I quite enjoyed In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones. It was a huge improvement from the first book. Sage became a much more likeable character in this one. The twins had a better sibling dynamic in this book as well. The murder mystery was very clever and actually stumped me until the reveal. I'll definitely read the next book in this series.

In the Wick of Time is the second book in the cozy mystery series, Magic Candle Shop Mysteries. Sage and Tabby Winslow are twins who co-own The Book and Candle Shop. They are exact opposites, which tends to happen with siblings, twins or not.

Sage also works for All Good Things Nursery. When her boss is found dead, Sage becomes suspect number one. Tabby and Sage start digging into the case because they know Sage didn't commit the crime.

I enjoyed both Tabby and Sage, along with the rest of the characters. The story was enjoyable, and both the cover and the blurb brought me onboard. The story, fun characters, and mystery kept me engaged. The murder mystery was twisted, well-thought out, and complex.

I was very much looking forward to this cozy mystery series because of the paranormal elements. Unfortunately I found the main characters too unlikeable to be able to enjoy the setting or concept.

In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones is a follow up to Snuffed Out. Both books are part of the Magic Candle Shop mysteries. This time Sage is the suspect in the murder. Tabby has to work to prove her sister's innocence. These books are a fun mix of mystery and magic. I can't wait for the next book.

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Valona Jones

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a touch of the mystical, this book is a delightful choice. In the Wick of Time is a captivating addition to the Magic Candle Shop Mystery series, where ordinary objects hold extraordinary secrets.

December brings not only festive celebrations but also a magical mystery to test the bonds of sisterhood in the enchanting city of Savannah, Georgia. Meet twin sisters Tabby and Sage Winslow. They are busy preparing for the traditional riverfront luminary display during the boat parade. Their holiday cheer takes a dark turn when their boss is found murdered. The Winslow sisters burn the candle at both ends as they race against time to clear Sage's name and keep their friends safe.

Jones weaves a delightful tale of mystery, magic, and sisterly love. The cozy setting provides the perfect backdrop for this intriguing whodunit, and blends supernatural elements and suspense whimsically. She invites readers to immerse themselves in a world where magic intertwines with everyday life, and where family bonds are stronger than any spell.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I did not enjoy this book at all. The characters were grating and it's not a cozy mystery series that I will continue reading. I wanted to like this one, but it just didn't do it for me.

Cozy mystery lovers, here’s a book for you! When the manager of a local plant nursery turns up dead, Sage Winslow is in the hot seat as a suspect. Of course, Tabby can’t let her sister be accused of something when she’s innocent, so the Winslow twins put their heads and supernatural skills together to find the true murderer. With suspects around every corner, lots of dead ends, and tons of bad magic, this book is a fun and quick read.

“In the Wick of Time” is the second book in the Magic Candle Shop mystery series. Having read the first in the series, I can say that this latest installment easily tops the first. The story finds its stride in pacing, and, though some of the romantic bits still felt a little heavy-handed, they were overall much more believable. I did not see the murderer reveal coming (nice!) so I really appreciated that aspect of it, but it did feel like there were some elements that were made extra dark for no reason other than shock value. The sisters’ relationship is still strong and important, which I love; however, the author has also laid out some hints for future books that dangers are on the horizon. I like that, while each book has its own clear mystery focus, there are going to be some narrative arcs that carry throughout.

This book is Christmas themed, but the main storyline is not. So, if you’re in the mood for something cozy, I’d recommend this one regardless of the time of year!

Thank you Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the free advanced reader copy! Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I received this book for free for an honest unbiased review from Netgalley.

I wish more books were this well written. Characters were witty and the setting fantastic.

In the Wick of Time: A Magic Candle Shop Mystery
By Valona Jones
Crooked Lane Books
October 2023

Review by Cynthia Chow

The town of Savannah, Georgia is preparing for the Christmas season, both with a luminary celebration and holiday boat parade. While twin sisters Tabby and Sage Winslow co-own The Book and Candle Shop, Sage is also busy at her second job at the All Good Things Nursery and Landscaping preparing luminaries and dealing with the holiday sales crowds. Their magical gifts (abilities they only recently learned about and are still getting used to having) keep them tied to their family’s shop, but Sage also has a love and attachment to plants that keeps her working at the nursery despite her irritatingly competitive coworker Mary Nicole Frazier and their grumpy boss Loren Lee Suffield. But when Loren Lee falls sick and eventually dies in the hospital, suspicious local police immediately circle in on Sage as a suspect when Mary Nicole narcs Sage out for having argued with him shorting before his death.

Even though she is the younger sister – if only by a few minutes – Tabby has always been the calmer twin keeping Sage in check. As Tabby has learned, Sage is something of an energy vampire who often pulls from others’ electrical fields and auras. It rather fits in with Sage’s mercurial personality, especially apparent when she becomes jealous of the time Tabby spends with her boyfriend Quig. Sage’s suspicion over their relationship certainly isn’t helped when she catches her own boyfriend in the arms of another woman, even though it turns out that there may have been some magical interference going on. The need to investigate and solve the mystery of Loren Lee’s death becomes critical when Detective Chase Nowry, already prejudiced against the family due to a previous case, begins to look towards their Auntie O and her beau as the ones he would most like to throw in prison. The one plus is that it would at least distract their aunt, who is determined that Tabby and Sage immediately procreate and quickly produce magically-inclined offspring.

Also writing novels under her name Maggie Toussaint, the author charmingly blends an atmosphere of magic into the Southern setting. The added complication of telepathic communication and Tabby’s often having to feed Sage with energy makes their relationship even more codependent than one might expect between twins. This adds a darker layer to their bond, although by the end they accept that their need for one another is as supportive as it is necessary. Those looking for a Christmas-themed read will find it here as the small business owners must deal with the pressure of shopping crowds while still meeting stressful family demands. As much as Tabby is tied to the store that literally gives her family energy and keeps them flourishing, she has also grown to love her life there and has no intention of leaving. This second in the series continues to build on the mythology of the magic that seems so prevalent but unspoken of in the town. This is a fascinating read that will appeal to those looking for a novel that blends fantasy with a compelling mystery.

This book was an arc received via NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Sage and Tabby are back again. This time they are on the hunt for the murder of Sages manager. He wasn’t really like by his employees but surely no one disliked him enough to kill him.

The police of course question Sage. What really surprised them was when the police wanted to question their grandmother’s boyfriend. They aren’t sure why, when he had never even meet Sage’s boss.

This leads to some questions and the girls decide to take action to clear his name but with things being so busy at work, will they have the time?

This book has so much more magic in it than the first book. I really enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone who loves magical cozy mysteries. These girls are always working through something, including their love life.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Twins Tabby and Sage share special powers that run in their family. Not witches, per se, they are able to use energy in extraordinary ways. Tabs runs the family candle shop and Sage helps out but has another job in a nursery. Tabs is the stable, sensible sister who seems to spend much of her time trying to restrain or clean up after her volcanic twin. I found last book I read in this series I had issues with Sage. I did not like her. This time out I like her even less which is a real problem when you have two protagonists that the reader should like. However, I like Tabs enough to counteract the negative reaction to Sage. Whereas Tab tries to do the right thing, Sage does whatever feels good and does not care what chaos she leaves in her wake.

Tabby is going to need to keep Sage under control because they have an enemy who seems bent on destroying them. And quite possibly there is more than one enemy. The death of Sage’s boss starts the whole cycle that not only could put someone they love in jail but could kill one or both of them. It is going to require skill and a sound mind. Thankfully Tabs has both and the support of a very good man and her friends. It is going to take all of them to surmount the challenges before them.

In spite of my dislike of Sage, I still have to give the book five purrs and two paws up.

This is a good paranormal cozy series: entertaining and featuring well plotted and relatable characters.
I enjoy the descriptions of Savannah and the solid mystery kept me guessing
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Magic, Christmas, candles & a murder, a perfect combo for a cozy mystery. Magical twins Tabby & Sage must solve a murder during the holiday season. The magical parts are really fun & creative. And the twins aren’t pushovers which I enjoyed so much! I can’t wait for future books to learn more.

There’s some interesting characters along the way, both suspects & townspeople. I do found them eclectic & a delight to read about. There’s a slight maturity to this series , a tad darker than most cozies but in a good way!

Valona Jones continues her Magic Candle Shop series with In the Wick of Time. Tabby Winslow and her sister Sage are busy with business when Sage is suspected of some part in the death of a fellow staff member. Both sisters are using their magical talents to stop attacks and find the real villain. The candle shop gets into the middle of the action. Fun magical cosy.

Tabby and her sister were an unequal pair. Sage had limited control of her emotions, and Tabby was sturdy and in control but not too brave at times. I thought it was unfair that everyone else with abilities seemed to be better equipped than the sisters. What use are their abilities if they cannot help save their lives? Putting all that aside, it was an intriguing and entertaining read.

Dark magic is infusing the holiday shopping season which leads our favorite twins to once again find themselves needing to sleuth to find out who the killer is! Crazy antics keep the sisters hopping as they try to untangle the mystery and clear their loved ones from being infected by bad elements! This paranormal cozy is really growing well! The first book was a wonderful introduction to our sister sleuths, but this book really brings the personalities of all the characters further to the forefront. Some personalities are coming out a bit stronger than you might like, but I sense that more information about what special paranormal characteristics that these characters possess may explain those personality traits even more. Once again a fun and detailed plot will keep you entertained and guessing as you read! I really can't wait for the next book in this series to come out as I am so loving these characters and am anxious to see what happens in their personal lives next!

What a fun read. It suited my desire for escape perfectly. I loved getting to know the twins better and enjoy the supernatural elements. I look forward to Book 3 in this well-written series.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.

I am really enjoying this series. The twins are great and I love the supporting characters. I like the magical elements. They aren’t too witchy. There’s a strong sense of family and community in the books. I had suspicions of the who dunnit but the why and how shocked me.

I cannot wait for a book 3

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. In the Wick of Time is the second book in the Magic Candle Shop Mystery series. Not having read the first book, I was happy not to feel lost or confused about the characters and past events. The storyline was good, but the main characters, Sage and Tabby, are mot always pleasant. People are not always pleasant in rwal life, but in order for me to keep reading a book or a series, I tend to prefer the main characters to be on the likeable side. Since there were more positive than negative aspects with this book, I would recommend it. I will go back to the first entry in the series to get a better sense of the characters.