Julie's Review: The Coffee Shop of Curiosities

Author: Heather Webber
Series: None
Publication Date:  August 1, 2023
Publisher: Forge Publishing
Pages: 320
Obtained: publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction, Magical Realism
Rating: 4.5/5
Bottom Line: Sometimes you have to take chances to live
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Summary: A mysterious letter. An offer taken. And the chance to move forward. When Ava Harrison receives a letter containing an unusual job listing one month after the sudden death of her ex-boyfriend, she thinks she’s being haunted. The listing―a job as a live-in caretaker for a peculiar old man and his cranky cat in Driftwood, Alabama―is the perfect chance to start a new life. A normal life. Ava has always been too fearful to even travel, so no one’s more surprised than she is when she throws caution to the wind and drives to the distant beachside town. On the surface, Maggie Mae Brightwell is a bundle of energy as she runs Magpie’s, Driftwood’s coffee and curiosity shop, where there’s magic to be found in pairing the old with the new. But lurking under her cheerful exterior is a painful truth―keeping busy is the best way to distract herself from the lingering loss of her mama and her worries about her aging father. No one knows better than she does that you can’t pour from an empty cup, but holding on to the past is the only thing keeping the hope alive that her mama will return home one day. Ava and Maggie soon find they’re kindred spirits, as they’re both haunted―not by spirits, but by regret. Both must learn to let go of the past to move on―because sometimes the waves of change bring you to the place where you most belong. ~amazon.com

Review: There is something special about Heather Webber's books for me. Perhaps is the bit of magic that she sprinkles along the way but I think it's also how she writes her characters. From the eccentric, to the secretive to the hurting, all of them are key parts to the story she's weaving. The story begins and ends with Ava but it is her journey that ends up bringing the small town together and healing old wounds. 

I loved all of the characters in this novel and the interpersonal relationships even if they were complicated at times because well life is complicated. Dez and Maggie have always had a special father/daughter relationship but lately Dez has been acting odd and Maggie is getting concerned. Maggie has her own health issues to worry about and she needs to take care of herself but she's too busy worrying about and taking care of the town. Plus there's all kinds of rumors abound about Dez selling the coffee shop that Maggie's mom opened before she disappeared years ago and Maggie can't let it go. Plus an old flame of hers and re-emerged and wants to rekindle what they had. 

Then there's the mysterious Sam who Ava finds herself drawn to him and of course his dog, Norman. Ava who is still working through the grief of her friend, Alexander and trying to live a normal life. She's worried about her own health issues she had when she was younger. 

I loved the matching of the curiosities from the coffee shop with people that seemed random but really put them on their correct path in life. 

If you are a fan of Sarah Addison Allen's novels, then you should definitely pick up Heather Webbers's books. 

Julie's Review: The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone

Author: Audry Burges
Series: None
Publication Date:  January 24, 2023
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 348
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Magical Realism
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: An absolute delight and a total surprise
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Summary: From her attic in the Arizona mountains, thirty-four-year-old Myra Malone blogs about a dollhouse mansion that captivates thousands of readers worldwide. Myra’s stories have created legions of fans who breathlessly await every blog post, trade photographs of Mansion-modeled rooms, and swap theories about the enigmatic and reclusive author. Myra herself is tethered to the Mansion by mysteries she can’t understand—rooms that appear and disappear overnight, music that plays in its corridors. Across the country, Alex Rakes, the scion of a custom furniture business, encounters two Mansion fans trying to recreate a room. The pair show him the Minuscule Mansion, and Alex is shocked to recognize a reflection of his own life mirrored back to him in minute scale. The room is his own bedroom, and the Mansion is his family’s home, handed down from the grandmother who disappeared mysteriously when Alex was a child. Searching for answers, Alex begins corresponding with Myra. Together, the two unwind the lonely paths of their twin worlds—big and small—and trace the stories that entwine them, setting the stage for a meeting rooted in loss, but defined by love. ~amazon.com 

Review: So, when you see one of your favorite authors recommend this book and then a fellow book blogger says not to miss it, you make it your next read. Honestly, The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone seemed like it could be good or could be too whimsical but as you can tell from my rating, it was fantastic! While the summary gives you a glimpse of the story, it is much deeper than that. 

Myra is pretty much a recluse except for her best friend, Gwen, who busted into her life and never left. Her inability to leave the house and the attic with the mansion has a domino affect on her parents, who divorce. Plus her mom develops her own mental health issues that will have a major affect on Myra. Gwen is the one that pushes her to create a blog and share the mansion with the outside world. Of course, neither of them know how this will really change the trajectory of their lives. 

This is where Alex enters the story as someone shows him Myra's blog and the mansion, he can't help but freak out a bit since it looks exactly like the house he's lived in on and off. What he doesn't realize is the memories it holds for himself and his family. This is where we get different points of view, including Willa, Alex's grandmother who is the rightful owner of the true mansion. your

This is a beautifully written story about the choices we make, choices that are made for us and how to fight the past to make your own future. There is a lot of magic in the story but ultimately is about love and the different types. Myra is a wonderful character that grows and changes during the course of the story in order to enable herself to see a different life for herself. I did love how Gwen also pushed her to be more than she was settling for, even if it meant possibly losing her friends in the process. 

I can't wait for Ms. Burges' next novel but I will keep coming back to this one in my head for a long time!

Julie's Review: The Book of Magic

Author: Alice Hoffman
Series: Practical Magic #4
Publication Date:  October 12, 2021
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 396
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction, Magical Realism
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: A perfect conclusion to a wonderful series
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Summary: The Owens family has been cursed in matters of love for over three-hundred years but all of that is about to change. The novel begins in a library, the best place for a story to be conjured, when beloved aunt Jet Owens hears the deathwatch beetle and knows she has only seven days to live. Jet is not the only one in danger—the curse is already at work. A frantic attempt to save a young man’s life spurs three generations of the Owens women, and one long-lost brother, to use their unusual gifts to break the curse as they travel from Paris to London to the English countryside where their ancestor Maria Owens first practiced the Unnamed Art. The younger generation discovers secrets that have been hidden from them in matters of both magic and love by Sally, their fiercely protective mother. As Kylie Owens uncovers the truth about who she is and what her own dark powers are, her aunt Franny comes to understand that she is ready to sacrifice everything for her family, and Sally Owens realizes that she is willing to give up everything for love. The Book of Magic is a breathtaking conclusion that celebrates mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, and anyone who has ever been in love. ~amazon.com

Review: The Book of Magic is the sequel to Practical Magic but also the spectacular conclusion to the Owens' story. This story is full of history that goes back hundreds of years and spans different family lines. The Owens have always gone out of their way to protect themselves and their loved ones from their family curse but when Sally decides to keep her daughters, Antonia & Kylie, in the dark about their curse, things quickly spiral out of control. Kylie takes off for England to try to break the curse to save her boyfriend, Gideon. What Kylie doesn't realize is that this will set off a series of events that will forever change the trajectory of their family. 

What Alice Hoffman does so well is create atmosphere, setting and connections with her characters. It is their journey that we find ourselves engrossed in and the places they visit that cement the story in our head. For this one we go to Paris, London and back to Massachusetts. This trip will change their lives forever. It brings one of them back into the fold and allows one of them to open up and let go of herself and her worries. 

I am truly sad to see these wonderful women go because this is the final book in the Owens' women saga. I can't recommend these books enough but I will say you at least need to read Practical Magic before reading this one or you just won't understand it. Then you can go back and read The Rules of Magic and Magic Lessons. 

I can't wait to see what Ms. Hoffman has in store for us with her next novel. 

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Julie's Review: South of the Buttonwood Tree

Author: Heather Webber
Series: None
Publication Date:  July 21, 2020
Publisher: Forge Books
Pages: 330
Obtained: Publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction, Magical Realism
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Gorgeous novel about finding yourself and your family
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Summary: Blue Bishop has a knack for finding lost things. While growing up in charming small-town Buttonwood, Alabama, she’s happened across lost wallets, jewelry, pets, her wandering neighbor, and sometimes, trouble. No one is more surprised than Blue, however, when she comes across an abandoned newborn baby in the woods, just south of a very special buttonwood tree. Sarah Grace Landreneau Fulton is at a crossroads. She has always tried so hard to do the right thing, but her own mother would disown her if she ever learned half of Sarah Grace’s secrets. The unexpected discovery of the newborn baby girl will alter Blue’s and Sarah Grace’s lives forever. Both women must fight for what they truly want in life and for who they love. In doing so, they uncover long-held secrets that reveal exactly who they really are—and what they’re willing to sacrifice in the name of family. ~amazon.com

Review:  Blue Bishop has been "cursed" by her last name for her entire left. She's never felt that she belonged in Buttonwood because of this. She has a very close knit circle that she's let in over the years but other than that she keeps to herself. She also has a gift of finding lost things which on one day include finding a baby by the famous Buttonwood tree. The tree has a magical quality about it because it tells you what you need to hear not what you want to hear. The tree left a button saying to give the baby to Blue. What isn't known is how the appearance of this baby will turn lives upside down and all around.

On the other side of town, Sarah Grace is trying to figure out what do do about her marriage. Luckily she doesn't have to make that choice because he does it for her. Now all that she has to do is right her life and find what makes her happy. Like some of us, what makes her happy is right in front of her. Sarah Grace has a special gift as well, she can feel the past of the houses that she's living in or rehabbing. She's also trying to reconcile her past and trying to make sense of the decisions she made. 

This book had so much heart that it will stay with me for a long time. Everyone has secrets but perhaps none as interlinked as the residents of Buttonwood. I loved how Ms. Webber wove her magical realism into this novel. This was the perfect escape from what ails you right now.

Julie's Review: How To Save a Life

Author: Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke
Series: None
Publication Date: July 14, 2020
Publisher: Lake Union
Pages: 301
Obtained: publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: MAJOR book hangover
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Summary: Dom is having a very bad day—one he literally can’t escape. When Dom bumps into Mia, his ex-fiancée whom he hasn’t seen in almost a decade, he believes they’ve been given a second chance and asks her out. When Mia dies tragically on their date, Dom makes a desperate wish: to be given the chance to save her life. And when he wakes the next morning to the shock that she’s alive, he thinks his wish may have been granted. But day after day, no matter what he changes about their time together, she still meets a terrible fate. Dom frantically searches for answers to save his beloved Mia and rekindle their former love. But the further he digs, the more obsessed he becomes, making him realize that slowing down time may be the only way to see things clearly. As he’s forced to confront the truth about himself and those he’s closest to, Dom vows that he’ll watch Mia die a thousand times if it means he can save her once.

Review: I really don't say this lightly but I have read all their books and this to date, is Liz and Lisa's best novel. From the first line it pulls you in and then the emotional roller coaster never stops. It really puts you in Dom's place as he tries to figure out this worm hole he has been placed in.

Dom runs into Mia in a coffee shop that he wasn't even supposed to be at that day and decides that this is his 2nd chance at love. She's always been the one that got away and no one has ever compared to her. He gets her to agree to go on a date with him but it ends in disaster when she dies in a freak accident. 

For the next few days he wakes up to repeat the same opening sequence only to try to figure out what he can change to keep Mia alive. Each day he tries and each time he fails. He learns something from each replay and you have to wonder if that’s not the life lesson in all of this. 

I loved Dom. He was a terrific character and while I liked Mia I felt that she was more of just a catalyst for him to learn to live.

I loved this book so much that it has taken me a bit to get into another book; so major book hangover. I highly recommend this book and I don't think you'll be disappointed. 


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Jenn's Review: Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe

Author: Heather Webber
Series: None
Publication Date: July 16th 2019
Publisher: Forge Books
Pages: 336
Obtained: Purchase
Genre:  Women's Fiction, Magical Realism
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: family, secrets, and misunderstandings 
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Summary: Nestled in the mountain shadows of Alabama lies the little town of Wicklow. It is here that Anna Kate has returned to bury her beloved Granny Zee, owner of the Blackbird Café. It was supposed to be a quick trip to close the café and settle her grandmother’s estate, but despite her best intentions to avoid forming ties or even getting to know her father’s side of the family, Anna Kate finds herself inexplicably drawn to the quirky Southern town her mother ran away from so many years ago, and the mysterious blackbird pie everybody can’t stop talking about. As the truth about her past slowly becomes clear, Anna Kate will need to decide if this lone blackbird will finally be able to take her broken wings and fly.

Review: Heather Webber has long been one of my favorite authors ever since Julie introduced me to her Lucy Valentine  series years ago. She has a way of writing characters that is warm, inviting, and oh-so-accessible. I was intrigued by Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe as it is her first novel that ventures into the realm of Women's Fiction.

It's amazing how the strand of a single person's life can run through so many other lives and how events can change and shape who we become.  Even when several people are touched by the same experience the individual effects can be so incredibly different.  These are the themes Heather Webber skillfully explores and there is much to love here.  There are several character's stories that unfold gently and I was enthralled watching their past catch up with their present. Despite the fact that the story is told from several different points of view, the transitions were not jarring and I felt drawn into the quirky town and all of its inhabitants.

As much as I enjoy magical realism, I found that it was the only thing that seemed slightly out of place in the novel.  Don't get me wrong, it was artfully done and it gave the novel quaint charm. However, the magic of the pie would have been enough for me and I felt that the story could have easily stood on it's own without much of the rest of it.

The novel ends as quietly as it begins and one can't help but feel you are leaving the character's behind too soon.  I found myself wishing to be back in in Wicklow, sitting down for a piece of pie, and catching up with all the neighbors.  That's the thing about a Heather Webber novel, it sticks with you for days after you close the cover.

Julie's Review: The Rules of Magic

Author: Alice Hoffman
Series: Practical Magic #0
Publication Date: October 10, 2017
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 384
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Historical Fiction, Magical Realism
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: It's like meeting up with old friends
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Summary: For the Owens family, love is a curse that began in 1620, when Maria Owens was charged with witchery for loving the wrong man. Hundreds of years later, in New York City at the cusp of the sixties, when the whole world is about to change, Susanna Owens knows that her three children are dangerously unique. Difficult Franny, with skin as pale as milk and blood red hair, shy and beautiful Jet, who can read other people’s thoughts, and charismatic Vincent, who began looking for trouble on the day he could walk. From the start Susanna sets down rules for her children: No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic. And most importantly, never, ever, fall in love. But when her children visit their Aunt Isabelle, in the small Massachusetts town where the Owens family has been blamed for everything that has ever gone wrong, they uncover family secrets and begin to understand the truth of who they are. Back in New York City each begins a risky journey as they try to escape the family curse. The Owens children cannot escape love even if they try, just as they cannot escape the pains of the human heart. The two beautiful sisters will grow up to be the revered, and sometimes feared, aunts in Practical Magic, while Vincent, their beloved brother, will leave an unexpected legacy. Thrilling and exquisite, real and fantastical, The Rules of Magic is a story about the power of love reminding us that the only remedy for being human is to be true to yourself. ~amazon.com  

Review: Before you dive into The Rules of Magic, you might as well carve out a few hours because you won't want to put it down. Also,  you don't have to have previous experience with the Owens' to thoroughly enjoy this novel. I loved how each of the Owens' siblings grew and changed but they always, always had each other and supported each other.

You have Franny who is the eldest, the most realistic and the most stern. You know she has a good heart but she's far too fearful of her family's legacy. As she begins to experience life it makes her harder and she puts her walls up to protect herself and those she loves. She's definitely the leader of the 3 of them and the one who might sacrifice the most for her siblings.

Jet is the one that everyone gravitates towards because she wears her emotions on her sleeve. She's the sensitive one. She's the one most likely to fall in love and not care what the family "curse" is. She wants to love and be loved. Jet is also the one, whom perhaps loses the most as well. She never seems to get over the loss of her love but maybe that was her destiny.

Vincent is the sibling that is most in-tune with their family legacy and gifts. He never denied who he was and he accepted it early on. While he appears to be aloof, he's sensitive like Jet but pragmatic like Franny. 

Usually when there's a cast of characters, I end up liking one over the others but in this case, I loved them all because they each had unique voices. I loved how they were always there for each other and while they might not have always agreed with each others choices, they were supportive.

What it really boils down to is that no matter what path you follow in life, always be true to who you are and what you are. Learning to accept yourself is the key to a life without remorse. I loved how Ms. Hoffman brought us to the Owens' we love so much from Practical Magic. It definitely makes me want to curl up with them again, plus have a new appreciation for Jet and Franny.

This is the perfect blend of magic, family, love and acceptance. If you are a fan of Alice Hoffman, then you won't want to miss this novel. If you've never read her, what are you waiting for?

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Julie's Review: The Status of All Things

Author: Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke
Series: None
Publication Date: June 2, 2015
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Pages: 304
Obtained: purchased
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction, Magical Realism
Rating: 4.25/5
Bottom Line: Are we as happy as we post on Facebook? Probably not.
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Summary: What would you do if you could literally rewrite your fate—on Facebook? This heartwarming and hilarious new novel from the authors of Your Perfect Life follows a woman who discovers she can change her life through online status updates. Kate is a thirty-five-year-old woman who is obsessed with social media. So when her fiancé, Max, breaks things off at their rehearsal dinner—to be with Kate’s close friend and coworker, no less—she goes straight to Facebook to share it with the world. But something’s changed. Suddenly, Kate’s real life starts to mirror whatever she writes in her Facebook status. With all the power at her fingertips, and heartbroken and confused over why Max left her, Kate goes back in time to rewrite their history. Kate's two best friends, Jules and Liam, are the only ones who know the truth. In order to convince them she’s really time traveled, Kate offers to use her Facebook status to help improve their lives. But her attempts to help them don’t go exactly as planned, and every effort to get Max back seems to only backfire, causing Kate to wonder if it’s really possible to change her fate. In The Status of All Things, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke combine the humor and heart of Sarah Pekkanen and Jennifer Weiner while exploring the pitfalls of posting your entire life on the Internet. They raise the questions: What if you could create your picture-perfect life? Would you be happy? Would you still be you? For anyone who’s ever attempted—or failed—to be their perfect self online, this is a story of wisdom and wit that will leave you with new appreciation for the true status of your life. ~amazon.com  

Review: The Status of All Things is something that many of us can relate to in some way. You might not be solely focused on making sure that selfie you just took is perfect enough to post to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc but we do make our lives all shiny on social media. If we don't, we always mask in in cryptic messages. What if we were all honest? What would it look like then? Would you lose friends? Probably. This is the quandary for Kate who just got dumped by her fiance at their rehearsal dinner. What do you think her first question or thought should be? Probably, why right? Nope for Kate it's how am I going to update my status. It literally comes out of her mouth to her now ex-fiance, Max.

This gives us a glimmer into Kate and what she's focused on. What Kate gets is the ability to re-write her statuses for the last 30 days before the rehearsal dinner dump by Max. As we all know if you change one thing about the past, it sets into motion changes that you can't even think of, with consequences. Where Kate things she's going to save her relationship with Max and is so focused on that, she doesn't for one second think that maybe they aren't supposed to be together. Kate is a bit self-centered and going back 30 days shows her that maybe things aren't so perfect in Jules' marriage and maybe Liam being in a relationship isn't good for their friendship.

As Kate starts to realize that things aren't always great when you go back to fix them, she figures out that maybe the place she needs to be is right where she was in the beginning. It's a long road for Kate and her friends but I do think that she learned something from her journey. Sometimes what we need most is staring us right in the face and learning to let go is the hardest thing we need to do. Liz and Lisa have a great social commentary on the use of social media and what it does to our relationships, our egos and our self-worth.

We all have that one friend or maybe friends whose lives look so perfect but are they really or are they self-editing? No one's life is perfect, we all have our own struggles and I think this book is a reflection of that. There are very humorous moments and very poignant ones. You identify with Kate and want to shake her sometimes with in sentences of the novel. She's got a great heart but she's slightly misguided.

If you ever find yourself getting caught up in the perfect lives of your friends on Facebook, et. all, then I highly recommend The Status of All Things . Even if you aren't caught up in social media, you will still take something away from this novel.



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Julie's Review: The Dress Shop of Dreams

Author: Menna van Praag
Series: None
Publication Date: December 30, 2014
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Pages: 336
Obtained: publisher/SheReads.org
Genre:  Magical Realism
Rating: 4.5/5
Bottom Line: Easy to get lost in and not want to leave this highly enjoyable novel
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Summary: Since her parents’ mysterious deaths many years ago, scientist Cora Sparks has spent her days in the safety of her university lab or at her grandmother Etta’s dress shop. Tucked away on a winding Cambridge street, Etta’s charming tiny store appears quite ordinary to passersby, but the colorfully vibrant racks of beaded silks, delicate laces, and jewel-toned velvets hold bewitching secrets: With just a few stitches from Etta’s needle, these gorgeous gowns have the power to free a woman’s deepest desires. Etta’s dearest wish is to work her magic on her granddaughter. Cora’s studious, unromantic eye has overlooked Walt, the shy bookseller who has been in love with her forever. Determined not to allow Cora to miss her chance at happiness, Etta sews a tiny stitch into Walt’s collar, hoping to give him the courage to confess his feelings to Cora. But magic spells—like true love—can go awry. After Walt is spurred into action, Etta realizes she’s set in motion a series of astonishing events that will transform Cora’s life in extraordinary and unexpected ways. ~powells.com

Review: The Dress Shop of Dreams is a perfectly lovely novel to sit with in front of a fire and devour. Unfortunately, I couldn't do just that but I did devour it; hungrily. The story focuses on Etta, Cora, and Walt and their quest to find love or in Etta's case to try to forget it. Cora is oblivious to life going on around her. The only thing Cora cares about is fulfilling her parents dream or finding a grain that can grow anywhere. She has been going to Walt's bookshop for years but barely acknowledges him other than requesting her espresso and slice of cherry pie.

Walt, on the other hand, has been in love with Cora since he was a kid and first laid eyes on her. He's been hooked every since. He's just too shy to say anything to her about how he feels.

Etta is magic. Her dress shop helps women see who they want to be and have the power to be whatever that might be. You see Etta weaves in a bit of magic after a dress has picked the women. The problem is that her own magic doesn't work on her; so she's been lovelorn for 50 years. Etta decides that it's time for Cora to open her heart and for Walt to learn how to speak what he feels, so she meddles. Of course it doesn't work the way she thinks it will but that's ok because it allows both Cora and Walt to discover themselves.

It's not that I couldn't see where the story was going but it was the ride. The ride was magical, lovely and comforting. Ms. van Praag has a wonderful way of making her characters come off the page and frankly I wanted Etta as my grandmother. Were there times when I got frustrated with Cora and Walt, yes but I kind of figured that was part of their growth plan.

I have The House at the End of Hope Street on my shelf and will be pulling it off sooner rather than later. She also has a book coming out later this year, The Witches of Cambridge, which looks enticing as well.

If you are looking for a quick book that will warm your heart and soul, look no further than The Dress Shop of Dreams.


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Group Review: First Frost

Author: Sarah Addison Allen
Series: Waverley #2
Publication Date: January 20, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 304
Obtained: publisher
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction, Magical Realism
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Like coming home
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Summary: From the New York Times bestselling author of GARDEN SPELLS comes a story of the Waverley family, in a novel as sparkling as the first dusting of frost on new-fallen leaves...It's October in Bascom, North Carolina, and autumn will not go quietly. As temperatures drop and leaves begin to turn, the Waverley women are made restless by the whims of their mischievous apple tree... and all the magic that swirls around it. But this year, first frost has much more in store.Claire Waverley has started a successful new venture, Waverley's Candies. Though her handcrafted confections; rose to recall lost love, lavender to promote happiness and lemon verbena to soothe throats and minds;are singularly effective, the business of selling them is costing her the everyday joys of her family, and her belief in her own precious gifts. Sydney Waverley, too, is losing her balance. With each passing day she longs more for a baby, a namesake for her wonderful Henry. Yet the longer she tries, the more her desire becomes an unquenchable thirst, stealing the pleasure out of the life she already has. Sydney's daughter, Bay, has lost her heart to the boy she knows it belongs to…if only he could see it, too. But how can he, when he is so far outside her grasp that he appears to her as little more than a puff of smoke?When a mysterious stranger shows up and challenges the very heart of their family, each of them must make choices they have never confronted before. And through it all, the Waverley sisters must search for a way to hold their family together through their troublesome season of change, waiting for that extraordinary event that is First Frost. ~powells.com


Jenn's Review: This is my second time starting the new year off with a Sarah Addison Allen novel and I think it's a New Year's tradition I will keep, even if it's just re-reading one of her novels  --which I also did.   If you visit this blog with any frequency you know that we are all huge fans of Sarah Addison Allen; I'm actually not sure there are enough wonderful words to describe her work.  Re-reading Garden Spells, I fell in love with it all over again --I fell in love with the characters all over again and I fell in love with Sarah Addison Allen's writing all over again.  Of all her novels, Garden Spells has always been my favorite, so much so that after re-reading it I almost didn't want to read First Frost because everything was so perfect the way it was.  But if there is any author I trust not to let me down, it is Ms. Allen, so I dove in with a hopeful heart.

Sarah Addison Allen did not disappoint.  It has been ten years since we last visited the Waverley's and the promise that life will be good continues to blossom from the garden.  Lately however, the women are trying too hard:  trying to prove themselves, trying to be more than who they are, trying to be accepted for who they are.  Being a Waverley has become more acceptable in Bascom due to Claire and Sydney's overwhelming success, but it still comes with social stigma. For Bay, even though she is accepted as a Waverley, she still isn't allowed to socialize with the popular crowd. While this doesn't bother Bay, it is hard on Sydney who remembers all too well what it is like not to fit in. It makes it hard for Sydney and Bay to communicate which is sad because they used to be so close. Claire is struggling too, having closed her catering business to make candy full time. Her business has grown beyond her capabilities and it's causing her to question herself.  I'm talking about the characters as if they were real again, but they are to me.  That is the real magic of Sarah Addison Allen's writing. You leave each novel with new friends.  I didn't realize how much I missed the Waverley's until I went back.

Ms. Allen's style is mellifluous and enveloping.  Her novels are full of hope, beauty, and strong women.  Her books are ones you don't want to rush through and miss a single delectable morsel, but at the same time you find you can't quite put them down.  It is through her work that I became obsessed with food lit.  (I can almost smell the delicious scent's in Claire's kitchen!)  However with her added touch of magical realism, no one quite compares to Sarah Addison Allen.  If you have never read her work, we all recommend it.  Start with Garden Spells.  You don't have to have read it to enjoy First Frost, but it helps you appreciate the scope of these women's character's lives and the allure of Ms. Allen's writing.


Julie's Review: First Frost is magic. At least it was for me. Coming back to the Waverley's was like coming home for me. I missed Bay, Sydney and Claire.  While the book did focus on all three Waverley women, the hook for me was Bay. I loved coming back to her and seeing how she has grown up. Bay is so comfortable being a Waverley, that her mom, Sydney, almost can't relate. You see, Sydney didn't like being a Waverley until she came back to Bascom.

You see in Bascom, being a Waverley has a certain connotation to it. Depending on people's needs it's either a good thing or bad thing. Claire's gift is food and Sydney's gift is hair. That's all I'll say about their gifts. We learn that Claire has switched from catering to a candy making business and that it's taking up all her time. It's exhausting her and not leaving her much time for anything else.

Sydney is desperate for another child. She's doing anything she can to make that happen. She's also not sure what's going on with Bay and how to handle it. Bay is in love. She knows where she's supposed to be and know that Josh is supposed to be with her but she's made a fool of herself.

What I adore about Ms. Allen's novels is her characters. I never fail to fall in love with them. They are the people you want to have in your life. I also adore the setting. There's something a bit special about Bascom and the people who inhabit it.

There's always magic in her novels. It's not the sweeping kind of magic in some novels but it's understated and part of each character.What I always walk away from after reading, is that all of us have a little magic in ourselves. What that magic is, is up to us. Perhaps this is her gift to us. Ms. Allen's magic is her ability to write books that I love to savor and devour at the same time!

Did you have to read Garden Spells to read/love First Frost? No. Does it help with the history of the characters? Absolutely. Plus Garden Spells is one of my favorite stories of Ms. Allen's and that's saying a lot.

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