After moving to the magical world of Pinecroft Cove, will Tamsyn’s life ever be normal again?
Tamsyn Bassett is having a bad week. Like, the losing your job and getting dumped by your boyfriend kind of bad. So when her great aunt invites her to spend the summer at her inn on a remote island in Maine, Tamsyn jumps at the chance. But instead of the peaceful getaway she expected, she’s immediately … instead of the peaceful getaway she expected, she’s immediately confronted with the preposterous revelation that she’s descended from a long line of kitchen witches and is the last hope of her generation to keep magic alive in Pinecroft Cove. That she’s the world’s worst cook could be an issue.
As if navigating a strange new world of spells, magic, and exploding blueberry pies isn’t enough to handle, that awkward boy who had a crush on her when they were kids seems to turn up everywhere she looks. Only now that he’s a super dreamy doctor, it’s Tamsyn’s turn to be the awkward one. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear someone put a hex on her.
One more thing. Tamsyn’s pretty sure she’s being haunted, and not by just any ghost but by Doctor Dreamy’s dead uncle. If she can’t harness her powers in time to figure out the truth behind his mysterious death, she may never have a moment of peace again.
When death strikes the island’s controversial real estate mogul, will Tamsyn’s newly discovered powers be any match for murder?
Don’t miss the new Witches of Pinecroft Cove series of paranormal cozy mysteries!
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I loved it from the start!
I immediately loved the writing style, I felt myself being pulled in and being excited for what’s to come. It does start very samey as some other cozies I’ve read recently. Woman down on her luck goes back to hometown, where her greataunt has a place for her to stay just when she needs it the most. She doesn’t know she’s a witch and has a mother who disappeared (yes, several recent books also had that trope!). Granted, the other books I read were with an inheritance, so the family member had passed away, but this starting point isn’t new. But that’s okay, as long as it’s original from here on. And it was! I really liked Tamsyn, the protagonist. She comes across a mysterious black cat and I love cats, I think any story is better with a cat, especially one who is mysterious and headstrong. He knows what he wants! And no, Tamsyn isn’t a witch, she knows she’s not! It’s all just hocus pocus talk, LOL. There’s no convincing her! But as the book continues, things happen that definitely point to her being a witch after all! Which of course we, as readers, knew all along. And would someone please teach me that cleaning spell? A very pleasant book, and I can definitely recommend it if you like witchy cozies!
SPIRITS, PIES, & ALIBIS is the first book in The Witches of Pinecroft Cove series. Of course, this one needs to be read first as it introduces the world and island to the reader. It is yet to be seen if the future books will need to be read in the order of release.
Tamsyn isn’t the usual early 20s, known about witches all of her life, new witch. Though at times, she acts more like a teenager than the near 30 years she is. Still, she’s pragmatic and doubtful of the magic powers she’s being told she holds. She’s told she’s a kitchen witch, but she claims she could “burn water.”
I like that she may be something different from her aunt, and that her mother may have been, also. We may never know about that since her mother disappeared fifteen years ago.
The story is quick and light, but well thought out and interesting. It’s unpredictable and fun. Plus, there are ghosts and witches, a combination sure to capture my imagination and attention.
Narration: Stephanie Murphy is one of the best narrators I have heard. She doesn’t just read the words, but makes you believe she is Tamsyn Bassett discovering the world of witches, learning to bake a magical pie, and encountering spirits. Please, may I have another book with her as the narrator?
Note: While I received this book as a gifted audiobook copy via freeaudiopromocodes(dot)com, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
Title: SPIRITS, PIES, & ALIBIS
Series: The Witches of Pinecroft Cove #1
Category /Genre: Cozy Mystery, Witches
Recommended for: 14+ due to vocabulary & murder
Listenability: OK for most ears
Really enjoyed Tamsons story , getting to know her and her family of witch’s , she goes home after losing her job and boyfriend , to not only be thrust into a murder investigation but also to be told she is a witch and needs to learn her trait. Great Characters , look forward to reading more from this author
This is a fun book. I enjoyed that Tamsyn doesn’t just accept what she is being told. She has to learn things about herself for herself. The other characters are interesting and have great chemistry with Tamsyn. The mystery is entertaining with its twists and turns along the journey to the big reveal. The narrator has a nice voice and seems to be a natural storyteller. I look forward to the next in the series.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way, I have been influenced by anyone.
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and any opinions expressed herein are my own.
This is the first book in The Witches of Pinecroft Cove series. It starts in a similar vein to a lot of cozies in that the MC loses her job, her boyfriend, and her home which then allows her to, in essence, return back home. In this case, the MC Tamsyn moves in with her great aunt to help with the bed & breakfast and while living there, learns that her family and Tamsyn herself are all witches. Besides being a witch, there’s also fun paranormal elements to this story. Tamsyn is a very likeable character – adorable even. I especially liked her conversations with her great aunt – which often brought a chuckle. I really liked that the awkward boy who had a childhood crush on her was now a very handsome doctor and that there was no insta-love between the characters. The mystery was interesting and entertaining.
The narrator, Stephanie Murphy, made you almost feel as if a friend were telling you a story – her voice was warm and inviting with just the right amount of tongue in cheek whimsy.
This review is for the audio book.
I enjoyed this book. This is the first book by this author I have read or listened to but it won’t be the last, especially as I have already downloaded book two. I like the characters and the whole quirky magic scene, where the magic doesn’t always work.making the book funny. The mystery was good and even though I had guessed the reason with the twist in the tale I wasn’t quite right. The story also had the slightly embarrassing start of a romance. Making the story over all a good listen that while listening to the hours will just fly by, like magic.
Tamsyn have just lost her job, her boyfriend and her home receives a latter from an elderly aunt asking her to come and help out at her bed and breakfast. Which is just what Tamsyn needs a fresh start, despite it being the place her mother died so goes. Alone to find out her life hasn’t finished being turned upside, the truth is her aunt doesn’t really need help Tamsyn is the one that needs the help, help to learn magic because she is a witch. Getting over that fact or trying to come to turns with the strange things going on, Tamsyn agrees to meet her fellow witch’s at a party. Only for the hosts uncle to die on the way there in a plane crash. Was it suicide? Something wrong with the plane? An accident or was it murder? The police decide suicide and close the investigation. Tamsyn knows better the ghost and crow that seem to be following her tell her others wise and she sets out to solve the case on her own, with a little bit on help from a grumpy cat, a cute guy that had a crush on her when she was growing up and magic.
I liked the narrator, you could tell which character was speaking as they had there own voices, which is a plus when listening to an audio book.
This was a fun read. I loved that the main character isn’t insta-accepting of discovering witches are real. Way more believable that she thinks everyone is a lunatic. lol The longbottom effect was a bit strong, but no insta-love so that was great. I look forward to seeing that relationship develop in the next story. Over all the mystery was well laid out, and the foreshadowing was on point. The characters were all unique, and interesting to get to know. Will be checking out the next in series.
This book has the main character Tamsyn, getting fired, losing her boyfriend and her home with a week of receiving a letter from her Aunt Gwen. She hasn’t seen her Aunt in 15 years, since she moved away with her father after her mother’s death.
When she comes back, she meets her aunt’s friends. They make her uncomfortable especially after her aunt drops that they are witches. Her Aunt Gwen also tells her she has to go to a party she didn’t know she had to go to.
She runs into a person that made her life hard in her early years, then the death of a character, she runs into a guy that had a crush on her and he grew up.
Between solving the murder, ghosts popping up, being a witch, her old best friend that is a coven member, seeing her old crush. It is a non stop action in this book, this books walks you through Tamsyn not believing in being a witch to opening up to it.
I truly enjoyed the book, am looking forward to the next one. To see what mayhem will Tamsyn and friends will get into and see if a little bit of romance will enter her life.
I received an ARC copy of this book, this is my honest review