I’ve enjoyed the audiobook edition of Rewitched and the ebook edition of Uncharmed – see my review – so I was keen to get hold of the third book in this series.
BLURB: Sage Hemlock has no interest in embracing her witchy side. Magic has betrayed her before, bringing nothing but heartache, and she will not let something so foolish happen again.
Instead, Sage has thrown herself into her work and studies, running the local museum and largely preferring the company of her library and her cat to other humans. Her one goal is to fly under the coven’s radar so that she can finally shed her blasted powers forever.
But when a strange historical book accidentally triggers a curse, Sage’s quiet, small-town life is suddenly overrun and magic is running rife. A beanstalk grows in her garden, and her friend and co-worker Casimir starts to look an awful lot like a handsome prince. Fairytales are coming true . . .
Now, with the threat of the coven on her tail, Sage must confront the magic she’s always denied to solve the mysteries of the book and save everyone she’s come to love from being lost to a fairy tale forever. The question is, can she finally learn to be her own happily ever after?
REVIEW: Just to be clear, this series is one of those where each book tackles the love life and adventures of a different couple, so the narrative arc isn’t overarching or connected. Therefore, it isn’t a deal breaker if you haven’t had the pleasure of reading either Rewitched or Uncharmed.
Poor Sage is having a hard time of it, as her magic tends to get unruly in the run-up to Halloween. Te book is set in the month of October, so she’s struggling. She’s a magnificently grumpy protagonist who is, by turns, gloomy, angry, and at times upset that she cannot keep her magic totally under control. There are also some amusing scenes that tip into farce in her attempts to try and keep her paranormal skills under control, although the constant threat of her activities coming to the attention of the ominous-sounding coven stops this from becoming too light-hearted.
The one person who manages to keep her sane is her best friend, who knows and understands her trials and tribulations. This is charming and good-looking Casimir, who is everything that she isn’t, including being a sympathetic and kindly confidant. I very much enjoyed their relationship. Wood does a good job of depicting a really close and affectionate friendship between these two before any kind of attraction becomes apparent between them. Sage is so intent on trying to keep her magic from breaking loose that she doesn’t really have the bandwidth to deal with anything other than the friendships that she currently has. Although living in a close-knit community does have its positives, it also has the slight problem of everybody knowing everyone else’s business, which isn’t ideal when you’re trying to hide a massive secret.
There are moments of real poignancy and sadness in this story, but Wood keeps the pace going, and overall, the vibes are largely cosy, despite the growing mayhem until the finale. Overall, this was an entertaining and enjoyably escapist read. Thoroughly recommended for fans of cosy fantasies with more than a slight splash of romance. While I obtained an arc of Disenchanted from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. It’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.
The Green Man’s Debt – Book 9 of The Green Man series by Juliet E. McKenna
Release date for the ebook – 10th September, 2026
BLURB: Dan Mackmain’s mum is a dryad, so he knows asking someone from the supernatural world for a favour means there’ll be a price to pay, sooner or later. He’s been waiting for the Hunter, the antler-crowned guardian of predators and prey, to call in his debt.
He wasn’t expecting this to happen when he and his girlfriend Fin were planning to visit her sister Iris and her new husband Conn. Dan has prepared for this unknown challenge, reading up on Irish folklore. So far, he’s learned how different those who live in that unseen realm will be from anyone he’s encountered before – and that crossing them could be very dangerous.
I’m a fan of this author’s writing. See my reviews of Dangerous Waters – Book 1 of the Hadrumal Crisis, Darkening Skies – Book 2 of the Hadrumal Crisis, Irons in the Fire – Book 1 of the Lescari Revolution, Blood in the Water – Book 2 of the Lescari Revolution, Banners in the Wind – Book 3 of the Lescari Revolution. Her feminist retelling of the Knights of the Round Table in The Cleaving. And six of the other books in her fabulous Green Man series – The Green Man’s Heir, The Green Man’s Foe,The Green Man’s Silence , The Green Man’s Challenge, The Green Man’s Quarry and The Green Man’s War and The Green Man’s Holiday. This is one of my all-time favourite series and is an auto-buy in our house. McKenna’s particular take on fantasy, delving into the rich history of the British Isles has produced a wonderful otherworld running alongside the contemporary every day. It doesn’t hurt that she is fabulously talented and Dan is a brilliant protagonist. I’m keenly anticipating this one and hoping it will be one of my reading highlights of the year, despite the fact that I’m not a huge fan of the covers.
I’ve been enjoying historical fantasy adventures over the last couple of years and I liked the sound of this one.
BLURB: Vesper Evans has always resented Basalton’s high society, and the sorcery that provides them with a luxurious life unimaginable to most. Orphaned as a child and rescued by the editor of The Basalton Globe, Vesper is now an ambitious reporter determined to keep her newspaper afloat.
While covering a lavish society gala, Vesper happens upon a shocking scene: the murdered body of a man she had spoken with just minutes before. Several of the powerful magical elite may want the man dead, but the prime suspect is wealthy industrialist Maximilian Kite.
Max soon makes Vesper a tempting offer: Find the culprit and restore his reputation in exchange for a substantial fee. Despite her distaste for Max’s world, Vesper agrees—the money would save the Globe, and the story would be the scoop of a lifetime. There’s only one catch: In order for her to infiltrate society, the two must pose as a courting couple.
Their investigation takes them from the highest echelons of privilege to the seediest backstreets of Basalton. As they unearth the city’s secrets and scandals, Vesper finds herself in grave danger—while falling for one of the most infuriating, arrogant, handsome men she has ever met . . .
REVIEW: This murder mystery set in a Gilded Age era is apparently aimed at Young Adults. I’m glad they told me as I wouldn’t have necessarily picked it up. There are, of course, classic ingredients – two protagonists who have experienced early tragedy and managed to prevail despite their setbacks. Both from different ends of a rigidly hierarchical society. A society where women have few options outside marriage to support themselves. Unless you’re from the working classes, where a number of gruelling jobs such as those in factories, or laundry work are available.
One of the themes of this story is how limited women’s opportunities are – and Gray does a good job in depicting this, as Vesper constantly comes up against the inbuilt sexism as a female journalist in a man’s world. The mystery is well done, as is the worldbuilding. The contrast between the poverty-stricken districts and the wealthiest in the city is stark, with the pressures on both classes also demonstrated effectively. Gray clearly knows the period well and I could visualise the surroundings, the smells, clothing and food. And I found myself bonding with Vesper, despite her spikiness. She is loyal, determined and very driven to continue working independently. Overall, Vesper and Max work well together, for which I was thankful. While lots of sexual tension and lots of snarky banter is the order of the day in this type of story – and there are authors out there that manage to make that a highlight without sacrificing the narrative pace, such as Lindsay Buroker – I was relieved that Gray chose to make the mystery the driving force of the story throughout.
So while the couple became increasingly attracted, it wasn’t at the expense of the murder mystery, which was just fine as far as I was concerned. I thought the murder mystery worked really well, with several plausible suspects and some well-handled red herrings. As for the denouement – it was a doozy. Dramatic and frankly, a bit of a shock. There are elements in the story that had me thinking that this is the first book in a series, which I very much hope is the case. I enjoyed this one and would like to see more of Vesper and Max in further adventures. While I obtained an arc of Hawk & Sparrow from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own. 8/10
This is part of the weekly, or fortnightly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books they’ve read and share what they have got up to during the last week.
It’s been a tough fortnight. It has been Himself’s annual leave and we spent it decluttering the loft and then the house. We ordered a skip, which we’re now waiting to be taken away which we’ve filled. And in the meantime have waded through all sorts of things. I got rid of sixteen files of English and Maths lessons. There are now five boxes of recycled paper I can use to print out manuscripts and twice as much had to be recycled. And that was just a fraction of what we went through. A lot of it was emotionally difficult – we’ve had a lot go wrong over the last two decades and the reminders of those events were painful. We’ve delivered bags and bags to charity shops and the best toys are going to Stanley. On the plus side – it is lovely to get rid of all that unwanted baggage and have the house so much tidier and easier to keep that way.
We weren’t the only ones who didn’t enjoy the process. Amari hated the upheaval in the house and last week stopped eating for a couple of days, which was worrying. However, she was still lively and willing to play so we didn’t take her to the vet and now her appetite, which is usually fine, is back to normal.
It’s Himself’s birthday today. Annoyingly, while he had the second half of August off, he had to work today. But at least he’s on a late shift, so we were able to go out for a birthday breakfast and yesterday we celebrated our decluttering achievement by going out for lunch at the Sea Lane Café. The pics this week – Himself and me this morning having breakfast, me on the beach yesterday after our lunch talking to Ethan and Amari being very grumpy on her cat tree after a day of us stacking boxes for sorting.
Since my last Sunday Post, I’ve read, or listened to:-
The Harvest Moon Café – Book 1 of the Moonbeam Hollow series by Farah Halliwell Blair Briarwood’s pumpkin spice lattes are bewitching – but her love life is more like a lukewarm cup of tea. She hasn’t opened her heart since her senior year, when she finally admitted she’d fallen for her high school rival Luke Caldwell under the burnt orange leaves of Moonbeam Hollow’s annual Harvest Festival. That was before her mother died, leaving Blair to care for her two younger sisters – and to make sure they kept their witchy heritage a secret . . .
Now thirty-years-old, owner of The Harvest Moon Café, expert spellmaker and secret Hallmark movie enjoyer, Blair only has room in her heart for sisters Belinda and Bianca. That is, until a certain 6″2 architect with an infuriating smirk and the body of a lumberjack moves back into town and turns her world upside down – again. But when Luke announces he is opening a rival café, Blair is far from lovestruck. This is the boy she spent years fighting with, back to resume his place as bane of her existence – but this time Blair won’t let herself fall under his spell.
Only, as the competition heats up, the sparks between Blair and Luke reignite. But something strange is happening across the town, and if Blair didn’t know any better, she would say magic is involved. Now the annual harvest festival is hanging on by a thread, along with all of Blair’s resolve not to fall for her first love.
Can Blair show she still makes the best pumpkin spice lattes in town, save Moonbeam Hollow without revealing her family’s bewitching secret – and learn to open her heart again? I thoroughly enjoyed retreating into this cosy feel-good fantasy – see my review.
AUDIOBOOK Red Dragon – Book 2 of the Fire and Fang series by Lindsay Buroker Scarcely two weeks have passed since Princess Syla bested Captain Vorik and returned home with a magical sky shielder to protect her kingdom. Is the powerful dragon rider holding a grudge? Will his people come after her and try to steal or destroy the shielder?
Syla may find out sooner than expected when Vorik shows up in her harbor with his general and chiefs. They claim to be on a diplomatic mission, but she suspects they have treachery in mind.
As much as she would like to trust the handsome and charismatic Captain Vorik, especially when he smiles at her instead of scowling, she has to be wary. Her feelings for him might make him her most dangerous enemy. I always enjoy this author’s blend of action, adventure, humour and romance. Though I’ll be honest – I think Syla can do better for herself than grumpy Vorik. Still, I’m here for the duration and look forward to the next instalment. 8/10
The Maple Bakery Murder – Book 3 of the Cinnamon Falls series by R.L. Killmore Ginger Mills is the new girl in Cinnamon Falls.
She’s ready to build her new life, focus on herself and spend her days baking delicious seasonal treats in her newly renovated bakery. Although her handsome regular, Austin, is already proving a distraction…
When a body is discovered in her bakery one morning, Ginger finds herself cast into an unwanted spotlight. Who is this new girl? Is she the killer? Only Austin seems to believe in her innocence. To save Ginger from a life behind bars, she and Austin must solve the mystery and unmask the real killer before it’s too late. And enjoyable small-town murder mystery. See my review.
Tailwind – Book 1 of The Dragon Rush series by Olivia Haywood There has never been a female dragon rider in the Volitant Dragon Races. Until now.
Once, Lena’s flying talent promised a future for women in this thrilling, dangerous sport. But after a betrayal ended her chance for a racing career, Lena now works as a dragon keeper for the washed-up racing tyrant Thorne. Cherishing the close bond she has forged with Gottyk, Thorne’s racing dragon, Lena still yearns to fly – to race.
But when an accident takes Thorne out of action minutes from a race beginning, Lena sees a sudden, secret opportunity. Put on Thorne’s racing helmet, and take his place in Volitant. A chance for her, and women riders everywhere, to seize their victory from the skies . . . Huge fun! See my review.
Hawk & Sparrow by Ayana Gray Vesper Evans has always resented Basalton’s high society, and the sorcery that provides them with a luxurious life unimaginable to most. Orphaned as a child and rescued by the editor of The Basalton Globe, Vesper is now an ambitious reporter determined to keep her newspaper afloat.
While covering a lavish society gala, Vesper happens upon a shocking scene: the murdered body of a man she had spoken with just minutes before. Several of the powerful magical elite may want the man dead, but the primesuspect is wealthy industrialist Maximilian Kite.
Max soon makes Vesper a tempting offer: Find the culprit and restore his reputation in exchange for a substantial fee. Despite her distaste for Max’s world, Vesper agrees—the money would save the Globe, and the story would be the scoop of a lifetime. There’s only one catch: In order for her to infiltrate society, the two must pose as a courting couple.
Their investigation takes them from the highest echelons of privilege to the seediest backstreets of Basalton. As they unearth the city’s secrets and scandals, Vesper finds herself in grave danger—while falling for one of the most infuriating, arrogant, handsome men she has ever met . . . This Gilded Age murder mystery is full of suspense and action. Review to follow.
Kitty & Mary by Julia Gray and Imogen Russell Williams
Six months after Pride and Prejudice, Mary is stuck at home with her parents. So, when an opportunity arises that will take her to far away India, Mary jumps at the chance for independence and adventure.
Meanwhile, Kitty has been flitting between the estates of her sisters, searching for a suitable husband at every ball and dinner. When Mary sets off to India, Kitty’s disappointment at returning home is tempered by the revelation that a new tenant has come to Netherfield Park – handsome poet Mr Whittaker. He seems like the perfect husband for Kitty, but will he end up being everything she hoped?
Through letters and journals we learn to understand and love the forgotten Bennet sisters. I found lots of comfort in this excellent Pride & Prejudice sequel. Review to follow.
AUDIOBOOK – A Letter from a Lonesome Shore – Book 2 of The Sunken Archive dulology by Sylvie Cathrall Former correspondents E. and Henerey, accustomed to loving each other from afar, did not anticipate continuing their courtship in an enigmatic underwater city.
When their journey through the Structure in E.’s garden strands them in a peculiar society preoccupied with the pleasures and perils of knowledge, E. and Henerey come to accept – and, more surprisingly still, embrace – the fact that they may never return home.
A year and a half later, Sophy and Vyerin finally discover one of the elusive Entries that will help them seek their siblings. As the group’s efforts bring them closer to E. and Henerey, an ancient, cosmic threat also draws near. . . I loved the first slice of this adventure – see my review of A Letter to the Luminous Deep – and so was taken aback when I realised that this has been out for some time. Better late than never to appreciate the richness and steady accretion of details that turns this apparently gentle tale into something far more threatening and dangerous. 8/10
Disenchanted – Book 3 of the Rewitched series by Lucy Jane Wood Sage Hemlock has no interest in embracing her witchy side. Magic has betrayed her before, bringing nothing but heartache, and she will not let something so foolish happen again.
Instead, Sage has thrown herself into her work and studies, running the local museum and largely preferring the company of her library and her cat to other humans. Her one goal is to fly under the coven’s radar so that she can finally shed her blasted powers forever.
But when a strange historical book accidentally triggers a curse, Sage’s quiet, small-town life is suddenly overrun and magic is running rife. A beanstalk grows in her garden, and her friend and co-worker Casimir starts to look an awful lot like a handsome prince. Fairytales are coming true . . .
Now, with the threat of the coven on her tail, Sage must confront the magic she’s always denied to solve the mysteries of the book and save everyone she’s come to love from being lost to a fairy tale forever. The question is, can she finally learn to be her own happily ever after? I’ve enjoyed the other two books in this series – see my review of Uncharmed– so wanted to read this one. Review to follow.
Parenthood is the hardest task of all for a combat lord. No one else can make you as angry as your offspring on a bad day. So you’ll need to overcome all your fighting instincts in order to appropriately discipline the pesky lizards, who in due course will pass on your parenting skills. Or lack of them.
Castellan the Black, mighty dragon warrior, features in my Picky Eaters series. All proceeds for the duration of the publishing life of Picky Eaters, first book in the series, are donated to mental health charities. The second book, Flame & Blame, and the third book, Trouble With Dwarves, are now available.
The strapline and that fabulous cover caught my attention – and once I read the premise, I couldn’t wait to request this one. Would it live up to my expectations?
BLURB: There has never been a female dragon rider in the Volitant Dragon Races. Until now. Once, Lena’s flying talent promised a future for women in this thrilling, dangerous sport. But after a betrayal ended her chance for a racing career, Lena now works as a dragon keeper for the washed-up racing tyrant Thorne. Cherishing the close bond she has forged with Gottyk, Thorne’s racing dragon, Lena still yearns to fly – to race.
But when an accident takes Thorne out of action minutes from a race beginning, Lena sees a sudden, secret opportunity. Put on Thorne’s racing helmet, and take his place in Volitant.
A chance for her, and women riders everywhere, to seize their victory from the skies . . .
REVIEW: Formula One racing with dragons? Oh yes please! So long as it’s executed well enough that I care about the characters and really believe in the dragons. And it is.
Initially, I did think this might be a typical Cinderella-type story wherein the girl loses out due to a slightly manufactured problem, but I was prepared to let that slide for the sake of a cracking premise and some genuinely exciting racing scenes. However, as this longish book progressed – it’s some 467 pages – I realised I’d not given Hayward sufficient benefit of the doubt. The story was more nuanced and sophisticated in its approach than I’d initially assumed. Lena’s journey was more realistically difficult and while I’d found her forthright, confrontational manner a bit much at the start of the story, as it wore on I realised that someone capable of getting a vast dragon to do their bidding was never going to be backwards in coming forwards.
The racing is genuinely exciting – to the extent that my heart rate accelerated during the crucial race where everything is at stake. I could visualise the course and where everything is – a feat of writing in itself, as everyone is in the air, so it isn’t just a case of who’s left, right, in front or behind you, but also above and below. I love the relationship between Lena and Gottyk, the racing dragon she helped to raise and look after – despite not owning him. The dragon couldn’t communicate with Lena using speak or telepathy, unlike so many dragon stories – it was all about body language and the strong bond between them. But I absolutely believed in the draconic nature of the racers and the fact that there’s a great deal about them that is still unknown.
The romance within the story is also extremely well handled – which, frankly, it has to be as I wasn’t there for that, I was engrossed in the dragons. So it’s kudos to Hayward that I also became invested in the relationship between Theo and Lena. All in all, this is an outstanding read for me. It exceeded my expectations and ended the book at a place that has me keen to see where Lena’s adventure will take her next. Very highly recommended for fans of books featuring dragons. While I obtained an arc of Tailwind from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own. 10/10
Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. It’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.
This week’s Can’t-Wait offering:
#fantasy adventure #witchcraft #feisty heroine
Disenchanted – Book 3 of the Rewitched series by Lucy Jane Wood
Release date for the ebook – 10th September, 2026
BLURB: Sage Hemlock has no interest in embracing her witchy side. Magic has betrayed her before, bringing nothing but heartache, and she will not let something so foolish happen again.
Instead, Sage has thrown herself into her work and studies, running the local museum and largely preferring the company of her library and her cat to other humans. Her one goal is to fly under the coven’s radar so that she can finally shed her blasted powers forever.
But when a strange historical book accidentally triggers a curse, Sage’s quiet, small-town life is suddenly overrun and magic is running rife. A beanstalk grows in her garden, and her friend and co-worker Casimir starts to look an awful lot like a handsome prince. Fairytales are coming true . . .
Now, with the threat of the coven on her tail, Sage must confront the magic she’s always denied to solve the mysteries of the book and save everyone she’s come to love from being lost to a fairy tale forever. The question is, can she finally learn to be her own happily ever after? I thoroughly enjoyed both Rewitched and Uncharmed – see my review. So when I saw Disenchanted was available, I immediately requested an arc and was delighted to get hold of a copy. I’m hoping it’s going to be as entertainingly quirky as the previous reads by this author.
I’ve been wanting to retreat into something cosier, given the excessive heat and overheated political situation around the world – would this one work for me?
BLURB: Ginger Mills is the new girl in Cinnamon Falls.
She’s ready to build her new life, focus on herself and spend her days baking delicious seasonal treats in her newly renovated bakery. Although her handsome regular, Austin, is already proving a distraction…
When a body is discovered in her bakery one morning, Ginger finds herself cast into an unwanted spotlight. Who is this new girl? Is she the killer? Only Austin seems to believe in her innocence.
REVIEW: This contemporary dual narrative murder mystery romance wasn’t quite as cosy as I’d bargained on. That said, I read far into the night to discover what happened next. Ginger is single-mindedly building her new life in the town. For while it’s beautiful and apparently a lovely place to live, the main reason why she’s pitched up here is that after fleeing her old life she had nowhere else to go.
The person alongside her, assisting her to turn her desperate dream into a reality is the very annoyingly chirpy Austin. Whatever the problem, he is determined to find the upside and a solution. This constant optimism is grating on Ginger and frankly, she’s thoroughly fed up with him. Even if he is attractive. I liked Ginger’s tenacity and her gritted determination to build herself a new life. That said, I wasn’t wholly on her side. Her method of obtaining the means to gain a fresh start is both stupid and immoral – if entirely human.
I found myself far more caught up in Austin’s story – which was when I became aware that this is the third book in the series. While I didn’t ever flounder, I increasingly realised that there was a lot of backstory I’d missed in getting to this point. It was Austin who I ended up truly rooting for, which may well be what the author has in mind, given that when writing a series, some character journeys stretch beyond a single book. Unlike many hiccups during the romantic thread to cause the couple a major problem, this bump didn’t feel trivial or easily sorted out – and once again, I’m guessing the consequences caused by Austin trying to fix it will land in a future book. I certainly find myself wondering about Ginger and Austin and what the future holds for them.
As for the murder mystery – that was well handled. There are a satisfying number of possible suspects and I liked the fact that the victim wasn’t painted all bad or completely blameless. Of course, I’d figured out who the perpetrator was relatively early in the story – until it transpired that I was utterly wrong. I love it when that happens. All in all, this is an enjoyable, well crafted murder mystery set within a tight-knit community where a lot is going on. Sufficiently so that I’m definitely going to be getting hold of more books in this series. While I obtained an arc of The Maple Bakery Murder from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own. 8/10
Queens regularly used to fight alongside lords. They make sneaky, clever warriors as their quicker sprint speeds and more manoeuvrable flying skills give a combat flight more tactical options. And just because you and your dratted sire can’t recall such times doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
Castellan the Black, mighty dragon warrior, features in my Picky Eaters series. All proceeds for the duration of the publishing life of Picky Eaters, first book in the series, are donated to mental health charities. The second book, Flame & Blame, and the third book, Trouble With Dwarves, are now available.
I was in the mood for something cosy and small town, and this cover drew me right in to give me pleasant autumnal weather vibes rather than the brutal heat we’ve been experiencing. Would the story be as entertaining as the cover?
BLURB: Blair has enough on her plate trying to keep younger sisters Belinda and Bianca from revealing their witchy powers to the residents of Moonbeam Hollow. She definitely doesn’t have time for Luke Caldwell’s annoyingly handsome smirk and perfect new café – or the fiery sparks beneath their fierce rivalry he insists are still crackling between them . . .
This town simply isn’t big enough for two pumpkin spice rivals. But when a series of strange magical disturbances threaten the beloved Fall Harvest Festival, Blair and Luke are thrown together again. To save her home, Blair must protect her family’s bewitching secret, out-brew her ex and unravel the curse that Luke’s return seems to have stirred.
REVIEW: I enjoyed Blair’s character more as the book wore on. Initially, she seemed overly defensive, and I didn’t particularly like her attitude towards Luke, especially as she was the one who’d initially broken off their previous relationship. However, as the story progressed and I appreciated just how devastating it was for her to lose her parents at such a crucial time, I grew to respect her choices and warmed to her more. This is important, as she is the hub around which all the action is generated.
That said, I thought the relationship between the three sisters was particularly well handled. I get a little fed up when books featuring sisters are too saccharine and they all seem to happily rub along together with no friction whatsoever. In reality, I’ve yet to meet sisters to whom this happens. Sure, you don’t want them battling and squabbling every minute of the day, but three feisty, intelligent young women living together are bound to create some sparks, and this is the case in this particular story.
As regards the mystery, to be honest, I just let it unfold in its own time. I enjoyed the setting – the small town dynamic was well portrayed and I could visualise the backdrop. I believed in the characters and therefore I trusted the author sufficiently to let the story roll forward. I was not looking for a book to be overly challenging when I picked this one up, and it absolutely delivered what I required. This one finished on something of a cliff-hanger and I will be looking forward to reading the next in the series. While I obtained an arc of The Harvest Moon Café from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own. 8/10
Brainfluff 