This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton Series: Sugar Maple #1
Published by Berkley on November 4, 2008
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal Romance
Pages: 308
Format: Paperback
Source: Library
Purchase Links: Amazon
Goodreads
Magic. Knitting. Love. A new series and a delightful departure by the USA Today bestselling author of Just Desserts.
Sugar Maple looks like any Vermont town, but it's inhabited with warlocks, sprites, vampires, witches and an ancient secret. And Chloe Hobbs, owner of Sticks & String, a popular knitting shop, has a big secret too. She's a sorcerer's daughter in search of Mr. Right and she's found him in Luke MacKenzie, a cop investigating Sugar Maple's very first murder. Bad news is he's 100% human, which could spell disaster for a normal future with a paranormal woman like her.
Casting Spells is book one in the Sugar Maple series by Barbara Bretton.
I went into this one think it was a cozy mystery, but it focused on the romance more then the mystery and so this is a paranormal cozy mystery romance. It had a verity of paranormal elements with a dash of mystery and spark of magic.
I liked the portal the author did on the picture-perfect town. It’s a sleepy New England town, but everyone who lives in it is magical – supernatural. It’s a haven for supernaturals. A place for them to live protected from the outside world.
Chloe is the last of her line. Her family cast a spell to protect the village a long time ago and as long as their is a female descendant inhabiting the village the town is protected.
I enjoyed the story. I liked Chloe’s backstory and her knitting shop, but I was surprised with the towns people. They where all against her, blame her for something she has no control over at least at this point in her life, but what really got to me was her friends. They kept telling her that the man she has sparks with isn’t the one for her, even though she clearly has magical sparks with him. It was sad to see her friends not support her and it was upsetting to see the town not have faith in her.
The side mystery on who killed one of the visitors to the town and who is out to get Chloe was ok. I I had a feeling on who the evil villain would be.
As for reading on in the series I’m not sure I will. I read the blurb for Book 2, Laced with Magic, and I am not a fan of ex’s returning whether their ex-wife or ex-girlfriend. That trope is a turn off for me and irks me.
Rated: 3 Stars
Was this review helpful? If so, please consider liking it on Goodreads (Angela)!
Challenge(s) (2018): Library Love / Try Something New
About Barbara Bretton
Barbara Bretton is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of more than 40 books. She currently has over ten million copies in print around the world. Her works have been translated into twelve languages in over twenty countries.
Barbara has been featured in articles in The New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Romantic Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Herald News, Home News, Somerset Gazette,among others, and has been interviewed by Independent Network News Television, appeared on the Susan Stamberg Show on NPR, and been featured in an interview with Charles Osgood of WCBS, among others.
Her awards include both Reviewer’s Choice and Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times; Gold and Silver certificates from Affaire de Coeur; the RWA Region 1 Golden Leaf; and several sales awards from Bookrak. Ms. Bretton was included in a recent edition of Contemporary Authors.
Barbara loves to spend as much time as possible in Maine with her husband, walking the rocky beaches and dreaming up plots for upcoming books.
Discover more from Angel's Book Nook
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Hmm. I wish you had liked it better but I’m glad to know about it. I love witches and knitting. So Maybe. Thanks for the review. Anne – Books of My Heart
I’m not sure how I found this book or series, but I did. The only thing I new going in was it was a paranormal mystery I wasn’t expecting the romance. I wish I had liked it better, but it just turned out ok. Not sure if I’ll continue on, but I gave it a try.
I’ve enjoyed other books by this author so this could be a good one for me. That cover is so wonderful. And it would fit in perfectly for my Cozy November feature.
I love this first edition cover. Now the covers are different and don’t show as much. I will say I found the cover cute and it helped to pull me in. That’s great you have enjoyed other books by this author. I’ll have to see what else she has written. I had a good enough time with Casting Spells. I was disappointed in the town and friends, which does take away for me. You want a character to have a good support system and friendships.
Thank you!!
The town and her friends weren’t nice. I couldn’t believe how against her they are especially since her family is THE family that protects the town. It was upsetting. The main character wasn’t bad.
Great review angela! Shared on all my socials!!??
Oh I do not think I’d like that town or her friends. I’ve read ones like that before where I enjoyed the main characters but everyone else made me real mad.