Reviewed by: Sue Eaton
TITLE: Hexes and Hops
SERIES: Magical Misfit Murders
AUTHOR: Jacki James and Lori Ames
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 235 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 8, 2026
BLURB:
Hexes, hops, and a whole lot of trouble. Welcome back to Ravenstone!
Declan is finally starting to settle into life as a witch in a magical little town where the coffee is strong, the misfit monsters are delightfully odd, and there’s always something interesting happening.
Like the Get Hopped Up Beer Festival.
Between sampling new brews, spending time with his very protective (and very handsome) wolf shifter boyfriend, and making plans to open a bakery, Declan is having the time of his life… until a brewmaster turns up dead in a vat of beer.
Since, apparently, that’s just how things go in Ravenstone.
Declan and Gideon don’t mean to get involved, but with rumors being shared faster than a sourdough starter and whispers of magic and hexes floating through town, staying out of trouble was never really an option.
Because in a small town, someone always has a secret.
And this time? It’s deadly.
REVIEW:
Hexes and Hops takes everything charming about the first book magical mishaps, supernatural small‑town chaos, and the slow‑burn romance between Declan Hawthorn and Gideon and deepens it.
Declan and Gideon are officially together now, but the authors wisely keep their relationship simmering rather than rushing into instant perfection. Their connection grows through small moments: shared breakfasts, late‑night conversations, Gideon hovering protectively when Declan’s magic misbehaves, Declan softening Gideon’s gruff edges with patience and warmth.
It’s a romance built on trust, not drama. On partnership, not grand gestures. On the quiet understanding that they’re choosing each other every day even when murder, magic, and beer‑festival sabotage get in the way.
Declan’s desire to open a bakery becomes a central emotional thread. It’s not just a hobby; it’s his vision of belonging. But his magic complicates everything. Flour levitates. Dough reacts to his emotions. Spices enchant themselves. He worries he’ll never be able to run a kitchen safely, let alone a business. This vulnerability is beautifully handled. Declan’s fear isn’t about failure it’s about disappointing the people he cares about. And Gideon, in true Gideon fashion, refuses to let him spiral alone.
He’s the steady presence at Declan’s side, offering reassurance, practical help, and the kind of unwavering support that makes you want to hug him and tell him he’s absolutely an alpha no matter how loudly he denies it. Gideon’s role expands in this book. He’s still running his bar, still managing the town’s supernatural politics, still insisting he’s not the alpha even as everyone including the reader knows he absolutely is.
His relationship with Declan brings out a softer, more vulnerable side. He’s protective without being possessive, supportive without being smothering. He listens. He shows up. He makes space for Declan’s dreams even when his own responsibilities threaten to overwhelm him. Their dynamic is tender, grounded, and quietly powerful. It’s the kind of romance where the love isn’t shouted it’s lived.
The central mystery another murder, this time at the local beer festival is peak supernatural small‑town drama. Rival brewers are out for blood, sabotage is rampant, and the competition is fierce enough to make a fae trickster blush.
The festival becomes a battleground of egos, magic, and questionable brewing ethics. And of course, Declan and Gideon get dragged into the investigation whether they want to or not.
The Misfit Murder Club those lovable, eccentric, occasionally incompetent supernatural side characters throw themselves into solving the murder with gusto. Their involvement is equal parts helpful and disastrous.
They bring theories that range from brilliant to absurd, magical experiments that probably violate several safety laws, emotional support and a level of enthusiasm that borders on dangerous. Their chaotic energy contrasts beautifully with Declan and Gideon’s steadier partnership, and their loyalty adds heart to the story. What makes Hexes and Hops shine is how it balances mystery, magic, and romance without sacrificing emotional depth. The murder plot is engaging, the brewer rivalry is hilarious, and the magical world feels richer than ever but the core of the book is Declan and Gideon learning how to be together. Not perfectly. Not dramatically. But honestly.
Declan’s bakery dream becomes a symbol of hope. Gideon’s support becomes a symbol of love. And the Misfit Murder Club’s involvement becomes a symbol of community messy, loud, chaotic, but fiercely loyal.
Hexes and Hops is a warm, magical, slow‑burn delight. It’s a story about love growing stronger under pressure, about dreams worth fighting for, and about a town where murder investigations somehow become bonding activities.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
