Witch cozy mysteryPracticing witch, Pepper Jasper, thinks she’s had more shocks than anyone should have in one lifetime, yet more sinister secrets lie in wait for her. And when one of the guests is murdered, Pepper discovers a Shifter is closer than she thought. Can Pepper remain hidden from those who wish her harm? In the cozy Australian town of Lighthouse Bay, the weather heats up, but will the … the weather heats up, but will the romance?
Lucas O’Callaghan is hiding something, and Pepper is determined to find out what it is.
As trouble brews, Pepper races to shift through the clues, and does her best to stay alive.
This is a fun and fang-free romantic cozy mystery with vampires, shifters, and witches. There is no bad language and the romance is clean and wholesome.
About the Author
Best selling Aussie author Morgana Best grew up leaving Tim Tams for the fairies at the bottom of her garden. Now she lives with a half-blind Chocolate Labrador who happily walks into doors, a rescue Dingo who steals zucchinis from the veggie patch, and a cat with no time for nonsense. A former college professor, Morgana enjoys big bowls of pasta, not working out, and visiting the local lighthouse, where she tries to spot the white Humpback whale.more
Pepper is still reeling from discovering that she is a vampire witch! Another murder occurs at her aunt’s B&B to solve. Pepper’s aunts are still hiding things from her and only tell her cryptic things for her to puzzle about. She is trying to help solve yet another murder. Lucas and she are moving along, albeit slowly. Plenty of laughs and mayhem occur once again to make this another fun fantastic cozy murder read!
Pepper is back trying to adjust to her new life while bringing the bed & breakfast into the 21st century. Unfortunately, there’s another murder for Pepper to investigate. There’s a lot of suspects as the victim was not a popular person.
I really enjoy this series. I like the quirky characters and seeing Pepper learn more about who she is. I’m looking forward to the 3rd in this series.
Trying to attract customers to the b&b is difficult for Pepper and her aunts to do so. another murder at the manor? So many possible suspects, secrets revealed, new friends made makes this a page turner. proof that family does not have to be blood related nor do they need to be conformists. Love the aunts.
A Mystery that will Leave You Wanting More!
Morgana Best really knows how to tell a story, how to grab her readers and keep them engaged. This book is filled with loads of suspense, wonderful humor, and relationships to root for. And don’t think the suspect is easy to identify, because it will most definitely be a surprise.
My issue with this book presents itself in detail discrepancies.
1. Linda states that Pepper’s aunts know that Lucas is a Cleaner. This entails that the aunts also know Lucas is a vampire. All this leads to Pepper’s disbelief that her aunts lied to her, kept such an important secret from her. A secret she now has to keep. Yet later, when all is said and done, both Linda and Pepper worry about revealing this information to the aunts because who knows how they will react to the news. The aunts eventually have to be told, though, so Pepper decides to call a meeting where she is surprised to learn that her aunts already know and are not at all worried. Furthermore, Pepper never questions the aunts when they lecture her about trying to date Lucas even though the reasoning has to do with Lucas being human, which all involved know he is not. The only thing Pepper worries about is being used because she thinks Lucas believes she is human.
2. Linda comments that the aunts know she is a werewolf. One of them even eyes her angrily all the time. Just as with the first issue, it later comes up that the aunts don’t know Linda is a werewolf. But of course the news proves to already be known when revealed to the aunts.
3. Linda says that werewolves and vampires get along quite well these days. Later, Pepper repeats this as they don’t get along, and the aunts say they do these days.
4. The cat hisses at Linda, runs away, then returns after a time. Later, the aunts comment during the discussion about werewolves how the cat seems to like Linda a lot.
There are also some big time jumps that could be separated with scene breaks to prevent throwing readers around from one place to the next. It is super weird to suddenly go from walking to the car just outside the manor to parking the car in town, or from buying a coffee in a cafe and then handing the coffee off to a friend sitting under a tree, or from closing one’s eyes at the end of a sentence and waking up at the start of the next sentence.
I have the boxsets for all the books now, so I will be reviewing individually on Goodreads and BookBub. An overall review and rating will appear in the sets once done. Notes will also be the set versions on Goodreads.
Read August 25, 2020
This is a wonderful follow-up to the first book in the series. Pepper investigates the murder of one of the guests at the B&B. She’s also learning more about herself and her aunts. But, she also realizes that they are still hiding a lot of information. Lucas is thawing towards her somewhat. I am excited to see what happens in the next book of this series.
amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths, witches, shifters, murder, law-enforcement, bed-and-breakfast, suspense, Australia
There’s been another murder at Mugwort Manor and Pepper is in investigative mode once again! The aunts are still keeping secrets from her about being a vampire, there’s still lots to be done to make the cottages more acceptable, and now this! The publisher’s blurb gives hints and there is no need for spoilers, just enjoy the unraveling of the mystery! And if you learn more about rural New South Wales, good for you!