Book 59, 2025

12/06/2025 21:18
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A Witch to RememberA Witch to Remember by Heather Blake

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


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Last night I finished the book A Witch to Remember by Heather Blake. It’s the 9th in her “Wishcraft” mystery series, starring Wishcrafter witch Darcy Merriwether.

Darcy has a lot on her plate. Her wedding is set to take place in a couple weeks, the quarter-century Renewal of the Elder is coming up first, and now there’s been a murder. As the witch tasked with investigating magical crimes in the Enchanted Village, Darcy must now juggle solving a crime along with everything else. The main suspect is Darcy’s nemesis, wicked witch Dorothy, but Darcy isn’t so sure Dorothy committed the crime. Compounding Darcy’s stress is the fact that her sister, Harper, will have to decide if she wants to take up the mantle of Elder upon her death, as their mother did when she passed. Harper, however, doesn’t know she will have to make that choice, and Darcy isn’t sure which way Harper may lean. As the suspect list for the murder grows with no clear resolution, Darcy knows she’s running out of time.

It took me a bit to really get into this story, but by the end, I rocked through it. There were many interesting twists and turns to keep Darcy (and the reader) on edge. Things were wrapped up neatly by the end, which is fortunate, as the author’s website indicates this is the last book in the series. Boo on that.

Favorite lines:
♦ “I believe in things I can’t see. In things I don’t quite understand. I believe in magic.”
♦ This wasn’t quite the signed, sealed, and delivered alibi I’d been expecting, as squirrel testimony was anything but airtight.
♦ “I’d probably draw the line at Satan as well.”
♦ “Longest week ever.” // “It’s only Monday.”
♦ “I don’t joke about casseroles.”
♦ “Did I mention we’re one very loud, happy, albeit a tad strange family?”


Good book, sad to see the series end. Four stars

D-Day

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Book 58, 2025

05/06/2025 21:04
chez_jae: (Books)
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Petal to the Metal (The Bloomin' Psychic, #1)Petal to the Metal by Annabel Chase

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


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Finished an ebook last night: Petal to the Metal by Annabel Chase. It’s the first installment in the “Bloomin’ Psychic” series of paranormal mysteries. The main character is Amelia “Mia” Thorne.

Mia’s life has imploded. She lost her boyfriend, her home, and her job in one spectacular fail. However, Mia learns she has inherited a house from her great-aunt Hazel, whom she never met. She leaves NYC behind for the relative peace and quiet of a small town in Pennsylvania. Thinking she can sell Hazel’s house, Mia is dismayed to find out the will stipulates she must live in it for at least twelve months. Now she’s stuck with a house, an overgrown garden, and an even more overgrown cat. At least Hazel’s attorney, Dane, is easy on the eyes, as is his detective brother, Derek. Mia also meets some neighbors, Scarlett and Patrick, who quickly become friends and confidants. Just as she’s thinking things aren’t so bad, one of Hazel’s friends is found, bludgeoned to death in the garden. Initially a suspect, Mia starts asking questions to find out who really killed Gladys.

Fun and frivolous! I enjoyed Mia’s wit and how she rolled with the punches. Scarlett and Patrick were perfect foils and added an additional element of mystery and humor. The cat, Ophelia, was a cult of personality unto herself, and it was refreshing that Mia’s romantic sights focused on the attorney rather than the detective. Characters were all portrayed well, and the narrative proceeded smoothly and kept my attention.

Favorite lines:
♦ Based on her size, it seemed likely that Ophelia ate anyone she disliked.
♦ “I’ve found that life is nothing but a series of reactions to surprises.”
♦ “Ophelia brought you a gift. It means she’s warming to you.” // “What will she bring if she really likes me? Herpes and a side of creamed corn?” // “Ew. Creamed corn is the devil’s work.”
♦ “Top Signs You’re a Witch. Is that some kind of Harry Potter handbook?”
♦ “It’s your spidey sense.” // “Or Scooby-sense.” I related more to the hungry Great Dane than the lithe superhero.
♦ “Random bus boy was not on my murder bingo card.”
♦ “What would’ve happened if she drank it?” // “Probably diarrhea. Or death.” // I gasped. “A literal crapshoot.”


And my least favorite line:
”You notice repeated numbers or patterns.” // “Ooh, yes! I love when the clock on my phone says 11:11.” WTF?

Delightful fun! Five stars!

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Book 57, 2025

02/06/2025 20:09
chez_jae: (Archer book)
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Killer Mousse (A Della Cooks Mystery #1)Killer Mousse by Melinda Wells

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


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I finished my “spare” book last night. It was Killer Mousse by Melinda Wells, and it’s the first in her “Della Cooks” series of cozy mysteries. The main character is Della Carmichael, a 47 year-old widow who runs a cooking school.

Della’s cooking school is doing okay, but she’s struggling to make ends meet. Therefore, she jumps at the chance to host a cooking show on a local cable channel. However, during the live airing of her first episode, the woman who volunteers to taste-test Della’s “killer mousse” drops dead. When it’s learned that Mimi died of an allergic reaction because the mousse contained peanuts, Della becomes a murder suspect. Her late husband was a police officer, so Della knows her way around the legal system. Soon, she is speaking to others involved with the cable station, trying to learn who may have had it in for Mimi. In the meantime, the TV station senses a PR opportunity and sends an investigative journalist to interview Della. She finds Nicholas D’Martino (or NDM, as she refers to him) to be arrogant and full of himself. When someone else connected with the studio is murdered and Della is attacked, she realizes she’s running out of time to find out who killed Mimi.

I enjoyed this story. I liked Della, and I appreciated that she was a mature woman. Other characters were three-dimensional and relatable, including the foul-mouthed owner of the station. When Della chose to indulge in a fling, I was both astonished and approving. It was refreshing to read about a woman who took what she wanted. Rowr! There really wasn’t much humor in the story, although Della was possessed of a dry wit. The plot moved at a good pace and didn’t meander.

Favorite lines:
♦ Maybe I was so upset at seeing a woman die in front of me that I was being unreasonable.
♦ She was as pale as a vampire’s entrée.


Very good story, and I look forward to reading others in the series. Four stars.

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