The fun continues and I am really enojoying myself with these magical murder mysteries. ( )

Cute read I like how the main characters identity and story is unfolding with each installment of the series. ( )

Digital audio read by C.S.E. Cooney

Book two in the Charmed Pie Shoppe series, starring Ella Mae LeFaye, who discovered her magical powers in book one of the series. In this outing she’s been hired to cater a wedding, and she’s experimenting with her new craft, trying to understand how she got these powers and getting tutored by her mother, her aunts and her protector and pie-shop partner, Reba. She’s also warming up to handsome Hugh Dylan. But when a prominent citizen dies and a wedding guest gets ill, her business is suspect, and she feels she must investigate.

I like this installment much better than the first or third book. I was more entertained by the cozy mystery aspect, and as Ella Mae is learning about her family’s magical history, this reader is beginning to understand some of the relationships. I did find out how it came to be that her mother becomes a tree (a major plot point in book 3), and at least that subsequent book makes more sense to me now…though I’m not changing my rating of it. I guess this series really should be read in order.

It’s not great literature, but I did find it entertaining (if predictable). The text version includes some interesting recipes for various pies – both savory and dessert.

C.S.E. Cooney does a reasonable job on the audio. I think her accents are a bit over-the-top (especially for Reba), but she sets a good pace and has clear diction. ( )

Excellent Light read ( )

This book had a couple of twists I did not see coming. All in all very good, but a bit sad. ( )