The Good, the Bad, and the Witchy: A Wishcraft Mystery

Very enjoyable lite read. Perfect for summer break. I plan on reading the next book in the series starting today.

I thought I had already read the first couple of books in this series, so I purchased the 3rd expecting an easy read, as I would already know all the back stories. Surprise! This was not a series I had previously read, so that was a bit disheartening at first. However, I quickly caught up and by 1/4 way through I was pretty sure who everyone was, as well as what everyone was. :-)This novel qualifies as top notch for me for several reasons:1) The proofreading and editing are wonderful. I did not find one misspelled word, one grammatical error or one instance of a correctly spelled word used incorrectly. Made the reading seamless, the in-the-moment essence complete.2) Blake's characters are fully fleshed out. For the most part, you like all of them. Some you are suspicious of, but none do you immediately dislike (well, other than Glinda, but you really don't hate her, just feel ambivalent about her, much as does the main character). Each character has an interesting back story, and all have their own peculiar personality traits and abilities.3) Blake's plotting is also wonderful. This is a real who-dun-it, complete with twists, turns and surprises from start to finish.4) Blake wraps up the loose ends well, sets up the next adventure to come, and leaves the reader wondering what will be next for this kooky cast of characters.So what's it about? This is called a "Wishcraft" mystery. The characters are all witches with varying powers. Wishcrafters can grant wishes. Terrecrafters can work the soil. Floracrafters are the ultimate in green thumbs. Bakecrafters -- well let's just say I'd love to visit one of their bakeries! These varied artists all live under the radar of the General Public, in a small artist type colony called The Enchanted Village. There are definite rules regulating what these crafters can and can't do, and there are consequences for violating said rules. Number one, of course, is not to let the everyday mortal in on the secret!In this installment in the series, the terrecrafters and floracrafters who work the greenhouses at the Elysian Fields are central to the who-dun-it, with the propagating of true black flowers -- roses to be exact -- being the underlying issue. Is the secret of the black flowers worth killing for? Someone thinks so. And of course, the heroine, Darcy Merriweather, is bound and determined to find the answers. Her unofficial investigation causes problems for her boyfriend, mortal Nick Sawyer, and raises questions about many of the people Darcy has come to think of as family.

I started reading Heather's books when I stumbled across her Lucy Valentine series (written as Heather Webber) and I absolutely loved them. I then checked out her Nina Quinn series (also written as Heather Webber) and became a big fan of those as well. So, I started reading this Wishcraft series (written as Heather Blake), hoping that I would enjoy them as much as the previous series, and Heather has not disappointed me. I will admit that I am a very loyal reader - as long as the quality of an author's work is maintained. I don't continue to buy/read an author's books if they no longer entertain me. I have to say that Heather has consistently delivered books that leave me wanting more.I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this Wishcrafter series (It Takes a Witch and A Witch Before Dying), but this third installment (The Good, the Bad and the Witchy) was my absolute favorite. Getting reacquainted with the characters from the prior books was like seeing old friends, and - through them - meeting new ones. I especially liked the way Heather handled Michael's character. In most mysteries, the person who dies is - from necessity - dispatched early on, and you seldom feel as if you really know them. I thought the way Heather presented Michael was very creative and it made me want Darcy to solve the mystery even more. Heather also did a good job keeping the reader guessing as to the guilty party - right up to the end, and the humor throughout the book was entertaining as well. And, of course, I am rooting for Darcy and Nick to keep moving forward with their relationship (I'm a sucker for a little romance with my mysteries).Heather also does a good job of providing detail that adds to the story. A good example is the description of Harper's bookshop, Spellbound. I could just picture it in my mind as she described it and I wished that there was a bookstore near me like that.I ended up reading this book in one sitting and was disappointed when it came to an end. One problem with finding a series that you enjoy as much as I do this one, is having to wait for the next installment.If you have read and enjoyed any of Heather's other books, I know you will enjoy this series. And, if you enjoy this, but have not read her other series, you should give yourself a treat and try them as well.

This is the third book in Heather Blake's Wishcraft Series and I have to say that it is my favorite! Another amazing adventure featuring Darcy Merriweather and the Enchanted village crew. There is certainly mystery but also love, drama, and of course family disfunction!After rereading both of the other Wishcraft books (A Witch before Dying and It takes a Witch) I was definitely excited to begin the third. The story line is amazing (and since it is early on I am not going to include specifics) we have all of our familiar characters: Darcy,Aunt Ve, Nick, Mimi,etc but we also meet some new ones as well! The Wicked Sisters are an amazing bunch that definitely make me think of some crazy aunts! The family disfunction is something I am sure most if not all can relate to and of course we get to witness the love between Darcy and Nick bloom!It is a story that will catch your attention and will not let you put it down or forget about it until you read the very last page! I would certainly recommend this book not only to cozies readers everywhere but also to friends and family as this is a story that everyone will be able to relate to in someway!I just cannot wait until the next!! Please give Heather Blake's books a go she is truly an amazing writer and had a voice all her own. I cannot wait to read her other books!Keep an eye out for my reviews of the first two Wishcraft books which will be coming up later this week!