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librarianinperiwinkle's review against another edition
3.0
Carly Bell Hartwell uses secret drops to create magical potions that actually work, so when she gets a visit from a famous bride-to-be wanting a love potion, she's curious. And when her childhood friend, Katie Sue Perrywinkle, now Kathryn Perry, stops by her shop to say hello after a ten year absence and sets off Carly's "witchy senses" with the aura of danger surrounding her, Carly grows concerned. Her worry leads her to warn Dylan Jackson, her former-fiance-almost-boyfriend who works for the sheriff's office, that something is amiss. Sadly, Carly's warning doesn't prevent catastrophe, and she must piece together what happened before anyone else dies.
I really enjoy Heather Blake's two mystery series. They are fun cozies with quirky characters and small town settings. Two things affected my rating with this one, though: 1) I figured out near the beginning that a key assumption Carly made about Katie Sue's relationship to the Calhoun family was wrong, whereas it took Carly 3/4 or so of the book to realize her mistake, which was annoying, and 2) I actually figured out who the killer was several chapters before the end of the book. (I prefer not to be certain about who & why.)
OK, and a third thing that didn't help my rating was that I really enjoyed getting to know the characters in the first book in this series, and I had been wanting to get to know them better in this one, which barely happened. There is a little progress made in some key relationships, which I appreciated, but I felt like Blake could have had much more space to flesh out her characters if only they hadn't wasted so much time chasing red herrings. Ah well, it was still fun and a great choice for relaxing on the couch, recuperating after the holiday whirlwind.
For readers' advisors: story doorway is primary. There is no sex or onscreen violence and only a few mild swear words.
I really enjoy Heather Blake's two mystery series. They are fun cozies with quirky characters and small town settings. Two things affected my rating with this one, though: 1) I figured out near the beginning that a key assumption Carly made about Katie Sue's relationship to the Calhoun family was wrong, whereas it took Carly 3/4 or so of the book to realize her mistake, which was annoying, and 2) I actually figured out who the killer was several chapters before the end of the book. (I prefer not to be certain about who & why.)
OK, and a third thing that didn't help my rating was that I really enjoyed getting to know the characters in the first book in this series, and I had been wanting to get to know them better in this one, which barely happened. There is a little progress made in some key relationships, which I appreciated, but I felt like Blake could have had much more space to flesh out her characters if only they hadn't wasted so much time chasing red herrings. Ah well, it was still fun and a great choice for relaxing on the couch, recuperating after the holiday whirlwind.
For readers' advisors: story doorway is primary. There is no sex or onscreen violence and only a few mild swear words.
qu33nofbookz's review against another edition
3.0
Besides the unbelievable amount of gossip these people share about things they have no business sharing that gets on my nerves this was a good book. Seriously I know that in small towns people gossip, I live in a fairly small town but this book takes it to extremes. Also the fact that the facts of an ongoing murder case is spread to anyone who asks and by the guy investigating it....yeah a bit to much and totally unbelievable. If this were anywhere close to reality these cases would never go to court or be thrown out later if they did. The final dislike was that this was a very predictable, you saw who did what coming a mile away there were no surprises.
robinetta's review
funny
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
2.5
thegeekyblogger's review against another edition
4.0
Listened for Review (Tantor)
Overall Rating: 4.50
Story Rating: 4.50
Character Rating: 4.50
Audio Rating: 3.50 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: One Potion in the Grave by Heather Blake was such a great cozy mystery and makes me hope there ends up being more in the series.
Overall Thoughts: I really loved the mystery and the character issues I had in A Potion to Die For are mostly gone. I really liked Carly this time out and love her family. I wish there had been more D in this one but overall I have nothing to complain about. There are some really good twists and turns, some sad moments, and lots of things to make you smile. This was just a good read!
Audio Thoughts:
Carla did a good job with the narration. I am still getting used to her male voices but she really does a fantastic job with all the ladies. I really do think this is a good series on audio.
Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews
Quotes
"I’ll give you a minute to get her and sneak out the back. And don’t let it be gettin’ around that I didn’t shoot her on the spot, got it?”
Overall Rating: 4.50
Story Rating: 4.50
Character Rating: 4.50
Audio Rating: 3.50 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: One Potion in the Grave by Heather Blake was such a great cozy mystery and makes me hope there ends up being more in the series.
Overall Thoughts: I really loved the mystery and the character issues I had in A Potion to Die For are mostly gone. I really liked Carly this time out and love her family. I wish there had been more D in this one but overall I have nothing to complain about. There are some really good twists and turns, some sad moments, and lots of things to make you smile. This was just a good read!
Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Carla Mercer-Meyer / Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
Carla did a good job with the narration. I am still getting used to her male voices but she really does a fantastic job with all the ladies. I really do think this is a good series on audio.
Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews
Quotes
"I’ll give you a minute to get her and sneak out the back. And don’t let it be gettin’ around that I didn’t shoot her on the spot, got it?”
caitkom's review against another edition
5.0
I devour anything written by Heather Blake and this book was no different. Carly Bell Hartwell runs a potion shop in the small town of Hitching Post, Alabama. Carly is shocked when her childhood friend, Katie Sue Perrywinkle walks into her store. Katie Sue has tried desperately tried to run away and forget her childhood in Hitching Post, she became a doctor and changed her name to Kathryn Perry. Katie Sue has arrived on the coat tails of Senator Warren Calhoun who is in town for his sons wedding. When Katie Sue turns up dead Carly is determined to find her old friends killer.
cozybooksandgoldenembers's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Drug abuse
csc0tt's review against another edition
4.0
More 3.5 stars. This is a cute little series, and I laugh out loud at the trouble Carly Hartwell finds. Looking forward to reading the next one :)