Mercury Falling

Magical Midlife in Retrograde #3

by J.B. Aspen

Midlife—when the magic really begins…

I thought winning the title of Innkeeper was the tough part, but then...there's another murder at the Phoenix Inn. Solving magical murders while trying to learn how to run the an inn isn't what I thought my midlife would be about. Add in dealing with a hotel manager who would rather I was dead, being haunted by the ghost of my deceased friend, and trying to keep track of my cat Mr Yow who seems to have the hang of the hotel business better than I do....maybe my new magical midlife isn't what it's all cracked up to be.Join Mercury and her cat Mr. Yow, as she discovers her hidden past and the world of magic at the Phoenix Inn. Your magic begins at midlife.

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 13, 2024

About the author

Hi, I'm J.B. Aspen and I'm a magical midlife mystery writer who loves all things chocolate. If you love paranormal books with a cozy mystery flare, Urban Fantasy, and of course, magic! Then you'll love my books. Join Mercury and Mr. Yow, her intrepid Siamese cat, as they explore a brand new world of magic and midlife and empty-nesting. Oh, and a few murders too!
Come to the Phoenix Inn and explore your next Paranormal Women's Fiction. Discover murder, mystery and mayhem...and a little bit of magic—mid-life style!

Reviews

[Sherry Priddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great addition to the first 2. With Witches, ghost, mysteries. What's not to like? I like the fact that the main character is right around my age too.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercury Rodgers is 45 and an empty nester and divorcee. And she won the Phoenix Inn, a magical inn!!!! Mr. Yow, her cat, is more put together than she is. But she has reason to be freaking out. The Inn Authority Board is coming in a few days to officially install her in her position. She's been through since she got there...dark magic, dead bodies, and the wrath of my hotel manager Mrs. Haversham,. She's not sure which is scarier. The she sees a friend she made during the competition. Only died. Now she's seeing her form surrounded by green. Mrs H. calls it a Haunt. And it's an omen. NO NO NO !! With the IAB coming she now has a Haunt, no food, a maid ready to quit and plumbing issues. The IAB comes two days early into the middle of the chaos!!! Then one of the IAB members dies. But who did it and was it planned? There was like a magical shoot out at the ok corral! Well get those wagons rounded and let the detecting begin.
A mystery wrapped in magic and dipped in more magic...dark or light?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so love this series. Don't we all feel at one time that we just fall short of the finish line. For Mercury she never felt she had a handle on life, but when she won to be the innkeeper the light at the end of the tunnel got brighter. Now to get all the murders to stop, fix the plumbing, refurbishing the east wing after the fire, getting the groceries delivered, and now possibly having answers about the little girl from her dreams. Boy that to do list is getting longer and longer. As a Mom we just buckle up and tackle it one at a time, and Murcery finds that strength inside herself, I admire that. Now will wait for what comes next because waiting to find out if Venus is alive and where she is, and if Murcery will share the knowledge of magic with her daughters, is killing me..

I voluntarily read a copy of this book given to me by the author and love it.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercury is finally going to be confirmed as the Innkeeper. She is getting the Inn ready, but not everything is going her way. There is a serious plumbing leak, she's short an employee and the food delivery never came. On top of that the guests arrive earlier than expected. Mercury is not ready!! It doesn't help that the Innkeeper Book isn't cooperating with her. It also doesn't help that a number of the committee members don't even want her as the Innkeeper. When one of them is killed that just convinces them even more that she is not qualified.
With everything to loose Mercury starts investigating to see if Gideon was murdered or if it was an accident like the police say. Along the way she gets help from her recently deceased friend, Beth and her cat Mr. Yow. Another great story in the Magical Midlife in Retrograde series.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercury Falling: A Magical Midlife Cozy Mystery and Paranormal Women's Fiction Adventure is book #3 in the Magical Midlife in Retrograde series by J.B. Aspen.

Things are not going well at the Phoenix Inn after Mercury moves in. The Inn is falling apart, and the book and Mrs. Haversham aren’t cooperating. The council members are pretty unlikable characters who all have their own agenda which makes it really challenging for Mercury. She gets some information that makes her dig in and fight and I really liked seeing that. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Roxann · Rating 2 out of 5]

TSTL?

Mercury's woe is me got old fast. When faced with, somewhat, minor obstacles she shrinks into herself and holds tight to her low self eestem. I understand that there are people like that but it doesn't mean I want to read about it with every hiccup. She raised 2 girls on a limited budget and took care of the house. Remember that Mercury and tie it to running an inn!

While annoyed I still wanted answers about her childhood so I kept reading. The last couple chapters Mercury seems to finally hold on to some confidence. I wasn't going to read the next book, but it sounds like we may finally get a few answers.....

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercury won the competition, but there is still so much to learn and she hasn't caught a break yet. Will it all be too much? Can she never get to sleep in? Or a moment of peace? I loved this addition to Mercury's and Mr. Yow's (her cat) story, the mystery, danger, teasings of romance and intriguing characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Raina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A magical mystery. Nothing seems to go right for Mercury when it comes to the inn. Between the book throwing her through several hoops, having to prove she deserves the position to be the new innkeeper, she also has to solve mystery of deaths. For most they would give up. But can she survive and prove she is the witch for the job? The characters are great. You will either love them or love to hate them. And of course one cute cat that always seems to be there for her.

[Carol Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aspen has done it again! This midlife paranormal witch mystery is just as good as the others? This book is full of murder and mayhem at the Phoenix Inn. Will Mercury and Mr. Yow figure it out. The characters are unique and engaging. The plot is well written and the twist and turns keep you in a mystery cloud. A book can't get much better than that!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cosy paranormal mystery is the third in a series. I didn't connect with it as well as I did with the first two, but I enjoyed reading about Mr Yow again.

Thank you to Booksprout and the author for a free copy to review.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ilene G> · Rating 3 out of 5]

Third book of the series.

I am happy to see Mr. Yow , but this story is not from his pov. The plot is good , but Mercury didn't learn from her mistakes. I hope she learned from this time. I did not expect what occurred in the old cemetery, and I never suspected who the villian is.

[LizJ. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 3 in the Magical Midlife in Retrograde series. This world is so creative and entertaining with engaging characters. Mr. Yow is the best part of this series in my opinion and Mercury continues to be a mess smh.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars all the way!

Somewhat more leaning towards fantasy, this series has an edge to it that you won’t find in most other cozies. Not to worry, there’s no cursing and no adult scenes, so if you’re not into that you can safely read this! I really enjoyed this new installment. Mr. Yow, he’s my favorite, and I think he’ll be yours too! A well written magical mystery that was very entertaining!

[Annyce Brower · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Mercury book yet

Thoroughly enjoyed Mercury Falling. It is the best of the series yet: action, mysteries galore, spells, ghosts, zombies, odd behavior and of course, Mr. Yow! Definitely 5 stars.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Mercury is officially the Innkeeper but the road to it is full of intrigue, murder, danger and zombies. It certainly attracts and keeps your interest.

[LeMiliere · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this series each book somehow seems better than the last. I found myself pulled into Mercury's story, I could not stop until I'd reached the end. On the downside, I was left wanting more of this world and I can't wait to find out what will happen next!

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding her way as a witch is difficult, especially for a middle aged woman with forces conspiring against you. Ghosts, zombies, a formerly human toad and maniacal witches all get into the action. Enjoy

[Sabrina Cardoso · Rating 5 out of 5]

I likeed this book and I am looking forward to the next but.... the constant strife and doubt of the main character gets really annoying. I really wanted to reach into the book and smack the character. She closes her mouth and takes abuse instead of defending herself. I am glad she finally tapped into her power but at the end of the first book she knew she had magic, even if it was unskilled she doesn't use it to try to fix the inn or help herself until the chips are down and she is on the brink of death. Made me anxious.

[Michalle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Magical Midlife in Retrograde series. Mercury is at it again. More bodies and a big mystery. There are witches, warlocks, ghosts and zombies. Mr. Yow is always a hoot.

[Brad Cross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story but too much whining

The troubled heroine with only self doubt is getting too much. The story is fun and a good crafted mystery. I will likely read the next one

[Mai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great magical cozy. More please!

[Sarah Woodhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of these books are wonderful. I really especially enjoyed this one so far the most. Loved it. Highly recommend!

[Melissa Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercury comes into her own

The IAB comes to decide whether to make her the permanent Innkeeper. Some guests have evil plans, and she has to figure out her magic quickly.

[Pam]

Stopped at 60%. It just kept getting weirder and strange. At the point there were two dead paranormals and the main character was getting freaked out on an hourly basis.

Just not for me!