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Moonshine & Magic by Bella Falls
Bella Falls crafted people and a community that are really simple to adore. Witch Charlotte “Charli” Goodwin returns to Honeysuckle Hollow, a secretive community insulated from the outer world. She took a year or so off to reflect on her life. Not everyone is happy to see her back. Honeysuckle Hollow is unique because it was established by three strong witches as a sanctuary for all types of magical beings, including gnomes, fairies, vampires, shapeshifters, and even sasquatches.
The community is similar to other small towns in that political loyalties are cemented via family. Only three witches from the founding families make up the ruling council, leaving a substantial portion of the people unrepresented. There’s classism and racism in the way non- witches are treated. Grand old families, elitists, entitled people, debutantes, opportunists, a strong working class, and an alcoholic eccentric everyone knows but most avoid fill the inhabitants of the Southern town, according to author Bella Falls.
When Charli was a young child, the Goodwin family adopted her. She possesses a special witch talent that is uncommon among witches: the capacity to locate anything missing. The author established a fair set of guidelines for the magical world. While not all spells must be spoken, those that are must rhyme. Fairies exercise caution while deciding to whom they provide their abilities. One loses some personal energy when using their powers (much like working out in real life or casting spells in a video game).
In the quest to discover who truly killed her great-uncle Tipper, the hero’s toughest hurdle will come from the fact that magic also has other effects. Tipper accidently transferred some of the death curse he put on the flask to Charli when she used her detecting ability to locate the presumably poisoned flask. Only the killer was intended to be subject to the curse. Charli, her warden brother Matt, and her friends are now in a race against time to solve the murder before the curse takes Charli’s life.
Two new guys in Charli’s life are included among those buddies. She also meets Dash, a wolf shapeshifter (don’t call them werewolves! ), and Mason, a new detective warden. The fact that her ex-fiance is still around doesn’t help either. Charli feels absolutely no remorse about how much she enjoys the love triangle. She enjoys teasing Dash and Mason but doesn’t pursue a love relationship with either. This was a nice change.
The opportunity is provided to Charli to work on removing the curse from her body, look into the crime, and carry on with her unfinished inner quest to figure out who she is in this world. Their Nana maintains Matt and Charli in close proximity ever since their parents passed away. Although Nana is physically shaped like a sweet old lady who is kind to everyone, she is also a political force. She occupies the Goodwin council seat.
Readers will also identify with Nana because of her unwavering devotion and never-ending nurture. Adoption and the role of the family are addressed delicately. A foster system is mentioned, and the adoption of a different character is significant. While the main topic for Charli is that she is a Goodwin, Matt and Nana are her family, and her late parents who nurtured her are unquestionably her parents, it illustrates how genuinely uncertain someone could be who is adopted yet longs for a loving biological family.
Only towards the conclusion of Moonshine & Magic does she begin to doubt her biological paternity, setting up a potential new story cycle. Fans of endearing witches will undoubtedly be eager to read Fried Chicken & Fangs after finishing Moonshine & Magic, or they may decide to go back and read the prequel Chess Pie & Choices.
About The Book
Charli Goodwin doesn’t expect her homecoming to go without a hitch—after all, she skipped town, leaving her fiancé and family without a clue as to where she was going or why. Now that she’s ready to return home, she plans to lay low and sip some of her Nana’s sweet tea while the town gossips come out to play.
Unfortunately, on her first night back, Charli discovers the body of her crazy great-uncle (hey, everyone has one). She suddenly finds herself at the center of a mystery that threatens the very foundations of Honeysuckle Hollow and the safety of every paranormal citizen in it—starting with Charli herself.
With the clock ticking, will Charli’s special magical talents be enough to save not only the town but her own life?
The Review
Moonshine & Magic
8 Score
The characters will capture your heart, the mystery will keep you guessing and the wonderful small town life keep you entertained. Charlotte has a strong support system in her family and town, and she will need it! Get to know them and you can call her Charly, but not Birdy, no never that. Sweet down home comfort and gossip will keep you going, along with some Sweet Honeysuckle Ice Tea. And a slice of pecan pie. Join in the murder mystery before it's too late to solve.
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