Sprinkles and Sea Serpents

Sugar Shack Witch Mysteries, Book 1

By: Danielle Garrett

Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi

Length: 6 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

They say you can't go home again...oh, if only that were true.

Thanks to a series of unfortunate events - and one backstabbing frenemy - home is exactly where I'm headed. Back to Winterspell Lake, the small community in Eastern Washington where magic runs rampant and humans are outlawed.

Faster than you can say hocus pocus I'm unpacking my bags and settling into the guest room of my parents' house, trying to ignore the creeping sensation that I'll never break free again.

The one thing Winterspell has going for it is the sweets shop in the center of town, a bakery filled with magical creations designed to enchant the taste buds and charm even the pickiest of connoisseurs. Luckily for me, I get the friends and family discount since my parents own the famous Sugar Shack. If I want room and board, I have to frost cupcakes and sling macaroons with the rest of the fam.

Unfortunately, things in Winterspell aren't all sugar cookies and rainbows. According to the local news, a dangerous sea serpent has claimed the lives of three missing girls. The journalist in me has to have a look for myself, and what I find is something far more deadly.

Something that makes me wish I'd stayed in the bakery.

©2020 Danielle Garrett (P)2021 Tantor

LOVED THIS FIRST IN THE SERIES

UNLIKE MANY FIRST IN SERIES, THIS ONE DID NOT DRONE ON WITH THE BACKGROUND OF EVERY CHARACTER. TO BE SURE, THERE IS SOME BACKGROUND, BUT MORE TO COME WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT. I LOVE THE CHARACTERS, THEIR INTERACTIONS SEEM GENUINE RATHER THAN FORCED INTO THE STORY. THE STORY IS INTERESTING AND THE DIALOGUE, LIKE INTERACTIONS, FLOWS. I AM BUYING BOOK 2 NOW.

Fantastic book

Loved Rosella and her magical sleuthing!
I’m so looking forward to her next adventure and love interest.

Great new series

Love author and narrator. Great pairing. I can’t wait for the next one in this series.

Will Continue Series But Didn't Grab Me

I want to say firstly that I love Danielle Garrett's stories have listened to her other series and was excited to meet new characters in a new setting. Sadly I found this story to be not as engaging as her others. You have the set up of Rosella returning home to Winterspell where she has tried to stay away from as people have been antagonistic towards her because she is "cursed". The town bullying feels heavy at the start then all but disappears with only the narrator herself making mention the possibility. There is clearly a set up for ongoing love triangle but I didn't find the flirtations very lively and was okay if everyone remains friends. The pacing felt slower and I never felt any real tension or threat. Lots of story lines have begun (different family members, friendships, workplaces, etc) but they don't feel at all developed and often are brought up for a scene then fall away for the rest of the story. The mystery felt rather thin and lacking depth, I was surprised that I guessed the villain early in the story which was interesting and unexpected but spoke more to just the meager development overall. I would really like to see this story world fleshed out. I will keep reading as again I am a huge fan of the author but felt rather disappointed with this first story. The magic is on and off more talked about then shown except for the brief action scene. Would love to see a more regular inclusion of magic throughout and also becomes confusing who is in the know about magic and not. And I do want to say the brief mentions of the magic and how it is conceived of here greatly intrigues me which is why I would love to see if more detailed. There is like in Danielle's other stories discussion of a magical agency but again this is barely gone into. Amanda Ronconi gave the story life where she could but even her voices felt a little wane compared to the other tales (though I adored the bartender at the tavern!). I think in Danielle's other stories I really walk away with such a clear picture of individuals and their personality and I don't have any of that with this story. The descriptions I would give of Rosella are pretty standard of any female protagonist of this genre and nothing that truly speaks to her as an individual character (feisty, independent, takes unnecessary risks). I will continue in hopes things will be further developed but for those who have read the other series this was not as immediate of a click for me.

super fun story

I love Danielle Garrett and Amanda Ronconi, so this story was pretty much perfection. The story had interesting and unique characters and the narration was flawless. I can't wait for more books from this series.

Danielle does it again!

I am a fan of all of Danielle Garrett’s books! I was excited to dive into a new series in an all new world, and I was not disappointed! Rosella was lovable and her adventures were so entertaining! I am looking forward to book 2!

I love this story

I really like this story. I liked it they took a girl That the town treats like a freak And she is very pretty . They make her like a tomboy. She has her crushes but she doesn't act on them right away which is normal and more realistic.I like to narrator But I kind of feel like she has more of a Bland tone. Sometimes she makes all the characters sound the same. But it's like she catches herself and then changes the voices. I'm ready for the second book

Love it!

I love the characters and hope for more stories with them. This is the start of a great series!

I enjoyed it!

Amanda Ronconi is always great! I loved this story and all the characters, especially Grandma!

Wonderful New Series

I enjoyed this one. The town, the main character, the cats, dog, and owl. And a sea serpent. Amanda Ronconi is perfect as usual.