Really enjoyed this for the most part. Grace was a cute character, if not as bright as she thought she was. Not sure how the twist surprised anyone.

Just a little put off by some of the comments at the end of the book regarding Sally and some others. Felt a bit...wrong somehow. Just inappropriate and not needed and they rubbed me the wrong way.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Backlit PR for the copy! It was wonderful!

Grace O'Leary is not having the best of times during grad school recently. Someone is framing her for a crime she did not commit and her boyfriend is less than noteworthy. While in the midst of trying to piece together her academic future, Grace goes to help take care of her Aunt Lucy. Aunt Lucy recently took a stumble down some stairs, however, who caused it is up for debate. While Lucy claims it's the ghost of her late husband, news has been circulating that a group of people want shop owners out of business and will result to violent tactics to get them out of there. Lucy's shop isn't just any shop, it's a magic shop filled with herbs and tinctures for everyday use. While cleaning Grace uncovers a grimoire full of recipes for special spells. As Grace mixes them up, she finds that she is rather good at love potions, so much so that they even work. As things start to move forward with her personal life and with the magic shop, Grace has to make a decision if she wants to stay and learn who she really is, or fight for her right as a chemistry professor.


What a treat! I saw the cover of this book and knew I had to get my hands on it! It encompasses everything I love: witches, mystery, Halloween and a slow burning love story. It is so good, it is wonderfully written, all of the characters are clear and fully developed, everything flows flawlessly. I really did enjoy the love story, it wasn't too much and it didn't take away from the character development of Grace. The author also does a good job of bringing different types of people in the story, all genders and backgrounds. This is the first book I have read from this author and I will definitely be reading more!

I received a free copy of THE HOCUS POCUS MAGIC SHOP by Abigail Drake in exchange for an honest review. PhD candidate Grace O’Leary suddenly has some time on her hands since she’s been suspended both from her teaching assistant position and from her college enrollment after being unjustly accused academic dishonesty. When Grace’s Aunt Lucy is hospitalized, Grace jumps at the chance to take over her aunt’s magic shop while her aunt recovers. Grace is appalled both at the condition in which she finds her aunt’s business and at the atmosphere of fear pervading the entire neighborhood. As a pattern of attacks on neighbor shopkeepers and their properties emerge and then escalate, it becomes clear that her aunt’s fall wasn’t an accident. Can Grace, her aunt, and their friends figure out who is behind all of the mischief before someone is seriously harmed or even killed? Meanwhile, Grace inadvertently sets loose her own mischief by creating and distributing a love potion that actually works. Grace also meets a couple of handsome men and falls for one of them. Can she and he resolve their differences before Grace returns to school?

I liked the book a lot. I loved the quirky humor. Since I approached this as a cozy mystery instead of a romance, I was a little surprised at the moderately explicit sex contained therein. However, this was something I was able to skip over fairly easily. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries featuring magic, small businesses, and quirky neighbors.

#TheHocusPocusMagicShop #NetGalley

*****Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review*****

I didn't know when requesting this book that it was a part of a series, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the book anyway. It was a good paced read, with a lot of fun elements - definitely humourous. I really liked the characters as well, and felt they were well thought out and written, and overall the book was a lot of fun to read. I definitely want to go out and get myself the first book now!

5+++++ stars. I loved every aspect of this book from the characters to the story. Grace was so funny and the chemistry that she had with Dario was so hot and sexy. I really enjoyed her aunt and the stories she told about her experiences. This book made me laugh a lot. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

A totally enjoyable read with interesting characters and a story line that kept me turning the pages deep into the night. I'm hoping this is the first in a series. I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.

Grace is humiliated and her entire career is at risk when she is accused of a cheating incident in the final weeks prior to obtaining her Ph.D. in chemistry. Her aunt suffers a fall and needs assistance so, Grace goes to Pittsburgh to help. She finds herself enmeshed in a world of mystery and possibly magic when she cleans up and runs her aunt’s magic shop. This book is full of friends, love interests and a sense of community that made me want to move there. I loved how the author brought together people of different backgrounds, genders and ages finding a common ground that makes them “family”. I enjoyed this book so much I quickly bought the previous work by this author. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Hocus Pocus Magic Shop has it all - romance, humor, quirky and lovable characters, a neighborhood mystery, and an intelligent and determined main character!

Grace O’Leary is scientific and methodical in everything she does including pursuing her doctorate in Chemistry. All her well-laid plans are in jeopardy but when she hears her Aunt needs help Grace drops everything to assist her and revisit the Magic Shop that she loved so much a child. Things get complicated as Grace realizes her Aunt’s shop is on the brink of closing, her Aunt is starting to get confused and forget things, and there is a very charming reporter named Dario hanging around looking for a story. Suddenly Grace’s life is filled with more than she could have ever expected - a magical book that leads her to making love potions as a joke, a sizzling romance and a need to figure out how to complete her dissertation before time runs out.

I loved the characters that Abigail Drake created. They were all so different and unique but ultimately they each embraced who they were as individuals which I adored. From the tattoo artist, pushy grandma, grumpy book seller, fashionista and eccentric Aunt Lucy, I loved them all. Also, I couldn’t get enough of the chemistry between Dario and Grace. They got each other in all their nerdy glory and it was fantastic!

The Hocus Pocus Magic Shop is a cute mystery with a few twists. I enjoyed the characters and writing. I would love to read more from this author.

The book “The Hocus Pocus Magic Shop” is the second installment in the South Side story series. The first book being “The Enchanted Garden Cafe. Although I have not read the first book, I can tell you I am definitely going to purchase it because I just can’t get enough of these characters. I feel as if I already know them.

So, you know this is a good book when you can picture the characters and every scene as if you were magically transported to the magic shop. This is a great plot with a sprinkle of magic, some love tossed in and a can’t wait until the end kind of story.

It starts off with Grace a PhD candidate being temporarily suspended from her duties as a professor for supposedly cheating. Distraught at the accusation and the fact that her boyfriend dumps her believing she is guilty is just too much for Grace. So, when her mother calls and asks her to please visit her aunt Lucy who is in the hospital she decides this is exactly what she needs to clear her mind.

Aunt Lucy or Madame Lucinda as she calls herself is the owner of the Hocus Pocus Magic Shop and is claiming the ghost of her dead husband pushed her off a flight stairs. When Grace arrives at the magic shop she finds it rundown and out of sorts.

As soon as Grace moves in to the upstairs apartment and begins to clean up the shop she realizes that strange things start happening in the neighborhood. The local shops are being vandalized and this leads to interesting twists. I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this book and even shed a tear for Aggie.

I was provided this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you NetGalley and the publishers of The Hocus Pocus Magic Shop.

Review will be posted to Amazon and on my blog https://www.ilysguesthouse.com/books will be published today.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book for anyone who loves a good mystery. 📕👍🏼

I GIVE IT A 5 STAR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A big thank you to NetGalley and Backlit PR for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. Not sure if this is part of a series or not. I found this to have an interesting plot, different. I thought that Grace a PhD candidate wasn't going to fight for herself, but she did. . The cast of characters were intriguing and unique. I liked it. I rate it 4 stars. It might not be for everyone as it does have a bit of magic but still it was fun and clever. I say give it a try.

Grace is a PhD candidate in Chemistry, who because of an alleged cheating abuse is removed temporarily from the classroom until a hearing on the charges. When her mother calls and asks her to check on her elderly aunt who had fallen down a flight of stairs she decides it is a good time to go, since she has free time. Her aunt is in the hospital, so she visits and gets the keys to the magic shop and the upstairs apartment. Things have changed, and the place is very neglected, so she begins by cleaning up the place. In walks hunky Dario, a local reporter and generally a nice guy. A mystery of creepy things happening to some of the neighboring stores and eccentric people leads to an interesting twist. It was easy to see who the main instigators were, but that didn't keep me from trying to find out the reasons why. A few twists and turns, that left me a little muddled would make me rate this a 4.5, but basically a fun and interesting read, and one I highly recommend.