A little sweet tea and a whole lot of spells won’t always put out the fire… dust and cobwebs.
With the help of her family, friends, and vampire boyfriend, Rue helps to keep those items out of human hands at whatever the cost. But when someone dies on her property, maybe the price is too high!
Will her fiery personality and powers be able to solve the mystery before anyone else gets hurt or will Ruby Mae’s efforts to solve the murder go up in smoke?
Find out in Flea Market Magic: Book 1 of Southern Relics Cozy Mysteries!
more
This book delivers a magical mystery that keeps you guessing until the end.
The main character, Ruby Mae, is a witch that buys and sells antiques for a family business. We meet a lot of Ruby’s family, some of whom are ghosts. We get some backstory on her and find out that her mother left when she was younger, which probably made her even closer with her family. She is always looking out for them and will stop at nothing to save them.
Although Ruby is slightly misguided at times and has a bit of a temper, she is a likable character, and we definitely root for her. When Ruby’s Uncle Jo becomes the chief suspect in a murder that took place on Ruby’s family’s property, Ruby knows she has to clear his name. The problem is trying to figure out a way to prove it without getting her or someone she loves hurt.
Ruby’s growth as a character was fun to see, and her tenacity is admirable. We get to experience some of Ruby’s magic throughout the book, but I would be interested to see if her true potential gets explored further in future books. I have a feeling she is a very powerful witch. The storyline itself is interesting with the magical mystery and the murder, but the self-discovery Ruby goes through is what fascinated me most. I was invested in her development, and I would love to see where she goes next.
Overall, if you are looking for a book that has unresolved secrets mixed with humor and a touch of love, then Flea Market Magic could be a good choice for you.
If you’re a fan, as some of us are, or if you are a transplanted Southerner, as some of us are, this book is for you. It’s the story of Ruby Mae Jewell, one of the Jewell family, and her major run-in with a crystal ball. It all starts when Ruby Mae and her Uncle Jo take a truck load of stuff to sell off to the local flea market. Ruby knows that territory well, so when she spots the tent belonging to her friend Myrtle, she recognizes that something is very wrong with that picture. Myrtle is an older lady, and outside her tent is a young greasy-looking man who seems to be selling tickets and not letting anyone inside to see Myrtle until they have paid him for the privilege. Turns out, Myrtle is telling fortunes in her tent now, and she’s using a crystal ball to do it. The young man is her grandson, and Ruby thinks he’s overcharging, especially when he won’t let Myrtle’s friends in without paying. The story blossoms from there. I loved it, and I think you will too.
“A bargain is a bargain once a deal is struck”
Ruby Mae Jewell, the youngest member of the Jewell family: a family of witches and ghosts who more often than not got them in trouble. They may deal in magical items but they can’t always control the outcome, or ignore the responses of people who know and those who don’t.
This time, the consequences could be dire when the grandson of a family friend is found dead in the Jewells’ barn, and Ruby’s Uncle Jo is seen as a prime suspect by both the magical and non-magical communities. The leader of the magicals strikes a bargain that could affect everyone. Will it help or hurt? Will they find the real culprit? And then what?
I enjoyed the story tremendously and highly recommend it . 5/5
FLEA MARKET MAGIC by Bella Falls is the first book in the Southern Relics Cozy Mysteries series. It is set in Jewell, North Carolina and features Ruby Mae (Rue) Jewell as the protagonist. She helps her father and uncle run the family’s antiques and refurbished goods business. However, old objects may not be what they seem. Sometimes there is real magic associated with them. With witches, vampires and ghosts; this novel gets off to a decent start.
While the internal and external conflicts were well defined, Rue was an annoying main character. She was reckless with not only her safety, but that of others and I did not feel that she grew significantly in depth. She acted immaturely for her age. However, the family dynamics are interesting and the basis for a great series is there. There are several plot twists and turns. The southern dialect was forced and not truly realistic. Themes include family, small towns, magic, murder, southern living and much more.
Overall, this is an enjoyable, but light read. I want to read the next book in the series; hoping that the characters and story line are refined. There are plenty of themes and directions that the next novel could pursue.
A good storyline with intriguing characters although the frequent use of “southern dialect” was jarring. I have lived in North Carolina most of my life and people do not talk this way unless joking.
Bella Falls does it again! She created a fabulous new cozy witch world for her readers – complete with a quirky cast of characters, and twists and turns you won’t see coming.