Thank you so much to Netgalley for providing an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am so so sorry but this book fell flat to me. I love the premise! But the actual execution was meh. I didn't feel for any of the characters and the plot was non-existent. I do generally like these types of books where they focus on characters relationships but I feel like I didn't know enough about the characters. Victoria was driving me insane for most of the book and I understand her reasoning but also????? Honey, what you doing. I would try this author again but this book was not for me.

An engaging read filled with secrets and magic. I loved the character arcs for each of the Montrose family and thought this was a great debut.

I have mixed feelings toward the story which is why I settled on three stars. I see the potential of the story as a whole - The tension in this book was constant as there were secrets that everyone was hiding. The interesting thing is that everyone genuinely felt that they knew best and their actions were out of love. It’s like family drama…. but with a curse that escalates everything!

But then it felt like nothing really happened in it. I didn't feel like any of the characters had any real growth and the plot felt like it never got off the ground.

I found this story frustrating and just wishing the characters communicated with each other. Whilst the plot has potential I was just too frustrated with the characters to enjoy it.

A story about how half-truths and secrets can continue to impact a family throughout the generations. I very much wanted to enjoy Black Candle Women but was underwhelmed by the characters, the setting and the pacing. Considering the curse centers around romantic love, you'd think the romance in this book would be a focus, this was sorely under developed. However Brown did have very loving familial bonds, which didn't quite hit the mark for me either. I think we also lost out by having the story set mostly in LA and the descriptions of hoodoo in New Orleans were infrequent. LA in this instance could have been anywhere, there was so little relevance. This book was sadly lacking atmosphere which made it an overall struggle to finish. This is not the book I expected from the blurb.

This is a book about bad mothers and the consequences of their actions. I'm having a hard time figuring out my feelings about it, because it is a real story with a beginning, middle, and end -- and the writing is solid, yet I find myself underwhelmed by it.

For one, I didn't care about any of the characters, and the stakes weren't high enough to keep me interested in them regardless of my indifference toward or dislike of them.

I also don't think the different storylines ended satisfactorily, especially the one featuring January.

The climax was, well, anticlimactic, and a little boring.

I wish I was able to give 3.5 stars, but 3 will have to do for this one.

I devoured this book! I’m not one to fly through a book, but I loved embroiling myself in the lives of the Montrose women. They are fiery, fierce, complex and flawed.

Like so many, it was the cover and then the blurb that drew me in. However, it was the writing and the dynamics between the Montrose women that had me hooked.
Yes, the story involves a curse, voodoo, hoodoo and new relationships, but it’s the women themselves that I love.

Told from multiple POVs (those of the Montrose women), we learn the origins of the curse and how it has impacted them throughout the years, including how it has affected the relationships with each other.
Seeing it from different perspectives, you get a deeper understanding of the characters and what motivates them.
I feel this applies to Victoria more than the other women. She only wants to protect her daughter, Nickie. And as misguided as her beliefs and actions are, they come from a place of love.

Diane Marie Brown has concocted a beautiful debut full of heart, pain, forgiveness, family bonds and a sprinkling of fun and humour.

Thank you so much, NetGalley & Headline Books, for the eArc of this enchanting book in return for an honest review.

I fell in love with the cover and the blurb attracted. Plus I love everything related to New Orleans.
I think it's a good story, liked the characters but it was a bit too slow at times.
The world building is interesting and I like the style of writing.
It kept me hooked and turning pages, a good read.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Four generations of women living in the same house, all with the gift of helping others, and dealing with a curse passed down from their ancestors. Throw in New Orleans charm, spell books, feuds, family secrets, and a dedicated Spotify playlist. An absolutely delightful way to spend an evening!

This was a good read but for me not what I was promised. A story of family and an age old curse. The story was disjointed and I began to lose interest. I perservered and it did get better. This book could have been so much more.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

For generations, the Montrose women have lived alone with their secrets, their delicate peace depending on the unspoken bond that underpins their family life - Voodoo and hoodoo magic, and a decades-old curse that will kill anyone they fall for.

When seventeen-year-old Nickie Montrose brings home a boy for the first time, this careful balance is thrown into disarray. For the other women have been keeping the curse from Nickie, and revealing it means that they must reckon with their own choices and mistakes.

Good but not what I expected from the blurb. It's a tale of family and an old age curse but it felt a bit foggy? if that is the right word. Lots to say and a good atmosphere which built nicely, voodoo explained and explored etc but at the end I was left feeling a little disappointed

I requested this title based on the blurb and wanting to further diversify my reading. I can say it was an enjoyable read with some relatable characters. However, I'm not sure I would buy a copy myself.

I really wanted to love this book but honestly, it felt like nothing really happened in it. I didn't feel like any of the characters had any real growth and the plot felt like it never got off the ground.
Also, the miscommunication trope! So frustrating. 95% of the issues in this book could have been solved if they had just talked to each other. If you hate this trope as much as I do, this book is not for you. Otherwise, maybe it's your next perfect read.

This was an interesting read. I enjoyed the pace of the book and the character development throughout. The storyline is well paced and well written.

Would I go out and buy the book? Probably not but I'm happy to of read it.

Thank you NetGalley. This is an honest review.

I really enjoyed this read it was well written with a captivating storyline and well developed characters, some of which I took to my heart. This was such a evocative and tender book that I think everyone who reads it will be enchanted like I was