In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones

Item: In the Wick of Time
Rating: 4
Author: BaronessMom

Posted August 15, 2023 by BaronessMom in #HolidayMystery, Mystery, Review, Series / 0 Comments

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

In the Wick of Time

by Valona Jones

Series: Magic Candle Shop Mystery #2
Series Rating:

Published by Crooked Lane Books on October 17, 2023
Setting: Savannah, Georgia
Genres: Cozy Paranormal Crafts and Hobbies Mystery
Pages: 288
Format: ebook, Hardcover, Kindle
Source: NetGalley
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Nook

December in Savannah, Georgia, is a sight to behold. With all the festivities—including the traditional riverfront luminary display during the boat parade—twin sisters Tabby and Sage Winslow are busier than ever setting up for the big celebration. But that isn’t the only thing on the sisters’ minds. Both Sage and her fellow employee Mary Nicole are vying for the sought-after assistant manager job at the plant nursery. But when Loren Lee, their boss, is found dead, and Sage becomes the police’s favorite suspect, both Winslow girls know that they’ll need more than a flicker of magic and their sisterhood to solve the murder and clear Sage’s name.

Soon, Tabby realizes that this is just one of the many problems they have. If being a suspect for murder wasn’t enough, there are more magical problems that they have to fix: Sage’s boyfriend is having a paranormal experience of his own he can’t control, there’s an energy vampire searching for his supposedly lost cousin, and oh—every time Tabby hiccups, she turns completely invisible. The suspect list grows with each day and it seems everyone has a reason or a connection to Loren Lee, Tabby and Sage are burning the candle at both ends—but will it be enough to keep their friends safe and find this killer? Or will they be burned by their efforts?

In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones is wonderfully written and captures the sister bond perfectly. I love the entire package.

Will Tabby figure out what is going on in Savannah before she loses her sister?

Sage and Tabby Winslow

Our sleuths are fraternal twins, Sage and Tabby Winslow. However, our point of view is Tabby. Tabby is younger by a few minutes and shorter than Sage. They can use energy to do some really cool paranormal things. Tabby is still figuring out how her powers work, either through her candle and soap making or how she interacts with the people in her life. She can also read auras. Tabby has a beau who has waited for her to accept him for a long time. The intimacy feels right, but Sage is jealous of Tabby’s relationship and the time that Tabby spends with Quig. Tabby is learning more about herself, and she is starting to place boundaries for other people.

I like Tabby. She has a sweet heart and wants to help others. However, she isn’t good at asking for help, which I can understand. I think there is more to her boyfriend than meets the eye. I look forward to learning about that and why it is vital for Tabby’s well-being.

Sage, the older sister, is a bit taller and needs more energy than she seems to be able to create on her own. Sage automatically starts pulling energy from Tabby as soon as they are together. Sage is happier with plants around, suggesting that has something to do with her magical power. To me, Sage seems like a hot mess. She isn’t as nice as Tabby and sometimes lets her anger get the best of her. Sage also makes snap decisions and isn’t easy to sway afterward. I like Sage, but I don’t think she is entirely self-aware of how much her sister does for her. Also, Sage always thinks of herself first and then others.

The Mystery

We have a few things going on. First, we have the death of Sage’s boss at the nursery, which, of course, Sage is a suspect. Then we have Aunt O’s boyfriend’s past, that seems to have jumped up and is biting everyone near them. Then we have Sage’s boyfriend, possibly spelled or hexed. Sage is messed up with their break up and dealing with her feelings. Add in a few new people, some high school acquaintances with a grudge, and Ms. Jones has a fantastic mystery that kept me guessing.

Four Stars

I truly enjoyed this story. The mystery, the sister’s bond, the paranormal aspect of the story, the grouchy police detectives, and the setting are all superb. My rating for In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones is four stars, and I recommend that you check it out. Hopefully, in the near future, I will be able to read the first book in the series, Snuffed Out.

Magical Candle Shop Mysteries

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones.

Until the next time,

About Valona Jones

Valona Jones writes paranormal cozy mysteries set in Southern locales. Her work blends mystery and the unexplained, along with a sprinkle of romance. A former scientist, she’s drawn to the study of personal energy. She sharpened her people-watching skills as a lifelong introvert and thankfully had a bank vault full of personal observations when she began to write fiction. She’s a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She lives in coastal Georgia, where she’s seen time and tide wait for no one.

Maggie Toussaint writes cozy mystery and suspense under her own name and the pen name Valona Jones. She writes science fiction as Rigel Carson.

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