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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
I was very confused by this book. Overall, as far as the main character and her secondary characters went, I liked the story. It was also a very funny book. The parts with the toads made me laugh out loud several times. I liked the world and the time and effort the author took in putting it together.
Where it fell flat for me: the HERO. I don't get it... on several fronts. First of all, he doesn't really have any redeeming qualities. I mean, the guy is a straight up thief, and not the good kind like in The Thomas Crown Affair. You see, there is an unspoken rule about thieves and heroines and the rule is that YOU CAN'T STEAL FROM THE GIRL YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH. Period. End of story.
And then the author pretty much never explains it. He's just "sorry" and "oh, here's some money for consulting" and "look I made you a cool little place to sell cupcakes which I'm going to conveniently take back when you turn me into a toad". He's not a likeable main character pretty much at all. And I think having him steal her food to make money off his ice cream was a TERRIBLE idea, just in terms of making me want them to be together. I was pretty much thinking, "Isn't there ANYONE else she could be with?" the whole time I was reading this book.
I think, personally, that the author should have stuck with having him be the nephew of the annoying bakery shop owner. (And yes, that couple was pretty flipping annoying).
The plot was also confusing. The author seemed to have made the seeds to a good story, but the fact that the MC and the guy fell in love after literally like 3 dates, and topping it off with what a schmuck he was, just totally left me flat.
In the end, I would say this author has a lot of potential, but I will probably wait until about 6 or 7 more books before I read her again. Just so she's had some time to work out some of those plot and character issues.
Where it fell flat for me: the HERO. I don't get it... on several fronts. First of all, he doesn't really have any redeeming qualities. I mean, the guy is a straight up thief, and not the good kind like in The Thomas Crown Affair. You see, there is an unspoken rule about thieves and heroines and the rule is that YOU CAN'T STEAL FROM THE GIRL YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH. Period. End of story.
And then the author pretty much never explains it. He's just "sorry" and "oh, here's some money for consulting" and "look I made you a cool little place to sell cupcakes which I'm going to conveniently take back when you turn me into a toad". He's not a likeable main character pretty much at all. And I think having him steal her food to make money off his ice cream was a TERRIBLE idea, just in terms of making me want them to be together. I was pretty much thinking, "Isn't there ANYONE else she could be with?" the whole time I was reading this book.
I think, personally, that the author should have stuck with having him be the nephew of the annoying bakery shop owner. (And yes, that couple was pretty flipping annoying).
The plot was also confusing. The author seemed to have made the seeds to a good story, but the fact that the MC and the guy fell in love after literally like 3 dates, and topping it off with what a schmuck he was, just totally left me flat.
In the end, I would say this author has a lot of potential, but I will probably wait until about 6 or 7 more books before I read her again. Just so she's had some time to work out some of those plot and character issues.
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Note: the copy I have has a different cover that gives more generic fairy tale fantasy vibes, rather than "witchy". I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have picked up this book if I saw this cover. It's partly my fault for not reading deeply into the blurb though.
Minor spoilers ahead!
What I liked:
- Cindy has a good friend group, and while they were a bit stereotypical, they were supportive, encouraging, sweet, and fun to read about
- There's a cat named Merlin
- Intriguing hints of world-building with how magic-users interact with the world around them, their history, and their culture. I would have liked to see more of this.
- The author knows her way around flavors and baking, and it shows. I enjoyed seeing what the main character would come up with for her cupcake flavors.
What I didn't care for:
Minor spoilers ahead!
What I liked:
- Cindy has a good friend group, and while they were a bit stereotypical, they were supportive, encouraging, sweet, and fun to read about
- There's a cat named Merlin
- Intriguing hints of world-building with how magic-users interact with the world around them, their history, and their culture. I would have liked to see more of this.
- The author knows her way around flavors and baking, and it shows. I enjoyed seeing what the main character would come up with for her cupcake flavors.
What I didn't care for:
- the romance. I'm sorry, I just can't root for a relationship that felt so "insta-love" and was based largely off physical attractiveness, even if nothing inappropriate happened. I didn't understand their apparent chemistry, and their constant back-and-forth was irritating. Communication, people. haha.
- Timothy...why does he drive so recklessly? Why does he steal from her? I could absolutely root for his panic/anger/etc. after the kiss event, and he had his sweet moments, but I certainly didn't see enough redeeming qualities or actions from him yet to understand Cindy's infatuation.
- the writing style. Maybe I'm just not used to contemporary romance novels, but the writing style felt very juvenile. Sometimes because of the word choices and grammar, and other times because so many sentences in a row would sound like the following: "I'm writing a short sentence. Maybe it's too short. I can't write long ones. Bummer. It's fine on occasion. But not repeatedly." It was disappointing, and I think fine-tuning it could really help.
- With that, the randomness. I know the series continues, so maybe most my questions are answered later, but I didn't receive enough explanation to want to keep reading. Why did Timothy drive so recklessly? Why did Cindy up and adopt a cat one day? What's the significance of her sister getting married, and her being asked to be a bridesmaid and make the cake? It felt like something big and new was introduced every chapter, and not all of it even made sense together or had any lead-up to clue me into why it was important.
- This isn't a huge complaint because it might have been intentional, but I guessed the plot twist with the bakery owners' nephew as soon as they mentioned it the first time. As more and more hints were dropped, I wondered how in the world Cindy didn't realize it way sooner.
- Some of the content, especially the few instances of foul language.
Overall, I don't mean this to be a scathing review because I think fans of this genre might find it a fun, quick, and light-hearted read. It just wasn't my cup of tea (or pint of ice cream).
CW: one kiss (others referred to, but not shown), several uses of expletives (such as s**t and b***h), descriptions of physical attractiveness and characters feeling crushes/butterflies/etc., a magic system that uses the word witches semi-frequently and involves charms, spells, and transformations.
cute witchcraft/baking story. Will be sure to read the rest of the series.
Super cute story - hoping that there is another one so that we can finally figure out what her magic is for sure.
Why does she like him? He's terrible.... but I guess she's going to overlook it because he's hot and rich? Why is this a romance??
That said I did like the friend and family dynamics and the world building enough to keep reading, I just wish the love interest had any redeeming qualities.
I peeked at the descriptions for the rest of the series and it looks like he's staying around... so I won't be.
That said I did like the friend and family dynamics and the world building enough to keep reading, I just wish the love interest had any redeeming qualities.
I peeked at the descriptions for the rest of the series and it looks like he's staying around... so I won't be.
What a cute read!
Cindy is a witch....not doing too well as she keeps kissing men.....and then they turn into toads - not good. She cant seem to control it, but when Timothy enters her life, shes smitten, but resists kissing him in fear of it happening.
Cindy is a whizz with cupcakes, cakes, pies - anything that involves combining unusual flavours. She loves it, and a little of her magic leaks into each one, making people feel happy after eating them! Nice little after effect!
Cindy and her friends resolve to a life of just eating ice cream...SweetDreams ice cream to be more precise! But when one day Cindy is in a less than joyful mood and yanks a tub out and begins to eat it....and recognises the flavours that she had made a cake with that day before! As if things cant get worse, shes now copying ice cream flavours without realising. Mood sinks lower!
And then the owners of the bakery announce they're selling, that leaves Cindy and her 2 housemates potentially jobless...
....but as always things are not what they seem!
Cindy and her housemates make a plan to keep Cindy making her cakes in a little travelling catering truck!
But what of Timothy? Does he turn into a toad? Is he who he seems? Needless to say its not smooth sailing but is it ever?
A really cute and easy read. Nicely written, likeable characters and a feel good book. Not very paranormal, more she just happens to be a witch, so its leaning alot over to chick lit, but i found it refreshing to read after all the doom and gloom books i normally love to read.
Something to lift the spirits!
Read on behalf of Bewitching Tours for an honest review
Cindy is a witch....not doing too well as she keeps kissing men.....and then they turn into toads - not good. She cant seem to control it, but when Timothy enters her life, shes smitten, but resists kissing him in fear of it happening.
Cindy is a whizz with cupcakes, cakes, pies - anything that involves combining unusual flavours. She loves it, and a little of her magic leaks into each one, making people feel happy after eating them! Nice little after effect!
Cindy and her friends resolve to a life of just eating ice cream...SweetDreams ice cream to be more precise! But when one day Cindy is in a less than joyful mood and yanks a tub out and begins to eat it....and recognises the flavours that she had made a cake with that day before! As if things cant get worse, shes now copying ice cream flavours without realising. Mood sinks lower!
And then the owners of the bakery announce they're selling, that leaves Cindy and her 2 housemates potentially jobless...
....but as always things are not what they seem!
Cindy and her housemates make a plan to keep Cindy making her cakes in a little travelling catering truck!
But what of Timothy? Does he turn into a toad? Is he who he seems? Needless to say its not smooth sailing but is it ever?
A really cute and easy read. Nicely written, likeable characters and a feel good book. Not very paranormal, more she just happens to be a witch, so its leaning alot over to chick lit, but i found it refreshing to read after all the doom and gloom books i normally love to read.
Something to lift the spirits!
Read on behalf of Bewitching Tours for an honest review
The story line was pretty good, but Reeves started many ideas that she ended up not finishing within the novel. She did make it a series, but I felt that it could have been accomplished in a different way.
Funny story of a witch who turns guys into toads when she kisses them. Fun afternoon read.