Laced with Magic - Book Review

Laced with Magic
by Barbara Bretton
(Berkley Trade August 4, 2009)

Maple Sugar has one fully human resident, Luke McKenzie, interim police chief and the love of Chloe's life. He loves her as well, but he finds himself in a peculiar situation. Says Luke, "I have a girlfriend who happens to be a sorceress-in-training locked in mortal combat with a banished Fae queen." He forgets to mention that she is also a passionate knitter and owns the shop Sticks and Strings with every sort of luscious yarn imaginable.

Isadora, the Fae queen in question, threatens to take Sugar Maple out of our world and beyond the mist. Only Chloe's burgeoning powers stand between the town and Isadora's evil intent. There is one further complication. Luke's ex-wife Karen shows up claiming to have heard the voice of their daughter who died at the tender age of six.

Although Bretton's wit is just as apparent in this novel as it was in Casting Spells, she handles the delicate subject of a child's death with care and sensitivity. Anyone who has gone through anything similar will recognize this.

For the knitters and crocheters there is a special treat, a collection of knitting tips and a scarf crochet pattern for the beginning level. I might give that one a try.

And finally, in an author's note, Barbara Bretton pays tribute to her mother, the wonderful lady she misses so much and who taught her how to knit.