Spell Bound

Phoebe Winchester Mystery #2

by Gretchen Rue

Since moving to Raven Creek, Phoebe Winchester has had a lot on her plate.

She’s renovating the Victorian manor she inherited from her Aunt Eudora, running a tea shop (and secret magical apothecary), and learning to be a witch. But when she discovers a dead body at an estate sale, and suspicion falls on her, even Phoebe wonders if this is simply too much.

Forced to take action to clear her name, Phoebe enlists Rich Lofting, handsome private detective and childhood friend, to assist with her investigation, all while sorting out her unresolved feelings for him.

Is there something more sinister lurking in the shadows of this small tight-knit town? And does Phoebe really want to find out?

Genres: Romance, Mystery, Paranormal, Magic, Witches, Adult, Friends To Lovers

314 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2024

About the author

Gretchen Rue lives in the Canadian prairies, which affords her ample time to read during six months of winter. She plays cat mom to four mostly indifferent fur children, and plant mom to roughly 100 very demanding flora. When she isn’t sipping tea and working on her next novel, she enjoys swimming, hiking, and watching baseball.

**Gretchen Rue also writes as Sierra Dean**

Reviews

[Melanie’s reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoebe is once again smack bang in the middle of a murder investigation. She only went to an estate sale to buy some books and now she’s covered in blood, thanks to Bob, and a number one suspect.

Following on from Something Wicked (can be read as a standalone) all the characters are back including Deirdre Miller. Will she put a stop to Phoebe’s plans of housing and adopting out cats? Why are the other suspects in the investigation turning up at her tea/book shop?

Will her crumbling house eat her from the feet up or will Rich and Leo save the day with some wood and familiar friendship? Will Honey have enough wine for their girly catch ups to discuss all things witchy and dating? Will Rich take her on a real date as opposed to a business one?

This felt like returning home and being back with good friends. The mystery was intriguing and there were just enough suspects to throw you for a loop as you try and work out who was behind the murder.

I am just hoping I get to visit Raven Creek again soon……

[bookswithanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Auch wenn der vibe wieder toll war und ich die Stadt mit den Figuren sehr mag, ist für mich persönlich die Story zu langsam gewesen. Für einen Moment, wo man gerne ein Buch mit viel vibe und den richtigen Figuren will, denke ich passt es genau.

[Tasha Corbett · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars - cosy murder mystery with a smidgen of fantasy

A little disappointed with this one as I was expecting more witchy magic / fantasy elements but we mainly just got another murder to solve. If Phoebe wasn't a witch the story would have played out more or less the exact same way, I feel like the author decided to make her a witch so its shelved as a cosy fantasy which is gaining more popularity amongst readers.

I did enjoy some elements of the story such as the store and the plans to add the cat adoption but felt this story line fell to the back whilst Phoebe irresponsibly investigates a murder which technically has nothing to do with her. I know the story is not a romance overall but the romance between Phoebe and Luke needed more scenes and development otherwise should not have been there at all. I felt like it just randomly hinted there may be something but nothing develops and so it turns frustrating.

After reading the synopsis for the third book and see it involves another murder, I unfortunately won't be continuing the series which is a shame as I love the setting and the characters.

[Sarah Kingsnorth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gretchen Rue - Spell Bound.

(Phoebe Winchester Mystery #2 )

If you enjoy a cozy mystery, this is a gorgeous series to lose yourself in.

#SpellBound throws in all the magical ingredients.
There’s a dead body, an amateur female super sleuth - who may just be in the frame for murder herself, a dishy young private detective and some unresolved love.
This book brings it all together and creates something special.

I loved being back in Raven Creek, and can’t wait to return in the future for more delicious cozy mystery.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to Rachel’s Random Reads for a digital arc of this title.

[Zoe Giles · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ultimate cosy vibes

reminds me of video games where you move to a small town and restart your life over

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Aria & Aries for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a great series to read if you love cosy mysteries with sweet & lovable characters. I really enjoyed the first one, and liked this one too!

It may seemingly be a small thing, but little details like describing the food & tea in such a tantalising manner really goes a long way in creating the warm vibe that this series carries. The romance remains a very slow burn; I’m not sure how long the author plans for this book series to be, but I do wish that the chemistry was ramped up between Phoebe & Rich as their friendship/relationship is bordering on boring now.

The main criticism that I have for this book is that we still haven’t seen much magic being practised by Phoebe. I could forgive the first book because she had only just discovered her powers - and she does speak a lot about her aunt’s magical tea blends - but for a series that centres so much around Phoebe being a witch, we aren’t getting to see that in practice really at all.

Nevertheless, this was a fun book and I fully intend to read this series to completion once further books are released 🥰

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled to get into this one. The charm from the previous book wasn't there eventhough that story was mostly all that was mentioned. I mean, if you're afraid your readers won't remember the previous book, then please just dedicate just 1 chapter for a short recap and then get on with it.

Anyway, eventually we got back to the magic of the previous book and I quite enjoyed it.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I adore this series. It's reignited a love of small town witchy reads!
I'm about halfway through this currently - but just wanted to make a note that this book, more than the first does feature some everyday fatphobic thinking - mentioning about weight gain when eating, a few notes of mentioning weight when sitting on a porch swing, walking on a porch etc.. The overwhelming message being the same as all subconscious fat phobia - smaller is better.
Would have been very nice not have this as it is quite jarring and I just don't think it's needed.

Final thoughts - 4.5 stars
Same great vibe as the first one, but Phoebe was starting to get very frustrating meddling in this murder, it just didn’t always make sense what she was doing!
Also gonna be honest no romance at all in this book - not a deal breaker for me as I loved it for what it was though!

[Zara · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's a great book but I'm not sure mystery is the genre for me.

I love the characters and the plot, but because it's focusing more on mystery in this 2nd book in the series, I find myself losing interest 🥲
It’s common for this happen in series but I definitely enjoyed the first book more than this one - I felt that the story was a lot more engaging But I prefer reading romance or fantasy, so this isn’t my normal genre!

I love Phoebe Winchester character and the whole backstory of Lane End house & The tea shop. The world building characters really do feel like a hug. There’s a little bit of mystery in action without the gore and intense horror aspect that murder mysteries usually come with 🎃

There’s a small focus on romance, but it definitely isn’t the main plot, which is a nice change ✨

If you’re looking for a Murder mystery, then this is an ideal book series for you !!!

[Brianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Aria & Aries for supplying me with this eARC.

This could’ve been such a good cosy read, perfect for Autumn and Winter! The story centres around our FMC Phoebe who is a witch. Her being a witch has little to no impact on the plot, it just gives magical *vibes* and the fact half the book is about tea blend recipes. This magical aspect didn’t have any payoff and hardly added anything to the FMC.

The story? I hear you ask. It’s a murder mystery that Phoebe solves with the help of a *handsome* MMC. The MMC is about as bland as unflavoured ice cream and also has little to no impact on the plot (other than being a go between between FMC and the police). Additionally, the FMC keeps meddling with the murder investigation and outrightly antagonises a police officer, yet moans about how she doesn’t want to be a suspect? It was annoying and downright dumb. Even when she is told multiple times (after a MURDER ATTEMPT) to stay out of it, she continues to get involved.
The FMC should’ve just stuck to her tea blends.

The book is marketed as a cosy/witchy/murder mystery/romance and it doesn’t really deliver on any of them in a satisfying way. This book felt like it was juggling too many themes and should’ve stuck to one or two.
Maybe this wasn’t the book for me.

[Jennifer Rothwell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Phoebe Winchester is back and despite living in the cute, quaint town of Raven Creek, there's been yet another murder and bob the cat has been caught red pawed. Phoebe must track down who the killer is (because why trust the police?) with the help of her 'will they, won't they' boys, Rich and Leo (and honestly will they? Won't they? Who cares at this point.Just become a thruple already and it might make this book have some dynamism at least.)

Having read Something Wicked and being rather charmed (ehehehe) by it, I was excited for the second installment and intrigued by Piper's - oops I mean Phoebe's - ability to stop time.
However if you're expecting magic you'll have to wait...a long time. Perhaps Rue has indeed stopped time herself because it certainly felt like it when reading this snorefest. There is little to no magic in this. There was a vaguely interesting spell for remembrance and for a glimmering moment I hoped we'd see more of this craft discovery but, alas, alack. Note to fantasy writers, name dropping quartz in to a sentence once every couple of chapters does not a witchy book make.

When reading, I do not care for the minutiae. I do not care that she brushes her teeth (a given, surely) and then brushes her hair and then pulls on some jeans. I do not care if she adds cheese to her eggs on top of 'blonde' toast. I felt like she'd be telling me how she was driving: "Prue...no, sorry, Phoebe pushed her sock and trainer clad foot down on the clutch and then lifted her arm to the gearstick and pulled it in to second and accelerated before repeating the same movement and moving in to third. She breathed in and out and blinked simultaneously."

The one saving grace of the book was Bob the cat but even he became a crutch. When your most intriguing character is a ginger tom cat whose only vocabulary is the frequent 'mrows?' you repeatedly use, surely it's time to redraft?

In short, this book will charm (ahem) readers who have not read the far better Cackle or Secret Society of Irregular Witches but if you like, oh I don't know, spells and magic from a book called Spellbound, you're better off looking elsewhere.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for a review!

I swear to god, I need publishers to make it clear when a book is the second in a series on NetGalley. Thankfully, this book does essentially explain the entire plot of the first one, so it wasn't as dire as it has been, but still. All you need to do is say Book 2.

Here's the thing about this book. There's little to no romance. There's essentially no magic to the point where I kept forgetting Phoebe was supposed to be a witch because she doesn't do any magic and it doesn't help her solve the mystery at all. There's a mystery but it's not well written and the villain reveal confused me because it was a such a minor character that I didn't even remember. There's a lot about whatever Phoebe is making to eat? I'm not really sure what this book is.

Phoebe makes a lot of bad, suspicious decisions against the advice of everyone around her and seems to be genuinely trying to get herself killed. She proclaims she wants to solve the mystery because she doesn't want to be a suspect, but makes herself incredibly suspicious and also discovers almost nothing. I wish she was interested in mysteries, or it had something to do with magic, like she thought she could help the cops with alternative means because otherwise, it's such a flimsy reason to be doing all this.

Phoebe also talks and thinks a lot about her body and what she can and can't eat, and honestly it was clear that she had unaddressed body image issues, which is fine, but like, let's address that? It's not fun to read and it makes me really sad for her.

I've got to be honest, I didn't get this one. I don't know what niche it is, other than vaguely cozy and low stakes mystery? It didn't do it for me.

Two stars for Bob being cute.

[kimberley (thearieslibrary) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ rounded to 4⭐️

Phoebe Winchester discovers a dead body at an estate sale, where instantly the suspicion is casted on her. She takes it upon herself to try and clear her name with the help of a handsome private detective and childhood friend, whilst trying to deal with her unresolved feelings for him…

I love how cosy this series is as well as so many of the characters and I’m so glad to be back into the world of Raven Creek again! I did enjoy the plot for the most part and I really loved to see the friendships from the first book further blossom in this one. I also love how it gives recaps of what happened in the previous book so you don’t have to go reread it to figure out what had happened.

Unfortunately, I really didn’t like this book as much as the first in the series. Phoebe who is our MC in this book felt so annoying at times, which is why although I had a fun time with this book and found it hard to put down, she was one of the reasons I rated this book lower. Also, can we please stop with the “she released a breath she didn’t realise she was holding”? I feel like this is so overused that it’s boring to see.

For me, it felt so long winded in uncovering who the murderer was and what their motivation for the killing was, with this only being revealed within the last 10% ish of the book which felt way too long of a wait, especially when there was still so many questions to be answered. There was a minor plot hole when Phoebe said she’d drop off more tea bags for Amy the next day but it actually turns into 3 days later when she gives them to Amy.

I feel like you can’t really call this book a romance as it’s like a tiny sprinkle - I would actually love to see more of the romance present within this series and see how it develops. I’m guessing with the way it’s ended there’s gonna be another book so I hope that will further expand on certain things, for example the small parts of romance we do get. The ending did feel kind of abrupt - I was expecting more chapters and was shocked to see there wasn’t any more but if there is more to this series, I cannot wait to see how it progresses.

⚠️ CWs: alcohol use, murder, gun, mentions cheating, death ⚠️

Thank you NetGalley and Aria for the opportunity to read this book!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gretchen Rue’s Spell Bound is a delightful witchy romance sure to cast a spell on readers everywhere!

Phoebe Winchester’s To-Do List keeps getting longer and longer. Ever since she’s moved to Raven Creek, Phoebe has been renovating her Aunt Eudora’s cottage whilst also running a teashop (and secret apothecary) and learning to be a witch. Busy has become Phoebe’s middle name, however, things are about to get a whole lot more complicated for her when she stumbles upon a dead body at an estate sale and becomes suspect number one!

Desperate to clear her name, Phoebe realises that she’s going to need help if she’s to escape being jailed for a crime she didn’t commit, so she hires private investigator and childhood friend Rich Lofting. As if being wrongly accused of a criminal offence isn’t bad enough, Phoebe has to also keep her unresolved feelings for Rich under wraps – and that’s becoming more and more difficult with each passing day.

As their investigation takes a darker and sinister turn, Phoebe’s about to discover that there’s far more to Raven Creek than meets the eye. Will she manage to find out who is responsible for the dead body she found? Will she and Rich move out of the friend zone? Or is it all going to end in tears?

I couldn’t stop myself from galloping through Gretchen Rue’s Spell Bound. A beguiling mix of romantic comedy and cosy mystery, Spell Bound is imbued with laugh out loud humour, small town shenanigans, touching romance and plenty of nail-biting tension to keep readers glued to its pages from start to finish!

Fun, flirty and fabulous, Gretchen Rue’s Spell Bound should not be missed.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Rebecca Niven · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Now, to go see a witch about a murder."
Spell Bound - Gretchen Rue
⭐️⭐️⭐️(3/5)

Phoebe Winchester, a newcomer to a small town, uncovers her witchy heritage. After stumbling upon a murder at an estate sale, she is determined to find the culprit.

Firstly I would like to thank NetGalley and Aria & Aries for providing me with an e-ARC copy of this book!

On the whole, I enjoyed this story. It felt very cosy Gilmore Girls vibes with both the small-town setting and the characters. Phoebe is a likeable FMC who seems to be coming into herself more from living in this town and taking over her Aunt's shop and home.

I also really enjoyed that this is a very crime-focused book, and I was interested in the whodunit aspect of the story.

However, I did feel the witchy aspect of Phoebe's character got lost. I was hoping for an Ex-Hex or Her Majesty's Secret Service type of description about the magic system and how it was used in a modern setting. Unfortunately, the witch element of the book hung in the background and only presented itself a couple of times.

Additionally, I felt that there were a lot of unnecessary descriptions of random things that didn't drive the plot much and felt quite waffle-y. I feel if this was streamlined a bit more it would make for a better reading experience.

On the whole, this is an enjoyable quick and cosy read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys small-town crime.

(NB: This is the second book in a series and I did not read the first, however, I feel it does work well enough as a stand-alone)

MVP: Phoebe Winchester
Fave Character: Bob, the cat
Sounds Like: There She Goes - the La's

[MJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate giving less than 3 stars to any book, but this one was really disappointing to me. I thought I was going to enjoy it more than the first one because the premise was so cool (A witch going to a book auction in a mansion and there's a murder? Count me in!), but then it seems there's no time to explore Phoebe's magical powers or even create actual suspense about this murder because she's just too busy... baking and making (normal, not even magical) tea. I felt like I was reading a book of recipes with a side story. And the so-called romance wasn't there at all... Again. And I don't understand why the author introduced the so-called quirky group of old ladies that showed up at the store every Friday, right in the first book, and then we never see them, not even once in both books. What happened to "show, don't tell?".

So, once again, zero magic, zero romance, zero mystery (I knew who the killer was as soon as they mentioned him). And, just like in the first book, a few more typos.

I hope the author keeps writing and perfecting her craft (I certainly couldn't do it better) because there's something comforting and quirky about these books, and I like Phoebe (even though she's clearly a copy of Gilmore Girls' Lorelai), I like the town and I like Bob. I think there's so many stories that could be created around these characters and the town itself, if they didn't waste so much time on baking and making tea. Oh and fixing porches and cars and other things that literally have no influence on the rest of the story. But maybe it's just me.

[Tiny Dragon Books~ Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spellbound by Gretchen Rue
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Thank you to NetGalley, Aria and Aries Publishers and the author for the opportunity to review this ARC and provide my unbiased opinion 💗

Phoebe Winchester lives in small town Raven Creek, running a tea shop/undercover witch apothecary and renovating her Victorian Mansion. But upon discovering a dead body at an estate sale, Phoebe ropes in childhood friend (and now private investigator) Rich to help figure out who the murderer is.

I love a witchy read and a small town romance so was very pleased to find that Spellbound combines the two genres! It is the second book in the Phoebe Winchester series but there was enough background info included that it was fine to read as a standalone. It’s hard not to love Phoebe- she’s a community minded, book-obsessed animal lover- aren’t we all?! 🤣
The charm of Raven Creek was obvious with store names like The Sugarplum Fairy bakery and descriptions of quaint homes, cottagecore elements and loveable characters made this a cosy, slice-of-life read. The ‘new life-new me’ trope was great and, as a millennial, any book that references Destiny’s Child, Instagram and the Gilmore Girls is always going to be a hit.
I also LOVED the recipes in the back- what a sweet touch 💗 Spellbound is a feel-good read that would appeal to so many readers, particularly lovers of mystery and small town romance, or fans of Nancy Warren.

[vicky ꨄ︎ (s.ia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoebe is once again stuck in the middle of an investigation thanks to her cat Bob for discovering a death body at the estate sale. With her not wanting to be a suspect she takes it into her hands to start investigating on who is the killer.

This series is such a cosy read and I’m here for it. I love how the food and the tea is being describe in such a tempting manner, I would love to try them, that it gives out such a warm feeling to it. I loved how we got recap of the other story meaning that there’s no need to reread it.

Phoebe at times did seem more annoying, endearing her own life. This is a slow burn book, there’s still a small glimpse of who the love interest it, the interact a lot throughout this book but not enough for there to be any form of romance between them. I would love to see the romance develop further in the series.

One thing that made this book be a four star read was that we don’t get to see Phoebe revolve with her magic at all. It feels like we’re still at step one of her magic. She doesn’t practice her magic even though for someone who spends a lot of time talking about her aunts magical tea blends, there’s not enough magic for a book who centres based on witches and magic.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Krystina · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I got this book and it reminded me that I have another of Gretchen Rues sitting on my tbr! Luckily I didn't need to read that one before I could dive into this one. I've loved getting to know Phoebe and the collection of friends she's gained since moving to Raven Creek, it's lovely to see how the small town works, yes everyone knows your business but they're also there to help when things get tough. I say this every time there's a cat in a book I sit there and insist I'm not much of a cat person but I can't help but love Bob the cat, his antics have made me giggle out loud at times. He is just so full of personality that I think he might be my favourite character in the whole book!
It's a really fun book to read, i love how Phoebe goes all Miss Marple and tries to solve the murder with help from the ever-so-lovely Rich helping to keep her out of trouble which seemed to be quite a big job because it seems trouble likes Phoebe.
I've really enjoyed Gretchen Rue's writing style It has been, as I said, fun to read and so easy to read i think I read this in a day because it was just so easy to take in and keep reading. I'm heading back now to read her other book that's waving at me from my tbr!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cosy murder mystery with a side of romance and baking, and an adorable side kick, Bob the cat.

Phoebe is renovating an old Victorian Manor which was inherited from her Aunt Eudora, but that wasn't the only thing she inherited.. another thing was that she was a witch.

But what she doesn't expect, is to find a body at an auction (or Bob the cat to find it) and is forced to try and clear her name. The help she gets is from a handsome private detective, Rich.. who just so happens to be a childhood friend, with feelings attached.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
Love a small town murder mystery and romance weaved into the mix. But my overall love in this story was of course, Bob. I also loved Phoebe's passion and personality, especially with wanting to open an animal shelter in her shop for people to adopt - and her role in being an amateur detective.

This was a very cosy read and I flew through it! I also didn't realise this was the second book but didn't feel lost at all. The magic/Phoebe being a witch doesn't appear all too often, but I enjoyed the mystery nonetheless!

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for this copy. This review is voluntary.

[Nikki Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoebe Winchester is back in action. Her new life is suiting her. Small town, new and old friends, family business that she loves and the possibility of a romance in her future!

Attending an estate sale, to refresh inventory for the book shop, should have been a nice day out but not only does Bob the cat come along for the ride, she also stumbles across another murder! She's in the line of sight for the cops again and she has no intention of sitting around whilst the determine her innocence. So once again Rich steps in with his investigative experience to lend a hand.

Raven Creek is chockful of characters. Between the book shop regulars, the local council powermongers and a veritable smorgasbord of suspects - Phoebe has her work cut out for her finding the perpetrator(s).

There is enough recap from book 1 that you could fall into this book without having read book 1. Phoebe really needs to make a decision about Rich and Leo. As much as I love a will-they-won't they, I really need her to make up her mind LOL.

It did feel as if it read a wee bit slower than book 1 but that just could because it's been awhile since I read book 1. I thought the ending was a bit sudden, I was waiting for more of a round up but it wouldn't put me off reading more in the series.

Still really enjoy the characters and storyline and it's great to read about older characters having a new lease on life and a chance at romance. This is most definitely a murder-mystery with a hint of romance.

[leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spell Bound by Gretchen Rue is a continuation of her previous novel Something Wicked (which I loved). If you are looking for a cosy, magical, mystery novel - this series is for you.

In Spell Bound, Phoebe Winchester is now renovating the house she had previously inherited from her Aunt Eudora as well as running the bookshop/tea shop that she had also inherited. When the shelves in her bookshop are looking a bit empty she is recommended to attend a local estate sale of wealthy bibliophile where she could potentially get a good deal on a number of books. When Phoebe turns up at the estate sale, she notices a few odd characters but doesn't think much of it until Bob, her cat, stumbles across a dead body. Again, Phoebe has found herself wrapped up in a murder case.

The book follows Phoebe inserting herself into the investigation, due to suspicion falling on her she feels the need to clear her name - against the advice of friends and law enforcement. Rich, Leo, Honey, Imogen and all the other characters we loved are back from the previous book... as well as some we didn't (Dierdre).

I absolutely loved Something Wicked, but Spell Bound just wasn't as good for me. I still enjoyed it but, not the same as its predecessor. 3/5.

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book felt very similar to the first (which may not have been helped by reading them back to back) and because of that often felt slow going even with the murders and developments relating to that. I felt like it went nowhere until the last fifth of the book and then everything happened very quickly and all the pieces fell into place. 

I will say that these books show really positive friendships between Phoebe and those surrounding her in the town which is lovely to read. Again, very much a slow burn hinted at in regards to the romance between Phoebe and Rich as they haven't progressed forward in any way but I do like their friendship and the dynamic between them. 

I liked some parts of Phoebe a lot, she was independent, hardworking, and inquisitive but she also had absolutely no self preservation whatsoever. She could not let it go or even take a pause in investigating the murder, even when her friends and the detectives were concerned (rightly) about her safety which did become slightly frustrating. 

Lovely setting, sweet small town feel and a great community with interesting side characters that felt fleshed out in their own right. 

[Annie (is so far behind 😬) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this series of a new witch discovering and coming into her powers, whilst running a tea shop, making some friends in her new town, and solving some murders with the help of her ginger tomcat, Bob.

I enjoyed the first one, and this one was just as interesting, with a well-plotted and thought out mystery, although it would be nice to have some more magic involved. This time, Phoebe is at an estate sale at a nearby manor bidding on some books when she stumbles across a dead body that Bob - who's tagged along - has found in the manor.

With the help of her friend and tenant, Rich Lofting, a PI, she starts to investigate the murder, mostly to clear herself from any suspicion.

This was a fun read, and I'm looking forward to what Phoebe does next with the renovations to the manor, whether she goes ahead with the cat adoption centre, and how things play out, romance-wise, with Rich.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the eARC to read and review. Again, I'm very far behind and this one has lingered in the pile for far too long. All opinions are strictly my own.

[ruby :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the free copy provided in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 Stars rounded down
Spell Bound follows Pheobe and her beautiful side kick Bob (the cat- my favourite if you couldn't tell) as she investigates a murder mystery.
Did I realise this was the second book in a series? No, I did not.
Did it matter? Kind of no, I still had a great time, however, I probably would have benefited from the first book for some background info.
The witchy magic was not as central to the plot as I expected, but honestly, I found myself not caring because I was busy being anxious about the mystery! I won't say much for the sake of spoilers but for a quick read, the mystery built up well, I started mentally yelling at the main character to stay home as things got a little dangerous for our investigator, but simultaneously dying to see what happened next.
Overall, it was fun and adventurous and a great quick read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Spell Bound" by Gretchen Rue is an intriguing cozy murder mystery. Phoebe is a witch who inherits a Victorian manor from her aunt and is renovating it while getting caught up in a murder investigation. The inclusion of a cat named Bob adds a charming element to the story.

The main character, Phoebe, must clear her name after Bob discovers a body at an auction; this incident adds tension and mystery to the plot. The presence of a handsome detective, Rich, who is also a childhood friend, adds a familiar dynamic that creates interesting character relationships and conflict.

However, there was not much witchyness in the book. Depending on the reader's preference, this may or may not be a drawback but seeing as the book is called ‘spell bound’ and seeing as the main character is a witch I did expect a little more witchy business!

Overall, "Spell Bound" is a cozy read that combines elements of mystery, a charming cat, and a murder investigation. The cat was the highlight for me!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been 7 months since Phoebe moved to Raven's Creek and took over her Aunt's tea/bookshop. Things have settled down after the dramatic events of book 1. Her employee points out there's an estate sale where Phoebe can buy a load second hand books to sell. It sounds like a good idea until there's a stowaway cat and a murder to deal with.

I'm not sure this could be read as a standalone book - you need the context of the magic/teas etc. as I think it probably makes no sense without the history.

The magic has been upped in this book, but it's still very minimal for a book that's being sold as witchy. Honey does more intentional magic in this than Phoebe does. The lack of magic is explained (eventually, somewhere around chapter 29) but it doesn't quite feel real for a magical book.

The romance is still an incredibly slow burn (there's some vague flirting) so don't read this for the romance!

I was fully engrossed in the murder mystery - it's still a Hallmark type/Garage Sale Mysteries murder. If you're paying attention, you can probably figure out the murderer but I still ended up surprised.

I hope this isn't the end of the series - the romance hasn't happened, there's clearly a new love interest being teased with the new shop owner (although 3 love interests feels a bit much). I'd love more of the story - with more magic and some actual romance please! And I love Bob - I feel like he did more magic than Phoebe as well!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Anna Rut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4⭐️

Read if you are looking for:

💛 Cosy mystery with a bit of romance,
💛 Sweet and lovable characters,
💛 Witchy vibes,
💛 Small town setting.

It is a second book in a series but it can be read as a standalone. Gretchen Rue can create perfect cosy small town vibes and characters that you want to make friends with.
Phoebe, MFC, once again tries to solve a murder mystery in order to clear her name as it is her to find a dead body at estate auction. Once again, it is Rich to give her a hand in their privite investigation.

I loved first book and I really liked this one, however I was hoping that a plot regarding Phoebe and Rich relationship would be more developed. I am counting on coming back to Raven Creek to witness more of Phoebe's magic and finally I want Phoebe and Rich end up together.

Thanks to @headofzeus, @sierradeanauthor and @netgalley for giving me a chance to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[r3ading_journal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book to in the series and I have not read the first one, but it is not needed, it may be treated as a standalone with a tiny spoiler for book one.

I was intruiged when I first saw this book on NetGalley, so I requested an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion - so here we are.

Phoebe wants to live her calm and easy life, while renovating a mansion she inherited, running Tea Shop at the day, and witchy Apothecary after hours. She just wants to learn her witchcraft she newly discovered, Unfortunately, she is caught in the middle of murder investigation, and of course she needs to solve it, because it doesnt look good.

I liked cozy vibe this book is giving, even if I havent read the first book I didnt feel like I have lost something from Phoebes perspective, however for a witch book there was not enough witchy things going on inside. I was hoping for some spells and rituals, and well, it wasnt there. But still it was good read 😊.

[Sophie Boyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

Thank you, Aria & Aries, and NetGalley for approving this ARC.

I loved book 1, which I also read as an ARC, so to read book 2 as well, I was so happy to get stuck back into this cosy witchy world.

New to be a witch Phoebe gets herself in the middle of another murder investigation when she (her cat Bob) finds a dead body at an estate auction she is attending.

Phoebe can't help but want to use her sleuthing and witchy skills to use to help being justice and find the killer.

This book and series is just so cosy with that extra element of a mystery, it had book/tea shop, small town, slow burn romance, murder mystery and I really like Phoebe as a FMC esp as she is in her mid-late 30's.

Gretchen writes, and we feel like we are there in the story and she's really descriptive worh her characters and their feelings we understand why they are doing/feeling something which we don't often see in small town romances.

Fans of Murder she wrote are going to love this series.