Ooh, I am excited to start this series! It has been sitting on my shelf for a couple of years and I finally got a chance to read it. Can't wait for the next book to continue reading what happens in the Wishcraft Mystery series. ( )

What a cute fun world this series introduces us to. I enjoyed this murder mystery ( )

Unabridged audiobook. DNF @ 32%

I really like cozy mysteries. It’s probably one of my favorite genres. But only if it’s done right. This one wasn’t. Between the narrator’s cringe-worthy voice characterizations and a MC who seemed closer to 13 than to the 30 she’s supposed to be, I was going to be driven to murder.

The MC is a divorcee who still loves her ex and professes she will not have another relationship because men are icky. Then, we are treated to long passages about what the local soldier-cop-detective does to her stomach when he’s in her area. See a gastroenterologist, for Pete’s sake and get a grip. At her age, it is ridiculous that she cannot deal with her libido, return a snappy comeback to a snarky comment directed at her, and can’t decide if her jailbird sister is innocent or the likely suspect in a rash of thefts.

The thefts are related to tourists getting their pockets picked. A city leader presents this as a major issue because the town is being hit with tort claims by the ripped-off tourists. Really? Looks to me like someone needs to familiarize themselves with a few legal concepts.

Okay, so much for my pet peeves. Most of them, at least.

The MC and her sister were completely unaware of their magic talents until their father dies. An aunt enters the picture, tells them about their magic, and brings them home to her northeastern small town that happens to be full of witches. Cute, cuddly, spun-sugar witches who sell cakes and teas and soaps. Except for the victim. She’s a wanna’-be witch who makes potions and lotions. Poorly.

Here we are, four months after discovering her magic gifts, our heroine is using her mad skills like a virtuoso. She can’t figure out if her sister is a thief, but she’s going to suss out whoever killed the non-witch witch. If she ever gets her fluttery stomach under control.

Ugh. Enough, already. Unbelievable MC, uninteresting support characters, and an unlikable victim. Nah, time to move on. ( )

Loved loved loved. This is one of those books that gets read in a single sitting and yeah there is some fluff to it but it’s enjoyable fluff. This is a new author to me and I’m sure I’ll be devouring this series quickly. ( )

A fun intro to a new series. I'll admit to not being a fan of this particular fusion of genres, but this series works by mixing enough mystery with magic and putting the focus on the characters. Darcy and Harper are realistic sisters and getting that central relationship makes readers willing to swallow some of the goofier elements. I look forward to the rest. ( )