Vanilla Cake and Vampires

Broomstick Bay #3

by RaShelle Workman

Welcome to Broomstick Bay! Here the electricity is glitchy, the townsfolk are witchy, and Ruby has a catastrophic secret that is clawfully twitchy.

The Crosswells are celebrating Grandy's birthday (we don't discuss her age unless we are willing to be cursed with warts in unspeakable places) with a big party at Coven House, and I'm in charge of the cake.

My name is Ruby Crosswell, and I'm a newly re-practicing witch. Not only that, but I can turn into a cat. It’s one heck of a trick, but don’t ask me how I do it. I’m still working on the logistics.

When a vampire interrupts the celebration, the sweet and powdered festivities turn bloodsucking. The vampire, Christopher, demands that Grandy right a spelled wrong she cast five decades ago. If she doesn't, he'll kill all of the town's witches.

But Grandy can't remember what she did, and the vamp refuses to enlighten her.

When our coven leader is found dead and drained of their blood, Sheriff Wolfton is sure Christopher did it. But how does one stop a vampire? Turns out it isn't easy. A stake to the heart is messy but not fatal.

And then the vampire does the unthinkable and asks me to help prove his innocence. In return, he'll reveal how to fix my cat problem. Reluctantly, I agree. But it's a good thing I have seven lives remaining. I have a feeling my cat is going to need at least one.
__________
BROOMSTICK BAY PARANORMAL COZY MYSTERY
Zucchini Cake and Zombies
Wedding Cake and Werewolves
Vanilla Cake and Vampires
Upside Down Tart and Unicorns (2024)
Tiramisu and Trolls (2024)
Funnel Cake and Fairies (2024)
Eclairs and Elves (2024)
Donuts and Dragons (2025)
Apple Crisp and Angels (2025)

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Fantasy, Mystery

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 17, 2023

About the author

RaShelle Workman is an international bestselling author of reimagined fairy tales, supernatural suspense, paranormal cozies, and more. Her novels have been listed on multiple bestseller lists, including her Blood and Snow series (now Seven Magics Academy), which has sold more than a million copies worldwide. In addition, three of her books have been translated into Turkish.

When RaShelle isn't writing, she enjoys baking, creating new taco recipes and hanging with family. She lives in Utah with her husband, three children, and their dogs.

Find her online by visiting her website at: www.rashelleworkman.org. And sign up for her newsletter to receive free books and get information on book release dates: http://eepurl.com/chMcej.

Books by RaShelle Workman:

BROOMSTICK BAY COZY MYSTERIES
Zucchini Cake & Zombies
Wedding Cake & Werewolves (coming 6/23)
Vanilla Cake & Vampires (coming 10/23)

EERIE VALLEY SUPERNATURALS
Undercover Reaper
Twice Reaped
Reapers Creepers
Deadly Reaper (coming 4/24)

FABLE TOWN MYSTERIES
Iced Raspberry Cookies and a Curse

FAIRY ACADEMY
Hidden Princess
Broken Curse
Stolen Magic

THE FAIRYTALE CHRONICLES
Royal Selection
Royal Contract
Royal Keeper (coming 12/23)
Royal Everlasting (coming 2024)

DEMONLAND SERIES
Alice in Demonland
Alice Fights Demonland
Alice Takes Demonland
Alice Ignites Demonland

BEASTLY SERIES
A Beauty so Beastly

WOLF BLOOD ACADEMY
Initiation
Inheritance
Induction

MAGIC BLOOD ACADEMY
Elemental Outcast Games: Fire
Elemental Outcast Games: Water
Elemental Outcast Games: Earth
Elemental Outcast Games: Air
Elemental Outcast Games: Shadow
Elemental Outcast Games: Monster

VAMPIRE BLOOD ACADEMY
Vampire in Training (coming 8/2023)
Monster Trials (coming 9/2023
End Times (coming 9/23)

SEVEN MAGICS ACADEMY
Blood and Snow
Fate and Magic
Queen of the Vampires
Deadly Witch
Royal Witch
Vampire Lies
Vampire Secrets
Vampires and Dragons
Vampires and Gargoyles
Vampire Magics

ETERNALLY ENTANGLED
Eternally Entangled
Thoroughly Tousled
Infinitely Intertwined

PARANORMAL INQUIRIES
Ghoulish Whisper

IMMORTAL ESSENCE
Exiled
Destined

ACROSS THE AGES
Goddess Curse
Mystical Gift

__________

Ann Hardy ~ Sizzling Sweet Romance
Most Eligible Cowboy
Happily Ever Summer
Rockstar Billionaire
Billionaire Best Man
Faking it With the Billionaire
Dating the Billionaire
The Betting Billionaire
The Country Singer's Billionaire
The Prideful Billionaire
Totally Scrooged


Reviews

[Sassy Mystic Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable series that flows well

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book but not as much as the first two books. I think that was because Ruby Cat wasn't as active in this book and hey vampires. There was a little to much blood for my liking but what are you do do when a series that you are really enjoying features them? Other than sit back and listen, it is a cosy mystery so not really gory. The story was a lot more complex with people being possessed and the secrets everybody seemed to be keeping, including the main character, so the mystery took lots of twists and turns. I did feel like there was some unanswered questions (hence only the four star review) like what happened to the people who were possessed? Did they suffer any consequences as they committed crimes? How did Grandy get caught or the ghost? Just a few things I would have liked to have explained. I like the characters and hope the rest of the series makes it way on to audible.

A vampire gate crashes Grandy's birthday and threaten to kill witches until she lifts a curse that she placed on him, she has no idea what he is talking about. That's not the only strange think happening Broomstick Bay, people are acting out of character and Ruby is determined to get to the bottom of it. Then the coven leader is found dead and it looks like she was attacked by a vampire. Can Ruby and Grandy lift the curse and stop the killing before it starts?
I like the narrator and think she was a good choice for the series, as she does some delightful voices. If the rest of the book do become audio books, I hope she sticks with the series.

[James Copeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Done.

Saw an ad for this series on the book of Face and gave it a shot. I like a good cozy mystery and I was not disappointed.
If you read cozies, most start somewhat similar and while this isn't a complete exception, it had a completely different vibe. So I really enjoyed book one and two. This one dropped yesterday and 8 immediately got it and started.
The story picks up almost a year after the last one and while a good deal has happened, it wasn't an overkill. We start to find out more and more about this world and it's intricacies and it is well thought out. It's well worth the time and money.
I highly recommend this series and am going to check out the other books by RaShelle and review them too. Check it out, you will not be disappointed.

[Mystic Forest Crafts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pros:

I had a blast listening to this. So much more unique magic and world building that allows the story to go so many directions from here.

Cons

In some ways I wish books two and three were connected into a single story, maybe even book one as well because this feels like a stronger story arc.

[Chris Fracisco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet mystery romp

Love how Ruby is embracing her magic more and still falling into capers to be solved. This us a lighthearted fun series and I do hope things work themselves out between her and Lance. Look to another Broomstick Bay visit.

[Sandra Tonkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great addition to the series.

The characters are wonderful and quirky. The plot is twisty. The world building is fantastic. I will have to wait for the next book it's not out yet 11/25/23.

[Dschaper54 · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun loving

Interesting take on where witches got their magic. This series is just plain fun and the heroine is quirky and is always getting into trouble.