A bit too cutesy for me this time. I foresee a drop in excitement in the series when she marries as there will be rugrats, etc. Just could not get into it. ( )

Witches and Wedding Cake by Bailey Cates is the 9th A Magical Bakery Mystery. I have been reading this spirited series from the very first beginning. Witches and Wedding Cake can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading this series in order. It will allow you to follow Katie on her journey from discovering she is a kitchen witch, moving to Savannah, solving mysteries, and falling in love with Declan McCarthy. Katie has had a busy two and half years. I thought Witches and Wedding Cake was well-written with developed characters. The author captures the beauty of Savannah, Georgia with her word imagery. Katie Lightfoot is the perfect protagonist for this series. She is friendly, smart, creative, and relatable. There is a great cast of characters from Lucy, Ben, and Declan to the ladies of the spellbook club. I just love Mungo, Katie’s familiar with his adorable “yip”. The mystery was fun to solve. There are multiple suspects that slowly get whittled down. One little detail can provide the solution. Katie has a full plate in this book, but she found time to help Declan. Connor, the spirit who had attached himself to Declan, is missing. Declan misses the Irish spirit. I look forward to seeing how they find him. The special part of this book is Katie and Declan’s wedding. Katie must deal with an interfering soon-to-be sister-in-law and a lack of an officiant. I enjoyed reading Witches and Wedding Cake. It is one of those books that puts a smile on your face. Witches and Wedding Cake is an enchanting cozy mystery with a twitchy troglodyte, distinct dragonflies, a cupcake wedding cake, a mystifying music box, a stray spirit, and a magical marriage ceremony. ( )

Katie Lightfoote, baker and hedgewitch, is getting married at the end of the week. She is marrying Declan McCarthy, a Savannah, GA firefighter. So far the plans are going well. Her spellbook club will be her bridesmaids. She and her Aunt Lucy will be making the cupcake wedding cake at the Honeybee Bakery. Mimsey will be doing the flowers, and Bianca is in charge of the wine. Katie's carriage house is almost completely redone, and her yard will be perfect for the ceremony. Except, the judge, who was going to perform the wedding, was called away on a family emergency. While Katie and Declan are dealing with this inconvenience, Declan's family begins arriving in town. When Katie goes to meet Declan's Mom and 2 of his sister's, Rori and Eliza, an unwelcome albeit exceedingly handsome guest arrives at the rental house
door. It's Tucker, Rori's ex-husband. He hand's her a cheap teapot musicbox to try to make amends. But, they argue and he leaves. Later that day, Tucker is found dead at a rather seedy motel. Rori becomes a suspect. She begs Katie to help her find the real murderer. Being a carefree bride isn't on Katie's to do list.

This was a rather cute mystery. It was nowhere as magical or action packed as the previous novels in the series. It read more like a light romance with a touch of paranormal cozy mystery thrown in for good measure. I was a bit disappointed. ( )

Witches And Wedding Cake is the ninth book in the Magical Bakery Mystery series.

Katie and Declan’s wedding is just days away and things are going nicely. Construction at the carriage house is completed and ready to move into. The only problem is that the judge that was going to officiate, has been called out of town. The wedding is just going to consist of family and friends. Declan’s mother and his two sisters have just arrived at their rental house and Katie stops by to visit with them. When she arrives she knows it’s not going to be a completely enjoyable meeting, as there are a group of dragonflies, her totem, flying around her. Declan’s sister Rori answers the door and soon his sister, Eliza, joins them. The first thing Eliza wants to do is to make changes to the wedding.

Before long, Rori’s ex shows and tries to convince her to give him a second chance. Rori finally convinces him to leave, but before leaving he says he has a gift for her. The gift turns out to be a small ceramic birdhouse. The next day she decides to go to his motel room to return the birdhouse and, once again, tell him not to contact her again. When she arrives at his room she finds his lifeless body on the floor and turns around and leaves. When the police learn that Rori had shown up at his room she becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her ex-husband.

The victim is a well-known con, so Katie is sure that are many people who would like his life ended. She will call on Declan and her spell book club from the bakery to help her to clear Rori’s name and hopefully before her wedding.

This is another well-written and told story for Ms. Cates. The book contains well-developed and interesting characters. I especially love Mungo, Katie’s Cairn terrier familiar.

Recipes are also included in the book.

I will be watching for the next book in this delicious series. ( )