Title: Jingle all the Slay
Author(s): Dakota Cassidy
Series: Marshmallow Hollow Book #1
Also in this series: Have Yourself a Merry Little Witness
Narrator(s): Hollie Jackson
Published by Tantor Audio on January 26, 2021
Length: 5 hrs
Genre(s): Cozy Mystery, Paranormal
Source: Publisher
Format: Audiobook
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
Rating:
Series Rating:
Welcome to Marshmallow Hollow, Maine, a holiday mystery, where it's all Christmas all the time and murder is hung by the chimney with care...
I'm Halliday Valentine (yep; funny name is funny), a psychic witch who's recently moved from New York City back to my very human hometown of Marshmallow Hollow, where I run the family factory that caters to all things Christmas. I inherited the factory from Mom, who inherited from Nana Karen, but now it's just me (kinda...long story), my curmudgeonly British familiar hummingbird, Atticus; one ungrateful rescue cat; my talking reindeer, Karen; and my BFF Stiles (the only human aware of my witchy side).
Oh, and Digby Dainty (known as Hobbs), the tall drink of water who rents my guest cottage. And who I wouldn't mind getting to know better. We have a lot in common, including a love of true crime. So as macabre as it sounds, when a shady real estate tycoon shows up dead in the middle of the annual ice festival, I'm thrilled to spend time with Hobbs, flexing our amateur sleuthing skills.
Well...not thrilled. I mean, a guy's dead after all. But he did try to con some businesses right out from under the hard-working locals. In fact, the only thing more surprising than a murder in our charming Christmas town is how many of my friendly, beloved neighbors seemed to want the man dead...
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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🎧︎Jingle All the Slay gave the reader’s/listener’s their first experience with the author. The title and cover provided an immense influence in the reader’s decision to listen to this book. No regrets.
🎧︎Jingle All the Slay delivered a wonderful story. From the storyline, the charming town to the delightful characters. A splendid start to the series. Readers of the Witchless in Seattle series will be happy to know this is a spinoff, but Jingle All the Slay works well as a stand alone read.
The story took the listener/reader through the town of Marshmallow Hollow. A town where every day is Christmas. But, someone wants to destroy the beauty of the town. Purchasing all the shops and land, intending to develop a theme park. However, the person responsible was found dead. Was it an accident or murder? Halliday Valentine (witch and a psychic) along with her new neighbour Hobbs, jumped at the chance to put their amateur sleuthing skills to the test. They both set out to unveil the killer’s identity.
As stated earlier, the story featured delightful characters. The listener’s/reader’s favourite being Atticus, a hummingbird and Halliday’s familiar. The reader found it funny when he scolded her for using her magic inappropriately.
Fun, cute, humorous and well paced. A captivating story, with a well-developed mystery, which kept the reader entertained from start to finish.
NARRATION
Hollie Jackson narrated, and what an exceptional narration. She captured all the facets of the characters. Her melodious voice added an extra flavour to the story.
CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION
Fans of cozy mysteries would have fun with this new series by Dakota Cassidy. Whichever medium chosen to dive into this delightful story, prepare yourself for a fun experience.
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From the storyline, to the charming town and to the delightful characters, Jingle All The Slay by Dakota Cassidy was a fun read, #cozymystery #paranormal #witches #audiobook Click To Tweet
About Hollie Jackson
With over 200 audiobooks narrated and produced, Hollie Jackson has worked with both indie and USA Today bestselling authors across a wide range of genres. Hollie’s voice brings characters of all types to vibrant, compelling life, allowing the listener to sit back and enjoy the story. Growing up in a military family, Hollie found herself lost in the world of poetry and prose, and truly enjoys sharing that joy with others through spoken and written word. As an author, she understands the importance of drawing the reader into the world of the story. As a voracious reader, she enjoys an eclectic range of genre and carries that over into the studio: from contemporary romance to paranormal thrillers, historical fiction to epic fantasy, from erotica to tamer New Adult/Young Adult titles. Everyone has a story to tell, and Hollie loves to bring those stories to life, one word at a time.
About Dakota Cassidy
USA Today Bestselling author Dakota Cassidy lives for a good laugh in life and in her writing. In fact, she almost loves a good giggle as much as she loves hair products and that’s saying something. Her goals in life are simple, (like really simple): banish the color yellow forever, create world peace via hot rollers and Aqua Net; and finally, nab every tiara in the land by competing in the Miss USA, Miss Universe, and Miss World pageants, then sweeping them in a stunning trifecta of much duct tape and Vaseline usage, all in just under one week. Oh, and write really fun books! Dakota lives in Oregon with her dogs and has a husband who puts the heroes in her books to shame.
- Good as Gold by Sarina Bowen - June 2, 2023
- An Armored Heart by R. C. Boldt - May 31, 2023
- 🎧Awaken the Darkness by Dianne Duvall - May 30, 2023
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2021 A to Z Reading Challenge
- 2021 Audio Book Challenge
- Coyer 2021
Sounds like you really enjoyed this one. I might give it a try around the holiday season.
Yes, I had a good time with this one.
I’m glad you enjoyed this one. It definitely sounds like an interesting one. And I love that cover 😀
Yes, the cover is lovely and the story is just as good. ?
I could totally see me reading this. Thanks Nadene I’m going to look into it 🙂
I do believe you would enjoy this one, Debbie.
I like the sound of this.
It was fun.
A hummingbird familiar? Too fun. I want to read her Witchless in Seattle series at some point.
Yes, I want to go back and read the Witchless in Seattle series. Atticus was a riot.
I’ve tried reading a couple of this authors books and just couldn’t get into them.
Sorry to hear that.
Great review! And now I want marshmallows. ?
Thanks Kate. Yea, Marshmallows would be great.
your review does tempt me to read this as it has been a while since i read a cozy mystery
I hope you get the chance to read it.
Sounds to me like a fun read. Great review.
It is that for sure.
The cover is so cute!
I agree.
Glad to see you enjoyed this Cassidy offers up fun cozies and I love the companions.
I ha a good time with this one. Will definitely read more from her.
This sounds like the perfect holiday listen! I am so glad you enjoyed this one, Nadene!
Thanks Carole. Ironically the audio was released after the holidays.