Newly Wed and Slightly Dead (A Touch of Magic Mysteries, #1)

by Danielle Garrett

[Berls]

I immediately loved Anastasia in Cupid in a Bottle, and I grew to adore her in this book. I love the sister element to these books – it’s kind of spoiler that I already know how things turn out with Harmony from reading Beechwood Harbor Series, but it’s still great to see her growth and the role her relationship with Anastasia plays in that. And, of course, the bickering between sisters; that’s great too. I think the fact that this series is fully in the Seattle Haven (where magical folks live, no humans) is a nice contrast to the Beechwood Harbor Series, where part of the challenge is always about keeping the magical secret. Here we get to see the everyday life of a witch, working as a wedding planner – complete with all the magical accoutrements. I loved the work-stress angle –Anastasia has a stressful and competitive job, with some pretty unreasonable pressures. Having also worked in event planning in the past (including some weddings) this rang so true, even with the magical flair. That Anastasia ends up so fully invested in the murder investigation because of her role as the wedding planner felt ridiculous, but then also completely believable when you consider the stressful environment where she worked. A love interest developed here too, with the SPA agent assigned to the case. Excited to see that develop.