I reread the first book to remember the overall vibes and characters, even though I recalled not being very excited about it, and it was an OK read. With the second book I realized that I don't care much for it and I find the twins not easy to like at all... This series clearly doesn't resonate with me so I should let it go and focus on the many others that I enjoy from Crooked Lane Books.

This is an entertaining cozy and magical mystery. This is a perfect read for the fall.

This book takes place in December in Savannah, Georgia. There is a riverfront luminary display and a boat parade. Tabby and Sage Winslow are twin sisters and have a magical talent to create all different kinds of candles that are sold at the Book and Candle shop that has been in the family for three generations. This is a perfect match to the season. Sage works party time at a local plant nursery and has a talent for growing plants. She is in line for a promotion to the assistant manager job at the nursery. There is another rival interested in the promotion too. Unfortunately their boss Loren Lee shows up murdered and the list of suspects includes Sage.

If that was not enough, there are a lot of strange happenings in town and at the shop. Nothing lethal but definitely interfering and annoying. The sisters not only need to find who murdered Loren, they also have to dodge and solve the magical happenings.

I like the strong relationship between the twin sisters. The other characters in the book were multidimensional and some had a combination of good and bad character traits. Some presented a version of themselves that was not actually accurate to their true agendas. This added to the mystery.

There is a little romance also.

If you are looking for a fun magical cozy mystery, this is a solid choice.

I quite often will read supernatural cozy mysteries. this one I had a hard time getting into. The characters seemed stiff. Sage was unlikeable and the twin thing seemed unreal. The writing did not flow well and it just dragged a bit for me.

I want to extend my gratitude to Netgally and Valona Jones for granting me the opportunity to dive into "In the Wick of Time," the second installment in the "A Magic Candle Shop Mystery" series.

I'm beginning to recognize a pattern emerging in these books, and I must say, I rather enjoy it. These are what I'd call 'magical cozy mysteries,' but they carry a unique twist, steering clear of the usual witchy tropes. In this world, our central characters are referred to as 'energy users.' I couldn't help but wish that my own empathic abilities were as fascinating as theirs. Imagine if absorbing energy didn't just drain you but also gave something back in return. It's a dreamy concept, even if reality doesn't quite work that way.

One intriguing aspect is the secrecy surrounding their abilities. Curiously, the characters in this book seem to be letting the cat out of the bag quite frequently. They spill the beans to the police they don't entirely trust, even divulging details about magic and the identity of their assailant. It's got me wondering whether the secret-keeping subplot will continue, or if this signals a shift towards a more open acknowledgment of their powers. Could this be a sign that they should've been talking to each other all along?

As the story unfolds, it leaves us with a few unanswered questions, which only serves to keep the mystery alive. Personally, I'm looking forward to delving further into this series. These books have a knack for keeping me on my toes, and I can't resist the allure of the unknown

Christmas time in Savannah, Georgia, is a magical time. But for Sage and Tabby Winslow, this Christmas is becoming a nightmare. Sage is accused of murdering her boss. Her boyfriend is caught with another woman and then suffers a breakdown which causes him to be committed. Meanwhile, Tabby and Sage’s aunt’s companion’s past has finally caught up to him. That leads their aunt and her companion to leave without telling them where they are going. It also leads an energy vampire into their midst, and someone puts a spell on Tabby that causes her to go invisible whenever she hiccups. But, never the less, Tabby and Sage are determined to find out who killed Sage’s boss and why. Will they find out who the killer is? Will they find out who is targeting their family and friends?

When I saw this book’s cover, I decided to read it. I love books with cats on the cover. Throw in a holiday theme (this book is Christmas), and I was sold. But I was slightly disappointed by this book.

In the Wick of Time is the second book in the Magic Candle Shop Mystery. It will help if you read the first book to understand what is happening in this one. I didn’t, and I needed clarification about Tabby and Sage’s relationships (friendships and otherwise). There was almost no mention of what happened in book one besides a brief description of why the police were so focused on Sage.

In the Wick of Time is a medium-paced book. The author could have amped up the pace of this book. I attribute a little lag in the middle of the book to the speed.

The main storyline of In the Wick of Time is centered on Sage, Tabby, and the murder of Loren Lee. While this storyline was straightforward, it was in the middle of a chaotic book. The author had numerous secondary storylines that overshadowed the main one. I couldn’t keep them straight and was glad the author started merging them with the main storyline.

The storyline with Sage, Tabby, Loren Lee’s murder, and their investigation was interesting. It was a twisty storyline that did surprise me several times. Sage didn’t endear herself to me with this storyline. She came across as a brat. Sage wasn’t as well-liked as Tabby. Tabby did 90% of the investigating while Sage did whatever she did.

The storyline with Sage, Brindle, and the magical issues was interesting. At first, I was with Sage about Brindle. He cheated, and good riddance!! But, I started to doubt what Sage saw when Brindle tried suicide and ended up in the hospital. That was cemented by him telling Tabby that he thought it was Sage. I liked how the author resolved this storyline, and I still felt terrible for Brindle. He deserves better than a brat like Sage.

The storyline with Tabby, the energy vampire, her aunt, Frank, and Frank’s past was fascinating. This storyline interested me more than the main one. I liked how the energy vampire and Frank were connected, and it made sense with Frank having the powers that he did. Frank’s backstory was interesting. The author kept it vague enough that I couldn’t figure out precisely what Frank did. I wish that he and Tabby’s aunt hadn’t jetted, though. Frank seemed like a character, and I would have loved to see more of him. As for the energy vampire, he was a sleaze, and he wanted Tabby and Sage. I liked that Tabby was more powerful than him, and how she made him go away did make me laugh. This storyline was left open, and I hope it is continued in the following books.

The mystery angle of In the Wick of Time was well written. I was shocked at who the killer was and what the motive was. I didn’t see it coming, and that scene in the alley took me by surprise. Of course, how will the police handle everything?

The end of In the Wick of Time was good. The author wrapped up the main storyline and most of the secondary ones but left a couple open. That left enough for me to question if there will be a third book.

I would recommend In the Wick of Time to anyone over 21. There is language, mild violence, and some mild sexual situations.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books, NetGalley, and Valona Jones for allowing me to read and review In the Wick of Time. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

In the Wick of Time is Valona Jones’ second entry in the Magic Candle Shop Mystery series. In these paranormal cozies, there is something a bit “extra” about twins Tabby and Sage; they are Energetics. They can manipulate their own energy field. With most magic stamped with the bad reputation of witchcraft, their talents are a closely guarded secret. The girls inherited the Magic candle Shop and split the duties. Although Tabby finds herself in her element there, Sage prefers to work with plants and has also been working at a local nursery. When her manager dies, suspicion falls upon Sage. It is up to Tabby to help clear her of the crime. But murder is not the only mayhem. The girls find themselves beleaguered with a cursed boyfriend, and an energy vampire from the mob!

Jones has created a world with an unusual type of magic and a book and candle shop that I would love to visit. Tabby is a strong female protagonist and is very likable. Her sister Sage, in contrast, is selfish and unreliable, she makes the reader want to smack her upside the head.... or at least zap her with a little energy spike. The books are populated with several other endearing characters from boyfriends, employees and a few customers who will obviously become more involved as the series progresses. There is an inconsistency with the way their secret is handled. Tabby can’t decide if her boyfriend is paranormal or not and does not reveal exactly what she is. There are hints that he is not exactly a mundane human, but despite his acceptance of the little he has seen, she hasn’t revealed the whole story. I found her waffling exasperating.

With a combination of murder, magic and of course shop cats, the book is a delight. I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good paranormal cozy.

Crooked Lane Books and Valona Jones provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 1, 2023. Before reading this book and its predecessor, I was unfamiliar with this author. I will certainly be seeking out more of her works.

A supernatural cozy mystery based out of Savannah, Georgia with twin sisters as the MCs. This one is the second book in the series, but the first novel I have ready by this author. The book can be read as a stand-alone, but learning some of the background info from the first installment may be best. I would have liked a more thorough introduction to the main characters and a clearer picture of the magic society/hierarchy described, (like what are the different power types, but overall, this a a fun cozy mystery.

I did not read the first in the series but when I saw this on Netgalley I was intrigued so thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Fraternal twin sisters, Tabby and Sage co-own the Book and Candle shop in Savannah, Georgia. Sage also moonlights at the All Good Things Nursery working with plants.

The twins have a special gift. They are "energetics"; their family line can push and pull energy from their auras. They can also speak to each other telepathically. The only problem, their mother didn't teach them about all they can do so they work together to figure this ability out more and more.

Loren Lee, manager of the All Good Things Nursery mysteriously gets sicker until he passes. His death is determined to be a murder and the Detectives have their sights on Sage. As Tabby tried to clear her sister's name, she notices many strange and magical occurrences, only to realize someone has been spelling her and those she loves (including her beloved cat, Harvey) so that she stays out of the way.

What a cute cozy. I would like to continue this series even if I missed book 1.

In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones is wonderfully written and captures the sister bond perfectly. I love the entire package.

Will Tabby figure out what is going on in Savannah before she loses her sister?

Sage and Tabby Winslow
Our sleuths are fraternal twins, Sage and Tabby Winslow. However, our point of view is Tabby. Tabby is younger by a few minutes and shorter than Sage. They can use energy to do some really cool paranormal things. Tabby is still figuring out how her powers work, either through her candle and soap making or how she interacts with the people in her life. She can also read auras. Tabby has a beau who has waited for her to accept him for a long time. The intimacy feels right, but Sage is jealous of Tabby's relationship and the time that Tabby spends with Quig. Tabby is learning more about herself, and she is starting to place boundaries for other people.
I like Tabby. She has a sweet heart and wants to help others. However, she isn't good at asking for help, which I can understand. I think there is more to her boyfriend than meets the eye. I look forward to learning about that and why it is vital for Tabby's well-being.

Sage, the older sister, is a bit taller and needs more energy than she seems to be able to create on her own. Sage automatically starts pulling energy from Tabby as soon as they are together. Sage is happier with plants around, suggesting that has something to do with her magical power. To me, Sage seems like a hot mess. She isn't as nice as Tabby and sometimes lets her anger get the best of her. Sage also makes snap decisions and isn't easy to sway afterward. I like Sage, but I don't think she is entirely self-aware of how much her sister does for her. Also, Sage always thinks of herself first and then others.

The Mystery
We have a few things going on. First, we have the death of Sage's boss at the nursery, which, of course, Sage is a suspect. Then we have Aunt O's boyfriend's past, that seems to have jumped up and is biting everyone near them. Then we have Sage's boyfriend, possibly spelled or hexed. Sage is messed up with their break up and dealing with her feelings. Add in a few new people, some high school acquaintances with a grudge, and Ms. Jones has a fantastic mystery that kept me guessing.

Four Stars
I truly enjoyed this story. The mystery, the sister's bond, the paranormal aspect of the story, the grouchy police detectives, and the setting are all superb. My rating for In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones is four stars, and I recommend that you check it out. Hopefully, in the near future, I will be able to read the first book in the series, Snuffed Out.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

This novel is a short and sweet, soft fantasy that felt like a safe place while I was reading it. The characters developed well after the first book and were logically sustained throughout the plot.

I nonetheless found myself not liking the dialogues as much; most times they felt very robotic and almost unnatural. I don't think this book had conversations that felt natural or vulnerable. It was almost like reading a soap opera, which in turn made me enjoy the story less and less.

Despite that, it was a nice palate cleanser among more intense and thrilling books I had in between this one. It felt like a breath of fresh air.

In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones due to be published October 17th 2023 is the second installment of the magic candle shop series.

I didn’t read the first book in this series, but I was intrigued enough by the summary to try this anyway. Thankfully, this author does a great job of making sure new readers aren't lost.
“Tabby Winslow will help her twin sister Sage with anything and everything-and that includes putting out the flames of suspicion when Sage's boss is found murdered.With all the festivities-including the traditional riverfront luminary display during the boat parade-twin sisters Tabby and Sage Winslow are busier than ever setting up for the big celebration. But that isn't the only thing on the sisters' minds.
Both Sage and her fellow employee Mary Nicole are vying for the sought-after assistant manager job at the plant nursery.
But when Loren Lee, their boss, is found dead, and Sage becomes the police's favorite suspect, both Winslow girls know that they'll need more than a flicker of magic and their sisterhood to solve the murder and clear Sage's name.”

This was such an incredible experience and I can’t wait to read more in the series!!
Thank you Netgalley, Valona Jones and Cooked Lane Books!

This is the second book in the Magical Candle Shop Mystery Series. There were times in the first book that I felt like I was missing things. This book explains more about the sisters' powers and hints at more to come. I liked this book even more than the first one for this reason. When the manager at the plant nursery that Sage works at is killed, Sage and their aunt's boyfriend are both suspects. Their aunt and her boyfriend leave town to hide out. He left his family years before and publicity of this murder will alert them to where he is. Sage's boyfriend is put under a spell. Tabby and Sage have to find out how to remove the spell before it completely ruins his life. Other magical and mysterious things begin to happen. Tabby and Sage are in a race against time to figure out who is behind all of the problems and the murder. before one of them is harmed or killed. I am looking forward to the next book to get to know more about the sisters and their friends and family.

I enjoyed this one more than the first one in the series. The characters are starting to grow on me.

In the Wick of Time by Valona James is a cumbersome read filled with unlikeable characters and lacking in forward momentum.
When I got to the 50% mark, I was starting to think of tossing it in the DNF pile. I eventually got to 67% read before I tossed in the towel.
While James' writing is technically proficient, the story is slow, repetitive and boring. The character of Sage is selfish, careless, stupid and self-destructive, while her sister Tabby is her enabler, letting Sage walk all over her to her own detriment. The detective in the series has to be the most hateful, non-villain I've ever seen in a book, to the point of being completely unbelievable.
Maybe the title makes sense past the 67% mark, but so far the clever pun in the title has absolutely nothing to do with the content of the book.
This book is a chore to read, and the only nice thing about it is the cover.
I received an ARC of #IntheWickofTime from #NetGalley.

If you like stories with magic murder and mayhem this is a story for you. It’s got fun characters and the auther has great attention to detail. I would love to see what she had in store next for this series. I would highly recommend this for those that love mysteries.

In the Wick of Time
(Magic Candle Shop Mystery 2)
Valona Jones


Valona Jones aka Maggie Toussaint and Rigel Carson, is a multi-genre published author.

Savannah, Georgia is the setting for our intrepid twin heroines. Sage and Tabby are at it again! In the follow-up to Snuffed Out.

Sage loves her plant nursery job more than the family candle and book shop. Is distressed to find out Loren Lee Suffield, her mentor and boss has died! Almost as distressing is the fact that the owner Ms. Chatham has put Mary Nicole her rival in charge. Mary Nicole and Sage were both vying for the assistant manager job. Now, there are two job openings and a killer in the shadows!

Who killed Loren Lee? Why?

The Loren Lee portion of the story was okay. 3***




Overall, though this was a pretty convoluted storyline. I did not enjoy it nearly as much as Snuffed Out. There are too many different plots going on, with multiple bad guys but only one truly resolved plot line. A twisted mystery can be a real pleasure, but I like a resolution and hindsight for those twists. This book didn’t offer any of that. The cover is gorgeous, a real seller even without the blurb. Yes, it’s December, but I didn’t find anything in the story that left me thinking or feeling Christmas-y. Instead, I’m left feeling dissatisfied and slightly confused. If I had to rate the book as a whole 1.5 stars. Maybe the issues are an attempt to preset book three, I don’t know, but it left me cold.



Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.
#Netgalley #IntheWickofTime #MagicCandleShop #Mystery #ValonaJones #magic #cozy

First, I want to say that I totally understand that I have no idea what it is like to write a whole book. It must be monumentally difficult. And it is infinitely easier to criticize rather than attempt to write a book one’s self. But try as I might, I just didn’t find this latest Netgalley offering to my taste.

In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones is listed on Random House’s website as “Part of Magic Candle Shop Mystery”. It had all the great things I like about mysteries: cool cover that implies there is magical mayhem involved, a play on words title, and even a categorization as both a magical mystery but a cozy. I admit, however, when requesting it from Netglley I didn’t realize it was book 2. But ok, I have done that before – and oftentimes then went back and read the earlier books – so it didn’t seem like that big a deal once I realized that. And I love a good easy read which most “cozy mysteries” are. So I eagerly dug in.

It wasn’t long before I realized three things: (1) book one likely would have been helpful; (2) there was both too much and not enough going on at the same time here; and (3) I really didn’t like most of the characters and the plot really needed some help. In cozy mysteries, there is typically a good bit of investigating. Not so much here. Most of the time there was talk about investigating, but besides one small B&E into the dead guy’s house and a trip for Tabby to visit her boyfriend in the morgue where she overheard a conversation, there was way more complaining about being swamped with work and investigating than there was investigating.

There also was no real establishment of the rules of this universe. And there is a fair bit that seems inconsistent. Does Tabby’s boyfriend know she is magic? Not sure. There are conversations where it seems like he must be but there are also conversations (and one at the end in particular) where is seems like he isn’t. Tabby and Sage talk about magic openly with the cops and others so easily but they don’t have boyfriends that know the details? And as for the magic that they have… heck if I know what it actually is or what the rules are.

There wasn’t really even an attempt at an establishment of the rules of this universe. Hoping that folks who have read book one have that background because it isn’t here. I know that it sometimes is hard to provide the right amount of background information so as to not bore readers who have read the prior installment(s) of a series, but in cozy-land, since they are typically stand alone mysteries just sharing repeating setting and characters, it is important to make sure to fill in the new readers if they pick up in the middle. And here that wasn’t really done. In fact, I had to read the first few pages more than one to make sure I knew who was who and to figure out as much as I could. For example, late in the book one of the twins notes that they can’t be aware from their street for too long. Why? I have no idea. It wasn’t explained.

The mystery itself was really silly too. It didn’t even feel like a real attempt to get a decent motive. No spoilers here in a review pre-publication make it hard to explain more about that but let’s just say that my fist thought when the baddie was revealed was “Whaaaaat? Really, that leads to this guys murder?”

And then we have Sage and Tabby. Honestly, not two of the most likable characters. Sage is whiny and selfish and just mean a lot of the time. And no matter how often you tell me that Sage is good with plants, it won’t make me like her. Tabby? I got more detail about soap and candle making than of any real plot or investigation on her part. Even the dialogue between them was old. One interaction started with Sage being angry and red faced and snapping at Tabby and then next moment Tabby behaving like the victim of domestic abuse and excusing it and being fine with it.

Tabby might have created some great new scent for candles and soap in the book, but this is one wick that wasn’t for me.

p.s. To Whomever Came Up With the Title: there should be some connection between the story and the pun… there was nothing resembling “In the Nick of Time” here really – by the time we get to the big reveal it doesn’t count because cozy mysteries always have a close call for the investigator. Better title next time. Although the cover was cute.

I hadn’t read the first book in this series, but I was intrigued enough by the blurb to try this anyway. Thankfully, this author does a great job of making sure new readers aren’t lost. I found the twin sisters interesting, but I must admit that sometimes Sage got on my nerves with her drama and selfishness. Of course, she would turn around and do something to counteract that, so then I’d really like her again. I think this was a good mystery, but also, we were a little bogged down with either too much detail or not enough, really sidetracked with extraneous details. However, all that aside, I still quite enjoyed this interesting cozy mystery and the side of magic thrown in. I’ll definitely read the next one. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

This book was just ok. I didn't connect with the twins and I don't think they had a strong connection with each. The plot was good and kept me guessing about who did it.

Setting the Scene: Fraternal twins Sage and Tabby Winslow proverbial plates are full to overflowing between their shop, The Book and Candle Shop, and Sage's part-time gig at a local nursery, but things get even busier and crazier when Sage's boss at the nursery is murdered, Sage becomes a top suspect, and lots of different magic begins to show up quite unexpectedly.

What I Thought: This series and book have the elements to be both entertaining and interesting. Twins with a unique paranormal gift, a family owned book and candle shop, quirky characters like Auntie O, Quiq, and Gerard, all with their own potential for magic of some kind, provide great ingredients for a great read. However, and once again, while I still want to love this series and these characters, I struggled through the first half of the book. Sage is not likeable. She is overdramatic and incredibly self-centered. While likeable, Tabby is all over the place. They dance all around the magic, their own and the existence and type of any other. There are apparent contradictions in the story and pieces of dialog that make little sense. For instance, "I knew what to do because I had experience, but I preferred through Auntie O." Simply put, the story and characters just do not flow. Perhaps more research and better editing are needed. That said, the story took a turn for the better between the half and 2/3 mark. Some of that was due to the addition of a great character, Eve. Eve is no expert, but she is much more knowledgeable and in control of her magic, as well as recognizing magic in others. She brings a sense of order to the story that was woefully lacking. Tabby also stepped up and took some control, without alienating those around her. All in all, it was almost as if the latter part of the book was written or edited by a different person. The addition of Eve and the stabilization of relationships in the latter part of the book give me hope for this series, and I will read the next one in hopes that the improvements continue.