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A little sweet tea and a whole lot of spells won’t always put out the fire…

Ruby Mae Jewell's talents to pick the best bargains for her family's business are hotter than the hinges on the gates of Hades! But when one of her friends gets stabbed at his own wedding reception, her abilities to solve the mystery go completely cold.

There are a lot more questions than answers, and with more than the groom's life in the balance, Rue might need a lot of help to stitch things back together.

Will Ruby Mae's five-alarm fire powers help her find the culprit who hurt her friends or will they disappear in a puff of smoke?

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 30, 2020

556 people are currently reading
355 people want to read

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Bella Falls

32 books398 followers

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5 stars
533 (44%)
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411 (34%)
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224 (18%)
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21 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
Profile Image for Maria.
1,205 reviews15 followers
March 31, 2021
3.5 stars

I swept through this one too. I really like the narrator.
And I like the characters, the family interactions and the world itself.
The granny ghost is one of my favourites.

I also found the mystery quite compelling in this story and I enjoyed the whole thing with the dresses and the sewing machine and how the magical world is slowly (or, maybe quickly?) expanding its horizons.

Some aspects are far from perfect though. The set-up for the mystery and the time spent solving it makes Ruby Mae's daily life and livelihood take the back-seat and it's merely hinted at and mentioned, but you never actually see her do any actual work that could pay the rent.
It's a phenomenon I've noticed more and more in cosy mysteries. I just find it sort of amusing how the heroine always can just drop everything to solve a murder (or something else) full-time.
Sure, it works to keep the story going, but it's so unbelievable.

There's one thing that curbs my enthusiasm somewhat and that's the romance with the vampire boyfriend (not as frequently referred to as "my boyfriend" this time around, but still...), Luke.
I feel like that relationship is so flimsy you could blow on it and it would evaporate.
I'm supposed to buy that they love each other - but I just don't. There's no meat on those bones what so ever. It's a figment of the author's imagination and I find it sort of disappointing because the relationship is portrayed as a Big Deal in the books, yet to me it's mostly window dressing. A nice design that turns out to be a cardboard cut-out when looked at from the side.

I hope it can develop into something with substance, because it's quite obvious where that relationship is going, but so far the whole thing is very much "tell" and almost zero "show", which never works well with me as a reader/listener.
Profile Image for Mystic Forest Crafts.
635 reviews2 followers
November 17, 2023
Pros:

Having now settled into this realm and having gotten to know the characters a bit this was truly enjoyable. I like that actual research and work goes into unveiling the mystery instead of sheer dumb luck.

Finding out how magic was used to hurt the groom wasn’t immediately obvious but it also made perfect sense and clicked everything into place.

Cons:

I do still feel like some things are off and mixed from my reading the other series from this author. Some plot points feel very glossed over and I am hoping that means they’ll be covered in book three.
Profile Image for Mummy's Naughty Corner.
1,513 reviews88 followers
July 4, 2020
I'm finding I'm not really connecting to this series. I liked the mystery but couldn't really connect to the characters. I liked the wedding and the idea around the dress. The idea of who dun it wasn't really shocking. I'll try the next book but that's all. It's a shame as I did enjoy her other series so much. I miss the humor and characters.
Profile Image for Amy Ingalls.
1,510 reviews15 followers
February 26, 2025
I liked this book a little more than the first one. I feel like Ruby made better choices, and her style of investigating was more mature than in the first book. I loved the idea of a .
Profile Image for Meri Benson.
Author 16 books46 followers
February 17, 2022
I have to say that I did enjoy this one more than the first, maybe the characters are starting to grow on me as I get into the book and their story a little more.

While attending the wedding of a friend, the night is going beautifully and even Ruby Mae and Luke are having a good time. However, at the reception, the groom is stabbed and of course Ruby is on the hunt to find out who had tried to kill Harrison and why.

Potential spoilers beyond this point.

I feel like our main character, Ruby Mae has either grown a little between this book and the last, or maybe the author is getting a slightly better handle on the character as a whole. She feels a little more her age, a little more wise, because when she starts to dig into the attempted murder, she actually reaches out for help. Instead of thinking she can do it alone, and blundering her way through the mystery, by asking for aid of the head of the coven she's granted access to the library for her research.

But also by asking for help, she's not alienating people by making sneaky decisions and moving forward against people's wishes. I found that I liked that she wasn't only asking for the help but also listening to others. It made the mystery flow well and I enjoyed getting to know the other members of the coven that she's been bonding with since joining.

Over all the mystery was weaved well throughout the story, and I loved that the key item for this mystery was a magical sewing machine. I think it's so interesting and smart on how it was presented and used in the story. It was also interesting that the company came to collect the item at the end, giving a hint at just how much that's going on in the outside world, away from our little town we're not seeing. As a reader, I enjoy knowing that the authors are aware of the world even if we only get a hint of the world continuing to move on its own outside our scope. Knowing there might be other stories that might get told later in this same world.
Profile Image for Imjussayin.
563 reviews11 followers
April 28, 2024
Rags To Witches:Southern Relics 02
Chronological order is not necessary but recommended.

In A Nutshell: Who stabbed the lovely groom, and why? Ruby Mae Jewell (Rue), a fire witch, investigates with the help of unexpected allies because, for once, she asks for help. So Rue is growing up, I think!

The Protagonist(s):

Rue has a fiery personality, perhaps not surprising as she is a fire witch, giving her unique magical powers. Her fiery nature adds depth to her character. She’s passionate, willing to take risks, and fiercely loyal to her family. Rue is impulsive—making her relatable. Who in their youth has not been impetuous? It’s the folly of youth and makes for fun and adventure. Ruby Mae Jewell, aka Butter Bean, is a daddy’s girl, the apple of Buckley Jewell’s eye.

The Plot: When Rue’s friend Azalea’s husband gets stabbed at his wedding reception, she investigates, uncovering family secrets, magical objects, and unexpected dangers. But will Rue solve the mystery as her abilities to solve it go completely cold?

Why Read It?:

Rags To Witches is worth reading because it is a delight to read about a father-daughter relationship taking centre stage and the mother leaving the family instead of the stereotype of the man abandoning the ship. I like the bond between her father and his brother, Uncle Jo. It adds a touch of quirky wisdom to the story, making him a memorable character in Ruby’s world. Also, the family, old and young, who live together or closely, helps to make this a cosy read.

I like that Rue doesn’t have all the answers and grapples with more questions than answers in this plot. I enjoyed the premise of family secrets, magical objects, and unexpected dangers. Those mystery elements kept me reading, and the humour kept me turning pages. There are fun lines with Rex, the security rooster 🐔 and Deputy Sheriff Cane, who may be crushing on Rue in the love-hate manner of these types of books.

The book is well-written, and the good pace and entertaining twists kept me engaged as did the new characters like Agent Dryope. The descriptive prose allows readers to immerse themselves in the quaint Southern setting. The characters are well-developed, with relatable quirks and endearing personalities. I still struggle with the relationship between Rue and Luke (the vampire boyfriend), written in a loving context but without evidence of this love. For example, there is no bonding between them that cements the relationship. Luke comes off a tad bossy. There is more interaction between Bucky Jewell and Ebonee Johnson, leader of the Crystal Coast Coven, and they don’t like each other, do they ~ imjussayin.

If you enjoy cosy mysteries with a touch of magic, this book might be right up your aisle.

Book Rating

Sexual Content: U
Language: U
Violent: U
Would I read the next one or reread ?: Yes

My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book (waste of time)
1* Finished the book but didn't like it.
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A magnificent read. A prominent example of the genre.
Profile Image for Barbara Hackel.
2,809 reviews46 followers
April 27, 2020
This is the second book of this series, and totally different from the first. Bella and friends are helping Azalea with final wedding preparations. It is a happy and joyful time, and the wedding turns out beautifully. Well, that is until late in the reception when the groom gets stabbed! Of course Ruby Mae wants to investigate and find out who would attempt to kill Harrison-the groom. This time around Rue is a little smarter, amd when she gets an inkling of what is going on, she calls the head of the coven. Her virtuous behavior pays off when she is allowed to research in the coven's library, and the coven's physician is available to her friend as well. She was even allowed to be part of a sting operation (well at least a set-up) and work along with the official investigator. Granny Jo also had a more active role. The whole story was lighter and turned out to be a terrific book. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for others who like light/cozy/paranormal themes.
Profile Image for Susan Otto.
832 reviews9 followers
October 14, 2020
Mysterious Ruby Mae solved the murder

Witch Ruby is one of the bridesmaids in Azalea and Harrison wedding. However, in the dark she discovered the bride crying over the groom with the knife sticking out of his back. Did she commit the attempted murder?

Ruby discovered the last person to see the groom was her best friend, Gloria. They find out she was spellbound to staging Harrison. But how?
What more important saving Gloria from being accused of the crime.

The characters are funny, querky, and determined to figure out the crime. The plot is a fast-paced mystery with a bit of magic throwing in.
I love quirky characters that bring many clue until the last quarter of the story, it get solved by the main character. I also love the descriptive of some of the animals and characters, like granny is a ghost that cooks for the family.
Weird, magical, and absolutely charming. Highly recommended for magical cost mystery.

bookwormsuzy
1,190 reviews9 followers
December 27, 2020
Ruby Mae is excited for the wedding of her friends Azalea and Harrison. Everything with the wedding went well. Everyone is enjoying the wedding even though there were a few issues. Ruby is happy to spending time with her boyfriend. Ruby is on her way back to the reception when she hears someone scream. Someone has hurt Harrison and Azalea found him. Things are not looking well for the groom.
Ruby Mae decides to start looking into who could have attacked. Ruby and her friends will start looking into Harrison's past. Ruby makes a discovery that one of her friends played a role in the attack, that leads her slowly to the suspect.

I didn't go into so much detail as I don't want to ruin the book for anyone. There are a lot of twist and turns in this book. You will wonder who is behind everything and why. This book has elements that everyone will enjoy, magic, family and more to the story. You will enjoy the ride the author takes you on.
6,202 reviews41 followers
February 14, 2020
Azaleas is getting married to Harrison. Wonderful marriage, wonderful party.

Until Harrison ends up dead with a knife in his back and a woman named Gloria holding on to the knife.

Under normal conditions this would be an open-and-shut case but the town is full of magic and witches so things aren't that easy. Ruby learns Azalea's parents hated Harrison so maybe they are behind it? Maybe it's the dressmaker using some kind of magic? Maybe the vicious Red the Rooster who attacks the sheriff? Maybe it's Tara who works at the dress shop.

Then there's some threatening notes that show up, one even stuck on the car Ruby is driving (but has parked and left for a few minutes.).

So, is magic behind this? If it is, how can it be undone?

A lot of questions and the answers are worth waiting for.
Profile Image for Angela Griffin.
1,673 reviews6 followers
June 26, 2020
Bewitching fun

This series is SO entertaining! Ruby Mae has a loyal and fun assemblage of family and friends to rely on (but Wesley needs to pay for that "scrapheap scrounger" comment, especially considering how everything turned out!), and she's going to need them after a truly disastrous wedding reception. I appreciate this strong, stubborn, and sassy heroine: she loves her guy, but Luke isn't the center of her world; she's loyal to a fault, and; she's a lot of fun. The mystery is fine, but it's surprising that the relic isn't featured more, considering its appearance in the prophecy. Fences have been mended, respect earned, and (possibly) new allies acquired. I certainly hope to see more of Lieutenant Alwin putting unpleasant Deputy Caine in check and to find out if a career change has been foreshadowed...
Profile Image for Krystyna.
5,134 reviews55 followers
January 31, 2020
The wedding reception ends in a deadly attack

A terrific follow on read. The characters are now more fully established, real and vibrant. Leading the story with their energy and purpose. The plot however is an old one. The attempted murder of the local Casanova, who having met his soulmate is attacked at his own wedding reception. Leaving him in intensive care and requiring surgery.
But the question is Who? Who wanted him dead? With the bride as the main suspect the close circle of friends start investigating. It isn't until one turns up sick that they get a sold clue. She has been spellbound and attacked the man after a trigger was relayed. Who spellbound her and how can they remove it? Will that knowledge lead to the person that planed the whole thing?
Profile Image for Sue-Dee Numb.
323 reviews3 followers
February 10, 2020
I am so tired.....

Because i ended up staying up into the wee hours to keep reading this book! The book had me hooked right from the start, i kept saying one more chapter, but I'd get to the end of it and I'd have to keep reading because it had got to such a good part of the storyline!
The characters are relatable, ok there is no magic in real life (Well not that i know of yet anyway!) But that's beside the point Rue and her friends and family don't rely on their magic to try and find out what happened to their friends on the night of their wedding reception, they use good old cunning and hard work.
I haven't yet read a bad book by Bella Falls and this one is no exception. Read it, you won't be sorry.
2,001 reviews
October 18, 2021

I really do like this series. The plots and mysteries are unusual - in a good way as they don't use the same old over-used paranormal plots. Characters are well done and the book is hard to put down once started!

Amazon synopsis:
Ruby Mae Jewell's talents to pick the best bargains for her family's business are hotter than the hinges on the gates of Hades! But when one of her friends gets stabbed at his own wedding reception, her abilities to solve the mystery go completely cold.

There are a lot more questions than answers, and with more than the groom's life in the balance, Rue might need a lot of help to stitch things back together.

Will Ruby Mae's five-alarm fire powers help her find the culprit who hurt her friends or will they disappear in a puff of smoke?
Profile Image for Dee Gurganus.
334 reviews6 followers
January 18, 2022
"Rags to Witches" is the second book in this series of mysteries. One of the things that interested me in this series was that it is set in the county I grew up in. So, I perk up when there is a mention of a specific place, but they are minimal.
Ruby is a good witch who has a crazy family and a knack for solving murders. There are clues along the way to either help you figure out "who done it" or confuse you. In this story, one of Ruby's good friends is getting married. The antics of her & her friends will keep you laughing until tragedy sets in. Then it is on to focus "who done it".
I can't wait to get to the next book in the series. You should give it a try, but I suggest you start with the first book.
Profile Image for Helen Robare.
813 reviews6 followers
Read
January 23, 2025
I have found in my many decades of reading that (usually) the second book in the series is a bit of a letdown BUT not this time!!!

The story begins with a bang! A dear friend of Ruby's is getting married. It's supposed to be a happy time but this turns deadly when the groom is murdered on his magic day and Ruby loses her witch magical power. So, what does Ruby do? Since she is usually full of fire and acts without thinking, Ruby has learned from the last book and instead of acting, she calls her coven. This gives her entry into the coven's library and also access to the coven's physician who may be able to help her.

I won't spoil the story any further but I'd advise readers to read this book. :)
Profile Image for Mike Lewis.
1,761 reviews8 followers
February 4, 2020
Very entertaining supernatural cozy mystery series

A very entertaining supernatural cozy mystery series with a great cast of characters and a fun and entertaining story and plot line. A family of which is scour the flea markets and garage sales looking for magical items that may harm humans or others. Once they find them they secure them in a vault if they are too dangerous or sell them to magical people if they are not dangerous. Follow long as they stumble across murders mysteries and other troubles. Then end up helping to solve them. Check it out
241 reviews
April 11, 2020
Wedding and Disaster

Hilarious and mysterious are the key to this author’s charming books. Ruby Mae is a good detective with a fiery temper that keeps her family on their toes. She and her friends are celebrating at a friend’s wedding in the marvelous creations from a local designer. While not a witch, Ms. Robin, makes magical dresses, but the bride’s lovely one becomes evidence when the groom is stabbed. Now there are two mysteries: how are the wonderful creation made by a non-magical person and who committed the crime. Great reads!
Profile Image for Shaunna Marshall.
247 reviews2 followers
August 13, 2024
This book started off with promise but it was so obvious from the beginning who had stabbed our groom that the rest of the book seemed pointless. There’s foreshadowing and then there’s practically telling you straight out who done it at the beginning of the story. Will keep on with the series as the cozy mysteries are fun to listen to but this one was a little lacking for me, unfortunately.

Also, why do they keep calling their cellphones spellphones when all they do is make regular calls with them?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
158 reviews
December 3, 2019
This is the second book I have listened to from this series. A fun, easy listen. You don't have to read/listen to the first one to understand what's happening here (but it's a great one, so why not?!).
There is a kidnapping (kind of), mobsters, murders, love and mayhem. I loved it.
Definitely will keep listening to this series.

I was given a free copy of this in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Ash.
270 reviews5 followers
March 23, 2020
Like always I enjoy Bella very much as an author. I find her books to be easy reads that flow well and that I can read in a few hours to just get my mind elsewhere and fall in to a story. I did enjoy this story and I thought it flowed well as another "story" for the overall new series she has been writing. I am currently getting ready to be a bridesmaid for a friend and so the wedding theme was perfect timing for what's going on in my real life as well. This is the second book in this newer series for Bella and I recommend reading all of her books in their sequential order.
Profile Image for Donna.
Author 7 books33 followers
May 1, 2022
When a friend of Ruby Mae's is attacked at his wedding, she sets out to figure out who did it. With help from her friends, Rue starts uncovering clues that lead to more questions. There were plenty of twists and turns in this book that kept me intrigued from the beginning. I had the culprit figured out from the start but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. It was nice to see magic play a big part in this book. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
2,870 reviews11 followers
April 6, 2024
A magnificent witch & wizard mystery. Ruby Mae Jewell finds the groom stabbed with a knife. She needs all her skills plus the help of friends to solve the case.

Over the pages, all the clues seem to be shared; however, the culprit might not be obvious, especially considering the red herring and wild geese. Nonetheless, the villain is eventually identified. Well worth my time.

Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Haunting. Romantic. Scary. Tragic. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.
46 reviews1 follower
October 28, 2020
Lovely Read!

I gave this series, so far, I have read the first two, five stars!!! The characters are well written, and, plots are good. Not too weird and spooky, not spells, and too much of everything witchy. I enjoyed it, and, will read the next one. And, looking for others by Author.
139 reviews2 followers
August 19, 2021
Another great read. Couldn't put it down. Just ask my husband!

I was told it was evil to read books about witches. No true. There is no devil at work here, just a fine writer. A mystery that took a witch to solve for her less gifted human friends. The witch's save the day. Just great fun and no hidden messages. Hum, that just might make an even spooky filled stories.
Profile Image for Rosemary Hughes.
4,192 reviews23 followers
January 11, 2025
I have submitted this review after listening to the audiobook of this title from within the series set box. (Audible Membership)

The marriage of Charlie's friend to her ex boyfriend goes well, until the groom is attacked.
Who was the perpetrator of this evil deed is now the focus of Charlie and her friends.
Profile Image for Renee.
316 reviews1 follower
September 8, 2025
Book 2 was a fun quick read. This paranormal cozy mystery series features a witch from a family with a long line of witches, her boyfriend the vampire and the Coven she joined to help her family continue their business of selling antiques and magical heirlooms. A lot of fun and a great palate cleanser.
507 reviews3 followers
January 31, 2020
Fun mystery

This is a fun, lite mystery with both a Southern and a paranormal twist . The characters are well developed and likeable. The plot and subplots move quickly,making it hard to put the book down. Can't wait for more adventures!
470 reviews
February 5, 2020
Love this series!

This series is fantastic! So many elements to love with a mystery, magic, romance, and arching storylines that carry from book to book. This heroine is one of my favorites! She’s strong and feisty. You won’t be sorry if you pick this book up!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews

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