Yesterday, on my afternoon break, I finished reading Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates. It's the first in a new cozy mystery series called "Magical Bakery Mysteries".
The story was cute and fun, with enough actual mystery to keep the pages turning. Katie Lightfoot has just moved to Savannah, GA to help her aunt and uncle open their new bakery. Soon, Katie learns her aunt is a witch, and that she is, too.
Before the bakery opens, it hosts a meeting, after which Savannah's resident harridan argues with Katie's uncle and then is murdered outside the bakery. Katie's uncle becomes a prime suspect, and she begins looking into matters in an attempt to clear her uncle's name.
Along the way, Katie is introduced to her aunt's coven, meets her familiar (a terrier named Mungo), and spends time with two different hunky guys who happen to despise one another.
As far as the guys go, I'm cheering for Declan. He's Irish, need I say more? Ha ha! But the other guy, Steve, may be all rawr and sexy, but I don't like the way he treats Katie. He keeps pressing her for a dinner date, she keeps declining, so he shows up at her door with take-out. While that may seem bold and charming to some, it got my hackles up. If he didn't respect her wishes when she said 'no' to dinner, what else might she say 'no' to that he will just barge right through? *shakes head*
In spite of my personal dislike for Steve, the book itself was delightful. I'll be watching for more of this series.
Four stars.
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