Some Practical Magic

by Laurie Carroll-Kuna

“Kitchen Witch” Cassandra Hathorne doesn’t know what she’s getting herself into. To escape her mother’s relentless matchmaking, Cassie jumps at the opportunity to go on a book tour headlined by blockbuster horror novelist M. S. Kazimer. Even though Mick’s not one of her own kind, sparks fly between them.

But Mick has a secret more disturbing than Cassie’s own secret of being a real witch. A serial killer, one who’s been copycatting the murders in M. S. Kazimer’s books, is now stalking the tour. And Cassie must choose between keeping Mick’s love and protecting them all with her practical magic.

Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Mystery, Fantasy, Cozy Mystery

196 pages, Paperback

First published July 29, 2004

About the author

Apparently, I have a split personality. When I’m writing contemporary paranormal romances, I’m Laurie C. Kuna. When I turn my pen to historical paranormal romances, I answer to the name Laurie Carroll. If I’ve got my editor’s hat on, just call me Laurie.

I’ve been a reader since I was four and a writer since not long after that. I love words and the creative process, and it’s my hope that readers will enjoy my efforts to entertain them via those words, as I have been entertained by hundreds of authors throughout my life.

I know many readers also are or aspire to be authors, and my advice to those starting on the road to publication is to join a reputable writing group–whether literal or on-line–and to hang in there. I’ve been a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA) and Mid-Michigan RWA, my local chapter, since 1988. Five years after joining, I was a finalist in RWA’s Golden Heart contest. Then in 2002–nine years after the contest final–my GH entry, A WAR OF HEARTS became my first published novel when ImaJinn Books picked it up. So, no overnight sensation status for me!

I taught English in a public high school for 29 years before retiring and use that knowledge not only to write my own stories but as a free-lance line editor. I also enjoy public speaking, and have given speeches and workshops in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, often on my two favorite subjects–grammar and swearing. I’ve even had the privilege of twice speaking at the Romance Writers of New Zealand conference in Auckland, New Zealand. This time on American English.

I love to hear from readers. Write to me at P.O. Box 525 Ada, MI 49301. Or email me at lauriekuna@gmail.com.

Reviews

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I picked this book up, I thought it was a cozy mystery, but it was a bit more than that. There are some sexual encounters, as well as some rather violent murders (not described explicitly) but I still enjoyed the story. Cassie is a witch who loves humans. Endora is her familiar, a cat who can shape shift into a human. Medusa, her mother is on her case about getting married, she is 90 after all. Cassie is a journalist who writes a syndicated column called "The Kitchen Witch". She has published some books made up of her columns and she is on an author's tour with several other published authors. On this tour, she meets Mick, MS Kazimer, who is a best selling author of serial killer books. The kicker is that this tour was put together by the FBI to catch a real serial killer that is imitating the murders from the books. As Cassie and Mick fall in love, can they also stop the killing.

I loved the relationship between Endora and Cassie. They are telepathic so a lot of their conversations were not verbal, but still fun. They were sassy with one another, humorous and you could tell that they really cared about one another. Mick was also a great character. He was willing to do whatever he had to in order to catch this mad man. I wish we had gotten to know him a bit better, but I think we will in the next book. He also has a sense of humor and it showed, especially with his encounters with Medusa. A good, quick read and I am looking forward to the next one. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Krystyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bewitched in the publishing world

Loved it. Okay it did have more blood then I normally like (yeah I admit to being squeamish) but the plot and the characters more than made up for it. A book tour, a horror writer, a killer and the FBI mixed with witches, familiars and a desire to stop the killer that's using his books as a murder manual. The characters remind me of Bewitched. From the rather reluctant witch that prefers humans to members of the coven, the familiar (who has the same caustic tongue as her namesake Endora) who feels she must make amends for some wrong she has done in the past but who uses her love for her witch to protect her as well as she is able too, to the hero who is sceptical about her powers and the fact that she might have used them to make him fall in love. Will their love be strong enough to survive their differences? Will the FBI sting to bring down the killer work or will it be up to the paranormals to save the day?

[Madalyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun reading this book! I love reading about witches, and I love a good romance. Cassie was so like-able, and the relationship between her and her familiar, Endora (Yes, that's the name of Samantha's mom in Bewitched), was really refreshing for me. I read a lot of romance books where the main female and male characters are pretty much it as far as cast of the story goes, so to have other characters who are more than just passing by was nice. I liked Cassie mother, Medusa, also. She reminded me of Debbie Reynolds character from the Disney movie, Halloweentown, which is a movie I still love to watch whenever it's on TV. Medusa was a little meddling, but had her daughters best interests at heart and was able to see when she needed to step back and when to interfere.

The serial killer thing was something I feel like I've seen on an episode of Law & Order: SVU. It kept the tension up towards the end of the story and brought everyone together when they needed to be though. The romance moved a little fast. I don't have a problem with insta-love but it went from 'hey, he's cute' to 'hey, let's get married' in less than a week, and moving that quickly towards marriage didn't seem to fit with either characters personality. Mick is reserved, and thoughtful, and was still getting over his relationship with Jennifer ending. And Cassie is sensible, and independent, and it just didn't seem to fit with either of them. It did get really mushy towards the end of the story too, with both Cassie and Mick talking incessantly about how much they loved each other. I'm not a very mushy person so that was a little annoying.

Overall, not terribly original but still a fun book with good characters. 3 out of 5 stars.
Note: I received a free copy for review, from the publisher.

[Angel Hatfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassandra/Cassie is a witch and had turned ninety and her mother was on her butt because she wanted to see Cassie married. Then her mother reminded her witches didn’t live much past two hundred and twenty years. Cassie’s mother was Medusa. Cassie was a journalist but also wrote some nonfiction books. She was going on a book tour . Endora was Cassie’s car/ familiar. For the last ten years Cassie had written a column on household hints ( also what her books were about) called “ The Kitchen Witch” for the Salem Evening News.Cassie was proud of her writing skills. Her Book “When Dust Bunnies Attack” was already tenth on the nonfiction bestseller list.Mirak Sanders/ Mick was known to his fans as M. S. Kazimer was a horror/suspense author. Jennifer was Mick’s former fiancee but still his publicist. Cassie and Mick were seated next to each other on the book signing part of the tour. Mick asked Cassie to autograph a book for him and told her he had her other books. Mick was having dinner with Robert Whitman who was suppose to be an author but was actually an FBI agent. A serial killer had started murdering people that duplicated crimes in Micks novels and using his murders as blueprints for his own murders. There had been fifteen in a five year time span. Mick was definitely attracted to Cassie and it was only getting stronger and Cassie was also attracted to him. Jennifer had finally ended their business association and flew back to N Y to pack her stuff and find her own apartment. It was never a good time for a witch to start a relationship with a human so Cassie’s mother and other witches had said.
I loved this story . It had a great plot and held my attention from the beginning to the end. I loved how this had the paranormal aspect but also the suspense of the serial killer in it. This story made me laugh at times. I was not happy to see Endora hurt in cat form by the killer. I liked how Medusa accepted Mick and the witches were all willing to help catch this killer. This was a great book to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this story and also how it very successfully covered two genres and I highly recommend.

[DelAnne Frazee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Some Practical Magic Familiar Magic Series Book 1
Author: Laurie C. Kuna
Publisher: BelleBooks/ImaJinn Books
Published: 7-29-2004
Pages: 198
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Sub-Genre: Women Sleuths; Paranormal; SciFy; Romance; Fantasy
ISBN: 9781610260428
ASIN: B004RJ7QB6
Reviewed for NetGalley & the Publisher
My Rating: 4.5 Stars


They say opposites attract and such is the case between Cassandra Hathorne and M. S. Kazimer. Add in a stalker and Cassie must between Kazimer's love or protecting all from the evil stalking him. To think that she was only looking for a little relief from a matchmaking mother.


This is the first in a delightful new series. Take a touch of romance, suspense, paranormal adventure and stir gently and poof you have a funny and heartwarming story that moves at a quick pace and draws the reader into its snare. AS you turn the last page you will find yourself already reaching for book 2, "That Old Black Magic" in eager anticipation. My rating of "Some Practical Magic is 4.5 out of 5 stars.


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[☘Tara Sheehan☘ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first time I’ve read a Laurie Kuna book and I was very happy that I did, she’s a great writer you can depend on to give you some time off from reality to enjoy yourself.

She has created an intriguing story with witty dialogue, believable characters and well thought out plotlines. There’s enough romance to heat you up but her scenes don’t cross a boundary into porn. I like the surprisingly light layer of humor that helps to take the edge off the suspenseful side of murder.

I would’ve preferred a different ending but overall felt reading this was a good use of my time.

You really should pick this up, the first in a series, because it's just a fun way to pass the time. Now you'll have more to look forward to when you're done with this.

[Latisha Bramlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book free of charge from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Cassie is a witch who loves humans. She is a writer who uses her work to help people. She is on a book tour where she meets Mick, a human and fellow author, and falls for him. However, a crazy fan is using Mick's work as a blueprint to kill. I loved the story and felt for the characters. I cannot wait to read Endora's story.

[Jeri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started off a little slow for me but picked up towards the end. If you like mysteries and paranormal this book could fit the bill. This did put a bit of a different spin on witches though. I wouldn't put it in the cozy category because it has sex in it for those that disagree with sex in their cozies. So be forewarned.

I was given an ecopy of this book through NetGalley.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

A well written light fun story with a bit of everything.

[Angie Titus · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Enjoyable story, but I didn't really like that the witches were so omnipotent. I loved that the cat could turn into a human. In all, not bad.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of cozy paranormal mysteries and I picked up this book thinking it would fit that bill. Thankfully, I wasn’t wrong! Not only did this book have a great mystery, it also had a nice little romance going for it as well. However, if you don’t like a romance with your mystery, it didn’t really take up much of the plot at all. I also really did like the writing style and characters of the book. The two main characters were just confident enough that they didn’t come across as arrogant, and they were very sympathetic. Cassie’s mom added a dose of humor to the overall mix, with Endora (who was my favorite character) adding humor, too, with a touch of wise-ness. Yes, it did have a very minor cliffhanger in the end, but not concerning the mystery at hand. I was intrigued enough that I will definitely pick up the next one in the series. I will be back for more. If you like a light, fast, well-written, cozy paranormal mystery, give this one a try. Highly recommend!

Thanks to the NetGalley and Bell Ridge Books for the e-book which I reviewed voluntarily. This exact review will be posted on both Amazon and Goodreads.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant reading. It got me from the beginning. It's got some mystery, some magic, some romance and some humour. I dare say my favourite character is Endora for her acid tongue. It's fast-paced and it's got some laugh-out-loud moments. It won't be the last book I read by this writer, that's for sure.

[poppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book it was a fun magical read.IT has a bit of everything humor,mystery,suspense and paranormal its the first i have read in the series or by this author and i can't wait for more.

[Tisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book during the E-Book reading week, this was one of the free ones that I found. What can I say other than I LOVED this book! There is only one reason that I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 and I will explain that in a bit. First let me start by saying that the characters are simply amazing, Medusa, Endora and Cassie are just perfect! Their banter through out the book kept me in stitches. More than once I was asked to be quiet while I was reading. I guess I was laughing too loud for the guys! This book was the had all the great pieces in it, a little romance, suspense, fantasy and a good dose of humor, This book did exactly what a good book should do, it took me away to another place where all things are possible and it made me believe. The only part of the book that I did not like was the ending with the bad guy. That was a bit cheesy and lame. There were so many perfect scenarios that could have closed that part, the one chosen did not do the rest of the book justice. This in one that I will keep in my Kindle and read from time to time when I need a good laugh with some pretty amazing Witches!

(When I write a review I am not going to base my reviews on how the book was formatted, i.e. if a period wasn't in the right place, or if a margin was off or if an indentation was placed wrong. I have seen so many people review a book lower because of technology and not for the actual content of the book. My reviews are strictly on the content of the story.)

[Patricia Lee]

Fans of "Bewitched" will love the trip down memory lane with Kuna's witty modern day make-over of the classic TV sitcom, with a great mystery thrown in. Independent Cassie is a far stretch from housewife Samantha and snippets of the television cast are created into shiny new characters by the author's crisp, easy style. After finishing Some Practical Magic, I wished I had a 'familiar' as saucy as Endora!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a short book, it was pretty good. I enjoyed the plot and the humor of it. I didn't like the ending all that much though, because it left be wondering what happened next.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating 2.75 stars.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some magic, some sizzle, and a big bad all rolled into a quick read.

Cassie is a witch who really feels more at home with humans. She's become relatively famous with her "kitchen witch" column, which is released in book format now. To further avoid her mother's attempts to get her to marry another witch, she eagerly joins a touring group of authors to promote her book. It's there that she meets a man who makes her sit up and take notice. Mick is only touring to assist in an FBI investigation into someone who is using his horror novels as inspiration. He's determined to make his most recent book his last and retire from the business, but can't live with himself if he doesn't try to stop this crazed fan.

When these two meet, it's clear that they are both smitten. With their different worlds, however, they won't have an easy road ahead, and that's only if they can survive a crazed killer. It was fun to watch two slightly awkward people try to navigate their complicated relationship.

[Dana Busenbark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who is M. S. Kazimer and why do two guys show up in a non-descript car and trench coats? Who are they and what do they want with him? Who is Mirek Sandor? What does Mr. Kazimer 'think' the men are there for? Who is Cassie Hathorne? What kind of job do they do? When Endora and Cassie go on tour with Kazimer and Jennifer, whomever she is, what happens? Who or what is Endora to Cassie? What about Jennifer to Kazimer? When Cassie's mother shows up with Mort, her Endora, what happens? Who is causing the issues that Kazimer is having to work with the trench coat guys? What is this person hoping to accomplish? Will they be successful or not? You're going to have to read to find out. I laughed so hard at points with regards to conversations between Cassie and Endora. This book was a really fun read.

RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M. Brennan.

[Crittermom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some Practical Magic is a light paranormal romance that will leave your nose twitching in delight. Having grown up with reruns of Bewitched, I had to smile as I read Some Practical Magic. Laurie C Kuna unashamedly pays tribute to the classic sitcom. Despite there being some “thriller” elements, Some Practical Magic is mostly a romance with a touch of humor.

Fleeing her mother’s attempts at matchmaking, Cassandra and her familiar/publicist Endora (who is hilarious whether in cat or human form) join a book tour. When she meets the headliner, horror novelist M S Kazimer, sparks fly. But all is not well, a serial killer is modeling his murders after those in Kazimer’s books, and the tour is an attempt to flush him out of hiding. Falling in love with a human is tough enough, but now Cassandra must refresh her magical skills in order to protect everyone from a vicious killer.

There is some explicit sex, but it is well done. Still, I wouldn’t recommend Some Practical Magic for teen consumption. In all Some Practical Magic is a cute romance, not exceptional, but definitely an entertaining escapist read.

4 / 5

I received a copy of Some Practical Magic from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

[Anna Swedenmom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super writing! Super plot super story.... If you take witches, magic, romance and mystery and put it all together it came out SUPERB! I truly was caught by the writing in this book. The author is very talented, I laughed a little, got caught by her plot line and just enjoyed every single character in the entire book. While it was a little slow at the beginning, it picks up and just keeps going. This is an author that I have not read much of before, However, now I have read both books in this series and truly adored them both! I am totally hooked on this series and cannot wait for more from this author. So if you like paranormal romance this is a definite buy buy buy buy buy book! I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna