A disappearing body. Hidden magical talents. An adorable mind-reading dog. And small-town secrets . . .
Addie James’s life imploded when she discovered her fiancé cheating and got downsized from her biotech job. So she left Silicon Valley for the haven of her Aunt Kate’s tea and apothecary shop in the peaceful mountain town of Stargaze. There, she plans to take a deep breath and figure out what’s next.
But when Addie reaches Stargaze, there’s no trace of her aunt. Until one night, Aunt Kate’s lifeless body shows up and then disappears from the locked shop.
And that’s when things really start to get strange.
As Addie sets out to find the murderer, she begins to realize her own hidden magical talent is the key to discovering what really happened to her aunt . . . who might not be quite so dead after all.
The problem is, logical Addie isn’t sure she can accept the magical parts of herself that science can’t explain. Will she learn to embrace this new life that’s full of supernatural surprises and solve her aunt’s case?
The Tea Shop Witch is Book 1 in the Tea Shop Witch Cozy Mystery Series by Thora Bluestone. If you love fun mysteries with a dash of magic, spine tingles, small-town life, and slow-burn romance, this series is for you! Brew a cup of your favorite tea and come along to the mountain town of Stargaze . . .
Paranormal Cozy Mystery Witch Cozy Mystery Small Town Mystery Amateur Sleuth Female Detective Culinary Cozy Mystery Dog Cozy Mystery Clean Fiction
The first book is a cozy mystery series which was so much fun to read. Small town, magic, a mind reading dog and a murder I was sold straight away. Is it the best writing I’ve ever read? no but did that make me not enjoy it? Absolutely not. This was cute, funny, magical and I loved getting to know the characters in the small town. Very much looking forward to the next book 😊 3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Definitely a great start to a series. I hope the author expands her universe a bit but I had fun following Addie as she looked fervently for her missing aunt Kate. I will be picking up book two for sure. I am curious to see how Addis takes to running the magical tea shop.
I'm not sure what the author was trying to do with this book. It was as if the author had a bunch of ideas: zombies, people with a variety of magical abilities, a cute dog that appears out of nowhere, a chivalrous neighbor, a hard-nosed police detective etc. and threw them all together with a barely likeable protagonist.
This book is fine so far but I am unfortunately bored. I don’t really find the main character interesting and the mystery so far has just been a bit blah for me. So I am just going to stop here and move onto something that I am actually enjoying.
Witches, zombies, murder, private investigator, and so many other random things. This was a fluffy light read. It got 2 stars because it tries to merge so many things that it was kinda a mess. Ultimately not horrible but I will not recommend and I will not continue the series.
Cute, decently written. There's more "tell" and less "show" than I usually like but it's a cute cozy mystery that didn't pretend to be anything more or other than what it is. The supernatural elements aren't over the top and add a little extra flavor. A fine bubblegum read.
I am a bit undecided about my feelings with regard to this book. I like the characters, Addie, Chelsea, Bennett, even the unpleasant ones are fairly memorable but the storyline disappointed. This seemed to be all over the place, with things appearing, seemingly out of the blue. How could a 'community' exist and the police not be aware of it? How could magic be around and not be noticed by even those who are magical? In the end, despite the constant reminders of Addie's scientific mind and training, her behaviour did not display that training. I was disappointed not to hear about Bennett's special gift. Reading this will help the reader to pass the time but might not excite.
What happens when a scientist finds out she's a witch? Well, the answer to that question can be found in this story.
The story is a light, quick read. The characters are enjoyable. My biggest complaint with all of the cozy mysteries I've read is that the main character never seems to listen to anyone else and always ends up in trouble. That's the case here, but not to the extreme that it is in other stories in this genre.
Addie is the main character whose life in the big city has imploded, so she retreats to the small town of her youth. All of the things that happened to her happen before the story starts and are referenced a couple of times, but not too many to get annoying.
She comes to the small town to move in with her aunt. But her aunt is missing. Kind of. Addie sees her once, and then she's gone again. So, Addie inserts herself into the investigation to find her aunt.
The story followed many of the main tropes of cozy mysteries, but the ending was not one you could see coming. There were a couple of twists in the story that didn't shock me, but did keep the story flowing and weren't too overly obvious.
My only complaint about this story is that the main character seemed to have no social skills. I don't know why every writer of cozy mysteries thinks their main character needs to accuse every person they meet in the story of doing whatever it is that happened. They really don't. They could actually learn a little tact and figure out a way to get information that doesn't include saying, "Where were you last night between these hours? Do you have an alibi?" Normally, that's not how most people start conversations. Addie could have learned a thing or two from her friend Chelsea, who actually seemed to know how to have a conversation with people and get information. If the main character didn't sound like a bad TV detective, I would have given this 4 stars.
Overall, it was an enjoyable, easy read that moved through the story quickly and wrapped things up in a good manner.
This is a very cute, cozy paranormal mystery that follows Addie as she travels to Stargaze to live with her Aunt Kate. Addie's life recently exploded: her fiancé cheated on her, she lost her job, and she has her entire life packed up in her barely functional car.
To start off: this is a very cozy book. It starts off well with her car breaking down and a cute stranger, Trey, helping her get it back up and moving. After arriving in Stargaze, we meet so many different fun and whimsy people from Addie's past. The way the entire town is described gives you that small town Gilmore Girls vibes almost. There is a very nostalgic vintage Halloween feel to the whole town.
Once Addie arrives in town, she realizes her Aunt Kate is missing. The rest of the book follows her attempting to find Kate after she believes that Kate has been gravely injured and needs her help. Addie takes on the roll of detective along with her newfound friend, Bennett, and childhood best friend Chelsea. It's definitely a cute murder mystery that pulls you in and makes you want to keep reading.
That being said, a couple minor things bothered me. For example, the police kept threatening Addie to stop getting involved and even said they would arrest her but she was going to them anyway? Girl read the room they do not want you there. She could've (and did) investigate on her own but at every minor theory she was calling up the police to report on herself! No self-preservation there at all.
Additionally, I felt like there were multiple plot points that were not developed enough. Some examples: Trey, Hank, Bennett/his house, and some other things I will not mention due to spoilers. It was almost like we got a very very small glimpse into important knowledge about characters, but then nothing was ever done with it. I also feel like there was an underlying romantic aspect to several interactions, but it was conflicting and did not lead anywhere.
The ending also felt very rushed to me. I did not love how certain things were wrapped up and explained. It almost felt like the author had just developed such a fun story, only to run out of steam at the end and want it wrapped up. Unfortunately, there was a plot twist halfway in between that really threw me off the book. I won't say what it is for spoiler reasons, but I sat staring at my Kindle screen for a good 10 minutes just.. confused.
Overall, it was a fun cozy read. I'm not sure I will continue the series, but I would encourage you to find out if it is your cup of tea!
After her life as an engaged scientist in California crumbles, Addie heads to her aunt's home and tea shop in Stargaze to find comfort and regroup. But instead of being welcomed to her aunt's understanding embrace, Addie finds Kate covered in blood. But a few minutes later, Kate is gone, and Addie is at a loss to explain it. She decides to do some investigating along with her childhood best friend and the surprising addition of a local PI and an unexpected little dog. But the plot thickens, and soon it seems that everyone involved in the case is being threatened or injured, and Addie's list of suspects is growing thin. Meanwhile, she reads some tea leaves by accident and isn't ready to accept that something supernatural might be going on, but she might have to change her mind if she wants any chance of seeing her beloved aunt again.
I can't explain the major plot hole in this book without giving away the ending, but there is one, and it made the mystery impossible to solve—because surely no? I honestly like Addie and the many other characters in this book. Unfortunately, it was hard to keep track of them all despite their one-aspect charicatures. The setting in this book is fun, and while the dog is unexpected and unexplained, he's also a cozy addition to the story. Overall, this book was a fun read, but it added a lot of names and events and random magical oddities that made it almost impossible to keep track of everything. I liked it well enough to want to keep reading the series, though.
I have two favorite genres: urban fantasy and cozy paranormal mysteries. I was offered a chance to read this one, and I had to give it a try. I just finished it, and I LOVED it! Addie has lost a lot in her life and goes to see her aunt for some time off. Her aunt has disappeared, and Addie gets wrapped up in the investigation. First, this is very well-written and has an excellent plot. Next, I really, really appreciated how Addie came to believe in magic; it wasn’t instantaneous and took a little bit, but she didn’t dismiss everything out of hand. Next, the mystery was not easy to figure out. I thought I knew then the author threw me for a loop. I am so glad to have read this, and I’m very eagerly waiting for the next book. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
This book was indeed a mystery. A mystery as to why the author would include zombies, which was unexpected. Also, it’s like it’s a place full of people (and dog) with unbelievable abilities. The main character, Addie, could be too annoying for her own good. She just disregards warnings. It seems her friend is a better sleuth, and has more sense than her. Is that a trait of amateur sleuths? There’s also a bit of unresolved concern regarding a character’s special ability, which was mentioned but not disclosed. I guess that’s why there’s a 2nd, 3rd and 4th book. I am not sure if I want to read the rest. Cozy? Well, I didn’t quite feel the coziness. But there are some things I liked, when the MC is trying to be considerate of others. Her thoughts seem realistic, as she is distraught about her aunt.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is the first book I've read by this author, and I really enjoyed it. It will be fun to see where the author takes Maddie, her aunt Kate, and friends as the series progresses. It's off to a good start. When Maddie's life implodes, she packs up and heads to her aunt Kate's to figure out what's next. Unfortunately, her aunt is missing. Old and new friends are anxious to help, but all their leads soon fizzle out. Something strange is happening, and there is danger waiting on Maddie as she searches for her aunt with grim determination. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a paranormal aspect, you will enjoy this book. I will definitely be reading the next in the series!
"The Tea Shop Witch" is exactly the fun paracozy romp I needed! Yes, our protagonist, Addie, is seeking the usual refuge from recent heartbreak... and then the storyline pretty much leaves the expected far behind! I love Addie's stubborn scientific beliefs and her friendship with Chelsea, which weathers those attitudes. The mystery surrounding Aunt Kate is such a surprise and well-imagined; I especially appreciate that clues are available to engage the reader in sleuthing, too. Trey seems appealing, but I'm giving him a bit of the side-eye; I'm all for Bennett and discovering his secret. Likeable characters, an innovative twist, an adorable pooch, and even a lovely cover... I'm looking forward to more of this series!
I really wanted to like this book. I liked the concept, but I honestly did not like the book itself. The MC was just too immature. She jumped to conclusions too quickly, and accused people without any proof. The plot also seemed a little stiff. I did enjoy the mystery of what happened to her aunt, however, I was disappointed in how the culprit was revealed. They were never in the suspect pool, so it was kind of a gyp for the readers. There wasn't really a lot of suspense. All in all, it was meh. Not sure I will be continuing the series.
I received a free copy and this is my honest opinion.
Addie James had come back to Stargaze to stay with her aunt Kate, after leaving her cheater boyfriend and being laid off work.she grew concern that she couldn’t get a hold of her aunt. Later that evening she had heard banging sounds coming from the store. Addie had found her Aunt slumped over behind the register bleeding. Addie had jumped up to call 911 and went back to her aunt and noticed her body had disappeared. It all went downhill from there. Who would of attacked her aunt and then take her body away? Will she ever solve this mystery?
Great read, love the twist at the end. I’m looking forward to reading the other books in this series.
OMGosh I loved this soooo much. It was so much fun, it was so weird and quirky and it was so dishevelled and I know that sounds negative but it really isn't. The one plot twist is completely crazy and honestly the book might be a bit boring if it wasn't there but IDK i just really enjoyed this! The characters are relatable, all ends are tied at the end so you could just read this one and be fine but also there are a few cliff hangers like - do Addie and Bennet end up together? Or will anything happen with that other dude from the side of the road? I can't afford books right now but I REALLY REALLY want to read at least the second one in the series. at some point.
I agree Zelda's actions were a bit suspicious but my mind didn't go to 'she's guilty'. It went straight to dementia. I would think someone who was in the biotech industry would have some knowledge about dementia. Most non-scientists would know that...in my opinion.
Otherwise, the story was good. Some elements were a bit much in my opinion but maybe not for all. I am still confused by why the killer decided to attack two more people...unless I missed some part of the investigation.
This was an unusual storyline,to say the least. I was really getting into it,but then it seemed to drag on and Addie did not think things through. I knew something strange was going to happen but when it came to the strange things at the other end of town, (I don’t want to give it away,) I kind of lost interest. I finished it anyway because I wanted to know what happened to Kate. I was half glad for one part of the ending,but didn’t like the other half. You have to read it. For some,this will be their “cup of tea” not for me.
It was not my cup of tea. I enjoyed the cosy mystery vibes but the plot didn't make much sense to me.
It wasn't captivating enough and I was honestly struggling mid story to continue. The amount of 'magic' in this story was also kinda dissapointing. I thought it would show more witchy stuff, the cover looks so magical but we didn't really get to see that in the story itself. Maybe the next book will be better but I won't be continuing this series.
I got about 80 percent done and I couldn't do it anymore. I felt like this book just dragged on and on and I was getting more and more irritated with the MFC. She was so annoying. the author just jumped around and put all these magical elements and put it in a blender. The main female character reported everyone in town as her aunt's attacker and kidnapper with absolutely no proof with any of them. I was actually rooting for the police officer to arrest her. I just think the story had possible potential but the author just didn't execute it well.
I was afraid off the undead direction the story was hinting.... I read on, dreading the ultra sci field angle and BAM! Enter the zombies! Ugh. This story was still good, great characters but they weren't developed enough so they were one dimensional. I hope this author digs deeper and lets her creative side go wild, I was great storyline that fell a bit short of a good read.
It took me some time to sort out the goings on in this book. The main character took a while to warm up, she just seemed flighty. As other characters arrived I had the same problem. Thankfully I was able to get through this. There are still some mysteries that would require at least one more book. It would also or maybe develop a few characters that have been mentioned here.
To say I didn't get enough sleep while reading this absolutely twisty, interesting book would not even describe well enough the fact that I stayed up way too late to finish "just one more chapter" The characters in this book are so interesting that I need to get the 2nd book in the series so that I can see how much more trouble Addie can get into.
Since it is officially fall, I tend to crave reading cozy mysteries with some paranormal aspects. This one actually hit the spot for me. Like the protagonist, Addie, I feel the same way in regards to the paranormal. I am also on the fence about it. It was interesting to see how Addie slowly started to believe and accept who she is. I am excited to read the rest of the series.
I did enjoy reading this story. It is completely clean throughout. I found it to be charming, because of the characters and simple, because it is easy to read, makes no demands one’s emotions , I suppose I could have said it’s a light piece of paranormal fluff.
I needed something cozy to read and had gotten this free. The last few books I'd started hadn't held my attention. I liked the idea of a team shop witch. It turned out to be a fun read. Seeking refuge in the town she spent her high school summers with her aunt, who disappeared, Addie reaquaints with an old friend, and old enemy and a couple of hot guys while trying to find her aunt.