Author: Scattered Thoughts

At over 50, I am ruled by my terriers, my gardens, and my projects. A knack for grubbing about in the woods, making mud pies, and tending to the injured worms, bugs, and occasional bird and turtle growing up eventually led me to working for the Parks. I was a park Naturalist for over 20 years, and observing Nature and her cycles still occupy my hours. From the arrival of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in the Spring to the first call of the Snow Geese heading south in the Fall, I am entranced by the seasons. For more about me see my bio on my blog.

Review:  Wizards & Weavers (Cozy Questing Book 1) by Nazri Noor

 

Rating: 4🌈

I have read several of this author’s series before and enjoyed them, so I grabbed up his new cozy fantasy book that starts his newest series. 

It’s a dungeon quest cozy fantasy adventure where Braiden Beadle’s family craft store is heavily in debt. A new dungeon has appeared in town and none of the travelers or dungeon crawlers have need of his knitted wares, or woven goods. What good is a rainbow sweater in a dungeon? 

Then Augustin Arcosa, the Wizard of Weathervale appears to shut down the dungeon, just as Braiden has hatched a new plan to keep his store afloat. But he needs the dungeon. 

It’s an enemy, sort of, to romantic interest tale as the two men navigate the dungeon, Augustin’s grandmother, and a host of other characters.   

It’s fun, non-spicy, adventurous, and magical. A princess and magical creatures are introduced that will carry over into the next book. 

Very entertaining if a bit slow in parts. 

Cover art by Hannah Latham

 Cover design by Christian Bentulan

Cozy Questing:

Wizards & Weavers #1

Heroes & Handcrafts #2

Buy link

 Book 1 of 2: Cozy Questing 

Blurb 

Everyone loves a good yarn.

Braiden Beadle’s craft shop is on its last legs, even though it’s filled with the plushest yarns and the finest fabrics. Nobody cares for crafts anymore, not since the dungeon appeared outside Weathervale. Adventurers have swarmed the seaside city, eager to discover the dungeon’s treasures… and not a single one of them needs any knitting needles.

Desperate to save his shop, Braiden prepares to brave the mysterious dungeon for its riches. But Augustin Arcosa, the Wizard of Weathervale, has deemed the dungeon a threat to his hometown. He wants to seal it away forever.

Armed with only his wits and his impractical magic of weaving, Braiden must convince the haughty and annoyingly handsome wizard that the dungeon poses no danger to Weathervale. And there’s only one way to be certain: they must explore its depths together.

Can an unlikely adventurer and a windbag wizard find common ground underground? Join Braiden, Augustin, and an evolving party of quirky colleagues as they embark on the cozy quest of a lifetime. A humorous, heartwarming MM cozy fantasy perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Terry Pratchett.

Everyone loves a good yarn.

Braiden Beadle’s craft shop is on its last legs, even though it’s filled with the plushest yarns and the finest fabrics. Nobody cares for crafts anymore, not since the dungeon appeared outside Weathervale. Adventurers have swarmed the seaside city, eager to discover the dungeon’s treasures… and not a single one of them needs any knitting needles.

Desperate to save his shop, Braiden prepares to brave the mysterious dungeon for its riches. But Augustin Arcosa, the Wizard of Weathervale, has deemed the dungeon a threat to his hometown. He wants to seal it away forever.

Armed with only his wits and his impractical magic of weaving, Braiden must convince the haughty and annoyingly handsome wizard that the dungeon poses no danger to Weathervale. And there’s only one way to be certain: they must explore its depths together.

Can an unlikely adventurer and a windbag wizard find common ground underground? Join Braiden, Augustin, and an evolving party of quirky colleagues as they embark on the cozy quest of a lifetime.

September 29, 2025

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‎English

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Book 1 of 2

Cozy Questing

Review: Last Boss Farm: The Conditions Book 3 by Beatrix Penrose 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

it’s absolutely amazing how much quiet emotion and beauty fills her 42 pages of this finale story. 

Last Boss Farm, the tale of how Malgrath the Undying, the world’s oldest villain successfully managed to retire from the System and become the the world’s first Keeper, is a tale of quiet life, daily observations of those around him, using his long accumulated knowledge and wisdom but towards different goals. Renovating a rescue farm and building a new life for himself and those around him, including the creatures who come in need of help and a sanctuary. 

It’s incredible that Penrose builds deeply believable characters and a farm location that grows in structures and detail throughout the series with such a small number of pages. But she creates a narrative that brings a sustainable heartwarming atmosphere and a suspense that makes the reader feel so connected to the lives of those on the farm, not just Malgrath but those who were there and have become family and those who journeyed and found themselves at the farm the home they were looking for. 

That ending is so satisfying. Full of heart and hope. Looking forward to the future for everyone. 

This series could easily be read in one hour. But it’s so quietly written, it sneaks up on you. Do yourself a favor, savor it, stretch it out. And absolutely enjoy The Last Boss Farm. 

Author Beatrix Penrose has become an auto must have for me. 

Last Boss Farm (3 book series):

Last Boss Farm #1

The Stranger Problem #2

The Conditions #3

Love the covers.

Buy link

        Last Boss Farm: The Conditions

    

Blurb 

The vote passed. He wished it had been simpler.

The World System’s Policy Committee has ratified the KEEPER classification. Malgrath the Undying is, officially and permanently, the world’s first Keeper. 

There are eleven pages of conditions.

Most of them are reasonable. One requires him to name a registered property manager — someone the System can contact when he isn’t available. One allows other Legendary Villains to apply for the KEEPER designation, with his sponsorship.

He hadn’t anticipated sponsorship.

Then Thessaly the Unmoved arrives at the gate. Three hundred and twelve years as a Curse Weaver. Six active generational curses she has been trying to end for decades, with no System category that would let her stop. She walks through the gate without hesitating. The Strategist doesn’t move.

Vera returns to process the paperwork. Lorn takes six days to decide about Thessaly. Hobb builds a bench in the south field without telling anyone. The spring welfare reports come back full Thriving — every resident, first time in the database.

The Conditions is the third book in the Last Boss Farm series — a LitRPG cozy fantasy about what happens after you win the bureaucratic argument, a second Legendary Villain who just needed someone to put their name on a form, and a World System that is, slowly and against its better judgement, learning to say well done.

The KEEPER Network currently has one member. The System considers this a beginning, not a limitation.

April 21, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

42 pages

Book 3 of 3

Last Boss Farm

Review: Blue Blood, Black Magic: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Ella Bloom Mysteries Book 3) by Sarah Noffke

Rating 2.5⭐️

It looks as though Blue Blood, Black Magic is where I leave the Ella Bloom Mysteries behind. 

The premise is interesting, some of the elements are good but the author’s characterizations, especially when it comes down to the dynamics between the main female character and the prominent male characters in her life have me so irritated that it takes away from the rest of the narrative. 

At approximately the 50 percent point, Ella and Malcolm decide to leave the murder mystery investigation in town (and ongoing drama surrounding the inheritance) and head off to look for a mage in the mountains.  

Part of the mysteries in the series is who and what is Ella and what happened to Malcolm and his wife when he closed the Gloaming. Ella’s mysterious past is deeply personal and caught up in the death of her mother as well as her years in foster care. 

But when Tyler, the farmer whose mother is running his life, get furious at Ella, yelling at her, insisting he had the right to information about her , her powers and origin, without any reason or relationship . And Malcolm? Who Ella would reasonably expect to have her back, would defend her? He, without her consent, quickly tells Tyler all about Ella’s life, her secrets and unknown past. To her absolute shock. 

But how does the author have Ella handle being yelled at by basically someone she’s not in relationship with over withholding extremely private information, which is then freely shared by her trusted friend/associate?

“You two are the worst,” I muttered, realizing that they were ganging up on me.”

That’s the extent of it. 

Noffke leaves Ella in the wagon, accepting that she’s got no choice, no secrets, and the author still hints that “red flag” Tyler is the romance guy for her.

There’s no apology from the men for their behavior or actions. Instead the expectation, narratively, that the men know better than she does what is good for her. This from a man who has let his mother run his life and another with a faulty memory. That’s two for the Patriarchy column here . Although the story is disguised as a woman’s story. Um no. Not imo. 

I’m so irritated at the author at this point, that skimming through to the end is the only option. 

So I’ll find another author and series. There’s plenty more out there.  But here’s where I stop. 

🛑 After Note: I had wondered if I’d been harsh in my evaluation so I jumped ahead to book 6. There I found that the dynamics I disliked and discussed here are still very much in full swing in the story. 

Malcolm still has zero reservations about telling anyone , here gnomes, Ella’s “deeply held “ secrets about her magic and origin. All without obtaining any consent beforehand (which she’s very vehemently opposed to). But not once does she find a spine and ask him to obtain prior permission or tell him how uncomfortable or unhappy she is with him doing this. Multiple times. 

Spoiler:

Worse later in the plot, Malcolm turns out to be a coward, imo. His wife makes an ultimate sacrifice, believing he can find a way to bring her and The Gloaming back. But instead, acting on baseless assumptions, he commits an act of utter cowardice, that causes him to abandon her and makes him lose his memory .

Not once does Ella think that there was anything wrong with his actions.  

It’s a pattern here of excusing the questionable male behavior (Tyler’s, Malcolm’s to name two important characters) throughout the series while having Ella repeatedly telling people that her role in the investigations and relationships is always secondary, less important. 

So yes. Right choice to leave the series and author behind. Just no. 

Ella Bloom Mysteries (10 book series):

Dying For Magic #1

Magic Can Bee Deadly #2

Blue Blood, Black Magic #3

Verses and Curses #4

Raining Cats and  Curses #5

Half-Baked Curses #6

Signed, Spelled, Delivered #7

Murder Spelled in Thread #8

Spelled For Choice #9 – June 19,2026

Born For Magic #10 – July 24,2026

Buy link 

        Blue Blood, Black Magic: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Ella Bloom Mysteries Book 3)

    

Blurb 

One-Twenty-Six Press

Publication date

November 18, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

276 pages

Book 3 of 10

Ella Bloom Mysteries

Review: Last Boss Farm: The Stranger Problem 2 by Beatrix Penrose 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

  

“The World System has a Legendary Villain. The Legendary Villain has quit.”

Just a beautiful little story. Multiple important characters and storylines being woven together within a short time frame, each dealing with deep themes and emotional issues. 

All within 42 pages. 

Once again, the World System has sent out a visitor to the Farm. This time it’s Sera of Velmoor , a World Class Hero. Her mission is to evaluate the farm and check/perhaps bring back Edric, the first hero who came and stayed, refusing to leave. 

 But once Sera arrives, much like the others, things and plans change. 

There are some lovely surprises, exploration of the farm and the way the new creature, Lorn, is introduced, is also a metaphor for larger aspects of life around them. 

Even the smallest of details and developments are gems here, in the many languages that the guests speak and the hints to their personal journeys, the reader’s imagination remain intrigued.

A wonderful story and highly recommended. 

 

Last Boss Farm (3 book series):

Last Boss Farm #1

The Stranger Problem #2

The Conditions #3

Love the covers.

Buy link

        Last Boss Farm: The Stranger Problem

    

Blurb 

The System sent a Hero to retrieve him. She stayed for a week. The Vael stayed permanently.

Malgrath the Undying is fifty-nine days from the World System’s Policy Committee vote on his KEEPER classification. The sanctuary is functioning. The slimes are contained. The Domestic Competency bar is at C+.

Then the System dispatches Sera of Velmoor — Sable-class Hero, level 41, and the one person most likely to actually bring Edric home.

She arrives thorough, efficient, and ready to file an accurate report. The problem is that accuracy, in this case, keeps pointing in an inconvenient direction. There are three creatures rated Thriving. The cave trolls built a drainage system she can’t fault. A retired Legendary Villain is leaving food at the tree line every morning for something large and injured that is watching from the forest.

The something large and injured is watching back.

The Stranger Problem is the second book in the Last Boss Farm series — a LitRPG cozy fantasy about a Vael who came down from the mountains in winter, a Hero who filed a very inconvenient witness statement, and a sanctuary that keeps accumulating residents nobody planned for.

The geese remain unkillable. The System has invented a rank called C++. Things are, on balance, fine.

April 21, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

42 pages

Book 2 of 3

Last Boss Farm

Review: The Corpse Whisperer (Corpse Whisperer Book 2) by H.R. Boldwood 

Rating: 4⭐️

Necromancy, yes, zombies normally no. So I’m surprised that I’m so invested with this series and growing cast of characters.

Allie Nighthawk is a young woman who was born into a family of maternal ghost whisperers, a gift that increases generationally. 

She recently returned to her home town of Cincinnati, reclaiming her family home, rescuing a bulldog, reacquainting herself with her elderly neighbor, and working paranormal cases for the CPD. 

The last book ended with the death of her police officer partner, a character everyone, including the reader, was fond of. It showed that Boltwood isn’t afraid to eliminate her characters if she feels that the story or overall series arc calls for it. 

In a universe where zombies are more powerful and evolving, and there’s a deeper heinous design behind their evolution, it makes sense that those around Allie will be in constant danger, and some will fall. 

Part of the terrific and, at the end, moving part of this book, focuses on Leo Abruzzi, a zombie-bitten gangster who Allie has been charged with keeping safe until he can testify.  The relationship between Leo, Allie and Nonna, Allie’s elderly neighbor, turns into a real heartwarming tale. Then one of sorrow. 

The aspect of the book I’m not quite connected with is Leo, her new partner, his spineless relationship with the news reporter who hounds Allie’s life, and the reporter herself. This dysfunctional three way dynamic is absolutely irritating to read, and when you think about a cop dating a reporter during a high security event and she’s got instant connection with him and knowledge. And not Allie or Leo is telling their Chief despite their knowledge about a leak. 

Well, know that’s where I start skimming over scenarios .

I’m hoping this works it way out in the future books. Because it’s annoying. 

The hidden past isn’t so hidden anymore from the book’s final paragraphs. Something to anticipate!

Still terrific story!

Cover art by Dar Albert at Wicked Smart Designs

The Corpse Whisperer series: 

The Prodigal 

The Corpse Whisperer 

Sworn 

Torn

Whisperer Rising 

Buy link

        The Corpse Whisperer (Corpse Whisperer, the Series Book 2)

    

Blurb 

If you raise deadheads, you’d better be able to put ‘em down.

Nobody said it was pretty. But in this day, when vampires aren’t just for breakfast anymore, and the dead are disposable pawns for necromancers, someone has to ante up. Looks like I won the lotto.

Imagine my delight.

You should thank me, really, because the world is batshit crazy.

When the zombie population spikes and no one knows why, it’s up to me to solve the mystery. But there’s a hitch. I’m stuck babysitting Leo Abruzzi, a zombie-bitten gangster who’s turning state’s evidence. But the mob and a powerful necromancer will stop at nothing to take us down.

The Corpse Whisperer is a 2019 Imadjinn award finalist and H.R. Boldwood is a Pushcart Prize nominee and winner of the Thomas More College Bilbo Award for creative writing.

Review:  The Prodigal (The Corpse Whisperer #1) by H.R. Boldwood

Rating: 4⭐️

Although listed as the first book in The Corpse Whisperer series, The Prodigal is considered by its author the prequel to the series. Its actual introduction to the corpse whisperer, Allie Nighthawk. 

These are my first books I’ve read by Boldwood so it’s my introduction into her writing as well as the universe of Allie Nighthawk. 

Allie is a ghost whisperer, someone who can raise the dead and equally important, put them back into the grave. In a world where zombies have been on the rise for the last few years, her talents are in demand. But the pay gap between the damage caused by the zombies and their destruction is seeing her bank account empty.

That’s got her heading back to Cincinnati, where she has a house and a past. 

There Allie’s got a rough landing into a situation where she’s in need of revenue, law enforcement is leery of her help, and the zombies are not behaving like normal. 

I really enjoyed this. It’s short but the characters, including Headbutt the Bulldog, are interesting and layered. And there’s a past darkness following Allie that seems to be a huge part of the series that is hinted at by the end of the book. 

It’s an entertaining read and sets the foundation for the series. A definite winner. 

Cover art by Dar Albert at Wicked Smart Designs

The Corpse Whisperer series: 

The Prodigal 

The Corpse Whisperer 

Corpse Whisperer Sworn 

Corpse Whisperer Torn

Buy link

 Book 1 of 5: Corpse Whisperer, the Series 

Blurb 

The Prodigal is a 2021 Imadjinn Award finalist, and H.R. Boldwood is a Pushcart Prize nominee and winner of the Thomas More College Bilbo Award for creative writing.

Murder. Mayhem. Zombies. Just another day in my hometown.

Welcome to my world—I’m Allie Nighthawk, a flat-broke zombie hunter with more attitude than cash. When I roll back into Cincinnati, I’m hoping for a fresh start. Instead, I land knee-deep in not one but two murders, a mess of mayhem, and more zombies than you can shake a machete at.

The good guys? They might not be so good. And the blast from my past? Yeah, he’s back—and not exactly bringing flowers.

Now I’ve got to juggle the walking dead, the maybe-not-so-living, and the very real chance I won’t get out unscathed. But hey, it’s all in a day’s work when you’re me: the Corpse Whisperer.

Oliver Heber Books

Publication date

March 18, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

188 pages

Book 1 of 5

Corpse Whisperer, the Series

Review:  Magic Can Bee Deadly: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Ella Bloom Mysteries Book 2) by Sarah Noffke

Rating: 4⭐️

There are many elements that I enjoy about this story. Noffke takes us further outside the town’s boundaries and introduces the reader ,as well as the two main characters, to a variety of different places and magical personalities. Some good and some not so benign.

New information is revealed about the circumstances surrounding Ella Bloom’s birth as well as the mystery behind Malcolm Fawkes’ closing of The Gloaming. Hints and clues, notes from a powerful agency, all leading towards a frustrating path for Ella and Malcolm.   This and the storyline of the book is excellent. Really interesting. 

But there’s small aspects of the story that made it equally questionable.  Early on , the author used an ethnic slur for a certain nomadic culture (substituting a “i” for a “y” doesn’t change name identity) for a someone who was clearly a Romani/Romany seller in the festival. That stood out immediately and it really surprised me that it was used. 

Another thing is a secondary male character that feels as though it’s being pushed into play as a potential romantic role for Ella. Those around her keep hinting at her being open to those who want to care for her. Insert romantic relationship trope here. 

However,  this guy has his mother running his life for him. His mother is actually setting him up on dates, and he’s going through with them because he’s sorry for his mother’s and basically has no spine. But sure, let’s get right on that romantic bandwagon, ugh. There’s so many flags here with him., Unfortunately , I believe that the author has written him into some sort of hero role. Time and the series will see if that’s true. 

I certainly hope not.   I rather she end up just taking his herd of goats. They seem to like her better. 

I had no idea this author was such a prolific writer and this is my first series that I’m reading authored by her. So I don’t have a lot to go on to know how she handles her characters and storylines. 

With these several things aside, I do think that Magic Can Bee Deadly is a terrific urban fantasy mystery story. The murder mystery is a good one, the investigation entertaining and detailed, and the town continues to evolve with new otherworldly folk and magical creatures. That’s intriguing! 

Moving forward!

Ella Bloom Mysteries (10 book series):

Dying For Magic #1

Magic Can Bee Deadly #2

Blue Blood, Black Magic #3

Verses and Curses #4

Raining Cats and  Curses #5

Half-Baked Curses #6

Signed, Spelled, Delivered #7

Murder Spelled in Thread #8

Spelled For Choice #9 – June 19,2026

Born For Magic #10 – July 24,2026

Buy link 

        Magic Can Bee Deadly: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Ella Bloom Mysteries Book 2)

    

Blurb 

The only thing sweeter than honey, is revenge.

When magic returns to Gloamington, the town holds a Spring Awakening Festival. It should be an opportunity to celebrate. Instead, it becomes the perfect stage for murder.

When the mayor is found dead at the festival, Malcolm Fawkes and Ella Bloom find themselves hunting a killer among the celebrating crowd. The sheriff calls it an accident but the great detective knows better.

The mayor had more enemies than friends.From the baker whose dreams he crushed to the beekeeper he battled, everyone had a reason to want Mayor Estes gone.

As magical races flood back to town demanding permits, properties and long-lost treasures, Ella and Malcolm race to uncover the truth. But in a town drunk on newly returned magic, where honey flows through everything and old grievances run deep, nothing is what it seems.

Can Ella and Malcolm catch a killer before it’s too late? Or will the sweetest revenge claim another victim?

Magic Can Bee Deadly is the second book in the enchanting Ella Bloom Mysteries.

One-Twenty-Six Press

Publication date

October 17, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

277 pages

Book 2 of 10

Ella Bloom Mysteries

Review; Earp & Chandra (Sundance, #2.5) by C. P. Rider

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Earp & Chandra is an excellent novella in the Sundance universe. It establishes the characters of Jedidiah Earp, a 70 year old Gila monster shifter full of regrets, and his ex-assassin partner for the night, Chandra Smith, a hyena Alpha in her 20’s but as fearsome a predator as they come. 

They are hunting for poachers in the desert territory of their pack and the story unfolds in an unexpected direction. 

It’s not exactly a standalone as many of the characters around them are the main characters from the Sundance series and this fits perfectly into the slot between stories.

But as providing further depth and insight into these remarkable characters and their own stories? It’s a fascinating read and great story .

I love every single bit of this and each interaction between Chandra and Earp, so fun, moving in their own way. 

A definite favorite here. 

Cover design by The Book Brander

Related to:

Sundance series 

Buy links to the book/series:

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comThe Sundance Series (5 book series) Kindle Edition

Online Book Clubhttps://onlinebookclub.orgEarp & Chandra: (Sundance, #2.5) by C.P. Rider

Blurb 

A SUNDANCE SERIES NOVELLA

Seventy-year-old Gila monster shifter Jedidiah Earp has spent decades perfecting two skills: biting first and asking questions later. The desert scrub around Sundance, California, is his domain, and he knows every rock and ridge like the back of his scaled claws.

Chandra Smith is an entirely different kind of predator. The alpha hyena shifter may only be in her late twenties, but her years as an assassin taught her everything about tracking enemies—and making them vanish without a trace.

When paranormal poachers start hunting in their territory, the cantankerous old lizard and the lethal ex-killer form an unlikely alliance—and friendship. What begins as a simple mission to eliminate the traffickers becomes something neither expected: the discovery that the strongest bonds aren’t always forged through blood, and that sometimes family finds you in the most unexpected places.

EARP & CHANDRA can be read as a standalone adventure or as part of the Sundance series. It takes place betweenSUMMONED (Book Two) and SABOTAGED (Book Three)

VC Group, LLC

Publication date

April 21, 2020

Language

‎English

Print length

110 pages

Review:  Under The Hat  (Wicked Witches of Cauldron Hollow #2) by Sara Bourgeois 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

I really enjoyed Under The Hat more than the first story. The author is really defining her characters and the unique universe of Calderon Hollow here so we get a real sense of the nature of the town, and the magical strength of the powers of the families who live there.

Blythe Fairfield has made her choice to live in the house, accepting the magic and learn her role, whatever it may be. But the unstable Veil and shifting perspectives of the townspeople make it hard for Blythe to get a better sense of them and her new community.

I really liked how the different relationships are evolving here, between Blythe and the magical family on the other side of the ancient power feud, and even more so, between her and the Sheriff who “knows” instinctively that there’s something about her and the town that he can’t see or be involved with but also realizing it’s no less true. 

The details, the history behind the old feud, the darker aspects of the town, it’s slowly getting revealed. 

And it all gives depth to her and the series. 

Just terrific. Great storytelling. 

Highly recommended. Love the author.

Wicked Witches of Cauldron Hollow (4 book series)

If the Hat Fits #1

Under The Hat #2

Hat Out of Spell #3

Hat Trick #4

Buy link

 Book 2 of 4: Wicked Witches of Cauldron Hollow 

Blurb 

Blythe Fairfield chose to stay in Cauldron Hollow. She’s not sure the town has chosen her back.

Her relationship with Sheriff Paine Wilder is in ruins. Her bank account is worse. The only job she can find is running a cash register at the local grocery store, where her boss is a conspiracy theorist, her customers include a woman who screams about paying for eggs, and the one friend who made it all bearable keeps talking her into things she shouldn’t do.

Then a reclusive prepper turns up dead on his rural property, and Blythe finds more than a body. Buried beneath the man’s unfinished root cellar is a book of spells that should not exist, magic that breaks every rule Blythe has been taught to follow. She can’t leave it for the police. She can’t destroy it. And she definitely can’t stop thinking about what’s inside.

Someone killed a man for this book. And Blythe just brought it home.

Review: Dying For Magic: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Ella Bloom Mysteries Book 1) by Sarah Noffke

Rating:  4.5⭐️

Dying for Magic, the first in the Ella Bloom Mysteries by Sarah Noffke, introduced me to another terrific author.  I throughly enjoyed everything about this book and characters and anticipate diving into the rest of the series.

The characters and storylines, multiple plots, are very well developed and intriguing. And the more the story progresses, the better the exploration of the world becomes and the history of the Magic of the town of Gloamington.

I think the element I love best is that both of the main characters are enigmas. Ella Bloom, hired to become the 6-month assistant to the town’s favorite detective, has a past life full of questions and no answers. 

And she arrives to find that the older gentleman she’s been hired to assist, Malcolm Fawkes, a renowned paranormal detective, has no memory of her or his past life.

So author Noffke builds a narrative around two people, and several animals, who have memory issues.  All while struggling with daily tasks like identifying the local community citizens, and conducting a murder investigation that the police sheriff has tabled . It’s funny, compelling, believable, and absolutely engaging watching these two people build a friendship on such a shaky but shared experience. 

I can’t think of another book or series quite like it. 

I’m highly impressed and recommending this. And quickly going forward with this series. 

Ella Bloom Mysteries (10 book series):

Dying For Magic #1

Magic Can Bee Deadly #2

Blue Blood, Black Magic #3

Verses and Curses #4

Raining Cats and  Curses #5

Half-Baked Curses #6

Signed, Spelled, Delivered #7

Murder Spelled in Thread #8

Spelled For Choice #9 – June 19,2026

Born For Magic #10 – July 24,2026

Buy link 

 Book 1 of 10: Ella Bloom Mysteries 

Blurb 

Ella Bloom can see magic no one else can, and it’s leading her straight to a killer…

When Ella accepts a mysterious job in the picturesque town of Gloamington, all she wants is six months away from the noise of the city and a quiet place to call home. Instead, she finds herself assistant to Malcolm Fawkes, a renowned paranormal detective with no memory of hiring her—or much of anything else.

When magic that only Ella can see leads her to a murder, she discovers Gloamington isn’t the quaint small town it appears to be. Five years ago, it was a magical haven until something went terribly wrong. Now the town’s dormant wellspring—the Gloaming—is stirring again, awakening with Ella’s arrival.

With a reluctant Malcolm by her side, Ella must navigate a web of secrets, suspicious townspeople and her own mysterious connection to Gloamington’s magical past. Someone in town is willing to kill to keep magic buried forever. Ella’s unusual abilities make her their next likely target.

The Gloaming is opening once more. Could Ella Bloom be the key to everything?

Dying for Magic is the first in an enchanting mystery series from the creator of the blockbuster Beaufont universe.

One-Twenty-Six Press

Publication date

September 30, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

262 pages

Book 1 of 10

Ella Bloom Mysteries

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