Book 71, 2019

[chez_jae]

Scared Witchless by Amy Boyles

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Earlier today, I finished the ebook Scared Witchless by Amy Boyles. It's the first book in her "Bless Your Witch" paranormal mystery series. Main character (in this one, at least) was Dylan Apel, a talented seamstress who's just learned she's a witch.

When Dylan's boutique is featured in the local paper, along with her sister Seraphina's bakery, the journalist describes them as "magical". Dylan is pleased by the praise, until she and Sera are visited by Esmeralda, the Queen Witch, who chastises them for outing themselves. Em warns them that now other, unscrupulous witches will be out to steal their fledgling power...by skinning them alive. It seems their only hope is to learn to control their power as soon as possible. Not only does Em begin training them, she also provides a bodyguard, the dark and enigmatic Roman Bane. Dylan is NOT attracted to him, or so she tells herself. However, when a woman tries on a dress in her shop and dies, Dylan realizes she needs all the help she can get.

Fortunately, she has two doting (if a trifle dotty) grandmothers, as well as her sisters. Reid may not be a witch, but she's a staunch supporter. That is, when she's not perving on the hottie next door. Dylan must learn magic, dodge the local police, try to reopen for business, and prepare for the upcoming Solstice. Solving a murder seems tame in comparison.

This book was light and lively. Dylan is an engaging character, and her Grandma Hazel was a hoot, what with her going on and on about flying monkeys. Other characters weren't quite so three-dimensional, but I expect that to change in later books.

Favorite lines:
♦ "If that ain't the other side of stupid, I don't know what is."
♦ By three o'clock I was soaking in a tub, waiting for that heifer Calgon to take my troubles away.

Cute story, four stars

Comments

[oracne]

This sounds cute!

[chez_jae]

It was fun!