Charms and Chocolate Chips: A Magical Bakery Mystery

Note: I chose the immersion reading deal (Kindle version + audio narration.) I greatly recommend it! Synced perfectly between reading on my Kindle and listening on my iPhone.ReviewCharms and Chocolate Chips is the third book in the Magical Bakery Mystery series. It has some of the common elements found in contemporary cozy mysteries:1. The detective is an amateur who does her sleuthing on the side.2. The detective has a dream job in a creative field. In this case she is part owner of an adorable bakery. I think this is a bit of wish fulfillment for readers. We all love the idea of making a living doing what we love, but let’s face it, running a small business is a tough gig. Most of us would rather dream about it than do it.3. While romance is definitely relegated to subplot there is a romantic triangle and I’ve noticed this in a number of other recent cozies.4. As in most culinary mysteries, recipes are included! I am not a baker but would definitely be willing to taste test.In genre fiction, the format is pretty much a given. But what the author can do within the format is what matters. Cates has woven a delightful story over hers. This is what makes the Magical Bakery Mysteries stand out from similar cozy mysteries:1. There is a story arc that covers all the novels. Although you could read each as a stand alone, it is better to follow the story starting at the beginning. In the first book Katie discovers that she is a witch and that magic is real. She also finds out that she’s a catalyst. In the second book she discovers that she is a light witch, a powerful sort of witch that can only do white magic. In Charms and Chocolate Chips Katie tries to figure out what it means to be a light witch and what distinguishes white magic from black. She volunteers at Georgia Wild, a conservation organization, to avoid dealing with the whole “light witch” issue but discovers that she cannot escape her destiny when a murder occurs there.2. Cozy mysteries often allow the reader to learn about things like baking, needlework or home renovation while enjoying the mystery. In the Magic Bakery Mysteries the reader learns about magic. This is a bit different from learning about antiques or cake decorating, but Cates has done a good job of it. I suspect that she, like Katie and her coven is wiccan, but I don’t know that for sure. While following Katie on her adventures the readers can learn about hedgewitchery, or the use of plants in magic. Katie and her aunt use their magic to enhance their baked goods with what they feel their customers need. Other witches in the coven practice other types of magic including voodoo and color magic.3. Pets are another common feature of cozy mysteries and part of the reason I love cozies. But the pets in the Magical Bakery Mystery are more than furry companions. They are also familiars, or magical helpers. While the animals are not anthropomorphized in any way, they definitely have their own personalities and you can see how each one matches their owner.4. The books are well written, lighthearted and charming. The characters are three dimensional and very likable. The common locations in the books, mainly the Honeybee Bakery and Katie’s house, are indeed cozy and places readers like to imagine themselves in. In contrast the murders that occur are dark and disturbing and the mysteries are challenging puzzles. This may seem like a given but there are novels out there that get by on strong narrative drive rather than a well developed, well written story.

I really don't care for the way she seems to abruptly reveal the killer. Most of her clues rely on knowledge outside of reading the books. I can't explain without giving away too much. Most cozy mysteries rely on lots of clues and confusion. I dislike that in these mysterories the clues are almost never about the killer and the ones that are the reader is given almost zero ways to connect the clues to the killer. I am able to figure out the killers in her books but I still feel like the mystery is more a story where the killer is revealed rather than a story where you are expected to figure out the killer. Although I do like the stories, I feel they are less a cozy mystery and more of a witch themed beach read.

I have found I really enjoy cozy mysteries, especially when cats or witches are involved. This one is somewhat different in that the focus is based in a bakery that the main character, Katie, owns and operates with her aunt and uncle. Katie's familiar is a dog, but the other members of their magickal group have all kinds of familiars, which I think is fun. Poor Katie really is not thrilled to keep finding dead bodies from time to time in her new home town, but is slowly coming to terms with the fact that it is part of her destiny in a way. I find her character to be appealing and relatable. There is enough going on in her life other than a murder mystery to be interesting and at times even captivating. The magick and celebrations are very realistic based on Wiccan beliefs, but of course with literary license as needed for the story. I find that very refreshing. I am so tired of the skewed and downright misrepresentations of what Wicca is all about, that a book like this is most welcome. Add to that it is well written and just plain fun, and you have a winner.

Well things are really moving along with the newest witch in town. Katie is working at her bakery, trying to help a local eco group and trying to come to terms with her abilities. But when the founder is found dead, and another friend is threatened Katie needs to put down her rolling pin and do a little magic in order to find out what is so special about the Fagan Swamplands, help her relationship with Declan and perhaps heal her relationship with her mother.overall I did enjoy this story (it took me a little longer to read as I had 4 other books to read and review), the mystery kicked off quickly and kept you spellbound until the end. There was enough twists and turns to keep anyone guessing until the end and also a few questions about her past can be answered. Now I will agree the relationship with Declan is getting a little stale and I hope in the next installment things shake up a little. But I do give it a big thumbs up and hope the next one is soon (and if the author reads this I would honored if she sends an advance copy for an honest review)

Well, I'll be! A magical bakery ?? I love that the idea is totally crazy but it seems to work in this book. I've read a few books in this series now and I have to say this is one of the more interesting cozy mysteries I have read.Our heroine moves to open a bakery with her aunt and uncle and discovers that she is actually a hedgewitch (that's why her aunt's cooking seems to have extra oomph!). There's not a lot of actual baking happening in the book because Katie is busy trying to help the local detective catch a killer so her uncle won't be the main suspect! Oh and she has two potential love interests that vie for her time. And she has to have time to train as a witch!

Pleasant book to spend your time on. Gave it 4 stars as this theme of a private citizen always interfering with police investigations and then solves the crime is getting redundant! Characters are more pleasant then some of the other books I read. Helps while away the hours.

This third novel in the “Magical Bakery” series does not disappoint. Fans of Katie and the Coven will enjoy reading about their further escapades is this installment. (Your favorite characters from the previous novels do return. 😊). Great read!

All the side stories are developing at a nice rate alongside the main "who dunnit" in this series and yet thete are enough new "loose ends" to want to visit again.For a pleasant easy read, join us in the bakery!

Great series, can almost smell the coffee and cookies.

Very entertaining read. Several sub-plots and the wonderful characters kept me engaged while I waited to see if I was right regarding the killer.

The story line is becoming a little fantastical. Someone who didn't know she was a witch is suddenly a very powerful one????? With amazing magical talents? Becoming too far fetched.

Je suis ravie avec cet achat. Merci beaucoup. Je vous souhaite de bonnes fêtes ! Que du plus +++++ ++++