This is a novella to introduce the author’s new kitchen witch series. We don’t really see Mia’s witchcraft much in this book but I really liked Mia and her grandmother. The story mixes mystery, humor, and an interesting cast of supporting characters. I’m looking forward to reading the full length book when it’s published.

I received a free copy of this book through the publisher on Netgalley. I voluntarily reviewed this book.

I heard lots of good things about Lynn Cahoon's books, so when I saw this prequel to her new series on Netgalley I excitedly jumped on the chance to read it. Chili Cauldron Curse is a fun short prequel novella to this new series. I liked getting a feel for the characters and the town where I think this series will take place as well as the magical aspect. There also is a short murder mystery to be solved.

I enjoyed this novella, while it was short it didn't feel rushed and moved along on a good pace. I often have difficulties with shorter reads to really get into the story and get familiar with the characters and that was something I struggled with here a bit as well. I liked what we saw of the characters so far and I definitely look forward to reading more and getting to know the characters better.

The mystery was pretty straightforward, which is understandable given the shorter length of this one. I have to say I liked the rest of the story more with the food bank volunteer work and the chili contest. The mystery progressed quite quickly and there isn't as much time to talk to potential suspects and really get to wondering who had done it. By the time you have some suspects the mystery gets solved already. The main character also solved the mystery sort of by accident. It was nice how she sort of just hears things instead of really have to investigate and her focus is on the volunteer work.

I liked main character Mia and her Grandma and hope to see more of them in the future books. I do feel like there's a lot of them we don't know yet and I had some trouble to really get a feel for their characters, but I like what we saw so far. There were a few instances where the dialogue felt a bit off.

I liked how this prequel kinda sets the stage for the first book, with the volunteer job and her being in another town than where she lives and then the events at the end of the book. I am curious to see what she will do next and how she adjusts to things after the events of this prequel. I also liked the paranormal aspect, there are scenes in which magic is used and a few mentions of what is possible.

To summarize: this was a fun short and serves as an introduction to this new paranormal cozy mystery series. I liked reading it and look forward to the first book in the series. The mystery was pretty straightforward and not as engaging, but that makes sense as it's a shorter read. I liked what I saw of the main character Mia and a few interesting side characters and I hope we get to see more of them in the first book. The paranormal element was interesting too. All in all this is a nice short taste and I look forward to the first book.

I enjoyed this story. It's really short I liked the main character, what we got to know. I hope to read more in the future. #ChiliCauldronCurse #NetGalley

Chili Cauldron Curse by Lynn Cahoon is a prequel/introduction to Ms. Cahoon's new magical cozy mystery series, Kitchen Witch Mysteries.

This was a quick and easy to read introduction to Mia, Grans and the community of Magic Springs, Idaho. Being a novella length book the mystery was resolved quickly and without Mia actually doing anything more than stumbling into a conversation. I'm already looking forward to spending more time with Mia and Grans in Magic Springs.

#Chili Cauldron Curse. Mia Malone’s grandmother asks her to take a week off and help Magic Springs revamp its foodbank. Mia is happy to do it. There is a ton of work to be done and numerous people step in to help shoulder the load. This includes the local coven. Both Mia and her Grandmother have magic in their veins. Mia does not like using her magic.

When Dorian a warlock, leader of the local coven and Grandmothers boyfriend is ordered at the foodbank Mia is determined to solve the crime. She has no shortage of suspects. She is determined to find the real murderer before Grandmother is accused of the crime. While Mia uses logic and clue finding to solve the crime Grandmother turns to magic and has unexpected results.

This is a quick easy read. Perfect for the beach. I love the kitchen witch series. This is a stand alone novel within the series.

This is a pretty fast story to read and it really picked up after a few pages.

I liked the story and most of the characters as well. I found Christina to be extremely annoying and didn’t like her at all.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this new series.

"Chili Cauldron Curse" is the first in a new mystery series (The Kitchen Witch series) by Lynn Cahoon. In this novella to set up the upcoming series, Mia Malone returns to her hometown of Magic Springs to help set up and organize the local food pantry and help run the pantry's chili contest fundraiser. Mia, as is her grandmother, and many members of the Magic Springs community are witches, and one of the warlock's who was head of the local coven, Dorian Alexander is found dead in the food pantry by Mia and her boyfriend's little sister one morning when she goes to open up. A number of residents in the town become suspects, including Mia's grandmother, who was seeing Dorian. Mia starts investigating to find out who murdered Dorian, and clear her grandmother's name, and soon finds out all was not exactly peaceful within the coven.

This novella was a fun, quick read to introduce us to Mia, and the other locals in Magic Springs, and to set up her return to her hometown at the end of the book. Given that its a novella, it was not the most complex mystery, but it served its purpose in setting up the beginning of the series, and it definitely made me interested to want to give the series a try when its released. Mia was likeable, and grandmother was likeable and quirky, and she added a little bit of humor in her casting a spell to talk to the dead Dorian to try to get information on who killed him, and his accidentally ending up in Mia's cat (and then couldn't get him out!)

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This novella is scheduled to be released on August 25, 2020.

One of my favorite authors and this is a fast paced, fun introduction to her new Kitchen Witch series, looking forward to more of Mia and her adventures.

Chili Cauldron Curse is a novella written to set up a new cozy mystery series by Lynn Cahoon. Mia is a kitchen witch, working at a restaurant and living in Boise with her boyfriend. When her grandmother asks Mia to help organize a food bank and help set up a chili cook-off fundraiser, Mia grabs her boyfriend's sister and heads off to save the day. Unfortunately, Mia discovers a body in the food bank, her grandmother's new boyfriend which means she needs to figure out who the real killer is.

Since this is a novella, there's not a lot of nuance. And since it's introducing a new series, there's a fair amount of exposition. The author laid a great foundation with likable characters, small-town politics, relationship woes. This is a solid entry as the kick-off for a new witchy, culinary mystery.

This was a quick cute read. This is a fun cozy mystery starring a kitchen witch. Mia is an enjoyable main character. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC for review. I love a good cozy mystery and bonus points when it includes food. This also adds in a bit of magical realism which I also find delightful. This is an easy afternoon read. I will definitely read more in this series.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Kensington Books, in return for an honest review. As a prequel for a new series, this novella sets the stage by introducing the characters, the location and, among other things, sharing how Mia Malone’s cat familiar also picked up a ‘hitchhiker’ in the form of Mia’s grandmother’s new boyfriend, Dorian. I expect that shared body experience will be an interesting addition as the series goes forward.
Mia lives in Boise, Idaho, and is a kitchen witch, like her grandmother. Working in a restaurant with her boyfriend seems the perfect life. When Mia is asked by her grandmother, Grans, to help get the local Magic Springs food bank into shape in one week, she takes a hiatus and heads back to the town where magic actively exists and she doesn’t have to hide her powers, as she’s been doing around her boyfriend. Unfortunately, the smell of a dead body was hidden by the smells of old donated fruits and vegetables. With Grans as the prime suspect, Mia’s determined to find the real killer, figure out why her Boise boyfriend is suddenly incommunicado, and how to use the powers she’s been suppressing while in Boise.
The author writes a good story that moves at a steady pace. Mia is a likeable protagonist, although I’m a bit puzzled why a grown woman suppresses a fundamental part of her personality to please someone else and expects good things to come of the decision. The story introduces a cast of likeable and antagonistic characters who should be appearing in future stories. It will be interesting to read about Mia’s development, both as a witch and as a mystery solver.

I'm a big fan of Lynn Cahoon and was so excited to see the prequel to her new series. This book doesn't disappoint- it's got everything, a murder, a local coven with some drama and power struggle, a new witch in town and a possessed cat (but in a good way). Looking forward to reading the new series!

I love all the things witch related and supernatural so when I saw this book I was so excited. For me it could have had a bit more magical content but the storyline was good, dragged a little in places but picked up towards the end paving the way for the next instalment in the series.

Lynn Cahoon has written some of my favourite cozy mysteries of all time, so I was very excited to read the introductory novella to her new witchy series.

The series centers around Mia Malone a natural kitchen witch who practices magic and is also in the restaurant business in Boise. She ends up travelling to visit her grandmother in Magic Springs, Idaho to help her and her coven/friends prepare the local food bank for reopening. There is tons to clean and organize and the week will end with a chili cook off fundraiser.
Things get even more messy when her grandmother’s new boyfriend, Dorian Alexander and leader of the local coven turns up murdered. Mia tries to get to the bottom of what happened before her Grandmother ends up in jail.
I found the mystery a little rushed and I wasn't into the characters of Mia's boyfriend or his sister but, I am hopeful that this series will blossom and I plan on reading the first full length novel later this year.

What follows is going to seem like a list of reasons not to read this book, but trust me, the news is all good!

The novella was mostly exposition. The mystery was barely even a plot point and wasn't solved as a result of any actions on behalf of our protagonist. It provided a broad backstory for each character, and the central theme of magic (and the rules of it in this world) were shallowly introduced. Nonetheless, it was a BRILLIANT way to set up a cozy mystery series.

Often the first book in a series gets lost in this type of, very much needed, set up. The author is left trying to squeeze in all the backstory, all the characters, all the local flavor and a compelling mystery in one book of reasonable length. This novella is basically an enjoyable primer of all the world building the reader will need to dive into the series. This particular mystery was inconsequential, but it set the stage for much magical mayhem. Now that we know who everyone is, where they all live and how our protagonist got dropped into the middle of it all, as a reader, you are ready for the next book!

This little taste of Cahoon’s “Kitchen Witch” world will have you excited for this series and ready to find out all about Magic Springs.

I generally like books by Lynn Cahoon. This first start to a new series however, did not interest me. It did not pull me in and get me interested in the setting or premise. The characters were not particularly compelling. The story was very slow moving. I do read paranormal stories often, but this one seemed awkward and hard to connect.

Lynn Cahoon has done it again. She is the cozy mystery queen! I love her tourist trap mystery series and I can tell that the Kitchen Witch series will also be a huge success! I cannot wait to read more about Mia and her adventures.

When Mia Malone’s grandmother asks for help, Mia has no problem helping out. She takes some time away from her boyfriend and job in Boise, Idaho and heads to Magic Springs, Idaho. Mia is more than happy to help her grandmother get the local food bank in shape as well as help with the chili cook off.

Magic Springs is a special place filled with witchcraft. Mia’s grandmother has magical powers and so does Mia. Her grandmother’s new boyfriend, Dorian Alexander, is a warlock and leader of their local coven. Things turn horrible when Mia finds his dead body in the food bank.

All eyes turn towards Mia’s grandmother as the prime suspect, but Mia knows she’s innocent. She vows to find the real killer, but quickly learns that Dorian had quite a few enemies to choose from.

Lynn Cahoon is one of my favorite cozy mystery writers, so I was thrilled to see she started a new series. This is a novella, a prequel to her new Kitchen Witch series. It’s a fast read and gives readers a chance to meet a whole new cast of characters. It’s just a taste of what I think will be a delightful paranormal cozy mystery series.

I liked Mia and her grandmother right off the bat. They are strong women who don’t back down. They are surrounded by a quirky supporting cast.

The story is mixed with mystery, humor and magic. This looks to be a fun series and I’m looking forward to reading the first full length book of the series.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This can best be described as a small bite of a world I now want to try more of. I loved this story, and although it was a quick read, it was a good way to introduce a new world and find out if you could fall in love with it. I have several other magical and baking cozy mysteries I read, and when the full book for this comes out, I’ll be getting it ASAP. The plot was well paced, the mystery was compelling, and the ending sets up for the first full book really well.
If you like Amanda Flowers, Bailey Cates or others similar to those authors, you’ll like this.

This was a cute prequel novella to this new series. Mia is helping her grandmother at the local food bank when she comes across a dead body in the warehouse. The characters were fun. I loved Mia and her grandmother. I am curious to see where this series goes. I would love to see more of these characters explored. I can't wait to read this series. I received this book from net galley and Kensington publishing in exchange for a honest review.