Scan barcode
cgonya1's review
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
Book five of Lynn Cahoon’s Kitchen Witch Mysteries finds Mia working at the ski lodge while her boyfriend’s mother manages Mia’s Morsels. Mia’s roommate and co-worker, Christina, is dealing with a needy mother who also happened to tell Christina’s ex where she was. Now he’s arrived in Magic Springs with a marriage proposal on his lips.
There’s also the arrival of homeless kittens and a Goddess delivered Maltese familiar for Trent. Unfortunately for Mia, that’s just the beginning to the chaos.
I love the Magic Springs crew. I still found Grams to be standoffish still with Mia. She just didn’t seem as warm and fuzzy as she did in the first part of the series. Mia also seems to be regressing as well. Trent, Christina, and Levi all have character progression, and their personalities are fun to read.
Now, look. I would be the person who would keep each one of those babies, or even just the ones interested in me. I have a hard time saying no to any furry animal. I wish this had been more about the familiars though, and less about the humans. I would really like the next book to focus on Mia, her magic, and the school ghosts. I just feel like her magic, and the magicalness of Magic Springs, is an afterthought.
Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.
There’s also the arrival of homeless kittens and a Goddess delivered Maltese familiar for Trent. Unfortunately for Mia, that’s just the beginning to the chaos.
I love the Magic Springs crew. I still found Grams to be standoffish still with Mia. She just didn’t seem as warm and fuzzy as she did in the first part of the series. Mia also seems to be regressing as well. Trent, Christina, and Levi all have character progression, and their personalities are fun to read.
Now, look. I would be the person who would keep each one of those babies, or even just the ones interested in me. I have a hard time saying no to any furry animal. I wish this had been more about the familiars though, and less about the humans. I would really like the next book to focus on Mia, her magic, and the school ghosts. I just feel like her magic, and the magicalness of Magic Springs, is an afterthought.
Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.
lmerricks's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
karen_the_baroness's review
5.0
Five Furry Familiars by Lynn Cahoon has Mia trying to make a living away from Mia’s Morsels and having to solve a murder to keep Christina out of jail.
Did Christina kill her ex?
Mia Malone
Mia Malone is a kitchen witch who is running her own business but is employed at the Lodge. This is because Mia needs a cash flow, which pains her to relinquish some control of Mia’s Morsels. Soon, Mia will be back in control of her own business. Mia is still learning about her craft while making time for her boyfriend and enjoying life. I love how Mia takes notes about everything, keeps track of things, and makes her life easier, even if it’s hard right now to see that. Another thing that I like is how Mia and Trent work so well with each other while Mia doesn’t with Issac.
The Mysteries
Mia has two mysteries to solve this time. One is on who killed Christina’s supposed fiancee, and the second is who dropped off three kittens at her home, along with why Trent has a new familiar. All of these things are answered throughout the book. I figured out who did the first one, but I wasn’t entirely sure why since I was guessing who it was. The second one made me sad for everyone as they all wanted to keep the kittens despite what Mr. Darcy thought. Lastly, Trent’s new familiar is something that they are still trying to figure out, as it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Here’s to hoping they can keep the little Maltese from causing harm.
Five Stars
I am giving five stars to Five Furry Familiars by Lynn Cahoon, and I’m recommending it. Ms. Cahoon has a great writing style, and she makes me feel like I’m a part of these characters’ lives and helping them out. Even if it’s for a short time to solve a mystery so that their lives can return to normal until the next installment, I will go back to read the five books I skipped to read this one. Coming back into a book in this series feels like coming home to a family I didn’t know I missed until I started reading again.
There is a recipe in the back of the book called Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce.
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 Five Furry Familiars by Lynn Cahoon.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.
dukefn99's review
4.0
I have a love-hate relationship with the Kitchen Witch Mysteries series. I love this paranormal world that Lynn Cahoon has set in a small-town in Idaho. I love Mia and her friends and family. I love the magical aspect of this series. But I always seem to come away from the books in this series a little disappointed by the mystery. And as I finished Five Furry Familiars, I had that same sense of wanting more.
Now don't get me wrong, I love getting to know Mia better as she's trying to figure out her magical abilities. And her friends and family are a hoot and totally band together to solve the mystery, since a couple of their number are suspects. But at the same time, so much time is spent detailing their day to day lives with a little sleuthing thrown in. And then we get to the last chapter and all of the sudden there's a little overview of how the mystery was solved and the motive and I've just left shaking my head.
I enjoyed the book and will continue to read this series because I find it fun. But I keep hoping that the author will beef up the mystery a little while keeping the charm of the characters and setting.
Now don't get me wrong, I love getting to know Mia better as she's trying to figure out her magical abilities. And her friends and family are a hoot and totally band together to solve the mystery, since a couple of their number are suspects. But at the same time, so much time is spent detailing their day to day lives with a little sleuthing thrown in. And then we get to the last chapter and all of the sudden there's a little overview of how the mystery was solved and the motive and I've just left shaking my head.
I enjoyed the book and will continue to read this series because I find it fun. But I keep hoping that the author will beef up the mystery a little while keeping the charm of the characters and setting.
the_sassy_bookworm's review
3.0
⭐⭐⭐
Four Charming Spells by Lynn Cahoon is a book that takes readers on a supernatural journey in the quaint town of Magic Springs, Idaho. Mia Malone, a budding caterer and cooking school owner, finds her life taking an unexpected turn when she becomes involved with Time for a Cuppa, a charming new tea shop. This connection leads her to Mahogany Medford, the tea shop owner and member of the local coven, who insists on delving into a perplexing mystery that seems unsolvable without some special assistance.
While still grieving over her mother’s recent death and suspecting foul play, Mia is urged by Mahogany to uncover the truth. However, as she digs deeper into the investigation at her establishment, Mia realizes that old secrets may resurface to haunt her. Armed with Gran’s protective stone and supported by a close-knit circle of confidants, Mia must unravel the identity of Ms. Medford’s killer while facing another deadly surprise.
The cover design of this book is eye-catching and enticing. However, I found Four Charming Spells to be just average in terms of my overall enjoyment. Although I thoroughly enjoyed reading the first book in this series, I felt let down by this installment. As someone who didn’t have the opportunity to read books two through this one due to being passed over by the publisher, I felt confused throughout significant portions of this story. Unlike its predecessor, this book seemed to lack the charm that initially drew me in. Additionally, I found myself unimpressed with both the mystery aspect and the explanation behind it.
Overall, Four Charming Spells has its merits but fell short of my expectations. It may appeal more to readers who have followed the entire series closely rather than those approaching it as a standalone cozy mystery novel.
**ATC Via NetGalley**
Four Charming Spells by Lynn Cahoon is a book that takes readers on a supernatural journey in the quaint town of Magic Springs, Idaho. Mia Malone, a budding caterer and cooking school owner, finds her life taking an unexpected turn when she becomes involved with Time for a Cuppa, a charming new tea shop. This connection leads her to Mahogany Medford, the tea shop owner and member of the local coven, who insists on delving into a perplexing mystery that seems unsolvable without some special assistance.
While still grieving over her mother’s recent death and suspecting foul play, Mia is urged by Mahogany to uncover the truth. However, as she digs deeper into the investigation at her establishment, Mia realizes that old secrets may resurface to haunt her. Armed with Gran’s protective stone and supported by a close-knit circle of confidants, Mia must unravel the identity of Ms. Medford’s killer while facing another deadly surprise.
The cover design of this book is eye-catching and enticing. However, I found Four Charming Spells to be just average in terms of my overall enjoyment. Although I thoroughly enjoyed reading the first book in this series, I felt let down by this installment. As someone who didn’t have the opportunity to read books two through this one due to being passed over by the publisher, I felt confused throughout significant portions of this story. Unlike its predecessor, this book seemed to lack the charm that initially drew me in. Additionally, I found myself unimpressed with both the mystery aspect and the explanation behind it.
Overall, Four Charming Spells has its merits but fell short of my expectations. It may appeal more to readers who have followed the entire series closely rather than those approaching it as a standalone cozy mystery novel.
**ATC Via NetGalley**
embe94's review
4.0
Even better than the last!! I felt like there were a fair amount of possibilities for the bad guy, and all of them reasonable, which made reading to try to figure it out even more fun. It was a little more frantic again, but I guess maybe that’s just the job Mia has. I’m excited for when the fifth is published!
More...