What’s a witch to do when a tricky spell throws her small town life into magical chaos…?
Daisy Fields, and her best friend Tessa Hale, happily run the town herbal shop, creating spells and tonics for humans and fellow witches alike. Daisy loves her life, even though she’s been a bit lonely since her husband’s passing several years ago. Her days are fun, if a bit mundane.
But when she accidentally spills a spell on herself that leaves behind nothing but a haunting note about her, “finally getting what she deserves,” everything changes.
Now, Daisy and Tessa are on an adventure to discover who cursed Daisy before the magical troublesome things around her get too out-of-control. They’re desperate to fix things. Even if the magic has somehow brought the cute man Daisy has had her eye on into her life, she knows better than to take advantage of a man under a spell.
Except, what if this spell is more than it seems? And what if the magic in the air is just the beginning of the changes in Daisy’s life?
BREWS AND BANISHMENT is the first book in an exciting new series that takes place in a sleepy little town called Willowbrook. There will be laughter, fun, friendship, mysterious circumstances, and a sprinkle of romance.
I am definitely in my cozy reads era, and I am just in time, too. Brews and Banishments is Lacey Carter's (Anderson) first cozy fantasy romance.
Daisy is older in age but has the spirit of someone younger. She's upbeat, kind, and sympathetic towards others. She's not a saint, as we find out, but she genuinely has a good heart. My favorite part of this story is the relationship Daisy has with her best friend Tessa. They are one hundred percent ride or die. More like sisters than anything else.
A mysterious package, a strange potion, and an ominous note: "Now you’ll get what you deserve." The mystery of who spelled Daisy was fun. I enjoyed seeing Daisy and Tessa performing spells, rounding up suspects, and conducting interviews with some very interesting characters. I will say that for such a pleasant town, Willowbrook sure does have a lot of crazies running around. There were some pretty funny moments. I have only two words: wedding dress. You have to read it to find out, but I'm sure you'll be laughing right along with me.
Brews and Banishments was a delightful read. The twist was unexpected, and there was even the start of a little romance between Daisy and her crush. The story wrapped up nicely, and the ending wasn't a cliffhanger, thank gods, but it did hint at the next mystery to come, and I'm already intrigued.
I’m always looking for a new light mystery to dive into, and this book definitely checks that box. Daisy and Tessa are two older women working in an herbal tonic shop in their small town. You’re getting quaint, adorable, and fresh right from the beginning. But things take a strange turn when Daisy receives an unexpected package, and spills an unknown potion on herself. What unfolds next? Well...it’ll definitely keeps things interesting. This book blends towards cozy mystery with light hints of magic. The people of the town are a blend of witches, warlocks and humans. The story is fun and light overall. You get a sense of foreboding when the potion spills on Daisy, but it’s interesting how quickly she brushes it off. Of course, when things that she “wishes” for begins to come true? That is cause for pause. I enjoyed this book overall, but some of what we perceived to be “mean girl” behavior from the FMC and her best friend, threw cold water on my enjoyment. The good news is is that Daisy comes to understand the negativity in what she’s doing. So, onward with the the quest of discovering the truth behind the “chaos.” It ends nicely with a surprise twist on the origins of the potion. It’s a light story, nice storyline overall, just a sprinkle of romance to keep readers happy.
Was better than I honestly thought it would be!!! I love Lacey Carters books, and when I saw this I knew I had to read it!! Now Daisy and her best friend Tessa may be older than the usual characters I read about, but they are certainly in their prime still and feisty!!! When a weird delivery of a potion has chaotic and unforseen consequences, it's up to Daisy and Tessa to find out who or what sent it and why?!? Someone who wants to see Daisy hurt?? An old flame who never got the hint? Or could it be the mean girl who thinks she's still better than everyone else?? Not to mention this Curse... Hex... whatever it is could be now affecting the guy she has feelings for!!! It was short but no less sweet and cute!!! Kept my interest the whole way through!!! Once again, Lacey Carter has written a book that is more than it seems and captures the hearts and minds of her readers and sends us into a reality we wish was real!!
Highly addictive short paranormal story with a little romance. Both female characters are older than your typical heroine but this book shows that age is irrelevant if there is a good story to tell. It follows Tess and Daisy as they try to work out who cursed Daisy there are lots of laughs and a little romance along the way. Very enjoyable highly recommended it.
This is book 1 in a new series of books “Mystery in a bottle” set in the charming little magical town of Willowbrook. It tells the story of Daisy a widow in her 50s and her best friend and business partner Tessa. They own and run Fields’ Herbals a quaint little magic shop that sells magic supplies to the towns local Witches and Warlocks and potions and herbal remedies to non magical folk and tourists. Life is simple and quiet. That is until Daisy receives a potion in the mail that smashes over her and starts turning her calm life upside down. Daisy and Tessa must try to not only keep Daisy safe but also figure out who sent this potion and get them to reverse the magic. Also to make things more complicated Daisy’s crush has just asked her out, but did he ask her out because he wanted to or because of the spell? No one wants a partner who is only with them because of magic, so this spell needs to be broken before Daisy potentially gets her heart broken. A nice easy read, love the characters, was accurate to magical lore which is a big plus for me. Will definitely be reading the rest of this series.
I’ve enjoyed this author’s previous works, so I was very excited to see that she was writing a women’s paranormal/cozy mystery…one of my favorites. As I started reading, I was immediately drawn into the story like I normally am when reading one of her books. I adored Daisy and Tessa, but I was a little thrown when I thought they were older when I first started this. However, I figured out that they weren’t in their 70s but 50s not too soon after. I didn’t know who I thought was the bad guy, until one little thing happened, which I can’t name, and then I was like, AHA! There were only two teeny gripes I had and one was that we had a little bit more physical description of the characters in the beginning to give me a better idea, and we were kinda given information as the story went on which would have been good to know sooner. I can’t say about a couple, but one was that Tessa is studying for a witch exam! Above all, I really want to read the next one to see where everything is going. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
Daisy works at a herbal shop when a magic potions she has no clue what is it falls from her beg and breaks, it has a cryptic note “Now you’ll get everything you deserve and a strange smell. Remembering her mother’s words never trust a potion with a strange smell. this magic potion has thrown her life into a magic chaos. And sending her into panic waiting for something back to happen. Only problem is good things keep happening. But at be at what consequence?
She wish for at some points comes true. The good and for people who treated her bad are getting there karma
Also side her best fiends and a Tess who was. Stock as they tried to track down where the spell/curse came from? It who cursed her? Could it be the man she shot down? Someone who thought she stole her man? Or maybe someone who thought she wrecked her chances of getting out of the small town? Or maybe it was someone doing an innocent spell that had consequences they didn’t know would come
I love LCA’s books, so I was really excited to see that she was putting out a new cozy mystery book under Lacey Carter. This book has such a cool story with the main characters not being some young, beautiful thing but a middle-aged owner of a witchy shop.
When Daisy receives a mysterious package and accidentally breaks the bottle getting it all over her, she knows that it can’t be anything good – especially when the note only says that its time that she gets what she deserves. When it seems that anything she wishes for starts coming true, she starts to panic. She and her bestie, Tessa, go on a mission to track down all the people who would want to do this to her before something even worse happens. She already is wondering if the man of her dreams who just asked her out is only doing it because of the wish potion and not because he may actually like her!
When they finally track down who did it, it comes as a HUGE surprise!! And I loved the ending – especially with the weird person she sees doing more magic …. I hope book 2 is coming soon???
Ever read a book and feel like you’re actually THERE? I’m not just talking about feeling like you’re immersed in the novel either-like reading it, you can actually picture the details: the places and the characters and the other goings on. That’s this book. From the first page, I felt like I was IN Willowbrook, meeting the characters: Ethan, Daisy, Susy, Anne,… and living in this small town whilst reading. I don’t read very many Third Person POV books, but LCA did a great job with this one so it was definitely worth it.
In the prime of their lives, Daisy Fields owns a spell shop with her bestie Tessa and all’s well in their slow paced small town of Willowbrook… Until one day, Daisy receives a package with a small note attached that seems to provoke a series of events that changes Daisy’s mundane day to day. From Ethan noticing her, & the business of the store, to spying Mrs. Witherford… Was it potion or pure luck or something else entirely? Let’s just say Be careful what you wish for in Willowbrook 😉
This is such a cozy little book, I adored it. The mystery of it was just enough to keep you hooked, and the bits of action weren’t excessive or extra. It also somehow translated that small town charm through the text, so you feel just like you’re going through a cozy town where nothing ever happens. Daisy has such a pure heart. While this book doesn’t hold the steam and heat I usually expect from this author, it still held my attention and was written so well that I devoured the book. Going along with Daisy while she pines over the boy next door, and solves the mystery of who would want revenge on her, is such a fun time. It really nails the “small town where everybody knows everybody” thing. Tessa is quirky, confident, and pushes Daisy to test her boundaries and comfort zone, just as a best friend should. Their relationship was so wholesome and sweet. I loved that they were there for each other every step of the way. I’m so excited for the next book.
Not really a cozy, but still a good read. I was excited to learn that a favorite author was releasing under a new one name. Finding out she was writing a highly favored genre, cozy mysteries, was a bonus! While this didn’t turn out to be a cozy mystery, it was an excellent sweet mystery romance!!
Daisy is a spell caster and brewer in Williwbrook. A longtime widow, her days have been full of status quo. Her best friend and shop assistant, Tessa, has been content in their work. A mysterious package delivered to Daisy one day moves her from life from humdrum to intriguing, starting with heart throb, single dad lawyer, Ethan.
There is great world building here and character development. So while not a cozy mystery by definition, this still a perk you up mystery that will give you gooey eyes and leave a smile on your face.
Daisy a middle age witch with great sorrow in her life, is content in her life after the lose of husband years earlier. However, she does want to have companionship in her life and she has been thinking of Ethan a lawyer, warlock and about her age. With her best friend Tessa, the run the Fields’ Herbals shop. One day a package comes for Daisy and with out really noticing how the box was out pops a bottle and drops to the floor. Well then strange things start happening, is Daisy responsible? Tessa and Daisy start out to find out who could have sent the tonic that cast a spell on her. As they start questioning possible adversaries in Daisy’s life, many things come to light and finally a resolution. Wait what is near the pond? Why did it run? Is there more trouble coming to Willowbrook? Come read this short story it still has a lot of fun and complications to keep you interested.
I absolutely love Lacey Carter’s writing. The stories are always well written and developed. This one is no different. This story pulls you in right from the beginning and only keeps getting more and more interesting. I loved Daisy and Tessa, the dynamic duo that at times will have you laughing and smiling. Poor Daisy doesn’t give herself enough credit but yet throughout the story we see how well loved she is. The story works through a lot of emotional issues for a lot of people. We follow alongside Daisy and Tessa as they try to discover who sent the spell to her. The story if filled with drama, mystery, suspense, and a bit of action. This was a fun read and it for sure has me excited to see what is going to happen next.
Brews and Banishment by Lacey Carter Anderson kicks off a fun, twisty adventure with a strong, sassy heroine at the heart of it all. When our main character is cursed and forced to leave behind her beloved herbal shop, she finds herself tangled in a magical mystery far bigger than she imagined. With danger, wit, and a trail of secrets to uncover, she’s on a mission to figure out who cursed her—and why. The blend of humor, heart, and magic makes this a fast-paced read that keeps you turning pages. The small-town vibes, quirky characters, and clever writing create a world you’ll want to return to. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with a magical twist, Brews and Banishment is the start of a spellbinding series that promises plenty of potions, peril, and personality!
Lacey Carter has written an adorable cozy mystery that will make you laugh and feel for the main character. Daisy is the owner of a magical shop. Her best friend and a sweet teen works with her. Business isn't so great but then; the guy she's been crushing on comes in and knocks things over in a cute fumble of items. A package is received that does not have a name attached to it. The mystery begins from there. What would you wish for if you could just wish and have it come true? What wouldn't you do? Follow Daisy and her bestie Tess as they try to figure out who sent the package and all the heartwarming and fun stuff happens.
This is book 1 in a new series and it is really interesting. Daisy is a great potion brewer and she runs the magical shop that has been in her family forever. Her best friend Tessa works there and the two of them are funny and compliment each other well. A spell was woven into a potion that causes Daisy some stress and worries. So Daisy and Tessa set out to find the person responsible while giving the reader some laughs along the way. There’s magic, laughs, a few tearful moments, and a touch of romance in this story. I enjoyed this quick read and I am really looking forward to reading book two.
This is book 1 in a new series and it is really interesting. Daisy is a great potion brewer and she runs the magical shop that has been in her family forever. Her best friend Tessa works there and the two of them are funny and compliment each other well. A spell was woven into a potion that causes Daisy some stress and worries. So Daisy and Tessa set out to find the person responsible, while giving the reader some laughs along the way. There’s magic, laughs, a few tearful moments, and a touch of romance in this story. I enjoyed this quick read and I am really looking forward to reading book two.
THis was a great change of pace for me. I love the PWF books, as it's great having a heroine *my* age to relate to!
Daisy's life has been going through a few problems recently and a mysterious spell makes things worse by making them better! There's a wonderful mystery stoy at the heart of this, as Daisy and her friend Tessa try to investigate who sent the spell, and the implications of how it responds to Daisy.
There's the start of a love story woven in, that I'd love to see developed, and some intersting characters I want to learn more about.
THis sia great start to a new series, and I can't wait to see where it takes us.
Friendship, magic, and intrigue, with the slightest dash of romance. This is an incredibly cute, well written, low angst women’s lit story. It’s very refreshing to have a MFC who is on the other side of 50! I like the idea that life doesn’t just happen to the young folks! The focus of this book is more on Daisy and her friendship with Tessa, and other members of the town. The romance aspect doesn’t play a huge role, but I see it becoming a bigger part of things in later books. Very heart warming and sweet, well written and edited. It has great pacing and keeps you fully invested and entertained.
OK, so this book is totally out of my normal genre and tropes. I don’t think I’ve ever actually read a cozy mystery romance… This isn’t the type of story I normally read from Lacey Carter but I am here for it. I absolutely love that the main characters are over 40. It is so rare to see main characters over 35 anymore. I love that this was focused more on solving the mystery than the romance part… And I’m a romance girly usually a dark romance girly… But I am so here for this best friends solving mysteries together. I don’t know what is in store for book 2, but I cannot wait for it! I love cliffhangers and this one was fantastic!
Let me start by saying this book was great. You have magic, a best friend, and a magical shop. What could possibly go wrong ? This delves into a mystery of sorts when Daisy drops a package she receives that contains a spell and the said spell goes all over her. Daisy and her best friend Tessa try to figure out who spelled her. This takes you on an adventure while they try to figure it out. I couldn't contain my laughter at some of the parts. The ending was definitely unexpected. What a fun book to read. I highly recommend it
Daisy is happy running a herbal shop when a spell accidentally spills over on her. So she and Tessa, her best friend and shop assistant, have to set out to get whoever sent the spell to reverse it. On the plus side, her crush is now interested in her, but she doesn’t know if it is just because of the spell or if he actually likes her. So she can’t even enjoy the until she gets the whole curse thing sorted out. The world building is great and I love the characters, especially the relationship between Daisy and Tessa. This whole book is a great mix of sweetness, humor, magic, and romance.
A quick fun little read. We step onto the world of witches and follow two best friends on a journey to solve a mystery. Owner of the shop daisy spills a mysterious potion on herself and finds herself in a weird situation. Things she wishes magically coming true in some way. But afraid of the precautions and the witch council her and her best freind set on a journey to break the curse put onto daisy. For a quick journey it is well written and leaves you wanting to continue the series finding out what happens next with the cliffhanger at the end.
this story follow two best friends...Daisy and Tessa. they run a herbal shop together. A magic potion that she doesnt know about falls and breaks with a cryptic note. The potion had a strange smell and she knew she couldnt trust it. THe potion causes chaos of course and now she panics waiting for something badto happen. but strange this is good things keep happening. Other weird things happen with this potion too but you'll haveto read to find out. Tessa tries to help her track down who made the spell, willl they find the person or not.
This book was a big positive surprise for me. I am used to reading the author's stories, and normally they go in a very different direction. This one? Light-hearted, hilarious, with a witchy heroine over fifty and heart of gold, and hex that actually turned out to cause mostly good things. I was enjoying it from page one, learning about Daisy and actually feeling happy for the good things coming her way now. Who said dating after 50 cannot be sweet and full of butterflies in stomach? Very much looking forward what the rest of the series brings!
Daisy is a witch, who owns her own shop selling potions and treatments with her best friend Tessa. When Daisy seems to be struck by a curse the pair set out to find out who is behind it and how to lift it.
This was an enjoyable change from the books that I normally gravitate to. I like that the characters are in their 50's, I do relate to that as yes I am there, although the characters do seem to be written as a bit older than that descriptive wise in places! It's quite funny and I like the budding romance, and as a first in a new series it is one that I intend to continue with
She's got no faith in herself at all. Luckily, she has family and friends that do. Even though she thinks she's been cursed, life still seems to get better for her. Now she's busy trying to figure out who placed the curse, and when she does, it's a complete surprise. Especially as part's of her life that she thought were being ruled by the curse are hers alone. Now she's just has to accept her life is her own and look to her future.
Daisy and her best friend Tessa are 2 middle aged witches that run a potions shops together. Daily lost her husband several years ago, while Tessa is married to a human man.
Daisy receives a mysterious package in the mail and when it spills on her, things suddenly start happening.
This book was fun, lighthearted read, and a good pallet cleanser. It was nice to read about a woman I'm actually close in age too, instead of a teenager, lol. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Daisy was such a fun main character, and I LOVE that she is an older woman! This cozy mystery was a really fun and enjoyable read. Daisy and her best friend, Tessa, get into some shenanigans trying to find the source of a spell. Absolutely hilarious moments, some sweet, and some suspenseful. Fantastic world building, and I love some of the side characters. Loved the little plot twist at the end! Cannot wait to read more!
This is a great book #1 and definitely lives up to the description: Hilarious - check Cozy - definitely (grab a blanket and favourite chair) Fantasy - double check Romance - hell yes!!!! Love how the main character is middle aged (not like a lot of high school/academy reads), and when Daisy opens a mysterious package - BAM - the awesomeness of this story unfolds. I love the characters, the world and the overall mystery this story takes you on. Highly recommend!!!