Tag Archives: Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic

The Ghost Camper’s Tall Tales by Elizabeth Pantley – a Review

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The Ghost Camper’s Tall Tales by Elizabeth Pantley – a Review

 

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Description:
A magic mirror. An enchanted world. A mysterious story-telling ghost. A hilarious, perpetually annoyed witch. A smart, sassy cat. A mystery of finding a dead body . . . of someone who was already dead. Visit Destiny Falls and escape to a great time.

A mysterious old man keeps popping up to tell Hayden a series of tall tales. Who is he? And is he actually glowing? Are his stories fiction, or is he telling her the history of her family, the enchanted islands, and the witch? And why did a dead body show up . . . of someone who was already dead? Can Hayden and her quirky sidekick, Latifa unscramble this mystery?

Hayden’s adventures in the magical world of Destiny Falls continue in this gripping story that answers your questions about the mysterious world she entered through a mirror in book one, Falling into Magic. We learn more about her missing mother, whose story begins in book two, The Disappearance of Emily.

 

 

Review:

The Ghost Camper’s Tall Tales by Elizabeth Pantley is the 3rd book in her fun Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic series.  Refresher: Hayden, who lived with her grandmother, great grandmother and works with her best friend, Lulu, and her cat, Sassy. One day while outside with her cat, a man pushes her through a portal.  When Hayden woke up, she sees the brother she never knew, and learns all about the alternate and magical world of Destiny Falls.  Hayden gets to meet her father, brother and the Caldwell family that welcomed her into their world; the caveat- she can never leave the realm of Destiny Falls

In the last book, Hayden was happy to let her grandmother, great grandmother and Lulu learn the truth about her living in Destiny Falls, and managed to bring her there for a short stay.  Hayden is very happy and thrilled to be part of the wonderful magically enchanted Destiny Falls, especially when her cat, Latifia (formerly sassy) can talk to her telepathically.  This is the fun part, with their bantering, and the other cute cats.

Hayden, having already been in the middle of a mysterious murder in the previous book, begins to investigate what is known as the evil half of this realm, Gladstone.  She gets a letter from her mom, who left her immediately after her birth, and finds out she is living in Gladstone, unable to leave.   Is this letter truly from her mom, or is this a plot to get to her to Gladstone?   Hayden works closely with her brother Axel, friend Han and the sheriff, Jaxson to solve more murders, and the rumors about the dark and evil Gladstone.

Hayden also finds herself meeting a mysterious old man, whom she called Gaspar, who would tell her stories from the past; this man is a ghost, but his stories reveal the truth about those days, with his daughters and witches.  Hayden is also successfully running the town newsletter, detailing the murders. 

The Ghost Camper’s Tall Tales is a lighthearted mystery, in a magical and charming enchanted realm, Destiny Falls; this a cozy murder fantasy whodunit, that was intriguing and kept our attention from start to finish. To say too much more would be spoilers, and you should read it from start to finish.  Once again, I absolutely loved Latifa, which was fun and delightful, as well as the hopeful romance between Hayden and Han.  I look forward to the next book, as this ended with a cliffhanger that promises possible danger. Another fun cozy book by Elizabeth Pantley, that was well written.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

 

 

 

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The Disappearance of Emily by Elizabeth Pantley- a Review

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The Disappearance of Emily by Elizabeth Pantley- a Review

 

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Description:
Hayden fell through a mirror and was thrust into an alternate, magical place. Destiny Falls is home to a family she never knew she had. The town is enchanted and charming, but something is amiss. Then someone turns up dead, and there are too many other suspicious episodes to call them coincidences. All signs point to the mysterious disappearance of her mother – way back when Hayden was just two days old. Can she identify and eliminate the threat before another person in her life is stolen away?

 

 

Review:

The Disappearance of Emily by Elizabeth Pantley is the 2nd book in her Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic series. Refresher: Hayden, who lives with her grandmother, great grandmother and works at home with her best friend, Lulu, and her cat, Sassy. One day while outside with her cat, a man pushes her through a portal.  When Hayden woke up, she sees the brother she never knew, and learns all about the alternate and magical world of Destiny Falls.  Hayden gets to meet her father, brother and the Caldwell family that welcomed her into their world; the caveat- she can never leave the realm of Destiny Falls

Hayden is happy in Destiny Falls, and has become closer to her new siblings, though she misses her Nana, grandmother and best friend, Lulu.  She also adores the magical community that seems to take a life of its own, based on the needs or wishes of each person.  At the local café, Hayden meets the person who runs the ferry, and receives a warning.  But before she can meet this person, there is a murder and the person in question is dead.  Hayden begins her own investigation about another town, across Destiny Falls, that is dangerous and she finds clues about her long lost mother. 

While this is going on, Hayden is asked to reopen the Newspaper office, and become its editor in charge.  Things reach become dangerous when her sister is kidnapped, and the family joins hands with the local police to find the villains, who were also suspected of killing the ferry boss.  This was an exciting part, and leads the way to solving the murder, but also leaves things open for Hayden to try and find the truth about the other realm and her mother.  Hayden’s first monthly newsletter is a success, with all the information about the murder.

The Disappearance of Emily is a lighthearted mystery, in a magical and charming enchanted realm.  It was a fun story, and I continue to adore Latifa, who was talks telepathically with Hayden; the other two cats are adorable too, as these parts were delightful. I love the magical world of Destiny Falls, and wish I could live there.  Another fun book by Elizabeth Pantley.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for Review

 

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Falling Into Magic by Elizabeth Pantley – a Review

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Falling Into Magic by Elizabeth Pantley – a Review

 

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Description:
When Hayden was a child, she lost her cat. Adults told her the cat ran away, but she knew the truth. The mirror had taken her. She knew because the mirror had given her a glimpse of an alternate world and had nearly pulled her in, so she was certain the cat had suffered that fate.

Twenty years later Hayden discovers the secret of the mirror when she is thrust into it. She learns of a world she never knew existed, and a family she never knew she had. But danger brought her here, and it followed her. Now, Hayden is on a mission to remove the threat, so that she can begin her magical, meaningful new life in this enchanted world.

 

 

Review:

Falling into Magic by Elizabeth Pantley is the 1st book in her new Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic series. We meet our heroine, Hayden when she was a child, who was afraid of a large mirror in her room.  Seems her cat disappeared, and though her family said the cat must have escaped outside, Hayden was sure the cat escaped through the mirror.

Twenty years later, Hayden, who lives with her grandmother, great grandmother and works at home with her best friend, Lulu, and her cat, Sassy. While walking outside with her cat, a man comes rushing at her, and shoves her through a hole. When Hayden wakes up, she sees a young man, who turns out to be the brother she never knew.  She learns she is in an alternate and somewhat magical world, Destiny Falls, and her brother, Axel helps to bring her to the beautiful mansion his family lives in. 

Hayden gets to meet all the members of the Caldwell family, and is greeted by the father she never knew.  Her father left Destiny Falls for a different life, fell in love, married and had two children.  After Hayden’s birth, he and his young son, Axel were pulled back into Destiny Falls, with no way to return. Hayden begins to learn how magical Destiny Falls is, especially when her cat (now called Latifa) can talk to her telepathically.  There conversations between each other was fun and cute. 

Though she is enjoying her time meeting all members of her family, she sends emails to her family back home explaining she is on a work assignment in Denmark.  In a short time, Hayden will notice some strange happenings, including seeing the man who had pushed her into that hole, and realizes someone is behind the dangerous attempts on her. She is determined to investigate who is the culprit, which puts her own life in danger.

Falling into Magic is a lighthearted mystery, in a magical and enchanted realm.  To say too much more would be spoilers; there is a satisfying conclusion, but somethings were left open.   It was a fun story, and I adored Latifa, who was a blast; and enjoyed many of the secondary characters created by Pantley.  I look forward to more of what Elizabeth Pantley has in store for us in future books.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for Review

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