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Witch Way Out by Cate Conte

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I completed the book Witch Way Out on Monday night. It's the third in author Cate Conte's "Full Moon" mystery series, featuring novice witch, Violet Mooney.

Violet is excited that she was invited to exhibit at the Spring Equinox Fair. Here, she'll have a chance to promote her crystal shop as well as mingle with other magical beings. Violet is especially excited when she meets Horatio Hale, a well-known mortal who pushes for ethically sourced crystals and minerals. When Horatio learns that Violet has been having difficulty finding moldavite, he arranges to meet up with her to give her some from his stock. Violet arrives to find Horatio murdered. Now she's caught up in the investigation into his death, while trying to figure out who genied another witch in her shop. In addition, Violet is still learning about her new life, which includes navigating witch council politics and feuds.

There was so much happening in this book. It's not a series you'd want to jump into the middle of, because one of the crimes occurred in the first book. In this one, we get to learn more about the world of witches and Violet's family as she muddles her way through. In a sense, this seemed like a series finale, although the author didn't say so. At least, I don't think she did. I'm not big on reading authors' notes. My bad. LOL!

Favorite line: I was having a fangirl moment.

Very good, four stars

Witch Hunt by Cate Conte

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Earlier this evening, I finished reading Witch Hunt. It's the first in a new series by author Cate Conte. Main character is Violet Mooney, who owns a crystal shop called The Full Moon.

Violet is still reeling from the unexpected loss of her grandmother, the woman who raised her after Violet's mother abandoned her as a young child. She throws herself into her work at the crystal shop she owns. When a town councilwoman accosts Violet at the local coffee shop and berates her for attracting the wrong kind of clientele to town, Violet is shocked and angry. Later, she learns that the woman, Carla Fernandez, was murdered after the police come knocking to ask questions about her public spat with the victim.

Things go from weird to bizarre when she is picked up from the police station by none other than her prodigal mother and a half-sister whom she never knew about. Her mother, Fiona, claims to be a witch, and she tells Vi that she is a witch, too. Violet would like to return to her normal life, but that seems impossible when her own magical powers begin manifesting. She is far more interested in finding out who really killed Carla, if only to get the police off her back.

It was an interesting story. The reader got to discover things along with Violet, including the fact that some of her friends and neighbors were also magical folk. Violet was a likable character, as was her sister, Zoe. I was not so impressed with Fiona, who simply came in and steamrolled poor Violet, even though her machinations were coming from a genuine desire to protect her daughter. At least Violet's boyfriend was not a cop, but I don't really care for her boyfriend. Let's hope she ends up with someone more worthy of her in the future. And, please don't let her get all ga-ga over one of the Sagebloods--long enemies of both sides of Vi's family.

Favorite line: How had my day gone so far down the toilet?

Good book, four stars.