Customer Reviews

Charmed Circle (Circle, Book 2)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Anothing winning entry in the Cass Shipton series! Ms. Riccio shows us a more in depth view of the Wiccan way of life in this novel, but the characters aren't whitewashed -- they struggle with dark thoughts the same as most people do, while always striving to embrace the light. I eagerly await the appearance of book 3 in 2005.

mystery, magic, friendship and love. has it all.

Having just recently (like yesterday) finished both of these books in this series I am just waiting for book #3...which was why I came to peek at Amazon and see if it was available yet! This author really creates a visual view of the characters and weaves their relationships together so smoothly that you feel as if you do know them. Makes you a bit envious of their friendships! She speaks with knowledge as she writes and the entire combination is a wonderful blend. Definately a good read!!

I've read both of the Cassandra Shipton novels by Ms. Riccio, and have enjoyed them. It's nice to read about people who act like you do, especially if they're involved in an adventure that you probably won't see in your own lifetime! I have to admit I did feel that both books could have been slightly longer, some of the important parts get tossed off, in my opinion. It seems like the characters who die should be introduced to us earlier, to be made to mean something to us, so that their passing is more devastating. At any rate, I am looking forward to the next installment! www.moonchildiva.com

The second in a series (after Circle of Five), this book is as good as the first. Good thriller that's not overly violent. Love the interaction between the main characters. I caught myself laughing out loud many times. Also enjoyed the newer characters. The Wiccan and herbal info is accurate but not over done. This book is easily enjoyed by pagans and non-pagans. I hope there are many more books in this series! According to the authors website, she's finished 2 more books (after #4) and has started a 3rd. For some reason, they're not getting published! On the authors website, you can find an email address to pass on your support for this series of books to the publisher and ask for more! And if anyone has a clue as to why there's a problem with getting these books published, please share...because I'm completely baffled! UPDATE: on the author's website she states that she is no longer working with her old publisher and is looking for a new one. Let's hope she finds one very soon!

Ms Riccio, I'm soooo hooked on your series with Cass. All the women in your stories are now people I look forward to visiting with. Please keep the books coming. I can't wait for the next one.

First Line: An enchanting afternoon in April, windows wide open to the scent of lilac and ocean breeze freshening the house-- my spirit should have been lifting and soaring like a gull over the waves, but here was Deirdre sipping tea and dispensing gloomy suspicions at my kitchen table.

Between her herbalist business and her circle of friends, Cass Shipton has been busy. The last thing she needs is a troubled teen underfoot, but when "Freddie" McGinty shows up trailing disaster in her wake, Cass feels that it's her duty to help the girl understand and control the powerful gifts she's been given.

All Plymouth is talking about the recent disappearance of a local family, and Cass begins having disturbing visions of dense forests, a shallow grave, and a very sinister man. Cass calls on her circle of friends to help her find the missing family before it's too late.

So far, I've enjoyed this series which gives insight into the Wiccan way of life, a way of life that's very much in tune with nature and has a great deal more to do with common sense and compassion than most people realize. What makes Riccio's books so enjoyable is threefold: (1) Cass's "conversations" with her dog, (2) every woman in Cass's circle of friends has her own foibles; no one is perfect, and (3) it's so refreshing to have a female character over the age of forty who has a fun, healthy sex life.

The thing that I questioned in this book was the treatment of the villain. For most of the book, he's a phantom and very seldom seen. All the reader knows is someone opens a box and-- BOOM! the person is blown to smithereens. As the body count mounts, the bad guy almost becomes Super Villain, and his capture at the end is tame in comparison to the trail of destruction he'd strewn earlier.

Be that as it may, it had been two or three years since I read the first book in the series, but I had no problem getting back into the setting and characters again. Don't feel as though you have to begin at the beginning. The cast of characters and their lifestyle are well worth getting to know.

This is the second book in the series, and I wanted to read them in order, although it would not be necessary in order to enjoy the story, the characters, the rituals, the herbs, the locale. I've learned so much about Wicca, and about the uses of herbs since the narrator has a business growing herbs and selling herbal products such as creams, herbal pillows and the like. Descriptions are so vivid that I feel I really know the characters involved. I hope there will be a reprint of Book 4 since it is only now available on Kindle. I would welcome a book of herbal preparations and of recipes for the wonderful food that's described, as well as crafts and candles, as a companion to the series. Verona Bennetto

Although shipping time from any linked bookstore suffers in comparison with Amazon, this book took longer than usual to arrive. I had ordered five books in the series from Amazon and other sources; book two arrived at least ten days after all the others had been delivered. It was a funny way to read the series...

The book condition provided by the seller was accurate, and I enjoyed the series.

Great seller, item arrived well packaged and extremely fast shipping. No complaints here...very pleased and would buy from again.