A Magical Match by Juliet Blackwell

Overview:

Witch and vintage store owner Lily Ivory faces her most difficult mystery to date with a case of mistaken identity that hits close to home...

Lily Ivory and her friends are planning a 1950s-themed brunch to benefit the local women's shelter. When a figure from her past shows up unannounced, threatening her unless she returns something that belonged to him, Lily's fiancé, Sailor, steps in to defend her. After the same man is found dead later that day, Sailor is the primary suspect. He swears he's innocent, but multiple witnesses ID him as the perpetrator of the assault. Lily vows to clear his name...only she's not sure where to start with the mounting evidence against him. 

When she sees Sailor in the neighborhood despite knowing he's in jail, Lily starts to wonder if there could be a doppelganger in San Francisco. When she's not busy helping customers find matching outfits for the upcoming event, searching for a vintage wedding dress for her own nuptials, and dealing with an ill-timed magical cold, Lily begins to suspect one of her magical foes is targeting her loved ones in an attempt to weaken her.

My Review:

This is the 9th book in the Witchcraft Mystery series.  In this episode, Lily is trying to prepare for her wedding to Sailor but those preparations are put on hold when he is arrested for murder.  Her grandmother's coven are also on their way (along with Lily's mother) to the wedding but keep getting sidetracked and delayed.  In addition, Lily has come down with a cold (which she keeps swearing she can't get) and her magical powers seem to be weakening.

For the most part, I really like this series but Lily is really starting to annoy.  Nine books in and there is not much character development.  For example, she still refuses to have a cell phone and it takes hours to reach her when Sailor is arrested.  I know it's because she is afraid of the scattered energy but give me a break.  She keeps using everyone else's cell phone without issue so why not just get her own?  Even Maya points out that since Lily is constantly running all over town, she needs to have a cell so that people can reach her in the event of an emergency.  It is beyond annoying at this point.

Also, She still refuses to continue her witchy education, even though she knows she can't take on the coming powerful forces that are trying to take over San Francisco without it.  She's supposedly one of the most powerful witches ever but can't do much beyond advanced brewing and a little spell casting.  

Among the other ridiculous elements is Oscar, her supposed familiar.  He is less than helpful and usually causes more trouble and I would rather he be dropped from the series.  

The good points about this book is that the plot moves at a pretty good pace - even though it's pretty obvious early on who the culprit is and we learn a little more about Aiden.  Sailor is still a complete enigma which is concerning but the rest of the characters are engaging and I would like to see them play larger roles in the stories.

I really like the premise of this series and will continue to stick with it but I need more character development of Lily.