Everything about this book was great except the end. The characters, Cassie, Gavin, Sanjay, they had a unique nature, they were aptly written about and described. Cassie gave both the good and bad witchy vibe, still trying to learn her magic like a teenager and living a freelance life as a replica painter of famous works. She goes to attend the funeral of her witchy aunt, who is famous for her strong magic and powerful nature, finds herself as a owner of the Perfect Brew, a cursed building. Being a free personality, she wants to settle the bill by selling the property, but in the process, her lawyer dies, and she is left to figure whether it was the curse of the building or a deliberate murder.

Everything was nice and good, until the end, when loose ends don't really connect and one is left unsatisfied. Another thing I disliked about this was the sexualisation of women for them to be loved. Gavin doesn't describe Cassie's nature while falling in love, rather her curves.

My comments on this book are honest and exactly what I felt. Thanks to the publishers who sent me the book

This is the first in a cozy mystery series--I'm not sure how long the series is intended to be. It does read somewhat as a standalone, but it leaves a lot of major questions hanging, which is frustrating. I liked the story, I liked the characters a lot, and I liked the writing. Cassie is a great character. Everybody expects her to be goody-goody, but she's got a lot more going on and is refreshingly snarky for a girl who appears to be the proverbial girl next door. The love interest characters are definitely interesting, particularly Sanjay, and I really liked Cassie's familiar, Sid (short for Obsidian).

A murder happens shortly after Cassie arrives in town, and she decides to track down the killer, but though that was the storyline that wrapped up in this book, it felt like it was just a subplot. The real plot was Cassie discovering her aunt's history, that she was murdered, more about magic, and the Perfect Brew--a sentient coffee shop, which, by the way, is a very cool place. I love it.

For me, though I enjoyed the book, I feel like it wasn't robust enough. That it really needs to be read with the other books in the series to get a better sense of the meatier part of the story, which I really want to know more about. I do plan to get the other books, because I really do like the book. It wasn't a cliff-hanger ending, by any means, but it just felt like the end of the opening scene of a play, and that there's a lot left unanswered and undeveloped.

The Perfect Brew is a fantastic cozy mystery. This was the first book I have read by this author and it won't be the last. The mystery was great with fun, quirky characters.

An interesting story, and one that kept my interest throughout, so I would recommend this book. Did not care for the unanswered questions at the end though, for example, never told who or what killed her aunt, or what exactly the curse was that kept being mentioned. Not sure about a relationship with either man. Did not see a lot of sparks either way. Enjoyed her relationship with her cat, and liked the fishy smelling witch. Overall, a good start to a series, but expect more in the future will explain a lot of loose ends.

I'm a little torn on this book. I did enjoy it but it left me feeling unfulfilled if that makes sense. So many unanswered questions, so many unresolved issues...We still have no idea who killed Cassie's aunt and who is after Cassie. Why does the author think that a love triangle is necessary? Would a supposedly very special witch like Cassie really struggle to chose between a clueless human and her handsome partner and protector warlock?
The cat, Sid- would've liked to know a bit more of how she became part demon other than a sentence. Hopefully those answers and issues will be resolved in the next book because this one reads a bit more like a prequel.

Princess Fuzzypants here: There is no surprise. I loved Sid, the cat and familiar of Cassie who has inherited her great-aunt’s coffee shop and all her worldly goods. She also inherits her other worldly goods including a warlock business partner, a portal to another dimension and a curse. It’s a good thing she is a witch, although she continually tells everyone she is a pretty pathetic witch. Part of her problem may be she is not quite sure if she is a good witch or a bad one.
She’s a highly successful art forger but dismisses her crimes because it’s only rich people or insurance companies who end up paying. This is bit one example of her rather elastic morality. That, and her klutziness in magic, are traits that might make her loveable or annoying depending on where this series is going. The jury is out so far. She’s definitely got some serious quirkiness as do some of the other characters.
In this first book she has two murders to solve. One is her aunt’s and the other is the lawyer who handled the estate. Is there a connection between the two? While the one killer is revealed, the other remains a mystery so it is going to be interesting to see if the two are related at all.
Certainly the choices in her personal life will be fodder for future books but the best parts of the book involve Sid.
Snarky and cranky and very feline, she is the star of the story. For her I will give it four purrs and one paw up.

A big thank you to NetGalley and JRT Publishing for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I know this is a first in a series, but I'm not sure if it's a spin off of not. I liked the book, but I felt like I was starting in the middle. No real information about the main characters or there past. Sort of an odd mystery. Cassie comes across as a.ditz! She solved the murder by accident and really obstructed the real police. I rate this a 3. I loved the familiar Sid!

The Perfect Brew
(Perfect Brew)
by Jo-Ann Carson

ebook, 162 pages
Published September 16th 2019 by JRT Publications




Goodreads synopsis:
An unexpected inheritance turns Cassie Black’s world upside-down, and she finds herself the owner of a sentient coffee-house that comes with an inter-dimensional portal and a side of ancient curse. When Cassie is summoned to attend the funeral of her great-aunt, Ophelia, she finds the picturesque village on the edge of the ocean is not at all what it seems. Her benefactor’s death is suspicious, and to make matters worse, after Ophelia’s lawyer explains her will to Cassie, he drops dead in a plate of cookie crumbs. That makes two unexplained deaths, which is two too many for a good witch to swallow.

Up to her neck in mysteries, and weighed down with a curse, Cassie canvases the town to find the murderer. Of course, there are many unusual suspects, a tall, dark and annoying human detective keeps getting in her way, and a seductive warlock offers his assistance.

Will Cassie catch the villain before he kills again? Will she be able to free herself from the curse? Will Sid, her beloved cat familiar with a naughty mind, convince her to play dirty with the boys?


***

4.5 Stars

This is the first book in the Perfect Brew paranormal cozy mystery series by Jo-Ann Carson.

Okay, this was just a fun read. It is quirky and sometimes you roll your eyes at the over-the-top-ness of it all but you can’t deny that you get hooked by all the weird and wonderfulness of it.

Cassie Black thinks she is going to blow into town and get the inheritance from a relative she never knew and go back to Amsterdam but things don’t always work out like she planed in this story.

The lawyer falls over dead while he is explaining the details of the will, Cassie runs into the classic car of the town police officer not once but twice and a wayward warlock has forced Cassie into a blood oath she is not sure she is ready for. This book is filled with so much I wonder what they have left for book two in the series.

I didn’t quite understand the entire dynamic behind the sentient brew house but I am sure more will be revealed in other books. This was fun and I look forward to chillin’ with my favorite coffee drink with Cassie and her friends.

If you are looking for a serious mystery, go look to another book. You need to take this for what it is, a fun cozy romp that takes your mind off your troubles and makes you chuckle while you follow along with the drama.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

The perfect brew by Jo-Ann Carson.
New author for me , so I wasn’t sure about this first book , but the synopsis had me intrigued.
Understanding the characters ,what they are and what they do kept me reading on.
A lot going on plenty of twist .
As this book is the first of a trilogy,I will see where it leads in the next book..
Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher for advance copy for a honest review.

I thought this was an interesting book. It's premise is a little different than the usual. I liked the characters although they might have had a little more depth to them. I liked the cat, of course. I'm disappointed that all the issues/answers aren't given, so I guess we have to wait for the next book to come out. ThePerfectBrew #NetGalley

I've really enjoyed this authors previous work and was looking forward to this new series about Cassie a Witch who inherits a coffee shop in a very quirky town. This is basically the foundation of the world the author is introducing her readers to with murder, mystery and what to me felt like the oddest romance.. Cassie is attracted to law hunk Gavin and also pernickety Warlock Sanjay which clearly muddies the romantic waters. There are some explanations here but for this reader it just lacked something and I didn't really believe in the way the various characters behaved. Still it is just setting up the series so hopefully these characters will become more realistic in the next book because it looks like Cassie has a job to do !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

When Cassie learns of her aunts death, she doesn't plan on staying long, attend the funeral, find out about the inheritance and return home.
When Cassie learns she is the only one to inherit anything, things change for Cassie.
This is a new author for me, and I did enjoy this book.

This book, The Perfect Brew is a first in.a trilogy and a stand-alone read. Being that it is not in its final version, I did not focus on any of that since I am certain that will be corrected.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline. It was fun seeing Klutzy Cassie do her thing, definitely entertaining. I would have liked to have found who really killed Ophelia, but I guess that will be answered in one of the next books.. Can’t wait though to see the relationship develop between Cassie and Gavin and/or Sanjay.

This book definitely left you with lots of questions and wanting more so that I believe is a good thing.

I was provided this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion. I give this book 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DNF @ 25%. Just not for me. The cop is discussing the case and suspects with a suspect herself? I'm a quarter in and I know nothing about any of the characters, except that Cassie is a lazy nitwit. No,desire to find out what happens so I'm quitting now.