Pawsitively Cursed (Witch of Edgehill, #2) By Melissa Erin Jackson

Melissa Erin Jackson µ 5 review

The only thing more twisted than a cursed witch is her family tree.

For the past fourteen years, Edgehill’s resident secret witch, Amber Blackwood, has been haunted by her parents’ deaths. The whole town knows about the tragedy, but the details remain a mystery even to Amber. From her tiny studio apartment above her shop, The Quirky Whisker, Amber can see her partially rebuilt old house out on the edge of town. Although she now has a good life—delighting children with her magically infused toys, concocting healing tinctures for Edgehill’s residents, doting on her cats, Tom and Alley, and sitting on the committee for the town’s annual Here and Meow Festival—she feels stuck in the past.

Amber suspects the fire that killed her parents was set deliberately by a witch from the cursed Penhallow clan, from whom no one has heard even a whisper since the night her parents died. The clan’s sudden disappearance is no coincidence to Amber, but her aunt Gretchen refuses to believe there’s a connection and urges Amber to stop looking for someone to blame. So Amber is shocked when Aunt Gretchen shows up unexpectedly, claiming the Penhallows have resurfaced and that one of them is heading for Edgehill with Amber in his sights.

Aunt Gretchen knows more about the fabled clan than she’s letting on. Amber is determined to find out what her aunt is hiding, and what the Penhallow seeks, before the same treacherous force that took Amber’s parents’ lives claims her own. Pawsitively Cursed (Witch of Edgehill, #2)

Amber has always known there was more to her parents' deaths than a random accident. When her Aunt Gretchen shows up unexpectedly with a story about how a member of a cursed witch clan is heading to Edgehill specifically seeking Amber, Amber begins to suspect that this is no coincidence and Aunt Gretchen knows a lot more than she's claimed in the past.

Pawsitively Poisonous is the second in the Witch of Edgehill series by Melissa Erin Jackson. I am quite enjoying these paranormal mysteries! It was great meeting more of Amber's family and seeing the differences in their magic. Even though there is a murder this book is much more about the various witch clans and their flavors of magic than the actual murder itself. The story was a lot of fun though I did feel bad for Amber at the end and the fact that events have reaffirmed she can never have a normal life. Here's hoping we continue to see more of her family in the future so Amber isn't so isolated. Mystery, Paranormal, Suspense PAWSITIVELY CURSED by Melissa Erin Jackson is a well-written supernatural cozy mystery. While this is the second book in the Witch of Edgehill series, it worked well as a standalone novel.

The story takes place in the fictional town of Edgehill, Oregon where witch Amber Blackwood has resided all of her life. She is considered reclusive and a bit odd by the townspeople and runs a shop called the Quirky Whisker that has her small studio apartment above it. She makes and sells magically infused toys that people believe are mechanical.

Fourteen years ago her parents were killed in a fire and Amber believes they were killed by a witch from the cursed Penhallow clan. Amber’s aunt Gretchen and sister Willow show up unexpectedly early for a town event. With this scenario the story is off and running.

The book had a protagonist that was appealing, supporting characters that were delightful or antagonistic and scenes that were bittersweet, suspenseful, engaging and/or heartbreaking.
While this novel has some quirky characters and a murder that you might expect to read in a cozy mystery, it also has some underlying themes that are explored. They include secrets, family dynamics, isolation due to being different and the inability of so many to accept those that are not quite like them. These extra themes are what pushed the rating to a 5 star rating for me.

While this is the first book I have read by Melissa Erin Jackson, I look forward to reading more of her suspenseful, thought-provoking and enjoyable novels. Overall, I was immediately drawn into the story and highly entertained.

Many thanks to Ringtail Press / Xpresso Book Tours, Melissa Erin Jackson and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Mystery, Paranormal, Suspense This is a supernatural cozy mystery, and It is the 2nd book in the Witch of Edgehill series. I have read the first book in this series two times, and I really enjoyed it. This one has Amber's Aunt that raise her, her sister, and her Uncle. It also has flashbacks for her parents that has died. I am happy to see more into Amber's family in this book. Also it show her learning more about her powers. I have to say I love this book way more then the first book, and I did love the first book. Mystery, Paranormal, Suspense In Pawsitively Cursed, Amber Blackwood is a witch who has been through much heartache, including the most recent loss of her friend, Melanie. Despite being a lifelong resident of Edgehill, Amber has very little in the way of close friendships. This was a deliberate choice on Amber’s part because she has never fully recovered from the loss of her parents. They died in a tragic fire but Amber has always believed that there was more to the story, despite everyone’s insistence that it was just an unfortunate event. Although she was never able to prove anything, even with her aunt Gretchen telling her to let it go, Amber never gave up looking for clues about what truly happened that night.

Fast forward fourteen years and Gretchen shows up unexpectedly and summons Amber’s sister, Willow, to come to Edgehill. The excuse was that they were going to be working together at Amber’s store, The Quirky Whisker, for the upcoming trial run junior fashion show, an event leading up to the Here and Meow festival that takes place every year. It is clear to Amber than something is happening with her Aunt but she is just thrilled to have her family near. When unexplained events start to take place, Gretchen comes clean about the fact that there was a witch from the Penhallow clan who was coming for Amber. Not only does this revelation lead to a revealing of many secrets that have been kept from Amber but it also creates a rift in Amber’s heart where her aunt is concerned.

I enjoyed reading Pawsitively Poisonous but I think I enjoyed reading Pawsitively Cursed even more! It was nice to be back in Edgehill with its quirky residents and their love for everything feline but it was the mystery of what occurred with Amber’s family that kept my eyes glued to the pages of this book. I loved, loved, loved, how Amber was taunted in this book by the villain. So creepy! The uncovering of that really took place fourteen years ago was incredibly sad and there is still much to learn from that night! There was some character growth for Amber as well as a little romance angle that may or may not come to fruition. It was just nice to see Amber peeking out from the shell that she keeps to distance herself from relationships. Overall, Pawsitively Cursed was a fun cozy mystery fantasy that has me excited about what is to come in the next book in this series!

This review is based on a complimentary book I received from Author, Melissa Erin Jackson. It is an honest and voluntary review. The complimentary receipt of it in no way affected my review or rating.
Mystery, Paranormal, Suspense Amber is a witch. She owns a shop in Edgehill which sells clever moving toys which customers think are engineered, but which are really enchanted. Some power hungry witches want a grimoire which they are convinced Amber is hiding, and ostensibly will go to any length to obtain. I liked this well-crafted paranormal adventure, especially the way the author introduced the novel by telling us the backstory of Amber, her sister, and the death of their parents. Recommended for anyone who enjoys an exciting paranormal. Mystery, Paranormal, Suspense

It's the second book I read in this series that is becoming one of my favorite.
It's a great paranormal cozy with a darker twist and some sadness. This mix makes it really enjoyable and makes you crave for more.
The world building is interesting, I love the description of the town full of references to the feline world.
The cast of characters is likeable, realistic and well written.
The plot is full of twists and turns and fast paced.
I look forward to reading the next instalment in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine. Mystery, Paranormal, Suspense I started wishing for this book the minute I finished Pawsitively Poisonous. That story was interesting. I loved the characters, and the mystery kept me guessing. But I really wanted to know more about Amber's past. I couldn't' wait to meet her sister. And I was dying to know what happened to her parents. Ms Jackson did such a good job building anticipation for Cursed I could hardly wait to get my hands on it.

And it did not disappoint. Pawsitively Cursed drew me right in, and did not let me go till I had finished. Poisonous was a fun read. But this one felt like a quantum step forward. More intense, edgier with a lot more suspense. I loved every minute of it and look forward to a lot more Edgehill. 12 or 15? books aught to do. Mystery, Paranormal, Suspense Pawsitively Cursed by Melissa Erin Jackson
Book #2: Witch of Edgehill Series
Source: Purchase
Rating: 4½/5 stars

At the end of my review for the first book in this series, I noted that if it were to survive and be successful there needed to be evolution. I got exactly what I asked for and I got it in spades!

Amber Blackwood has always suspected her parents weren’t victims of an accidental fire, but something far more nefarious. Though she has asked her beloved aunt Gretchen many, many times about the night her parents died, she has never gotten any satisfactory answers. Though Amber has never really given up on her quest for answers, it doesn’t consume her. Until now . . . when Amber’s aunt and her sister both show up in her shop unexpectedly, Amber knows it can’t be good.

Though Amber is thrilled to see both her aunt and her sister, they come with bad tidings. If Amber’s aunt is correct, Amber is in grave danger and the threat is coming from an old and very dangerous source. According to the legends, the Penhallow family began stealing magic from other witches and when they were caught and punished, their magic became twisted and evil. In the decades since their punishment, the Penhallows have become the boogeymen of the witch world and to have one after you is the ultimate danger, a danger that is beyond difficult to fight.

To make matters far, far worse Amber has no idea what the Penhallow’s may want from her and that is in large part because she doesn’t know the full story of her family’s demise. With no choice but to open up and tell the truth, Amber’s aunt begins to tell her all she knows. With each new revelation, Amber begins to understand what it is the Penhallows want from her, but she has no idea how to satisfy their desires and keep herself alive. What is certain, if Amber is going to stay alive, she’s going to need help and a lot of it. As if the universe knows exactly how desperate she is and the danger she is facing, Amber’s magic begins to respond and expand. The only problem, she isn’t used to the new power is trying to learn to control it while trying to protect herself.

Along with her aunt and her sister, Amber also has her reluctant and reclusive cousin, and, of late, the sheriff who now knows her secret. As the danger becomes ever more real, Amber and her crew come together with all they’ve got to fight off an evil so dangerous it is a threat to the entire town.

The Bottom Line: I hoped this series would evolve and it certainly did in the installment! One of my favorite things in series reading is the book that contains all the backstory, and this is exactly what I got in this book. There is so much back story here and it all contributes to the plot which makes everything all the more exciting, interesting, and entertaining. Not only does Amber and her magic evolve, but her surly cousin becomes a real player in the game, and the sheriff is now an ally. I am quite excited by the jump in complexity in this series and glad to see that the characters, the plot, and the community is growing. Mystery, Paranormal, Suspense I liked this book more than the first of the series. There are some points where I felt frustrated, the story line didn't seem to be moving but it finally got to the point of the resolution. It was good to see Amber mixing it up with her family and making friends and boyfriends. I really liked the ending, it was perfect. #PawsitivelyCursed #NetGalley Mystery, Paranormal, Suspense I could not put this book down! It was so good! Book #1 was amazing, but this one brought everything up to the next level.

Amber went from fearing and hiding her powers at all costs, to embracing them. She still had insecurities, but throughout this story, she became stronger and more confident. I loved the addition of Willow and Aunt Gretchen! It was really fun to see how Amber interacted with her family and other witches, and also to see what other witches are capable of. We didn't get to see as much of Chief Brown as we did in the last book which was a little disappointing - I did end up liking that guy. But the tension with him that showed up at the end of book #1 was resolved. That was a huge relief! Ugh and Jack. At first, I thought he was sweet, but by the end, he was such a wimp. Poor Amber. I really hope she gets her happy ending.
The plot was thrilling and the villain's ability to change faces was so intriguing and nerve-wracking. For a while, I had this theory that Jack was a Penhollow and that Amber and him would fall in love and break the curse. Honestly, though, I'm glad it didn't end up that way. Which brings us to…You guessed it! The ending. It was epic and left enough room for development. There are so many directions book #3 could go!
Lastly, this was mostly a clean read, but there was some language.
Altogether, I am super excited for book #3! I loved #1 and #2 and I can’t wait to see where Jackson will lead Amber next.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mystery, Paranormal, Suspense