Pumpkins, witches, and murder. It's a haunted Halloween!
Halloween has arrived in Olmeda, and someone’s celebrating by leaving bloody pentagrams all over the city. As the resident official witch, it’s my job to figure out what the pentagrams mean and if they’re more of a threat than a prank. Extra points if I find out who did it before they ruin the best holiday of the year, one I plan on spending with Ian.
But finding the culprit is harder than expected—nobody saw anything and there’s no shortage of suspicious paranormals. In the words of my new personal everyone is a suspect.
Things get even more complicated when I find one of my suspects dead.
In my shop.
Big Mistake. The gloves are off now, and good luck to whoever is wreaking havoc in my town, because Hell hath no fury like a good witch bent on maintaining her shop’s reputation while saving Halloween!
Join Hope in her quest to have the best witch shop in the Urban Fantasy world of Good Bad Magic, featuring witches, shifters, demons, one sexy bounty hunter, and all kinds of magical creatures. Full of humor, banter, plenty of heart, and a slow-burn romance.
Isa Medina loves writing and reading Urban Fantasy books, playing MMORPGs, and scouring the Internet for pet pictures and beautiful art.
As a child, she was first introduced to the world of Fantasy through Dragonlance and she has never looked back. She also has a soft spot for Gothics and treasures all her old Victorian Holt paperbacks. If it has Fae, ghosts, vampires, demons, mythical creatures, or magic in it, she's all in.
Halloween is here! And it's a hoot! Hope's favourite season, and her excitement is infectious. Good Bad Magic is a fun and light cozy fantasy series with a sunshine witch and her grumpy bounty hunter (who also happens to be a shifter), speckled with the occasional mystery. It's infused with Medina's usual humour, and I cannot wait for the next book. Highly recommended to all fans of the genre!
More of a 3.5 only because the MFC needs to smarten up and stop being such a Pollyanna. The humor is there, Dru is a much needed snarky best friend. I agree with Dru tha Hope is wayyyy too trusting.
Oh man. Halloween is finally here! The buildup of the mystery in book 4 of this amazing series is great fun, but the twists are what kept me reading one chapter after another, so eager to find out what happened next. Also: Ian.
[May contain slight spoilers if you haven't read the previous books in the series!]
Hope Avery's favorite holiday - Halloween - is here, and she's got plans for both her shop and her personal life. But when several bloody pentagrams show up around the city it's her duty as the local witch to find out if it's a prank or something more sinister behind it. Without clues Hope considers everyone a suspect - and it doesn't get any easier when she finds one of the suspects dead. On the floor of her shop...
This series continue to be entertaining with witty dialogues! The more we get to know the characters, the more I like them and want to read more! It wasn't even strange to read about Halloween in May; Medina paints such a great picture of the holiday. Hope and Ian continue to date at a slow pace, and although we only get her POV Ian's behavior shows how much he cares about her.
The only thing that gets a bit tiresome at times is Hope's inner monolouges. It makes it more of "tell" than "show", and I would enjoy a little less of that. But Fluffy's Halloween outfit as a bee makes me forget that - I would have loved to see it in person!
* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *
Halloween is almost here and some pentagrams have been painted around town in blood. As the resident witch, Hope is tasked to find the culprit. Then one of her suspects is found dead in her shop. Now we have a nice mystery, who’s painting the pentagrams and why, who committed the murder and is it related to the pentagrams. With the help from her growing circle of friends, Hope sets out to investigate, leading to more questions and problems. There is more learned about some of the characters, more city background, and some interesting things happening. The slow romance between Hope and Ian grows a little bit more each book as does her relationship with everyone else around. There is not really action but besides the mystery this is a fun, easy, read with interesting characters and story, some humour, and the loveable Fluffy. An interesting ending to the book as well which will lead into book 5.
A fun-filled, light-hearted read. If you're looking for something that is not too serious, with lots of fun in the paranormal world then this is a great read :)
Hope is FINALLY in a good place, her tea shop is slowly gaining momentum and clients, the witch council is off her back, Bagley is kinda contained and yummy Ian is, well, yummy! AND he's agreed to open up a tour of his family cemetery for Halloween! I mean, what can go wrong....yes, well....Sonia, the president of THE council, who was gunning for Hope from the onset, appears and all hell breaks loose! I love how diverse her characters are, how each one is crafted to fullness, even the "extras" are true to form, complete personas. So where would I even start? Key? Alex? Shane? Dru! Heavens! To get the nuances, to get their awesome, you HAVE to read the book!!!!! It would be VERY remiss of me if I didn't mention our leading lady and her leading man... SHE'S a witch who's kinda mediocre in witchy terms but heck has she got spunk! Her bumbling, tumbling attempts at performing, at achieving anything remotely witchy delights me! Her easy going manner delights me! Her getting herself into oh such strange situations delight me! Her intelligence and problem solving delight me! Her banter, her stance, her resolve, her caring delight me! I have said she's probably my favourite witch.... and Ian, oh lordie Ian! Not only is he GORGEOUS inside and out (you'll have to dig around to find the "inside"!) he's a bounty hunter, he's reclusive, he's stoic, he's a shifter, he's ULTRA mysterious,; he's secretive and he has two adorable doggies, Fluffy and Rufus! What's NOT to like??? His estranged Bry, Hutton is another cool character, obnoxious, disagreeable and abrasive....all on the outside, while his inside, to me, hides an absolute sweetheart!
Hope finds herself solving another strange occurrence, yeah, thanks Sonia! But far from being discouraged, Hope's solving juices come alive! Once she sets her mind to it, there's NO stopping Hope.... and weird pentagrams, drawn in literal blood popping up, is enough of a reason for her. And this is all happening as Halloween is about to begin, spooky.... And oh golly do things escalate!!! Pentagrams become death, which becomes a problem dumped in Hope's shop! So yes, spooky.... I loved following Hope's trail of thought and her deducing skills as she pieces it all together in the most fun of ways, while trying, and failing, not to focus on all things Ian! The two of them fit like buttered bread, one without the other just doesn't taste quite as good, THEY are yummy together!
Dear heavens is this author magical with her words! Her use and expertise with her prose is delightful! Look at this fab line, "Ian gave me a glacial stare that had my inter organs begging for heated blankets"!!!! Clever and ultra vivid, right?She catches me by surprise so often when I least expect it! Sublime! This is not a fast paced read, rather it's an ebb and flow one, not a heck of a lot of action but plenty of detective-ing, more character driven story with a steady progression. The humour is so subtle, superbly and easily slipped in and THAT'S another reason this author is a MUST read! Immensely compelling and fun, with a terrific storyline, playing out each note, each turn twisted just out of reach to a surprising conclusion! Absolutely awesome!!!!
I love this series so much. I had a privilege to read an ARC, thanks to Isa Medina kindness. Last three books from the series were very good, but this one was incredible. "Real Fake Hauntings" is for me an urban fantasy with really cozy vibes. We have here a crime, a mystery, a slow burn romance and very well written characters.
Hope sometimes still has a mental breakdown or two, but generally I see how much she has changed from book one. She is a part of Olmeda community now, she is their local witch. She is running a tea shop, resolving a pentagrams mystery, preparing shop for Halloween...and more. Seriously, she is super busy witch. Ian, our lovely grumpy local bounty hunter, as well changed. I was waiting for one specific thing and I was right. It was perfect, dramatic and I loved it. Side characters are a cherry on the top of the cake. I changed my mind about Hutton. He can speak human language and deeply inside, under alpha skin, he has a good heart. I can't forget about Fluffy, our shiny star. She is perfect, enthusiastic and in the bee's costume. I would love to see her.
The mystery in "Real Fake Hauntings" was really well written. I didn't expect the plot twist and I was surprised when the pentagrams mystery was solved. Isa kept me occupied all the time and I run thought the pages and Olmeda together with Hope.
I really like Isa Medina writing style. It's easy to follow and the events are smoothly going from one to another.
I would highly recommend this series to the readers who love cozy mystery and urban fantasy. Hope and the rest of the gang will take you to the whimsical Olmeda just before Halloween and the journey will begin.
I can't wait for next book because as always Isa left us with some questions.
⁃ witch-shifter mates ⁃ Seances ⁃ Graveyard tours ⁃ Dogs in costumes ⁃ Zombie walks ⁃ Missing body ⁃ haunted house ⁃ Parade of souls ⁃ Wicked witch in the pocket ======
A smile is a frown upside down. Hope exemplifies her name: bubbly, sweet, and apparently the new detective in town. After almost convincing her almost-lover to host a haunted graveyard skit, Hope started to pop out the bubblies and cheap witch hat and broom, but her exhilaration, of course, doesn’t make a story. No, suddenly 4 pentagrams were found behind some stores, and everyone looked to Hope to find the culprit.
Okay, add detective to her resumé. She checked the pentagrams for the type of blood used, the presence of magic, and even checked public road cameras (smart) for evidence of whoever was vandalizing the walls.
Then she found a body in her tea shop, the local lawyer. Personally, I would have checked for a pentagram behind the shop, and looked for a roadcam, but Hope was freaking out and wouldn’t have thought of these things.
Ian, her bounty-hunter love, was supportive enough to allow her to make decisions, even if he questioned her wanting to dispose of the body.
Little details made the tour of halloween festivities exciting. “Ian’s head rotated slowly, right out of an Exorcist movie, “ shiver
It was a who-done-it amid kisses and tea craziness. Clean romance.
Another fantastic book in this series! This book begins with Hope and her friends preparing the cemetery for the haunted tour. But someone is drawing pentagrams on local businesses and even though it's Halloween, no one knows if it serous or just a prank. As the local witch, Sonia the head of the PBOA, tasks Hope with finding out who is behind the graffiti. And of course, for Hope nothing is ever as simple as that! Someone has now left a dead body in her shop as well! And all while she is preparing for her favorite holiday! What are the chances that they are not connected?! I absolutely love Hope with all of her optimism! She still doesn't let anything get her down and now she is even growing to add some sarcasm to her good-natured attitude. She is even learning some new tricks, magical and otherwise to help her with this set of investigations. And she always manages to get the grumps to help and enjoy it as well! Whether its Dru and the shop or Ian and the tour, she sure knows how to get her way! And Ian, oh Ian!! He is truly becoming one of my favorites! He shows just how far he will go to keep Hope safe! This was another who-dun-it that had me guessing until the very end! I loved the way the story ended up nowhere near where I thought it might! And got a god giggle with Hope's solution in the end! (So hard not to give spoilers!)
Halloween has come to Olmeda and the whole town is celebrating. Hope's excited because business in her tea shop is picking up and Ian's agreed to let the strays host a haunted cemetery tour. Things would be perfect if only a body hadn't shown up in her tea shop overnight. Now Hope needs to figure out who did it before she becomes the prime suspect.
I really like Hope, her eternal optimism truly is refreshing. She and Ian are just great together; and although their relationship is moving a bit slowly for my tastes, there was some good progress, which I was happy for. I liked that we got to see a softer side of Hutton, and Mark was a good addition as well. The book ends with an enticing hook for the next story, so I'm already excited for the next book in the series. This is one of those series that I will happily keep reading as long as the author keeps writing it! I highly recommend it!
another great entry into the series. i love hope and ian's steady trust in each other and their slow burn is paying off. i really appreciate that hope doesn't bother to hold back info from ian, she understands that he's more knowledgable in certain areas and asks for his help and he's always happy to help her. i'm all for fmc's trying to be independent and do things on their own but there's a different type of strength in knowing when to ask for help.
also we finally get to see ian shift and it's for the sweetest reason ever. i like the lore that we learn about him and it comes at a pace where it's quite believable. i'm glad that we don't get info dumped all in book one, but that the author takes her time revealing things.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Hope keeps me very entertained with her mental conversations! Many times I’ve had a quiet chuckle out loud. Her interactions with the other characters can be really funny too, because there is certainly an eclectic assortment of personalities to be found in this story.
The mystery and investigation angle is also really engaging. Once I got started, I found myself looking for excuses and opportunities to read a bit more.
And what’s not to love about Ian? Crusty and tough on the outside, but marshmallow soft inside.
Special pats also for Fluffy and Rufus.
Thank you to Isa Medina for my copy of this ebook. All opinions are my own.
🔮 Real Fake Hauntings 🔮 is Book 4 of The Good Bad Magic series by Isa Medina Author.
It’s Halloween time in Olmeda and Hope Avery cannot wait to celebrate with all the bells and whistles!
The only problem is that it seems like someone else is out to ruin more than just her good time. Pentagrams are popping up everywhere and Sonia (yes, that Sonia!) has asked Hope for her help to solve the mystery.
It should be a straightforward case but, like everything in Olmeda, there’s more to it than it seems and the appearance of a body in the shop takes the stakes to a whole new level. The good news is that Hope handles it all with affirmations and pure determination, making sure that nobody - NOBODY - gets between her shop and a good Halloween!
My favourite part of this book is all the dead ends Hope finds herself at, and the way she doesn’t let it get her down. It’s easy to say the affirmations but Hope really, truly, one hundred percent believes them and that shone through in her character more than ever.
My least favourite part is the burn part of the slow-burn, but I think it could also be my favourite part too?! Isa, what are you doing to me! It’s too good! 😍
I’m going to say it again, for those in the back, if you haven’t started this series - you need to! It just keeps getting better and I need more fans to talk Hope, Ian and Olmeda with 💕
Until then, I’ll be counting the days until the next instalment 🔮Bright Dark Curses🔮 is released!
Oh dear, Hope never seems to get a break, does she? While she has got Ian to agree to run the Halloween tours at the cemetery there is something afoot in Olmeda. While Hope spends her time running all around Olmeda trying to solve the mysteries in town there are things going on right under her nose that she doesn't see. I am really enjoying watching Hope and Ian's relationship develop, it has been going slow but with some recent revelations is this an all in or out moment? Can't wait for the next installment on their story.
Halloween has arrived in Olmeda and everyone is ready to celebrate. Hope is back and things are going well especially with Ian and then pentagrams start appearing and a body drops and so the investigation begins! Filled with mystery, suspense, a little action and a wonderful slow burn romance, this exciting urban fantasy draws you in from the get go. With twists and turns, some banter and a little sass, this fourth book is a great addition to this fantastic series and keeps you captivated and entertained.
Good witch for the win. What a rollercoaster of adventures in this book again. The tempo of events happening is almost too much. Again underestimated and a betrayal, will it ever stop for our good witch? Just when the romance gets to a more serious state something else comes up and we have to wait again. Fluffy the bee was hilarious, also the way Hutton was reduced to the helping hand in the tea cauldron. Let us see how he gets even. It is nice to read more about the side characters. The story gains more dept with ervery book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Great series. Lots happening in this town for Halloween including someone painting pentagrams on buildings and a murder as well. Hope is enlisted to find out what is going on. With help from her friends Hope shows she is not the weak witch everyone thinks. Hard to put down as I wanted to know who it was. The slow burn romance with Ian also takes a turn but we will have to wait for the next book to see where this goes. A must read.
This series has everything. Mystery, mayhem and IAN ❤️ I ADORE Hope, I love everything about her. It's definitely a pick me up series. This book is centred on Halloween, and what a Halloween they are having. I don't want to spoil it for people, but if you want something you can lose yourself in, then pick up this series. It's been such a honour to be able to arc this series and for Isa, I will be re reading time and time again.
Another great one! I love Hope's genuine goodness and refusal to bend. In urban fantasies you often get a good moral character that is a bit corrupted when they face so many hardships and you see a decline in their character as they approach some moral grey area as they struggle to survive. Hope refuses to give in and sacrifice that goodness, and I adore her. Ian is just Ian, and I hope he stays that way
Like all of her female characters, this one grows on you over time. Hope doesn't seem quite so hopeless these days and if Ian loves her, who wouldn't? These stories may have a little suspense and action to them but they are basically lighthearted romance. Great for killing an afternoon or lifting your mood. I received an advance review copy for free, and I leave this review voluntarily.
I love this book. It is such a cute story. Each book has been better then the last. Hope continues to grow on you as a character and can't wait to see what happens with Ian. This is a slow burn mystery, that is a quick read. It made is laugh and smile while I read. I received an ARC copy for an honest review.
Poor Hope can't catch a break, she just wants to enjoy her favourite holiday and enjoy the Halloween festivities, instead someone's going round painting pentagrams around town and then dump a dead body in her shop! I really enjoyed this cozy mystery, things hotting up for her and Ian. I can't wait to see how this plans out!
I loved this story very much. There's halloween, which Hope was expecting to spend in the shop but never does, there's the scrummy Ian who helps her out, there is all her friends and there is Bagley who causes her no end of trouble. It's a wonderful book makes you smile. Despite all the pitfalls, she manages to keep the shop and deal with the problems that Bagley creates.
This was a fun story with Humans, Paranormals, Witches and Lycans. The plot is easily followed, the premise is finding out who killed the irritating accountant and why. The answers were hard won and produced yet another dark witch, earth mages, and lots of things going wrong, thankfully. I definitely recommend this book.
It's Halloween and Hope is on a mission. For Sonia of all people. Someone painted pentagrams around town and asked Hope to look into it. None of the businesses seem suspicous and Hope is sure this is the work of a witch. But who? And why? Things get worse before they get better and Hope worries the shop is being targeted again.
What else can happen to mess up a good haunted time? Or make that a bad witch switching bodies and messing that up? Well this just answers those problems and a few more. But leaves so many unanswered ones!!!
Witches and Halloween, oh my!!! Wonderful words, humor and sarcasm with sparkles!!! I am Loving this series!!!! And who doesn't love a supportive team to help the heroine? Excellent!!! Grab it now!!!
This continues to be a slow burn romance. I like that Ian really doesn’t hover or over protect. Hope isn’t a great detective more a stumble into trouble sort which isn’t my favourite trope. The cafe seemed a side hustle in this story for her which was out of character.
Really only here finishing these for the main characters romance - the mysteries are hard to follow and all over the place still - and Dru and Hopes “friendship” still hasn’t seen much improvement and is not very friendly