Book Review – Seashells, Spells, and Caramels by Erin Johnson @ninad_silva #BookReview #BookBlogger #cozy
This post contains affiliate links for products and services I recommend. If you make a purchase through those links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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
AMAZON USA: https://amzn.to/2I6qGiS
AMAZON UK: https://amzn.to/32ky8Of
AUDIBLE USA: https://amzn.to/36aIOjv
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
LikeLike
You are extremely sweet to encourage me. Thank you so much for your lovely comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome dear💋🤗❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you loved it.
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And you found a new fave author that change your opinions on the genre!!!
LikeLike
I am hoping there is another one budding here who becomes my favorite. I have to buck up and push her more. wink wink
LikeLiked by 1 person
ah so true… i’m hearing good things
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahahahaha. I love it!!!!! I love that you loved it. Finally! You’ve gotten to this series. The cakes…. I know!!! Lol 🎉🍾😊❤️😁
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
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 😉
LikeLike
This is wonderful, you have to read it.
LikeLike
Lovely review, Shalini! I know Nina loves these too and I definitely need to give this series a try!
LikeLike
This was so good Jennifer. I loved it. My first cozy which I can genuinely gush
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is the one you have got to read
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will add it to my TBR!!
LikeLike
OK. Now u have me convinced, adding to TBR.😁
LikeLike
yes! i’ve always thought this looked like a good series–tried once or twice but couldn’t get. great enthusiastic review, Shalini!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did not get the book or not get into the story? Thank you so much it was a wonderful cozy
LikeLike
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
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha done days I love my new words. How are you doing?
LikeLiked by 1 person
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
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha that’s bad. At least you can keep smiling always
LikeLiked by 1 person