In Love’s Misfiring Magic, a cozy romance by Heather Silvio, Shelly Newsome and live-in boyfriend, Ethan will split in five days. Ethan has announced his breakup with Shelly and begun to pack his belongings. Shelly desires it not to happen as she speaks of him as her true love.

She calls on her best friend, Dr. Ben Wright, a local hospital resident battling another to become chief resident. Ben has been hiding his affection for Shelly since their days in high school. The exact dates not mentioned, but considering Ben is a medical resident, consider it to be multiple years.

The crux of Ben’s dilemma is to open up to Shelly. Yet, he doesn’t, but believes he can manipulate the spells Shelly desires to get Ethan not to leave. Although a witch in a Nevada desert town that has been exposed as home to a witch coven, she lacks critical skill in spell creation. Ben is her natural go-to, for he is also a witch.

Shelly and Ben, in alternating chapters, tell the story. Ethan speaks little. He’s like a cactus in the surrounding desert; he stands motionless, and with spines, is hard to hug. Neither Shelly nor Ben deserve to be classified as complex or multi-layered characters. Yes, there is a “love triangle,” but there is no three-way romantic tension. In a bad pun, what caught my eye was the number of times a cocked eyebrow or other eyebrow physical movement is referenced.

It’s a quick read. If that’s a positive, it’s the major one. The plot, given it’s billed as a romance, is predictable. Misunderstandings emerge as the foremost plot driver, although the length of time the misunderstandings last stretches credibility. Also hard to reconcile is the instant forgiveness. Had to stretch to find humor. If Ben’s tumble off a turned-over bucket in the janitor's closet qualifies, then there’s at least slapstick.

While magic is at the novel’s core, a reader will not learn much about magic or the existence of magic systems, of which there are several including Roman times when spells were etched on tablets.

I received a free advance review copy from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Conclusion: Two Stars