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Marmalade and Magic #2
Handmade Happenstance
Jemma Nox, holler witch in training, has discovered that there's more to Kalhoun County than meets the eye. Could things be about to get even stranger?
Old hurts and buried skeletons refuse to stay in the shadow of the past. Buckle up, darling. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
The county is divided when company men start crawling over the Mountain, but that’s not the worst of it. Illness sweeps through the younger residents, while everyone else in town takes sides over whether this is their big break or the beginning of the end for their way of life.
Mama B insists that she's the only one who can end the division, but Jemma isn’t sure that she's cut out for the job. Even with her friends Easter and Val helping, she's going to have her hands full.
All Jemma can do is put her shoulder to the wheel.
The wheel keeps on turning as Jemma dives deeper into the lore of her newfound calling. Yet, the deeper she goes, the more questions she has. Not just about Kalhoun County, but about herself.
Is this really who she is? What she's meant to do?If not, why has she taken to it like a duck to water?
Old hurts and buried skeletons refuse to stay in the shadow of the past. Buckle up, darling. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
The county is divided when company men start crawling over the Mountain, but that’s not the worst of it. Illness sweeps through the younger residents, while everyone else in town takes sides over whether this is their big break or the beginning of the end for their way of life.
Mama B insists that she's the only one who can end the division, but Jemma isn’t sure that she's cut out for the job. Even with her friends Easter and Val helping, she's going to have her hands full.
All Jemma can do is put her shoulder to the wheel.
The wheel keeps on turning as Jemma dives deeper into the lore of her newfound calling. Yet, the deeper she goes, the more questions she has. Not just about Kalhoun County, but about herself.
Is this really who she is? What she's meant to do?If not, why has she taken to it like a duck to water?
243 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 25, 2022
261 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 3, 2024
3.5 stars. The second book was way better than the first. The end was action packed and what a revelation at the end
July 5, 2023
There is a theory that I've seen that the author did not write these books but merely put his name on them after other writers did the work. This book kind of led me to see how that might be possible. The opening of this book is rough to read and not quite like the author's other works. After a while the style seems to change and gets back to the way the previous book was written. This one just seemed to drag on and on. Even the ending conflict didn't seem to be in a hurry to be completed. Maybe the next one will be better.
April 13, 2023
and WHAM! An incredible ending appears from NOWHERE!
And when I say an incredible ending, I don’t mean to give short thrift to what was an exceptional book in every respect. Truly.
In many ways, despite a wealth of action and intrigue, this book feels a bit like a “placeholder.” Every element, including the aforementioned action and intrigue feels CRITICAL to the development of the coming story. And, despite being incredible and incredibly well done, at the end nothing feels finished or complete, but more like a doorway that now framed is almost ready to grant access to …. Where? What?
That remains unknown, but MAN am I excited to find out.
And when I say an incredible ending, I don’t mean to give short thrift to what was an exceptional book in every respect. Truly.
In many ways, despite a wealth of action and intrigue, this book feels a bit like a “placeholder.” Every element, including the aforementioned action and intrigue feels CRITICAL to the development of the coming story. And, despite being incredible and incredibly well done, at the end nothing feels finished or complete, but more like a doorway that now framed is almost ready to grant access to …. Where? What?
That remains unknown, but MAN am I excited to find out.
June 3, 2022
When I read the first book, The Last Witch of Kalhoun, in this series I gave it a maybe. After reading this book I’m giving the series a pass.
Jemma Nox is supposed to be a Holler witch in training. I was expecting this book to focus on the training aspect and Jemma developing, learning new cool stuff and all that.
Unfortunately she is mostly running around dealing with mundane issues, whining about various uninteresting everyday problems.
Yes, she is also dealing with this mysterious illness and the nefarious supernaturals that suddenly appears in the village. However, and this my main gripe with the book, this is just another large companies are greedy and bad, especially companies that wants to mine natural resources, kind of story.
I’m feed up with that kind of bullshit where anyone siding with the big bad company is a bad guy and that “we” should just leave our natural resources in the ground and buy them from the Chinese (or Venezuela or some other socialist dictatorship) instead.
So this series is going on the do-not-read shelf.
Jemma Nox is supposed to be a Holler witch in training. I was expecting this book to focus on the training aspect and Jemma developing, learning new cool stuff and all that.
Unfortunately she is mostly running around dealing with mundane issues, whining about various uninteresting everyday problems.
Yes, she is also dealing with this mysterious illness and the nefarious supernaturals that suddenly appears in the village. However, and this my main gripe with the book, this is just another large companies are greedy and bad, especially companies that wants to mine natural resources, kind of story.
I’m feed up with that kind of bullshit where anyone siding with the big bad company is a bad guy and that “we” should just leave our natural resources in the ground and buy them from the Chinese (or Venezuela or some other socialist dictatorship) instead.
So this series is going on the do-not-read shelf.
June 5, 2022
Anything written by Michael Anderle, or represented by him has been pure platinum and this book was no exception. The main characters are interesting, endearing, and the reader has trouble waiting to see what is going to happen next. This series is a bit different than most of the author's work, but just as good and well written. The plot is easily followed and the story flows very well. I definitely recommend this book and the first one in this series.
August 8, 2022
Nice cozy
It seems to me that the side plot of hiking ma
gic from her Dad is repeated in this book since I thought her Dad found out in book #1. Hemlock trees normally grow on mountain sides in Southern Appalachians. The author didn't take the time to
research but I notice those things as an
environmental biologist. The writing is great though but the Dad character isn't likeable and the teens aren't realistic in general areas as a Mom of current and past teenagers.
It seems to me that the side plot of hiking ma
gic from her Dad is repeated in this book since I thought her Dad found out in book #1. Hemlock trees normally grow on mountain sides in Southern Appalachians. The author didn't take the time to
research but I notice those things as an
environmental biologist. The writing is great though but the Dad character isn't likeable and the teens aren't realistic in general areas as a Mom of current and past teenagers.
December 5, 2022
This 2nd volume of the Marmalade & Magic series (titled Handmade Happenstance) is a nice next step in the story. This YA novel felt a bit more juvenile than the first; not really in content, but in writing style. Again, Jenna & Mama B must battle supernatural entities (this time - haints) on an Appalachian mountain. Lots of explanations that could add more realism are left out, but the cast of characters remain very intriguing. I look forward to seeing how the saga develops.
December 19, 2022
Not fire on the mountain but close
Just when Jemma thought things were calming down an old menace reappears. Not understanding that what she thinks she wants and what she needs are two different things Jemma becomes conflicted and it shows. Her need to help stays strong as they all try to prevent a company from under mining the town and destroying lives along with the mountain. Binge reading going for #3.
Just when Jemma thought things were calming down an old menace reappears. Not understanding that what she thinks she wants and what she needs are two different things Jemma becomes conflicted and it shows. Her need to help stays strong as they all try to prevent a company from under mining the town and destroying lives along with the mountain. Binge reading going for #3.
May 30, 2022
It grows on you
The first book was a little slow
It seems that it was setting up for this one.
A young woman is becoming a powerful practitioner of MAGIC. With the help of a found journal and a neighbor well founded in the art. She sets out to battle an evil, corrupt corporation and save her friends and community.
I'm sure not very good at this, but here it is.
The first book was a little slow
It seems that it was setting up for this one.
A young woman is becoming a powerful practitioner of MAGIC. With the help of a found journal and a neighbor well founded in the art. She sets out to battle an evil, corrupt corporation and save her friends and community.
I'm sure not very good at this, but here it is.
July 23, 2022
Fighting Haints
Jemma and her friends are working with Mama B both at her inn and learning witch craft. Some greedy people end up letting some Haints out and it's up to Jemma and her friends to seal them up before they can do too much damage. I am very much enjoying Jemma's stories and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Jemma and her friends are working with Mama B both at her inn and learning witch craft. Some greedy people end up letting some Haints out and it's up to Jemma and her friends to seal them up before they can do too much damage. I am very much enjoying Jemma's stories and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
May 29, 2022
Fun Small Town Fantasy Series
A perfect mix of characters with old wisdom & youthful energy. Mystery, supernatural & everday life balanced in a great plot with surprises, action characters to love & root for as well as some you want to see defeated.
A perfect mix of characters with old wisdom & youthful energy. Mystery, supernatural & everday life balanced in a great plot with surprises, action characters to love & root for as well as some you want to see defeated.
June 2, 2022
A quiet life in the mountains? Not in Kalhoon County
Mama B, Gemma, Easter and Val are up to their eyeballs in trouble again, and only they can deal with it. This series just keeps getting better, and now I have to be patient and wait for book three.
Mama B, Gemma, Easter and Val are up to their eyeballs in trouble again, and only they can deal with it. This series just keeps getting better, and now I have to be patient and wait for book three.
January 23, 2023
Young adult paranormal cozy.
I like the energy, setting and characters. As an older adult I don't like how she cuts her father out of the information loop. This may change in the future. Good book regardless.
I like the energy, setting and characters. As an older adult I don't like how she cuts her father out of the information loop. This may change in the future. Good book regardless.
May 30, 2022
Whoa!
Big surprise for me at the end! Like the story, love the characters. Don't like how Tad doesn't remember what happened in the last book. Can't wait to read the next!
Big surprise for me at the end! Like the story, love the characters. Don't like how Tad doesn't remember what happened in the last book. Can't wait to read the next!
December 31, 2022
This is a well written and has well developed characters. The story is catching and with the strong characters makes for a very enjoyable read. Great Reading Everyone!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews