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gellenmum's review against another edition
5.0
This is the second book featuring these characters. A gentle mystery with an array of likeable individuals - including the newly introduced Xander who may or may not be a future love interest.
We didn’t learn that much more about Ellie’s past in this book but hopefully will do in future books but the affectionate writing - even towards the less likeable characters - is charming and endearing. It’s almost like a warm hug of a book which I enjoyed very much. If there are future books I’d love there to be more about the histories of the various characters in the town - as I am sure there are interesting stories to be told there. I look forward to the next book.
We didn’t learn that much more about Ellie’s past in this book but hopefully will do in future books but the affectionate writing - even towards the less likeable characters - is charming and endearing. It’s almost like a warm hug of a book which I enjoyed very much. If there are future books I’d love there to be more about the histories of the various characters in the town - as I am sure there are interesting stories to be told there. I look forward to the next book.
condygurl's review against another edition
5.0
Go Bowling with some friends and wind up sucked into a murder.
That seems to be the way things work in Ellie's life.
This book kept me reading and I finished it rapidly only to want to know more.
Who is this dark man Xander?
I can't wait to find out more in the next book!
If you want a fun, loveable mystery come and check out Bowling Blunder.
While you do not need to read the first book in the series to enjoy this book, I do suggest you read book 1 and then book 2 since there are quite a few mentions in this book of things that happened in book 1.
Nice Clean Read for younger teens and anyone else who wants to just enjoy the story and characters.
That seems to be the way things work in Ellie's life.
This book kept me reading and I finished it rapidly only to want to know more.
Who is this dark man Xander?
I can't wait to find out more in the next book!
If you want a fun, loveable mystery come and check out Bowling Blunder.
While you do not need to read the first book in the series to enjoy this book, I do suggest you read book 1 and then book 2 since there are quite a few mentions in this book of things that happened in book 1.
Nice Clean Read for younger teens and anyone else who wants to just enjoy the story and characters.
victoria7401's review against another edition
4.0
I was able to read an ARC of the book last week and I'm happy to share my opinions, which as per usual are all mine!
This book is on the shorter side, so it's great for a nice weekend read. There are quite a few female characters so you might want to read this when you have time to focus on it over a day or two instead of reading it in snatches of free time here and there over a long period of time.
One of the reasons I find this series so entertaining is that we the reader are learning about Ellie's magic alongside her and it's so fun to see what happens next! It's a delightful tension in the story. Also, the themes of Ellie's search for belonging and acceptance continue in this book and you just have to root for her to flourish in this small Iowa town. I enjoyed how the town is now turning to her to solve crimes even as she says she doesn't have the right skill set, looks like the town knows her better than she knows herself!
As a runner, I was both amused and horrified by the Trot and Tater race. I could NOT eat a bucket of mashed potatoes at the finish line of a race.
The ending of Bowling Blunder is super sweet and I'm excited to read what happens in book three. I'm definitely hoping for more scenes with Ellie and the mystery motorcycle man!
4.5 stars!
This book is on the shorter side, so it's great for a nice weekend read. There are quite a few female characters so you might want to read this when you have time to focus on it over a day or two instead of reading it in snatches of free time here and there over a long period of time.
One of the reasons I find this series so entertaining is that we the reader are learning about Ellie's magic alongside her and it's so fun to see what happens next! It's a delightful tension in the story. Also, the themes of Ellie's search for belonging and acceptance continue in this book and you just have to root for her to flourish in this small Iowa town. I enjoyed how the town is now turning to her to solve crimes even as she says she doesn't have the right skill set, looks like the town knows her better than she knows herself!
As a runner, I was both amused and horrified by the Trot and Tater race. I could NOT eat a bucket of mashed potatoes at the finish line of a race.
The ending of Bowling Blunder is super sweet and I'm excited to read what happens in book three. I'm definitely hoping for more scenes with Ellie and the mystery motorcycle man!
4.5 stars!
ssejig's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
3.0
Ellie didn't grow up with a lot of friends but she is slowly building a community in her new town. She's got her group of older ladies that run and take her yoga classes. She's also got Bex who she works with at the diner. Slowly but surely, she is making a place for herself. Yes, there are still people who accuse her of being a witch (her hair changes color/style with her emotions) but she knows that she wants to stay. It's just too bad that there's been another murder. This time at the local bowling alley.
Ellie's ex-boyfriend's fiancee (yep), Samantha, is still in town and trying to argue that his property should go to her instead of the man's mother (he died in the previous book in this series.) Samantha is also a part of a bachelorette weekend that is somehow also in this same small town. It is one of the bridesmaids who gets murdered.
Is the mystery solution a little convoluted? Yes. Is the magic starting to get a little wild (we meet Xander, a warlock, in this book)? Yes. Am I going to keep reading this series? Heck yes. I want to see where it goes.
Ellie's ex-boyfriend's fiancee (yep), Samantha, is still in town and trying to argue that his property should go to her instead of the man's mother (he died in the previous book in this series.) Samantha is also a part of a bachelorette weekend that is somehow also in this same small town. It is one of the bridesmaids who gets murdered.
Is the mystery solution a little convoluted? Yes. Is the magic starting to get a little wild (we meet Xander, a warlock, in this book)? Yes. Am I going to keep reading this series? Heck yes. I want to see where it goes.
ljwrites85's review against another edition
4.0
Ellie is still getting into the swing of things in her new home of Cliff Haven, Iowa, even though there are still persistent rumours that she's a witch and that she's responsible for bringing crime to the town's doorstep. It doesn't help that during a game of bowling the lights go out and a member of a visiting bridal party is found dead and one of her neighbours is missing. Even though she'd been warned off investigating when she's asked to look into things, she can't help getting involved.
So this is the second in the Magical Mane series featuring Ellie Vanderwick and her magical hair. I would recommend reading the first in the series Downward Death as it links into this story.
Bowling Blunder is a fun mystery, with great characters and plenty of clues and misdirection to keep you guessing.
The book is full of wonderful characters, from the older townspeople to Ellie herself. She's really grown since the last book, not quite giving up so easily and trying to make some friends and put down some roots.
There's also a mysterious new character in this novel and maybe a potential love interest in the form of Xander. Hopefully, we'll see more of him in novels to come!
I really enjoyed the way this book built on the first and improved the pace. There's honestly never a dull moment in this novel, I absolutely flew through it!
Bowling Blunder is a must if you love your mysteries on the gentler side. I can't wait to read more from this series!
So this is the second in the Magical Mane series featuring Ellie Vanderwick and her magical hair. I would recommend reading the first in the series Downward Death as it links into this story.
Bowling Blunder is a fun mystery, with great characters and plenty of clues and misdirection to keep you guessing.
The book is full of wonderful characters, from the older townspeople to Ellie herself. She's really grown since the last book, not quite giving up so easily and trying to make some friends and put down some roots.
There's also a mysterious new character in this novel and maybe a potential love interest in the form of Xander. Hopefully, we'll see more of him in novels to come!
I really enjoyed the way this book built on the first and improved the pace. There's honestly never a dull moment in this novel, I absolutely flew through it!
Bowling Blunder is a must if you love your mysteries on the gentler side. I can't wait to read more from this series!
love_e_reads's review against another edition
5.0
This second installment of the series is a great, quick, fun and easy ready. I finished it in less than a day!
Ellie has settled into life and her routine in Cliffe Haven with her trusty sidekicks Penelope the pig and Mona the motor van. She comes to terms with her special skills and implores these to solve not one, but 2 murders of members of a bachelorette party.
She also is learning more of her heritage whilst the search for her mom continues. She also meets a handsome warlock Xander and the seed is planted for a potential budding love interest between the two...I wait to see.
A wonderful cozy mystery series that is well written with developing and interesting characters.
Ellie has settled into life and her routine in Cliffe Haven with her trusty sidekicks Penelope the pig and Mona the motor van. She comes to terms with her special skills and implores these to solve not one, but 2 murders of members of a bachelorette party.
She also is learning more of her heritage whilst the search for her mom continues. She also meets a handsome warlock Xander and the seed is planted for a potential budding love interest between the two...I wait to see.
A wonderful cozy mystery series that is well written with developing and interesting characters.