Eh. I generally enjoy Bailey Cates' writing, but a few of my least favorite tropes were trotted out for this one: the relationship crossroads; the ex's last ditch effort (which was SO transparently meant to give Steve an HEA) at reconciliation; the jealousy bit with Mungo the dog... eh.

The mystery plotting didn't light up my disco ball either. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great; too few clues and a reliance on the 'lightbulb' moment at the very end. Reading Golden Age mysteries is ruining my mediocre tastes.

Still, a relaxing enough read when one's brain has been overtaxed in real life. ( )

This was a pretty good mystery, I'd thought that the murderer was the husband, not the sister even though I'd had the motive correct. But now that Katie has accepted the proposal does that mean Steve is out of the series or is he going to be in serious bad guy mode. My best guess is that he'll turn this books problem around and stop the marriage before it gets that far.



Have to wait until November 7th 2017, for the next book to see if any of my guesses are correct. ( )

It is like a souffle that never raises. Found a bit boring, some holes in the story and too much Declan and too few coven. ( )

Katie Lightfoote owns the Honeybee Bakery in Savannah, Georgia, along with her Aunt Lucy and Uncle Ben. Katie and her aunt are also witches, having a Spellbook Club (informal coven) which meets at the bakery. The Honeybee catered a book signing at the bookstore next to the bakery. A well-known self-help and relationship expert was on the start of her book signing tour. However, the author was heckled and called a fraud by several people in the audience, including a non-practicing witch whose marriage broke up after she followed the author's advice. After the book signing, the author is found dead in the bookshop. Katie has to find out who the killer is for several good reasons.

I always enjoy this series. However, this is not the best entry, as the plot seemed awfully thin. There were a few interesting twists and turns which kept me reading. I did have a problem with the actions of several of the secondary characters, which seemed very out of character in their behavior. That bothered me a lot. This book seems more like a bridge between the last book of the series and whatever new book may be in the works. It was a a cute read, but nothing terribly earth shattering. ( )

Spells and Scones is the sixth book in the A Magical Bakery Mystery series.

The bookstore down the street from the Honeybee Bakery is having Dr. Dana Dobbs to sign her new book. One attendee starts telling every that her advice almost ruined his relationship with his current wife and a lady, Angie Kissel who has been accused of stalking Dr. Dana. At the end of the signing, Dr. Dana goes to stockroom in the back to sign the remaining stock of her books. She is soon found dead and Katie’s aunt Lucie is sure that she has been poisoned.

Katie soon finds out the Angie is a former practicing witch and that Mungo, Katie’s familiar was once Angie’s. With a pleading look, Mungo is able to convince Katie that Angie is innocent and Katie starts to look for the real killer. With the help of the members of her spellbook club, she hopes to learn who the killer is before she becomes the next victim.

Delectable recipes are also included in the book.

Looking forward to another book in this series. ( )