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Homesteader Hearth Witch #1

The Problem with Pixies

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A pixie-infested farmhouse. A pain-in-the-butt familiar. A hunky lumberjack shifter.

Not at all what a witch on the run like me expects to find in small-town Redbud, Indiana, but life’s been throwing me a bunch of curveballs lately. Most recently? Discovering a demonic curse on the family grimoire sucking the magic straight out of my coven’s hearts. 10 out of 10 do not recommend, and there’s only one thing an uninitiated witch like me can do.Steal it. Get that spell book as far away from my family and the rival coven who cursed it, hide it, and figure out how to break the curse. Preferably before it decides to infect me. Or those hellhound trackers hunt me down. Say goodbye to carefree afternoon teas and hello to a new identity, a new town, absolutely no distractions—including that gorgeous bad-boy shifter with his own hidden past—and a secret place to work. So those overly curious, gossiping pixies currently infesting my new farmhouse? They gotta go. Tonight. A new witch is in town, and I’m on a mission.Scroll up and click “Buy Now” or “Read for Free” (Kindle Unlimited) if you like cottagecore with an edge, slow-burn forbidden romance, sassy sidekicks, demonic baddies, found family, small towns, humor, the occasional cozy vibe, and (eventually) a fae king. The Problem with Pixies is the first of Misty and Sawyer’s adventures in this novella series, Homesteader Hearth Witch.

128 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2024

1030 people are currently reading
1188 people want to read

About the author

Kat Healy

21 books62 followers

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5 stars
527 (42%)
4 stars
409 (33%)
3 stars
253 (20%)
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33 (2%)
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7 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
Profile Image for Liz | lizzuplans.
533 reviews35 followers
October 4, 2025
That was a fun read! I had to really get into the writing style first (a bit too descriptive / narrative and mysterious for my liking but it worked well with the story) and I feel both the book (novella?) was both a bit long and a bit short, BUT it was very atmospheric, fun, intriguing, and really entertaining.
Excited about number 2 in this series!

Also, lumbersnacks? Yes please!!
Profile Image for Orini.
122 reviews1 follower
March 15, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this charming and cozy book. Perfect for a hearth witch 😉. Each of the characters are unique and the way they interact with our main character "Misty" paints wonderful imagery of life in a small town. The author clearly has done research or has knowledge in witchcraft, because she certainly put a spell on me! Her attention to detail really comes through. Misty seems to be realizing that, while she is a powerful witch, her schooling has been lacking. She is learning all sorts of things on her own, through trial and error. Mistakes are made, and repercussions given. This book is filled with self discovery, romantic tension, mystery, and subterfuge. If I have anything bad to say it's that I wish there was more! So many questions left unanswered. This book is rather short, but I could see myself bingeing the entire series in a day or two. Bravo Kat Healy! I am excited to see what is in store 'Miss Misty'
449 reviews4 followers
March 16, 2024
The problem with pixies

I loved this book it was a great read with well throughout characters and plotline I want to go and visit miss Misty Fields and have some soup and homemade bread can't wait to read the next book a well deserved 5 stars.
Profile Image for Sharon.
170 reviews16 followers
January 14, 2025
Cute story! This is the 1st novella of the series, not sure if I'll continue but I'll admit I am curious to see where it goes.
Profile Image for Ciru.
1,713 reviews
April 9, 2024
What a wonderful start to a cozy mystery series.

The best book I've read all day.

Misty/Meadow is on the run from her coven, with the family grimoire. There is also another coven, potentially, after her. She buys a homestead in a magically open town. And then shenanigans ensue with the pixies she's trying to safely relocate.

The last 3 chapters are what really make this book and have me ready for book 2. I love the small town shenanigans, the Hallmark movie flirting with Arthur and the potential 'big picture' story arch with the grimoire.

Shout out to the mention of grounding. As a grounding partaker, avidly since covid, I appreciate the scenes with Misty in the garden, sun bathing, windows and doors open to the earth.

So, loved this. Loved Ame being the haughty cat and the potential relationships Misty is forging in the town.
Profile Image for Amanda.
33 reviews
April 5, 2024
cutest little homey cozy fantasy, I have a feeling Arthur is going to be a fave and can't wait for next installment
Profile Image for Reah N..
495 reviews18 followers
May 4, 2025
This is a fun, quick read.

Misty is on the run. She discovers a terrible curse on her family so she stole her family's spell book and ran. She's the only one who can break it.

During this book she comes to a new town, gets her bearings and accidentally makes enemies of magical creatures she's trying to befriend. She also finds herself irresistabely drawn to a handsome shifter of unknown origin. And makes friends with a few unlikely allies along the way.

It was over almost before it started, leaving me with only minimal details about the world, and almost could've acted as a teaser for the next books in the series. It was a bit more mellow than I would've expected, with very low stakes and no big mystery or adventure solved here. Though, I'd imagine that will happen in the next books. Still, it was great quick read.

Content:
Magic has a dark twist, feeding on blood. Dead ravens left on a door as a gift. A few suggestive comments. Heat and attraction, though nothing happens.
Profile Image for Taylor.
45 reviews
September 1, 2025
I kind of randomly found this book on KU while trying to hit my reading goal and instantly was intrigued and proceeded to find all the available books in the series to binge. Such a cute, fun read!
Profile Image for loveofafairy.
148 reviews7 followers
March 16, 2024
Expectations vs. Reality in Misty Land
Rating: 6/10
Spice Level: 0/5
Reread: No
Continue Series: Maybe


MC: Misty Fields - Hawthorne runaway green heart witch

The book takes us to a world where pixies, shifters, and witches collide, but not quite in the way one might expect. Our heroine, Misty Fields, finds herself in Redbud, Indiana, seeking refuge and a new beginning, away from the complexities and dangers of her past. However, the promise of a mystical and adventurous journey as hinted in the blurb seems to be, at least for this installment, just out of reach.

The blurb provides an intriguing premise—a witch on the run with a cursed spell book, aiming to hide and break its curse. Yet, as we delve into the story, the excitement is somewhat dampened by a series of unmet expectations. The plot points teased in the blurb, such as the details of Misty's escape with the spell book or her confrontation with the rival coven, remain shrouded in mystery, leaving readers more puzzled than intrigued. The blurb gives more information on the story than the book does.

A significant portion of the narrative is devoted to Misty's daily endeavors in her new home, which, while charming, often sideline the broader, more captivating aspects of her world. The introduction of the hunky lumberjack shifter, who could have added an interesting dynamic to the story, comes pretty late and leaves us wanting more. His character, along with the elusive familiar, Sawyer, feels underdeveloped, underlying even more the nagging feeling that this is just a way too expanded prologue.

Moreover, the book's rich lore is sprinkled throughout the narrative but lacks the depth and exploration one might hope for. The repetitive nature of certain information and the postponement of crucial plot developments in favor of mundane tasks contribute to a feeling of stagnation rather than progression.

However, it's not all pixie dust and disappointment. The writing itself is engaging and well-executed, ensuring that the reader remains entertained throughout. There's a charm to Misty's world that, despite the narrative's shortcomings, captures the imagination and leaves us curious about the future of the series. The foundation laid in this book suggests that there is much more to explore and uncover, giving hope that subsequent installments will delve deeper into the lore and relationships hinted at here.

In conclusion, while "The Problem with Pixies" may leave readers feeling a bit betrayed by its blurb and longing for more substantial plot development, its well-crafted prose and the promise of an expansive universe make it a story with potential. One can only hope that the series will build upon this foundation, offering the adventure and depth that this introductory tale hints at.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Elleigh  Green.
65 reviews
October 16, 2024
I downloaded this on a whim from Kindle Unlimited. I saw the 4.5 star rating and the description of “A Witchy Romantic Urban Fantasy” and saw that it was only 128pgs and dove in.

1) I was expecting a romance, there really was no romance in this book. Unless you count a possible bear to lumberjack shifter flirting and giving the main character a salve to heal her wounds a romance? lol

2) I don’t know why it says “urban fantasy” when this book has absolutely no world building and takes place in rural Indiana. In my head an “urban” fantasy would at least take place in a large city?

3) the blurb on the book gives the idea that we’re going to get some action; break a family curse, be hunted down for stealing the cursed book and having the help of the lumberjack shifter (who we assume based on the blurb would be a plot point, but simply wasn’t) instead we got a really amazing story about a hearth witch setting up a farmhouse and “evicting” pixies.

This book was very cozy, very good fall vibes, but the plot just wasn’t there for me…. Or maybe I just expected more? I don’t know.
Also this book also kind of has a cliffhanger ending… so if you were looking for a quick standalone like I was… this isn’t it.

The writing was absolutely beautiful and transports you to a cozy rural setting.

I will most likely still be reading more of this series, simply because the writing is incredible, but they’ll just be a little cozy bedtime read for me, nothing more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Blake.
1,263 reviews43 followers
July 1, 2025
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)

3.5*

First time read the author's work?: Yes -- No -- on looking to see what else she wrote, I spotted a first in series that I had rated at 2 stars and mis-recalled as just written by her co-author.

Will you be reading more?: Yes

Would you recommend?: Yes


------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)

All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked

Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
1,971 reviews
August 17, 2025
A small but mighty book! Great start to a series. Fascinating world-building. I am jumping into the next book right away!

Amazon synopsis:
A pixie-infested farmhouse.
A pain-in-the-butt familiar.
A hunky lumberjack shifter.

Not at all what a witch on the run like me expects to find in small-town Redbud, Indiana, but life’s been throwing me a bunch of curveballs lately.

Most recently? Discovering a demonic curse on the family grimoire sucking the magic straight out of my coven’s hearts. 10 out of 10 do not recommend, and there’s only one thing an uninitiated witch like me can do.

Steal it.

Get that spell book as far away from my family and the rival coven who cursed it, hide it, and figure out how to break the curse. Preferably before it decides to infect me. Or those hellhound trackers hunt me down.

Say goodbye to carefree afternoon teas and hello to a new identity, a new town, absolutely no distractions—including that gorgeous bad-boy shifter with his own hidden past—and a secret place to work. So those overly curious, gossiping pixies currently infesting my new farmhouse? They gotta go. Tonight.

A new witch is in town, and I’m on a mission.
Profile Image for Tasha (Associative Dysfunction).
256 reviews3 followers
December 29, 2024
The Problem with Pixies by Kat Heal had some strong moments, the real highlight for me was the slow-burn romance between Arthur, the lumberjack in plaid, and Misty Fields (her fake name adds a fun twist). Their flirtatious dynamic kept me hooked and made their developing connection one of the most engaging parts of the book.

Alongside the romance, Misty’s journey of learning magic she thought she already knew added an intriguing layer to the plot. Her struggle with this discovery was both humorous and heartfelt, adding depth to her character and her growth throughout the story.

Although there were a lot of characters involved, the chemistry between Arthur and Misty was what really stood out. The pacing of their relationship built just the right amount of tension, making their interactions feel both charming and meaningful.

Overall, it is an enjoyable read for fans of light fantasy and romance, with plenty of heart, magic, and a touch of whimsy.
676 reviews5 followers
April 10, 2024
This was an absolutely delightful book. Be warned -- it is not a fast-paced book and nothing at all is resolved by the end, so think of it as a first installment.

The main character is a hearth witch on the run (her reason for running and lying low comes out about halfway through the book). She snags a cottage/farm in a town that has humans and witches and fae folk and likely a shifter. And then she has to deal with difficult pixies (and other small challenges).

Very low-key. Really sweet and fun. Nothing dramatic -- nobody is out to save or destroy the world and there seem to be no supernatural royalty wandering around.

Anyways, delightful. Apparently the genre is called "cottagecore".

Since there is a cursed object she is planning to mess with, we all know things will get lively down the road.
Profile Image for Winona.
Author 2 books27 followers
July 26, 2025
Was looking for a little light reading to pull me out of a funk, and turned to this instead of my usual horror fare.
The Problem with Pixies is a cozy witchy mystery. Misty Fields, a powerful green witch, has stolen something very important from her family, and is hiding out in the supernatural friendly town of Redbud where she has bought an old farmhouse, complete with apple orchard.
Unfortuanlly, the house is infested with Pixies, and she must get them out before she can tackle the mysterious curse that has been put on her family, while hiding from the same family.
The town is, of course, full of quirky characters, both human and supernatural, including a hunky lumberjack she is almost positive is a shifter, and is 100% positive she's attracted to.
A cute little novella, which is the first in a series. I've read the first 2 and have the 3rd one lined up to go when my kindle recharges.
11 reviews
November 8, 2025
Doesn’t stay a cozy story

I read this whole series and was wildly disappointed with the way it progresses. The author does admit in her afterward of the final book that the cozy romantic trope is not her normal thing. I absolutely loved how this story began, but it becomes this wild epic friend story. The romantic male character is basically not even in the final two books which are just a long drawn out blah blah blah of side quests that are completely unnecessary. For the entirety of book 9 the female main character endures dubious consent situations with the bad bad in front of her fated mate who is in chains and being tortured (that’s his only role in the whole book). I wanted to enjoy this story more than I actually enjoyed it and I won’t be reading any more by this author since she admits she can’t keep to a storyline.
Profile Image for Deonna.
39 reviews2 followers
November 20, 2024
This entire series is beautifully written! Easy to visualize the characters and the scenery! I want the “I’m not a familiar” familiar cat! He is so adorable! There are shifters and Other magical beings that I love! I want a birdhouse now set up with cotton alls and fir for fairies to live in all year! I’ve named the little white spider in our kitchen Mrs. White because of the one in these books! Mine has all 8 of her legs though! The spells are really wonderful! I craved apple butter and cinnamon rolls while reading these books! Pages flew by and I thought about these people long after I put my device on its charger! I will read everything this author writes! 5 stars! Each book can be read as a stand alone but you’ll want more at The End!
563 reviews
April 1, 2024
Cute, endearing and just a tiny bit sappy!

Now don’t take me wrong at sappy, because it’s just the right amount.

I love the way Kat Healy details her characters. She gives away big chunks of their personality up front and then slowly adds in shading along the way until they reach a level of being fully realized people…. Not once does she tell us that so-and-so is this or rgst, rather letting their actions and thoughts tell the tale.

This was a fast and all around charming, utterly charming, tale and I’m so taken with it, I’ve already pre-ordered the next. So please to ENJOY!
Profile Image for Sarah A.
2,237 reviews19 followers
April 13, 2024
A fun cozy fantasy with fabulous characters that I cannot wait to read more about!

Misty Fields, as she must remember to identify herself, has run away from her family of witches after being attacked by a Big Bad and has stolen….well we will get to that.
Misty has become the new homeowner of a rundown apple orchard, a house full of pixies, and things that go bump in the night. She has to make friends - but not too close ones, meet the locals human and not, and satisfy the local fairy folk and wow avoid the hottie shifter.
A beautiful fun story with some truly wonderful characters.

Cannot wait to read more!
Profile Image for Dew.
762 reviews63 followers
September 1, 2024
I liked the book fairly well, but it really didn’t need to be a 7+ book series. I feel like I am living in an old-timey era of serials. Wait until next year to find out what happens next! The caveat being that the author doesn’t know what happens next. Whatever happened to writing a book with a beginning, middle, and end?

Aside from the seemingly endless sequels without ever getting to the point, I had a hard time buying that a 25 year old buys a farm and immediately commenced running a commercial orchard with instantaneous success while simultaneously solving mysteries and having a thriving social life. The characters are pretty good and the general themes are benignly enjoyable.
Profile Image for Sam Blevins.
114 reviews2 followers
October 7, 2024
Quick cozy, witchy read!

Misty Fields has run away with her family's grimoire to Redbud, Indiana. She's hiding secrets about who she is and masking herself as she assimilates into a small town taking over the local Apple orchard.

This first book I understand why it is set as a novella but I would appreciate reading all of the books in the series more as a collective. This book has got a lot of backstory in shadow for this first novella and it leaves a lot of cliffhanger's. You see a resolution with the pixies and why they are trouble but it's just setting up the story further. I also like how this book reads as a witchy, cozy romance but also reads like RPG lit.
Profile Image for Starr Perry.
381 reviews2 followers
October 29, 2024
Magical Misty Fields (her alias) is on the run with the family grimoire!
She has fled her magical family so she can secretly detangle their generational family spell book from the hideous curse that is draining them dry.

She goes to a small magical town and finds a perfect home to shield herself and set up shop, so she can unravel the mystery , but all kinds of hilarious magical mishaps occur and she meets Arthur, a dashing and distracting young man too - beware!

This is a delightful read with ooooodles of charm and an absolutely worthwhile read
Profile Image for Chrissy.
374 reviews12 followers
November 27, 2024
Cute and cozy

💖 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
📚 Genre: Paranormal cozy mystery 

Features:
🔮 A strong hearth witch that buys a run down apple orchard. 

🍏 Bear shifters, gnomes, warlocks and other supernatural species.

🔮 A decades old curse on her family. 

🌟 Overall, this book was okay.  At first I had trouble getting into the story since it was a little slow. There was a ton of world building and back story to explain. Thing is, it occured in a wonderfully cozy setting of an apple orchard in a small town. 

The ending more than made up for the slow beginning. I'll read book 2 next.  
Profile Image for Teressa.
153 reviews33 followers
November 11, 2025
This is a cute short story. From what I'm gathering reading the synopsis of the next book it sounds like they could easily be combined into one book, so I'm not sure what's going on with that. This felt like a brief glimpse into Misty's life, like a prequel into a larger story. But it's not how the series is set up, and I think that's why I'm giving it a 3 star instead of 4.

I did listen to this on audio, and the narrator was great. I'm very disappointed the rest of the series isn't on audio.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
16 reviews
April 25, 2024
Excellent first adventure!!

Very fun and easy to read. Great story. Loved this book. Made me happy reading it. It created a fantasy world one would love to be in and that felt real and normal. Great job overall. I like the low page count. Makes it easy to get through-short and sweet. So glad this is a continuing story. Keep them coming please! Im already addicted after only the first book. Only issue was some grammar, spelling, editing mistakes.
91 reviews1 follower
September 18, 2024
not a fan of the format

The writing is good but I don’t like how one story has been broken up into multiple small novellas. I don’t know if this was a Vella or series release before being made into a book but I’m not a huge fan of this format and wish it had been clear in advance. I’ll get book 2 but we’ll see how far I get. It’s not that I’m opposed to long books. I actually prefer them and don’t think a story needs to be broken across multiple books.
Profile Image for Bailey.
190 reviews
April 22, 2025
nice little tease but not fully satisfied.

Fun intro to a new world, it leaves you hanging and doesn’t close any of the plot lines but I enjoyed the glimpse into the world and was disappointed it wasn’t a more thorough full story I certainly could have enjoyed a full length novel with more info about that life Misty was running from and what she is going to encounter moving forward.
Profile Image for Whitney.
212 reviews
March 23, 2024
Fun cozy read with a paranormal world, a twist of mystery and attraction. A bit of a spoiler alert: I really enjoyed the twist that the main conflict in the story was a cultural miscommunication addressed with mature neighborly accountability and amends, rather than fists and death. A welcome change from do many books and why I like cozy style stories—at least the good ones.
14 reviews
March 29, 2024
A very good first in a series

Ok so I need more, more story. More back story...just more. I like the characters, the story and the side characters. Different teachings can and do lead to miss understandings in the word, I like an imperfect lead character. Especially when she learns from her mistakes
116 reviews
April 8, 2024
Delightful!

I found this from another authors recommendation. I read voraciously and I am always trying new authors. This book hooked me and I already have book 2 loaded and ready to go. I know another is on the way and hopefully many more. I can't wait to see how the story unfolds.
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