This is an interesting cozy mystery with a magical twist. I had never heard of the Mermaid of Warsaw before and the myth surrounding it. It was interesting to see how Addison wove a good murder plot around the mythology, including people descended from the mermaid. The characters were good but I did have a little trouble liking Alex.

While magic is a bit out of my preferred reading style, I did find this mystery informative and interesting. I liked that the magical people of Bellamy Bay were reluctant to use their powers and when they did, generally it was either for the welfare of others or for protection. I liked the sort of back and forth about whether the mythology and the magic associated with it was real. There was also a battle of good and evil in this magical world as there are bad guys descended from a dragon. Which magic will win?

This is the second in a series but I felt it read well on its own. It is a fun cozy mystery for readers who like a little magic and mythology with their murder.

I received a complimentary egally of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Alex is back again in Bellamy Bay with another mystery to solve. This time, the victim is an artist brought in to do a mural for the upcoming Mermaid Festival. She is found dead after finishing the mural. Jack is not at all happy about Alex trying to solve the mystery. However Alex is not about to stop when her friend Celeste is the presumed killer. Enlisting the help of her friends and family, Alex puts herself in danger to try to free Celeste from accusation.
Opinion
This is yet another winner from Esme Addison. Addison has crafted an awesome mystery. Ms. Addison has such a flair for creating new and fun characters. The story was epic. It is the perfect summer read, intriguing and stimulating without being gory.
Perhaps my favorite part was the addition of local (to NC) foods. Being a NC resident, I enjoyed the mention of some of my favorites you can't get anywhere else. I will have to say that the Carolina hot dog style is also good on a hamburger and if you are at the right Wendy's, you can get it off the menu.
I find myself fortunate that I read the first book as it came out and was able to get an ARC of this second book. I know that I have a favorite series with Alex and Esme Addison.
Many thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

4.5 Stars

This is the second book in the Enchanted Bay Mystery series by Esme Addison.

This story really sucks you in fast. Alex has her challengers all throughout the story with the men in her life. And it is hard to know who to trust with her heart. I felt bad for the gal since she is just trying to help out and her current boyfriend takes her help the wrong way. I am sensing book three might see a relationship change.

She has an interesting job at Botanica where she mixes tea blends and the mermaid festival is in town so they all are a bit more on the busy side than they normally are. The town’s mermaid history is about to be exposed and the paranormals of the town are a bit up in arms. Then a woman who painted a mermaid mural gets murdered and the story just gets more complex from there.

Definitely loving all the paranormal elements in this. It really keeps your interest. Plus it is fun to read and flows just like all those mermaids. There is a cool reveal near the end that you don’t want to miss. I am sure book three will bring up a more complex paranormal threat that I am really looking forward to. Definitely a must read book for sure!

If you love a cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. Great series too!

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. Opinions are completely my own.

If you enjoy a supernatural cozy mystery, then this book and series will be for you. Aleksandra Daniels has recently returned to Bellamy Bay, North Carolina and found out a secret, she is a water witch. The town is full of people that have descended from creatures of fairytales and myths such as mermaids and dragons. In this story, they are planning the annual Mermaid Festival and Alex is helping her friend Celeste. The committee has hired renowned artist Neve Ryland to paint a mermaid mural at the local park. She seems to be drawn to Alex as well as Celeste's boyfriend Jasper, director of Bellamy Bay's history museum. When Neve is found dead in his office, Celeste is suspected of a crime of passion. As Alex and her relatives begin to investigate, they find out things about Neve that scare them just a bit. Will they find the real killer and can they prove who killed Neve?

I enjoyed the first book in this series and wanted to give this one a try. I found this book had a lot more of the supernatural in it than the first. We learn a lot more about water witches and who descended from mermaids, as well as those who may have some dragon in them. Detective Jack Frazier, Alex's "friend" is a bit more open in his investigating but he never would have solved the mystery without her interference. There were a few suspects and as Alex gets closer, someone is trying to stop her. She does not give up and her tenacious personality puts her in danger a couple of times. I enjoyed getting to know the characters more, and seeing Alex become a part of the community. There is a lot more magic in this one with some more secrets revealed as this story comes to a satisfactory ending.

Do you believe in mermaids? Some of the people of Belamy Bay believe. How about ladies with the ability to control water? No, they don’t have tails but the do run a wonderfully aromatic herbal apothecary. At least my imagination believes it would be wonderfully aromatic. Which is going to be overwhelmed with tourists during the annual Mermaid Festival. This is the second Enchanted Bay Mystery but it won’t be the last because these are too good to not go on and on. Alex is still getting used to her new surroundings, her new powers, her new boyfriend Jack the handsome yet doubting detective, and her old playmate Dylan the enigmatic and attractive corporate exec. Certainly some sketchy people and why is the artist Neve soooo into mermaids and what is she not saying? Corporate types and government contracts plus a side of jealously and a little Creole cursing make this story fraught with intrigue and danger for Alex but that doesn’t stop her from using all her skills. One thing to know about Alex is that she is fiercely loyal and unfortunately it seems that her family and friends keep getting at the top of the suspect list, which does not help her fledgling relationship with the Detective who is 100% by the book. I find myself sympathizing with her and wishing that he would just give her a little credit and take her inquiries seriously for both their sakes. It isn’t a contest of who can solve it faster. I am feeling inspired to find a good meat and mushroom pierogi recipe to try this weekend.

I really enjoy this series! The theme is fantastic, and the author does a great job of fleshing out the characters and the setting. The story was well-paced, and I had so much fun trying to solve the mystery.

This is the second book in the An Enchanted Bay Mystery series but it is the first book I have read in the series.

I love cozy mysteries and this book was no exception. I thought that the added flair of Alex discovering different supernaturals brought a fun side to this book.

Looking forward to reading book #3 in this series.

Aleksandra Daniels works in her apothecary essences business with her family and dabbles in murder investigations on the side. Esme Addison gives us A Hex for Danger as she tries to find who killed the latest victim since she is convinced it is not the suspect, a friend of hers. Cozy with paranormal hints.

Book 2 in the series. This one just was not for me. I picked it up multiple times and just kept reading the same bits over again, since I truly found it forgettable. I did not finish.

This is the second book in this series and it is even better then the first. This series has great characters and is set in a wonderful location. I cannot wait for the next book.

I wanted to like this mystery - I really did. I was looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately, it never took off for me and even though I stuck it out until the end I didn't like it. I am a big fan of magic in books, including books that take place in "the real world" with magical figures but this one was just so ridiculous. I feel like the author took elements from previous books about wizards and other mythical creatures and cobbled together what she liked. Mind magic from mermaids even though they have a council that supposedly manages magic? Bad! Harry Dresden would not approve. Weirdo dragon hybrids who cannot return to dragon form but still breathe smoke? I read this in a different and much better written series, before. Even the use of "Mundanes" is nearly a big rip off of Muggles.

Hard pass. Disappointed. It was just sooooooooooo cheesy and I couldn't get past that.

Finished. Grammatical errors and misspellings just don't work in a completed work. A whole lot of characters to keep track of, a whole lot of styles of magic to keep track of - this all made for a less than good read.

This is the 2nd book in the enchanting new series " Enchanted Bay Mystery Series" by cozy author Esme Addison. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

We return to beautiful coastal North Carolina and the town of Bellamy Bay to rejoin our favorite protagnist water witch Aleksandra Daniels. Alek and her family are ancestral witches of a long standing Mermaid heritage . Alek is new to her powers and to the family she never knew growing up. She has moved to Bellamy Bay to be with her Aunts and Cousins and help fun the family business A herbal apothecary named Botanica. Alek is helping her friend set up for the Mermaid festival which is a traditional festival that brings business to their small town. When a dispute occurs with a local artist her friend is suspect number one when the artist is murdered. Alek investigates to clear her friend and calls upon her magical family to help her solve the crime.

This is a cozy series that is so well written and so fun to read I read it from cover to cover. i love the charcters, the paranormal aspect and the magic that is so well woven to the charcters. Each charcter is a delight and adds to the series. The sleuth is always captivating to conclusion and left this avid cozy reader quite surprised at the suspect !. A very well done series that I highly recommend to all that love reading magical cozy mysteries.

I can't understand the book because of the format and I will be listening to the audio soon that I also got from netgalley. I will be also getting a hard copy of this book soon

Having missed Esme Addison's début novel in her Enchanted Bay Mystery mystery series I grabbed the chance to read this, A Hex for Danger the second instalment anyway, happy to dive in as I love a good cozy mystery.

I got to meet water witch Aleksandra "Alex" Daniels for the first time. Protagonist Alex had been living in New York City but moved back to Bellamy Bay, coastal North Carolina when her father died. She is now helping to run the family business a herbal apothecary called Botanika as well as taking a sabbatical from the pace of her normal life. All well and good methinks, as Alex helps her friend Celeste with the annual Mermaid Festival. Celeste's boyfriend, Jasper is the director of Bellamy Bay's history museum and in the course of the festival preparations, Alex meets and gets to know Neve Ryland, an artist who is decorating the local park. Then Neve is found dead...

With many murder suspects, this was an excellent, absorbing and layered mystery. A story of magic, mermaids and mythology, Alex, her Aunt Lidia and her cousins, Minka and Kamila, a police officer, were all great characters and excellent in their respective roles. I enjoyed my time trying to solve the crime alongside Alex right up until the tension-filled finale. I aim to catch up on events in book one, A Spell for Trouble.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

A Hex for Danger is the second book in The Enchanted Bay series by Esme Addison.

The premise of this story is different than other mermaid stories I’ve read and it was intriguing. I really liked the location the story is set in. Mentions of places like RTP are fun since I am very familiar with them. Alex’s family are very likable. The family business is interesting. I was surprised be the ending in a good way.

My issue was with Alex. She is difficult to like. She has a boyfriend she supposedly cares for but lies to and ignores him. She doesn’t always use her magic in ethical ways, though she acknowledges it after the fact.

I will read the next book to see if Alex has learned from the things that happened.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

This is the second installment of Esme Addison’s Enchanted Bay Series. If her first book was good, her second book is even better! Alex Daniels continues to learn more about her family (descended from mermaids) and her abilities.
It is time for the annual Mermaid Festival in Bellamy Bay, North Carolina. A renowned artist, Neve Ryland, has been commissioned to paint a mural commemorating mermaids. Neve reveals to Alex certain troubling information during the course of an event. Before Alex has time to ask Neve more questions, Neve is murdered. Unfortunately, the most likely suspect is Celeste, who is Alex’s friend.
Esme has added another magical creature in this book. She is developing this world with care and flair.
Books with love triangles are not my favorite, but for Esme’s writing I am willing to keep going with this series. I can’t wait for her next book!
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the free Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 2nd installment in the Enchanted Bay Mystery series. This is a paranormal cozy set in the town of Bellamy Bay North Carolina is filled with magicals and mundanes (non-magical). The town is getting ready to celebrate their annual Mermaid Festival and Alex Daniels along with her cousins Minka, and friend Celeste are all working on the committee for the festival. Alex is intrigued by the artist Neve Ryland who is in town to paint a mural for the festival. Neve works closely with Jasper who runs the historical museum is also Celeste boyfriends and Celeste is extremely jealous of her. Neve wants to talk to Alex at the night of the first festival party and unfortunately before they get a chance to talk Neve is found dead and Celeste as the jealous girlfriend is the prime suspect. Alex has been dating Detective Jack but he is laser focused on Celeste even though Alex continues to give his many other possible suspects much to his dismay. Dylan Wesley who Alex is drawn too is also in the wings with friends potentially connected to the crime. This was a good mystery and it was hard to figure out who the culprit was. I love how Alex is so loyal to her family and how they all stick together including police officer Kamila who does not want to practice magic. Looking forward to what happens next to Alex and others in Bellamy Bay.

"Sunny-yet-Sinister " is a perfect description for this series.
I read along as I listened to the audiobook, compliments of Netgalley. Thank you.
And I purchased the previous book in the series on my own.
I loved the narration by Emily Durrante. She did an excellent voice making each character sound appropriate and distinguished.

Aleksandra Daniels is still getting used to her heritage and the special powers her family enjoys.
This story takes place around tourist season and an annual Mermaid Festival. Sounds like fun, right?
Well, it is for those who don't believe mermaids were ever real, and those who don't realize the implications of having mermaid ancestry themselves. What about dragons? Pure fiction, right?

Also not fun for a visiting artist who paints murals at events. This turns out to be her FINAL event.
Alek's good friend Celeste is seen exhibiting strange behaviors and is arrested for the artist's murder.
She even wonders if her actions could have contributed to the woman's death.

Under the fanciful setting and wonderful characters, comes the sinister.
There are references to adult topics and defense industry and industrial espionage.
Yet I enjoyed the relationships between the characters and how Alek is growing.
The additional twists at the end fascinated me.
A very good series with much potential.

Alex, amateur sleuth, witch, and mermaid descendant, is back. She's enjoying working in her family's store, learning more about her magical heritage, and preparing for the town's annual mermaid festival. But she has to put a few things aside after a murder occurs, and a good friend is arrested for the crime. Is she guilty? Alex will have to do everything she can to get to the bottom of the mystery, and save her friend. Even if her policemen boyfriend does insist she stay out of things.

I'm enjoying this series very much. I like Alex, her aunt and cousins, and all the townspeople who call Bellamy Bay home. My only negative thought is the possibility of a love triangle - which is not my favorite.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.