"Spells and Stitches" by Barbara Bretton - Review

5 ++++ Stars!!!!!

ABOUT THE BOOK -

For Chloe Hobbs, life couldn’t get any better.  She’s in love with the gorgeous Luke MacKenzie, her knitting shop, Sticks & Strings, is thriving, and her magical hometown of Sugar Maple is doing well after narrowly missing a disaster a few months back.  Best of all, Chloe and Luke are expecting a new addition to their family.  But being a pregnant sorceress isn’t easy.  Chloe’s little sorceress-to-be is making her powers go haywire and on top of that, Chloe and Luke are stuck with a cantankerous troll who’s intent on guarding Chloe until the baby’s born.  If that wasn’t enough, Luke’s very human family has discovered that Chloe’s expecting, and the soon-to-be-parents have to figure out how to mask Chloe’s magical outbursts.  It’s almost too much for Chloe and Luke to handle…and that’s before a dark force intercedes, threatening Chloe, Luke and their baby. ~ from "Romance Junkies"

ABOUT THE AUTHOR -

In the month of February 1982 I wrote and sold my first novel. And no, I wouldn't believe it either if it hadn't happened to me. I sent in my manuscript on Thursday February 21, 1982 and four days later the telephone rang and I heard the amazing words, "We want to buy your book." How I wish you could have seen me. I was standing by the kitchen door of our North Babylon house, the picture of cool sophistication, as I listened to Vivian Stephens explain the terms of the deal to me. You would have thought I'd sold a first book every single day of my life. Yes, I said. Sounds wonderful. Thank you so much for calling. I look forward to our association. That cool sophistication hung on until I hung up the phone, took a deep breath, then promptly threw up on my shoes.

I was thirty-one years old, unagented, unschooled, unfamiliar with anything to do with the business of publishing. To put it mildly, I was in shock. My husband was working in Manhattan at the time (and finishing up his degree at night) so it would be hours until I could break the news to him. This was too exciting to waste on a phone call. I wanted to see his face when I told him that my dream had finally come true -- and came with a $6000 advance!

He pulled into the driveway at midnight. I was waiting in the doorway, holding a bottle of champagne and two glasses. I didn't have to say a word. He knew right away and the look of joy and pride in his eyes warms me now, years later, long after the advance faded into memory.  

MY REVIEW -
Loved, loved, loved loved, loved! This is book 4 in the Sugar Maple series. I have been waiting a whole year to read this book! This is the book I was most excited to read during my "Witchy month of May" that and the 3rd Hex Hall book!
As were the first 3 books, this book was fantastic! It was fun, quirky, exciting and full of adventure! This is one of my favorite series ever and I hope Barbara Bretton continues to write in this style.

Sorry about the little kitty butt in the corner!

 Martina is excited about these books too! She loves Chloe's cats in the book!

 If I seem excited about this series - I am! I can not recommend these enough! If you like quirky, fun paranormal and stories about witches that are fun and addictive - you should read these books!

The character development in these books is so excellent. I would have to say that Chloe Hobbs is one of  my favorite characters ever! Barbara also does an excellent job is describing the settings. I can really picture the little Vermont town of  Sugar Maple. But the thing I love most about these books is that they are FULL of magic! That is part of the problem I am having with a few of the Witch books I have been reading - there is not enough magic happening. In this book there is magic happening on every page!

"I just have butterflies."
The second I said it, a swarm of butterflies spilled out of my mouth an filled the truck.
"What the He**...?" Luke barely missed slamming into a parked Saab when a monarch landed on the bridge of his nose.
"Tis the spell of containment loosing its hold," Elspeth said. "A bad sign... A very bad sign."
"Stop with this spell-of-containment stuff, will you? You're making me crazy!"
"You're speaking French," Luke said "When did you start speaking French?"
The butterflies disappeared and tiny silver shooting stars took their place. Unfortunately they were shooting out of my ears and straight toward Luke and the troll in the backseat."

This pretty much sums up the whole series -

Chloe - She was smart and funny and kind and talented and beautiful and a sorceress. A flames-shooting-from-her-fingertips, sparks-flying-from-her-eyes, turn-you-into-a-newt sorceress who lived in a town crammed with Vampires, werewolves, trolls, ghosts, sprites, and a sleeping giant.
Sugar Maple's existence was predicated on their ability to hide their magic in plain site.

Sound like fun? Read the books!
There is some swearing, and talk of sex but nothing graphic.
I always say - You can tell how much I loved the book by how long the review is!