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Synopsis

There’s power in a book…

They call them wayward girls. Loose girls. Girls who grew up too fast. And they’re sent to the Wellwood Home in St. Augustine, Florida, where unwed mothers are hidden by their families to have their babies in secret, give them up for adoption, and most important of all, to forget any of it ever happened.

Fifteen-year-old Fern arrives at the home in the sweltering summer of 1970, pregnant, terrified and alone. Under the watchful eye of the stern Miss Wellwood, she meets a dozen other girls in the same predicament. There’s Rose, a hippie who insists she’s going to find a way to keep her baby and escape to a commune. And Zinnia, a budding musician who knows she’s going to go home and marry her baby’s father. And Holly, a wisp of a girl, barely fourteen, mute and pregnant by no-one-knows-who.

Everything the girls eat, every moment of their waking day, and everything they’re allowed to talk about is strictly controlled by adults who claim they know what’s best for them. Then Fern meets a librarian who gives her an occult book about witchcraft, and power is in the hands of the girls for the first time in their lives. But power can destroy as easily as it creates, and it’s never given freely. There’s always a price to be paid…and it’s usually paid in blood.

In Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, the author of How to Sell a Haunted House and The Final Girl Support Group delivers another searing, completely original novel and further cements his status as a “horror master” (NPR).

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Understanding Our Spice Level Ratings

Not sure what spice level is right for you? Use this guide to find books that match your comfort level with romantic content.

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Level 1 - Sweet & Mild

Tender moments and stolen kisses. Sweet and innocent romance. No sexual content whatsoever. Perfect for all ages.

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Level 2 - Warming Up

Chemistry is building with passionate kissing. Light physical affection and touches. Intimate moments are hinted at but not shown on page. Sensual but not explicit. Closed door or Fade to Black

🌶️🌶️🌶️

Level 3 - Getting Spicy

At least one intimate scene that readers experience on the page. Physical descriptions are present but tastefully written. Sensual and engaging without being overly graphic. Suitable for most adult readers.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Level 4 - Fire Alarm

Two or more explicit intimate scenes with detailed descriptions. Frequent sexual content woven through the story. Varied and adventurous encounters. Not for the faint of heart.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Level 5 - Whew! Hot Damn

Multiple explicit intimate scenes throughout the entire book. Detailed, graphic descriptions of sexual content. Varied and adventurous acts featured prominently. May include kink, BDSM, or other mature themes. Strictly for adult readers seeking maximum heat.