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Paramour Bay #7
Cryptic Blend
Ghosts, goblins, and ghouls go bump in the night in the latest installment of the Paramour Bay Mysteries by USA Today Bestselling Author Kennedy Layne . . . The residents in the small coastal town of Paramour Bay are sorting through their unwanted belongings and setting up card tables in their driveways in order to get ready for their annual community garage sale. Raven Marigold hasn't lived in town long enough to contribute to the garage sale, but she sure is ready to find some basement bargains. Armed with a small reserve of cash and a large tote for her treasure trove, she wasn't prepared for her familiar to make a shocking discovery of an authentic sapphire pendant. You see, the disturbing part of such a find was that the pendant belonged to a resident . . . one who'd been buried with it. A haunted cemetery, an empty crypt, and a rather curious raccoon are all cryptic clues in another magical mystery that will leave you gasping for breath until the very end!
188 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2019
198 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
About the author
Kennedy Layne
235 books661 followersKennedy Layne is a USA Today bestselling author. She draws inspiration for her romantic thrillers in part from her not-so-secret second life as a wife of a retired Marine Master Sergeant. He doubles as her critique partner, beta reader, and military consultant. Kennedy also has a deep love for cozy mysteries, thrillers, and basically any book that can keep her guessing until the very end. They live in the Midwest with their menagerie of pets. The loyal dogs and mischievous cats appreciate her writing days as much as she does, usually curled up in front of the fireplace.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 15, 2023
The story was as expected, but this is the first audiobook I listened to with the new narrator and, though she is good, I was used to Holly's outlandish accents!
December 1, 2025
4 Stars
Cryptic Blend (Paramour Bay Book #7)
The Paramour Bay Series by Kennedy Layne proved to be full of fun cozy mysteries full of paranormal intrigue, and heartwarming charm. Set in the enchanting seaside town of Paramour Bay, the series follows Raven Marigold, who is a relatable and endearing character who discovers she’s a witch. From the very first book, I was drawn into a world filled with magical mishaps, quirky townsfolk, and a touch of humor that kept the tone light and engaging.
Paramour Bay came alive with its quaint shops, mysterious coves, and a community that’s as eccentric as it is lovable. Ms. Layne’s writing style is approachable and immersive, making it so easy for me to lose myself in the pages (in a great way – NOT in a ‘I have no idea of what’s going on’ way 😊). Each book introduces a new mystery, often tied to the supernatural, and the twists are clever without being overly complex - perfect for fans of cozy mysteries.
So, whether you’re a fan of paranormal tales, cozy mysteries, or simply looking for a feel-good series to curl up with, Paramour Bay is a magical escape that will leave you smiling. It’s a perfect brew of mystery, magic, and heart. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy a touch of whimsy with their whodunits.
Let the Binge Begin.
Happy Reading…
Cryptic Blend (Paramour Bay Book #7)
The Paramour Bay Series by Kennedy Layne proved to be full of fun cozy mysteries full of paranormal intrigue, and heartwarming charm. Set in the enchanting seaside town of Paramour Bay, the series follows Raven Marigold, who is a relatable and endearing character who discovers she’s a witch. From the very first book, I was drawn into a world filled with magical mishaps, quirky townsfolk, and a touch of humor that kept the tone light and engaging.
Paramour Bay came alive with its quaint shops, mysterious coves, and a community that’s as eccentric as it is lovable. Ms. Layne’s writing style is approachable and immersive, making it so easy for me to lose myself in the pages (in a great way – NOT in a ‘I have no idea of what’s going on’ way 😊). Each book introduces a new mystery, often tied to the supernatural, and the twists are clever without being overly complex - perfect for fans of cozy mysteries.
So, whether you’re a fan of paranormal tales, cozy mysteries, or simply looking for a feel-good series to curl up with, Paramour Bay is a magical escape that will leave you smiling. It’s a perfect brew of mystery, magic, and heart. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy a touch of whimsy with their whodunits.
Let the Binge Begin.
Happy Reading…
November 22, 2022
The residents in the small coastal town of Paramour Bay are sorting through their unwanted belongings and setting up card tables in their driveways in order to get ready for their annual community garage sale.
Raven Marigold hasn't lived in town long enough to contribute to the garage sale, but she sure is ready to find some basement bargains. Armed with a small reserve of cash and a large tote for her treasure trove, she wasn't prepared for her familiar to make a shocking discovery of an authentic sapphire ring. You see, the disturbing part of such a find was that the ring belonged to a resident...one who'd been buried with it.
A haunted cemetery, an empty crypt, and a rather curious raccoon are all cryptic clues in another magical mystery that will leave you gasping for breath until the very last page!
The antique ring found at a garage sale was intriguing enough to start a mystery.
I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
Raven Marigold hasn't lived in town long enough to contribute to the garage sale, but she sure is ready to find some basement bargains. Armed with a small reserve of cash and a large tote for her treasure trove, she wasn't prepared for her familiar to make a shocking discovery of an authentic sapphire ring. You see, the disturbing part of such a find was that the ring belonged to a resident...one who'd been buried with it.
A haunted cemetery, an empty crypt, and a rather curious raccoon are all cryptic clues in another magical mystery that will leave you gasping for breath until the very last page!
The antique ring found at a garage sale was intriguing enough to start a mystery.
I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
May 22, 2019
Leo at his absolute best - loved it!
Awesome. What can I say, Leo is Absolutely Fabulous! Sarcastic to a fault, seeing conspiracies everywhere he turns and disasters looming around every corner. A great plot about a missing skeleton from a town founders crypt and the 'magical' ring she was interred with. The characters are great but Leo and the 'masked bandit' are what made me enjoy it so much.
A garage sail leads to her finding a ring in amongst all the costume jewellery. She is sure that it is valuable and further evidence suggests that the sapphire belonged to a town founder who was buried with it. As she, Heidi and Leo go on a nighttime expedition to the cemetery they find that not only was her tomb disturbed but her skeleton is also missing. Who, what and how? Poker games with Ivan, the grim reaper, the mobster raccoon (another familiar), an old myth (or is it), and eternal life. Can she find out what really happened?
Awesome. What can I say, Leo is Absolutely Fabulous! Sarcastic to a fault, seeing conspiracies everywhere he turns and disasters looming around every corner. A great plot about a missing skeleton from a town founders crypt and the 'magical' ring she was interred with. The characters are great but Leo and the 'masked bandit' are what made me enjoy it so much.
A garage sail leads to her finding a ring in amongst all the costume jewellery. She is sure that it is valuable and further evidence suggests that the sapphire belonged to a town founder who was buried with it. As she, Heidi and Leo go on a nighttime expedition to the cemetery they find that not only was her tomb disturbed but her skeleton is also missing. Who, what and how? Poker games with Ivan, the grim reaper, the mobster raccoon (another familiar), an old myth (or is it), and eternal life. Can she find out what really happened?
August 7, 2020
Humor. Not always murder
This is yet another good book for those readers who enjoy a little humor with their mystery. Sometimes it's just nice to visit a town with a village witch and a wacky cat familiar and not have to worry about who killed who. There's still mystery involved but this time it's an eternity spell. You're going to like visiting Paramour Bay again. I can't wait to visit another time.
This is yet another good book for those readers who enjoy a little humor with their mystery. Sometimes it's just nice to visit a town with a village witch and a wacky cat familiar and not have to worry about who killed who. There's still mystery involved but this time it's an eternity spell. You're going to like visiting Paramour Bay again. I can't wait to visit another time.
July 11, 2024
Paramour Bay is having its annual community garage sale. While shopping, Raven ends up with an authentic sapphire pendant. Raven ends up trying to find out why it turned up in a garage sale since it is supposed to have been buried with someone.
It was fun hanging out with Raven and the many quirky secondary characters. I loved the addition of the raccoon. The racoon was hilarious. The mystery was fun to figure out. I also enjoyed the romance.
It was fun hanging out with Raven and the many quirky secondary characters. I loved the addition of the raccoon. The racoon was hilarious. The mystery was fun to figure out. I also enjoyed the romance.
November 20, 2019
Still a fantastic series!
Book 7 and still a fabulous series! Raven is a fun, witty and curious lady and she ends up in trouble more often than not. Leo, her cat familiar is hilarious, he’s something else and the series wouldn’t be what it is without him. All of the other characters make the town and series wonderful.
Book 7 and still a fabulous series! Raven is a fun, witty and curious lady and she ends up in trouble more often than not. Leo, her cat familiar is hilarious, he’s something else and the series wouldn’t be what it is without him. All of the other characters make the town and series wonderful.
October 17, 2020
Nice little mystery
An old family gem from one of the founding families, a talking raccoon a and a new supernatural entity are part of the mystery.
Is it magic gone awry again or just coincidence?
Raven still tends to jump head first into situations, but she is maturing a bit.
I liked meeting more townspeople.
Leo needs to stop fixating on catnip so much.
An old family gem from one of the founding families, a talking raccoon a and a new supernatural entity are part of the mystery.
Is it magic gone awry again or just coincidence?
Raven still tends to jump head first into situations, but she is maturing a bit.
I liked meeting more townspeople.
Leo needs to stop fixating on catnip so much.
December 14, 2021
Banal, but has potential
Raven is sweet but inept, the cat is irritating, the interactions are mostly childish, and the climax of the mystery is more of a damp squib. There's plenty of fodder for intrigue; Rye's backstory and the political unrest in the coven have so much unmet potential, for example. This story is a bit too average for my taste.
Raven is sweet but inept, the cat is irritating, the interactions are mostly childish, and the climax of the mystery is more of a damp squib. There's plenty of fodder for intrigue; Rye's backstory and the political unrest in the coven have so much unmet potential, for example. This story is a bit too average for my taste.
June 3, 2019
Unique fun cozy
Awesome series that entertains on so many levels. Leo does snarky cat better than any snarky familiar ever. Really I'm an avid reader and this series has the best commentary from a cat. The humans are nice too.
Awesome series that entertains on so many levels. Leo does snarky cat better than any snarky familiar ever. Really I'm an avid reader and this series has the best commentary from a cat. The humans are nice too.
September 3, 2025
Leo and his catnip
Leo's addiction to catnip is causing him to hallucinate about talking raccoons or is it? Add to it legends about sapphire rings and immortality and Raven is at her wits end.
Leo's addiction to catnip is causing him to hallucinate about talking raccoons or is it? Add to it legends about sapphire rings and immortality and Raven is at her wits end.
October 2, 2025
I loved this series until they stopped using Hollie Jackson to narrate the audio books. I'm giving it 2 stars because while I do love the series, the new narrator made the whole book feel different. I honestly don't believe I'll continue after this book.
May 31, 2019
Nice mystery book.
Enjoy reading. Easy not to complicated. Like how it was written without a lot of twist and turns. Enjoy this collection of books.
Enjoy reading. Easy not to complicated. Like how it was written without a lot of twist and turns. Enjoy this collection of books.
June 2, 2019
Enjoyed
I hope you continue with this series of books ,I have really enjoyed the characters,humor and story line.I can't wait for your next one.
I hope you continue with this series of books ,I have really enjoyed the characters,humor and story line.I can't wait for your next one.
June 3, 2019
Terrific read
Simply hooked on this series. Can't wait until the next one is here. You simply can't go wrong with this series
Simply hooked on this series. Can't wait until the next one is here. You simply can't go wrong with this series
June 18, 2019
Love this series, very entertaining and fun
August 3, 2019
I absolutely love Leo the cat. He is hilarious in this series. I can't seem to get enough of this author. Excellent
September 29, 2019
very good
August 20, 2023
Love the story love the characters. Couldn't believe it was the housekeeper
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2025
I just can't get on with the new narrator as her voice seems very Ai and lifeless, which takes away the magic from the stories. it's a shame as I was really enjoying the series.
February 24, 2021
I read the 1st few of these a while ago, now I have got a kindle unlimited subscription I decided to read the rest.
I've got right back into Paramour Bay with Leo, the cat who is a familiar for Raven, a witch who didn't know she was a witch until she inherited her Grandmother's tea shop after she passed away.
There are some great one liners in the book, mainly from Leo, who only Raven can hear.
I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
I've got right back into Paramour Bay with Leo, the cat who is a familiar for Raven, a witch who didn't know she was a witch until she inherited her Grandmother's tea shop after she passed away.
There are some great one liners in the book, mainly from Leo, who only Raven can hear.
I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
September 10, 2023
I really enjoy these quick, witchy, cozy mysteries. Fun, light and uncomplicated.
September 13, 2025
This one was very predictable.
I had my hopes up when at first the mystery turned out to be magic-related and not just a casual mishap. But everything went downhill afterwards. The story was veery slow-paced, nothing was really advancing on the case, and repeating phrases kept popping up and irritating me.
Leo’s character has turned from witty and sassy to anxious and whining. All of the conversations between Leo and Raven contained Leo’s mentions of the racoon and Raven’s inept replies. Every single one.
The outcome of this mystery was pretty predictable since before the middle of the book. There were at least a few obvious remarks that indicated how the mystery could be solved, but Raven paid no attention.
The story had great potential, but in reality it was done in a slapdash manner.
I had my hopes up when at first the mystery turned out to be magic-related and not just a casual mishap. But everything went downhill afterwards. The story was veery slow-paced, nothing was really advancing on the case, and repeating phrases kept popping up and irritating me.
Leo’s character has turned from witty and sassy to anxious and whining. All of the conversations between Leo and Raven contained Leo’s mentions of the racoon and Raven’s inept replies. Every single one.
The outcome of this mystery was pretty predictable since before the middle of the book. There were at least a few obvious remarks that indicated how the mystery could be solved, but Raven paid no attention.
The story had great potential, but in reality it was done in a slapdash manner.
May 11, 2023
I listened to the audio edition and still am in love with the banter between Raven and her familiar. The cast of characters had me laughing and enjoying the trouble they find the whole way through.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews