My Review
When Ava Rose was one year old, her mother was killed for being a witch. For her protection, her father leaves the magical town of Sweetland Cove on the island of Heavenly Haven and disappears with Ava into the large city of New York. Twenty years later, Ava is visited by two strange women claiming to be her aunts, and her past is revealed. Angry at her father for hiding what she is, she leaves with her aunts and returns to the island.
At first it’s fun. She’s part owner of a magical bakery and a natural at emotionally spelling the desserts. But when a human eats her cupcake and is later found dead, suspicion points at her. When more humans die, she begins to wonder if she is the killer.
The excitement of finding out who she is becomes dread as all eyes are turned on her.
Right from the beginning something in the back of mind kept poking at me. Then I got it. This book reminded me of the movie Practical Magic, in a way. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, sisters and witches, have two zany aunts. Once I got that out of my head, I settled in to enjoy the funny, madcap, and mysterious story of Ava, the witch.
This is a fast paced read, with many a chuckle, and no clear clue as to who is killing humans or why. There are many quirky, interesting characters, and if there were an island like Heavenly Haven, I’d be a permanent resident.
I didn’t realize this was the second book in the series. Don’t let that deter you. Each book stands alone and the author wraps things up nicely. You aren’t left hanging.
4 Stars
wants to lock her up, and an even crazier wizarding detective who wants to lock her whole family up, Ava must solve this case alone.
witches who have something to hide.
Book Excerpt:
me ask you something,” Brendan said. “You’re a witch. Why do witches
like human men?” He was looking at me so earnestly I felt compelled to
answer him. I just didn’t know what to say.
I stammered. “I don’t know. I grew up around humans, so I guess I’m just
drawn to them.” I looked back through the glass patio door at Damon, who
was dancing with Megan again. Brendan followed my gaze, looking miserable.
sucks,” he said, then shoved the purple stem he’d been twirling into his
pocket and skulked off. I turned back to the stars and sighed.
scream rose into the night, making me jump.
the patio door, I could see a crowd gathering around the perimeter of the room.
A woman was screaming. I hurried inside. The crowd had opened up, leaving two
people in its center.
stood there, her mouth hanging open. Campbell was dancing around her, his hands flying unnaturally
through the air. His head was tilted at an odd angle and his tongue lolled out
the side of his mouth, like a thirsty dog. He was making strange grunting noises
that almost resembled words.
drunk!” someone yelled.
stumbled away from him.
right, all right, break it up,” Felicity’s boyfriend Lincoln said.
for him as he came through. Even if he
hadn’t been a sheriff, I suspected the crowd would still have parted for him.
At six feet tall with bronze hair and blue eyes, he made quite a figure in the
middle of a crowd.
Campbell. Time to go home,” Lincoln said, clamping one hand down on his shoulder.
sending him flying across the room. Everyone gasped. Campbell stopped, looked around, then let out a strange gurgling
sound. He fell to the floor. His face was bright blue.
hunkered down next to him. She gave him one hard shake then looked up at the
rest of the room, her mouth gaping.
dead,” she cried. “Campbell‘s dead!”
would be next?
It was from reading Agatha Christie’s mystery books that inspired Zoe to write cozy mystery novels. Zoe liked the fact that cozy mysteries are able to offer readers a form of escapism that typical detective stories can’t.
Like what Marilyn Stasio, who has been the Crime columnist forThe New York TimesBook Review since the late 1980s, recently wrote: “The abiding appeal of the cozy mystery owes a lot to our collective memory, true or false, of simpler, sweeter times.” It is Zoe’s desire that her writings will evoke that nostalgic memory in all of us; those memories of the good old days.
What sets Zoe apart in her writings is her fusing of Mystery with Paranormal elements, a combination which will bring about fantasies that are intriguing and engaging. Her stories contain unexpected twists and sometimes light-hearted moments that will make one smile at Zoe’s quirkiness, fun and wittiness in her writings.
You can connect with Zoe at Facebook.
- By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
- One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive a 7-pack paperback
collection of cozy mysteries by bestselling authors. All entries will
receive a free copy of Zoe Arden’s CAKE SPELL DISASTER. - This giveaway ends midnight May 31.
- Winner will be contacted via email on June 1.
- Winner has 48 hours to reply.
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You can find a list of my reviews HERE.
