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Wardwell Witch Cozy Mysteries
Hexes and Boughs
Mari Wardwell traded magic for spell-check. Magic did not get the memo.
Thirty-something journalist Marigold Wardwell has built a perfectly good life in Boston with zero room in it for magic. Sure, her boyfriend just moved out and the newsroom she’s worked in for a decade is emptying out around her, but she’s content with her press badge and an apartment she can almost afford.
When her mother – who happens to be the president of the New England Council of Magical Beings – calls at six in the morning with a ‘situation’, Mari’s first instinct is to let it ring.
The situation? Some trees on a construction site in Back Bay are behaving ‘strangely’ – to put it lightly. To make matters worse, a federal inspector the Council suspects to be moonlighting as a witch hunter is coming to investigate. If he sees what’s going on with the trees, the hidden supernatural world Mari’s family has spent generations protecting won’t stay hidden for long.
She only has a few days before the inspector arrives, no working magic to speak of, and her only confidante is a cat who registers his complaints by destroying her coffee mugs. Somewhere across town, the books at the public library have started flying off the shelves – which is, of course, none of Mari’s business.
Probably.
Thirty-something journalist Marigold Wardwell has built a perfectly good life in Boston with zero room in it for magic. Sure, her boyfriend just moved out and the newsroom she’s worked in for a decade is emptying out around her, but she’s content with her press badge and an apartment she can almost afford.
When her mother – who happens to be the president of the New England Council of Magical Beings – calls at six in the morning with a ‘situation’, Mari’s first instinct is to let it ring.
The situation? Some trees on a construction site in Back Bay are behaving ‘strangely’ – to put it lightly. To make matters worse, a federal inspector the Council suspects to be moonlighting as a witch hunter is coming to investigate. If he sees what’s going on with the trees, the hidden supernatural world Mari’s family has spent generations protecting won’t stay hidden for long.
She only has a few days before the inspector arrives, no working magic to speak of, and her only confidante is a cat who registers his complaints by destroying her coffee mugs. Somewhere across town, the books at the public library have started flying off the shelves – which is, of course, none of Mari’s business.
Probably.
89 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 7, 2026
About the author
Cleo Frost
4 books22 followersCleo Frost has been dreaming of being a witch since she was a little girl, but since that didn’t work out, writing about them is the next best thing. She writes paranormal cozy mysteries with quirky casts, talking cats, and lots of small town whimsy.
Cleo lives in the mountains of Upstate New York with her husband, a menagerie of cats, some aquatic snails, and a handful of chickens. When she’s not holed up at her desk in her historic (but hopefully not haunted) home office, she can be found wandering local trails, visiting craft breweries, and supporting her local music scene.
Cleo lives in the mountains of Upstate New York with her husband, a menagerie of cats, some aquatic snails, and a handful of chickens. When she’s not holed up at her desk in her historic (but hopefully not haunted) home office, she can be found wandering local trails, visiting craft breweries, and supporting her local music scene.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 9, 2026
Review of Hexes and Boughs by Cleo Frost
Thank you very much to the author, Cleo Frost, for this free prequel (obtained through her newsletter)!
Ratings out of 5 stars.
- Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Interest Rating: 📖📖📖📖📖
- Heartfelt Rating: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
- Cozy Rating: ☕️☕️☕️☕️
- Tension Rating: 🪢
- Predictability Rating: 💭💭
- Writing Style Rating: 🖋🖋🖋🖋🖋
Favorite character?
Most memorable scene/moment?
Did the ending satisfy you?
I thought the ending perfectly lead into the following book. Everything in this novella was wrapped up nicely and leaves off on the perfect note for the things that go on in the next book.
Would you read this book again?
Definitely! This was such a cute and magically sweet read that I would for sure re-read. And the length makes it a quick re-read too.
Additional Notes:
- I have to give props to the author because, as this is the second book I've read by her, the way she writes magic is so exquisite. I find myself able to picture everything that's happening perfectly, which is a struggle for some authors to get across when it comes to magic.
- I feel as though all of the characters are well-written and lovable. Easy-to-relate to, and I also want to say that as a born-and-raised Bostonian, I think she writes New Englanders and their cadences/attitudes really well. I felt really at home reading this book, which was something I desperately needed right now. The conversations and situations felt real, and I really enjoyed that. I think it's for that reason that I felt like this one was actually a bit more heartfelt than the novel that follows, though the overall coziness of the following novel is better methinks.
- The way that the author incorporates nature, folklore, and science into both this novella and the following novel are really well-done and appreciated, especially if you have a love for nature like I do. Overall, this read was short, sweet, and well-done!
Thank you very much to the author, Cleo Frost, for this free prequel (obtained through her newsletter)!
Ratings out of 5 stars.
- Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Interest Rating: 📖📖📖📖📖
- Heartfelt Rating: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
- Cozy Rating: ☕️☕️☕️☕️
- Tension Rating: 🪢
- Predictability Rating: 💭💭
- Writing Style Rating: 🖋🖋🖋🖋🖋
Favorite character?
Most memorable scene/moment?
Did the ending satisfy you?
I thought the ending perfectly lead into the following book. Everything in this novella was wrapped up nicely and leaves off on the perfect note for the things that go on in the next book.
Would you read this book again?
Definitely! This was such a cute and magically sweet read that I would for sure re-read. And the length makes it a quick re-read too.
Additional Notes:
- I have to give props to the author because, as this is the second book I've read by her, the way she writes magic is so exquisite. I find myself able to picture everything that's happening perfectly, which is a struggle for some authors to get across when it comes to magic.
- I feel as though all of the characters are well-written and lovable. Easy-to-relate to, and I also want to say that as a born-and-raised Bostonian, I think she writes New Englanders and their cadences/attitudes really well. I felt really at home reading this book, which was something I desperately needed right now. The conversations and situations felt real, and I really enjoyed that. I think it's for that reason that I felt like this one was actually a bit more heartfelt than the novel that follows, though the overall coziness of the following novel is better methinks.
- The way that the author incorporates nature, folklore, and science into both this novella and the following novel are really well-done and appreciated, especially if you have a love for nature like I do. Overall, this read was short, sweet, and well-done!
July 19, 2026
The "situation " is ludicrous by all standards. A tree that tried to hurt someone. They think witches are the cause. Marigold is a reporter who just got engaged and her mom is trying to arrange a high society wedding. The juxtaposition of these events had me rofl. This story is a unique, compelling read, that was entertaining and interesting. Is the tree a familiar???? I love someone who revolves around their pet, or makes them think she/her is. Maude is awesome. When Mari found a reliable answer for the dryad, I cheered like it was my victory. Will the tree agree?
Can Sylvana be brave and take the chance? The process is magical, not doing witchcraft!!! A touchingly sweet story.
I voluntarily read this book and provided my own thoughts without reimbursement of any kind.
Can Sylvana be brave and take the chance? The process is magical, not doing witchcraft!!! A touchingly sweet story.
I voluntarily read this book and provided my own thoughts without reimbursement of any kind.
September 25, 2026
Again such an enjoyment book to read this is a novela for grime grimoires gone wild which is the first book in the series this novela was so hilarious and cute read I would recommend Cleo frost books to anyone wanting to read something that is light , cozy , witchy with familiars but also hilarious. This author is the author for you. Auto buy author for me for sure.
October 11, 2026
Just finished this and it was really good. I enjoyed the way the story came together and how the journalist kept investigating until all involved were pleased with the way things had ended. I say go grab this book, I just kept reading because I wanted to know how things would work out. Happy reading.
July 22, 2026
A lovely short story!
Well written, I enjoyed hearing a small part of marigolds life!
Sylvanna really held my heart during this book. Having to leave the only place she'd known 🖤
Well written, I enjoyed hearing a small part of marigolds life!
Sylvanna really held my heart during this book. Having to leave the only place she'd known 🖤
August 16, 2026
Great short book. Loved it!
August 17, 2026
A lovely story of new beginnings, promises to be kept and hope. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
September 4, 2026
This was a fun little novella, that shows us how it all started. Set before Grimoires Gone Wild which is book 1 in the Wardwell Witch series.
First Person, Single POV
Novella
Cosy mystery
Paranormal and witchy
Cat companion
Super quick read
No romance
First Person, Single POV
Novella
Cosy mystery
Paranormal and witchy
Cat companion
Super quick read
No romance
October 2, 2026
Cool story?
August 18, 2026
Being a witch does not necessarily mean you know how to use your powers. After trying to live a normal life for years, Mari gets a mission from her mother to find out the cause of a tree behaving strangely.
An interesting story and beginning of a cozy witch mystery series.
An interesting story and beginning of a cozy witch mystery series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews