Get ready for a spine-tingling cozy mystery that has ghosts, ghouls, and goblins coming out of the woodwork in the next spirited installment of the Paramour Bay Mysteries by USA Today Bestselling Author Kennedy Layne...
Mounds of delicious candy corn, jack-o-lanterns, and spooky hayrides are all part of this year's Halloween festivities in Paramour Bay. Raven Marigold plans to make the most out of this All Hallows' Eve, which just so happens to be her birthday.
Not everyone in town seems to have gotten the festive memo, though. One of the residents is claiming that the spirit of her dead husband has been paying her nocturnal visits, while other townsfolk are making similar claims about their deceased relatives. Is this someone's version of a supernatural flash mob or has someone accidentally pierced the veil to the afterlife?
It's going to be a hauntingly good time in this quaint coastal town, so bring along your lanterns and flashlights as Raven and the gang take a midnight stroll through the local cemetery to try and solve this hair-raising mystery!
Kennedy 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.
Spirited Blend is a fun and unique mystery. It's a nice low-key read when you're looking for a relaxing cozy mystery that isn't too suspenseful. Unfortunately, for me, the mystery was a bit too low-stakes for my liking.
My favourite part about this book was the premise behind the mystery. It's a non-murder, non-violent mystery where protagonist and witch Raven investigates the mysterious appearances of ghosts around the town of Paramour Bay. In a genre where there are a lot of commonly used tropes, I really appreciate seeing authors taking different approaches.
However, the risk with a non-violent mystery is that it can be difficult to build up suspense and a sense that the mystery itself is high-stakes. I think this is where the book most faltered for me. The mystery is more so presented as an interesting problem that needs to be addressed, not a mystery with real and serious consequences. It was difficult to me to see why the mystery mattered and why I should care about it being solved.
This may also be because this book is best enjoyed with knowledge of previous instalments, as it heavily refers to larger overarching storylines. While I have already read one book in the series, I'm the type of reader who enjoys jumping around. I don't think that this series is great for readers with this kind of habit.
That being said though, I enjoy the magic system that this series features and I think Raven is a fun character to read about!
Is Leo's prophecy of the squirrelpocalypse and momageddon becoming real?
Absolutely Fabulous. Leo is a GEM!!!! Love his snappy, snarky, acerbic dialogue and his whole demeanour. He has to be my favourite character, closely followed by Skipper and then the human ones. The plot is based around All Hallows Eve and the fact that people are starting to see ghosts. Ghosts of their loved ones. Add in magical artifacts, her mother, her aunt, a grim reaper and more ghosts coming out of the woodwork. Why? Can she stop the veil breaking down? Will her birthday end with a bang, a whimper or a sign of contentment?
I like this storyline of a woman discovering she's a witch after inheriting her grandma's tea shop. The characters are well defined and likeable. My main problem are the continue ramblings of her familiar. The cat was damaged in the spell to keep him alive, but the constant prattle takes away from the story. I am looking forward to the next book.
Spirited Blend (Paramour Bay Book #9) 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…
Not everyone in town seems to have gotten the festive memo, though. One of the residents is claiming that the spirit of her dead husband has been paying her nocturnal visits, while other townsfolk are making similar claims about their deceased relatives. Is this someone's version of a supernatural flash mob or has someone accidentally pierced the veil to the afterlife? It's going to be a hauntingly good time in this quaint coastal town, so bring along your lanterns and flashlights as Raven and the gang take a midnight stroll through the local cemetery to try and solve this hair-raising mystery! This is a fun and spooky novella. Leo is a funny character. The spooky element is that the ghosts of ancestors are appearing. Paramour Bay is a town where witches and all paranormal characters appear. I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
I really love this series! Yes, there has been a missing word or two here and there in these last 2 books that prevented the sentence to flow. But it's okay. It wasn't so bad. Now what would be awesome if this series is turned into a TV series or a Netflix series. Just reading this has me wanting more and would like to watch it. Just stick to the character descriptions and try not to deviate far from the books. I can't stand when when books get made into movies or shows and it doesn't follow the flow of the book.*cough*cough* Game of Thrones *cough*cough*. Oh look! One of my fur balls have come to bug me! Love the series! Wish it will be on my TV too.
Is it just me, or is this series becoming incrementally more sinister? Love it!!! The author is also displaying a deft hand with cliffhanger endings. Raven and crew have so much to navigate this time around...and without a body! Although I am weary of certain overused words (premium, organic, catnip, edibles, ninja, squirrel, apocalypse, or any combination/contraction of these words) I will admit that Leo provides the hilarity in the series. Can't wait for "Yuletide Blend!"
Ok, maybe Leo is the only one getting high, but the spirits are definitely visiting. Secrets abound, even at the conclusion as Rowena visits at All Hallows Eve, which happens to be Raven’s birthday. And her mom surprises her with what has to be one of the worst presents ever. However they do solve the mystery and she does have a good birthday overall.
It is All Hallow's Eve and Raven Marigold is celebrating, not only that, but also her birthday. Unfortunately, on a less positive note, townsfolk claim to be seeing deceased loved ones. There is a concern that this might be an indication that the veil has been pierced.
I loved the Halloween theme. I also loved the interaction between the quirky characters. Also, a nice bit of romance as well. The story was a really fun escape.
Filled with the spirits of the townsfolk close ones and festive spooky Halloween vibes, which made it the perfect cozy autumn read.
I enjoyed the development in the family relationship and the coven conflict very much. It has the potential to be a very intriguing plot line and I can’t wait to see how this unfolds.
For a moment there I was very stressed that I had figured it all out and I would get disappointed by the finish line. But this was definitely not the case. It was mysterious up until the very end and after… Was the veil to the afterlife pierced? Who came through the veil? Will we meet Rosemary at some point? What’s the deal with the secret message?
This book makes a promise for a very interesting next one, and I sincerely hope it is filled with at least as much magic, witchcraft, incantations, magical objects, and spells.
This series is a wonderful cozy mystery with paranormal characters set in a small town with a hilarious cat that was reincarnated to help out a new witch in town. Things are heating up with the covens and Raven is determined to leave her and the town out of it.