Southern charm, hospitality, and humor blend well with mystery, magic and mayhem in author Heather Blake’s latest release, GHOST OF A POTION.
The comforting down-home appeal quickly draws you in to a world where the paranormal seems natural. The author’s easy writing style envelopes you as it transports you to Hitching Post, Alabama, just as the residents are set to celebrate Halloween.
Potion shop owner Carly Bell Hartwell is not all that fond of Halloween seeing how that’s the busy time for ghosts wanting to get her help to pass through to the other side. A costume ball, organized by her boyfriend Dylan’s mother, is the last place she wants to be as Halloween approaches. But she agrees to go just to please Dylan despite the fact his mother seems to hate her.
When Dylan’s mother is found standing over a dead body, holding the murder weapon, Carly see an opportunity the forge a truce with her if she can clear her name. Carly has her hands full trying to uncover the real killer, while dealing with so many ghosts. Carly soon learns secrets take on a life of their own if kept too long.
Blake’s characters are quirky, likable and well-developed. The bantering between Carly and her parents is priceless. The dialogue flows smoothly and holds you spellbound. The twists and turns in the story will keep you in suspense until the very end.
The author’s vivid descriptions and eye for detail paints a beautiful Southern town. The right mix of humor and family loyalty adds depth to this charming story while lightening the cozy murder mystery.
GHOST OF A POTION is the third installment in the Magic Potion Mystery series, but can be read as a standalone.
Featuring characters you wish were your neighbors, this enchanting story will entertain you from the first line until the last. Magic, potions and ghosts are a delight when Carly Bell Hartwell is involved.
Ghost of a Potion by Heather Blake, A Magic Potion Mystery Book #3, NAL, @2015, ISBN: 978-0451416322, Mass Market Paperback, 336 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Thanks to Danielle and the wonderful folks at Berkley, I have a print copy of GHOST OF A POTION to giveaway. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Friday, Oct. 16.
To enter, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and following the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. A winner will be selected by the Rafflecopter widget and I’ll send an email with the subject line “Thoughts in Progress Ghost Potion Giveaway.” The winner will have 72 hours to reply to the email or another winner will be selected. PLEASE be sure to check your spam folder from time to time after the giveaway ends. If you win and you’ve already won the book somewhere else or you just decide for whatever reason you don’t want to win, once again PLEASE let me know.
Thanks so much for stopping by for my review of this fun mystery. Do you shy away from books just because they involve paranormal elements? Do you enjoy reading ghost stories during October in honor of Halloween?
*This post contains affiliate links.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
It’s always a delight to welcome author Heather Blake back to Thoughts in Progress as I know she’ll have a fascinating new book to share with us.
During today’s visit, Heather will be talking about her latest release, ONE POTION IN THE GRAVE, and an awesome giveaway she’s hosting. In addition, thanks to the lovely Danielle at Penguin Group, I have a print copy of ONE POTION IN THE GRAVE (the second installment in the Magic Potion series) to giveaway to a lucky visitor. Please see the end of the post for more information about the giveaways.
First, join me in giving a warm welcome to Heather, who is here to talk about ‘Southern Comfort.’ Welcome, Heather!
Southern Comfort…
…food, that is.
While researching the Magic Potion mysteries, I’m always coming across Southern recipes and trying to figure out how I can incorporate them into the book without turning it from a magical series to one about Southern cooking.
But, oh my. The South doesn’t lack a love for food. Pecan pie. Fritters (drool). Hush puppies. Biscuits and gravy. Cornbread. Red rice and sausage. Anything buttermilk. Coca Cola cake. Pot pies, fried pickles, barbecue anything, apple butter, dumplings, fried chicken… It’s endless. Endless, I tell you.
So, having said all that, you’d think that my main character, healing witch Carly Bell Hartwell, would have a traditionally Southern go-to comfort food, right? Moon Pies or GooGoo Bars or some such.
Nope.
Her go-to?
Peanut butter.
In times of stress, she grabs a spoon and digs in. I wouldn’t put it past her to just use her finger, depending on the circumstances.
Shocking, I know.
But… I believe most peanuts are grown in the South, so that has to count for something, right? Right?
What’s your favorite comfort food?
Heather, thanks for visiting today and sharing Carly Bell’s favorite comfort food. You are so right, we Southerners do have a love of food and peanuts are a big crop here in Georgia.
Now for those who aren’t familiar with Heather, here’s a bit of background on her.
Heather Blake (aka Heather Webber) is the author of more than twenty novels and has been twice nominated for an Agatha Award. She's a total homebody who loves to be close to her family, read, watch reality TV (especially cooking competition shows), drink too much coffee, crochet, and bake cookies.
Heather grew up in a suburb of Boston, but currently she lives in the Cincinnati area with her family and is hard at work on her next book.
For more on Heather and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
HEATHER’S AWESOME GIVEAWAY …
Heather is running a month-long ONE POTION IN THE GRAVE Witchtastic giveaway via Rafflecopter (9/23 – 10/23). Win a set of “Cast a Spell” measuring spoons, a set of three Yankee Candle potion bottle tea light holders, a Lego mini-figure witch, and a $20.00 gift card to Barnes & Noble -or- Amazon (winner’s choice).
To enter, just click http://www.heatherblakebooks.com/p/giveaway.html (Heather’s giveaway page) or http://www.tinyurl.com/k9rzmby to visit her Facebook giveaway page.
Now here’s my thoughts on this intriguing new cozy mystery.
Author Heather Blake weaves a mystical tale involving love potions and magical elements that will hold you spellbound with delight in ONE POTION IN THE GRAVE.
It’s been over a decade since Katie Sue Perrywinkle left town, but her old childhood friend Carly Bell Hartwell is happy to see her return. But Katie is back to settle a score with Senator Warren Calhoun and his son’s high-profile wedding in Hitching Post, Ala., seems the perfect place to do it.
Someone wants Katie to remain quiet forever. Carly is determined to find her friend’s murderer. Could the bride-to-be’s visit to Carly’s Little Shop of Potions have a connection? The closer she gets to the truth, the closer the killer gets to her.
Once again Blake’s quirky characters will have you laughing as you try to determine who the killer is among the twists and turns. The characters are well-developed and likable.
The story flows smoothly and at a steady pace keeping you entranced until the end. Blake’s descriptions and rich dialogue will draw you in and make you believe in the paranormal.
ONE POTION IN THE GRAVE is the second installment in the Magic Potion Mystery series, but can be read alone. However, be warned, if you haven’t read the first installment you may bewitched into reading it by the time you finish this one. A fun cozy that will have you laughing as you unmask a killer
One Potion in the Grave by Heather Blake, Magic Potion Mystery Book #2, Obsidian, @2014, ISBN: 978-0451416315, Paperback, 336 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher as part of the author’s virtual book tour in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.
GIVEAWAY:
This giveaway is for one print copy of ONE POTION IN THE GRAVE. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. The giveaway ends at 12 a.m. (EST) on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
To enter, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load, so please be patient. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 72 hours to respond before another winner is selected. The email subject line will read ‘Thoughts in Progress Heather Blake Tour’ just so you know what to look for (in case the email goes into your spam folder).
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Be sure to share your favorite comfort food with us. I have so many, I can’t begin to list them but chocolate cake would probably be at the top of the list. What about you?
SIDENOTE: Thanks so much for your thoughts, prayers and concerns during the passing of my mother-in-law. I’m sorry I haven’t responded to your comments, but they are deeply appreciated. Today is her funeral, say an extra prayer for us. We’ll be saying a final goodbye to her earthly body even though her spirit and love will remain with us always. I hope to be visiting with you again in a few days. Thanks again for stopping by today and good luck to those entering the giveaways.
*This post contains affiliate links.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
