This was a grand adventure, I told myself. ~ Opening of Brownies and Broomsticks
Brownies and Broomsticks (Magical Bakery Mystery #1) by Bailey Cates, Narrated by Johanna Parker
Brownies and Broomsticks (Magical Bakery Mystery #1) by Bailey Cates, Narrated by Johanna Parker
Signet/NAL, 2012 (Tantor Audio, 2013)
Crime Fiction (Paranormal/Cozy); 7 hrs and 4 minutes
Brownies and Broomsticks is a fun romp of mystery and magic. I enjoyed settling in as Johanna Parker read Bailey Cates's novel featuring Katie Lightfoot, who recently moved to Savannah, Georgia to work in her aunt and uncle's bakery. Katie is a master in the kitchen, baking irresistible treats I am sure I would not be able to refuse. She has also just learned she is a witch. When Katie's uncle becomes the prime suspect in a murder of a not-so-well-liked woman in town, Katie is determined to investigate on her own.
While Katie probably should leave things to the police (Detective Quinn seems more than capable), she does uncover helpful clues that point her in an altogether different direction than her uncle. Nosiness aside, Katie generally remembers to take someone along with her when the situation seems questionable. Whether it be a fellow witch from her aunt's coven, or DeClan McCarthy, a local firefighter, and Steve Dawes, the local reporter, who are both more than willing to help when Katie calls. Of course, the two men's interest goes behind just wanting to be neighborly. Katie herself is coming off a bad relationship and unwilling to get involved with someone else just yet--but she's not above finding both men rather attractive.
I enjoyed getting to know Katie and the cast of characters in Brownies and Broomsticks. From the eccentric coven members who all have their own interesting backstories to the residents in the dead woman's apartment complex, DeClan and Dawes, Detective Quinn, and some of the Honeybee costumers, it was hard not to be taken in by the charm of them all.
I felt that the mystery was well done. While I had my suspicions who was behind the murder, the reality was bit more complicated than that. I liked the introduction of magic and the way it was used to help solve the crime. I also appreciated Katie's initial disbelief--who wouldn't be skeptical having grown up in a world without magic?
This seems a perfect choice for this time of year, with Halloween and all. It was a quick listen and likely would be a quick read. I enjoyed Johanna Parker's narration and would be interested in listening to more of her work. While perhaps not a stand out cozy read, Bailey Cates's Brownies and Broomsticks kept me entertained and I wouldn't mind spending more time with Katie and her new coven.
To learn more about Bailey Cates (aka Cricket McRae & Bailey Catrell) and her work, please visit the author's website. You can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.
While Katie probably should leave things to the police (Detective Quinn seems more than capable), she does uncover helpful clues that point her in an altogether different direction than her uncle. Nosiness aside, Katie generally remembers to take someone along with her when the situation seems questionable. Whether it be a fellow witch from her aunt's coven, or DeClan McCarthy, a local firefighter, and Steve Dawes, the local reporter, who are both more than willing to help when Katie calls. Of course, the two men's interest goes behind just wanting to be neighborly. Katie herself is coming off a bad relationship and unwilling to get involved with someone else just yet--but she's not above finding both men rather attractive.
I enjoyed getting to know Katie and the cast of characters in Brownies and Broomsticks. From the eccentric coven members who all have their own interesting backstories to the residents in the dead woman's apartment complex, DeClan and Dawes, Detective Quinn, and some of the Honeybee costumers, it was hard not to be taken in by the charm of them all.
I felt that the mystery was well done. While I had my suspicions who was behind the murder, the reality was bit more complicated than that. I liked the introduction of magic and the way it was used to help solve the crime. I also appreciated Katie's initial disbelief--who wouldn't be skeptical having grown up in a world without magic?
This seems a perfect choice for this time of year, with Halloween and all. It was a quick listen and likely would be a quick read. I enjoyed Johanna Parker's narration and would be interested in listening to more of her work. While perhaps not a stand out cozy read, Bailey Cates's Brownies and Broomsticks kept me entertained and I wouldn't mind spending more time with Katie and her new coven.
To learn more about Bailey Cates (aka Cricket McRae & Bailey Catrell) and her work, please visit the author's website. You can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.
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