A Taste of Magic (Magic, # 1)

A Taste of Magic (Magic #1)

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3.47 of 5 stars 3.47  ·  rating details  ·  1,196 ratings  ·  161 reviews
Today is Elizabeth Stevens’ birthday, and not only is it the one-year anniversary of her husband leaving her, it’s also the day her bakery is required to make a cake—for her ex’s next wedding. If there’s a bitter taste in her mouth, no one can blame her.

But today, Liz is about to receive a gift. Her Grandma Verda isn’t just wacky; she’s a little witchy. An ancient gypsy ma...more
Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages
Published February 24th 2009 by Love Spell (first published February 13th 2009)
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Community Reviews

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Inara
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
♡KarLynP♡
I ended up scanning the last half of the book, not reading it entirely. Because of that I wont say if its good or bad, just not my cup of tea, so I wont give it any star rating just to be fair. It has a light and quirky writing style that I know many will enjoy. It's written in first-person, and the writing level seamed to be aimed at the young adult croud, which just isn't what I enjoy. The romance part of this book appears to be the heroine deciding between two men through much of the book, an...more
Leah
I read this book in two sittings. This author is definitely going on my must-buy list, this book was that good! A Taste of Magic is a light, quirky, fun read with fabulous characters that I bonded with immediately. The heat level is mild to medium but I'd still call it a sensual read. I love how Liz uses her magic and oh, is this book funny! All the characters are wonderfully drawn and distinct. When I finished the book I wished I had the next one by my side to read but it's not out until July....more
Joan Reeves
Magical and Romantic

A Taste of Magic by Tracy Madison features appealing characters, emotional truths, and an element of magic. All these elements combine to make this contemporary romance a compelling read.

As is my custom when I review ebooks, I give the Kindle Buy Links because I read them on my Kindle. However, I'm certain these books are available at most ebook sellers so look for them on the platforms that match your ebook reading device. (Shop for your own Kindle.)

If you've ever been divor...more
Cj W
Really a book for the ladies, not really 'smut' necessarily, but.... close. lol.
I just read the back, and decided that maybe it would be a light and fun easy read.
It was $2 at Wal-Mart so I figured, Hell, Why not!

There are some funny parts in it.
She's a divorce' who is having a hard time moving on with life.
Has had to learn the hard way what kindof sex toys she likes, "thank goodness for websites and plain brown packages" she says. lol.
Her Grandmother passes onto her a gift of magic, which comes...more
LP King
Mar 28, 2011 LP King rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: chick lit fans
While there are numerous romantic elements to this story, it's more of a chick lit tale than a romance. It was enjoyable enough as a light read, but suffers from several flaws.

The stream of consciousness of the protagonist, Liz, is often too detailed and loosely written. At times, the reader feels like she's chatting on the phone to her angst ridden best friend, rather than reading a novel. In romance, exploration of the characters' motivations and thoughts can be more detailed and explanatory t...more
Samantha Robey
Elizabeth Stevens is turning thirty-five alone and single. If that wasn’t bad enough, she also has to bake the wedding cake for her ex-husband and the woman he left her for. Her partner at their bakery A Taste of Magic booked the event without knowing, and the bakery is in serious need for cash and clients, so the Liz refused to turn them down. Then, her grandmother, kooky Grandma Verda, reveals to Liz that she has inherited magical powers on her birthday. Turns out, Liz is from a line of gypsie...more
Blodeuedd Finland
This was a sweet book, and then I am not only talking about the yummy things that she was baking. Those sure made me crave cake and pie.

Liz got divorced a year ago when her husband of many years left her for a much younger woman. Now she just lives, without really leaving. But as her 35th birthday comes to pass something is about to change. There is gypsy-blood in her and it's magic, by accident she sets the first magic free and more will follow.

I liked Liz, she felt real, and I do like the scen...more
Jessica Workman Holland (Tales Between the Pages)
A Taste of Magic had a really great premise. Elizabeth is the descendant of a gypsy and has been passed magical powers that will grant her any wish she decides to make.

At times, I loved the characters. Other times, I wanted more than the formulaic characterization that Tracy Madison gives us. The misunderstandings between Elizabeth and Nate made me think of that Three's Company episode. You know, the one with the misunderstanding.

Though the book is entertaining and is a fun read, I wish that Ma...more
Katie(babs)
What if you were given the ability to make magic? What would you do and who would you help? Would you get your revenge on those who have made your life miserable? These are the questions that arise for bakery owner, Elizabeth Stevens. She and her friend, Jon own A Taste of Magic Bakery. It has been a big year for Elizabeth as she is turning thirty-sex. Her ex-husband is getting married to the woman he cheating on Elizabeth with. Plus, they hired Elizabeth to bake their wedding cake. Elizabeth sw...more
Tara
Ahh...I really need to stop downloading every free Kindle book I come across. I admit it...I am a free book junkie, but now I am realizing why most of these books are free - someone would be crazy to actually pay money for them. I will also admit I am not a huge romance novel fan. I like a little more depth to my book, then the poor thirty year old woman going through a crises until she finds her perfect man and suddenly her life is sunshine, lollipops and rainbows. This novel was pretty much th...more
Sheyla
Elizabeth Stevens couldn't have a worse day. She is turning 35 and since her divorce, she had stopped living. To makes matters worse she is baking the cake for her ex husband's wedding to the woman he left her for.
Her grandmother Verda decides to pass her the gift of magic on her birthday. It manifest through her baking (ex husband will be the first to experience her magic- in a not so fun way).
After too many margaritas, she losses her keys to the apartment and ends up getting stuck in her windo...more
Jess the Romanceaholic
Free on Kindle

What worked for me:
*I REALLY enjoyed the fact that Lizzie made a LOT of mistakes with her magic before she finally got everything figured out.
*Who DOESN'T love a man in uniform?!

What didn't work for me:
*The angst of a cheating spouse -- while this was integral to the story, it was a bit too angsty for me, especially since this was a journey of acceptance and forgiveness for the heroine. I'm not a forgiving person lol Let's just say the second spell wouldn't have been for what she...more
Megan Schiffour
This wasn't the best book I have read but it wasn't the worst book by far. Honestly it started out amazing, a head start straight from the starting block and then it got bogged down and picked up enough that it wasn't painful to finish. I will however say I have glad when I was done.

The book follows a young, divorced woman through a journey of self-discovery with the addition of gypsy magic. The main character, Elizabeth explores her new magic through her baking and causes a few screw ups on th...more
Laura
I bought this in the dollar store, so I was pleased to find that it was enjoyable. HOWEVER, it is pretty damn offensive with regard to "gypsies". I kept turning to my husband, "oh by the way, did you know that the Rom are all magic and cast spells and curses? and we use it to make our exes impotent? And we're a-holes?"

Using the old (if silly and obviously inaccurate) cliche of magic mysterious curse casting members of the Rom CAN be done without making me feel sick to my stomach. I don't even re...more
Erika  Badass
It was a light and easy read. For the most part I liked the heroine. She seemed very real and made some poor decisions and then had to try and fix and deal with the consequences. I liked Nate, I wish we got to know him better. I also liked Kevin, the trainer, and Jon her partner in the baking biz. Gramma Verda reminded me a little of Gramma Mazur from Stephenie Plum, the first few books. Overall, I enjoyed the writing, at times it felt a bit choppy in places and could have been more streamlined...more
Sheryl
This book is a fun, contemporary romance with magic thrown into the mix. Fun characters, good narrative voice and some hilarious situations, make this a very entertaining read. I am very much looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

A note on Kindle formatting: Editing on the kindle edition could have been better. Throughout the book, occasionally words would be split in the middle, making it slightly disorienting at times (especially when the word is split in a place that makes t...more
Kindle-aholic
This was a fun enough, short romance. It kept my attention, and the magic part was interesting (although the best part was her first spell when she didn't even know she had magic). I'm not a fan of the "all of a sudden every man wants her" book. It doesn't matter how we get there - in this case a spell - it just gets old. I think that the author was going for a more "realistic" portrayal of a fledgling couple - who knows if it will all work out, enjoy what you have while you have it, but that's...more
Kristi
I loved this book. I loved Elizabeth's style and the way she presented things (first person) although I thought she made some pretty stupid decisions sometimes (Kevin).

I read some other reviews where some people didn't like the presentation of the story but I thought it was very readable and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. It was like a friend was telling you this story but at the same time, it was easy to visualize what was going on so I didn't feel like I was left in the dark about some...more
Paula
I thought this was a cute read, a magical/romance.

Lizzie finds she possesses a gift handed down from her grandmother Verda. While baking, Lizzie can concoct spells. She really needs this right now since she has been divorced for 1 year and feeling a little low. She concocts a spell while making a wedding cake for her ex-husband. It works! Now she decides to try a couple of others on her friends. It makes her wonder if they are better off without a spell!

Lizzie is also falling for her cop neighbo...more
GoldenjoyBazyll
It's her 35th birthday and she is baking a cake for her former husbands wedding due to a snaffu w/ her bakery and the wedding planner. Her business is new and her partner did not realize who's wedding it was until after the job was taken. OOOOOPs. She is feelin' the blues and grandma has decided to meddle with a little magic of her own.....

through many twists and turns.... and connecting with her dead great great grandma.... she gets over a marriage gone wrong and finds new love.

This book was FU...more
Carrie
Really should be a 2.5 because it's right smack dab in the middle between it was ok and I liked it.
Pretty detailed sex scene - twice! And, maybe not great writing or a so great of a plot. But I've been sick, and it's been snowy and I haven't read much for a while. It's a "read in a few hours since it was .99 on Kindle by the fire for pure guilty pleasure but not really to recommend".

Oh no, just found out it's a series which I'm a sucker for even if they aren't any good! The next have cheesy matc...more
Amber
A Taste of Magic is funny! This story is just fun, you'll fall in love with Elizabeth and her Granny. Granny Verda gives Liz the gift of magic on her 35th Birthday! What a gift but with that gift comes the learning curve and all that can wonky when your fiddling in other peoples lives and casting spells. Elizabeth is not only learning the gift of magic she has several family troubles, Grandma moves in with her, and man issues. An ex husband she wants in the past and two new relationships on the...more
Alicia
This was a pretty decent read. I loved the witchy aspect and loved the yummy guys all around Liz. Loved her quirky grandma..who wouldn't? I would love to have the ability to make things happen just by baking something tasty! Myself..I would have went hardcore on the ex husband. All in all, I thought it was well written and amusing. It has magic, romance, and sweet revenge..a great combination! I read this in just a few hours as it is a fun but fast read. I look forward to continuing the series a...more
Dorri
I give this book a solid three and a half stars. Simply because it was enchanting and sweet. A little predictable, but it still charmed me. Unknowingly, the main character, Elizabeth, gets a gypsy gift from her grandmother Verda on her birthday. A little special sparkle in the writing on the card. Later the same day she is forced to make a wedding cake for her ex-husband and the mistress he left her for. It makes for a bitter taste in Liz's mouth. So in order to get through the making of the cak...more
Kristen
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Kelly
This book was fun. Cute books like this can really go either way with me, but this one worked. It managed to keep itself from being too cute (which I find a little horrifying) and yet it never felt forced (my biggest pet peeve with books of this ilk). It was fun. Fun with magic!

I did have a few moments when Liz was experimenting with her spell casting in the beginning where I was shaking my head. I wanted to be like the person in the movie theater watching a scary movie yelling at the dumb girl...more
Jennifer
A cute, not overly fantastic romance. This is one of those books where I wish they included recipes for the food the main characters bake! It made me want to whip out the mixing bowl and try a little magic of my own, of the more mundane sort, of course...

Lots of simple magic with unintended and unexpected consequences, but of course there's a HEA ending. Some of the MC's interactions with guys seemed a little too easily wrapped up, but the story was good, and there's obviously another course com...more
Melody Medeiros
I hate to give a book one star, but I didn't get very far before I had to stop reading. I am not a fan of overly fluffy romance, but others of this kind have eeked out three stars for reasonable writing talent. If it had been a little more meaningful I could have forgiven some of the bad, but combine a trite story with sub par writing and I wanted to throw it across the room. Luckily, I had only borrowed it and I refrained out of respect for the Library.
Kristi, A Book Fanatic
This was a freebie or a 99 cent book for the kindle that I purchased. I enjoyed this book so much!! Cute tale of a woman trying to rebuild her life after a failed marriage. I loved the aspect of the magic while reading, and what happens when you start getting what you wished for..Loved the characters of the story -- I wanted to shake the main character a few times during the story I became so involved!! I have the other books for this series on my TBR list :)
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A Taste of Magic (Magic, # 1)
A Taste of Magic (Magic, #1)
A Taste of Magic (Magic, #1)
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