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Love Sugar Magic #2
Глазура от духове
Лио най-сетне е посветена в семейната кулинарна магия, но това съвсем не означава, че всичко върви по мед и масло. Специалната ѝ сила все още не се е проявила, майка ѝ не я оставя да прави собствени вълшебни сладкиши, а на всичкото отгоре роднините ѝ се държат студено с най-добрата ѝ приятелка Керълайн.
Момичето знае, че семейната магия трябва да бъде пазена в тайна. Но защо е необходимо да избира между това да бъде или добра вещица, или добра приятелка?
И сякаш тези проблеми не са ѝ достатъчни – една сутрин Лио се събужда и открива до леглото си неочакван посетител …
Междувременно из целия град се появяват духове и създават най-различни проблеми! Дали Лио е виновна за всичко това? И ще успее ли да развали заклинанието, преди да е станало твърде късно?
Момичето знае, че семейната магия трябва да бъде пазена в тайна. Но защо е необходимо да избира между това да бъде или добра вещица, или добра приятелка?
И сякаш тези проблеми не са ѝ достатъчни – една сутрин Лио се събужда и открива до леглото си неочакван посетител …
Междувременно из целия град се появяват духове и създават най-различни проблеми! Дали Лио е виновна за всичко това? И ще успее ли да развали заклинанието, преди да е станало твърде късно?
320 pages, Paperback
First published February 5, 2019
67 people are currently reading
1018 people want to read
About the author
Anna Meriano
13 books164 followersI grew up in Houston with an older brother and a younger brother and a large but close-knit network of aunts, uncles, and cousins spreading across the state of Texas. I graduated from Rice University with a degree in English, and earned my MFA in creative writing with an emphasis in writing for children from the New School in New York. There I was lucky to meet CAKE Literary founders Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra, who started me on the Love Sugar Magic journey.
I live in Houston with my dog Cisco. I have taught creative writing and high school English and currently work as a tutor for students of all ages across Houston. In my free time I love knitting, playing full-contact quidditch, and singing along to songs in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language.
I live in Houston with my dog Cisco. I have taught creative writing and high school English and currently work as a tutor for students of all ages across Houston. In my free time I love knitting, playing full-contact quidditch, and singing along to songs in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
December 20, 2019
Review posted on Fafa's Book Corner!
Beware spoilers ahead!
Trigger Warning(s): Grief and mention of cancer.
Rep: Leo’s family is Mexican. Caroline is American-Colombian. Brent is American. I’m not sure about Tricia and Mai. If anyone knows please mention it in the comments!
My Synopsis: Leo is officially a Bruja in training! She’s spent the school break with her Tia Paloma studying the basics of magic. Leo strives to learn her special family power so that she can become a great Bruja! And make up for her previous mistakes.
Leo’s best friend Caroline has just returned from Costa Rica. With Caroline back, Leo looks forward to spending time with her. Except that her family no longer approves of their friendship. Especially Isabel.
Leo is at odds regarding her friendship with Caroline. On the one hand Caroline has helped Leo out. On the other hand Leo would rather please her family then upset them.
Caroline decides to surprise Leo at the bakery. Leo is thrilled but a little uneasy. One thing leads to another and Caroline ends up running out of the shop. Leo (disheartened) chooses not to chase her and prioritize her family instead.
The next morning Leo is woken up by her Abuela. A dazed and sleepy Leo doesn’t put together that her Abuela shouldn’t be able to physically touch her. Her Abuela says that something is wrong and urges Leo to wake up Marisol.
After some investigating the family discover there are more spirits on the loose. Unsure of what caused it, the family band together to find the spirits and send them all back home.
Book Format: A Sprinkle of Spirits is written in third person limited following Leo. The last chapter in the book is an epilogue. There are chapter titles, chapter numbers, and little illustrations. Just like the first book Leo’s recipes are at the very end of the book. And lastly there is Spanish throughout the book.
Where I Heard About this Book: I read the previous installment A Dash of Trouble.
My Thoughts Before Reading: I absolutely adored A Dash of Trouble! I was so ecstatic to be reading the next installment. I am happy to say that I loved it!
What I Liked: I loved the plot! As Leo begins training under her Tia Paloma, readers are able to discern the different types of spells, and ingredients used. There’s also a bit more family history explored.
The world building was expanded upon, with the discovery of el Otro Lado. Which is where the dead go. Think of it like another dimension for the dead. The majority of the book is about Leo (and co), working together to spend back the spirits, to el Otro Lado.
I enjoyed reading about Caroline’s and Leo’s friendship! And their growth from it. With Caroline’s help, Leo learned to be the Bruja she wanted to be. Through Leo’s help, Caroline was able to discover more about her family and her powers. Leo also helped boast Caroline’s confidence.
I would say that this book was more about Caroline. Readers discover that Caroline summoned the spirits out of desperation to communicate with her mother. Caroline’s mother passed away due to cancer, a few years prior to the first book.
I enjoyed reading about Caroline’s powers and how it was linked to her family history. In the process you do find out more about the culture as Caroline has more knowledge then Leo does.
Isabel’s character arc was well done! Through Caroline, Isabel finally realizes that she’s lonely and would’ve liked to have some friends. Though she was rude to Caroline in the beginning, she did apologize.
I absolutely adored Leo’s family! They are all close and came through for one-another. With their Abuela around, I gained some more insight about the characters. Specifically Leo’s mother and her Tia. More information is revealed regarding Leo’s dead aunt Isabel as well.
I enjoyed reading about their Abuela’s interactions with the entire family, but especially Leo. It was interesting to see how Leo viewed her Abuela. And how she processed the advice her Abuela gave her.
The spirits were so much fun to read about! I really enjoyed all of their interactions with one another. Especially Leo’s Abuela and her best friend Mrs. Morales. Tricia’s grandmother.
Some of Leo’s friends (from her snack club) played vital role. Leo enlists the help of Brent, Tricia, and Mai in gathering the spirits. It was really fun to read about their attempts at getting the spirits back! I felt that the bond’s (family and friends) were strengthened throughout the book.
I absolutely loved how the author portrayed the children’s view on death. What I mean it that I felt the portrayal was realistic. It was very disheartening to read how both Leo and Caroline viewed death. As well as the other children. A Sprinkle of Spirits was an emotional read.
My Criticism(s): Absolutely nothing!
What I’m Looking Forward To: That cliffhanger was very brutal! I really want answers regarding Leo’s Abuelo. I would also like Marisol to get her own arc in the next installment. And definitely for Leo and Caroline to explore their powers.
Conclusion: Overall I loved A Sprinkle of Spirits! I highly recommend it.
Beware spoilers ahead!
Trigger Warning(s): Grief and mention of cancer.
Rep: Leo’s family is Mexican. Caroline is American-Colombian. Brent is American. I’m not sure about Tricia and Mai. If anyone knows please mention it in the comments!
My Synopsis: Leo is officially a Bruja in training! She’s spent the school break with her Tia Paloma studying the basics of magic. Leo strives to learn her special family power so that she can become a great Bruja! And make up for her previous mistakes.
Leo’s best friend Caroline has just returned from Costa Rica. With Caroline back, Leo looks forward to spending time with her. Except that her family no longer approves of their friendship. Especially Isabel.
Leo is at odds regarding her friendship with Caroline. On the one hand Caroline has helped Leo out. On the other hand Leo would rather please her family then upset them.
Caroline decides to surprise Leo at the bakery. Leo is thrilled but a little uneasy. One thing leads to another and Caroline ends up running out of the shop. Leo (disheartened) chooses not to chase her and prioritize her family instead.
The next morning Leo is woken up by her Abuela. A dazed and sleepy Leo doesn’t put together that her Abuela shouldn’t be able to physically touch her. Her Abuela says that something is wrong and urges Leo to wake up Marisol.
After some investigating the family discover there are more spirits on the loose. Unsure of what caused it, the family band together to find the spirits and send them all back home.
Book Format: A Sprinkle of Spirits is written in third person limited following Leo. The last chapter in the book is an epilogue. There are chapter titles, chapter numbers, and little illustrations. Just like the first book Leo’s recipes are at the very end of the book. And lastly there is Spanish throughout the book.
Where I Heard About this Book: I read the previous installment A Dash of Trouble.
My Thoughts Before Reading: I absolutely adored A Dash of Trouble! I was so ecstatic to be reading the next installment. I am happy to say that I loved it!
What I Liked: I loved the plot! As Leo begins training under her Tia Paloma, readers are able to discern the different types of spells, and ingredients used. There’s also a bit more family history explored.
The world building was expanded upon, with the discovery of el Otro Lado. Which is where the dead go. Think of it like another dimension for the dead. The majority of the book is about Leo (and co), working together to spend back the spirits, to el Otro Lado.
I enjoyed reading about Caroline’s and Leo’s friendship! And their growth from it. With Caroline’s help, Leo learned to be the Bruja she wanted to be. Through Leo’s help, Caroline was able to discover more about her family and her powers. Leo also helped boast Caroline’s confidence.
I would say that this book was more about Caroline. Readers discover that Caroline summoned the spirits out of desperation to communicate with her mother. Caroline’s mother passed away due to cancer, a few years prior to the first book.
I enjoyed reading about Caroline’s powers and how it was linked to her family history. In the process you do find out more about the culture as Caroline has more knowledge then Leo does.
Isabel’s character arc was well done! Through Caroline, Isabel finally realizes that she’s lonely and would’ve liked to have some friends. Though she was rude to Caroline in the beginning, she did apologize.
I absolutely adored Leo’s family! They are all close and came through for one-another. With their Abuela around, I gained some more insight about the characters. Specifically Leo’s mother and her Tia. More information is revealed regarding Leo’s dead aunt Isabel as well.
I enjoyed reading about their Abuela’s interactions with the entire family, but especially Leo. It was interesting to see how Leo viewed her Abuela. And how she processed the advice her Abuela gave her.
The spirits were so much fun to read about! I really enjoyed all of their interactions with one another. Especially Leo’s Abuela and her best friend Mrs. Morales. Tricia’s grandmother.
Some of Leo’s friends (from her snack club) played vital role. Leo enlists the help of Brent, Tricia, and Mai in gathering the spirits. It was really fun to read about their attempts at getting the spirits back! I felt that the bond’s (family and friends) were strengthened throughout the book.
I absolutely loved how the author portrayed the children’s view on death. What I mean it that I felt the portrayal was realistic. It was very disheartening to read how both Leo and Caroline viewed death. As well as the other children. A Sprinkle of Spirits was an emotional read.
My Criticism(s): Absolutely nothing!
What I’m Looking Forward To: That cliffhanger was very brutal! I really want answers regarding Leo’s Abuelo. I would also like Marisol to get her own arc in the next installment. And definitely for Leo and Caroline to explore their powers.
Conclusion: Overall I loved A Sprinkle of Spirits! I highly recommend it.
April 8, 2021
2021 Reread:
Didn't expect to cry but here we are 🥰
2019:
I ADORED this and read it all in one day. Who am I?!
Didn't expect to cry but here we are 🥰
2019:
I ADORED this and read it all in one day. Who am I?!
July 5, 2019
4.5 stars
loved this even more than the first. the magic is more developed, Leo is even more of her beautiful and curious self, and we get 2x the amount of family (and spirit!) relationships. I just adore the Logroños and this series so much.
loved this even more than the first. the magic is more developed, Leo is even more of her beautiful and curious self, and we get 2x the amount of family (and spirit!) relationships. I just adore the Logroños and this series so much.
August 3, 2020
TW: grief, bereavement
September 12, 2021
If I ever see a marigold up close and personal, I'm definitely going to think about it very differently after reading this book.
This was another cute and fun book in this series, and it was nice to be back with this family. I loved that we got to see more complex magic being done, and that we learned more about Leo's family as well as her friend Caroline's. And I always appreciate seeing kids being resourceful about solving a problem, even if sometimes they were a bit foolhardy about it.
I didn't find this as engaging as the first one, I think because there was a little too much time devoted to the spirits' needs and antics. I would have liked more time spent on the story around Caroline. There were also a couple of things that, even in the context of a middle grade magical realism book, required a bit too much suspension of disbelief. But overall this was very enjoyable, and I'm looking forward to reading the next one!
This was another cute and fun book in this series, and it was nice to be back with this family. I loved that we got to see more complex magic being done, and that we learned more about Leo's family as well as her friend Caroline's. And I always appreciate seeing kids being resourceful about solving a problem, even if sometimes they were a bit foolhardy about it.
I didn't find this as engaging as the first one, I think because there was a little too much time devoted to the spirits' needs and antics. I would have liked more time spent on the story around Caroline. There were also a couple of things that, even in the context of a middle grade magical realism book, required a bit too much suspension of disbelief. But overall this was very enjoyable, and I'm looking forward to reading the next one!
April 21, 2020
I LOVED this follow-up to A DASH OF TROUBLE! Leo, her family, and her friends are delightful, and I really enjoyed coming to understand more of how her magic works, as well as the sweet ancestor-oriented plot of this one. Really lovely.
July 9, 2019
Loved it even more than book 1!! ❤️🍰✨
Now how do I wait for book 3??
Now how do I wait for book 3??
October 26, 2023
السلسلة هذي اخذت قلبي مره كتكوته وتناسب الخريف جداا
May 11, 2022
Какво следва да се добави в една отлична рецепта, ако там вече има „Щипка пакости“? Какво ще кажете за „Глазура от духове“? Самоотвержената Лио и чаровното ѝ семейство се завръщат във втората част от поредицата „Любов, захар и магия“, забъркана от талантливата писателка Ана Мериано и издавана у нас от младото, но вече любимо на всички издателство „Лютиче“. Семейни взаимоотношения и кулинарни вълшебства, тайни и традиции, предавани от поколение на поколение, вещерство и приятелство са отново забъркани с невероятно умение, а резултатът е ново ароматно приключение, което ще ви се прииска да изядете заедно с кориците! Прочетете ревюто на „Книжни Криле“: https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
September 29, 2019
Inhalt: Achtung, zweiter Teil! Wie kommt Leos verstorbene Großmutter in ihr Zimmer? Und warum sieht und fühlt sie sich nicht anders an als jeder andere Mensch? Einzig die Ringelblumenblätter, die sie überall hinterlässt sind verdächtig. Leo kann es nicht fassen, als noch mehr 'Geister' in der Stadt auftauchen und gerade jetzt will ihre Familie nicht, dass sie mit ihrer Freundin Caroline über die Magie spricht.
Altersempfehlung: ab 10 Jahre
Themen: Wie viel darf man Freunden erzählen? Manchmal ist es schwer eine Balance zwischen der Familie und den Freuden zu finden, aber es zeigt wie wichtig es ist, auch außerhalb der Familie Ansprechpartner und Freunde zu haben. Trauer. Teamgeist.
Auch für Eltern oder Erwachsene interessant?: Ich bin erwachsen und
habe das Buch sehr gerne gelesen und es hat mich auch ein wenig zum Nachdenken gebracht.
Mein Eindruck: Die Covergestaltung ist sehr schön und ansprechend. Für mich war es der zweite Ausflug zur Familie Lograno und ihrer magischen Bäckerei. Ich mag die Familie, aber auch die Freunde von Leo. Auch in diesem Buch kommt es zu einem magischen Unfall, der mit Teamgeist gelöst werden kann. Ich fühle mich in dem Setting einfach pudelwohl und ich finde es sehr erfrischend, dass die Magie strikten Regeln unterliegt und man die Grundlagen lernen muss, und nicht einfach mit einem 'Hex, hex!' alles funktioniert, wie es sollte. Außerdem bekommt man noch schöne Einblicke in die mexikanischen Feiertage und ihren Riten.
Wem empfehlen: Für kleine und große Mädchen, die gerne backen, davon träumen zaubern zu können und Spaß am Lesen haben.
Altersempfehlung: ab 10 Jahre
Themen: Wie viel darf man Freunden erzählen? Manchmal ist es schwer eine Balance zwischen der Familie und den Freuden zu finden, aber es zeigt wie wichtig es ist, auch außerhalb der Familie Ansprechpartner und Freunde zu haben. Trauer. Teamgeist.
Auch für Eltern oder Erwachsene interessant?: Ich bin erwachsen und
habe das Buch sehr gerne gelesen und es hat mich auch ein wenig zum Nachdenken gebracht.
Mein Eindruck: Die Covergestaltung ist sehr schön und ansprechend. Für mich war es der zweite Ausflug zur Familie Lograno und ihrer magischen Bäckerei. Ich mag die Familie, aber auch die Freunde von Leo. Auch in diesem Buch kommt es zu einem magischen Unfall, der mit Teamgeist gelöst werden kann. Ich fühle mich in dem Setting einfach pudelwohl und ich finde es sehr erfrischend, dass die Magie strikten Regeln unterliegt und man die Grundlagen lernen muss, und nicht einfach mit einem 'Hex, hex!' alles funktioniert, wie es sollte. Außerdem bekommt man noch schöne Einblicke in die mexikanischen Feiertage und ihren Riten.
Wem empfehlen: Für kleine und große Mädchen, die gerne backen, davon träumen zaubern zu können und Spaß am Lesen haben.
January 16, 2021
Rating: 4 Stars ★★★★
A Sprinkle Of Spirits is the magical, utterly charming sequel in the Love Sugar Magic series! When spirits begin showing up around town, Leo, her family & friends work together to solve the mystery! Filled with sweetness, adventure and inspiring messages, this is a heartfelt sequel!
It's a new year and Leo's been training more with her family now that she's learned of the Logroño legacy of bruja magic, while her best friend Caroline has been in Costa Rica to spend time with family. However, Leo's finding herself pulled in so many different directions from her training, her family's expectations, experimenting with magic, and all while feeling like her sisters don't trust her enough in her bruja skills, they give her all this advice/rules about magic and family, which leaves her struggling to choose between her family and friends, but also fulfilling her expectations as a bruja.
But at the end of the day, she doesn't want to have to pick between family and friends. However, another added pressure arrives when her abuela returns as a spirit and Leo thinks this is her fault. Luckily with the help of family and friends, as she gathers more clues she learns about other spirits who've crossed over and the consequences if they don't find their way back!
It was so wonderful getting to return to the Amor y Azucar Panaderia, I adore this magical world of the Love Sugar Magic series and I just could not wait to join Leo on another adventure. You can sense this stress and uncertainty Leo faces in having to make choices, but also with the help of her abuela she learns some solutions in balancing all these different parts of bruja life!
At its core this series is about family, friendship, and the magic of those relationships! When Leo finds herself in another magical mishap, she never falters to get help from friends and family when it's necessary. With Caroline having lost her mother, the story also processes grief and healing as Caroline and Leo try to mend their friendship.
Leo is joined mainly by her oldest sister Isabel and her Tia Paloma in their quest to not only find all the spirits, but learn how they came and how to send them back home! I like that Leo further develops the relationships her sisters, who can be secretive and also convinced that separating family and friends is what's best for their magic.
I could literally sense the weight and intense pressure of all these sides of Leo's life as she's tryin to also help these spirits. But despite that, there's a hope that everything works out in the end.
The magic system is developed even more throughout this novel as we're introduced to a new baking spell, Leo's own magic, the magic of spirits, and all those different layers separating our world from the spirit world. As with the first novel, I loved how it emphasized the idea of opposites in creating portal to send the spirits home, it's like solving a puzzle! There's also the focus on emotions and how they play such a huge part in accessing that magic.
With that said, learning more about El Otro Lado in relation to our world was developed throughout the novel in such an interesting way. This gave Leo the opportunity to ask more questions, talk with her abuela, and learn more about what was keeping the other spirits wandering around Rose Hill.
There's a lot of traveling around town which makes for a fun adventure and along the way, it gives Leo more chances to find this balance between her family and friends.
Messages woven in this sequel we're so vital to the narrative of the story and we're developed beautifully over the course of Sprinkle Of Spirits: The importance of prioritizing different relationships in your life, relying on those around you to help when you need it, learning to accept and let go, even when it's difficult, and so much more!
Something I completely forgot about this series was just how funny it is! There's lots of humor sprinkled among the cast and just makes this equal parts magical and humorous. There were many moments either through Leo's POV or from the other characters that left me smiling.
No specific gripes, but overall this just felt like a 4-star read to me at the moment, but this series is just so good!!
A Sprinkle Of Spirits brings readers back to magic of the Logroño family and a new spooky mystery that needs solving! Threads of friendship, family, alongside the humor and deep, meaningful messages of this novel make this such a great sequel! Looking forward to wrapping up the series with the 3rd book!
[ Reading through my physical tbr/library and so glad I finally picked this one up]
A Sprinkle Of Spirits is the magical, utterly charming sequel in the Love Sugar Magic series! When spirits begin showing up around town, Leo, her family & friends work together to solve the mystery! Filled with sweetness, adventure and inspiring messages, this is a heartfelt sequel!
It's a new year and Leo's been training more with her family now that she's learned of the Logroño legacy of bruja magic, while her best friend Caroline has been in Costa Rica to spend time with family. However, Leo's finding herself pulled in so many different directions from her training, her family's expectations, experimenting with magic, and all while feeling like her sisters don't trust her enough in her bruja skills, they give her all this advice/rules about magic and family, which leaves her struggling to choose between her family and friends, but also fulfilling her expectations as a bruja.
But at the end of the day, she doesn't want to have to pick between family and friends. However, another added pressure arrives when her abuela returns as a spirit and Leo thinks this is her fault. Luckily with the help of family and friends, as she gathers more clues she learns about other spirits who've crossed over and the consequences if they don't find their way back!
It was so wonderful getting to return to the Amor y Azucar Panaderia, I adore this magical world of the Love Sugar Magic series and I just could not wait to join Leo on another adventure. You can sense this stress and uncertainty Leo faces in having to make choices, but also with the help of her abuela she learns some solutions in balancing all these different parts of bruja life!
At its core this series is about family, friendship, and the magic of those relationships! When Leo finds herself in another magical mishap, she never falters to get help from friends and family when it's necessary. With Caroline having lost her mother, the story also processes grief and healing as Caroline and Leo try to mend their friendship.
Leo is joined mainly by her oldest sister Isabel and her Tia Paloma in their quest to not only find all the spirits, but learn how they came and how to send them back home! I like that Leo further develops the relationships her sisters, who can be secretive and also convinced that separating family and friends is what's best for their magic.
I could literally sense the weight and intense pressure of all these sides of Leo's life as she's tryin to also help these spirits. But despite that, there's a hope that everything works out in the end.
The magic system is developed even more throughout this novel as we're introduced to a new baking spell, Leo's own magic, the magic of spirits, and all those different layers separating our world from the spirit world. As with the first novel, I loved how it emphasized the idea of opposites in creating portal to send the spirits home, it's like solving a puzzle! There's also the focus on emotions and how they play such a huge part in accessing that magic.
With that said, learning more about El Otro Lado in relation to our world was developed throughout the novel in such an interesting way. This gave Leo the opportunity to ask more questions, talk with her abuela, and learn more about what was keeping the other spirits wandering around Rose Hill.
There's a lot of traveling around town which makes for a fun adventure and along the way, it gives Leo more chances to find this balance between her family and friends.
Messages woven in this sequel we're so vital to the narrative of the story and we're developed beautifully over the course of Sprinkle Of Spirits: The importance of prioritizing different relationships in your life, relying on those around you to help when you need it, learning to accept and let go, even when it's difficult, and so much more!
Something I completely forgot about this series was just how funny it is! There's lots of humor sprinkled among the cast and just makes this equal parts magical and humorous. There were many moments either through Leo's POV or from the other characters that left me smiling.
No specific gripes, but overall this just felt like a 4-star read to me at the moment, but this series is just so good!!
A Sprinkle Of Spirits brings readers back to magic of the Logroño family and a new spooky mystery that needs solving! Threads of friendship, family, alongside the humor and deep, meaningful messages of this novel make this such a great sequel! Looking forward to wrapping up the series with the 3rd book!
[ Reading through my physical tbr/library and so glad I finally picked this one up]
April 9, 2020
I really love the sense of family in these books, and appreciated the discussions on grief and loss as well.
February 26, 2019
RTC when it's not 4:37 am, but the short version is this - I love this family. I love how these stories focus on feeling left out and grief and moving on and love. I love that they're all covered in sugar. I love that this made me sob like a baby. The two books in this series are genuinely so magical and pure and they just make me feel all the way good.
July 21, 2019
With the second book, Meriano has made this series into a must-read for families looking for books that are empathetic and thoughtful while still offering adventure, fully-drawn characters, and strong principles without preaching. Meriano threads the needle really well, making room here for themes of grief, love, and loyalty that are surprisingly nuanced for a middle-grade novel. I was happy to see that one of the main issues here is the distance Leo's role as a bruja puts between her and her friends and I loved how it was resolved. Really smart and loving, looking forward to more.
October 5, 2021
10/04/2021
1st read:
★★★★★
”And what’s best for them—when it comes to secrets, and family, and friends—might not always be what’s best for you.”
Again, if time traveling is a thing someday, let me give this to my younger self.
I started this day with feeling the need for something comforting and oh my Gods was this perfect!
This was definitely a sad book at times, but I love how the author handles hard topics.
I'm so thankful, that middle grades like this exist. <3
That epilogue makes me want to pick up the next book asap!! But also, I don’t want this series to end…
1st read:
★★★★★
”And what’s best for them—when it comes to secrets, and family, and friends—might not always be what’s best for you.”
Again, if time traveling is a thing someday, let me give this to my younger self.
I started this day with feeling the need for something comforting and oh my Gods was this perfect!
This was definitely a sad book at times, but I love how the author handles hard topics.
I'm so thankful, that middle grades like this exist. <3
That epilogue makes me want to pick up the next book asap!! But also, I don’t want this series to end…
May 11, 2020
4 stars
Mayhaps I'm completely in love with series,,, you'll never know!!
The characters continue to impress me in this installment!!! I especially loved how we got to see more of Caroline in this novel and we really get a look at some of the things that she's struggling with. The friendship between Leo and Caroline once again made me beyond happy and overly emotional!! I also really liked how this book talks about some of the harder parts of friendships and it highlights the idea that it's necessary to put effort into your friendships.
Just as with the last installment in this series, I absolutely adored the family dynamic in this one. Because a large part of this book also has to do with bringing people back as ghosts, I loved the added layer of seeing the interactions between the ghosts and how that contributed to the overall family dynamic. Also?? All of the ghosts were really distinct characters and I would read an entire book solely about them, Miss Meriano, where can I get it??
The atmosphere of the first book definitely carries through the second one, especially when it comes to scenes at the bakery. Everything about this series is just so cozy and precious and these books feel like the warmest of hugs and I love them with everything in me.
The reason I'm giving this book a 4-star rating is that I, personally, wasn't a huge fan of the way the plot unraveled. While I really liked the premise of it and the way the characters interact throughout the story, I found some of the directions the plot took to be a bit questionable?? But I feel like this is just a matter of personal preference, if anything.
Overall, this book was really enjoyable and this series is quickly becoming one of my favorites so I absolutely cannot wait to pick up the next installment!!
Mayhaps I'm completely in love with series,,, you'll never know!!
The characters continue to impress me in this installment!!! I especially loved how we got to see more of Caroline in this novel and we really get a look at some of the things that she's struggling with. The friendship between Leo and Caroline once again made me beyond happy and overly emotional!! I also really liked how this book talks about some of the harder parts of friendships and it highlights the idea that it's necessary to put effort into your friendships.
Just as with the last installment in this series, I absolutely adored the family dynamic in this one. Because a large part of this book also has to do with bringing people back as ghosts, I loved the added layer of seeing the interactions between the ghosts and how that contributed to the overall family dynamic. Also?? All of the ghosts were really distinct characters and I would read an entire book solely about them, Miss Meriano, where can I get it??
The atmosphere of the first book definitely carries through the second one, especially when it comes to scenes at the bakery. Everything about this series is just so cozy and precious and these books feel like the warmest of hugs and I love them with everything in me.
The reason I'm giving this book a 4-star rating is that I, personally, wasn't a huge fan of the way the plot unraveled. While I really liked the premise of it and the way the characters interact throughout the story, I found some of the directions the plot took to be a bit questionable?? But I feel like this is just a matter of personal preference, if anything.
Overall, this book was really enjoyable and this series is quickly becoming one of my favorites so I absolutely cannot wait to pick up the next installment!!
February 24, 2019
4.5 stars | I love these books <3
July 22, 2022
Нямах търпение да прекрача прага на перкарната „Любов и захар“ в Роуз Хил, за да разбера как Лио напредва в обучението си за bruja. И тук, както в първатакнига, сюжетът е динамичен и много добре изграден. Героите, с които читателят се среща, са добре познати от първата част – многобройното и цветно семейство Лонгрьо и симпатичните и свежи приятели на Лио. В „Глазура от духове“ отново магията за печене е представена като способ за оказване на помощ, но основната тема в романа е приятелството и семейството.
Няма как да не спомена, че в „Глазура от духове“ магията се развива повече, Лио научава нови рецепти за печене, разбира, че има и други атрибути, които се използват в заклинанията и най-накрая открива своята собствена дарба. Самата героиня е много по-пораснала, много по-осъзната и отговорна, отколкото в първата книга, а желанието ѝ да се докаже като bruja е похвално.
Ако още не сте чели поредицата „Любов, захар и магия“, сега е моментът да се отдадете на едно сладко, вкусно, ароматно приключение, което Ви гарантира много хумор, забавни ситуации, остроумни диалози и магия и вълшебство в умерени количества. Препоръчвам книгите за Лио на подрастващите с две ръце.
Цялото ревю е тук: https://booksguidebg.wordpress.com/20...
Няма как да не спомена, че в „Глазура от духове“ магията се развива повече, Лио научава нови рецепти за печене, разбира, че има и други атрибути, които се използват в заклинанията и най-накрая открива своята собствена дарба. Самата героиня е много по-пораснала, много по-осъзната и отговорна, отколкото в първата книга, а желанието ѝ да се докаже като bruja е похвално.
Ако още не сте чели поредицата „Любов, захар и магия“, сега е моментът да се отдадете на едно сладко, вкусно, ароматно приключение, което Ви гарантира много хумор, забавни ситуации, остроумни диалози и магия и вълшебство в умерени количества. Препоръчвам книгите за Лио на подрастващите с две ръце.
Цялото ревю е тук: https://booksguidebg.wordpress.com/20...
April 4, 2023
I loved this even more than the 1st book! Leo definitely had a lot of growth from the 1st book/she still had her moments in this 1 occasionally where she made me roll my eyes or sigh, but I liked her a lot more. She actually focused on making an effort/paving a way to balance her family/the magic/the bakery, & her friendships. She's made to feel like it has to be 1 or the other, & she decides that’s not right, she can have both. Totally agree. I love the direction this 1 took, & learning more about members of Leo's family, & even past townspeople. We also get a lot more time with Caroline & Brent-Caroline especially. I also loved how other friendships that had started to develop continued into this one. The baking is still such a phenomenal aspect in these. They leave you so hungry! Still loving the recipes in the back!Lol Strong sense of friendship especially in this, but the main focus of family & culture continue as well. I love Leo’s family & their bakery so much. Highly recommend. Another BEAUTIFUL cover by Mirelle Ortega too.💜
October 22, 2019
Meiner Meinung nach kann man das Buch super lesen, ohne vorher den ersten Teil zu kennen. Genau so habe ich das gemacht und ich hatte keine Probleme. Ich finde die Geschichte super süß und wirklich spannend. Besonders die Idee mit den Backhexen finde ich innovativ und total ansprechend. Zudem ist der Schreibstil von Anna Meriano sehr flüssig und angenehm. Ich habe die ganze Zeit über mit Leo mitgefiebert. Das Buch ist witzig, kreativ und perfekt für alle Altersgruppen. Ich habe mich keineswegs gelangweilt. Die Geschichte passt perfekt in die herbstliche Jahreszeit, besonders mit dem Geisterthema. Ein toller Zusatz waren die ganzen kulturellen Einflüsse, die man durch das Buch erhalten hat. Ich habe so auch viel dazugelernt. Ich liebe das Buch und kann es auf jeden Fall weiterempfehlen.
March 19, 2020
This series is so delightful and I can’t wait for book three. I’m going to miss my Logroño brujas
October 11, 2024
I wanted to listen to something familiar, then I remembered this series and decided to listen to this second book. I really enjoyed this book and think it's a great sequel. It has a new problem for Leo to deal with and I liked how the situation was quite different from the first book. Which made it feel fresh and still familiar as well as we see more of the same characters from book 1 and some new ones as well.
I really liked listening to this book. The narrator is awesome and really fits the series well, I like how she does all the different voices and the Spanish words all sound natural as well as far as I can tell. This book deals with themes of loss and death as well as friendship and magic. I thought these themes were handled well. It could get a bit sad at times, but mostly the book had a fun and uplifting tone.
I liked seeing how Leo dealt with things and handled the situation. There are some great moments when she realized she made a mistake and apologized as well as when she steps up to fix this situation. She's growing into her powers and has learned from things in book 1 and learns more in this book as well. I like her as main character and I enjoyed seeing her interact with her family and friends. There are some interesting scenes involving Caroline and it was fun to see a few other friends from their snack club as well. It also was nice to see Leo interact with her Abuella in this one and there are some very sweet and heartwarming moments. The conclusions wraps things up in a satisfying way despite being a bit sad as well.
It was fun to see more of the bruja magic in this book, this book focuses more on candles and spirits. I was a bit sad there wasn't as much baking in this one, but there is a pivotal moment were one of their family baking spells helps out a lot which was nice to see.
To summarize: I really enjoyed this book. It has a different problem for Leo and her friends and family to resolve. I liked how the situation and how it happened is quite different from book 1. This book deals with spirits and has some themes surrounding death and unfinished business. I really liked seeing how Leo handled the situation and enjoyed seeing her interact with her friends and family. There are some heartwarming moments between Leo and her Abuello as well as between Leo and her friends. The ending has a satisfying conclusion and I liked learning more about the bruja magic along the way. The narrator is awesome and I thought she was a great fit for the story with how she did all the voices.
I really liked listening to this book. The narrator is awesome and really fits the series well, I like how she does all the different voices and the Spanish words all sound natural as well as far as I can tell. This book deals with themes of loss and death as well as friendship and magic. I thought these themes were handled well. It could get a bit sad at times, but mostly the book had a fun and uplifting tone.
I liked seeing how Leo dealt with things and handled the situation. There are some great moments when she realized she made a mistake and apologized as well as when she steps up to fix this situation. She's growing into her powers and has learned from things in book 1 and learns more in this book as well. I like her as main character and I enjoyed seeing her interact with her family and friends. There are some interesting scenes involving Caroline and it was fun to see a few other friends from their snack club as well. It also was nice to see Leo interact with her Abuella in this one and there are some very sweet and heartwarming moments. The conclusions wraps things up in a satisfying way despite being a bit sad as well.
It was fun to see more of the bruja magic in this book, this book focuses more on candles and spirits. I was a bit sad there wasn't as much baking in this one, but there is a pivotal moment were one of their family baking spells helps out a lot which was nice to see.
To summarize: I really enjoyed this book. It has a different problem for Leo and her friends and family to resolve. I liked how the situation and how it happened is quite different from book 1. This book deals with spirits and has some themes surrounding death and unfinished business. I really liked seeing how Leo handled the situation and enjoyed seeing her interact with her friends and family. There are some heartwarming moments between Leo and her Abuello as well as between Leo and her friends. The ending has a satisfying conclusion and I liked learning more about the bruja magic along the way. The narrator is awesome and I thought she was a great fit for the story with how she did all the voices.
September 15, 2021
I reviewed the first book last Day of the Dead (2020), but due to COVID it took a while for me to get this from my library.
It's not a Day of the Dead sequel, so I'm running this review in September this year (2021), for Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15-Oct. 15.
The story starts up close to Dia de los Reyes, Three Kings' Day, celebrated January 6. It's well after 12-year-old Leo's last baking magic fiasco resolved -- when she played with magic even though she wasn't an initiated bruja and first caused everyone at school to fall in love with a boy and then shrank him down to minuscule size.
With that prior record of causing magical calamity, you just know her next misadventure is going to be epic as well. Leo's spending more time in the bakery, and her family wants her to learn candle magic. But her best friend Caroline is feeling neglected, and a quick stop by the bakery makes it clear there's no room for Caroline in the Logrono family business.
As a result, Caroline pockets a candle for herself, but no one notices in the commotion.
The next thing Leo knows, she wakes up with her grandmother in her bedroom. The problem is, abuela is dead, muerta. Normally she appears as a ghost, but this time... she's solid. And wants some coffee.
At first Leo thinks she's come into her bruja powers, but no... this is, of course, bigger than that. This time, it's Caroline who's inadvertently called upon her family's santeria powers and resurrected -- no, not like brain-eating zombies, this is gentle middle grade misdirection, after all -- a bunch of people around town. Mrs. Leticia Morales, abuela's best friend, before they died. An old man named Old Jack, who just wants to get his garden back into shape. Mr. Nguyen, who wants to tune the piano he donated to the school.
Leo and sisters end up asking Mama for help, and Caroline stops by the bakery, and conspicuously, the one person not resurrected is Caroline's mother, who passed away and who she's been missing so much after a trip to Costa Rica without her mom.
I'll stop right there. Enjoy this mixed-up story, it's a lot of gentle, magical candle fun!
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
It's not a Day of the Dead sequel, so I'm running this review in September this year (2021), for Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15-Oct. 15.
The story starts up close to Dia de los Reyes, Three Kings' Day, celebrated January 6. It's well after 12-year-old Leo's last baking magic fiasco resolved -- when she played with magic even though she wasn't an initiated bruja and first caused everyone at school to fall in love with a boy and then shrank him down to minuscule size.
With that prior record of causing magical calamity, you just know her next misadventure is going to be epic as well. Leo's spending more time in the bakery, and her family wants her to learn candle magic. But her best friend Caroline is feeling neglected, and a quick stop by the bakery makes it clear there's no room for Caroline in the Logrono family business.
As a result, Caroline pockets a candle for herself, but no one notices in the commotion.
The next thing Leo knows, she wakes up with her grandmother in her bedroom. The problem is, abuela is dead, muerta. Normally she appears as a ghost, but this time... she's solid. And wants some coffee.
At first Leo thinks she's come into her bruja powers, but no... this is, of course, bigger than that. This time, it's Caroline who's inadvertently called upon her family's santeria powers and resurrected -- no, not like brain-eating zombies, this is gentle middle grade misdirection, after all -- a bunch of people around town. Mrs. Leticia Morales, abuela's best friend, before they died. An old man named Old Jack, who just wants to get his garden back into shape. Mr. Nguyen, who wants to tune the piano he donated to the school.
Leo and sisters end up asking Mama for help, and Caroline stops by the bakery, and conspicuously, the one person not resurrected is Caroline's mother, who passed away and who she's been missing so much after a trip to Costa Rica without her mom.
I'll stop right there. Enjoy this mixed-up story, it's a lot of gentle, magical candle fun!
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
March 24, 2020
This is one of the few series that I've been interested in since before it even came out. So when I saw the third of this, I knew I had to snag it! Leo has grown so much since book #1--she's getting a hang of her magic, and is learning in a more formal setting. She's truly understanding the history of her family and how magic has been entertwined in everything that they do. But after her last mishap--one that led to the cops being called and her shrinking a classmate--her family blames her when a group of spirits are unleashed into their small town. But she didn't do anything! Right? Or is this her birth power, finally showing itself? Who's to say!
Meriano did and still does a great job at tackling the struggles of friendship, death, and understanding all into one. As Leo finally meets her abuela properly this time, she can't help but wonder if her best friend, Caroline, is feeling a little hurt and left out. Her mother died the previous year, so why is it that Leo gets to see someone she barely remembers? Yet, with anything involving magic, there's more than meets the eye...
As always, there's a recipe in the back for one of the magical pastries Leo and her family makes, and there's just so much information pertaining to witchery and brujas. Think herbs, candles, intention, altars, totems...there's so much to be learned, unraveled, and taught.
This was a fantastic continuation to an already fantastic story, and I just can't wait to read the third in this series. Has there ever been a series recently that I've been this excited about? I'm not entirely sure--so be convinced that this series is one worth reading!
Review cross-listed here!
Meriano did and still does a great job at tackling the struggles of friendship, death, and understanding all into one. As Leo finally meets her abuela properly this time, she can't help but wonder if her best friend, Caroline, is feeling a little hurt and left out. Her mother died the previous year, so why is it that Leo gets to see someone she barely remembers? Yet, with anything involving magic, there's more than meets the eye...
As always, there's a recipe in the back for one of the magical pastries Leo and her family makes, and there's just so much information pertaining to witchery and brujas. Think herbs, candles, intention, altars, totems...there's so much to be learned, unraveled, and taught.
This was a fantastic continuation to an already fantastic story, and I just can't wait to read the third in this series. Has there ever been a series recently that I've been this excited about? I'm not entirely sure--so be convinced that this series is one worth reading!
Review cross-listed here!
May 5, 2021
I preferred this book to the first one. I liked Leo a lot more than I did the first time around. There's growth and she seems to be able to make the right decisions most of the time, with some help from her abuela. But poor Isabel, who seems lovely even if she's an overly strict rule follower who doesn't have friends of her own - she's made by the family. It's irritating for Tia Paloma to roll her eyes at her rule following behavior - you lot shaped that.
There's also one important thing that happens at the end of the book in which an adult asks Leo to keep a secret that was not Leo's to keep. Leo refuses initially but after being told that she would hurt her best friend - what else is she going to do really. That brings me to my qualm with the first book of the series, the adults seem really off. The kids make better decisions than adults do, the kids who have no clue that they might have powers and when they start to make things happen they get curious and spell happy and because the adults are too busy hiding things from the kids, they're nowhere to supervise.
I do think that this is a good book for kids, but I think it might be a good idea for parents to talk to their kids after they read the book.
There's also one important thing that happens at the end of the book in which an adult asks Leo to keep a secret that was not Leo's to keep. Leo refuses initially but after being told that she would hurt her best friend - what else is she going to do really. That brings me to my qualm with the first book of the series, the adults seem really off. The kids make better decisions than adults do, the kids who have no clue that they might have powers and when they start to make things happen they get curious and spell happy and because the adults are too busy hiding things from the kids, they're nowhere to supervise.
I do think that this is a good book for kids, but I think it might be a good idea for parents to talk to their kids after they read the book.
March 5, 2019
This is the second book in the Love, Sugar, Magic series. I didn't like this quite as much as the first book in this series but it was still very entertaining and well written. This just wasn't as humorous as the first book and there was less focus on the magical baked goods (which I really enjoyed in the first book).
Leo enjoys her new magical training but is getting pulled between demands from her family and commitments to her friends. Then when spirits start to take corporeal form, Leo is worried that her special power has finally manifested. It will take all of Leo’s family and all of her friends to help sort out this mystery and put these spirits to rest.
I continue to really enjoy the family, friendship, and magic in this series. I also loved learning more about Hispanic culture.
There was a lot less humor and less baking in this book; I missed both quite a bit.
Overall this was a good continuation of this series. I enjoyed it a lot but not quite as much as the first book. I would recommend to those who are interested in Hispanic traditions and enjoy stories about family and friends with a bit of magic in them.
Leo enjoys her new magical training but is getting pulled between demands from her family and commitments to her friends. Then when spirits start to take corporeal form, Leo is worried that her special power has finally manifested. It will take all of Leo’s family and all of her friends to help sort out this mystery and put these spirits to rest.
I continue to really enjoy the family, friendship, and magic in this series. I also loved learning more about Hispanic culture.
There was a lot less humor and less baking in this book; I missed both quite a bit.
Overall this was a good continuation of this series. I enjoyed it a lot but not quite as much as the first book. I would recommend to those who are interested in Hispanic traditions and enjoy stories about family and friends with a bit of magic in them.
Read
April 21, 2020Absolutely delightful.
I read the first book in this series/trilogy a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it, and I think I loved this installment even more.
We're back with Leo and all of the people we met in the first book, and this time we're gearing up for Dia de los Reyes and somehow spirits are appearing in the living world and no one knows why...queue trying to figure out how to fix it.
All of my thoughts on the first book are the same here: the writing was lovely, easy to follow and fun, the plot was delightful and interesting, the world building was mostly the same, but we got more information from what we learned in the first book and I loved the expansion of it all and finally the characters are all wonderful. I love the family and friend dynamics in this and I really enjoyed everyone's (especially Leo's) character development.
Overall a wonderful second installment. I can't wait to read the third one!
I read the first book in this series/trilogy a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it, and I think I loved this installment even more.
We're back with Leo and all of the people we met in the first book, and this time we're gearing up for Dia de los Reyes and somehow spirits are appearing in the living world and no one knows why...queue trying to figure out how to fix it.
All of my thoughts on the first book are the same here: the writing was lovely, easy to follow and fun, the plot was delightful and interesting, the world building was mostly the same, but we got more information from what we learned in the first book and I loved the expansion of it all and finally the characters are all wonderful. I love the family and friend dynamics in this and I really enjoyed everyone's (especially Leo's) character development.
Overall a wonderful second installment. I can't wait to read the third one!
August 14, 2021
Teil zwei ist vielleicht nicht ganz so stark wie Band eins, aber das ist Meckern auf hohem Niveau. Erneut verzaubert uns Anna Meriano mit einer wundervollen Geschichte und extrem liebenswerten Figuren. Dazu gibt es viele leckere Süssigkeiten und vor allem leckere magische Süssigkeiten! Wer kann da schon Nein sagen?
Doch im Buch müssen alle Charaktere auch etwas lernen. Nicht nur die junge Leo, sondern die ganze Familie. Wir lesen von Freundschaft, Aufrichtigkeit, Loyalität. Von Familie, Verlust und Trauer. All diese wichtigen Themen packt die Autorin in diesen Titel, aber trotzdem wirkt nichts davon überspannt.
Die Geschichte geht erneut ans Herz und begeistert mit seinem Charme und Flair. Selbstverständlich habe ich den nächsten Teil bereits als To Read markiert. Ich freue mich schon darauf, Schokolade zu knabbern und zu erfahren, wie es mit Leo und ihren Freunden und ihrer Familie weitergeht.
Doch im Buch müssen alle Charaktere auch etwas lernen. Nicht nur die junge Leo, sondern die ganze Familie. Wir lesen von Freundschaft, Aufrichtigkeit, Loyalität. Von Familie, Verlust und Trauer. All diese wichtigen Themen packt die Autorin in diesen Titel, aber trotzdem wirkt nichts davon überspannt.
Die Geschichte geht erneut ans Herz und begeistert mit seinem Charme und Flair. Selbstverständlich habe ich den nächsten Teil bereits als To Read markiert. Ich freue mich schon darauf, Schokolade zu knabbern und zu erfahren, wie es mit Leo und ihren Freunden und ihrer Familie weitergeht.
November 9, 2021
Another adventure with Leo and her family!
This one, while cute, was actually quite emotional especially if you have experienced the loss of a loved one at a young age. It's beautifully incorporated into the story though.
Leo is torn between learning as much magic as she can and spending time with her best friend Caroline. Her family members are wierd about her sharing what she knows with her friend, which she considers really unfair. Then, one morning Leo wakes up to see her abuela(grandmother) standing in front of her, her spirit having been channeled back to the real world! She isn't the only one either and Leo and her sisters scramble to find a way to send the spirits back while keeping the whole thing a secret.
While the message that our loved ones watch over us always is clear, the fact that we need to spend time with them while we have them is also equally important. That's what Leo and her friends experience.
This one, while cute, was actually quite emotional especially if you have experienced the loss of a loved one at a young age. It's beautifully incorporated into the story though.
Leo is torn between learning as much magic as she can and spending time with her best friend Caroline. Her family members are wierd about her sharing what she knows with her friend, which she considers really unfair. Then, one morning Leo wakes up to see her abuela(grandmother) standing in front of her, her spirit having been channeled back to the real world! She isn't the only one either and Leo and her sisters scramble to find a way to send the spirits back while keeping the whole thing a secret.
While the message that our loved ones watch over us always is clear, the fact that we need to spend time with them while we have them is also equally important. That's what Leo and her friends experience.
November 13, 2023
The second book in this series is just as sweet (pun intended!) and fun as the first one. It has good things to say about trusting your friends and needing a support network, both messages very near and dear to my heart. There’s lots of exciting action, but Meriano isn’t afraid to have her characters sit down and talk it out in between the hijinks, which I always appreciate. There are even profound things the book has to say about grieving loved ones, which (having lost a parent around that age) I found quite touching.
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