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iffer's review against another edition
3.0
A satisfying conclusion to the series, though nothing earth-shaking
purplesky25276's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Loved this closing edition of the series. Wrapped the ending like a neat bow. The characters were lovable. The plot was intriguing. I was happy with the ending.
neverloweonbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Last read of the year, last book in this series. This book closed up the story nicely and was a perfect farewell to the series.
meliaraastair's review against another edition
5.0
Ella is back (this is the first book in the series I've read, and I'm definitely missing some plot details on what happened before this book - something big!) and still baking pies in her pie shop even after losing her magical powers. The president of a high-society Southern ladies club approaches her about teaching classes at their upcoming retreat, then promptly turns up dead. In the meanwhile, her dear friend is dying of cancer, and her dying wish is to see her daughter one more time. Can Ella find the daughter, bake the pies, solve the mystery, and decide what to do about her relationship with Hugh?
As I said, this is the first one I've read in the series. I've been putting off reading it since I only had number 5 but decided to just go ahead and read it anyway. While I've definitely missed out on some major plot points, I'm excited to go back and read from the beginning.
I love the elements of fantasy mixed in with a cozy mystery. The magic was pretty light in this book, so if you aren't into that, I think you still would enjoy this book. I also really enjoyed that there was more to the plot than just the mystery. The whole side plot takes front stage for most of the book - and I think that only makes it better. There's also a really strong group of characters, and while I feel like I missed a lot of details of these characters since I haven't read the rest of the series, it was still a great read.
I can't find the first book of this series at any of my libraries, but number 2 is now in my hands and I'm starting in on it - hopefully it's as exciting as this book was!
I'll go 9 of 10 overall and 4 of 5 for readability. A lot going on, but it all comes together really well in the end!
For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com!
As I said, this is the first one I've read in the series. I've been putting off reading it since I only had number 5 but decided to just go ahead and read it anyway. While I've definitely missed out on some major plot points, I'm excited to go back and read from the beginning.
I love the elements of fantasy mixed in with a cozy mystery. The magic was pretty light in this book, so if you aren't into that, I think you still would enjoy this book. I also really enjoyed that there was more to the plot than just the mystery. The whole side plot takes front stage for most of the book - and I think that only makes it better. There's also a really strong group of characters, and while I feel like I missed a lot of details of these characters since I haven't read the rest of the series, it was still a great read.
I can't find the first book of this series at any of my libraries, but number 2 is now in my hands and I'm starting in on it - hopefully it's as exciting as this book was!
I'll go 9 of 10 overall and 4 of 5 for readability. A lot going on, but it all comes together really well in the end!
For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com!
morticia32's review against another edition
2.0
5th in a series.
I feel like I need to start by saying, I love Ellery Adams. But even a good author can write a not so perfect book, and unfortunately, that's how I feel about this one. But I will continue to read this series and her other series.
This was not my favorite in the series. In the previous book, Ella Mae sacrificed her magic to save the town, and the series lost a lot of what I loved. I miss the magic of the first 3 books.
Frankly, I'm not a fan of Hugh, I think he's wishy-washy, and Ella Mae is too strong a character for him. And I am getting sick of the Ella Mae/Loralyn Gaynor, Good vs. Evil plots. And why does the magical community not punish Loralyn? One would think that as a secret community wanting to remain secret, they would be self-policing? (Like Heather Blake's Wishcraft series) I guess I would love to see a new bad guy that has absolutely nothing to do with Loralyn and less of the sappy Ella Mae/Hugh romance. Ella Mae is a strong character capable of a lot of things and I feel like she's become overly dependent on Hugh for her happiness, especially since she lost her magic.
Maybe with the little hint at the end, things will change again for the better in the next book.
I feel like I need to start by saying, I love Ellery Adams. But even a good author can write a not so perfect book, and unfortunately, that's how I feel about this one. But I will continue to read this series and her other series.
This was not my favorite in the series. In the previous book, Ella Mae sacrificed her magic to save the town, and the series lost a lot of what I loved. I miss the magic of the first 3 books.
Frankly, I'm not a fan of Hugh, I think he's wishy-washy, and Ella Mae is too strong a character for him. And I am getting sick of the Ella Mae/Loralyn Gaynor, Good vs. Evil plots. And why does the magical community not punish Loralyn? One would think that as a secret community wanting to remain secret, they would be self-policing? (Like Heather Blake's Wishcraft series) I guess I would love to see a new bad guy that has absolutely nothing to do with Loralyn and less of the sappy Ella Mae/Hugh romance. Ella Mae is a strong character capable of a lot of things and I feel like she's become overly dependent on Hugh for her happiness, especially since she lost her magic.
Maybe with the little hint at the end, things will change again for the better in the next book.
suerae's review against another edition
4.0
Breach of Crust is the 5th book in the A Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries by Ellery Adams in which Ella Mae and Hugh Dylan must learn to live without magic. Ella Mae is asked to attend the Camellia Club's annual retreat that rented a block of rooms at Lake Havenwood Resort by President Beatrice "Bea" Burbank along with two other pastry chefs.
The story was very good but I had a hard time getting over the fact that Ella Mae no longer had any powers. The ending was a surprise to me!
The story was very good but I had a hard time getting over the fact that Ella Mae no longer had any powers. The ending was a surprise to me!
nitabee's review against another edition
3.0
In this newest Charmed Pie Shoppe book, Ella Mae is asked to help out the Camellia Club with their newest dessert cookbook. The Camellia Club is comprised exclusively of wealthy high-society ladies from a nearby town, and Ella Mae is quite taken by the president of the club, Beatrice. Unfortunately, Ella Mae finds .
Spoiler
Bea's body floating in the lake on the 4th of July, and she suspects one of Bea's fellow club members is behind her death. While investigating them, she discovers Loralyn Gaynor posing incognito, which is lucky for her since Opal, Loralyn's mother, is dying of cancer and has asked for her assistance in reconciling them. Loralyn wants no part in it though, and Opal sacrifices herself at the end of the book to save her. Ella Mae unmasks the murderer, along with the Camellia Club's biggest, very tightly guarded secret (that they possess an ancient artifact of power that has provided one woman with immorality, though she has to occasionally make human sacrifices, hence the motive behind Bea's death). The book ends with Ella Mae and her hunky firefighter boyfriend going through Ella Mae's mother magical ceremony that determines they're meant to be together always. Although the ending has a note of finality, I feel the series will continue and that we'll see Ella Mae regain her magicaspygirlsmom_1995's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jknock's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0