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Maple Muffin Magic
Welcome to Harvest Hollow, where the ovens are warm, the magic is old, and one chonky orange cat has already decided who belongs.
Ivy Merriweather only came back to Harvest Hollow to settle her grandmother’s affairs and decide what to do with Witchcakes. Clean the bakery. Make a plan. Leave before anyone calls it a homecoming.
Then she finds an orange cat sleeping in a proofing basket like he owns the place.
Nutmeg is nosy, bossy, underfoot, and somehow always exactly where he should not be. He is also determined to help Ivy reopen Witchcakes for Harvest Hollow’s fall market, whether she asks for his help or not.
But when Rosemary Merriweather’s signature harvest spice tin vanishes, small acts of sabotage start piling up. Someone makes it very clear that they do not want Witchcakes back in business, and Ivy realizes that her return may have upset more than just the "official bakery cat".
To save the business, survive the market, and solve the mystery of who is trying to push her out, Ivy will have to trust her instincts, trust her magic, and trust the ridiculous orange menace currently sitting on her recipe cards.
Ivy Merriweather only came back to Harvest Hollow to settle her grandmother’s affairs and decide what to do with Witchcakes. Clean the bakery. Make a plan. Leave before anyone calls it a homecoming.
Then she finds an orange cat sleeping in a proofing basket like he owns the place.
Nutmeg is nosy, bossy, underfoot, and somehow always exactly where he should not be. He is also determined to help Ivy reopen Witchcakes for Harvest Hollow’s fall market, whether she asks for his help or not.
But when Rosemary Merriweather’s signature harvest spice tin vanishes, small acts of sabotage start piling up. Someone makes it very clear that they do not want Witchcakes back in business, and Ivy realizes that her return may have upset more than just the "official bakery cat".
To save the business, survive the market, and solve the mystery of who is trying to push her out, Ivy will have to trust her instincts, trust her magic, and trust the ridiculous orange menace currently sitting on her recipe cards.
104 pages, Paperback
Published August 5, 2026
About the author
Sara Bourgeois
369 books396 followersSara Bourgeois is a Midwesterner through and through. She spends her time writing, reading, herding cats, and standing in her driveway during tornado warnings. (You can't see them from the basement.)
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 28, 2026
it’s a nice story
Rating: 3⭐️
I’m a absolute fan of author Sara Bourgeois and am reading several of her terrific series right now , from a paranormal murder mystery set in a small mysterious town in the Arizona desert (a real favorite) to another unfolding in a witchy town of Cauldron Hollow. So when I see yet another book, the first one in a new series, yes, I immediately pick it up.
Especially when the cover is ablaze with fall colors and elements. Hooked.
That said, I don’t find I was as connected to the story and characters here as I was with the other series. Bourgeois loves a woman who is in the process of restarting her life. Whether it’s because she’s been fired from her job, or because her relationship has gone downhill, whatever the reason, she’s needing a jumpstart to a new stage in her life.
And the plot gifts her with a shop or something from a deceased relative, fill in who it is, and what it is, that allows the woman to relocate and begin again. With new powers. And a familiar.
Here it’s a bakery , a cat familiar, a magical town that leans into its reputation, and Ivy Merriweather returning to Harvest Hollow where Ivy takes over her aunt’s bakery shop, Witchcakes and Nutmeg, the aunt’s familiar.
Of course, soon after, there’s a murder, several mysteries to investigate, and recipes to bake for the next festival.
The friends that Ivy have in town make a nice foundation for the main character to settle into but the slow burn romance aspect is nonexistent here. You can see where the author wants to build the storyline but it’s a real stretch right now.
This is a nice outline at best. I feel her other series have better depth and deeper layering, even at the beginning.
Witchcakes (3 book series)
Maple Muffin Magic
Pumpkin Spice Spells #1
Apple Cider Charms #2
Sugar Cookies Sorcery #3
Rating: 3⭐️
I’m a absolute fan of author Sara Bourgeois and am reading several of her terrific series right now , from a paranormal murder mystery set in a small mysterious town in the Arizona desert (a real favorite) to another unfolding in a witchy town of Cauldron Hollow. So when I see yet another book, the first one in a new series, yes, I immediately pick it up.
Especially when the cover is ablaze with fall colors and elements. Hooked.
That said, I don’t find I was as connected to the story and characters here as I was with the other series. Bourgeois loves a woman who is in the process of restarting her life. Whether it’s because she’s been fired from her job, or because her relationship has gone downhill, whatever the reason, she’s needing a jumpstart to a new stage in her life.
And the plot gifts her with a shop or something from a deceased relative, fill in who it is, and what it is, that allows the woman to relocate and begin again. With new powers. And a familiar.
Here it’s a bakery , a cat familiar, a magical town that leans into its reputation, and Ivy Merriweather returning to Harvest Hollow where Ivy takes over her aunt’s bakery shop, Witchcakes and Nutmeg, the aunt’s familiar.
Of course, soon after, there’s a murder, several mysteries to investigate, and recipes to bake for the next festival.
The friends that Ivy have in town make a nice foundation for the main character to settle into but the slow burn romance aspect is nonexistent here. You can see where the author wants to build the storyline but it’s a real stretch right now.
This is a nice outline at best. I feel her other series have better depth and deeper layering, even at the beginning.
Witchcakes (3 book series)
Maple Muffin Magic
Pumpkin Spice Spells #1
Apple Cider Charms #2
Sugar Cookies Sorcery #3
September 18, 2026
MAPLE MUFFIN MAGIC is the prequel for the Witchcakes series. I actually started reading book one (PUMPKIN SPICE SPELLS) before this one, and realized that I was missing some of the backstory.
The author uses a similar plot device in many of her series—a single female who is down on her luck inherits a home and business from a family member, and decides to remain in town to run the business. Oh, and there’s always a witchy element, a talking familiar cat, and a love interest. You would think reuse of this narrative would become repetitive, but it never is, and I love the author’s stories.
In MAPLE MUFFIN MAGIC, Ivy Merriweather inherits her grandmother’s bakery in Harvest Hollow, and returns to her childhood home initially with the intent to sell the business. Ivy is a “kitchen witch,” and is as good of a baker as her grandmother. She soon decides a trial run at the Harvest Preview Fair might be something to consider.
But someone has been sabotaging the reopening of the bakery, and Ivy has to stop it before the upcoming fair. Aiding her is the bakery’s familiar cat, Nutmeg, along with her childhood best friend, Poppy Finch, and former classmate, Theo Ashby (also owner of the apple orchard and cider mill).
Although this was a novella, the story was incredibly engaging. I’m looking forward to continuing the series!
The author uses a similar plot device in many of her series—a single female who is down on her luck inherits a home and business from a family member, and decides to remain in town to run the business. Oh, and there’s always a witchy element, a talking familiar cat, and a love interest. You would think reuse of this narrative would become repetitive, but it never is, and I love the author’s stories.
In MAPLE MUFFIN MAGIC, Ivy Merriweather inherits her grandmother’s bakery in Harvest Hollow, and returns to her childhood home initially with the intent to sell the business. Ivy is a “kitchen witch,” and is as good of a baker as her grandmother. She soon decides a trial run at the Harvest Preview Fair might be something to consider.
But someone has been sabotaging the reopening of the bakery, and Ivy has to stop it before the upcoming fair. Aiding her is the bakery’s familiar cat, Nutmeg, along with her childhood best friend, Poppy Finch, and former classmate, Theo Ashby (also owner of the apple orchard and cider mill).
Although this was a novella, the story was incredibly engaging. I’m looking forward to continuing the series!
August 24, 2026
A story that you cannot put down!
I started this book this morning and am finishing it this evening. Every minute I spent away from it I was thinking about it. I recommend this book to everybody who loves cats especially since he talks and loves baking. It is true that your emotions are reflected in your final product.
I started this book this morning and am finishing it this evening. Every minute I spent away from it I was thinking about it. I recommend this book to everybody who loves cats especially since he talks and loves baking. It is true that your emotions are reflected in your final product.
October 2, 2026
Cute Read
This was a quick read while I was struggling with another book. You could almost call it a palette cleanser. It was fun and easy to enjoy. The characters were not complicated. The cat was the most you had to worry about in the whole book. In a way, I felt like the main female character while she was trying to figure things out.
This was a quick read while I was struggling with another book. You could almost call it a palette cleanser. It was fun and easy to enjoy. The characters were not complicated. The cat was the most you had to worry about in the whole book. In a way, I felt like the main female character while she was trying to figure things out.
August 13, 2026
Nice beginning
Totally enjoyed the beginning of this series. Love a fluffy yellow cat. Especially one who talks. Strong female character who doesn't jump to open her mouth and spew drama. And the male character is kind, gentle and thoughtful. Looking forward to reading more
Totally enjoyed the beginning of this series. Love a fluffy yellow cat. Especially one who talks. Strong female character who doesn't jump to open her mouth and spew drama. And the male character is kind, gentle and thoughtful. Looking forward to reading more
August 22, 2026
Good read
Good read for a series beginning or as a stand alone story. Hope there's more to come. Ivy's s reluctance to commit is true to life when circumstances require a total change of life.
Good read for a series beginning or as a stand alone story. Hope there's more to come. Ivy's s reluctance to commit is true to life when circumstances require a total change of life.
August 23, 2026
Sara Bourgeois - Exceptional
I have read everything by Sara that I can get my eyes on. I love every series she has written. Her stories are exceptional, interesting, and original. I love the talking familiar and their attitudes!
I have read everything by Sara that I can get my eyes on. I love every series she has written. Her stories are exceptional, interesting, and original. I love the talking familiar and their attitudes!
August 26, 2026
Like previous series from Bourgeois, I enjoyed this quite a bit. It is a quick and easy read with likable characters, a featured "Bakery Cat", and a potential romantic interest. I look forward to more in the series.
September 27, 2026
Maple muffin magic
This book was a cozy town story. I enjoyed the characters. The cat was one of my favorites. He rules the bakery and everyone else I will read the next book in the series.
This book was a cozy town story. I enjoyed the characters. The cat was one of my favorites. He rules the bakery and everyone else I will read the next book in the series.
September 9, 2026
I haven't enjoyed a book as much as I did this one in a long time! Loved everything about it, and I am excited to continue the series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews