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The Bloomin' Psychic #1
Petal to the Metal
Forty-two-year-old Mia Thorne is not living her best life. After a disastrous career-and-relationship-ending event, she escapes New York City and moves to a sleepy river town in Pennsylvania, courtesy of a dead aunt she never knew. Aunt Hazel was the reclusive family nut, a self-proclaimed psychic. Of course, Mia’s dad always told her that she, too, had the gift, but after his death, her mother made sure to squelch the notion. No square pegs allowed!
Aunt Hazel’s old cottage is only slightly better than the decrepit gardens surrounding it. Mia doesn’t know the first thing about gardening and expects this will be one more failure on her seemingly endless list. Even Aunt Hazel’s ancient cat seems to have pegged her as a loser.
When Mia stumbles over a body in the overgrown garden, the newcomer catches the eye of the police chief and his hotshot detective, Derek Fairfax, and she becomes the number one suspect in the case. Much to her shock and awe, she also catches the eye of Derek’s brother, Dane, a lawyer with a head for what’s legal and a bod for what isn’t—but getting arrested for murder would certainly put a damper on her dating life.
Will Mia tap into her long-buried psychic skills in order to save herself or will she end up digging her own grave?
Petal to the Metal is the first book in The Bloomin’ Psychic series.
Other series by Annabel Chase:
Spellbound
Spellbound Ever After
Starry Hollow Witches
Midlife Magic Cocktail Club
Pandora's Pride
Demonspawn Academy
Spellslingers Academy of Magic
Divine Place
Aunt Hazel’s old cottage is only slightly better than the decrepit gardens surrounding it. Mia doesn’t know the first thing about gardening and expects this will be one more failure on her seemingly endless list. Even Aunt Hazel’s ancient cat seems to have pegged her as a loser.
When Mia stumbles over a body in the overgrown garden, the newcomer catches the eye of the police chief and his hotshot detective, Derek Fairfax, and she becomes the number one suspect in the case. Much to her shock and awe, she also catches the eye of Derek’s brother, Dane, a lawyer with a head for what’s legal and a bod for what isn’t—but getting arrested for murder would certainly put a damper on her dating life.
Will Mia tap into her long-buried psychic skills in order to save herself or will she end up digging her own grave?
Petal to the Metal is the first book in The Bloomin’ Psychic series.
Other series by Annabel Chase:
Spellbound
Spellbound Ever After
Starry Hollow Witches
Midlife Magic Cocktail Club
Pandora's Pride
Demonspawn Academy
Spellslingers Academy of Magic
Divine Place
213 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 2021
1334 people are currently reading
1561 people want to read
About the author
Annabel Chase
188 books1,486 followersAnnabel Chase is the author of urban fantasy and cozy mystery novels. She would love to live in a magical town where she can shop at Ready-to-Were for the the perfect outfit, flirt with hot angels and vampires, and cook gourmet meals without exerting any effort. Visit her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Annabel-Chas... or on her website at www.annabelchase.com.
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December 12, 2021DNF at 67%
I can’t stand the MC. She’s so unlikable, judgemental, sexist, body shaming,… the list could go on for ever.
Definitely not a person I want to read about. And definitely not as the MC.
I can’t stand the MC. She’s so unlikable, judgemental, sexist, body shaming,… the list could go on for ever.
Definitely not a person I want to read about. And definitely not as the MC.
July 10, 2021
I'm a big fan of the main character, Mia. Yes, she's rude and a little judgy at times, but her background (which is explored quite a lot in this first book) explains why has a lot of the hangups that she does. I know that some may say that isn't an excuse for her, at times, poor behaviour, but I think that as the book story develops, so too does Mia.
Mia has lost her job and her now douche-bag of an ex-boyfriend Andrew has locked her out of his/their apartment. Mia is at a loss, knowing that her mother will say, "I told you so," if Mia asks her help. Thankfully, Mia's Aunt Hazel has passed away and has left her home to Mia. The timing is great (not so much for Hazel), and Mia realises this is a perfect transition to a better, or at least, a different life, however, when she arrives in the sleepy river town, she slowly realises that she may have found a place where she feels 'at home.'
Someone else quickly dies (what is this place ... Midsomer county?) and she becomes acquainted with the hot lawyer, his equally hot brother, two very quirky but friendly neighbours, and other townfolk who are friendly and welcoming and kind. This is very different anything that Mia has ever come across before; the judgyness that was ingrained in her (courtesy of her mother) slowly fades away as the book progresses, as Mia learns more about who she really is.
This is a 3.5 stars to 4 kind of 4 stars book. The pacing was a little slow at times, and there was a lot of background/introduction to new characters, but that's to be expected in a first book. I read this in a few sittings; for the next one I'm going to to try and read it all in one sitting to see if this changes my opinion about the pacing.
I found the reveal of the murder a little ho-hum (there could have been a bit more of a build up) but the means, motive and opportunity were all there, and it made perfect sense.
In terms of the main character, I really like the character Mia. A woman in her mid forties who isn't married and doesn't have children and is interested in solving crime and murder boards? Sign me up.
Mia has lost her job and her now douche-bag of an ex-boyfriend Andrew has locked her out of his/their apartment. Mia is at a loss, knowing that her mother will say, "I told you so," if Mia asks her help. Thankfully, Mia's Aunt Hazel has passed away and has left her home to Mia. The timing is great (not so much for Hazel), and Mia realises this is a perfect transition to a better, or at least, a different life, however, when she arrives in the sleepy river town, she slowly realises that she may have found a place where she feels 'at home.'
Someone else quickly dies (what is this place ... Midsomer county?) and she becomes acquainted with the hot lawyer, his equally hot brother, two very quirky but friendly neighbours, and other townfolk who are friendly and welcoming and kind. This is very different anything that Mia has ever come across before; the judgyness that was ingrained in her (courtesy of her mother) slowly fades away as the book progresses, as Mia learns more about who she really is.
This is a 3.5 stars to 4 kind of 4 stars book. The pacing was a little slow at times, and there was a lot of background/introduction to new characters, but that's to be expected in a first book. I read this in a few sittings; for the next one I'm going to to try and read it all in one sitting to see if this changes my opinion about the pacing.
I found the reveal of the murder a little ho-hum (there could have been a bit more of a build up) but the means, motive and opportunity were all there, and it made perfect sense.
In terms of the main character, I really like the character Mia. A woman in her mid forties who isn't married and doesn't have children and is interested in solving crime and murder boards? Sign me up.
June 17, 2024
2.5 stars
Oh boy, I'm not sure what to say about this book. I've learned to not judge a cosy series by its first book, but this one made it hard for me not to.
I often found the "humour" to be more bizarre than to my taste and Mia Thorne as a main character was more insufferable than interesting.
Ditzy and silly rather than clever she made me squirm so many times throughout the book, I lost count. I couldn't really root for her, even if I wanted to. Sometimes I just wanted to slap her. (With a chair in the face.)
And then we have the fact that the author plays up her *ehem* very mature age (all of 42 years old) as if that's when you basically start dying and falling apart.
Plus, apparently need to make a big deal out of needing to pee after drinking two glasses of liquid. I seriously haven't heard that amount of needless analysing about having to pee before, not without the character being pregnant.
I (not yet 40, but suffering from chronic pain since my mid 20s) felt mentally ancient while listening to Mia whine about her crappy body and its crappy bodily functions. Like, O-M-G, for being 42, Mia is maybe the most immature 42 I've encountered in a book, at least that I can remember right now. More like a mental teenager, at best.
All this - while simultaneously seeming physically worse for wear than Richard Osman's octogenarians in the Thursday Murder Club books. Just saying...
The mystery was OK. Not sure I cared all that much about it or the why, but it was not bad.
Same thing can be said about the side characters. The only one I quite liked was the potential love interest. Him I actually did like. And the senior police officer/sheriff.
My favourite thing in the book was (of course) the cat. Go figure.
I might revisit this series simply because of the cat - and the fact that I've sworn to always give a cosy mystery a second chance/book.
Even when the first book isn't great, the series can grow and become something really nice, in my experience. Fingers crossed this one does!
Oh boy, I'm not sure what to say about this book. I've learned to not judge a cosy series by its first book, but this one made it hard for me not to.
I often found the "humour" to be more bizarre than to my taste and Mia Thorne as a main character was more insufferable than interesting.
Ditzy and silly rather than clever she made me squirm so many times throughout the book, I lost count. I couldn't really root for her, even if I wanted to. Sometimes I just wanted to slap her. (With a chair in the face.)
And then we have the fact that the author plays up her *ehem* very mature age (all of 42 years old) as if that's when you basically start dying and falling apart.
Plus, apparently need to make a big deal out of needing to pee after drinking two glasses of liquid. I seriously haven't heard that amount of needless analysing about having to pee before, not without the character being pregnant.
I (not yet 40, but suffering from chronic pain since my mid 20s) felt mentally ancient while listening to Mia whine about her crappy body and its crappy bodily functions. Like, O-M-G, for being 42, Mia is maybe the most immature 42 I've encountered in a book, at least that I can remember right now. More like a mental teenager, at best.
All this - while simultaneously seeming physically worse for wear than Richard Osman's octogenarians in the Thursday Murder Club books. Just saying...
The mystery was OK. Not sure I cared all that much about it or the why, but it was not bad.
Same thing can be said about the side characters. The only one I quite liked was the potential love interest. Him I actually did like. And the senior police officer/sheriff.
My favourite thing in the book was (of course) the cat. Go figure.
I might revisit this series simply because of the cat - and the fact that I've sworn to always give a cosy mystery a second chance/book.
Even when the first book isn't great, the series can grow and become something really nice, in my experience. Fingers crossed this one does!
February 6, 2022
Cute and amusing!
April 20, 2021
4 Star review Petal To The Metal (The Bloomin Psychic #1) by Annabel Chase
Audio Review:
Annabel Chase is a new author to me although I have listened to outer books by narrator Meghan Kelly before. This cozy mystery kept me guessing to the end and that is what I want in a good mystery.
The main character Mia Thorne grated on my nerves on numerous occasions and there were times that she really frustrated me. Not only that, but her behaviour seemed juvenile for a woman who is supposed to be 42 years old. I know life hasn’t treated her well recently, but I don’t think that was a good enough excuse for her behaviour.
Finding a body in the garden of the house she has just inherited can be a bit of a shock. However when Mia decides to investigate her life becomes even more complicated. The secondary characters were quirky and I found myself drawn in to the story.
Thankfully Mia improved throughout the story and I look forward to seeing what’s next in the series.
Audio Review:
Annabel Chase is a new author to me although I have listened to outer books by narrator Meghan Kelly before. This cozy mystery kept me guessing to the end and that is what I want in a good mystery.
The main character Mia Thorne grated on my nerves on numerous occasions and there were times that she really frustrated me. Not only that, but her behaviour seemed juvenile for a woman who is supposed to be 42 years old. I know life hasn’t treated her well recently, but I don’t think that was a good enough excuse for her behaviour.
Finding a body in the garden of the house she has just inherited can be a bit of a shock. However when Mia decides to investigate her life becomes even more complicated. The secondary characters were quirky and I found myself drawn in to the story.
Thankfully Mia improved throughout the story and I look forward to seeing what’s next in the series.
September 11, 2023
I hated it. I was disappointed because I enjoyed the first two Crossroads books by this author, but the main character was incredibly irritating. A relatively rare DNF for me because I got really tired of reading about a woman in her early 40s being so incompetent at life and social interactions that I would've sworn she was still in college, if not high school.
February 6, 2022
Mia Thorne is a 42 year old woman, living the dream in NYC, just waiting for her boyfriend to propose to her. She decides to take the bull by the horns and orchestrates a flash mob at work to propose to him! This back fires on her and she loses not only the guy, but her job and her apartment. She finds herself out on the street with two options, move in with her mom and step-dad number 3 or move to Newberry, PA into a home she inherited from her estranged aunt, on her fathers side. She choses option number two, with every intention of selling the house when she gets there. She learns a lot when she arrives in Newberry...for one she isn't allowed to sell the house for a year, and for two, she comes from a line of psychic women.
Mia hasn't been in the house long before her eclectic neighbors, Scarlet and Patrick swing by to introduce themselves. Mia finds herself drawn to the strange duo and also to the geriatric, overweight cat left behind by her aunt. Mia is out exploring her aunts garden when she stumbles upon a dead body. Mia becomes suspect number one and has to work to prove her innocence, while trying to find the actual killer. I laughed out loud a lot while reading this and immediately started reading the second once I finished!
Mia hasn't been in the house long before her eclectic neighbors, Scarlet and Patrick swing by to introduce themselves. Mia finds herself drawn to the strange duo and also to the geriatric, overweight cat left behind by her aunt. Mia is out exploring her aunts garden when she stumbles upon a dead body. Mia becomes suspect number one and has to work to prove her innocence, while trying to find the actual killer. I laughed out loud a lot while reading this and immediately started reading the second once I finished!
May 1, 2023
A flash mob proposal?
Started off ridiculous...I cannot imagine a 40 something year old woman proposing by flash mob. Not to mention then not even seeming upset by him cheating and moving her out and not telling her? Then she immediately wants to leave the new town even though its already been established she bas nowhere to go. And what grown up has never heard of catnip? Then ms so naive i proposed by flash mob is suddenly so cynical she cant be nice to new people she meets and tries to find their angle? I tried to give it time but her personality was inconsistent and I didn't like her at all.
Started off ridiculous...I cannot imagine a 40 something year old woman proposing by flash mob. Not to mention then not even seeming upset by him cheating and moving her out and not telling her? Then she immediately wants to leave the new town even though its already been established she bas nowhere to go. And what grown up has never heard of catnip? Then ms so naive i proposed by flash mob is suddenly so cynical she cant be nice to new people she meets and tries to find their angle? I tried to give it time but her personality was inconsistent and I didn't like her at all.
May 26, 2021
I really enjoyed this book although I found the main character a bit over the top. Fun and entertaining read.
January 3, 2026
2.5-3 stars. Mia has the emotional maturity of a 12 year old rather than a 42 year old. Hopefully her character evolved as the series continues. This debut of the series is mehh. She’s basically a hot, hot mess. Losing her job, boyfriend, gaining a house, finding a dead body and discovering magic. She’s a little too body obsessed but hopefully that improves. The side characters make the story palpable.
January 7, 2022
Witty Page Turner
It took me a couple chapters to get into it, but this book turned out to be an attention grabbing, humorous mystery. Looking forward to the next one.
It took me a couple chapters to get into it, but this book turned out to be an attention grabbing, humorous mystery. Looking forward to the next one.
April 3, 2024
Great book. Really liked it
Really liked this book. Can't wait for the next one which I'm going to download right now and read with a nice rum and coke.
Really liked this book. Can't wait for the next one which I'm going to download right now and read with a nice rum and coke.
September 5, 2025
I can’t stand the FMC, there is nothing fun or charming about this book and the story is stunted. DNF
February 5, 2025
I thought this was an easy, light hearted, cozy read. I thought the different group of the characters were fun- I really enjoyed Patrick and Scarlet 🙂
February 21, 2021
Reviewed at Paranormal-y Romantic
Petal to the Metal begins The Bloomin’ Psychic series with a story that kind of defies putting itself in a genre – it’s a bit Paranormal Romance, but then it’s also a bit of a Paranormal Cozy Mystery, and then it definitely has tones of Paranormal Women’s Fiction… so don’t let all of that stop you from discovering a really fun, engaging, entertaining story no matter what the “official” genre it falls under.
Mia’s life pretty much got upended in 24 hours. She’s been fired, her boyfriend decided they weren’t working anymore and dumped her while putting her stuff in storage and changing the locks. Not a good day by any means, at all. Add to the drama a phone call from mommy dearest just caps off the day with… well, wait, maybe an answer to one of her problems. Seems she has or had an Aunt Hazel who recently died and left Mia her cottage in a small Pennsylvania town. Okay, check off ‘has a roof over her head’ at least. But is this going to be life-changing or just a quick look and see before selling the property and coming back home? Not so fast, Mia. It seems that Mia must live in the cottage for a year before it officially becomes hers to do with as she wishes.
In addition to all of this chaos going on, Mia has also discovered that she has a psychic legacy attached to her. Now that’s going to come in handy since during the tidying up the garden part of fixing up the cottage, Mia has stumbled upon a dead body. Somehow she’s become the main suspect in this murder. Can her newly found psychic abilities find the real killer before she ends up behind bars?
I had fun with Petal to the Metal as a beginning story to a new world. There is definitely world-building here. I didn’t find it overpowering, mainly because I crave that kind of introduction to a new series. We’ll meet a romantic possibility, some townfolks who are destined to become friends, and some nasties as well. And snark. I love, adore, and need snark in a PWF or even in a PCM – those two genres just cry out for snark, and it’s here in delightful doses.
While there isn’t a lot of paranormal activity, there is the introduction to people and events that will matter in the ongoing series. So, while I did figure out what was going on I still completely enjoyed my time discovering this new world by an author that I’ve read often. Now I’m left needing to know more about that romance possibility, and when will Mia’s abilities begin to show up and how, and there’s a BFF in the making here. Yeah. I’ll be back for the next title that is coming in May of 2021.
If you love your Paranormal Women’s Fiction with a touch of Cozy Mystery or the possibility of Romance – then you’ll want to get started on this series, right now.
I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Petal to the Metal begins The Bloomin’ Psychic series with a story that kind of defies putting itself in a genre – it’s a bit Paranormal Romance, but then it’s also a bit of a Paranormal Cozy Mystery, and then it definitely has tones of Paranormal Women’s Fiction… so don’t let all of that stop you from discovering a really fun, engaging, entertaining story no matter what the “official” genre it falls under.
Mia’s life pretty much got upended in 24 hours. She’s been fired, her boyfriend decided they weren’t working anymore and dumped her while putting her stuff in storage and changing the locks. Not a good day by any means, at all. Add to the drama a phone call from mommy dearest just caps off the day with… well, wait, maybe an answer to one of her problems. Seems she has or had an Aunt Hazel who recently died and left Mia her cottage in a small Pennsylvania town. Okay, check off ‘has a roof over her head’ at least. But is this going to be life-changing or just a quick look and see before selling the property and coming back home? Not so fast, Mia. It seems that Mia must live in the cottage for a year before it officially becomes hers to do with as she wishes.
In addition to all of this chaos going on, Mia has also discovered that she has a psychic legacy attached to her. Now that’s going to come in handy since during the tidying up the garden part of fixing up the cottage, Mia has stumbled upon a dead body. Somehow she’s become the main suspect in this murder. Can her newly found psychic abilities find the real killer before she ends up behind bars?
I had fun with Petal to the Metal as a beginning story to a new world. There is definitely world-building here. I didn’t find it overpowering, mainly because I crave that kind of introduction to a new series. We’ll meet a romantic possibility, some townfolks who are destined to become friends, and some nasties as well. And snark. I love, adore, and need snark in a PWF or even in a PCM – those two genres just cry out for snark, and it’s here in delightful doses.
While there isn’t a lot of paranormal activity, there is the introduction to people and events that will matter in the ongoing series. So, while I did figure out what was going on I still completely enjoyed my time discovering this new world by an author that I’ve read often. Now I’m left needing to know more about that romance possibility, and when will Mia’s abilities begin to show up and how, and there’s a BFF in the making here. Yeah. I’ll be back for the next title that is coming in May of 2021.
If you love your Paranormal Women’s Fiction with a touch of Cozy Mystery or the possibility of Romance – then you’ll want to get started on this series, right now.
I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
April 9, 2021
Good
A sweet tale of a midlife reboot!
The heroine, after an embarrassing scene of her own making, and a second one from a louse of a boyfriend, finds herself heading towards the house her great-aunt left her in a will.
Starting over in a new town, new friends, new life... murdered body?
The heroine is a bit ditzy, the product of a rather verbally abusive mother, and the early death of her father.
It’s an entertaining book, a slight taste of romance and only a hint of magical goings on. In this book, the mystery is front and centre.
There are a number of strong support characters, some more intriguing than others.
An enjoyable paranormal mystery for fans of the genre.
A sweet tale of a midlife reboot!
The heroine, after an embarrassing scene of her own making, and a second one from a louse of a boyfriend, finds herself heading towards the house her great-aunt left her in a will.
Starting over in a new town, new friends, new life... murdered body?
The heroine is a bit ditzy, the product of a rather verbally abusive mother, and the early death of her father.
It’s an entertaining book, a slight taste of romance and only a hint of magical goings on. In this book, the mystery is front and centre.
There are a number of strong support characters, some more intriguing than others.
An enjoyable paranormal mystery for fans of the genre.
January 31, 2021
I hate to say it but I was a little bit disappointed by this, and I'm not sure it was any one thing but a culmination of a series of things that just didn't quite ring true (such as being locked out of her apartment, the gay character being too stereotypical - but at least there was one!, the too-aggressive questioning). It took a long time to get to what I was looking for. That said, it was still an Annabel Chase book so there was a lot to like in it. I was left with the feeling that I will actually like the second book in the series more than the first, once it's a little more lived in.
March 16, 2024
From Aunt Hazel:
“You are special, Amelia Thorne, and you come from a long line of special women. Be true to yourself, learn to honor that authentic part of you, and you will always—always—be okay.”
I can’t wait for Mia to finally embrace her “special” gifts. She must realize her own worth and accept who she is first though.
I can’t believe I’ve waited nearly 3 years from the time I marked this book as Want to Read in GoodReads until now when I’ve finally read book 1! Then again, at that time (August 2021), only the first 2 books in this series were available. 5 more have been released since then! Woot woot!
This book is in the first person from Mia’s POV. Mia was dumped by her boyfriend - who she proposed to in a very dramatic and public way - and then she lost her job because of the fashion in which she made that proposal (I still wonder if the woman he dumped her for was her boss that fired her, because why would the boss fire such an exemplary employee for such a small reason?) And because Mia had been living in her boyfriend’s home, she was also homeless. So, dumped, fired, and evicted all in about 2 hours time. How in the world will she find a place in her home of New York when she is barely scraping by when she had a roommate?
So what does Mia do first? You may have guessed - called her mom. As she’s getting chastised by her narcissist mother, her mom tells her that her paternal great aunt that died a couple months ago willed Mia her house. So Mia decides to go check out the house and stay a couple of days while she figures out what steps to take next. She figures she’ll get some sleep in her new bed, shower, and then sell it and use the house sale money to move forward.
However, her aunt doesn’t make things that easy for Mia. Nope. Her aunt Hazel leaves a contingency in her will that Mia cannot have the house unless she lives in it for one year. After that period she can sell.
The house is adorable and a 20 lb cat comes with it - Aunt Hazel’s cat, Ophelia (my guess is that she’s a Maine Coon cat because that type is known for being huge). I also believe Ophelia is… was Hazel’s familiar, because it’s becoming more clear to Mia every day that her aunt was witchy.
Two people show up at Mia’s doorstep welcoming her to the neighborhood. Patrick is a very flamboyant spiritual cleanser aka ghost whisperer who lives a few doors down and Scarlet lives a couple blocks over and owns a landscaping business and is a pro on all things garden. Those 2 are great friends and totally complement one another. They are the exact type of folks I wish I could hang out with every day!
It’s around the second day when Mia literally falls over a body that is in her new garden. Mia is most definitely not a pushy broad, so unlike some characters in some books, I am not easily annoyed by her approach to murder suspects and persons of interest. She is more nonchalant. I like that!
While Mia is stressing over getting the police Chief’s eyes off of her as a suspect, questioning people in town for motives, and turning down offers from different men asking her on dates, she’s also slowly realizing she may just have a gift of her own as her aunt Hazel had.
Great, so far!
Book 2 of 8 in The Bloomin’ Psychic series is called “Life’s a Birch” and I’ve already started reading it.
Add-on: Ok, now that I’m into this book #2, something is mentioned again that was in the first book and that is talk of hot flashes. Mia talks about having hot flashes several times throughout the book. What?! Wait a sec… she is only 42 years old. That is much too young for hot flashes unless she is on Depo Provera. The way Mia talks and the way she’s portrayed, one moment she seems like she’s juvenile and immature like a 20 year old, but then she talks about getting those hot flashes and Midlife crisis. At 42. Unrealistic.
“You are special, Amelia Thorne, and you come from a long line of special women. Be true to yourself, learn to honor that authentic part of you, and you will always—always—be okay.”
I can’t wait for Mia to finally embrace her “special” gifts. She must realize her own worth and accept who she is first though.
I can’t believe I’ve waited nearly 3 years from the time I marked this book as Want to Read in GoodReads until now when I’ve finally read book 1! Then again, at that time (August 2021), only the first 2 books in this series were available. 5 more have been released since then! Woot woot!
This book is in the first person from Mia’s POV. Mia was dumped by her boyfriend - who she proposed to in a very dramatic and public way - and then she lost her job because of the fashion in which she made that proposal (I still wonder if the woman he dumped her for was her boss that fired her, because why would the boss fire such an exemplary employee for such a small reason?) And because Mia had been living in her boyfriend’s home, she was also homeless. So, dumped, fired, and evicted all in about 2 hours time. How in the world will she find a place in her home of New York when she is barely scraping by when she had a roommate?
So what does Mia do first? You may have guessed - called her mom. As she’s getting chastised by her narcissist mother, her mom tells her that her paternal great aunt that died a couple months ago willed Mia her house. So Mia decides to go check out the house and stay a couple of days while she figures out what steps to take next. She figures she’ll get some sleep in her new bed, shower, and then sell it and use the house sale money to move forward.
However, her aunt doesn’t make things that easy for Mia. Nope. Her aunt Hazel leaves a contingency in her will that Mia cannot have the house unless she lives in it for one year. After that period she can sell.
The house is adorable and a 20 lb cat comes with it - Aunt Hazel’s cat, Ophelia (my guess is that she’s a Maine Coon cat because that type is known for being huge). I also believe Ophelia is… was Hazel’s familiar, because it’s becoming more clear to Mia every day that her aunt was witchy.
Two people show up at Mia’s doorstep welcoming her to the neighborhood. Patrick is a very flamboyant spiritual cleanser aka ghost whisperer who lives a few doors down and Scarlet lives a couple blocks over and owns a landscaping business and is a pro on all things garden. Those 2 are great friends and totally complement one another. They are the exact type of folks I wish I could hang out with every day!
It’s around the second day when Mia literally falls over a body that is in her new garden. Mia is most definitely not a pushy broad, so unlike some characters in some books, I am not easily annoyed by her approach to murder suspects and persons of interest. She is more nonchalant. I like that!
While Mia is stressing over getting the police Chief’s eyes off of her as a suspect, questioning people in town for motives, and turning down offers from different men asking her on dates, she’s also slowly realizing she may just have a gift of her own as her aunt Hazel had.
Great, so far!
Book 2 of 8 in The Bloomin’ Psychic series is called “Life’s a Birch” and I’ve already started reading it.
Add-on: Ok, now that I’m into this book #2, something is mentioned again that was in the first book and that is talk of hot flashes. Mia talks about having hot flashes several times throughout the book. What?! Wait a sec… she is only 42 years old. That is much too young for hot flashes unless she is on Depo Provera. The way Mia talks and the way she’s portrayed, one moment she seems like she’s juvenile and immature like a 20 year old, but then she talks about getting those hot flashes and Midlife crisis. At 42. Unrealistic.
April 19, 2021
Awesome Story & Narration🎧 A Fascinating Delight!
Petal to the Metal
The Bloomin' Psychic, Book 1
By: Annabel Chase
Narrated by: Meghan Kelly
Series: The Bloomin' Psychic, Book 1
Wow, I loved this book, I am new to the ‘Cozy Mystery’ novels and to Annabel Chase’s work, so not knowing what to expect I must say I am now a fan of both. I was already a fan of Meghan Kelly, who was the perfect narrator to bring the characters and story to life. The book is well written, the story grabbed my attention right from the start and captivated it all the way to the end. This is the kind of book once you start you do not want to put down because you need to know what happens next. I adored the lead character, Mia Thorne, she does not have the best of luck at the start of the book, a failed marriage proposal, losing her job, her boyfriend and then her apartment, all in one day. But maybe the day did not bring all bad luck, she finds out she inherited a house for an Aunt she never met, her Aunt Hazel was from her fathers side but the only thing she remembered him saying was she had the gift. After his death her mother kept her away from that side of the family. With plans to sell to get money to get her back on her feet she heads to her new cottage in Pennsylvania. She is surprised what she learns about her Aunt even more surprised what she stumbles upon in her overgrown garden. So maybe her bad luck is following her since she is now a suspect in a possible homicide. Her alibi clears her but she takes it upon herself to start her own investigation. She also finds out she must live in the house for a year before she could sell, so she will be staying, she has a new cat, well an old cat that came with the house, is making new friends and there is also has a possible love interest, Dane, a lawyer in town. The paranormal elements add a lot to the story, a whimsical touch and I am looking forward to Mia finding out more about it and possibly coming into her own. I loved how everything plays out in this book the story is cleverly plotted with drama, a touch of angst, some humor, mystery, crime drama, magical paranormal twists and a little romance. The author did a great job keeping you on your toes and making you wonder who the murderer was and why, loved how Mia stumbled upon the truth. Annabel Chase, thank you for this fabulous story, I am looking forward to what comes next for these amazing characters.
🎧📚🎧And for the fabulous narration, Meghan Kelly is a talented narrator and versatile voice artist. She did an awesome job portraying the characters, humanizing them, giving each their own distinct voice and personality, making it easy to follow along and tell who is who. I loved how well she grasps the character’s persona, makes them believable and sounding just as I picture them to sound. She played Mia’s role with perfection, she was great with all he secondary roles as well. She set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the character’s emotions and projected them into her performance. He is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another awesome listen🎧
Petal to the Metal
The Bloomin' Psychic, Book 1
By: Annabel Chase
Narrated by: Meghan Kelly
Series: The Bloomin' Psychic, Book 1
Wow, I loved this book, I am new to the ‘Cozy Mystery’ novels and to Annabel Chase’s work, so not knowing what to expect I must say I am now a fan of both. I was already a fan of Meghan Kelly, who was the perfect narrator to bring the characters and story to life. The book is well written, the story grabbed my attention right from the start and captivated it all the way to the end. This is the kind of book once you start you do not want to put down because you need to know what happens next. I adored the lead character, Mia Thorne, she does not have the best of luck at the start of the book, a failed marriage proposal, losing her job, her boyfriend and then her apartment, all in one day. But maybe the day did not bring all bad luck, she finds out she inherited a house for an Aunt she never met, her Aunt Hazel was from her fathers side but the only thing she remembered him saying was she had the gift. After his death her mother kept her away from that side of the family. With plans to sell to get money to get her back on her feet she heads to her new cottage in Pennsylvania. She is surprised what she learns about her Aunt even more surprised what she stumbles upon in her overgrown garden. So maybe her bad luck is following her since she is now a suspect in a possible homicide. Her alibi clears her but she takes it upon herself to start her own investigation. She also finds out she must live in the house for a year before she could sell, so she will be staying, she has a new cat, well an old cat that came with the house, is making new friends and there is also has a possible love interest, Dane, a lawyer in town. The paranormal elements add a lot to the story, a whimsical touch and I am looking forward to Mia finding out more about it and possibly coming into her own. I loved how everything plays out in this book the story is cleverly plotted with drama, a touch of angst, some humor, mystery, crime drama, magical paranormal twists and a little romance. The author did a great job keeping you on your toes and making you wonder who the murderer was and why, loved how Mia stumbled upon the truth. Annabel Chase, thank you for this fabulous story, I am looking forward to what comes next for these amazing characters.
🎧📚🎧And for the fabulous narration, Meghan Kelly is a talented narrator and versatile voice artist. She did an awesome job portraying the characters, humanizing them, giving each their own distinct voice and personality, making it easy to follow along and tell who is who. I loved how well she grasps the character’s persona, makes them believable and sounding just as I picture them to sound. She played Mia’s role with perfection, she was great with all he secondary roles as well. She set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the character’s emotions and projected them into her performance. He is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another awesome listen🎧
May 12, 2025
I needed something light, that wouldn’t really make me think too hard and this book fit the bill.
Just as Mia has lost her job and her horrible ex-boyfriend Andrew has locked her out of his/their apartment. She has no idea what is going to happen in her life but her mother (who’s a real piece of work) reminds Mia that she has inherited her great aunts house in Newberry Pennsylvania.
Figuring she could go sign paperwork and then sell the house, she is in for a big surprise, according to Aunt Hazel’s will, Mia has to live in the house for a year.
The house is a bit rundown and has a majorly overgrown garden but people seem to think she will be able to get it in shape quickly. It seems that Hazel had a witchy gift and it is believed that Mia does too, but because of her upbringing she doesn’t believe in magic. The house also comes with an extremely fat cat, Ophelia.
When chasing the cat, Mia literally falls across a body, and after convincing sheriff Tuck that she is innocent, Mia starts asking questions. Along the way strange feelings/thoughts come true although Mia denies they could be any power.
This book has a mystery but it doesn’t seem to be the main focus of the book. This is more about Mia, in a world completely different from what she grew up in and then lived in New York. A small town where everyone knows everyone.
It is about Mia’s growth in belief, she has been brought up without any belief in unbelievable things like powers and magic, where her main goal in life is to have a good job and a husband. Mia doesn’t really fit in either.
She often complains about her age, her extra pounds, her mother, actually she complains a lot but it’s quite humourous. I must admit that so far she is not one of my favourite characters but I have hope she will improve so I will continue the series.
It’s a light, quick, easy read.
Just as Mia has lost her job and her horrible ex-boyfriend Andrew has locked her out of his/their apartment. She has no idea what is going to happen in her life but her mother (who’s a real piece of work) reminds Mia that she has inherited her great aunts house in Newberry Pennsylvania.
Figuring she could go sign paperwork and then sell the house, she is in for a big surprise, according to Aunt Hazel’s will, Mia has to live in the house for a year.
The house is a bit rundown and has a majorly overgrown garden but people seem to think she will be able to get it in shape quickly. It seems that Hazel had a witchy gift and it is believed that Mia does too, but because of her upbringing she doesn’t believe in magic. The house also comes with an extremely fat cat, Ophelia.
When chasing the cat, Mia literally falls across a body, and after convincing sheriff Tuck that she is innocent, Mia starts asking questions. Along the way strange feelings/thoughts come true although Mia denies they could be any power.
This book has a mystery but it doesn’t seem to be the main focus of the book. This is more about Mia, in a world completely different from what she grew up in and then lived in New York. A small town where everyone knows everyone.
It is about Mia’s growth in belief, she has been brought up without any belief in unbelievable things like powers and magic, where her main goal in life is to have a good job and a husband. Mia doesn’t really fit in either.
She often complains about her age, her extra pounds, her mother, actually she complains a lot but it’s quite humourous. I must admit that so far she is not one of my favourite characters but I have hope she will improve so I will continue the series.
It’s a light, quick, easy read.
May 27, 2021
I’m going to jump into this review somewhere in the middle to preach the message of how much I loved Mia as a main character.
It’s a rare treat to have a female 40-something as a main character, especially one who isn’t a wife and mother. Mia is genuinely hilarious and wields the combination of confidence and insecurity women grow into. She’s still being treated like a teenager by her mother and doesn’t have her life together in the way society expects an adult her age to have, but she’s good at her job and incredibly likable.
After a bum clenchingly awkward opening scene to the book, we really get a feel for Mia as a person and honestly, I think I want to be her when I grow up.
She finds herself in need of a new place to live and conveniently, great Aunt Hazel has snuffed it and left her house and cantankerous old cat to her.
It’s a big step from NYC to a small town but it’s gorgeous to read, she’s starting to find her people in the local community and find out where she belongs – hammering home the message that it’s never too late to find your place.
I adored the new friends she makes in the community, they accept her as she is and love her for it.
The plot itself is a cosy mystery – Mia and her new friends are investigating the murder of great Aunt Hazel’s best friend, while large hints about the supernatural nature of the town are dropped.
This is by far my favourite audiobook narrated by Meghan Kelly so far, she’s the perfect match for Mia and gave this brilliant character the extra sparkle she deserves.
I am so excited to read more in this series, I just know it’s going to be one of my favourites and a re-read.
*I received a review copy of this title for an honest review*
It’s a rare treat to have a female 40-something as a main character, especially one who isn’t a wife and mother. Mia is genuinely hilarious and wields the combination of confidence and insecurity women grow into. She’s still being treated like a teenager by her mother and doesn’t have her life together in the way society expects an adult her age to have, but she’s good at her job and incredibly likable.
After a bum clenchingly awkward opening scene to the book, we really get a feel for Mia as a person and honestly, I think I want to be her when I grow up.
She finds herself in need of a new place to live and conveniently, great Aunt Hazel has snuffed it and left her house and cantankerous old cat to her.
It’s a big step from NYC to a small town but it’s gorgeous to read, she’s starting to find her people in the local community and find out where she belongs – hammering home the message that it’s never too late to find your place.
I adored the new friends she makes in the community, they accept her as she is and love her for it.
The plot itself is a cosy mystery – Mia and her new friends are investigating the murder of great Aunt Hazel’s best friend, while large hints about the supernatural nature of the town are dropped.
This is by far my favourite audiobook narrated by Meghan Kelly so far, she’s the perfect match for Mia and gave this brilliant character the extra sparkle she deserves.
I am so excited to read more in this series, I just know it’s going to be one of my favourites and a re-read.
*I received a review copy of this title for an honest review*
April 13, 2021
Middle aged Mia, mayhem and murder..
Having set up an elaborate proposal for her boyfriend Amelia "Mia" Thorne is ready to take the next step and settle down to married life, but when the proposal doesn't provide the desired results and her boss fires her for fraternising with other departments and bringing the company unwanted publicity after a colleague uploads the flash mob event to Facebook she's not having the best of days.
Arriving back to their apartment with a soggy box of possessions it's the ultimate gift to discover that the man she's lost her job for has changed the locks and moved her replacement in.
Bereft, homeless and unemployed she calls her mother, Madeline Albrecht, a reluctant call, but one that brings a lot of criticism but also a new opportunity and why not take it? I mean what else can possibly go wrong?
So Mia moves to Newberry to hopefully sell the house she's been left by her great aunt Hazel, an aunt she'd never met and can only recall vague stories about from her long deceased father. Apparently Hazel was gifted and he believed that Mia had inherited the family gift not that she has a clue what it is as her mother avoided any conversation about anything remotely kooky, hippy or weird and apparently Aunt Hazel was somewhere in that mix!
As Mia tries to work out her next move she's going to have to deal with a whole lot of kooky, hippy and weird, solve a murder and accept Newberry as her new home town.. for now at least..
Having set up an elaborate proposal for her boyfriend Amelia "Mia" Thorne is ready to take the next step and settle down to married life, but when the proposal doesn't provide the desired results and her boss fires her for fraternising with other departments and bringing the company unwanted publicity after a colleague uploads the flash mob event to Facebook she's not having the best of days.
Arriving back to their apartment with a soggy box of possessions it's the ultimate gift to discover that the man she's lost her job for has changed the locks and moved her replacement in.
Bereft, homeless and unemployed she calls her mother, Madeline Albrecht, a reluctant call, but one that brings a lot of criticism but also a new opportunity and why not take it? I mean what else can possibly go wrong?
So Mia moves to Newberry to hopefully sell the house she's been left by her great aunt Hazel, an aunt she'd never met and can only recall vague stories about from her long deceased father. Apparently Hazel was gifted and he believed that Mia had inherited the family gift not that she has a clue what it is as her mother avoided any conversation about anything remotely kooky, hippy or weird and apparently Aunt Hazel was somewhere in that mix!
As Mia tries to work out her next move she's going to have to deal with a whole lot of kooky, hippy and weird, solve a murder and accept Newberry as her new home town.. for now at least..
March 18, 2022
Petal to the Metal was an enjoyable, easy read with a similar situation to a few other books I've read. This story had just a bit of a twist, with murder, psychics, and endearing characters, along with a bit of romance thrown in. The characters are funny, the dialog is sarcastic, and there are some laugh-out-loud events that make the story hard to resist.
Mia's life is in tatters. She proposed to her boyfriend in a very public flash mob that was videoed for the internet. That did not go well. She also got fired from her NY job because of the flash mob and was escorted out of the building, in the rain with her soppy box of office things. She gets to the apartment she shares with her "boyfriend" and finds yet another surprise!
Her luck is pretty bad and the poor girl gets no sympathy or cheering up by her selfish mother, at all. The mother has kept certain things from Mia, including a great aunt on her father's side, who was gifted in a witchy, good witch way.
Aunt Hazel has passed away and has left Mia her home in a tiny artsy town called Newberry. Aunt Hazel knew exactly what she was doing and even in death, lures Mia to this new home and town full of charming, but odd characters. There are stipulations to inherit the house and Mia will wonder if she can survive this new drama in her life, the furry creature who lives in the house, and being accused of a murder in the first 24 hours of her arrival.
Mia's life is in tatters. She proposed to her boyfriend in a very public flash mob that was videoed for the internet. That did not go well. She also got fired from her NY job because of the flash mob and was escorted out of the building, in the rain with her soppy box of office things. She gets to the apartment she shares with her "boyfriend" and finds yet another surprise!
Her luck is pretty bad and the poor girl gets no sympathy or cheering up by her selfish mother, at all. The mother has kept certain things from Mia, including a great aunt on her father's side, who was gifted in a witchy, good witch way.
Aunt Hazel has passed away and has left Mia her home in a tiny artsy town called Newberry. Aunt Hazel knew exactly what she was doing and even in death, lures Mia to this new home and town full of charming, but odd characters. There are stipulations to inherit the house and Mia will wonder if she can survive this new drama in her life, the furry creature who lives in the house, and being accused of a murder in the first 24 hours of her arrival.
December 21, 2024
This was all right. I wasn't as into it as I was with her other books.
- She brought up her age (42) way too much. There was reference to it or the aches and pains associated with it about every chapter, it felt like. You don't see this with books about 30 year olds or 20 year olds, but somehow, when it's a 40 year old woman this has to be the focal point of the book. She's 40, we get it. Move on and show something more interesting about her than age.
- She threw herself into two cringingly embarrassing situations that were just spectacularly stupid. Ugh.
+ I did like the sound of the hero. We don't know much of him yet, but he seems hot.
+ The author's trademark humor mixed in
* * *
*Edit: Finished the series.
There's definitely way too much moaning and groaning about age and pains in this book. Stuff like she can't sit cross-legged anymore, wouldn't be able to get up off the floor if she sat on it, has age spots, etc. What the hell? She's 40, not 80. I'm the same age and the most sedentary couch potato of all time, and I can sit cross-legged and all that because I'm not fucking 80 years old. Middle-aged women aren't as badly off as the author portrays throughout the series, and you do us quite a disservice.
This annoyance aside, it was signature Annabel Chase with the expected ludicrous humor, bits of life wisdom, main character growth, and many likeable characters.
I will note that despite book 8 being meant to be the last book, it doesn't feel like one. There are a couple of arcs we've been following throughout the series that are just left in limbo.
- She brought up her age (42) way too much. There was reference to it or the aches and pains associated with it about every chapter, it felt like. You don't see this with books about 30 year olds or 20 year olds, but somehow, when it's a 40 year old woman this has to be the focal point of the book. She's 40, we get it. Move on and show something more interesting about her than age.
- She threw herself into two cringingly embarrassing situations that were just spectacularly stupid. Ugh.
+ I did like the sound of the hero. We don't know much of him yet, but he seems hot.
+ The author's trademark humor mixed in
* * *
*Edit: Finished the series.
There's definitely way too much moaning and groaning about age and pains in this book. Stuff like she can't sit cross-legged anymore, wouldn't be able to get up off the floor if she sat on it, has age spots, etc. What the hell? She's 40, not 80. I'm the same age and the most sedentary couch potato of all time, and I can sit cross-legged and all that because I'm not fucking 80 years old. Middle-aged women aren't as badly off as the author portrays throughout the series, and you do us quite a disservice.
This annoyance aside, it was signature Annabel Chase with the expected ludicrous humor, bits of life wisdom, main character growth, and many likeable characters.
I will note that despite book 8 being meant to be the last book, it doesn't feel like one. There are a couple of arcs we've been following throughout the series that are just left in limbo.
June 28, 2024
Petal to the Metal
By: Annabel Chase
Narrated by: Meghan Kelly
Delightful Series Starter! I Want More!
Overall: 5 of 5 stars Performance: 5 of 5 stars Story: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed: 06-28-24
Mia’s decision to publicly declare her feelings for the love of her life could not have gone worse! Thankfully, an inheritance offers her an escape … Unfortunately, that inheritance comes with … strings attached! I LOVED “Petal to the Metal”! Laugh out loud funny, filled with engaging characters, a few twists, a few surprises, a few “oh Mia nooooo” moments … I was throughly engaged, throughly, entertained, and completely IN this story from the opening showstopper, to the final surprising reveal! The writing is imaginative, creative, clear, witty and wonderful. The dialogue runs true to the character profiles and is completely convincing. The plot is well crafted, easily understandable, AND left no unanswered questions after the reveal. The narration is magical! The scenes project to my minds eye as if they are taking place in real time, the characters coming beautifully and brilliantly alive with unique voicing, perfectly suited to each character’s personality as described by the author! Absolutely stunning! The entire production is five star stunning! I can’t wait for more!
By: Annabel Chase
Narrated by: Meghan Kelly
Delightful Series Starter! I Want More!
Overall: 5 of 5 stars Performance: 5 of 5 stars Story: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed: 06-28-24
Mia’s decision to publicly declare her feelings for the love of her life could not have gone worse! Thankfully, an inheritance offers her an escape … Unfortunately, that inheritance comes with … strings attached! I LOVED “Petal to the Metal”! Laugh out loud funny, filled with engaging characters, a few twists, a few surprises, a few “oh Mia nooooo” moments … I was throughly engaged, throughly, entertained, and completely IN this story from the opening showstopper, to the final surprising reveal! The writing is imaginative, creative, clear, witty and wonderful. The dialogue runs true to the character profiles and is completely convincing. The plot is well crafted, easily understandable, AND left no unanswered questions after the reveal. The narration is magical! The scenes project to my minds eye as if they are taking place in real time, the characters coming beautifully and brilliantly alive with unique voicing, perfectly suited to each character’s personality as described by the author! Absolutely stunning! The entire production is five star stunning! I can’t wait for more!
June 6, 2025
Mia’s life has imploded. She lost her boyfriend, her home, and her job in one spectacular fail. However, Mia learns she has inherited a house from her great-aunt Hazel, whom she never met. She leaves NYC behind for the relative peace and quiet of a small town in Pennsylvania. Thinking she can sell Hazel’s house, Mia is dismayed to find out the will stipulates she must live in it for at least twelve months. Now she’s stuck with a house, an overgrown garden, and an even more overgrown cat. At least Hazel’s attorney, Dane, is easy on the eyes, as is his detective brother, Derek. Mia also meets some neighbors, Scarlett and Patrick, who quickly become friends and confidants. Just as she’s thinking things aren’t so bad, one of Hazel’s friends is found, bludgeoned to death in the garden. Initially a suspect, Mia starts asking questions to find out who really killed Gladys.
Fun and frivolous! I enjoyed Mia’s wit and how she rolled with the punches. Scarlett and Patrick were perfect foils and added an additional element of mystery and humor. The cat, Ophelia, was a cult of personality unto herself, and it was refreshing that Mia’s romantic sights focused on the attorney rather than the detective. Characters were all portrayed well, and the narrative proceeded smoothly and kept my attention.
Delightful fun! Five stars!
Fun and frivolous! I enjoyed Mia’s wit and how she rolled with the punches. Scarlett and Patrick were perfect foils and added an additional element of mystery and humor. The cat, Ophelia, was a cult of personality unto herself, and it was refreshing that Mia’s romantic sights focused on the attorney rather than the detective. Characters were all portrayed well, and the narrative proceeded smoothly and kept my attention.
Delightful fun! Five stars!
April 21, 2021
Petal to the Metal
By: Annabel Chase
Narrated by: Meghan Kelly
In the mood for a fun, quirky listen? This cozy by Annabel Chase will fill that craving, make you smile and work to solve the mystery! Meet Mia. She is having the worst luck. Losing her fiance and apartment, then her job and a less than helpful mother all lead us to believe she has hit rock bottom. That is until her mother mentions an inheritance of a house from her quirky Aunt Hazel. This could be the change she needs. Sell the house and start over! But when she reaches the town of Newbury, she finds a sense of home there she never felt before. Plus a caveat that has her staying in the house for the next year. Chase weaves a story with the interesting people of the community, a little danger, a murder mystery and a flower garden like no other. I love all the characters, each having a story about Aunt Hazel. And we can't forget the cat! It's a book you cannot stop listening to until the end!
I am a huge Meghan Kelly fan, and this book gave her the ability to showcase her talent. There are quite a few characters, each with their own eccentricities and she gave them each the perfect voice and personality. I loved it! I can't wait for more from her.
By: Annabel Chase
Narrated by: Meghan Kelly
In the mood for a fun, quirky listen? This cozy by Annabel Chase will fill that craving, make you smile and work to solve the mystery! Meet Mia. She is having the worst luck. Losing her fiance and apartment, then her job and a less than helpful mother all lead us to believe she has hit rock bottom. That is until her mother mentions an inheritance of a house from her quirky Aunt Hazel. This could be the change she needs. Sell the house and start over! But when she reaches the town of Newbury, she finds a sense of home there she never felt before. Plus a caveat that has her staying in the house for the next year. Chase weaves a story with the interesting people of the community, a little danger, a murder mystery and a flower garden like no other. I love all the characters, each having a story about Aunt Hazel. And we can't forget the cat! It's a book you cannot stop listening to until the end!
I am a huge Meghan Kelly fan, and this book gave her the ability to showcase her talent. There are quite a few characters, each with their own eccentricities and she gave them each the perfect voice and personality. I loved it! I can't wait for more from her.
January 27, 2022
This book was a fun introduction to a new magical series.
Mia had a really bad day. It started when she staged a flash dance mob to ask boyfriend Andrew to marry her. He merely looked shocked and walked out without answering. Then things really went downhill. Her boss was not impressed with the flash mob dance and fired her for embarrassing the publishing firm over the internet. She lugged her box of desk items home through the rain and arrived home only to find herself locked out of the apartment she shared with Andrew.
In dire straights, Mia calls her mother who suggests that she moved into the house recently left to her by an elderly aunt. She has an inherited house? News to her. She really should look at the emails sent to her by her mother before deleting them.
Mia goes to the small town where her great aunt lived expecting to arrange for a quick sale of the house. Unfortunately, the will requires that she live in it a year before selling. Of course her aunt's attorney is incredibly hot and has an equally hot brother who is a police detective. She meets the brother in his official capacity when the body of her aunt's best friend is found dead in her back yard.
Fun characters and a good start to an entertaining series. Off to start Book 2. :)
Mia had a really bad day. It started when she staged a flash dance mob to ask boyfriend Andrew to marry her. He merely looked shocked and walked out without answering. Then things really went downhill. Her boss was not impressed with the flash mob dance and fired her for embarrassing the publishing firm over the internet. She lugged her box of desk items home through the rain and arrived home only to find herself locked out of the apartment she shared with Andrew.
In dire straights, Mia calls her mother who suggests that she moved into the house recently left to her by an elderly aunt. She has an inherited house? News to her. She really should look at the emails sent to her by her mother before deleting them.
Mia goes to the small town where her great aunt lived expecting to arrange for a quick sale of the house. Unfortunately, the will requires that she live in it a year before selling. Of course her aunt's attorney is incredibly hot and has an equally hot brother who is a police detective. She meets the brother in his official capacity when the body of her aunt's best friend is found dead in her back yard.
Fun characters and a good start to an entertaining series. Off to start Book 2. :)
February 28, 2022
Mia Thorne loses her job in advertising sales in New York. Mia, having mother issues, knows she can't move home. But, when her mother tells her she has inherited a house, from her father's aunt, in Pennsylvania, she knows she will have to go there. Planning to sell the house and return to New York, Mia goes to Newberry.
On her arrival in Newberry, all is simplified for Mia to take possession of her cottage. The lawyer, Dane Fairfax, has her sign the paperwork, and she now owns a house. But there is a condition she must live in the house for one year, she can't sell it.
Her dad had said Aunt Hazel was psychic, and Mia had psychic ability inherited from her. Her mother said Hazel was a nut and stayed away from her. But Mia thinks Aunt Hazel was wily.
While settling into the house, she meets two of her new neighbors, Patrick Beaumont and Scarlet York. They will become close friends. And Scarlet, a landscape designer, offers to help her with the gardens.
Everything is looking up until Mia finds a dead body in the gardens. Now she and Scarlet become suspects. Enjoy the fun as Mia brushes off her psychic ability and sets out to find the murderer.
Great beach book with its easy flow and escapism.
On her arrival in Newberry, all is simplified for Mia to take possession of her cottage. The lawyer, Dane Fairfax, has her sign the paperwork, and she now owns a house. But there is a condition she must live in the house for one year, she can't sell it.
Her dad had said Aunt Hazel was psychic, and Mia had psychic ability inherited from her. Her mother said Hazel was a nut and stayed away from her. But Mia thinks Aunt Hazel was wily.
While settling into the house, she meets two of her new neighbors, Patrick Beaumont and Scarlet York. They will become close friends. And Scarlet, a landscape designer, offers to help her with the gardens.
Everything is looking up until Mia finds a dead body in the gardens. Now she and Scarlet become suspects. Enjoy the fun as Mia brushes off her psychic ability and sets out to find the murderer.
Great beach book with its easy flow and escapism.
September 9, 2022
Fascinating possibilities!
The premise is sound, the mystery is engaging, the storytelling is deft, and the characters are being slowly introduced to the reader...What a good way to begin a series! I will admit to finding Mia rather useless for most of the story: rudderless, lazy, and endowed with a maturity level more suited to a woman half her age. What's worse, she seems quite accepting of this reality. It bears noting that a clear-sighted sheriff, an intelligent lawyer, and even a random potential client see something more; her childlike pride at accomplishing a small task, resolute refusal to allow a miscarriage of justice, and wistful response to a stranger's letter also hint towards a character worth getting to know. The murder mystery yields a surprise culprit that is very logical, and the random amusing moments are a treat. Another winning aspect of the story is that Mia is still skeptical about magic; there's ample opportunity for characters, relationships, and knowledge to evolve in future installments of The Bloomin' Psychic series (and why DID Ophelia bring creepy Susie to the house?).
The premise is sound, the mystery is engaging, the storytelling is deft, and the characters are being slowly introduced to the reader...What a good way to begin a series! I will admit to finding Mia rather useless for most of the story: rudderless, lazy, and endowed with a maturity level more suited to a woman half her age. What's worse, she seems quite accepting of this reality. It bears noting that a clear-sighted sheriff, an intelligent lawyer, and even a random potential client see something more; her childlike pride at accomplishing a small task, resolute refusal to allow a miscarriage of justice, and wistful response to a stranger's letter also hint towards a character worth getting to know. The murder mystery yields a surprise culprit that is very logical, and the random amusing moments are a treat. Another winning aspect of the story is that Mia is still skeptical about magic; there's ample opportunity for characters, relationships, and knowledge to evolve in future installments of The Bloomin' Psychic series (and why DID Ophelia bring creepy Susie to the house?).
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