From a master storyteller ("Booklist") comes more magic, knitting, and love, in the delightful follow-up to "Casting Spells," featuring knit-shop o...
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reviews
Jun 06, 2011
Juju
rated it: 
Laced with Magic pleasantly surprised me by exceeding it's predecessor (Casting Spells) and my expectations.
I was expecting a light revisit to Sugar Maple. What I was not expecting is a story that is witty, enchanting, exciting, and at times totally heart wrenching.
The story is told in first person but deliciously trades perspectives between the main gal (Chloe), her boyfriend (Luke), and his ex-wife (Karen).
The result? Contemporary romantic brilliance.
Rev More...
I was expecting a light revisit to Sugar Maple. What I was not expecting is a story that is witty, enchanting, exciting, and at times totally heart wrenching.
The story is told in first person but deliciously trades perspectives between the main gal (Chloe), her boyfriend (Luke), and his ex-wife (Karen).
The result? Contemporary romantic brilliance.
Rev More...
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Sep 15, 2009
Bridget
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Chloe has found her Prince Charming in Luke. She believes that they will grow old together, living happily ever after. But when his ex-wife, Karen, shows up and announces that Luke had a daughter, Steffie, who died, Chloe is literally thrown for a loop. How could Luke not tell her about this? After all, she confided in him that she's a witch in training and lives in a town full of non-humans.
Circumstances beyond anyone's control keep Karen in town and in Chloe's house. As the t More...
Aug 28, 2009
Cinnamon
rated it:
LACED WITH MAGIC by Barbara Bretton was a beautifully light tale of magic and romance. I’m not sure what I was expecting when I picked up LACED WITH MAGIC, but this book exceeded that. The story was fantastic, the suspense full and captivating, and to top it all off the romance was completely delicious. If you’re looking for a good Romance with a nice touch of magic, LACED WITH MAGIC is it.
Readers were first introduced to Chloe, part sorceress and knit shop owner, in Bretton’s fir More...
Readers were first introduced to Chloe, part sorceress and knit shop owner, in Bretton’s fir More...
Jun 04, 2011
Sapphyria
rated it:
Synopsis from the back cover:
Ever have the feeling that the fates finally got it right? That’s how I felt when I met Luke MacKenzie. And no one could have convinced me otherwise—not the trolls, selkies, or spirits who also call Sugar Maple, Vermont, home. But since I live in a town that thrives on secrets, why am I surprised that the man I love has a few of his own? Because out of nowhere his ex-wife has suddenly shown up, claiming to see the spirit of their daughter, Steffie—a da More...
Ever have the feeling that the fates finally got it right? That’s how I felt when I met Luke MacKenzie. And no one could have convinced me otherwise—not the trolls, selkies, or spirits who also call Sugar Maple, Vermont, home. But since I live in a town that thrives on secrets, why am I surprised that the man I love has a few of his own? Because out of nowhere his ex-wife has suddenly shown up, claiming to see the spirit of their daughter, Steffie—a da More...
Sep 10, 2009
Carol
rated it:
I love that Chloe embraces both sides of her background in this book, she is both human and a sorceress. She’s still learning her powers which provide some laugh out loud moments, like when Luke ends up the size of a Ken doll. Luke is amazing to me, willing to stand beside Chloe in the face of things he can’t even begin to understand. That’s true love. In a romance, the hero and heroine are most important to me, and I adore these two.
Their relationship does have some rough spots, whi More...
Their relationship does have some rough spots, whi More...
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Jan 17, 2010
Wendy
rated it: 
This was the follow-up book to Casting Spells and it was definitely a page-turner as it approached the end.
Luke and Chloe are seemingly happy in Sugar Maple until the night when Isadora (banished at the end of the last book) reappears at a town meeting. As they uncover the wounded, the citizens find Karen Mackenzie, Luke's ex-wife is in town. She is claiming that their dead daughter Steffie is making contact with her and told her to contact Luke. Chloe is thrown into a tailspin because she More...
Luke and Chloe are seemingly happy in Sugar Maple until the night when Isadora (banished at the end of the last book) reappears at a town meeting. As they uncover the wounded, the citizens find Karen Mackenzie, Luke's ex-wife is in town. She is claiming that their dead daughter Steffie is making contact with her and told her to contact Luke. Chloe is thrown into a tailspin because she More...
Aug 21, 2009
Falling Off The Shelf
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This review was originally posted on my review blog : Falling Off The Shelf (3.5 Rating)
Chloe Hobbs is a sorceress-in-training, as well as the owner of a extremely popular knit shop called Sticks and Strings. As a knit shop owner, Chloe has it made. She has an unlimited supply of yarn that never tangles and a huge fan club. If life were this easy, I think we would all be especially greatful. Outside of the knit shop, Chloe has a whole new set of problems. She's just getting used to h More...
Chloe Hobbs is a sorceress-in-training, as well as the owner of a extremely popular knit shop called Sticks and Strings. As a knit shop owner, Chloe has it made. She has an unlimited supply of yarn that never tangles and a huge fan club. If life were this easy, I think we would all be especially greatful. Outside of the knit shop, Chloe has a whole new set of problems. She's just getting used to h More...
May 15, 2010
Tania
rated it:
As with the first book, the only thing that really annoys me about Laced with Magic is the attitude shared by Chloe and the citizens of Sugar Maple that Chloe is somehow obligated to stay in the town, protect the town, get together with an appropriate man (i.e. magical and preferably of their choosing), and have babies. They all act like she owes them. Yes, they raised her when her parents died, but they didn't do it for her own sake; they did it to keep their precious town protected. Even he
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Aug 22, 2009
Andrea
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Right from the very beginning, this book grabbed me and kept my attention throughout the whole story. I didn't know this was a sequel to a book called Casting Spells (although I will now be searching for a copy!). I loved the way the story was written. I found myself flying through the story..it was written almost as if being told by a friend.
I really liked the characters. I could totally understand how Chloe was unsure of "the ex" but still wanted to fight on her be More...
I really liked the characters. I could totally understand how Chloe was unsure of "the ex" but still wanted to fight on her be More...
Aug 25, 2009
Laura
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I read this book without reading the first book in the series, and now I regret it. The author did a very good job of filling the reader in on everything that happened, so now I'm torn. On the one hand, I enjoyed this book so much that I'd like to go see what happened before. On the other hand, I feel like I already know what is going to happen.
This was a really fun read. I don't have a lot of experience with paranormal romances-- the only ones that I've read before are by Nora More...
This was a really fun read. I don't have a lot of experience with paranormal romances-- the only ones that I've read before are by Nora More...
Dec 23, 2009
CJ - You Carry On As If I Don't Love You
rated it:
Think the slightly darker version of the first one yet still light enough to read.
Luke and Chloe are starting to make some headway into their relationship. They live together, sleep together and seem to fit in every way. Except that they don't really know each other that well, so it's a small surprise when Luke's ex-wife lands on their front door with a story about the dead-daughter reaching out to her.
That makes for a compelling twist.
Everyone's lives are thr More...
Luke and Chloe are starting to make some headway into their relationship. They live together, sleep together and seem to fit in every way. Except that they don't really know each other that well, so it's a small surprise when Luke's ex-wife lands on their front door with a story about the dead-daughter reaching out to her.
That makes for a compelling twist.
Everyone's lives are thr More...
Dec 06, 2011
Jeannie
rated it:
This book is a wonderful bridge from the first introduction to Sugar Maple, Vermont and our couple, Chloe and Luke.
Chloe and Luke are a couple who found each other but life is not going easily for them when Luke's ex wife appears and says, their deceased daughter, Steffie is trying to contact each parent. Chloe finds that she is torn from helping Steffie and keeping control over the town of Sugar Maple.
Chloe's sorceress powers are on the increase since she fell in love, but, More...
Chloe and Luke are a couple who found each other but life is not going easily for them when Luke's ex wife appears and says, their deceased daughter, Steffie is trying to contact each parent. Chloe finds that she is torn from helping Steffie and keeping control over the town of Sugar Maple.
Chloe's sorceress powers are on the increase since she fell in love, but, More...
Oct 10, 2010
Snap
rated it:
This is the second book in the Sugar Maple cozy/woo woo/knitting series by Barbara Bretton. I started with Laced With Magic and really liked it. The writing is smooth. The characters of Sugar Maple, Vermont are special ... fae, vamp, were, trolls, selkies, spirits of all kinds. And the knitting ... to die for!!!! Chloe Hobbs owns the knit shop and she is just learning the sorcerer's ways (she's half human). Chloe is in love with the local law (of course). He's a hunk (Luke) and he's human. Human
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Feb 15, 2010
Karen
rated it: 
This is the 2nd book in the series about a sorceress in training who owns a yarn store in an enchanted town populated by vampires, werewolves, and spirits of various sorts. Her store is famous for yarn that never tangles. In the first book, Casting Spells, you get the idea of how the enchantment of the town works, and meet the love interest, Luke, a human sent by Montpelier, to take over as the chief of police in the town. In this 2nd book we meet his ex-wife and see the enchantment in troubl
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Jan 07, 2012
Elphaba J
rated it:
Sugar Maples está de volta com uma nova e mirabolante aventura onde nada é o que parece e o maravilhoso está ao virar de cada esquina.
Magia do Amor oferece-nos a continuação da apelativa vida da personagem Chloe Hobbs, fala-nos de como esta protagonista luta para manter o seu legado familiar, de como tenta, a todo o custo, satisfazer uma vizinhança exigente mas, acima de tudo, de como procura viver intensamente o seu amor.
Barbara Bretton descobriu a poção mágica para o sucesso com os s More...
Magia do Amor oferece-nos a continuação da apelativa vida da personagem Chloe Hobbs, fala-nos de como esta protagonista luta para manter o seu legado familiar, de como tenta, a todo o custo, satisfazer uma vizinhança exigente mas, acima de tudo, de como procura viver intensamente o seu amor.
Barbara Bretton descobriu a poção mágica para o sucesso com os s More...
Aug 14, 2009
Courtney
rated it:
This was a good follow-up to Casting Spells. I enjoy it when authors use the same setting/town and characters to write multiple books and as always, Barbara Bretton is a master storyteller. The plot was good, but I felt like it was the same thing over and over again. Chloe must choose between between humans and magick creatures and the townspeople all distrust Luke. Sometimes that aspect felt a little slow. I also thought the townspeople were extra mean and nasty this time. They put so muc
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May 04, 2010
Cris
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jan 02, 2012
Miz
rated it:
While Bretton does an admirable job in catching new readers up to date in Laced With Magic,I think it's much better to have read the first. The characters have moved on and developed in their own ways while preparing for an unknown and uncertain future.
Her writing style is still the affable, breezy sort that provides a pleasurable story. It feels like a cozy as opposed to a "romance","paranormal" or "mystery" and so what could be argued as flaws aren't More...
Her writing style is still the affable, breezy sort that provides a pleasurable story. It feels like a cozy as opposed to a "romance","paranormal" or "mystery" and so what could be argued as flaws aren't More...
Feb 15, 2010
Phoebe
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This is a fun series and book 2 doesn't fail expectations. Will Chloe and Luke make a go of it? No pressure: sorceress Chloe has to give birth to a daughter in order to preserve her lineage and save her unusual little Vermont town, which is populated by ghosts, vampires, werewolves, fairies, trolls, etc. A spanner in the works shows up in the form of Luke's ex-wife, and suddenly Chloe realizes that Luke hasn't told her the whole story. A major cliffhanger at the end of the book is good news
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Aug 23, 2009
Patricia
rated it:
Although Bretton's wit is just as apparent in this novel as it was in Casting Spells, she handles the delicate subject of a child's death with care and sensitivity. Anyone who has gone through anything similar will recognize this.
For the knitters and crocheters there is a special treat, a collection of knitting tips and a scarf crochet pattern for the beginning level. I might give that one a try.
And finally, in an author's note, Barbara Bretton pays tribute to her mother, More...
For the knitters and crocheters there is a special treat, a collection of knitting tips and a scarf crochet pattern for the beginning level. I might give that one a try.
And finally, in an author's note, Barbara Bretton pays tribute to her mother, More...
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Oct 02, 2009
Kathleen
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This is the sequel to CASTING SPELLS and has three point-of-view characters, all of them still sounding so similar I had to page back on occasion to see who was talking.
I liked the characters and the magic, but knitting had even less to do with the magic in this book, even though two of the point-of-view characters were knitters.
While some of the conflict in the story was satisfactorily resolved, the ending was a bit of a cliff-hanger, so there will need to be a follow-up More...
I liked the characters and the magic, but knitting had even less to do with the magic in this book, even though two of the point-of-view characters were knitters.
While some of the conflict in the story was satisfactorily resolved, the ending was a bit of a cliff-hanger, so there will need to be a follow-up More...
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Nov 13, 2011
Kat
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Originally posted on Joyfully Reviewed: http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/reviews/...
Things are finally going right for Chloe Hobbs. Her latent sorceress powers have finally kicked in, she saved her town from being pulled beyond the mist, she banished the power-hungry Fae leader, Isadora, and best of all, she’s in love with Luke Mackenzie, the town’s chief of police and only resident full-blooded human. But Chloe’s bubble of happiness is popped when Luke’s ex-wife, Karen, shows up in More...
Things are finally going right for Chloe Hobbs. Her latent sorceress powers have finally kicked in, she saved her town from being pulled beyond the mist, she banished the power-hungry Fae leader, Isadora, and best of all, she’s in love with Luke Mackenzie, the town’s chief of police and only resident full-blooded human. But Chloe’s bubble of happiness is popped when Luke’s ex-wife, Karen, shows up in More...
Dec 09, 2011
Ne
rated it:
Apesar da história de Chloe me ter contentado desde o inicio, não me entusiasmei particularmente com a sua paixão e talento no tricô.
A este aspecto soma-se o facto da escrita de Barbara Bretton ser um pouco infantil, o que resulta numa linguagem para jovens, mas um conteúdo para adultos. Claro que este conteúdo a que me refiro não se limita apenas à temática das lãs e outros tecidos, mas também a uma cena mais intima no segundo volume ou aos acontecimentos no geral da vida da personagem pri More...
A este aspecto soma-se o facto da escrita de Barbara Bretton ser um pouco infantil, o que resulta numa linguagem para jovens, mas um conteúdo para adultos. Claro que este conteúdo a que me refiro não se limita apenas à temática das lãs e outros tecidos, mas também a uma cena mais intima no segundo volume ou aos acontecimentos no geral da vida da personagem pri More...
Oct 25, 2010
Cat
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This was a little more "out there" than the first in the series (if that's possible), but I really enjoy the town and the characters. The yarn and knitting references are delightful, but they're specific enough that they'd confuse anyone not engulfed in the knitting culture (sadly). I like the magical rules of the world Bretton has created. She's left a GIGANTIC cliff hanger at the end, though, so she better get the third book out PRONTO! Since this was published in 2009, I would h
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Mar 29, 2010
Karen
rated it:
This is a great follow-up to the first book in the series. I found it to be well-written but hard to read at times. As a mother of four childen, I found the storyline of a dead child's spirit being held hostage by a fairy hard to take. The pain that the mother of the child was experiencing seemed so real that I had nightmares when I read it before bed.
The book keeps a fast pace and despite the difficulty I had reading it at times, I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
The book keeps a fast pace and despite the difficulty I had reading it at times, I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Jul 14, 2010
Sarah
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After reading Casting Spells I COULD NOT wait until for the 2nd book to come out! It's a very enjoyable read with all the characters we came to love in the 1st book - with that being said I feel as though this book fell short of my expectations :( With the 1st book I was so caught up in the storyline I didn't want to put it down - this one left me wanting more. Overall, still a great read - looking forward to see what the next book brings us (talk about cliffhangers!).
Nov 13, 2011
Belinda
rated it:
I am partial to a knitting-themed book. I don't even mind a knitting-themed murder mystery (why are these so often paired?) but a knitting-themed book with fairies, witches and magic? Just not for me.
Also, the two man characters continuously referred to each other as "the man I love" and "the woman I love". Seriously, I get it - you're in love. So could you please stop hitting me over the head with it?
Also, the two man characters continuously referred to each other as "the man I love" and "the woman I love". Seriously, I get it - you're in love. So could you please stop hitting me over the head with it?
May 10, 2011
Karendenice
rated it:
This is book #2 after Casting Spells. It's fun, light, and a fast read. There's something happening on every page. The main character is a woman who owns a knit shop and seeing as how I love to knit I really enjoyed it. And when she wrote about yarns and needles it was fun. There are even some knitting tips and hints in the back and one throw pattern.
Feb 10, 2010
Pam
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I really liked the last Barbara Bretton book that I read so I picked up a couple more from the library. This book is book 2 after casting spells and was fun to read. The ending left me hanging unlike first book that I didn't realize had a second. Now I need to search and see if there is a 3rd. Cant wait to read more from her
Jul 07, 2011
Jane C.
rated it: 
This book was just awful. The book's premise is based on the tongue-in-cheek humor of an isolated northern village inhabited by supernatural beings. I had to stop reading when the story of a dead child became horrendously bad. Along with the Isadora character, the author brings way to much evil and violence into the story.
