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git_r_read's review against another edition
4.0
A good book, but I think I liked WHO DO, VOODOO better. It may have been reading it while on a mid shift (and on the last night of five of them), but I had a hard time keeping characters straight.
I liked it enough (and loved the first in the series) so I will get the third HEX ON THE EX and give it a try.
I liked it enough (and loved the first in the series) so I will get the third HEX ON THE EX and give it a try.
lakecake's review against another edition
3.0
I felt like this took a long time to get to the point, and even though she's in it for about 10 total minutes, Liz's mom is so annoying.
dollycas's review
5.0
Paco and Lucia Rojas own the historic Botanica Rojos near MacArthur Park and are devout Santeria practitioners who mix up potions for many rituals like love, success and safety. They have gathered with their friends to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. Lucia is also teaching Liz how to make tamales.
The party comes to an end quickly when tragedy strikes. a devastated Lucia lashes out at the community by casting a vengeful hex on the entire neighborhood. They quickly give her the label of "Bruja" - Spanish for witch. Soon this elderly woman is alone with the exception of her friends Nick and Liz. They need to protect her and get to the bottom of a lot of strange happenings in the community including a murder and a missing person before more lives are lost.
Dollycas's Thoughts
This author has a way of writing that just draws you in and holds on tight. The setting for this story really drove the mystery.
A close knit community dealing with a few unscrupulous residents and some rival gangs members looking for trouble. The residents rally together to help Lucia showing the such strong friendship, putting themselves in danger to save her and her Botanica.
I also was drawn by the education we receive about a religion I knew nothing about. The beliefs and practices of a Santeria priestess were very interesting.
While Nick is an expert in the occult I do not classify these stories as paranormal. Like most readers Liz is not savvy to all these different beliefs so we can feel as if we are learning right along with her. She definitely learned more from Lucia than how to make a great tamale.
The romance between Liz and Nick hit a few bumps this time out. I would call them growing pains as there relationship grows the trust in one another has to grow as well. The way this is written makes the characters so real and easily identifiable. Character development is perfectly paced.
I have to say I really enjoyed the character of Lucia. A strong woman suffering a devastating lost. It takes her time to come to grips with the many changes in her life. She did have a little help holding her back from accepting the truth but as a reader seeing her come out even stronger after her ordeal was inspiring.
Just like the first installment the clever plot spiced with a little humor made this a perfect cozy. I can't wait to see where the author takes us next! According to Amazon Hex on the Ex (A Mind for Murder Mystery) hits stores May 7, 2013.
The party comes to an end quickly when tragedy strikes. a devastated Lucia lashes out at the community by casting a vengeful hex on the entire neighborhood. They quickly give her the label of "Bruja" - Spanish for witch. Soon this elderly woman is alone with the exception of her friends Nick and Liz. They need to protect her and get to the bottom of a lot of strange happenings in the community including a murder and a missing person before more lives are lost.
Dollycas's Thoughts
This author has a way of writing that just draws you in and holds on tight. The setting for this story really drove the mystery.
A close knit community dealing with a few unscrupulous residents and some rival gangs members looking for trouble. The residents rally together to help Lucia showing the such strong friendship, putting themselves in danger to save her and her Botanica.
I also was drawn by the education we receive about a religion I knew nothing about. The beliefs and practices of a Santeria priestess were very interesting.
While Nick is an expert in the occult I do not classify these stories as paranormal. Like most readers Liz is not savvy to all these different beliefs so we can feel as if we are learning right along with her. She definitely learned more from Lucia than how to make a great tamale.
The romance between Liz and Nick hit a few bumps this time out. I would call them growing pains as there relationship grows the trust in one another has to grow as well. The way this is written makes the characters so real and easily identifiable. Character development is perfectly paced.
I have to say I really enjoyed the character of Lucia. A strong woman suffering a devastating lost. It takes her time to come to grips with the many changes in her life. She did have a little help holding her back from accepting the truth but as a reader seeing her come out even stronger after her ordeal was inspiring.
Just like the first installment the clever plot spiced with a little humor made this a perfect cozy. I can't wait to see where the author takes us next! According to Amazon Hex on the Ex (A Mind for Murder Mystery) hits stores May 7, 2013.
baranorewen's review
2.0
Sorry, guys, just not my cup of tea. Mysteries are just not interesting in the least to me, even when they come for free from Goodreads Giveaways.
moondance120's review
3.0
Liz and Nick become embroiled in a murder investigation when their friend, Paco is killed while celebrating his sixieth wedding anniversary. Paco's wife, Lucia curses everyone during his memorial service causing fear and friction in the neighborhood. Good addition to the series. 3.5 stars
nnecatrix's review
4.0
Book #20 of 2013
I'm so happy that Rochelle won the Watson for this! I had fun grilling her on the nominees' panel at Left Coast Crime, and I think it's interesting that she had originally intended Nick, not Liz, to be the main character. I liked him, and he made a good sidekick (what the Watson award recognizes), but I did find Liz far easier to identify with, so I'm glad she changed it up before publishing the first book. I haven't read the first book (yet), so I guess my only real complaint, that I had trouble keeping track of the characters, is at least partially my own fault.
This story deals with Santeria, a religion I previously did not know much about. Though I think I once went into a shop in New Mexico that sold Santeria items. It was...unnerving.... And I think Rochelle did a good job here of capturing that feeling of a rationalist white girl stumbling into a subculture she neither understands nor really wants to think about too much. Liz was a good character for this, rational and skeptical, yet willing to learn from Nick (a professor of occult studies) how to treat with respect what she considers mere superstition. She was even able to acknowledge that she herself was not completely immune to superstition. Who is, after all? But I'm especially grateful that Rochelle didn't back down and stood by Liz's rational viewpoint to the very end. It seems like too often authors fudge and let the superstitious carry equal weight of possibility. Here Rochelle achieved a nice balance without gimmicky ambiguity or out-and-out fantasy.
I look forward to going back and reading the beginning of the series, and I wish Rochelle continued success at turning out prize winners!
I'm so happy that Rochelle won the Watson for this! I had fun grilling her on the nominees' panel at Left Coast Crime, and I think it's interesting that she had originally intended Nick, not Liz, to be the main character. I liked him, and he made a good sidekick (what the Watson award recognizes), but I did find Liz far easier to identify with, so I'm glad she changed it up before publishing the first book. I haven't read the first book (yet), so I guess my only real complaint, that I had trouble keeping track of the characters, is at least partially my own fault.
This story deals with Santeria, a religion I previously did not know much about. Though I think I once went into a shop in New Mexico that sold Santeria items. It was...unnerving.... And I think Rochelle did a good job here of capturing that feeling of a rationalist white girl stumbling into a subculture she neither understands nor really wants to think about too much. Liz was a good character for this, rational and skeptical, yet willing to learn from Nick (a professor of occult studies) how to treat with respect what she considers mere superstition. She was even able to acknowledge that she herself was not completely immune to superstition. Who is, after all? But I'm especially grateful that Rochelle didn't back down and stood by Liz's rational viewpoint to the very end. It seems like too often authors fudge and let the superstitious carry equal weight of possibility. Here Rochelle achieved a nice balance without gimmicky ambiguity or out-and-out fantasy.
I look forward to going back and reading the beginning of the series, and I wish Rochelle continued success at turning out prize winners!
murderbydeath's review
4.0
I started this book, got half-way through the first chapter and then put it down again for weeks. Can't really explain why, but when I picked it up again I was immediately absorbed in the story. While the basis of the plot centered on a Santaria hex, the investigation of the mystery really didn't include a large amount of information about Santaria, which I would have enjoyed. Still, it was a very good mystery with a lot of kinks to keep you guessing who exactly the culprit was. I like Liz more now than I did in the first book, although I still want to smack her mother and tell her to mind her own business. I'll be looking for book 3 with anticipation.
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