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That Olde White Magick

(An Abracadabra Mystery #2)

Sharon Pape (Goodreads Author)

3.91 · Rating details · 188 ratings · 57 reviews

It’s time to work her crime-solving magic again . . .

Kailyn Wilde enjoys running her shop, Abracadabra, in the quaint New York hamlet of New Camel, where she lives with her six cats. Her family’s been here for centuries, and she’d like to keep up the tradition. But the place may never be the same if a big hotel gets built, so she does her civic duty and attends a town meet ...more

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Kindle Edition, 240 pages

Published November 7th 2017 by Lyrical Underground

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Oct 16, 2017 Carrie rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

That Olde White Magick by Sharon Pape is the second book in the An Abracadabra Mystery series. This series is cozy mysteries with a twist, the main character is a witch who runs a magic shop. In the first book readers were introduced to Kailyn Wilde who had inherited her mother and grandmother’s centuries old shop, Abracadabra, when they were unfortunately involved in an accident. Coming from a long line of those with magical abilities in the small town of New Camel Kailyn does her best to keep That Olde White Magick by Sharon Pape is the second book in the An Abracadabra Mystery series. This series is cozy mysteries with a twist, the main character is a witch who runs a magic shop. In the first book readers were introduced to Kailyn Wilde who had inherited her mother and grandmother’s centuries old shop, Abracadabra, when they were unfortunately involved in an accident. Coming from a long line of those with magical abilities in the small town of New Camel Kailyn does her best to keep the magic flowing in the shop while keeping the witchcraft under wraps. Kailyn and her aunt Tilly had happened upon the body of their lawyer when they were supposed to be there to finalize their estate so the two became suspects and had to do a bit of their own investigating to help solve that murder.

Now in That Olde White Magick Kailyn and Tilly have found themselves yet again dealing with the police when they are attending a special town meeting that was called to deal with a new hotel that may be built. Kailyn was worried about the proposal so she and her aunt had brought their magician friend, Merlin, along to the meeting to see how the council voted and raise their concerns but Tilly happened upon the body of a council member which again puts them in the middle of yet another murder investigation.

An Abracadabra Mystery series first caught my attention last year when the first book was being released and since I'm always a fan of a good cozy mystery with a unique setting or characters I immediately knew I had to try this one out. The mixing of the genres and brining magic and mayhem into the cozy world works so well in these books and is such a fun addition to the normal murder mystery solving by the characters.

And speaking of the characters, this series certainly has some likable ones. I think for me the moments we get with Merlin absolutely steal the show in these books but I"m also a fan of Tilly and Kailyn too of course. The town the story is set in also has that nice small town vibe making it to where everyone seems to know everyone which is great for a setting with the character off questioning people and trying to beat the law to solving a murder. After two books in this series I'd definitely still recommend these both and while best to read in order they do each feature their own case so it is possible to read as a standalone if necessary.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress.... ...more

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Nov 16, 2017 Juli rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-review-copies-2017

I absolutely adore the Abracadabra Mystery cozy series! The covers are beautiful and the theme is magical (literally) with a great touch of humor. Merlin (yes, the famous Merlin....) is an added bonus. Go big or go home, right? Love it!

Residents of New Camel, NY are all talking about a proposed new hotel. The town calls a public meeting to discuss the project. Kailyn Wilde, owner of the local magick shop Abracadabra, her Aunt Tilly and a cranky Merlin all attend the meeting. Building a large ho I absolutely adore the Abracadabra Mystery cozy series! The covers are beautiful and the theme is magical (literally) with a great touch of humor. Merlin (yes, the famous Merlin....) is an added bonus. Go big or go home, right? Love it!

Residents of New Camel, NY are all talking about a proposed new hotel. The town calls a public meeting to discuss the project. Kailyn Wilde, owner of the local magick shop Abracadabra, her Aunt Tilly and a cranky Merlin all attend the meeting. Building a large hotel in town might change the traditions and eclectic feel of New Camel. The Wilde family has been living there and running the magick shop for centuries. Kailyn doesn't want to see drastic changes in the town. But, before any debate about the hotel can start, one of the city board members is found dead. Amanda Roswell's throat has been slashed from ear to ear. Once again Kailyn finds herself smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation!

I love the quirky characters in this series. Tilly is feisty. Kailyn is determined. And Merlin is hilarious and chronically cranky. :) I also enjoy the creative theme of this series. Kailyn is a witch in a long line of witches who have owned the magick shop in New Camel for generations. She often gets visits from the spirits of her dead mother and grandmother, who offer advice on her investigations and honing her magical skills. Merlin loves pizza and television and often gets himself into big trouble.

Although it isn't strictly necessary to read the first book in this series before this one, I do recommend it. A lot of character details -- like how Merlin arrived in New Camel -- are explained in the first book. But, if book 1 isn't available, by all means jump in here at enjoy the story!

I enjoyed this newest addition to the series. The mystery is interesting. The characters are quirky and fun. And, there were plenty of suspects, motives and twists in the plot. I enjoy the humor and creativity of this series. A third book, Magick Run Amok, will be out in May 2018. I definitely plan to read it!

For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://www.sharonpape.com/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

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Nov 11, 2017 LORI (Dollycas) CASWELL rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2017

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Two sorcerers and a wizard walk into a town meeting . . . and before the meeting starts one of them finds a dead body.

Kailyn Wilde is back and finds herself right in the middle of another murder investigation. Between trying to hone her magickal skills and taking care of the customers flowing into Abracadabra she really doesn’t have the time she needs to devote to catching a killer so she needs to wrap of this case quickly. She ends up casting a few spells to keep herself safe ...more

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Nov 01, 2017 Karen rated it it was amazing

I finished That Olde White Magick on October 23rd, this is the 2nd book in the Abracadabra Mystery series. I read the first one last spring and it was so captivating I was thrilled when I was selected to read book 2. Sharon Pape has a enchanted me with the very idea of this series. I love paranormal cozy mysteries and the fantasy aspect of this one gives it a special place in my heart. Sharon writes about a Witch who prefers the term Sorcerer and she works with her aunt in their 400 year old Mag ...more

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Oct 18, 2017 Bea rated it liked it

Shelves: action-mystery-thriller, ebook, read-in-2017, review-consideration, kindle

3 or 3.5 stars

I love cozy mysteries, I'm a sucker for the Arthurian legend, and I often enjoy a twist of paranormal so I took a chance on this one. With so much catnip, how could I resist? Well, I wish I'd read the first book as I was often confused. You could do this one as a stand alone but I think it would work better if you read in order.

"That Olde White Magick" was a pleasant cozy mystery with some laugh out loud moments. Merlin the wizard is mostly played for laughs and he does provide qu 3 or 3.5 stars

I love cozy mysteries, I'm a sucker for the Arthurian legend, and I often enjoy a twist of paranormal so I took a chance on this one. With so much catnip, how could I resist? Well, I wish I'd read the first book as I was often confused. You could do this one as a stand alone but I think it would work better if you read in order.

"That Olde White Magick" was a pleasant cozy mystery with some laugh out loud moments. Merlin the wizard is mostly played for laughs and he does provide quite a few. He's the proverbial fish out of water, and he's quite cantankerous. He tries to help Kailyn and her aunt Tilly solve a murder, and fight some controversial development. Kailyn decides to ask questions and see if she can solve the murder. The deceased was an acquaintance of hers but just as importantly, the deceased's vote would have been the swing vote concerning the development. Concerned that the vote, which has been postponed due to the death, may have been the reason for the murder Kailyn conducts an investigation. Meanwhile Kailyn is also trying to improve her magic skills and deal with her ghostly relatives who just can't mind their own business.

Despite all of the magic and the paranormal aspects, this story felt more realistic than many cozies. Pape gave a solid foundation to her world and characters that made the whole story believable.For instance, magick is a skill that must be learnt and practiced. A successful spell does not happen instantly but takes practice and effort. On the investigative end of things, Kailyn runs into stumbling blocks, makes mistakes, and doesn't get people to open up to her and tell her all sorts of useful information that there's no sensible reason for them to share. She thinks, reflects, utilizes resources, and yes, makes mistakes. But she's not ridiculously stupid, just believably amateurish.
Parts of the story were predictable and I never felt the romance between Kailyn and her boyfriend. There were certain circumstances that affected that but even so, I just couldn't see them as a couple. There was no spark or heat between them. What did work was the mystery. I was pleasantly clueless. I say 'pleasantly' because there were lots of clues and red herrings and putting them together and eliminating some was a challenge.

"That Olde White Magick" was entertaining, the mystery was well done, and I enjoyed Kailyn and her wacked out family. ...more

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Nov 05, 2017 Kelly rated it it was amazing

**I voluntarily read this ARC**

I had a lot of fun reading this one. I absolutely love the characters, especially Merlin. The mystery was really good, and the reveal was suspenseful with a dash of humor at the end.

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Nov 15, 2017 Jessica Robbins rated it really liked it

Shelves: own-kindle, blog-tour, netgalley

For complete review check out my blog at https://booksaplentybookreviews.blogs... ...more

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Nov 16, 2017 Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017-cozy-challenge, books-to-review, 2017

I think what I like the best about this series so far is Merlin - a sorcerer from the past that somehow ended up in today's world and seeing how he handles new experiences each day. But all of the characters are interesting and all interact well with each other....even the killer until (s)he is caught red handed! The author does a good job of narrowing down the suspects for the reader, but even then I didn't suspect the killer until it was revealed.

You don't have to believe in magick to enjoy th ...more

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Apr 17, 2018 Maggie rated it liked it

Cozy mystery, a bit too slow for my tastes. Sweet (very very sweet). Would work for very young adult categories.

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Nov 04, 2017 Mary Brown rated it it was amazing

That Olde White Magick
An Abracadabra Mystery, Book #2
Sharon Pape
5 Stars

Synopsis:

It’s time to work her crime-solving magic again . . .

Kailyn Wilde enjoys running her shop, Abracadabra, in the quaint New York hamlet of New Camel, where she lives with her six cats. Her family’s been here for centuries, and she’d like to keep up the tradition. But the place may never be the same if a big hotel gets built, so she does her civic duty and attends a town meeting along with her aunt Tilly . . . and Mer ...more

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Sep 26, 2017 Linda Smatzny rated it really liked it

Shelves: first-reads

I received this Amazon e-book thru Goodreads free First Reads program. The main character is Kailyn Wilde who runs the Abracadabra shop in New Camel. The shop is a magick shop and Kailyn is a sorcerer along with other members of her family. Her problem at the beginning of the book is keeping Merlin(yes that one)under control since he wants to do magic for everything. During a town meeting, a board member is killed and Kailyn starts to investigate by asking questions. The characters are entertain ...more

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Sep 27, 2017 Ginger Pollard rated it liked it

A nice cozy mystery that has some laugh out loud moments. This is book 2 in the series, but it certainly can stand alone. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, like me, you'll appreciate the character Merlin (yes, that Merlin!). ...more

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Nov 13, 2017 Valerie rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery-cozy, books-for-review, 2017-reads

I definitely enjoyed this book more than the first one. Ms. Pape has definitely started to find her own style of writing and I didn't have the problem of the first book where it seemed totally disjointed for the first half of the book. This book flowed much more smoothly.

I still love our main characters, Kailyn, Tilly, and Merlin. They're fun, developed characters and we keep learning more about them as we delve deeper into their lives. In this book, the reason why Kailyn seemed so interested in ...more

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Jul 08, 2018 Starla rated it did not like it

Between the info dump, tell don’t show prose, three stooges physical humor that just seemed to be trying too hard, and unrealistic dialogue, I simply could not finish this. Other people like it, and that’s great. It was not for me.
However, the book cover is fantastic. Nice work by the artist!

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Oct 17, 2017 The Cozy Review rated it it was amazing

Kailyn Wilde enjoys running her shop, Abracadabra, in the quaint New York hamlet of New Camel, where she lives with her six cats. Her family’s been here for centuries, and she’d like to keep up the tradition. The town may never be the same if a big hotel gets built. Kailyn does her civic duty and attends a town meeting along with her Aunt Tilly, and Merlin. Yes, that Merlin—though he gets introduced to folks as her “distant English cousin.” The wizard is pretty grumpy about being transported her Kailyn Wilde enjoys running her shop, Abracadabra, in the quaint New York hamlet of New Camel, where she lives with her six cats. Her family’s been here for centuries, and she’d like to keep up the tradition. The town may never be the same if a big hotel gets built. Kailyn does her civic duty and attends a town meeting along with her Aunt Tilly, and Merlin. Yes, that Merlin—though he gets introduced to folks as her “distant English cousin.” The wizard is pretty grumpy about being transported here, but there are things about the modern world he doesn’t mind—like pizza.

Kailyn was prepared for a heated debate about the hotel, but she wasn’t expecting a murder. When Tilly finds the body of a board member outside the schoolhouse, Kailyn doesn’t want any suspicion cast on the wrong person. She plans to crack this case even if she has to talk to every living soul in town—plus a few departed ones.

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Series: An Abracadabra Mystery
Author: Sharon Pape
Genre: Witch Cozy
Publisher: Lyrical Underground

That Olde White Magick, book two in the “An Abracadabra Mystery” series is a wonderful addition. The storyline is creative and entertaining. The characters are lively and fun to get to know. Ms. Pape’s writing is fluid, her charters are easily relatable, and the plot is smooth without any extra detail that is not needed.

The character of Kailyn is fascinating. She is a witch but prefers to be called a sorcerer. She takes most things in stride, except when it comes to anyone harming her animals or her family, including Merlin. Her store is a magic shop, and she doesn’t hesitate to let people know her magick is real when asked. She tries to remain calm, even under trying circumstance. Like when she has to give her boyfriend, Travis time to adjust to her being a witch. Or even when her mother and grandmother appear as clouds even though they are dead. Kailyn would be the perfect friend, or relative and readers are sure to love her ability to find out the truth and to risk everything for those she cares about.

Kailyn’s aunt Tillie is more motherly than an aunt. She takes care of Merlin and runs a tea time and cake shop connected to Kailyn’s magick shop. Tillie will remind readers of their favorite grandmother or aunt. The one that is frail physically yet strong emotionally and mentally. She is not the person a bad guy wants to tangle with. Other characters in this book are funny, loving, and even a bit odd but they are all interesting and blend well with the main character and storyline.

The setting of New Camel is a mix of old and new, close to major cities without losing its identity. The tourist trade keeps the town going and helps keep it from becoming just another victim of industry and urban clog.

Reading this book will give the reader a sense of belonging, community, and friendship. That Olde White Magick is highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good whodunit mixed with magick, ghosts, murders, and family. If the reader enjoys writers such as Madelyn Alt, or Bailey Cates they will love this writer and series.
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Oct 02, 2017 Charlee rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery-paranormal, first-reads-giveaways

I won this book as part of a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

Kailyn Wilde runs Abracadabra, a shop in the small town of New Carmel, where she lives with her six cats. When the town meets to discuss the building of a large hotel, all the residents come out to voice their opinion, but no one expected to end up discussing a murder.

Before I start, I'd like to point out that this is #2 in the series and really isn't something to be read as a standalone. I was lost from the get-go because not much was ...more

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Nov 12, 2017 Katreader rated it really liked it

THAT OLDE WHITE MAGICK by Sharon Pape
The Second Abracadabra Mystery

Pretty much the entire town of New Camel, NY has arrived at a special town meeting since pretty much every resident has a strong opinion about the zoning law change being proposed. But everything is put on hold when a board member is found murdered outside the school just before the meeting begins. Did someone kill her because of her position on the proposal? Curiosity piqued Kailin Wilde decides investigating another murder may ...more

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Nov 19, 2017 Annie rated it really liked it

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for giving me an ARC copy to review. I am a bit late with my review, but life happens and here it is at last.

I have read several books by Sharon Pape in one of her other series (the sketchbook ones) and really enjoyed them. I've apparently been waiting in vain for further installments to that series, so am happy that there are others to enjoy. This was apparently the second in the Abracadabra Mystery series and my only 'complaint' is that I don't know the ba ...more

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Oct 13, 2017 Crittermom rated it it was amazing

That Olde White Magick is a fantastic mystery filled with humor, suspense, romance and of course Magick - the kind that keeps the reader glued to the page and leaves them with a smile on their face. Between the wonderful cast of characters - including Merlin who is both out of his time and his comfort zone - and Kailyn’s six cats, and the delightful plot, Sharon Pape’s mystery has a lot to offer readers.

That Olde White Magick begins with a meeting and a murder. New Camel is divided on the issue ...more

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Nov 26, 2017 Susan Johnston rated it it was amazing

Princess Fuzzypants here:
This is the second Abracadabra book I read and I am becoming quite fond of the characters. Kailey has her hands full as she runs her magick shop in the quaint village where the citizens are torn between believing in her powers or not. Despite the fact that her family has practised white magick for centuries those believers are torn between acceptance and fear.
The fact is the town is also torn between letting a new hotel development go forward or not when one of the town ...more

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May 17, 2019 Coralee Hicks rated it really liked it

Book 2 of the Abracadabra Mystery series flows logically from Book 1. Our sleuth, Kailyn Wilde, having found she has a rare sorcerer's talent, telekinesis. Listening to her mother and grandmother, who while dead, still drop in to offer loving advice while squabbling among with each other, Kaitlyn practices her talent when no one is around. The most unsettling person not around is Travis. While he now accepts magick is real; he still is processing that his romantic other is a spell caster. Aunt T ...more

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Oct 23, 2017 Leith Devine rated it really liked it

Shelves: cozy-mysteries, mysteries-thrillers, supernatural-mysteries

This is a fun, well written cozy mystery with a real sense of humor. I enjoyed the plot, the small town setting, and the characters and look forward to the next book in the series. The supernatural tone of the book is just plausible enough, and I liked it very much.

Kailyn Wilde is a witch, although she prefers sorcerer, and she owns Abracadabra, a shop that sells herbs, potions, lotions, and the occasional spell. Her Aunt Tilly is also a sorcerer and back in book #1, they conjured Merlin (the fa ...more

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Apr 29, 2020 Vickie rated it really liked it

Shelves: nook, cozy-amateur-sleuth

I love cozies and amateur sleuth mysteries and really enjoy those with a tweak like this one which is paranormal in nature. It doesn't get in the way that the main character, Kailyn, is magickal. She prefers sorceror than witch. Kailyn is smart and she's still developing her abilities with the help of her aunt and Merlin [yep, that Merlin].
I started with the second book in the series, so I missed out on some stuff I felt that was likely key. It took me a bit to get into this maybe because of th ...more

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Oct 20, 2017 Lisa Morin rated it really liked it

That Olde White Magick is the second book in this series by Sharon Pape.
Kailyn is the owner of Abracadabra, a wonderful shop in the town of New Camel, New York. Her shop is an eclectic mix of herbs, potions and spells. Next door to her shop, is her Aunt Tilly's place, where she offers psychic readings as well as magnificent teas and mouthwatering desserts.
When a town meeting is held to vote on expanding their quaint little town, Kailyn attends the meeting with Aunt Tilly's and Merlin . Yes, tha ...more

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Nov 05, 2017 Penny rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed

This is the second book in the Abracadabra Mystery series. Kailyn isn’t really for the building of a new hotel in her quaint town, so she makes sure to attend the town meeting about it, along with most of the town. Even before the meeting starts, it is derailed by the murder of one of the board members, with Kailyn’s Aunt Tilly being one of the people who find her. Before long, Kailyn has to use her detective skills to find the killer so her aunt isn’t accused of the crime. But will she find the ...more

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Jun 21, 2018 Tracy rated it it was amazing

This was a magical cozy complete with Merlin and a couple of witches and familiars. But it's not your typical witchiness, nope these are 21st century witches, a family with a long history and a fabulous Magick shop full of anything and everything that will cure what ails you. Managed by our main character, Kailyn Wilde who is a bit of a sorceress sleuth in addition to a teleportator in the making. New Camel, not to be confused with Camelot, is a nice little town and not one that necessarily need ...more

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Nov 16, 2017 Cindy rated it liked it

I requested this book from net galley, so I have not read book 1 in the series. I felt that hindered my enjoyment of the book as the author din't really re-cap the past events. Having the wizard Merlin be in modern times and hanging out with the main character and her Aunt, seemed very out of place without having that back story. I felt the Aunt's character should have been stronger, considering she was suppose to be a witch as well, she seemed afraid most of the book.

That said, I did enjoy the ...more

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Jan 11, 2018 Samantha rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

I love books with a little paranormal twist to them so I was excited to snag this one from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It's a good solid little book, with an intriguing murder mystery to solve. The main character, Kailyn Wilde, comes from a long line of witches (who prefer to be called sorcerers) and she's stumbled upon a second death in her small town and she's itching to solve it. This book is the second in the Abracadabra Mystery series and while some books can be read as stan ...more

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Oct 30, 2017 Kathleen Gray rated it it was amazing

How fun is a magic shop in small town New Camel, New York as the setting for a cozy! Kailyn and her aunt Tillie have enough to deal with the shop let alone the possibility that a large hotel is coming to town. A murder is the last thing they need- especially since they are suspects. Merlin the wizard, who is a hoot, shows up to help and to make you laugh. This is the second in a series but I hadn't read the first and didn't have the least bit of problem enjoying this one. Thanks to Netgalley for ...more

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Nov 12, 2017 Lynne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley

Oh, I really loved this book. Kailyn, Aunt Tilly, and Merlin are a hoot. I enjoyed all the characters as well as the mystery. The story has some twists and turns and it was fun to read about Kailyn's progress on her magick skills. The mystery kept my guessing, in fact, I wasn't sure who the murderer was or why until it was revealed. This is the second book in the series. I want to read the first book. This one made references to events in the first book and though I still was able to follow, it ...more

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About Sharon Pape

Sharon Pape

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I started writing stories as soon as I learned how to put letters together to form words. From that day forward, writing has been a part of my life whether it was my first attempt at a novel in seventh grade or the little plays I wrote for my friends to perform for neighbors and family. After college, when I was busy teaching French and Spanish to high school students, I was also writing poetry -- I started writing stories as soon as I learned how to put letters together to form words. From that day forward, writing has been a part of my life whether it was my first attempt at a novel in seventh grade or the little plays I wrote for my friends to perform for neighbors and family. After college, when I was busy teaching French and Spanish to high school students, I was also writing poetry -- often in French.

After several years, I left teaching to be a full time mom, and when my two children started school, I went back to writing. To my delight I found that the muse was still there, still waiting patiently for me to come around. My first novel, Ghostfire, was published at that time. It went on to be condensed in Redbook magazine (the first paperback original the magazine had ever condensed.) Then came The God Children and The Portal. Redbook also published my first short story, which was subsequently sold to several foreign magazines. With two great kids, a golden retriever and a loving, supportive husband (whom I'd met at the beach when I was fourteen -- but that's a story for another day), I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be in my life. But fate had another plan for me, and it went by the name of "breast cancer."

Looking back, I realize how fortunate I was that the cancer was discovered at such an early stage, but at the time it was all very overwhelming. Once I was back on my feet, I wanted to help other women who were newly diagnosed, worried and afraid. I became a Reach to Recovery volunteer for the American Cancer Society and went on to run the program for Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island. A number of years later, with the help of my surgical oncologist and two other volunteers, I started Lean On Me, a nonprofit organization that provides peer support and information to breast cancer patients. When Lean On Me celebrated its tenth anniversary it no longer required as much of my time, and I once again found myself free to pursue my first love -- writing.

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