Customer Reviews

Would-Be Witch (A Southern Witch Novel)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Tammy Jo Trask comes from a long line of witches. Too bad the ability seems to have skipped a generation. Tammy Jo's attempts at magic usually end in disaster, or at least a scorched yard and herb garden. But when the locket containing the family ghost is stolen she goes on the hunt, and uses a little magic in the process.

The locket is stolen in the midst of a crime spree in the small town of Duvall, Texas and the theft sets off a chain reaction of events that show Tammy Jo there's more to life than meets the eye. It attracts the attention of Deputy Zach Sutton, Tammy Jo's ex-husband whom she has an on-off relationship that is currently in the on mode.

It also attracts the attention of Bryn Lyons, an uber-sexy wizard that wants Tammy Jo for himself. The problem with that is Tammy Jo received a list from her family of things to avoid in life, and that list includes avoiding anyone named Lyons.

As the hunt for the locket continues Tammy Jo finds herself facing many challenges including the fact her magic may not be as dormant as it may seem. Now if she can just come out of this adventure alive, things will be terrific.

Would-Be Witch is the first book in the new Southern Witches series by Kimberly Frost and I have to say it left me wanting more. I adored Tammy Jo's plucky behavior, from the first page where she doesn't back down from her rival to the last, where she stands up for herself again.

Watching her interact with Zach was tender and I could see the love/hate relationship between them and understand its nuances. And the addition of sexy Bryn just made things hotter. The world in which our three main characters live is fun and full of interesting beings.

This tale was nonstop, from the first page to the last and when I was done I found myself pining to see what came next. That makes Would-Be Witch a definite Recommended Read for me.

Ms. Frost has penned the start of an interesting new series that is sure to win her many fans.

Amelia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

The day doesn't start off well for Tammy Jo Trask. First she has to deal with that pesky Jenna Reitgarten, and then her family's ghost, Edie, makes an unexpected appearance. Worse, the night ends with a robbery that leaves Tammy Jo only six days to find her locket or risk the complete destruction of Edie's ghost. Tammy Jo has never shown any inclination towards magic but it's her only hope if wants to save Edie. Meanwhile, two men are vying for her attention, her ex-husband Zach Sutton and magician Bryn Lyons. Can Tammy Jo be more than a WOULD-BE WITCH?

WOULD-BE WITCH is Kimberly Frost's debut novel and a fantastic kick-off to what looks to be a promising series. Ms. Frost doesn't hesitate to throw her characters right into the heat of the action as the story takes off at a breakneck pace that doesn't let up till the very end. One note of caution, however. WOULD-BE WITCH has romantic elements but it definitely is not a conventional romance and readers looking for the typical elements of a romance might be uncomfortable with Tammy Jo's indecision regarding Bryn and Zach.

Tammy Jo is the quintessential version of true Southern snarkiness. Her manners intermingle with her snappy attitude to produce some hilarious moments. The small town environment will resonate with anyone who has ever spent time in one as Kimberly Frost perfectly captures the atmosphere. Admittedly, there are some over-the-top moments as well but the overall tone makes it work.

WOULD-BE WITCH is a fun read. It will be interesting to see what direction Kimberly Frost takes with her characters in future books. Easily recommended.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Tammy Jo is 23, red-headed, sassy, and too hot-tempered for her own good. She has failed magical powers, a failed marriage, a failed career, and the only thing she is supposed to do is keep her Aunt Edie's locket (which is attached to Edie's ghost) safe and she fails that as well.

With her remaining aunts off fighting other battles, Tammy Jo is alone in Duval, Texas, sans locket, suddenly attracting a lot of paranormal attention including werewolves and the living dead. In addition to that she is also attracting the attention of her sexy, and charming ex-husband Kyle and a wizard named Bryn Lyons who is strictly off limits for reasons Tammy doesn't know. The characters are quirky and flawed and oh so lovable. Kyle, Tammy's ex is a good ol' boy who you want to punch then smooch and Bryn is very 007 with wizard skills.

Although the story wraps up a little too quickly, the tone is light and funny and makes you want the answers to many questions which will hopefully be answered in the upcoming installments:

1. Why must Tammy Jo stay away from Bryn?
2. Where the heck are the Aunts?
3. What happened to Edie?
4. Will Tammy Jo get back together with Kyle or will she succumb to Bryn and his magical abilities.

A very promising new series!

This book held so much promise, but I just couldn't get into it. I really didn't like the main charecter. Perhaps she showed some growth after I stopped reading (around page 105) but I found her annoying. The main thing that frustrated me was her relationship with her ex, the guy has no faith in her and treats her like dirt, but she just can't resist sleeping with him. I like characters to have faults that show that they are human, but I also like them to have enough good qualities that I care what happens with them. After a hundred pages, I didn't really care what happened to Tammy Jo.

Would-Be Witch
I LOVED this book. I have been hooked on supernatural romance/suspense since I discovered Charlaine Harris' books a few years ago. I read quite a few in this genre, and this is the BEST one I have had the pleasure of devouring in quite a while.

Tammy Jo (main character)is smart, funny, insightful and lovely. Frost's writing is compelling and authentic and I couldn't put the book down--and when I did, I was sorry it was all over!

If you are a Sookie Stackhouse fan, you will dig Kimberly Frost's depiction of a well-intentioned, good-hearted would-be witch trying to make her way in a small town filled with (mostly) big hearts and (definitely) big mouths.

This is a real treat!!! Enjoy!

I was sent this book in Iraq by the Austin RWA, little knowing that the author herself had left it with our group. I was pleasantly suprised when I opened the first page and discovered I could not put it down. This book had me laughing out loud, not only at the relationship between Tammy and her cat (pet owners you'll love it) but at the very real and honest way she portrayed a woman who kept trying to do the right thing and ended up doing it wrong. Ms Frost is a talent to keep in mind the next time at the book store and I'm eagerly awaiting the next one. Great Read!

I have to agree with a previous reviewer who said she didn't care what happened to Tammy Jo. Honestly, neither did I. Her relationship with her ex-husband, Zach, was just plain annoying (there is a reason he is an ex). And, the author didn't even give readers a small hint as to why she should not go near Bryn Lyons (other than "he's on the list").

I got sort of frustrated towards the end of the book too. There were too many mystical characters running around the town of Duvall and all it did was muddy up the story of Tammy Jo trying to find Edie's locket.

Tammy Jo did progress throughout the book, slightly. At least she took her cat over either of those two self-centered men.

I hope the next book is more pulled together than this one.

Tammy Jo Trask comes from a long line of witches, but at the ripe old age of twenty-three, she's never manifested a bit of magical power - not even one tiny spell. Although her momma and her Aunt Melanie, when not off gallivanting Lord knows where, still hold hopes that Tammy will come into her power, it's not like she needs lots of magic in her small Texas hometown of Duvall.

Tammy Jo's hunk of an ex-husband doesn't believe in magic, but he loves the girl. Deputy Zach Sutton is a man who knows what he wants. Evidently he thought that meant it was okay to ignore Tammy after they said their "I dos." But even after she gets the divorce decree that says, "I don't," it's impossible to say, "I won't," when Zach wants to give her a little of his sweet lovin'.

So Tammy Jo moves on and becomes the best little pastry chef in town. Course that's before she lets her redheaded witch's pride overrule common sense and gets herself fired. Then things go from bad to worse.

When a strange burglar strikes and carries off Tammy Jo's family locket, which just happens to house the family ghost, Tammy must turn to the sexy wizard, Bryn Lyons, for help with developing her powers. The problem with Bryn is that anyone with the Lyons name is off-limits for witches in Tammy's family. A big no-no. Why, hasn't she been taught that since she was a baby?

But what's a girl supposed to do when her very own ghost's soul is at risk. After all, Bryn did give Tammy Jo her kitten and new best friend, Mercutio. And no, he's not a leopard, he's an ocelot.

As it turns out, vampires and werewolves - and some other surprising creatures - can keep a girl pretty busy. What follows is a witty and fun adventure that involves Tammy testing her powers by casting a few spells and testing her limits with two sexy, sometimes lovable, sometimes wouldn't-you-just-love-to-smack-`em guys.

Kimberly Frost brings a charming new voice to the paranormal world of romance. It's a tasty treat and I enjoyed every page.

Fluff. I tried it since it said it was 'southern' (saying 'well butter my butt and call me a biscuit' does not make it southern, just (one of many) cliche(s)) and let's face it, I knew it would be fluff. Some fluff is entertaining. Some is not. This had moments of both. I liked her cat, Mercutio, better than any other character since he actually HAD character (entertaining fluff). We meet Tammy Jo (southern name ahem?), a VERY naive sort-of witch. She doesn't know what the red light district is and thinks that Gaelic is something her gay buddy (hairstylist of course) Johnny would do, but she is (of course) an unearthly beauty, has her own special charm that has 2 men panting after her, and a raw magical talent that is stronger than anyone. I finished it in 2 hrs and straight up, I wish the cat had a book - his moments were all I looked for/cared about. Mercutio, that extra half star is for you, pretty kitteh!

This book was a great twist on the whole werewolf / witch fantasy genre. The love triangle between Bryn and Zach is highly entertaining. I am looking forward to the release of Barely Bewitched in Sept. 2009...