A Touch of Magic by Annabel Chase

The mystery takes a back seat to building Emma's story in this book. She is working 

hard to help make sure that her friend Lucy is elected mayor but it's hard when one of the candidates, a vampire, is killed before he can make his speech. The former sheriff Hugo, now one of the other candidates, takes this chance to accuse Lucy of the murder. It doesn't help that it's one of Emma's handmade signs that was used as the murder weapon.

Emma always has one case per book and this is no different. Now, she has a young nymph who is accused of animal cruelty. But that makes no sense since nymphs are closely connected to nature.

Her friends at the ASS academy are in the story as well. Lady Weatherby is giving Emma her own spell lessons but she is still attending the remedial magic classes as well. This time, the head of the coven goes off the books and lets the students create their own spells to show what they can do. They are all successful but it does take some work.
A nice addition to the series. I wish there had been more to the mystery, it was fairly underdeveloped. And I could do without the overblown gushing about Daniel but overall a nice addition to the series.

Three stars
Follows Cast Away
Followed by A Drop in the Potion
This book came out June 28h, 2017
Borrowed as an audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own

Cast Away by Annabel Chase

Emma and her friends are working on an advanced spell that may help show that Emma's suspicions about Daniel's relationship are correct. On her way back from that mission, Emma stumbles across the body of a dead troll who seems frozen to death. She also has to defend a shifter who accidentally, um, showed his wares when he shifted on Allison's (Gareth's fiancee) lawn.
But the person she thought was her ally turns out not to be and all of her plans fall apart. Then her deeply held secret is exposed in front of the town and they react in the worst way.
Emma is very much becoming a Mary Sue. There is looking at the world through rose-colored glasses and then there is willful ignorance. This is the latter.

Three stars
Follows Better than Hex
Followed by A Touch of Magic
This book came out May 24th, 2017
Borrowed as an audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own

Better than Hex by Annabel Chase

 Emma Hart is already struggling with her emotions. The love of her life is engaged to a fairy who is more spice than sugar. She's trying to move on. But that doesn't mean that Markos, the centaur who is interested in Emma, is someone she wants to date. She will, however, have a friendly meal between friends in his new building with a moving labyrinth. Too bad the body of the town's building inspector is found dead. But everyone loved Ed, a satyr, so why is he now dead?

A fun story that advances many story lines.

Three stars
Follows Spell's Bells
Followed by Cast Away
This book came out April 18th, 2017
Borrowed as an audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own

Spell's Bells by Annabel Chase

When a dwarf is discovered in a glass coffin, Emma's friend is the one accused of putting him there. Emma is going to make sure that she isn't put in jail for a crime she didn't commit. Proving her friend's innocence is going to mean that Emma has to go on dates, attend speed dating, and even visit a matchmaker. At the same time, she's finding out more about her own past.
I do like that there is not a love triangle in this series but I am getting a little frustrated with Emma and Daniel's relationship. Talk about a slow burn. This is practically glacial.

Three stars
Follows Doom and Broom
Followed by Better than Hex
This book came out February 14th, 2017
Borrowed as an audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own

Lucky Charm (Spellbound #4) by Annabel Chase

Emma is ready to talk to the town council about how harsh the current punishments for breaking laws are. But the day she shows up to talk them, they are all acting like children. They've all been put under a spell. While Emma works to discover who it is, she enlists the help of friends (since the centaur Sheriff doesn't seem interested.) The person who cast the spell knows that she's on the case and throws roadblocks in her way but that's not even as hard as the things that are happening in her less-than-existant love life.
I think regular readers will enjoy the story. Maybe not the best book to start with for new readers though.

Three stars
This book came out March 7th, 2017
Borrowed as an audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own

Doom and Broom by Annabel Chase

Jolene, a werewolf, has been found dead. The immediate ruling is suicide but Daniel, the angel Emma adores, is also a suspect. She immediately helps him hide and starts investigating. All while taking classes to learn more about witchcraft.
The mystery is short but characters are starting to be fleshed out including Emma's classmates and a smattering of women who will be friends. We also get a bit more about the town's history as well as the mythology.

Three stars
Follows Curse the Day
Followed by Spell's Bells
This book came out January 21st, 2017
Borrowed as an audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own

Curse the Day by Annabel Chase

Trying to find a client's house, Emma Hart accidentally goes into a lake. She's saved by a man with ... Wings? She discovers that Daniel is actually an angel. One who can't return her to the world she knew. Because of a ages old curse, only certain people can leave the town. And Emma isn't one of them. She adapts to that fact pretty quickly (which threw me off at first but then I was impressed because that's not the normal trope.) Emma is also assigned a job, a house, and some learning about her new town. When the town council found out Emma was a lawyer, they immediately assign her to take over for the last public defender who was murdered.
From there, it's a pretty standard cozy mystery with paranormal elements. Emma is engaging and shows signs of intelligence. She's (so far) not putting herself in dangerous situations because, why not. There are definitely signs of a romantic triangle (my least favorite trope) and some of the world building was a teeny bit forced but overall a nice start to a new-to-me series.

Three and a half stars
Followed by Doom and Broom
This book came out January 7th, 2017
Borrowed as an audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own