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Liked It “excellent” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “I dunno....some good stuff: |
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“it sounds good, i just hope its okay.”
Jinx*X3 wrote this review 8 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This doesn't even rate one star. The protagonist behaves like a 16-year old, with no emotional maturity at all. I was hoping for a book that gave a positive spin on magic, but there was so little of that in the book that it didn't make it worthwhile. The author could have done so much with this--but didn't. It looks like she took every cliche in the book and threw it all together. ”
Anita L wrote this review Sunday, January 31 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Warning: May contain spoilers.
Chelsey wrote this review Thursday, January 14 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The first problem I see with the book occurs during her first encounter with Felicity. Felicity offers Maggie the job and then tells her she is a witch. How very anticlimactic. I knew as soon as Felicity was introduced that she was a witch, but come on. I hoped for something more exciting like Maggie finds Felicity's secret witch-room and Felicity is forced to reveal herself. Not, "By the way, I'm a witch. Have a nice day." Maggie does find a witch-room, but only after she knows about Felicity...and I'm pretty sure the room was not meant to be a secret. The author describes the books of witchcraft that Maggie finds, including books on Buddhism, Hinduism, and Shintoism. ...Seriously? Those aren't religions of witchcraft. Alt needs to do a little more research - even if that research is just a quick Google. But I digress.
Maggie finds it strange that Felicity claims to be a witch and keeps fighting with her innate Christian response to save Felicity, but has to keep reminding herself that she's not sure she even believes in God anymore. Why? Who the hell knows. So while I'm still trying to wrap my head around such blunt honesty from Felicity, Maggie is having an inner crisis. "As a good, God-fearing Catholic, I should save Felicity. Wait. Does God exist? Maybe. Maybe not. I don't know. What do I do?" Maggie needs to pull herself together.
Besides this flaw, the dialogue sucks. The characters try so hard to be funny - SO HARD - but they are so very unsuccessful. For example, Felicity is accused of murdering her sister. Later that evening, Felicity offers an omelet to Marcus and Maggie and Marcus states that he would kill for one of her omelets. Maggie then glares at him because he obviously made a joke about Felicity murdering her sister. He then apologizes saying it was a bad joke. Yes it was, Marcus. And you are not forgiven. Also, Alt is being annoyingly secretive about Marcus. Rather, Maggie comes to the conclusion WITHIN FIVE SECONDS OF MEETING HIM that he is Felicity's lover. Why lover? Why not nephew or stepson or friend? I get the feeling that she judged way too soon...and that Marcus is going to hit on her.
Also, after Felicity is accused of murdering her sister, Maggie drives her home and immediately starts playing the role of detective. She starts asking questions that the police SURELY asked at the station (if not, then they should be fired, because they're questions even I would have thought to ask). I kept thinking, "Do you have a history as a detective? What does this all matter to you?"
As Felicity is answering the questions, she and Marcus babble about paranormal things. Things about which Maggie would have obviously had no prior knowledge (and, therefore, neither would the readers, so I was also confused). Maggie does admit inwardly that she has no idea what they're talking about, but never speaks up. So we, as the readers, are left going, "What the HELL are they talking about and why are they talking about it front of someone who may as well be a perfect stranger?" I wonder if she answered the police's questions in the same manner. Nah.
esides that, the story reminds me very much of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich in some instances and also of the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris in others. Oh, and as it turns out, those are two of Madelyn Alt's favorite series! Coincidence? Well, I don't see anything wrong with writing in the same style as someone else. But Alt seems to be trying so hard to be just like Evanovich...and she's not succeeding. With Evanovich, it flowed and it made sense. When I read Alt's books, I feel like she was just talking to herself and writing down everything she said.
However, the conflict started early, which I appreciate, and now that Alt has gotten some of the bullshit stuff out of the way ("I'm a witch!" "Oh, dear! Well...OK, then.") I hope the story will progress much more smoothly. One thing I can't stand in some stories is a beginning that goes on for about one hundred and fifty pages before the reader realizes what the devil is going on (something that bugged me in Ill Wind by Rachel Caine). So I will read the remainder of Alt's books. Considering this is the first, if the second is good, I will forgive this one. I've found that in most series that I read, the first book just isn't very good.”
0 of 1 members found this review helpful“A Bewitching mystery--first in the new paranormal chick-lit mystery series. Antiques-shop clerk Maggie O'Neill was a little weirded out when she discovered her new boss Felicity was a witch. But when Felicity becomes the suspect in a local murder, Maggie must enlist Felicity's wiccan friends for help--and discover her own spellbinding talent.
Nisareen - So Much To Read So Little Time wrote this review Monday, December 7 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
”“excellent”
Rebecca wrote this review Saturday, August 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I love this book the cover got my eye so I picked it up and I could not put it down. I love how she just happens to be some where at the right time. I will be buying the next this book will go on my keeper shelf.”
welcome to my book page enjoy yourself tell me what you think :) wrote this review Tuesday, August 4 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book was Ok. It did not inspire me to pick up the next in the series yet, even though it's sitting on my table at home. I thought it would have more magic in it. It was a cute mystery and the ending was not immediately apparent.”
Shelby F wrote this review Thursday, July 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No1 of 1 members found this review helpful“I dunno....some good stuff:
Auntie Nanuuq . wrote this review Thursday, July 9 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Paranormal
Clairvoyance
Clairaudience
"Voices"
Magic
Hottie of a Cop
Not so good stuff:
Blathering
Too much unnecessary description...run on & on**
She refuses to grow-up and allows her family (especially her mother) to harass her
She lives in "fear" of her life...Not For Her Life...of Life.
**If this was "great" literature, cool. But come on folks this is just a cheap $6.99 mass market paperback..It's chick-lit and para normal romance and a mindless read......No need to wax literary, because as this story goes, all the descriptive stuff about her car, friend's apartment, grandparents house/neighborhood, weather...was a waste of words.
So, I'd tell you what the book is about, but I'm not really clear....except murder, frame up, hot cop, magic & ghosts.javascript:{}
It could be worse, but I'm not quite sure how.
”“It was an okay book. I might continue with the next book to see if this series is worth reading.”
Nancy R wrote this review Friday, April 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“WonderBunny said: 4 stars
Play Book Tag Shelf wrote this review Wednesday, February 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
When Maggie is fired from her job for being late, she takes the only offer she gets from the local witch and shop owner, Felicity. Soon afterwards, Felicity is suspected of murder and now Maggie needs to find out who really is the murder in order to help Felicity out and keep her job.
Really enjoyed this one and again can't wait for the others.
Tenia F said: 4 stars
Maggie got up one morning, dreading to go to work at her dead end job and a boss that didn't appreciate her. She had this urge to drive downtown to the antique district, and when an unexpected rain storm comes out of nowhere, Maggie takes refuge in an awning of Enchancements. The door to Enchancements opens and Maggie falls in. The owner Felicity, offers her a cup of tea and a job. Maggie can't believe her luck, but then she finds out it's more. It's Magic, and Felicity is a witch, which in a small town isn't welcome. Maggie's first day on the job is anything but typical, her boss is accused of murder of her sister and Felicity must rely on her own new senses to prove Felicity's innoncence.
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