A Bottle Full of Djinn

Sunnyside Retired Witches Community #1

by Paula Lester

Magic, mystery, and mayhem--with a side of Djinn.As the overseer of a community home filled with retired witches, Zoey is accustomed to handling magical mishaps with finesse. From mischievous spells to backfired potions to the whimsical use of half-forgotten hexes, she's seen it all. But when the place’s normally small messes escalate into a whirlwind of disastrous proportions, culminating in a missing resident and a trashed kitchen, Zoey realizes that something sinister is afoot beyond the innocent shenanigans of her resident seniors.Join Zoey Rivers and her comical crew of witchy retirees as they try to solve a case where crime has collided with magic—hopefully before the home they all love gets destroyed or someone winds up This is a light-hearted paranormal crime caper without a murder. The rest of the books in the series are light-hearted paranormal murder mysteries.

Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Fantasy, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Magic, Contemporary

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 20, 2019

Reviews

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced cozy mystery with a sense of humor. Sunnyside is a home for retired witches. A full group of various characters. A non-murder mystery. Who let the Djinn out and how do we put him back? My only complaint is that it was too repetitious on saying Jerry use to practice dark magic. It is not a bore. It is a keeper.

[JoAn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paula Lester's book A Bottle Full of Djinn was a quirky cozy mystery filled with retired witches in a small paranormal community. A fun little afternoon read

[Sandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This paranormal cozy mystery is fun. Zoey is the manager of a retirement home for witches. A Djinn has shown up in the retirement home and a resident has gone missing. How is Zoey going to gain control, evict the Djinn and find her missing resident. Mayhem and humour drive this story.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, just a little fluffier than I prefer.

G-rated cozy paranormal mystery. For those who are looking for it, it includes lots of mayhem, but no murder, no sex, and no bad language. The witches retirement home is a fun setting for a cozy.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little mystery.

[blacgold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely

I enjoyed reading a story that is so plausibly well written that you want to get on the road with the hope of finding the town they live in.

[Julia Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cozy crime caper! A quirky, funny story about a retirement home for witches, so you can imagine the chaos that could ensue given the possibility of aging, forgetful witches, and those that do not want to be there. Zoey Rivers is the Head of Staff and she herself is a witch but prefers to handle things in a non-magical manner. She runs the place well and all things considered, most days are just normal days for any hard worker in a retirement center.

But then things begin to go amiss: Chocolate cake is distributed all over the kitchen, one of the residents is found in a tree with a branch wrapped around her, a ghost shows up playing cymbals late at night making life unsettling. Zoey is surprised to learn that a Djinn has been let out of his container since she has never seen one and knows little about them other than the fact that they have been contained for years and years. She has got to find out who owns him and a way to remove him before the residents start moving out in droves!

[Elysian Fields · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun read! I read the first book in this series (the introductory novella Ghostly Trails) and fell in love with Zoey and the residents at Sunnyside Retired Witches Community. There is something so endearing about these characters that I cannot stop reading about their adventures.

In this story Zoey certainly has her hands full with her residents, the community, rivals, and a djinn. The humor and joy in this story make it worth reading but the crime caper and the relationships keep the reader turning the pages. I love the way this story flows and how the caper comes together. The author did an amazing job a keeping me guessing yet know really caring about how much I knew because I was so involved with every aspect of the story.

I really want to work in this community! There surely would never be a boring day at work! If you like crime capers, safe read and humor then this is the author and series for you. I loved it and recommend it. I received an ARC via Booksprout and I am leaving an honest review.

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love cozy witch mysteries and am a big fan, it is normally funny and I enjoy how the new witch learns to control his or her powers and the problems it cause, so this book was a real nice change and a treat. I love the way the witches have control of there powers but problems still arise. The mystery of who released the Genie was fun and even though I had my suspicions I enjoyed how the characters worked it out. The characters stole the show for me and made it a fun and interesting listening, the mixed group of characters were like able and I hope there are more books in the series to come because I look forward to learning more about them, I was chuckling in the first couple of minutes and recommending it to my mum soon after.
Zoey is head of staff at a retirement home but it is not just any retirement home it is a home for witches and anything can and usually does happen there. She is use to dealing with the odd mishap using magic and the chaos it causes but things seem to be getting more out of hand than normal. Cakes exploding, residents getting snatched up by trees, animals running wide Zoey has no idea what is going on but is pretty certain magic is involved. Can she get to the bottom of it before one of her charges gets hurt or disappears for good? In order to do that she will have to put behind her old grudges and ask her school nemesis for help. Could one of the residents really be behind the tricks? Is it a case of a spell gone wrong or forgetfulness? The suspect pool is small but that doesn't help her get to he bottom of the mystery, on very little sleep any quicker.
I liked the narrator. She is just the right amount of bubbly to carry off the story well.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Bottle Full of Djinn is the first full book (preceded by a short novelette #0.5) of a delightful paranormal series. The Sunnyside Retirement Home for Witches is populated by an enchanting (pun intended) group of elderly witches, watched over and loved by the manager, Zoey, and her staff: handsome, loyal Steve and a forgetful, disorganized receptionist who, nevertheless, is a cold-skilled witch who keeps the premises nice and cool. The story is told from Zoey's viewpoint, and she is an engaging protagonist - all-too-human, although gifted with powers herself, and absolutely devoted to caring for the residents of the retirement home.

Strange things are happening at Sunnyside. Well, stranger than the usual craziness that comes with a retirement home filled with elderly witches who are sometimes forgetful, sometimes mischievous, and sometimes not entirely in control of their powers. The unusual events that begin to occur are puzzling and occasionally threatening to Zoey's charges. And Zoey needs to get to the bottom of it.

The characters are endearing, quirky, and relatable. The mystery is a good one that isn't resolved until near the end of the book. If you're in need of a funny, light-hearted tale with no dark battles between good and evil, one that'll send you to bed with a smile, the Sunnyside Retired Witches Community is a series you'll enjoy.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoey is the head of staff for a magical retirement community. Her town of Sunnyside, California, is full of witches and warlocks, though normals do occasionally pass through town. People aren't supposed to use magic in public, but they are often lax about it. Strange events that Zoey can't explain start happening at the retirement community, a kitchen covered in chocolate cake batter, farm animals in the common room, and a ghost. Will Zoey figure out what's going on? Will she lose staff and residents because of this?

If you read the prequel to The Sunnyside Retired Witches Community series, you are familiar with the quirky world and cast characters that make up the greater and smaller communities of Sunnyside. The author does a fantastic job of integrating magic into the story, often in a humorous fashion. It's an engaging read that makes you wonder what funny, offbeat thing will happen next, whether it is magical or not. The book is a delightful way to spend an afternoon.

I received a free advance copy, but this did not affect my review.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe and Steve really have their hands full as director and assistant director of their retirement home for witches and wizards.

Zoe came from a long line of strong magic, but gave most of it up after her mom disappeared doing dark magic.
The subsequent disappearance of her father, after she graduated high school, left Zoe essentially an orphan.

She built a family of friends around her, and a home in the retirement center where she lived.

Looks like a Djinn is up to some mischief this time, with a few magical boosts from some residents.

Working together with her extended circle of friends, they manage to contain the main troubles, deal with some other sticky staffing issues, and a few family issues for someone else.

Trust and some close friends seems to be the key for Zoe - even if sometimes has to learn to trust herself and her own powers

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout.

I read it on Kindle Unlimited and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Crittermom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Bottle Full of Djinn is not what I expected. It was a cute read and a lot of fun, but it wasn’t much of a mystery. When I read a cozy I expected there to be at least one murder but there were none in this book. The mystery was one better suited for younger readers - who is causing the trouble at the retirement home for witches. There were plenty of funny moments, heavy on the over-the-top slapstick element. These would appeal to young readers as well as adults.

A Bottle Full of Djinn has plenty of senior witch hijinks, absurd situations, and laugh out loud instances galore. The writing was well done, and the characters were a joy to follow, even if some were more developed than others. There were a few loose ends and things that didn’t add up, but what’s the worry when the purpose is fun and a happy ending is in the offering .

This book is suitable for all ages.

4 / 5

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of mayhem and fun!

Please note: This book is a crime caper, not a murder mystery.

I really liked it! I was interested straight away. Lovely concept: a retirement home full of sorcerers and witches. Some of who are becoming senile… you can imagine the fun! There were a lot of names at the start, almost too many, but soon I knew them all and knew every quirk!

A lot of weird stuff is happening! Very eventful, never a dull moment! It’s not a MURDER mystery, more of a MAYHEM mystery. But there are mysterious things happening! Fun!

Very entertaining!

The narrator is awesome, she’s easy to follow and has a pleasant voice. She just sometimes pauses mid-sentence, as if there’s a full stop which there isn’t. That disrupted the flow ever so slightly. And her f’s sound like b’s at times (she bollowed her, and bound instead of found. Those kins of things). But the different voices were great, and enough emotion carried through.

[Jae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoey loves her job of being in charge of the Sunnyside Retired Witches home. The quirky residents are like family to her, and magical incidents are routine. However, when magical mishaps start escalating, Zoey learns she may have a Djinni on the loose in the home. Her boyfriend offers some advice, but the woman who runs the magical supply shop contradicts what Doug told Zoey. Hope and Zoey were high school rivals and don’t get on any better now that they’re adults. When one of her residents disappears, Zoey must swallow her pride and get Hope on board with helping to solve the dilemma.

This was cute and lively. I enjoyed meeting the residents in the retirement home. I wasn’t sure about Zoey’s boyfriend, Doug. I felt he was not only keeping secrets, but also that he actively sabotaged her. It was encouraging to see how people pulled together, including Zoey and Hope, to rectify their situation.

Fun story, four stars

[Suzanne Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoey, Steve and the residents find themselves experiencing some creative unexpected situations that have magic written all over them. Zoey’s boyfriend Doug comes to help and diagnosis their problem as a Djini. They recruit some unexpected help but the mystery of who summoned the Djini and how to control his comical antics still remains to be solved.

This is a wonderful, humorous book from the Sunnyside Retired Witches Community series. The situations the Djini creates are both hilarious and dangerous. There is an emotional component to this book as the characters reveal their past, fears and unhappiness. I particularly liked how Zoey and the rest of the staff tried so hard to make the residents happy. It is an easy read and w,ell written. The dialogue is great and the descriptions detailed. Have fun reading this series.

[Marie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoey Rivers is the head of staff at Sunnyside Retired Witches Community, a retirement home for elderly witches. Zoey, who is also a witch, enjoys her job until unexplained problems start happening. At first it’s harmless things, like mysterious metallic clanging noises in the middle of the night or an explosion of chocolate cake all over the kitchen. When one of the residents disappears and an investigation is conducted, it is discovered that there may be a djinn, or genie, that is responsible for all that is happening. Zoey, with the help of her staff, boyfriend, and even a friend from high school, all must combine their forces in order to find the missing resident as well as dealing with an uncontrollable djinn on the loose.
I found this book to be an enjoyable and quick read due to its interesting characters and plot. An excellent introduction to the book series.

[Katie Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoey is the Head of Staff at Sunnyside Retired Witches Community and usually takes the chaos in stride... until the day it's just too much. Turns outs there's a djinni loose wreaking all kinds of havoc and it's up to Zoey to put it back in its bottle. Easier said than done, of course!

I enjoyed this book as much as I did the prequel, because while I like cozy murder mysteries, sometimes I like a little chaos and humor and no murder mysteries, too. Zoey's boyfriend identifies her problem and she must again rely on the collective knowledge of her staff, residents and nemesis Hope to solve it. Mayhem ensues. Lots of fun to read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Disney14604 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A crime caper mystery with fun and hi jinks that the retired witches get up to. Not all mysteries involve murder. There are other types, this is one. A great one too!!!!!!

I would love to know what a 'normal day' would be at this place. It seems that everyday there is something going on. Now add a Djinn to the mix, where did he come from?

As I write this, I think that these are normal days. Put retired witches together in one place, add magic and not being bored. What will happen?

What happened to Susan when she 'retired'? What work does Zoey's current boyfriend do? Looking forward to more of the frenemy between Zoey and Hope. Is Snores really sleeping all that time?

This is my honest and freely given review. I did receive an ARC book

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoey Rivers has her hands full as the Head of Staff at the Sunnyside Retired Withes Community. Not only has the cook quit, but strange things are happening to cause havoc at the home. When she gets the heads up that Djinn might be running loose at the home, Zoey must ask the help of her frenemy to bring order back to the community.

The pages are filled with lots of magic, mayhem, madcap adventure, and an entertaining supporting cast of characters that include retired witches. If you like humor as part of your mystery, then this book has what you are looking for.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Erin Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Star review A Bottle Full of Djinn by Paula Lester

Audio Review:

Both the author Paula Lester and narrator Ashley Music are new to me. I I loved this cozy mystery book from start to finish. It’s a cozy mystery and one that I found thoroughly entertaining. In fact I listened to this one in almost one go as I kept saying, just one more chapter.

I really liked Zoey River, she is a great character and the residents of the retired witches home were quirky and fun. This was a a book filled with secrets and clues to satisfy my detective spirit. The intrigue and suspense kept me on the edge of my seat as I listened to this story.

[Kathy Mayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoey is a workaholic! She will do anything to keep her residents happy. She truly bends over backwards to please anyone. I love that she has been dating a guy for 6 months & doesn't know what he does. That's nuts. Kelli is basically there because she's a human air conditioner. Lol! Plus she helps when she can, bless her heart. Steve is the comic relief in the office. He constantly dated a new species of supernatural woman every night. So he has great stories. The day the djinni arrives just happens to be the day the chef quits. You'll have to read the book to get the rest of the nutty details of that day. Trust me you have to read this book!

[Aprilleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent story, but some major inconsistencies in the plot and could use an editor. I liked the characters quite a bit, and will potentially read the next on the strength of the characters alone. I was pretty sure I knew who was responsible within the first few chapters, and by the time one resident confided her family history I knew I was right and had a good idea why (the why was a little off, but in a way that made me happy). My one big gripe is an important piece of back story that makes the ending unrealistic, even for a world that includes magic and Djinn. I can't be more specific without spoilers.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the Amazon description says, this book is a crime caper, not a murder mystery. And it was a fun and funny crime caper. Zoey is the Head of Staff at Sunnyside Retired Witches Community. She's good at handling the magical messes that are part and parcel of providing a home for elderly (and some slightly senile) witches. But sometimes the messes get bigger and more challenging.

This was a fun book to read and I enjoyed getting to know the characters, both staff and residents. I plan to get the next book in the series.

[monacia williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retirement Magic

A cozy paranormal without a murder, meeting Zoey and her charges was a nice change. The book kept me reading well into the night, not because I could not guess who the culprit was, but because I just had to know how it would be revealed.
Zoey's boyfriend remains a mystery, why did her tell her the incorrect ingredients for the spell? Was it deliberate or did he make a mistake? He actually did identify the source of the problem correctly, so why?
A nice way to spend an afternoon.

[Penny Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoey is the head of staff at Sunnyside Retired Witches Community Center for aging witches and warlocks. Someone is causing trouble at the center, exploding cakes, loud noises in the night, etc., which in turn has everyone in an uproar. Zoey isn't sure if its one of the magical seniors, who all have issues, or if there is someone else causing mischief. This was such a fun book, alot different from all the murder mysteries. I loved it and plan to read more.

[WHATCHA READIN'? BLOG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun cozy adventure

I enjoy cozy paranormal tales but often find myself frustrated with all the mysterious killings in small towns. I am pleased to say this delightful tale presented lots of paranormal whackiness and an engaging mystery to solve without unnecessary murder and mayhem. Errrrr ... yeah, on second thought there was tons of madcap mayhem to be found at this retirement community for witches. I highly recommend and I am off to download book 2 in the series.

[Judi Easley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughts: This was just flat out fun and funny! The MC runs a retirement home for witches and someone's turned a djinni loose in it...hilarious! Her character gets developed the most with some staff and residents coming in second. But a local shopkeeper is also looking like another possible solid character, a freely from school days and keeper of the local witch supply shop. Need to read more of this series. Recommended.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Djinn in the Mix

What a wanderfull aray of caracters surrounding this mystery they are charming, vibrant, challenging, unique, lovable, and sometimes down right comical in thier mysterious ways. In this book Paula Lester has given two mysterys and one enjoyable surprise and a compromise. Check out what happens when a djinn enters the seniors resident. Aquier "A Bootle Full of Djinn "so you yourself can enjoy reading it as much as I have.

[Jacalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crazy fun

This book brings together an interesting cast of characters with the simple question about what happens when witches are ready for retirement. I really enjoyed the quirky residents, each unique and interesting. If I could chose a retirement community one day, I hope it is one with employees who care this much and filled with zany residents to get into mischief with each day.