Laced with Magic

Things are finally going right for Chloe Hobbs. Her latent sorceress powers have finally kicked in, she saved her town from being pulled beyond the mist, she banished the power-hungry Fae leader, Isadora, and best of all, she's in love with Luke Mackenzie, the town's chief of police and only resident full-blooded human. But Chloe's bubble of happiness is popped when Luke's ex-wife, Karen, shows up in Sugar Maple, claiming the spirit of Steffie, their dead daughter, is in trouble. Despite wishing Karen a thousand miles away, not to mention the shock of learning Luke had a daughter, Chloe can't leave Steffie's spirit in danger. Turns out, Chloe's old nemesis, Isadora, is the one holding Steffie's spirit hostage and will only release her if Chloe undoes her banishment. It's up to Chloe to rescue Steffie's spirit, save her town and her relationship with Luke before Isadora destroys all three. Action, danger, and a surfeit of magic blend together as things take a dark turn in this sequel to Casting Spells. Laced with Magic is even more engrossing than its predecessor, though the joy and energy that came from the first book is markedly lessened by the desperate situation the characters are in. Chloe and Luke remain incredibly likeable as, to my surprise, was Karen. These three endeared themselves to me in part because of Barbara Bretton's use of the first person. The story switches from each of their perspectives (clearly labeled, which I appreciate), giving me a more intimate inroad to their thoughts. Because of my attachment to these characters, I couldn't put Laced with Magic down because I wanted to see everything work out for them. I was delighted to return to the town of Sugar Maple once more in Laced with Magic. Chloe's store, Stick & Strings, continues to be a knitter's dream, and the town itself a fascinating one. The other residents of Sugar Maple, from faeries to vampires, werewolves, and so forth remain interesting, but I am sad to report they are less likeable than in Casting Spells. Still, I was captivated by Laced with Magic and, given the cliffhanger Ms. Bretton ends the story with, am on the edge of my seat for the next Sugar Maple book. Shayna Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

LACED WITH MAGIC by Barbara Bretton was a beautifully light tale of magic and romance. I'm not sure what I was expecting when I picked up LACED WITH MAGIC, but this book exceeded that. The story was fantastic, the suspense full and captivating, and to top it all off the romance was completely delicious. If you're looking for a good Romance with a nice touch of magic, LACED WITH MAGIC is it. Readers were first introduced to Chloe, part sorceress and knit shop owner, in Bretton's first book, Casting Spells. Now, in LACED WITH MAGIC we find Chloe still managing her knit shop and her romantic relationship with the hunky Officer Luke. If only he weren't a human, life would be so much easier! Finally accustomed to Chloe's fits of magic, Luke has managed to find a place for himself in the magical town of Sugar Maple. Many accept him, some tolerate him. Regardless of their feelings about Luke, all want him to hurry up and get Chloe pregnant already. Chloe's ancestors are the key to upholding the spell that protect Sugar Maple and if Chloe leaves the realm without providing a female heir to carry on the protection, Sugar Maple will be lost. With pressure growing to protect the town, Chloe has a lot on her plate and really doesn't need any more. Of course, right at that point we meet Karen, Luke's ex-wife. Spouting stories of hearing her dead daughter's voice on her cell phone and seeing her in the playground, Karen hunts Luke down and pleads for his help. Anyone that has experienced a new relationship will know that having the focus of the old relationship in close proximity usually leads to some form of drama. Chloe and Karen certainly don't disappoint. While the three try to figure out the relationships among them, a darker force is gaining power in Sugar Maple. If Chloe can't gain control of her powers and banish this force forever, Sugar Maple will surely fall. Bretton wrote a really fantastic story. This isn't necessarily an epic story or a dark thriller. I wouldn't place it with Lord of the Rings although the magic and romance do come close at some points. LACED WITH MAGIC is different in that it isn't very dark. The book has a very light, ethereal quality to it. Perhaps it's the way Bretton instilled humor in the form of Chloe and her magical mishaps, or Karen and her fairly bratty attitude. Maybe it's the way she gives all of her characters some sort of realistic quality. Midge the vampire is short and chubby with a perm that might make you cringe. Bretton creates a world where although it is highly magical and supernatural, we could actually visualize driving through on a quiet Sunday morning and being none the wiser. The characters in LACED WITH MAGIC were just wonderful and really helped to make the book something special. LACED WITH MAGIC is riddled with suspense and tension and could easily have become dark and bogged down. Instead, the characters kept the feel of the book fairly upbeat and added life to the sto

Right from the very beginning, this book grabbed me and kept my attention throughout the whole story. I didn't know this was a sequel to a book called Casting Spells (although I will now be searching for a copy!). I loved the way the story was written. I found myself flying through the story..it was written almost as if being told by a friend. I really liked the characters. I could totally understand how Chloe was unsure of "the ex" but still wanted to fight on her behalf. And as much as I wanted to hate Kare, "the ex", I couldn't because she wasn't a hate-able (is that a word?) character. I was sympathetic to her pain as a mom losing her child and hope I never have to go through that. And I loved Luke. I loved that he still seemed slightly protective of his ex, but you could clearly tell that he was in love with Chloe. And the cast of secondary characters--from Fae, to vampires, to werewolves, to all sorts of other things, was fun as well. The story ended on a cliff-hanger. I want to know what happens next! This was a great read and I will definitely be looking for books to read by Barbara Bretton!

Chloe Hobbs lives in remote quiet Sugar Maple, Vermont, running the Sticks & Strings yarn shop as a half human heir to the sorcery that keeps her town safe for the paranormal inhabitants and summer tourists. However, she has upset her neighbors especially the witches and fae when she and purebred human police officer policeman Luke MacKenzie becomes lovers. Luke's former wife Karen arrives hysterically insisting the ghost of their deceased daughter Steffie needs their help. Simultaneously, her long time enemy Isadora the fae is CASTING SPELLS over control of the child's spirit and that of the town. Chloe's family has always protected her town so she prepares for war though this sorceress would prefer a knitting battle. This is a lighthearted satirical blending of a knitting cozy with a paranormal romance in a New England village fantasy (urban seems to denote a bit bigger of a community). The story line is breezy as Chloe and Luke struggle with small-town gossip and saving Steffie's spirit with a stitch and a spell. Never serious except for knitting tips, fans will enjoy Barbara Bretton's fine tale LACED WITH MAGIC of love. Chloe believes she can do anything including CASTING SPELLS with Luke at her side; however he is distracted as High Noon comes to the Green Mountain State. Harriet Klausner

Once upon a time, Aerynn Hobbs cast a protective charm over the small Vermont town of Sugar Maple designed to keep it safe from the sharp eyes of the real world as long as one of her female descendants walked the earth. The town is made up of witches, ghosts, shapeshifters, trolls, vampires, and so much more. There are but two exceptions. The first is Chloe Hobbs, who is half-human and half-sorceress. She has only recently come into her powers and they are unpredictable. She is also the last female Hobbs descendant. The town keeps close eyes on her for that reason. Chloe is nearing the age of thirty and is still unwed. So the people of Sugar Maple are worried that Chloe may not produce an heir to the charm. The second is Luke MacKenzie, who is full-human and the acting chief of police. Though Chloe and Luke are in a relationship, it has not reached a serious level as yet. Worse, Luke really did not want kids. Karen MacKenzie, Luke's ex-wife, arrives in Sugar Maple in a frazzled state of nerves. Their dead daughter, Steffie, has been calling her on her phone, reaching out for help. Isadora, a cruel Fae leader who has been banished from our dimension, is holding little Steffie's spirit hostage. Should Chloe help release Steffie, Isadora would also be freed. **** FOUR STARS! The book is written in the first person. The first person view hops (very often) between Chloe, Luke, and Karen. Switching view points every few pages became irritating for me quickly, but the story was too interesting for me to stop reading. If you have not read the previous title, Casting Spells, you will still have no trouble enjoying this story. The author did a terrific job of giving new readers the back information needed in a way that will not aggravate those who did read book one. To get that perfect amount of information takes major talent and Barbara Bretton makes it look easy. The ending of the book will disappoint some readers. I like to warn readers whenever a story ends with a cliff-hanger, because many prefer to buy the full series (or trilogy) and then read them back-to-back when the entire saga has been published. (The main plot line in this book does have closure though.) This story is well worth your time and money. I enjoyed it very much. **** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.