Eat Pray Hex Book Review: A Cozy Mystery by Tara Lush
I’ve been looking for a new cozy mystery series to start, and The Crescent Moon Series by Tara Lush caught my eye. The covers are so adorable and all of the books are available in Kindle Unlimited. So last week I decided to check out Eat Pray Hex which is the first book in the series. And let me tell you, I think fans of quirky stories will really enjoy this first book in the series. Please keep reading for my full Eat Pray Hex book review.
What is Eat Pray Hex by Tara Lush About?
Paranormal and perimenopausal? Amelia’s got double trouble.
When hot flash–prone cookie shop owner Amelia inherits a spooky Florida inn, she plans to sell it fast. But the place is haunted by an unsolved murder, and her dead aunt tasks her with using her newfound psychic powers to crack the case.
Armed with nothing but a cat named Freddie Purrcury and a posse of supernaturally-gifted locals, Amelia taps into the spirit world to unravel clues about the decades-old crime. She expected creaky floorboards, not messages from the other side.
Between misbehaving ghosts, a slow-burn attraction to her ghost hunting guide, and her deepening connection to her estranged aunt, this midlife paranormal adventure isn’t what Amelia bargained for. But if she can’t embrace her emerging psychic gifts and solve the mystery, the spirits may sink her hotel sale for good.
Saddle up for a suspenseful yet laugh-out-loud tale proving it’s never too late to awaken your inner psychic detective. EAT, PRAY, HEX is a cozy paranormal read for fans of quirky stories, supernatural hijinks, and a daring heroine trying not to lose her mind at midlife. (from amazon.com)
Who is Tara Lush?
Tara Lush is a cozy mystery author who is known for the Coffee Lovers Mystery Series, the Crescent Moon Mystery Series, and the Critters & Criminals Mystery Series. She is a a RWA Rita finalist, an Amtrak writing fellow and the winner of the George C. Polk award for environmental journalism. She’s also known for her contemporary romance novels written under the name Tamara Lush. You can find out more about her and her books on her website.
Why Did I Want To Read This Book?
My first reason for wanting to read this book is that I’m a fan of the author, Tara Lush. I’ve read the first couple of books in her Coffee Lovers Mystery Series and really enjoyed them. I do still need to finish that series, but in the meantime I was looking for something a little spooky.
I’ve always had this secret dream of running a bed and breakfast, so B&B cozy mysteries are right up my alley. Amelia was a little uneasy at first because of the restless spirit in her hotel, but that just made for an interesting murder mystery to solve.
What are some Fun Elements to This Story?
The Setting
Amelia Matthews is originally from the Sunshine state, but she takes a short vacation to Florida. Her Aunt has just passed away and left her Inn to her. Her intention is for it to be a short trip. She just needs to sit down, go through the Inn’s finances, and put it on the market.
But things are never that easy. As she discovers the mysterious world of weird Florida, she starts to have a change of heart. It’s the people that she meets in town, including hilarious Liz and quirky historian sidekick Oliver, who help to change her mind.
The Magic
Amelia discovers from her Aunt’s letters (and some new friends in town) that she has hidden psychic abilities. And her abilities are especially powerful at the Inn. I enjoyed reading about her journey of discovering what causes what, and how she can use that to her ability.
While it’s normally an eerie journey to try to appease unhappy ghosts, I loved how all of Amelia’s new friends were willing to help her. The séance scene was so entertaining and a great way to help our paranormal sleuth collect more information.
If anyone can solve these spooky happenings, it’s Amelia and the gang! Haha. I can’t wait to read about how her magical abilities develop in future books.
The Fun Cast of Characters
At the end of the book, Amelia is talking on the phone with her brother and he points out how she’s never made friends that fast. So it feels very special that Amelia made new friends in her new town so quickly. Liz and Amelia bond right off the bat. And there’s Jimbo, who works at the Crescent Moon Inn. Add in the Oliver (charmingly handsome local historian) and his younger sister Sage (who is a Cowgirl and a Witch, thank you very much) plus all of the other townspeople who help Amelia solve the murder mystery.
It’s a pretty fun group and they have a lot of comical moments together. I’m sensing some romantic feelings between Oliver and Amelia.
In Conclusion
If Eat Pray Hex is any indicator, I think I’m really going enjoy the Crescent Moon Mystery Series. I just love that the whole town has a bit of magic in it. And I love how open they are about it. I feel like in a lot of stories the main character has to keep their magic a secret.
So if you like cozy mysteries with a lot of humor and a touch of magic, make sure you check this one out. Eat Pray Hex is an excellent start to the series and I can’t wait to find out what happens next. I hope my Eat Pray Hex book review has inspired you to grab a cup of strong coffee and settle in with this newer cozy mystery series.
