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The Witches of Holiday Hills Cozy Mystery #19
Bizarre Love Potion
Welcome back to Holiday Hills, a magical town where good always trumps evil, even if it’s a little late to the game.
Oh, how I love Bessie’s place, the hub of Holiday Hills, the Enchanted Bookstore and Café. I spend my days there, sweet aroma of cinnamon lattes, the gentle rustle of book pages, and the soft tapping of my laptop keys as I spin tales of witchy whodunits. That was, until reality decided to give my fiction a run for its money.
Again.
My regular table, nestled in a cozy corner beneath an antique chandelier, has always been my sanctuary - until Hansen, a male witch finishing high school, and one of Bessie’s part-time employees, dropped dead right in the middle of delivering a tray of pumpkin spice lattes to a gaggle of wide-eyed high school magicals.
Now, instead of weaving fictional tales of intrigue and whimsy, I'm embroiled in a bona fide mystery. I have to be. Bessie is the closest thing I have to family, and I owe her my life.
At least I’m not alone in this. I’ve got Cooper, my snarky cat familiar who’s got an opinion on everything , my best friend, Stella, who just wants to conjure calorie-free cupcakes on the regular, and her pup familiar, Pony, who, bless his heart, has a nose as sharp for sniffing out clues as it is for finding hidden snacks.
Together, we've formed an unlikely and unofficial detective squad, one my police chief significant other swears will be the death of him, even though he’ll never die. Literally.
You see, in our little town, things are never as simple as they seem. Hansen's death wasn’t an unfortunate accident. It was murder.
As I dig deeper, juggling interviews with suspects and book deadlines, I began to uncover secrets that would make even my most scandalous characters blush. From love potions gone awry to ancient grudges simmering beneath polite smiles, everyone’s got something to hide.
But I need to catch this killer quickly. Not only for Bessie, but because it's becoming alarmingly clear that I might be next on their list. It’s a race against the clock, and if I don’t write the final scene on my terms, I could end up the final draft of my own book.
Oh, how I love Bessie’s place, the hub of Holiday Hills, the Enchanted Bookstore and Café. I spend my days there, sweet aroma of cinnamon lattes, the gentle rustle of book pages, and the soft tapping of my laptop keys as I spin tales of witchy whodunits. That was, until reality decided to give my fiction a run for its money.
Again.
My regular table, nestled in a cozy corner beneath an antique chandelier, has always been my sanctuary - until Hansen, a male witch finishing high school, and one of Bessie’s part-time employees, dropped dead right in the middle of delivering a tray of pumpkin spice lattes to a gaggle of wide-eyed high school magicals.
Now, instead of weaving fictional tales of intrigue and whimsy, I'm embroiled in a bona fide mystery. I have to be. Bessie is the closest thing I have to family, and I owe her my life.
At least I’m not alone in this. I’ve got Cooper, my snarky cat familiar who’s got an opinion on everything , my best friend, Stella, who just wants to conjure calorie-free cupcakes on the regular, and her pup familiar, Pony, who, bless his heart, has a nose as sharp for sniffing out clues as it is for finding hidden snacks.
Together, we've formed an unlikely and unofficial detective squad, one my police chief significant other swears will be the death of him, even though he’ll never die. Literally.
You see, in our little town, things are never as simple as they seem. Hansen's death wasn’t an unfortunate accident. It was murder.
As I dig deeper, juggling interviews with suspects and book deadlines, I began to uncover secrets that would make even my most scandalous characters blush. From love potions gone awry to ancient grudges simmering beneath polite smiles, everyone’s got something to hide.
But I need to catch this killer quickly. Not only for Bessie, but because it's becoming alarmingly clear that I might be next on their list. It’s a race against the clock, and if I don’t write the final scene on my terms, I could end up the final draft of my own book.
172 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2024
31 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Ridder Aspenson
147 books543 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Carolyn Ridder Aspenson writes cozy mysteries, thrillers, and paranormal women's fiction featuring strong female leads. Her stories shine through her dialogue, which readers have praised for being realistic and compelling.
A multiple number one bestseller on Amazon, her first novel, Unfinished Business, was a five-star Reader's Favorite, a Rone Award finalist, as well as a number one bestseller on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. In 2021, she introduced readers to detective Rachel Ryder in Damaging Secrets, also a number one bestseller on Amazon. Overkill, the third book in the Rachel Ryder series, was one of Thrillerfix’s best thrillers of 2021.Reviews have praised her work as ‘compelling, and intense,’ and ‘read through the night, edge of your seat thrillers. Carolyn’s most recent Rachel Ryder novel, Deadly Means, has been submitted for an Edgar Award by her publisher, Severn River Publishing.
Prior to publishing, she worked as a journalist in the suburbs of Atlanta where her work appeared in multiple newspapers and magazines. She wrote a monthly featured column in Northside Woman magazine.
Writing is only one of Carolyn's passions. She is an avid dog lover and currently spoils an American Staffordshire terrier boxer mix. She lives in the mountains of North Georgia as an empty nester (who misses her kids terribly but loves having a lower grocery bill) with her husband, a cantankerous cat, and her very spoiled pup.
Connect with Carolyn via carolyn@carolynridderaspenson.com
A multiple number one bestseller on Amazon, her first novel, Unfinished Business, was a five-star Reader's Favorite, a Rone Award finalist, as well as a number one bestseller on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. In 2021, she introduced readers to detective Rachel Ryder in Damaging Secrets, also a number one bestseller on Amazon. Overkill, the third book in the Rachel Ryder series, was one of Thrillerfix’s best thrillers of 2021.Reviews have praised her work as ‘compelling, and intense,’ and ‘read through the night, edge of your seat thrillers. Carolyn’s most recent Rachel Ryder novel, Deadly Means, has been submitted for an Edgar Award by her publisher, Severn River Publishing.
Prior to publishing, she worked as a journalist in the suburbs of Atlanta where her work appeared in multiple newspapers and magazines. She wrote a monthly featured column in Northside Woman magazine.
Writing is only one of Carolyn's passions. She is an avid dog lover and currently spoils an American Staffordshire terrier boxer mix. She lives in the mountains of North Georgia as an empty nester (who misses her kids terribly but loves having a lower grocery bill) with her husband, a cantankerous cat, and her very spoiled pup.
Connect with Carolyn via carolyn@carolynridderaspenson.com
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 27, 2024
A brief stop at Bessie’s Enchanted keeps Abigail and her best friend Stella from their visit to Gibbs Gardens. Before they can leave, Ethan, the young barista, asks to speak to Abby. He is concerned about a book that he found that contains an ancient artifact and perhaps, a demon? She promises to look into the book, but before she can follow through, Ethan is dead. Did Ethan’s recent gift of a necklace have something to do with his death, but if so, how? Abby assists her significant other, Police Chief Gabe Ryder with the investigation and they have their list of suspects. Was it Vincent Sosbee who wanted something back from Ethan, young teen Lily Washington who was in love with Ethan even though he didn’t return her feelings, Sylvia the seer who believed that Ethan was too nosy or Miranda Starlit, a witch, who was upset that Ethan reneged on his plans to help her with her magic, or, the demon? Can Abby, with assistance from her familiar, Cooper, determine if a demon killed Ethan or was it a resident of Holiday Hills? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)
June 14, 2024
Bizarre, intriguing, enticing, a little scary, and definitely entertaining! Typical of the other books in this series, I found it to be a delightful page turner, with wonderful characters, a challenging mystery, full of magic and mayhem! Abby and the gang are at it again, trying to catch a killer, this time with an evil demon attached! I love this series, it's interesting, different, wacky and fun, and always hard to put down.
June 26, 2024
There’s a little teen angst as one of the teens is in love with the teenaged barista in the Enchanted Bookstore. Unfortunately, the barista has a different love. Also, unfortunately he’s just died in the Enchanted. Abby feels things are just a little off, but she can’t put her fingers on it. Stella is ready to help solve this murder, but the two are having trouble trying to make any progress. Will the two find the demon behind this, or will the demon win this round?
June 13, 2025
This is a magically fun series! When a barista at Bessie’s Cafe drops dead, it’s up to Abby, Stella, and their familiars to find the truth. A creatively twisty plot, interesting characters (don’t tell the others, but Cooper is my favorite), and good writing keep the pages turning well past the witching hour. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.
June 19, 2024
This is such a fun series! The characters are great! The familiars (Cooper, Mr. Charming and Pony) add so much character and humor to what is already an entertaining story. The magical/witchy elements are creative. This series offers mystery, magic, murder and mayhem - add in friendship, humor, cute animals, interesting storylines and you have the recipe for an enjoyable reading experience!
June 13, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It is fun and entertaining. The plot flows quickly and has many twists and surprises to keep you guessing. This book is full of adventure and magic. This is a fantastic paranormal cozy mystery.
July 3, 2024
Fantastic!
I absolutely love this series. This was another great read. A lot is happening in this story, I’m glad that Abby now has Stella to help her out. I look forward to reading the next one.
I absolutely love this series. This was another great read. A lot is happening in this story, I’m glad that Abby now has Stella to help her out. I look forward to reading the next one.
December 22, 2024
Another excellent witchy read.
Abby and Stella are at it again trying to find a witchy killer with the help of Cooper and Pony. It's an excellent Read that kept me entertained from beginning to end while trying to solve who the murder was. I highly recommend this read.
Abby and Stella are at it again trying to find a witchy killer with the help of Cooper and Pony. It's an excellent Read that kept me entertained from beginning to end while trying to solve who the murder was. I highly recommend this read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews