Wikipedia defines cozy mysteries, or 'cozies', as, a subgenre of crime fiction in which sex and violence are downplayed or treated humorously, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community.
So basically a literary version of any given episode of The Simpsons! 😄
But it amazes me how much I enjoy reading these types of books.
The stories are pretty much straight forward, the protagonist discovering a dead body during some social event or in a local business. What I love the most is that there is almost always a cat, sometimes a dog portrayed as a character itself.
Book Photo Challenge || March - Day 28: Recent Book Haul
And I’m still not through! (Hehe, Hamilton references)
Crime and Poetry by Amanda Flower
It Takes a Witch by Heather Blake
The Novice by Tara Matharu
As Old As Time by Liz Braswell
Moon Chosen by P.C. Cast
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Illustrated Edition) by J.K. Rowling & Jim Kay
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Illustrated Edition) by J.K. Rowling & Jim Kay
I’m so excited about these books and I’m planning on buying four more tomorrow. My only regret is that I didn’t find all of you guys on here sooner. It would have saved me from so much stress trying to find books recommended by like-minded booklovers in the world.
Book Review - It Takes a Witch (A Wishcraft Mystery #1) by Heather Blake
Darcy Merriweather and her sister, Harper, hail from a long line of witches who have the power to grant wishes using spells. They've come to Enchanted Village in Salem, Massachusetts, to join the family business, but they soon find themselves knee deep in murder...
Until three weeks ago, Darcy and Harper were working dead-end jobs and trying to put their troubles behind them. Then their aunt Velma delivered a bombshell: They're actually Wishcrafters - witches with the power to grant wishes with a mere spell. Wanting a fresh start, they head to their aunt's magic-themed tourist town to master their newfound skills.
But their magic fails them when a wannabe witch turns up dead - strangled with Aunt Ve's scarf - and Ve's sweetheart, Sylar, is found looming over the body. Ve is standing by her man, but Darcy overheard Skylar wish that the victim would disappear - forever. With Harper distracted by her handsome new crush, Darcy is determined to sleuth her way to the truth. But it'll take more than a wish to unravel this mystery....
3.5 stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It’s a light, entertaining read. Just sit back and enjoy this charming witchy cozy mystery. I think I liked this one a bit better than A Potion to Die For (A Magic Potion Mystery #1) by the same author, so I went back and updated my review and rating to reflect that. There are a lot of characters, but surprisingly it was quite easy to keep track of who’s who without getting lost or confused. Funny enough, the last thing I read was a military sci-fi horror, and my main complaint about that one was that there were too many characters to remember. That just goes to show that sometimes it’s not about the number of characters but how well they’re written and whether they’re given enough space to stand out without being drowned out.
The only downside for me was that I didn’t completely understand the rule about not being able to reveal the truth to a future spouse without losing one’s magic. It seemed a little unreasonable. I get the idea of wanting to prevent another witch hunt, but there should be some kind of exception or clause, like allowing disclosure after a couple has been together for a year or two. Or, if they’re getting a divorce and the partner is deemed unworthy of still knowing the truth (maybe vetted by a third party), then a vow of silence or forgetfulness spell could be placed on them instead. I don’t know, it just felt like that could’ve been a bit clearer. Or maybe it was, and I’m just misremembering.
Overall, this was nice. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was great.
Book Review - A Potion to Die For (Magic Potion Mystery #1) by Heather Blake
TROUBLE IS BREWING…
As the owner of Little Shop of Potions, a magic potion shop specializing in love potions, Carly Bell Hartwell finds her product more in demand than ever. A local soothsayer has predicted that a couple in town will soon divorce—and now it seems every married person in Hitching Post, Alabama, wants a little extra matrimonial magic to make sure they stay hitched.
But when Carly finds a dead man in her shop, clutching one of her potion bottles, she goes from most popular potion person to public enemy number one. In no time the murder investigation becomes a witch hunt—literally! Now Carly is going to need to brew up some serious sleuthing skills to clear her name and find the real killer—before the whole town becomes convinced her potions really are to die for!
3 stars: ⭐⭐⭐
It’s an easy, fun read—just relax and enjoy the ride of a simple cozy mystery. It follows Carly Bell Hartwell, a healing witch living in a small Alabama town who runs a potion shop. The characters are full of quirky personality. I found them amusing, though others might see them as ridiculously over-the-top or even a little annoying.
The audiobook narrator was great, giving each character a distinctive voice. (Personally, I like to increase the playback speed on all my audiobooks, and it didn’t affect the quality of the narration at all.)
A Witch Before Dying (A Wishcraft Mystery #2) by Heather Blake
A Witch Before Dying (A Wishcraft Mystery #2) by Heather Blake
A Wishcraft Mystery #2
In this second installment of the Wishcraft Mystery series we find that a couple of months have passed since the end of the first book . Darcy and Harper Merriweather have settled into the village in a way that makes it seem like they’ve been there their whole lives. Darcy is doing well at her family business ‘As You Wish’ and Harper has taken on the bookstore that she…
Carly Bell Hartwell owns a magic potion shop, called Little Shop of Potions, that specializes in love and healing potions. She lives in Hitching Post, Alabama, a place best known for their weddings. Carly comes from a long line of witches, both light and dark due to her great, great granddaddy being into voodoo. Carly is very popular and known for her potions but when she finds a dead guy in her…
It Takes a Witch (A Wishcraft Mystery #1) by Heather Blake
It Takes a Witch (A Wishcraft Mystery #1) by Heather Blake
Darcy and Harper Merriweather have been ‘lost at sea’ since their mother passed away having to deal with life at an early age with a father that only worked. Darcy has been the mother to Harper since they were very young. When their father passes its their Aunt Velma that wants to bring them home and tells them about their history as witches. The girls haven’t been involved in a place that offers…
