A Spell for Trouble

A wholly-original, debut cozy-mystery that certainly ups the ante for this genre. Multi-layered story lines, atmospheric cultural interest, along with a healthy dose of the fantastical, add just the right flavors to draw readers in. I reached the last page reluctantly, left with a yearning for just a taste of Aunt Lidia's delectable Polish cooking, eager for an alchemy and spells lesson from Cousin Minka, and wishing I could drop in for a day to walk around the beautiful Bellamy Bay.

A big thank you to Goodreads, Crooked Lane, and Esme Addison for providing a free copy of this book via Goodreads Giveways

Alex Daniels is in a rut and desperately due for a life makeover. Her father, who raised her alone since her mother drowned when Alex show more was just a girl, has just died. Alex has also just parted ways with her fancy New York City employer, in a career she loved. She's feeling rudderless and decides that visiting her mother's family in North Carolina, whom she hasn't seen in 20 years, might be just what she needs right now.

But, as you might expect, things with her family, and the town of Bellamy Bay, are not all that they seem. Quite tied to her newly-revived family connections, Alex can't stop herself from investigating when her Aunt Lidia is arrested for murder. But, will she solve the case before she, or others of her family, get hurt?

Take this one to the beach, or save it for a rainy day by the fireplace. Ms. Addison is a talented storyteller who won't disappoint lovers of the mystery genre, and may just draw some converts along the way. show less

A SPELL FOR TROUBLE kicks off the new Enchanted Bay Mystery series featuring former risk assessor, Alex Daniels. After some trouble at her New York office, Alex accepts an offer to visit her Bellamy Bay relatives whom she hasn’t seen in many years. There is much she didn’t know about her long lost aunt and cousins and their enchanted apothecary shop, and all the family secrets start bubbling to the top when Aunt Lidia is arrested for murder.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The good: I loved the charming setting of Bellamy Bay and the Polish folklore that was woven into Alex’s family history. The world-building set a solid foundation for the series going forward. What I struggled with: Alex did some silly things that put the show more case and herself in jeopardy, especially since she has a career in risk management. I also thought the mystery itself wasn’t that interesting once the “whys” starting being revealed. However there was a nifty twist regarding the culprit that I enjoyed.

With its magical roots I’m looking forward to seeing where this series goes in future books.

Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less

A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison
Book #1: Enchanted Bay Mystery Series
Source: NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books
Rating: 4/5 stars

Alex Daniels has spent her life in the dark: in the dark about how her mother really died, in the dark about her mother’s family, and in the dark about her own connection to magic. Alex’s father was determined to never allow his daughter to succumb to the same fate as her mother and in an effort to protect her, he has inadvertently cut her off from the only people who can truly help her, her mother’s family.

In the wake of her father’s death, Alex has decided to reconnect with her mother’s family and spend some time in Bellamy Bay. The quaint little seaside town is just what Alex needs to soothe her show more soul and her mind and help her decide what her next life steps should be. Not one to lay about or shirk her responsibilities, Alex agrees to help her aunt and cousin in their small herbal apothecary. Though Alex doesn’t particularly believe in magic and woowoo, magic and woowoo believe in her and she quickly discovers there is far more to her family than she ever suspected.

As if her life weren’t already changing at the speed of light, the knowledge of her family’s gifts also comes with a terrifying murder that her aunt is accused of committing. Though she’s no detective, Alex can’t allow her aunt to be falsely accused of murder, so she begins poking about and asking questions. Trouble is, Alex is the new kid in town and her poking takes her to places her mother fought hard to keep her from, like magic and woowoo and old and dangerous family rivalries. Determined to help, Alex not only takes a more active role in the family business, she also begins training to control and wield her magic so that she might clear her aunt’s name.

Magic, like murder isn’t something to be trifled with and as Alex quickly learns not all wielders of magic have good intentions. Alex’s investigation brings her into contact with one of Bellamy Bay’s oldest and most powerful family’s, a family she learns has no love for her own family and a grudge that has been passed down through the generations. Unfortunately, to unveil the actual culprit of the crime, Alex must work with at least one member of the rival family and though trust is at a premium, she has to trust someone in order to get the help she needs. As she comes ever closer to discovering the truth, Alex also comes closer to true danger and as a new magic wielder, she may not be totally equipped to handle what she’s facing.

The Bottom Line: What a fun new series for me! This one has all the stuff I love about cozy mysteries: a quaint, small town setting, a wonderful little business that isn’t at all what it appears to be, characters with power and secrets, and a plot that took me into the history/backstory of the characters and town. Everything sort of comes together in this first-in-a-series read and I was delighted with the outcome. There’s a lot to be had in this book and much of what is thrown at the reader – especially the backstory and history - is in an effort to set up future books and plot lines. I can see a ton of potential and room for growth in this series and its characters and I sincerely hope that is what will come to pass. show less

I think I have found a new favorite cozy mystery series! A Spell for Trouble is the first book in the new Enchanted Bay Mysteries.

Alex Daniels comes back to Bellamy Bay, NC after years away. Her father didn't like her Aunt Lidia and her cousins. He said they were odd and not like them, and made her promise never to go back. But after his death, she goes back for some family comfort. What else do you do when you quit your job without a plan B? Her Aunt Lidia runs a herbal apothecary shop, Botanika. It sells tea, herbal remedies and a few extra things....luck potions and the like. Alex quickly feels a part of the family again and starts to think about how to put her life back together. But.....

There's always a but, isn't there?? show more

But.....her aunt is suddenly arrested for murder. A troublesome customer is found dead....and Aunt Lidia is blamed. Alex knows she needs to do some serious sleuthing...because while her family exhibits some strange talents....her aunt is not a murderer!

This tale is cute, entertaining and fun to read! It made for a great afternoon of reading!! I like the setting (because I live in NC, I love reading cozies set here!), the characters and the basic plot. I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book!! Luckily Esme Addison is currently working on the second book in this series....plus the first book in another new series! I will definitely be reading both!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** show less

When Alex’s mother died when she (Alex) was a kid, her father avoided taking her on visits to her mother’s family. And so far years now, she has been out of touch with her aunt and her cousins. But now that her father has also passed on, she decides to take them up on the offer to stay with them in their small coastal town of Bellamy Bay for a little while. Alex’s aunt runs an old-fashioned apothecary, and many in town seem to think her teas and tonics are particularly good at what they claim to do on the tin. As it turns out, much to Alex’s surprise, it’s all true because her mother’s side of the family are all water witches, which means she is, too. She helps out at the store while learning to control her newly-discovered show more magic, and then a local real estate mogul is murdered and Alex’s aunt is the top suspect. So she sets out to prove the cops wrong and solve the case herself, all while flirting with one of the detectives *and* one of her own main suspects (two separate hotties).

An okay first entry in a cozy series, but not enough of interest to convince me to continue. I enjoyed it, but I didn’t *love* it. show less

Alex Daniels has run into a bit of personal problems including unemployment, so she has accepted the invitation of her aunt to visit Bellamy Bay, NC and reconnect with her mother's family. During her time helping at her Aunt Lidia's herbal shop, Alex learns that she is descended from "mermaids" and is a water witch. When her aunty is arrested for a murder, Alex is determined to use her emerging powers to prove her innocent.

This was a fun story introducing Alex and her family. I can see many happy hours in the future in their company

A Spell For Trouble is the first book in the An Enchanted Bay Mystery series.

Alex Daniels is looking to turn her life around. Her company has passed her up for a promotion and she is still recovering from her father’s recent passing. Then she receives an invitation from her Aunt Lidia to come to Bellamy Bay, NC for a visit with her and her cousins. Alex hasn’t seen them for nearly twenty years, ever since her mother passed and her father didn’t want Alex to have anything to do with them and offering no explanation why.

Alex arrives in Bellamy Bay and while getting reacquainted with Aunt Lidia and her cousins, Minka and Kamila, Alex learns that Aunt Lidia and Minka have a herbal apothecary store. She welcomes the chance to help out show more at the store when Aunt Lidia asks her. One of the first customers she waits on is Randy Bennett who is looking for a potion that will bring him luck, it seems he is going through a messy divorce. When Lidia comes to
the front of the store she tells him to get and an argument breaks out and it soon escalates and finally, Lidia lifts him and slams him against a wall.

The next morning the body of Bennett is found in his home with the package of tea he had recently purchased from Lidia’s shop beside him. Early in the police investigation, Lidia is considered a possible suspect, but when they also learn of her confrontation and autopsy results showed he died from poisoning from the tea he had recently purchased, Lidia is soon arrested for his murder, but will soon be released on house arrest. Alex will now set out to clear her aunt’s name. She soon finds there is no shortage of suspects.

Shortly after arriving in Bellamy Bay Alex learns that she, her aunt, and family are water witches. She learns that her aunt’s coven has been warring with another faction for years and begins to wonder if they might be responsible for the murder and are trying to blame her aunt’s witches.

The book is well-written and has an enjoyable cast of believable characters. Witchcraft plays a good part in the book, but just lightly touches on the practice of witchcraft. show less