3.5 stars
An enjoyable read with magic and folklore rippling through the pages. I found the characters and their relationships so interesting and enjoyed seeing how the village and the mountains played such an important part in the tale. The mountains, almost characters in their own right were foreboding and mysterious and added that tension needed and felt thoughout.

This is basically a winter Hallmark story with a small dash of magic, which sees a woman returning to the small town she left ten years ago after her grandmother's death, which some people will love but it wasn't for me at all. The further I got through the book, the less interested I was with any of the characters. For starters, they're all so self-absorbed. They make "magic bargains" to get what they want, knowing that there is a price to pay and it's not always them who pays it, and they don't even seem to feel anything like guilt or regret about it. In typical small town style, if you leave the small town, you're lost forever because apparently it's impossible to call, write, email or even return for a visit, until you dramatically decide to do so ten years later.

For a story where a person's place and sense of belonging is apparently such an important detail, and Woodsmoke is important enough to feature in the book's title, there is a surprising lack of description of the place itself, other than that it's a small town near the mountains. There's hardly any side characters either. It could have been anywhere. There was a small amount of magic but it was mainly small town family drama and romance, and the magic didn't seem to be as important as I thought it would be. I felt like I didn't really know what the point of the book what, it was a bit of this and a bit of that, and didn't really hit the mark for me on any score.

This book wasn't what I expected - it felt darker, more dangerous and with a sharp edge and yet I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Told through the eyes of Carrie, her childhood best friend Jess and her great aunt Cora, this book shows that magic has a cost that someone has to bear, meddling will always come to light in the end, and that the mountains hold dark secrets.

Every character in this book felt so human, flawed and trying their best in an ever=unfolding situation. The long past relationship between Cora and her sister felt like years of resentment, slowly bubbling under the surface until it was too late to resolve.

This felt like all of the darkest, and brightest parts of Appalachia, captured in a book, and it made me nostalgic for a home I've never lived in.

A little on the fence with this book.
Enjoyed it but found it had too little magic to live up to the blurb.
Also it was a book that wasn't sure where it was based, Americanisms jarred in places.

I didn't know what to expect, I know it wasn't going a witchy rom-com. I got a lot as it's a very beautiful, poignant, and gripping story that mixes tropes, old myths, the story of a family of magical woman and a love story.
Magic is at the center of the story: magic as curse, magic as a mean of exchange, magic as part of your inheritance.
Well written, emotionally charged, excellent world building and storytelling
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Rachel Greenlaw’s “The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells” wasn’t quite what I was expecting, although, to be fair, I wasn’t sure what I’d get when I asked for the ARC! I so enjoyed her previous novel, “One Christmas Morning,” so I hoped I’d be in for something intriguing and well executed. An interesting cozy paranormal romance, I hoped. And yes, it’s that, but this also is a captivating blend of multiple genres—mystery, supernatural, family drama, a little bit of gothic suspense, and romance, and Ms. Greene intertwines them all as she teases us by blurring the lines between reality and magic. However, if you’re looking for a deeper exploration of the townsfolk and the nuances of the magic presented here, then know that “Woodsmoke” focuses more tightly on its MC than its wider elements. While the set-up features generational magic, it’s the narrative that provides the atmosphere and “feels” rather than overt, fantastical use of it. So, enjoy the enticing excerpts from the Morgan Book of Spells, but if you’re a fan of Harry Potter or some such, don’t expect wand waving.

Instead, enjoy a compelling story of love and that “magic” (in the non-magical-realism sense) of rediscovering your roots. I adored the atmospheric world that Ms. Greenlaw creates, effortlessly drawing you in. I almost felt I was inside Carrie Morgan’s cottage setting, enveloped by the mystical charm of the surrounding mountains as the story touches on some deeper themes such as grief, sacrifice, identity, and what it truly means to call a place home, all while giving us a delightful, and different, romantic thread.

4.5 stars bumped up because the prose is gorgeous!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Carrie left Woodsmoke 10 years ago in a flurry of rash decisions and heartbreak, leaving behind everything she knew

So when she does finally return it is to whispers, gossip, and cold shoulders. Her Gran has passed away, leaving her the house and Carrie just wanted to return to spruce the place up to sell. Her aunt, Cora, tries to convince her to stay but between feeling the Wanderlust and her broken relationship with her old best friend and old fiance, who are now a couple well established in their life, Carrie is unsure if Woodsmoke is where she belongs

But whilst mending a broken house, Carrie also meets a traveller, Matthieu, but her aunt warns her the man is only there over the winter and will break her heart.

Carrie must tackle some very conflicting feelings and decide where she wants to be. And who she wants to be with.... as well as accepting her complicated family history with a magical book, the town, the people in it, and also the treacherous mountains that surround it....

This was such a touching book, it really dove into the emotions of all the characters through their own POVs in addition to Carries. I really loved the raw honesty and complex nature of what they felt as this is how emotions are... hard and complicated

Definitely giving the Practical Magic vibes and Perfect for this time of year

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for the review copy, all opinions my own

The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is cosy, witchy, magical story that is perfect for this time of year! After jilting her ex at the altar ten years ago, Carrie Morgan returns to the small village of Woodsmoke after inheriting her grandmother’s old cottage. She comes back to refurbish the home and discover if her attachment to Woodsmoke as her 'home' remains. The Morgan family have long been associated with witchcraft in the village which adds additional pressure to her return and family’s legacy.

The renovation proves more difficult than expected and Carried hires Matthieu, a skilled craftsman who brings his own hidden past to Woodsmoke as well. Drawn to his mysterious nature he interest intensifies when he disappears and no one else seems to know of him. Could these occurrences be connected to the eerie mountains Carrie now lives in. The ghosts of her, and her family's past, both re-emerge with her strained relationship with Tom, Jess, Cora and how to soothe those old wounds.

Carrie had been left Woodsmoke cottage by her grandmother. She hadn't left it previously on a good vibe and is anxious upon returning. She needed to make some repairs. It was a lovely read, but I wish there was more magic as the title suggests and perhaps less characters as it can gey confusing at times.
Thank you to netgalley and HQstories@HarperCollinsfor an early copy to enjoy

I read this E-ARC book in exchange for an honest review and I selected it looking for something magical and wintry to match the changing weather and this didn't disappoint.

Centred around the Morgan women, Carrie Morgan has reluctantly returned to her hometown having left under a cloud a decade before. She's drawn back by family ties and the ominous presence of the mountains which provide a foreboding backdrop to this magical tale and feel like the baddy in the story.

I found the story relatable And not so seated in magic that the characterisation was lost. I liked the ambiguity of the fantasy element - was it magic or was it the forcefulness of each of the strong characters involved? There was no way to tell.

The story progressed at a pace and it had a satisfying ending. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to those who enjoy the occasional fantasy and magic lite

A beautifully moving, emotional, magical book. Rachel Greenlaw enchants from the first page, the characters are so well written and the story is so enjoyable.

A Morgan woman can make a wish. She can scratch at the door of the mountains and ask for the world, but if they agree to help, she must give something of equal importance in return. An eye for an eye. A secret for a secret.

A life for a life."

I started reading The Wooodsmoke Women's Book of Spells by Rachel Greenlaw and quickly wondered why this was the first book I had read by her. It was a cosy and atmospheric read that kept me hooked for the entire book and left me thinking about it for a long time after. There wasn't a moment of The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells that I didn't love.

Carrie is returning to her hometown of Woodsmoke, a little town in the shadow of some mountains, after 10 years away. She returns following the death of her beloved grandma, Ivy. Ivy had stipulated in her will that Carrrie should return to Woodsmoke to restore the cottage. Her return stirs up a lot of memories, gossip and superstitions.

The women in Carrie's family have a book of tales passed down through her family, a book filled with 'workings' and tales of bargains to be made in the shadows of the mountains.

"There are tales in the book, Tales of beautiful people who are not quite real, stories from the mountains of the people of Woodsmoke being lured into the wild depths and never coming home. Perhaps the mountains are vengeful, perhaps just playful, perhaps in love with us. But it's been drummed into me to follow the paths and never stray from them. Most still follow the old ways here, even if they don't admit it aloud. But the hikers, the visitors, they don't know the rules. Some never leave the mountains."

Those who live in Woodsmoke are divided over the stories surrounding the mountains and over the use of the book to meddle in the affairs of those living in the town, and yet even those who claim not to believe still adhere to the superstitions.Carrie's Great Aunt Cora clings fast to her belief in the old ways but her mother and grandmother respect and feat the mountains and want no part in the bargains availble to them as a Morgan Woman. Carrie is an embodiement of the way most people in the town are hedging their bets - both believing in the power of the mountain tales, and not.

"I turn to the North, to the mountains. If I don't greet them, if I turn away and pretend they are not there, I know what could happen. I know the old tales. It's a curse and a gift being a Morgan woman with this knowledge. But we all know, really. Everyone in Woodsmoke has grown up knowing that magic isn't some intangible, wonderful thing. It's real, it has consequences, and it echoes in the mountain range. This ancient place, where magic seems to grow thick and wild. Some people in the town like to think that they don't believe, but I've seen them scratching at Cora's door. I've seen the outcome when her warnings are not heeded. We all have."

Carrie is all set to get the cottage sold and move on..until she meets a man who appears with the first frost, a man nobody else seems to have seen.

One of the things that appealed to me about The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells is the underlying message of being careful what you wish for, a message that reminds me heavily of the old style fairytales.

"The magic of the mountains is a dark thing, demanding a price, demanding blood from a Morgan woman for every bargain made in it's shadow, or so it is whispered around the town."

Another thing that struck me about the book is the way nobody, not even the Morgan family themselves, can say for sure whether the mountains have real magic, or whether it is all just superstition born of the hardness of the landscape. Whether Mathieu is real or whether he is a punishment from the mountain's as Cora suggests, a man sent to make Carrie fall in love and then to melt away with the Spring and leave her heartbroken.

"What if Matthieu is something out of one of the tales of the book? What if...What if he did appear with the frost? What if Cora is right?"

The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells is getting a lot of hype online and as far as I am concerned it is well deserved .I loved every character in the book and I dare you to read it without routing for Carrie.

REVIEW
cw: anxiety, panic attacks, brief mentions of miscarriage, grief, loss, death

In the mountain town of Woodsmoke, the locals have long heard tales of a stranger linked to the first frost. Carrie Morgan fled Woodsmoke a decade ago, leaving everyone she loved behind. Her decision has haunted her ever since. Born into the magical legacy of the Morgans women, generations of whom have been able to harness the power of the imposing mountains, Carrie returns to her late grandmother's dilapidated cottage. As the temperatures drop, there she meets Matthieu, a handsome stranger who offers to help refurbish the cottage. They grow closer, but as the last frost disappears, so does Matthieu, leaving Carrie wondering if he was ever real. As she searches for the truth, and him, she must finally confront the reason she left Woodsmoke.

I was so intrigued by the opening chapters of this book. Greenlaw skillfully wove the eery tension and steeped each chapter in anticipation of what secrets the Woodsmoke mountains were keeping. The story was told from the POVs of Carrie, Cora (Carrie’s great aunt), and Jess (Carrie’s childhood best friend, now married to Tom, Carrie’s former fiancé). As such, there were three interwoven storylines which drew on each woman's relationship, not only with each other but with their families, and the Woodsmoke mountains.
I felt sorry for Carrie, particularly as we discovered why she always felt so untethered. She was constantly in limbo and never felt settled. As the story progressed I grew more and more protective of her. I won't spoil anything but it made so much sense when the secrets began to be revealed. When the mysterious Matthieu appeared I appreciated the whispers of folklore and superstition. I do wish there'd been more actual on-page romance between them throughout the story. What we got was sweet, and sometimes moving, but most of it was merely told to us, which stopped their dramatic conclusion from having quite as much emotional impact as it could have. Still, I always appreciate characters who put their mental health first, so I loved that the author allowed one of the characters time to do so.
The themes of envy, resentment, and pride were also expertly threaded through the story. Cora was such an interesting character. Younger sister to Ivy, Carrie’s grandmother, you could feel her bitterness towards Ivy through each page, especially regarding not being given The Morgan Compendium. But you could also feel her protective love for Carrie, and as her own secrets are revealed it was impossible not to care for her and her husband, Howard. Howard was so kind and stoic. But my heart broke for him when we discovered the price he'd paid for Cora's actions. That said, chapter 42 was incredibly moving and I adored the flashbacks to their courtship, and early years together. Chapter forty-seven was particularly beautifully written.
The Morgan Compendium was almost a character all of its own, and you always felt the burden of the book. I loved the extracts at the beginning of each chapter. They built the tension perfectly.
Jess and Tom's story was also well-written, and the scenes where they each discovered that Carrie had returned felt visceral in different ways. Jess's turmoil was palpable, especially over the loss of her friendship, and my heart broke for her, particularly when she finally confronted Carrie. But she had her own secrets, and, without spoiling anything, it was interesting to see how those played out. I found Jess and Carrie’s journey particularly heartwarming. The epilogue tied everything up perfectly, if a teensy bit abruptly. I'd love to have had a little bit more of the dynamic at the end, but that's what bonus chapters are for, isn't it? *winks*
A beautifully crafted story about three women learning to accept their place in the world.

Overall Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own*

Favourite Quotes:

When a story is no longer shared, it becomes a secret. Then it all too easily either withers and dies or grows into something quite monstrous: a curse.

The magic of the mountains is a dark thing, demanding a price, demanding blood from a Morgan woman for every bargain made in its shadow, or so it’s whispered around the town. And Cora has carried all of that with her for many, many years.

“The mountains didn’t welcome her home, Howard. They’re tormenting her. Punishing her for— for leaving . . .”

You can’t fit yourself into a box that wasn’t built for you.

One wants me to leave, and one wants me to stay. It’s as though the town is divided, and that same divide sits in my heart.

Matthieu is the only person in Woodsmoke I don’t have some kind of history with. Spending some time with him is like taking a break from the muddle of my thoughts. It’s the distraction I desperately need, and being near him feels like a balm. Like he’s the coolness I needed to calm my flames.

The hidden mysteries of the mountains used to fill me with wonder, but now I am older, I fear their sinister edge.

“I’m sorry it’s creating gossip. I’m sorry the town has so little going on that I’m causing such a stir. Now you know how it is to have the last name Morgan.”

Why is losing a friend always so much harder than losing a love?

"Loving someone —caring for them and losing them . . . it is a distinct kind of grief. One that’s hard to shake.”

I love how Matthieu has surprised me, shown me a different side to the mountains. A playful side, a side not closely guarded and full of tricks, like those in Cora’s book. I feel like the mountains are mine again, that seeing this side of them is reclaiming a piece of the home I wasn’t sure would be mine to come back to.

He has to be real. How could someone who carries this much love and grief and promise not be?

I realize that you can belong with a person as much as you belong to a place. Matthieu is the one I want to belong with.

I’m afraid he may be the person I’ve been unconsciously searching for— a soul that matches my own.

Everything is just as it should be, and at last he can see the love he’s craved shining from her. Love for him, love for the life they’ve shared. It’s enough. It’s everything.

I have finally found my way home.

"You’re the love of my life. Always have been, always will be."

All there is in that moment is him.

A great cosy story. Perfect for the season! The writing was beautiful and I felt like I was there with the girls. I loved all the characters, especially Carrie and Cora. A lovely book!

Enticed by this gorgeous cover, I really enjoyed this book from Greenlaw. It was completely different to the book I read last year by this author and I appreciated this alternate direction. Perfect for this winter time, I loved seeing the seasons move from chilly autumn to the depths of winter, as the frosts surround the town of Woodsmoke.

Undoubtedly, Greenlaw has created a very atmospheric book. It very much reminded me of Upon a Frosted Star, not just because of the chilly weather. The idea of cursed, unrequited love is seen in both novels and I loved how nature becomes such a driving force in the plots. You really do become absorbed into the surroundings.

However, when you are reading this book, don’t expect cauldrons and spells galore. Although there is some symbolic witchy-craft taking place during the flashback scene with Cora when Carrie and Jess were children, this is more about the beliefs of nature’s power over the fates of others. Instead, the Morgan women’s book of tales and folklore is what drives this narrative as stories of romances that come with the frost haunt the Morgan family. As the weather moves into spring, the frost thaws and the romance eventually fades and disappears with no logical explanation.

I liked this book because Carrie’s return to Woodsmoke represents her trying to understand her past and make a future for herself. Over time, readers learn the circumstances behind Carrie’s abrupt departure and I enjoyed this flashbacks that provided more background to her family – a bit like the Morgan history book. Then, switching back to the present, the looming mountains and dense forest seem to swallow everything up and cast a shadow over Carrie and Woodsmoke.

I was bewitched by this narrative and enjoyed the mystical element to the story. I could not foresee Matthieu’s role in the novel and thought the ending was clever and slightly ambiguous. On the other hand, I sympathised with how isolated Carrie feels when she returns to Woodsmoke, wishing that she would make amends with Jess and Tom.

Not heavily a fantasy book but perfect for this bewitching time of year, this is a mystical, slightly spooky story that is heavy with atmosphere and pulled me in. I was fascinated by Greenlaw’s tale of loss, love and magic. It was a really refreshing yet cosy read.

With thanks to HQ and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was unsettling—the line between what was real and what wasn’t felt razor-thin, leaving me in a constant state of uncertainty. I went into it expecting a fantasy novel, but it ended up reading more like general fiction with hints of magical realism woven throughout.

The book is definitely well written, the atmosphere is rich, and the author does a great job at creating this eerie, almost dreamlike world. However, despite these strengths, I struggled to enjoy the book. I couldn't quite connect with the characters or the plot, and without that connection, it made the overall experience fall a little flat for me.

That being said, the blurred boundaries between reality and fantasy might work better for other readers who enjoy stories with a more ambiguous, unsettling edge.

3/5 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cosy Magic. Mystery. Secrets. Dual timeline. Old magic. Family.

I started this book as I was feeling like a summerween read, I wanted something cosy and magical. And damn this book delivered!

There was just something about Greenlaw's writing that was so whimsical, like a narrater weaving their story to a captivated audience.

I loved that whilst there was romance, it didn't take the forefront. This was about family, friendship, a woman searching for where she belonged.

I loved the concept of the book passed down through generations and added to, it reminded of Charmed. Knowledge treasured of magical secrets and stories.

The way it all came together with the reveals, confrontations, reunions was a perfect ending. Even if there was some sadness, there was also wonder and love.

Not my usual genre of book but having read the blurb I wanted to read it and i am glad I did.. A perfect mystical, magical and mysterious read. A beautifuly beautifuly descriptive story, definitely worth reading.

The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is a deeply mystical story. After staying away for ten years, Carrie Morgan returns to the small village of Woodsmoke, having inherited her grandmother’s old cottage. She comes back not only to refurbish the home but to see if Woodsmoke still feels like home to her. The Morgan family, long associated with witchcraft in the village, casts a shadow over Carrie’s return, fueling gossip and adding pressure as she faces her family’s legacy, including reconnecting with her great-aunt Cora, the keeper of the Morgan family's secrets.

The village is portrayed with a magical atmosphere, set against the backdrop of mystical mountains, which give it a sense of isolation and mystery. As Carrie grapples with the overwhelming task of restoring the cottage, she hires Matthieu, a skilled craftsman who brings his own hidden past to Woodsmoke. Carrie finds herself drawn to Matthieu in a way that feels dangerous, almost supernatural, and her fascination with him intensifies when he mysteriously disappears. No one else in the village seems to know who Matthieu is—or if he ever existed—leaving Carrie unnerved and questioning her own perceptions.

These strange occurrences seem linked to the village's eerie mountains, echoing Cora’s cryptic warnings. Could there be more to the Morgan family secrets and Woodsmoke's landscape than Carrie is prepared to face?

Adding to the emotional complexity is Carrie's personal history in Woodsmoke. She left the village a decade ago after abandoning her ex, Tom, at the altar. Now, Tom has moved on and is married to her former best friend, Jess, with whom he has a daughter. This strained relationship haunts Carrie, pulling her between the ghosts of her past and the unsettling mysteries of her present.

This was a really cosy, witchy read, steeped in mystical magic, and perfect for this time of year.

This is a great cosy read that managed to make me feel like I was sitting under a blanket by the fire with a hot chocolate even though I was sitting by a pool in Tunisia!
As someone who isn’t a massive fantasy fan this was the perfect blend of real-life issues and magic realism. The kind of small town world that Rachel Greenlaw has created can be found in many countries and it’s brilliantly described, I could see the cottage and shop, and imagine Cora and Jess living their lives there before Carrie returns. The brooding presence of the mountains jumps off the pages and the reverence they are given (willingly or not) binds the townsfolk together. They, along with Carrie’s family, are the source of the magic that sets this small town apart from those in our world, but even then the treatment of it by Rachel makes it almost everyday, like it could be happening in a small town near you. Magic realism done incredibly well.
There are also two love stories, one platonic and one romantic. These provide joy, heartache, and a fantastic is it/isn’t it situation that gripped me right up until its resolution.
This is my second Rachel Greenlaw book, I’ve also read One Christmas Morning. The two books have the same wonderful “But what if magic does exist?” warm feeling that makes you gaze up to the sky and cross your fingers.