Audio Book Review: The Cupcake Witch

The Cupcake Witch

By:  Poppy Lawless

Publish Date:  November 25, 2015, Audiobook April 21, 2016

Format:  Audiobook - 2 hrs 37 mins
Narrated By:  Hollie Jackson

Genre:  Paranormal

Series:  2nd in The Chancellor Fairy Tales series

Impression:  A sweet magical tale with food and love.

Synopsis:
Julie

Buttercream. Vanilla. Fondant. Dark chocolate. Brown sugar. Molasses. Baking has always been my true love, but it wasn’t until my mother’s death, and the unexpected inheritance of Serendipity Gardens, that my bliss called me. Bittersweet. But Serendipity Gardens has more to offer than just a potential shopfront. An unusual recipe box left to me by a distant relative might be the key to unlocking my dreams.

Too bad the most powerful family in Chancellor has plans that could turn those dreams to ruins—literally.

Too bad the son of that powerful family is just the kind of guy I’ve been looking for.


Horatio

I suppose being heir to the Hunter family’s Blushing Grape Winery should make me happy, but nothing could be further from the truth. With my mother gone, my father has taken me under his wing, and I despise everything about the way he does business. Sour grapes, indeed. Instead of raising money for charitable causes, my true passion, I’m chasing my father’s manifest destiny.

Too bad his dream includes paving paradise.

Too bad the property owner is the sweetest woman I’ve ever met.

They say the course of true love never runs smooth.

But that’s nothing a magical cupcake can’t solve.

First Sentence:
Holding the whisk tightly, I swirled the pale-yellow batter around the bowl, the sweet scents of vanilla, brown sugar, and bitter dark chocolate perfuming the air.

Purchase At:
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Audible


My Thoughts and Summary:
*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com, at my request.

Julie's dad inherited a little cottage, that Julie thinks looks like a witches cottage, in Chancellor. Julie should be heading back to college, but can't bring herself to do so as it's a degree her recently deceased mother wanted her to take. Julie wants to bake. Her dad mentions that Chancellor college has a culinary program. When Julie enters the run down shop and home, Serendipity Gardens, to put it up for sale, she falls in love with the style of the house, and the kitchen. She's found the place she wants to be but another wants the spot for his own use. Mr. Hunter has sent his son on the mission to purchase the property. Horatio finds more than he expected when he meets Julie.

This is the first time I've listened to Hollie. She does well of voicing Julie and her pain, and a different tone for her father. Hollie makes all her characters individual. Horatio sounds like a man with a shorter feel to his words and his sister, Viola, has a softer sound. Something I noticed as well, I like that I can't hear her breathing between words. The story is told with a seamless flow and easy to listen to.

I had to smile at how Julie and Horatio meet. Innocent yet clumsy. Julie doesn't know it, but her boldness to live life as she wants inspires Horatio do the same. They are both not the person that one of their parents is making them be. They both share in this struggle in their lives. They also share that each have lost a parent to cancer. Though they are still hurting from the lose it's not the complete focus of the story, and I love that. They are working to keep going forward as they remember.

We have a few characters that join us in helping them find their selves and connecting Horatio and Julie. Viola, Horatio's sister, is a lovely person. She sees what Horatio is wonderful at, organizing events, and she has great advice for her brother. Viola is so right! But they are suppose to follow the family business. And Horatio realizes it's not what he wants to do. Horatio's dad, Aaron Hunter, is a business jerk. It's all about what he wants and now.

The three ladies that were dear friends with Mrs. Aster are a delight! They have the knowing way about them. Reminds me of the good witches. lol. They adopt Julie when they meet and learn who she is. Then, Julie learns who they are. Oh this is so sweet!

I adored the movie Simply Irresistible with the delicious food and spark of love with the magic in the food. This book fills that same spot in my heart, not for the stories being similar but for the magic in the food and love. Blended with the Good Witch who finds a new home that accepts her and her apothecary ways.

Such a sweet story that I enjoyed. I enjoyed how the writing flowed with the characters. This feels like a lovely series to enjoy as people find themselves and each other, friends or more.



*If you found my thoughts helpful, please click Yes at Amazon and/or Audible. Thank you!