Two Wicked Desserts

Two Wicked Desserts by Lynn Cahoon is the 2nd book in A Kitchen Witch Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone, but I suggest reading One Poison Pie first. It gives you the backstory on Magic Springs, Idaho. Mia Malone is getting Mia’s Morsels up and running with help from her grandmother and ex-fiancé’s sister, Christina. Mia is also learning about magic and spells. I find the characters to be developed and realistic. We get to follow Mia as they go about her everyday life (cooking, eating, learning magic, shopping, making menus, going out with Levi). A stranger is found dead behind Mia’s new residence. Mia finds herself once again dealing with Detective Mark Baldwin. When Baldwin becomes fixated on Dorian’s daughter, Cindy as the guilty party, Mia works to prove she is innocent. The mystery was light. It was not the central focus of the story. There are a limited number of suspects which makes solving it a cinch. I believe more time was spent helping Cindy figure out which spell she activated than on the mystery. The paranormal element is sprinkled throughout the story. We get to learn more about kitchen witches and how they are different from other witches in town. The school may also have a dark history. Mia is trying to learn more about the school and the witches who helped build it. Mary Alice, Mia’s grandmother, and Mia spend time trying to find the correct spell to free Dorian from Mr. Darcy’s body. Dorian is not enjoying his time in a cat’s body. Gran, though, does not seem to be giving it her best effort. The grandmother has something she wishes to discuss with Mia, but she never gets out the full story. I hope we get closure on this issue soon. Christina is having relationship issues plus problems with her new friend. I found the pacing to be mixed (sometimes the story moved along at a good pace and other times it was slow) and the ending was anticlimactic. Two Wicked Desserts is a charming story with fun characters, but I felt it needed a little more work. I am, though, curious to find out what happens next with Mia and the gang especially as to why Trent can hear Gloria. Two Wicked Desserts is a magical tale with a spell gone amiss, a gifted grimoire, a selfish friend, a covert room, a deceased stranger, and mouthwatering meals.

I love Lynn Cahoon's cozy mystery series and Two Wicked Desserts, the 2nd book in the Kitchen Witch Mysteries is a perfect example of the reason. The characters are the stars of the series and I loved them all, Mia, Christine, Trent, Levi, Gran, and Detective Baldwin. With each book and novella we lean just a bit more about them and about the magic that surrounds them and in this one we get to meet Trent and Levi's mother! The mystery plot is challenging; Mia is positive that her arch nemesis is the villain but evidence points in too many directions for the resolution to be that simple. Dorian's daughter arrives needing help with the magic that she never had any interest in. She has no clue that her father shares the body of Mia's familiar, a cat named Mr. Darcy. That ignorance leads to a few interesting revelations in his presence. It is great to see Christine settle in to a more responsible role as she finds the work she loves. It was also fun to see that she respects herself enough to stand for what she feels she deserves. My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for giving a chance to read an ARC of Two Wicked Desserts. I always review books I love and I have loved every cozy mystery the Lyn Cahoon has written so I knew I would love this one and I did! #NetGAlley #Kensington #LynnCahoon #TwoWickedDesserts