Thistle While You Work

Thistle Winchester has never thought of herself as the adult type; she never thought she would want a husband or children but all of that might be about to change. When Belinda, the woman who works and lives at the Overlook with her daughter Annie gets a chance to go to a conference to learn about opening her own business, Thistle volunteers to take care of Annie.

Being one of the most horrible children herself, she thinks that taking care of Annie will be a breeze. How hard can it be? She is sure that everything will go fine, and it does right up until Annie disappears right from under her nose.

At a loss and desperate to find her, Thistle calls on her cousin’s, boyfriend and the local police to help find Annie.  The search becomes futile as they look everywhere for the little girl, there is no sign of her. The weather is getting colder, and Thistle grows desperate to find Annie before it’s too late.

Series: A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short
Author: Amanda M. Lee
Genre: Witch/Paranormal Mystery
Publisher: WinchesterShaw Publications

Rating:

As is customary with this series, Amanda M. Lee has crafted a fast-paced quick read that gives a new glimpse into the mind of one of the Winchester women. Thistle shows an emotional side to her character that has never really been seen before and gives her unexplored depths.  Although a short, this story allows the reader to understand who Thistle is and explores her deepest emotions.  There is a little Thistle in everyone, and she is never at a loss for a sarcastic remark or a good fight but in this story, she is softer, more human and a great deal more like Aunt Tillie overall, but don’t tell her that! The love she feels for Annie is evident as she struggles to find the missing girl and to understand what happened to her, while also learning some new things about her own childhood.

Ms. Lee is an excellent writer, and she continues to grow with each book and short story. Her characters have a healthy dose of good and bad but are always believable. Hemlock Cove is a fantastic location that helps bring the stories and characters to life.

Readers of paranormal, or “witch” based cozies will enjoy this new short, and if they have not read the series, it would be suggested to do so starting with book #1.  This series is a wonderful adventure and is highly recommended.