Tiddly Jinx

Easy Bake Coven #4

by Liz Schulte

Selene Warren’s life is plagued by disaster. To fix the trouble her good intentions caused, she needs to rescue the necromancer who tried to help her, find and return the Pole of Charon, and win over the Elfish people. However, nothing ever goes as planned. The necromancer reappears in the Abyss, but is determined to be an enemy rather than a friend. The Pole of Charon can’t be tracked, yet small tears between worlds pop up and let in monsters that threaten to expose what Selene brought back. Tensions between elves and the other fae could erupt into violence at any moment, tearing apart the race once and for all. To mend the rips in the veil, Selene’s coven will have to use black magic, but that comes at a cost. Every time a spell is cast their souls are at stake. Forced to make a deal with an enemy or let the world be destroyed, all of her the lies and double crosses start to add up. The line between good and evil blurs until Selene doesn’t know which side she is fighting for.

Genres: Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fae

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2014

About the author

Many authors claim to have known their calling from a young age. Liz Schulte, however, didn't always want to be an author. In fact, she had no clue. Liz wanted to be a veterinarian, then she wanted to be a lawyer, then she wanted to be a criminal profiler. In a valiant effort to keep from becoming Walter Mitty, Liz put pen to paper and began writing her first novel. It was at that moment she realized this is what she was meant to do. As a scribe she could be all of those things and so much more.

When Liz isn't writing or on social networks she is inflicting movie quotes and trivia on people, reading, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family. Liz is a Midwest girl through and through, though she would be perfectly happy never having to shovel her driveway again. She has a love for all things spooky, supernatural, and snarky. Her favorite authors range from Edgar Allen Poe to Joseph Heller to Jane Austen to Jim Butcher and everything in between.

Reviews

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one more than other books in the series recently. I still think there are times where the drama is played up and characters are pulled apart for no real reason. I'd like to see everyone working together more and not having someone pulled out to make the dynamic disturb where they have to mistrust their friends.

Still I liked Selene better in this one than in some of the past stories. She's more sure of who she is and what she wants. At least this time her waffling is due to some creepy external forces and not her own internal hemming and hawing. But her determination shown through and there were a lot of strides forward in this one. Of course then things with the coven are rockier. I gotta admit though I want to see them giving our little necromancer more of a chance. Corbin though makes me grind my teeth at times. His obsession with Selene is annoying. I really hate the forced love triangle thing.

I'm curious to see where this series goes, but do still find it frustrating at times.

[Carissa Crabb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tiddly Jinx is the fourth book in the Easy Bake Coven series. I didn't like this book as much as the others. I felt the author stumbled a bit this time around. We know that Selene is a flawed character, and sometimes her human and elf halves are in direct opposition to each other; however, I feel that by this point they should have integrated a bit more than they have. It seems as though she has gone backward in her relationship with Cheney, instead of forward. One of Selene's best aspects is that she is deeply compassionate, but in this book she is incredibly cold hearted. I hope the final book in this series shows a more complete, happier Selene.

[SL Reads and Reads]

I really like the world that Schulte has created, but this installment could have used a little more professional editing. I don't mind a few grammar mistakes and some subject/verb/subjunctive confusion. But a good editor might also have pointed out ways to strengthen the story (remind us why we care about Selene, show more positive interaction between Selene and Cheney so they feel more like romantic partners and less like business partners, let Cheney shine a bit more rather than following Selene in everything, streamline here, flesh out there, remind the reader of previous novels, etc.). I'll keep reading.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly Liz you are amazing....I love the way you write! I was left on edge and excited and finally in awe! Great read and I cannot wait for the last book. Not really happy that there will be an end. I can honestly continued reading about Chaney, Selene, Sy and Sebastian. I would love to see Katrina and Sebastian together. I am still a Cheney fan. I like Corbin and it would be great if he and the necromancer ended up together. I would like to read that she ends up happy after such a sad existence! I was sad to read about the grandmother and Devin :(.... LOVE THIS BOOK!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, first of all, I could have sworn that in one of the earlier volumes Selene was placed with Edith Meriweather after her human "parents" were killed because Edith was a powerful witch, not that she was related. I just double checked and I'm wrong. Edith is actually Selene's niece, many times removed. We know who Selene's elven father is. Who was her human mother? Did she die giving birth to Selene? This information may be important.

This book has a lot going on. Events force black magic involving animal and human sacrifices to be used. Frost morphs into a more sympathetic character. Corbin reveals what he wants from Selene (and indirectly, Cheney)

Selene's coven and grandmother join forces to find a way to retrieve the stolen oar/staff/whatever its called to return to Charon. That goal is the primary focus of this book but there are many twists and turns along the way.

Meanwhile there is a wedding to be planned. Cheney is thwarted in his attempt to abdicate from being the Erlking.

One little hiccup I noticed was television being explained to Sebastian. The elves use cell phones and security systems so why wouldn't he be familiar with an even older technology?

This book wasn't edited as well as earlier volumes. The only error I can recall at the moment is using site when it should have been sight.

[Allison Galloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book very much, though Selene's "drama" got a little annoying at times.

[joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

This is the fourth in the series and i have enjoyed each one more than the last!
I cannot wait to start the next one!!

[Jaime Hendrickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grew on me...

I read these books totally out of order. About three years ago I read the first three. Then just recently I read her most recent book about Remi. As I was reading it and it was mentioning Selene and Cheney and Holden and Olivia, my memory came back to me that these characters were ones I was familiar with. I read the third book over again and then got this book. Now it's been 3 years since I read Arlene and Cheney's love story so it's not fresh in my mind. What is fresh is the book I just read about the bounty Hunter and Corbin and the third book in the Easy Bake Coven books which was all about Arlene and Corbin getting the pole back which leads me to how I feel. I like Corbin and I don't buy that Selene is that in love with Cheney. Listen I'm married for 13 years and my hubby is no Elf king but I've never seriously been attracted or had alto fight an attraction to anyone else in our whole marriage. I've thought people were handsome or attractive but never have I even thought about cheating. I don't get Selene. She's not very likeable, the more I get to know her. I thought she was downright cruel in this book. The book did explain that at the end by saying maybe the bond with the vampire was affecting her but maybe not. She seems very self centered like the way she treats her coven. What do they just sit around and plan her wedding and read books? Don't they have things to do in the human world? Like I don't know, a job, or family or a house, bills to pay?
Anyway, the book is basically just trying to fix and reverse what they spent the whole other book doing. Someone dies,well three someone's. They seem to forget about the first one pretty quick. Someone betrays them and sets up events for next book.

All in all if you've read up to book four, you must like the series. I do like the writing and the book, I'm just annoyed by a few things. The book does keep my interest and makes me not want to put it down.
I'm starting book five now.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will say one thing up front-this is not a stand alone book. You really have to start at Book 1 and work your way through the series. You can find the list of the other books below and I believe there will be one more coming as well. I felt like I was missing a bit here and there. If you enjoy fantasy with Fae folk, elves, vampires, witches with a couple of humans etc then this series is for you! I would even recommend this to parents of pre teens and teens!

Liz Schulte has a marvelous imagination and really comes up with some whoppers of scenes. Poor Selene who is 1/2 elf and 1/2 human (I think) really can get into lots of problems without even meaning to. Getting out of them is never as easy as it would seem. She is very lucky she has good friends and is about to marry the Elf King-unless the vampire can convince her differently.

What I especially liked was the lesson that kind of comes out--no matter the combination of parents-people are people and deserve respect!

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

It just keeps getting better and better.

I liked this book even better than the previous one. I just can't put these books down until I have read every last word. They are packed with suspense. This one had a bit more sadness than I would like. Can't wait to see what book 5 brings. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review, which in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

[Erinw]

I got 3/4 thru this book and had to quit. I was enjoying this series, although I found Selene a little too unlikeable for a heroine. But after they plotted to kill the third person who got in their way, I decided I didn't need to read any more. I prefer to read stories with more lightheartedness and better morality. The titles of these books do not reflect the contents.

[Starla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and Liz Schulte story telling. This book kept me fascinated and constantly surprised. I love this series but I am really happy I am reading the first 6 books in a row because each book ends with a cliff hanger and I am impatient and hate waiting..lol But I adore all the characters of the easy bake Coven.

[kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book for the series.

One disaster after another! The fight for good to win over evil won't give you a moment to get bored. The main character may be fae, but she's very relatable. I'm once again looking forward to the next one.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap!! The fourth installment in the Easy Baked Coven series takes no prisoners!! Things are laid on the line and people must make the best choices possible. It holds you close and keeps you wondering what will happen next.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. I am loving this series. I will say that I was crying by the end but I still loved it. I always hate when great characters get killed off but understand that sometimes that is the way the story has to go. Well worth reading this series.

[Tanya Giannini · Rating 5 out of 5]

i quite enjoyed this. I do feel, like most of her books...that once you hit the climax, everything after that happens so fast until you get to the end...but it doesn't bother me. The book is still a good read and I enjoy all the character development.

[Jana Gundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down!

Selene is in trouble, like always, but now she has someone else to think about other than herself. She has to right her wrongs but loved ones will pay the price and sacrifices will be made. Get ready to get sucked in to the Abyss and never want to come back!

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It kinda drug along and the end was kinda confusing.

[Alex Locke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book series. This book is a little in the sad side but still an amazing plot that you will never see coming. I can't wait for the fifth and final book this summer!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the series, I found myself wandering and waiting to get to the end, finally a great finish! Ox

[Mackenzie Baquiran · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good

I couldn't put this book down!! It's like I'm part of the world and I have to find out how it ends

[Melindeeloo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars - this was so memorable that I didn't remember if I'd actually finished it. I am becoming less and less fond of Selene as the series goes on. Don't know that I'll continue.

[Deborah]

Great

[A Creative Disaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good book, as were the others. I would it again. 4.5 stars