Where Is Your Bookmark: My Bookish Mewsings of Accidental Magic by Iris Beaglehole (& Other Friday Fun)

Along with this mini review, I am linking to both Book Beginnings, a meme in which readers share the first sentence of a book they are reading, hosted by Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader and Friday 56 hosted by Anne of My Head is Full of Books, in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading.  

Thunder roared and lightning crashed through the sky, illuminating the clouds above Thorn Manor. [opening of Accidental Magic]

               ★                    

"Hello there," he said. "Taxi to the train station, ready and waiting."

"To the train station, eh?" Constable Perkins said, his voice dripping with suspicion. "I thought you said you were going to stay with old Marjie."

Rosemary sighed. She was backed into a corner, and she knew there was nothing for it but the truth.  [excerpt from 49% of Accidental Magic] 

Accidental Magic (Myrtlewood Mysteries #1) by Iris Beaglehole

Te Rā Aroha Press, 2022    

Mystery/Cozy/Paranormal; 314 pgs

Welcome to Myrtlewood, a quirky town, steeped in magic, tea and mystery…

Life’s a struggle for Rosemary Thorn and her teen daughter, Athena. But their regular troubles are turned upside down after Granny Thorn’s mysterious death.

Despite her cousin's sinister manoeuvrings, Rosemary returns to Myrtlewood and the sprawling, dilapidated Thorn Manor. But there's more to the old house than meets the eye, as Rosemary and Athena soon find out — in a whirlwind of magic, adventure, mystical creatures and endless cups of tea.

Life in Myrtlewood would be bliss if Rosemary could only clear her name in a certain murder investigation, solve the mystery and stay out of mortal peril – for at least a little while!

A small town with endless secrets, strange activities and a house with a mind of its own.

If you love mystery, witches, magic and a big dose of humour, you’re going to love Myrtlewood Mysteries Book 1. [Goodreads Summary]

My thoughts: I first heard about this book and series in a Facebook book group I follow in which the author took over for a short time one day. Paranormal cozies featuring witches are among my favorite type of mysteries, and so it seemed like a no brainer that Accidental Magic would end up on my wish list. When I found it was available through Amazon Prime for free, I jumped at the chance to read it. 

I feel like I only got a small glimpse at all the wonders and charm Myrtlewood has to offer in Accidental Magic. It was a great introduction to the town, and I look forward to discovering more about it and it's inhabitants in the coming books. This novel was full of eccentric and interesting characters like Ferg and Marjie. I love Thorn Manor--who wouldn't love to have a self-cleaning house?! Rosemary and her 16 year old daughter, Athena, know nothing about magic when they arrive in Mrytlewood for the reading of Rosemary's grandmother's will. As Rosemary and Athena discover more about the not-so-secret magic in Myrtlewood and the other supernatural beings, so does the reader. 

Rosemary spent a good part of her childhood in Myrtlewood but her memories are fragmented, and, in some cases, appear to be completely nonexistent. Initially, she comes across as a rather forgetful and flighty character, but as the story progresses, the reader--and the characters--gain a better understanding of why. Rosemary has pretty much raised Athena on her own. The mother and daughter have a close relationship, even with their occasional bickering. Athena is a teenager after all, moody and pushing the boundaries and spreading her own wings as an individual. It sometimes felt like a bit much, but it is obvious there is a strong bond between them. Athena is smart and considered the logical one of the two. She's good at reading people.

I liked the world building and enjoyed the mystery as events unfolded. Athena and Rosemary may have stumbled their way through their investigation into Granny's death, but they make a good team. I may have always been a step or two ahead of them, but that is not unusual for me--and perhaps the author intended it that way.  Accidental Magic was an enjoyable read. It was fun, light reading. I definitely plan to spend more time in Myrtlewood. 

Does this sound like something you would enjoy? If you have read it, what did you think?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. It is hosted by Linda Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell and Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About. Join in by answering this week's question in the comments or on your own blog.

Mid-Year Check-In: What books have you loved so far in 2024? 

So many! It has been an exceptional reading year so far. I am planning to share my mid-year top reads in a future post, but thought this would be the perfect time to give some love to books I read the first half of the year that didn't make that final list. I loved each and every one of these and highly recommend them!

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown

The Bandit Queens by Parini Schroff

An Inconvenient Wife by Karen E. Olson

The Witch With No Name (Hollows #13) (The Hollows #13) by Kim Harrison

Murder Road by Simone St. James

Women of the Post by Joshunda Sanders

Spy x Family, Vol. 11 by Tatsuya Endo

Are there any books that have stood out for you the first half of this year?

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

Which do you enjoy doing more on the 4th of July: watching fireworks light up the sky or reading an inviting book? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

I have many good memories of celebrating the 4th of July when I was growing up: spending the day at my aunt and uncle's house, swimming in their backyard pool, barbecues, and joining the neighbors in my aunt and uncle's cul-de-sac to watch my uncle set off fireworks; or that time we traveled across the country to spend the holiday with family in Pennsylvania, seeing a parade and the town fireworks display. 

When my daughter was younger, my husband and I made an effort to make sure Mouse wouldn't miss out on the fireworks. Family get togethers weren't really a thing for us since we lived so far from our families. One year we went over to a friend's for pool time and enjoyed the city's firework show from her backyard. Another summer, my coworker offered us a view of the city's fireworks from her backyard. Then there were a couple years we went to minor league baseball games and the firework shows after. The year we all had COVID, we stood in our driveway and caught partial views of some of the illegal fireworks going off in the neighborhood. Mouse and I ended up catching a recorded television broadcast of the fireworks in Washington D.C. that year as well (Anjin was so sick he went to bed early). Watching them on television just isn't the same though. 

Our enthusiasm for catching a fireworks display for the 4th of July isn't what it used to be. I think we all would rather be home reading and trying to keep the cats calm. Mouse is older now and the holiday doesn't hold the same magic for any of us that it once did. 

Do you celebrate the 4th of July? Do you enjoy seeing the fireworks or do you prefer staying in with a good book? 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading!

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