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Windy City Magic #2
The Sweetest Kind of Fate
GREAT. I’ve somehow found myself tangled up with a siren, a mermaid, and a homicidal wicked witch who once tried to strangle me to death. Way to go, Amber!
Amber Sand, legendary matchmaker, couldn’t be more surprised when her arch nemesis, Ivy, comes asking for her help. Ivy’s sister, Iris, is getting married, and Ivy wants to prove her sister is making a huge mistake. But as Amber looks into Iris's eyes, there doesn’t seem to be a problem—Iris has clearly found her match.
It seems happily ever after is in the cards, but when Iris seeks out a dangerous, life-altering spell, it’s up to Amber and Ivy to set aside their rivalry and save the day.
While Iris is willing to put everything on the line for love, Amber continues to wrestle with her own romantic future. Her boyfriend, Charlie, is still destined for another, and no matter how hard she clings to him, fear over their inevitable breakup shakes her belief system to the core.
Because the Fates are never wrong—right?
Amber Sand, legendary matchmaker, couldn’t be more surprised when her arch nemesis, Ivy, comes asking for her help. Ivy’s sister, Iris, is getting married, and Ivy wants to prove her sister is making a huge mistake. But as Amber looks into Iris's eyes, there doesn’t seem to be a problem—Iris has clearly found her match.
It seems happily ever after is in the cards, but when Iris seeks out a dangerous, life-altering spell, it’s up to Amber and Ivy to set aside their rivalry and save the day.
While Iris is willing to put everything on the line for love, Amber continues to wrestle with her own romantic future. Her boyfriend, Charlie, is still destined for another, and no matter how hard she clings to him, fear over their inevitable breakup shakes her belief system to the core.
Because the Fates are never wrong—right?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2018
38 people are currently reading
1346 people want to read
About the author
Crystal Cestari
8 books303 followersOh hey! Thanks for stopping by!
Writing has been my jam since I was very young. In fact, in fifth grade we filled out a profile declaring what we would be doing as adults. I wrote I wanted to be an author because: "I love reading and stories, and want to share that love." My elementary-school self was very wise, because that sentiment holds true today.
I live just outside Chicago with my daughter. My likes include ice cream and bulldogs, and dislikes span from broccoli to wet sneakers on linoleum (the worst). I always carry around a notebook to scribble down ideas. Writing longhand works best for me (even though it's the slowest method ever) because looking at a blank piece of paper is somehow less intimidating than a blank screen. Plus, there are so many pretty notebooks and pens to doodle with!
The Best Kind of Magic is my first YA novel, and I can't wait to share it! Shoot me a message if you'd like; happy reading, fellow Goodreader!
Writing has been my jam since I was very young. In fact, in fifth grade we filled out a profile declaring what we would be doing as adults. I wrote I wanted to be an author because: "I love reading and stories, and want to share that love." My elementary-school self was very wise, because that sentiment holds true today.
I live just outside Chicago with my daughter. My likes include ice cream and bulldogs, and dislikes span from broccoli to wet sneakers on linoleum (the worst). I always carry around a notebook to scribble down ideas. Writing longhand works best for me (even though it's the slowest method ever) because looking at a blank piece of paper is somehow less intimidating than a blank screen. Plus, there are so many pretty notebooks and pens to doodle with!
The Best Kind of Magic is my first YA novel, and I can't wait to share it! Shoot me a message if you'd like; happy reading, fellow Goodreader!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
May 2, 2018
Q:
MOUNTING evidence suggests I may be a masochist. (c)
Q:
Am I deranged? Insane?
Don’t answer that. …
Maybe, in addition to my being insane, a shape-shifter has stolen my body and taken over my social calendar? (c)
Q:
… I handled it with my usual finesse and grace (i.e., I lost it). (с)
Q:
I can’t even remember a time when she’s been alone. Maybe she’s instructed her groupies to get her a beverage or cry quietly in a corner until she’s returned. Either is plausible. (c)
Q:
...Duh.”
I turn to Amani. “Do people still say ‘duh’?”
“Apparently.” (c)
Q:
She glares at me with such intensity, I wonder if it’s a natural talent or if she practices in the mirror like a deranged pageant queen. (c)
Q:
With every comment, the siblings inch closer together, refusing to let either have the upper hand. Holidays must be fun in this house. (c)
Q:
Suddenly, they seem to remember I’m in the room, and turn to me in sync. Both of them have a hunger in their eyes suggesting they’d easily claw information out of me. (c)
Q:
It’s like all the happiness has left the world. Lesson learned: never, EVER be lulled into submission by a siren. (c)
Q:
GREAT. GREAT. I’ve somehow found myself tangled up with a siren, a mermaid, and a homicidal wicked witch who has made it clear on more than one occasion that she is definitely NOT Team Sand. Way to go, Amber! Why don’t I just arm-wrestle a dragon and piss off a necromancer while I’m at it? (c)
Q:
“What, I have to be exactly the same all the time?”
“No, but there’s a distinctly different vibe.”
“Like what?”
“Like…it wouldn’t surprise you if she suddenly sprouted fangs.”
“To be fair, I think that of most people,” I say. (c)
Q:
He’s so genuine. You know he’s not saying things for show. He’ll say things like ‘Amber just lights me up,’ and he literally brightens, as if simply saying your name is some sort of internal light switch. (c)
Q:
I take a massive bite, letting the dark chocolate chips fill the holes in my soul. (c)
Q:
But I never quite got the right combination. The closest I came was a liquid that made me cry for five hours straight; I think the concoction was literally trying to dry out all my feelings. (c)
Q:
“Can I, um, do anything for you?” I offer. I don’t know what the etiquette is after dumping someone’s lifeless sibling at one’s door. (c)
Q:
Stop being so wise. You’re a precog, not a priest. (c)
Q:
I completely avoid our usual meeting spots and take the most asinine paths possible, going up and down staircases I’ve rarely traveled. I’m starting to consider a career in covert ops, when I see him, down the end of a hallway he has no business occupying. But then again, neither do I, so I guess heartbroken minds think alike. (c)
Q:
I’M stirring a pot of Gods know what for Gods know who at Gods know what time. (c)
Q:
You are definitely the worst, but you’re also going through the worst time ever. And anything is better with pudding. (c)
Q:
Maybe I was wrong all along. Maybe Charlie and I have a connection that defies the basic patterns of love and courtship. Somehow, someway, our pairing is stronger than signals pointing us elsewhere. Screw destiny, screw the Fates. (c)
Q:
“Unique” is one of those special words with a large spectrum of definitions, ranging anywhere from “amazing” to “what in the world is happening here?” (c)
Q:
We’re both looking around like it’s raining squirrels. (c)
Q:
Good Gods, I didn’t realize I had driven him out of the country. That has to be some sort of all-time matchmaker low. (c)
Q:
I get to the cafeteria as early as possible, choosing a table right near the exit, in the event that I suddenly have to bail. I also make sure there’s no cutlery within reach, in case I go into a blind rage. Safety first, friends. (c)
Q:
I’m trembling, but for the first time in a while, it’s not out of fear. There’s a glimmer of hope building inside me, lighting me up in a way that’s been dark and dormant. Somehow I feel like this kiss has set off a cosmic string of events, and now it’s up to me to connect the dots. Screw the Fates, screw destiny; what was meant to be has gone and passed, and new possibilities await. (c)
Q:
In a room full of people, we’re the only two around, and I can’t think of anything more magical. (с)
Q:
But no matter how much we stumble and fall, we eventually find our way.
I’ve found mine. (c)
MOUNTING evidence suggests I may be a masochist. (c)
Q:
Am I deranged? Insane?
Don’t answer that. …
Maybe, in addition to my being insane, a shape-shifter has stolen my body and taken over my social calendar? (c)
Q:
… I handled it with my usual finesse and grace (i.e., I lost it). (с)
Q:
I can’t even remember a time when she’s been alone. Maybe she’s instructed her groupies to get her a beverage or cry quietly in a corner until she’s returned. Either is plausible. (c)
Q:
...Duh.”
I turn to Amani. “Do people still say ‘duh’?”
“Apparently.” (c)
Q:
She glares at me with such intensity, I wonder if it’s a natural talent or if she practices in the mirror like a deranged pageant queen. (c)
Q:
With every comment, the siblings inch closer together, refusing to let either have the upper hand. Holidays must be fun in this house. (c)
Q:
Suddenly, they seem to remember I’m in the room, and turn to me in sync. Both of them have a hunger in their eyes suggesting they’d easily claw information out of me. (c)
Q:
It’s like all the happiness has left the world. Lesson learned: never, EVER be lulled into submission by a siren. (c)
Q:
GREAT. GREAT. I’ve somehow found myself tangled up with a siren, a mermaid, and a homicidal wicked witch who has made it clear on more than one occasion that she is definitely NOT Team Sand. Way to go, Amber! Why don’t I just arm-wrestle a dragon and piss off a necromancer while I’m at it? (c)
Q:
“What, I have to be exactly the same all the time?”
“No, but there’s a distinctly different vibe.”
“Like what?”
“Like…it wouldn’t surprise you if she suddenly sprouted fangs.”
“To be fair, I think that of most people,” I say. (c)
Q:
He’s so genuine. You know he’s not saying things for show. He’ll say things like ‘Amber just lights me up,’ and he literally brightens, as if simply saying your name is some sort of internal light switch. (c)
Q:
I take a massive bite, letting the dark chocolate chips fill the holes in my soul. (c)
Q:
But I never quite got the right combination. The closest I came was a liquid that made me cry for five hours straight; I think the concoction was literally trying to dry out all my feelings. (c)
Q:
“Can I, um, do anything for you?” I offer. I don’t know what the etiquette is after dumping someone’s lifeless sibling at one’s door. (c)
Q:
Stop being so wise. You’re a precog, not a priest. (c)
Q:
I completely avoid our usual meeting spots and take the most asinine paths possible, going up and down staircases I’ve rarely traveled. I’m starting to consider a career in covert ops, when I see him, down the end of a hallway he has no business occupying. But then again, neither do I, so I guess heartbroken minds think alike. (c)
Q:
I’M stirring a pot of Gods know what for Gods know who at Gods know what time. (c)
Q:
You are definitely the worst, but you’re also going through the worst time ever. And anything is better with pudding. (c)
Q:
Maybe I was wrong all along. Maybe Charlie and I have a connection that defies the basic patterns of love and courtship. Somehow, someway, our pairing is stronger than signals pointing us elsewhere. Screw destiny, screw the Fates. (c)
Q:
“Unique” is one of those special words with a large spectrum of definitions, ranging anywhere from “amazing” to “what in the world is happening here?” (c)
Q:
We’re both looking around like it’s raining squirrels. (c)
Q:
Good Gods, I didn’t realize I had driven him out of the country. That has to be some sort of all-time matchmaker low. (c)
Q:
I get to the cafeteria as early as possible, choosing a table right near the exit, in the event that I suddenly have to bail. I also make sure there’s no cutlery within reach, in case I go into a blind rage. Safety first, friends. (c)
Q:
I’m trembling, but for the first time in a while, it’s not out of fear. There’s a glimmer of hope building inside me, lighting me up in a way that’s been dark and dormant. Somehow I feel like this kiss has set off a cosmic string of events, and now it’s up to me to connect the dots. Screw the Fates, screw destiny; what was meant to be has gone and passed, and new possibilities await. (c)
Q:
In a room full of people, we’re the only two around, and I can’t think of anything more magical. (с)
Q:
But no matter how much we stumble and fall, we eventually find our way.
I’ve found mine. (c)
April 2, 2022
I LOVED the first book in this series, and the dilemma of Amber Sand, witch matchmaker who can see the true love match of a person when she looks into their eyes. But poor Amber has to face looking into her boyfriend Charlie’s eyes every day, and seeing the face of her friend, Kim, knowing he is destined to end up with Kim instead of her. That would suck. And neither of them know.
This was totally awesome because former barbie doll mean-girl Ivy comes to Amber needing her help, and the two find common ground. I liked the way characterizations developed and softened in this one. The relationship with Charlie remained one of my favorite things. Super sweet and heartbreaking at times as Amber struggled to figure out how to balance destiny with forging your own path. LOVED this book for Cestari’s humor and fun supernatural plotting.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
This was totally awesome because former barbie doll mean-girl Ivy comes to Amber needing her help, and the two find common ground. I liked the way characterizations developed and softened in this one. The relationship with Charlie remained one of my favorite things. Super sweet and heartbreaking at times as Amber struggled to figure out how to balance destiny with forging your own path. LOVED this book for Cestari’s humor and fun supernatural plotting.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
May 26, 2022
Im obsessed with this series now and im sad to start the last one.
February 15, 2018
Happy endings do not always stem from seamless beginnings. Life is not linear; there's not one straight path. Mistakes and misfortunes are part of the game; the Fates certainly see to it. Love is a surrender, giving in to the unknown and hoping for the best. But no matter how much we stumble and fall, we eventually find our way.
I've found mine.
Again, I LOVE THIS SO MUCH! I started reading this right after I finished the first book because I DESPERATELY WANTED TO KNOW IF CHARLIE AND AMBER GET THEIR HAPPILY EVERLY AFTER.
(Looklooklookatthecover. SO. CUTE. And huge bonus: it looks so good together with the cover of the first book!)
Amber keeps pushing Charlie away and I was like, ?sdfafasda???? why are you doing this girl? He's the man of your dreams! But she insists that she wants what's best for Charlie and aghhh it was really annoying and kind of pissed me off because they are adorable together and she is just throwing their relationship away :((
*why is Amber doing this
I'm so glad to see the huge bully from the first book, Ivy, and Amber start to understand and accept each other. Amber helps Ivy even after what she did to her in the past, and I really admire her for doing it!
There are also a lot of magical / mythical? creatures in this book, like mermaids and sirens and witches and werewolves and vampires and trolls. SO FREAKING COOL. (YES, MAGICAL REALISM IS DEFINITELY MY THING.)
I didn't like this as much as the first book, because 1. Amber keeps pushing Charlie away and 2. the ending feels kind of rushed? (+ WILL THERE BE A THIRD BOOK IN THE SERIES BECAUSE I NEED MORE AMBER + CHARLIE)
Overall rating
★★★★
THIS IS SO GOOD. I highly recommend this to fans of fantasy and contemporary YA (because fantasy + contemporary = magical realism, right?) + Crystal Cestari, if you're reading this, please tell me - IS THERE GOING TO BE A THIRD BOOK?
I've found mine.
Again, I LOVE THIS SO MUCH! I started reading this right after I finished the first book because I DESPERATELY WANTED TO KNOW IF CHARLIE AND AMBER GET THEIR HAPPILY EVERLY AFTER.
(Looklooklookatthecover. SO. CUTE. And huge bonus: it looks so good together with the cover of the first book!)
Amber keeps pushing Charlie away and I was like, ?sdfafasda???? why are you doing this girl? He's the man of your dreams! But she insists that she wants what's best for Charlie and aghhh it was really annoying and kind of pissed me off because they are adorable together and she is just throwing their relationship away :((
*why is Amber doing this
I'm so glad to see the huge bully from the first book, Ivy, and Amber start to understand and accept each other. Amber helps Ivy even after what she did to her in the past, and I really admire her for doing it!
There are also a lot of magical / mythical? creatures in this book, like mermaids and sirens and witches and werewolves and vampires and trolls. SO FREAKING COOL. (YES, MAGICAL REALISM IS DEFINITELY MY THING.)
I didn't like this as much as the first book, because 1. Amber keeps pushing Charlie away and 2. the ending feels kind of rushed? (+ WILL THERE BE A THIRD BOOK IN THE SERIES BECAUSE I NEED MORE AMBER + CHARLIE)
Overall rating
★★★★
THIS IS SO GOOD. I highly recommend this to fans of fantasy and contemporary YA (because fantasy + contemporary = magical realism, right?) + Crystal Cestari, if you're reading this, please tell me - IS THERE GOING TO BE A THIRD BOOK?
April 29, 2018
“This is exactly why I don’t like people; they expect you to adhere to social norms, when all I want to do is hide under a blanket and mainline sugar.”
I read this back-to-back with the first book and I regret nothing!
I'm not really ready for this duology to end. These books are just the perfect palate cleanser after you've read a few crazy involved fantasy novel. It's fast-paced, cute and full of fun characters. Our main character, Amber, is back and now she is dating our adorable little Charlie from the last book. Only problem is that she knows she is not his soulmate and the girl that is supposedly his soulmate has just joined their school. Yes, lots of crazy problems ensue. This plot would typically annoy the hell of out me. I hate when books throw something in just to break a couple apart for a whole book only for them to get right back together in the end. Except.... I didn't know that in this one. I was actually fairly anxious about it. My gut said they had to stay together but there was always this inkling in the back of my mind saying... "yeah, but it's not her soulmate." That kept the plot more interesting and not to mention we also have another side plot that involves everyone's favorite siren, Ivy. Yes, she has a big role in this one and I though it was a lot of fun.
The plot with Ivy was pretty fun. I mean it has mermaids, so that is always a good time in my books. We also have another side story where there is some flirtations with a werewolf and also a story with Amber's mom and finding out about her past with the horrible witch Victoria. It sounds like these plots wouldn't connect and it would be a hot mess but it isn't. They all bleed into each other very well and the book goes full circle by the end.
Again, I'd recommend this one for when you are feeling like a fun, light and romantic read. It would be a perfect summer/beach read.
I read this back-to-back with the first book and I regret nothing!
I'm not really ready for this duology to end. These books are just the perfect palate cleanser after you've read a few crazy involved fantasy novel. It's fast-paced, cute and full of fun characters. Our main character, Amber, is back and now she is dating our adorable little Charlie from the last book. Only problem is that she knows she is not his soulmate and the girl that is supposedly his soulmate has just joined their school. Yes, lots of crazy problems ensue. This plot would typically annoy the hell of out me. I hate when books throw something in just to break a couple apart for a whole book only for them to get right back together in the end. Except.... I didn't know that in this one. I was actually fairly anxious about it. My gut said they had to stay together but there was always this inkling in the back of my mind saying... "yeah, but it's not her soulmate." That kept the plot more interesting and not to mention we also have another side plot that involves everyone's favorite siren, Ivy. Yes, she has a big role in this one and I though it was a lot of fun.
The plot with Ivy was pretty fun. I mean it has mermaids, so that is always a good time in my books. We also have another side story where there is some flirtations with a werewolf and also a story with Amber's mom and finding out about her past with the horrible witch Victoria. It sounds like these plots wouldn't connect and it would be a hot mess but it isn't. They all bleed into each other very well and the book goes full circle by the end.
Again, I'd recommend this one for when you are feeling like a fun, light and romantic read. It would be a perfect summer/beach read.
April 5, 2018
“The Sweetest Kind of Fate” is a fun follow-up to the original “Windy City Magic.” It is a quick and light read perfect for fans of magical realism. While there are some intense scenes in terms of magical creatures, there are very few curse words or sexual situations of any kind, making it a good choice for younger readers of the ya genre.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
January 22, 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezVRq...
This book absolutely warmed my heart and would be such a fantastic book for new readers growing into YA as well as anyone feeling a slump coming on. It's just so whimsical with the magic and simple to read being set in our world with pop culture references made that we all know.
The characters, lessons and relationships are adorable and healthy. They promote cherishing these things as well as give the tools on how to deal with bumps in the road. Amber battles to keep those relationships healthy and at the centre of who she is. We find out about her mother's past but Amber pushed forward to support how good her mother has become. She continues to do that with her co-worker Bob in the magic shop. She also really emphasized that fact that it's okay to have an argument and say sorry admitting you were wrong.
The romances are so sweet in this. Brooke and Iris had very little screentime together but I couldn't help but root for them and love them. They just have so much passion for each other and it made my eyes water.
The beginning with Charlie and Amber was so hard to read since we know she is working against fate but you cannot possible imagine how things will change. I did struggle with the ending of this though. The book emphasized that matches are like the end game and it doesn't just change however the conclusion just left me really underwhelmed with the "she decided to fight fate" explanation. I actually kind of liked how the ending came together for the romance. It gave the book a realistic touch to the relationship that could sometimes come off as cheesy (or chickflick-ey).
I loved that the side characters got so much screentime. Amani is a particular favourite of mine and she finally stops putting off "fate" in a way that seemed right for her character. It wasn't overly cheesy making her seem like a totally different character.
The comedy is hilarious. Amber has a near identical inner monologue that I do with sarcasm. That plus her antisocial tendencies and love of baking just kept making me see myself in her more and more!
I found the ending battle to be pretty anti-climactic--it seemed almost rushed or half attempted. There's a lot of build up and tons of history and threats of magical capabilities yet it was over in a few pages in a pretty clean way. I assume this is the conclusion of this series but I feel like there were a few things left unwrapped up. They were minor details so maybe they were forgotten?
The cover design is absolutely beautiful and I loved how the design kept going inside the book at the beginning of each chapter.
There are some pretty impressive and memorable lines in this book (especially in the last 20 pages) but my favourite has got to be:
"They say that all's fair in love and war, but for that to be true, you need to be part of the crusade."
This book absolutely warmed my heart and would be such a fantastic book for new readers growing into YA as well as anyone feeling a slump coming on. It's just so whimsical with the magic and simple to read being set in our world with pop culture references made that we all know.
The characters, lessons and relationships are adorable and healthy. They promote cherishing these things as well as give the tools on how to deal with bumps in the road. Amber battles to keep those relationships healthy and at the centre of who she is. We find out about her mother's past but Amber pushed forward to support how good her mother has become. She continues to do that with her co-worker Bob in the magic shop. She also really emphasized that fact that it's okay to have an argument and say sorry admitting you were wrong.
The romances are so sweet in this. Brooke and Iris had very little screentime together but I couldn't help but root for them and love them. They just have so much passion for each other and it made my eyes water.
The beginning with Charlie and Amber was so hard to read since we know she is working against fate but you cannot possible imagine how things will change. I did struggle with the ending of this though. The book emphasized that matches are like the end game and it doesn't just change however the conclusion just left me really underwhelmed with the "she decided to fight fate" explanation. I actually kind of liked how the ending came together for the romance. It gave the book a realistic touch to the relationship that could sometimes come off as cheesy (or chickflick-ey).
I loved that the side characters got so much screentime. Amani is a particular favourite of mine and she finally stops putting off "fate" in a way that seemed right for her character. It wasn't overly cheesy making her seem like a totally different character.
The comedy is hilarious. Amber has a near identical inner monologue that I do with sarcasm. That plus her antisocial tendencies and love of baking just kept making me see myself in her more and more!
I found the ending battle to be pretty anti-climactic--it seemed almost rushed or half attempted. There's a lot of build up and tons of history and threats of magical capabilities yet it was over in a few pages in a pretty clean way. I assume this is the conclusion of this series but I feel like there were a few things left unwrapped up. They were minor details so maybe they were forgotten?
The cover design is absolutely beautiful and I loved how the design kept going inside the book at the beginning of each chapter.
There are some pretty impressive and memorable lines in this book (especially in the last 20 pages) but my favourite has got to be:
"They say that all's fair in love and war, but for that to be true, you need to be part of the crusade."
February 7, 2021
WOW!
I really hope the author writes more for this series 'cause I am loving the Amber Sands chronicles!!!
This series is ridiculously fun!
I love how all the characters developed and mutated into something different or more in this book.
It was a bit darker than the first book, but in a good way.
So many secrets revealed and drama unfolded!
Please please please please let there be more books written for this series!!!!!!
I really hope the author writes more for this series 'cause I am loving the Amber Sands chronicles!!!
This series is ridiculously fun!
I love how all the characters developed and mutated into something different or more in this book.
It was a bit darker than the first book, but in a good way.
So many secrets revealed and drama unfolded!
Please please please please let there be more books written for this series!!!!!!
March 18, 2018
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
THE SWEETEST KIND OF FATE is an excellent follow up to THE BEST KIND OF MAGIC. With high school drama and first love, this reads like a young adult contemporary romance at times. With excellent characters and exciting paranormal aspects, THE SWEETEST KIND OF FATE is a perfect read if you're looking for something light with a bit of a fantasy vibe.
Having read THE BEST KIND OF MAGIC, I knew to expect a fluffy, YA contemporary feel. Since it was expected, I was totally into it! Throughout the book, Amber is dealing with her feelings for Charlie, his supposed match (per her visions when she looks into his eyes) and what to do about them since she doesn't believe she is ever wrong. Plus, there's there plot line with Ivy and Iris, which turns out to be a bit emotionally deeper than expected. But everything really comes back to the central question of true love and whether you're fated to be with one person.
Though there's a lot going on in THE SWEETEST KIND OF FATE, this book feels more cohesive than THE BEST KIND OF MAGIC. Whether it was because there was less introduction to do, or the plot just flowed better, the story seemed less all over the place. Plus, there was way less telling from Amber's internal monologue. Instead, we just got some super witty, sarcastic narration from her!
Definitely a highlight of these two books are the characters. Cestari creates some great multi-dimensional characters who feel real for their ages. Amber acts like the high schooler that she is! Which means that sometimes she feels a little prone to being a drama queen, but....she's a teenager - what do you expect?
THE SWEETEST KIND OF FATE is certainly a very enjoyable book, and I'm eager to see where Amber's path goes. Definitely recommend this one, but do read THE BEST KIND OF MAGIC first, as this one really builds on it.
Sexual content: Kissing
THE SWEETEST KIND OF FATE is an excellent follow up to THE BEST KIND OF MAGIC. With high school drama and first love, this reads like a young adult contemporary romance at times. With excellent characters and exciting paranormal aspects, THE SWEETEST KIND OF FATE is a perfect read if you're looking for something light with a bit of a fantasy vibe.
Having read THE BEST KIND OF MAGIC, I knew to expect a fluffy, YA contemporary feel. Since it was expected, I was totally into it! Throughout the book, Amber is dealing with her feelings for Charlie, his supposed match (per her visions when she looks into his eyes) and what to do about them since she doesn't believe she is ever wrong. Plus, there's there plot line with Ivy and Iris, which turns out to be a bit emotionally deeper than expected. But everything really comes back to the central question of true love and whether you're fated to be with one person.
Though there's a lot going on in THE SWEETEST KIND OF FATE, this book feels more cohesive than THE BEST KIND OF MAGIC. Whether it was because there was less introduction to do, or the plot just flowed better, the story seemed less all over the place. Plus, there was way less telling from Amber's internal monologue. Instead, we just got some super witty, sarcastic narration from her!
Definitely a highlight of these two books are the characters. Cestari creates some great multi-dimensional characters who feel real for their ages. Amber acts like the high schooler that she is! Which means that sometimes she feels a little prone to being a drama queen, but....she's a teenager - what do you expect?
THE SWEETEST KIND OF FATE is certainly a very enjoyable book, and I'm eager to see where Amber's path goes. Definitely recommend this one, but do read THE BEST KIND OF MAGIC first, as this one really builds on it.
Sexual content: Kissing
March 24, 2018
I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I was in no way compensated for this review.
The Sweetest Kind of Fate is Crystal Cestari’s second installment in the Windy City Magic series. It continues Amber’s adventures in matchmaking although this time around, her nemesis, Ivy, comes to her and asks her to check out her sister and see if her true love is really her match. And when Amber complies the answer is not to Ivy’s liking and so begins the tale of the mermaids!
So I got ahead of myself there, as we know already, Ivy is a siren as is her sister, Iris. Ivy loves to use the power of her voice to get what she wants. When her sister falls in love with a mermaid and wants to find a spell that will allow her to turn into a mermaid as well, Ivy wants to put a stop to it in any way possible. For Iris will basically be leaving land, never to return.
But Ivy’s family drama is only the beginning of Amber’s problems. Lately, she’s been trying to be nice to Kim, the new girl in school who also happens to be Charlie’s soulmate, the girl she sees him with in his happily ever after future. She sees Charlie within Kim’s eyes as well, and it puts a strain on the friendship she has with Kim for she is genuinely a great person and super nice. When it seems Charlie is spending an ample amount of time with Kim lately, Amber goes off the fritz.
But this story doesn’t just focus on possible romances all around, there’s still some good old fashion mystery elements in here too! Amber is looking into her mother’s past through her old grimoires. Add in the return of the wicked witch Victoria and you got on your hands quite the page turning read!
This book series is really turning out to be a cute read! The humor is so quirky! It’s definitely the lighter side of paranormal reads if you’ve ever wanted to read one but didn’t want it to be all dark and doom like! It surprises me that I enjoy it so much since nearly all my paranormal reads are dark and doom filled! Lol! Guess we all gotta take a bit of a break once in a while! Like switching from white cake to yellow cake! I’m sure Amber would appreciate that sentiment!
There’s not a great deal of kissing in this one. Things are light and fluffy in the beginning but by the middle, things are on the rocks. But there are still a few surprises thrown our way that doesn’t totally throw romance out of the book! It’s just not the romances you’d expect to see after everything that’s happened!
The ending to this one leaves me befuddled. While the first one didn’t quite end on a cliffhanger, it did end in a way that leads you to believe the story is far from over. While I can’t say that the story ends all happily ever after like, it does end in a fairly decent place. Nothing to really worrywart over, perhaps a one or two straggling questions. That’s what makes me wonder if there might be at least one more book! I feel like the characters were just starting to make some progress when I realized I came upon the last page! So much harder to tell when that happens when reading on a kindle! The Sweetest Kind of Fate will sweep you up with its tale of magic, love, and friendships…throw in some decent humor and a healthy dose of action and you’ve got quite the read in your hands!
Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars
The Sweetest Kind of Fate releases February 13, 2018
The Sweetest Kind of Fate is Crystal Cestari’s second installment in the Windy City Magic series. It continues Amber’s adventures in matchmaking although this time around, her nemesis, Ivy, comes to her and asks her to check out her sister and see if her true love is really her match. And when Amber complies the answer is not to Ivy’s liking and so begins the tale of the mermaids!
So I got ahead of myself there, as we know already, Ivy is a siren as is her sister, Iris. Ivy loves to use the power of her voice to get what she wants. When her sister falls in love with a mermaid and wants to find a spell that will allow her to turn into a mermaid as well, Ivy wants to put a stop to it in any way possible. For Iris will basically be leaving land, never to return.
But Ivy’s family drama is only the beginning of Amber’s problems. Lately, she’s been trying to be nice to Kim, the new girl in school who also happens to be Charlie’s soulmate, the girl she sees him with in his happily ever after future. She sees Charlie within Kim’s eyes as well, and it puts a strain on the friendship she has with Kim for she is genuinely a great person and super nice. When it seems Charlie is spending an ample amount of time with Kim lately, Amber goes off the fritz.
But this story doesn’t just focus on possible romances all around, there’s still some good old fashion mystery elements in here too! Amber is looking into her mother’s past through her old grimoires. Add in the return of the wicked witch Victoria and you got on your hands quite the page turning read!
This book series is really turning out to be a cute read! The humor is so quirky! It’s definitely the lighter side of paranormal reads if you’ve ever wanted to read one but didn’t want it to be all dark and doom like! It surprises me that I enjoy it so much since nearly all my paranormal reads are dark and doom filled! Lol! Guess we all gotta take a bit of a break once in a while! Like switching from white cake to yellow cake! I’m sure Amber would appreciate that sentiment!
There’s not a great deal of kissing in this one. Things are light and fluffy in the beginning but by the middle, things are on the rocks. But there are still a few surprises thrown our way that doesn’t totally throw romance out of the book! It’s just not the romances you’d expect to see after everything that’s happened!
The ending to this one leaves me befuddled. While the first one didn’t quite end on a cliffhanger, it did end in a way that leads you to believe the story is far from over. While I can’t say that the story ends all happily ever after like, it does end in a fairly decent place. Nothing to really worrywart over, perhaps a one or two straggling questions. That’s what makes me wonder if there might be at least one more book! I feel like the characters were just starting to make some progress when I realized I came upon the last page! So much harder to tell when that happens when reading on a kindle! The Sweetest Kind of Fate will sweep you up with its tale of magic, love, and friendships…throw in some decent humor and a healthy dose of action and you’ve got quite the read in your hands!
Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars
The Sweetest Kind of Fate releases February 13, 2018
May 10, 2018
ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Rating 3.4 Stars
This sequel to the Windy City Magic series started off as good and promising as the first, but lost its luster along the way. What really caused this was unfortunately the characters.
Amber Sand the main star herself was forced to deal with one of the worst things that can happen in teenage girls life: competition. The match to her boyfriend transferred to her school and already made herself comfy in her friend circle. Some jealousy is understandable but Amber just let the possibility of Kim and Charlie being a match consume her. It really consumed her to the point that it destroyed her and Charlie's relationship. She also went a little too far with her jealousy with Amani hanging out with Kim and that caused their friendship to be strained for a while. It was just really sad and pathetic and she could have easily fixed it if she really just told Charlie the situation. Her gift is also not completely set in stone either so she should not have really put total trust that her glimpses of the future would come true.
But teenager is not what caused all the issues either, even adults caused huge flaws in this book. Lucille, Amber's mom being one of them. She went to too many lengths to keep Amber in the dark about her past and her relationship with the evil hag Victoria. It is understandable to not want to reveal your dark past for as long as you can but with the whole ordeal with Victoria it would have been good to shed some light for Amber into why Victoria and Lucille were such enemies before she even came into town. Iris I think also could have been more reassuring and honest to her sister that just because she was choosing to join her lover in the sea doesn't mean she doesn't love Ivy or never want to see her again. Just too many problems that could have been easily resolved before hell broke loose.
Another part that knocked off stars was the ending. It was super anti-climatic with Victoria just being turned into a human popsicle and not being able to get out of it despite her strong and powerful magic. Also the issue with Charlie's future match just going all fuzzy like a TV screen without connection was never truly explained. I thought and still think its a sign of something bad for Charlie's future but Amber was not concerned and nothing else came to light about it. So another anti-climatic part. Also the part of Amber going to dance was cheesy and it really ended up with no big makeup really anyway between her and Charlie they were just going to keep things slow while Amber could still see nothing when she looked into his eyes.
Onto the parts that I did like. I liked the roadblock of Marcus trying to move in on Amber when she was on thin ice with Charlie it added an interesting element and Amber handled it well so it didn't end up as a catastrophic plot element with her cheating on Charlie or something of that nature. Also the plot holes that was Lucille Sand were finally revealed and her backstory was way more interesting than I imagined.
I'm not certain if there are going to be more books but I really hope so since I really don't want the silly conclusion to the book to be the complete ending to this story or I will be pretty upset.
Rating 3.4 Stars
This sequel to the Windy City Magic series started off as good and promising as the first, but lost its luster along the way. What really caused this was unfortunately the characters.
Amber Sand the main star herself was forced to deal with one of the worst things that can happen in teenage girls life: competition. The match to her boyfriend transferred to her school and already made herself comfy in her friend circle. Some jealousy is understandable but Amber just let the possibility of Kim and Charlie being a match consume her. It really consumed her to the point that it destroyed her and Charlie's relationship. She also went a little too far with her jealousy with Amani hanging out with Kim and that caused their friendship to be strained for a while. It was just really sad and pathetic and she could have easily fixed it if she really just told Charlie the situation. Her gift is also not completely set in stone either so she should not have really put total trust that her glimpses of the future would come true.
But teenager is not what caused all the issues either, even adults caused huge flaws in this book. Lucille, Amber's mom being one of them. She went to too many lengths to keep Amber in the dark about her past and her relationship with the evil hag Victoria. It is understandable to not want to reveal your dark past for as long as you can but with the whole ordeal with Victoria it would have been good to shed some light for Amber into why Victoria and Lucille were such enemies before she even came into town. Iris I think also could have been more reassuring and honest to her sister that just because she was choosing to join her lover in the sea doesn't mean she doesn't love Ivy or never want to see her again. Just too many problems that could have been easily resolved before hell broke loose.
Another part that knocked off stars was the ending. It was super anti-climatic with Victoria just being turned into a human popsicle and not being able to get out of it despite her strong and powerful magic. Also the issue with Charlie's future match just going all fuzzy like a TV screen without connection was never truly explained. I thought and still think its a sign of something bad for Charlie's future but Amber was not concerned and nothing else came to light about it. So another anti-climatic part. Also the part of Amber going to dance was cheesy and it really ended up with no big makeup really anyway between her and Charlie they were just going to keep things slow while Amber could still see nothing when she looked into his eyes.
Onto the parts that I did like. I liked the roadblock of Marcus trying to move in on Amber when she was on thin ice with Charlie it added an interesting element and Amber handled it well so it didn't end up as a catastrophic plot element with her cheating on Charlie or something of that nature. Also the plot holes that was Lucille Sand were finally revealed and her backstory was way more interesting than I imagined.
I'm not certain if there are going to be more books but I really hope so since I really don't want the silly conclusion to the book to be the complete ending to this story or I will be pretty upset.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2018
'The Sweetest Kind of Fate' is the second installment in a fun YA paranormal series that fans of the genre are sure to love. I definitely recommend reading the first book in the series before this one - it's not completely dependent on it, but will give inside perspective and you'll be in the know about what's been happening. I'm always immediately drawn to any book that has to do with magic and witches, so this was a no brainer for me.
The plot was interesting and full of little surprises. I liked getting to know the characters better - especially Amber and Charlie. Their romance is sugary sweet and normally would be a bit over the top for my taste, but I surprisingly enjoyed it. Even though her magic says that he's destined to be with another girl, I found myself totally rooting for them as a couple. The secondary characters got a little more depth, although I think they could be more rounded. One thing I loved was the different kinds of supernaturals throughout the story - witches, sirens, mermaids, vampires, werewolves, and everything in between.
Overall, this was a pretty light and quick read that was fun and quirky. I really enjoyed it and I'm happy that it was just as good as the first in the series. I definitely recommend it to fans of YA, fantasy, paranormal, and romance.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The plot was interesting and full of little surprises. I liked getting to know the characters better - especially Amber and Charlie. Their romance is sugary sweet and normally would be a bit over the top for my taste, but I surprisingly enjoyed it. Even though her magic says that he's destined to be with another girl, I found myself totally rooting for them as a couple. The secondary characters got a little more depth, although I think they could be more rounded. One thing I loved was the different kinds of supernaturals throughout the story - witches, sirens, mermaids, vampires, werewolves, and everything in between.
Overall, this was a pretty light and quick read that was fun and quirky. I really enjoyed it and I'm happy that it was just as good as the first in the series. I definitely recommend it to fans of YA, fantasy, paranormal, and romance.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2018
This book was a super sweet way to end the series! I am so sad that this series is over. I seriously hope Ms. Cestari has another book planned soon, even if it is not for this series. I have been a loyal reader since the very beginning and l can't wait to see what she writes next! I will support Ms. Cestari as a reader always~ I am grateful to have had the chance to get a glimpse into Amber's world and I will treasure these stories forever. Love isn't always perfect, it is about supporting each other and being there for each other even during the toughest of times. I hope to one day find a Charlie of my own someday soon. Until then, I will be filling the void with fictional romances. I hope to have even half as great a love story as all of my favorite fictional couples. I highly recommend this series if you want a light hearted, magical, romance. You certainly won't be disappointed!
December 14, 2017
I’m really glad I was able to review this novel. I have grown very fond of this series and I just keep wanting more of it. The amount of magic in it is just right, especially for someone who doesn’t read that many fantasy novels. It fits so well into this story that I almost wished for more of it! I also particularly love all of the characters. They feel real to me and I truly care about their destinies now. I’m dying for a third book now!
I would definitely recommend starting this series if you haven’t already. The first book caught my eye in a bookstore this summer and I’m really glad that I couldn’t resist buying it!
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I would definitely recommend starting this series if you haven’t already. The first book caught my eye in a bookstore this summer and I’m really glad that I couldn’t resist buying it!
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2017
This book followed up "The Best Kind of Magic" in the best way possible. I loved that we got more from the relationship between Amber and her mother and Amani and Vincent. I selfishly would love another book in this series but would be very happy with the way it ended if this is the last book.
It was fun to see more of the matchmaking side of Amber as well as get introduced to more supernatural characters!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
It was fun to see more of the matchmaking side of Amber as well as get introduced to more supernatural characters!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
March 9, 2018
Oh girl, that was SO bad. The Amber I knew and loved from the first book got turned in to some lovesick, annoying, whiny baby. And the entire plot line of turning a siren into a mermaid was just dumb. And through the entire book, Amber just complained about Charlie not being her match. Like, we get it. We know. Please stop beating us over the head with it. I’m really disappointed because I adored the first book so very much and was looking forward to the sequel so hard.
March 18, 2017
This book was absolutely delightful. It is such a perfect followup to The Best Kind of Magic. It's a fun story with a perfect mix of female friendships, a strong mother-daughter relationship, empowerment, angst, romance, and (of course) magic.
March 5, 2019
Thanks to Disney-Hyperion and Netgalley I had the honor to receive The Sweetest Kind of Fate ARC by Crystal Cestari, for an honest review and if you couldn’t tell by my word choice above, I loved it.
I effing loved it.
Like seriously this is the kind of book that makes me want to stop reading, go out there to the cold and lonely world and find me an adventure so that it stops being a cold and lonely world to become a warm and full of love world.
Okay, I cannot say it was completely perfect, because it wasn’t, but everytime I think about the story, it makes me smile and wish there was a motion picture of it *which Hollywood would probably ruin* and want to reread it again and again. One thing that I HATED a lot is the Charlie problem of it all. I wanted more Charlie and Amber time, but if you remember what happened at the end of the first book, we were introduced to the girl that is supposed to be Charlie’s match and if that is not the perfect recipe for a couple’s trouble then I don’t know what is.
Amber decided not to tell Charlie anything about Kim being his match because obviously she doesn’t want to lose him and she thinks that by telling him, something will snap inside of him and make him realize what a mistake he is making by being with Amber and not Kim.
Oh gosh that right there had me reading nonstop!
Then another thing that I wasn’t too fond about is how Amber kept talking about sweets, baking, cakes, cupcakes and everything baking related, for like the first six or eight chapters. Granted it is what she is going to go to college for and is her passion, but it felt a little overdone. Thankfully Mrs. Cestari kind of knew when to stop Amber’s fascination with sugar because, even though it was a little too much in the first few chapters, it stopped just in time to not be completely annoying.
Aside from those two things–which was mostly just one, the Charlie thing was necessary so I cannot complain that much–the story was wonderful.
The main conflict of this book is what people do for love. Some give up everything they know and hold dear for the loved one, others are afraid to tell the truth for fear of losing the loved one, and others can’t let go of the damage a loved one caused them in the past that they are not willing to see that love doesn’t always have a bad ending.
To my believe, love is the main theme of this series. Because as one person said one day, “Love is the closest thing we have to real magic, that’s why we are always trying to find it,” or something along those lines. And it is true, love is the closest thing we have to magic if you really think about it, we do crazy things for love and love seems and feels so powerful that sometimes is really hard to contain it.
The Sweetest Kind of Fate captures what love is supposed to be.
That love is worth everything. Which can mean taking a leap of faith and trusting that your feelings are worth more than what the fates might have predestined for you. And that obviously the “fates” are not always right.
The person with the main conflict is Ivy, and to be honest with you, I still hated her for the events that happened in the first book, and well to say she had the main conflict is to say it generally. She was affected but she wasn’t the main person with the problem. It was her sister.
Her sister wanted to give up something major, like do a completely 180 in her life for the girl she loved and you might think that Ivy’s problem with Iris’ wedding might be that she is marrying a girl, but it’s obviously not. The problem Ivy has is something completely unrelated to Iris’ sexual preference. Being straight or homosexual in this book is like second nature to the story, like it’s not a big deal, which is great because that is how life really is *for most people* you met people that are in love with someone from the same gender and it shouldn’t be a surprise just like is not in this book. *Totally sidetrack with this thought, but I think I had to say it.*
Anyway, then we also have the overall conflict of “who you are meant to be with.” Amber is never wrong with her matches, even with her best friend. She might have hated Vincent when she met him, but in this book, I can say that has changed a little bit. And that is what brings us to Charlie and the main, LIKE MAIN conflict of all the story: follow the fates or follow your heart and let it guide you?
We all know or have read about how powerful love can be, many times it gives you the power to do the unexpected, to pull through the most difficult situation, and many times love can prove more powerful than the fates themselves. So the million dollar question in this book was, are the fates right concerning Charlie’s match?
This was an amazing story, with a few cliches, but I welcomed the cliches, they made the story way more enjoyable and every little part of every chapter left me wanting more and more. I really loved the book and I cannot wait for the third book, because there HAS got to be another book.
The Sweetest Kind of Fate has a wonderful ending and I even though I REALLY would love another book for this series, I would totally *not really* be okay with the series ending like it did in this book.
Full review: http://bit.ly/2BhUa4t
I effing loved it.
Like seriously this is the kind of book that makes me want to stop reading, go out there to the cold and lonely world and find me an adventure so that it stops being a cold and lonely world to become a warm and full of love world.
Okay, I cannot say it was completely perfect, because it wasn’t, but everytime I think about the story, it makes me smile and wish there was a motion picture of it *which Hollywood would probably ruin* and want to reread it again and again. One thing that I HATED a lot is the Charlie problem of it all. I wanted more Charlie and Amber time, but if you remember what happened at the end of the first book, we were introduced to the girl that is supposed to be Charlie’s match and if that is not the perfect recipe for a couple’s trouble then I don’t know what is.
Amber decided not to tell Charlie anything about Kim being his match because obviously she doesn’t want to lose him and she thinks that by telling him, something will snap inside of him and make him realize what a mistake he is making by being with Amber and not Kim.
Oh gosh that right there had me reading nonstop!
Then another thing that I wasn’t too fond about is how Amber kept talking about sweets, baking, cakes, cupcakes and everything baking related, for like the first six or eight chapters. Granted it is what she is going to go to college for and is her passion, but it felt a little overdone. Thankfully Mrs. Cestari kind of knew when to stop Amber’s fascination with sugar because, even though it was a little too much in the first few chapters, it stopped just in time to not be completely annoying.
Aside from those two things–which was mostly just one, the Charlie thing was necessary so I cannot complain that much–the story was wonderful.
The main conflict of this book is what people do for love. Some give up everything they know and hold dear for the loved one, others are afraid to tell the truth for fear of losing the loved one, and others can’t let go of the damage a loved one caused them in the past that they are not willing to see that love doesn’t always have a bad ending.
To my believe, love is the main theme of this series. Because as one person said one day, “Love is the closest thing we have to real magic, that’s why we are always trying to find it,” or something along those lines. And it is true, love is the closest thing we have to magic if you really think about it, we do crazy things for love and love seems and feels so powerful that sometimes is really hard to contain it.
The Sweetest Kind of Fate captures what love is supposed to be.
That love is worth everything. Which can mean taking a leap of faith and trusting that your feelings are worth more than what the fates might have predestined for you. And that obviously the “fates” are not always right.
The person with the main conflict is Ivy, and to be honest with you, I still hated her for the events that happened in the first book, and well to say she had the main conflict is to say it generally. She was affected but she wasn’t the main person with the problem. It was her sister.
Her sister wanted to give up something major, like do a completely 180 in her life for the girl she loved and you might think that Ivy’s problem with Iris’ wedding might be that she is marrying a girl, but it’s obviously not. The problem Ivy has is something completely unrelated to Iris’ sexual preference. Being straight or homosexual in this book is like second nature to the story, like it’s not a big deal, which is great because that is how life really is *for most people* you met people that are in love with someone from the same gender and it shouldn’t be a surprise just like is not in this book. *Totally sidetrack with this thought, but I think I had to say it.*
Anyway, then we also have the overall conflict of “who you are meant to be with.” Amber is never wrong with her matches, even with her best friend. She might have hated Vincent when she met him, but in this book, I can say that has changed a little bit. And that is what brings us to Charlie and the main, LIKE MAIN conflict of all the story: follow the fates or follow your heart and let it guide you?
We all know or have read about how powerful love can be, many times it gives you the power to do the unexpected, to pull through the most difficult situation, and many times love can prove more powerful than the fates themselves. So the million dollar question in this book was, are the fates right concerning Charlie’s match?
This was an amazing story, with a few cliches, but I welcomed the cliches, they made the story way more enjoyable and every little part of every chapter left me wanting more and more. I really loved the book and I cannot wait for the third book, because there HAS got to be another book.
The Sweetest Kind of Fate has a wonderful ending and I even though I REALLY would love another book for this series, I would totally *not really* be okay with the series ending like it did in this book.
Full review: http://bit.ly/2BhUa4t
November 27, 2020
super cuteeeeeeee
January 6, 2018
Amber Sand tells this story. She is a Matchmaker meaning when she looks into someone's eyes she sees their perfect match. She comes from a family of witches but her talent isn't considered enough for her to be part of her coven. Her mother is is one of the most powerful good witches in Chicago. Amber's passion is baking. She is getting ready to submit her application the the Culinary Institute if she can just work up the courage.
Amber and Charlie are in a romantic relationship which causes a problem for Amber because, when she looks into Charlie's eyes, she sees him with another girl. The girl she sees in Charlie's eyes is Kim Li who is a new student at their school. Amber and her best friend Amari have befriended Kim but Amber can't help but be jealous of Kim. Amber's fears that Charlie will prefer Kim - his Fated match - make her relationship with Charlie harder because she hasn't told him what she sees.
While wrestling with her romantic dilemma, Amber is approached by her nemesis Ivy because Ivy needs help convincing her sister Iris that she is in the wrong relationship. Amber looks into her eyes and sees that her relationship with Brooke is real but the problem is that Brooke is a mermaid and to be with her Iris will have to undergo a complex spell to change into a mermaid herself. Amber's mother won't agree to perform the spell so Iris turns to evil witch Victoria to do the spell.
Victoria was the villain of the first book in this series and is even more evil in this one. Amber and her friends need to find a way to save Iris from Victoria's evil plans. Along the way Amber learns more about her mother's past and her mother's attitude toward love. I liked Amber who has a very sarcastic voice and viewpoint. I also liked that she finally decides not to blindly go along with Fate.
Fans of paranormal romance with lots of action will enjoy this story.
Amber and Charlie are in a romantic relationship which causes a problem for Amber because, when she looks into Charlie's eyes, she sees him with another girl. The girl she sees in Charlie's eyes is Kim Li who is a new student at their school. Amber and her best friend Amari have befriended Kim but Amber can't help but be jealous of Kim. Amber's fears that Charlie will prefer Kim - his Fated match - make her relationship with Charlie harder because she hasn't told him what she sees.
While wrestling with her romantic dilemma, Amber is approached by her nemesis Ivy because Ivy needs help convincing her sister Iris that she is in the wrong relationship. Amber looks into her eyes and sees that her relationship with Brooke is real but the problem is that Brooke is a mermaid and to be with her Iris will have to undergo a complex spell to change into a mermaid herself. Amber's mother won't agree to perform the spell so Iris turns to evil witch Victoria to do the spell.
Victoria was the villain of the first book in this series and is even more evil in this one. Amber and her friends need to find a way to save Iris from Victoria's evil plans. Along the way Amber learns more about her mother's past and her mother's attitude toward love. I liked Amber who has a very sarcastic voice and viewpoint. I also liked that she finally decides not to blindly go along with Fate.
Fans of paranormal romance with lots of action will enjoy this story.
January 29, 2018
They say that all’s fair in love and war, but for that to be true, you need to be part of the crusade.
My synopsis: Amber Sand is back with new friends, more baked goods, and a whole lot of sass and sarcasm. Charlie Blitzman is her beau, but maybe not for long, as the new transfer student enters the scene. A werewolf is a potential new love interest. Ivy, her long-time siren archnemesis, is asking for her help. And the evil witch, Victoria, is back for double Vs – victory and vengeance. When the Fates do not seem to hold your idea of happily ever after, do you get a happily ever after?
The Sweetest Kind of Fate continues the ever sarcastic and sassy Amber Sand’s hilarious story filled with magic, romance, friendships, delicious baked goods, and crazy dangerous adventures – and because that’s apparently not enough excitement, add to the mix charming-turned-deadly vampires, wild-but-heroic werewolves, and a head-over-heels-in-love mermaid. If you enjoyed The Best Kind of Magic, you’re going to love this just as much, maybe even more!
In this sequel, the Fates test the waters of love and friendship (quite literally!) and we see a different side to the characters. It’s also exciting to see new bonds form and evolve.
Overall, I really loved the Windy City Magic series and should Crystal Cestari ever choose to write another installment, I would definitely read it! If you like sassy heroines, swoony romance, sweet friendships, and crazy adventures – the Windy City Magic series better be on your TBR 😉
Full review on: https://goo.gl/VjRA66
My synopsis: Amber Sand is back with new friends, more baked goods, and a whole lot of sass and sarcasm. Charlie Blitzman is her beau, but maybe not for long, as the new transfer student enters the scene. A werewolf is a potential new love interest. Ivy, her long-time siren archnemesis, is asking for her help. And the evil witch, Victoria, is back for double Vs – victory and vengeance. When the Fates do not seem to hold your idea of happily ever after, do you get a happily ever after?
The Sweetest Kind of Fate continues the ever sarcastic and sassy Amber Sand’s hilarious story filled with magic, romance, friendships, delicious baked goods, and crazy dangerous adventures – and because that’s apparently not enough excitement, add to the mix charming-turned-deadly vampires, wild-but-heroic werewolves, and a head-over-heels-in-love mermaid. If you enjoyed The Best Kind of Magic, you’re going to love this just as much, maybe even more!
In this sequel, the Fates test the waters of love and friendship (quite literally!) and we see a different side to the characters. It’s also exciting to see new bonds form and evolve.
Overall, I really loved the Windy City Magic series and should Crystal Cestari ever choose to write another installment, I would definitely read it! If you like sassy heroines, swoony romance, sweet friendships, and crazy adventures – the Windy City Magic series better be on your TBR 😉
Full review on: https://goo.gl/VjRA66
March 13, 2018
I reread book one, The Best Kind of Magic, in preparation for this lovely sequel, and reading them one after the other was a great way to experience the story. In book two (I believe this is a duology, as this one wraps up pretty nicely but has some room for a sequel if Ms. Cestari chooses to write one), Amber is facing the threat of Kim, Charlie's soulmate. She gets herself pretty freaked out by all of that, plus the situation with Iris, Ivy's sister, but everything works out well in the end.
I think that Amber grew a lot as a person in this book. She definitely made some immature, selfish choices with some things. But I related to her a lot, because what would you do if your boyfriend's soulmate showed up like that? At any rate, despite some emotional pain, love wins out for some people, so yay, and things are looking up for the cast of characters.
As for the rest of the characters, I grew to like Ivy more in this book, and she really loves her sister. Amani and Vincent have a bit of a romantic breakthrough at one point, which is nice. Kim turns out to be pretty cool (which is a little infuriating for Amber) but I liked her. Amani on her own was fine. She and Amber had some tension and problems at one point, but she's an awesome best friend.
The plot was great. The characters were pretty darn awesome. The magic rocked. Overall, I really, really liked this book, and I read it in one sitting of a few hours. 4.5 stars, and highly recommended!
I think that Amber grew a lot as a person in this book. She definitely made some immature, selfish choices with some things. But I related to her a lot, because what would you do if your boyfriend's soulmate showed up like that? At any rate, despite some emotional pain, love wins out for some people, so yay, and things are looking up for the cast of characters.
As for the rest of the characters, I grew to like Ivy more in this book, and she really loves her sister. Amani and Vincent have a bit of a romantic breakthrough at one point, which is nice. Kim turns out to be pretty cool (which is a little infuriating for Amber) but I liked her. Amani on her own was fine. She and Amber had some tension and problems at one point, but she's an awesome best friend.
The plot was great. The characters were pretty darn awesome. The magic rocked. Overall, I really, really liked this book, and I read it in one sitting of a few hours. 4.5 stars, and highly recommended!
February 26, 2018
I loved the first book in the Windy City Magic series, so had high hopes for the sequel. I was not disappointed. Wow. All the clever urban fantasy world-building from the first book was equally in evidence, with some fun new elements added and an amazing mystery. Centering the mystery around a relationship made me heavily invested in Amber cracking the case, and also it was nice to see such a healthy LGBT relationship as the main focus. Please, please can there be another in the series? I want to know all about how Amber gets on with her cooking career, as well as about Amani and Vincent.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 17, 2018
This book is the sequel to The Best Kind of Magic. It was an enjoyable, light-hearted read that follows match-maker Amber (now dating Charlie from the previous book) and coping with the fact that he is not her match. On top of that, her nemesis siren Ivy, recruits Amber to help prevent her sister from turning into a mermaid to be with her true love. At times this book could be a little corny, but it was just what I needed and I enjoyed the ultimate messages of free will and taking risks in the name of love. If you’re looking for sweet, fun books with a paranormal touch then check out this little series.
October 27, 2017
Actual rating....4.5
Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was SOOOO excited to see this pop up in Netgalley. I really enjoyed the first book and book two did not disappoint. In fact...I think I liked it even better!
I loved the storyline!! I loved the drama between Amber/Charlie/Kim and the resolution....oh the resolution. The Ivy/Iris storyline was also fantastic. Just a fantastic second book. Loved it. Really hopeful there is more to come in this series.
Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was SOOOO excited to see this pop up in Netgalley. I really enjoyed the first book and book two did not disappoint. In fact...I think I liked it even better!
I loved the storyline!! I loved the drama between Amber/Charlie/Kim and the resolution....oh the resolution. The Ivy/Iris storyline was also fantastic. Just a fantastic second book. Loved it. Really hopeful there is more to come in this series.
February 3, 2018
Another cute installment in this series! I love the Windy City Magic store and all of the paranormal happenings around Chicago. This book wasn't AS enjoyable for me as the first one because Amber annoyed me for more of the book than I hoped. The last chapter was absolutely cheesy, super heavy-handed with the morals and messages for multiple pages. However, I love these characters (overall) and the concept too much to quit. I liked the addition of mermaids and werewolves in this one, plus Amber figuring out her future.
April 2, 2018
While I wasn’t as excited about the story line in this book I still loved it! I feel the first book had a better story line. But I just love the characters so much! And I really need more of Charlie and Amber! I need to know if Charlie’s March is Amber now! Since Kim’s March changed I really think Amber will see herself as Charlie’s match now! But we don’t know for sure! I love Charlie and Amber and I’m hoping for a third book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2017
Big thanks to Disney-Hyperion Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC copy for review.
Another crazy, magical, and fun filled adventure for Amber Sands. This series is just the cutest and I loved that Crystal added the wonderful addition to one of my favorite mythical creatures, mermaids. I completely flew through the pages of this book, and can’t wait for book three.
Another crazy, magical, and fun filled adventure for Amber Sands. This series is just the cutest and I loved that Crystal added the wonderful addition to one of my favorite mythical creatures, mermaids. I completely flew through the pages of this book, and can’t wait for book three.
January 24, 2020
So, I actually liked the second book more than the first. That is pretty rare in my experience. I totally cried at one point. It did remind me of Twilight with the whole werewolf thing. It is much lighter and sweeter than that series though. I will definitely continue reading this series.
April 23, 2020
Received eARC from Hyperion via NetGalley. Review to come.
2018 PopSugar: The next book in a series you started.
2018 PopSugar: The next book in a series you started.
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