A mother desperate to save her twin sons, a war veteran in torment, a beautiful young psychic with a terrible secret, a powerful magician with a shattered soul, and a Queen steeped in history and glory. These extraordinary beings cross paths and set off a remarkable chain of events in Spells and Oregano: Book II in The Secret Spice Cafe Trilogy. Overcome by despair after a trauma when she was … by despair after a trauma when she was sixteen, Sarita Taylor has spent the past ten years isolated and lonely aboard her beloved RMS Queen Mary. Fearful of outsiders, she dedicates her time to managing The Secret Spice Café, now an award-winning restaurant. Until Luca Miceli, a man with a dark past, steps on board.
Patricia V. Davis deftly spins past and present, mystery and magic, into a potent story of passionate longing and family tragedy all at once. Spells and Oregano is a compelling tale of atonement, devotion, and undying love, set aboard one of the world’s most magnificent, haunted ships.
Don’t miss Cooking for Ghosts: Book I in The Secret Spice Cafe Trilogy.
The Secret Spice Trilogy is an Official Pulpwood Queens Book Club Selection
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Get ready to be amazed! You will not be able to put this book down. This story had me mesmerized; hanging onto every word and melting into the pages like ice on a summer day. It was an excellent second book of this series!
The story continues 10 years later. RMS Queen Mary carry’s on having her “ghostly guests.” Sarita is now managing “The Secret Spice Café,” and feeling lonely and withdrawn from life. When the mystifying Luca arrives on the ship, Sarita gets into deep water to say the least.
Patricia V. Davis has certainly done it again. She writes a compelling story; adding wonderful new character’s while giving the book a splendid plot that will keep you entertained. I know she will write another intriguing story in book three of “The Secret Spice Café.” Don’t blink, or you will miss an incredible story!
~This book was given to me through a giveaway by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.~
Book two of Patricia V. Davis’ Secret Spice Café trilogy, Spells & Oregano dishes up a delightful mélange of mystery, magic, and romance, and tops it off with a sprinkling of benevolent spirits who communicate with the living. As in Cooking for Ghosts, the first book of the trilogy, Spells & Oregano takes place on the docked Queen Mary, bringing together many of the same characters, while adeptly introducing new personalities into the fold, including twin magicians with special talents, and a murdered mother still looking after her sons. Special kudos to Davis for her sympathetic depiction of the plight of veterans with PTSD. Although part of a series, Spells & Oregano can be enjoyed as a stand-alone read. I loved this story.
Absolutely loved this delicious second book that takes place 10 years after the first book! WOW! I thought I loved the first and this book had me hooked even more! The ladies have moved on and went their separate ways just the way of life sadly. In this fantastic follow up You’ll get to see where they are but also I loved the new characters and this fantastic story! I read this in a sitting and can’t wait to read the next book! I hope this series never ends!
Spells and Oregano is a fascinating novel of a different color, combining unlikely ingredients of the romantic Queen Mary, intriguing magic, the spirit world, love and longing, and stirring up a deliciously good read. Somewhere in Time comes to mind. I love how Spells & Oregano builds on Cooking for Ghosts, but stands on it’s own, as a well crafted, captivating novel.
I received this book, for my sincere and honest opinion. While I don’t usually chose a book, with ghosts, spirits and magic spells, I found the second book of the Secret Spice Club, very entertaining. Although I hadn’t read the first book of the series, this was really a stand alone novel, that didn’t leave me feeling I’d missed the boat, literally.
Patricia Davis weaves a fascinating tale of a psychic with secrets, a magician that is struggling with life, a mother’s quest to save her twins. Book a cruise on the RMS Queen Mary and dine in Sarita Taylor’s top drawer eatery as the author weaves a tale of mystery, tragedy, hopes and dreams. It has me determined to go back and read Cooking For Ghosts. I found this a cruise worth taking, and I found a couple of good recipes besides.
Take some ghosts, add romance and good food, throw in some mystery, toss in a sorcerer, and stir well! This is the recipe for Patricia V. Davis’ SPELLS & OREGANO, the second book in The Secret Spice Café series.
While a couple of our favorite characters from COOKING FOR GHOSTS (the first book in the series) have decided to move on to new adventures, Angela, Cristiano, Rohini, and Sarita are still living among the spirits that roam the Queen Mary. They are joined by a young mother who is trying desperately to save her twin sons and an amazing magician who was shattered by a performance gone horrifically wrong. And then there is the tormented soul aboard who presents a grave danger to someone at the café.
The Secret Spice Café is now managed by the lovely Sarita, who was deeply traumatized when she was only sixteen and has seldom left the ship since then. Much too serious for her young age, Angela thinks Sarita acts “like any activity which didn’t involve books was like getting a root canal.” But her life changes when the tormented Luca comes aboard. Will they save each other, or destroy each other?
Amidst all this drama though is humor. There is a wonderfully hilarious “cat fight” in Chapter 8 between two spirits. You will be in tears from laughter. There is also the creepy – “spiders as bag as rodents”. Eek!
This is a beautifully written story of family, friends, passion, tragedy, and undying love.
Looking for a good read? A Calgon-Take-Me-Away mental vacation? Pick up a copy of Spells & Oregano by Patricia V. Davis and travel along a bumpy adventure with interesting and unusual characters. Davis does an excellent job of narrating this fantastical story. I look forward to Book Three in The Secret Spice Café series.