Book Review & #Giveaway ~ Black Arts, Tarts & Gypsy Carts: A Cozy Witch Mystery (Spells & Caramels) by Erin Johnson

Black Arts, Tarts & Gypsy Carts: A Cozy Witch Mystery (Spells & Caramels) by Erin Johnson

 

Black Arts, Tarts & Gypsy Carts: A Cozy Witch Mystery (Spells & Caramels) 

Cozy Mystery 

2nd in Series 

Self Published 

Publish Date October 29, 2017 

Paperback: 300 pages 

ISBN-13: 978-1976537110 

E-Book - ASIN: B076GW21DK

About the Book:

With the Summer Sea Carnival visiting the enchanted island of Bijou Mer, Imogen jumps at the chance to help run the royal bakery booth. It’ll get her out of the palace and allow her to continue avoiding her feelings for a certain engaged prince. Imogen’s plans to lay low are shattered when the world-famous necromancer, Madame Zerna, is found dead, sawed in half on the dark magician’s table and Imogen’s friend Rhonda is caught red-handed. With incriminating evidence piling up against Rhonda, Zerna’s rival, Imogen promises to help clear her name by finding the real murderer. But between running the booth, encouraging Maple as she struggles to lead as head baker, and taking spell lessons from the friendly strong man, Imogen’s got her hands full. And it’s no easier getting information from the evasive dark magician or Madame Zerna’s secretive assistant. Even Rhonda’s hiding something. With the Night of the Dead fast approaching, and Rhonda headed for a maximum security witch prison, Imogen races to unearth the real killer in time to save her friend. But in a mysterious carnival where nothing’s as it seems, will Imogen have the magical powers to keep from being on the chopping block herself?

Black Arts, Tarts, & Gypsy Carts is a great second book in Erin Johnson's Spells & Caramels cozy mystery series. Imogen has taken her place in the royal bakery next to Maple, the royal baker. When Prince Harry suggests the team set up a baking tent at the upcoming carnival, Maple jumps at the chance. Imogen is also excited because between the end of book one and the beginning of this book, she's done everything she can to avoid Prince Harry, and this will help her in her quest of Prince avoidance. She even agrees to learn about her powers from one of the carnival attractions instead of Prince Harry. Avoiding Prince Harry is the least of her problems though.

When Madame Zerna, a bigwig necromancer comes to town to put on shows during the carnival, their resident seer, Rhonda starts acting strangely. Things escalate when Madame Zerna is found dead and Rhonda is implicated. Imogene struggles to find out exactly what happened in order to keep Rhonda out of prison because no one is talking including Madame Zerna's assistant or the dark arts magician or his assistant that Imogene and Maple saw Madame Zerna confronting previously.

Imogen is a fun, caring, and interesting character. She has embraced the magic she was born into even if she still doesn't truly know how to harness or use the magic. Maple is having a rough time fitting into the role of head baker and she has some pretty insubordinate assistants. Imogene is a wonderful friend to Maple as she desperately attempts to make her way. I love the dynamics between Imogene and Prince Harry. They are cute together. And Iggy is the best! He's mouthy but after the misunderstandings in the beginning of book 1, Iggy and Imogen have a great relationship.

I enjoyed the second book in this cozy mystery series and found the setting and characters to be interesting, and at times, exciting. There is more character development in this book than in the first one and I enjoyed getting to know everyone better. The world building is interesting and I found myself completely engaged in the story. There were some twists and turns in the quest to catch the killer. There are multiple threads woven through Black Arts, Tarts, and Gypsy Carts and I was surprised by a couple of them. The book was fast paced and easy to follow. I love the potential love story and hope we get to see it grow in the upcoming books.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

Meet the Author

A native of Tempe, Arizona, Erin spends her time crafting mysterious, magical, romance-filled stories that’ll hopefully make you laugh. In between, she’s traveling, napping with her dogs, eating with her friends and family, and teaching Pilates (to allow her to eat more).

Website: www.erinjohnsonwrites.com.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EJohnsonWrites.
Twitter: @EJohnsonWrites

Purchase Link - Amazon 

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