Spirits and Sourdough is the next entry in the Magical Bakery Mystery Book Series, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I actually started this on my Kindle and then the publisher sent me the Audiobook version, so I switched to that format, and enjoyed it a lot, so I finished it that way. I have really enjoyed seeing how much Katie has grown over the books and is learning so much about her gifts and her powers. The friendships in this book are heartwarming and I always enjoy learning new things about the secondary characters as well as the main characters.

The solid thing about this book is the characters. The author doesn't just focus on Katie, but spends time developing her secondary characters as well as introducing new ones to the friendship group which is always nice to see. I have enjoyed Katie's journey throughout the series and how she has learned to use her magic more confidently; this means also learning to work around stubborn characters such as Detective Quinn when he wants to know how she knows so much about his cases. You always have to have someone who is suspicious of what you do, but I am glad Katie wasn't necessarily at odd with Quinn in this book. It was a nice change of pace and honestly, I don't know why there always has to be someone who is suspicious of someone else's gifts' in books or why the plot has to include that element in it.

The murder aspect of this book was a bit lacking, and it did slow down the overall pace of the book as the author did not make it a central part of the plot. There was a lot going on in this book, which was not the problem as I enjoy multiple plots and multiple aspects to a book as long as they all thread together in the end, but I felt like the author wasn't quite sure on which thread to really focus and sort of switched back and forth realizing something had not yet been solved. This meant the actual mystery took a back seat quite a bit and to be honest, when things did go back to it, I got bored as it wasn't all that interesting. Predictable, yes. Interesting, no. However, the rest of the story was engaging and I was glad to see the author put some focus on the issue with Connell and Declan as I was hoping that would get resolved in this book.

Verdict
Spirits and Sourdough was a solid entry in this series, but I did find the murder mystery aspect somewhat lacking. Although there was a lot going, I don't feel like it distracted from the overall book, and as always, I love the baking aspect of the book with some yummy recipes mentioned. The author's writing style has a way of drawing you into the Katie's world and although the mystery was weak, the rest of the story is...well, magical. It is very evident the author has put a lot of thought into both the world building and character development, and it is this that keeps me coming back to this series. ( )

Spirits and Sourdough by Bailey Cates is the tenth A Magical Bakery Mystery. It can be read as a standalone because the author provides the necessary background information. However, I recommend reading this enchanting series in order as it will allow you to get to know the characters and their backstories. I always look forward to picking up the latest A Magical Bakery novel. This series contains delightful characters who live in the charming town of Savannah, Georgia. It is nice to catch up with Katie, Lucy, Ben, Declan, Mungo, and the members of the spellbook club. Spirits and Sourdough is well written with developed characters. The plot is well thought-out. The magic is believable and well done. The author explains the magic in easy-to-understand terms (magic of a hedge witch or kitchen witch). I like how this group of witches use their powers for good. They help other people especially at the Honeybee Bakery. The mystery was interesting. There are subtle clues (if you pay close attention) as well as key pieces of information that will help readers solve the crime. I like that there was only a handful of suspects (just the right amount). I had a good time following the clues and solving the whodunit. I liked the reveal that nicely wrapped up the crime. My favorite part of the story is Katie trying to retrieve Connell. Connell is amusing and I love his accent. Bailey Cates did a great job at mixing mystery, romance, and the paranormal into one magical tale. Spirits and Sourdough is a spirited story with a dragonfly bodement, a lost leprechaun, a bevy of baked goods, a departed patron, trick or treating, a Samhain spell, and Katie works to catch a killer. ( )

Katie Lightfoot, co-owner of Honeybee Bakery in Savannah, GA, is preparing for Halloween. She and some friends decide to go on a Ghost Tour. Unfortunately, their guide sees a ghost of a recently dead woman and has trouble dealing with it. The guide tells Katie that the ghost demands that Katie find its murderer. Katie is used to the paranormal, as she is a hereditary hedgewitch. But, Katie's thoughts are on more important things. Her new husband recently lost his spirit guide, a leprechaun named Connor. Katue has plans to try to find Connor on Halloween when the veil between worlds is the thinnest. It was an ok read. I have been waiting a year for this novel to be published, but I am disappointed. It doesn't have the action or energy of previous entries. It just seems to plod along, not making much use of the interesting characters which have developed along with the series. I hope the next book is better, as this was simply "meh..". ( )