Description
Can Tamsyn cook up a spell to solve a famous author’s murder before the killer strikes again?
It’s Tamsyn’s first solo gig as manager of the Pinecroft Inn’s kitchen after Aunt Gwen skips out for a once in a lifetime cruise right before the start of the island’s big literary festival. Tamsyn thinks she finally has a handle on the whole magical cooking thing, but her confidence turns to panic when a famous author dies after eating the treats she’d prepared for the festival’s fancy-schmancy afternoon tea.
Whatever caused his demise, the author’s ghost isn’t talking. The same cannot be said for Lillian, the newly manifested spirit of a feisty flapper who is making herself at home in Tamsyn’s bedroom. Between the lonely ghost and her demanding feline familiar, Tamsyn hasn’t had a moment of quiet in weeks. Is it any wonder she might have made a few mistakes when baking her cake? It’s not like she expected it to turn deadly!
Even as suspects start to pile up and it turns out there’s no end to the islanders who might have wanted the victim dead, all eyes remain on Tamsyn and her lethal lemon cake. Will her absolutely-not-a-boyfriend, the charming Dr. Caldwell, come to her rescue with lab results that clear her name, or will it be up to Tamsyn and her coven to cook up a spell to reveal what really happened at the tea before a killer can strike again?
Don’t miss the second book in the Witches of Pinecroft Cove series of paranormal cozy mysteries!
MaryLou Hoffman –
COVENS, CAKES, & BIG MISTAKES is the second book in The Witches of Pinecroft Cove series. Though each will stand on its own, I highly recommend reading both that have been released and in the order of release.
This was a fun, entertaining, and enjoyable listen as I puttered back and forth to work. Between the humor and the light mystery it is absolutely my cup of tea. Just hold the poison, please.
Narration: Stephanie Murphy is a wonderful narrator with a sweet voice. While most won’t be bothered by the mispronunciation, I do need to mention that the word library has two Rs in it. Since the word is used several times, it became like nails on a chalkboard to me. Not enough to bring down my rating of the book, but I did want to say something since I know that reviews help the authors and narrators improve their crafts.
Note: While I received this book as a gifted audiobook copy, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
Title: COVENS, CAKES, & BIG MISTAKES
Series: The Witches of Pinecroft Cove #2
Category /Genre: Cozy Mystery, Witches
Recommended for: 14+ due to vocabulary & murder
Listenability: OK for most ears
Received from: Nicole St. Claire (as an Audible gifted copy)
Dawn Brown –
This is the second book in the series, I did not read the first but plan to.
Olivia’s aunt goes off on a vacation and leaves the business to her. While dear auntie is away, a famous author dies at an event on their property. Olivia goes about trying to solve who did it.
Opinion
I absolutely loved it. It was a cute book and quick listen. I was enchanted by the town and characters in the book. I hope to read more from this author.
Julie Howard –
I enjoyed the book. I have listened to book one and think it helps to know the characters but it isn’t essential to enjoy this book because it could be read or listened to as a stand alone. I liked the way the author combines witch craft with murder and the plot plays out very nicely. I chose my suspect very early on and was proven right, so there isn’t any real twists to the plot but I enjoyed it all the same, especially the checky ghost cat. The characters are fun and quirky enough to be entertaining. All in all a light hearted cozy mystery that gets solved by using magic, although it doesn’t always go the way they are expected.
With her aunt off on a cruise Tamsyn is left in charge of the B&B and also the food for the writes festival. When plans change over hurt feeling when a guest speaker agrees to speak, Tamsyn agrees to host the party on the Pinecroft grounds and instead of catering for thirty people she finds herself cooking tor 130 people with a whole new menu because of allergies. She reorganized the rooms for the demanding writer to have an executive suit and she has to enlist her coven sisters to help and hire staff. Then the unthinkable happens and the guest speaker dies before his speech. Was it something Tamsyn served him? The police seems to think so and closes down her kitchen while they investigate. Was it a spell gone wrong, Tamsyn’s cooking or posion? The guest speaker use to live on the island and the mostly suspects are his so called friends, the newspaper writers group but why would anyone kill him? With the help from her friends and a ghost from the 1920’s can Tamsyn uncover the secret that got him killed? Or will her aunty return to find she is out of business?
I liked the narrator and thought she did a good job with all.the different voices needed to make this story so enjoyable.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request from audiobooksunleashed and have voluntarily left this review.
Margaret Gore –
What a great little series six books in total and well worth a listen, fast paced great narration and an interesting little mystery to be solved. I have already have the next book in the series and can’t wait to get started.