WITCHES AND WEDDING CAKE is the ninth book of the Magical Bakery series and I must say, I really enjoyed this book! I didn’t have much expectation going into this book because the last book in the series was a little bit lacklustre for me. But the great thing is that there is always a new book to look forward to and I think Cates did a better job with this book.

With Katie’s wedding to Declan just a week away, she definitely has her hands full. Surrounded by Declan’s family, she has probably too much going on to stay sane. So when one of Declan’s sisters finds her ex dead after they get into a fight, things start to look even more gloomy for the bride.

With plenty of enemies, anyone could be the murderer and so, this book really had a lot of fun things going on that I think kept the book interesting. I enjoyed the banter this time and enjoyed the glimpse into Declan’s family life a bit more. Everything just seemed to flow a bit more easily, so it turned out to be quite the page turner. I was really happy with this book and I’m hoping that the other books in the series will be winners for me as well. WITCHES AND WEDDING CAKES is definitely a hit!

This was a fun addition to Bailey Cates' Magical Bakery Mystery series! I loved catching up with the Honeybee Bakery gang and thought the mystery was well crafted and left me guessing until the end. The characters were fun and I really enjoyed the banter between characters. It's a true cozy with little on-page violence, language, and no sex. I would definitely recommend readers start from the beginning, as there was a lot of backstory not explained here and it could get confusing for readers who have not read the prior books.

Witches and Wedding Cake is the ninth book in the Magical Bakery series. It's just as delightful as the others in the series.

Katie and Declan are planning the final details of their fast approaching wedding. Declan's mother, along with two of his sisters, have already arrived. Unfortunately, one of the sisters receives an unpleasant visit from her totally obnoxious ex-husband; the same ex-husband who has the bad taste to turn up dead a few hours later.

Will Katie and Declan find the person who disposed of the not so dearly departed? And, wii they finally make it to the altar? You'll have to read Witches and Wedding Cake to find out!

I would recommend this title to anyone looking for a cozy mystery touched with magic!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a free digital copy of this title to review from Net Galley.

#WitchesandWeddingCake#NetGalley

It's finally time for Katie and Declan to marry! But it wouldn't be Katie if she wasn't distracting herself tracking down the culprit of another mystery, right up to the wire. Another complication is the return of Steve Dawes, her former fling who still has powerful feelings for Katie, and the magical ability to do something about them. Will Katie successfully make it down the aisle to wed Declan? This is yet another worthy addition to the cozy mystery genre, with tasty recipes included.

I've been enjoying paranormal cozies lately so when this one came up I couldn't resist - and I'm so glad I gave this one a try. It's such a fun read and one that I flew through. The pacing was excellent and the back stories are enough to fill out the world of the book without taking over or pushing the mystery to the back burner.

This is a touch more paranormal then I normally read with all kinds of witchy action. There are spells and glamours and enchanted sachets. And can I just say I would pay serious money for a comfort infused vanilla scone. Where can I get that here? I did love the bakery aspect and do wish more time was spent there but it would be pretty hard to get any investigating done so I'm willing to cut Katie some slack. I did like that she was concerned about how much time she was spending away from it though. So often the main character spends just about zero time at their job and no one comments or thinks about it. It's a mild pet peeve of mine. I did find the main characters a bit bland but I'd prefer bland to annoying.

I love Savannah, Georgia and throw in lots of witchy intrigue and it makes for a thoroughly entertaining read. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.

Bailey Cates has outdone herself with this wonderful book. Her characters, as a;ways, are clear and she works them into an interesting and spellbinding story that sneaks up on you in the end.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

Witches and Wedding Cake is the charming ninth book in the Magical Bakery Cozy Mystery Series. Longtime readers of the series will find this installment an especially satisfying read since Katie and Declan are finally getting married. I do think it can pretty easily be read as a standalone for readers new to the series.

With only a few days until her wedding, Katie is BUSY with work and preparations. Plus, she wants to socialize with Declan’s family who has arrived early to enjoy time together. Things get off to a rocky start when Declan’s youngest sister Rori’s ex-husband comes to call. A complete jerk and conman, Tucker is murdered not long after the confrontation and is found by Rori. Katie thinks he was into something deep, and a bit of witchcraft may have been involved. When Rori becomes the police’s prime suspect, Katie does all she can to solve the crime and get to the wedding on time.

The Magical Bakery series has captivated me from its first book. The characters are so appealing and feel like good friends at this point. Katie is likable, friendly, smart, and curious without being obnoxiously nosy. Her spellbook club (coven) is full of diverse, interesting women of all ages. They add a lot of color to the story. Aunt Lucy, Uncle Ben, and Declan are always fun, and of course, Katie’s terrier familiar Mongo is a great addition to the cast. I enjoyed getting to know some of Declan’s family and wonder if they will appear more in future installments. There are going to be more books, right?

The mystery is well crafted with plenty of suspects. I appreciate how Katie is able to whittle down the list as she uncovers more and more clues. I did not guess the killer’s identity until late in the book, and even then was not confident that I was correct until the climactic end. The story moves along at a quick pace, and as compelling as the murder mystery is, the best part of the book for is the wedding.

Witches and Wedding Cake is an entertaining read that is sure to please most any cozy fan.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*

Witches and Wedding Cake: A Magical Bakery Mystery
By Bailey Cates
Berkley
August 2020

Review by Cynthia Chow

Life for Katie Lightfoot couldn’t be more magical. Not only has she embraced her family’s legacy as kitchen hedgewitches able to wield magic through the cooking use of herbs and plants, in less than a week she will be marrying firefighter Declan McCarthy. The heady three months of planning have built up to a ceremony taking place in their renovated carriage house backyard in Savannah. Katie shouldn’t have tempted the fates by declaring that the wedding plans were going perfectly though, as when going to meet Declan’s family she sees her harbinger totem dragonflies massing outside. Indeed, having an argument with Declan’s sister Rori in their rental home is Tucker Abbott, Rori’s ex-husband and a man whose appeal is…unnatural. Katie immediately realizes that Tucker’s charisma is enhanced by a glamour, which has considerably enabled his con-artist fraud schemes. So despite it being Rori who discovers her ex’s body at the Spotlight Motel, there is a considerable list of candidates whom Katie would prefer to see higher up on the police chief’s suspect’s list.

Claiming that she saw finally through Tucker’s superficial attractiveness, Rori asserts that she only went to see him at the motel in order to return a seemingly valueless music box and bring closure to their relationship. Combined with the warning of the dragonflies, Rori’s appeal for help ensures that Katie will once again be investigating a murder linked to magical crimes. Investigating Detective Quinn reluctantly accepts her ability to provide witchy insight, but this time he warns her away from getting too close to the case that involves her fiancé’s family. Also cautioning her from getting to close to the McCarthys is Steve Dawes, the Savannah Morning News reporter and Katie’s own ex. As much as Katie would prefer to experiment with flavors for her five-tier wedding cupcake tower, she can’t help but enlist her spellbook club of fellow witches as they track down those whose lives and finances were ruined by Tucker’s irresistible schemes.

This continues to be a heart-warming mystery series, one that showcases how mundane investigations can be enhanced by magical influences. The witches wield a light hand with their practice, and it becomes readily apparent that Tucker’s illicit use of glamour yields dark results. Katie uses her own knowledge and talent for good, motivated to help those she loves best. After Declan’s spiritual guardian sacrificed himself to save Katie, she is determined to use lucid dreaming to track Connell down and hopefully bring him back to this plane. It’s fitting that crimes committed as a result of humans meddling in magic is solved by the same combination, although in a much more peaceful and harmonious process. Spellwork, tasty recipes, an adorable Cairn terrier familiar, and of course the genial comradery of family and covens all combine to deliver the perfect happily ever after for Katie Lightfoot and her newfound family.

Let me first say that I am jumping into this series having only read the first book over 4 years - so basically I am jumping in blind. However, I had absolutely no problem getting into the story and very quickly connecting with the characters. They are easy to get to know without any lengthy descriptions or background (which would be tedious in book #9), but through the words/actions. Katie especially shone and I feel like she is such a wonderful cozy sleuth to follow. Her bookclub full of wonderful and supportive witches are a delight and I love how they helped her in their own ways. Add to that their animal familiars and I was ready to join the group!
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Other than the characters, I really enjoyed the other magical pieces of this book. Learning about the inherent magical properties that different herb and ingredients had and how intention could change these was so interesting and continues that slight air of the mystical throughout the book. I even enjoyed the darker magic that is used in this book.
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The mystery had me absolutely stumped. I definitely gasped when the killer was revealed and the "reasoning" for the crimes was pretty unique and fit in perfectly with the style of the series. There were some parts that might have seemed a little ridiculous (I have never known a bride to run away from her wedding makeup to confront a killer). But, a little suspension of reality is usually necessary when reading a cozy mystery where an amateur is constantly solving mysteries along with their day job, so this didn't take away from the story at all for me.
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I definitely will be back-reading this series so I can see how Katie learned more about being a witch, worked on bringing this bakery to where it is now, and of course see how her romance with Delcan blossomed.

Witches and Wedding Cake by Bailey Cates provides spellbinding bakery infusions that help the bakery customers. The shop owner is getting ready for her wedding and her groom's sister is implicated in a murder. What else can go wrong? Read and find out.

Witches and Wedding Cake by Bailey Cates is the 9th A Magical Bakery Mystery. I have been reading this spirited series from the very first beginning. Witches and Wedding Cake can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading this series in order. It will allow you to follow Katie on her journey from discovering she is a kitchen witch, moving to Savannah, solving mysteries, and falling in love with Declan McCarthy. Katie has had a busy two and half years. I thought Witches and Wedding Cake was well-written with developed characters. The author captures the beauty of Savannah, Georgia with her word imagery. Katie Lightfoot is the perfect protagonist for this series. She is friendly, smart, creative, and relatable. There is a great cast of characters from Lucy, Ben, and Declan to the ladies of the spellbook club. I just love Mungo, Katie’s familiar with his adorable “yip”. The mystery was fun to solve. There are multiple suspects that slowly get whittled down. One little detail can provide the solution. Katie has a full plate in this book, but she found time to help Declan. Connor, the spirit who had attached himself to Declan, is missing. Declan misses the Irish spirit. I look forward to seeing how they find him. The special part of this book is Katie and Declan’s wedding. Katie must deal with an interfering soon-to-be sister-in-law and a lack of an officiant. I enjoyed reading Witches and Wedding Cake. It is one of those books that puts a smile on your face. Witches and Wedding Cake is an enchanting cozy mystery with a twitchy troglodyte, distinct dragonflies, a cupcake wedding cake, a mystifying music box, a stray spirit, and a magical marriage ceremony.

Witches And Wedding Cake is the ninth book in the Magical Bakery Mystery series.

Katie and Declan’s wedding is just days away and things are going nicely. Construction at the carriage house is completed and ready to move into. The only problem is that the judge that was going to officiate, has been called out of town. The wedding is just going to consist of family and friends. Declan’s mother and his two sisters have just arrived at their rental house and Katie stops by to visit with them. When she arrives she knows it’s not going to be a completely enjoyable meeting, as there are a group of dragonflies, her totem, flying around her. Declan’s sister Rori answers the door and soon his sister, Eliza, joins them. The first thing Eliza wants to do is to make changes to the wedding.

Before long, Rori’s ex shows and tries to convince her to give him a second chance. Rori finally convinces him to leave, but before leaving he says he has a gift for her. The gift turns out to be a small ceramic birdhouse. The next day she decides to go to his motel room to return the birdhouse and, once again, tell him not to contact her again. When she arrives at his room she finds his lifeless body on the floor and turns around and leaves. When the police learn that Rori had shown up at his room she becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her ex-husband.

The victim is a well-known con, so Katie is sure that are many people who would like his life ended. She will call on Declan and her spell book club from the bakery to help her to clear Rori’s name and hopefully before her wedding.

This is another well-written and told story for Ms. Cates. The book contains well-developed and interesting characters. I especially love Mungo, Katie’s Cairn terrier familiar.

Recipes are also included in the book.

I will be watching for the next book in this delicious series.

I adore this series and this new installment did not disappoint! The mystery was interesting and the characters are just as lovable as ever. Such a fun read.

Magical baker extraordinaire Katie Lightfoot is excited to be marrying the love of her life, Declan, in just a few short days. However the early arrival of her fiance's family to Savannah brings some unexpected trouble. Declan's younger sister Rorie stumbles upon the body of her ex-husband inside a hotel room. A recent altercation between the pair marks her as suspicious and she soon becomes the lead suspect. However Katie knows the victim is a con man with a long lists of individuals he has wronged who might be capable of helping him into an early grave. Katie is determined to clear Rorie's name even with the last minute wedding details vying for her attention. Katie's spell book club once again rallies around Katie to offer the support she needs in her time of need.
Bailey Cates' Magical Bakery series expertly combines three of my favorite fictional topics; magic baking, and murder. The addition of a wedding in the newest addition to the series makes it an absolute delight. The author creates an unparalleled magical world full of kitchen witchery that readers will want to visit again and again. The baked goods are described in tantalizing detail with extra enhancements of a magical sort added to each creation. The mystery itself was well crafted and there was plenty of drama and intrigue to keep the story engaging. I highly recommend Witches and Wedding Cake to those looking for a fun, magical mystery to get lost in.

Ok, I'm slightly biased. These books are what got me into cozies so it takes A LOT for me not to highkey love reading anything in this series.

That said: oh my gosh y'all this might be my favorite so far!! So much mystery! So much suspense! So much drama and intrugue!! I love how these books have such a solid mix of magic, baking, and murder. I can't wait for the next book!

I have read all of the Honeybee Magical Bakery cozy mysteries and have really grown to know and like the regular characters. I always look forward to the newest release. While I’m a little burned out on cozies with weddings (there seem to be dozens of them this year), Witches and Wedding Cake didn’t let the wedding take over the mystery. Katie spent most of her time investigating the murder of Declan’s former brother-in-law rather than freaking out about last minute wedding disasters. If you’re looking for a great summer read set in gorgeous Savannah, this is the book for you.

Witches and Wedding Cake by Bailey Cates is the ninth installment in the Magical Bakery series. I was never a big cozy mystery reader until I came across this series and now I love spending time with Katie, Declan & my favorite dog Mungo in the wonderful city of Savannah!! Looking forward to many more mysteries & adventures.. Thank you NetGalley & Berkley.

Katie Lightfoot wants to get through her upcoming wedding with firefighter Declan McCarthy, but for this witch that isn’t in the cards. When her fiancé’s family comes early to explore Savannah, his youngest sister finds her ex-husband dead and it is up to Katie to find the murderer before her big day. Will she be able to do this and get the chance to have her wedding, or will it be ruined by one person’s greed? This book is packed with witty humor, magical cakes, and the bonds of friendship between humans and familiars like no other.

This is my first book by Baily Cates, and I am obsessed! I know this is book number 9 in the Magical Bakery Mystery series, and now I need to read all of the others. Baily Cates creates a magical world that is fun and full of kitchen witchery, with great plots that keep you wanting to read on to find out what is happening next. I enjoyed every aspect of this book, and feel that it can be read as a standalone book because of the authors writing, though I do want to read the other eight in the series!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Katie and Declan are days away from finally walking down the aisle! With many last minute details to see to, the last thing either of them want to do is have any bodies turn up, especially one with a tie to Declan's sister. With a time crunch in more than one area bearing down on them, the spell book club jumps in to action once more to help Katie as she answers her calling. Great characters, good story, and plenty of drama - the book can be read as part of the series or as a stand alone.

This is book nine of the Magical Bakery series, so readers are best served by reading earlier books. The wedding part stands alone, but there’s an ongoing storyline involving Declan that makes more sense with the background information from other books.
It is one week to the wedding and Katie all set, so of course, things have to happen to shake that up. First, their officiant becomes unavailable and then Declan’s former brother in law shows up to bother his sister, Rori. Then Rori finds him dead at the motel he is staying in, which makes her a great suspect.
Katie is rude to Quinn about it and spends most of her time investigating on her own to help Declan’s family out. She is also handling last minute wedding details, and Steve is a continued nuisance.
The mystery was really enjoyable in this charming cozy. The story was really well balanced and I just flew through it as clues came to light and Katie worked with her friends to figure it all out. A great installment into the series and I look forward to seeing where it goes from here.