A review by jmbq_reads
In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones

4.0

Tabby and Sage Winslow, owners of the Book and Candle Shop in Savannah, are preparing for the holidays, but Sage's part-time work at the local nursery has suddenly become more stressful. Her boss Loren Lee has died after what seemed like a lingering illness, and Sage comes under suspicion after the autopsy reveals poison. On top of that, Sage has lost the assistant manager opening to the snide Mary Nicole, who has started bossing Sage around. And if that weren't enough, Sage catches her boyfriend Brindle cozied up to his office assistant at home late one night. Something strange is going on, and since Sage is too overwrought to see things clearly, Tabby steps in to investigate once more.

This second book in the Magic Candle Shop series is a more captivating read than the first. A few seemingly unrelated incidents soon prove to have a common thread, and the pacing picks up as Tabby puts the pieces together. I appreciated the deeper character development here: Sage is still problematic in her use of her magic, but I think the ending left some hope for her redemption. Other character details, like Quig's affinity for Tabby's energy work as well as Frankie's past and future with Auntie O, were left open-ended enough for them to become more well-developed in future books.

I look forward to seeing this series develop further. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you, Crooked Lane and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.