Please welcome the inimitable Chelsey Ortega. She’s going to tell us about her new release, book 2 in the Bondwitch series: Bondwitch: Hybrid.
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Bondwitch: Hybrid is the sequel to Bondwitch. In book 1, Annamaria learns that she is a witch on prom night by getting her powers unlocked by the very person who locked them sixteen years prior. She goes on an adventure to learn how to use them, and picks up new friends and love interest along the way.
In book 2,
Annamaria is well-versed in the use of magic, but is still a baby in the larger
magical world that she belongs to. She has responsibilities she does not want,
has to fight to keep her boyfriend in her life, and must choose between forming
her own found family or staying within her controlling grandmother’s clutches.
Meanwhile, her sister, Marianna has been elevated from side character in book 1
to secondary main character in book 2. She will need to confront her past in
order to become the witch her grandmother expects of her.
The larger Bondwitch
world was inspired by a single conversation with my brother: Witches would have
been great in Twilight. What started out as verbal fanfiction for
another series, turned into its own world, story, and characters. As I veered
into my own story, I discovered that I really like writing from the underlying
theme of family dynamics. Annamaria fights with her grandmother in almost every
chapter, works out deep emotions with her aunt, and constantly focuses on
protecting her sister. Marianna yearns to win her grandmother’s approval while
also protecting her sister. The families in Bondwitch are messy, but
real and relatable.
Blurb
Annamaria Lyons is
finally with her grandma, but Libby holds unyielding control of her coven and
granddaughters. Betrothed to a male witch, Annamaria’s heart secretly belongs
to her vampire boyfriend. When Libby threatens deadly consequences if she refuses
the arranged marriage, Annamaria faces an impossible choice: obey or risk
everything to follow her heart?
Marianna Lyons is a big disappointment. Stripped of her magic when she was
forcefully turned into a vampire, she is now an outcast, desperate for Libby’s
approval. When Marianna is tricked into breaking coven rules, she faces a
difficult decision: endure brutal rehabilitation, or leave her new home. As
Marianna struggles to rediscover herself, will she accept her new identity, or
conform to Libby’s impossible demands?
Excerpt:
“Open
the gate.” Annamaria stood as tall as she could in front of the two inside
guards.
“I’m sorry, Miss. Madam Libby’s orders. No one
goes in or out tonight.” His face was a mask of neutrality.
“But
tonight’s the night Anthony returns.” The guard’s eyes softened, pity swirling
in their chocolate brown depths. She pinched her brows. Was this why Libby
snooped through her phone this morning? Annamaria looked to her left. The other
guard was talking to Zeke, who bobbed his head with folded arms. She looked to
her right. No one. She ran along the perimeter, calling on the air to give her
a boost. Annamaria leaped upward, a strong wind from her palms catching and
guiding her.
“Miss!”
The
guard ran right behind her. His fingers grazed her ankles. Annamaria’s control
of the air flickered and she wobbled. She kicked at him, planted her foot
against his head, and used his sturdy form to thrust herself upward. She called
on a final boost of air, landing on top of the wall. The guard cried out as he
landed flat on his back on the ground below. Annamaria looked over the wall.
Four figures stood near a vehicle in the dark.
She
jumped and used the air to slow her fall. As soon as her feet touched the
ground, she ran toward the group. The figures became clearer. Two shifter
guards, Marianna, and Anthony. Annamaria made a beeline to Anthony and threw
herself into his arms. He caught her without changing his stance or breath. She
wrapped her legs around his waist, and he wrapped his arms around hers,
nuzzling his nose into her hair.
She
kissed him in front of their small audience, and anyone else who might be
watching. Anthony kissed her back, parting her lips with his tongue and lightly
sucking on her bottom lip. Though they had been “dating” for the past month,
their last kiss had been before she fled Will’s over a month ago. She kissed
him until she ran out of breath, then inhaled and rested her forehead against
his.
“Welcome
home,” she whispered, gazing into his dark brown eyes and dropping her feet to
the ground.
Anthony
chuckled, and his black skater hair fell forward as he looked down to meet her
gaze. “I’ll go away more often if this is how you’ll greet me.”
The Wild Rose Press: 5/11/26
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
392 pages
Heat level: Warm
Buy Links
Amazon Barnes & Noble The Wild Rose Press Walmart
Other buy options:
https://chelseymortega.com/bondwitch-2/
About the Author
Chelsey M. Ortega
is a teacher by day and award-winning author by night. History is her first
love, and any story involving magic and romance, her second love. She
especially loves witches and is still awaiting her acceptance letter to a
well-known school. Chelsey received her Bachelor's in History Teaching from
Brigham Young University. In addition to writing, Chelsey teaches high school
U.S. History and ELD. She lives in Utah with her husband, three children, and
two cats. Follow Chelsey at www.chelseymortega.com
Socials:
Facebook: Chelsey
M. Ortega -Author https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086032045677#
Instagram:
@chelsey_mae_o https://www.instagram.com/chelsey_mae_o/
TikTok:
@chelseym.ortega https://www.tiktok.com/@chelseym.ortega
Bluesky:
@chelseymortega.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/chelseymortega.bsky.social
