68) Spells and Scones by Bailey Cates

The Blurb :

When the bookshop next to the Honeybee Bakery hosts a signing for a Savannah radio celebrity's new self-help book, magical baker Katie Lightfoot is happy to provide some delectable desserts. A big crowd has turned out for the event, curious about the book (and maybe to sample some goodies), but the final chapter comes too soon for the author when she is found dead at the event.

The prime suspect is Angie Kissel, a former witch whose familiar was once Katie’s own terrier, Mungo. Katie is at first hesitant to help, afraid of losing the little dog who has become so important to her. But after a little nudge from Mungo himself, Katie decides to try to conjure up the real killer—before Angie gets served...

My Thoughts :

The sixth book in the Magical Bakery series was a pre-order of mine that I nearly forgot about.  Only when I was deciding on which book to read next did I come across this one hidden amongst everything else on my Kindle. Suddenly all my other reading commitments and deadlines went out the window and I had to start the latest installment in this magical cozy mystery series.

I wasn't disappointed, much.  There was a severe lack of magic, in my honest opinion.  I expected much more in the way of spells and general development in the magical aspect of the series.  However this book was more about sleuthing and I felt the paranormal twist wasn't as present as it could or should of been.  My opinion and maybe not one that other readers will agree with but for me it just wasn't enough.

However the plot was good, the mystery interesting and the development of the characters and the on-going storyline was excellent.  There were some nice surprises as well as some interesting twists with the end of the book bringing things to a nice happy conclusion.  Hopefully this wasn't the last book but if it was then I wouldn't be too sad.  Although I do believe that Katie has many a more stories to tell and it would be nice to keep visiting her and everyone else in this lovely magical series.

A must read for any paranormal cozy mystery lovers but definitely something that both paranormal and cozy fans will enjoy and appreciate.  Cute but not too soft. Yummy but not too over the top.  Serious without being too dramatic.  I really love this series and look forward to more reads from this author.

75) Magic and Macaroons by Bailey Cates

The Blurb :

For magical baker Katie Lightfoot, the only way to beat the Savannah summer heat is to whip up some cool treats for the Honeybee Bakery’s patrons. But when a meeting of the spellbook club is interrupted by a stranger collapsing on the floor of her shop, mumbling something about a voodoo talisman, Katie drops everything to begin investigating.

Her search for answers quickly leads her into a dangerous blend of Savannah’s infamous voodoo queens, a powerful missing charm—and a deadly witch who seems to be targeting the city’s magical community. And with the case getting hotter by the second, Katie will have to work fast to track down the talisman and the killer before the timer runs out…

My Thoughts :

The Magical Bakery Mysteries are always on pre-order and I was very excited to find this one on my Kindle last week.  During my small vacation I picked this book up many times and enjoyed a chapter or two but only managed to finally sit down and read the rest today.

There isn't too much progress in the on-going story in this one.  Or at least it didn't feel like there was.  In retrospect there were a few things that happened as Katie tries to find out what happened to a person she has been looking for in previous books.  With the mystery revolving around this person and also having ties to some other people from her circle of friends and family.

I don't want to give anything from the plot away so it is hard to write anything more than a yay and a hooray!  Another installment, another great read and some wonderful cozy paranormal excitement.  This is just what your Summer reading needs and also what any cozy lover will want to check out.

As always I am looking forward to the next Magical Bakery installment and hope that Katie manages to solve another mystery and find out more about her abilities.

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72) Some Enchanted Éclair by Bailey Cates

The Blurb :


When Hollywood invades Savannah’s historic district to film a Revolutionary War movie, magical baker Katie Lightfoot, and her witches’ coven, the Spellbook Club, take a break from casting spells for casting calls. One of the witches snags a part as an extra, while Katie’s firefighter boyfriend, Declan, acts as on-set security. Katie and her aunt Lucy decide to stay out of the action, but after the movie’s “fixer” fires the caterer, the Honeybee Bakery comes to the rescue, working their magic to keep the hungry crew happy.

But when someone fixes the fixer—permanently—and a spooky psychic predicts Katie will find the killer, the charming baker and her fellow conjurers step in to sift through the suspects…before someone else winds up on the cutting room floor….

My Thoughts :

I have been enjoying this series since the series began  and this fourth installment was as yummy and magical as the previous three.  It is such a great combination of cozy mystery, baking and magic with some lovely characters that you really want to spend time with.  The style is just delicious and I couldn't help myself from devouring this pre-order as soon as it arrived.  Bailey Cates cooks up a great mystery and she uses the best ingredients.

This time around the story revolves around the filming of a movie in Savannah.  The guys are working security and another character or two are involved in the filming.  Katie ends up getting involved via her culinary delights which leads to her being, once again, smack bang in the middle of a murder investigation.  It sounds like your usual cozy but the surprises inside are mostly due to the magic.  Some interesting developments occur in this fourth installment and I have to wonder what will happen next.

Some changes in the Declan and Katie relationship is related once again to magic but this time around the tables are turned.  A search for an old acquaintance has Katie confused and then shocked.  The coven has some news and also it looks like there will be a new younger character joining the coven/bakery in the next book.   Also it seems that Detective Quinn is happier having Katie help than interfering.

If you haven't already had the pleasure of visiting the Magical Bakery series then you are missing a treat.  The covers look a little too cozy and cute but to be honest I really like them.   The mystery inside is always interesting and keeps you guessing till the end.  The on-going magical theme is engaging and I am always surprised at the new details and depths the author adds in each installment.  The baking ideas and recipes at the end are just an added bonus to a really great read.

The fifth book will be going on pre-order as soon as it is listed.  I can't wait to visit Katie and the rest of the gang again.  The whole book envelopes the reader in a cozy but magical blanket which keeps you warm and happy till the very end.  I feel honoured to spend time in this wonderful bakery in Savannah and read about the characters who make up the friends and family of Katie, a person I would love to be friends with.  Well worth checking out and definitely worth sharing with friends!

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150) Charms & Chocolate Chips by Bailey Cates

The Blurb :


Between brewing magically spiced treats at Honeybee Bakery and volunteering with a local conservation group, Katie Lightfoot barely has time to see her firefighter boyfriend, Declan McCarthy, much less delve further into her destiny as a witch. But avoiding her fate won’t be as easy as whipping up a new recipe—especially when Katie finds herself once again mixed up in murder.

When a fellow volunteer for the conservation group is found dead, Katie’s mystical senses tell her that there’s more to the death than meets the eye. Her suspicions are confirmed when members of her coven are targeted next. Katie will have to embrace her powers quickly...or she may find herself chewed up and spit out by some serious black magic.

My Thoughts :

Quite a few new releases appeared on my Kindle this week and I was excited about each and every one of them.  Even if I won't get around to reading them all straight away!  However I had to pick one and I was feeling in a cozy mood.  This third book in the Magical Bakery Series was the clear winner.  Not only are there witches and a mystery but best of all there are baked goods!

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series and this new installment was a lovely addition.  Things get more magical during the course of this new mystery and it was interesting to see how serious the author is getting about the paranormal element of the series.  The mystery was good and thrilling but the ongoing story was definitely more interesting.  The coven and their members, Katie and Deacon and the bakery itself are all too wonderful to miss.  Also there was a surprise visitor and the appearance of Steve that filled the story to the brim.  Actually the author could have left the mystery out completely!

Delicious, exciting and totally magical, I am really enjoying this series.  If you are a paranormal lover then you may want to check this out and if you love cozies then you really need to give this one a read.  Oh and if you like eating yummy baked good or baking then you will also find this one to be a nice read.  The recipes in the back of the book are welcomed and maybe one day I will try something from Katie's magical treats.

This stays on my must read, must buy and pre-order list.  Hopefully the fourth book will be out soon and maybe the author will start another magical cozy series?  She really does have a talent and she should spoil us with more!

 

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13) Bewitched, Bothered & Biscotti by Bailey Cates

The Blurb :

As a new witch—not to mention owner of Savannah’s most enchanting bakery—Katie Lightfoot is still getting used to casting spells, brewing potions, and mastering her magical powers. But that doesn’t mean she can’t find time to enjoy a picnic with firefighter Declan McCarthy…until she stumbles upon a corpse.

The dead man’s tattoo reveals he was a member of a secret society—and it turns out he's missing an object that was very important to the group. When Katie learns the killer was after more than the man's life, she and her Aunt Lucy leave the baked goods on the rack to cool and set off in hot pursuit of a killer.

My Thoughts :

The second book in the Magical Bakery Mysteries made it onto my pre-order list after I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series. With its blend of magic and baked goods there is so much that is yummy about this concept and this second book not only left my mouth watering but made me want another installment right away.

Cozy mysteries are a love of mine and I quite enjoy cuddling up with one now and again. If they have some kind of Paranormal element to them then all the better. This series has some magical bits and bobs floating around and although it doesn't take over the whole mystery or book it does have a big presence. This time around more than before.

Druids are a theme in this sequel and I really found it fascinating. A Secret club with hardly any members it was quite spooky in a way. I loved how the author mixed this up in the plot and it made things interesting. I was hoping that the magic would become more prominent in the books and it seems it will. As Katie gets better at her skills and spends more time with her spell book club it seems only fair that next time around there will be even more witchery going on.

The plot was well thought out and even though it took me some time to understand who was who I managed to keep up with things pretty easily. Actually the book was a nice light and quick read for me and made me smile more than once. Oh and it also made me want to start baking. Luckily some of the recipes are included and I will be trying at least one of them.

I liked this new installment and I will certainly be getting hold of the next book in the series when it releases. I like Katie and her love interests keep things hot outside of the bakery. Her family and friends are growing on me and I like the whole bakery and witch aspects. Definitely one to read if either of these subjects interest you.

95) Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates

The Blurb :

Katie Lightfoot's tired of loafing around as the assistant manager of an Ohio bakery. So when her aunt Lucy and uncle Ben open a bakery in Savannah's quaint downtown district and ask Katie to join them, she enthusiastically agrees.

While working at the Honeybee Bakery—named after Lucy's cat—Katie notices that her aunt is adding mysterious herbs to her recipes. Turns out these herbal enhancements aren't just tasty—Aunt Lucy is a witch and her recipes are actually spells!

When a curmudgeonly customer is murdered outside the Honeybee Bakery, Uncle Ben becomes the prime suspect. With the help of handsome journalist Steve Dawes, charming firefighter Declan McCarthy, and a few spells, Katie and Aunt Lucy stir up some toil and trouble to clear Ben's name and find the real killer.

My Thoughts :

I love a good cozy and Brownies and Broomsticks not only promised to be paranormal but it also sounded like it was going to taste yummy! Who can pass up a mixture of magic and baked goods? To me it sounds like a recipe (or spell) for success. Although the proof is always after tasting the product I was pretty sure that this debut was going to meet my expectations and I wasn't wrong.

This start to a new series had everything it needed to begin its maiden voyage. Nice nosey young woman, a family who has been hiding her witch heritage from her, lots of yummy treats and guys, a cute little doggie and of course a murder that she has to get involved with. From the start it was obvious that not much could happen to ruin this book. The author wrote like a pro and despite the murder being a little lame/tame it was interesting enough to keep me reading till the end. Although I would have kept reading just to find out about the other characters, magic and treats.

Their was only one slight problem with this book, it made me extremely hungry! I have read books before that deal with food but I have never really found any of the dishes to be very appealing. However this book really had that effect and I was extremely happy to find the recipes at the end (usually I skip this kind of feature) and I am going to be trying them out.

I am definitely going to catch up with Katie and the Honeybee Bakery in the next book. This is a series I am sure will end up on my must buy list and will have me spending more time in the kitchen baking. A worthwhile read and maybe one you can add to your bag to read on holiday.