Brownies and Broomsticks By Bailey Cates

Magical Bakery Mystery, #1
MYSTERY

Source: Purchased rating

EASY BAKE COVEN

Katie Lightfoot's tired of loafing around as the assistant manager of an Ohio bakery. So when her aunt Lucy and uncle Ben open a bakery in Savannah's quaint downtown district and ask Katie to join them, she enthusiastically agrees.

While working at the Honeybee Bakery—named after Lucy's cat—Katie notices that her aunt is adding mysterious herbs to her recipes. Turns out these herbal enhancements aren't just tasty—Aunt Lucy is a witch and her recipes are actually spells!

When a curmudgeonly customer is murdered outside the Honeybee Bakery, Uncle Ben becomes the prime suspect. With the help of handsome journalist Steve Dawes, charming firefighter Declan McCarthy, and a few spells, Katie and Aunt Lucy stir up some toil and trouble to clear Ben's name and find the real killer.

“I've seen some pretty strange things in my life, and more of them make me think magic is possible than not.”

Brownies and Broomsticks was just what I was looking for - finally a paranormal themed cozy mystery that isn't all fault fluff and unrealistic rigidity.

The main character has returned to a small town to escape her current life and start a anew in a bakery business with her aunt and uncle. Once there she finds out that she is in a long line of "hedgewitchery" and that the local book club is actually a type of coven of unique witches.

Besides being charmed by the series detailed deserts (and the generous recipes at the back), it's a interesting with the magic. The book keeps it simple since she's an amateur trying the magic on for size, but I love how the aunt puts in herbs and various spells into the baked goods in terms of what a customer needs or wants.

The club is comprised of witches from different backgrounds, some more on the light side than others, which makes it interesting and not too generic. Being a cozy, it's definitely a feel good story that doesn't break too many rules, but it's a cut above most of the paranormal themed I've read.

Not too sugar sweet and a nice blend of characters. Unfortunately there's a small love triangle brewing - I'm definitely team Steve! Have to love the dog too.



   Book Quotes:

“Change is inevitable, they say. Struggle is optional.”