I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Betwixt: A Beechwood Harbor Collection: Volume Two by Danielle Garrett Narrator: Amanda Ronconi
Series: A Touch of Magic Mysteries, Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mystery, Beechwood Harbor Magic Mystery
Published by Tantor Audio on May 20, 2020
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal
Length: 7 hours 37 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
One town. Two leading ladies.More magic than you can shake a wand at.Welcome to Beechwood Harbor.
Betwixt is a collection of the in-between stories featuring your favorite paranormal pals in Beechwood Harbor. Betwixt Volume Two contains seven short stories and novellas, including two brand new, never before publishes shorts featuring Lacey Vaughn and Harmony Winters!
If you love Beechwood Harbor, this is a can't miss collection!
Stories included:~Cupid in a Bottle~A Graveyard Gala~Hex the Halls~A Very Beechwood Christmas~Tide Dance~What's a Vamp to Do? (Lacey's story -- brand new and exclusive to this collection)~Potion Commotion (Harmony's story -- brand new and exclusive to this collection)
Each story has a special note from Danielle that helps navigate where the story or novella fits in the timeline and special background information.
My top thoughts:
I’m going to review each of the short stories contained within this separately, but overall I really enjoyed this! I found it frustrating that (1) the stories weren’t presented chronologically and (2) there was no context to help you know where each book should fall relative to the main storyline. Plus, since we did some jumping around, context to set you up would have been really nice. Like an authors note. As it is, I have no idea why they were organized in this way. It feels as if they were just dropped in as they fell, so to speak.
I did love that most the stories toward the end were Christmas, since I was reading in December it really felt appropriate! Some are available as stand alone books, so I’ve included their info when they are. Others I could only find in this collection, so I’ve just given you the title.
Cupid in a Bottle by Danielle Garrett Narrator: Amanda Ronconi
Series: A Touch of Magic Mysteries #0.5
Published by Tantor Audio on April 23, 2018
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Climbing the corporate ladder in a pair of fabulous stilettos isn’t easy, not even for a witch.
Anastasia Winters is on a mission to become the supernatural world’s go-to event coordinator. With a high-profile wedding in the final stretch, she needs everything to go just right. But when the groom gets dosed with an experimental potion and professes his undying love for the maid of honor, Anastasia’s shot at the wedding-planner big leagues goes up in flames.
Can she get the wedding back on track, or is she destined to be demoted back to coordinating birthday parties for baby dragons and filling the guest list for the Tooth Fairy’s Halloween bash?
Cute story. I really like these characters, which were knew to me (I don’t know them from the Beechwood Harbor series). I REALLY wanted more, this story didn’t feel complete, which is why it’s 3.5 stars.
Preview of Newly Wed and Slightly Dead (no rating since it’s just a preview)
Another incomplete story (but this time I expected it, since it said preview). Since this preview and the previous short story are part of a new-to-me series and I really enjoyed both and wish I had more, I guess that series is going on my TBR!
Tide Dance by Danielle Garrett Narrator: Amanda Ronconi
Series: Beechwood Harbor Magic Mystery #5.5
Published by Tantor Audio on September 19, 2018
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
The Summer Solstice brings new mysteries from the deep.
Tourist season is underway in the coastal community of Beechwood Harbor. Holly Boldt is up to her eyebrows in work. Between the coffee shop and her potion business, things are moving at a break-neck pace. But when a teenage runaway starts causing trouble around the harbor, she has to step in, especially when she realizes the terrified girl isn’t just another out-of-towner on summer vacation.
With her posse of magical misfits, Holly’s ready to kick up some sand and get to the bottom of the guarded teen’s dilemma. After all, summer in Beechwood wouldn’t be any fun without a little magic mystery.
**Previously published in the Spell or High Water Anthology.** ***Fits in the timeline after the events of Lucky Witch, book five in the Beechwood Harbor Magic Mystery series.**
aww a selkie! And this story does feel complete! Yay! I am intrigued by these characters and just the world of selkies in general. I hope we see more of Clarice sometime!]
A Graveyard Gala (3.5 stars):
This is one where I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the companion series to Beechwood Harbor Magic, since the ghosts are more prominent and I think I would know them better if I’d read that series. That being said Holly is still the main character, along with Adam and the Manor residents. I enjoyed this story and would give it 4 stars. For a short, it’s pretty complete!
Dead Men Tell No Tales… But Dead Women Do! (4 stars):
I think this was my 2nd favorite from this collection. I enjoy getting to know Harmony better for one, but also it was the perfect blend of humor and worry. Harmony shares her boss Holly’s talent for getting into trouble, that’s for sure! The conclusion was pretty swift, but I guess that’s to be expected in a short.
Hex the Halls (4 stars):
This story is where the Christmas fun begins – with a crazed gnome and the discovery that Santa is coming to town (because as the paranormal world knows, Santa IS real). Although the story works great as a quick, stand alone Christmas short the follow up “A Very Beechwood Christmas” (my favorite of the collection) is a continuation and rounds it out really well.
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Very Beechwood Christmas: Four Festive Magic Mini Mysteries from Beechwood Harbor by Danielle Garrett Narrator: Amanda Ronconi
Series: Beechwood Harbor Magic Mystery, Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mystery
Published by Tantor Audio on December 22, 2020
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal
Length: 2 hours 15 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Christmas is coming to Beechwood Harbor, but will the manor residents be ready for his magical visit? With mischief and mystery at every turn, Holly and friends have to rally to save Christmas before it's too late!
A Very Beechwood Christmas includes four mini mysteries set around a wild and magical Christmas when the real Santa Claus comes to town!
Oh this was just so fun. Personally, I think you need to read “Hex the Halls” to fully appreciate this story. You can read it on it’s own just fine, but together it’s a more complete story. I wrote a full review of this one already, so check out my 4 star review if you missed it. (Side note: Why not release it with Hex the Halls?)
A Match Made in Hades (2.5 stars):
Even though I really like Lacey Vaughn and it was fun to see a bit of her from before, this story was just okay for me. It can be summed up with Stacey has a blind date, doesn’t like the guy (unfairly IMO), Adam saves her, the end. Obviously more happens and there is some humor, but yeah, it was a bit lacking for me.
Narrator thoughts:
Amanda Ronconi continues to earn her place as one of my favorite narrators – the narration only enhanced the stories.
I’ve read both the series but didn’t get this one. I might read it. Thanks for sharing all the reviews – that’s lots of work.
You’re not the first person to remark on the mish mash way this was organized. Bummer Lacey’s story was meh. She’s one of my favorites. I hope to listen in at some point.
I have meant to read these, they do sound fun 😀
Yep, we had similar takes on these stories. I’m glad we are getting more full-length stories from both the big series.
I’ve been debating giving cosy mysteries a try and this series is recommended a lot (and pops up in my recommendations on amazon a lot) but I’ve never taken the plunge!
I think the way they structured (or failed to structure) the audiobook would irritate the life out of me but it sounds like a worthwhile series to dive into, at least!