Spells & Caramels Box Set Books #1-3

Spells & Caramels #1-3

by Erin Johnson

There's murder on the menu, and magic in the air. Read books one through three in the charming Spells & Caramels paranormal cozy series today!

A magical French island. A dead contestant. An aspiring baker must clear her name before she gets burned.

Imogen Banks has dreamed her entire life of opening her own bakery in Seattle. But when she accidentally sets fire to her apartment and loses all her possessions, her dreams get toasted. Still coping with her loss, she receives a cryptic invitation she can't possibly refuse: entry into a mysterious baking competition on a beautiful French island.

When Imogen realizes the island village is magical and the bake-off’s participants are witches and wizards, she’s not sure her fledgling powers will be enough to win the coveted contest. In the midst of trying to cast her very first spell, a competitor drops dead and Imogen finds the psychic judges' mystical fingers all pointing at her. Can Imogen unlock her own magic and stop the killer from coming back for seconds or will she jump straight from the frying pan and into the fire?

Seashells, Spells & Caramels is the first book in a charming paranormal cozy mystery series. If you like funny heroines, mysterious magical communities, and quirky conspiracies, then you’ll love Erin Johnson’s perfectly witchy recipe.

A carnival bakery booth. A deadly magic show. Is it the perfect recipe for murder or a clever sleight of hand?

Palace pastry chef Imogen is struggling to control her newfound magic and her potent feelings for the prince. So when the carnival rolls into the kingdom, she jumps at the chance to run the royal bakery booth. But her plan to escape her problems backfires when murder rocks the magician’s table… and her dear friend is found holding the bloody saw.

Determined to cook up a way to keep Rhonda out of witch’s prison, she sifts through the clues and the long list of suspects. Between devious dark magicians, cagey stage assistants, and a strongman with more to offer than just muscles, everyone at the fairgrounds seems to be hiding secrets—even Rhonda.

With the final night of the carnival approaching, will Imogen’s shaky powers be enough to flush out the murderer before her good friend ends up on the chopping block?

Black Arts, Tarts & Gypsy Carts is the second book in the Spells & Caramels paranormal cozy mystery series. If you like feisty heroines, enchanted carnivals, and dueling magicians, then you'll love Erin Johnsons' whimsical whodunit.

Scheming pirates. Reveling mermaids. When murder crashes the party, can one witch dredge up the killer?

Imogen’s personal spellcraft lessons with Prince Hank have sparked a different type of magic between them. So when she’s invited to bake for the mermaid queen’s lavish wedding, she hopes the underwater ceremony will help cool off their growing attraction. But between the temptations of the sea-cave nightlife and the discovery of a murdered royal court member, her emotions are rising higher than the tide.

When one of her signature treats is found in the dead mermaid’s gills, she’ll have to stow her feelings and wade through the clues to clear her name. But surrounded by hard-partying revelers, a scandalous royal court, and a shipload of pirates, the twisted truth may be more elusive than sunken treasure.

With rough waters closing in, can Imogen catch the real killer before she has to walk the plank?

Mermaid Fins, Winds & Rolling Pins is the third book in the Spells & Caramels paranormal cozy mystery series. If you like underwater kingdoms, magical mysteries, and a splash of romance, then you’ll love Erin Johnson’s deep-sea whodunit.

Genres: Fantasy, Witches, Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Ebooks, Amazon

799 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 29, 2019

About the author

A native of Tempe, Arizona, Erin spends her time crafting mysterious, magical, romance-filled stories that’ll hopefully make you laugh.

In between, she’s traveling, napping with her dogs, eating with her friends and family, and teaching Pilates (to allow her to eat more).

Reviews

[Micky Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

First you lose your job, then you burn down your apartment and then you discover that you are a baking witch what else could possibly happen??? These are the first 3 books in the series and they will answer that question and so much more! An excellent way to get introduced to wonderful new characters in a whimsical world wrought with murder, mayhem and more!

[Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

A Millennial wants to open her own bakery, but after pinch hitting for her boss's wedding rehearsal dinner, finds herself in a contest for Royal Baker of a magical land.

Just didn't quite hit the spot.

[Barrie Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Box set books 1-3

I've just finished reading all three books in this box set, I loved it! great storylines brilliant characters and stunningly real world building. If you like magic fairies shifters merpeople and many other diverse beings this set is definitely for you, with lots of humor snark, and misadventures with twists and turns to keep you guessing till the last page. A fun laugh out loud read, highly recommend,Baz

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quaint, quirky, light-hearted and fun. An enjoyable series to read no matter the season.

Characters are easy enough to care about, storylines are not extremely fast paced, but are interesting enough to keep you reading at a leisurely pace.
Overall, relaxing and pleasant books. I would definitely read more by this author.

[Nola Arganbright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical

A fun start to the series with this box set. The book is fantasy at its finest. The characters are quirky and of all varieties. There are loads of laughs and suspense. It was like reading a Disney movie.

[Minnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved all three of these books and will definitely continue reading the rest of the series.


Book 1 - Seashells, Spells & Caramels

4.5⭐
I didn't think it would be so difficult to find good cozy mysteries, at least for ME good. But it is. I DNF more than I finish right now 😔
So, when I say, I loved this book, it's very high praise 😊

I love witches and magic in cozy mysteries.
Imogen didn't even know she was a witch; she is adopted, and her adopted parents are humans. Just because of a coincidence, she got into the magical world.
And it's so funny, because she didn't know anything about it.
Imagine you are a human baker and find yourself in a magical baking contest 🙈🤣 As I said, sure, she is a witch, but remember, she doesn't know anything!
I really laughed a lot.

And about the mystery. Holly 💩 So many suspects. Not just for the recent ☠️ but also about the past ☠️ of the former royal baker. I so love it 🩷 Not that there are ☠️ people, but when there are so many suspects, and I don't get it till the freaking end 😎

I'll read the other books very soon 🤩

----------------------------------------------------

Book 2 - Black Arts, Tarts & Gypsy Carts

5⭐
Oh WOW, what a chaos 🤯
I don't mean that in a negative way! There was so much happening, and I didn't have any clues what was going on 🙈
I was shocked, but I also laughed while I read this book. I have a feeling the series will continue this way for me 😁
Imogen finally learns how to use her magic, but there is still so much she doesn't know yet.

And the plot twist, abso-freaking-lutely awesome 🤩

As primarily a romance reader, I'm also super curious what is going on between Imogen and Prince Harry 😎

Not going to say more yet, maybe in reviews for one of the next books 😉

----------------------------------------------------

Book 3 - Mermaid Fins, Winds & Rolling Pins

5⭐
I really love this series. I love Imogen. I love all her friends. I love how tight they are, even though they haven't known each other very long. But there is a super connection between all of them. Sure, it's not all sunshine, and I'm not talking about the ☠️ 😎 Imogen is still new in the magical world. Luckily, most people don't have any problems with her.
It's no secret that she was adopted as a baby, that's why she grew up in the human world. She finally gets to the point where she is looking into who her real parents are. And I'm so excited 🤩

This book is all about mermaids 😍 I think every girl wanted to be a mermaid at one point, and some boys, too. And you know what, Imogen actually turned into a mermaid 🤩 OMG. It's so cool.

The ☠️ case? As in the previous books, soo good. Again, I was so surprised at the end 😱

I can't wait to finish the whole series, even though I already know I'll miss Imogen a LOT 🥺

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1: Seashells, Spells & Carmels

First in the Spells and Carmels Series. The chapters are short and it's a very fun quick read.

Imogene dreams of being a baker and having her on bakery one day soon. A chance meeting at a reception and an in unfortunate event sends her on to a baking contest. An island of magic, witches, mermaids shifters, as well as others, is where she ends up. She soon finds out she possesses magic. The Baking Contest is for Royal Baker.

What follows is a great cozy mystery with some great characters. I feel in love with Iggy..He is very sarcastic to Imogene. I found myself laughing out load. Iggy thinks someone killed the last head Baker and needs Imogene's help. She agrees when one of the contestants ends up being murdered.

If you like fun cozy mysteries, you should give this series a try. What better time to read it, than Halloween.

Book 2: Black Arts, Tarts and Gypsy Carts

Just as good as the first in the series. New mystery/case for Imogene to solve. She is trying to learn how to use her magic. She gets offered help from Edward, a shallow that works at the carnival, but is he really all he seems. Iggy is still my favorite with his little smart aleck things he says.

Imogene also helps Maple, who is now the Royal Baker, become more assertive. While trying to steer clear of Prince Henry, she helps at the Royal Bakery Carnival Tent. Here she gets involved in a mystery that may be the end for her.

Book 3: Mermaid Fins, Winds & Rolling Pins

I just love this cozy mystery. It had me laughing out loud and getting strange looks from my husband 😂 It has a little romance, mystery and baking. What's not to like.

Imogene and gang find themselves having to bake for the mermaid kingdom for a wedding. Iggy is back and sarcastic as ever.
Maple may have a little romance going on, but isn't to sure about it. Imogene ends up in another murder case that involves pirates.

Imogene is told something before she leaves for the mermaid world. Only thing is, does she know how to feel about it and what to do about it? Her feelings get all mixed up. I don't want to say more bc I don't want to give away anything.

Thanks to Goodreads for the Kindle Version of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1
A really enjoyable magical mystery filled with murder, baking and some hint of romance. Imogen loves to bake and has been saving up for as long as she can remember to open her own bakery. When a her boss finds herself without a cake for her pre wedding dinner, Imogen offers her services not know it will change her life in more ways then one. A guest at the party suggests she is good enough to bake in a contest to be head baker for a Royal family. On whim she enters the contest and is chosen. Will she risk it all by going through with the contest and what might win or loose if she does.

Book 2
Another fun read in the Spells and Caramels series. Imogen is still coming to terms with the fact she is a swift and a avoid Prince Henry is a must so she jumps in to help Maple run the Bakery Stall at the Carnival. In the world of magic nothing is every simple or easy when the visiting necromancer, Madame Zerna, is murdered and her friend Rhonda is found with the murder weapon in her hand. The police are quick to jump to conclusions of her guilt, Imogen isn't so sure and set about finding the real killer. Will taking lessons from the strong man at the Carnival be useful or is she walking in to a trap she can't escape from.

Book 3
Imogen and the other bakers have been invited to cater the up coming a Wedding of Queen Winnie to the Pirate King Chad. Things don’t go to plan when the Queens best friend turns up dead with one of Imogen’s rum balls in her throat. Can they figure out the killer before they become the target. Although the drama Imogen still has to try and master her Swallow powers but will training with Prince Hank prove to difficult given her feels for him. Can't wait to read more in this series

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a Few Leaps It Really Advances the Story.

The world view expands a lot in the third book in the series. Some of the additions required a big leap and a lot of trust to accept them. The result is a fun story that really advances the overall story while developing the core character that have become Imogen’s new family.

The murder mystery is almost secondary to the story. It seemed more like an excuse for the plot line developments. However, it works to create a lighthearted and satisfying adventure. The character development is well done. The romantic developments seemed realistic in the context of the story lines.

The book has good closure on the immediate plot lines as well as some that have spanned multiple books.

This was an enjoyable read. Looking forward to the next book.

[Tchipakkan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfying

The characters continue to be the best part of this series; I like the way normal human challenges like being attracted to two people at once are presented honestly, without offering an easy answer. I liked the casual acceptance of gilt (with acknowledgement that it can be problematic), as well as the humor that love isn't only for the young and pretty. The plot points that will tie the series together seem to advance painfully slowly . I expect all will be revealed eventually. How long can the star crossed lovers be tortured by the author?

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute Witchy series--3-1/2 Stars

Better than most, this set is a lighthearted group of witchy murder mysteries. The mysteries themselves are nothing to rave about, but they serve to ground the plotlines. The characters are appealing. There's a touch of romance. There is humor. There is magic.

I do wish that the heroine's powers would develop quicker; but I'm sure the next group of books will get her going in that direction, since there's a bit of a mystery about her origins that needs to be explained.

[Tess Ailshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read, with magical characters that seem a bit inconsistent, but imaginative settings and cases. The sexual tension between Imogen and Hank just doesn't work for me; it got old by the end of book 1, much less going on for three.

While I'm glad I read these (and I think I may have read the first in the series some time ago -- it was familiar, but not "oh, yeah, I read this), I won't be bothering with the next in the series.

[Margery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is exciting and not only a page turner.Not having to wait for the next adventure to come out is a plus. You are not going to want to stop reading, except, to get another cup of tea or coffee AND a muffin or cupcake. The baked good made my mouth water! It is hard to pick a favorite character, they are all great, but, I personally love snarkiness my vote would be Iggy! If you don't know him, well, I guess you are just going to have to submerge yourself into the great series

[sarah williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

It began with a 🔥

Imogen life turned on a dime one night, her life changed course, she took a different direction. She enters a magical cooking contest. On the magical French island of Bijou Mer. The characters are great, the storyline is interesting, the friendships build nicely. I look forward to the next book. Read and enjoy!

[Amanda Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these 3 books

I loved these 3 books and can’t wait to read more. The first one had me so entranced I read it in a day. The second one got me even more curious. The third one added even more depth to the story and characters. It also opened up a bunch of questions in me that I can’t wait to find out by reading more.

[Amber Frechette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love LOVE this series! Disasters lead to new life choices, a contest, murder, possible romance, and a mysterious secret that shatters Imogen's world all served with a range of delectable desserts. And that's just the first three books! The story of Imogen is one that can't be passed up and I look forward to more of the series.

[Sapphyria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books 1-3 in Erin Johnson’s Spells & Caramels cozy mystery series are wonderful. I enjoyed the characters, settings, and world building. Imogen is fun, caring, and interesting and I lover dynamics with her friend Maple. Iggy is a hoot, and I can’t imagine the books without his sass. I love the potential for romance in these books.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this box in a giveaway. This was an interesting set of books. There were multiple things happening that really held my attention. Each book had something different going on, but had character progression. The stories were entertaining and flowed well. The characters were likeable and had good characteristics which show throughout the books.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series of magic and mystery!

Imogen loves to bake and is saving money to open her own bakery. Suddenly she is invited to a baking competition where the winner will become the royal head baker. Erin Johnson writes with flare and a sense of humor, and she keeps your attention to see what will happen next. This is a must read for those who like witches, magic, and excitement. Read this series to see how everything unfolds. Happy reading! 😊

[Patricia White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the books! Characters were delightful. Almost makes you wish you were there with them! Her boss made me want to choke her!! Was happy she started believing in herself and starting making friends.

***Received a free audiobook copy for an honest review ***

[Priscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series!

I love Imogene and iggy! This is an actual laugh out loud series! I get looks from people when reading / listening to these books because I'll start laughing at something iggy or Imogen say . I'm hooked!

[JOHN ABBATE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't miss this set

This is one of the most original and creative new series I have read in a long time. And I read alot!! The characters are fun and the plots are interesting. I highly recommend this set for a off beat, pleasant read with magic, romance and a good mystery.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful books!

I very much enjoyed reading this box set of the first three books about Imogen Banks! The stories are fun and intriguing! I love the magic in these books. I can't wait to read about what happens next!

[Donna Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read filled with humor and vividly described scenes.

I enjoyed reading this book. The interaction between the characters was humorous and felt real. I can't wait to read more.

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adore these books and goodness their audio too!

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. If you've not read any books you this author, you're in for a treat. Especially if you like paranormal cozy mysteries.

[Kathryn Laing · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy reading cozy magic series, very enjoyable.

[Sue Davison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need the next book!

I loved this box set..a bit disappointed that the rest of the books are not available to buy on Kindle!

[Teri SanGiacomo Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable cozy books! Cooking and magic!

[Janis Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these books! Very funny with a touch of snark.