Book 33, 2015

Yesterday, I began reading No Rest for the Wiccan, by Madelyn Alt, and I stayed up late to finish it. Hooray for three-day weekends!

This is the fourth installment in the author's "Bewitching Mystery" series.

In the midst of a hot, not-quite-yet summer, Maggie is helping at the store, watching boring reruns on TV and trying to figure out her romantic life. When Maggie reluctantly agrees to help her bedridden sister, she discovers that Melanie's house may be haunted. Maggie calls on her spiritual friends to help out. After Melanie spills the beans about Maggie's boss being a witch, a newly-widowed woman comes to the store, seeking help for the negative energy that has been surrounding her late husband's business. The energy at the place leads Maggie to suspect foul play.

During the story, Maggie also adopts a delightful kitten (or maybe it was the other way around?), and she finds herself torn between the two men in her life: her kinda-sorta boyfriend Tom, and the attractive, enigmatic Marcus.

Wonderful, engaging story! Five stars:

★★★★★

Book 34, 2015

I've been downloading free e-cozies from Amazon again, and I just read one of them. The book was Hairspray and Homicide by Cindy Bell. It's the first installment in her "Bekki the Beautician" mystery series. Obviously, it was a short book, more of a novella, really. But, it was chaptered, and I'm counting it towards books (and e-books!) read this year.

The story begins with Bekki walking in on her boyfriend with another woman. Heart broken, she leaves the big city and heads back to her small home town. Bekki used to work in her mother's salon there, and her mother is happy to turn the salon over to Bekki on her return. In addition, her parents bought a house as an investment, and they give it to Bekki so she has somewhere to live.

Not long after she arrives home, Bekki learns the owner of a rival salon is trying to sabotage her mother's place of business. Bekki goes to confront Daisy, and they get into an argument. To cool down, Bekki heads to the local bar, where she thwarts an armed robbery attempt. When the police arrive, it's Bekki who is arrested...for the murder of Daisy.

The lead investigator is Nick Malonie, whom Bekki had a fling with in her youth. Anxious to clear her name and redeem herself in Nick's eyes, Bekki begins investigating on her own. What better place to start than her own salon, where all the gossip happens?

This was a cute story, if a bit rushed. I understand, however, since short story must be short. The author provided plenty of backstory regarding Bekki and Nick, but I wish there had been more time devoted to some of the other characters. The story was a light, quick read, but I don't think I'll make an effort to read more in the series. Too many other cozy series out there with more interesting premises, in my opinion.

Average, three stars:

★★★