I feel like I’ve come home with this start to a new series. I began my time with the first of the Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mysteries, went back to the beginning for the original Beechwood Harbor Magic Series, and was tingling with excitement when I learned Danielle Garrett was going to set a new series in the Beechwood Harbor world.
Witches in the Kitchen begins the Magical Inn Mysteries and listeners can jump into the world here with no trouble. That said, long-time fans of the original and subsequent spin-off series will spot familiar faces like the inn’s owners, Holly and Adam, and friends like Harmony who run the herbal shop in the haven where our new heroine is invited to work. I went into this wanting to reconnect with the old characters I adored and did so, but found the reset with a new main character brought new characters to appreciate.
Speaking of the new heroine, I enjoyed being introduced to Blair, and her adventures. Poor Blair discovered the hard way that she’s a witch when a spike of fear had her transforming into a cat. And, that spike of fear was caused by witnessing a scary vampire perpetrating a crime which puts her in the safe custody of the Supernatural Protection Agency who secret her away at the magical inn in Beechwood Harbor where she has to figure out that not all in the supernatural world are bad monsters. Blair has a huge learning curve to overcome since she’s starting out later in life and she now has the inn’s occupants to help her along.
Meanwhile, Blair has stumbled on a mystery which she is able to join in the detecting work and this late in the game she gets a new romance opportunity just as magical as her witchery. She’s fun and I got a few chuckles as usual when it comes to this world and look forward to exploring more in the series with this revitalized cast of characters bringing some new faces and some old together.
Amanda Ronconi has long been the voice of Danielle Garrett’s Paranormal Cozies and this continues with her taking up Blair’s story and a blend of familiar and new casts of characters centered at the inn. I have always loved the way she voices the characters, matches well with the paranormal and mystery elements, and delivers a lively and fun tone for a thoroughly entertaining listening experience.
Witches in the Kitchen was a solid start to a new series and I’m looking forward to what comes next. Paranormal Cozy Mystery fans should magic this one into the listening/reading pile and get in on the first of a new, engaging series.
I rec'd an audio via Tantor Audio to listen to in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on Aug 23rd.