Chestnuts are roasting. Jingle bells are rocking. The halls are about to be decked.In other words, Christmas is about to hit Hemlock Cove. Hard.There’s just one little problem…or maybe two. Okay, there are three big problems plaguing Bay Winchester before she can enjoy the holidays.The first is that the warden who lost his job thanks to a prison break weeks before is determined to stalk Bay until she magically fixes his life. He keeps showing up in the oddest of places and making the sort of demands she can’t fulfill.The second involves Aunt Tillie, who has decided to gift her nemesis Margaret Little a special spell rather than a lump of coal this holiday season. It involves her Christmas decorations taking on a life—and voice—of their own. The spell, however, isn’t nearly as contained as it was supposed to be.When a body shows up at the local private school, that means it’s one problem too many for Bay. And she doesn’t know which problem to solve first.The headmistress of the school was involved in a convoluted affair with father of one of her students. The list of suspects who wanted her dead was long and sundry, however.All Bay wants is to surprise her husband with a dog for Christmas and to eat her weight in cookies. She has to save the day first, though.Murder, mayhem, and mistletoe are on the menu.Death might not be far behind.Buckle up, because the Santa decorations are coming to town.
When I was a kid, I was torn between whether or not I was going to grow up and be the Incredible Hulk or Wonder Woman. I flirted with being a Jedi Knight for awhile, but I wasn't up for the intense travel associated with the gig. In my teens, I settled on being a writer -- although I had no idea the effort that would entail. Not only am I a writer now, but I'm a writer in several different mediums. I'm a longtime newspaper reporter, an avid reader and a voracious science fiction fanatic.
Always a pleasure, this is the first series I ever read written by Ms Lee and its full my favourite. Aunt Tillie is hands down one.if my favourite book characters we should all be o lucky to live such a long, loving and magical life she's a wonderful character and I wish she was my aunt. Bay, Thistle and Clove are the three main witches, all in relationships now Thistle is the only holdout on marriage and the three women/witches are like best friends nd worst enemies t the same time. Landon, Bays husband is also a fun person it takes mg with a strong character and a well.developed sense of humour to.del.with the Winchester women. In this book Aunt Tillie is still terrorising her arch nemesis Mrs Little but she now has.partners to help as By, Thistle and Clove are helping (you have to have read the previous books to understand why) it's few days before.Christmas and everyone has plans for it to be the best holiday ever. Plans are not good thing in Hemlock Cove Landon nd Chief Terry are called out to a boarding school where the headmistress has been found dead the circumstances seem suspicious but till the autopsy comes back there's no evidence of murder. Bay doesn't like it though something about it bothers her enough so she begins investigating on her own.........something which bothers Landon no end......even when Bay is proved right and the womb a murdered......so it's ok out to get the murder solved before the holidays...weather permitting it is northern Michigan after all...
I’m a huge fan of the Amanda M Lee series. I’ve read several and was very excited to see this Christmas book come out. Here’s my but and it’s a big BUT…Im so tired of weak whiny men. I love that the men let the powerful women take the lead but come on! Who wants a weak man who’s always pitching a fit or melting down? Answer: no woman in her right mind.
Can you imagine your husband being obsessed with food and whining like a 5 year old every day? Omg! He sure wouldn’t be my husband for long. A man can be strong and partner with his spouse. I’m over the bacon too, just sayin.
Now let’s talk about Bay. Why is she developing into such a biotch? I can see her being stern and having a temper but in this book it was one crazy after anther. Just why? I think Amanda was either PMSing writing this one or had gone into early menopause. Either way, not a good direction for Bay in my opinion.
I seriously hope we get more mature characters in future books. We have a big battle brewing and we sure don’t need a bunch of overbearing crazy women fighting with a bunch of man babies crying and sucking their thumbs. Come m Amanda, you can do better!
Christmas in Hemlock Cove, Aunt Tilly has cursed her nemesis’s Christmas decorations to sing and follow her everywhere. But somehow the spell has spread to all the town’s decorations and people are noticing. Then the head mistress of a girls school is found dead in the parking lot. When they go to investigate they find she was stalking the father of one of her students. When Bay goes to talk to the students she brings aunt Tilly who marks three of the students as witches. They eventually get the girls to talk and learn they awake one day with powers. And a Dark ghost told them to make the decorations in town. A very fun read as always.
A school’s headmistress is found dead in the parking lot and the death seems suspicious, almost as though something or someone magical killed her. Since magic is Bay’s specialty, because she happened to have been born with magic in her bloodline, Landon and Chief Terry bring her along with them to question staff and students to try to find out what happened to Enid.
When Bay hears about the different reasons the female students were put in the school and also what the school was, she is ill with upset. She does not like that a parent can send their daughter away to have someone else take care of them. Bay believes parents should take care of their own and not push the responsibility on someone else, especially a stranger.
Bay and Terry —- “Now I didn’t feel so bad knowing that my mother was likely going through his office hunting for Christmas presents. ‘I agree that teenage pregnancy is an epidemic in this area, but forcing girls to go to another school and wear their pregnancy like a scarlet letter is crap. The boys should have some culpability if that’s how you’re going to handle things. Instead, they get off without any repercussions. It’s always the girls that have to carry the stigma.’ ‘Oh, here we go,’ Chief Terry muttered.”
Bay has a point because a lot of the time it is the woman who is the leper and the male isn’t given a second thought. It’s not right. Bay is very passionate when she thinks of the students that were sent away mostly for minor problems. She doesn’t feel for even a moment that one of the students killed their headmistress… well, maybe just a small moment.
There’s also a problem with an ex-warden, Childs who feels it is Bay’s fault he was fired even though he’s the one that was falling down on the job and failing his staff and the prisoners. He doesn’t want to accept responsibility for his actions and only sees to blame Bay. He wants Bay to use her magic to give him a do-over which is to say he wants her to rewind time to before he was fired and “fix” things. Childs is convinced Bay has magic, but she isn’t about to confirm that! So Childs is another problem, besides the murder, that Bay is trying to solve. Oh, and let’s not forget Aunt Tillie and her Christmas decorations spell…
Bay’s mom, Winnie: “Mom threw up her hands. ‘Bay, if you want to take Aunt Tillie with you, then I’m going to make the decorations your problem too.’ I thought of Childs’s triumphant face the previous evening and sighed. ‘I swear I’ll figure something out. Somehow.’” —- This was what Winnie said after Aunt Tillie’s Christmas decorations has gotten out of hand and had just about taken over the entire town of Hemlock Cove with their singing and their… human-ness. The entire family seems to always look to Bay to solve their problems and it drives me crazy! However, Bay does always help, so it’s on her shoulders just as much if she wants to tell them no.
So in the end it all works out for the better and no living decorations were killed or harmed in the writing of this book. Lol. Landon is granted his Christmas wish (not bacon this time) and so is Winnie. Joy is had by everyone and they lived happily for at least this moment.
Merry Christmas, everyone! 🎄🎅🏼
My next read is by Emma Ainsley and I’m so stoked because I always look forward to an additional book in the Raised and Glazed series. “Live and Let Rise” book 37 which was just released yesterday December 20th!
I love Amanda M Lee books and not just this series because a lot of the connect
Yes I do love some snarky characters but they have good hearts.. they would do anything help anyone. They also die for there family and anyone they consider there extended family…. All her characters well thought out and have totally different personalities .. I can’t for the big battle that is to come which I know Winchesters and a lot of her other character will be in….I would love to see thistle get more magic because it would be nice to her to have more common with Aunt Tillie than her mouth… but I read Grimlock series and the continue gateway series. And the covent college series and of course the spells angels cron series love scout and gunner who obviously extended family I hope that gunner father keeps dating marnie.. I also am reading moonstone bay series. The shadows hills with gas grill series and the Lina series that just started. I would good all of them fires stars.. thought the charchters inter act their all are unique series..I always excited the next book come out…I will be waiting
One of the best paranormal cozy mystery series out there
This is one of the best paranormal cozy mystery series out there. An exceptionally outstanding cast of characters and a spectacular storyline every time. The Winchester witches are out for another adventure. Still dealing with a few small things from previous stories bay and Landon are getting ready for Christmas. Another Christmas festival is going on in town and aunt Tilly is going after her nemesis Mrs. Little once again. Read on and see what kind of mayhem aunt chili causes and what other kind of trouble is hitting the Winchester families way. Disappointing and always entertaining. One of the most entertaining paranormal closing mystery series and magical world out there. Get yours today.
I really wanted to see the Christmas gifts everyone got! It didn't happen though, sadly..... Another fun installment of the Winchester witches. Aunt Tillie starts it off with a curse on Mrs. Little's law ornaments. Boy, does that take on an unexpected life of it's own. Then there is a dead head mistress but, that just gets weirder by the second. Bay turns herself inside out trying to figure things out and does but, barely in the nick of time. Evan admits some personal things about himself to Bay as well. All in all a great book. I still wish we would have seen a little more of their Christmas celebration. 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend.
When Tilly brings the girls in to torture Mrs. Little, no one saw how far it was going to get out of hand. As Christmas decorations plague the town, there is a death at a nearby girls school. No one seems a likely candidate for the murder but deeper issues are revealed with the school and its students. It’s obvious that magic is playing some role but can they figure out who and what before it’s too late. In this return to Hemlock Cove Christmas, Ms. Lee has stepped away from the festivals and salvaging the holidays to create an enriched mystery with all the love, joy, and heartfelt experiences you can consume!
I swear I want to be Aunt Tillie when I get old!!! Her and Bay make these books funny! Another mystery to solve comes in the form of an all girls "correctional" school, cheating husband, runaway Christmas decorations and a partridge in a pear tree! I loved how fierce Bay was in this book. Her and Landon have a beauty of a make-up period where the whole gang comes together over and of course poor Terry tries to deal with Tillie is hilarious! Trying to finish the book before I started my work day was not my best idea and was almost late but this book was worth it!!
More whacky adventures with the Winchesters, my favourite family out of all Amanda’s books. Bay is growing into her powers and we see her here at her best as she helps Terry and Landon solve more mysterious murders. Tilly the purveyor of most of the mayhem is wrecking revenge on Mrs Little, the pranks they play on her are so funny, she definitely deserves some payback after the djinn troubles she caused in the previous book. A great seasonal story, enjoyed it immensely.
This story was so good. Even with a 102.7 temperature & massive headache I could not put this book down. Aunt Till is always stills the show with her snarky personality and unbelievable wicked mind when it comes to doling out curses or terrorizing her enemy. This book had a couple of issues that people do not like to think about or acknowledge but the Winchester family does not that issue and show how we should all feel about these issues. Great story. Loved it.
Christmas is a magical time of year. Family, food, and joy. Ya! Ya! I know and presents too. Lol! Who want to work a case so close to Christmas? No one, but we get a dead body at a private school for girls. I agree with Bay on this school, yes they have been around for ages but that still doesn't make it right. We get a some.strange things happening thanks to Aunt Tillie, god I love that woman. What does Land on name the puppy, I hate suspense endings. Lol! Until next time, Happy Holidays!💙💚
I've read all 23 books. The schtick has become old. The characters don't really grow. The books have slowly eased some of the interesting characters (Thistle and Clove) out of the picture. It's all about Bay, all the time, and she does the same thing in every single book. Constant whining and sulking that she, a very small town reporter, can't go on FBI/police investigations. Her FBI now husband with the oh she's so cute I love you so much you are my everything I can't bare to see you frown takes her anyway. Cue Bay doing her own thing, by herself. Cue Bay getting in trouble/hurt. Cue FBI husband with the you are my world I can't bear to see you hurt. Honestly this is not a healthy relationship. I think I'm done. They used to be fun reads. Now they are boring. Full of crossovers from Ms. Lee's other books (which I don't find very interesting). It's the same formula, same plot for every book.
Thistle is changing. I would love to see where that goes. Tilly is slipping. Would like to see the effect that has on the family over time. Both Thistle and Bay are maturing. That doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Their priorities are shifting. Therefore their responses can be more complex, darker even. I’d like to hear more about Thistle’s creativity. Clove needs to change. She’s too static and ignorable. I love this series. Like ridiculous love it.
I have to keep reminding myself to wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas, to wait until then to turn on my Christmas Playlist To hear Seasonal music, and all the little things that make precious moments to remember and hold dear to our hearts. Add in the mayhem, action, craziness, .and all the ending (NO SPOILERS), lead to a book to enjoy for many a future Christmas. Happy reading!
You would have to be dead to not be jealous of how creative Amanda Lee is ! If you love Aunt Willie's adventures ,you're covered !! If you want a touching love story , there's a couple of them in here for you. If you want a who dun it , you be up all night reading . If you just need some laughs those are here too!! If you haven't read any of Amanda's books I feel sorry about the good times you've missed.
Just finished Book 23! Loved every bit of it! Amanda M. Lee has such an impressive grasp of keeping the reader engaged in the storyline as well as the hysterical characters who make you laugh out loud. I recommend this book and every book In this outstanding series to anyone who anyone who enjoys figuring out who the murderer is and find g out how wrong you were.
I’ve read every book in this series and this one tops the list. I love how the characters have developed, the storyline was really good and loved the ending. It just made me happy to read it! Thanks Amanda M. Lee! (I also read her other series and highly recommend them!)
As the 23rd book, I love that the stories are still so fresh, non-formulaic, and fun. Love Bay and Landon! It’s fun how naturally Stormy and Hunter had a small cameo in the book. Great Christmas story that you smiling at the end. Do yourself a favor and start at book 1 to fully enjoy!
The Wicked Witches of the Midwest series was my first cozy mystery series and it is still my favorite, I love all of the characters (except Mrs. Little 😋) and the stories are always great! I also love Christmas stories, so this was the best of both worlds! If anyone hasn’t already started this series, trust me, you will not want to wait any longer!
I have read all the books in this series and I think this might have been the best one so far. Parts made me laugh out loud and get looks from others. Lots of witchery (is that a word?), trying to figure out who done it, and the good hearts of the Winchesters, Landon, Chief Terry, and others.
This is a cute series. Ms. Lee always comes up with something fun. I love the characters. I always look forward to the next in the series. I cant wait to read what will happen with the warden, what will Landon name his dog? When will Thistle get married? What’s next for this family.
True to form,always a fun ride, Tillie can NEVER go under,otherwise that sound it for me,she's such a delightful, cantankerous character, her nieces are enigmatic in their own right. Always a good read,when it the next one?????? Merry Christmas!!! And a Blessed New Year!
All the laughs and mystery like all the other book in this series. I will never put any spoilers in my reviews so you will just have to read the book yourself. I will tell you that you will not be disappointed if you like Amanda M. Lee’s books. I will tell you that’s I am really looking forward to the next book as she left me hanging.
What can I say? This series really hits the spot when I want something fun and snarky. Love Tillie, and all her shenanigans, as she torments Mrs Little. Bay is always a hoot, and I really enjoyed this witchy murder mystery. Just wished the cause of all this reaped some of the punishment. Oh, well. Looking forward to the next book.
I love every book in this series. I'm sad to read Aunt Tillys not a good Aunt to Cloves baby boy. I hope in the next book that changes. I was hoping to read about the proposal from Terry. Maybe first of the next book. Fingers crossed. I recommend this series to everyone. But start with book one!
Aunt Tilly cast a mischievous spell on he nemesis to make her Christmas decorations come to life and ding Christmas songs. Something went wrong and all the decorations are alive and singing. Bay helps her FBI husband and father Chief Terry figure out who done it. A laugh out loud cozy.
Love this series and this is a great addition to it. Bay is really coming into her own. I love Landon and was very happy with his Christmas gift. Looking forward to the next book. Aunt Fully is really going after Margaret and I can't say she doesn't deserve it. I'm nervous about the ex warden. Wonder what is going to happen there.