The Seventh Witch (Ophelia & Abby Mysteries, No. 7)

Ophelia Jensen's trip to North Carolina was supposed to be just a family celebration for her Great-Aunt Mary's 100th birthday. Instead, she finds danger lurking in every corner of this small, Southern town. Ophelia's family of witches has a secret hidden, one that threatens her own beloved grandmother, Abby. Just who is Sharon Doran and why does she harbor such animosity towards Ophelia's family? And why hasn't Ophelia heard of another magickal family in the area? THE SEVENTH WITCH is the seventh book in a series featuring the amateur sleuthing duo of Ophelia and Abby. Ophelia's family heritage is explored in this episode and fans of the series will appreciate the additional insight into the characters of Abby and Ophelia, particularly in relation to their feelings about their magickal gifts. However, THE SEVENTH WITCH can be read as a stand alone as Shirley Damsgaard provides all the necessary history so the reader can enjoy visiting with these wonderful characters! Shirley Damsgaard does a magnificent job at capturing some of the quaint aspects of a small Southern town. The focus on food and the sense of self-sufficiency and determination to handle things by one's self shine through clearly in THE SEVENTH WITCH and provide a tiny glimpse into the psyche of the South. The lunch scene at Cousin Lydia's makes me giggle even now, for it truly epitomizes the Southern family gathering. THE SEVENTH WITCH is difficult to classify into any one genre as it blends elements of the paranormal, mystery, and romantic suspense genres. Shirley Damsgaard delves into dark secrets and the power of magick without overwhelming the casual reader with too much esoteric material. THE SEVENTH WITCH is my first foray into the Ophelia and Abby mystery series but it will definitely not be my last! Bravo! COURTESY OF BOOK ILLUMINATIONS

I really like this series and it has steadily gotten better over each book (I gave the first one three stars and this five so that sounds like improvement to me). I really liked how Ophelia came into her own in this book. I always knew she was a forced to be reckoned with and it was awesome to see that happening in this book. I was so excited to see her taking a strong stand against people (including Great Aunt Mary who she has always been afraid of). I liked the "mystery" element of this story (it wasn't much of a mystery besides figuring out how they would get the bad witch to be punished for her crimes). I loved this book and recommend this series to a cozy reader or someone looking for a light paranormal read.

I have read all the books in this series. This is one of the best. I enjoyed Abby and Ophelia returning to their roots. Ophelia has grown to embrace her powers which was Abby's wish from the beginning of the series. I also enjoyed the furthering of the relationship between Abby and Ethan. I have read that Shirley is going to "shelf" this series for a time. I hope; however, it isn't permanent. I would love to see the growth and maturing of Tink, Abby's continued use of her powers, and the growth of her relationship with Ethan. Great book, Shirley. I loved it.

I enjoy all of the books in this series, and this book is no exception! I read it on one day! I appreciated learning more about Ophelia's family and enjoyed the interactions between all of the characters. As usual, I eagerly anticipate the next book in this series.

This book was great. I read the entire book in one night because I simply couldn't put it down until I reached the end. My one problem is that now I have to wait for awhile for the next in the series!! 5 stars!