I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Miss Frost Ices the Imp
by
Kristen Painter
mystery, magical realism in a Kindle, eBook edition that was published by Sugar Skull Books on September 6, 2016 and has 322 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon, Audibles.
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Blood Rights, Flesh and Blood, Bad Blood, Out for Blood, Last Blood, House of the Rising Sun, City of Eternal Night, Garden of Dreams and Desires, Miss Frost Solves a Cold Case, All Fired Up, "Prologue to The Vampire's Mail Order Bride", The Vampire's Mail Order Bride, The Werewolf Meets His Match, The Gargoyle Gets His Girl, The Professor Woos the Witch, The Vampire's Fake Fiancée, The Shifter Romances the Writer, "The Witch's Halloween Hero", The Dragon Finds Forever, The Vampire's Accidental Wife, The Reaper Rescues the Genie, The Detective Wins The Witch, The Vampire's Priceless Treasure, The Werewolf Dates the Deputy, "When Birdie Babysat Spider", Miss Frost Saves the Sandman, Miss Frost Cracks a Caper, Miss Frost Braves the Blizzard, "The Werewolf's Christmas Wish", The Vampire's Cursed Kiss, Her First Taste of Fire, The Trouble With Witches, Moody and the Beast, The Vampire's Sunny Sweetheart, Miss Frost Chills the Cheater, Lost in Las Vegas, Wrapped Up in Christmas, Mystified in Music City, Sucks To Be Me, A Sky Full of Stars, Suck It Up Buttercup, The Forgettable Miss French, Sucker Punch, The Suck Stops Here, Nixed in New Orleans, Miss Frost Says I Do and Spider Too, The Witch's Christmas Catastrophe
Second in the Jayne Frost spin-off magical realism mystery series (6.5 in the Nocturne Falls Universe) focuses on the princess who is heir to the Winter throne, Jayne Frost, living in Nocturne Falls, Georgia.
My Take
Painter uses first person protagonist point-of-view from Jayne’s perspective so we learn all about the lying Lark and Jayne’s conflicts in dating both Coop and Greyson. I can’t believe that Lark is trying to slip back into Jayne’s and Coop’s lives!
The story moves along nicely, and Miss Frost Ices the Imp is both action- and character-driven with plenty of laughs. I was also really peeved at Francine. She sure has a strong sense of entitlement! She wants that box back, she should refund Jayne’s money.
There’s quite a bit of back history involving Cooper, Jayne, and Lark that revolves around how important it is to communicate in a relationship.
Ooh, nobody appears to be unhappy that the Greshams are leaving town. Seems they are not respectful of anything about Nocturne Falls.
I do envy Jayne’s metabolism. Dang, she can EAT. Speaking of food, Aunt Martha’s fudge makes an impact . . . and there may be some business to be done.
It sure is a good thing the town’s citizens work so well together. It’s much easier to plot mischief, lol.
“Helpful? Is that the mood this put you in? . . . This dress must be broken.”
The Ellinghams don’t have much of a part in this, which gives us a better opportunity to meet other characters who live in Nocturne Falls. As for that Birdie, she’s a joyous constant, whom you can’t help but enjoy.
And that Dr Pepper never does run out . . .
The Story
It’s one disaster after another: black wedding dresses, the Nocturne Falls water is no longer working, fire engines where they should not be, and so much more.
It is and, well, it isn’t really, Jayne’s fault, but she does have to capture whatever was in that box and make things right.
The Characters
Jayne Frost is a Winter elf, Jack Frost’s daughter, Santa Claus’ niece, heir to the Winter Throne, and now . . . private investigator who uses the Saint Nick Slide to get into buildings. On the side, she manages Santa’s Workshop in Nocturne Falls. Spider is her rescued cat. Aunt Martha is Mrs Claus. Her specialty is eggnog fudge, and she has an interest in woodworking. Oh yeah, mama! Tempus Sanders, a.k.a. the Sandman, works with Santa on Christmas Eve and has written a book ANY parent would kill for.
Nocturne Falls is . . .
. . . the town that celebrates Halloween 365 days a year. Most of it is owned by the Ellinghams, a vampire family whose matriarch is Elenora. She has three grandsons: Sebastian, Hugh (he’s married to the pregnant Delaney who owns the sweets shop and owns a beast of a cat, Captain (The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride, 1)), and Julian, who lives in the penthouse apartment in the Excelsior said to have been built just for him. Alice Bishop, a very powerful witch, is Elenora’s secretary and companion.
Birdie Caruthers, a werewolf, is the sheriff’s aunt and the receptionist for the sheriff’s department. She’s a core character. Blythe is one of Hank’s deputies. The sheriff is Hank Merrow who’s married to Ivy (The Werewolf Meets His Match, 2). They have a son, Charlie.
Juniper (she’s been seeing the fae Pete over at the pharmacy), Buttercup, Holly, and Kip are employees at Santa’s Workshop Toy Store. Snowy Saturdays is when the toy store sees some extra special magic. Toly had been the previous manager (and one of Uncle Kris’ former tinkers).
Cooper Sullivan, a summer elf, is a fireman and Jayne’s ex-boyfriend from college. The lying Lark is Jayne’s former best friend. Greyson Garrett, a vampire and jack-of-all-trades, is Jayne’s current boyfriend.
Corette Williams, a witch and the coven secretary, owns the town bridal shop, Ever After. She’s engaged to Stanhill, Hugh’s rook. Pandora Williams is one of Corette’s three daughters, all witches, and she is the best Realtor in town. She’s dating Prof Cole Van Zant who has a daughter, Kaley, a young witch (The Professor Woos the Witch, 4). Piper Hodges‘ family owns the Tombstone, the local newspaper. Marigold Williams, a green witch, runs the local florist shop. Matilda Sharpe, a green witch, is the Mistress of [magical] Bees and has a brother and sister who own the local winery. Imari Zephara is a genie who works as a massage therapist at the Nocturne Falls Spa. Bridget Merrow, a werewolf and sister to Hank and Titus (the fire chief), owns and runs Howler’s, a bar and grill. Sam, another werewolf, Ivy’s brother, and a fireman, is Bridget’s boyfriend. Myrtis Lobb is the Peach Cobbler Queen. I Scream is an amazing ice cream parlor. Mummy’s Diner is a fabulous choice for breakfast. Café Claude. The Hallowed Bean is better’n Starbucks.
Bryn Anderson of Century Estate Sales is running the auction for Francine Gresham, who reads cards, deals in the black market, and is newly divorced from Roger, a psychometrist. The Greshams’ shop was where Delaney’s Delectables is now. Elite Movers will finish the job. Saul Zabarski will be mailing the box. Blueberry is an imp.
The jinn family includes genies, pixies, sprites, ghouls, and imps.
The Cover and Title
The cover is pale blue with a border of white snowflakes along the top edge. The snow globe in the center features a partially open chest with a green miasma oozing out of it. Its wooden stand has a label on it with the series info and the black Spider with his green eyes prances off to the left. The hip, summer-clad Jayne with her blue hair and sunglasses is on the right in her fuchsia tank top and hip-hugger blue jean shorts. At the top is the title in white with a heavy black shadow around it with the universe series info under it in black. The author’s name is below the snow globe and also in white, but less fancy and with a softened black shadow. Beneath that is an info blurb in white with a blurry, black background.
The title is more metaphorical than reality, as Miss Frost Ices the Imp and saves the town.
