It only takes a second for life to go to heck-in-a-hand-basket! In less than twenty-four hours Pepper Dunn loses her job, her boyfriend, and her home. It’s the worst day of her life. But when Pepper discovers she’s a witch and has inherited the most important store in the magical town of Magnolia Cove, Alabama, she’s as happy as a pig in mud. Too bad the shop is a familiar pet store and Pepper … bad the shop is a familiar pet store and Pepper doesn’t like animals—not even a teensy bit. Determined to sell the shop and get the heck out of town, Pepper’s plans go haywire when a local storeowner winds up dead and Pepper gets accused of murder.
Thrust into a magical mystery, Pepper teams up with a mysterious private detective and a cat so traumatized by the murder that she’s not talking—and that cat could hold the key to Pepper’s innocence.
Now Pepper must avoid trouble, solve the mystery, and placate her new grandmother, who keeps a strict ten p.m. curfew that’s enforced by the talking end of her shotgun.
Sounds like a simple day in the life—as if. Can Pepper solve the mystery or will she become the next victim of the Magnolia Cove murderer? And most importantly, will Pepper learn to love the animals she’s in charge of?
Find out now!
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Not only do I adore the covers of this series, the books are fun and fast and charming! The magical town setting is delightful, and the characters are fabulous. Well done, Amy Boyles!
Received a free copy for a review. I found it entertaining and a fun read. Didn’t put it down until I had finished it. I will be reading more in this series.
Great story. This the first book by this arthor that I have read. Very good.
I loved this book and would highly recommend it for a fun and enjoyable read. It kept my interest on a young girl who lost her job (which she loved) and her boyfriend in the same day. Found out she was being hunted for powers she didn’t even know she had and was informed by a familiar that she had inherited a wonderful shop in a community that was unheard of prior to that day. Interesting and fun and I am looking forward to the continued story.
I can’t say enough good things about the Sweet Tea Witches Mystery series! I read the first 3 in a boxed set and was hooked! I’ve been bingeing on these stories. Since I love all the characters I was pleased to see how many stories there are to come. Can’t wait!
Magnolia Cove… crazy paranormal fun!
I read this book and think some parts of it are good.I like the people. The town is cute. Some things are so far out there they are not believable at all. There isn’t very much depth. I am southern and felt this was a little over the top. I was a little put off by some of the stuff said. I felt a bit slapped at how southerns where portrayed. It seemed to be dumber down writing.The love interest didn’t vibe right with me. To soon, no dept. I think a younger reader would love it. It is a fast read. Just not a lot there. I am going to read the next one and hope it gets better.
This is an excellent first book of a series because it allows the reader to connect with the main character, Pepper, with her life before magic as well as understand the backstory of her heritage without being too overwhelming. Sometimes stories can get a little convoluted trying to explain everything in the first book, and that can turn readers off. This book gave just enough and left me wanting more.
I enjoyed this book because the characters were likable and believable. I thought Pepper’s character was funny without being too over the top. She’s also smart and a little bit of a hot mess at times, but that is what made her relatable. I also enjoyed getting to know the supporting cast, such as her grandma and cousins. There was also a little love interest involved with “Mr. Sexy” that engages the reader on a different level besides the murder mystery. Each character had room to grow, and I think that will payoff in future books.
The narrative itself is fun to read – magic, animals, murder, humor, love, secrets, and drama. I don’t think anything was missing. I would point out that this is a book that could be read by young adults as well as adults, as the writing doesn’t have any harsh language or gratuitous scenes. That is a side-note, but I think it is worth mentioning because sometimes it is hard to find a book that suits multiple ages and genres.
Overall, I believe this book has a lot to offer to a wide variety of people. If you like mystery, the “will they/won’t they” love story, wit, and intrigue this could be a good series for you. I am definitely interested in finding out more.
So creative and such a fun read!
Pepper is low on rent as her checked bounced thanks to her boyfriend. Loses her job as a coworker sets her up and then loses her apartment. What is a girl to do?
She follows a cat to Magnolia Cove, Alabama. She has learned she is a witch and has family here. She has inherited a pet store that her great uncle use to own. She hates animals as she is allergic.
A local man wants to buy her shop and when is found dead they look at Pepper to be the killer.
Pepper is being chased by a man named Rufus that Axel saves her from. He is a local PI and helps Pepper with the new case. They find a cat that won’t talk as it is traumatized by the killing of its owner. There are some laugh out loud moments and I love the southern charm this book has.The characters are great especially Peppers grandmother, Betty. The book sucked me in after the first chapter.
This book was such a fun read! I absolutely loved it! The characters are so creative and their interactions are so funny!
Southern Magic is a funny mystical mystery loaded with bad luck to no luck events which entwin with dramatic suspense. If this doesn’t charm your attention nothing will.
I have been reading this series.All these books are interesting and I can’t get enough.
In a few short hours, Pepper Dunn loses her job, her boyfriend, her home, and becomes involved in witchcraft and murder!
When Pepper discovers she’s a witch, she doesn’t believe it. Add to the fact that she has inherited the most important store in the magical town of Magnolia Cove, Alabama, from an Uncle she never knew existed, and she begins to question life in general.
Unfortunately, the shop is a familiar pet store. Pepper dislikes animals and is allergic, so the shop is a letdown from the beginning. All she wants is to sell the shop and get back to her life, what there is of it. Her plans go haywire when a store owner winds up dead, and Pepper is caught at the scene of the crime.
Pepper must avoid trouble, solve the mystery, and placate her new grandmother, who keeps a strict ten p.m. curfew that’s enforced by the talking end of her shotgun. Or she may become the next victim of the murderer.
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Series: Sweet Tea Witch Mystery – Book 1
Author: Amy Boyles
Genre: Witch/Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Ladybug Books LLC
Southern Magic is a fast-paced, entertaining book. The first in a new series it shows great promise for the future. Amy Boyles is a wonderful writer with a vivid imagination and a knack for the paranormal. This new series should prove to be as popular as her “Bless Your Witch” books.
Pepper is a witch, but until her world falls apart, she didn’t know it. She is skeptical and not interested in magic. After losing everything in a matter of hours, she questions her life and her sanity. She isn’t the type of person who likes people or animals, and she has little time for family. Even though she hadn’t known that she had a family until a crazy talking cat, Mattie, saved her from what appears to be an evil wizard.
Some characters in this book are pleasant and relatable, in particular, Pepper’s grandmother, Betty. She is exactly what someone pictures when they think of an odd, sometimes hilarious grandmother who plays by her own rules. Pepper, on the other hand, may not be well liked for good reasons. Her dislike of animals, her ungrateful behavior, her inability to see the truth, or that she has landed in the middle of a family that cares about her gets to be exasperating.
The town of Magnolia Cove is thought-provoking but not described in detail. Hopefully, future books will flesh out the characters as well as the town. There are some original ideas in this book, flying skillets instead of brooms is very fascinating and amusing, especially when Pepper rides a skillet for the first time.
Readers will quickly figure out who the guilty party is and a few of the other secrets that are not revealed in this book but most likely will be in future installments. Unfortunately, some of them are a bit too obvious from the beginning.
One of the most irksome aspects of the book is the use of colloquialisms such as the word “Y’all.” Although it is a word used in the South quite often in conversation, when reading, it becomes annoying and grating. I liked Southern Magic and many readers will. However, there are some rough edges in this book that should get smoothed out as the series progresses.