew here. What should I call you? 

Gemma:  You can call me Gemma! 

Soren: Soren. 

Archer: At your service. *Soren smacks him on the arm.* That was a pathetic hit. I guess my boring twin brother would like you to call me by my name… Archer.

WD: Welcome and thanks for agreeing to talk to us today. Can I get you something to drink? Water? Soda? Coffee? Wine? Whiskey? 

G: It’s a little early in the day for alcohol. *laughs* I’m always up for some Diet Coke, though! 

S: We are fine. Thank you. 

A: See, he is boring.

WD: Hmmm, you two look alike, but I’m sensing you're quite different. Tell me a little about yourself? 

G: Well, I just inherited my great-aunt’s hotel, the Reynard. I’m so excited to own it. I grew up going there during the summers. I feel a little over my head with everything that’s required to run it. And it doesn’t help that my parents don’t think I can handle it. That might be because I’ve never finished anything I’ve started. But to be fair I have ADHD, and things just get away from me. Sorry, I’m rambling. I just want to continue my family legacy and make my aunt proud. 

Archer: Don’t forget us. I mean, we have been spellbound to the hotel for over a hundred years. My brother and I are the reason people want to stay. They hope for an encounter with the paranormal, and we always deliver. 

S: Let’s just hope Gemma can deliver as well. 

G: Why do you have to be such a jerk? 

A: Don’t listen to him, Gem. You got this. Hazel wouldn’t have left the Reynard to you if she didn’t believe in you. 

S: We’ll see about that. 

WD: Okay, there’s a lot to unpack there. Soren and Archer are spellbound? As in bound by magic? 

A: You’re quick. We are all stuck in the hotel. 

G: That’s not true. I’m not. I love the town that The Reynard is in, Spelling, Connecticut. It’s a tourist trap for those who want a paranormal experience. Let me tell you, we have the best donuts you will ever eat. 

WD: And two ghosts? 

A: *groans* We’re not ghosts, we’re— 

S: *interrupts* All right, that’s enough. I don’t think we have enough time to get into all that right now. 

WD: Got it. And do spirits have any jobs or hobbies? 

S: If you count knocking on walls and creeping into hotel rooms to move people’s personal items as a job, then yes. 

A: I enjoy helping our new hotel owner. 

S: I don’t think making out with Gemma in the hallway is a hobby. 

G: Says who? I mean, I don’t have time to do much with taking care of the hotel, so if making out with Soren’s brother can be counted as a hobby, I’m going with that. 

WD: Well, a girl has to have some fun. What are some of your likes and dislikes? 

A: I like cooking. 

G: You’re good at that. I like eating said food. 

S: I like playing the piano. And I dislike workplace fraternization and procrastinators. 

G: I dislike people who don’t mind their own business. 

A: I’m with Gemma, but I’d like to add stick-in-the-mud twin brothers. 

WD: I’m sensing some, ahem, underlying tension here. Let’s dive a little deeper.  What is your greatest fear? 

G: That the Reynard will be taken from me and given to my snotty cousin. 

A: I fear being stuck in the hotel forever. 

S: *mumbles* Falling in love. 

WD: If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be? 

A: That I only get to leave the Reynard for one night a year. Oh, and the years with Betty. God, I hated Betty. 

S: I’d face Betty again if it meant others I loved were not hurt by her. 

G: How is it possible that you say the sweetest things and turn right around and make me want to scream? 

S: Trust me. The feeling is reciprocated. Just stay focused on the reason you are at the hotel and we will be fine. 

G: You know what I’d change about my life? I’d want certain people to understand that having ADHD doesn’t mean that I can’t accomplish things. I might take a longer route to finish a task, but it will get done. Especially when it is important. 

WD: Good point. We all have our own paths to follow. Tell me, who’s your favourite person in the world? 

All Three at Once: Hazel Fox. 

G: Eccentric, fun, kind, and loving–there was no one on earth like my great-aunt Hazel. 

WD: She sounds like a lovely person. Let’s flip it around. Do you have an archnemesis? 

G: My cousin Raven. She thinks the Reynard should have gone to her. She isn’t afraid to do the most despicable things to try and take it away from me. 

S: Agreed. She might be the spawn of Satan. 

A: She isn’t that bad. 

S: Please don’t tell me you forgot about the time she did the thing with the— 

Archer: Nope! I remember. You’re right. Evil to the core. 

WD: Okay, Raven is on the naughty list. Any secrets you’d like to share? 

S: Not only do we have a secret but so do the past owners of the hotel. The question is: can Gemma unveil those secrets? 

G: It would be so much easier if you just told me. 

S: You have to read the tome, Gemma. 

G: Who calls it a tome? You’re such a grandpa. 

WD: Hey, you two. Settle down. Back to the interview, If you could cure one disease, which would it be? 

All Three at Once: Cancer 

G: Especially breast cancer. It is what took Hazel’s life. 

WD: Nasty disease. Time for the big question. Are you in love? 

G: I might have found my forever during this book. If I chose a brother, I’m not telling you which one. You will have to read to find out. 

WD: Well, call me interested. On that note, are you happy we know your story? 

G: I am, because it isn’t just my story. It’s Soren and Archer’s and every Fox woman who has owned the Reynard before me. It is my family history. Although there was pain, abuse, and heartbreak, there was also unconditional love, healing, and unbreakable bonds. 

S: And magic. 

G: There was definitely magic.   

WD: Who doesn’t want a little magic in their life? Is there anything you want to say to your fans? 

G: I have something I want to say. For everyone, especially women, that saw themselves in my struggles with ADHD, I believe in you. It’s alright to take your time and do things differently. It is alright to feel overwhelmed by your emotions. It’s alright to make mistakes. It was important to me that I be my most authentic self and not hide how my brain processes information. I hope that by sharing who I am that you saw a little of yourself in my story. 

WD: Brava! Well said. Can we look forward to reading more of your story? 

G: I think my story has found its happily-ever-after, but maybe Soren or Archer will have a little more to share in the future. 

A: An entire book about me. How amazing would that be? 

S: As amazing as a dumpster fire. 

Archer: Better than a snooze fest. 

WD: Oh, I think that might be some guests looking to check in, so I guess our time is up. Thanks for sitting down with me today. Good luck reading that tome… I mean book, Gemma. 

G: We hope you will visit us at the Reynard Hotel and experience the magic for yourself. 

WD: Got any free rooms tonight?

If you’d like to read Gemma, Soren and Archer’s story and find out who it is Gemma falls in love with, connect with Crystal and Felicity on Instagram and TikTok 

About the Book

When Gemma Fox inherits the storied Reynard Hotel from her great-aunt, she’s totally unprepared for the responsibility. It’s not the bills or the renovations or the repairs piling up. Or her family’s complete lack of confidence in her ability to manage the hotel. It’s that she’s not alone.

Bound to the hotel are two spirits, Archer and Soren Hyde. Brooding, handsome, immortal–they’ve been haunting the Reynard for generations. And Gemma is now their custodian.

As Gemma fights to keep the hotel from going under, she also finds herself fighting a growing attraction to the brothers. Each offers something different: Archer is impish, fun, sexy and just the distractions she needs. Soren’s arrogant, passionate, sinfully attractive, and driving her crazy. In turn, they each want something from her–one wants freedom, the other wants her heart.

It turns out that Archer and Soren are holding back a secret that might finally see them no longer spellbound. And when the truth comes out about who—and what–they are, their imperfect triangle shatters. With her life and her happiness on the line, and the pressure mounting on all sides, Gemma is forced to make a decision that could change everything–for eternity.