Secondhand Spirits (Witchcraft Mystery, #1) in On the Broomstick

Oct 28, 2011 Sapphyria rated it really liked it

Lily has finally made a dream come true - she's opened a vintage clothing shop in San Francisco--miles and miles away from her home state of Texas. She's left her past behind her (so she thinks) and spends her days tending to her shop, attending auctions, and visiting homes of people consolidating their closets. She's been visited by Aiden, the resident male witch, who gives her the gift of an imp that chooses the form of a potbellied pig when in the company of humans. When one of the few friend Lily has finally made a dream come true - she's opened a vintage clothing shop in San Francisco--miles and miles away from her home state of Texas. She's left her past behind her (so she thinks) and spends her days tending to her shop, attending auctions, and visiting homes of people consolidating their closets. She's been visited by Aiden, the resident male witch, who gives her the gift of an imp that chooses the form of a potbellied pig when in the company of humans. When one of the few friends Lily has made, Maya, comes calling and informs her that someone has a bunch of vintage clothing she would like to sell, both Lily and Maya make an appointment to meet with Frances Potts. While examining the clothing in Mrs. Potts' basement, Lily hears the wailing of La Llorna, typically assumed to be a mythical spirit that wanders the waterways in Rio de Janeiro. "She is an evil spirit that pulls people into the water with her, reeling them into her watery grave (J. Blackwell, 2009). Shortly thereafter a neighbor girl disappears and Lily discovers that she is not the only child to go missing in the area, and Mrs. Potts is found murdered. Are these related to La Llorna or is there something else involved that has a more sinister plan?

This was a pretty good paranormal mystery. I found the small town charm of her shop really fit in with the big town feel of San Fran. Lily is an extremely likable character and so are the supporting characters; Max-a skeptic, Aiden-a sexy male witch, Bronwyn & Maya-friends and assistants within the clothing shop, and Oscar-the imp/potbellied pig.

It was an easy read and the twists and turns in the plot kept me guessing. It didn't pull me back to it when I had to stop reading due to other obligations. Then again, sometimes it's nice to have a good book ready to be picked up at my convenience without feeling obsessed and yearning to get back to reading.

Throughout the book Lily's past in Texas (where she's from originally) is mentioned quite often but nothing is ever fully explained--just little tidbits. It would have been nice to have a little better glimpse into her past and background. Her reputation is widely known, even in San Fran where she hasn't resided for very long, but not explained fully. ...more

Like · see review