Bonbons and Broomsticks

Bewitched by Chocolate #5

by H.Y. Hanna

Caitlyn is settling into life as a novice witch in an English village chocolate shop - although she's finding the hardest magic to master is making caramel sauce without burning it! When two men are murdered, and a ghostly black hound is seen haunting the countryside, the village gossips are sure dark witchcraft is to blame. Caitlyn decides to do a little magical sleuthing of her own. Luckily, she has her very own shape-shifter to help (even if he does come in the shape of a toothless old vampire) not to mention her naughty kitten Nibs, and her sassy American cousin! But her investigation soon leads to unexpected revelations about the mysterious runestone necklace she's worn since a baby. Can Caitlyn find the killer and unlock the secrets of her past? And will she ever convince the dashing Lord James Fitzroy to accept who she really is? This book follows British English spelling and usage. Clean no graphic violence, sex, or strong language. contemporary fantasy, paranormal fantasy, paranormal cozy mysteries, witch cozy mystery, culinary cozy mysteries, cat cozy mystery series, British mystery

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic, Witches, Fiction

535 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 17, 2018

About the author

USA Today bestselling author H.Y. Hanna has written over 30 mystery novels, many of which have been translated into several languages. Her mysteries blend humour and clever plotting with vivid settings, featuring quirky characters - and cats with big personalities! After spending years trying to fit in and do a “real” job, Hsin-Yi finally returned to her first love: writing.

Throughout her life, she has called many places home—from Taiwan to Oxford, Dubai to New Zealand. She’s finally unpacked for good in Perth, Western Australia, where she spends most days fighting with her rescue cat Muesli for the use of her office chair.

You can learn more about her and her books at: www.hyhanna.com

And don’t forget to join her newsletter to get updates on new releases, exclusive giveaways and other book news—as well as a free novella and short story! Go to: www.hyhanna.com/newsletter

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fifth in the Bewitched by Chocolate mystery series which takes place in an English town called Tillyhenge and centres around a chocolate shop whose owner is very definitely a witch.

There is plenty of magic around and lots of fun with Caitlyn, her vampire uncle and all her witchy relations. Evie especially amuses me with her eagerness to learn the craft and the many ways she fails. The scene with the shoes is particularly funny. At last James may be opening his mind a little to the possibility of things he cannot explain and there are signs he may one day accept magic as real, which it certainly is in Tillyhenge.

A fun book from a very entertaining series.

[✨ Gramy ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

.
Welcome to a bewitching cozy mystery series, with a splash of magic. It was set in Britain and follows British English spelling and usage. You will be introduced to charming and lovable characters that entertain the reader through the twists and turns of each mystery, not easily solved. The heroine of this story is named Caitlyn Le Fey.

After her mom passed away, she discovered that she was actually adopted after having been abandoned on the side of the road near Tillyhenge, a tiny English village. Caitlyn goes to Tillehenge, where her life changes dramatically. She lives in a room above a chocolate shop, when she isn't staying at Huntingdon Manor and is always eager to do some magic sleuthing whenever another dead body is discovered in their small village.

In this installment, Caitlyn is tasked with dealing with her feeling and her relationship with Lord James Fitzroy, which seems to be growing in each book. Will they ever admit their feelings to each other? And will James be able to accept her witchcraft?

The story would not be complete without a murder mystery, but this time there are two men murdered and a ghostly black hound has been spotted haunting the countryside. It is not a surprise that the village gossips are positive that witchcraft has something to do with it. Not only does her cousin, Pomoma, jumps in to help, but her feeble and sight deprived Uncle Viktor bumps in to aid as well.

This is a clean read, which is I enjoy immensely. I was delighted to discover the lack of any typos or editing errors with this Kindle Unlimited edition (oh how this does deliver a more enjoyable read). The books in this series are able to stand on their own, but reading them in order assures that you don't miss any delightful details. The conclusion delivers an H.E.A. regarding the murder, but there will definitely be more entertainment from the band of merry characters in the remainder of the series!

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Altro buon libro e mi sto abituando al fatto che l'elemento paranormale sia sempre più forte. Questa è una serie che deve essere letta in ordine, secondo me, proprio per apprezzare meglio questo elemento. Ho un paio di dubbi che spero vengano spiegati e risolti presto...

[Linniegayl · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author’s Bewitched by Chocolate mystery series has been a B/C read for me. Overall the series has been a light cozy, despite the fact that the main characters are all witches. In the last entry, we were introduced to a dark force that is heralding a potential coming apocalypse. The book also ended on a cliff-hanger, and left me looking forward to the next entry.

Bonbons and Chocolates -- the fifth in the series -- starts one week after the last book ended. James has avoided Caitlyn since then, after her declaration that she’s a witch (he doesn’t believe in witches or any other paranormal beings). But now Caitlyn and her young cousin Evie are headed to a dinner party at James’ home, and there’s been one more mysterious death in the area, plus sightings of a Black Shuck (mythical huge black dog that signals death for someone in your family).

While parts of the books are charming, I’m very tired of Caitlyn’s cousin Evie continually trying to do spells, and having them turn into fiascos. It was funny in the first book, but in the fifth it’s just tired. Her other cousin-- Pomona -- is also acting stupidly, going off for days with a mysterious man who seems to be hiding some dark secrets. And then there’s Caitlyn, who goes wandering off in the middle of the night in the woods following what might be a horrible beast. This is not the way sensible people would act. There’s so much more potential without having the key women in the story act ridiculous.

This was definitely a short, fast read, but overall it left me dissatisfied. In fact, I came very close to putting it down at several points. I wanted more progression with the numerous story lines (Caitlyn’s mysterious background, the hints of the coming Apocalypse, and others). Overall I’d give this a C-/D+, and rate it my least favorite in the series, with just two stars here.

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.

This was another fun book in this series. I was in the mood for a cozy mystery and had just received my copy of this book, so I decide that was the perfect time to read it. After what happened at the end of book 4 Caitlyn is a bit distracted. Then two new murders shake the small town. The legendary black shuck seems to terrorize the country side and there is a dinner party she attends with a lot of undercurrents. And suddenly Caitlyn's romantic troubles seem the least of her problems.

I always have so much fun reading this series and this latest installment was a great one. The mystery kept me guessing for a while, but after some well placed hints I managed to figure out both one of the reveals toward the end and the murderer, but I guessed something wrong as well. I like how the author writes the mysteries in such a way that the reader can figure them out, which is fun. I did think a few of the clues Caitlyn uncovered where a bit too much coincidence upon coincidence and Nibs behavior is a few times used as plot device so Caitlyn could stumble upon something. But I liked how it all got resolved in the end.

Another thing I really like about this book is how well it combines the paranormal aspect with the mystery. The paranormal aspect is never too much, but is subtly woven throughout everything and it does play an important role. Although Caitlyn doesn't use as much magic in this book, there are enough magical/ paranormal happenings. I thought the Black Shuck plot line was quite interesting. And she also made some progress uncovering a bit about her past. The scene at the end was the hag stone was a bit too much with how Nibs' behavior is used as a plot device so Caitlyn can't uncover everything yet. But I am curious to figure out what exactly the relevance of her rune stone is.

It's also great how this series has some plot lines that progress throughout the series, like Caitlyn's romance with James, the mystery surrounding Caitlyn's past and rune stone and now there's a plot line surrounding Blackmort as well, that got started in the previous books, but seems to become another longer running plot line. These overarching plot lines help keep the continuity in this series. And ofcourse the seeing the same familiar characters again each book. I was happy to see Ferdinand the bull got an appearance as well in this book.

After what happened at the end of the previous book, I wondered how the romance would continue in this book. They have quite the huddle to overcome and I wasn't sure how they would get over it. It did make sense from both their point of views how they acted, which was great and made it feel pretty believable. I was happy to see how things progressed in this book and am curious what this means for the next book.

To summarize: I had a lot of fun reading this one. It's again full of magic, paranormal and a good mystery. The mystery kept me guessing at first, I managed to predict a reveal and the murderer, but guessed something else wrong. I like how these mysteries are written in such a way that you can figure them out yourself. I liked seeing some continuing story lines progress in this one. And the romance had a great development at the end of this book. The Black Shuck storyline was petty interesting. And it was fun spending time with some familiar characters again. if you like paranormal cozy mysteries I can't recommend this series enough.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Bonbons & Broomsticks” earns 5+/5 Bonbons and Black Dogs...Deliciously Fun!

Caitlyn Le Fey has been adjusting to the fact that she’s a witch, and having been adopted, she has discovered a grandmother, an aunt, and a cousin, who are all witches, too. Apprenticing in her grandmother’s chocolate shop, she is discovering she has quite the talent for manipulating chocolate, yet answers about her birth, her mother, and why she was abandoned as a baby have not been forthcoming, and her necklace with odd rune markings only adds to her personal mystery. Could there be answers in the locked room at the Manor house? Caitlyn and her BFF Pomona may have found something, but the rumors of a phantom hound, the Black Shuck, prowling the forest along with two odd deaths seem to be more of an immediate concern.

Wow! I have been waiting for the next story, and can't be more thrilled! Once again H.Y. Hanna has devised a clever mystery incorporating a real legend of the Black Shuck, a beast that prowled the area of East Angelia. Throwing us off the scent, we are also given several more corporeal suspects with motives of jealousy and greed. As each clue or witness account is explored, it was hard for my inner detective to hone in on one. Hanna’s descriptions of the forest, the manor house, and townspeople of Tillyhenge, along with the mouthwatering caramels and bonbons fill the senses making this fictional town very real to fans. But, she doesn't just rely on the narrative. She has penned delightful dialogue putting the reader into realistic banter, even if it's between Caitlyn and her six-hundred-year-old vampire guardian uncle. Everything works. No hocus-pocus antics. Even with Evie’s comical inexperience with spells and the occasional added ‘umpff’ in the chocolate delicacies, the magic theme works. Even more contemporary are the issues with prejudice. The villagers don't know the truth about Caitlyn and her family, but their bigotry, fears, and jealousy of that which is different manifests in protests and vicious gossip. People take sides, but it only strengthens Caitlyn’s bond with her family. She even chooses to confide in Lord James Fitzroy, but…well, what would you say if the person you are falling for says they are a witch? Fun! Engaging! I highly recommend this fifth book in the series, and although their are no spoilers to effect reading the books out of order, details are slowing being revealed about Caitlyn’s past. You’ll want to read the rest of the series

"Disclosure: I received an ARC. My review is voluntary, and my comments and insights are honest."

[JoAn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonbons and Broomsticks by H.Y. Hanna was another delicious read in her Bewitched by Chocolate series. The plot moves quickly and the characters are becoming more "real" as I read each book. I am always caught up in the life in Tillyhenge with each book. I can always count on Ms. Hanna to pull me into the story with the mystery twists and turns and laughter as Uncle Viktor and Evie have something to add to the story.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All of the above opinions are my own.

[Nola Arganbright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet treat

A tantalizing new series with quirky characters of all types. The witches are master chocolate makers, there is a vampire who has misplaced his fangs and a very handsome CID agent to keep the heroine company.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bonbons and Broomsticks by H.Y.Hanna is the 5th book in the Bewitched by Chocolate Mystery series. When two men are murdered and the Black Shuck, a legendary hound, is blamed, novice witch Caitlyn Le Fey finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation. Another fun book in the series where Caitlyn continues to delve into her past. Cousin Pomona though was particularly silly and strange in this book. Victor , the elderly vampire, adds a bit of humour and it looks like the romance between Caitlyn and Lord Fitzroy may be rekindling. An enjoyable and entertaining mystery.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 5th book in the Bewitched by Chocolate Series and it is delicious! I couldn't put it down once I started it since there were so many elements and twists and turns that made you want to finish to find out the answers! Caitlyn, the main character in a series with some fun and funny characters like her cousin Evie who tries so hard to get her magic right. And of course there's Nibs the troublenaking adorable kitten and Uncle Viktor, the vampire fruit bat who keeps looking for his fangs. The Widow Mags, Caitlyn's grandmother and her Aunt Bertha are wonderful and well developed you gotta love them. We are offered a wonderful murder or two together with trying to find a mythical black hound. When a vagabond and an estate owner are murdered, the hound myth is brought to the fore. And of course, the town, who doesn't really know about the Widow Mags and her family being true witches, accuses them of being complicit in the murders! And add to all this a shy brewing romance between the Lord James Fitzroy and Caitlyn. Lord Fitzroy pretty much keeps the town in order and defends the Widow Mags and her family. And you have Caitlyn's American cousin, Pomona who, although not a witch, loves everything paranormal and likes to push Caitlyn to James because both of them are so silly about their relationship. Pomona also keeps pushing her cousin to finding out more about the necklace she wears which has to do with something that may have happened to her mother and what the mysterious writing on it means. Put all this together and you get a wonderfully woven cozy paranormal mystery that makes you laugh out loud! Can't wait for the next book since there is so much more that can happen in the adventures of Caitlyn Le Fey! I received and ARC from the author but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[John Presler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caitlyn's cousin, Pomona, is back in Tillyhenge and staying at Huntingdon Manor. Lord Fitzroy has a few other guests as well - Professor Thrope, a cryptzoologist, and Nathan Lewis, an investigative reporter.

When Lord Fitzroy sees the Widow Mags' spectacles flying through the air and then drop into Caitlyn's hands. He insists it was a hallucination and even though Caitlyn tries to tell him what he saw was real and that she is really a witch, he tells her to quit talking nonsense.

Later, Evie tells Caitlyn that Lord Fitzroy has invited them to join him and his guests for dinner at the Manor. Sir Henry Pritchard and his wife, Sherry, will also be in attendance. During dinner, some of the conversation revolves around Thane Blackmort and his desire to purchase some of Sir Henry Pritchard's estate, which Sir Henry vehemently denies being willing to sell.

While walking home that evening Sir Henry mysteriously dies along the trail known as Dead Man's Walk. Sir Henry is the second person to die in that area in a week. There are rumors that attribute the deaths to the Black Shuck, a mysterious black monster who supposedly haunts the woods.

Was Sir Henry attacked by a monster or was his death more sinister? Did he die of natural causes or was he murdered? Can Caitlyn figure out what happened? Who or what is the Black Shuck? Can Caitlyn convince Lord Fitzroy that magic exists and that not all witches are bad?

H.Y. Hanna has a way with her writing and her characters that makes you feel like you are right there experiencing everything yourself. She also has a knack for creating the wonderful twists and turns that keep you guessing from start to finish.

[Teresa Barrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great book in the Bewitched by Chocolate series and I absolutely loved it just as much as the others. The characters are well developed as well as the plot. There's plenty of twists, mystery, magic, comedy and a touch of romance.
I get a kick out of Viktor losing his teeth and the vibe of his character. I love all the characters and their unique qualities shine.
Again another great read by the narrator, she's done an excellent job at bringing the characters to life and making each one stand out. A good book and a good narrator really livens the story and makes it very enjoyable to listen to.
I can not wait for the 6th book to come out! I really love this series and I haven't enjoyed a series this much since Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.
I especially enjoy that this series is clean as in no massive violence or sexual content because this series just goes to show that you don't need all that to make a great story. The author is very talented and I really enjoy her writing.
Like I said, I can't wait for the 6th book to be released.
My favorite series!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The progress that Caitlyn is making in finding out about where she came from was great. What wasn't so great was Pomona. Maybe it's the fact that she's always the "American cousin", but her constant use of the word "like" and her tendency to overshare rub me the wrong way. Plus, her utter disregard for other people's property is not a nice trait. I sure hope (or not for her sake) that she's under the influence of Thane Blackmort and that she'll revert back to her usual kind self soon. Although that won't erase the fact that she uses the word "like" in every sentence, it could possibly explain away everything else I don't like about her. I rather liked the mystery in this one and didn't guess the identity of the murderer until the end. The development with james was quite nice as well, and I liked the natural feel of it. However, I'm still waiting to see Caitlyn become a little more confident in herself, poor thing.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 Sterne, hier aufgerundet auf 5. Nach dem ersten und den zweiten mal wieder ein unglaublich starker Band der Reihe.

Neben den üblichen Highlights der Reihe (Cozyness, detailliert ausgearbeitete Figuren, besondere Aspekte, die ich woanders noch nie gelesen habe, atmosphärisches Setting, Humor, etc) hat mir hier die Mordermittlung sehr gut gefallen. Ich gehe da aus Spoilergründen nicht näher drauf ein, aber sie hat mich wegen ihres Hintergrundes sehr gefesselt. Normalerweise ist die jeweilige Ermittlung für mich nicht der Bestandteil, den ich bei der Reihe am interessiertesten verfolge. Mir geht es da eher um das Weiterbegleiten der Figuren und der Rahmenhandlung. Aber hier war das wirklich sehr interessant und spannend umgesetzt.

Mit jedem Band geht die Rahmenhandlung mehr in die Tiefe, auch hier war das der Fall. Ich habe mich mit Caitlin mitgefreut, aber auch sehr mit ihr mitgelitten. Auch hier kann ich leider nicht näher drauf eingehen. Der Schreibstil war wie immer leicht, verständlich, flüssig, gefühlvoll und sehr witzig. Ich zähle die Male, in denen ich breit grinse, oder laut auflache schon gar nicht mehr mit.

Fazit:
Eine Reihe, die ich wirklich jedem gerne ans Herz legen möchte. Wäre mit Sicherheit auch eine super Gelegenheit um in den Fantasy Bereich einzusteigen.

[Debi Paglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition to the Bewitched by Chocolate series! What could be better than a witchy story about a nice young woman in a small English village? This book had a great surprise ending too! Would recommend it to anyone who likes good clean storytelling, interesting & likable characters and lovely settings. I was provided an advance copy of this book and voluntarily wrote an unbiased review.
 

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book number five does not disappoint!
I love the village of Tilleyhenge and the characters are so full of life. I absolutely love reading about them.
This paranormal cozy series is very well written and this latest whodunit kept me engaged and I could not put it down.
I recommend you read this series in order.
I adore this series and find it just gets better with each new story.
I highly recommend this series and look forward to reading the next in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Jacqueline K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continues to be a cute book series blending cozy mystery and Harry Potter magic. The author is playing out the story in just small enough bites that I am keen for the next book!

[Katarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another exciting, heartwarming cozy mystery by H.Y. Hanna. Can't wait to read more in this series!

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite some eye rolls I did during this book, all in all this book was not that bad. I really liked the first book and after each book, I did have some misgivings about continuing with the series. I do think I may read the next book, which just came out recently, but I'm wondering if we truly find the answers to questions that started with the first book or if this will be a never-ending series that I should discontinue and not bother with.

[J Alm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful continuation

Time is moving slowly for Caitlyn. She told her secret to the man she loves who no longer wishes to talk to her.

A so called demon dog is in the area, a murdered tramp and a local Sir add great colour and mystery.

It was hard to put down having several surprises along the way.

Too many fun and interesting things happen to spoil the story with too many details, but it was one of those books you wouldn't mind cherishing.

A lot happens but the author does an excellent job in keeping to the story arc so made it enjoyable to read.

I hope the author will write another in this series as the story is not finished yet.

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love H.Y. Hanna's books and this is the first book I read in this series and when I finished it I had to start at the begining with book one and work my way through them all. So when this book came out as an audio book I jumped at the chance add it to my collection. So glad I did as I was right about enjoying it and I think I enjoyed it even more listening to it.
Strange going ons in Tillyhenge has the village divided with most people believing in the legends about A ghostly hound bring death to any who see it. After a number of deaths, fears seem to be right a demonic dog is stalking the village but when the victims autopsy revile poisoned chocolates, it's up to Caitlyn to solve the murder and the mysterious dog sightings before the village turns against her Grandmother, the village chocolatetear.

I love the recurring side characters that join in with the fun and the witch craft, that somehow never turns out quite how it was intended.
The narrator was good at all the voices, even the meowing and barking. Well you can't have a witch without a feline companion

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caitlyn Le Fey is on the job when two people in town are killed, there are also a gang of men going around attacking girls walking by themselves. There are sightings of a mythical large black dog in the area and the deaths are being blamed on it.
The black hound is spotted by multiple people and is causing a great amount of fear among the people.
Caitlyn is one of the few people who don't believe the dog is dangerous. There is also a professor on holiday who is seeking the dog as his education focus is on mythical creatures.

This is another very fun story from H.Y. Hanna, it is currently the last one in the series and I'm looking forward to the release of the next one. I was already a fan of her Oxford Tea Room mysteries when I came across the first book in the Bewitched by Chocolate series. It is definitely my favorite of the two series that I follow from her.

[Susan Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I’ve read the whole series and hope there are more being written. What great books to read. Great characters and story line

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and entertaining cozy mystery! I didn't enjoy the story/mystery as much as the previous books in the series, but the usual characters were familiar and delightful.

[Heather Belleguelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first thing I liked about this book was the title. What a delightful play on Bedknobs and Broomsticks! I really enjoyed reading this next instalment in the Bewitched by Chocolate series and think that Ms Hanna has done well mixing all the different elements and threads together. The mystery itself is quite a simple one this time, but it is so well weaved in with the other story elements. There is certainly plenty to hold readers’ interest.

One of my favourite things about this series is wondering what amusing moments we’re going to have with Viktor, and, as usual, he’s quite hilarious. One of these books wouldn’t be complete without him looking for his teeth and cursing the dentist, or him causing havoc somewhere and Caitlyn having to rescue him. The other light element that I always wait for with anticipation is Evie’s magic that goes wrong. Again, the disastrous spell in this novel proved highly imaginative and amusing. Maybe one day that poor girl will become less hapless, but hopefully not too soon as she’s so entertaining, even if her sticky situations cause Caitlyn some stress on the way.

Then there are the underlying story arcs of the whole Thane Blackmort situation, Caitlyn trying to find out about her mother, and, of course, will she ever start a romance with the lovely James Fitzroy? And that’s all without even mentioning the murder mystery and the mythical black hound. As I said earlier, the mystery is a fairly simple one this time, but the author ties it in so well with all the other elements and involves some interesting characters. And I did also enjoy the other mystery of the aforementioned black hound.

Last, but not least, it’s always a pleasure to meet up with and continue to get to know the regular characters. They are built up further in this book, and some of the secondary characters like Jeremy Bottom and Terry the landlord, are taking more shape. And I was happy to see Ferdinand the bull again.

All in all, Bonbons and Broomsticks makes an enjoyable addition to the series and I’m intrigued to see where Ms Hanna will go with the next instalment.

I received a free copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Daniele · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

BONBONS AND BROOMSTICKS, the fifth book in the Bewitched by Chocolate Mystery Series, is a
quick, light read, perfect for summer vacation.

This installment finds Caitlyn worried about the status of her friendship with James after the events of the last book. She feels a bit better when she is invited to a dinner party at James’ manor. Talk turns to the death of a tramp and the resurgence of sightings of The Black Shuck, a monstrous dog of legend whose appearances are said to herald death. Among the guests is James’ neighbor Sir Henry who meets an untimely end on his way home from the dinner. Now Caitlyn has plenty to figure out. In addition to the murders and dog, Caitlyn finds something that might explain the rune stone she has worn since she was a baby, hopefully a key to her past.

I always find time spent with Caitlyn a treat. The descriptions of Widow Mags’s chocolate confections alone are enough to keep me reading. There are a few twists and turns along the way in the murder investigation to keep whodunit in question for a good deal of the story. The inclusion of The Black Shuck is even more engaging, though I did figure out what was going on pretty early on. The bits about the rune stone are interesting, but I am becoming impatient with waiting to learn all of the secrets of Caitlyn’s past.

Caitlyn is a likeable protagonist. She does do some irresponsible stuff, like running into the forest where there might be a dangerous beast in the middle of the night...more than once. Widow Mags, James, and, of course, kitten Nibs and mastiff Bran are all favorite characters. Unfortunately, I have still not warmed up to Pomona. Her constant use of “like” and “’cos” grates; most Americans do not talk this way.

I enjoyed BONBONS AND BROOMSTICKS and recommend it to fans of the series and readers looking for a breezy paranormal cozy.

I received a copy of this title from the author and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series -- it is simply delightful. Bonbons and Broomsticks follows Caitlyn Le Fey as she settles into her new life in the Cotswolds village of Tillyhenge with her Grandmother Mags, the chocolatier, to learn the craft of making chocolate as well as come to terms with her own fledgling magical abilities. When two people are murdered by poisoned chocolates along with sightings of a supposedly mythological "hound of Baskervilles" type dog just outside the village called The Black Shuck, Caitlyn and her cousin Pomona are on the case. In addition to these mysteries, Caitlyn is still determined to find out about her past and meaning of the mysterious rune symbols on the necklace she was wearing when she was abandoned as a baby outside of Tillyhenge. With the help of Widow Mags, Pomona, Viktor, Lord James Fitzroy and the rest of her village friends, Caitlyn delves into these mysteries and finds some surprising answers and even more questions, such as what is the story behind Pomona's crush, Thane Blackwort, and his intense desire to buy the land around Tillyhenge's sacred stones.

This Bewitched by Chocolate Mystery is an enchanting read, as are all of the books in this series. They will definitely appeal to the mystery lover and chocoholic in everyone!

Disclosure: A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above thoughts and solely opinions are my own.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this series so much and it keeps getting better.
I love the allusions H.Y. Hanna gives to other literature like "The Hound of the Baskervilles" in this book. It's sneaky and I have not mentioned it until now but every book has something like that. It's the sweet part of the book like cake icing.
Speaking of sweet I need to mention the characters. There are a few fuzzy characters like little fuzzy kitten Nibs, mountain fuzzy dog Bram or Brawn? (I listen to the audible version so I am not sure how to spell his name,) and now a short haired fuzzy terrier that's kind of a jerk. Humans too. I love how Pommy makes commentary on Caitlyn's relationships and tries to guess who murdered who along with the reader. The Widow Mags (Caitlyn's mentor and grandmother) does not take crap but has a tender heart. James (a version of Darcy) became more of a person in this book than in the others and I no longer wish he would be the murder victim if fact I kind of like him. The best thing about them is that the characters are not morose and have fun doing the things I would like to do like eating chocolate, talking, adventuring around the countryside, doing magic and petting sweet animals. This is a cozy after all. The women are smart and smartass. The women can't wait for the men to get things done.
Caitlyn is a chocolatier in training and the technical aspects in each book are neat.
Special thank you to H.Y. Hanna for writing these books.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is the guy with green eyes her dad?

Book 5 I have been starting to get fed up with the Caitlyn and James love story or you could say not love story.This author do not really do romance she is focused on murders and Nancy drews trying to solve them and always getting it wrong until the last minute when she figures it out when she is about to get killed (yeah really the same in the tea room series) you could say this is slow burn but it's so slow it's still at the start and we are in book 5 the ending looked promising but still only friends.I would of liked them to get together and chase leads together? It would make it more different from her other series I know this one is magic but it's still set in the same world (they just don't know about magic in the other series) I also get a little fed up with James for many reasons yes he is rich and owns most of the land but they treat HIS HOUSE as a hotel, it comes across naive people come and go all the time.New in town stay at the lords house.why is her cousin treating it like a hotel (it's rude) and if he is interested in Caitlyn why is he letting other women stay over? He gives amy more attention and her cousin.also the car was a hire the company should of collected and replace it? When is she going to buy her own place she can afford it? And did she even check out if the hotel she was in?

[Pam]

I'm over this series! The main charaacter, Caitlyn, continues to involve herself in various murder investigations. Many times conflicting with the official investigation and causing difficult difficulties. In addition, she is enamored of the lord the manor and endlessly mentally rambling about that situation. I read it as far as 40% and stopped. Not going to continue the series.



Amazon synopsis:
Caitlyn is settling into life as a novice witch in an English village chocolate shop - although she's finding the hardest magic to master is making caramel sauce without burning it! When two men are murdered, and a ghostly black hound is seen haunting the countryside, the village gossips are sure dark witchcraft is to blame. Caitlyn decides to do a little magical sleuthing of her own. Luckily, she has her very own shape-shifter to help (even if he does come in the shape of a toothless old vampire) not to mention her naughty kitten Nibs, and her sassy American cousin!
But her investigation soon leads to unexpected revelations about the mysterious runestone necklace she's worn since a baby. Can Caitlyn find the killer and unlock the secrets of her past? And will she ever convince the dashing Lord James Fitzroy to accept who she really is?