Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Charms and Chocolate Chips (A Magical Bakery Mystery, #3)” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Charms and Chocolate Chips

(Magical Bakery Mystery #3)

Bailey Cates

3.96 · Rating details · 3,156 ratings · 240 reviews

Between brewing magically spiced treats at Honeybee Bakery and volunteering with a local conservation group, Katie Lightfoot barely has time to see her firefighter boyfriend, Declan McCarthy, much less delve further into her destiny as a witch. But avoiding her fate won't be as easy as whipping up a new recipe-especially when Katie finds herself once again mixed up in murd ...more

Get A Copy

Or buy for

Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages

Published November 5th 2013 by NAL (first published October 1st 2013)

More Details... edit details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Charms and Chocolate Chips, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about Charms and Chocolate Chips

Lists with This Book

The Whole Enchilada by Diane Mott Davidson

The Diva Frosts a Cupcake by Krista Davis

2013 Cozy Mystery New Releases

207 books — 214 voters

Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie

What's a Ghoul to Do? by Victoria Laurie

Paranormal Cozy Mysteries

312 books — 409 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

3.96 ·

Rating details

· 3,156 ratings · 240 reviews

Filter

Sort order

Oct 09, 2017 Berit☀️✨ rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017, audiobooks, cozy-mystery, paranormal

Now I want a scone, with some extra herbs in it for prosperity....
Katie seems to keep running across dead bodies, part of this is because she is a catalyst, and part of this is because she is a light witch....Katie is also a fun witchy character;With a feisty eclectic coven.... The coven is definitely part of the strength of this series, this group of witches are all so different, but are able to work so well together.... another major strength is the bakery, I love the atmosphere of this baker ...more

flag 27 likes · Like · see review

Aug 27, 2014 Darth J rated it it was ok

2.5 stars

This book seemed to be going in more of an Urban Fantasy direction than I was comfortable with. I bought into this series knowing that it was shelved as a Cozy Mystery. It's not that I don't like Urban Fantasy, but I've had too much of it lately and am just kinda tired of it. The talk about ley lines and some kinda telekinesis?? with a flash of light was too much of a stretch for how this series is set up.

Don't even get me started on the weird tree communicating with the MC thing.

And th ...more

flag 17 likes · Like · see review

May 30, 2015 Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* rated it really liked it

Shelves: a-own-book-form, got-in-2015, mystery, part-of-series, 4-star, magic-powers, mystery-read-and-solved, witches, mystery-cozy-and-class, cover-love

Katie Lightfoot (yes, I kind of hate her name too) thankfully wasn't too dampered by the previous diagnosis of what a unique witch she was at the end of the second book. While she's settling in with her powers in general, she makes sure to still keep her nose in crimes that keep popping up in her small town. This time it involves a weird tree, conservation morals, and another mini showdown between the female and male witches/warlocks/shamans/whatever.

Unfortunately the love triangle is still draw ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Feb 14, 2017 Yodamom rated it really liked it

Katie our heroine and baker deluxe has once again stumbled on a dead body. This time it is somebody she knows an worked with. She soft of pretends like she might stay out of it but that goes against her nature and she dives in. This is not the only upset in her life, her mother shows up unexpectedly and there are some issues that need faced. There is a swamp, snakes, powerful trees, lawyers, ex's, powerful spells and some deviously yummy baked goodies.
Negatives: This one had a slow start for me ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Jul 23, 2017 Kevin rated it really liked it

Shelves: ebook, mystery, culinary

I like the darker tone that the series started in the previous book, this one isn't as dark but still not as light and fluffy as the first.
(view spoiler)

I'm interested to see what plans the author has for the series, starting book 4 now.

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Feb 26, 2016 Vicky Marie rated it really liked it

Shelves: cozy-mysteries

The story was great, but my issue was with the love triangle. Yes, even though Katie made her choice, there was still a darn love triangle. I wouldn't have mind if not for the fact I despise Steve. I don't see why Cates keeps shoving him in our faces. He had more scenes than Declan, her actual boyfriend. He really makes it difficult to read on, despite my love for the series. Ugh, so frustrating. I'm still going to continue on, but I pray there won't be anymore sexual tension between Katie and h ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jul 13, 2014 Stéphanie rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2014, cozies, magic, mysteries-and-thrillers, romance, wicca, witches, foodie

This third book of the series was very similar to the first two and while I still got through it, it almost feels like the series is stagnating a bit. The overall story was enjoyable and the book itself was well written but now I know why I don’t read many cozy mystery series: I get bored after a while.

It was, however, nice to learn a little bit more about the main character’s magical abilities. We’ve know from the start that Katie’s not just a normal hereditary witch. She’s a catalyst and she a This third book of the series was very similar to the first two and while I still got through it, it almost feels like the series is stagnating a bit. The overall story was enjoyable and the book itself was well written but now I know why I don’t read many cozy mystery series: I get bored after a while.

It was, however, nice to learn a little bit more about the main character’s magical abilities. We’ve know from the start that Katie’s not just a normal hereditary witch. She’s a catalyst and she amplifies anything magical surrounding her. Whether she’s attracted to murder scenes or whether she actually causes them is still up in the air, but one thing’s for sure, she’s good at helping solve the murders. In the previous book, we also learnt that she a lightwitch and we still don’t really know what that entails. Hopefully we’ll learn what a lightwitch is soon and maybe the next book will expand on it a little bit more.

As for Katie herself, she’s starting to get on my nerves. She’s known for months now that’s she’s a lightwitch and if I was in her position, I would definitely make the effort to find out what exactly that means. I wouldn’t leave it to chance or to the next murder mystery to reveal more about my powers. Her let it be attitude is definitely the opposite of mine and although I like her as a character, I wouldn’t be able to stand her as a friend. The game she’s playing with the two guys in her life, Declan and Steve, is mean. She’s leading both of them on, and at the moment she’s with Declan but she’s being friendly with Steve too. Declan’s a little jealous of this, I think, and Katie has to continuously reassure him that she’s just friends with Steve. I think she’s trying to reassure herself at the same times and whether or not she believes what she says is still unclear.

The actual murder story was well thought out. The woman who was murdered was the leader of a conservation group called Georgia Wild that’s trying to save a swamp from being turned into a corporate golf course. Since Katie has a strong affinity to plants, it’s only natural for her to volunteer for the group. There are many suspects in the case and all of them could have done it, but the writer lets the story brew for a long time. We only learn right at the end who the real murderer is and it’s someone I really didn’t suspect.

My favourite character is still Mongo, Katie’s familiar dog but I am a little worried about him eating human food. He’s quite a glutton but at least Katie is starting to limit what he eats. I know some people hate when writer humanize the animals in their story, but I’m all for it, especially when it comes to dogs. I’m such a dog lover that I don’t mind at all. Anyways, Mongo is such adorable that I don’t think many people who read cozy mysteries care all that much. He’s an adorable and loyal little guy.

Since I’ve committed to this series, I will definitely continue reading it but be aware, it’s not one of my favourites. It’s a good change from what I usually read so it’s a good diversion. I’m just hoping the next book will reveal more about Katie’s abilities and I truly hope she’ll finally decided which guy she wants to be romantically involved with. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 26, 2013 M.K. Theodoratus rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: cozy mystery and fantasy readers

Recommended to M.K. by: previous book in series

Shelves: mystery

Five Cheers for light-hearted mysteries.

Cates whips up a fluffy confection that lands squarely in the cozy section but includes strong romance and fantasy/paranormal flavors. But what about the writing craft aspects of the novel?

Three-dimensional characters are her forte. Even her tertiary ones are individuals.

The plots twist enough to be interesting, and her villains have understandable motivations.

McCrae/Bailey puts together a nice paranormal mystery, based on nice people you wouldn't mind ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 14, 2013 Kimberly rated it liked it

Shelves: 2015

I don't remember a damn thing about what I read. I remember pastries off the top of my head. Oh, okay, I'm starting to remember now...
I think this bored me more than anything. I didn't find myself wanting to run home to it like I did the first two. I still like all the characters, but the story just wasn't that interesting to me. The killer was the same possessed crazy I've seen before.
The Love Geometry I thought might be there wasn't there. Good! I don't think I could take that kind of math. I ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 25, 2017 Sabrina rated it it was ok

Shelves: annoying-main-characters, annoying-side-characters, i-love-good-crime-mystery-books, i-love-supernatural-paranormal, lots-of-science-tech-religious-talk, multiple-story-lines, plot-holes-abound, quick-easy-read, stupid-romantic-triangle-for-effect

So this is the third book in the Magical Bakery series and I like the story plot so far but I am beginning to hate the main character. She is a special little snowflake being the only one with all these unique and super rare powers who is supposed to set everything around her back in balance and stuff. With each book she gets a new power or a new importance of her oh so special gift. But she doesn't know anything about this power/gift or how it will effect her life and she wonders and worries ab So this is the third book in the Magical Bakery series and I like the story plot so far but I am beginning to hate the main character. She is a special little snowflake being the only one with all these unique and super rare powers who is supposed to set everything around her back in balance and stuff. With each book she gets a new power or a new importance of her oh so special gift. But she doesn't know anything about this power/gift or how it will effect her life and she wonders and worries about it but doesn't/won't do anything about it. No asking questions or doing research or experimenting, just let it be and then when something happens worry again. (It drive me nuts, I dislike the use of the special snowflake character and she just take it to the extreme by wondering and ignoring it at the same time). She's also very high and mighty and if you don't agree with her you must be wrong. She also is toying with and stringing two guys along that like her. (I hate love triangles!) This series is supposed to be a cozy mystery but it's more of a supernatural/fantasy theme with a bit of murder now. The wiccans started out fine but now they encompass different forms of spiritualism and religion and call it wicca when it isn't and their natural powers now are or border on supernatural powers also all these powers seem to be passed through the bloodlines. As for their familiars they have been supernatural to begin with.

Katie our main girl starts the story by finding that the head of Georgia Wild a nature conservation she has been volunteering at of late has been murdered. Even though she wants to stay out of the police's way (smart girl) a member of her coven is the grandmother of her fellow volunteer and they convince her to get involved. Katie has started to date Declan (one of the men interested in her) exclusively and has cut Steve (the other guy) almost completely out of her life the last few months. But she needs Steve's help since his father is wrapped up in a land deal that her dead conservationist friend was working on stopping. They agree to be friends even thought she still thinks of him romantically and tells Declan (who isn't happy with this arrangement) that she can't cut Steve out anymore. She visits the swamp that her friend might have been killed over and is drawn to a big ancient tree. No one else seems affected by the tree. Back in town out of the blue Katie has a talk with her dead grandmother, her mother whom she has cut out of her life over the witch stuff shows up and she almost gets run over. She does resolve a few things with her mother and her mother and aunt begin to reconnect since they weren't talking either. She meets up with a suspect in the murder and learns that the old special tree she is attracted to is on lay-lines. She confronts another suspect and comes home to the first suspect going through her house. She uses her powers to stop time and the suspect and her boyfriend who has come to her rescue, unfortunately it stops their breathing and heartbeats too. (This new power would make it hard for anyone to try and hurt her now if she can just stop them in their tracks at a word or push them away which she figures out she did earlier). With one suspect down she decides to take her coven out to the swamp and the special tree. They run into the murderer and are all saved by Katie's special powers. Declan decides that Katie is still the girl for him even if he didn't believe she was a witch at first but is convinced now that she stopped his heart.

Is it just me that's disturbed or what that in all these cozy mysteries where the MC or their close relative or friends are chefs/bakers/cooks or in the food industry they all bring or allow their pets/animals into the kitchens, or just let anyone walking or help out? It's disturbing, disgusting and odd not to mention if any official found out they would be closed down in a heartbeat. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 16, 2018 Sarah rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018, audio, cozy-mystery

3.5 Stars

Challenges:
♥ RRRC Septemer 2018 Monthly Challenge #4. September is Hispanic Heritage Month
♥ 2018 Where Are You Reading - #41. South Carolina

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 11, 2013 Debbie Lester rated it really liked it

Charms and Chocolate Chips is the third book in Bailey Cates' Magical Bakery Mystery series. This is a culinary cozy with a magical twist. Cates not only teases the readers taste buds but she also takes them on an adventure into the life of hedgewitch, Katie Lightfoot. The paranormal elements in this book are light and centered around the ancient tales of "green" witches who used the earth elements to help their family and neighbors in times past. Cates does a fantastic job of creating a magical Charms and Chocolate Chips is the third book in Bailey Cates' Magical Bakery Mystery series. This is a culinary cozy with a magical twist. Cates not only teases the readers taste buds but she also takes them on an adventure into the life of hedgewitch, Katie Lightfoot. The paranormal elements in this book are light and centered around the ancient tales of "green" witches who used the earth elements to help their family and neighbors in times past. Cates does a fantastic job of creating a magical atmosphere that is both believable and enchanting.

The Magical Bakery series is one of my favorites. There are many different types of paranormal cozies on the market today from ghosts to psychics and everything in between. Cates' approach to magic is a little different and in my opinion very unique. She takes the crafts of kitchen magic and earth magic from the old days and brings them into a modern setting. It's not white magic vs. black magic, but green magic, more along the lines of wicca or what my grandfather would call, herb magic. I liked all of the information imparted by the author into each of these books. Katie is coming more into her own in the third book, Charms and Chocolate Chips, in that she is learning to use her magic more effectively. I think Cates' series is one of the more interesting of those out there right now with magical themes.

Cates does a great job of not only adding in those magical elements but making them a part of characters as well as her story. Katie is such a great character. When we first met her in Brownies and Broomsticks she had no idea that she had hedgewitch magic in her family or that she had the ability to work that kind of magic herself. She has grown a lot throughout the series and Cates continues to expand her knowledge and abilities. Katie is entertaining and relies on her aunt and uncle to help her with the Honeybee Bakery and her witchy abilities.

In Charms and Chocolate Chips Cates adds another very interesting element to the mix. Katie is volunteering with a conservation group called, Georgia Wild. I loved all of the information about the animals that Georgia Wild was trying to help and how land management is used to help conserve wild environments and habitats. I thought Cates did a wonderful job with this aspect of the story and it added a lot to the story, especially with the head of the group being the murder victim.

The mystery was definitely engaging and kept my interest. The beginning of the book however was bit slow. When you get on into it, it picks up and starts to come together, but the beginning was a little shaky and not as interesting as most of Cates' lead ins. But stick with it and you'll find it a very good read. There was lots of interesting information about magic and conservation. I loved the origami birds that the killer leaves and thought that was a great touch.

Katie's personal life also has some ups and downs in this book that will have readers sighing. Declan, Katie's sexy firefighter boyfriend is at the center of Katie's love life struggles in this book. Declan is a reoccurring character that fans of the series have grown to love, but he isn't the only person drawing some of Katie's attention and that adds a more personal aspect to the story.

Overall this a good book. It has a bit of a slow pace in the beginning, but redeems itself with a great ending, a wonderful Georgia setting. Enough information on magic and conservation to keep it interesting and some great suspects and motives. It's up to Katie and gang to figure it all out and it's up to readers to to try to figure out where Katie goes from here. The recipes in the back are scrumptious. I love chocolate chips in just about anything, don't you?
...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 23, 2014 Lisa rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, paranormal

Review From April 2014
☊ Charms And Chocolate Chips, by Bailey Cates
★★★ and 1/2 (rounding up to 4)

Synopsis: A HALF-BAKED HEX. Between brewing magically spiced treats at Honeybee Bakery and volunteering with a local conservation group, Katie Lightfoot barely has time to see her boyfriend, much less delve further into her destiny as a witch. But avoiding her fate won’t be as easy as whipping up a new recipe—especially when Katie finds herself once again mixed up in murder.
When a fellow volunteer fo Review From April 2014
☊ Charms And Chocolate Chips, by Bailey Cates
★★★ and 1/2 (rounding up to 4)

Synopsis: A HALF-BAKED HEX. Between brewing magically spiced treats at Honeybee Bakery and volunteering with a local conservation group, Katie Lightfoot barely has time to see her boyfriend, much less delve further into her destiny as a witch. But avoiding her fate won’t be as easy as whipping up a new recipe—especially when Katie finds herself once again mixed up in murder.
When a fellow volunteer for the conservation group is found dead, Katie’s mystical senses tell her that there’s more to the death than meets the eye. Her suspicions are confirmed when members of her coven are targeted next. Katie will have to embrace her powers quickly...or she may find herself chewed up and spit out by some serious black magic.
In A Sentence: Basically the same stuff I said about the last book
No More Love Triangle! My main problem with the previous book was that there was an intense love triangle, which I despise. But now, no more! That's right, Katie has chosen between her two lovestruck hunks, and it may not be the one you expected. The rest of the book was the same as the other books in the series; fun, relatively uppity, nothing too dark or though-provoking, but still pretty good.
Still Not A Fan Of The Narrator Though I'm really not a fan of the narrator of the audiobook. Her voice is husky, and she doesn't give much of a differentiation between thought and speaking aloud, or between different characters.
Overall: Seriously, read the series if you like mysteries and witches. It's worth a look, and the books are pretty quick. Have fun!

Review From July 2016:
I don't have much more to add than what I've already said two years ago. These books are quick and fun, and are a quirky combination of mystery, magic, and baking. I will say that these books make me hungry for some baked goodies, and I really want to find the recipes for the some of the foods described in the story! ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 04, 2014 Kimberly rated it really liked it

Shelves: cozy-mystery, read-2014

Book 3 in the Magical Bakery series. Katie Lightfoot is busy developing new recipes at the Honeybee Bakery and volunteering her time to the Georgia Wild Conservation Group. The mystery begins when a fellow worker is found murdered at the conservation group's headquarters. Tucked into her hands is an origami of a unique maroon bat. The very same bat that the group is trying to protect. It has been spotted in a nearby swamp that is also the interest of a local developmental group. More origami bat ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 08, 2016 Barb rated it really liked it

In Bailey Cates's latest Magical Bakery Mystery novel, Katie Lightfoot must embrace her magical abilities if she is to solve a perplexing murder.
A really off the wall murder mystery, yet i had to see 'who done it'. I would try this author again. 4 stars.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 04, 2017 Mary Ann rated it really liked it

Family Reunites Katie is continuing to learn about her magic and she has started volunteering at the Georgia Wild group. Her aunt Lucy says it is so that she can build up enough good. She finds another dead body and is drawn into the search for the killer and trying to create a relationship with her mother and Declan.

Lucy and Katie's mother reunite and start to get along again and she learns what happened that caused her mother to not show her how to control her magic, she also helps her when ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 19, 2017 Taylor Metcalfe rated it really liked it

Shelves: crime, mystery, paranormal, romance

Another cute installment to the Magical Bakery Mystery series.

More than anything, I’m loving the Savannah bakery setting. The whodunit aspect is nicely done with the killer actually pretty low on my suspect list.

I am looking forward to the next book but it looks like reviews for it are filled with spoilers so don’t read them if you don’t want to know!

Spoilers for Charms and Chocolate Chips
(view spoiler) ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jul 27, 2017 Caitlin Copp rated it really liked it

Shelves: july-2017

Katie Lightfoot has been working at the bakery she owns with her aunt (a fellow witch) and her uncle as well as volunteering at a local conservation group. She shows up to volunteer one night and finds the leader of the conservation group dead. She knows this witchy this way comes and delves into getting to the bottom of it. When she and members of her coven become the targets she knows shes on the right track. I like these books for the most part. I want to like them more but there is something ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 31, 2017 Sharon Mariampillai rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017-reads, books-i-have, books-i-won, boyfriend-material, buddy-reads, e-books, fantasy, favourite-heroines, female-povs, must-read

This was a great read. The storyline and the mystery were great. I thought it was intriguing. I hope the story continues to get better. I am not thrilled about the love triangle in the book, but I hope that Katie chooses Declan over Steve still. Katie is still the character I want to be best friend. I can have delicious sweet and goodies to eat. The coven also seems to be a great connection of family and friends. It is really intriguing to see them work together. The ending was sweet. I wanted m ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 10, 2017 Melanie rated it liked it

Shelves: ghosts-vampires-and-witches, mystery, southern, sweet

I enjoyed this, and it's fun finding out more about Katie's powers, but I have such a hard time with the whole "Bad things keep happening so let me go to isolated places alone and not keep my phone on me just in case" thing that books liked this tend to be full of. She's got all these friends and family who don't try to stop her?? Other than that, though, really fun, light reading and I'll definitely continue the series.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 20, 2018 Susan Wojtas rated it really liked it

Shelves: cozy-mysteries, culinary-mystery, fiction, mystery, own, paranormal, witches

3.5 Stars. I didn’t quite enjoy this one as much as the first two, but I think it’s because I missed all the girls being together so much. They did get together more towards the end but I missed that friendship a bit. Cookie drove me a little nuts in this but some of the events at the end redeemed her behavior.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 31, 2018 Brenda rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, bridges, library-book

This book was read now because my library reserve came into being. I have always found this author's writing style to be easy to read. In this book there was a little more supernatural or spiritual magic referred to. I was not sure if I believe that magic can mutate nature. There was some relationship tension in this book so I was not sure that the "love" triangle was going to survive or not. In the future it will be interesting to see how this triangle works it's self out. The story did enterta ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 22, 2017 Lucy King rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, read-english, witches

I did not enjoy this one as the previous books, I missed more of the special magic here, more baking, more time speding with the spellbook ladies. The crime was good but I got lost couple of times. It just missed the magical atmosphere it can have. Hopefully I will enjoy the next one more because I like this serie and its characters a lot :)

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 21, 2018 Trish rated it liked it

Shelves: src-2018-3-fall, cozy-culinary-cafe, cozy-paranormal

Not bad, once I got into it, although it took a while to get started.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 21, 2018 Kamie rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Dec 06, 2017 Catherine rated it really liked it

This is e third in a series, and it held my attention all the way through. All the characters are so believable that you want to join their spell book club. I will be reading more by Bailey Cates.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jan 03, 2014 QNPoohBear rated it liked it

Shelves: clean-romance, cozy-mystery, kisses-only

It's been four months since the events of Samhain when Katie Lightfoot learned her true destiny. She's keeping busy with the bakery, book club, volunteering with Georgia Wildlife Refuge and "going steady" with the right man. The GWR is trying to save a local swamp where there may have been sightings of an extinct species of bat. Katie is shocked when one of the GWR employees is murdered. Autumn was found with an origami maroon bat in her hand and Katie senses something wrong with it. She's deter It's been four months since the events of Samhain when Katie Lightfoot learned her true destiny. She's keeping busy with the bakery, book club, volunteering with Georgia Wildlife Refuge and "going steady" with the right man. The GWR is trying to save a local swamp where there may have been sightings of an extinct species of bat. Katie is shocked when one of the GWR employees is murdered. Autumn was found with an origami maroon bat in her hand and Katie senses something wrong with it. She's determined to leave the investigating to Detective Quinn, but when first Katie's friend Wren is threatened and then Katie herself, she decides to take matters into her own hands. She has to rely on help from some unexpected people. Meanwhile business at the bakery is a bit slow and Lucy is trying to figure out how to help people; Cookie is ignoring Katie and Bianca is looking for love again and may have found it in the eccentric professor living in the swamp Katie is trying to save.

The subject of this mystery is interesting because it involves environmental protection, something I'm interest in. I liked the sound of GWR and their work. I liked learning how a non-profit operates and their struggles to stay afloat. The mystery itself was a bit lacking. The murder happens very randomly in the beginning of the book and it didn't take me long to figure out who did it despite the red herrings. Why was a lot more complicated than first guess. The final confrontation didn't make any sense. I read it twice to figure out what had happened and still didn't get it. There is a lot of magical jargon I didn't understand and wasn't explained. I was confused as to what had happened and why. Katie also doesn't understand her power and no one is explaining to to her, let alone the reader. This contributed to my confusion.

The other parts of the story were somewhat interesting. As always I like seeing behind the scenes at the bakery but there weren't many scenes there. There wasn't a lot about the other ladies of the coven. I still can't tell them apart based on their dialogue. Katie finally chose to date one of her two potential boyfriends. I understand her choice but don't necessarily agree with it. It seems like she chose the wrong man. She tries too hard to justify the relationship and please everyone, yet she seems to be holding back a bit. Her romance is perfectly clean. Her guy spends the night to be with her when she's scared, but it's more platonic than anything. I liked her unexpected visitor and how their story progressed. Katie's personal confrontation was realistic but then resolved too quickly. I thought the other person's reaction was natural to start with and they should have needed more time. I also liked the explanation of Imbolic and how they celebrate it but the rest of the magical stuff had me lost. As always, Mungo steals every scene he's in. I just love him!

This is a nice, quick read for something different. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Dec 04, 2013 Book of Secrets rated it really liked it

CHARMS AND CHOCOLATE CHIPS is a delightful continuation of the Magical Bakery Mystery series. This time around, Katie is faced with murky, woo woo filled swamps, endangered bats, and the mysterious murder of a local environmentalist.

First, I'll get my complaint out of the way. In the first two books, Katie was being wooed by firefighter Declan and Druid/reporter Steve. She's finally made her choice, and she picked the wrong guy! That's strictly my opinion, of course. ;-) I'm still holding onto a CHARMS AND CHOCOLATE CHIPS is a delightful continuation of the Magical Bakery Mystery series. This time around, Katie is faced with murky, woo woo filled swamps, endangered bats, and the mysterious murder of a local environmentalist.

First, I'll get my complaint out of the way. In the first two books, Katie was being wooed by firefighter Declan and Druid/reporter Steve. She's finally made her choice, and she picked the wrong guy! That's strictly my opinion, of course. ;-) I'm still holding onto a glimmer of hope for my man.

Katie is a recent transplant to Savannah, and a lot has happened in her life since her arrival. She's running an enchanted bakery with her aunt and uncle, practicing her craft as a hedge-witch, and becoming a skilled amateur sleuth. Katie also discovered that she is a light-witch and magical catalyst, which she's having a hard time with. Basically, she must fight evil, and wrong situations seem to find her so she can right them.

The murder mystery in this book grabbed my attention. I really enjoyed the environmental angle, and the subtle magical elements too. When a volunteer at a the conservation group Georgia Wild is murdered, Katie is compelled to help track down her killer. The group is trying to stop a land development deal of a swamp from going through which threatens the habitat of an endangered, possibly extinct, bat. There were plenty of viable suspects, and though I picked out the killer early on, I wasn't clear on the "why" until the end.

Katie is a down-to-earth, sensible character who's doing a fine job as a newbie in the world of magic. She's still very confused over the light-witch revelation (me too), and I'm hoping that gets explained better in the next book. Sweet Aunt Lucy and the rest of the Spellbook Club (a.k.a. Katie's coven) play a big role in this story. I don't know why, but I still have a hard time keeping track of who's who, even after three books! I was a little annoyed with coven member Cookie this time. She was cold and distant to Katie the whole book, and her reason was kind of silly.

Overall, I enjoyed CHARMS AND CHOCOLATE CHIPS. Exciting mystery, enchanting setting, and bewitched baked goods. Looking forward to Katie's next adventure. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 03, 2017 Courtagonist rated it really liked it

If you follow my blogs, the reviews, or my youtube channel, I have a slight addiction to Cozy Mysteries. Okay, maybe not SLIGHT...a HUGE addiction to Cozies. But more specifically, I have a weakness for cooking and magical mysteries. They just tickle my fancy. My waist and my imagination expand while reading these types of books.

Bailey Cates' Magical Bakery Mystery does this to me everytime. I crave what ever it is that Katie and Lucy are making in the Honeybee Bakery and I want to know more ab ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 18, 2015 Sarah Adamson rated it it was ok

Shelves: mystery, fantasy

Just couldn't get into it properly so skim read the second half. Liked the idea, liked the characters but sometimes these books that try to blend reality and fantasy work really well and cleverly and sometime they just made me go huh! Sorry - ok cozy for those into mysteries and fantasy but won't be looking for more.

flag 1 like · Like · see review