Witch Way Out by Cate Conte

At the end of the last book, Violet Mooney was whisked away by Blake along with the man she's been dating, Todd. They end up in the office of Mac, a private investigator and leprechaun, but Mac is not there. Instead, there is a pile of goo, evidence that Mac has been genied. Todd immediately disappears. Violet is shocked but she tries to keep her involvement quiet since she also discovered the last genie victim and her mother and Blake are worried that she might actually be the one targeted.

That's fine with Fiona, she doesn't want to rush into danger and she's still trying to get a handle on being a witch. Plus, she's gotten an unexpected call to join the local (and very popular) craft fair. This is a fabulous opportunity to highlight her shop and it's a chance to meet one of her heroes, a proponent of ethical crystal mining, Horatio Hale. But there's a saying that you should never meet your idols and that seems to be true for Violet and Horatio. Not only does he seem to be sneaking around on his ex-wife with another vendor (why keep the relationship a secret?), Violet overhears a conversation that makes it seem Horatio might not be as upstanding as he seems. Plus, there's the gentleman hanging around saying that Horatio kicked him out of the fair. 

If you've read a cozy before, you'll probably realize who is going to end up dead. It's up to Violet to finally step into her power and take control of the whole situation.

Three and a half stars

This book comes out March 28, 2023

Follows Witch Trial

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Witch Trial by Cate Conte

Violet Mooney is still trying to figure out her new life. Her mother (and a half-sister!) are newly back in her life as is the knowledge that she is a hereditary witch. Part of that discovery is that Violet is taking over her grandmother's chair on the Magickal council. 

Since Violet is so new, her mother wants her to have an advisor. Enter Blake Alexander, new legal council for the Council. Also a major hottie. He wants to lead Violet through the ways and means of her new community but she isn't sure why she needs someone to do something she can figure out on her own. And is he really trustworthy with his family background?

The story of a reporter genied in the first book continues in this one. This book also ends rather abruptly. An interesting series but there is so much going on it is hard to keep track of everyone and everything. We learn a little bit more about the magical world this series is set in and a little bit more about the people but it is a slow drip. I have a feeling this series would be better if you could read the books all at once. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out December 28th, 2021

Follows Witch Hunt

Followed by Witch Way Out

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Witch Hunt by Cate Conte

When the book opens, Violet Mooney is having an ominous feeling, like this just isn't going to be a good day. But her yoga class goes well and the coffee shop visit with her best friend is helping until Carla Fernandez stalks in and accuses her of planning a seance. Violet feels blindsided. And an interaction with an unusual woman at her store doesn't help. The woman claims that she wants a reading but her aura doesn't match the statement. Her day goes sideways when she finds out that Carla has been murdered and Violet's own scarf was found nearby. At the police station, her life goes off the rails when her mother, missing for twenty-seven years, shows up with a sister, Zoe, that Violet knew nothing about.
This is a first book so there are some things that are a little thin like the development of Carla's character, the developing relationship with Carla and her mother as well as her sister, and all of the other people in town that are being set up to be in further books in the series. But overall, a cute book.

Three stars
This book came out June 30th, 2020

Followed by Witch Trial
Book borrowed from library
Opinions are my own