There’s no guidebook for being a magical Guardian—just a glowing brooch, a skeptical historian, and a very opinionated bell.

When Maura Redding inherits her grandmother’s antique shop in the charming Ozark mountain town of Moonlight Springs, she plans to sell everything and return to her sensible corporate life in Chicago.

But she didn’t plan on the shop having opinions, discovering she’s the town’s new magical Guardian—thanks, Gran!—or the distractingly handsome, stubbornly skeptical historian, Cole Brinkman, who thinks her visions are just elaborate parlor tricks.

Throw in a ruthless developer who threatens to bulldoze a historic fountain—a fountain with more secrets than a cat has lives—and Maura and Cole find themselves unlikely partners.

She sees visions. He sees…a need for better lighting. She’s inheriting a magical destiny she never asked for. He’s discovering that Moonlight Springs operates by rules that weren’t covered in graduate school.

Maura must decide if she’s ready to trade her power suits for… well, actual power. Can they protect the town’s enchanting magic and the legendary Amethyst Stone before it’s too late?

Titles in the Moonlight Springs series include:  Starlight Antiques ~ Sweet Memories Bakery ~ Enchanted Bookshop ~

This is a clean, sweet paranormal romance with either closed doors or only kissing. Safe for all ages.

Title:  Starlight Antiques
Series:  Moonlight Springs #1
Author:  Lula Ward (aka Kay Correll)
Published:  June 27, 2025
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Starlight Antiques begins the Moonlight Springs series with the charming introduction to a magical small town, hidden from the world, known to those it connects to.  Maura grew up in Moonlight Springs, headed off into the world seeking career advancements and corner offices.  The recent death of her beloved Gran brings her home… for a time.  Her intent is to settle her grandmother’s affairs and sell the antique shop, then head back to Chicago.  Yet, the magic of this small town has other ideas, and other needs.

I was easily drawn into this world, where Maura begins to sense and see things that just don’t make sense.  The mystery that her grandmother left behind pulls at her, needs her to unravel clues and take positive, if hesitant, steps to protect her legacy and this town.  In spite of an unnatural developer’s attempts to take over, Maura and the residents of Moonlight Springs have other intentions that lean toward protection of their home and guardianship of their secrets.  With the help of Cole, librarian, researcher, historian, and skeptic of anything magical… and perhaps a romance in the making, they, along with other members of the community, will do all they can to thwart an evil plot and protect what’s theirs.

I adored Starlight Antiques by Lula Ward.  (who also writes Contemporary Romance/Women’s Fiction under Kay Correll)  It’s a well-written, engaging, emotional, and gripping story of finding exactly where one belongs, and accepting the role one was born to step into.  Maura and Cole’s developing romance is charming, slow-burning, and an ever-changing emotional journey for them both.  This appears to be a six-book series, and we’re introduced, slowly in some cases, to other characters we’ll learn more about as time moves on.  I had a fun time in this world, and I’m already heading to download the second book.  If you love an engaging, fun, magical mystery with touches of romance, then you’d love Starlight Antiques by Lula Ward.

I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)