Surgery and Spells

Midlife Medicine #2

by Amorette Anderson

After fifty years of struggle, Grace is ready for a new way of life… a way that’s a bit more magical.

After a midlife crisis that involved a bad break-up and a void within that just didn’t seem possible to fill, Nurse Grace Littleton finds herself living a charmed and enchanted new life.

Her job as an RN in the rural village of Covenstead, Vermont, is fairly easy -- until it’s not.

In addition to tending to the town’s ill and injured, she’s also responsible for investigating death.

So, when a body turns up in the local cemetery, Grace’s job suddenly becomes much more challenging.

She feels out of her element -- she’s a nurse, not a trained homicide detective for goodness sake!

But the townsfolk are looking to her for answers... A local teen’s surgery seems to be involved, covens aren’t getting along, and a graveside spell may have gone wrong.

Can Grace and her pit bull Lucky dig up the truth?

For fans of paranormal women’s fiction and witch cozy mysteries -- a combination of midlife self discovery, magic, and murder.

This is book two in the Midlife Medicine series. Can be read as a standalone or as a follow-up to book one, Post-op and Potions.

Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Cozy

194 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 26, 2021

Reviews

[JoAn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second book in Amorette Anderson's Midlife Medicine cozy paranormal mystery series. The main character, Grace Littleton, was a former traveling nurse who has settled down in Covenstead, Vermont, a small town that is home to several covens. Her duties not only include being a nurse to the local residents but also act as the town investigator when trouble occurs in the small town. The mystery had plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end.

[Chris B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second book in the series was quite a good cozy mystery. Grace as the new town sleuth is learning as she goes, treating solving the murder as a jigsaw puzzle. The culprit was not who I expected at all. There may be the start of a romance for her too but I guess I will need to read the next book in the series to find out.

[Vicki Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this newest series by Amorette Anderson! This is a delightful story with great characters and enough mystery and intrigue to keep you on the edge from the first to last pages. The storyline wss superb and I would never have even contemplated the conclusion, no way! The characters are stellar with some awesome and rather intimidating new folks along with several from the first book. I would love to have my dog as a familiar! Can you imagine the fun you would have! This book moves at a fast pace and keeps your mind attentive to each pertinent detail. This author continues to amaze me with her writing capabilities improving so much with each new book. This is definitely my favorite series (both books 😁 to date) and I am already looking forward to the next one.

I received an ARC copy from the author. However, this is my voluntary, honest, and completely personal review.
VICKI FROM WYOMING

[Carol Krout · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series. Totally a refreshing take on murder mysteries. A doctor with unique surgery ways, an ordinary nurse who has been thrown into being a detective who discovers she has a unique ability of telepathy to her dog.
A murder, a teenager with a badly sprained ankle, a vehicle with one headlight, a cheat sheet, and a possible love interest.
Two thumbs up.

[Debbiebooknerdyoung · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun cozy mystery with nurse Grace.
Solving crimes isn't something Grace is very comfortable with, but the role of sleuth is part of job in Covenstead. Grace is slowly meeting more people in town, which is helping her solve crimes and make friends.
I'm enjoying this new series, and look forward to the next book.

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Covenstead’s resident nurse & appointed town sleuth has a new mystery on her hands. Clancy the town cemetery keeper found dead. During the investigation a girls bracelet is found. A local high school girl, Maddie comes into the clinic with a bad ankle injury. Is this all connected?bGrace is slowly starting to put her case together. Did Maddie have something to do with Clancy’s death? While looking into Clancy’s belongings in his office at the cemetery, she finds a card, a book of spells & a cot to sleep on. Peculiar. What does it all mean. Grace is gathering several clues. Someone’s being blackmailed. Someone has a daughter unknown to anyone in town. There is also an Apple festival to get ready for. A great place to question people.
Grace is beginning to enjoying her new job as Covenstead’s detective. Answers are found, new friendships are made & old friendships renewed.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in a wonderful series in which a middle aged nurse moves to a new town and discovers that magic is real. As part of her duties as the nurse of the medical clinic she is the town investigator whenever a crime is committed. When the cemetary groundskeeper is found dead in the cemetary vault, Grace must investigate. Along with her dog, Lucky, Grace sets out to solve the crime. The characters are well developed (II really like Grace and Lucky) and the mystery is well crafted. I had some suspicions about the "who" but didn't know the "why" until Grace solved it. This is a good book and I can't wait for the next one to see what Grace will be up to in it.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace Littleton was a traveling nurse but after she’s laid off and has a nasty breakup her and her dog Lucky have no where to go. When she sees a flier for a job in Covenstead, Vermont she decides why not! Amongst her duties she discovers she is now the town sleuth! How hard can it be in this sleepy little town.
In this book when the cemetery groundskeeper is found dead, locked in a vault Grace is called in. Everyone seemed to like the guy. When a teenage is brought in with a badly injured ankle and a fishy story Grace is determined to get to the truth.
I really like the slow methodical way Grace gets to the truth. Even though this is only the second book in this new series, I can see Grace has become more comfortable with the towns people and isn’t such a loner. Her friendship with the doc has grown as she becomes more comfortable around him. She’s more accepting of his magical surgeries. She’s finally finding her “voice” and learning to stand up for herself! She has come along way in this book. I like the new townspeople we get to meet in this book. I hope the next books in this series becomes more and more complex as her relationships continue to grow! I recommend this book and this series!

[Jill Anna Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

” Surgery and Spells: Midlife Medicine (Book #2)” By Amorette Anderson Is A Tale Of One Grace Littleton ...A Seasoned Nurse....And Now Amateur Sleuth & Her Pit Bull ...Lucky..Who Recently Arrived In Covenstead, Vermont And Now Must Solve The Most Perplexing Murder Of The Magical Town’s Hard-Working Cemetery Groundskeeper...
Just Days Before The Yearly Apple Festival. Why Did The Victim Die Where He Did?!? Who Had Summoned Him There?!? Who Had Motives To Do Him In?!? Grace & Lucky Question His Wife...The Neighbors ...And Many Others In Covenstead...In Their Search For Evidence & A Resolution Of The Murder Investigation. How Did The Past Factor Into The Demise Of The Victim...What Was The Hidden Secret?!? And Was There More Than One?!? Why Were So Many Behaving So Strangely...How Did Many Of Covenstead’s Familiars Factor Into The Search For The Truth?!? And What Did Romance Have To Do With What Occurred?!? Can The Murderer Be Uncovered...Can The Murdered Man Get Justice?!? And Peace Be Restored ...So The Apple Festival Go Forward As Planned?!? And Whose Apple Dessert Recipe Win The Coveted Grand Prize?!? Read and see. Much enjoyed and Highly Recommended. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Copy of this book.

[Mike Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

entertaining paranormal cozy mystery series

This is an entertaining paranormal cozy mystery series. A find cast of characters and an entertaining storyline. A small paranormal town up in the northeast we’re only a limited number of supernatural‘s live hidden from human society. Well they can’t interact with the outside world most humans cannot come into their town.
Our main character was a traveling nurse that got a Magical note telling her about a job opening in this little town. And she just got laid off from her old job she drove along with her make her belongings to the little town and ended up getting hired. She soon found out that the town was magical at her new job including her being a nurse at the local clinic as well as part of the towns security/place/protective counsel. She also soon found out that she could actually talk to her dog who turned out to be her familiar. Well there’s not a lot of overt magic being thrown around it is based on magic and there is magic being down here and there. It’s not up in your face all over the place magic but it is there and it is an entertaining story based in a little rural low tech town where everybody helps everybody else. Entertaining read check it out

[Chad Barrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace and Lucky are on the hunt for clues as to who and or why the groundskeeper at the local cemetery was found dead inside a building that was locked from the outside.

Grace is forced outside her comfort zone to once again don the hat of her second job in town-that of investigating the death and sifting through all the clues to arrive at whodunnit and why.

This is a cozy mystery that people of all ages will enjoy! There are clues which lead to different conclusions but only one is right. Which one you ask? Well pick up the book and see if you can guess before it’s revealed.

I recommend this book to all who enjoy cozy mysteries and coming to their own conclusions as they read the story and then finding out if they were right or wrong. It’s light-hearted with no grisly details but just a straight forward statement and then looking into the clues as they appear.

I have enjoyed Amorette’s previous series and I predict this one is going to be one her readers will love as well!

[Kim Loomer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nurse Grace Littleton and her dog Lucky live in Covenstead, Vermont where she works at the clinic and the Doctor who uses magic to do surgery and fix other ailments rather than the surgery Grace was used to before she moved to this quaint little magical town. Grace is not only a nurse but she is the village detective who needs to solve the mystery when there is a crime committed. She feels out of her element as she was never trained for police work but with the help of her dog Lucky, they try their best to get the the bottom of what has happened. This time when a body turns up in a grave yard, a teenage girl needs surgery for her ankle and the town covens are not getting along, Grace tries her best to sort things out. It is an excellent book and this Midlife Medicine series is fast becoming my favorite in the series Amorette has written so far. I am a mystery lover at heart and love trying to solve the mystery in a book before I finish the book. This one had me fooled the whole way.

[Pam Morarre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. It is so easy do that for Amorette, because I really like her writing. This is the best book yet, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Our heroine, Grace, continues to settle into her new home, and she now accepts the magic that surrounds her in this town. Her duties as nurse at the clinic leave her plenty of time for her alternate job as town sleuth. When the cemetery groundskeeper is discovered dead inside the receiving vault, she has to put on her detective hat and solve the murder. There are many clues because more than just murder is seething in the town these days. Grace and Lucky, her pit bull familiar, unravel the clues despite attempts to stop her and bring the "perp" to face the light of day. A fun read with lots to keep your mind occupied as twists and turns lead to the satisfying conclusion.

[DianaRaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a light hearted fun read.
SURGERY AND SPELLS by Amorette Anderson is a Witch Cozy Mystery and the second installment in her  Midlife Medicine series. Ms. Anderson has created another strange little town with quirky characters and a fun murder mystery.  Get ready for some fun and a medical clinic whose patients seem to magically heal practically overnight. 

Grace is still trying to get accustomed to her new rustic home and rural town life with her dog Lucky. Her main job is RN in the local medical clinic. Oh, and that job includes being the resident investigator for unexplained deaths.  When the cemetery grounds keeper is found dead she must find out what happened. The more she investigates the more suspects she finds.

I did receive an advance readers copy from the author and the above is my freely given and honest review.

[Doty Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read books in order. Apple Festival is coming to town, everyone is in competition mode. Ben and Grace are trying to enjoy a nice meal together. Grace who has recently been just a regular "R.N." was unaware of her witchy side-mid-life just got interesting-she is also the Town "detective" for magical
reading of "crime scenes". Also another job that went with her new job. Whole town is magical shifters, witches etc. When a body was reported in the crypt in the grave yard, it was the grave yard manager was found dead, Dr. Ham called her in -on her day off-something just wasn't right.
Later a young witch was brought in by her mom with a badly injured ankle it was several days old, why the delay in seeking care? Long hidden secrets are coming out, people know more than they are telling, why? You have to follow the list, who benefits? was it for money? was it to keep information hidden?

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good story and a well-done mystery. Grace is starting to adapt to her new town and is more widely accepted by the townspeople. She's still not sure about her responsibilities regarding solving problems - especially murders!

Amazon synopsis:
Grace's job as an RN in a magical village is fairly easy--until it’s not. In addition to tending to the town’s ill and injured, she’s also responsible for investigating death. So, when a body turns up in the local cemetery, Grace’s job suddenly becomes much more challenging.

She feels out of her element--she’s a nurse, not a trained homicide detective for goodness sake! But the townsfolk are looking to her for answers... A local teen’s surgery seems to be involved, covens aren’t getting along, and a graveside spell may have gone wrong.

Can Grace and her pit bull Lucky dig up the truth?

[Javon50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace Littleton and her dog/familiar Lucky are feeling settled in her new job and home in Covenstead, Vermont. When a man’s body is found locked in a cemetery vault, Grace is called upon to help find the killer. Her primary job is as RN to the local doctor, but her second job in Covenstead is as the Town Detective where she must find answers and solve mysteries that occur in her new hometown. This mystery series is a wonderful story of new beginnings, new discoveries of Grace’s previously unknown abilities and her finding a permanent home after years of being a traveling nurse. This is my honest, voluntary review of an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Dinees Ponton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The puzzle pieces must fit just right to get the whole picture
I enjoyed this book. It has an old fashion feel and it is full of interesting characters and wonderful country scenery. I feel like I am a part of the story. Grace and her familiar Pitbull Lucky are relatable characters. I loved them both. Grace is new in town and determined to due her part in the community. She wants to fit in because she is ready to be more sociable. Grace and Lucky solve the towns crimes with some help from her circle.

I recommend this book to those that enjoy a cozy paranormal mystery with a happy ending.

[PAR · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a joy to have read my second book by Amorette Anderson. It is an easy read and may actually fall in the YA category - but who cares! This is a fun read and takes you by surprise as you follow a traveling nurse, who has found herself unemployed due to no fault of her own. Mysteriously she has found herself in the employ of a unique and quaint small town. While she has been hired as a nurse her main responsibility is that of a private investigator - delving into unusual criminal activity in which magic is a primary focus. I don't want to give away any additional "inside information". I encourage you to pick up this series you won't be disappointed!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magically entertaining read full of anticipation and an interesting array of characters and as any good cozey murder mystery it starts with a dead body, a long and intriguing array o suspects along with false claims of who might have done the horrible deed. But one thing is for sure you will enjoy following each twist and turn of events along the way to the truth. Amorette Anderson is a talented story teller who enthralls you from beginning to end, acquire " Surgery and Spells " so you yourself can enjoy it as much as I have. Kat

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Parents will take extreme measures to protect their young,” Ben agreed. “I think it’s instinctive. ."

Why did the caretaker of the cemetery die inside the vault? Was he murdered? Can Doc and Grace figure it out? Clues may be few but do they point to someone outside Covenstead? Between that and two teenagers vying for leadership, why does it look like there's even more to the story?

Clues and questions abound as Grace and Lucky prove you can't know where a locked door might lead. Highly Recommended 5/5

[Marcie Rostosky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 2 of a wonderful series. Grace and Lucky get involved in a murder mystery and they also have to figure out why a teenager is behaving they way she is. Being the new town sleuth she sometimes feels she a has big shoes to fill, but she somehow gets the courage and the knowledge and gets the case solved. If you want to know how she and Lucky do it, I would highly recommend you get the book. I am a member of Amorette's ARC team and I give my honest review. My favorite characters are Grace and Lucky.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great New Investigation for Grace

Another great story of Nurse Clare now also Chief Investigator for any problems in her new town.
WORST fault here was the comment that Danny broke his tibia ......"THE SMALL BONE NEXT TO THE FIBULA". Hello....the tibia is the LARGE bone that holds up the leg....the fibula is the smaller bone beside the tibia. Not only was I also a nurse but I had MY tibia broken and boy did I know it. I couldn't work out how to highlight this so hope the author can see this and correct it.
Otherwise great story and am off to get the next book

[Linda Figueira · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s incredible how Amorette still surprises us with each story. She is a master of capturing the inner feelings of the characters through minimal gestures that leads to the development of the plot and the solution of the murder. Besides, Grace is now more comfortable with her work and the city though still learning to deal with others. Her relationship with Ben is so sweet and the reader starts to cheer for it. Let’s see their development in the next volume of the Serie.

[Marci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, I absolutely love this series!! Grace and Lucky have become near and dear to my heart. And one of my favorite things is that Lucky is a Pit Bull! I have 3, and so this definitely means a ton to me since there is so much controversy on that breed. There is mystery, laughs, and so much more in this book. I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion, and I say you definitely will love this series!

[Kathy Brenzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, just like I have loved all of this author's books. A body in a cemetery - that's not so strange - except it shouldn't have been there. Grace is the town's RN, but also the town's investigator when something goes wrong. She, along with her pit bull familiar, Lucky, investigate the death. There is more to it than meets the eye, with a break-in at her house, missing clues and misdirections. This was not going to be an easy case to solve.

[Angel Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic world building!
I just love the community of Covenstead! The twists and turns this story takes are so in-tune to real life instances, that the reader can easily be swept up into it. Human nature is so filled with greed in many people. Blessedly, not everyone. Come along for the investigation. Can you figure out who did it? Highly recommended.
I received this book as part of the author's ARC team and am leaving my honest review.

[Eve Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
This is the second book of Grace's adventures into sleuthing. And this book was just as enjoyable as the first one, there are twists a plenty and just when you think you've got it WHAM the rug is pulled from under you, and you have to start guessing again.
I really love the budding relationship between Grace and Ben, it's such a well written and enjoyable book I can't wait for the next installment 😍

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Grace has a new mystery to solve in this new magical cozy mystery when a local caretaker is found dead and locked in a vault on the cemetery grounds. When Grace discovers a broken bracelet near the vault belonging to a local good girl, we know this mystery is going to be a complex one to solve.

I enjoyed getting to dig back into this series. This world has to be one of my new favorites. Plus, the mystery is compelling with a lot of suspects to consider. I was perplexed. I couldn't wait to find out whodunit, but I wanted the book to last longer. Covenstead is my new favorite world. I hope this author is a prolific -- I can't wait to read anything written in this world.

[Myra Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impressive

With all the cozy paranormal books available now it's had to find a series that feels unique but this one feels fresh and different. I think the idea of what the Peace Keepers do versus a traditional police department is an exceptional idea that would be perfect in a world if magic was real. The book is full of unique and creative ideas that really made me think. I like that. Great read!!!