Spotlight & Giveaway: A Charming Touch of Tarot by Melissa Holtz

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Melissa Holtz to HJ!

Hi Melissa and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, A Charming Touch of Tarot!

Hey! I’m so glad to be here—thanks for having me. I’m always up for chatting about ghosts, small-town shenanigans, and the occasionally inconvenient ability to talk to the dead.
 

Please summarize the book for the readers here:

A Charming Touch of Tarot is about four friends whose lives, and magical abilities, are getting more complicated by the day. We pick back up with Alyssa, Nina, Lanie, and Corinne as they juggle romance, long-held secrets, and some seriously strained trust. Just when it seems things can’t get messier, Nina confesses that she’s been hiding something big.

Those who read and loved An Enchanting Case of Spirits will be happy to know that things between our main couple are heating up—just a little (slow burns take time).

At its heart, this story is about the kind of friendship that holds you together when everything else is falling apart, the power you find when you stop running, and the strength it takes to fight back.
 

Please share your favorite line(s) or quote from this book:

“I want you to know me,” he says, eyes penetrating mine. “The person I am now. Not the guy who lost Isla, but the man who’s falling for you.”
My breath hitches, my entire body light and tingly.
“Because I am, Alyssa. I’m falling hard, and I hope you’re right there with me.”

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

• I knew early on that A Charming Touch of Tarot would pick up shortly after the events of An Enchanting Case of Spirits, so timeline-wise, that placed us right in December. That time of year felt like the perfect backdrop for some of the themes I wanted to explore—new beginnings, intuition, reflection—which are all things I personally lean into around that time.
• I consider myself spiritual, and I wanted that to come through in the story in an authentic way. I consult tarot and oracle cards daily, and I always create a vision board at the start of a new year—those little rituals have become such a grounding part of my life. So, I thought: why not let the characters experience a bit of that too? Readers will definitely find some of my own traditions and superstitions sprinkled throughout the book.
• I also love to travel, and two of my favorite places—Florida and New Orleans—make appearances in this story. I visit Florida often to spend time with family, and honestly, it wouldn’t be a proper trip without a slightly too-competitive game of pickleball. That little detail might just sneak its way in.
• Let’s just say A Charming Touch of Tarot has a lot of me layered into its pages—through the places, the energy, and the little things I love most.

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

Nick and Alyssa’s connection runs much deeper than physical attraction. They share a unique bond rooted in personal loss, both having lost significant others in ways that changed them forever. There’s a quiet understanding between them, something only those who’ve walked through grief can truly recognize in someone else.

To the outside world, Alyssa might seem fragile, but Nick sees her strength. He knows the depth of her pain and admires the way she’s fought through it—not just for herself, but for her daughter. That resilience, that unwavering love, is what draws him in more than anything. Of course, he finds her beautiful, but it’s her spirit that captivates him.

For Alyssa, Nick is nothing like her late husband, and in some ways, that’s comforting. Their differences make it easier for her to separate the past from the present. She doesn’t feel like she’s replacing anyone; she’s making room for something new. And what makes Nick truly special is that he not only accepts that—he honors it. He makes space for her grief and her memories and celebrates the love she once had without ever making her feel guilty for holding onto it.

It’s not just romance. It’s healing.

Did any scene have you blushing, crying or laughing while writing it? And Why?

Any scene where Nick is suddenly pulled into something supernatural makes me laugh. It reminds me so much of my husband and the situations I’ve roped him into over the years. He loves me enough to go along with it, but he’s never exactly comfortable, and he’s always a little skeptical.

One scene in particular that stands out is when Nick escorts Alyssa to Marmalade and Rye to help Mrs. Hampson remove an unwanted spirit from her store. If you’ve read An Enchanting Case of Spirits, then you already know Mrs. Hampson and her love of Turkish proverbs, especially when she’s using them to deliver veiled insults. I chuckled through the whole thing.

It might not be the funniest scene on paper, but it had me grinning the entire time I wrote it. I imagined my late grandma as Mrs. Hampson, and that little personal touch added an extra layer of comedy for me.

Readers should read this book….

If they love a good mystery with plenty of humor and just the right touch of slow-burn romance. A Charming Touch of Tarot leans into the cozy mystery vibe, but fair warning—it’s got a little edge. There are hints of spice, and yes, there’s swearing.

This book is also for readers who love strong female friendships—the kind where you can laugh until you cry, call each other out, and show up no matter what. My characters are all 35 and up, just like me and my real-life besties. But don’t expect them to fit into some outdated stereotype of what women in their 40s are “supposed” to be like.

Very few people I know have it all together, and we’re definitely not walking around being mature all the time. I might be 42, but in my head I’m still 20—and so are my characters. They’re messy, funny, loyal, and just a little bit inappropriate. And that’s exactly how I like it.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?

I’m currently working on Book #3 in the series, which picks up right where A Charming Touch of Tarot leaves off. There’s no set publication date yet, and it might be the final book in this series—we’ll see what the characters have to say about that.
I’m also wrapping up a brand-new series starter, featuring a fresh friend group, more witty ghosts, and a whole cast of hysterical side characters. Keep an eye out for more info on Flirting with the Afterlife, which is set to release in late fall 2025.
 
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: 1 print giveaway copy of A CHARMING TOUCH OF TAROT by Melissa Holtz, US only

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: Have you ever experienced something you couldn’t quite explain—something that felt a little otherworldly? I’d love to hear your story.

 
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Book Info:

Four friends discover that their new magical skills may not be enough to save them from a stalker hell-bent on turning their lives upside down.

Alyssa, Nina, Lanie, and Corinne’s friendship is being put to the test. With Nina’s marriage falling apart, Lanie acting distant, Alyssa’s new romance, and no one quite trusting Corinne, this may be more than their bond can take. But when Nina appears at Alyssa’s door, and confesses not just a decades-old secret, but a newfound magical power, the friends know that the only way to face this is together.

Someone has been blackmailing Nina for years, but lately the threats to reveal her secret have changed to threats on her life, and on the lives of those she loves. With Alyssa contacting ghosts for insight and Nina getting used to her telepathy skills, they dash from city to city to track down the threat. There’s someone out there that will go to any lengths to keep their control over Nina, and it will take all four friends to get out of this without ruining, or losing, their lives. But with the strength of their friendship—and a little help from the beyond—these women are out to prove they’re not to be messed with.
 
 

Meet the Author:

Melissa Holtz is the kind of author who stirs a little mischief into every plot twist, blends humor with hauntings, and believes no romance is complete without a dash of the supernatural. When she’s not crafting stories filled with witty banter, swoon-worthy moments, and ghosts who refuse to mind their own business, you can find her over-caffeinating, hanging with her family, or convincing herself that buying more books totally counts as research.

She specializes in paranormal romance, cozy mysteries, and the kind of stories that make you laugh, gasp, and maybe believe in ghosts (just a little). If you love sharp heroines, broody heroes, and mysteries that keep you guessing, you’re in the right place.

Follow Melissa for book updates, behind-the-scenes chaos, and the occasional existential crisis over commas. She promises it’ll be a hauntingly good time.