A Widow’s Charm by Caitlyn Paxson: Book Review

A Widow’s Charm is the debut release from Canadian author Caitlyn Paxson. Expected to be released March 31, 2026, it asks how far you will go to save what you love. Lady Croft was born and raised in the outreaches of Eldemere, far from the war with Relance. Lord Elmwood has always done what he wants, no matter what others think. When Lady Croft is suddenly widowed, and Elmwood is exiled to the house next door, she finds herself wondering if he’ll be able to help her.

I want to thank Del Ray and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of A Widow’s Charm. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Lady Hildegarde Croft is accustomed to changes in position. After all, she rose from maidservant to lady of the manor when she married Lord Thorgoode Croft. But when he dies unexpectedly, the plans that would have protected her and the people of Croftholde die along with him. What’s a widow to do?

Potential salvation arrives in the form of Lord Elmwood, who is fleeing the consequences of using his forbidden Charm to raise the dead. Now he’s injured, destitute, and hiding out at the neighboring estate.

For Hilde, blackmailing Lord Elmwood to resurrect Thorgoode seems like the perfect solution. For Elmwood, beautiful Lady Croft seems like the ideal distraction from his troubles. The problem is, all she wants from him is the horrifying power he knows he can never use again.

My Opinions

I added A Widow’s Charm to my TBR on a bit of a whim. Honestly, the main reason was that Caitlyn Paxson is a Canadian author, and I love supporting Canadian authors. While I don’t tend to read a lot of fantasy, I’m glad I read this one.

A Widow’s Charm could easily be classified as a cozy fantasy. And I’m okay with that! There’s plenty of fun, cozy moments, and some not-so-cozy elements added in. The reason this is labeled a fantasy is that some can use charms or work a specific type of magic.

While I didn’t mind the language, some readers may be offended by the use of more modern language in a book set in a more historical time period. I guess what I’m trying to say is that there is swearing throughout, by a variety of characters. Some scenes are full of innuendo.

Overall, A Widow’s Charm is a fun read. And I am looking forward to reading more by Paxson.

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