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Broomstick Bay #1
Zucchini Cake and Zombies
She quit practicing magic after everything went wrong. Now, she had better find a fix before an undead former prom queen feasts on her friends.
Ruby Crosswell is done with humiliation. Back in her paranormal small town after she catches her fiancé cheating, the twenty-eight-year-old failed witch would rather forget the time she accidentally nearly blew up the high school. But running into an old flame at the ten-year class reunion makes her feel young again� until they trip over the dead body of her archrival.
Flying to the top of the suspect list when it’s revealed the cause of death was a wayward spell, Ruby refuses to make things worse by attempting sorcery for the first time in a decade. But between the dearly departed returning as a ravenous zombie and changing herself into a talking cat, the mistake-prone spellcaster fears she won’t survive long enough to clear her own name.
Can Ruby summon a solution before she becomes the next shambling menace?
Zucchini Cake & Zombies is the hilarious first book in the Broomstick Bay Paranormal Cozy Mystery series. If you like witty banter, enchanted houses with personality, and strange small towns, then you’ll love RaShelle Workman’s hexing whodunit.
__________
BROOMSTICK BAY PARANORMAL COZY MYSTERY
Zucchini Cake and Zombies
Wedding Cake and Werewolves
Vanilla Cake and Vampires (11/2023)
Upside Down Tart and Unicorns (4/30/2024)
Tiramisu and Trolls (2024)
Funnel Cake and Fairies (2025)
Eclairs and Elves (2025)
Donuts and Dragons (2025)
Apple Crisp and Angels (2025)
Ruby Crosswell is done with humiliation. Back in her paranormal small town after she catches her fiancé cheating, the twenty-eight-year-old failed witch would rather forget the time she accidentally nearly blew up the high school. But running into an old flame at the ten-year class reunion makes her feel young again� until they trip over the dead body of her archrival.
Flying to the top of the suspect list when it’s revealed the cause of death was a wayward spell, Ruby refuses to make things worse by attempting sorcery for the first time in a decade. But between the dearly departed returning as a ravenous zombie and changing herself into a talking cat, the mistake-prone spellcaster fears she won’t survive long enough to clear her own name.
Can Ruby summon a solution before she becomes the next shambling menace?
Zucchini Cake & Zombies is the hilarious first book in the Broomstick Bay Paranormal Cozy Mystery series. If you like witty banter, enchanted houses with personality, and strange small towns, then you’ll love RaShelle Workman’s hexing whodunit.
__________
BROOMSTICK BAY PARANORMAL COZY MYSTERY
Zucchini Cake and Zombies
Wedding Cake and Werewolves
Vanilla Cake and Vampires (11/2023)
Upside Down Tart and Unicorns (4/30/2024)
Tiramisu and Trolls (2024)
Funnel Cake and Fairies (2025)
Eclairs and Elves (2025)
Donuts and Dragons (2025)
Apple Crisp and Angels (2025)
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2022
151 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
RaShelle Workman
227books1,025followersRaShelle Workman is an international bestselling author of reimagined fairy tales, supernatural suspense, paranormal cozies, and more. Her novels have been listed on multiple bestseller lists, including her Blood and Snow series (now Seven Magics Academy), which has sold more than a million copies worldwide. In addition, three of her books have been translated into Turkish.
When RaShelle isn't writing, she enjoys baking, creating new taco recipes and hanging with family. She lives in Utah with her husband, three children, and their dogs.
Find her online by visiting her website at: . And sign up for her newsletter to receive free books and get information on book release dates: .
Books by RaShelle Workman:
BROOMSTICK BAY COZY MYSTERIES
Zucchini Cake & Zombies
Wedding Cake & Werewolves (coming 6/23)
Vanilla Cake & Vampires (coming 10/23)
EERIE VALLEY SUPERNATURALS
Undercover Reaper
Twice Reaped
Reapers Creepers
Deadly Reaper (coming 4/24)
FABLE TOWN MYSTERIES
Iced Raspberry Cookies and a Curse
FAIRY ACADEMY
Hidden Princess
Broken Curse
Stolen Magic
THE FAIRYTALE CHRONICLES
Royal Selection
Royal Contract
Royal Keeper (coming 12/23)
Royal Everlasting (coming 2024)
DEMONLAND SERIES
Alice in Demonland
Alice Fights Demonland
Alice Takes Demonland
Alice Ignites Demonland
BEASTLY SERIES
A Beauty so Beastly
WOLF BLOOD ACADEMY
Initiation
Inheritance
Induction
MAGIC BLOOD ACADEMY
Elemental Outcast Games: Fire
Elemental Outcast Games: Water
Elemental Outcast Games: Earth
Elemental Outcast Games: Air
Elemental Outcast Games: Shadow
Elemental Outcast Games: Monster
VAMPIRE BLOOD ACADEMY
Vampire in Training (coming 8/2023)
Monster Trials (coming 9/2023
End Times (coming 9/23)
SEVEN MAGICS ACADEMY
Blood and Snow
Fate and Magic
Queen of the Vampires
Deadly Witch
Royal Witch
Vampire Lies
Vampire Secrets
Vampires and Dragons
Vampires and Gargoyles
Vampire Magics
ETERNALLY ENTANGLED
Eternally Entangled
Thoroughly Tousled
Infinitely Intertwined
PARANORMAL INQUIRIES
Ghoulish Whisper
IMMORTAL ESSENCE
Exiled
Destined
ACROSS THE AGES
Goddess Curse
Mystical Gift
__________
Ann Hardy ~ Sizzling Sweet Romance
Most Eligible Cowboy
Happily Ever Summer
Rockstar Billionaire
Billionaire Best Man
Faking it With the Billionaire
Dating the Billionaire
The Betting Billionaire
The Country Singer's Billionaire
The Prideful Billionaire
Totally Scrooged�
When RaShelle isn't writing, she enjoys baking, creating new taco recipes and hanging with family. She lives in Utah with her husband, three children, and their dogs.
Find her online by visiting her website at: . And sign up for her newsletter to receive free books and get information on book release dates: .
Books by RaShelle Workman:
BROOMSTICK BAY COZY MYSTERIES
Zucchini Cake & Zombies
Wedding Cake & Werewolves (coming 6/23)
Vanilla Cake & Vampires (coming 10/23)
EERIE VALLEY SUPERNATURALS
Undercover Reaper
Twice Reaped
Reapers Creepers
Deadly Reaper (coming 4/24)
FABLE TOWN MYSTERIES
Iced Raspberry Cookies and a Curse
FAIRY ACADEMY
Hidden Princess
Broken Curse
Stolen Magic
THE FAIRYTALE CHRONICLES
Royal Selection
Royal Contract
Royal Keeper (coming 12/23)
Royal Everlasting (coming 2024)
DEMONLAND SERIES
Alice in Demonland
Alice Fights Demonland
Alice Takes Demonland
Alice Ignites Demonland
BEASTLY SERIES
A Beauty so Beastly
WOLF BLOOD ACADEMY
Initiation
Inheritance
Induction
MAGIC BLOOD ACADEMY
Elemental Outcast Games: Fire
Elemental Outcast Games: Water
Elemental Outcast Games: Earth
Elemental Outcast Games: Air
Elemental Outcast Games: Shadow
Elemental Outcast Games: Monster
VAMPIRE BLOOD ACADEMY
Vampire in Training (coming 8/2023)
Monster Trials (coming 9/2023
End Times (coming 9/23)
SEVEN MAGICS ACADEMY
Blood and Snow
Fate and Magic
Queen of the Vampires
Deadly Witch
Royal Witch
Vampire Lies
Vampire Secrets
Vampires and Dragons
Vampires and Gargoyles
Vampire Magics
ETERNALLY ENTANGLED
Eternally Entangled
Thoroughly Tousled
Infinitely Intertwined
PARANORMAL INQUIRIES
Ghoulish Whisper
IMMORTAL ESSENCE
Exiled
Destined
ACROSS THE AGES
Goddess Curse
Mystical Gift
__________
Ann Hardy ~ Sizzling Sweet Romance
Most Eligible Cowboy
Happily Ever Summer
Rockstar Billionaire
Billionaire Best Man
Faking it With the Billionaire
Dating the Billionaire
The Betting Billionaire
The Country Singer's Billionaire
The Prideful Billionaire
Totally Scrooged�
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 13, 2023
This was book 1 in the
"Broomstick Bay"
series. Ruby moved back home after her fiance cheated on her. Back to a town she had left when the mean girls urging her into performing black magic backfired. Ruby hasn't been home in years and she hasn't practiced any witchcraft. When one of her former classmates ends up dead she begins investigating. This was a pretty good story that I liked. I also liked the secondary characters in this book. This was my first time reading this author. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
October 22, 2023
Zucchini Cake and Zombies
Rachelle Workman is an accomplished paranormal cozey mystery writer very talented in bringing the characters off the pages and to life in way bringing you into the mystery as though you were standing to the side as as an active observer..The array of characters are vibrant and colorful and of course this wouldn't be a mystery without a deadly schemer hidden in plain sight. With a plot of reconnection, intrigue mayhem and laughter you'll be drawn into their stories of a magical small town then through murder. Who could be so bold as to take take down the mean girl among so many others in attendance and why now. I was hooked by the first page not able to lieve the enchanted town turning page after page captivated with curiosity getting to know each character better while looking for little clues to find the answer to the mystery before the author unraveled and exposed it at the very unexpected and climatic conclusion but try as might it truly was a surprise ending. Acquire " Zucchini Cake and Zombies " so you yourself can enjoy it as much as I have. Kat
Rachelle Workman is an accomplished paranormal cozey mystery writer very talented in bringing the characters off the pages and to life in way bringing you into the mystery as though you were standing to the side as as an active observer..The array of characters are vibrant and colorful and of course this wouldn't be a mystery without a deadly schemer hidden in plain sight. With a plot of reconnection, intrigue mayhem and laughter you'll be drawn into their stories of a magical small town then through murder. Who could be so bold as to take take down the mean girl among so many others in attendance and why now. I was hooked by the first page not able to lieve the enchanted town turning page after page captivated with curiosity getting to know each character better while looking for little clues to find the answer to the mystery before the author unraveled and exposed it at the very unexpected and climatic conclusion but try as might it truly was a surprise ending. Acquire " Zucchini Cake and Zombies " so you yourself can enjoy it as much as I have. Kat
November 10, 2022
Predictable, kind of bland
The characters don't have much substance since it's such a quick book, it's a shame really since the plot was ok. Whole story feels rather lifeless. Character interactions are so strange, it's almost like watching c level actors in a cinema bombing movie.
This is typical mediocre fantasy. MFC is super powerful but doesn't know it but can use the power without much thought or training (main character syndrome), rival love interest is a bad guy, and it was so obvious the sheriff is a wolf - his last name is so uncreative and lame. All of the names in this book are really. A witches last name is Broomstick? Come on.
If you like YA level writing, you'll enjoy this book. Otherwise not really worth the read.
The characters don't have much substance since it's such a quick book, it's a shame really since the plot was ok. Whole story feels rather lifeless. Character interactions are so strange, it's almost like watching c level actors in a cinema bombing movie.
This is typical mediocre fantasy. MFC is super powerful but doesn't know it but can use the power without much thought or training (main character syndrome), rival love interest is a bad guy, and it was so obvious the sheriff is a wolf - his last name is so uncreative and lame. All of the names in this book are really. A witches last name is Broomstick? Come on.
If you like YA level writing, you'll enjoy this book. Otherwise not really worth the read.
November 15, 2022
Suppressed powers have interesting consequences
Ruby moved back home after her fiance cheated on her. Back to a town she had left when the mean girls urging her into performing black magic backfired. You never really find out what she was trying to accomplish and vaguely how it ended. If it had been as bad as Ruby thought she would have gone to jail. The story and character have a disconnect. Everything is so tragic and stressful to Ruby. But the only people who try to make her feel bad about returning are the mean girl's grown up. And when she could benefit from the wisdom of her family she repeatedly pulls away. I do have to say a couple of the family start off as pushy. Not a bad read, but the disconnect, almost like split personalities throws me off.
Ruby moved back home after her fiance cheated on her. Back to a town she had left when the mean girls urging her into performing black magic backfired. You never really find out what she was trying to accomplish and vaguely how it ended. If it had been as bad as Ruby thought she would have gone to jail. The story and character have a disconnect. Everything is so tragic and stressful to Ruby. But the only people who try to make her feel bad about returning are the mean girl's grown up. And when she could benefit from the wisdom of her family she repeatedly pulls away. I do have to say a couple of the family start off as pushy. Not a bad read, but the disconnect, almost like split personalities throws me off.
March 19, 2023
Fun, fast paced and an all around good time.
Picked this up on a whim, but I wasn’t disappointed. Ruby is an oddball character, and I found her to be engaging and likeable. Her family are quirky, and due to the cloud she left under, her return for the school reunion isn’t all sunshine and roses. The murder itself wasn’t delved into in depth, although the ramifications follow Ruby throughout the book, and while it was a bit predictable in places, I loved the resolution. Will definitely be picking up the next book when it’s released.
Picked this up on a whim, but I wasn’t disappointed. Ruby is an oddball character, and I found her to be engaging and likeable. Her family are quirky, and due to the cloud she left under, her return for the school reunion isn’t all sunshine and roses. The murder itself wasn’t delved into in depth, although the ramifications follow Ruby throughout the book, and while it was a bit predictable in places, I loved the resolution. Will definitely be picking up the next book when it’s released.
August 7, 2023
Cool Supernatural Cozy Mystery
Great cozy mystery set in a town settled by witches and other supernatural beings. Includes a mystery that surrounds murders of locals that ends with an interesting twist. I can't wait to read more of this series. I feel as though the characters shown only scratched the surface.
Great cozy mystery set in a town settled by witches and other supernatural beings. Includes a mystery that surrounds murders of locals that ends with an interesting twist. I can't wait to read more of this series. I feel as though the characters shown only scratched the surface.
August 9, 2023
a return to her hometown after a failed engagement leads one young witch to a bundle of surprises about her heritage, skills she has left unused and untouched and new dangers and possibilities
clever companions and mentors, and a mixed bag of old acquaintances who might not be all they appear make for enticing reading that's magical!
clever companions and mentors, and a mixed bag of old acquaintances who might not be all they appear make for enticing reading that's magical!
May 21, 2024
I enjoyed the start of this, but felt like it was a little slow at parts. It was a pretty cozy read, though.
Ruby's age was mentioned a lot in the beginning. The sisters being called Piper and Pippy... very similar names, especially for siblings! I wasn't sure about the ending.
Two of the last names were ridiculously obvious. The steroids conversation made me laugh, though.
Ruby's age was mentioned a lot in the beginning. The sisters being called Piper and Pippy... very similar names, especially for siblings! I wasn't sure about the ending.
Two of the last names were ridiculously obvious. The steroids conversation made me laugh, though.
January 24, 2023
Refreshing fun and hijinks
This was a light cozy mystery filled with humor, witchcraft, and coming home again. Broomstick Bay may be small but is definitely a fun visit. Look forward to another adventure.
This was a light cozy mystery filled with humor, witchcraft, and coming home again. Broomstick Bay may be small but is definitely a fun visit. Look forward to another adventure.
June 29, 2023
What a ball! I enjoyed this first in series and look forward to the next book. Ruby, Val etc sound nice enough to move in next door and the storyline is cute and compelling.
No spoilers cause it is more fun without them. Enjoy!.
No spoilers cause it is more fun without them. Enjoy!.
October 23, 2023
Getting together with your family after being away should bring happiness but when you and your family along with some ladies from town are witches brings = Murder. Let’s not forget zombies too.
Can’t wait to read the next book #2. (I guessed the wrong killer ..I have to get better at that)
Can’t wait to read the next book #2. (I guessed the wrong killer ..I have to get better at that)
February 20, 2023
A nice, solid mystery. The main character showed some immaturity, but I still liked her. I think I'll probably pick up the second one.
March 15, 2023
A very unusual book.
I enjoyed the story of Ruby's life.
It showed the moral of the story is listen to yourself for a good life.
I enjoyed the story of Ruby's life.
It showed the moral of the story is listen to yourself for a good life.
June 24, 2023
Great
This is a great story lots of actions twists and turns. Great descriptions of everything made you think you were actually there. Awesome story.
This is a great story lots of actions twists and turns. Great descriptions of everything made you think you were actually there. Awesome story.
August 20, 2023
I loved this book!
Lots of magic, some funny laughs, murder and zombies. It has everything for anyone that loves magic and the super natural.
Lots of magic, some funny laughs, murder and zombies. It has everything for anyone that loves magic and the super natural.
September 10, 2023
really cute first book, i enjoyed it, i am glad they found out why but just wish the journal was still around to tell its secrets
September 13, 2023
A cozy paranormal mystery involving witches, zombies, and cake! What more could you want?
September 17, 2023
Cute story
This is a fun story about finding yourself and handling the changes in your life. Ruby came back home to heal and learn about herself.
This is a fun story about finding yourself and handling the changes in your life. Ruby came back home to heal and learn about herself.
October 27, 2023
So much fun
I loved this book and will read book 2. The characters are so much fun and he story line kept me turning the pages, quickly.
I loved this book and will read book 2. The characters are so much fun and he story line kept me turning the pages, quickly.
November 25, 2023
A fine start for the series.
The characters are wonderful. The plot is twisty. The world building is great. I can't wait to read the next book!
The characters are wonderful. The plot is twisty. The world building is great. I can't wait to read the next book!
January 5, 2024
Good
Good read. Couldn't put it down. Some of the editing could have been more thorough. Mostly extra words or typos, but it was a well thought out story.
Good read. Couldn't put it down. Some of the editing could have been more thorough. Mostly extra words or typos, but it was a well thought out story.
January 9, 2024
Clean paranormal cozy that had good characters but very little action. This is a book you can put down to read when you can snatch a few minutes. Disappointing ending. Kind of stalled like a flooded gas engine.
March 10, 2024
A fun read
The author has created an unusual and unique plot to go with a great group of characters making this hard to put down
The author has created an unusual and unique plot to go with a great group of characters making this hard to put down
April 27, 2024
It was slow going for awhile with this book. But when it got going, it got going good. I ended up very much enjoying this book and look forward to more in the series.
June 20, 2024
Take time to savour
Loved this book, cannot wait to read the next one. Hopefully it is just as good, if not better than this one.
Loved this book, cannot wait to read the next one. Hopefully it is just as good, if not better than this one.
December 10, 2024
Very cute witch comes home story.
May 20, 2025
Enjoyable!
This was a fun book. The characters were great and there were many twists. Really enjoyed and can't wait to start the next book.
This was a fun book. The characters were great and there were many twists. Really enjoyed and can't wait to start the next book.
October 27, 2022
Test
E max dresses s. ds s d d d back II. jJ. in. in JD d f ff nd
Dr f f f f. F. Fred d
E max dresses s. ds s d d d back II. jJ. in. in JD d f ff nd
Dr f f f f. F. Fred d
May 22, 2024
A great fun read. Loved it
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