Review
A Book Magic Mini Mystery
Cassandra Lane was different. Different from the people of Laurel Point and even different from her sister. The Lanes were cursed. The men would be taken by the sea while the women died in childbirth. The women also had the gift of bibliomancy, the ability to use books as a form of divination, of seeing into the future. Cassie, however, saw this as a curse as well. While her sister Lacy embraced the gift, Cassie shunned books of all kinds. After a rift with her sister, Cassie took off to start fresh in North Carolina. But her new home has secrets and she can't escape bibliomancy. Will she be able to use it to help a woman in danger? Or will she be too late?
THE SECRET ON RUM RUNNER'S LANE acts as a prequel to MURDER IN DEVIL'S COVE, the first book in the Book Magic Mystery series. As a novella, we don't get the intricacies and richness found in a full length novel, but Cassie Lane's world is still vibrant, if troubled. We feel her frustration, being disjointed and set apart from others. If you've read the first book in the series you'll delight in seeing a much younger Hattie Juniper Pickle, be charmed at the meeting of Cassie and Leo, and your skin may crawl at the appearance of other characters and prickle at the future you know will come.
I enjoyed reading Cassie's story. Seeing her as a vibrant young woman determined to beat the family curse and witnessing her desire to help others along with the determination to pursue justice makes an uplifting tale. This mini mystery is a very quick read, but contains enough intricacy and ambiance to be satisfying.
THE SECRET ON RUM RUNNER'S LANE captures the uncertainty and underlying strength of women searching for their place in the world. It allows readers to get a glimpse of the past while seeing the glimmer of what's to come.
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The Secret on Rum Runner's Lane: A Book Magic Mini Mystery by Melissa Bourbon
About The Secret on Rum Runner's Lane
Cozy Mystery Mini Mystery #1
Publisher: Lake House Press (November 10, 2020)
Print length: 104 pages
The Lane women are bibliomancers, but Cassie sees her divination not as a gift, but as a curse--one from which she desperately wants to escape. It turns out, though, that running from her fate isn’t as easy as she thought it would be. When a woman goes missing, and a neighbor turns up dead, Cassie turns to the books she’s always avoided to help her find the truth.
About Melissa Bourbon
Melissa Bourbon is the national bestselling author of nineteen mystery books, including the brand new collaborative Book Magic mysteries, the Lola Cruz Mysteries, A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series, and the Bread Shop Mysteries, written as Winnie Archer. She is a former middle school English teacher who gave up the classroom in order to live in her imagination full time. Melissa, a California native who has lived in Texas and Colorado, now calls the southeast home. She hikes, practices yoga, cooks, and is slowly but surely discovering all the great restaurants in the Carolinas. Since four of her five amazing kids are living their lives, scattered throughout the country, her dogs, Bean, the pug, Dobby, the chug, and Jasper, a cattle dog/lab keep her company while she writes. Melissa lives in North Carolina with her educator husband, Carlos, and their youngest son. She is beyond fortunate to be living the life of her dreams.
Author Links
Website: https://melissabourbon.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/melissabourbonbooks/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookWarriors
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MelissaBourbonWinnieArcherBooks
Purchase Link – Amazon
Thank you for giving away a print copy I am battling a disease RSD but love to read and will review on a few sites. Good Luck on your tour peggy clayton
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad parts of the novella resonated with you, Kathy. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
ReplyDeleteMelissa
Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteSounds like a great mystery.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn