Review--Hexes and Hemlines by Juliet Blackwell

With her vintage clothing store taking off, Lily Ivory is finding that life in San Francisco suits her just fine. But her ability to sense vibrations from the past, so useful in locating secondhand gems, has landed her in the middle of a new mystery...

Lily gets called away from Aunt Cora's Closet when the police need a witch's take on a strange case. Malachi Zazi was stabbed to death in his apartment, under a ladder, surrounded by the number thirteen, a broken mirror, and a black cat--superstitions that the victim, as head of a rationalist society, was devoted to discrediting.

When the police identify a suspect from the Serpentarian Society, Lily is shocked to learn it's someone she knows. But with bad luck plaguing all the members, she begins to wonder if there's more at work than mere coincidence. And while there aren't many clues from the crime scene, Lily finds evidence of dark witchcraft and a hex on her friend's doorstep. With her friend's safety at stake, Lily is determined to use magic to find the murderer before everyone's luck runs out...

Juliet Blackwell's Hexes and Hemlines was fabulous! If you're looking for a light mystery--or cozy I guess is the term--with some supernatural elements intertwined than this is a series for you! Juliet's series is very engaging, the characters are fresh and inviting. Lily is a witch who has finally made a home for herself in San Francisco and has friends and her magic is harnessing her magic thank to Aidan--another magic user she's met upon moving there.

At the beginning of the book Lily is already at the crime scene trying to see what she can see and the story begins. Lily is in for a ride this time around as her life becomes a roller coaster ride! Many ups and downs for Lily. Including her love life. Max is still skeptical about starting a relationship, Lily's magical abilities being apart of it, as well as his skepticism about the whole thing. There wasn't a whole lot of Max this time around, yet there's still definite chemistry between him and Lily, so who knows where things will go.

Then there's Aidan, the other magic user who is just filled with mystery and secrets. Lily can never seem to know what he's on about and there's an interesting discovery or two that we get to learn about him as well. There's also some chemistry brewing between these two, but not sure what Lily's going to do. Hello, love triangle--I barely knew thee. (Ha!)

The mystery element was pretty good. I never seemed to be able to grasp who the murderer was, there were too many suspects for me. The final reveal was a bit shocking too. I was so off! Which can be the fun with a mystery, especially a murder one.

The pacing was great! Truly wonderful. Just as Lily starts to take the case underway and investigate, bad things start to happen and she is begged off the case, but she can't seem to abide by that, not when someone she cares about is in danger. Tension definitely runs high.

On a side-note, just have to say that I love Oscar! Lily's familiar goblin-pig who's her familiar. He's a very funny little guy. Makes great wisecracks and just brings some lighthearted humor into the mix.

Overall Hexes and Hemlines was another wonder edition to the series. I soooo cannot wait for the next one, which is likely next year since Juliet has 2 series running. Oh well, more goodness to come in December when the second book in her Haunted Home Renovation series comes out. 

Also since I had bought a copy of this then won a signed one, what I plan to do is have a giveaway--eventually. Still having hopes of getting a job soon. But I'm trying to arrange to go to Bouchercon in September for a day. Can't afford the whole convention but was told there would be day passes. And since Juliet will be there I was hoping to get her to sign my other books, plus my extra so I can give it away. Basically there's no worries til September, this isn't a contest right now. Just letting you know in advance that there will hopefully be one in a few months! So stick around! Especially if you would like a SIGNED copy of Hexes and Hemlines in September.

Overall rating 5/5 stars!