The Recommended Reading Order for Spellbound Falls
To fully experience the magical atmosphere and unfolding character arcs of Spellbound Falls, readers should follow the series in its publication order. Because the town's lore builds incrementally and characters from previous books frequently reappear as neighbors, allies, or family members, skipping around can lead to minor spoilers regarding who ends up with whom and how the town's magical defenses evolve.
While some older lists only include seven books, the complete series consists of eight novels, including the often-overlooked seventh book, From Kiss to Queen, and the posthumously published finale, Call It Magic.
- Spellbound Falls (2012)
- Charmed by His Love (2012)
- Courting Carolina (2012)
- The Heart of a Hero (2013)
- For the Love of Magic (2013)
- The Highlander Next Door (2014)
- From Kiss to Queen (2016)
- Call It Magic (2020)
Understanding the Spellbound Falls Universe & Crossovers
Janet Chapman's fictional Maine is a highly interconnected place. Before launching the Spellbound Falls series, Chapman was widely known for her Pine Creek Highlanders (often called the MacKeage family series) and her Midnight Bay books. Spellbound Falls serves as a direct spin-off and continuation of this shared universe.
In Chapman's lore, the MacKeage family consists of medieval Scottish highlanders who were transported through time to modern-day Maine by a druid's magic. In Spellbound Falls, these time-traveling highlanders live alongside ancient Atlantean wizards (such as the Oceanus family) who act as guardians of humanity. If you want the absolute complete experience of the universe, you can read the Highlander series first, but it is not strictly necessary. Spellbound Falls stands perfectly well on its own, introducing the local magic, the Bottomless Sea, and the mystical boundaries of the town from the very first book.
Deep Dive into the Books
1. Spellbound Falls (2012)
The series opens with the titular book, introducing Maximilian "Mac" Oceanus, an ancient Atlantean wizard who has spent centuries acting as a hidden agent of human affairs. Mac arrives in the rugged hills of Maine with his young son, Henry, intending to build a safe haven. Instead, he meets Olivia Baldwin, a strong-willed widow managing a local family camp. Olivia is deeply protective of her family and skeptical of romance, but Mac's magic—and his persistent devotion—slowly dismantles her emotional defenses. This book establishes the rules of the town's magic, including its legendary hot springs and the whimsical occurrences that define local life.
2. Charmed by His Love (2012)
The second book shifts focus to Peg Thompson, Olivia's best friend and a widowed mother of four. Peg is convinced that her family is cursed when it comes to love and has sworn off romance entirely. Enter Duncan MacKeage, a rugged time-traveling highlander hired to construct a road through the mountains for a new resort. Duncan is practical and determined, and as he bonds with Peg's children, he set out to prove that their connection is stronger than any ancestral curse. The book highlights the warm, chaotic family dynamics and Chapman's signature blend of humor and romance.
3. Courting Carolina (2012)
Carolina Oceanus, a member of the powerful Atlantean wizard family, wants nothing to do with magic or grand destinies. She desires a quiet, ordinary life with an ordinary man. However, her plans are derailed when she is targeted by kidnappers and forced to flee into the Maine wilderness. She is rescued by Alec MacKeage, a former black-ops operative who now works as a trail builder. As they hide out in the woods, Alec's protective instincts kick in, and Carolina is forced to confront the fact that her "ordinary" savior is anything but simple.
4. The Heart of a Hero (2013)
Nicholas is an Atlantean warrior who serves as the Director of Security for the local resort. He is powerful, disciplined, and used to being in control. His match comes in the form of Julia Campbell, a hardworking housekeeper who is fiercely independent and struggling to raise her sister while dealing with a difficult past and a bad family reputation. Julia dislikes men with hero complexes, which makes Nicholas's protective nature a source of constant friction. Their chemistry sparks against a backdrop of local mysteries and town politics.
5. For the Love of Magic (2013)
This novel features a unique "seasoned romance" dynamic. Rana Oceanus decides to leave her husband, Titus (the powerful patriarch of the Atlantean wizards), after forty years of marriage. Seeking independence from his overbearing protection, she moves into a small cottage in Spellbound Falls. Baffled and heartbroken, Titus follows her to town, determined to win her back using the basic courtship magic they shared centuries ago. Their reunion is complicated by an ancient demonic threat that puts the entire community of Spellbound Falls in jeopardy.
6. The Highlander Next Door (2014)
Birch Callahan runs a local shelter for women and has built high walls around her heart due to her mother's troubled past. Her quiet life is disrupted when Niall MacKeage, the town's chief of police and a time-traveling Scottish laird, moves in next door. Niall is struggling to balance his ancient sensibilities with modern law enforcement duties. As Niall and Birch clash over their different approaches to protection and community safety, they must learn to trust each other's secrets to build a future together.
7. From Kiss to Queen (2016)
Jane Abbott is an ordinary woman who loves the solitude of the Maine woods. While out hunting, she witnesses a plane crash into a remote pond and rescues the pilot, Prince Markov Lakeland, with a lifesaving kiss. Markov is convinced that Jane's life is now in danger due to the political enemies who targeted his plane. He whisks her away to his European kingdom of Shelkova. While this book takes the action away from Maine for a significant portion of the story, it remains a vital entry in the series, introducing key characters and plot threads that tie directly into the final volume.
8. Call It Magic (2020)
The final book in the series centers on Katy MacBain, the newest member of the Spellbound Falls Fire and Rescue team. Katy is harboring deep secrets about a mysterious three-week disappearance in her past. Her boss, interim fire chief Gunnar Wolfe, is immediately drawn to her but suspicious of the secrets she carries. As they work together to protect the town from local fires and supernatural threats, Gunnar strives to uncover the truth about Katy's past. This book was published posthumously following Janet Chapman's passing in 2017, serving as a heartfelt farewell to her readers.
Practical Reader Advice
Can the books be read as standalones? Yes, each book features a self-contained romance with a happily-ever-after. However, because the community of Spellbound Falls is small and close-knit, characters from earlier books frequently drop by, and major town events (like the construction of the resort and the reveal of the town's magic) progress chronologically. Reading out of order will reveal who marries whom in earlier books.
Best Starting Point: Start with the first book, Spellbound Falls. It sets up the history of the town, the presence of the Atlantean wizards, and the arrival of the MacKeage family, making all subsequent books much easier to follow.