Hexes and Hedgehogs

Familiar Spirits #3

by Christine Pope

Salem…the place where magic and mayhem meet.Charity Hughes is facing a twistier, turnier puzzle than ever before. As a witch with a peculiar talent for communicating with familiars, she’s used to mediating disputes between witches and their animal companions. Now, though, Charity must navigate the complexities of her blossoming relationship with handsome veterinarian Noah Jenkins while at the same time trying to keep her magical world under wraps.
When Sela Warren, a witch from a neighboring town, entrusts her beloved hedgehog familiar, Lionel, to Charity’s care, it seems like a routine task. However, Charity’s intuition tells her that something is amiss, and her suspicions are confirmed when a series of mishaps begins to plague Lionel. It becomes clear that Lionel has been hexed, making him the target of dark magic.
Determined to unravel the mystery, Charity enlists the help of her magical friends and dives into the secrets of Salem's witch community, even as she must always remain mindful to must keep her investigations — and her witchy nature — hidden from Noah. And when she stumbles upon a hidden tunnel beneath her shop, it leads to a group of mysterious witches who will stop at nothing to protect their secrets.
Will Charity’s unique gifts be enough to untangle the web of mystery and danger that surrounds her?

Genres: Contemporary Romance

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 25, 2023

About the author

A native of Southern California, Christine Pope has been writing stories ever since she commandeered her family’s Smith-Corona typewriter back in the sixth grade. Many reams of dead trees later, she’s happy to announce that her debut novel, Fringe Benefits,was published by Pink Petal Books on April 8, 2010. Her short fiction has appeared in Astonishing Adventures, Luna Station Quarterly, and the new journal of dark fiction, Dark Valentine. Her paranormal novella, Playing With Fire, was released on August 5, 2010.

While Fringe Benefits is a straight contemporary romance, she writes in a variety of genres, including paranormal romance, fantasy, horror, science fiction, and historical romance. She blames this on being easily distracted by bright, shiny objects, which could also account for the size of her shoe collection.

After spending many years in the magazine publishing industry, she now works as a freelance editor in addition to writing fiction. She lives with her husband and an explosively fluffy Pomeranian mix. Her house is pink, but don’t hold that against her.

Reviews

[Nikki Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charity and her foster-familiar, Milo, are back!

Charity's new foster familiar, Lionel the Hedgehog has a magical malady affecting his vim and vigour. Has se suffered the wrath of his Witch? Is there another dark-hearted witch lurking in the shadows? Will Charity and Noah finally make their new "thing" permanent between them? Or will an interested Cop get in between them?

There are plenty of twists and turns as Charity and her coven get wrapped up in a new mystery. Sela Warren it would seem is not all she appears to be but she isn't the only witch hiding secrets! When Charity gets too close to the mystery, she gets magically guzzumped for her troubles!

Thankfully no murder this time around, just mystery upon mystery. I can't wait to see what lies in wait for Charity in the next book!

[Elinor Harker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had not read either of the first two books in this series, but enough “flashback” material is given that I didn’t have any trouble following the story. It is an interesting world where modern witches live quiet lives, only females having magic-though there is some allusion to a man having magic in a previous book in the series because his mother had not known she was carrying twins and “hadn’t taken the necessary steps” to ensure only the girl child survived. For what is supposed to be a cozy-ish mystery, I thought that was fairly dark…. By comparison, the actual murder part of the mystery was hardly upsetting, though the motive behind it is on par. The setting of the story was more interesting than the storytelling, in my opinion, but I still enjoyed it.

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Familiar Whisperer Charity Hughes is always available to help her fellow witches if their animal companion need attention, mediation or just be watched. This time Charity is asked to watch a Hedgehog Familiar belonging to Witch Sela Warren who is going on her honeymoon. While doing so Charity gets immersed with a murder and a few other mysteries surrounding her Salem Witch Coven. However, and as always, Charity finds herself conscious to keep everything witchy from Noah Jenkins, her handsome veterinarian boyfriend. So, the saga continues with secrets, twists and turns, and with the absolute craziest witch mysteries. Love and recommend this book along with the entire series.

[Stan Hutchings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charity Hughes is back for another adventure, this time solving the mystery of why and how a hedgehog familiar was hexed. The mystery deepens and there are interesting twists in the plot as the story progresses. The resolution is unexpected but well-plotted. It’s an enjoyable, cozy read with minimal violence but maximum suspense. Charity’s and Noah’s romance is progressing but no wedding bells for her in the near future.

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our familiar whisperer Charity is back and this time with a puzzle that baffles and confuses. This time it’s a hedgehog familiar who’s been hexed and the Salem witches coven that is shrouded in mystery and suspense. A murder to solve, surprises to overcome, twists and turns to keep you spinning all whilst keeping the magical world hidden from Noah. It’s a fantastic, complex mystery that has you hooked from start to finish.

[Hilary Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant Series

Hexes and Hedgehogs (Familiar Spirits Book 3) by Christine Pope. Sela leaves her familiar hedgehog Lionel with Charity while Sela and her fiancé go to Cancun to get married. Then Sela’s sister is found dead, killed by a curse which only the witches know. Things come to a head when Charity finds an entrance to the old smuggling tunnels in the basement of her shop.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hedgehog familiar to take car if

3rd book in series fun read the familiar are great. Heexes murder betrayal and mystery underground and some romance all in this story

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story and I like the characters in this series. I didn’t see this end coming, but I liked the story a lot. And now I kind of want a Hedgehog too. 5 stars.