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Witches of Noel Lodge #1
Cocoa and Curses
Mix one part divorce, two parts very suspicious murder, and three parts snarky witches for a cocoalicious paranormal women's fiction novel about finding your power after forty!
All Liv Kolgrim wanted for her forty-first birthday was a nice dinner with her husband. What she got was divorce papers and the legs knocked out from under her very comfortable life.
Yearning for a fresh start, Liv punches the reset button on her life and retreats to her tiny hometown to plan her next move.
But her feet have barely touched Mistlevale's snowy streets when a body shows up at her family's cozy lodge. Even worse, local sheriff's deputy Gray Bauer wants Liv's cantankerous grandmother on the hook for the crime.
Now Liv's restful vacation has turned into a race to unravel the mystery before her poor Gran winds up in a cell. With a small-town cast of characters to investigate, delicious cocoa to drink, and an enormous semi-feral cat on her tail, Liv has more than her hands full.
And that's all before her family insists she take up the mantle of witchcraft that Liv's never really believed in.
Cocoa & Curses is the first book of the Witches of Noel Lodge, a paranormal women's fiction series featuring a trio of snarky witches, a heaping helping of holiday cheer, and enough magical mayhem to stuff a stocking.
Please note this book was originally published as Room With a Bloom. This new edition does not contain additional content.
All Liv Kolgrim wanted for her forty-first birthday was a nice dinner with her husband. What she got was divorce papers and the legs knocked out from under her very comfortable life.
Yearning for a fresh start, Liv punches the reset button on her life and retreats to her tiny hometown to plan her next move.
But her feet have barely touched Mistlevale's snowy streets when a body shows up at her family's cozy lodge. Even worse, local sheriff's deputy Gray Bauer wants Liv's cantankerous grandmother on the hook for the crime.
Now Liv's restful vacation has turned into a race to unravel the mystery before her poor Gran winds up in a cell. With a small-town cast of characters to investigate, delicious cocoa to drink, and an enormous semi-feral cat on her tail, Liv has more than her hands full.
And that's all before her family insists she take up the mantle of witchcraft that Liv's never really believed in.
Cocoa & Curses is the first book of the Witches of Noel Lodge, a paranormal women's fiction series featuring a trio of snarky witches, a heaping helping of holiday cheer, and enough magical mayhem to stuff a stocking.
Please note this book was originally published as Room With a Bloom. This new edition does not contain additional content.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2021
263 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Julie Nisse
9 books7 followersJulie Nisse is a Pacific Northwest native transplanted to Texas. When she's not pining for a white Christmas, she spends her time writing, experimenting to make the best cup of coffee, or trying to decide which fountain pen to use for her next book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
April 13, 2022
I don't read a lot of cozy paranormal mystery books, but I've been in a mood for them and this one was free on amazon. I liked that the protagonist was a middle aged woman and it sounded like a cute town that she came from. But I absolutely did not like her at all.
First, I have no idea how in the face of her entire family telling her that they were all witches and evidence of actual fairies on their property that she would grow up not believing in magic.
Second, it was such a weird affectation that she would carry a digital recorder or take notes on an actual notepad of any conversation that she wanted to remember (which seems to be all of them.) The excuse that she was a court reporter was flimsy imo. If she had been an investigative reporter or a dectective or even a lawyer or paralegal maybe I would have let this slide, but a court reporter just transcribes a trial...not using a recorder or notepad.
Third, she had a mean antagonizing relationship with her niece who seemed to be at least 20 years younger than her. It was petty and mean the way she treated her.
Fourth, how many times was she going to rip her coat and leggings? It was just so stupid.
The last thing that annoyed the crap out of me was how much snow there seemed to be in this town in the first week of November. And no one mentioned that it was unusual to have this much this early or anything, it was just snow covered everywhere. On November 1st. Like everyone had studded tires on, the roads were slippy and the sides of the roads had so much snow that it would hit the side mirrors. I'm not from Washington state, but I did like 10min worth of research and it seemed like this much snow this early anywhere but up on top of Mt Rainier would be seen as unusual. There was no magical reason behind it either.
Other than that, it was an ok story that was written ok and the pace kept it going. If these kinds of things don't tend to bother you, go ahead and try it out. But generally, I'd say give this one a pass.
First, I have no idea how in the face of her entire family telling her that they were all witches and evidence of actual fairies on their property that she would grow up not believing in magic.
Second, it was such a weird affectation that she would carry a digital recorder or take notes on an actual notepad of any conversation that she wanted to remember (which seems to be all of them.) The excuse that she was a court reporter was flimsy imo. If she had been an investigative reporter or a dectective or even a lawyer or paralegal maybe I would have let this slide, but a court reporter just transcribes a trial...not using a recorder or notepad.
Third, she had a mean antagonizing relationship with her niece who seemed to be at least 20 years younger than her. It was petty and mean the way she treated her.
Fourth, how many times was she going to rip her coat and leggings? It was just so stupid.
The last thing that annoyed the crap out of me was how much snow there seemed to be in this town in the first week of November. And no one mentioned that it was unusual to have this much this early or anything, it was just snow covered everywhere. On November 1st. Like everyone had studded tires on, the roads were slippy and the sides of the roads had so much snow that it would hit the side mirrors. I'm not from Washington state, but I did like 10min worth of research and it seemed like this much snow this early anywhere but up on top of Mt Rainier would be seen as unusual. There was no magical reason behind it either.
Other than that, it was an ok story that was written ok and the pace kept it going. If these kinds of things don't tend to bother you, go ahead and try it out. But generally, I'd say give this one a pass.
October 2, 2022
First time I’ve read anything by this author. Was initially not thrilled as I’m so tired of the plot device of a new witch finding her powers as she tries to solve a murder, interfering with the police/investigation. add to,this the over-used plot of middle age woman faced with sudden divorce from a cheating husband. Ugh! But the interesting characters and unusual town drew me in.
I will try the second book in the series and see if it gets better.
Amazon synopsis:
All Liv Kolgrim wanted for her forty-first birthday was a nice dinner with her husband. What she got was divorce papers and the legs knocked out from under her very comfortable life.
Yearning for a fresh start, Liv punches the reset button on her life and retreats to her tiny hometown to plan her next move.
But her feet have barely touched Mistlevale's snowy streets when a body shows up at her family's cozy lodge. Even worse, local sheriff's deputy Gray Bauer wants Liv's cantankerous grandmother on the hook for the crime.
Now Liv's restful vacation has turned into a race to unravel the mystery before her poor Gran winds up in a cell. With a small-town cast of characters to investigate, delicious cocoa to drink, and an enormous semi-feral cat on her tail, Liv has more than her hands full.
And that's all before her family insists she take up the mantle of witchcraft that Liv's never really believed in.
I will try the second book in the series and see if it gets better.
Amazon synopsis:
All Liv Kolgrim wanted for her forty-first birthday was a nice dinner with her husband. What she got was divorce papers and the legs knocked out from under her very comfortable life.
Yearning for a fresh start, Liv punches the reset button on her life and retreats to her tiny hometown to plan her next move.
But her feet have barely touched Mistlevale's snowy streets when a body shows up at her family's cozy lodge. Even worse, local sheriff's deputy Gray Bauer wants Liv's cantankerous grandmother on the hook for the crime.
Now Liv's restful vacation has turned into a race to unravel the mystery before her poor Gran winds up in a cell. With a small-town cast of characters to investigate, delicious cocoa to drink, and an enormous semi-feral cat on her tail, Liv has more than her hands full.
And that's all before her family insists she take up the mantle of witchcraft that Liv's never really believed in.
April 17, 2021
Liv has a horrible birthday when her husband forgets it and asks for a divorce. She has lived away from her family to support her husband, who wants a younger woman now. When everything falls apart, she goes home to Noel Lodge. Liv fought the idea of her family being witches up until she left and then disregarded it. Now, she will have to face it when a man is murdered and her grandmother is a suspect. Liv starts sleuthing and finds things beyond the normal that make her face her background and future. This book is a delightful beginning to this series.
February 24, 2021
Enchanting
Good book with humor, suspense, a reluctant witch, and a bit of romance. Interesting protagonist is a woman who is cast aside by her husband. She returns to her family home and her heritage as a witch. The story and the character both develop from there. I'm looking forward to the next book.
Good book with humor, suspense, a reluctant witch, and a bit of romance. Interesting protagonist is a woman who is cast aside by her husband. She returns to her family home and her heritage as a witch. The story and the character both develop from there. I'm looking forward to the next book.
March 28, 2022
witches and murder
Cute book like a take charge woman.. and her grandmother.. like the older women in books lately.. liv comes home afresh her husband replaced her with younger model..but she goes back home to a life where she isn’t cooking cleaning r just being someone she isn’t.. well that and a murder .. 😱
Cute book like a take charge woman.. and her grandmother.. like the older women in books lately.. liv comes home afresh her husband replaced her with younger model..but she goes back home to a life where she isn’t cooking cleaning r just being someone she isn’t.. well that and a murder .. 😱
April 2, 2021
Very nice
Really liked the book but took some time to read. It has a bet of the dark side and I would only read in the muddle of the day. But I am most certainly going to read the next in the series.
Really liked the book but took some time to read. It has a bet of the dark side and I would only read in the muddle of the day. But I am most certainly going to read the next in the series.
July 7, 2021
Cocoa and Curses
Rex informed Livbeth, his faithful wife of more than twenty years
He wanted a divorce, he even forgot it was her birthday.
Liv headed to Noel Lodge the family guest house.
Then all these strange things started.
Murders, and adventure and Magic
Rex informed Livbeth, his faithful wife of more than twenty years
He wanted a divorce, he even forgot it was her birthday.
Liv headed to Noel Lodge the family guest house.
Then all these strange things started.
Murders, and adventure and Magic
December 3, 2021
A fun read
Love the characters and the premise. Found a couple story stumbles...driving a Volvo and then it's an old truck and back to the Volvo. Another, Hank lives in a cabin, then she calls it a trailer and then a cabin. Still enjoyed this book.
Love the characters and the premise. Found a couple story stumbles...driving a Volvo and then it's an old truck and back to the Volvo. Another, Hank lives in a cabin, then she calls it a trailer and then a cabin. Still enjoyed this book.
December 31, 2021
It wasn't badly written or lacking in plot, but I figured out who did it around a third of the way through and then grew frustrated with the slow pace, so I skipped to the end to confirm my suspicions. I appreciated the subtle foreshadowing, but maybe more subtlety would preserve the suspense.
March 26, 2022
a divorce for
A birthday present. It ended up a better present than ol’ Rex intended and it didn’t take long for lib to figure that out, but to accept that she’s a witch. That takes a little longer
A birthday present. It ended up a better present than ol’ Rex intended and it didn’t take long for lib to figure that out, but to accept that she’s a witch. That takes a little longer
March 27, 2022
A delightful tale
Can not wait to get my hands on the next ones!!! A delightful tale if a witch coming into her powers late in life! All to save her beloved grandmother! Filled with twists and turns with comical innuendos a true delight to read!
Can not wait to get my hands on the next ones!!! A delightful tale if a witch coming into her powers late in life! All to save her beloved grandmother! Filled with twists and turns with comical innuendos a true delight to read!
March 28, 2022
Great Start to a new series!
Excellent ! Enjoyed this read tremendously. Wonderful character development with a plotline that didn't stop. Highly Recommended! Looking Forward to More.
Excellent ! Enjoyed this read tremendously. Wonderful character development with a plotline that didn't stop. Highly Recommended! Looking Forward to More.
April 3, 2022
Easy, quick travel read. A fun entrance to a new-to-me author. Magic and mystery are enjoyable entangled here and the mc has a lot to figure out: about herself, her family, what she thought she knew of the world, and the strange happenings around town.
June 7, 2022
Cozy, funny, mystery
Mistlevale sounds like a quaint little town that would be incredibly fun to get lost in for a while. And the three witches of Noel Lodge are an absolute hoot. Look forward to getting to know them better.
Mistlevale sounds like a quaint little town that would be incredibly fun to get lost in for a while. And the three witches of Noel Lodge are an absolute hoot. Look forward to getting to know them better.
November 11, 2022
Fun and exciting
This is a fun book. Val is getting to know herself after separating from her husband. Val overcomes one obstacle after another to protect her grandmother. She’s building her new life that looks like it’s going to be full and exciting.
This is a fun book. Val is getting to know herself after separating from her husband. Val overcomes one obstacle after another to protect her grandmother. She’s building her new life that looks like it’s going to be full and exciting.
March 3, 2021
Enjoyed
This was the first book of yours that I have read and enjoyed the characters and the story line were good.
This was the first book of yours that I have read and enjoyed the characters and the story line were good.
March 23, 2021
Good
I have really enjoyed this start of, for me, a new Author and a new series. I plan to jump right into the next Book.
I have really enjoyed this start of, for me, a new Author and a new series. I plan to jump right into the next Book.
April 12, 2021
Cocoa and Curses
A very enjoyable read that kept my attention from page one until the end. Lots of action, bad people, and laughter. On to book 2!
A very enjoyable read that kept my attention from page one until the end. Lots of action, bad people, and laughter. On to book 2!
May 14, 2021
Good read
It’s a Great read. Good story plot, with a few twists to keep it interesting. Looking forward to the next one.
It’s a Great read. Good story plot, with a few twists to keep it interesting. Looking forward to the next one.
June 11, 2021
I loved all the twists and turn and finally believing in ones' self.
September 22, 2021
Impressive
I'm now a fan of Julie Nisse. The plots have been well planned with stories that are excellent mysteries with lots of twist. This author has some of the best plots I've read in the cozy genre in quite a while. Meowster is such a unique cat.
I'm now a fan of Julie Nisse. The plots have been well planned with stories that are excellent mysteries with lots of twist. This author has some of the best plots I've read in the cozy genre in quite a while. Meowster is such a unique cat.
October 9, 2021
New Series for me!
What a good book.I love the characters and the way they interact. yes I have found a new series to enjoy.
What a good book.I love the characters and the way they interact. yes I have found a new series to enjoy.
October 24, 2021
Good idea for a book, I like the characters and story line, but not well written, I want to like this series so will read the second.
October 29, 2021
Loved it!
I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed it. The action, the spells, the close calls. I can't wait to read the next book.
I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed it. The action, the spells, the close calls. I can't wait to read the next book.
November 5, 2021
Curses
This book was a fun read and I know I will be reading the rest of the series. Great characters and storyline
This book was a fun read and I know I will be reading the rest of the series. Great characters and storyline
December 3, 2021
Greatly enjoyed this cozy mystery
January 17, 2022
Cute Story
Very much enjoyed this story of Liv and her adventures after being dumped by her husband. Good read , know all will enjoy.
Very much enjoyed this story of Liv and her adventures after being dumped by her husband. Good read , know all will enjoy.
March 25, 2022
Cocoa and Curses
A fine first in series. Anxious for more. I like the relationship in the 3 generations. I do love witches. This is going to be a fun series
A fine first in series. Anxious for more. I like the relationship in the 3 generations. I do love witches. This is going to be a fun series
December 7, 2023
Wild, fun and a great cosy mystery! Liv is such a great chatacter, comparable to a whirlwind!
December 21, 2023
It was a good book. Might read book 2 which I also have in my reader
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews