Book Review – Seashells, Spells, and Caramels by Erin Johnson @ninad_silva #BookReview #BookBlogger #cozy
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MY REVIEW
Omg omg omg!! This book…guys…this book changed my outlook toward cozy mysteries. One of the best in the genre. Author Erin Johnson was deliciously brilliant with her writing, and the words chosen simply made the prose come alive. Baker freak!! (my new coined word)
Down on her luck, Imogen Banks received an invitation to a baking competition at a far away French island, and off she went to have an adventure. She did quite alright with her baking and making friends, with a love interest or two, finding her magic and in the process catching a killer. All that made the book highly interesting.
I can’t cook or bake, but Masterchef Australia was one of my favorite shows. So the entire baking contest had the perfect feel of a competition with some foes and many friends. Lots of different species added to the feeling of mystery of getting to know them. The talking fire, Iggy, was the best, of them.
Imogen Banks was simply wonderful. There was intrigue in her past, and uncertainty in her present, but she had a sure-fire dream of her future. I loved how the author rounded her characterization and made her complete.
I rarely go in rapture about a cozy mystery. But this book deserved all the accolades as I never knew how time whizzed by. I was so involved in the mystery, completely sunk deep into Imogen’s magical world.
A special mention of the cakes and bread and tuilles. They seemed to be mouth-watering, and though not a foodie, I longed to eat them all. The power of author Erin Johnson’s words. Yumm 😋 I gained a few pounds reading the book. Yes… I blame Nina for not fitting into my jeans. 😂😂
Smooth writing, fast pace, baked goodies, magic and murder added mayhem to my weekend, all in a good way. A perfect cozy murder mystery. It had all the ingredients to make it simply delish!!
MY RATING
BOOK LINKS
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AMAZON USA: https://amzn.to/2I6qGiS
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AUDIBLE UK: https://amzn.to/2I4UHj7
BOOK BLURB
A magical French island. A dead contestant. An aspiring baker must clear her name before she gets burned.
Imogen Banks has dreamed her entire life of opening her own bakery in Seattle. But when she accidentally sets fire to her apartment and loses all her possessions, her dreams get toasted. Still coping with her loss, she receives a cryptic invitation she can’t possibly refuse: entry into a mysterious baking competition on a beautiful French island.
When Imogen realizes the island village is magical and the bake-off’s participants are witches and wizards, she’s not sure her fledgling powers will be enough to win the coveted contest.
In the midst of trying to cast her very first spell, a competitor drops dead and Imogen finds the psychic judges’ mystical fingers all pointing at her. Can Imogen unlock her own magic and stop the killer from coming back for seconds or will she jump straight from the frying pan and into the fire?
BOOK DETAILS
Publication Date: October 2017
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, and this is my journey down its pages, straight from the heart. STRICTLY HONEST and UNBIASED.
All my reviews can be found here.
Categories
ThnQ for this review x
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You are extremely sweet to encourage me. Thank you so much for your lovely comment.
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You’re welcome dear💋🤗❤️
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So glad you loved it.
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Thank you. I had been promising Nina to read this book since a couple of years and it happened today morning over breakfast. I am shocked at myself.
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And you found a new fave author that change your opinions on the genre!!!
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I am hoping there is another one budding here who becomes my favorite. I have to buck up and push her more. wink wink
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ah so true… i’m hearing good things
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Hahahahaha. I love it!!!!! I love that you loved it. Finally! You’ve gotten to this series. The cakes…. I know!!! Lol 🎉🍾😊❤️😁
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Hahaha Can you believe it? I did it, and this year of all years when the stress is at peak. I loved it. Finally!! So proud of my achievement.
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I am thrilled. FINALLY!!!!!!! Lol. It’s so sweet and addictive. Really quick, easy reading. Perfect escape… except for the craving for sweets it causes! Lol.
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This sounds like fun, I loves me a fun cozy now and then to clear the tension from those thrillers you have hooked me on 😉
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This is wonderful, you have to read it.
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Lovely review, Shalini! I know Nina loves these too and I definitely need to give this series a try!
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This was so good Jennifer. I loved it. My first cozy which I can genuinely gush
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I’ve always wanted to read more cozy mystery books. I’ve only ever read and loved James’ series and I read another book that I didn’t really care for.
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This is the one you have got to read
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I will add it to my TBR!!
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yes! i’ve always thought this looked like a good series–tried once or twice but couldn’t get. great enthusiastic review, Shalini!
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Did not get the book or not get into the story? Thank you so much it was a wonderful cozy
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Congrats, Shalini! Another great review, written with heartblood, one can read. But “Baker freak!!” Lol OMG, i am just into forgetting most of the regulary vocables i had learned. Michael
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Hahaha done days I love my new words. How are you doing?
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Great word inventing, indeed! I am OK, staying in another lockdown, but here – as small as the village is – you cant feel anything about. Here people having grumpy faces with or without lockdown. Lol
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Hahaha that’s bad. At least you can keep smiling always
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