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Homesteader Hearth Witch #1

The Problem with Pixies

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A pixie-infested farmhouse. A pain-in-the-butt familiar. A hunky lumberjack shifter.

Not at all what a witch on the run like me expects to find in small-town Redbud, Indiana, but life’s been throwing me a bunch of curveballs lately. Most recently? Discovering a demonic curse on the family grimoire sucking the magic straight out of my coven’s hearts. 10 out of 10 do not recommend, and there’s only one thing an uninitiated witch like me can do.Steal it. Get that spell book as far away from my family and the rival coven who cursed it, hide it, and figure out how to break the curse. Preferably before it decides to infect me. Or those hellhound trackers hunt me down. Say goodbye to carefree afternoon teas and hello to a new identity, a new town, absolutely no distractions—including that gorgeous bad-boy shifter with his own hidden past—and a secret place to work. So those overly curious, gossiping pixies currently infesting my new farmhouse? They gotta go. Tonight. A new witch is in town, and I’m on a mission.Scroll up and click “Buy Now” or “Read for Free” (Kindle Unlimited) if you like cottagecore with an edge, slow-burn forbidden romance, sassy sidekicks, demonic baddies, found family, small towns, humor, the occasional cozy vibe, and (eventually) a fae king. The Problem with Pixies is the first of Misty and Sawyer’s adventures in this novella series, Homesteader Hearth Witch.

128 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2024

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Kat Lapatovich Healy

17 books31 followers

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5 stars
318 (46%)
4 stars
226 (32%)
3 stars
126 (18%)
2 stars
12 (1%)
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4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
Profile Image for Liz | lizzuplans.
369 reviews6 followers
August 12, 2024
That was a fun read! I had to really get into the writing style first (a bit too descriptive / narrative and mysterious for my liking but it worked well with the story) and I feel both the book (novella?) was both a bit long and a bit short, BUT it was very atmospheric, fun, intriguing, and really entertaining.
Excited about number 2 in this series!

Also, lumbersnacks? Yes please!!

Edit: changed to 4 stars because of the fabulousness of the rest of the books and therefore the whole of this series!
Profile Image for Orini.
88 reviews1 follower
March 15, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this charming and cozy book. Perfect for a hearth witch 😉. Each of the characters are unique and the way they interact with our main character "Misty" paints wonderful imagery of life in a small town. The author clearly has done research or has knowledge in witchcraft, because she certainly put a spell on me! Her attention to detail really comes through. Misty seems to be realizing that, while she is a powerful witch, her schooling has been lacking. She is learning all sorts of things on her own, through trial and error. Mistakes are made, and repercussions given. This book is filled with self discovery, romantic tension, mystery, and subterfuge. If I have anything bad to say it's that I wish there was more! So many questions left unanswered. This book is rather short, but I could see myself bingeing the entire series in a day or two. Bravo Kat Healy! I am excited to see what is in store 'Miss Misty'
283 reviews4 followers
March 16, 2024
The problem with pixies

I loved this book it was a great read with well throughout characters and plotline I want to go and visit miss Misty Fields and have some soup and homemade bread can't wait to read the next book a well deserved 5 stars.
Profile Image for Ciru.
1,610 reviews
April 9, 2024
What a wonderful start to a cozy mystery series.

The best book I've read all day.

Misty/Meadow is on the run from her coven, with the family grimoire. There is also another coven, potentially, after her. She buys a homestead in a magically open town. And then shenanigans ensue with the pixies she's trying to safely relocate.

The last 3 chapters are what really make this book and have me ready for book 2. I love the small town shenanigans, the Hallmark movie flirting with Arthur and the potential 'big picture' story arch with the grimoire.

Shout out to the mention of grounding. As a grounding partaker, avidly since covid, I appreciate the scenes with Misty in the garden, sun bathing, windows and doors open to the earth.

So, loved this. Loved Ame being the haughty cat and the potential relationships Misty is forging in the town.
Profile Image for Amanda.
32 reviews
April 5, 2024
cutest little homey cozy fantasy, I have a feeling Arthur is going to be a fave and can't wait for next installment
Profile Image for loveofafairy.
148 reviews7 followers
March 16, 2024
Expectations vs. Reality in Misty Land
Rating: 6/10
Spice Level: 0/5
Reread: No
Continue Series: Maybe


MC: Misty Fields - Hawthorne runaway green heart witch

The book takes us to a world where pixies, shifters, and witches collide, but not quite in the way one might expect. Our heroine, Misty Fields, finds herself in Redbud, Indiana, seeking refuge and a new beginning, away from the complexities and dangers of her past. However, the promise of a mystical and adventurous journey as hinted in the blurb seems to be, at least for this installment, just out of reach.

The blurb provides an intriguing premise—a witch on the run with a cursed spell book, aiming to hide and break its curse. Yet, as we delve into the story, the excitement is somewhat dampened by a series of unmet expectations. The plot points teased in the blurb, such as the details of Misty's escape with the spell book or her confrontation with the rival coven, remain shrouded in mystery, leaving readers more puzzled than intrigued. The blurb gives more information on the story than the book does.

A significant portion of the narrative is devoted to Misty's daily endeavors in her new home, which, while charming, often sideline the broader, more captivating aspects of her world. The introduction of the hunky lumberjack shifter, who could have added an interesting dynamic to the story, comes pretty late and leaves us wanting more. His character, along with the elusive familiar, Sawyer, feels underdeveloped, underlying even more the nagging feeling that this is just a way too expanded prologue.

Moreover, the book's rich lore is sprinkled throughout the narrative but lacks the depth and exploration one might hope for. The repetitive nature of certain information and the postponement of crucial plot developments in favor of mundane tasks contribute to a feeling of stagnation rather than progression.

However, it's not all pixie dust and disappointment. The writing itself is engaging and well-executed, ensuring that the reader remains entertained throughout. There's a charm to Misty's world that, despite the narrative's shortcomings, captures the imagination and leaves us curious about the future of the series. The foundation laid in this book suggests that there is much more to explore and uncover, giving hope that subsequent installments will delve deeper into the lore and relationships hinted at here.

In conclusion, while "The Problem with Pixies" may leave readers feeling a bit betrayed by its blurb and longing for more substantial plot development, its well-crafted prose and the promise of an expansive universe make it a story with potential. One can only hope that the series will build upon this foundation, offering the adventure and depth that this introductory tale hints at.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Katy.
1,370 reviews8 followers
March 16, 2024
I was all ready to like this book, even BEFORE reading it, as the title mentions Pixies, and I LOVE stories about them.

But, from the first sentence, this book grabbed me, and didn't let me go until now - it's presently 3:20 am, here in the UK - as I read the last word!

This is a lovely story, full of country wisdom, snarkiness, a bit of sass - and, also, some deep shadows that seem to have almost overwhelmed poor Misty Field, and are already making me eager to read book two of this new, series, when it comes out!

Misty is a great character, and I can't wait to learn more about her family, and how she thinks she can rescue them from harm - and, if they actually NEED rescuing, in the first place!

All the characters, in her new home, seem to be the perfect cross-section of a typical country town, and I can't wait to learn more about them all, withe gentle, but mysterious, Arthur.

I'm really hoping that, if Arthur IS a Shifter, and I'm doubting that, even as I write this, then he turns into a Bear, rather than a Wolf, as I've read many other Shifter stories over the years, and it was always the Bear shifters that I liked the most! Lol

I'm really, really, glad that I pre-ordered this book from Amazon, now, as it was very much worth the wait, and now I'll be waiting, rather impatiently, for book two to be released which, I believe, is on 5th April, and is called: 'The Cider Hex'.

A nicely apt name, from where this first book ended! Lol

But, until then, I've still got plenty of books to read, from the Oriceran Universe, and so I'll go on, tomorrow, once I've slept, as it's almost 3:30 am here, now, to read book three of the Magic City Chronicles: "A Flush of Diamonds".

So, once I've read that, I'll catch you on the flip side, to let you know what I thought about the continuation of Ruby and Idryll's story!
Profile Image for Elleigh  Green.
40 reviews1 follower
October 16, 2024
I downloaded this on a whim from Kindle Unlimited. I saw the 4.5 star rating and the description of “A Witchy Romantic Urban Fantasy” and saw that it was only 128pgs and dove in.

1) I was expecting a romance, there really was no romance in this book. Unless you count a possible bear to lumberjack shifter flirting and giving the main character a salve to heal her wounds a romance? lol

2) I don’t know why it says “urban fantasy” when this book has absolutely no world building and takes place in rural Indiana. In my head an “urban” fantasy would at least take place in a large city?

3) the blurb on the book gives the idea that we’re going to get some action; break a family curse, be hunted down for stealing the cursed book and having the help of the lumberjack shifter (who we assume based on the blurb would be a plot point, but simply wasn’t) instead we got a really amazing story about a hearth witch setting up a farmhouse and “evicting” pixies.

This book was very cozy, very good fall vibes, but the plot just wasn’t there for me…. Or maybe I just expected more? I don’t know.
Also this book also kind of has a cliffhanger ending… so if you were looking for a quick standalone like I was… this isn’t it.

The writing was absolutely beautiful and transports you to a cozy rural setting.

I will most likely still be reading more of this series, simply because the writing is incredible, but they’ll just be a little cozy bedtime read for me, nothing more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Tasha.
190 reviews3 followers
December 29, 2024
The Problem with Pixies by Kat Heal had some strong moments, the real highlight for me was the slow-burn romance between Arthur, the lumberjack in plaid, and Misty Fields (her fake name adds a fun twist). Their flirtatious dynamic kept me hooked and made their developing connection one of the most engaging parts of the book.

Alongside the romance, Misty’s journey of learning magic she thought she already knew added an intriguing layer to the plot. Her struggle with this discovery was both humorous and heartfelt, adding depth to her character and her growth throughout the story.

Although there were a lot of characters involved, the chemistry between Arthur and Misty was what really stood out. The pacing of their relationship built just the right amount of tension, making their interactions feel both charming and meaningful.

Overall, it is an enjoyable read for fans of light fantasy and romance, with plenty of heart, magic, and a touch of whimsy.
519 reviews5 followers
April 10, 2024
This was an absolutely delightful book. Be warned -- it is not a fast-paced book and nothing at all is resolved by the end, so think of it as a first installment.

The main character is a hearth witch on the run (her reason for running and lying low comes out about halfway through the book). She snags a cottage/farm in a town that has humans and witches and fae folk and likely a shifter. And then she has to deal with difficult pixies (and other small challenges).

Very low-key. Really sweet and fun. Nothing dramatic -- nobody is out to save or destroy the world and there seem to be no supernatural royalty wandering around.

Anyways, delightful. Apparently the genre is called "cottagecore".

Since there is a cursed object she is planning to mess with, we all know things will get lively down the road.
Profile Image for Deonna.
34 reviews2 followers
November 20, 2024
This entire series is beautifully written! Easy to visualize the characters and the scenery! I want the “I’m not a familiar” familiar cat! He is so adorable! There are shifters and Other magical beings that I love! I want a birdhouse now set up with cotton alls and fir for fairies to live in all year! I’ve named the little white spider in our kitchen Mrs. White because of the one in these books! Mine has all 8 of her legs though! The spells are really wonderful! I craved apple butter and cinnamon rolls while reading these books! Pages flew by and I thought about these people long after I put my device on its charger! I will read everything this author writes! 5 stars! Each book can be read as a stand alone but you’ll want more at The End!
467 reviews
April 1, 2024
Cute, endearing and just a tiny bit sappy!

Now don’t take me wrong at sappy, because it’s just the right amount.

I love the way Kat Healy details her characters. She gives away big chunks of their personality up front and then slowly adds in shading along the way until they reach a level of being fully realized people…. Not once does she tell us that so-and-so is this or rgst, rather letting their actions and thoughts tell the tale.

This was a fast and all around charming, utterly charming, tale and I’m so taken with it, I’ve already pre-ordered the next. So please to ENJOY!
2,128 reviews19 followers
April 13, 2024
A fun cozy fantasy with fabulous characters that I cannot wait to read more about!

Misty Fields, as she must remember to identify herself, has run away from her family of witches after being attacked by a Big Bad and has stolen….well we will get to that.
Misty has become the new homeowner of a rundown apple orchard, a house full of pixies, and things that go bump in the night. She has to make friends - but not too close ones, meet the locals human and not, and satisfy the local fairy folk and wow avoid the hottie shifter.
A beautiful fun story with some truly wonderful characters.

Cannot wait to read more!
Profile Image for Dew.
755 reviews58 followers
September 1, 2024
I liked the book fairly well, but it really didn’t need to be a 7+ book series. I feel like I am living in an old-timey era of serials. Wait until next year to find out what happens next! The caveat being that the author doesn’t know what happens next. Whatever happened to writing a book with a beginning, middle, and end?

Aside from the seemingly endless sequels without ever getting to the point, I had a hard time buying that a 25 year old buys a farm and immediately commenced running a commercial orchard with instantaneous success while simultaneously solving mysteries and having a thriving social life. The characters are pretty good and the general themes are benignly enjoyable.
Profile Image for Sam Blevins.
54 reviews
October 7, 2024
Quick cozy, witchy read!

Misty Fields has run away with her family's grimoire to Redbud, Indiana. She's hiding secrets about who she is and masking herself as she assimilates into a small town taking over the local Apple orchard.

This first book I understand why it is set as a novella but I would appreciate reading all of the books in the series more as a collective. This book has got a lot of backstory in shadow for this first novella and it leaves a lot of cliffhanger's. You see a resolution with the pixies and why they are trouble but it's just setting up the story further. I also like how this book reads as a witchy, cozy romance but also reads like RPG lit.
Profile Image for Abstract Zebra.
188 reviews
October 29, 2024
Magical Misty Fields (her alias) is on the run with the family grimoire!
She has fled her magical family so she can secretly detangle their generational family spell book from the hideous curse that is draining them dry.

She goes to a small magical town and finds a perfect home to shield herself and set up shop, so she can unravel the mystery , but all kinds of hilarious magical mishaps occur and she meets Arthur, a dashing and distracting young man too - beware!

This is a delightful read with ooooodles of charm and an absolutely worthwhile read
Profile Image for Chrissy.
362 reviews15 followers
November 27, 2024
Cute and cozy

💖 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
📚 Genre: Paranormal cozy mystery 

Features:
🔮 A strong hearth witch that buys a run down apple orchard. 

🍏 Bear shifters, gnomes, warlocks and other supernatural species.

🔮 A decades old curse on her family. 

🌟 Overall, this book was okay.  At first I had trouble getting into the story since it was a little slow. There was a ton of world building and back story to explain. Thing is, it occured in a wonderfully cozy setting of an apple orchard in a small town. 

The ending more than made up for the slow beginning. I'll read book 2 next.  
Profile Image for Jennifer.
15 reviews
April 25, 2024
Excellent first adventure!!

Very fun and easy to read. Great story. Loved this book. Made me happy reading it. It created a fantasy world one would love to be in and that felt real and normal. Great job overall. I like the low page count. Makes it easy to get through-short and sweet. So glad this is a continuing story. Keep them coming please! Im already addicted after only the first book. Only issue was some grammar, spelling, editing mistakes.
81 reviews1 follower
September 18, 2024
not a fan of the format

The writing is good but I don’t like how one story has been broken up into multiple small novellas. I don’t know if this was a Vella or series release before being made into a book but I’m not a huge fan of this format and wish it had been clear in advance. I’ll get book 2 but we’ll see how far I get. It’s not that I’m opposed to long books. I actually prefer them and don’t think a story needs to be broken across multiple books.
Profile Image for Whitney.
212 reviews
March 23, 2024
Fun cozy read with a paranormal world, a twist of mystery and attraction. A bit of a spoiler alert: I really enjoyed the twist that the main conflict in the story was a cultural miscommunication addressed with mature neighborly accountability and amends, rather than fists and death. A welcome change from do many books and why I like cozy style stories—at least the good ones.
13 reviews
March 29, 2024
A very good first in a series

Ok so I need more, more story. More back story...just more. I like the characters, the story and the side characters. Different teachings can and do lead to miss understandings in the word, I like an imperfect lead character. Especially when she learns from her mistakes
April 8, 2024
Delightful!

I found this from another authors recommendation. I read voraciously and I am always trying new authors. This book hooked me and I already have book 2 loaded and ready to go. I know another is on the way and hopefully many more. I can't wait to see how the story unfolds.
Profile Image for Nicole.
20 reviews
June 16, 2024
DNF @ 57%.

Its cute, and definitely itches the hearth witch vibes. However, the MC definitely isn't my cup of tea and none of the supporting cast caught my attention. Literally the only thing that interested me was a non-talking, disabled albino spider. Idk man.

Lighthearted books aren't for me. Maybe I'll pick it up and try to complete another time.
Profile Image for Amy.
801 reviews4 followers
November 20, 2024
First things first and second things second…

This was a wonderously good beginning to a series. Excellent world building, fantastic introduction to the magic system, fun characters of a variety of species, this book had it all. I missed that it was a novella at first and was surprised by the short length but that’s on me.
136 reviews2 followers
December 15, 2024
Always great to discover a new author!

New to me, anyway. This story of a magic using young lady setting out on her own and establishing a new home made for great reading. The nature elements added to the atmosphere although the birds dying made me sad. People should keep their cats indoors as they are in fact the second main cause of species extinction, not hobgoblins. ;)
Profile Image for Rachel Rust.
1 review1 follower
January 1, 2025
A short, simple, cozy fantasy read. I went into this book thinking there would be more romance than there was. That’s not a bad thing, but it did have me feeling like I wanted more by the time I finished! Because of this, I wish it was longer so we could see the relationships deepen. Thankfully, it looks like this is a series that will dive into that throughout future books.
Profile Image for Tami Chamberlain.
28 reviews1 follower
March 24, 2024
This will be a fun series

I really like Kat’s writing style and her characters are so easy to like and want to get to know better. Well written and honestly I can’t wait for the next book so I can find out what happens next
398 reviews2 followers
March 29, 2024
A fun and hilarious introduction to a new series. Love the banter, the goofy side characters, the sexy Arthur and the funny Meadow aka Misty. Can't wait to read the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
965 reviews5 followers
April 1, 2024
Picked and Other Creatures

Very enjoyable read for the start of a series. I always enjoy talking cats. I like the mystery of our Heroine is past. Looking forward to learning more and about that strange book.
Profile Image for Sandra Self.
154 reviews1 follower
June 15, 2024
Fun and entertaining

It is interesting to read about pixies, witches, and supers. Just like stories from the past that deemed they were all real. The story is ready to read and will make you laugh.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews

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