Solstice Spirits by Erin Johnson

Rudie Hollybrook is the only person in Holiday Haven who sees dead people. It's been a point of contention between herself and her best frenemy Hayley Swift. Except now, Hayley is also seeing ghosts. Well, ghost. It's just one ghost. But it's still scaring the bejeebers out of her. So she calls Rudie, at ridiculous hours of the morning (seriously, the lady has no manners.)
But her life view may be about to change. It may not be three separate ghosts but this particular ghost is trying to tell her something.
Not a ton of depth but a good story.

Three stars
This book came out July 1, 2021

Follows Holiday Hijinks

Followed by Merry Mischief 

Rudie last appeared in Cocoa Curses

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Cocoa Curses by Erin Johnson

This is a cozy mystery that has a conceit (being near Santa's workshop) and it runs with it. Of course, it assumes that there are witches that live near by and Rudie Hollybrook is one of them. She has always felt a little bit like an outsider as her magic has to do with death. And that comes into play when a woman is murdered. One who Rudie didn't particularly like, nor did the woman like her. So having her ghost around isn't exactly a fun time.

However, the way to get rid of the ghost would be to solve the murder. Rudie isn't exactly a detective so there is some bumbling. There is also the inevitable love interest, in this case a journalist.

Three stars

Follows Winter Wishes

Followed by Cherry Charms

Rudie next stars in Solstice Spirits

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Black Arts, Tarts & Gypsy Carts by Erin Johnson

The carnival is in town! Imogen is startled to find out there is another witch who is a swallow. It is Edward, the strongman, who she meets when a pole falls on the tent and he saves them from certain death. He also offers to take on training Imogen as the only other swallow they know is Prince Henry and their relationship is... complicated. 

While at the carnival, Imogen overhears the necromancer/seer get in a fight with Rhonda. When Rhonda is later found holding a saw and the necromancer has been cut in half, she seems like the obvious suspect, at least to Inspector Bon. Imogen is determined to prove her innocence. 

Three stars

This book came out October 8, 2017

Follows Seashells, Spells & Caramels

Followed by Mermaid Fins, Winds & Rolling Pins

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Seashells, Spells & Caramels by Erin Johnson

Imogen's scrimped, saved, and lived as simply as possible in order to save up for her dream. She was adopted and has always felt like she was on the outside of life but an unexpected order from her boss for a wedding cake that goes over better than she ever thought gives her just enough money for the bakery she's always dreamed of. 

At the wedding, two people make some very odd remarks about her cake. There are a wink and a nod that Imogen doesn't understand. One of the guests even hands her a flier about a cooking contest. Imogen is confused but she decides to bake for the contest, getting to the point of wrapping her contribution in the flier, just as the instructions say. It's just too bad that her house catches file that night and she is left with nothing. Except that her submission seems to have made it in because she gets instructions on how to get to the baking contest. She is again confused as to how she is able to get there but it looks like Imogen actually has some magic and the baking contest is to become the next chef of a magical world. It seems the last chef died under mysterious circumstances but we don't learn much about that in this story. Instead, the focus is on world-building (which is really well done; enough revealed that we know what is going on but not too much of an info dump) and on the baking contest. 

A really nice start to a new series. 

Four stars

This book came out October 29, 2017

Followed by Black Arts, Tarts & Gypsy Carts

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own