In the Wick of Time is book #2 in the Magic Candle Shop Mystery series by Valona Jones.

I like the setting in Savannah, Georgia and Tabby and Sage’s shop, The Book and Candle Shop. There is are plenty of magical beings including an energy vampire. Sage still isn’t my favorite character but she got better towards the end. It was an interesting mystery with the magical shenanigans taking place. I look forward to seeing how Sage and Tabby’s plans for the future turn out.

Thank you to the author, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I really enjoyed visiting Savannah, GA again and hanging out with the Winslow sisters. They were different in lots of ways but the girls loved each other fiercely and always and each other’s backs, no matter what or who they were with as far as their boyfriends.

When first Sage then Auntie O’s boyfriend Frankie was accused of murder, Tabby wouldn’t give up until she found the real culprit. And was this person just as powerful and Tabby and her sister? Had that person been the one who spelled Sage’s boyfriend too? I couldn’t read fast enough once everything started coming together and can’t wait for the new book since a side mystery was left hanging for now.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones is the second book in the Magic Candle Shop Mystery series. After reading both books I think that I enjoyed the first book a lot more than the second book. I will not hesitate to pick up the next book in the series despite the fact that I struggled to stay focused on this book. The series has great potential and I really like most of the characters except for Sage because she comes across as too self-centered. The twin dynamic was strained which may have been on purpose and may lead to an exciting story line in the next book.

The second book in the Magic Candle Shop series is every bit as good as the first.

Tabby and Sage are sisters who run a candle shop in Savannah. They both have magical talents and share a special bond which means they can communicate telepathically. When Sage is a suspect in a murder Tabby of course has to try and find the real killer.

I like the magic system in this series. There is an energy vampire who steals people's strength. There are people casting spells all over the place and Tabby finds herself getting hiccups and disappearing from view. Fortunately she finds another practitioner who helps sort her out and she also has a good, steady relationship behind her. I am still not fond of Sage though who comes across as rather self centred.

A fun book to read if you enjoy witches and magic.

In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones is the second in the Magic Candle Shop Mystery series. It is the first for me in the series as well as by this particular author. It is December in Savannah, GA where Tabby Winslow and her twin Sage are working hard at their respective jobs. Tabby is at the familial shop while Sage is working part-time at the local green nursery. When Sage’s boss appears to be getting sicker and sicker, Sage and he have an argument about getting healthcare. Later, when he is found dead, Sage’s rival points the police in her direction. Both Winslow girls must work hard to keep their business afloat, their magic secret, and keep Sage out of jail for crime she didn’t commit.

I enjoyed the idea of twins working at their familial shop. I also liked Sage, because while some think she’s dramatic, the reality is that people are dramatic. I can think of quite a few people who have hair trigger tempers. Auntie O and Frankie’s relationship was interesting, as well as the side story with Frank’s past. I’m interested in seeing how far the author takes it.

I was very confused as to the premise of the twins’ magic. When Tabby was getting her hiccups which made her blink visible to invisible, she was trying to hide. But then she would tell people about her magic. Was it meant to be a secret or not? If so, then does the whole town know about it, or just a select group? Then there is the magic itself. Someone would say that something is “spelled” but the twins talked more of energy. So, are they witches or empaths? I just really felt a loose connection between characters and audience.

This novel does have one of my pet peeves in regard to the policeman’s attitude. I usually do not care for angry, close-minded detectives. In this case, I wasn’t even sure if the second detective was also close-minded or just kind of there. The conclusion, though, threw me off. While the explanation was perfectly clear, the actual motive didn’t really make much common sense.

Overall, I rate this novel 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Tabby and Sage Winslow are twin sisters who run the family candle shop and have some magical talents. Tabby is happiest creating blends for the candles and soaps she makes for the shop. Sage's passion, although she does the IT and books for the shop, is plants and is working part time at a local nursery. Sage's boss at the nursery is found dead from poison and Sage becomes the prime suspect as they were arguing the day before and the extensive oils, herbs, etc. that the sisters use in their candles and soaps.

There is also some weird stuff going on as Sage's boyfriend and the shop cat are acting strangely and out of character. Tabby is also having trouble with hiccups messing with her magical abilities. Auntie O's boyfriend Frankie's past has appeared on their doorstep. Also the holiday season rush is hampering their investigating time. They need to figure out what is going on and fast!

I was disappointed we didn't have closure on Frankie's problem, hope that means there is a book #3 in the works. There was a lot going on that sometimes I had a hard time keeping up. Sage's personality is off-putting at she can act like a petulant child.

I enjoyed the story, and the mystery was a good one. I have fingers crossed for Book #3

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest opinion in return.

Fraternal twins Tabby and Sage are magical - they have special powers- but will this help them when Sage is accused of murder? This is the second in a series and, I think, it likely will help to have read the first one to understand the magic which is not, btw, well explained. That said, the mystery itself is fairly trope-y and not too twisty. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A little more worldbuilding and frankly more likable characters would make this a better read.

This is the second in the series. I have not read the previous one. The cover is inviting as a typical cozy mystery would be. I found the mystery to be lacking and the characters aren’t likeable, at least to me. I prefer more sleuthing to my stories.

Overall, I found the story sluggish and not well-plotted. I had such high hopes for this story. I could not find a link in the story with the title except an overall the amateur sleuth often is in a tight spot before being found. I will not be continuing this series.

I was given an advanced copy from Netgalley. These are my opinions.

This fall-into-season cozy mystery is perfect for the upcoming seasoning...treading into that pre-holiday time of year. The atmospheric vibes of the season...they are strong here,....candle shop, Christmas tree selling, and a strong family unit. Even a bit of magic tossed in.

Yet, there was something lacking for me personally. It took me some time to suss out what that was. This book checks all the cozy mystery boxes - atmosphere, family, friends, magic. It just did not pull me in. The characters weren't "likeable" until about 2/3 of the way in, prior to that I had no investment.

I struggled with the twin dynamic - one being more together and one acting like a child. Almost a good versus evil vibe here...as to how the personalities were set. One follows the rules and is perfect, and the other is clearly just doing whatever she wants with no consideration. I'm notsaying that siblings can't be different, but it was so extreme - twins usually seem more in tune with each other. This seemed like a one-directional relationship. They clearly loved each other, but there is some competition possibly with the magic, and some things left unexplained. <spoiler> Like way Sage drains power, and why she drained a school mate in high school almost killing her.</spoiler>.

The writing style also played a part in my low review. Lots of "fluff" or filler. You read one paragraph, that is similar to another - just stated in a different way. And the conversation/pages of text go in circles....without progressing the plot. For example, I'm so glad you're my sister, I love you, I want what's best for you, I'm so glad youre here, It's great to have the support of friends, we make a great team, and I am so happy for you. Sometimes this reaffirmation, and cyclical rounds would extend for pages. And I would just want the story to ....move onward. This type of talk surrounding scenes made them feel overly sappy and extended at times.

Lastly, the "magic" threw me. It wasn't really magic but more witchcraft-y. So not Halloween witch. Think Southern witchery - vibes, energy, herbs, ingredients. Which I think goes more toward voo-doo type. This was unexpected for me (I think I anticipated our witchy stereotype, I like the cover vibes). This threw me off, as I felt it had no clear rules just random "oh this happened and we aren't sure why" type things. I also dislike that several main characters are left in the dark about this going on around them.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

I was drawn into In the Wick of Time almost immediately. I would have finished it in one day if I had t had other responsibilities to take care of.
Tabitha and Sage Winslow are twins, own a book and candle shop in Savannah and have some special skills. They face dangers they don’t understand in this book.
I’m finding that sometimes I really like paranormal cozy mysteries. This is one I would truly recommend if you like your mysteries with a little something extra.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane books for a review copy of this book.

I enjoyed reading the first book of this series - Snuffed Out - and eagerly looking forward to reading the next installment. I didn't like it as much as the first one. My only niggle with this installment was the ending. Though the plot-to-story development was good, the ending didn't do justice to the suspense built from the start.

In the beginning of the story, Tabby is warned by her Aunt. She's told that Sage has always received energy from Tabby but never given it when Tabby needed it. Also, it's always up to Tabby to control Sage's outbursts by transferring positive energy. This is explored further in the story and I couldn't help but wonder what made Tabby give all she has to her sister, knowing that her sister is somewhat of an energy vampire. Speaking of energy vampires, there arrives one looking for his long lost cousin.

Coming to the mystery behind the murder, the sleuthing and unravelling of suspects and the mystery itself took a backseat while Sage and Tabby juggled between their personal issues and whatnots. Though these side stories made the read interesting, I would have loved for the twin sisters to sleuth more... like a lot more than they did.

1/5 stars: This is the second Paranormal Cozy Mystery book in the Jones' Magic Candle Shop Mystery series which is set in Georgia and features magical twin sisters who own a book and candle shop. Book one is Snuffed Out. This is overall well-written and I loved Tabby's character and found the candle making and magical elements (energy based) unique. Unfortunately, I found the plot became a bit too far-fetched and I just couldn't connect to Sage's character. Leading me to DNF at 33%.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

This is the second book in this series. I’ve read both books and am still struggling with liking the main characters. I think the concept for the series has a lot of potential and I do think this book was better than the first one. Some books or series capture your attention from the beginning and some just don’t. Unfortunately this one has missed the mark for me.

In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones is the second book in this series, I've read them both and even though there's some great things about thes series, I don't know if I will keep reading. I just can't get into Sage's character and the flow of the plot/narrative sometimes feels off. There is something about Tabby's romance that feels uncomfortable as well.
I wanted more about her Aunt and her boyfriend's story and the new shop worker, maybe if the third book center's around them I will pick it up. I would recommend reading book one in the series and seeing how you feel about it.

It's nearing Christmas in Savannah, Georgia, and Tabby and Sage Winslow's candle shop is doing great business. Sage is also busy at her part-time job at a local plant nursery. When the manager of the shop dies unexpectedly, the ME determines that it was murder and Sage becomes a prime suspect.

Tabby will do anything for her sister. She begins to investigate who really killed Loren Lee since she knows that it wasn't her sister. But there are other problems too. Sage's boyfriend had some sort of spell put on him that causes him to betray Sage and wind up in the psych ward. And whenever Tabby hiccups she goes invisible. And she is getting the hiccups frequently.

Then there is the psychic vampire who has come hunting for Auntie O's boyfriend who has managed to escape his troubled past. And the vampire sets his eye on Sage as his next victim.

As Tabby looks at Sage's fellow employees, she finds a number of suspicious characters. But can she find the murderer before it is too late, and her magic is exposed to the people around her?

Generally speaking, I felt like this story could do with some more editing. Some of the dialog was particularly stilted. And the motivations and personalities of the characters seemed to shift throughout the story. I would have liked to know more about the magic the main characters had and why they seemed not to know how to use it. I didn't feel like I got to know enough about Tabby or Sage or their romances.

In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones is the second book in the series, and after reading both of them, I don’t think this is a series I will be continuing. I loved the premise of a candle shop and supernatural powers. This is the type of book that I am often drawn to, so I am saddened that it just isn’t holding my attention.

While the characters are well developed, I couldn’t get past the dialogue in this book. It felt off… almost robotic at times, not with a natural flow. Sage is really an unlikable character for me. Now not all characters in a cozy needs to be sweet, but when you have a main character who is continually flying off the handle and acting like a jerk (especially to their twin), it’s not something I want to read about.

Then there’s the whole, we should keep our powers a secret, yet they are continually letting people know about it. Consistency would be good, or using it every so often to drop a bomb on another character could make it more interesting.

The side story with their aunt, aunt’s boyfriend, and boyfriend’s family is very interesting, and I can see it really adding to the series in future books. And the energy vampire aspect is another great layer.

Perhaps when book three comes out, and I see a bunch of stellar reviews, I would continue this series, but with so many great books out there that really draw me in, I don’t have time for mediocre ones.

Magical twins Tabby and Sage have taken over running their family candle shop in Savannah. At the same time they are still learning how to use their powers. When the manager of the local nursery where Sage has a part time job is killed, Sage is on the top of their suspect list.

I liked Tabby and Sage and the story held my interest. I do wish that the twins had done more investigating rather than simply reacting to events. Although this could be read as a stand alone book, there’s a lot of background information covered in book 1.

Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres and those with a magical flare immediately catch my interest. I loved everything about "In the Wick of Time." It has a unique premise with magical elements that delve further into this second book. There are also a lot of sisterly moments that are truly at the heart of the story and add a fun element to the mystery. Highly recommended for any book lover's shelf!

Christmas is coming in Savannah, Georgia, and twins Tabby and Sage Winslow are both rushed off their feet in the frenzy of festive shopping. In the Book and Candle Shop items are flying off the shelves and it's all Tabby and her assistant, Gerard, can do to keep their customers satisfied. At the All Good Things Nursery, Sage is just as busy selling Christmas trees and all their trimmings at least she is until someone close to her dies unexpectedly.

The police are sure they have the killer in their sights and with her sister one of two family members considered as main suspects Tabby knows its up to her to find the culprit before they strike again. Almost everyone she cares for has seemingly been targeted in some way and as the danger increases Tabby realises she may be unable to save those she loves most.

Book two in the Magical Candle Shop Mystery Series by Valona Jones is a fun festive read which continues the story of the Winslow twins and their magical heritage. The main protagonists are more rounded by the completion of this book but there is definitely more to find out about all four of them. There are strong messages here on friends and family as well as both the good and bad aspects of close relationships all of which fit nicely into the storyline without taking it over.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. A good second book in an original series.

I adored this cozy mystery! The group of characters were fantastic, and I loved the setting. I enjoyed the plot twists and the mystery. It was well paced and well written!