Review: HOWL PLAY by Melanie Snow

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal

3***

Blurb: A novice witch. A collie companion. Can this clever duo put noses to the ground to chase down a killer? Sarah Spellwood can’t wait to learn all her powerful ancestor’s magic and repair the reputation of witches. But despite hours of study and her talking dog’s support, she still doubts her spellcasting skill. And she’s about to face a major test when she’s plunged into a battle between good and evil after the enchanted forest’s protective deed is stolen and the town clerk brutally murdered…With the finger pointing at woodland wolves for the fatal mauling, Sarah and her pooch pal vow to help the handsome police officer Eli Strongheart dig up the truth and clear the innocent creatures’ names. But when darkness rises to threaten the unprotected woods and its inhabitants, she’ll need to fight a formidable magical enemy to stop its destruction. Can Sarah save the wolves and recover the deed before Witchland meets a terrible fate? Howl Play is the second book in the sweet Spellwood Witches cozy mystery series. If you like cute flirty romance, discovering one’s true destiny, and love for animals, then you’ll adore Melanie Snow’s barking-ly fun adventure.

THOUGHTS: This is much like the first book in the series – adult issues, but much younger writing. In this one, Sarah and friends are trying to save the town from and evil spirit who wants to bring dark magic to the town. The town clerk is murdered and all the fingers point to a wolf, but Sarah knows a wolf didn’t do this. Or not a real wolf.

Things I liked: the cute-meet between the dog and the real wolf. And the plot line was intriguing. I liked how Sarah stood by her friend.

Things I could have done without: lack of any historical accuracy. The fact that in the first book, she acquired a lynx as her spirit animal, but in this one, she acquires a wolf. Very confusing. The writing dragged at times.

Kind of recommended? It’s a cute story, but the writing needs some sprucing up.