This book was just ok. I didn't connect with the twins and I don't think they had a strong connection with each. The plot was good and kept me guessing about who did it.

Setting the Scene: Fraternal twins Sage and Tabby Winslow proverbial plates are full to overflowing between their shop, The Book and Candle Shop, and Sage's part-time gig at a local nursery, but things get even busier and crazier when Sage's boss at the nursery is murdered, Sage becomes a top suspect, and lots of different magic begins to show up quite unexpectedly.

What I Thought: This series and book have the elements to be both entertaining and interesting. Twins with a unique paranormal gift, a family owned book and candle shop, quirky characters like Auntie O, Quiq, and Gerard, all with their own potential for magic of some kind, provide great ingredients for a great read. However, and once again, while I still want to love this series and these characters, I struggled through the first half of the book. Sage is not likeable. She is overdramatic and incredibly self-centered. While likeable, Tabby is all over the place. They dance all around the magic, their own and the existence and type of any other. There are apparent contradictions in the story and pieces of dialog that make little sense. For instance, "I knew what to do because I had experience, but I preferred through Auntie O." Simply put, the story and characters just do not flow. Perhaps more research and better editing are needed. That said, the story took a turn for the better between the half and 2/3 mark. Some of that was due to the addition of a great character, Eve. Eve is no expert, but she is much more knowledgeable and in control of her magic, as well as recognizing magic in others. She brings a sense of order to the story that was woefully lacking. Tabby also stepped up and took some control, without alienating those around her. All in all, it was almost as if the latter part of the book was written or edited by a different person. The addition of Eve and the stabilization of relationships in the latter part of the book give me hope for this series, and I will read the next one in hopes that the improvements continue.

Twin sisters Tabby and Sage Winslow are busier than ever with the approaching holidays. Tabby is busy keeping the store stocked with specialty candles and soaps while Sage is vying for the assistant manager position at the plant nursery
she works at. When Sage's boss is found dead, the cause being poison, Sage becomes the police's number one suspect due to the argument they had. As the sisters work to clear Sage's name, it becomes evident that someone is using magic against them and their lawyer. The question is who.
#IntheWickofTime#NetGalley

Tabby’s twin sister, Sage, is working part time at a plant nursery when her boss ends up dead. It appears no one liked the guy, meaning everyone who knew him is a suspect. The police target Sage, which makes finding the real killer a priority. Meanwhile, the gifted twins have to fend off an energy vampire who threatens to dim their lights in more ways than one. It’s up to Tabby to muster her full power as an energetic to resist this threat and save her sister before they both get burned. Magic and mayhem mingle with murder in this lighthearted mystery set in Savannah during holiday season. Soaps, scents, and candles add to the flavor and will make you want to go shopping. “In the Wick of Time” is a magical murder mystery that will keep you guessing. A fun read!

In the Wick of Time is a decent cozy mystery. I was hoping for more of a Christmas feel and was a tad disappointed with the lack thereof. At times, this was hard to get through as it felt repetitive and slow.

I also had a hard time with the twins. Their interactions with each other, and their surroundings, didn't vibe or mesh well for me. I did enjoy the supernatural/magical part of the story, but even that at times was sluggish.

Overall, not a bad one, but not great either. I probably won't continue the series or go back and read book 1. Don't let that discourage you though if this sounds like a book you would enjoy.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Beautiful southern book and candle shop setting during the holidays, good character progression, a touch of magic, and of course a surprise mystery. I look forward to more in this series.

December in Savannah, Georgia, is a sight to behold. With all the festivities—including the traditional riverfront luminary display during the boat parade—twin sisters Tabby and Sage Winslow are busier than ever setting up for the big celebration. But that isn’t the only thing on the sisters’ minds. Both Sage and her fellow employee Mary Nicole are vying for the sought-after assistant manager job at the plant nursery. But when Loren Lee, their boss, is found dead, and Sage becomes the police’s favorite suspect, both Winslow girls know that they’ll need more than a flicker of magic and their sisterhood to solve the murder and clear Sage’s name.
This is book 2 in this cute and quirky series. I could not put this down!! In this book, the sister fights and come back together to solve this crime when one of their own is suspected. There are so many signs pointing to someone else but the police don't see it and Sage and her sister solve this for them.

I liked the first book in this series and I enjoyed this one just as much. It's a cozy mystery and would make a good holiday book to read while snuggled up with a cup of cocoa.

Great read! Really enjoyed this one. Just love reading mysteries. Definitely a must read. Absolutely love the characters and plot.

In the Wick of Time was such a cozy, fun pool side read as Tabby and Sage Winslow try to solve the murder of Sage's boss before Sage, herself, is accused. I am such a fan of these sorts of reads and highly recommend this book as well as the first book in the series, Snuffed Out.
Sage is the last person seen arguing with Loren Lee, her boss at the local plant nursery. Though she claims she was pushing him to seek medical treatment, the police aren't too sure. Their aunt's boyfriend, Frankie, is also under scrutiny as well for his mysterious past and tenuous ties to organized crime. Such a vibrant cast of characters that help to draw the story along and give the sisters almost too many possible motives for who committed the crime. Can the sisters figure out who did it before time runs out?
Cozy mysteries like this with a touch of paranormal/ supernatural, always find their way into my on the go bag and onto my book shelves. Jones may be a new cozy writer I seek out when I am on the hunt for books to fill my time when commuting and enjoying my cup of coffee in the morning.

I hadn't read the first book in the series, but had no problem starting with book 2. While I was able to finish the book, I didn't care for either sister. I read cozy mysteries for the mystery which was OK, but liking and being engaged by the characters is a big part too.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

The second book in this series. I really enjoyed this, the first book definitely left much to be seen and I felt like this delivered. By the end of the first novel I had just started to warm up to the sister duo that this storyline is based around and felt like their relationship was fleshed out more whilst also giving us a lot more humour and wit. Cannot wait to see what comes next.

Don't you just love holiday reads? Yes I do and they have already started again and I am loving it.

Tabby Winslow and her sister Sage are great characters for this book and I thoroughly enjoyed them. I love the setting, Savannah, Georgia and the candle shop and of course the story of Sage and her boss at the nursery. This is a fun read and although I did not read the first book I found this alright as a stand-alone but do want to find the first book just to see what happened originally.

Fun, quirky, entertaining read. This is a book I read quite quickly as it wasn't too long and it kept me interested so I just kept reading until I got to the end. Cosy, charming, magical and most of all an easy and fun read.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Tabby and Sage Winslow, owners of the Book and Candle Shop in Savannah, are preparing for the holidays, but Sage's part-time work at the local nursery has suddenly become more stressful. Her boss Loren Lee has died after what seemed like a lingering illness, and Sage comes under suspicion after the autopsy reveals poison. On top of that, Sage has lost the assistant manager opening to the snide Mary Nicole, who has started bossing Sage around. And if that weren't enough, Sage catches her boyfriend Brindle cozied up to his office assistant at home late one night. Something strange is going on, and since Sage is too overwrought to see things clearly, Tabby steps in to investigate once more.

This second book in the Magic Candle Shop series is a more captivating read than the first. A few seemingly unrelated incidents soon prove to have a common thread, and the pacing picks up as Tabby puts the pieces together. I appreciated the deeper character development here: Sage is still problematic in her use of her magic, but I think the ending left some hope for her redemption. Other character details, like Quig's affinity for Tabby's energy work as well as Frankie's past and future with Auntie O, were left open-ended enough for them to become more well-developed in future books.

I look forward to seeing this series develop further. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you, Crooked Lane and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

A reading delight! Twins Sage and Tabby run a book and candle shop. Love the location of Savannah Georgia! A fun cozy with a hint of magic. You will fall in love with the characters. Thanks#Netgalley and #CrookedLanebooks for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Tabby and her twin Sage run the Book and candle shop. Sage's boss at the nursery has been ill for weeks. Sage begs him to go to the doctor and they have a big fight about it. Then later he does, the ME orders a tox screen and finds he's been poisoned. The police believe Sage or Frankie killed him. Tabby must investigate to find the real killer.

I really loved this book. I devoured it. I especially loved Eve and her abilities. I can't wait to read more of this series.

Cozy mysteries are a balm to my soul when I need light murder LOL. This was a wonder book by Valona Jones.

I loved this series!! It's set in Savannah Ga, one of my favorite places ever! It's a cozy mystery with paranormal themes running all through it!
Tabby and Sage are 2 of my favorite characters and I was hooked from the beginning til the very end!! I can't wait to see what they get into next!
I just reviewed In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones. #IntheWickofTime #NetGalley
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In the wick of time is just like the cover.. A light crime read for everyone. It didn't vibe with me the way it can vibe with you. But I enjoyed reading it. Definitely check it out.

I really loved this book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end