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Sugar Maple #1
Casting Spells
Magic. Knitting. Love. A new series and a delightful departure by the USA Today bestselling author of Just Desserts.
Sugar Maple looks like any Vermont town, but it's inhabited with warlocks, sprites, vampires, witches and an ancient secret. And Chloe Hobbs, owner of Sticks & String, a popular knitting shop, has a big secret too. She's a sorcerer's daughter in search of Mr. Right and she's found him in Luke MacKenzie, a cop investigating Sugar Maple's very first murder. Bad news is he's 100% human, which could spell disaster for a normal future with a paranormal woman like her.
Sugar Maple looks like any Vermont town, but it's inhabited with warlocks, sprites, vampires, witches and an ancient secret. And Chloe Hobbs, owner of Sticks & String, a popular knitting shop, has a big secret too. She's a sorcerer's daughter in search of Mr. Right and she's found him in Luke MacKenzie, a cop investigating Sugar Maple's very first murder. Bad news is he's 100% human, which could spell disaster for a normal future with a paranormal woman like her.
308 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
219 people are currently reading
4,096 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Bretton
118Ìýbooks598ÌýfollowersBarbara Bretton is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of more than 40 books. She currently has over ten million copies in print around the world. Her works have been translated into twelve languages in over twenty countries.
Barbara has been featured in articles in The New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Romantic Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Herald News, Home News, Somerset Gazette,among others, and has been interviewed by Independent Network News Television, appeared on the Susan Stamberg Show on NPR, and been featured in an interview with Charles Osgood of WCBS, among others.
Her awards include both Reviewer's Choice and Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times; Gold and Silver certificates from Affaire de Coeur; the RWA Region 1 Golden Leaf; and several sales awards from Bookrak. Ms. Bretton was included in a recent edition of Contemporary Authors.
Barbara loves to spend as much time as possible in Maine with her husband, walking the rocky beaches and dreaming up plots for upcoming books.
Barbara has been featured in articles in The New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Romantic Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Herald News, Home News, Somerset Gazette,among others, and has been interviewed by Independent Network News Television, appeared on the Susan Stamberg Show on NPR, and been featured in an interview with Charles Osgood of WCBS, among others.
Her awards include both Reviewer's Choice and Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times; Gold and Silver certificates from Affaire de Coeur; the RWA Region 1 Golden Leaf; and several sales awards from Bookrak. Ms. Bretton was included in a recent edition of Contemporary Authors.
Barbara loves to spend as much time as possible in Maine with her husband, walking the rocky beaches and dreaming up plots for upcoming books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 607 reviews
October 12, 2024
* It has come to the unfullfilling point where I need to say it: I hate empty ‘like button� clicks. I hope you will feel inspired to comment on some of my writing work. Thank you. *
I’m not into knitting, vampires, or werewolves. I love the paranormal but most is marketed to ‘young adults�, which is dissatisfying for adults. Another percentage is watered-down by authors being too quirky, or tempering down mystical phenomenon until it has no oomph. The dynamics Barbara Bretton accomplishes in �Casting Spells� are perfect! Men, read on. The knitting angle deters some browsers but let me tell you: this is no more a knitting story, than “Lord Of The Rings� is a chick flick! That is merely the heroine’s career.
Chloe’s village was built by survivors of the 17th century slayings in Salem, USA. Their Vermont town is peaceful for entities that humans misunderstood. It is visited by regular people and to facilitate hiding its oddities, the witch founder placed a protective spell upon it. It is effective as long as female descendents exist. At 30, Chloe has neither sired nor fallen in love. When an unprecedented crime occurs, a detective sparks her interest. The townspeople reject human candidates because Chloe, half-mortal from her Father, has not developed magick abilities. In their safe harbour from humans, human propagation doesn’t make sense.
If this sounds sweet and fuzzy, let’s flip that image. Half the story is told by the detective. I would be first in line for a motion picture because the whole thread is carried by intelligent wit. At the same time, humour detracts absolutely nothing from the mystical vibes enmeshed in the book. Nothing is pushed too far over the top. This is a non-magical pair readers can connect with. All of the elements work and your interest is grabbed on every page. I swear that this leans a lot towards fantasy. There are life and death battles and decent moments of lovemaking, that definitely distinguish these works as grownup material.
I’m not into knitting, vampires, or werewolves. I love the paranormal but most is marketed to ‘young adults�, which is dissatisfying for adults. Another percentage is watered-down by authors being too quirky, or tempering down mystical phenomenon until it has no oomph. The dynamics Barbara Bretton accomplishes in �Casting Spells� are perfect! Men, read on. The knitting angle deters some browsers but let me tell you: this is no more a knitting story, than “Lord Of The Rings� is a chick flick! That is merely the heroine’s career.
Chloe’s village was built by survivors of the 17th century slayings in Salem, USA. Their Vermont town is peaceful for entities that humans misunderstood. It is visited by regular people and to facilitate hiding its oddities, the witch founder placed a protective spell upon it. It is effective as long as female descendents exist. At 30, Chloe has neither sired nor fallen in love. When an unprecedented crime occurs, a detective sparks her interest. The townspeople reject human candidates because Chloe, half-mortal from her Father, has not developed magick abilities. In their safe harbour from humans, human propagation doesn’t make sense.
If this sounds sweet and fuzzy, let’s flip that image. Half the story is told by the detective. I would be first in line for a motion picture because the whole thread is carried by intelligent wit. At the same time, humour detracts absolutely nothing from the mystical vibes enmeshed in the book. Nothing is pushed too far over the top. This is a non-magical pair readers can connect with. All of the elements work and your interest is grabbed on every page. I swear that this leans a lot towards fantasy. There are life and death battles and decent moments of lovemaking, that definitely distinguish these works as grownup material.
July 19, 2018
Casting Spells is book one in the Sugar Maple series by Barbara Bretton.
I went into this one think it was a cozy mystery, but it focused on the romance more then the mystery and so this is a paranormal cozy mystery romance. It had a verity of paranormal elements with a dash of mystery and spark of magic.
I liked the portal the author did on the picture-perfect town. It’s a sleepy New England town, but everyone who lives in it is magical - supernatural. It’s a haven for supernaturals. A place for them to live protected from the outside world.
Chloe is the last of her line. Her family cast a spell to protect the village a long time ago and as long as their is a female descendant inhabiting the village the town is protected.
I enjoyed the story. I liked Chloe’s backstory and her knitting shop, but I was surprised with the towns people. They where all against her, blame her for something she has no control over at least at this point in her life, but what really got to me was her friends. They kept telling her that the man she has sparks with isn’t the one for her, even though she clearly has magical sparks with him. It was sad to see her friends not support her and it was upsetting to see the town not have faith in her.
The side mystery on who killed one of the visitors to the town and who is out to get Chloe was ok. I I had a feeling on who the evil villain would be.
As for reading on in the series I’m not sure I will. I read the blurb for Book 2, Laced with Magic, and I am not a fan of ex’s returning whether their ex-wife or ex-girlfriend. That trope is a turn off for me and irks me.
Rated: 3 Stars
I went into this one think it was a cozy mystery, but it focused on the romance more then the mystery and so this is a paranormal cozy mystery romance. It had a verity of paranormal elements with a dash of mystery and spark of magic.
I liked the portal the author did on the picture-perfect town. It’s a sleepy New England town, but everyone who lives in it is magical - supernatural. It’s a haven for supernaturals. A place for them to live protected from the outside world.
Chloe is the last of her line. Her family cast a spell to protect the village a long time ago and as long as their is a female descendant inhabiting the village the town is protected.
I enjoyed the story. I liked Chloe’s backstory and her knitting shop, but I was surprised with the towns people. They where all against her, blame her for something she has no control over at least at this point in her life, but what really got to me was her friends. They kept telling her that the man she has sparks with isn’t the one for her, even though she clearly has magical sparks with him. It was sad to see her friends not support her and it was upsetting to see the town not have faith in her.
The side mystery on who killed one of the visitors to the town and who is out to get Chloe was ok. I I had a feeling on who the evil villain would be.
As for reading on in the series I’m not sure I will. I read the blurb for Book 2, Laced with Magic, and I am not a fan of ex’s returning whether their ex-wife or ex-girlfriend. That trope is a turn off for me and irks me.
Rated: 3 Stars
April 13, 2009
Two and a half stars. First off, this book was recommended to me by some list somewhere because I like knitting and I like modern fantasies. Well, that's all true but it really is a romance. I have never liked romances because I need more of a plot than just whether they'll get together (since they always do anyway). Despite that, I actually enjoyed this one. The plot isn't particularly complex but it kept me going. The writing style is easy and fluid and the book is a quick read despite being over 300 pages (I read it in one sitting, not even any breaks). It's predictable but the conversational tone of the protagonists and the silliness of the situation made it pleasurable enough to stick with. My main complaint is the jumping back and forth between the two lovebirds. I would have preferred the book stick with one or the other.
If you like romances as well as knitting and urban fantasy, you'll probably enjoy this. If you want something that will stick to your ribs, look elsewhere.
If you like romances as well as knitting and urban fantasy, you'll probably enjoy this. If you want something that will stick to your ribs, look elsewhere.
December 25, 2011
I passed over this book twice in the library: taking note, but not making the commitment. It caught my eye when I pulled it from the new collection first, and then again when I was shifting the fiction section.
When I finally went back and checked it out, I had high hopes. Romance can work, and magic is almost always fun, right? And, hey, knitting!
This book isn't even powerful enough to make it a wall-banger. I still couldn't finish, but more out of exasperation than any passionate hatred. But it was bad enough that even though the whole experience was more than a couple months ago at this point, I simply can't let it go without at least talking it out.
is a book about blonde (don't forget) Chloe Hobbs and her magical knitting shop, in her magical town, with her magical friends, where nothing bad, especially crime, ever happens. But when a voluptuous (remember--voluptuousness=wantonness) blonde is murdered, handsome cop (remember good-looking *and* crime-fighter) Luke MacKenzie must come to town and mediate on how odd everyone is...you might they're magical but of course they're totally not because I know better. And then together they will fall in love and solve the mystery. (Or is it the other way around? I didn't quite get that far.)
Well, first I have to introduce the main character's knitting shop with a quote from the book:
Blog posts about the magical store in northern Vermont where your yarn never tangles, your sleeves always come out the same length, and you always, always get gauge were popping up on a daily basis, raising both my profile and my bottom line.
What a way to make me resent your character. Knitting is perfectly easy if you have magic! I don't have magic thank you very much, and dangnabbit, that's just not fair. So why am I supposed to think that she actually works at this, that she ever actually had to *learn* knitting. I'm not sure I am. And this supposedly has a side of murder-mystery to its romance, so of course the male lead is an out-of-town cop who also has to comment on the heroine's shop:
Her shop was a top link on websites and blogs from neighboring New Hampshire to Malaysia with all stops in between. Okay, so maybe it was like reading Sanskrit (apparently knitters had their own language), but I was able to translate enough to know Chloe's shop was something special...
...According to the posts I read online, Chloe was Elvis and Sticks & Strings was Graceland, which I would probably chalk up to being a suburban legend if it weren't for the fact that the noise level at the front of the store could cause hearing loss.
Which quite fortuitously leads me to point number two (especially since, well seriously, "hearing loss"???).
Yes, the story is told in alternating first person. I've found I'm a little iffy on first person in the best of times (positive example: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison), but alternating first person should be forbidden on pain of death. Okay, so I think many things should be forbidden on pain of death, but fortunately I'm not in charge of these things, nor will I ever be. Anyway...alternating first person=bad. Yes?
Because when it's used, especially in romance you get gems like these:
"They were all vying for the attention of a tall, skinny blonde, one of the disheveled types who always seemed on the verge of a meltdown."
That's how Luke first observes Chloe--by they way, she's actually mayor, which is why he has to opportunity to give this description--as he thinks 'that's totally not my type'. Totally. Like never would I be attracted to a lady like that in a million, zillion years. Never. Sure, I believe him. Seriously, Ms. Bretton, talk to your publishers. This is marketed as a romance, so as soon as we get Luke's point of view, we *know* that he's going to fall in love with her. If she's observing that he doesn't act attracted to her on a physical level, that's fine. But when he does it? It's just...just...ugh.
And not even fifteen pages later he finds Chloe asleep and snoring and doesn't even try to wake her (as we learned in Twilight, that's not creepy *at all* remember) and tells himself this little gem:
Cops notice things. It's an occupational hazard. Noticing details about a woman's appearance was part of a detective's job description. It didn't mean anything.
Not even if the cop in question found himself standing there with a stupid grin on his face.
These two characters switch viewpoints several times a chapter (but only after the first fifty pages or something) so it's only a matter of hours from "totally not my type" to "omg hawtness".
Actually, if the alternating first person were between Chloe and her "best friend" whatshisname--call him Elf, because he is, naturally--it might have worked. Because Chloe's been stringing him along since forever, as all male, non-gay best friends must be in love with the main character, and I would like to have seen him get with some nice girl of his own in a real relationship based on something more than lust. Maybe that happened later in the book? But not from his point of view. No, we get Luke's, so we can see everything twice.
Wait, I haven't gotten to the squicky yet.
That poor Chloe, from a long line of witches, has no magic herself but was raised by the village. Sweet right? Chloe thinks so. Except her family line (at least the women...WOMAN POWAH!!!!) are in charge of this ancient spell that protects the town from exposure to the pedestrians. And she has to give birth to a girl by thirty-five or something to keep the spell going. Or get magic herself, idk. But the locals totally raised her out of the goodness of their hearts and just love her so much.
At that point, I really did feel badly for Chloe. In that whole setup she's definitely the victim, and her so-called saviors are only exploiting her. But was this explored? Well, not in the part I read. She never questioned anything they'd done.
But she does tell Luke about her parent's death, and of course this changes him. See, he's a cop (in case you forgot--didn't I tell you that it was important?!) and often hears sad stories, but her's touches his heard. And so does she:
She told her parents' story without embellishment or self pity.
I'd rather hope so. She was, what? a few years old at most? Firstly, she shouldn't know any embellishments, and at this point in her live, self-pity would be rather pathetic (now, if she ever seemed like a rounded character or even thought about her parents...). We've had her first person. We know that she doesn't have any reason for self-pity.
But this is Twu Wuv:
My hand touched his, and we both jumped back as silver-white sparks crackled through the space between us.
Another
When I finally went back and checked it out, I had high hopes. Romance can work, and magic is almost always fun, right? And, hey, knitting!
This book isn't even powerful enough to make it a wall-banger. I still couldn't finish, but more out of exasperation than any passionate hatred. But it was bad enough that even though the whole experience was more than a couple months ago at this point, I simply can't let it go without at least talking it out.
is a book about blonde (don't forget) Chloe Hobbs and her magical knitting shop, in her magical town, with her magical friends, where nothing bad, especially crime, ever happens. But when a voluptuous (remember--voluptuousness=wantonness) blonde is murdered, handsome cop (remember good-looking *and* crime-fighter) Luke MacKenzie must come to town and mediate on how odd everyone is...you might they're magical but of course they're totally not because I know better. And then together they will fall in love and solve the mystery. (Or is it the other way around? I didn't quite get that far.)
Well, first I have to introduce the main character's knitting shop with a quote from the book:
Blog posts about the magical store in northern Vermont where your yarn never tangles, your sleeves always come out the same length, and you always, always get gauge were popping up on a daily basis, raising both my profile and my bottom line.
What a way to make me resent your character. Knitting is perfectly easy if you have magic! I don't have magic thank you very much, and dangnabbit, that's just not fair. So why am I supposed to think that she actually works at this, that she ever actually had to *learn* knitting. I'm not sure I am. And this supposedly has a side of murder-mystery to its romance, so of course the male lead is an out-of-town cop who also has to comment on the heroine's shop:
Her shop was a top link on websites and blogs from neighboring New Hampshire to Malaysia with all stops in between. Okay, so maybe it was like reading Sanskrit (apparently knitters had their own language), but I was able to translate enough to know Chloe's shop was something special...
...According to the posts I read online, Chloe was Elvis and Sticks & Strings was Graceland, which I would probably chalk up to being a suburban legend if it weren't for the fact that the noise level at the front of the store could cause hearing loss.
Which quite fortuitously leads me to point number two (especially since, well seriously, "hearing loss"???).
Yes, the story is told in alternating first person. I've found I'm a little iffy on first person in the best of times (positive example: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison), but alternating first person should be forbidden on pain of death. Okay, so I think many things should be forbidden on pain of death, but fortunately I'm not in charge of these things, nor will I ever be. Anyway...alternating first person=bad. Yes?
Because when it's used, especially in romance you get gems like these:
"They were all vying for the attention of a tall, skinny blonde, one of the disheveled types who always seemed on the verge of a meltdown."
That's how Luke first observes Chloe--by they way, she's actually mayor, which is why he has to opportunity to give this description--as he thinks 'that's totally not my type'. Totally. Like never would I be attracted to a lady like that in a million, zillion years. Never. Sure, I believe him. Seriously, Ms. Bretton, talk to your publishers. This is marketed as a romance, so as soon as we get Luke's point of view, we *know* that he's going to fall in love with her. If she's observing that he doesn't act attracted to her on a physical level, that's fine. But when he does it? It's just...just...ugh.
And not even fifteen pages later he finds Chloe asleep and snoring and doesn't even try to wake her (as we learned in Twilight, that's not creepy *at all* remember) and tells himself this little gem:
Cops notice things. It's an occupational hazard. Noticing details about a woman's appearance was part of a detective's job description. It didn't mean anything.
Not even if the cop in question found himself standing there with a stupid grin on his face.
These two characters switch viewpoints several times a chapter (but only after the first fifty pages or something) so it's only a matter of hours from "totally not my type" to "omg hawtness".
Actually, if the alternating first person were between Chloe and her "best friend" whatshisname--call him Elf, because he is, naturally--it might have worked. Because Chloe's been stringing him along since forever, as all male, non-gay best friends must be in love with the main character, and I would like to have seen him get with some nice girl of his own in a real relationship based on something more than lust. Maybe that happened later in the book? But not from his point of view. No, we get Luke's, so we can see everything twice.
Wait, I haven't gotten to the squicky yet.
That poor Chloe, from a long line of witches, has no magic herself but was raised by the village. Sweet right? Chloe thinks so. Except her family line (at least the women...WOMAN POWAH!!!!) are in charge of this ancient spell that protects the town from exposure to the pedestrians. And she has to give birth to a girl by thirty-five or something to keep the spell going. Or get magic herself, idk. But the locals totally raised her out of the goodness of their hearts and just love her so much.
At that point, I really did feel badly for Chloe. In that whole setup she's definitely the victim, and her so-called saviors are only exploiting her. But was this explored? Well, not in the part I read. She never questioned anything they'd done.
But she does tell Luke about her parent's death, and of course this changes him. See, he's a cop (in case you forgot--didn't I tell you that it was important?!) and often hears sad stories, but her's touches his heard. And so does she:
She told her parents' story without embellishment or self pity.
I'd rather hope so. She was, what? a few years old at most? Firstly, she shouldn't know any embellishments, and at this point in her live, self-pity would be rather pathetic (now, if she ever seemed like a rounded character or even thought about her parents...). We've had her first person. We know that she doesn't have any reason for self-pity.
But this is Twu Wuv:
My hand touched his, and we both jumped back as silver-white sparks crackled through the space between us.
Another
October 28, 2013
ARGH! I wanted to like this book so much: Knitting + Magic what could be more fun? Turns out, almost anything. The magic felt exactly like watching a Disney movie (in the clean up scene I would not have been surprised if someone had said "Bippity Boppity Boo"), the plot was force fed onto us without scenes to give adequate explanations as to why this is happening, and there were tons of simple, childish writing ploys, such as: in the climax scene our heroine landed on her hip at least three times. Really? Her hip. Maybe she could have just fallen one of those times?
Not only did it take me over a month to sit down and read the last three chapters (I finally decided to get it over with so I could move on) in the end I was left wondering who the hell had edited this.
I am now off to find out if the knitting tips at the back make it worth the time I spent reading the novel.
Not only did it take me over a month to sit down and read the last three chapters (I finally decided to get it over with so I could move on) in the end I was left wondering who the hell had edited this.
I am now off to find out if the knitting tips at the back make it worth the time I spent reading the novel.
April 8, 2009
This was a really fun book... Sugar Maple, VT is a tiny town that is picture-perfect... imagine a sleepy little New England town... but basically everyone is magical - fairies, vampires, etc... the main character is half-human, but hasn't discovered her magical powers... she has a knitting store and there are a ton of knitting references (for me - it was like reading a foreign language, but for a knitter, they would probably love the tips and references)... magic, adventure, and love make this a light, fun read :) I hope the author turns this into a series!!!
December 15, 2018
I absolutely loved this book!! The writing was great. I enjoyed the story and I enjoyed the characters. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. Absolutely recommend this series.
May 28, 2018
Around the Year in 52 Books 2018 Reading Challenge. An author who has the same 1st and last initial.
Sugar Maple, Vermont looks like any other small town in New England until one looks closer. It seems to be a replica of Salem, Massachusetts. WHY would the founders have copied that infamous village? Sugar Maple was established as a haven for vampires, trolls, fairies, werewolves, sorcerers, witches, and more. Ages ago a powerful sorceress cast a spell of protection over the village that would last as long as any of her female descendants inhabited the village. Chloe Hobbs is the last female in the line and the spell seems to be failing. Chloe who is half mortal doesn't seem to have inherited her mother's powers. Friends keep insisting that her mother also didn't have powers until she fell in love and they keep trying to fix her up with trolls, selkies, fae, any possibility. One night a visitor to town dies and now the state has questions. Why is there no police force in Sugar Maple? Where are the records of births, marriages, and deaths? What happened to the young lady who died? They assign a detective from Boston to go to Sugar Maple temporarily to investigate the death and remain for a few months until the citizens of Sugar Maple can elect a sheriff. And that is when the sparks start quite literally to fly! Interesting beginning to this series. Lots of potential.
Sugar Maple, Vermont looks like any other small town in New England until one looks closer. It seems to be a replica of Salem, Massachusetts. WHY would the founders have copied that infamous village? Sugar Maple was established as a haven for vampires, trolls, fairies, werewolves, sorcerers, witches, and more. Ages ago a powerful sorceress cast a spell of protection over the village that would last as long as any of her female descendants inhabited the village. Chloe Hobbs is the last female in the line and the spell seems to be failing. Chloe who is half mortal doesn't seem to have inherited her mother's powers. Friends keep insisting that her mother also didn't have powers until she fell in love and they keep trying to fix her up with trolls, selkies, fae, any possibility. One night a visitor to town dies and now the state has questions. Why is there no police force in Sugar Maple? Where are the records of births, marriages, and deaths? What happened to the young lady who died? They assign a detective from Boston to go to Sugar Maple temporarily to investigate the death and remain for a few months until the citizens of Sugar Maple can elect a sheriff. And that is when the sparks start quite literally to fly! Interesting beginning to this series. Lots of potential.
January 3, 2019
Great start
Well who would have thought that a nice postcard looking town would have all kinds of different people aka shifters, witches, games and of course the part human or shall I say human.
Chloe has been in Sugar Maple all her life but there are things that she didn't see coming and that also includes Luke. Luke came to the small town to investigate the death of a childhood friend. Everyone in the town are trying their best to speed his exit from the town before their secrets come out.
So much goes on in this first book that I can't wait to get to the next one and see what's going to happen next and who.
Well who would have thought that a nice postcard looking town would have all kinds of different people aka shifters, witches, games and of course the part human or shall I say human.
Chloe has been in Sugar Maple all her life but there are things that she didn't see coming and that also includes Luke. Luke came to the small town to investigate the death of a childhood friend. Everyone in the town are trying their best to speed his exit from the town before their secrets come out.
So much goes on in this first book that I can't wait to get to the next one and see what's going to happen next and who.
June 30, 2010
New England LYS owner discovers her legacy of magick, saves her little town from evil, and gets it on with a hot cop.
This is why I learned to knit.
This is why I learned to knit.
December 17, 2020
A cute romance book with magic involved? I'm in! It was a nice fun read. I look forward to seeing what the rest of the series holds!
February 18, 2018
DELIGHTFULLY ENTERTAINING!!!
Title: Casting Spells
Series: The Sugar Maple Chronicles
Author: Barbara Bretton
Designation: Book One of Series, Full-Length, Can Be Read As Standalone, No Cliffhanger, Happy For Now Ending #paranormal #supernatural #fantasy #romance #magick #fae #shapeshifters #vampires #sorcerers #trolls #selkies
My Rating: Three Entertaining Stars***
Growing up, I was fascinated by my mother's ability to sew, knit and crochet. I even watched my grandmother and great grandmother use spinning wheels to spin wool into yarn. And yes, I'm that old! Through my eyes as a child, it seemed magical watching them create their colorful masterpieces. I remember asking my mom if it was magic and she would always reply: 'In a way, I guess it is magic, but it's the kind that can be done by anyone who's willing to make the effort and put their heart into it.' Unfortunately, I didn't inherit her talent, but I admire anyone possessing the ability and patience to make such beautiful creations. And believe me, I discovered quickly that knitting is a craft requiring years of hard work, skill, and countless hours of practice. Barbara Bretton is a new-to-me author, so I had no idea what to expect, but the knitting aspect of this story immediately snagged my interest. I did my due diligence by reading the blurb and several of the reviews, then made my purchase and dove in. And color me very pleasantly surprised. I found myself instantly drawn into the story and the town of Sugar Maple, Vermont. Casting Spells is a delightful cross between a sweet, clean paranormal romance, a delightful comedic whodunit, and an edge of your seat cozy mystery infused with a large cast of fascinating characters, an intriguing premise, an engaging storyline, a generous splash of suspense, a sprinkle of humor, and lots and lots of magic. The narrative was written in the first person with clearly defined his and her perspectives. The dialogue was smart, snappy, and flowed effortlessly. I was immediately smitten with the two protagonists, shop owner and Sugar Maple honorary mayor Chloe Hobbs and Boston police detective Luke McKenzie. I was spellbound by the interaction and chemistry between Chloe and Luke. When these two meet, attraction ignites, sparks fly, and passion explodes! And I do mean literally! I love stories in which the hearts of the hero and heroine know instantly what it wants, even if it does take their brain a while to catch up. Seeing them struggle to recognize their feelings is always the best part of the story, although I will admit, I did have my doubts about the outcome of the future for Chloe and Luke. When that happens, you know the writer has done their job exceptionally well, and Bretton certainly did because by the end, I was sniffling, snuffling, and angrily wiping tears, truly believing there could be no happy ending for our unlikely lovers. But thankfully, fate refuses to be denied and love always wins, at least that's what my heart chooses to believe. So, did I like this book! Yes, I did, very much! So why only three stars? I'm not trying to be a negative nelly but there were quite a few typos and several inconsistencies, one of which completely disrupted the flow of the story. The most noticeable was an important part of a scene missing in my book that should have occurred in Chapter 10 during Luke and Chloe's first dinner date/official business meeting to discuss the case. There were continued references throughout the story about Luke meeting Gunnar at the restaurant and a glass of wine which mysteriously(magically) flew across the table and ended up in Luke's lap - but it never happened, at least not in my copy. Gunnar nor the glass of wine were ever in the scene. And I searched-several times. It kinda broke my heart because I really liked this book. I was very disappointed. This story could have been so much better with a professional proofread and a little more attention to detail from the author. Would I recommend it? Yes, and I am for anyone age 14 and above. It's clean, sweet, and there is romance but no explicit sex. It does contain mild violence, but it's not gory or graphic, however the story is based on a murder mystery. Will I read this author again? Absolutely! This may have been my first time reading the work of Barbara Bretton, but it certainly won't be my last! And finally, was I entertained? Completely! If you enjoy paranormal cozy mysteries generously seasoned with romance, I'd give this book a whirl, especially if you enjoy a little humor and a lot of knitting!
Title: Casting Spells
Series: The Sugar Maple Chronicles
Author: Barbara Bretton
Designation: Book One of Series, Full-Length, Can Be Read As Standalone, No Cliffhanger, Happy For Now Ending #paranormal #supernatural #fantasy #romance #magick #fae #shapeshifters #vampires #sorcerers #trolls #selkies
My Rating: Three Entertaining Stars***
Growing up, I was fascinated by my mother's ability to sew, knit and crochet. I even watched my grandmother and great grandmother use spinning wheels to spin wool into yarn. And yes, I'm that old! Through my eyes as a child, it seemed magical watching them create their colorful masterpieces. I remember asking my mom if it was magic and she would always reply: 'In a way, I guess it is magic, but it's the kind that can be done by anyone who's willing to make the effort and put their heart into it.' Unfortunately, I didn't inherit her talent, but I admire anyone possessing the ability and patience to make such beautiful creations. And believe me, I discovered quickly that knitting is a craft requiring years of hard work, skill, and countless hours of practice. Barbara Bretton is a new-to-me author, so I had no idea what to expect, but the knitting aspect of this story immediately snagged my interest. I did my due diligence by reading the blurb and several of the reviews, then made my purchase and dove in. And color me very pleasantly surprised. I found myself instantly drawn into the story and the town of Sugar Maple, Vermont. Casting Spells is a delightful cross between a sweet, clean paranormal romance, a delightful comedic whodunit, and an edge of your seat cozy mystery infused with a large cast of fascinating characters, an intriguing premise, an engaging storyline, a generous splash of suspense, a sprinkle of humor, and lots and lots of magic. The narrative was written in the first person with clearly defined his and her perspectives. The dialogue was smart, snappy, and flowed effortlessly. I was immediately smitten with the two protagonists, shop owner and Sugar Maple honorary mayor Chloe Hobbs and Boston police detective Luke McKenzie. I was spellbound by the interaction and chemistry between Chloe and Luke. When these two meet, attraction ignites, sparks fly, and passion explodes! And I do mean literally! I love stories in which the hearts of the hero and heroine know instantly what it wants, even if it does take their brain a while to catch up. Seeing them struggle to recognize their feelings is always the best part of the story, although I will admit, I did have my doubts about the outcome of the future for Chloe and Luke. When that happens, you know the writer has done their job exceptionally well, and Bretton certainly did because by the end, I was sniffling, snuffling, and angrily wiping tears, truly believing there could be no happy ending for our unlikely lovers. But thankfully, fate refuses to be denied and love always wins, at least that's what my heart chooses to believe. So, did I like this book! Yes, I did, very much! So why only three stars? I'm not trying to be a negative nelly but there were quite a few typos and several inconsistencies, one of which completely disrupted the flow of the story. The most noticeable was an important part of a scene missing in my book that should have occurred in Chapter 10 during Luke and Chloe's first dinner date/official business meeting to discuss the case. There were continued references throughout the story about Luke meeting Gunnar at the restaurant and a glass of wine which mysteriously(magically) flew across the table and ended up in Luke's lap - but it never happened, at least not in my copy. Gunnar nor the glass of wine were ever in the scene. And I searched-several times. It kinda broke my heart because I really liked this book. I was very disappointed. This story could have been so much better with a professional proofread and a little more attention to detail from the author. Would I recommend it? Yes, and I am for anyone age 14 and above. It's clean, sweet, and there is romance but no explicit sex. It does contain mild violence, but it's not gory or graphic, however the story is based on a murder mystery. Will I read this author again? Absolutely! This may have been my first time reading the work of Barbara Bretton, but it certainly won't be my last! And finally, was I entertained? Completely! If you enjoy paranormal cozy mysteries generously seasoned with romance, I'd give this book a whirl, especially if you enjoy a little humor and a lot of knitting!
August 6, 2012
I very much enjoyed this first installment in the Sugar Maple series. The characters are multi-faceted and interesting, the plot built well to a satisfying conclusion and there was lots of opportunity left for future books.
Chloe Hobbs lives in Sugar Maple, Vermont. An idyllic, picture-postcard town that appear perfect. But actually, all that perfection is supported by magick. The town is filled with magical beings, and protected by a charm created three centuries ago by Chloe's ancestress, Aerynn.
Unfortunately, the charm requires a Hobbs woman who has come into her powers, and the production of female offspring to keep the charm strong, and the town protected. Chloe is the last of Aerynn's line, and there is no man in the picture.
To make matters worse, Chloe's powers are nowhere to be found and there's no indication they will manifest anytime soon, so the protections that have kept the town safe for 300 years are beginning to break down. That could allow Isadora - the evil Fae queen who's wanted to rule Sugar Maple and take it back into the mists to Fae - to get her wish.
Enter Luke MacKenzie - the sheriff sent from Boston to investigate the death of his friend Suzanne - a visitor to Sugar Maple, and the first death EVER inside town limits.
MacKenzie's presence could threaten the very existence of Sugar Maple as he pokes into things better left alone. Of course, he and Chloe are immediately attracted to one another, with ACTUAL sparks flying everytime they touch. Could Luke be Chloe's true love and the answer to everyone's prayers? Since Luke's a human, it doesn't seem likely, but then again, Sugar Maple's filled with magick, so anything is possible!
The story is developed very smoothly and effectively to the ending that is what you hope for. Looking forward to the next book!
Chloe Hobbs lives in Sugar Maple, Vermont. An idyllic, picture-postcard town that appear perfect. But actually, all that perfection is supported by magick. The town is filled with magical beings, and protected by a charm created three centuries ago by Chloe's ancestress, Aerynn.
Unfortunately, the charm requires a Hobbs woman who has come into her powers, and the production of female offspring to keep the charm strong, and the town protected. Chloe is the last of Aerynn's line, and there is no man in the picture.
To make matters worse, Chloe's powers are nowhere to be found and there's no indication they will manifest anytime soon, so the protections that have kept the town safe for 300 years are beginning to break down. That could allow Isadora - the evil Fae queen who's wanted to rule Sugar Maple and take it back into the mists to Fae - to get her wish.
Enter Luke MacKenzie - the sheriff sent from Boston to investigate the death of his friend Suzanne - a visitor to Sugar Maple, and the first death EVER inside town limits.
MacKenzie's presence could threaten the very existence of Sugar Maple as he pokes into things better left alone. Of course, he and Chloe are immediately attracted to one another, with ACTUAL sparks flying everytime they touch. Could Luke be Chloe's true love and the answer to everyone's prayers? Since Luke's a human, it doesn't seem likely, but then again, Sugar Maple's filled with magick, so anything is possible!
The story is developed very smoothly and effectively to the ending that is what you hope for. Looking forward to the next book!
October 27, 2008
I read this book with single-minded hope: this would be the worst book of the year! Giddy with excitement, I danced around work telling people how thrilled I was to read this new paranormal knitting romance (I know! Who would have thought to combine so many stellar genres into one book?). I read two chapters on my lunchbreak, which is when I realized that in addition to the paranormal and the romance AND the knitting there was also . . . alternating points of view. And cops. All that was missing was a culinary mystery to make this transcend worst book of the year status and rocket straight into Worst Books I Have Ever Read land. So I read it all in an evening.
Wow, what a disappointment. It wasn't even amazingly horrible, just . . . tepidly mediocre. The author didn't take any risks with the story line or writing. Granted, I knew what it was when I started, so I expected certain things: the cop and the knitter would end up together happily ever after, the best friend would sacrifice himself, the evil brother and mother were, in fact, the bad guys, etc. Lucky for me, I was correct. What I didn't expect was that Bretton would try to normalize Sugar Maple (the town in which the story took place) so much that it was devoid of any excitement. There was no purple, overdone prose, no real emotional anguish. It was just flat. Kind of dull.
Really, I'd much prefer to read terrible books than boring ones.
Wow, what a disappointment. It wasn't even amazingly horrible, just . . . tepidly mediocre. The author didn't take any risks with the story line or writing. Granted, I knew what it was when I started, so I expected certain things: the cop and the knitter would end up together happily ever after, the best friend would sacrifice himself, the evil brother and mother were, in fact, the bad guys, etc. Lucky for me, I was correct. What I didn't expect was that Bretton would try to normalize Sugar Maple (the town in which the story took place) so much that it was devoid of any excitement. There was no purple, overdone prose, no real emotional anguish. It was just flat. Kind of dull.
Really, I'd much prefer to read terrible books than boring ones.
October 25, 2011
This book combines so many elements that I love - yarn, knitting, witches and a slew of amazing paranormal characters. Known around the US as the place to shop for yarn and learn to knit; Chloe has her hands full with Sticks & Strings. In a small Vermont town called Sugar Maple everything is perfect, except that the town is populated with Vampires, Witches, Weres, Ghosts and every other type of magical creature you could imagine!
For the first time, Sugar Maple has a murder. Which brings Luke MacKenzie, unfortunate for him - he's human. The only other human in town (or part human) is Chloe. Who also happens to be the Mayor! These to have some great chemistry which builds through out the story. Luke's temporary office just happens to be next door to Sticks & Strings.
One of the things I really loved about this story was how all the different characters interacted with one another. How they protected who they were and what they were from Luke and his investigation. Everyone looked out for one another, which is one of the great things about small communities.
This story has some great twists, turns and unexpected moments. I don't want to give too much away about the story, but this is a great start to a new series set in Sugar Maple. It has earned a spot on my library wall and Barbara's books will easily be added to my Auto-buy list. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys paranormal romances and knitting based books!
For the first time, Sugar Maple has a murder. Which brings Luke MacKenzie, unfortunate for him - he's human. The only other human in town (or part human) is Chloe. Who also happens to be the Mayor! These to have some great chemistry which builds through out the story. Luke's temporary office just happens to be next door to Sticks & Strings.
One of the things I really loved about this story was how all the different characters interacted with one another. How they protected who they were and what they were from Luke and his investigation. Everyone looked out for one another, which is one of the great things about small communities.
This story has some great twists, turns and unexpected moments. I don't want to give too much away about the story, but this is a great start to a new series set in Sugar Maple. It has earned a spot on my library wall and Barbara's books will easily be added to my Auto-buy list. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys paranormal romances and knitting based books!
December 9, 2011
Apesar da história de Chloe me ter contentado desde o inicio, não me entusiasmei particularmente com a sua paixão e talento no tricô.
A este aspecto soma-se o facto da escrita de Barbara Bretton ser um pouco infantil, o que resulta numa linguagem para jovens, mas um conteúdo para adultos. Claro que este conteúdo a que me refiro não se limita apenas à temática das lãs e outros tecidos, mas também a uma cena mais intima no segundo volume ou aos acontecimentos no geral da vida da personagem principal.
Em contrapartida, gostei bastante das personagens e dos cenários. Mas mesmo estes estavam um pouco sub-desenvolvidos, incluindo as ruas, a vila e as habitações, e a fisionomia de algumas personagens, tanto principais como secundárias.
Terminado o Feitiços de Amor, pensei que o livro seguinte fosse baseado em novas aventuras de Chloe, por isso ao ler A Magia do Amor e ao deparar-me com personagens como Isadora, Karen e Steffie, fiquei com a ideia de que estas foram criadas e inseridas na história de forma forçada.
Estas trouxeram mais cenas mágicas, e isso foi um ponto positivo no inicio, mas que acabou por ser negativo, visto que estas mesmas cenas se tornaram muito abstractas e confusas.
Tanto o final de um como de outro volume foram muito bem conseguidos, por isso só me resta esperar que o próximo venha anular as opiniões negativas dos anteriores.
A este aspecto soma-se o facto da escrita de Barbara Bretton ser um pouco infantil, o que resulta numa linguagem para jovens, mas um conteúdo para adultos. Claro que este conteúdo a que me refiro não se limita apenas à temática das lãs e outros tecidos, mas também a uma cena mais intima no segundo volume ou aos acontecimentos no geral da vida da personagem principal.
Em contrapartida, gostei bastante das personagens e dos cenários. Mas mesmo estes estavam um pouco sub-desenvolvidos, incluindo as ruas, a vila e as habitações, e a fisionomia de algumas personagens, tanto principais como secundárias.
Terminado o Feitiços de Amor, pensei que o livro seguinte fosse baseado em novas aventuras de Chloe, por isso ao ler A Magia do Amor e ao deparar-me com personagens como Isadora, Karen e Steffie, fiquei com a ideia de que estas foram criadas e inseridas na história de forma forçada.
Estas trouxeram mais cenas mágicas, e isso foi um ponto positivo no inicio, mas que acabou por ser negativo, visto que estas mesmas cenas se tornaram muito abstractas e confusas.
Tanto o final de um como de outro volume foram muito bem conseguidos, por isso só me resta esperar que o próximo venha anular as opiniões negativas dos anteriores.
December 30, 2011
Nora Roberts fans should love this series. It is sweetsy in the same sort of way.
I, however, found it silly. Especially the cartoonish villain who might as well have been named Cruella de Ville. Seriously. And her motivations?! Ludicrous.
But it was fairly well written, and should appeal to NR fans and readers who like small towns, and sweet romance with cozy fantasy elements.
The knitting ideas was kind of cool. The heroine who never bothered to look in the MOST OBVIOUS PLACE IMAGINABLE for her long-lost inherited maguffin was not impressive.
I was in a 'bah, humbug' kind of mood when I read this. So my vote is skewed by the fact saccharinely sweet was not a good fit for my mood while reading. Take this into consideration, because you will probably like this book A LOT more than I did.
I, however, found it silly. Especially the cartoonish villain who might as well have been named Cruella de Ville. Seriously. And her motivations?! Ludicrous.
But it was fairly well written, and should appeal to NR fans and readers who like small towns, and sweet romance with cozy fantasy elements.
The knitting ideas was kind of cool. The heroine who never bothered to look in the MOST OBVIOUS PLACE IMAGINABLE for her long-lost inherited maguffin was not impressive.
I was in a 'bah, humbug' kind of mood when I read this. So my vote is skewed by the fact saccharinely sweet was not a good fit for my mood while reading. Take this into consideration, because you will probably like this book A LOT more than I did.
February 16, 2012
Este livro foi-me emprestado através do Clube BlogRing que a Tinkerbell teve a ideia fantástica de criar para troca de livros e opiniões.
Tinha muita curiosidade em ler este livro por esta escritora ter já vendido imensos exemplares e como tal queria saber como era a escrita dela. Deparei-me com um romance suave e simples, com um toque de sobrenatural, temática tão na moda ultimamente. A escrita é fluida e simples com algum sentido de humor que me fez sorrir algumas vezes ao longo da leitura deste livros.
Não poderei colocar este livros entre os meus favoritos mas fiquei com vontade de ler o seguinte para saber o que vai acontecer em Suger Maple onde vivem tantas criaturas sobrenaturais, que escapam ao olhar do comum mortal, por este terra estar protegida por um feitiço.
Tinha muita curiosidade em ler este livro por esta escritora ter já vendido imensos exemplares e como tal queria saber como era a escrita dela. Deparei-me com um romance suave e simples, com um toque de sobrenatural, temática tão na moda ultimamente. A escrita é fluida e simples com algum sentido de humor que me fez sorrir algumas vezes ao longo da leitura deste livros.
Não poderei colocar este livros entre os meus favoritos mas fiquei com vontade de ler o seguinte para saber o que vai acontecer em Suger Maple onde vivem tantas criaturas sobrenaturais, que escapam ao olhar do comum mortal, por este terra estar protegida por um feitiço.
November 7, 2023
I was skeptical at first but after the first chapter I was hooked! This book has everything I love! Witches, spells, the Fae, shifters, vampires, and knitting, I crochet but same difference, and of course cats!! This was just a fun read that I sped through and had immense fun doing so. I borrowed this from my local library so after I realized I really liked this one I went and got the other 3 books!
Now if this happened to be a real place in Vermont I would definitely be going. And the cop Luke, just what makes these books equally special: he accepting that magic is afoot and so is the supernatural and just going with it to help save the town! 💜💜💜
Now if this happened to be a real place in Vermont I would definitely be going. And the cop Luke, just what makes these books equally special: he accepting that magic is afoot and so is the supernatural and just going with it to help save the town! 💜💜💜
July 3, 2022
Took me a minute to adjust to this book because I just did not like the writing at the beginning. The story got .. better 1/2 way through, but maybe it’s the writing style that just didn’t do it for me. Overall it’s not horrible but eh
September 6, 2018
Romance in the paranormal genre that was just OK, not really a good match for me.
October 21, 2023
A bit silly and the insta-love just doesn't work for me, but I like the idea of a town of magical creatures interacting with tourists in New England.
February 18, 2018
DELIGHTFULLY ENTERTAINING!!!
Title: Casting Spells
Series: The Sugar Maple Chronicles
Author: Barbara Bretton
Designation: Book One of Series, Full-Length, Can Be Read As Standalone, No Cliffhanger, Happy For Now Ending #paranormal #supernatural #fantasy #romance #magick #fae #shapeshifters #vampires #sorcerers #trolls #selkies
My Rating: Three Entertaining Stars***
Growing up, I was fascinated by my mother's ability to sew, knit and crochet. I even watched my grandmother and great grandmother use spinning wheels to spin wool into yarn. And yes, I'm that old! Through my eyes as a child, it seemed magical watching them create their colorful masterpieces. I remember asking my mom if it was magic and she would always reply: 'In a way, I guess it is magic, but it's the kind that can be done by anyone who's willing to make the effort and put their heart into it.' Unfortunately, I didn't inherit her talent, but I admire anyone possessing the ability and patience to make such beautiful creations. And believe me, I discovered quickly that knitting is a craft requiring years of hard work, skill, and countless hours of practice. Barbara Bretton is a new-to-me author, so I had no idea what to expect, but the knitting aspect of this story immediately snagged my interest. I did my due diligence by reading the blurb and several of the reviews, then made my purchase and dove in. And color me very pleasantly surprised. I found myself instantly drawn into the story and the town of Sugar Maple, Vermont. Casting Spells is a delightful cross between a sweet, clean paranormal romance, a delightful comedic whodunit, and an edge of your seat cozy mystery infused with a large cast of fascinating characters, an intriguing premise, an engaging storyline, a generous splash of suspense, a sprinkle of humor, and lots and lots of magic. The narrative was written in the first person with clearly defined his and her perspectives. The dialogue was smart, snappy, and flowed effortlessly. I was immediately smitten with the two protagonists, shop owner and Sugar Maple honorary mayor Chloe Hobbs and Boston police detective Luke McKenzie. I was spellbound by the interaction and chemistry between Chloe and Luke. When these two meet, attraction ignites, sparks fly, and passion explodes! And I do mean literally! I love stories in which the hearts of the hero and heroine know instantly what it wants, even if it does take their brain a while to catch up. Seeing them struggle to recognize their feelings is always the best part of the story, although I will admit, I did have my doubts about the outcome of the future for Chloe and Luke. When that happens, you know the writer has done their job exceptionally well, and Bretton certainly did because by the end, I was sniffling, snuffling, and angrily wiping tears, truly believing there could be no happy ending for our unlikely lovers. But thankfully, fate refuses to be denied and love always wins, at least that's what my heart chooses to believe. So, did I like this book! Yes, I did, very much! So why only three stars? I'm not trying to be a negative nelly but there were quite a few typos and several inconsistencies, one of which completely disrupted the flow of the story. The most noticeable was an important part of a scene missing in my book that should have occurred in Chapter 10 during Luke and Chloe's first dinner date/official business meeting to discuss the case. There were continued references throughout the story about Luke meeting Gunnar at the restaurant and a glass of wine which mysteriously(magically) flew across the table and ended up in Luke's lap - but it never happened, at least not in my copy. Gunnar nor the glass of wine were ever in the scene. And I searched-several times. It kinda broke my heart because I really liked this book. I was very disappointed. This story could have been so much better with a professional proofread and a little more attention to detail from the author. Would I recommend it? Yes, and I am for anyone age 14 and above. It's clean, sweet, and there is romance but no explicit sex. It does contain mild violence, but it's not gory or graphic, however the story is based on a murder mystery. Will I read this author again? Absolutely! This may have been my first time reading the work of Barbara Bretton, but it certainly won't be my last! And finally, was I entertained? Completely! If you enjoy paranormal cozy mysteries generously seasoned with romance, I'd give this book a whirl, especially if you enjoy a little humor and a lot of knitting!
Title: Casting Spells
Series: The Sugar Maple Chronicles
Author: Barbara Bretton
Designation: Book One of Series, Full-Length, Can Be Read As Standalone, No Cliffhanger, Happy For Now Ending #paranormal #supernatural #fantasy #romance #magick #fae #shapeshifters #vampires #sorcerers #trolls #selkies
My Rating: Three Entertaining Stars***
Growing up, I was fascinated by my mother's ability to sew, knit and crochet. I even watched my grandmother and great grandmother use spinning wheels to spin wool into yarn. And yes, I'm that old! Through my eyes as a child, it seemed magical watching them create their colorful masterpieces. I remember asking my mom if it was magic and she would always reply: 'In a way, I guess it is magic, but it's the kind that can be done by anyone who's willing to make the effort and put their heart into it.' Unfortunately, I didn't inherit her talent, but I admire anyone possessing the ability and patience to make such beautiful creations. And believe me, I discovered quickly that knitting is a craft requiring years of hard work, skill, and countless hours of practice. Barbara Bretton is a new-to-me author, so I had no idea what to expect, but the knitting aspect of this story immediately snagged my interest. I did my due diligence by reading the blurb and several of the reviews, then made my purchase and dove in. And color me very pleasantly surprised. I found myself instantly drawn into the story and the town of Sugar Maple, Vermont. Casting Spells is a delightful cross between a sweet, clean paranormal romance, a delightful comedic whodunit, and an edge of your seat cozy mystery infused with a large cast of fascinating characters, an intriguing premise, an engaging storyline, a generous splash of suspense, a sprinkle of humor, and lots and lots of magic. The narrative was written in the first person with clearly defined his and her perspectives. The dialogue was smart, snappy, and flowed effortlessly. I was immediately smitten with the two protagonists, shop owner and Sugar Maple honorary mayor Chloe Hobbs and Boston police detective Luke McKenzie. I was spellbound by the interaction and chemistry between Chloe and Luke. When these two meet, attraction ignites, sparks fly, and passion explodes! And I do mean literally! I love stories in which the hearts of the hero and heroine know instantly what it wants, even if it does take their brain a while to catch up. Seeing them struggle to recognize their feelings is always the best part of the story, although I will admit, I did have my doubts about the outcome of the future for Chloe and Luke. When that happens, you know the writer has done their job exceptionally well, and Bretton certainly did because by the end, I was sniffling, snuffling, and angrily wiping tears, truly believing there could be no happy ending for our unlikely lovers. But thankfully, fate refuses to be denied and love always wins, at least that's what my heart chooses to believe. So, did I like this book! Yes, I did, very much! So why only three stars? I'm not trying to be a negative nelly but there were quite a few typos and several inconsistencies, one of which completely disrupted the flow of the story. The most noticeable was an important part of a scene missing in my book that should have occurred in Chapter 10 during Luke and Chloe's first dinner date/official business meeting to discuss the case. There were continued references throughout the story about Luke meeting Gunnar at the restaurant and a glass of wine which mysteriously(magically) flew across the table and ended up in Luke's lap - but it never happened, at least not in my copy. Gunnar nor the glass of wine were ever in the scene. And I searched-several times. It kinda broke my heart because I really liked this book. I was very disappointed. This story could have been so much better with a professional proofread and a little more attention to detail from the author. Would I recommend it? Yes, and I am for anyone age 14 and above. It's clean, sweet, and there is romance but no explicit sex. It does contain mild violence, but it's not gory or graphic, however the story is based on a murder mystery. Will I read this author again? Absolutely! This may have been my first time reading the work of Barbara Bretton, but it certainly won't be my last! And finally, was I entertained? Completely! If you enjoy paranormal cozy mysteries generously seasoned with romance, I'd give this book a whirl, especially if you enjoy a little humor and a lot of knitting!
August 26, 2018
At first I wasn't sure that this was going to be my kind of book but I was engrossed in it and couldn't put it down. A Harry Potter like book that really is fantastic. I can't wait to read the next books. The descriptions and characters are well thought out and developed and there will be rooms for tears and joy through out the book.
July 1, 2019
I didn't like the constant don't fall in love with a human. It became annoying, same as the heroines friends.
April 9, 2021
I would've given this book 5 stars but there are pieces missing from it. Particularly near the beginning a scene that is referred to immediately after a dinner at an inn is not in the book. I went back to see if I had actually missed it, and read the entire chapter again. It's just not there. The cop didn't meet Gunnar, there was no floating brandy glass and there was one more missing piece but I can't remember exactly what it is. So, if you read this book, don't think you're nuts when you don't remember something happened, because it didn't.
December 26, 2019
This book was everything I hate about typical romance novels. Girl (who thinks she's plain, good-for-nothing) falls for hot guy. Hot guy falls for girl. Girl is always flying into his arms. Another hot guy has the hots for her but oh, he's just a friend. Hot friend guy is conveniently removed from story. Evil villain tries to rip lovers apart but love trumps all. Ta-freaking-daaa!
November 3, 2009
A little magic, a little romance, crazy neighbors that include selkies, toothless vampires in the local retirement home, good and bad Fae, and lovable characters all come together here. The town--which was built as a replica of Salem, MA--is under a blessing spell. As long as a female descendant of the original sorceress is in town, falls in love (thereby coming into her powers) and gives birth to a daughter, the town will be safe. But the spell is unraveling and Chloe, the town's only hope is now 30 and loveless. She is also half human, so there is doubt she will ever come into her powers. The town has been on a relentless campaign to find her a magical love-of-her-life, but nothing works. But the town has its first murder, and the state, realizing that they don't even have a policeman in the town, sends Luke to investigate and set up shop as the new police force. But no one in town wants a human to see past their non-magic veneer. How would they react to the fact that the hardware store-owner and his sons are werewolves, or that the funeral home director is a vampire? But like all good romantic comedies, true love wins out. Just my kind of book.
March 31, 2016
Nunca tinha lido nada desta autora mas andava curiosa por ler esta série (Sugar Maple).
Este primeiro livro é muito levezinho e peculiar, dado que na cidade de Sugar Maple todos são personagens fantásticas (vampiros, trolls, fadas, etc) mas disfarçados de humanos. A única que ainda não conseguiu assumir os seus poderes é uma humana genuÃna que, por ser filha de uma fada que "geria" a cidade, tem a seu cargo todos os problemas que surgem. Isto enquanto espera que os seus poderes apareçam. Para isso, aparece Luke, um policia genuÃno que vem parar à cidade quando alguém, na cidade grande, se apercebe que em Sugar Maple não existe criminalidade, nem registos de óbitos ou nascimentos. E Chloe tem de se apaixonar para ter os seus poderes e fazer frente a Isadora, a má da fita que quer o controlo da cidade.
Parte que mais se destaca no livro: é muito engraçado. Os diálogos são, muitas vezes, hilariantes e as coisas que eles fazem para esconder os seus poderes de Luke são de partir a rir. Isto para não falar das reações do policia.
Vou ler os seguintes, com certeza.
Este primeiro livro é muito levezinho e peculiar, dado que na cidade de Sugar Maple todos são personagens fantásticas (vampiros, trolls, fadas, etc) mas disfarçados de humanos. A única que ainda não conseguiu assumir os seus poderes é uma humana genuÃna que, por ser filha de uma fada que "geria" a cidade, tem a seu cargo todos os problemas que surgem. Isto enquanto espera que os seus poderes apareçam. Para isso, aparece Luke, um policia genuÃno que vem parar à cidade quando alguém, na cidade grande, se apercebe que em Sugar Maple não existe criminalidade, nem registos de óbitos ou nascimentos. E Chloe tem de se apaixonar para ter os seus poderes e fazer frente a Isadora, a má da fita que quer o controlo da cidade.
Parte que mais se destaca no livro: é muito engraçado. Os diálogos são, muitas vezes, hilariantes e as coisas que eles fazem para esconder os seus poderes de Luke são de partir a rir. Isto para não falar das reações do policia.
Vou ler os seguintes, com certeza.
March 29, 2014
Usually I am not big on romance books. Usually, there is too much hardcore sex scenes and not enough action. However, this book had tons of action, mystery, and quick-paced romance. No, ewe my stomach, I am going to puke! romance. SO, I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!
I can see how this book is considered a romance. But compared to most romances I feel it is more of a mystery/paranormal book with a love interest. And what good book doesn't have a love interest?????
Totally love this book and the smooth, crisp, quick flowing writing the author has.
DEFINITELY A FAN OF BARBAR BRETTON'S WRTTING AFTER JUST ONE BOOK! I will be ordering in more of her work, since our library only had this one book!
I can see how this book is considered a romance. But compared to most romances I feel it is more of a mystery/paranormal book with a love interest. And what good book doesn't have a love interest?????
Totally love this book and the smooth, crisp, quick flowing writing the author has.
DEFINITELY A FAN OF BARBAR BRETTON'S WRTTING AFTER JUST ONE BOOK! I will be ordering in more of her work, since our library only had this one book!
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