A Wish Too Late

by C.A. Phipps

One desperate wish. One buried secret. One white witch caught in the middle.Patience O’Reilly doesn’t grant just any wish—only the ones that truly matter. But when the beloved chef of Willow Gardens Retirement Community calls for help, the magic tugs harder than usual. Marie’s wish is tangled in fear, regret... and something far darker than Patience expected.

With her snarky terrier familiar Lucky by her side, Patience must navigate old wounds, community gossip, and a suspicious crime that threatens to unravel everything. Because in Willow Gardens, wishes always come with a cost—and this one may be deadly.Heartfelt magic, small-town secrets, and a sleuth who never gives up.Wishes and Wishes
A Wish to Die For
A Wish In Time - coming soon
A Wish Too Late - preorder now!

C. A. Phipps is a USA Today best-selling author from beautiful New Zealand. An empty-nester, Cheryl lives in a small town with her wonderful husband, 'himself'. Her extended family keeps her busy and when she's not writing, there is just enough space for a crazy mixed breed dog who stole her heart! She enjoys family times, baking, and her quest for the perfect latte.

184 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2025

About the author

C. A. Phipps is a USA Today best-selling author from beautiful New Zealand. Cheryl lives in a quiet suburb with her wonderful husband of more than four decades.

With a large family to keep her busy when she's not writing, there is just enough space for a crazy mixed breed dog who stole her heart!

She enjoys family times, baking, rambling walks, and her quest for the perfect latte.

You can find her at www.caphipps.com

C. A. Phipps also writes romance as Cheryl Phipps at www.cherylphipps.com.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patience and Lucky are at it again at Willow Gardens. Try as they might, they just can't seem to keep away from drama and danger. Patience is compelled to help solve a mystery as someone is out to cause harm. There is a delightful mix of personalities - those you love, and those you love to hate. Patience continues to struggle with how much to reveal to her sweetheart, although he may be more perceptive than she gives him credit for. It always seems a bit wrong to say a mystery - potentially with murder - is entertaining, but this series is entertaining and leaves the reader trying to piece together the facts and solve the mystery - hopefully before another life is lost.

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

In A Wish Too Late, Patience and Lucky return to the Willow Gardens Retirement Community at the request of the chef, Marie. Marie's wish exposes some dark magic lurking near the kitchen. You know there will be a murder before Patience can grant Marie's wish. As always Lucky is sometimes snarky but always lovable! You will not want to miss this exciting book in the fascinating Witches and Wishes series. Can easily be read by itself but it was nice for me to catch up with some of the series' recurring characters.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patience and Lucky are back at the Willow Gardens Retirement Community. Can they help Marie? Who is the real culprit? The gang is back together to help Patience to the mystery and grant a wish, maybe more than one. We get to see her use a spell or two and serve up more than one potion. A whimsical, fun read with a touch of romance.

[Monie Prosser · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is good to catch up with Patience and Lucky to watch them grant another wish. They are back at Willow Gardens helping the chef Marie to work out who is sabotaging her cooking. Lori, Ramona and Henry are there to help along with Kyle the policeman boyfriend of Patience. With strange going on's Patience can't quite work out who is trying to get Marie fired. As she get close to finding the culprit there is a murder and it was a person of interest for Patience. As Kyle investigates the murder Patience can't help but investigate on her own so that she can grant the wish. A good read with a few intriguing plot twists. I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I did.

[Raksha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patience is at it again with her sidekick aka Lucky, at Willow Gardens. Another wish has been requested but will it involve a murder.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this mystery fiction from the talented CA Phipps

[Kayleigh Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patience and Lucky are back at Willow Gardens to grant a wish! This time, they’re helping Marie, the chef, who is being sabotaged and is worried that she will lose her job. Marie’s subordinates constantly undermine her authority and are prime suspects. On top of the stress of trying to grant this wish, Patience is struggling to decide whether or not she will share her witchy secret with her boyfriend, Kyle. I felt bad for poor Marie throughout the story and understood Patience’s drive to grant the wish as quickly as possible.

Will Patience tell Kyle her secret? Will she be able to solve the mystery before the sabotage turns fatal? Read and find out! This book is a rollercoaster of worry and hope. I couldn’t put it down!

[Nicole Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patience and Lucky return to Willow Gardens to grant a wish for Marie, a chef facing sabotage that could cost her everything. Undermined by her own staff, Marie’s kitchen is full of suspects—and time is running out.
As the sabotage escalates, Patience struggles with a personal choice: should she finally reveal her witchy secret to her boyfriend, Kyle? I felt deeply for Marie and understood Patience’s urgency to grant the wish before things spiral out of control.
A gripping mix of mystery, emotion, and hope—I couldn’t put it down!

[Alicia Kozak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another suspenseful installment as the stakes get higher with each incident. I could definitely relate to Marie and the feeling that someone is out to make trouble for you. And Lucky is always entertaining with his snarkiness but lovability and intelligence.

[Miss W Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Wish Too Late is the third book in the Witches and Witches series by C.A. Phipps.

Patience and her familiar Lucky grants wishes but only the ones that really pull on her.


When the chef of Willow Gardens Retirement Community needs help, Patience goes to help .

There is a lot of gossip in the community as well as secrets and lies .

This was such a fantastic book I loved. !!!