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fischmans's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
butterfly_in_the_sky's review against another edition
3.0
Looking forward to seeing where this series goes!
deanapotter's review against another edition
4.0
An enjoyable cozy paranormal mystery.
The new Enchanted Bay Mystery Series introduces readers to the small, corky town of Bellamy Bay and Alexandra “Alex” Daniels. Alex is a former risk manager from New York returning to see family that she hasn’t seen in two decades, and to help with the family Apothecary. Little does she know, but is soon to find out that there are reasons that Alex’s father kept her away.
A Spell for Trouble is a light, entertaining and fun paranormal cozy mystery with lots of twists and spunk. From the picturesque descriptions of this beautiful town, to the way the magic is woven through the plot and the way the characters charm their way into your liking. The world building is off to a fantastic start and within one book you really get a feel for the personality of the characters. Alex may have made some not so great choices at times but I did love her tenacity and will do what she needs to do to achieve her goals. Esme Addison has caught my attention and I’m eager to see what she has in store for The Enchanted Bay Series.
The new Enchanted Bay Mystery Series introduces readers to the small, corky town of Bellamy Bay and Alexandra “Alex” Daniels. Alex is a former risk manager from New York returning to see family that she hasn’t seen in two decades, and to help with the family Apothecary. Little does she know, but is soon to find out that there are reasons that Alex’s father kept her away.
A Spell for Trouble is a light, entertaining and fun paranormal cozy mystery with lots of twists and spunk. From the picturesque descriptions of this beautiful town, to the way the magic is woven through the plot and the way the characters charm their way into your liking. The world building is off to a fantastic start and within one book you really get a feel for the personality of the characters. Alex may have made some not so great choices at times but I did love her tenacity and will do what she needs to do to achieve her goals. Esme Addison has caught my attention and I’m eager to see what she has in store for The Enchanted Bay Series.
aandriot's review against another edition
4.0
This was a super cute book. Love the premise, with water witches descended from mermaids. The mystery element was enhanced by the magical. And the mystery itself had plenty of twists and turns, with a nice reveal at the end.
There’s some extra world building in here too, with the potential for more plots centered around bigger issues related to witch hunters, historical artifacts, and other mermaid families around the world.
There’s some extra world building in here too, with the potential for more plots centered around bigger issues related to witch hunters, historical artifacts, and other mermaid families around the world.
jen_baroness_mom's review against another edition
5.0
A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison is a marvelously magical mystery.
Will Alex figure out who framed Aunt Lidia before someone else is hurt?
Aleksandra Daniels
Our sleuth is Alex. She was a risk management specialist for some of the biggest companies in New York. However, after she is put under a new supervisor, things change, and she quits her job. Shortly afterward, she receives an invitation from her aunt to visit. This seems like fate since Alex hasn’t seen her mother’s family in years.
I like Alex; she is intelligent, friendly, and caring, and she thinks she knows herself well, but she doesn’t really understand herself, her mom, or her mother’s death. However, with the help of her family, she should be able to regain her lost memories and embrace life in Bellamy Bay.
The Mystery
There is a death in town, and Alex’s aunt is arrested as the main suspect. This upsets Alex as she recently reconnected with her aunt. So, using her deduction skills, Alex sets out to find the true culprit and clear her aunt’s name. However, Alex is disadvantaged since she didn’t grow up in town and remembers nothing about magic.
Alex’s family makes the story pop. They are a funny and opinionated bunch of ladies.
Five Stars
My rating for A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison is five stars. I am happy that I picked up this book. I recommend it to all paranormal cozy readers out there.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison.
Until the next time,
~Jen
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.
abookishcoffeeholic's review against another edition
4.0
Cozy mystery books are quickly becoming one of my favorite genres to read, and Addison's book did not disappoint! I enjoyed the writing style and the theme of this book very much. For a debut novel I was impressed and I have to say that I will be eagerly anticipating the next book by Addison.
katreader's review against another edition
5.0
A SPELL FOR TROUBLE by Esme Addison
The First Enchanted Bay Mystery
When Aleksandra Daniels quits her job in Manhattan, she knows she needs time with family, even if she hasn't seen her aunt and cousins in over twenty years. Ciocia Lydia and cousins Minka and Kamila welcome Alex with open arms and lots of Polish baked goods. Helping out in the family's apothecary shop, Alex can't help but enjoy the exotic teas and body care products, but is stunned when her aunt loses her temper on a customer. When the man is found dead the next day, it's thought to be a terrible accident. However, when it's discovered he was poisoned, Ciocia Lydia is arrested. Now it's up to Alex to prove her aunt's innocence, as that good looking detective thinks the case is closed. Can she trust her childhood friend? Or that nosy reporter? As Alex looks into the murder she also uncovers the truth about her family. Will she embrace her heritage or turn away from it as her parents did?
The first Enchanted Bay Mystery is a triumph! I love everything about it, from the Polish culture, to the family dynamics, from the paranormal to the police dog drop out. I love how food was weaved into the story. It's such an important, yet common and everyday part of traditional Polish life and really adds verisimilitude. But there's more. There is a lot of moral ambiguity to be found here. Difficult decisions must be made, sometimes with no clear positive option. I especially love that the characters are not all "good". They all are shades of grey, some with darker secrets and leanings. I find a great affinity for Ciocia Lidia...and I could well imagine doing exactly what she did all those years ago. She's a strong, powerful, good woman, but there is a very realistic edge. I find myself at odds with the "good" detective, and rooting for the childhood friend. But neither of these two are all good...or all bad.
My favorite aspect of A SPELL FOR TROUBLE is the Polish connection. I fondly remember my Ciocia Brunia, and calling her that as well as Aunt Bert! My mouth was watering when everyone was munching on kolaczki and pączki. But even more than that, I thought it was brilliant how the Sobieski family's magick was entwined with the very real Mermaid of Warsaw.
A SPELL FOR TROUBLE introduces readers to a wonderful magickal world. Family and tradition are its foundation while a finely crafted mystery lies at its core. I can't wait to see Alex rediscover more about her family, herself, and her magick. Now if only I had a slice of sernik and a cup of Calm Down tea!
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
The First Enchanted Bay Mystery
When Aleksandra Daniels quits her job in Manhattan, she knows she needs time with family, even if she hasn't seen her aunt and cousins in over twenty years. Ciocia Lydia and cousins Minka and Kamila welcome Alex with open arms and lots of Polish baked goods. Helping out in the family's apothecary shop, Alex can't help but enjoy the exotic teas and body care products, but is stunned when her aunt loses her temper on a customer. When the man is found dead the next day, it's thought to be a terrible accident. However, when it's discovered he was poisoned, Ciocia Lydia is arrested. Now it's up to Alex to prove her aunt's innocence, as that good looking detective thinks the case is closed. Can she trust her childhood friend? Or that nosy reporter? As Alex looks into the murder she also uncovers the truth about her family. Will she embrace her heritage or turn away from it as her parents did?
The first Enchanted Bay Mystery is a triumph! I love everything about it, from the Polish culture, to the family dynamics, from the paranormal to the police dog drop out. I love how food was weaved into the story. It's such an important, yet common and everyday part of traditional Polish life and really adds verisimilitude. But there's more. There is a lot of moral ambiguity to be found here. Difficult decisions must be made, sometimes with no clear positive option. I especially love that the characters are not all "good". They all are shades of grey, some with darker secrets and leanings. I find a great affinity for Ciocia Lidia...and I could well imagine doing exactly what she did all those years ago. She's a strong, powerful, good woman, but there is a very realistic edge. I find myself at odds with the "good" detective, and rooting for the childhood friend. But neither of these two are all good...or all bad.
My favorite aspect of A SPELL FOR TROUBLE is the Polish connection. I fondly remember my Ciocia Brunia, and calling her that as well as Aunt Bert! My mouth was watering when everyone was munching on kolaczki and pączki. But even more than that, I thought it was brilliant how the Sobieski family's magick was entwined with the very real Mermaid of Warsaw.
A SPELL FOR TROUBLE introduces readers to a wonderful magickal world. Family and tradition are its foundation while a finely crafted mystery lies at its core. I can't wait to see Alex rediscover more about her family, herself, and her magick. Now if only I had a slice of sernik and a cup of Calm Down tea!
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
lrosse19's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
knit_wise's review against another edition
4.0
I was pleasantly shocked at how good (IMO) this book was. I checked it out on a whim at the end of October, because I hadn’t reached my checkout limit on Hoopla yet and it seemed interesting.
There were a couple of aspects of the book that kind of wore on me after awhile, like the insistence of the MC to play “citizen investigator” entirely without subtlety or tact, but maybe that was just effective writing because other characters got annoyed too
There were a couple of aspects of the book that kind of wore on me after awhile, like the insistence of the MC to play “citizen investigator” entirely without subtlety or tact, but maybe that was just effective writing because other characters got annoyed too