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Kitchen Witch Mysteries #4
Four Charming Spells
In this spellbinding continuation of the Kitchen Witch Mystery series by New York Times bestselling author Lynn Cahoon, witchcraft trainee and culinary entrepreneur Mia Malone summons tasty dishes and unearthly murder suspects . . .
Before Mia Malone can sip tea at Time for a Cuppa, the charming new shop in Magic Springs, Idaho, her life changes course in downright supernatural ways. First her blossoming catering business and cooking school get a boost with the addition of an enchanting cake decorator. Then she catches the attention of the tea shop owner herself, local coven member Mahogany Medford, who's set on immersing Mia in a twisted mystery that appears all but unsolvable without a special kind of help . . .
Still reeling from the recent loss of her mother and believing there was more to the abrupt death, Mahogany urges Mia to cast light on the truth. But old secrets might come back to haunt her in an investigation that demands conjuring up phantoms from the past on the property of Mia's Morsels. Now, wearing Gran's protective stone and empowered by a circle of trusted confidants, Mia must reveal who--or what--killed Ms. Medford as another deadly surprise brews!
Before Mia Malone can sip tea at Time for a Cuppa, the charming new shop in Magic Springs, Idaho, her life changes course in downright supernatural ways. First her blossoming catering business and cooking school get a boost with the addition of an enchanting cake decorator. Then she catches the attention of the tea shop owner herself, local coven member Mahogany Medford, who's set on immersing Mia in a twisted mystery that appears all but unsolvable without a special kind of help . . .
Still reeling from the recent loss of her mother and believing there was more to the abrupt death, Mahogany urges Mia to cast light on the truth. But old secrets might come back to haunt her in an investigation that demands conjuring up phantoms from the past on the property of Mia's Morsels. Now, wearing Gran's protective stone and empowered by a circle of trusted confidants, Mia must reveal who--or what--killed Ms. Medford as another deadly surprise brews!
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 28, 2023
271 people are currently reading
2018 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Cahoon
105 books2,371 followersNYT and USA Today bestselling author, Lynn Cahoon, writes the Tourist Trap, Cat Latimer, Farm-to-Fork, Kitchen Witch, Survivors' Book Club, the Haunted Life, and the Bainbridge Island cozy mystery series. No matter where the mystery is set, readers can expect a fun ride Sign up for her newsletter at www.lynncahoon.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
May 7, 2025
Four Charming Spells is the 4th book in the Kitchen Witch Mysteries written by Lynn Cahoon. I've read most of her other work and all the books in this series to date, including three or four in-between novellas. I've enjoyed each one for different reasons, but collectively they show the author's wide array of talent when it comes to story-developing, character creation, and plot devices. In this installment, the murder happened way before the book started, and there are two different mysteries to solve. Eventually they intersect, but the how and why takes some time to decipher (in a good way). I found the age spell a fun side story in this book, but wow did it make the protagonist's grandmother semi-unlikable for most of the book! LOL All that said, it moved the overarching series story along and had several hilarious and poignant moments. My only caution... the ending is super abrupt without any wrap up or rationalization of the why and what happens next. Normally, some of the details come out in the next book but in this one, it felt like either a chapter was missing from the early copy I received or there was an intention that we don't yet understand.
June 4, 2023
Four Charming Spells by Lynn Cahoon is the fourth full length book in the paranormal cozy Kitchen Witch Mysteries series. The Kitchen Witch Mysteries also have three novellas in the series along with the three full length novels which include a prequel to open the whole series. As with most cozy mysteries though each of these books does contain it’s own mystery that will be fully solved within the book so they can be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. There is character development that carries over from book to book for those that follow the series from the beginning.
In the prequel novella in the series readers were introduced to Mia Malone who had traveled back to her hometown of Magic Springs, Idaho at the urging of her grandmother who Mia fondly calls Grans. Magic Springs is a place where magic is out in the open and Mia’s family is far from normal with Mia inheriting her Grans magical abilities and she now uses that witchcraft to create her tasty culinary treats.
Since that trip back to Magic Springs though Mia’s world had fallen apart with Mia finding herself single when her boyfriend left her and also became unemployed. Mia decided that the best thing to do was to return to Magic Springs for good where she could use her magic in a gourmet dinner delivery business. Now Mia’s catering business is booming even with hiring a new enchanting cake decorator. However, Mia is asked by Mahogany Medford to help solve a seemingly impossible of just what happened to Mahogany’s mother and whether her death was murder.
Anyone following my reviews may have noticed that I’m a huge fan of Lynn Cahoon’s cozy mysteries. I follow several of her other series and have read the Kitchen Witch Mysteries from the beginning too. I was happy to jump back into this paranormal cozy series and loved returning to Magic Springs with these characters I’ve grown to love too. There’s plenty of laughs that I’ve come to expect from this writer’s cozies and always a fun mystery to solve so again after finishing this fourth installment I’ll be waiting my chance to return with the next in the series.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
In the prequel novella in the series readers were introduced to Mia Malone who had traveled back to her hometown of Magic Springs, Idaho at the urging of her grandmother who Mia fondly calls Grans. Magic Springs is a place where magic is out in the open and Mia’s family is far from normal with Mia inheriting her Grans magical abilities and she now uses that witchcraft to create her tasty culinary treats.
Since that trip back to Magic Springs though Mia’s world had fallen apart with Mia finding herself single when her boyfriend left her and also became unemployed. Mia decided that the best thing to do was to return to Magic Springs for good where she could use her magic in a gourmet dinner delivery business. Now Mia’s catering business is booming even with hiring a new enchanting cake decorator. However, Mia is asked by Mahogany Medford to help solve a seemingly impossible of just what happened to Mahogany’s mother and whether her death was murder.
Anyone following my reviews may have noticed that I’m a huge fan of Lynn Cahoon’s cozy mysteries. I follow several of her other series and have read the Kitchen Witch Mysteries from the beginning too. I was happy to jump back into this paranormal cozy series and loved returning to Magic Springs with these characters I’ve grown to love too. There’s plenty of laughs that I’ve come to expect from this writer’s cozies and always a fun mystery to solve so again after finishing this fourth installment I’ll be waiting my chance to return with the next in the series.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
March 21, 2023
Number 4 in the Kitchen Witch series which is proving to be a lot of fun.
Mia Malone is a witch who operates a catering business in Magic Springs. She is the centre of a delightful group of characters, some witchy and some not who live in the town. My favorite has to be Mr. Darcy the cat, who is now occupied by the spirit of Dorien a deceased witch. There is a lot of humour in the way the witch manipulates the cat.
Of course there is a murder and Mia and her boyfriend Trent investigate. There are ghosts to be dealt with and magic spells going round which no one seems totally in control of. Worst of all Mia's business is threatened and the solution is one she does not like at all.
We all have to wait for book 5 to see what happens.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and view this book.
Mia Malone is a witch who operates a catering business in Magic Springs. She is the centre of a delightful group of characters, some witchy and some not who live in the town. My favorite has to be Mr. Darcy the cat, who is now occupied by the spirit of Dorien a deceased witch. There is a lot of humour in the way the witch manipulates the cat.
Of course there is a murder and Mia and her boyfriend Trent investigate. There are ghosts to be dealt with and magic spells going round which no one seems totally in control of. Worst of all Mia's business is threatened and the solution is one she does not like at all.
We all have to wait for book 5 to see what happens.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and view this book.
December 21, 2022
Four Charming Spells is the 4th in A Kitchen Witch Mystery series. I have read this from the beginning. The story takes place in Magic Springs, Idaho where a coven of witches live. Mia Malone is the main character who owns Mia's Morsels a new catering, cooking school, dinner delivery and event planning business. Christine Adams, a mortal, lives and works for Mia. Trent Major, Mia's boyfriend runs his family grocery store. His brother, Levi is Christine's boyfriend, Mary Alice Carpenter is Mia's grandmother. Abigail Major is Trent and Levi's mother who works part-time for Mia as a cake designer. They are all witches. Mr. Darby, Mia's cat shares his body with Dorian. Mary Alice's boyfriend and also a witch. His soul was transferred when Mary Alice did a spell and is looking for a reversed spell.
The story opens with Mia is catering Theresa Ann Holly's funeral which is a coven affair. Ginny Willis stepped in to do the wake as Theresa did not have any family. Mia felt that it wasn't sadness but a feeling of indifference. Theresa was being sent off to another live and it seemed no one cared.
Mahogany Medford's mother, Hetty also died. She came home to bury her. Her funeral was very much like Theresa's. She told Mia that when she called Ginny Willis she hung up on her. Was put out when she found out that Mahogany existed. There were questions on how she died. Mahogany felt that her mother had been murdered. Her mother looked older than she was. There was a spell on her house that made a person age.
Mark Baldwin is the local police chief. Mia has helped the police solve murders.
Lots of things start to happen that I will leave to the reader to enjoy. It is too much to put on paper. May Hornbuckle and Henry Lasher ask Mia if they can have their wedding at Mia's building which is an old school. Henry's great uncle, Alphonso Lasher helped build the school and would shore up the wards. The school has many ghosts that dwell there. Again I will leave this part of the story to the reader. There are other characters that add to the story. Hailey Berger who is also a Richard comes and works for Mia. She is a good worker. Mia's grandmother remembers Alphonse and tells her that he is a witch also.
The story builds up with who is putting the spells on certain houses and what is Alphonse up to. This builds up to an exciting climax. Christine's mother who does not get along with her comes and to Christine's surprise gives her the diamond necklace that belonged to her grandmother as well as also bought her a car. Invited her to a family dinner. Mia realizes that this change comes with a price. This leaves the story with many questions unanswered. Will the next book pick up on this and what will be instore for the people in the town of Magic Springs.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp for this ARC.
The story opens with Mia is catering Theresa Ann Holly's funeral which is a coven affair. Ginny Willis stepped in to do the wake as Theresa did not have any family. Mia felt that it wasn't sadness but a feeling of indifference. Theresa was being sent off to another live and it seemed no one cared.
Mahogany Medford's mother, Hetty also died. She came home to bury her. Her funeral was very much like Theresa's. She told Mia that when she called Ginny Willis she hung up on her. Was put out when she found out that Mahogany existed. There were questions on how she died. Mahogany felt that her mother had been murdered. Her mother looked older than she was. There was a spell on her house that made a person age.
Mark Baldwin is the local police chief. Mia has helped the police solve murders.
Lots of things start to happen that I will leave to the reader to enjoy. It is too much to put on paper. May Hornbuckle and Henry Lasher ask Mia if they can have their wedding at Mia's building which is an old school. Henry's great uncle, Alphonso Lasher helped build the school and would shore up the wards. The school has many ghosts that dwell there. Again I will leave this part of the story to the reader. There are other characters that add to the story. Hailey Berger who is also a Richard comes and works for Mia. She is a good worker. Mia's grandmother remembers Alphonse and tells her that he is a witch also.
The story builds up with who is putting the spells on certain houses and what is Alphonse up to. This builds up to an exciting climax. Christine's mother who does not get along with her comes and to Christine's surprise gives her the diamond necklace that belonged to her grandmother as well as also bought her a car. Invited her to a family dinner. Mia realizes that this change comes with a price. This leaves the story with many questions unanswered. Will the next book pick up on this and what will be instore for the people in the town of Magic Springs.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp for this ARC.
March 16, 2023
This is the fourth book in the Kitchen Witch Mysteries. This is an enjoyable cozy series with characters that I like returning to time and again. The setting in Magic Springs, Idaho is small-town comforting and the main characters care for each other shines through.
In this book there are two interesting mysteries. The murder that occurred in the past, and what's going on with Gran's appearing younger. There were some humorous moments, and Gran was definitely hard to get along with throughout much of the book. The ending was just weird as it was so sudden and kind of just cut things off. It left me with a lot of questions.
I enjoyed the characters and I really like Mr. Darcy - the cat. I do recommend this series overall as a great cozy series and the books have been fun and interesting reads.
Thanks to Kensington Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on March 28, 2023.
In this book there are two interesting mysteries. The murder that occurred in the past, and what's going on with Gran's appearing younger. There were some humorous moments, and Gran was definitely hard to get along with throughout much of the book. The ending was just weird as it was so sudden and kind of just cut things off. It left me with a lot of questions.
I enjoyed the characters and I really like Mr. Darcy - the cat. I do recommend this series overall as a great cozy series and the books have been fun and interesting reads.
Thanks to Kensington Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on March 28, 2023.
April 9, 2023
This is a fun series to read. The characters are entertaining and interesting. The mystery of who is behind the mysterious aging and death of a resident is a unique spin on an investigation. They mystery and the secondary story of the relationships are well written. The mystery is full of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have not been by anyone.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have not been by anyone.
April 1, 2023
Dollycas’s Thoughts
In this fourth full-length Kitchen Witch Mystery, the business at Mia’s Morsels is booming. More than Mia and Christine can handle so Mia has hired Trent and Levi’s mom Abigail to handle cakes and deserts and hires Hailey Berger to help with an upcoming wedding to see how she fits in with everyone. Gran usually helps too but she has some problems of her own she is trying to handle.
In addition to her business, Mia is approached by the owner of Magic Spring’s new tea shop, Time for a Cuppa’s owner Mahogany Medford. A member of the local coven, who has some questions about her mother’s death and some other strange happenings. There are also some more strange happenings at the school where Mia lives and has her business. Happenings that need to be addressed before the big wedding she was pressed to hold at the school.
Mia is going to need all the protections available and everyone’s help as she tries to get answers for Mahogany and handle everything else going on in her life. Who knew catering a wake for a witch would conjure up so much trouble?
The characters Ms. Cahoon created for this series get stronger in every book. Mia still has a lot to learn but she is surrounded by a great group of witches and mortals. The ease she has with Christina is just wonderful. Both she and Christina’s relationship with the Majors brothers are in a good place. Gran has some craziness going on that had me laughing out loud. Dorian/Mr. Darcy are still working through their issues but we learn some new things in this story. The addition of Abigail and her husband Thomas is a perfect fit with some comical moments as he adjusts to having a wife who works outside the home. All of these characters are so cleverly drawn and engaging. They are some of my favorites.
The author has put forth a complex mystery with a lot of moving parts along with some real-life drama for Mia. All the plots entwine together effortlessly giving the book a really nice flow. With several twists and connections revealed I was totally into the story when we learned who was behind everything but then the story abruptly ended with something to set up the next book in the series I assume. It felt like the author had reached her page limit and left us readers hanging. I seriously flipped back into the book looking for missing pages or missing chapters. I guess I really wanted to know how that big event went after everything that had happened.
Four Charming Spells was a charming captivating cozy right up to the final pages. After reading many books by this author I am sure she will make everything right in the next book. So I am excited to see what magical mystery she has in store for Book #5. The teaser was a great one.
In this fourth full-length Kitchen Witch Mystery, the business at Mia’s Morsels is booming. More than Mia and Christine can handle so Mia has hired Trent and Levi’s mom Abigail to handle cakes and deserts and hires Hailey Berger to help with an upcoming wedding to see how she fits in with everyone. Gran usually helps too but she has some problems of her own she is trying to handle.
In addition to her business, Mia is approached by the owner of Magic Spring’s new tea shop, Time for a Cuppa’s owner Mahogany Medford. A member of the local coven, who has some questions about her mother’s death and some other strange happenings. There are also some more strange happenings at the school where Mia lives and has her business. Happenings that need to be addressed before the big wedding she was pressed to hold at the school.
Mia is going to need all the protections available and everyone’s help as she tries to get answers for Mahogany and handle everything else going on in her life. Who knew catering a wake for a witch would conjure up so much trouble?
The characters Ms. Cahoon created for this series get stronger in every book. Mia still has a lot to learn but she is surrounded by a great group of witches and mortals. The ease she has with Christina is just wonderful. Both she and Christina’s relationship with the Majors brothers are in a good place. Gran has some craziness going on that had me laughing out loud. Dorian/Mr. Darcy are still working through their issues but we learn some new things in this story. The addition of Abigail and her husband Thomas is a perfect fit with some comical moments as he adjusts to having a wife who works outside the home. All of these characters are so cleverly drawn and engaging. They are some of my favorites.
The author has put forth a complex mystery with a lot of moving parts along with some real-life drama for Mia. All the plots entwine together effortlessly giving the book a really nice flow. With several twists and connections revealed I was totally into the story when we learned who was behind everything but then the story abruptly ended with something to set up the next book in the series I assume. It felt like the author had reached her page limit and left us readers hanging. I seriously flipped back into the book looking for missing pages or missing chapters. I guess I really wanted to know how that big event went after everything that had happened.
Four Charming Spells was a charming captivating cozy right up to the final pages. After reading many books by this author I am sure she will make everything right in the next book. So I am excited to see what magical mystery she has in store for Book #5. The teaser was a great one.
November 5, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for a copy of "Four Charming Spells" in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is book #4 in the Kitchen Witch Mysteries set in Magic Springs. Mia Malone runs Mia's Morsels a catering, cooking school, dinner delivery and event planning business. She bought an old schoolhouse which she is slowly renovating. The 3rd floor has her apartment, storage and a library that houses spirits. The 2nd floor has all the old classrooms. Mia's company operates out of the 1st floor. Christina Adams - Mia's almost sister-in-law and good friend helps her as she continues with her college courses. Trent Majors is Mia's boyfriend and he runs Majors Grocery.
This time they have a problem with the wards on the house and spirits that are running around the school. Something or someone keeps trying to get in through the kitchen where the door knob turns ice cold.
Mia's cat Mr. Darcy still has the spirit of Dorian, Mary Alice Carpenter (Gran's) old boyfriend sharing his body as she works to reverse the spell she had cast.
Mia is once again mixed up in a couple of deaths. She also has to cope with a wedding, her Gran casting age spells and a new employee that might not be who she appears to be.
Another great story in this series. The book ends very abruptly. You keep turning pages thinking that there is a recipe there and the story will come to a conclusion after that but it is a jarring ending, not the usual neatly wrapped up one.
This is book #4 in the Kitchen Witch Mysteries set in Magic Springs. Mia Malone runs Mia's Morsels a catering, cooking school, dinner delivery and event planning business. She bought an old schoolhouse which she is slowly renovating. The 3rd floor has her apartment, storage and a library that houses spirits. The 2nd floor has all the old classrooms. Mia's company operates out of the 1st floor. Christina Adams - Mia's almost sister-in-law and good friend helps her as she continues with her college courses. Trent Majors is Mia's boyfriend and he runs Majors Grocery.
This time they have a problem with the wards on the house and spirits that are running around the school. Something or someone keeps trying to get in through the kitchen where the door knob turns ice cold.
Mia's cat Mr. Darcy still has the spirit of Dorian, Mary Alice Carpenter (Gran's) old boyfriend sharing his body as she works to reverse the spell she had cast.
Mia is once again mixed up in a couple of deaths. She also has to cope with a wedding, her Gran casting age spells and a new employee that might not be who she appears to be.
Another great story in this series. The book ends very abruptly. You keep turning pages thinking that there is a recipe there and the story will come to a conclusion after that but it is a jarring ending, not the usual neatly wrapped up one.
March 8, 2023
"Four Charming Spells" the 4th instalment in the "Kitchen Witch" Mystery series by Lynn Cahoon which releases March 28, 2023. Witchcraft trainee and culinary entrepreneur Mia Malone summons tasty dishes and unearthly murder suspects . . .
Before Mia Malone can sip tea at Time for a Cuppa, the charming new shop in Magic Springs, Idaho, her life changes course in downright supernatural ways.
I love visiting Magic Springs, Idaho and catching up with Mia, Grans, Christina and now Trent’s mum Abigail! I love the sense of caring and encouragement that the main characters have for each other and the community. This is something I enjoy in all the authors series.
I found the mystery very interesting as well as entertaining, full of twists and turns that kept me guessing till the very end. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Mia and Mia’s Morsels in book 5.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
Before Mia Malone can sip tea at Time for a Cuppa, the charming new shop in Magic Springs, Idaho, her life changes course in downright supernatural ways.
I love visiting Magic Springs, Idaho and catching up with Mia, Grans, Christina and now Trent’s mum Abigail! I love the sense of caring and encouragement that the main characters have for each other and the community. This is something I enjoy in all the authors series.
I found the mystery very interesting as well as entertaining, full of twists and turns that kept me guessing till the very end. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Mia and Mia’s Morsels in book 5.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
April 12, 2023
Another charming entry in this paranormal cozy about kitchen witch, Mia Malone, who runs a catering business out of an old schoolhouse ghosts and strange things keep happening. While it can be read as a standalone, I would recommend starting at the beginning to get the full flavor of all the characters and their development. Enjoyable and fast paced read. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2022
Such mixed feelings about this one.
First things first, this is 4th in a series and I was utterly lost for the first third of the book. It cannot be read as a standalone. You're literally dropped into the story and it seems to have picked right up where #3 left off. No context, no background, just there you are.
That said, it's an enjoyable story once you get your bearings. I look forward to the next one....though I won't be reading it until I read the first three.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.
First things first, this is 4th in a series and I was utterly lost for the first third of the book. It cannot be read as a standalone. You're literally dropped into the story and it seems to have picked right up where #3 left off. No context, no background, just there you are.
That said, it's an enjoyable story once you get your bearings. I look forward to the next one....though I won't be reading it until I read the first three.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.
September 2, 2024
Mia's acquaintance Mahogany's grandmother has passed away from old age, the thing is though that she was only in her 50s. Mahogany knows that Mia has helped solve cases in the past and asks her for help figuring out what happened. Simultaneously, there is a couple that wants to have their wedding at the school where Mia lives and is trying to secure the wards due to all the ghosts around. Mia must figure out how to secure the wards for the wedding she is organizing and find out who killed Mahogany's grandmother.
I don't know if it was because Abigail was more annoying but Mia has been growing on me. I liked this installment of the Kitchen Witch Mysteries a lot. I thought that the mystery was pretty good, but still a little easy to solve. I thought that the relationships in the book were interesting and had fun reading the book. I would recommend this book to any lovers of cozy mysteries that just want an easy book to relax with.
I don't know if it was because Abigail was more annoying but Mia has been growing on me. I liked this installment of the Kitchen Witch Mysteries a lot. I thought that the mystery was pretty good, but still a little easy to solve. I thought that the relationships in the book were interesting and had fun reading the book. I would recommend this book to any lovers of cozy mysteries that just want an easy book to relax with.
April 4, 2023
This delightfully entertaining and well written paranormal cozy is the perfect series to disappear into for a few hours to escape from the real world with. Who knew murder could be so much fun?? The characters are so well fleshed out that they feel real in spite of some of them having "extra" abilities. The mystery was totally a fun one and the red herrings were really perfect to throw you in the wrong direction a time or two or more. If you love a good cozy, with good food, good friendships, good mystery, good plot and a lot of good fun then this is the book or rather series you should grab! Although, I might be biased a bit since I am a former resident of Idaho and it still has a strong hold in my heart. Many of the real towns mentioned in the book are very familiar to me and I love getting to visit the area when I am with the characters of this series!
August 4, 2025
Mia’s life is becoming increasingly complex
Mia’s life is becoming more complicated. Between her business and her training in magic she has been working nearly nonstop to distraction.
The story is giving the reader better insight into the various people in Mia’s life which is good. My only complaint is that the story is wrapped up in just a few pages, leaving me feeling like I had to infer portions & it definitely felt cut off.
Mia’s life is becoming more complicated. Between her business and her training in magic she has been working nearly nonstop to distraction.
The story is giving the reader better insight into the various people in Mia’s life which is good. My only complaint is that the story is wrapped up in just a few pages, leaving me feeling like I had to infer portions & it definitely felt cut off.
January 16, 2023
review to come
February 21, 2023
In this spellbinding continuation of the Kitchen Witch Mystery series by New York Times bestselling author Lynn Cahoon, witchcraft trainee Mia Malone summons tasty dishes and unearthly murder suspects . . .
Before Mia Malone can sip tea at Time for a Cuppa, the charming new shop in Magic Springs, Idaho, her life changes course in downright supernatural ways. First her blossoming catering business and cooking school get a boost with the addition of an enchanting cake decorator. Then she catches the attention of the tea shop owner herself, local coven member Mahogany Medford, who’s set on immersing Mia in a twisted mystery that appears all but unsolvable without a special kind of help . . .
Still reeling from the recent loss of her mother and believing there was more to the abrupt death, Mahogany urges Mia to cast light on the truth. But old secrets might come back to haunt her in an investigation that demands conjuring up phantoms from the past on the property of Mia’s Morsels. Now, wearing Gran’s protective stone and empowered by a circle of trusted confidants, Mia must reveal who—or what—killed Ms. Medford as another deadly surprise brews! (Goodreads synopsis)
I have read Lynn Cahoon’s novels prior to this one as she is one of my favorite authors
I’m just not sure about this one. It is the 4th in this series and picks up where #3 left off. It cannot be read as a standalone as there isn’t any background info, except that Mia used to date Christina’s brother Isaac.
Normally I am a fan of the characters but the only ones I liked in this one were Trent, Abigail, and Christina. Mr. Darcy/Dorian didn’t really get a lot of time, and when they did, it was more Mia’s frustration that Dorian was still in the cat’s body. Plus he was ‘checking’ on the wards but Mia never asked about that. I especially dislike Grans in this one.
The mystery was okay, but the revelation of the murderer just left a lot to be desired. Their reasoning seemed out of place, especially in light of a couple of other character’s shady behaviors. It just felt like there was better potential in other places that would have fit better.
I also wish there was more information about the school, the graveyard, and the ghosts. It felt brushed over. Who were the ghosts in the library? Why didn’t Mia, Trent, and others use that time to talk to them about the school’s past? Again, potential that was missed.
Overall, I rate this novel 3 out of 5 stars.
Before Mia Malone can sip tea at Time for a Cuppa, the charming new shop in Magic Springs, Idaho, her life changes course in downright supernatural ways. First her blossoming catering business and cooking school get a boost with the addition of an enchanting cake decorator. Then she catches the attention of the tea shop owner herself, local coven member Mahogany Medford, who’s set on immersing Mia in a twisted mystery that appears all but unsolvable without a special kind of help . . .
Still reeling from the recent loss of her mother and believing there was more to the abrupt death, Mahogany urges Mia to cast light on the truth. But old secrets might come back to haunt her in an investigation that demands conjuring up phantoms from the past on the property of Mia’s Morsels. Now, wearing Gran’s protective stone and empowered by a circle of trusted confidants, Mia must reveal who—or what—killed Ms. Medford as another deadly surprise brews! (Goodreads synopsis)
I have read Lynn Cahoon’s novels prior to this one as she is one of my favorite authors
I’m just not sure about this one. It is the 4th in this series and picks up where #3 left off. It cannot be read as a standalone as there isn’t any background info, except that Mia used to date Christina’s brother Isaac.
Normally I am a fan of the characters but the only ones I liked in this one were Trent, Abigail, and Christina. Mr. Darcy/Dorian didn’t really get a lot of time, and when they did, it was more Mia’s frustration that Dorian was still in the cat’s body. Plus he was ‘checking’ on the wards but Mia never asked about that. I especially dislike Grans in this one.
The mystery was okay, but the revelation of the murderer just left a lot to be desired. Their reasoning seemed out of place, especially in light of a couple of other character’s shady behaviors. It just felt like there was better potential in other places that would have fit better.
I also wish there was more information about the school, the graveyard, and the ghosts. It felt brushed over. Who were the ghosts in the library? Why didn’t Mia, Trent, and others use that time to talk to them about the school’s past? Again, potential that was missed.
Overall, I rate this novel 3 out of 5 stars.
February 11, 2023
Ok. I love a good cozy mystery. Add in witches? You already know in all in. This one had a lot of players that I had to keep track of, and the actual murder happened before the story even started. It took me almost a month to read just because I kept setting it down and walking away. The ending seemed super abrupt, and honestly didn’t explain much. It also seemed improbable that the coroner wouldn’t catch that cause of death, but maybe that’s just me thinking too hard on a cozy mystery series.
Mia is back for the 4th installment of the Kitchen Witch series. Her friend and coworker Christina moved in with her and is helping Mia’s Morsels run smoothly. Mia is approached when she caters a coven funeral and asked to investigate the death of another coven member. Everyone said she died of old age (and she looked it) the only problem is her daughter showing up and saying she wasn’t old. And now that the daughter is staying in her mom’s house, she is aging rapidly. Mia needs to find out what is happening before any more coven members get hurt.
Mia is back for the 4th installment of the Kitchen Witch series. Her friend and coworker Christina moved in with her and is helping Mia’s Morsels run smoothly. Mia is approached when she caters a coven funeral and asked to investigate the death of another coven member. Everyone said she died of old age (and she looked it) the only problem is her daughter showing up and saying she wasn’t old. And now that the daughter is staying in her mom’s house, she is aging rapidly. Mia needs to find out what is happening before any more coven members get hurt.
April 7, 2023
I guess when you've written as many cozy mysteries as Lynn Cahoon has, it gets harder and harder to come up with a good plot line. In Four Charming Spells, there were a few mysteries to solve, but it didn't feel like there was a whole lot of sleuthing' goin' on. And once again, my pet peeve when reading a mystery, everyone behind the mysteries eventually confesses their parts for no good reason or prompting. The whole raison d'être for the killings was a bit farfetched, with no real clues for the reader along the way. It's just sort of dumped in your lap at the end.
I like reading about Mia and her life, but in this novel, the mystery part was a dud.
I like reading about Mia and her life, but in this novel, the mystery part was a dud.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2022
I enjoyed this book. I thought the ending wrapped up a little quickly and easily. I liked the characters, they’re interesting. #FourCharmingSpells #NetGalley
March 17, 2023
This series has really grown on me and I find that I am always checking to see when the next one comes out! I was pretty excited about this one and for the most part, it was a really good addition to the series [and one of the stronger ones as everyone is starting to meld well]. Let's break it down shall we...
WHAT I LIKED:
*Mia, Christina, Levi, Trent, Gran [though she is...well, more on that later] and the addition of Abigail [Trent and Levi's Mom]. THIS is a great group of characters. They are [mostly] realistic, fun, cranky etc etc. Just like a group of real life friends would be and that makes reading their exploits even more fun.
*The anti-aging spell "side-bar" - Ohhhh Gran. SMH. This was a hilarious little side-bar mystery and even when Gran's personality was less than stellar, the whole thing was very funny and a good addition to the story.
*Sheriff Mark Baldwin and his wife Sarah. I like this cop. He is a good man, who does a good job, who just needs nudges here and there when magic is involved as he isn't a believer in it. Mia is respectful of him and really tries to just let him do his job; it is very refreshing to have a MC that doesn't believe that she [even with magic] is smarter than the cops and that she can do their job better. That is probably one of the biggest reasons I love this series.
*ALL. THE. MAGIC. It is very cool. I love how it doesn't dominate the story, but it is a big part of it and how it weaves in and out of the story and their lives. It is also interesting how Christina is starting to react to things happening around her <--I SO appreciate a character that doesn't go running because the people around her are infused with all kinds of magic. Glorious.
*There is no murder in this book. This book is the solving of two deaths that have already occurred [see previous book] and it was really nice to not have a bunch of dead bodies all over [ghosts not withstanding].
*Parts of the mystery were very good and kept you guessing. Until it didn't and that leads me to...
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE:
*The parts of the mystery that became very obvious very quickly. I knew who the bad people were the minute they were introduced [even with a red herring thrown in there, it was pretty obvious] and there were moments of real eye rolling as stuff that had been discussed by the main characters is completely forgotten just a day later. I know they are all busy but really?? I like I like my bad guys a little more cloaked than they were in this book.
*There was a real issue with continuity in this book. Mia would "think" about how someone was coming at one time, but when asked by another character would give a completely different time, things like that. And it was always really close together. Thankfully, it wasn't all the time [because then I'd have been writing a completely different review], but it was enough to be jarring and have me both scratching my head AND going back to make sure I wasn't losing my mind.
*Trent and his continuance to say he is not practicing magic ALL WHILE PRACTICING MAGIC [with his mother's encouragement I might add, which is also a no-no]. From all the other witch/paranormal books I have read, this is a ginormous NO-NO and would/will absolutely come back to bite him in the butt. I can only hope that it will come to that in this series. I'd love to see him have to truly make a decision regarding his magic. He is totally a force for good and add Mia's power, they would be a very magical couple and I'd love to see that, but he is going to have to have a real moment where he absolutely decides before that can happen. Please Ms. Cahoon? Pretty please??
*The reveal and the end. Uh....okay? Really? Did the author run out of steam/story? That was the most tepid reveal ever [I cannot even claim that as a reveal to be honest] and then the book very abruptly ends. I mean, you think there will be a couple more pages and it is just done. Did the ARC not get all the pages? I am so confused and it was very disconcerting. Had the rest of the book not been as good as it was, the abrupt end would have dropped this rating fast for sure.
Overall, this was a great addition to the series and I will be waiting with baited breath for the next one.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lynn Cahoon and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
WHAT I LIKED:
*Mia, Christina, Levi, Trent, Gran [though she is...well, more on that later] and the addition of Abigail [Trent and Levi's Mom]. THIS is a great group of characters. They are [mostly] realistic, fun, cranky etc etc. Just like a group of real life friends would be and that makes reading their exploits even more fun.
*The anti-aging spell "side-bar" - Ohhhh Gran. SMH. This was a hilarious little side-bar mystery and even when Gran's personality was less than stellar, the whole thing was very funny and a good addition to the story.
*Sheriff Mark Baldwin and his wife Sarah. I like this cop. He is a good man, who does a good job, who just needs nudges here and there when magic is involved as he isn't a believer in it. Mia is respectful of him and really tries to just let him do his job; it is very refreshing to have a MC that doesn't believe that she [even with magic] is smarter than the cops and that she can do their job better. That is probably one of the biggest reasons I love this series.
*ALL. THE. MAGIC. It is very cool. I love how it doesn't dominate the story, but it is a big part of it and how it weaves in and out of the story and their lives. It is also interesting how Christina is starting to react to things happening around her <--I SO appreciate a character that doesn't go running because the people around her are infused with all kinds of magic. Glorious.
*There is no murder in this book. This book is the solving of two deaths that have already occurred [see previous book] and it was really nice to not have a bunch of dead bodies all over [ghosts not withstanding].
*Parts of the mystery were very good and kept you guessing. Until it didn't and that leads me to...
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE:
*The parts of the mystery that became very obvious very quickly. I knew who the bad people were the minute they were introduced [even with a red herring thrown in there, it was pretty obvious] and there were moments of real eye rolling as stuff that had been discussed by the main characters is completely forgotten just a day later. I know they are all busy but really?? I like I like my bad guys a little more cloaked than they were in this book.
*There was a real issue with continuity in this book. Mia would "think" about how someone was coming at one time, but when asked by another character would give a completely different time, things like that. And it was always really close together. Thankfully, it wasn't all the time [because then I'd have been writing a completely different review], but it was enough to be jarring and have me both scratching my head AND going back to make sure I wasn't losing my mind.
*Trent and his continuance to say he is not practicing magic ALL WHILE PRACTICING MAGIC [with his mother's encouragement I might add, which is also a no-no]. From all the other witch/paranormal books I have read, this is a ginormous NO-NO and would/will absolutely come back to bite him in the butt. I can only hope that it will come to that in this series. I'd love to see him have to truly make a decision regarding his magic. He is totally a force for good and add Mia's power, they would be a very magical couple and I'd love to see that, but he is going to have to have a real moment where he absolutely decides before that can happen. Please Ms. Cahoon? Pretty please??
*The reveal and the end. Uh....okay? Really? Did the author run out of steam/story? That was the most tepid reveal ever [I cannot even claim that as a reveal to be honest] and then the book very abruptly ends. I mean, you think there will be a couple more pages and it is just done. Did the ARC not get all the pages? I am so confused and it was very disconcerting. Had the rest of the book not been as good as it was, the abrupt end would have dropped this rating fast for sure.
Overall, this was a great addition to the series and I will be waiting with baited breath for the next one.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lynn Cahoon and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 8, 2023
Thanks to #NetGalley for a chance to read this book. This is the fourth book in this series and I have read the previous three, that said, I kind of felt like I was dropped in the middle of a story at the start of the book and felt that the book ended abruptly with several unanswered questions. The good news is that once you get into it the story, it pulls you in and keeps you engrossed for the duration. As usual there is a lot going on with the business, Mia's learning as to her powers, and relationships with witches and regular people. Everything is totally interwoven in this mystery with single, older witches mysteriously aging and then dying under questionable circumstances. While trying to run and expand her business, Mia is trying to point the non witch Chief of Police in the right direction while also trying to remove the ghosts from her schoolhouse. This will definitely keep a girl busy and also worried about her future. Will keep you involved to the end!!!
April 5, 2023
Mia's business is doing well and she is looking forward to working with her new hire that will be doing all their cakes for events. While catering an event that celebrates the life of a coven member has passed Mia learns a bit more about how the coven works. When local coven member Mahogany Medford asks Mia for her help she is happy to do so. She believes her mother was murdered and wants Mia to look into what happened and who.could have been behind it. Meanwhile Mahogany herself seems to be aging at an extreme pace. Mia is looking into the cause and wonders if it has anything to do with the death she is investigating. Follow along to see where the clues lead Mia, will she be able to put all the clues together and catch a killer? This is a charming series filled with loads of magic and a fun mystery to solve.
December 10, 2022
A Cozy paranormal mystery is the genre I grab when I’m ready for a fun, mischievous time, and this latest in the series didn’t disappoint. Mia is still trying to get her catering business more off the ground when a friend asks for her help in solving what she thinks is the murder of her mother. Along with a spell her grandmother is trying to fix, a job offer that Mia has to think about, and trying to keep ghosts from interfering in a wedding, Mia has her hands full while trying to do both. This was a fun, entertaining addition to the series, even with a few odd, jarring moments that didn’t quite fit like the motivations of the murderer. Still a great book. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
March 13, 2025
3.7-4 stars, I’m a fan of this series though I don’t like how Mia treats Trent. I get it that she’s “gunshy” because of her past relationship but that’s no excuse. Anyway, there’s a murder disguised as a natural death and the woman’s daughter comes to Mia asking for help. It’s soon discovered that there’s a spell over the home and the coven is in danger. Now the question is why? And what’s up with Nan’s spellcasting? Plus a new employee seems to good to be true. Mia needs to ease up and listen to her instincts, trust the people around her, and grow.
December 19, 2022
Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for sending me an ARC version for review.
This book is the 4th installment of the Kitchen Witch Mysteries by Lynn Cahoon. It can be read as a stand-alone book; however, I would recommend reading the first books in this series to get detailed background information about the characters and their history.
Mia is the owner of Mia's Morsels, a catering company that holds cooking lessons, events and delivery food services out of a renovated school in the town of Magic Springs.
Mia attends a funeral of coven member Theresa Ann Holly held by the local coven. Mia finds the ceremony uncomfortable, cold and detached, giving her a sense of discomfort and unease.
Shortly after, Mahogany Medford, the owner of a local tea shop confides in Mia that her mother, also a single coven member has died. Mahogany believes her mother was murdered and asks Mias assistance in tracking down the killer.
With this new investigation on Mia's plate, she struggles with all of the responsibilities in her life. Mia hasn't seen or heard from her grandmother for days and she is not answering calls or texts. The wards on the school have started to fade. Ghosts are appearing closer to the house and business; will the wards hold them off? Were the past residents of the graveyard in her backyard removed like she was told when she bought the property?
Mia is offered a wedding contract for the event space in the school with only 2 weeks to prepare, however the couple promise that there is a family member who could help enhance the wards. Will Mia take the job? Will she find out what happened to her grandmother and help Mahogany track down a murderer? Or will she have to give up her dream of running her own business? Only time will tell.
I enjoyed this edition to the Kitchen Witch Series. I often read cozy mysteries as a break between more intense mysteries to keep me out of a reading slump. Lynn Cahoon's stories are perfect for this. Great characters, supernatural elements and a quick read are all reasons to pick up this bewitching tale. I only wish the ending was a little longer so we could have a little more closure to the story. Or will that be in the next edition?
This book is the 4th installment of the Kitchen Witch Mysteries by Lynn Cahoon. It can be read as a stand-alone book; however, I would recommend reading the first books in this series to get detailed background information about the characters and their history.
Mia is the owner of Mia's Morsels, a catering company that holds cooking lessons, events and delivery food services out of a renovated school in the town of Magic Springs.
Mia attends a funeral of coven member Theresa Ann Holly held by the local coven. Mia finds the ceremony uncomfortable, cold and detached, giving her a sense of discomfort and unease.
Shortly after, Mahogany Medford, the owner of a local tea shop confides in Mia that her mother, also a single coven member has died. Mahogany believes her mother was murdered and asks Mias assistance in tracking down the killer.
With this new investigation on Mia's plate, she struggles with all of the responsibilities in her life. Mia hasn't seen or heard from her grandmother for days and she is not answering calls or texts. The wards on the school have started to fade. Ghosts are appearing closer to the house and business; will the wards hold them off? Were the past residents of the graveyard in her backyard removed like she was told when she bought the property?
Mia is offered a wedding contract for the event space in the school with only 2 weeks to prepare, however the couple promise that there is a family member who could help enhance the wards. Will Mia take the job? Will she find out what happened to her grandmother and help Mahogany track down a murderer? Or will she have to give up her dream of running her own business? Only time will tell.
I enjoyed this edition to the Kitchen Witch Series. I often read cozy mysteries as a break between more intense mysteries to keep me out of a reading slump. Lynn Cahoon's stories are perfect for this. Great characters, supernatural elements and a quick read are all reasons to pick up this bewitching tale. I only wish the ending was a little longer so we could have a little more closure to the story. Or will that be in the next edition?
May 2, 2025
I didn’t care for the drama around her business, it just didn’t feel fresh. Listen, I get going at your own speed in a relationship but sometimes it feels like she doesn’t even like him. But the mystery and the magic were perfect. My favorite part of this series is that there is not the big showdown between Mia and the bad guy in every book!
April 19, 2023
I really enjoy this bewitching series. I love the characters and the family aspect between the main characters.
This was an excellent mystery which had me guessing until the end. I had several people I suspected due to the exciting red herrings. I was so surprised at the big reveal.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration.
I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series!
This was an excellent mystery which had me guessing until the end. I had several people I suspected due to the exciting red herrings. I was so surprised at the big reveal.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration.
I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series!
April 22, 2024
This book was pretty good. After catching up on some of the missed installments that I'd missed in the earlier part of the Kitchen Witch Mysteries series, this was a good full book to read. This book was well-written, well-paced, and entertaining. Worth the time to read.
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