Dollycas's Thoughts
It's all about Poe at Charming Books. To draw visitors to the bookstore during the Food and Wine Festival, the Red Inkers decide to do readings by the famous writer of mystery and the macabre. But one of the Inkers will be missing her reading. Violet finds her body at the foot of the stairs and her death was no accident. Using the bookstore's charms with assists from her cat, Emerson and the shop's mascot crow, Faulkner, Violet finds herself searching for the killer.
We return to Cascade Springs and Charming Books in this 2nd installment of the Magical Bookstore Mysteries, where the perfect book finds you and you find Violet Waverly, her grandma, Daisy, and a tuxedo cat named Emerson and what I picture to be a huge crow named Faulkner. Amanda Flower has created some wonderful characters here. Yes, I am including this unusual bookstore in my list as characters because it truly has a life all it's own. Still I would classify this mystery as paranormal light. There are no ghosts or witches but the setting itself is magical along with maybe a familiar or two. From the tree growing inside it to the books on the shelves it is a very interesting place. Violet is still trying to understand what is means to be the caretaker of the store with her grandmother by her side.
The author has also crafted a entertaining mystery set in this magical place. One with many turns led by clues found in the shop but that take some critical thinking on Violet's part to decipher. Emerson uses his special talents to help her make a crucial discovery. I liked that she was sharing her findings with the handsome police chief even though that upsets her old boyfriend, the mayor. Romantic tension is always good.
Ms. Flower has given readers a very imaginative story with some enchanting and colorful characters. I really hope this series is allowed to continue because there is so much more here for the author to build on. I am excited to visit Cascade Springs again.
It's all about Poe at Charming Books. To draw visitors to the bookstore during the Food and Wine Festival, the Red Inkers decide to do readings by the famous writer of mystery and the macabre. But one of the Inkers will be missing her reading. Violet finds her body at the foot of the stairs and her death was no accident. Using the bookstore's charms with assists from her cat, Emerson and the shop's mascot crow, Faulkner, Violet finds herself searching for the killer.
We return to Cascade Springs and Charming Books in this 2nd installment of the Magical Bookstore Mysteries, where the perfect book finds you and you find Violet Waverly, her grandma, Daisy, and a tuxedo cat named Emerson and what I picture to be a huge crow named Faulkner. Amanda Flower has created some wonderful characters here. Yes, I am including this unusual bookstore in my list as characters because it truly has a life all it's own. Still I would classify this mystery as paranormal light. There are no ghosts or witches but the setting itself is magical along with maybe a familiar or two. From the tree growing inside it to the books on the shelves it is a very interesting place. Violet is still trying to understand what is means to be the caretaker of the store with her grandmother by her side.
The author has also crafted a entertaining mystery set in this magical place. One with many turns led by clues found in the shop but that take some critical thinking on Violet's part to decipher. Emerson uses his special talents to help her make a crucial discovery. I liked that she was sharing her findings with the handsome police chief even though that upsets her old boyfriend, the mayor. Romantic tension is always good.
Ms. Flower has given readers a very imaginative story with some enchanting and colorful characters. I really hope this series is allowed to continue because there is so much more here for the author to build on. I am excited to visit Cascade Springs again.
Bonnie A. (ladycholla) -
This is a great addition to this series. I had a lot of fun reading it and trying to figure out who the murderer was. I didn't figure out who it was and that adds to the enjoyment. Even if I had figured it out the reasoning would have been very difficult to figure out. I hope soon the Violet decided which male to get closer to. Really don't want it to drag out forever.
Good book, great story.
Good book, great story.
Prose and Cons by Amanda Flowers is the second book in A Magical Bookshop Mystery series. Violet Waverly is the new Caretaker and co-owner of Charming Books in Cascade Springs, New York. Violet's grandmother, Daisy is her partner and is teaching her how to be the Caretaker. Violet and Grandma Daisy are getting ready for the Cascade Springs Food and Wine Festival. They will be doing a Poe-try (reading the works of Edgar Allen Poe) with the speakers (the Red Inkers) in costume. On the day of the reading, things are going well. Violet goes searching for the next speaker, Anastasia Faber. Anastasia had asked to change in Violet's apartment. Violet is not a fan of the fellow Red Inker (writing group that meets at Charming Books one night a week). Violet enters the kitchen and prepares to go up the backstairs but Anastasia is blocking the way. Anastasia is on the floor at the bottom of the narrow stairs (they used to be the servant's stairs) and her body is at a weird (meaning very bad) angle. Violet quickly gets Police Chief David Rainwater (to whom Violet is attracted to). Anastasia was not well-liked in the village (that's an understatement), because she was very rude and condescending. Unfortunately, Sadie had an incident with Anastasia the previous night which escalates her to the top of the suspect list. Violet will not let her friend get railroaded for a crime that she did not commit. Plus, Violet needs to clear the name of Charming Books (Anastasia did fall down their stairs). Violet sets out to find out more about Anastasia (she was very private). It turns out that Anastasia was hiding a big secret. She was also digging up dirt on the Red Inker members. The clues that Violet is receiving from the books are cryptic. Violet's sleuthing skills are put to the test in Prose and Cons!
Prose and Cons was a delightful and magical novel! I enjoyed every minute of it (and you know I rarely say this). I like the engaging (colorful and quirky) characters (including the pets), the beautiful setting, and the unique bookshop. Prose and Cons is the second books in A Magical Bookshop Mystery series, but it can be read alone. Amanda Flower gives the reader all the information needed to enjoy the book (but I highly recommend reading Crime and Poetry). The novel is easy to read, well-written and has a good pace. The mystery is complex and utilizes an atypical method of killing. I give Prose and Cons 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it). Prose and Cons will make you laugh and smile. I believe the killers identity will catch many readers by surprise. I especially liked the magical aspects of the book (the flying books). I certainly hope there will be many more books in A Magical Bookshop Mystery series.
Prose and Cons was a delightful and magical novel! I enjoyed every minute of it (and you know I rarely say this). I like the engaging (colorful and quirky) characters (including the pets), the beautiful setting, and the unique bookshop. Prose and Cons is the second books in A Magical Bookshop Mystery series, but it can be read alone. Amanda Flower gives the reader all the information needed to enjoy the book (but I highly recommend reading Crime and Poetry). The novel is easy to read, well-written and has a good pace. The mystery is complex and utilizes an atypical method of killing. I give Prose and Cons 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it). Prose and Cons will make you laugh and smile. I believe the killers identity will catch many readers by surprise. I especially liked the magical aspects of the book (the flying books). I certainly hope there will be many more books in A Magical Bookshop Mystery series.
