Witchy Whiskers

Nine Lives Magic #1

by Danielle Garrett, Amanda Ronconi (Narrator)

Have you ever wished your cat could talk to you? If so, allow my story to be your cautionary tale.
My life was going just fine by most standards. I ran a successful business in a tight-knit magical community, and lived just blocks from a beautiful lake and series of hiking trails.

Then Selene showed up.

According to some magical code I inherit my aunt’s ancient familiar; a grumpy ten-pound cat with a broken filter. She fancies herself something of a saber-toothed tiger, and claims to have wrestled the thread of her ninth life from the hands of the Fates themselves — although, I’m pretty sure that last part isn’t true.

Almost positive.

I’m still looking into the magical fine print, but in the meantime I’m stuck as the guardian to a cat with the personality of Sophia from the Golden Girls. Oh, and by another cruel twist of fate, my ex-husband just moved back into town. I thought I couldn’t take any more, but when a murder rocks my small community, I wind up entangled in the investigation thanks to a handsome stranger.

If only life came equipped with a rewind button.

**Witchy Whiskers is the first book in a brand new series by paranormal mystery author, Danielle Garrett. Grab your copy now and dive into a colorful world filled with magic, mystery, adventure, and a spark or two of romance. **

Listening Length 5 hours and 45 minutes

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Audiobook, Witches, Magic

6 pages, Audible Audio

First published July 12, 2021

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book from a reading challenge from my library. Free book? You bet I'll take it! I loved the idea of the talking cat before I even opened the book. After all I was owned by various cats in my lifetime...the last ownership lasted 19 years...I am absolutely positive that my Margie could not only talk but she was choosey in the human's that she did this with...throughout her long, luxurious life...I was the only one that she deemed worthy of communicating with. Back to Selena...she really is more rude than snarky, but as I read on I could understand why. Cora...the human...runs a magical candle shop in a town that's mostly magic but has human tourists. She's temporarily taking care of her aunt's familiar, Selene, a cat with a major attitude problem. Who could blame her for that. The aunt took off without any notice whatsoever and we find out that Selene is a grumpy old lady cat that is on her last life. Cora and Selena are barely putting up with each other...Selena wonders "why she didn't just learn to use a can-opener ???... then a murder happens and the weapon just happens to have come from Cora's shop. Just for fun lets throw in an ex-husband who doesn't understand the "ex" part yet...and a potential new boyfriend who just might be the murderer. The mystery and characters are so very well drawn. I'm looking forward to the next book.

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun paranormal cozy mystery! Cozies can definitely be a hit or miss, and this was a definite hit! I mean who wouldn't love to read a book about a snarky talking cat? The mystery was well done and I enjoyed getting to know the characters in this witchy small town.

[Katie T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok this was actually really good for a cozy.

Funny, and fast. Not overly cheesy. Interesting magical world and pretty much straight in to the mystery.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witchy Whiskers launches another feline fabulous paranormal cozy mystery series when Selene the snarky cat familiar and an illusion-making air witch, Cora, reluctantly partner up to solve small, supernatural touristy town, Winterspell’s shocking murder. Danielle Garrett has a finger on my book-loving pulse and keeps hooking me in with each new series launch and book release.

Witchy Whiskers introduces Cora, Selene, Cora’s magic candle shop, and the town of Winterspell from Cora’s perspective. Cora is a divorcee who has gotten in something of a rut that even her best friend and family can’t break her from. But, then a handsome stranger, Clint, blows into her shop and sets her to tingling in anticipation of a first date. However, this is followed by her ex, Roger, showing up and putting a damper on all that expectation. She thought their split was amicable until it occurs to her that she’s still hurting that he didn’t challenge the divorce and left for a job.
Romance has to wait when a shocking murder takes place implicating Clint who was estranged from his family and has a strong motive for his brother’s death and her concern for her vanished aunt might not be so off base.

Witchy Whiskers starts off slow as it introduces both the world of the series and the book’s plot. I enjoyed meeting the characters and setting, but I waited for something to happen. The murder is early on, but there was still a gentle flow. But yes! It eventually kicked into higher gear in the second half and I couldn’t be happier. It ended with a solving of the murder mystery, but left the potential romance relationship and another mystery to carry over into the next book.

Wasn’t I excited that the audiobook was narrated by Amanda Ronconi who has narrated for the author’s older series. She takes the perfect tone and captures each character just right. There is humor, but other emotions as well as the spikes of excitement that she nails with aplomb.

So, a new series has begun and I am impatiently waiting for the next in the series- as it should be. I can recommend the books to those who like their mysteries cozy, but heavily laced with the supernatural and a smidge of romance.

My thanks to Tantor Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.

COYER Community Buddy Read with Berls who also gave it 4 stars

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute and fun, light-hearted magical book. And I LOVE the sassy cat.

[Emmalynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a truly fun book! Selene is hilarious, I can read an entire book of nothing but Selene the familiar 😂😂😂 Cora inherited Selene from her missing aunt and she’s the most caustic, sarcastic, witty, familiar ever!! Meeting a stranger in her candle shop, Cora is reluctantly dragged into a murder mystery with Selene complaining and offering truly hilarious barbs along the way. In the meantime her ex husband is coming around? Why? Overall I truly enjoyed this book.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved this! It was cozy and magickal in all the best ways. I was worried it was going to be cheesy, but it wasn’t! I can’t wait to read or listen to the authors other books!

[Sandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cora is a witch who has recently been joined by her Aunt's familiar, a cat named Selene. Cora runs a very special candle shop. Her family lives close by but she hasn't seen her aunt in a while. She seems to have disappeared off on another of her adventures which is why Selene has moved in. She is tired of being left behind. When Clint, a very handsome man walks into her store, there is a lot of chemistry going on. Unfortunately, he becomes the prime suspect when his brother is murdered.
I enjoyed this first book in a new series. Danielle writes this genre very well and I am really looking forward to the next book.

[Alice4170 🌙 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 ⭐️
Pretty good

[Michele The Stick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun cozy fantasy. It was exactly what I needed today.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fun and delightful, which is exactly what I needed.

[Samichtime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting story and great cliff hanger, this is a purrrrfect book :)

[Sonia With an I · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series begins with a magical candle shop witch who has a snarky, cat. This was the draw in for me, it said a car like Sophia from Golden Girls. I did not see that connection at all, the cat to me was more like Karen Walker without the Vodka, but with plenty of cat nip binging.
The MC is likable, the magic is fun. It takes place in a town called Winterspell, which is full of magical creatures. The murder was interesting, but I was more interested in about the Aunt Lavender side story. I did not care for the “single lady” blather that happens quite a bit in the story. The husband and new guy meh…
I will continue the story just because I’m curious about Aunt Lavender. Whomever wrote the description on this book puzzles me a bit, it didn’t seem to be anything like they explained.
A decent start, I’m curious to see how it will continue.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

My quest: To read every cozy mystery series that involves a cat. So far, this one is my favorite.

[Berls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danielle Garrett is an author I've come to count on for a reliable, fun, cozy mystery. So when I saw this book was coming out and narrated by Amanda Ronconi - a top 5 narrator for me - it was a no brainer. In fact, I didn't even check what the book was about, I just grabbed it. And I was not let down.

As is fairly typical of first in series books, this started semi slow as the characters and world were introduced. But since I immediately liked the character and the world, it wasn't THAT slow. I love Selene, the cat "familiar" - her attitude provides real comedic relief to the story. And the world feels similar to other Danielle Garrett witch worlds... it could easily be in the same world as Nick and Holly, for example. Cora is an air witch and she also runs a candle shop - these candles are amazing. I need to get my hands on some of the relaxation candles!

The mystery was solid, I had some good guesses but stayed on my toes. There's also a mystery for the series, surrounding Cora's missing aunt that I'm very interested in seeing how it develops. There's also some romantic interest - there's some love triangle potential that I hope evaporates quickly. It has potential to be done already, so I'm hopeful. I like both guys, but seeing as one is Cora's ex-husband, I feel like they've been there, done that, ya know?

As I mentioned, this was narrated by Amanda Ronconi, one of my top 5 favorite narrators, so I was very happy with the audio. The next book is out already, but not on audio and I will be waiting. I think Sophia, who I buddy read this with (and also gave it 4 stars) is also going to wait for the audio. She's that good.

This book qualifies for COYER Scavenger Hunt item #1, first in the Nine Lives Magic Series.

[Narilka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cora, a wind witch, runs a successful magical candle shop with the "help" of her recently inherited familiar, Selene. Selene used to be her aunt's ancient familiar, a grumpy grey cat with a broken filter, and is now Cora's. The two of them end up entangled in a murder investigation when a handsome stranger wanders into Cora's shop asking for her help. If that wasn't stressful enough, Cora's ex-husband Roger has also recently moved back to town and is looking to reconnect.

Witchy Whiskers is the first in the Nine Lives Magic series by Danielle Garrett. I picked this up on a whim when I saw the cute cover and the book blurb promising a talking cat in a paranormal cozy mystery. So how was it?

I enjoyed this fast and fun read. This story has everything you could want in a cozy mystery - small town location, a local resident turned sleuth, potential romantic interests, a mystery to solve and a talking cat. Selene is like a cat version of Sophia from the "Golden Girls" and can be hilarious with her comments. Cora is also likeable and I wish I could buy one of the candles from her shop. The mystery is well done and I like that it took priority over the romance, though there is future potential there. There is even some unexpected action. The story ends with a great hook for the next installment so I'm glad I bought the omnibus and have the second book ready to read soon.

[Brittani Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4

This was a wick and easy light ready. Kind of a grown Sabrina meets Scooby-doo type of story.

While the main mystery of a who-done-it gets solved, the story ends on a cliff hanger regarding an earlier situation the FMC Cora had lingering concerns about.

Not a bad story but nothing too in-depth overall which is exactly what you need sometimes. I listened to it on Audible, it was free but the next aren’t, I don’t think I’ll listen again but may check on KU.

[Miss W Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witchy Whiskers is the first book in a brand new series, Nine Lives Magic Series.

Cora inherited her aunt's familiar, Selene. Selene totally steels the show. She is sassy and snarky.

Cora lives in Winterspell and runs her Candle shop. Each candle is imbued with a magical property that help the person burning have custom dreams.

After a strange man comes into her store her life is turned up side down and she starts to solve a mystery to clear the man's name.

I absolutely LOVED this book. This was a great series premiere and I cannot wait until the next book in the series.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book one of the Nine Lives Magic Series. It’s a great start of a series and the best part is without a doubt Selene. She’s the cat and the protagonist’s familiar. Selene is a sassy, witty, side-kick that provides most of the hilarious scenes in this book. The mystery itself was ok, but Selene is by far the MVP of this story. Looking forward to reading the next books in the series.

[DannyCat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, clever, cozy.

I won't claim that the phrasing was masterful or the descriptions fully fledged out. But the charming and airy whodunnit was pleasant through and through.

I'm reading a bunch of heavy stuff right now and this was the perfect little vacation of a novel. I'm super pleased to discover that this author has a bunch of their work in the free section of audible.

[Kat Fern · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading all of rosella’s stories, hearing the tales of Clara and the little cat familiar are wonderful. It’s always nice to have a new perspective on winterspell and see what other mysteries go on outside the sugar shack bakery! I can’t wait to read the rest of the these and the beechwood harbor series by Danielle Garrett. These truly are some of the best lighthearted feel-good books!

[Zimmy W · Rating 5 out of 5]

ahhh this was so good!! oh to be able to make illusion and/or dream-creating candles and run a cute little shop and be a cute little air witch with a talking cat. 🥹 but part of me was so hoping clint would end up getting getting custody of the baby in the end, so he and cora would be a little instant family one day ope, dashed hopes

[Eirlys · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read

An enjoyable story about a witch and an intriguingly snarky cat. It was entertaining, with mysterious happenings, and a murder to solve. I'm going to read the next book in the series, just to see how the characters develop.

[Susete Kunkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when I am expecting nothing and I am surprised with a good time !!!.
I only picked this read because I needed a witchy read for a reading challenge, but glad I did, I will be continuing this series for sure.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this! Cora and Selene are definitely my cup of tea. Selene is outrageous and Cora is always trying to temper her. They really do belong together. This is a perfect read for the season. I can’t wait to dive right into the next book.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written, intriguing and humorous. It's what I expect from Danielle Garrett.

[Bobbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Cute but not terrific and not much of a cozy mystery at all.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so good. I loved the cat character.

[Taylor Bartholomew · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5