Curses and Cupcakes

1. Is Curses and Cupcakes a standalone or part of a series?

It is Book 2 of the (Un)Lucky Valley series, Michelle’s only cozy paranormal mystery line. The book also serves as Michelle’s Book 2 of the Happily Everlasting prequels (a four-author shared world set in the fictional town of Everlasting, Maine). Curses and Cupcakes can be read as a standalone in either series.

2. Does Curses and Cupcakes end on a cliffhanger?

No. The mystery is solved by the final page, and Marcy and Nicholas get a complete happily ever after. Larger threads about Marcy’s curse and the supernatural town of Everlasting continue across the (Un)Lucky Valley series.

3. What’s the heat level?

Sweet and clean. Closed door. There are no on-page sexy times, making this a cozy mystery comfortable for readers of all comfort levels.

4. Who is this book for?

Cozy paranormal mystery readers who love witch and cursed-heroine protagonists, small-town supernatural settings, slow-burn romance with firefighter heroes, and amateur-sleuth investigations. Perfect for fans of Juliet Blackwell’s Witchcraft Mystery series and Casey Daniels’s Pepper Martin Mystery series.

5. Who is the narrator of Curses and Cupcakes?

The audiobook is narrated by B.J. Harrison, a Voice Arts Award winner for Best Audiobook Narration in Mystery and host of the bestselling Classic Tales Podcast. With more than 750 audiobooks to his name, Harrison brings a warm, theatrical range to Marcy, Nicholas, Aunt Polly, and the supernatural residents of Everlasting. He is also the longtime narrator behind the bestselling P.G. Wodehouse audiobook collection on Audible.

6. What is the (Un)Lucky Valley series about?

(Un)Lucky Valley is Michelle M. Pillow’s cozy paranormal mystery series, the witty, magical, slightly chaotic adventures of Aunt Polly and her family of supernatural misfits. Expect murder mysteries, ghosts, demons, garden gnomes that may or may not move at night, witches in denial, and small-town secrets that refuse to stay buried. Each book delivers a self-contained whodunit alongside a romance arc and a steady undercurrent of family found-family humor.

7. How does Curses and Cupcakes connect to the Happily Everlasting series?

The Happily Everlasting series is a collaborative paranormal cozy mystery world set in the fictional town of Everlasting, Maine, written by New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Jana DeLeon, Mandy M. Roth, Michelle M. Pillow, and Kristen Painter. Curses and Cupcakes serves as one of Michelle’s contributions to that shared world (and a prequel to her own (Un)Lucky Valley spin-off series). Readers do not have to read the other authors’ books in the series to follow Marcy’s story or the wider (Un)Lucky Valley adventures, though many fans enjoy the cross-author cameos.

8. When was Curses and Cupcakes first published?

Originally released December 14, 2017. The audiobook narrated by B.J. Harrison released September 4, 2018.

9. What are the Core Happily Everlasting Series Books?

The primary series consists of seven main titles:

• Dead Man Talking by Jana DeLeon
• Once Hunted, Twice Shy by Mandy M. Roth
• Fooled Around and Spelled in Love by Michelle M. Pillow
• Witchful Thinking by Kristen Painter
• Total Eclipse of the Hunt by Mandy M. Roth
• Curses and Cupcakes by Michelle M. Pillow
• An Everlasting Christmas by Mandy M. Roth

You do not have to read everything to follow (Un)Lucky Valley. The series has expanded into the Happily Everlasting World, which includes spin-off series by the original authors: Bewitchingly Ever After by Mandy M. Roth features titles like Don’t Stop Bewitching and Everybody Wants to Rune the World. (Un)Lucky Valley by Michelle M. Pillow features titles such as Better Haunts and Garden Gnomes and Any Witch Way But Goode.

10. What is the recommended reading order for Michelle’s books if I just want to read hers in order?

The (Un)Lucky Valley series is by Michelle M. Pillow. Reading Order:

Happily Everlasting series / (Un)Lucky Valley series:

1. Fooled Around and Spelled in Love
2. Curses and Cupcakes

(Un)Lucky Valley series:

3. Better Haunts and Garden Gnomes
4. Any Witch Way But Goode
5. A Potion for Your Thoughts

Cozy Mystery Reading Order:

Happily Everlasting series:

1. Fooled Around and Spelled in Love

2. Curses and Cupcakes

(Un)Lucky Valley series:

3. Better Haunts and Garden Gnomes

4. Any Witch Way But Goode

5. A Potion for Your Thoughts

Reader notes: 

The Happily Everlasting series was a group book project with authors Jana DeLeon, Mandy M. Roth, Michelle M. Pillow, and Kirsten Painter. Each book was a standalone and do not have to be read in order. 

The (Un)Lucky Valley series is by Michelle M. Pillow. Did her character Aunt Polly tickle your funny bone in Fooled Around and Spelled in Love, and Curses and Cupcakes? If so, just wait until you read the next crazy adventure Aunt Polly has up her sleeve.

Coming Soon

CW: These cozy mysteries are considered clean romance, as in there are no sexy times happening on the page. There is mild violence and themes, deaths, and neglectful parents, things like that. These cozy mysteries are going to be the sweetest of Michelle’s books. You want something sexier and more graphic, try her other series. 

Book Heat Levels: Sweet / Clean (No sexy times), Closed Door