A Blog of Books and Tea

(ARC Review)

Tropes:

• Family Drama
• Alpha MMC
• Demons & Ghosts
• Sassy Cat Familiar
• Soulmates
• Hidden Secrets/Curse
• Premonitions
• Open Door Spice
• Believer v. Non-believer
• Wiccan Lore

Stars – 🫖🫖🫖🫖🫖

Synopsis –

In the tranquil town of Ipswich, Massachusetts, witches hide in plain sight. Shay Whitley, the resident soulmate finder and psychic, control freak witch, is the last in the powerful Whitley coven. The Whitley legacy is her responsibility.
When a dark family secret is exposed, Shay’s world goes up in flames, threatening her family’s livelihood and her single-dom. Her best friend, Dean, is hiding something. A blazingly sexy firefighter, Cade, tempts Shay to spill all her secrets. Added to the chaos is her foul-mouthed chatty cat, Mildred, who never hesitates to give her hell.
When tarot and spells aren’t enough, Shay must find a way to trust those in the present and from the past to save the entire Whitley Witch bloodline…and maybe her love life.

Thoughts –

I’m going to start off by saying that this book was impeccable! I read it so quickly, completely engrossed, and loved every minute! I don’t often like contemporary books. Generally speaking, I lean more towards books that take me to entirely new worlds, full of magic and adventure, but I LOVED Secrets of a Witch.

The characters were so well written, each with their own unique personalities that made them relatable and real.

First, I have to write about my absolute favourite character… Mildred! This feisty little kitty is amazing! I absolutely loved her sassy nature, and she says all the things the reader is thinking! The relationship between Mildred and Shay is amazing. I can only imagine how fun it was for Steph to write this character. I might have to start a poll for Steph to write a prequel that tells the story of Mildred’s life!

I also loved Shay. Her tenacity in the face of adversity was admirable, if maybe a little unnecessary. That girl really needs to learn how to accept help from those around her. That being said, it is this determination that makes Shay such a relatable character. Shay’s growth as a character, and as a Wiccan woman is wonderful to read. Seeing her grow into her powers, and learn to let those around her in, was truly inspiring. She teaches us that it doesn’t make us any less strong to ask for help.

Now onto the MMC, Cade. He is an absolute dreamboat and everyone deserves to have the love and support that this man exudes. Although he gives off an “alpha” attitude, he also gives an aura or safety and trust. He is a massive green flag and clearly has a lot of respect for our FMC. The relationship between Shay and Cade was so well written without taking away from the plot of the story. It was a beautiful side plot that oozed sexual tension.

The inclusion of Wiccan Lore was not only fascinating but brilliant, seamlessly woven into the narrative and deepening my understanding of this mystical practice. I now find myself wanting to learn absolutely everything about it! From the history of Wicca to practical spells and rituals, my curiosity has been ignited. If anyone has any tips or resources to recommend, just send a comment my way! I am eager to dive deeper into this enchanting world and explore all it has to offer.

Secrets of a Witch was a wonderfully magic book that transported you into the life of a practising Wiccan Witch. There was some amazing tension and twists throughout the story, that really kept me hooked. I cannot wait to read more books from Steph Zider! If you like witchy tales with a splash of romance and a sassy feline companion, this book is definitely for you! Don’t forget to come back and tell me your thoughts if you decide to read!