Author: Annabel Chase
Published: January 21, 2026 by Storm Publishing
Format: Kindle, 196 Pages
Genre: Paranormal
Series: Midlife Magic Cocktail Club #2
Blurb: Kate Golden has built a successful career helping others become their best selves. But when Kate inherits magical powers from the late Inga Paulsen, the spell that holds her carefully controlled world together begins to unravel.
What starts with a mysterious cocktail recipe from an enchanted book quickly spirals into disaster. A grotesque wart sprouts on her chin, her hair turns shocking pink and her perfect life crumbles in the most public way possible. Desperate to regain control, Kate experiments with magical ingredients in her kitchen. But magic has its own agenda, and every spell she attempts only makes things worse.
With the support of her fellow witches in the cocktail club, Kate is forced to surrender control and trust in powers beyond her understanding. Sometimes finding the best version of yourself means embracing the magic in life’s messy moments.
My Opinion: I’m honestly not sure what happened here. The first book in the series, Magic Uncorked, had that warm, cozy, lightly witchy feel, the kind of paranormal comfort read that feels like settling into a cushy armchair with a mug of something spiced. So, I went into Bewitching Bitters expecting more of that same charm. Instead, the vibe shifted, and not in a way that worked for me.
There’s a sharper edge to this second book, a kind of negative bite that kept pulling me out of the story. I understand that Kate Golden, our newbie witch, is supposed to be challenged with growth arcs, magical mishaps, all that good stuff, but the tone didn’t land the same way. And Kate herself… well, she made it tough. Her relentless drive to be perfect, paired with the constant whining, had me counting pages and quietly wishing she’d take a breath, have a snack, and maybe stop trying to win Witch Student of the Year.
It’s hard to connect with a protagonist who feels closed off and prickly in all the wrong ways. I kept hoping she’d soften or surprise me, but instead I found myself missing the warmth and camaraderie that made the first book sparkle.
I’m holding out hope, though. This series centers on a group of women—the Midlife Magic Cocktail Club—and Kate is just one of them. Maybe the next woman’s story will bring back that inviting, cozy paranormal feel that hooked me in the first place. I’m ready for a different flavor in the next installment, preferably one with a little less bitterness and a lot more charm.
What starts with a mysterious cocktail recipe from an enchanted book quickly spirals into disaster. A grotesque wart sprouts on her chin, her hair turns shocking pink and her perfect life crumbles in the most public way possible. Desperate to regain control, Kate experiments with magical ingredients in her kitchen. But magic has its own agenda, and every spell she attempts only makes things worse.
With the support of her fellow witches in the cocktail club, Kate is forced to surrender control and trust in powers beyond her understanding. Sometimes finding the best version of yourself means embracing the magic in life’s messy moments.
My Opinion: I’m honestly not sure what happened here. The first book in the series, Magic Uncorked, had that warm, cozy, lightly witchy feel, the kind of paranormal comfort read that feels like settling into a cushy armchair with a mug of something spiced. So, I went into Bewitching Bitters expecting more of that same charm. Instead, the vibe shifted, and not in a way that worked for me.
There’s a sharper edge to this second book, a kind of negative bite that kept pulling me out of the story. I understand that Kate Golden, our newbie witch, is supposed to be challenged with growth arcs, magical mishaps, all that good stuff, but the tone didn’t land the same way. And Kate herself… well, she made it tough. Her relentless drive to be perfect, paired with the constant whining, had me counting pages and quietly wishing she’d take a breath, have a snack, and maybe stop trying to win Witch Student of the Year.
It’s hard to connect with a protagonist who feels closed off and prickly in all the wrong ways. I kept hoping she’d soften or surprise me, but instead I found myself missing the warmth and camaraderie that made the first book sparkle.
I’m holding out hope, though. This series centers on a group of women—the Midlife Magic Cocktail Club—and Kate is just one of them. Maybe the next woman’s story will bring back that inviting, cozy paranormal feel that hooked me in the first place. I’m ready for a different flavor in the next installment, preferably one with a little less bitterness and a lot more charm.
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