Book #Review ~ Mistletoe Mojo by Erin Johnson #CozyMystery #ErinJohnson

Mistletoe Mojo by Erin Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Welcome back to Holiday Haven. Rudie is getting married! She and Archer are tying the knot at the funeral home Rudie owns and operates with her sisters, Donna and Vix. As she’s planning the wedding, Rudie is also chairing a volunteer group, collecting money to aid the local orphanage. Just days before the wedding, while dropping of the orphanage donations, Rudy and several family members and friends, come across a murder scene.

Rudie is a fun, caring, and interesting character. She’s not perfect but continues to try and embrace who she is and her abilities. I love the relationship Rudie has with her sisters Donna and Vix. When Archer enters the scene, Rudie lights up and I enjoyed her interactions with him.

I really enjoyed this paranormal cozy mystery and found the setting and characters to be interesting and exciting. I was completely engaged in the story. There were some twists and turns in the quest to catch the killer. There are multiple threads woven through Mistletoe Mojo that keep the story fresh and interesting. The book was fast paced and easy to follow. I have yet to read an unlikable book by Erin Johnson. Her paranormal cozies are fun, include quirky but loveable characters, and an intriguing mystery.


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Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CdulBa

Cozy Mystery Book Review ~ Solstice Spirits (Winter Witches of Holiday Haven) by Erin Johnson

Have yourself a very Merry Witchmas in July in Holiday Haven, where the magic and mystery of Christmas is snow joke!

Rudie Hollybrook, here! I love my quaint, magical town of Holiday Haven. It’s basically like living in a snow globe.

I’m killing it (oops) directing my family’s funeral home where I work with my two zany sisters and am head over heels for my boyfriend, the editor of the local paper. It’s all going swimmingly until the annual Summer Solstice pool party...when it all goes down in an avalanche of trouble.

Suddenly, I’m not the only witch in town who can see ghosts! My arch nemesis, Hayley Swift, is being haunted by the spirit of a dead beauty queen who died sixty years ago amid rumors of murder.

Even worse? The ghost seems to be warning Hayley that she’s in for the same, tragic fate!

Now, I’ve got to team up with my least favorite grinch to solve the decades old cold case and keep her out of trouble (even though Hayley seems to go looking for it). And to complicate matters, I overhear something that makes me fear I’ll soon have to pick between my beloved hometown and the man who has my heart!

Can I melt the mystery around the beauty queen’s death in time to save Hayley? And how will I make an impossible choice?

Solstice Spirits is the stand-alone sequel to Cocoa Curses. It’s a clean, cozy mystery with no gore or profanity. “If you love paranormal cozy mysteries, with witches, magic and small town drama you will love this book.”

Curl up with a cup of iced cocoa and get comfy on your beach towel for an escape to a charming town full of lovable, memorable characters, imaginative details, clever mysteries and jolly jokes that’ll have you in the holiday spirit, any time of year.

And be sure to read the other magical mysteries in the Winter Witches of Holiday Haven series.

Add to Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58460003-solstice-spirits

Purchase from Amazon https://amzn.to/3jZfDIM

Book Details:

ASIN: ‎ B097S2PHGY
Publication Date: ‎ July 8, 2021
Print Length: ‎ 121 pages

My Review:

Rudie is the only witch in Holiday Haven who can see ghosts.....Until she's not. When snobby and self-centered Hayley Swift shows up in the dead of night claiming she can see ghosts, of course she shows up in the middle of the night, when Rudie is sleeping. Hayley's long-dead aunt seeks Hayley out with a warning. Apparently someone is out to killer her just as the former-beauty queen was killed. Now, Hayley demands Rudie help her figure out what is going on. What ensues is the informal investigation into the death and some pretty serious revelations leaving not only the characters, but me, reeling.

Rudie is a fun, caring, and interesting character. She’s not perfect but continues to try and embrace who she is and her abilities. She reminds me of myself – non-confrontational and puts up with a lot of garbage from others. Her low self-esteem prevents her from standing up for herself. She does do a bit better regarding Hayley's demands but still has a long way to go to not be a doormat. I love the relationship Rudie has with her sisters Donna and Vix. When Archer enters the scene, Rudie lights up and I enjoyed her interactions with him. How he treats Rudie really impressed me. I enjoyed Rudie's scenes with Archer, with her sisters, and will everyone in a group.

I really enjoyed this paranormal cozy mystery and found the story, setting, and characters interesting and exciting. I was completely engaged in the story. There were some twists and turns in the quest to find out what happened to Hayley's aunt. There are multiple threads woven through Solstice Spirits, keeping the story fresh and interesting. The book was fast paced and easy to follow. I have yet to read an unlikable book by Erin Johnson. Her paranormal cozies are fun, include quirky but loveable characters, and an intriguing mystery.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

Book #Review ~ With Scream and Sugar: The Vampire Tea Room Magical Mysteries, Book 2 by Erin Johnson

With Scream and Sugar
Vampire Tea Room Magical Mystery, Book 2
ASIN: B08TCH57TL
Publication Date: February 10, 2021
Print Length: 162 pages

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About the Book:

You’d expect serving afternoon tea to a high-society ladies club to go smoothly, right?

Newbie witch and marketing whiz Minnie Wells thought so. She’s in need of some smooth sailing, considering her plate is full with magic lessons, marketing the tea room, and navigating a divorce during the most romantic time of the year. But the women’s “Galentine’s” Day celebration is thrown into chaos when their event coordinator is stabbed in the back with a pink stiletto.

Now her handsome boss (who Minnie might have a little crush on) is in hot water with the vampire council and the group’s down a guide.

When Minnie’s offered the position for the weekend, she eagerly agrees to show the women around the gorgeous city of Bath. Not only to make some extra cash so she and her black cat can stop crashing on her vampire bestie’s couch, but also because she’ll get an an all-access pass to snoop out the killer and clear her boss’s name.

When another body turns up though, Minnie suspects she may be in over her head!

Will Minnie figure out who’s got it out for these upper class ladies and save her boss from the vampire council’s wrath? Or will the killer tire of Minnie’s meddling, and have a score to kettle?

My Review:

Minnie's marketing work for the Bath Butler Café has been a huge success. The café is growing in popularity and most days, every table is occupied. The book begins with a large group of women coming in to celebrate "Galentine's Day" on Valentine's weekend. During the event, a couple scuffles take place, and the event coordinator is found dead outside the tea house. This puts everyone on police radar, and Fitz on the vampire council radar. In order to save the reputation of Bath Butler Café, and possible the undead life of Fitz, Minnie must figure out who had it out for the coordinator

Minnie is a fun character. She's kind and caring and completely devoted to the Bath Butler Café. Her marketing techniques have put the tearoom on the map. She is selfless and stands up to the vampire council in an effort to protect Fitz. How can you not love her for that?! I love Minnie's interactions with Fitz. The ending wasn't what I was hoping for, but the series is young and there is still time to flesh out the romantic angles.

I've been a huge fan of Erin Johnson since Seashells, Spells & Caramels (Spells & Caramels, Book1) was released in 2017. I was excited to learn about the upcoming Vampire Tea Room Magical Mysteries series. Spelling the Tea is a fantastic book. I enjoyed the setting, the characters, and the mystery. Minnie is a fun character, determined to earn her place at Bath Butler Cafe. The secondary characters round out a wonderful cast. The author's writing style, the pacing, and story kept me engaged. I loved the book and can't wait to see what happens with Minnie next!

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

#CozyMystery #Review ~ Spelling the Tea by Erin Johnson @EJohnsonWrites ~ The Vampire Tea Room Magical Mysteries Series, Book 1

Welcome to the coziest, vampire-owned tea room in Bath! It’s steeped in magic and mystery.

You’re supposed to support your guy, right? Even if it means moving away from the watery source of your witchy magic and suffering through five years of writer's block?

Minnie Wells thought so, until her soon-to-be-ex left her high and dry for another woman. Now, she’s back in Bath, with the magic of the town’s enchanted springs flowing through her veins, ready to explore her newbie witch powers and pen her novel. Bath inspired her favorite writer Jane Austen, after all. Why wouldn’t it work for her?

Only catch is, once the divorce is final, Minnie will be deported back to the US (and she’ll lose her powers all over again) unless she can convince the haughty (and handsome) vampire owner of a struggling tea room to hire her.

As if her cup didn’t already runneth over with trouble, an employee drops dead during her interview.

Now Minnie’s got to solve the murder to clear the cafe’s name, while figuring out a way to bring in more customers. With the help of her vampire roommate and black cat familiar, she’s hot on the killer’s trail. But when the murderer sets Minnie in their sights, she’ll have to tap into her own inner strength (and magic) to save herself, and bring the killer to justice.

Will Minnie solve the murder and save the vampire’s tea room? Or will she find herself in hot water with the killer?

ASIN : B08QNCVLZ3
Publication date : January 27, 2021
Print length : 186 pages
Purchase from Amazon
Add to Goodreads

My Review:

Minnie Wells is having a rough time. She's in the middle of a divorce, unable to find a job after being let go from her ex's company, and she's facing deportation. Fortunately, she has Gus, a vampire friend, who's taken her in and gotten her an interview in a tearoom. Unfortunately, not only is the owner not hiring, but he also has an employee drop dead after escorting Minnie to the restroom. If the owner thought his sales were down before, wait until people hear about the death.

Minnie wants to help find out what happened to the butler. She also wants to prove to the owner that she would be an asset to the flailing business. She enlists the help of Gus and her kitty familiar to work through the possible reasons, motives, and suspects. Her amateur sleuthing, witchy magic, and friends will either assist the police in identifying a killer or put Minnie in the killer's sights.

Minnie is a fun character. She is bound and determined to find a way to stay in Bath, near the springs that activate her powers. If she gets shipped back to the US, her powers become dormant and she doesn't want that to happen. Her plan involves aiding Fitz, an old-fashioned tearoom owning vampire. He's resistant but Minnie continues to plead her case about how her marketing experience will put the tearoom on the map. I love Minnie's interactions with Fitz.

I've been a huge fan of Erin Johnson since Seashells, Spells & Caramels (Spells & Caramels, Book1) was released in 2017. I was excited to learn about the upcoming Vampire Tea Room Magical Mysteries series. Spelling the Tea is a fantastic book. I enjoyed the setting, the characters, and the mystery. Minnie is a fun character, determined to earn her place at Bath Butler Cafe. The secondary characters round out a wonderful cast. The author's writing style, the pacing, and story kept me engaged. I loved the book and can't wait to see what happens with Minnie next!

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

Cocoa Curses: A Christmas Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Winter Witches of Holiday Haven #5) by Erin Johnson @EJohnsonWrites

Hardworking witch, Rudie Hollybrook, adores her quaint town of Holiday Haven, located near Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, but can’t help feeling like an outsider. Not only does she have the unique ability to see ghosts, but she also runs the Hollybrook Funeral Home with her sisters. In a town where the holiday cheer is turned up to eleven all year round, Rudie’s slightly eerie abilities make her feel like a misfit.

While volunteering at the Christmas Market days before the big celebration, Rudie witnesses a tragedy. One of the volunteer club’s chairwomen is murdered by poisonous hot cocoa, sending the charming town reeling.

When Rudie’s tasked by the dead woman’s ghost to find her killer, she teams up with her crush at the local paper to do some sleuthing. Together, they uncover embezzlement, bribery and an illegal potions ring, all with ties to the murdered woman. Could it be the rebellious teenage granddaughter with a less-than-stellar taste in men? Or maybe the town doctor with a mysterious past? Rudie’s investigation even leads her to suspect her nemesis, the bully with a history of getting what she wants--no matter the cost.

With the countdown to Christmas nearly at an end, and the restless spirit threatening to haunt her holiday, Rudie races to catch the cocoa killer and make her beloved town safe again.

Will Rudie unmask the culprit and prove she’s a vital member of this charming Christmas town? Or will a murderer roam free and ruin Christmas for all of Holiday Haven?

Print length : 143 pages
Publication date : November 11, 2020
ASIN : B08L415638
Amazon

Rudie Hollybrook lives in the town of Holiday Haven, near Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole. Holiday Haven is a happy and cheery town, leaving Rudie a bit misplaced. She’s always seen herself as an outsider since she can see ghosts and operates a funeral parlor with her sisters, Vix and Donna.

Despite feeling like an outsider and dealing with a bully, Rudie makes sure to include herself as part of the community by volunteering at the Christmas Market. During the festivities, one of the chairwomen of the committee, Phillippa, falls down dead. Of course, the departed woman’s ghost appears to Rudie, stating she was murdered and insisting Rudie solve her murder. Not wanting to be haunted by an irate ghost, Rudie puts on her sleuthing cap and does her best to ferret out a killer.

Rudie is a fun, caring, and interesting character. She’s not perfect but continues to try and embrace who she is and her abilities. She reminds of myself – non-confrontational and puts up with a lot of garbage from others. Her low self-esteem prevents her from standing up for herself. I love the relationship Rudie has with her sisters Donna and Vix. When Archer enters the scene, Rudie lights up and I enjoyed her interactions with him. How he treats Rudie really impressed me.

I really enjoyed this paranormal cozy mystery and found the setting and characters to be interesting and exciting. I was completely engaged in the story. There were some twists and turns in the quest to catch the killer. There are multiple threads woven through Cocoa Curses that keep the story fresh and interesting. The book was fast paced and easy to follow. I have yet to read an unlikable book by Erin Johnson. Her paranormal cozies are fun, include quirky but loveable characters, and an intriguing mystery.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.