This second book in the Kitchen Witch Mystery series is a cozy delight. The story follows Mia as she works to figure out who murdered a stranger in her backyard. Full of cute family, friendship, and relationship moments, this small town mystery mixes just the right amount of suspense with everyday details to keep you turning page after page.

This is another great read by Lynn Cahoon. I recommend this cozy mystery to all readers. I look forward to her latest books.

I really loved this book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end.

Fans of the Kitchen Witch Mystery series by Lynn Cahoon will welcome the second novel in the series, Two Wicked Desserts. This fun fantasy cozy novel is set in Magic Springs, Idaho, and Mia Malone, the protagonist is slowly learning witchcraft skills from her grandmother. Presently, they are trying to remove the spirit of warlock Dorian Alexander from Mia’s cat. Even though they have been unsuccessful so far, Dorian’s Grimoire has been transferred to his daughter Cindy, who is more interested in trying to be a Hollywood star than furthering her father’s magic legacy. Cindy, however, has become a suspect in the murder of a hit man who was found in the garden of Mia’s Morsels, Mia’s catering business, so she has to cooperate with Mia and her investigation of the murder.

Although Mia Malone was developed in the first installment of the series, Cahoon further develops her character and she becomes even more likeable. Cahoon also does a good job of developing the supporting characters, many of whom have supernatural powers.

Cahoon is also a good storyteller, and is able to add twists and turns as well as surprises to keep the readers on the edge. There is some suspense that builds throughout the novel, and the plot line is fun to follow. The dénouement is, of course, a surprise, and as usual, Mia, with the help of her grandmother and a few others, is able to solve the mystery.

Cozy fans will have fun reading this novel and will want to read the subsequent ones in this series, and the two wicked dessert recipes are worth making to eat while reading the novel.


Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I really enjoyed this one the plot kept me interested until the end which is not easy, and the characters were engaging and believable. I highly recommend this book.

Great book I did nit want to put it down. The characters are always charming and the story hooked me right away. I would say that you need to read the first book in the series before you read this book or you might be lost

Magic Springs, Idaho, has a bit of magic going on and supposedly a good bit of witchy history. Mia Malone runs a catering business, a dinner takeout service and a cooking classes out of an old school building. A local realtor is doing his best to get her to leave and ket him buy the property. Then a body is found in her backyard, right where she wants to planr a garden. Protecting herself leads her to trying to solve the murder. Entertaining, but I woll admit I enjoyed the other two books in the series a little more. Still I am looking forward to reading Four Charming Spells which is already in my TBR.

Two Wicked Desserts, the second book in the Kitchen Witch Mysteries series by Lynn Cahoon, continues to get more captivating and entertaining with each new story. Once again the twists and turns keep the pages turning leading up to a very much anticipated ending to the murder mystery.

The storyline and relationship developments are crafted in a way that continues to move the series forward and keeps the reader invested in both the series and its characters.

This ARC book was complimentary, supplied by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Wickedly fun time! This series has hit the ground running! Enchanting characters, an amazing setting, and a mystery that will keep you guessing!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. I'm really enjoying this series and I have to say that I liked this one better than the first one. I can't wait to read more from this series.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Mia Malone’s cooking school and catering business, Mia’s Morsels is starting to take off and she is thinking about new ways she can use the space in the large school building she has taken over. While she is cooking up a storm her grandmother, Mary Alice is trying to teach Dorian’s daughter, Cindy, the craft she has inherited since her father passed away. Since his spirit has not left yet, only transferred to Mia’s cat, Mr. Darcy, he is on hand to see his daughter struggling to grasp the importance of the witchcraft and the book of spells that she has now received. She is more focused on her acting career and wants to break the rules and use witchcraft to enrich herself and her own interests. In fact, a little spell she cast is what brought her to Magic Springs. She hopes Mary Alice can help her reverse the spell so she can get on with her life.

Then a dead man is found right where Mia plans to plant her garden and he is connected to Cindy. So much so, that she becomes the prime suspect in his murder and won’t be leaving town anytime soon. This could ruin all of Mia’s plans. Who wants to come to a cooking school where a man was murdered? Can Mia cast out a killer? Can they figure out how to free Dorian from Mr. Darcy? Will Cindy be able to go back to Hollywood or will she live the rest of her life behind bars? Those questions and more need to be answered so Mia can continue living her dream.

Kitchen Witches are considered gentle witches because they use their craft to help people and I love that theme. Mia and her grandmother have such big hearts that even when something as evil as a murder happens nearby their quest is to find the true guilty party at all costs. But even a good witch’s spell can go awry, which is how Dorian’s essence ended up in Mr. Darcy and neither of them are happy about it. Ms. Cahoon has herself crafted some very unique characters. They are cleverly written and very engaging.

The author has placed her characters in a very interesting setting. Both Magic Springs and the old school building have plenty of secrets brewing. The room that was opened within this story had some interesting surprises. We also learn more about the building’s history and I think it is just the beginning of what is going to be revealed.

So many captivating things happen in this story that at times the murder takes a backseat. There were enough suspects to keep readers guessing but the reveal was a little lackluster for me. That being said I enjoyed the story overall. There are a few things still up in the air that I hope will carry into the next book and develop. I would also like to see a little more gentle magic.

Two Wicked Desserts is a lighthearted read with intriguing characters, a unique setting, and a little bit of magic sprinkled here and there. My interest is piqued to find out what happens next with these characters in Three Tainted Teas.

The victim in this story plays no part in the overall scheme, he is an unknown person, and even when he is identified as a hitman, he doesn’t play a role. No one knows who the hitman was after, or at least no one is claiming to know. The relationships that are developing make the characters come to life. I would like to see more descriptions of the town. so us readers can picture what things look like. The murderer is uncovered, but it is difficult to get a real sense of finality in this case as the evidence is sketchy at best. I’d like to see more magic in the next book and the witch aspect explored more in-depth Grans story, I think, would be fascinating to learn. A few questions are not resolved in Two Wicked Desserts, but hopefully, the next book will present some solid resolutions to the ongoing issues.

This is a delightfully wicked little cozy. Its a fast read and easy to follow. Mia, Christina and gran have set up shop and living quarters in an old school mia purchased. They do all the catering downstairs. There was a body found behind the old school house. He seems to be someone they do not know. The sheriff comes on the scene and seems to be very critical of mia. Mia decides she will find the killer and bring them to justice. The twists were amusing and the plot was quite smart actually. The characters are very real and the story is very well written. I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read the next one in this series.

Two Wicked Desserts by Lynn Cahoon
Book #2: Kitchen Witch Mystery Series
Source: NetGalley, Kensington, and Purchase
Rating: 4½/5 stars

The Bottom Line: Oh, dear! What a wild ride this book turned out to be! As a kitchen witch, Mia’s magic tends to be very focused, and she doesn’t branch out into other forms of magic as a matter of personal preference. On the hand, there is Mia’s grandmother whose knowledge of magic seems to be an endless well. It is the depths of that well that Mia and her grandmother must dive into when they can’t work out precisely how to get granny’s dead lover out of Mia’s cat and into the great beyond.

Though Mia’s grandmother is supremely knowledgeable about magic and the rules for practicing are hard and fast, there’s no accounting for old-fashioned bad luck. Bad luck shows up in the form of lover boy’s daughter whop has inherited all her father’s spells via his grimoire. What’s more, girlie has inadvertently spelled a hitman who won’t stop until the spell is broken. With more and more folks staying with Mia, her business running her ragged, and more than one mystery to solve, Mia may never rest easy again.

As I sat down to write this review I was filled with happy feelings when I thought back on the reading of this book. This may be one of my favorite cozy mystery series and I am stupidly glad to see that a third novella and a third full length book are on the horizon. More delicious reads for me, more mysteries for Mia, and more magical knowledge flowing from grandma 😊

W͟H͟A͟T͟ I͟ L͟I͟K͟E͟D͟

✨The mix of paranormal and magic
✨Plenty of funny moments
✨Fun relatable characters
✨The writing style
✨Strong MC Mia knows what she wants and doesn’t let anyone push her around

W͟H͟A͟T͟ I͟ D͟I͟D͟ N͟O͟T͟ L͟I͟K͟E͟

🚫I felt the mystery part wasn’t as much of a focus as I would have liked
🚫Ending was a bit rushed

Overall I enjoyed this one. Ghosts, good food and magic created this fun filled cozy mystery. I was pulled in from the start which is always a plus. I look forward to reading more in this series!

✨This series would be great for those that enjoy a little bit of paranormal magic in a cozy.

Thanks to @netgalley for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Opinions are my own.

Two Wicked Desserts by Lynn Cahoon is the second full length book in the paranormal cozy Kitchen Witch Mysteries series. The Kitchen Witch Mysteries also had a prequel novella and a novella to be read between books one and two of the series. As with most cozy mysteries though each of these books does contain it’s own mystery that will be fully solved within the book so they can be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. There is character development that carries over from book to book for those that follow the series from the beginning.

In the prequel novella in the series readers were introduced to Mia Malone who had traveled back to her hometown of Magic Springs, Idaho at the urging of her grandmother who Mia fondly calls Grans. Magic Springs is a place where magic is out in the open and Mia’s family is far from normal with Mia inheriting her Grans magical abilities and she now uses that witchcraft to create her tasty culinary treats.

Since that trip back to Magic Springs though Mia’s world has fallen apart with Mia finding herself single when her boyfriend leaves her and also became unemployed. Mia decided that the best thing to do is to return to Magic Springs for good where she can use her magic in a gourmet dinner delivery business. Now when a man is found murdered and the daughter of Mia’s Gran’s friend, Cindy, is the number one suspect Mia knows she needs to do what she can to find the real killer.

I was already a fan of Lynn Cahoon before I came across the Kitchen Witch Mysteries series but also being a fan of mixing up genres I knew that I would probably love this new series. The cozy side of the story is the more dominate side but it’s fun to see that twist of paranormal and magic mixed in to a cozy sleuth seeking out a new killer. So far I’ve really enjoyed the characters and stories in the Kitchen Witch Mysteries series and will definitely keep coming back for more having enjoyed this one too.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

You never know what will happen when you spend time with Mia Malone in Magic Springs Idaho. One thing you can be sure of is a fun, intriguing mystery that pulls you in from the page one. Two Wicked Desserts is the second in the Kitchen Witch series and is just as good as the first. This style of cozy is typically not one I would naturally gravitate to, however all of Lynn Cahoon's other books are outstanding and I decided to give it a try - I'm very glad I did!

Mia Malone, in the process of establishing her meal delivery service and cooking school, has found herself in the midst of some sticky situations. Mia and her grandmother Mary Alice are working to find the spell that will remove the spirit of Dorian Alexander, a dead warlock, from Mr. Darcy, Mia's cat. At the same time, while preparing for a kitchen garden in her yard the utilities worker finds a man murdered in the yard and no one knows who he is. Mia discovers there are more mysteries and stories to discover about the old schoolhouse she purchased and converted into her home and business when a once locked door is mysteriously found open. Dorian's daughter has inherited his book of spells and comes to Magic Springs to get help in correcting a mishap while experimenting with the spell book. Mia soon discovers that there is a connection between Dorian's daughter Cindy and the dead man in the garden. Of course this connection means that Mia must get involved in the investigation. While trying to solve the murder, Mia continues to be harassed by her nemesis commercial real estate developer John Louis, who desperately wants to buy Mia's home for development.

Life is never dull for Mia! Fortunately she has her grandmother, her boyfriend Trent, ex-boyfriend's sister Christina turned employee, and Christina's boyfriend Levi, who is Trent's younger brother, as partners in her escapades.

All of the characters in the book are likeable (except maybe John Louis) and relatable - you want to be friends with all of them. The setting is well-described, making you want to visit Mia's schoolhouse and explore. The story behind the schoolhouse is a neat addition to the other storylines - the murder, the growing relationships, Mia's hard work expanding her business and Christina's issues with her family. It is very hard to solve the murder before Mia does, but clues are placed along the way.

I highly recommend this book and will very much look forward to reading number 3.

This is a very good addition to the series. The characters are well developed and their relationships are endearing. The mystery took a bit of a backseat in this installment and there was more focus on relationships. This wasn’t a bad thing in my opinion, just a little different than expected. The paranormal elements thus far have been rather light as we’re given a few more hints in each new installment to Mia’s family background and the role they play in the magical world. I’m curious to see how the series progresses.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Mia is settling nicely into the former school that is now her home/business.. Her deadly nemesis whom she put in jail for attacking her is back and still determined to drive her out or force her to sell to him.. John is willing to do anything to get what he wants. When a hit man is found murdered at the edge of her property, Mia and her grandmother wonder if he had contracted a hit. They know they did not kill the killer so who did.

Magic is filled with lots of magical people. When the daughter of Gran’s former beau, whose soul now resides in the body of their cat, arrives in town around the same time as the hit man they ponder what part she might have played in the drama. To keep her safe and to help her undo a spell she cast but would like to rescind, she is staying with Mia in the old school house. The building itself has some magical secrets from the hidden entrances to the locked library door that decides to let Mia in and a ghost of a long ago murdered girl. There are lots of mysteries for her to solve while trying to build her fledging catering business. That in itself is challenging as someone, likely John, has been spreading malicious gossip that Mia is about to close up shop.

But it is the murder that most intrigues Mia when Cindy, her house guest, becomes the prime suspect. Cindy is Dorian’s child but does not realize her father’s soul is walking around on four legs. The connection Cindy has to the hit man turns out to be bittersweet but it is not until the police have the “smoking gun” that all is revealed. It’s an enjoyable read where the characters are interesting, the paranormal is there but more background than in your face and mystery is less who did it and more of who else is involved and why.

Four purrs and two paws up.

-Genre⁠
Magical cozy mystery⁠
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-Opening Lines⁠
Mia Malone watched as her grandmother, Mary Alice Carpenter, stared at the notes from her grimoire. The book’s pages were that lovely cream color old books get, but the ink used to write the spells ranged from standard black or blue to the more recent ones in colored ink. Where her grandmother had found the glitter pens Mia didn’t know. Her own grimoire was out on the large desk in the room. She didn’t have half as many spells as her grandmother, but hers were neat and tidy in the large book. Even from the beginning.⁠
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-My description⁠
While Mia teaches cooking classes and prepares food for Magic Springs, her grandmother teaches her witchcraft. Too bad they can’t figure how to get the spirit of Gran’s boyfriend Dorian out of Mia’s cat. Dorian’s daughter, Hollywood actress Cindy turns to Gran for help when her spells go awry and is the number one suspect when a dead stranger is found in Mia’s backyard.⁠
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-How it made you feel⁠
I want to take cooking classes with Mia.⁠
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-Favorite part⁠
The character of Christina and her relationship with Mia and Gran.⁠
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-One-word description⁠
Comforting⁠
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-Would you recommend?⁠
It felt like there wasn’t much to the mystery, that there wasn’t much investigating. The stakes weren’t that high for Mia and company. I mean, yeah, they want to know who was in the backyard, and yeah, Cindy is Mia’s guest, is she a murderer? It never really feels like Mia or anyone else was in danger even considering *something spolierish.* For me this is almost beside the point. I like how Cahoon is developing the characters and building this world of Magic Springs. It is clear there is a larger story to be revealed.