I have really enjoyed Madelyn Alt’s series featuring “Maggie O’Neill – Stony Mill Indiana’s newest witch”. At this point the love life of Maggie has finally straightened out (of course if you have NOT read the previous books I am not going to let slip WHO the paramour is) as has her understanding that she is a sensitive, empath. This is NOT something that the rest of Stony Mill would smile upon but within the N.I.G.H.T.S paranormal group headed up by Maggie’s boss Liss she has found a group of like minded people. 

There is, of course, a murder to solve… but the main mysteries in this book are relationship based. Maggie herself is growing more and more confident in her relationship while a few of the ones around her fall to pieces. There is quite the cast of characters as usual… Maggie’s mother, who is a tough cookie and rather hard to take in large doses, her sister Mel who ends up giving birth to… surprise there too! Don’t forget her feisty Grandpa and her best friend Stef with her boyfriend Dr Dan. Oh the list goes on! 

This book is not as heavy on the mystery as previous ones have been but there is so much going on I really didn’t miss it. I would suggest you start this series at the beginning and then read them ALL… the first book is The Trouble With Magic. Follow Maggie as she learns all about her gifts and what they mean to herself and the people around her!

A Witch in Time

And I am back with the second book in the Stacy Justice series… Bloodstone. The series is officially called Reluctant Witch Mysteries. This book is slightly different from the first in that there are TWO points of view. The usual Stacy Justice first person alternating with some journal entries done by the young unknown girl Ivy who is at the center of one of the mysteries.

With Ivy comes the usual group of characters, Stacy’s two aunts and grandma (all witches), her two love interests and the lady who runs the local (unusual) bar. Sadly Cinnamon the cousin who featured so prominently in the first book (and who I LOVED) is gone on vacation for the first half of this one she is just a riot.

 Now I start with some spoilers from book 1 so if you have not read it… SCOOT! Well, after learning that Stacy can communicate with the dead (though no talk to, more visions and messages in code) and the mystery of the bar being burnt down was solved she faced the other running mystery in the story… the individual constantly following her in the shadows. Well that turned out to be young Ivy who pronounced herself to be Stacy’s sister (while Ivy’s father is dead her mother just up and left one day so her status is unknown). Cinnamon at this time is gone to Ireland with her husband on a trip that was a gift to Stacy from her boyfriend at the time Leo (police chief) who she broke up with at the end of the book (thus the gifted trip).

With Leo out of the picture Stacy has rebuilt her FRIENDSHIP with Chance (a boyfriend from high school). I personally like Chance, he is a contractor and has a great sense of humour. Anyway, the appearance of Ivy has Stacy questioning what actually happened to her mother… the appearance of a dead body in her grandmother’s kitchen has her questioning a murder as well! 

There is a lot magical references, discussion of gifts and general chaos in this story. Barbra Anninodoes an excellent job off bringing you along through the insanity and humour all the while keeping you wondering who did it, who is this person to that person and what will be next! In this book you go deeper into the history of Stacy’s family and her magic, and the ride of course is a bumpy one. Stacy herself is quirky and outspoken so even simple dialogue is an absolute hoot. There are more questions than answers at the end of this one… hooking you even further on the series! A definite good read! 

Bloodstone

Two books in one actually! This was suggested by a couple friends to me when I first started my new author hunt and talk about a GEM! The first of the series is called Dead Witch Walking. There are a few things that struck me as amazing about this book – the main character is hilarious! The world is very well thought out and complex… I was instantly in love with the main characters really… the earth witch Rachel, her living vampire friend Ivy and Rachel’s pixie partner (business only) Jenks. I absolutely LOVE Jenks… 

Two books in one

The two titles

I don’t want to give away too much plot but in the first two books there is magic, demons, weres, pixies, faeries and so much more… Relationships are complex, friendships even more so… there are death threats, vampire run restaurants and a ton of action, tension, and adventure. The bad guys are not always bad and the good guys have to walk the line of good and bad… oh and the magic… amazing.

There is some sex in the books and of course violence so be forewarned, this is not as cozy as my first review and more along the lines of my manga review but with more magic and less Asian feel. The descriptive language is terrific, the jokes fly freely and you get so caught up in it you just have to have MORE! In fact, as I write this I am completing the FOURTH book in the series and have requested the 5th (the library had 1-4 and 6 or 7 I think but not number 5). Let me tell you – #4… A Fistful of Charms is just as good as book #1. So seriously check out Kim Harrison‘s Hollow’s series.