Since reading my first book by Charlie Laidlaw, I’ve gone into each of his books pretty much knowing I’m going to love it. Not assuming, knowing. I’ve been right so far, and I was right with Love Potions and Other Calamities... I absolutely LOVED it!!

Charlie Laidlaw has a very distinct writing style, that I am kind of obsessed with. It’s a bit whimsical and sometimes a bit sarcastic, which I thoroughly enjoy. However, this story is a bit different than his last two books. Hysterical is a good descriptive word for it.

I loved the characters. Per usual, Charlie Laidlaw nails his characters, creating people who are relatable and quite eccentric, which makes them so much more fun to read.

I could continue to rave, or you could just go check out this book. Hillarious with wonderful characters and a plot that is both well-researched and fabulously written, Love Potions and Other Calamities has landed in my favorites of 2019!

As usual, Charlie Laidlaw has blended a quirky brew of different genres and influences which requires a taste for the experimental and will leave a lasting flavour to remember it by. And, unlike Rosie’s special brews, there are no nasty consequences!

Rosie is the central character in the story, and seems intent on celebrating imminently turning forty by losing her herb-loving mind. Seriously. She spends most of the story jumping to wild conclusions on circumstantial evidence and responding by calmly and proportionately attempting to repeatedly spike her husband’s sustenance. The combination of hormonal instability and plantlore expertise is obviously a potent one!

While Rosie is living out her delusions on a real-life stage, a mysterious someone has seen the signs and is ready to purge the village of witchcraft. So, not the best time to be flinging her potions about willy-nilly… unless you fancy being burned at the stake at your own birthday party. The series of unusual events that ensue keeps the local police force busy investigating black cats, pub brawls, traffic incidents and the fallout of Rosie’s felonious mid-life crisis.

This gives us a combination of mystery and comedy, as Rosie attempts to find out who is after her and what her husband is up to, and does it in classic Brit-com style (think John Cleese in Fawlty Towers). There is also some philosophical, psychological romantic conflict between barmaid, Mara, and her police officer boyfriend, Richie, some local political wrangling, a doomsday-fearing vicar and more, as we gradually build up a picture of the small village beyond the Fox and Duck pub. The characters are endearing and engaging, and it doesn’t take long for the reader to be immersed in village life and anxious for the fate of its beloved and bemusing healer.

As an added bonus, Charlie Laidlaw has clearly done his research into the herblore and witchcraft background of his story and it shows in an abundance of fascinating factual material on the subjects, including the scientific details of specific chemicals within certain plants, and their effects on the chemistry and biology of the human body.

This is an interesting and entertaining read: a chaotic comedy of errors romp, police procedural mystery and herbal grimoire all rolled into one. Charlie Laidlaw is an expert on tying together the world of science with the world of magic and the intervening effect of human nature on the two. Love Potions and Other Calamities is another great addition to his canon of standalone cross-genre fiction.





The local paper had written a story about her some years beforehand, calling her – what else – Medicine Woman, an epithet that caused much local mirth and underlined her benign reputation in the community. Her university certificate, now behind glass, hung in the scullery. The newspaper cutting hung in the public bar. There were a few villagers who grumbled about her – including the good Dr Murray who believed with some justification that the practice of medicine should only be carried out by those more suitably qualified. The secret, Rosie would say, is to know what boundaries of treatment not to cross.

– Charlie Laidlaw, Love Potions and Other Calamities


Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

4☆ A Witty, Fun, Magical, Humorous Read


Love Potions and Other Calamities is a Witty, Fun, Magical, Humorous Read with some great historical aspects.

When I first started reading this book, I have to say it wasn't anything like I was used to reading and I felt a little out of my depth.
But I was so intrigued by the blurb I just had to keep reading. I'm so glad I did as once I got used to Laidlaw's writing style I soon found myself laughing out loud and enjoying all the mishaps and mayhem!

Rosie loves being a herbalist and is passionate about it, even though things never quiet go according to plan when she start experimenting.
But a big black Cat Sighting has gotten her well and truly spooked, but can she keep herself together and why is the black Cat freeking her out so much?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this Quirky and Authentic Book.
It had a lil bit of everything, magic, mystery, secrets, A Cat, dramas, Comedy and some fabulous quirky characters!
I loved all this rich history and Legends Laidlaw has added it's beautifully written and you can see how much passion he has for writing this story.
What I really enjoyed was the start of each chapter there is a short verse talking about different herbs and there uses, I found it fascinating.

This is my first book by Charlie Laidlaw and im exited to read more!

Thank you to R&R Book Tours for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Having thoroughly enjoyed The Things We Learn When We're Dead and The Space Between Time, I knew to expect something completely different when I read Love Potions and Other Calamities; Charlie Laidlaw could never be accused of writing to a formula! This is perhaps a more lighthearted book but is still as perceptive and absorbing as I've come to expect from an author who has become a must-read for me.
From the start, it's obvious that this is a novel which takes a ribald look at life as Rosie and her husband Jack are interrupted at a rather inopportune moment by a telephone call asking about appropriate flowers for a funeral. It's also immediately evident that Rosie isn't mourning this person's passing and on the contrary, has things she would far rather be doing...
Two week previously, Rosie was more concerned with her upcoming fortieth birthday and her fear of ageing. Feeling dowdy and undesirable, she could have spoken to Jack about her feelings but instead decided to use her specialist knowledge of plants and herbs to either tempt him back into her arms or to discover the truth about his fidelity. However, through a combination of bad luck, coincidence and the actions of a disturbed individual, unexpected events occur in the seemingly quiet, peaceful village of Holy Cross but with potentially portentous omens also sighted - not least a large black cat - there is a sense of malevolence and mystery amidst the more comic elements of the book.
At the start of each chapter of Love Potions and Other Calamities, there are excerpts from The Book of Secrets by Albertus Magnus, a thirteenth century guide into casting spells and using potions and as the novel progresses it becomes increasingly clear just how much research must have gone into writing a story which manages to so successfully combine a rather madcap tale about a woman's desperate measures to attract her husband's attention with a more unsettling look at the history of witchcraft and particularly how those suspected - most often women, of course - were treated. There are some really funny scenes here; an unexpected interruption to a talk by a prospective Conservative MP and a sermon which proves uncomfortably memorable for all concerned are among the highlights but there are serious points raised too and as the central character, there is something actually quite moving about Rosie's story. She dreads becoming invisible in middle age but while her concerns could be dismissed as shallow, it is undeniably true that women are often cast aside once they reach forty. Her methods to reassure herself may be unconventional but her concerns are understandable. As is so often the case too, the scenes which give us an insight into Jack's thoughts and feelings show that a breakdown in communication can lead to all sorts of trouble.
There is certainly trouble in Holy Cross and Rosie isn't responsible for all of it. There is a genuine mystery here; as the sinister truth starts to come to light, there is very real danger and I second guessed myself throughout trying to work out who could and couldn't be trusted. The sense of place is fantastic too, from the entirely believable history of the village and its links to the Holy Grail casting it as a modern day tourist trap to the day to day community life, including a wonderfully realistic local cricked match.
Rosie is a wonderful character, of course but so too are the other villagers and I especially enjoyed the relationship between local policeman, Ritchie and barmaid, Mara. Would-be MP Adrian Mountjoy and his domineering constituency chairperson, Clare Derby are less likeable but just as vividly brought to life. Love Potions and Other Calamities is another hugely engaging novel by Charlie Laidlaw and is a delight to read from start to finish.

Set in Scotland, Love Potions and Other Calamities is a warm and rich farcical tale of herbal ‘witch’ Rosie. She is struggling to cope with the idea of turning 40 and feels decidedly unattractive. She hopes to uses her plant power to entice her husband’s lust but the plan goes awry, kicking off a string of amusing consequences.
I admit to struggling to get into the book as the tone is quite literary and I felt that it jumped between the characters a little too much. However, around a quarter of the way through, the humour began to shine through for me and I enjoyed the events and disasters described within the pages.
Having visited Scotland for our holiday this year, I liked the description of the history and setting that Charlie Laidlaw includes within the novel. Village life is well described and the timing of the election in the book with the election in real life was good but not necssary to enjoy it!
The characters felt believable and their actions and behaviour realistic. Rosie is a fab lead character and as a woman approaching my own 40th birthday I could really relate to her!
There is also a mystery and murder threaded through the plot. A black cat is causing mischief and this is linked back to a murder 20 years ago but this is secondary to the main plot strand and I had no idea on the culprit until the very end!
Overall, this was a quirky and fun book, full of love and laughter as well as disaster and mayhem (the after effects of a chicken pie on the bowls is just sublime comedy…)

Love Potions and Other Calamities

By: Charlie Laidlaw

Have you ever began a walk through a peaceful wooded forrest just knowing it’s going to be an enjoyable journey; only to find the farther you go, the thicker the forest and less visible the path? You can’t decide whether to turn back or keep fighting your way through the jungle until you reach some sense of a pattern to follow.

Well, that’s what I felt when trying to navigate this book from Charlie Laidlaw. I thought the synopsis I read sounded intriguing: bar owner herbalist, amateur detective, possible witchcraft, black cat, murder and comedy! What’s not to like about that description? Apparently I missed all of those things in the pages. It took me about 50% of the book to try to make any sense or order to the chapters. I mainly remember a sexually frustrated bar owner, certified as an herbalist, trying to dose her husband with some concoction to boost his desire for her.

The beginning of each chapter had an excerpt from a 13th century scientist about plants and their effects when used on human conditions. Now I found that interesting (but rather hard to understand in 13th century speaking fashion!) because I have some background in drugs and their originations.

It is hard for me to put in words how I felt about this read. It took me forever to get through because I had no “urgent” feeling to get back to the story and it seemed as if I had to struggle to find a purpose or plot. I didn’t even realize it was supposed to be a comedy until I went back and reread the promotional blurb. Sorry, perhaps it’s just my lack of funny bone?! But, I understood the book more after I finished it that while reading it.

It received great reviews from other bloggers so I think it’s just the writing style that I was ‘luke warm’ about...and maybe the kind of humor...and maybe the lack of organized thought process....Oh well, I may have to check out another of Charlie’s books to see if this is a “one off” or overall style.

Don’t let me deter you from trying this, there is some pretty accurate information on the plant and herbal intros from Albertus Magnus’s Book of Secrets!

Jeanie G

Giving 3.5 Stars

This is the third book I’ve had the pleasure of reading by Charlie Laidlaw, The Things We Learn When We’re Dead and The Space Between Time being the first two which I absolutely adored, I knew I was in for a real treat with this one and I wasn’t wrong.

I’m not sure how but Charlie Laidlaw has a way of writing that I’ve never experienced before, I don’t even think I can explain it properly to be honest, he has a way of drawing the reader in from page one, making the characters so real you almost feel like you could walk out your front door and bump into one of them. And although this book is quite different to his others I still had that same feeling, it’s quite magical really.
It’s very clear there has been a lot of research done for this book, the history and legends of Holy Cross really set the tone for this story which I loved.
The characters are so well described that they come to life, I love a story with relatable characters, some quite eccentric but all so real feeling.
I really don’t want to go into the plot and give anything away but what I will say is you are in for a real treat with this story. It has some real laugh out loud moments, the mystery is well done (I didn’t guess) and it’s just a fabulous book and i was really sad to finish the last page.
So if you’re looking for a book that is well written, that will give you a good laugh with a brilliant setting, characters that come to life and keeps you hooked from beginning to end then Love Potions and Other Calamities is definitely the one for you.
I can’t wait to read more from Charlie Laidlaw, hopefully I won’t have long to wait.

Readers can always expect something out of the ordinary with Charlie Laidlaw’s books. Love Potions and Other Calamities is no exception. Each chapter begins with a snippet from The Book of Secrets by Albertus Magnus, 13th century scientist, theologian and philosopher, which relates to the story.

Set in a small rural village in Scotland, Holy Cross is known to be a place of myth and legend. The trouble began with the Reverend Lionel Kennedy during a thunderstorm. A sudden, nightmarish experience on his way home after judging a Women’s Institute jam making competition, sent him hurtling (for him) to the police station. The sight of a very large black cat had completely unnerved him, being aware of the stories attached to Holy Cross from the previous minister.

Rosie McLeod, a certified herbalist and landlady of the Fox and Duck hostelry in Holy Cross, is rapidly approaching her 40th birthday and feeling less than desirable. Her husband, Jack, seems oblivious to her charms and Mara the temporary barmaid, is young and beautiful, further lowering Rosie’s self esteem. Rosie decides to take matters into her own hands and give Jack a little push in the right direction.

Rosie’s mood was further darkened by news of the minister’s sighting, and her upcoming birthday seemed less important in the light of the significant vandalism to the pub’s hazel tree and the church wall. The meaning those actions conveyed was obvious to Rosie, if no-one else. I loved the underlying theme of witchcraft and cringed at the situations some characters found themselves in. Perhaps the poor vicar would have been wiser to leave his sermon much earlier.

Rosie’s herbal ‘cures’ had unintended and comical consequences, creating confusion and disorder among the residents the village and total embarrassment to the recipients. Well written with wonderfully drawn characters and a vividly portrayed setting, Love Potions and Other Calamities must have needed a huge amount of research but it has more than paid off, resulting in an enjoyable and quirky read with laugh out loud moments.

I fell in love with the cover and then I fell in love with the story.
It's witty, well written, engrossing and entertaining. It made me laugh and I read it quite fast because I wanted to know more.
I loved the quirky and well thought cast of characters, the well crafted plot and the lovely setting.
I appreciated how well research the part about herbalism is, it's something I'm interested in and I loved the descriptions of the herbs and their usage.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Love Potions and Other Calamities is the latest novel to come from the mind of Charlie Laidlaw, and it is as marvelous as it is hilarious. It’s a love story gone wrong, thanks to all of the unintended consequences of one woman – Rosie McLeod.
Rosie McLeod is a brilliant herbalist, but that description doesn’t explain what she can manage when she puts her mind to it. Back in the day, she might even have been called a witch. And based on some of the actions she’s accidentally set in motion, it wouldn’t be that far off of a claim.
Naturally, that means that Rosie is about to get herself into a bit of a situation. After all, she’s meddling with things she can’t predict. And there are more dangerous things than her lurking in this otherwise calm little town.

“It Began, as these things always do, with a thunderstorm.”

Love Potions and Other Calamities was a luminous and mirthful read. It tickled my funny bone, while also perfectly showing off the chaos created by humans and their actions. Rosie McLeod is not a woman to be messed with, though she might not know the true depth of that statement.
I honestly really enjoyed Love Potions and Other Calamities. It was silly at times, but startling serious at others. The two balanced each other out nicely, resulting in a fascinating book that was unlike any other I’ve read.
The chaos within these pages is comical, with events getting pushed to the logical extremes. It was highly entertaining to see Rosie plot out some clever scheme, only to have it all go awry due to a missing detail.
And to think that it all started with Rosie fretting so much about her impending age adjustment (aka her fortieth birthday). It was not the sort of start I was expecting from this tale…and yet it was oddly perfect. Rosie’s crisis is something we’ve all faced, or will have to face. And that made her human, despite her somewhat supernatural gift with plants and remedies.
One touch that I particularly enjoyed was how Charlie Laidlaw started out each chapter. Each and every chapter of this book started out with an herbal remedy or description. It was a nice touch, and one that I’m sure added significantly to the amount of work Laidlaw had to put into this book. And yet it took it to another level.
Once again I’ve found that I’m really enjoyed Charlie Laidlaw’s works. They’re unique and putting in the effort to stand out from the crowd. I’m looking forward to seeing what he comes up with next.

The writing and storytelling are marvellous. I will not talk much about the story and make this review a spoiler. But let me tell you this - there's dark humour, romance, the sexual tension between the characters, and a large black cat lurking around. Mara and the reverend become unintended victims of Rosie's remedies. The eccentric characters and equally weirder stories of theirs make you giggle.

Rosie creates quite a fuss about her turning forty. Uff! She's being a pain-in-the-backside - Jack, tell me you love me; Jack, why are you wearing geriatric slippers; Jack this, Jack that! *rolls eyes*

Each chapter in the story starts with a herbal remedy. The author told me that it took him a lot of time to write this book as the amount of research he had to do was immense. Charles, your hard work's paid off. Every single detail (especially the ones including the herbs) is well explained. The character portrayals are good too. The story did seem a tad dragged at certain places and the mysterious twist is almost at the end of the story but that didn't spoil my read.

Love Potions and other Calamities is a witty and unique story. If you like to experiment with your reads, I recommend you to give this book a try.