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A review by rubeusbeaky
Moonshine & Magic by Bella Falls
2.0
This book reads like the mashup of Sookie Stackhouse and the 90's TV show Sabrina the Teenage Witch, but without any of the importance of the magic to the world/ambience/plot. And the "cozy" elements of the book don't build a comforting atmosphere, so much as complete a Southern Living Bingo chart. Here's a barn dance, here's a pecan pie, here's some sweet tea, here's a mechanic in a tight shirt... but do I FEEL any which way about them? Not a jot.
Secondary to "a girl comes home during a founder's festival, and galavants around with a bunch of hot guys, but ultimately picks herself" is a murder "mystery" plot. But the suspicious characters are so very obvious: A jealous, covetous aunt; a social-climbing ex-fiance; a mysterious outsider who seems to have quickly ingratiated himself into the family, all fighting over an inheritance. Too obvious, and could have existed in any other framework, the connection to magic or the southern setting being tenuous.
This book wasn't lacking in strong, whimsical characters, so it's not a complete waste of time. But it was thin and boring, for me. Avid readers, don't bother, you can find better magical worlds and better woven mysteries than this. Cozy readers, you do you, enjoy your popcorn book, no shame ^_^.
Secondary to "a girl comes home during a founder's festival, and galavants around with a bunch of hot guys, but ultimately picks herself" is a murder "mystery" plot. But the suspicious characters are so very obvious: A jealous, covetous aunt; a social-climbing ex-fiance; a mysterious outsider who seems to have quickly ingratiated himself into the family, all fighting over an inheritance. Too obvious, and could have existed in any other framework, the connection to magic or the southern setting being tenuous.
This book wasn't lacking in strong, whimsical characters, so it's not a complete waste of time. But it was thin and boring, for me. Avid readers, don't bother, you can find better magical worlds and better woven mysteries than this. Cozy readers, you do you, enjoy your popcorn book, no shame ^_^.