Charms and Chocolate Chips

Advice: do not read this book right after baking something.

So I had some bananas that went overripe on me and I whipped up a batch of banana muffins this afternoon. Afterward, I picked up Charms and Chocolate Chips to dive into the newest release in a series I'd definitely rank in my top 15 (maybe top 10).

4 Banana muffins later (thank god it's a low sugar recipe!!) I finished the book. I wasn't even that hungry, but the descriptions of decadent cookies, mini-pies, pound cake, muffins that this book is rife with...well, the deck was not stacked in the favour of self-discipline.

Anyway, now that the remaining muffins are in the freezer, from which they can't so easily jump onto my thighs, and the book is finished, I can say this was a show more very solid effort in a very solid series. I'd have rated it 4 stars, except that one character just irritated the fool out of me. If you guessed it to be the busy-body of the book, you'd be right. The author does get an extra credit point for making the busy body meddler Katie's uncle Ben, and not her aunt as is the stereotypical choice, but he was irritating nonetheless. Do family members actually meddle in their adult relatives love lives? If so, I'm going to have to re-evaluate my attitude about my own family. At least they mind their own business.

The rest of the cast of characters is, thankfully, delightful. Each one is likeable and knows when to butt out. Katie's mother makes an appearance in this book, and the results were maybe a little pie-in-the-sky, but I still found it reasonable and believable. The almost-love-triangle seems to be resolved, but luckily that doesn't mean either man disappears. I'm glad - I like both Steve and Declan and I look forward to reading more about them both in future books.

This is a book/series steeped deeply in paranormal and witchcraft, albeit a somewhat more cozy flavoured witchcraft. There's still plenty of evil but it's not as dark and oppressive. When I first started the series I was a little worried I'd be reading about Disney branded witchcraft, but that's not the case. There are themes in these books such as: what is light? what is dark? what can power do? the costs? benefits? It's not heavy, but it's not sweetness and light either. I appreciate what the author is trying to accomplish here and I think it works well within the confines of a cozy mystery.

The murder plot itself was very well done. I was completely led by the nose throughout most of the book and the ending was a thoroughly entertaining showdown.

I'll definitely be looking out for the next book and maybe Uncle Ben will get another hobby. show less

Katie Lightfoot (yes, I kind of hate her name too) thankfully wasn't too dampered by the previous diagnosis of what a unique witch she was at the end of the second book. While she's settling in with her powers in general, she makes sure to still keep her nose in crimes that keep popping up in her small town. This time it involves a weird tree, conservation morals, and another mini showdown between the female and male witches/warlocks/shamans/whatever.

Unfortunately the love triangle is still drawn, and sadly the edges of the triangle are still too clearly felt and seen. There's glimpses of hope around the corner sometimes that it may end and she'll end up with one guy for good, but you never know. It kind of looks like she makes her show more decision finally, but of course it's the wrong guy no reader wants her to end up with anyway, so does that really help things? NO.

Besides the return of the fun coven who complement each other because they dare to be different from each other, Katie's mother visits and it turns out fun. She was made to sound like a harpy in previous phone calls from the other books, but in person? A sweet old lady shooting out overprotective mothering and wise womanly vibes.

I'd love to visit a bakery like the one in these books. It comes across so cozy and makes me crave herb-filled scones, jam filled croissants, and a whole bunch of other things my waist doesn't need. The trick of putting herbs and spices designated for certain magical intentions in the food brings its own charm. The mystery is the front focus of the book, but the setting of the bakery helps make the cozy vibe feel sensational, and the side stories of her relationships with others in the small town makes it more interesting. show less

CHARMS AND CHOCOLATE CHIPS is a delightful continuation of the Magical Bakery Mystery series. This time around, Katie is faced with murky, woo woo filled swamps, endangered bats, and the mysterious murder of a local environmentalist.

First, I’ll get my complaint out of the way. In the first two books, Katie was being wooed by firefighter Declan and Druid/reporter Steve. She’s finally made her choice, and she picked the wrong guy! That’s strictly my opinion, of course. ;-) I’m still holding onto a glimmer of hope for my man.

Katie is a recent transplant to Savannah, and a lot has happened in her life since her arrival. She’s running an enchanted bakery with her aunt and uncle, practicing her craft as a hedge-witch, and becoming a show more skilled amateur sleuth. Katie also discovered that she is a light-witch and magical catalyst, which she’s having a hard time with. Basically, she must fight evil, and wrong situations seem to find her so she can right them.

The murder mystery in this book grabbed my attention. I really enjoyed the environmental angle, and the subtle magical elements too. When a volunteer at a the conservation group Georgia Wild is murdered, Katie is compelled to help track down her killer. The group is trying to stop a land development deal of a swamp from going through which threatens the habitat of an endangered, possibly extinct, bat. There were plenty of viable suspects, and though I picked out the killer early on, I wasn’t clear on the “why” until the end.

Katie is a down-to-earth, sensible character who’s doing a fine job as a newbie in the world of magic. She’s still very confused over the light-witch revelation (me too), and I’m hoping that gets explained better in the next book. Sweet Aunt Lucy and the rest of the Spellbook Club (a.k.a. Katie’s coven) play a big role in this story. I don’t know why, but I still have a hard time keeping track of who’s who, even after three books! I was a little annoyed with coven member Cookie this time. She was cold and distant to Katie the whole book, and her reason was kind of silly.

Overall, I enjoyed CHARMS AND CHOCOLATE CHIPS. Exciting mystery, enchanting setting, and bewitched baked goods. Looking forward to Katie’s next adventure. show less

If you follow my blogs, the reviews, or my youtube channel, I have a slight addiction to Cozy Mysteries. Okay, maybe not SLIGHT...a HUGE addiction to Cozies. But more specifically, I have a weakness for cooking and magical mysteries. They just tickle my fancy. My waist and my imagination expand while reading these types of books.

Bailey Cates' Magical Bakery Mystery does this to me everytime. I crave what ever it is that Katie and Lucy are making in the Honeybee Bakery and I want to know more about the magic that Katie is learning about herself. Expecially since I've dabbled in it as well.

This is the third installment in the series and it was just as amazing as the first two. You dive more into Declan and Katie's relationship. What it show more means to Katie to be a white witch, a pure witch. Is she a catalyst? So many questions.

While trying to put extra karma out in the world for herself Katie volutneers at with a conservation group trying to save extinct or endangered animals. She loves it even though she is working basically two jobs. Unfortunately, whether it was just a happanstance or if she really does cause these things to happen, someone from the conservation is killed.

Katie, surround by her coven, feels responsibile to figure out the 'whodunit', especially when it is not just her that is being threatened, but memebers of her Spell Book Club as well.

This was a delightful read. I love getting to know all of characters a little more as well as the AMAZING recipes at the back of the book. I can't wait to try out the peanutbutter cookies. show less

Katie our heroine and baker deluxe has once again stumbled on a dead body. This time it is somebody she knows an worked with. She soft of pretends like she might stay out of it but that goes against her nature and she dives in. This is not the only upset in her life, her mother shows up unexpectedly and there are some issues that need faced. There is a swamp, snakes, powerful trees, lawyers, ex's, powerful spells and some deviously yummy baked goodies.
Negatives: This one had a slow start for me the first 1/4 was just going nowhere slowly. There is some drama going on with her coven friend Cookie which just didn't fit in the story at all for me, it felt like the author wasn't sure what was going on either so she through something in real show more quick. I also miss the relationship triangle. it doesn't help that I think she is with the wrong guy !
Positives: 3/4 of the book was great fun, hard to put down or had me drooling for sugary snacks. The gingerbread recipe was one of the best I've ever eaten. I made it twice, enough my pants feel a little snug. LOL Katie is moving forward, growing stronger and has not backed down to please others. I like her even more.
Yes, I ordered the next book, it's on it's way to my door :D show less

Another good read in the series, I was guessing to the end. I'm usually not a fan of two guys going after a girl, but she'd already made her decision so it's not all a girl trying to decide between two guys so that's probably why it's not so annoying. I love the magic in this world it adds just a bit of the mystical I like in a book.

Cates is a pretty good author and did a good job w/ the mystery and the pacing. I definitely found myself reading through this quickly. I thought the occult stuff could lose some audience-members - it was a very persistent theme throughout the story - but it is the "schtick" with this series, so was certainly appropriate in that sense :) I probably won't read more in the series, but it was a fine way to pass a warm fall October day!