SQUEAL! This book was so magical!! I've been team Horace since day one, but this book really solidifies his character. The major theme throughout the story is "not everyone is as they seem or are rumored to be". Loved the ending! There was a huge uptick in romance in this book though, which was kind of eh. I mean not everyone needs to pair off, but I am so excited to see where this story goes! Spells & Caramels is one of my absolute favorite series. ( )

I read so many great reviews of the Spells & Caramels series that when I saw the opportunity to read and review Book #8 for a blog tour, I thought, why not. Well, I will tell you that reading the first in this series and then the 8th was not the best decision I could have made. I will definitely need to go back and read them in order. Having said that, I did enjoy this book. First of all, this series has been characterized as a cosy mystery series, but here is a lot more to it. It is part paranormal, part fantasy, a bit of romance and some adventure. The setting of the book is in an amazing fantasy land with monsters, witches, vampires, seers and more. In this book the main character Imogene is stranded on a forgotten island with her friends. Getting the opportunity to visit a seaside spa, off they go and stumble upon a murder. Was it the proprietress of the spa, known as the Black Widow who killed the spa critic and cad who had come on to her, or is there another murderer running around. When one of her friends becomes infatuated with Miss Sara, Imogene and Hank decide that they need to find the culprit. Throw in a brother who is the leader of the Badlands Army trying to overthrow the king and you have quite an adventure and mystery.

I really enjoy the descriptive writing in this book. The world that Erin Johnson has created comes to life in this story. From the siren baths to the magical manta monster migration, I could picture the island and seaside. The mystery was a major part of the story, but the rest is just as important. I loved seeing the friendships grow and develop. I did figure out who the murderer was before it was revealed, but I still enjoyed the unravelling and the motive. I read this book in one sitting as I kept wanting to see what was going to happen next. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a mystery with a difference, some fantasy worlds and paranormal. I received a copy of this book from the Publicity Group upon my request to participate in this tour. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own. ( )

Grimoires, Spas and Chocolate Straws by Erin Johnson is the eighth Spells & Caramels novel. Imogen Banks and her friends are still residing in Kusuri on Badlands Island. They are living in Jiji’s guesthouse and earn their keep by helping the guards with their duties and other chores around the house. The group is getting an opportunity to go to the beach with the guards for the manta monster migration festival at Umiru. While the guards will be protecting the fisherman, the bakers will get to enjoy the spa treatments offered by the oriental town. After indulging in the dragon spa treatment at Doragon Spa, there is an uproar when a client is found dead in the sand. Imogen wonders if their hostess, Miss Sara who is referred to by locals as the “black widow” could be the culprit since she was arguing with the victim prior to his death. Things are further complicated when Yann, a fellow baker, falls head over heels for Miss Sara. They do not want Yann to become the next man ensnared in Miss Sara’s web. Imogen and her fellow bakers set out to uncover the truth and get their vacation back on track.

Grimoires, Spas and Chocolate Straws is another entertaining installment in the Spells & Caramels series. I do suggest reading the books in the Spells & Caramels series in order. Each book builds upon the previous one. Grimoires, Spas and Chocolate Straws is a creative cozy mystery with magical elements. Erin Johnson has a vivid imagination. She has created whimsical worlds with quirky characters and plenty of humor. I found Grimoires, Spas and Chocolate Straws easy to read thanks to the author conversational writing style (It has an ease to it). The story progresses along at a steady pace with vibrant descriptions of the forests, the monsters, and the distinctive spa town of Umiru. It is nice to see the various characters pairing up, but they are still maintaining their close friendships. We get to find out more about Imogen’s brother, Horace. I was quite surprised by his revelations. Iggy provides levity with his one-liners (I enjoy his droll commentary). The book has a special ending that will please fans of the series. The mystery is not complex, but I had a good time following the clues and zeroing in on the killer. My rating for Grimoires, Spas and Chocolate Straws is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). I am eager to find out what happens next with our band of bakers in the next Spells & Caramels tale. ( )