A CHARMING TOUCH OF TAROT is the second installment in Melissa Holtz’s Gin & Tarot Club series, following four friends—Nina, Lanie, Corinne, and Alyssa—each with unique magical abilities they use to solve crimes and navigate life’s challenges.
At the heart of this story is Alyssa Mann, still mourning the loss of her husband while raising her sixteen-year-old daughter and exploring a new romance with Detective Nick West. Life in Knox Harbor, Massachusetts, is far from quiet. On Christmas Eve, Alyssa’s neighbor stumbles outside in the freezing cold, claiming to see a scantily clad young woman. Alyssa soon realizes she can see the woman too, only she’s a ghost. Who is this ghost, and what tragic event led to her untimely death? Meanwhile, Alyssa’s close friend Nina is dealing with the fallout from her husband’s deceitful actions. When Nina confides a long-held secret, it sets Alyssa and Nina on a mission to find a missing man and help Nina reclaim her life.
A CHARMING TOUCH OF TAROT offers plenty of charming, magical moments including Alyssa’s growing relationship with Nick, her strong friendships, and her readiness to dive into any mystery for the sake of a friend. There’s no shortage of intrigue: a string of murdered young women, the secrets of the Montgomery Estate, a hidden society, séances, and a whirlwind journey from Massachusetts to Florida to New Orleans. Each destination is packed with ghosts and adventure. A standout moment is a shrouded mansion in a retirement village and a ghostly golf cart chase that’s both eerie and delightful. However, the plot occasionally feels convoluted, the mystery a bit unfocused, and Nick’s point of view adds little to the story. Still, A CHARMING TOUCH OF TAROT has an enchanting premise and a relatable, likable protagonist in Alyssa. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a dash of mysticism and the paranormal, this latest installment is worth the read.
Four friends discover that their new magical skills may not be enough to save them from a stalker hell-bent on turning their lives upside down.
Alyssa, Nina, Lanie, and Corinne's friendship is being put to the test. With Nina's marriage falling apart, Lanie acting distant, Alyssa's new romance, and no one quite trusting Corinne, this may be more than their bond can take. But when Nina appears at Alyssa's door, and confesses not just a decades-old secret, but a newfound magical power, the friends know that the only way to face this is together.
Someone has been blackmailing Nina for years, but lately the threats to reveal her secret have changed to threats on her life, and on the lives of those she loves. With Alyssa contacting ghosts for insight and Nina getting used to her telepathy skills, they dash from city to city to track down the threat. There's someone out there that will go to any lengths to keep their control over Nina, and it will take all four friends to get out of this without ruining, or losing, their lives. But with the strength of their friendship—and a little help from the beyond—these women are out to prove they're not to be messed with.
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