Tag: author Juliette Harper

Review: Witch At Last (The Jinx Hamilton Series Book 3) by Juliette Harper 

Rating: 3.75⭐️

Witch At Last, the third book in The Jinx Hamilton Series by Juliette Harper, resolves several of the issues I mentioned about this series in the previous stories. 

Having a character or two main characters who are both consistently lied to about deeply important matters and elements about themselves from those closest to them is highly toxic. Especially when the excuse is because “it’s for their own good “, “they aren’t ready”, or whatever that means when someone takes control or consent away from an adult(s) for important decisions in their lives.

It needed to be rectified by the author for me to go forward with the series, and in a way that makes sense for all the characters involved here. 

I’m not sure if they have addressed it throughly but I can see this being a part of the plot and series . 

The mothers of Jinx Hamilton and her best friend/cousin, Tori, play important roles with their daughter’s future magic powers and in the process of making the town safe.  And Harper somewhat addresses part of the drama behind the neglect of the friends’ lack of understanding and knowledge. 

Chase and his father, Festus, along with the magical gang from the sentient house/shop herself are all involved from a story that carries over from the previous drama of book 2.

While the characters are enjoyable, the plot overall seems a bit flimsy, especially when given the ages of the characters, the details revealed by the plot, and some of the most memorable elements. Where is the real planning? Heavy duty wards or anything that would make sense for something on the scale that’s represented here? 

Aside from some narrative plot holes here and there, I noticed a few things that weren’t caught by the author or editor. Harper has Jinx telling Tori how happy she is they opened up the shop early at 7, with people flooding in at 6 filling the tables with their papers and tablets.  Uh, what? Things like that. 

Plus she barely knows Chase but they love each other? With no realistic relationship having been established between them other than one of lies? That’s not credible. 

I think there’s some terrific things here but the foundation for all of it needs to be better layered. Give the relationships, other than Tori and Jinx, a depth of dynamic that is missing. Chase and Festus come the closest to a real father and son interaction here. 

As a cozy witch and warlock mystery, it’s good. I’ll eventually pick up another one in the series. But I’m in no rush.

The Jinx Hamilton Series (16 book series): complete and all released. 

Witch At Heart #1

Witch At Odds #2

Witch At Last #3

 Buy link

        Witch At Last (The Jinx Hamilton Series Book 3)

    

Blurb 

A lot has changed for Jinx Hamilton in just a few months. After the mishaps that befell her in Witch At Odds, Jinx just wants to enjoy the rest of the summer, but she’s not going to be that lucky. Just as she’s poised to tell her friends she’s a witch, secrets start popping out all over the place. Between old foes and new locations, Jinx isn’t going to get her peaceful summer, but she may just get an entirely different world.

*Note: This is a republished version of Witch At Last.

Cabot Publishing Group

Publication date

September 8, 2025

Edition

2nd

Accessibility

Learn more

Language

‎English

Book 3 of 16

The Jinx Hamilton Ser

Review:  Witch At Odds (The Jinx Hamilton Series Book 2) by Juliette Harper 

Rating: 3.5⭐️

Witch At Odds picks up shortly after the ending of the first novel. Jinx has solved her first mystery, and her best friend since childhood has come to be partners with her in the sentient store left to her by her magical aunt.

I like the mystery here, and the addition of several magical beings. Jinx and her best friend, Tori, do come across as two people who have long time relationship dynamics. That’s nicely illustrated here. 

And the ghost of the cemetery, especially Beau, the Confederate Colonel. He’s genuinely a great person and developing into a major figure here.

Now for the issues. The author has almost all the important characters,with the exception of Tori, withholding if not outright lying to Jinx about who they are, what they are, and their relationship with her and the town’s history and secrets. So yeah, so many huge enormous hidden secrets here.

Ones that adversely impact Jinx, her actions, and the town.  Those around her are aware of the fact, and still argue about telling her. 

As a reader, I find this irritating and frankly toxic. Especially as one of the characters lying to her about his identity and her relationship to him and his family is the one “courting” her. Her supposed boyfriend. 

Another is her ghostly aunt Fiona, who keeps up with the poor excuses as to why she has or doesn’t give Jinx the knowledge or support she needs. As in “I didn’t think she would do anything that magical yet with her powers “. Then aunt Fiona pops out to vacation somewhere else. 

All feel incredibly lame or what I refer to as “Narratively lazy”. Awful for the characters but the author needs it down in her series arc so there you go. 

She does sorta solve the problem here but it ends on a cliffhanger. And with both “girls” going to see their mothers to discuss their past histories. 

So it looks like the revelations are going to happen next book unless a drama pops up again.  I’ll check with it.

I’m going to see where this goes next.

The Jinx Hamilton Series (16 book series): complete and all released. 

Witch At Heart #1

Witch At Odds #2

Buy link

        Witch At Odds (The Jinx Hamilton Series Book 2)

    

Blurb 

Resigned to her new life as a witch and determined to make a success of both that and her business, Jinx has a lot to learn. She sets out to both study her craft and get a true direction for her aunt’s haphazard approach to inventory. Not to mention the fact that she wouldn’t mind getting to know neighboring business owner Chase McGregor much better. Although Jinx can call on Aunt Fiona’s ghost for help, the old lady is far too busy living a jet set afterlife to be worried about her niece’s learning curve. That sets Jinx up to make a major mistake and to figure out how to set things right again.

*Note: This is a republished version of Witch At Odds.

Cabot Publishing Group

Publication date

September 8, 2025

Edition

2nd

Language

‎English

Print length

235 pages

Book 2 of 16

The Jinx Hamilton Series

Review:  Witch At Heart: A Cozy Witch Mystery (The Jinx Hamilton Series Book 1) by Juliette Harper 

Rating: 4.25 ⭐️

I thought Witch At Heart: A Cozy Witch Mystery (The Jinx Hamilton Series Book 1) by Juliette Harper a step above the rest of the stories I’ve read in this trope of books.

There’s an entire genre of books and series based around a woman who inherits a store from a relative, usually an aunt who turns out to be magical. There’s a mysterious animal included, hers, the relative’s or the store’s, normally a cat. And it’s a cozy mystery. 

On the whole, they are pretty good. Similar but each different enough in their elements to be entertaining. 

But the ending here, elevates this one into something more interesting. Takes the characters, their pasts, and the entire community and suddenly gives it an edge, an entire new layer.

Wasn’t expecting that. 

For 3/4 of the story, we get the typical plot of small town, Jinx Hamilton quits her waitressing job when her beloved crazy aunt dies the next town over and leaves her with her shop and belongings.

She also bequeaths Jinx her magic and a mysterious death to investigate.

The shop, its contents are slowly revealed as is the community of the small town that Jinx is now a part of. It’s a small village where Jinx has been a member of, along with her childhood friend, who quickly becomes a part of the story.

There’s ghosts, an adorable rat named Roderick, and a killer to find and murders to solve. And a new magical role to accept.

It’s charming, the characters are engaging and interesting. And the potential for a very intriguing world is just getting started.

It’s a quick read and the series is complete. Another win! 

I love a terrific cozy story and mystery. No romance, although there’s a slight attraction between Jinx and the cobbler. 

I’m recommending this one!

The Jinx Hamilton Series (16 book series): complete and all released. 

Witch At Heart #1

Buy link 

 Book 1 of 16: The Jinx Hamilton Series 

Blurb 

Magic begins in the heart.

Jinx Hamilton is ready to trade in waitressing for becoming her own boss. The shop she inherits from her eccentric aunt in Briar Hollow, North Carolina, seems like the perfect fit. As Jinx handles the enchanted inventory and the unruly clientele, she discovers her aunt also willed her magical powers without an instruction manual.

As if that weren’t enough, she’s forced to deal with four cats, several homeless ghosts, and a potential serial killer.

With a little help from her best friend and a dreamy new neighbor, Jinx must keep the business afloat and the murderer at bay. And it’ll take more than clever bookkeeping and spellcasting to keep the store…and herself…from going under.

*Note: This is a republished version of Witch At Heart

Publisher

Cabot Publishing Group

Publication date

September 4, 2025

Edition

2nd

Language

‎English

Print length

227 pages

Book 1 of 16

The Jinx Hamilton Series