Melissa BourbonBesprekingen

This is the first Foxy Ladies book and I loved it. I will be getting and reading the first

The Secrets on Rum Runners Lane by Melissa Bourbon
Book .5 of the Book Magic Mystery series. Paranormal Cozy mystery Intro novella.
Cassie doesn’t want anything to do with her heritage and moves away. But it’s not as easy as she thinks when she starts feeling the pull of her Bibliomancer heritage.

As a reader enthusiast, I found the concept of Bibliomancer intriguing. It’s a paranormal skill I’ve only see in YA Library settings. Cassie’s reluctance become less as the mystery unfolds and she realizes she can’t actually walk away from someone that needs help. As an intro, we see part of the world building but I’m guessing there is a lot more to unfold in the series. I look forward to the expanded world of book magic.

Pippin Lane Hawthorne is descended from a family that has a curse laid upon it: the women die in childbirth, and the men die at sea. Some manage to survive it once or twice -- as her mother Cassie did in giving birth to Pippin and her twin brother Grey, but eventually they succumb, just as Cassie did in her second pregnancy. This knowledge has kept Pippin from forming too much of an attachment to someone, since she knows of the curse.

But, like some of the Lane women before her, Pippin has gained the gift of bibliomancy: seeing a book and having tell her of her past, present, and future. This has kept Pippin away from books until adulthood, and how she is understanding just how powerful this gift is. But Pippin knows she must break the spell that has followed her family or no one will ever be able to live a normal life.

But now Pippin has to go back to the Irish legends of centuries ago to find the truth. Luckily, she has the help of her twin, two cousins, and bookshop owner Jamie McAdams, with whom she knows she is falling for, to help her in her quest. The question is, is Pippin able to use what she's learned to break the curse or will her family be fated to it forever?...

This is the fifth book in the series and I have been entranced with it since the first. It is going to be difficult to write a review without giving away spoilers, but I will do my best. Pippin has settled nicely into the place where she grew up, Devil's Cove, and owns Sea Captain Inn, a B&B that she and her brother have renovated, not an easy task, since the home was left to them by their parents and had been empty for many years. But now successful, and Grey with his own business, Pippin and the rest of the Lanes are eager to see the curse broken.

What they don't realize -- and neither does the reader for quite awhile -- is that the answers have been in the Cove for some time. Grey finds a clue in the boat he's restoring -- the boat that once belonged to his grandfather, lost at sea himself -- and Pippin doesn't know what to make of it. But when Jamie has discovered even more clues, she's on a mission. One that requires a time limit, since an event occurs that gives her even less time than before.

What happens next is the best part of the book. We watch as Pippin uses all her wits and skills to find the truth, to put the clues she discovers together, to use the help offered her that will break the curse. But will she find it in time? That is the question. And the climax is magnificent. It is definitely palpitating in itself, as being riveted to the page while hoping against hope that Pippin will be triumphant.

When we come to the end of the book, it was all worth it. The writing was fluid, the characters animated, the idea of legends and life together intriguing. And then, hoping for another in the series as I am...

I was given a copy of this book from the author and the Cozy Review Crew, but this in no way influenced my review.

Pippin Lane Hawthorne urgently wants to break the 2000 years curse that has been casted on to her family, the Lanes. Hence, she has enlisted the help from her twin brother, cousins and friends.
When Pippin and the gang are getting closer to discover the answer they are looking for, there is a dead body that has further shaken up Pippin!
MURDER AND AN IRISH CURSE is a splendid cozy mystery infused with suspense, magic, mythology and a tinge of romance! It is a satisfying choice for anyone who enjoys a delightful read!

Bibliomancy, a family curse that goes back to the beginning of the time and more twists and turns than one can imagine make for an intense yet enjoyable read. This installment in the series takes us beyond Pippin and Grey’s half of the story and reminds us there is another set of twins on the west coast that is also affected by the curse. A complex series well worth picking up!

The charming and serene town of Tumbleweed is buzzing with its upcoming pageant; however, this festive event is unexpectedly tainted by a murder!
The Trouble with Hope and Glory is a delightful cozy mystery that is packed with suspense and mystery, a pinch of humor, and a tiny dash of romance!
I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a light and easy read!

The Book Magic Mystery series is such a splendid way to spend a couple of hours. It starts with a curse; the women in the family are doomed to die in childbirth and their men doomed to be taken by the sea. Add in the special power the women sometimes have as bibliomancers, that in itself makes this series intriguing. What avid reader wouldn’t want to be able to do that?

In Murder at Sea Captain’s Inn, Pippin and her brother Grey are the latest descendents of the Lane family. Pippin is desperate to find a way to break the family curse if only to save her brother from his seemingly preordained fate. She has turned the house they inherited from their parents into a bed and breakfast and she has her hands full with the grand opening. It is bad enough that one of her guests has turned up dead, but as Pippin gets pulled into investigating, it turns out that the woman may have known something about the curse that has been following the Lanes for the past two millennia.

Melissa Bourbon knows how to tell a story. Honestly, that is all that needs to be said.

There is so much going on in the 250 pages of this book. Pippin has picked up her father’s investigation into her lineage and is learning to have confidence in her role as a biblimancer. That narrative alone is fascinating. I could read a 500 page book on that aspect of the story alone. The Lane women are so genuinely interesting, I keep coming back for more.

I truly enjoyed the tidbits of archeology and history laced into the plot. With a budding archaeologist in the house, I admit to being just a little too excited to read about optically stimulated luminescence in the course of a mystery novel. I mean that doesn’t just pop up in a typical conversation. I also love that I didn’t see whodunnit until it was explained. When Pippin figured it out, I was hoping she was wrong because I just didn’t want to believe it, but of course it was there in the clues the whole time. How did I miss it? Simply put, the clues are so subtly woven into the story that it is easy to forget that we, as readers, are here to help Pippen solve a mystery.

I do think this reads well as a stand alone if this is your first experience with the series. Still, book 1 and its prequel are so worth the effort. The story isn’t all told yet, so I will be back for more.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
I received an advance review copy for free through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Murder Through an Open Door by Melissa Bourbon is the third A Book Magic Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. However, I recommend reading the series in order which will allow you to understand the curse, the family history, and get to know the main characters. I thought Murder Through an Open Door was well-written with developed characters. We continue to learn more about Pippin, Gray, and their family line as the series progresses. I find the characters to be likeable and relatable. I love that Pippin’s gift is bibliomancy. The books speaks to her and provide clues. Gray and Pippin are still trying to learn more about the family curse. They both wish to find their soul mate, but they are not willing to risk it until the curse has been lifted. The woman dies in childbirth while the man is lost to the sea. I can tell the author did her research into Celtic lore and mythology. She manages to strike a balance between not enough and too much with regard to details. It seems that Pippin and Gray are not the only ones interested in the curse or the supposed treasure. When a man is found dead in backroom of the bookstore surrounded by books, Pippin knows it is related to her family. The mystery is complex. We learn more about the Lane family and Tuatha De Danann. There are twists and a surprising revelation or two. Murder Through an Open Door combines murder, mayhem, and magic into one intriguing tale.

A solid second outing for Pippin as she attempts to dig deeper into the family curse before it can claim her twin brother Grey, who is insisting on tempting fate. Throw in a dead guest at Sea Captain’s Inn and the twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end and you’ll be as ready as I am to dive into the newest books in the series.

Oh my goodness! This book had been on by tbr pile since it came out and now I know what a mistake that had been! A rich and engrossing story weaving together Pippen’s current day journey with the tragic cursed existence of her ancestors. Throw in the twenty year old murder of her father...is it curse related or something all together different? This book is a real page turner and happily there are several more for me to spend a cold snowy weekend curled up with!

The first three books in this series were published years ago, and, I'm guessing, got dropped from the publisher. I was disappointed at the time because I enjoyed the series, and I generally enjoyed the author's mystery writing. Fast forward several years later, and Henery Press published this fourth instalment.

Meh. Either my tastes changed, or the author lost her groove during the hiatus. It was still an interesting plot, and I still enjoyed the characters, but a lot of her romance writing history bled through into the story and the chapters' angst. And seriously, the editor or author need to repeat things over and over is grating on my nerves. Lola's always wanted to be a detective; she knows jujitsu; I get it and I got it the first time it was mentioned. I'm smart that way.

Not sure this series is for me anymore.

Author Melissa Bourbon will capture your reader's imagination and keep your attention with "Murder at Sea Captain's Inn: A cozy mystery with a twist"--Book Two in the "Book Magic Mystery Series". Rich with history and mysticism, and the compelling lore of Irish mythology, this contemporary story is a delight for lovers of both history and mystery. After surviving much change and personal loss, twin siblings Pippin and Grey Hawthorne are moving forward with their lives. Having inherited a house on the famed Outer Banks of North Carolina from their late parents, brother and sister each have separate plans for the future. With Grey's help, Pippin will make over the house into a B&B called "Sea Captain's Inn", and Grey will open his own woodworking shop. The family curse still weighs heavily upon them both: The women in the family die in childbirth, and the men's lives are lost at sea. When one of Pippin's guests, who is connected to a search for ancient treasure and an archeological dig is murdered, Pippin works to solve the case and break the curse following her own family. Will her generational legacy of bibliomancy--the ability to foresee the future and unravel the past with the help of beloved books--give her the extra help she needs? Readers will be sure to enjoy the prequel book and the first book, as well as the upcoming third book in the series.

Book Copy Gratis Author

While recuperating from her father’s death, Pippin Lane Hawthrone often wraps her head around her family’s ancestral curse which has proved true generation after generation.
While Pippin and her friends are busy celebrating her Sea Captain’s Inn official grand opening, one of her first guests is found dead – murdered actually!
MURDER AT SEA CAPTAIN’S INN is an intriguing mystery that is entwined within a web of secret and spellwork!
Melissa Bourbon has deftly waved her magic wand and spun this original entertaining Book Magic Mystery series which will take you on a fascinating and magical ride!
I enjoyed this story with its loveable characters, especially Sailor; and its enchanting Devil’s Cove with its precious The Book Shop!

I would like to thank Melissa Bourbon for giving me the opportunity to read and review the ARC of MURDER AT SEA CAPTAIN’S INN.

Murder in Devil’s Cove by Melissa Bourbon is the debut of A Magic Book Mystery series. I thought the story was well-written and absorbing. I liked the characters, especially the elder Mr. McAdams. The author took the time to establish the main characters and well as the town. I enjoyed the descriptions of Devil’s Cove and the house the twins inherited. It was fun following Pippin as she explored the town and made friends. The mysteries were fascinating. Two murders that occur two decades apart. The second half of the book had me quickly flipping the pages of my ereader. The suspense increased as we got closer to the end and the identity of the killer. I could not wait to see if I had guessed correctly (I love solving whodunits). The paranormal aspect was interesting. Pippin discovers her special ability and must figure out how to use it. Magic and books are a wonderful combination (bibliomancy). I look forward to learning more about the families magic and the lore. I thought the author beautifully intertwined magic and mystery. The one thing I did not enjoy was the foul language. Murder in Devil’s Cove is an intriguing tale with forbidden books, a departed dad, family folklore, mysterious magic, renovation revelations, and one bewildered bibliomancer.

I wanted to read this book because the blurb sounded interesting, and the protagonist wasn't running away from an ex or a scandal. Instead, I found her running away from life...

Pippin Lane and her brother Grey have returned to the Outer Banks of North Carolina where they spent their younger lives after being raised by their grandparents. They've been deeded a home from their father, and Pippin has decided to turn it into an inn in this tourist town. But then there is a discovery that changes their lives, and turns Pippin's well-ordered world upside-down. Now left with more questions than answers, and having to rely on people she knows little of, Pippin has suddenly found that living a solitary life might not be the best way, especially with others who are willing to help in any way they can.

But the discovery of people who knew her parents and are giving her information that she never thought possible is also giving her the possibility of learning to trust others, and even more important, allowing them into her life. This she will need if she ever wants to find out the truth of her history, since she was never allowed near books while growing up, and now learns that she needs to face her family legacy of being a bibliomancer if she is ever to find her future...

This is the first in a new series and it wasn't what I expected. There is much sadness within, yet without it the story cannot be told. Falling into Pippin's life, I found myself feeling empathy for her situation, and why she's chosen the lifestyle she has, along with her brother choosing his. They face life differently; face situations differently; yet have always been there for each other since they are all there is left of their immediate family.

It would be hard not to be drawn into this story from the beginning, when we are given the background by starting with Pippin's mother Cassie and her story. How her love for a seagoing man gave her a brief happiness and then stole it all from her. (I am not giving anything away as this is all told in the blurb).

Enter their grown twins, Pippin and Grey, to take over their lives where they began them almost thirty years ago, and how by doing so it brings them more pain the need to find the truth. It's a haunting story while drawing you in and hoping that they can find the answers they're looking for. But along the way both make friends, some from their childhood, and Pippin is now finding that maybe this is where she belonged all along.

However, while searching for her past, a murder occurs and in trying to find the killer -- since the sheriff thinks it was just an accident, even though the man's widow doesn't believe it -- Pippin starts to believe that the man's death may tie in with her own father's disappearance all those years ago. But searching for a killer who has managed to remain hidden isn't going to be easy, especially since he's managed to stay hidden and closer to Pippin than she knows...

The rest of the story will have to remain as hidden as Pippin's history, since saying too much would give away the rest of the tale, and I have no wish to do so. Let me just say that this story, filled with sadness, longing, and anger, gives way to new beginnings and answers, and gives Pippin a reason to look forward to the future. Highly recommended.

I love the concept of A Book Magic Mysteries, two authors writing a series together, but writing separate books. While Murder in Devil’s Cove by Melissa Bourbon has an ending and we find out what really happened to their father, there are still questions that need to be answered and it segues perfectly into the next book in the series, Death at Cape Misery by Wendy Lyn Watson.

I think people who enjoy cozies or mysteries will really like Book Magic Mysteries since they are a traditional mystery with cozy elements. Meaning the murders take place off scene, there is no gore, there is a small town community, the heroine turns into an amateur sleuth, and the bad guy gets caught with a final showdown.

But while it has cozy elements it definitely has a different feel than a cozy. It feels a bit more substantial, not quite as fluffy as a traditional cozy. Pippin is dealing with a family tragedy, exploring her emotions while experiencing personal growth, and trying to stop a curse and not just leaving her place of work to talk to the locals and track down the bad guys like in cozies. And while we do get to read about a small town, to me the town didn’t feel as explored in depth as traditional cozies. So this is a wonderful hybrid of the two genres!

Bourbon incorporated the supernatural elements into the story really well. It didn’t feel unreal like a mystery with werewolves or vampires. Having the curse being part of the mystery that carries over to the next book is a wonderful way to leave readers wanting more and a pretty good guarantee that they will be reading the next book. And I will admit to asking a question and opening a random book to a random page and planting my finger down onto the page hoping the sentence I’m touching gives me the answer!

A great start to A Book Magic Mysteries, and I am looking forward to book two which will be out on December 1, 2020.

Harlow Jane is related to Butch Cassidy and he has bestowed gifts on all the women in his blood line. They are not ordinary magical gifts, they are special and unique. This is a fun cozy mystery set in Texas with personalities as big as their hats. There is love, mayhem, mystery, evil deeds, good guys, attitude and death with a dash of magic all rolled up into a great cozy mystery. I really enjoyed this book and I am so glad that there are more in the series.½

Lola is a sassy and spunky PI. She is good at her job and she loves what she does. She is very involved with her family which places her in unusual situations. She is tenacious in her tracking down of a killer. A very nice read.

This story has a little of everything. Folklore. A good mystery. And a little romance.

As a disclaimer, I’ve always disliked mystery books that included anything magical or paranormal in the story line. I just always felt like it wasn’t my thing. However, as I’ve gotten older I think I’ve relaxed a little and have found that I do enjoy a little magic in my books. It can be quite a bit of fun.

After saying that, this was such a fun start to a series! The main characters are well developed and feel so down to earth and friendly that they seemed like they could be my own neighbors. There were quite a few characters to keep up with, which is why I gave this book a 4-star. At the first of the book, the reader is somewhat just thrown into the action without much being established, so it gives for an awkward beginning. The small town setting of Bliss, Texas was a charming place for the story to take place.As far as the mystery goes, I did NOT guess the killer until the end when it was revealed which is always a plus when it comes to any crime novel.

Overall, I was greatly surprised by how much I liked this mystery. It wasn’t a perfect read for me, but I ended up wanting to read more from this author.

I loved this book. The characters, especially the main character, Harlow Cassidy and her family were wonderful. They were a loving, quirky, yet down to earth group. They are also "charmed". Each female in the family has a gift except for Harlow. She has just returned to Bliss, Texas after the death of her great grandmother, Meemaw, or Loretta Mae Cassidy. She opens her own custom design clothing business and spends most of her time altering polyester clothes until her old friend Josie shows up and needs her to design her wedding gown and the dresses for all of her wedding party. Harlow is thrilled, but apprehensive that she will not have enough time to make it work. Once she agrees, she gets right to her sketches. Once sketching she is able to see exactly what each person needs and designs a dress that is perfect for her, except for Nell, the maid of honor. That night, Harlow and her mom hear two people arguing outside the house and Nell turns up dead in her garden. Josie and her fiancee Nate are both questioned and under suspicion. The wedding, however, will still go on. There is a love interest in the story, Will, that it appears Meemaw set up before she died. His daughter Gracie is supposed to take sewing lessons from Harlow in exchange for him doing handyman tasks around the house. As Harlow begins to investigate the crime after Josie asks her to help clear Nate's name, we find out a lot more about the folks in Bliss. A fun read and I will definitely check out the rest of this series.

Wow, I certainly didn't see that ending!

Generally a very good cozy series; one of my favorite. This one was not its best entry.

Harlow is making custom aprons for each of the members of the local Red Hat Society, and the morning after delivering her first apron, she finds their leader dead in a cemetery, a victim of murder. The victim's sister, knowing Harlow is, to paraphrase, 'good at solving these things' asked her to 'investigate'.

Now, this is a general rant about cozies and not specific to this one: but if we're already suspending disbelief enough to read a cozy mystery, can we just dispense with the acknowledgement that said amateur sleuth seems to solve a lot of murders? I hate when the author feels like they need to include the "request" that includes the whole acknowledgment of past capers. It just feels stupid to me. /rant over

I love the characters and love Harlow and Will together. The author just writes people you want to be friends with. But I lost patience with the number of times Ms. Bourbon felt the need to summarise the plot and the suspects and the evidence for/against their guilt. This took place at least 4 times (possibly 6) from beginning to end and the repetition drove me nuts. She also had a character (Georgia) who wan't in a scene contributing dialog to it.

Finally, I knew who the murderer was from almost the very beginning; page 158 confirmed it, which was just past 50%. It was so obvious, in fact, that I kept thinking I must be wrong - it was too obvious.

Oh well, I enjoyed visiting Bliss and catching up with the characters. Not every series entry is a winner, and I'll still happily look out for the next one.

Check out my review and two teasers here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2012/10/feasted-on-deceiving-witch-nex...

A Killing Notion is the fifth book in the A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series.

It's homecoming time for the high school students in Bliss, TX and Harlow and her beau's daughter are busy making mums for the girls and their dates. In addition, Harlow is also making dresses for Danica and Leslie, young ladies who are part of Helping Hands. An organization that helps girls without parents. At one of gatherings Gracie's boyfriend, Shane Montgomery gets a phone call telling him that his father, Chris, has died in an automobile crash. The police soon determine that the steering had been tampered with and Shane becomes a prime suspect. Both Gracie and Shane's mom, Reba, ask for Harlow's help in finding the guilty party. If Harlow can get answers to why Chris's business partner, Eddy Blake, cell phone was at Chris's house and just where Eddy Blake is, she know she will be able name the killer.

Most all of the characters from the early books are back to lend a helping hand to Harlow. And of course Meemaw is there to watch over Harlow, too.

Looking forward to the next book in the series.