"Two Wicked Desserts" By Lynn Cahoon: Review/Giveaway

Review by Kathleen Costa

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and links to purchase it.

Magic Springs!

Mia Malone was the head caterer for a popular restaurant in Boise, Idaho, but due to unexpected circumstances she’s relocated to Magic Springs, bought an old school property, and renovated it as Mia’s Morsels, a catering and pre-prepared meal destination and cooking school. She hides her real identity as a kitchen witch from the non-magical residents striving to do no harm by “making potions and food magic that makes people happy and healthy.” Like her Grans, there are others in town who are very conscience about hiding their abilities, too, including Trent Majors, Mia’s new boyfriend, who is reluctant to embrace his magical abilities, and Levi Miller, who unlike his brother, often takes advantage of his. The exception to the “keeping it secret” rule is her ex-boyfriend’s sister Christina Adams who is her roommate, employee, budding chef, and currently dating Levi. But, despite everyone’s best efforts, accidents or murders still happen.

Kitchen Witch Mystery series

Chili Cauldron Curse prequel (2020) KRL News Review HERE

One Poison Pie (2020) KRL News Review HERE

Murder 101 novella (2021)

Two Wicked Desserts (2021)


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Image Source Kensington
Two Wicked Desserts
Earns 5/5 Grimoires…Engaging and Clever

The building in which Mia has her apartment and Mia’s Morsels was an old school built in the 1940s, and has quite the complex issues with a ghost and a secret entrance. The original builders, members of the local coven, may have made some magical additions Mia hopes to uncover. Her Grans is sharing much about doing magic including how “grimoires,” books of spells and incantations, are passed on through the generations, and Mia hopes to learn more about those who built the school, find their descendants, and seek through their grimoires the means to permanently make the school safe and secure. However, Grans is reluctant to share with Mia more information about her own heritage other than “we are Bishops.”

The prepared meals are popular, and the cooking classes are starting to show some great interest. Mia even discovers one of her young culinary students may be an heir to the grimoire of one of the original builders providing her some needed background into the school. However, she gets a phone call from a catering client responding to the rumor Mia is going to leave town and close her business. Furious, she leaves a message for the one she believes is behind it…John Louis. He has already tried to hurt her and would do anything to get the property, so she explains again that she won’t be intimidated into selling the old school building. But, the dead body in the backyard might change everything, and the arrival of Cindy, daughter of Grans’ late beau and warlock Dorian Alexander, raises more disturbing issues.

Good “Goddess”! Lynn Cahoon has added some delicious witch and magic lore to the second book in her Kitchen Witch series along with a nice cozy murder mystery. The mystery starts out as a true mystery since Mia doesn’t know the victim or why he ended up in her backyard, but the victim’s profession as a hitman casts serious concerns for everyone’s safety. The details unfold deliberately, adding some twists, surprise connections, and a bit of peril making this a favorite. The magical elements are clever and fascinating (grimoires, rule of three), and not at all juvenile hocus-pocus. Sure, there are odd familiars, a possessed cat, and relationship angst, but I enjoyed the mature manner Mia uses to approach the various problems, the dynamic between her and Grans, the healthy relationship with Trent, and her mentoring Christina. This is a well-rounded book with a great mystery, magical components, rich characters, and plenty of talk about food! Love it!

What’s in a kitchen? Well, there’s, of course, a witch, but recipes, too! In this second book, it’s cheesecake, and despite Lynn’s limited early experience with cheesecakes, she has found they are not that complicated. Included are two easy-to-follow recipes: Pumpkin Cheesecake and Dark Chocolate Christmas Cheese cake, Enjoy! 

Be a Big Lynn Cahoon Fan!

First, a big shout out to this fellow “spud,” Lynn Cahoon! Along with this new Kitchen Witch Mystery series, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Lynn Cahoon pens another series set in Idaho: Farm-to-Fork Mystery series. She takes readers to South Cove, California, in her Tourist Trap Mystery series and in the Cat Latimer series to the small town of Aspen Hills, Colorado. All of her series have engaging mysteries and a delightful set of characters and meet any reading preference since the books are available in print, eBook, and as audiobooks. 

Facebook—Lynn Cahoon Author

Website—Lynn Cahoon Be sure to sign up for her newsletter.

To enter to win a copy of Two Wicked Desserts, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "wicked,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen August 14, 2021. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. If entering via comment please include your email address. BE AWARE THAT DUE TO THE CURRENT CRISIS THERE MAY BE A DELAY IN SHIPPING THE WINNING BOOK. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! A new episode went up last week.

You can use this link to purchase the book. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:

Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is a 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying her retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband.
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.

Comments

  1. Sounds interesting! Count me in!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds interesting. Haven't read
    much with witches as the stars.
    thanks txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Can't wait to read the newest book in this series.
    3labsmom(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Would love to get a copy! tWarner419(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've read others by this author but not this series. I'll have to check it out and the recipes sound great. Dark chocolate cheesecake- sign me up!

    kozo8989@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great series. Looking forward to reading the latest book.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

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