This feature is for short reviews, reviews of books in a series where it might feel repetitive, or (as Michelle suggested) books I was too lazy to write a “real” review for. Today’s books
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.
Witch Perfect by Dakota CassidyNarrator: Hollie Jackson
Series: Witchless in Seattle #11
Published by Tantor Audio on October 20, 2020
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Romance, Paranormal
Length: 6 hours 1 minute
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Hi, all! I’m back…er, I mean, we’re back and boy do we have a tale to tell!
Now that Win is up and about, he’s been a very busy bee. He’s jumped in with both feet, getting involved in our community and living his best life now that he’s unencumbered by his spy past. He even joined the Ebenezer Falls garden club and made all the female member’s toes curl with his British charm.
On a flower scouting trip for the garden club’s annual spring planting in the town square, while Win is ogling lavender bushes and pansies, I fall head first into a pile of soil where a body’s buried.
Not just any body either. It’s the body of the husband of a close acquaintance of mine—a close acquaintance who just happens to own the nursery and the pile of dirt I fall into head first.
When he begs me to investigate, there’s no way I’m going to turn him down, but there are obstacles to overcome.
For instance, the love of my life. My International Man of Mystery, who keeps stepping on my investigative toes. It’s proving to be an adjustment solving a mystery with us working in the same space. Add in Dana, who’s gone ‘round the bend, my sudden and unexplained investigative (not to mention ridiculous) possessiveness and everything’s all topsy-turvy.
But there’s a vicious killer on the loose and as we unravel whodunnit, I’m hoping our relationship doesn’t unravel, too…
Another fun cozy! I was excited to have Win and Stevie together finally, without Win’s past to muck things up. So I was a bit frustrated by Stevie’s reactions to Win. Honestly though, it was a smart way to write this book as it would be really unrealistic to think Stevie and Win would be able to go from his being a ghost to his being in her life in a very REAL way without any growing pains. And I do like the way they worked through it.
The mystery was a decent one, though a little on the sadder side than most. There was still a decent bit of humor though, especially surrounding how they decided to handle Dana having seen Win in that hilarious mystery when Stevie was in Limbo thanks to a spell gone awry. I think this will create an interesting new angle in future books, which I’m excited to see.
I continue to love Hollie Jackson’s narration – she really brings all the characters to life and their personalities shine through in her performance. A great listen, even at my standard 2x speed.
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.
Gettin' Witched by Dakota CassidyNarrator: Hollie Jackson
Series: Witchless in Seattle #12
Published by Tantor Audio on November 17, 2020
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Romance, Paranormal
Length: 2 hours 44 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Stevie here, reporting to you live from Ebenezer Falls, WA with my disaster of a day.Yes, that's right. I'm having a terrible day. The worst. It started off like any other day with the exception of Win's strange behavior, that is. But it's all gone downhill from there and I have questions.So many questions...For instance, why is everyone else in Eb Falls behaving as strangely as my International Man of Mystery? And who the heck is Donna? For that matter, who's Candy Cane and why does she have snow? Who's the blonde picking up Win in our driveway? And was that an Aston Martin I just saw drive by?What the heck is going on?I set out to have a perfectly nice day after a long summer filled with tourists and readings at Madame Zoltar's shop. Since we'd had so little time to spend together these last few weeks, I was feeling a little left behind while Win was off on a guy's day of his own, but a much-needed spa-day should have cured that.Or at least I thought it would. That was before everything turned upside down, Win became almost unreachable by phone or text, and the words blackmail, drugs, and extortion were bandied about...
Okay, don’t get me wrong this was a fun listen. And I get why it gets a full book listing (as opposed to a 11.5 for example) – the series development is important. You don’t want to miss this book. But I also really would have liked it if there were a full mystery! Because the only mystery in this book was super obvious from the get go.
I laughed quite a bit, because man oh man was Stevie clueless! For someone who routinely solves mysteries she was slow on the uptake. But, perhaps (like me) Stevie felt like surely something more HAD to be going on, right?
That said, this was a fun short novella with fun narration from Hollie Jackson (as always).
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.
Where There's A Witch, There's A Way by Dakota CassidyNarrator: Hollie Jackson
Series: Witchless In Seattle #13
Published by Tantor Audio on February 8, 2022
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Romance, Paranormal
Length: 6 hours14 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married!
No, silly. Not us. Team #Stewin is still enjoying being engaged and a nice long winter hiatus from murder and ghost chasing.
Until we open up Madam Zoltar's for the beginning of tourist season and the first customers are a bridal party from the seventh level of you-know-where!
When the soon-to-be ex-husband of the matron of honor is found dead at the motel where the bridal party is staying and she's accused of his murder-a murder we're convinced she didn't commit-our quiet comes to a screeching halt.
Add in the matron of honor's dead twin, who appears to be desperately trying to get some kind of message to us, Belfry, who's behaving strangely, and more poofy pink dresses than you can count, and you've got yourself a mystery.
A mystery we're determined to solve! The gang's all here. Join us for another romp in Witchless in Seattle, won't you?
Well I feel kinda dumb. See I had fallen behind on this series. So I thought this was the last book – like ever – and if you read the first line of the blurb it says “Goin’ to the chapel and we’re gonna get married!” So, of course, I stopped reading anymore of the blurb and figured, last book, makes sense Stevie and Win will get married.
If I had kept reading the blurb (as many of you probably did), I would have realized they were not getting married – they are enjoying their engagement still. I have to say, I liked that this book pointed out they have had some quiet time with no murders. Yes, every book (with the exception of Gettin’ Witched) have had murder or spy games, but they are taking place over several years. Every week at Stevie’s is not madness. Sometimes it’s fairly normal.
That said… this is not one of those times. There’s a murder and, of course, Stevie and Win find the body. It was a good mystery that actually had me guessing up until the very end. The ghosts were an interesting element but honestly not very helpful this time around. Good, old fashioned sleuthing and perhaps a bit more good luck, are what solved this mystery.
I’m excited that this wasn’t the last book as I really love these characters and want to see what’s next for them (Bell has some fun/interesting developments going on in this book actually!). I plan to continue listening when the next book comes out, as Hollie Jackson’s narration is really great. She brings the characters to life really well and I’m able to enjoy listening at 2x speed.
I like this series too! I think I am on #9 or 10.
I was behind too – glad to be caught up. The last few books were fun!
I haven’t read this series but it sounds like a fun one.
It really is fun – very light fun reading!