October 15, 2017
Daphne "Daffy" Deschants knew her husband, Gabriel "G," was a bit mysterious and even magical in his own way, but proof of his infidelity was more than enough to ruin their anniversary. As she prepares to confront her spouse, G uses wizard magic to thwart a mugging attempt, revealing to Daffy his role as sheriff for the International Guild of Wizards and that her strange and wonderful children are coming into their own powers. She also too quickly discovers her own abilities as a kitchen witch. Yet with the magic comes danger, for G's first wife is coming to claim the eyes of her son, the boy Daffy has raised as her own, to cure her blindness. VERDICT Radford ("Dragon Nimbus" series) launches an unusual urban fantasy that is more than a simple magic-infused cozy, with various threads involving religious conflicts and family dysfunction. The fully developed characters handle their own fantastical situations with heartfelt emotion and inner strength.--KC
Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
November 15, 2017
Daffy is a kitchen witch in Eugene, Oregon, who runs the local bakery and coffee shop with her best friend. She has a great life, with three children and a loving, gorgeous husbanduntil her daughter finds photos of her husband, G, having a romantic dinner with another woman. Daffy promptly kicks him out only to discover that he is a strong magician and sheriff for the magic communityand an evil witch is on the way who puts her family in danger. Plus, Daffy's children could all be as powerful as G, so she has to keep an eye out as their various gifts manifest. And she is dating. Daffy has a lot to contend with. Most members of the town are aware of magic and that Daffy herself has a gift, and she seems to handle the massive news of her husband's betrayal and gift well. This sets the tone for the rest of this cozy urban-fantasy novel, the first in a series from Radford (Guardians of the Freedom, 2005).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)