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Spellbound Bookshop Mystery #2

Secrets and Psychics

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This is book 2 in the Spellbound Bookshop paranormal cozy mystery series by USA TODAY Bestselling Author J.A. Whiting.

It’s May in the seacoast town of Hamlet, Massachusetts and Shelby Price is enjoying the warmth of the spring weather. Her bookshop has an outdoor patio where customers can sit to read, sip a beverage, or eat some pastry. Five months ago, Shelby fell off a ladder and hit her head and when she woke up, she could hear her cat talking to her. Not only could she converse with the feline, but she started to develop some paranormal powers. Initially shocked and frightened by what was going on, Shelby came to accept her new skills and has been working to better understand what she can do with them.

The Hamlet Museum has a valuable heirloom necklace on loan from a Boston museum and the exhibition is about to open. Shelby and her best friend Lucy are allowed to visit the exhibition early and they’re excited to see the necklace that has a connection to their town. When they arrive, something terrible has happened and they are thrust into a new mystery. With the help of her friend, a town detective, and her cat Harper, will Shelby be able to use her newly-discovered paranormal skills to help the detective find clues to the crime before people start to die?

This story has some mild paranormal elements

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 2, 2024

429 people are currently reading
45 people want to read

About the author

J.A. Whiting

168 books319 followers
USA TODAY Bestselling Author and Amazon All Star, J A Whiting is the author of over 100 cozy mysteries. She lives with her family in Massachusetts. Whiting loves spending time with family, reading, traveling, cycling, following New England sports teams, exercising, and being outdoors.

For exclusive content and new book announcements please visit www.jawhiting.com and sign up for my mailing list.

Also please "like" my Facebook page www.facebook.com/jawhitingauthor

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5 stars
495 (66%)
4 stars
177 (23%)
3 stars
56 (7%)
2 stars
10 (1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Jane litherland.
4,116 reviews74 followers
March 15, 2024
Purrfect series . I really got immersed in this great book, I knew I was onto a winner from reading the first book but wow J A Whiting has weaved a super story in this one. We learnt of her powers in the first book but it’s recapped well here . Shelby Price lives above her business Spellbound Books , she has a cat , Harper who she can communicate with telepathically ,she is being mentored by fellow psychic Fiona and also helped by witch Magill. She is adept at crime solving , working with dashing detective Travis Whitely and has a best friend Lucy who is a baker. This book introduces a host of new characters and sees Shelby sharing more than thoughts about a death and theft of stolen artefacts from a museum. Can she thwart the culprit before they strike again ? And what of her own piece of history , that’s a mystery…. Brilliant , great characters , superb narrative and excellent descriptors . I love the writing style of this great author , the storytelling engaged me throughout. A compelling read indeed ! I read a forwarded copy of this book and I’m leaving my review voluntarily in my own thoughts
954 reviews4 followers
March 13, 2024
A Cat, A Dog, and a Psychic Save the Day!

"Secrets and Psychics" is Book 2 of A Spellbound Bookshop Mystery series, written beautifully by J. A. Whiting. First if all, I found maybe a handful of very small errors; I literally had to read each sentence slowly to even notice them. Therefore, the are no stars deducted for grammar. This series is really great. It focuses on Shelby Price, the owner of the Spellbound Bookshop. She lives in an upstairs apartment and works downstairs in the bookshop. She also helps solve crimes for the police department, with gorgeous Detective Travis Whitely; her best friend and pastry baker, Lucy; and her cat, Harper, whom she can telepathically talk to since Shelby awoke from a headfall several months earlier. Shelby has slowly growing psychic abilities, which she is getting some lessons from an older psychic, Fiona, and also from an even older woman, a witch named Magill. Shelby's mom, dad, brother, grandmother, and grandfather were all in this episode, too, and Shelby finds out that the tourmaline talisman she wears around her neck was passed down from many generations past to THE most intuitive woman in the family. Shelby just happens to be the most intuitive since her great-grandmother. I love the paranormal attributes of J. A. Whiting's novels.

This episode is about the theft of an extremely valuable tourmaline necklace that is several hundred years old from a museum exhibit. It also coincides with the theft of some rare Colonial coins from the 1600s and 1700s, as well as an antique tourmaline wedding ring, both thefts from descendants of Founding Family members in Hamlet, Massachusetts. There is also the murder of a young man who worked at the museum, the psychic dreams that both Shelby and her cat have about his death, and a mad dash to find the killer(s) before anyone else dies. I gave this book a big 5 star rating, but it deserves many, many more.

I received an ARC via BookFunnel, and this is my totally voluntary and honest review.
1,995 reviews
April 8, 2024
This is a very enjoyable book with some paranormal elements - ie. a talking cat and developing psychic abilities. The third book will not be out until this summer. Dang!

Amazon synopsis:
Five months ago, Shelby fell off a ladder and hit her head and when she woke up, she could hear her cat talking to her. Not only could she converse with the feline, but she started to develop some paranormal powers. Initially shocked and frightened by what was going on, Shelby came to accept her new skills and has been working to better understand what she can do with them.

The Hamlet Museum has a valuable heirloom necklace on loan from a Boston museum and the exhibition is about to open. Shelby and her best friend Lucy are allowed to visit the exhibition early and they’re excited to see the necklace that has a connection to their town. When they arrive, something terrible has happened and they are thrust into a new mystery.

With the help of her friend, a town detective, and her cat Harper, will Shelby be able to use her newly-discovered paranormal skills to help the detective find clues to the crime before people start to die?
Profile Image for Brenda.
3,486 reviews46 followers
March 19, 2024
Part Psychic
It’s May in the seacoast town of Hamlet, Massachusetts and Shelby Price is enjoying the warmth of the spring weather. Her bookshop has an outdoor patio where customers can sit to read, sip a beverage, or eat some pastry. Five months ago, Shelby fell off a ladder and hit her head and when she woke up, she could hear her cat talking to her. Not only could she converse with the feline, but she started to develop some paranormal powers. Initially shocked and frightened by what was going on, Shelby came to accept her new skills and has been working to better understand what she can do with them.
This is a good story with it's psychic background. Will she solve this mystery?
I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.
Profile Image for Tari.
3,639 reviews103 followers
April 5, 2024
Shelby’s new powers were really getting a lot better and she was able to help even more with this case which turned from robbery into a murder, all of which had to be connected. I love how Shelby’s so close to her family and takes time out to go see everyone even though she’s busy with a case—it really helped her emotional state. And having a bestie like Lucy always helped things as well as having a sweet cat that was in tune to Shelby’s instincts which they could talk about together. It’s awesome how things were progressing with Shelby and Travis too since both were hoping to take things slow and were at least on the same page there. Can’t wait to read the next book!
958 reviews2 followers
May 1, 2024
Heirloom Tourmaline Necklace stolen

Shelby and Lucy go to see James for a previewing of the Heirloom Tourmaline Necklace that is going on display. When they arrive Travis is already there, the necklace has been stolen. One of the owners in1980 replaced the thousand dollar tourmalines with rare Paraiba Tourmalines changing the value to three million dollars. Travis is glad Shelby is there so he can get her insight on the robbery. Great reading and characters. My dad was raised in Hyannis, MA and visited my grandparents in Bridgewater, MA. I loved the HUGE white burch tree in their front yard.
Profile Image for Linda.
322 reviews9 followers
June 10, 2024
Probably not memorable

Kindle Unlimited recommended this one since I had read the first in the series. I started reading it and realized I barely remembered the first one. I have read several cozy mystery series with an amateur sleuth, a cat, something paranormal, a friend who makes treats, and a handsome policeman or detective. So, it is similar to many, many others.. I don’t think anything in this story stood out in a way that will make me remember much about it.
439 reviews2 followers
November 6, 2024
Growing and getting stronger

I didn't comment on the first book of the series because I was not sure how I felt about the protagonist Shelly. I like her. She may be unsure of her talents, but she is determined to develop them and use them for good. The relationship with Travis is a bit slow for me, but I can handle it. I love Harper as much as everyone else does. I am definitely enjoying the series.
Profile Image for Sharen.
609 reviews5 followers
December 29, 2024
Enjoyed this quite a bit! I sure would like to be able to communicate with dogs and cats. This cozy mystery has everything I like……charming characters, a dog and a cat (can communicate with her human), evil doers doing evil deeds, mysteries to solve, no graphic violence, a blossoming romance (no sex), living upstairs from an entire bookstore with a helpful ghost, and best of all…no cliffhanger ending.
So, curl up in a comfy chair with a pot of tea and enjoy!
411 reviews1 follower
February 26, 2025
Love it

I love that I have found this author again. I have dreamed of owning a bookstore of my own and this series is so great. I will continue reading this series and then jump back to the Sweet Cove series. A historic necklace disappeared from the museum before the exhibit is set to open and Travis with Shelby and Harper to help have to find out who is responsible. Turns out even those with a lot of money are not satisfied with what they have.
Profile Image for Charlene Davis.
1,143 reviews5 followers
March 6, 2024
Adorable as always

Good story line And we have the usual friends And some some strange character. It makes for a great cozy mystery Just t a nice easy read for an after noon Or lunchbreak I love JA Austin books because they give you Such a such a great story And you don't have to commit your whole Life to it like some of the very long stories or series
4 reviews
September 2, 2024
A Beautiful Can't put Down Story

I loved and absorbed every moment of this fantastic book. Loved the characters, the plot, and the picturest setting. Harper, the angelic cat and Buster, the brave smart dog played a lot in it. Could hardly put it down. I highly recommend this wonderful book to anyone who enjoys being a part of the story.
351 reviews1 follower
March 6, 2024
Such a fun series! I am enjoying it very much! J A Whiting never disappoints.
The relationships of friends, family, and romance is wonderfully balanced. Shelby and Travis are getting more and more connected. Yay!
43 reviews
April 2, 2024
Cool Cat and all

I had so much fun reading this cozy paranormal mystery that shows how the author has perfected her craft throughout the years and series.
Thanks for another entertaining series with new characters and places to discover.
26 reviews
May 26, 2024
Hooked again

Can't wait to see how Travis and ahelby's relationship develops. What new gifts she will learn to use and of course Harper and Emily add twists and turns throughout. Next boom raring to go.
1,363 reviews13 followers
April 24, 2025
This was a great storyline!

I'm totally enjoying this series! Of course, my favorite character is Harper, the cat. She's a fantastic feline and extremely smart! Can't wait to see how the relationship develops between Shelby and Travis. They make a great sleuthing couple!!!!
10 reviews
October 2, 2025
Secrets

J A Whiting's books are always an adventure. I have read many of her series. They all keep you entertained and wanting to read more. You get to know the characters and feel like they are people you want to know.
Profile Image for JANE VAN HORN.
2,086 reviews12 followers
March 3, 2024
Great book

This is another great book in the Spellbound Bookshop series by J A Whiting. I can't wait for the next book.
Profile Image for Barbara.
130 reviews1 follower
April 9, 2024
Got bored reading how great and intuitive the main character was. The writing is not very good.
156 reviews
May 23, 2024
Another great story

Really enjoyed this story! Very nice development of the characters. Can't wait to see what's in store for them in the future!
Profile Image for Samantha Gubash.
77 reviews
May 28, 2024
Thoroughly enjoying this series. Its a nice change to read something light
1 review
June 1, 2024
Loved the story

I so enjoyed This book because I love pets of all kinds and her relationship with harper and the magic! Made it more interesting..
Profile Image for Stephen Levesque.
2,808 reviews
September 6, 2024
Totally enjoyed it! This is a well written and has well developed characters. The story is catching and with the strong characters makes for a very enjoyable read. Great Reading Everyone!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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