A Spell for Trouble: An Enchanted Bay Mystery
By Esme Addison
Crooked Lane
2020

Review by Cynthia Chow

After the death of her Police Chief father and losing out on a promotion, Alex Daniels needed to retreat back to her mother’s hometown of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina. It had been nearly twenty years since Alex had last seen her Aunt Lidia and cousins Minka and Kamila, and she had forgotten the beauty of their beautiful and relaxing garden home. A former risk management consultant, it takes a bit of adjustment for Alex to fit into the women’s Botanika herbal apothecary store that offers soaps, beauty products, and alternative medicine treatments. Even more alarming is Lidia’s angry outburst against customer Randy Bennett, rejecting his pleas for help and nearly throwing him up against a wall. When Randy is later found dead in his home, it doesn’t take long for suspicion to fall upon Lidia, especially when the cause of death is a reaction to deadly nightshade and a Botanika tea bag left by his side. Although Lidia is eventually released on house arrest with a restrictive ankle monitor, Alex refuses to leave the investigation to the police; even though it is being led by the admittedly attractive Jack Frazier.

As Alex looks into who would have wanted Randy Bennett dead – and the philandering multimillionaire real estate magnate left suspects aplenty – the secrets she discovers about her own life are far more surprising. For reasons unknown, Alex’s mother hid from her their heritage as water witches, descended from mermaids and gifted with the power over water. Living among the Mundanes not only caused Alex to forget her talents, it prevented her from learning spells and how to control her abilities to read minds. She’s quickly brought up to speed by her aunt and cousin Minka, while Kamila abstains and choosing instead to pursue a life as a police officer. Also leading Alex into the world of witchcraft is Dylan Wesley, scion of a powerful family and someone to whom she is both drawn and distrusts. Alex quickly finds herself sorting out the warring witch families, decades of resentment, and an entire magical legacy, all while attempting to track down a murderer and where she fits into this new community.

This debut series introduces a very intriguing and complicated new heroine. Alex is not without her flaws, blustering into scenarios and often ungracefully demanding answers and making accusations. Her career as a risk management consultant has given her a pessimistic view of the world, distrusting first and only slowly allowing others into her life. The shocking secrets she discovered about her life definitely have her unsettled, but thankfully her supportive cousins always have her back and empathize with her confusion. Alex’s use of her new skills are not always wielded deftly, especially when it comes to dealing with the mind and consent. She learns from her mistakes though, and readers are always on her side as she struggles through her challenges and makes her way towards solutions to the growing mysteries in her life. In a world of mermaid witches and spellcraft, the final resolution is handled realistically with not every puzzle resolved or wound healed. It will be fascinating to see where Alex’s new life takes her next, and where she fits in as she is embraced by her charming family and a fascinating new world.

This was a fun paranormal mystery woven around a delightful family of witches. It is centered around Alexandra Daniels who returns to her hometown of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina after being passed over for a promotion at work in New York. Her mother had died when she was young and she recently lost her father. Alexandra comes to visit with her Aunt Lidia and her cousins, Minka and Kamila (her father had never wanted her to accept an invitation to visit them and had made her promise not to go there). Alexandra ends up helping out at her Aunt's herbal apothecary and begins to feel she is part of the family. Then, her aunt is accused of murder. Alexandra extends her stay and begins to investigate because she knows that her aunt is not a murderer. She also finds out that her family has some special talents that have always been hidden from her.

I found the book to be charming and loved the characters. I enjoyed my time spent with the book and look forward to another in the series.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was very excited to read this book unfortunately I never was able to connect with the storyline or the characters, I am bummed because I really loved the idea of the book, but I just couldn’t get into it. Based on other reviews I may come back and give it a second chance, but for right now this was is a no for me.
I want to thank Netgalley for an e-ARC copy of this book that I voluntarily reviewed.

Such a good start to a new series! Love the characters and location! Can't wait for the next book to see where this series is going to go.

A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison is the 1st book in An Enchanted Bay Mystery series, and it's off to a great start. Alexandra Daniels is returning to the seaside town of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina for the first time in twenty years. After Alex's mother died, her father forbid her to visit her mother's relatives there. Alex decides to accepts an invitation to visit her relatives and help with their herbal apothecary business and she agrees. When a local man dies after Alex's aunt sold him the tea, she is arrested for the murder, Alex is determined to find the real killer. I really enjoyed this fun paranormal mystery book, and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book, perfect for a quiet escape.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Whoa! Hold onto your seats because this is one heck of a ride. Alex arrives in Bellamy Bay, North Carolina to visit the aunt and cousins she hasn’t seen in close to 20 years. As Alex gets to know her family she is in for some surprises as to their abilities and family history.
Then Randy Bennett is murdered and Alex’s aunt is the prime suspect. Alex knows her aunt didn’t do it so she investigates. She frequently gets in new detective Jack Frazier’s way.
This is well plotted and intense. It’s a really good mystery with little additional mysteries adding to the plot.
In a few parts I was a little put off by Alex’s obsessive behavior in pursuing what she thought was the right path. She eventually put the pieces together and nearly loses her own life in order to keep another person alive. I recognize that a fine balance must be maintained to keep a main character moving along the investigative path and the main character becoming annoying because of a one track mind. The balance was fairly well maintained but that niggle of irritation has me giving the book 4 out of 5 stars.

"A Spell For Trouble" is the first book in the new series " Enchanted Bay Mystery Series". This is a delightful read with all the perfect elements that made for a great cozy mystery read ! I loved this book and look forward to the next in series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

We are introduced to Alexandra Daniels and the quaint town of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina. Bellamy has deeply hidden secrets beneath its charming surface. Immediately I was intrigued by the author's descriptions of this seaside town. Alexandra has not visited in over twenty years. She has relatives here and wants to visit them even though her father has mysteriously forbidden her to have anything to do with them. Her relatives have invited her and offered her to come help them in the business: an herbal apothecary that sells homemade teas, salves, and folk remedies. Alexandra is anxious to know them and look forward to a change since her Mother has passed away.

Soon Alex discovers that her own family is at the center of nasty town gossip, and that they are rumored to be magical healers descended from mermaids. She feels this is pure nonsense. When a local person is poisoned and clues lead police to her aunt, Alex wants to jump in to investigate to save her aunt. She soon finds clues abound that the rumors may be true. She finds more hidden secrets and dissension within the family.

I love the mysterious clues that the author gave. The sleuth was very well crafted and full of surprises. The charcters are richly drawn and all add to the setting. The writing is smartly fast paced and reading this was a pleasure in one sitting to conclusion. Very well done to the author. I look forward to the next in series. , A Charming exciting cozy mystery read. Delightful !

This book is what would have been if Harry Potter would have been an adult when he found out he was magical and instead of being from a wizarding family he's from a mermaid family... And then you throw him in a cozy mystery. Not an awful book but I doubt I'll be reading any others in the series.

4.5 stars

This is the first book in the Enchanted Bay mystery series by Esme Addison.

The premise: A young woman comes back to her mother's hometown only to discover she has a magical heritage. When she assists her cousins and aunt with their herbal remedy shop, a man her aunt has a public argument with us found murdered.

This is kind of like a coming of age story. The main character, Alex is learning to not only trust herself but learn to trust others too. She has so many things to learn here. There is more than one love interest available here. The son of the family who is at odds with her family's interests is magical, plus the bond is there between them that crackles to life whenever she is around him. Then there is the mundane, the non magical option. Jack is a cop and her lineage is known for their love connections with non magical folk.

There is a whole lot going on just on the surface of the mystery and Alex's introduction to town and how things are done. Then add in all the magical elements and This book is so chock full you will never find yourself uninterested.

The mystery is spot on. The push and pull between the love interest is captivating and the magic is a super special thing to behold. I am all in and ready for the next book in the series.

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

I really enjoyed this one! The setting was perfect and detailed, and the mystery was clever. Super fun read.

Searching for respite from a traumatic year, Alex returns to her aunts and cousins hometown. Having not visited since her childhood, she finds that her fondness for her aunt and her home has not lessened. Alex could not have predicted the unexpected family secrets she would uncover. Following the trail of a community members murder in order to free her aunt from house arrest and false accusations, Alex discovers that sometimes taking risks helps one discover their true home.

Written in a style similar to Ellery Adams, A Spell for Trouble is a great story to get lost in. The characters become friends and it is impossible not to wonder what they are up to when the reader must put the book down. This reader hopes to meet Alex again in future books!

A SPELL FOR TROUBLE is the first in a new cozy mystery series. Aleksandra Daniels returns Bellamy Bay, North Carolina after 20 years. She helps her aunt and cousin in their herbal apothecary known for its remarkably potent teas, salves, and folk remedies. But trouble soon comes calling.

I love a good cozy mystery, especially when it includes witches and a great animal sidekick. It was a good read and had me guessing until the end about who was behind all the trouble.

On the down side, Alex kept jumping from suspect to suspect and back again with such speed that I thought that there was a glitch in the download.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next in the series!

I was in the mood for cozy mystery's and choose one by it cover, so i went blindly in this one.. and I'm very glad i did 😊
This was a really fun cozy mystery with everything you need in it and a little paranormal. Definitely recommended to everyone who loves good cozy mystery's 😉
Thank you NetGalley, publisher and author for this lovely copy.

A really fun cozy mystery. I enjoyed the plot, the characters and the setting. Add a little paranormal and it's an overall enjoyable read!

Why didn't my Aunt Lidia and cousins Minka and Kamila just tell me? Why didn't my father tell me? Why did I have to find out from Dylan Wesley? Find out what, you ask? Find out that I am a witch descended from a mermaid. Wow! Now what? I left my risk management job in Manhattan and traveled to Bellamy Bay, NC to visit family I hadn't seen since my mother died a number of years ago and I get hit with this unbelievable news. So while trying to figure out what I am going to do with the rest of my life I am helping out in my aunt's herbal apothecary shop, Botanika. Sure, I witnessed Aunt Lidia's confrontation with Randy Bennett. Sure he consumed the tea made from the tea leaves Aunt Lidia gave him but she didn't give him the nightshade berries found in his stomach during the autopsy and that is what was determined to have killed him. I don't believe Aunt Lidia killed him. Her magic is all for good. I believe she is being framed and I am going to prove it. After all that hunk of a detective, Jack Frazier, who I had, past tense had, a date with after meeting at the coffee shop, believes he has arrested the killer and really isn't doing much further investigating. I will prove Jack Frazier wrong. Aunt Lidia is innocent!

I met this gorgeous woman at the coffee shop. I'm new to Bellamy Bay, moved here from Manhattan and left the New York City Police Department. Moved to be closer to family. Don't know why I was instantly attracted to Aleksandra Daniels, but I was. Too bad I had to arrest her aunt for murder and our dinner date for Saturday night is off. She keeps trying to convince me her aunt is innocent and to look at these other possible suspects. She insists she is going to do the job I am not doing and find the real killer. This not good. Not good at all. And, oh yes,, this is no way to start a relationship in case you readers were wondering. I wonder if Aleksandra has a sign or something that says, "Detective Jack Frazier is an idiot." Sigh.

A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addington is a super beginning to her Enchanted Bay series. Ms. Addington does a great job with this murder mystery. Aleksandra Daniels has lots of suspects to investigate and she sure gets into lots of trouble in the process. She and Jack are interesting characters. All the secondary characters help round out the story. The storyline is solid and I enjoyed following along with Aleksandra's investigation. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

This is going to be a did not finish for me. I gave it to 40% and Ii just wasn't excited about the characters or the story. Perhaps I'm just not the reader for this cozy mystery.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

Since I did not read the entire book I will not publish a review on social platforms

Alex Daniels has quit a dead-end job she didn’t love and moved to a small town in NC, Bellamy Bay, where she’d been happy as a child. Her aunt and two cousins welcome her into their home with open arms. She begins helping out at her aunt’s herbal apothecary, Botanika. When a man with whom her aunt has issues is found dead the day after she kicks him out of her store, Alex is compelled to clear her aunt’s name. However, the evidence is strong against her aunt. As Alex investigates, she learns more and more about her own family and is surprised to learn that witchcraft was an important component of her ancestors’ lives.

This book is reminiscent of Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic. There are enough twists and turns to the storyline that you’ll quickly forget the similarities with Practical Magic and focus on the author’s writing, her story, and her likable characters. Like other cozy mysteries, the main character is instrumental in solving the case.

If you like your mysteries cozy, your main character a bit flawed, but plucky, and your mystery slightly convoluted, then this is the book for you. When you finish this book, you’ll be looking forward to the second book in this series.

My thanks to Crooked Press and NetGalley for an eARC.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review, "A Spell for Trouble" by Esme Addison. To say I enjoyed this mystery novel is a complete understatement! Such a cozy and exciting read! After the loss of her father and losing her job, Aleksandra Daniels makes her way to Bellamy Bay, North Carolina. Even though Aleksandra has not seen her family or been in the area in a very long time, she is eager to reconnect with her loved ones. While helping out at Botanikal, the herbal apothecary her aunt and cousins own, a recent customer is found murdered and her aunt Lidia is suspect #1! Alex goes on a journey to clear her aunt's name and finds out a lot more about her own family history. This book was a breathe of fresh air in these crazy times. Even though Jack seems like the safe and obvious choice for Alex, I am team Dylan all the way! Who doesn't love a bad boy? Plus, Alex and Dylan clearly have an undeniable connection. I can not wait for book 2!

If you like witchy mysteries, this book is for you. Mermaids, water witches, soap with spells cast on them, romance oh my! This was a really fun cozy mystery with family secrets and rivalries that had me wishing for more.

A Spell for Trouble was a great beginning to a new cozy mystery series. I love cozy mysteries that are magical so this book was perfect for me. I really liked the main character, Alex. I felt bad for her a little bit because of how a special part of her was kept hidden from her for so long, but she adapted well and was a very likeable character. I also love her aunt and cousins. I'll admit though that I was bummed about how things ended with her and Dylan. I hope things get better between them in future books. I'm also not much of a fan of her being with Jack. It's kind of a cozy mystery cliche that the amateur sleuth dates the cop/police detective. I think it'd be much more interesting for Alex and Dylan to get together. I did find the big reveal shocking. That whole scenario was never on my radar. So not only was it clever, but it was a nice surprise and one I never expected. I'll definitely read more books in this series. I'm really looking forward to seeing Alex grow into her magic powers and seeing what else happens in Bellamy Bay.

Note: I voluntarily read a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review. All opinions are mine.