A beautiful, atmospheric tale of family, friendship, love and loss. I really enjoyed the different perspectives in The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells, it really made me feel for each character. and the individual price they had to pay. The secret and mystery surrounding the mountains kept me hooked, the only thing I struggled with a bit was the frequent changes in person and tense..

Huge thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this, I loved it.

Oh, this story, Carrie and Jess, Carrie and Tom, Jess and Tom then Carrie and Matthieu, the most beautiful story with the most beautiful characters, love, loss, friendship and love again, a heartwarming story, thank you

Beautifully written with magic skillfully woven into a glorious story of romance and family drama.

A truly special book full of charm and authentic characters that endear you to them. And an ending that is uplifting and full of warmth..

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the eARC of The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells.

As soon as I saw Rachel Greenlaw had a new book out I had to read it. I became obsessed with Compass and Blade and I needed to read this book!
I was not disappointed, this book exceeded expectations. It is written beautifully and it pulls you in as soon as the story starts. I loved the alternating POVs between Cora and Carrie, they gave an excellent insight into the past and the present and really fleshed out the storyline. The characters are all created really well and they are fleshed out realistically, you could imagine meeting Cora, Carrie and Matthieu in real life.
I loved Cora, she was meddlesome but her heart was always in the right place and I just loved how she was with everyone. Carrie for me was my favourite character, her past was intriguing and her present made for an intriguing read. I loved her interactions with Matthieu.
I was gripped reading this book, I really enjoyed how it kept me guessing, I was sure Cora was correct with what she thought (I'm being vague as spoilers) and the twists and turns always had me surprised.
I can not wait for this novel to hit the shelves, I will be getting a copy for sure. Rachel Greenlaw has now become a must read author for me and I urge everyone else to add her to their lists.

A beautiful modern day, dark magic, witchy read. I loved the storytelling and mood of this..I really was able to feel like I was deep in the story among the mountains and cottages of Woodsmoke with Carrie, who has returned home upon the death of her grandmother after a decade of being away.

The entries at the start of each chapter from the women of Woodsmoke's history really added to the 'folklore' feel of the story

Cora...I absolutely adored her and she was etched deep in my heart by the end of the book. This book truly has it all...beauty, romance, mystery and love.

Carrie Morgan returns to her hometown of Woodsmoke after drifting across different places for a decade. Following her grandmother's passing, she inherits a rundown cottage and plans a brief stay to renovate it during winter. Amidst cautionary tales of a mysterious figure who disappears come spring, Carrie meets Matthieu, a newcomer who joins her in refurbishing the cottage.

The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells surprised me in the best possible way. Expecting a cosy paranormal romance, I instead found a captivating blend of romance, mystery, supernatural elements, family drama, and a touch of gothic suspense that blurred the lines between reality and magic. The story gripped me so intensely that I read it in one sitting, compelled to unravel its mysteries. My perceptions of the characters shifted constantly as the plot unfolded, showcasing the author's adept storytelling.

Set against the backdrop of autumn and winter, the narrative perfectly captures the atmospheric essence of these seasons. It begins with a haunting and melancholic tone, gradually building tension as Carrie confronts the reasons behind her departure from Woodsmoke. The excerpts from The Morgan Compendium preceding each chapter added layers of depth and intrigue, enriching the unfolding tale and heightening its allure.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

This book had so many twists and turns that were so unexpected and kept me coming back for more, I felt like I was literally addicted to this book.

I feel like I need a physical copy when it comes out!

Carrie is a lost soul and you itch to know what is going on with her life and the book.

Cora and Ivy are sisters that lost their way and their connection due to the mountain and family book of spells

Tom and Jess are connected by the book in more ways than they both know.

At the center of it all is the mountains and if they accept you back, or will they curse you?

I personally loved this book and felt like I practically sped read it (as much as you can with a 4 month old) it’s a great read for those who love fantasy written interwoven with a realistic setting.

*Thank you to HQ books and NetGalley for an Arc of this book*

The setting of The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells whisked me away from the first page. The mountains, the forests, the British countryside. It all felt very real and alive and therein lies the magic of this story.

I loved the themes of homecoming, family and finding your place. I loved the cottage, the homely atmosphere and the drama of all the characters paired with the lush, comforting writing which transported me away.

A cozy, wholesome read, perfect for the Autumn!

I loved the premise of this book, especially as I’d originally assumed it was set in the US, so was pleasantly surprised when I realised it’s set here in the UK. When Carrie is left a derelict cottage, she is sure that she won’t be welcomed back into Woodsmoke, especially after the way she left 10 years ago. And she’s right, if anything it’s harder than she thought it would be, relationships need mending, but it’s not that easy.

I loved the way this story is written, with various generations POVs, with snippets from the entries in the Book of Spells, and how the book has affected so many lives, not just the Morgan women and their families, but the whole of Woodsmoke seems to be under its spell in one form or another. It’s also really descriptive of the area in and around the town. A couple of times it felt as though the pace was too slow, but it built up nicely with a lovely ending. There’s tension between Carrie, Jess and Tom, and between Cora and Carrie, for varying reasons all adding to the feel of the book. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I adored this book! So many witch books are set in the USA and it was wonderful to read one set right here in the UK. The magic is woven throughout this book in such a subtle way and the writing is just beautiful. I could picture the cottage and the mountains as I was reading. The story is heartbreaking yet uplifting and I needed a few days to just let it all sink in after reading. The romance is beautiful but what made this book special to me was the focus on the creation, nurturing and healing of female bonds. The feelings I had after reading this book were very similar to the feelings I had after reading Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman and that is one of my favourite book series!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Rachel Greenlaw. I went in to it expecting a somewhat cosy witchy book but was pleasantly surprised by the darker themes running through it. The curse. The price paid for magic. Damaged relationships. The pacing was fairly gentle but never felt too slow. The characters were intriguing and complex. The ominous setting with the watchful mountains felt very atmospheric.
I am very pleased to have read the arc copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

I haven’t read a book quite like this before but the description intrigued me and I wasn’t disappointed. I enjoyed the magic and the descriptive scenery. I could feel myself doubting what was going on as did the lead character. If you haven’t read anything like this before, give it a go you may well enjoy it.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6629121741

Saw this on TikTok and secured an advance copy through this platform.
Completely fell in love with this book. The writing style was beautiful and not too complicated as some
Books can be! It made you fall in love with
The characters.
I really hope there will be a series and more books to come. I hope it’s not the end for Carrie and co.

I really enjoyed this story although I did find it a little slow at times the writing was good with an interesting and unique story, magic and well rounded characters
Would be interested in reading more from this author
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc

Witches, folklore, curses, multiple POVs. Really well written. This wasn’t exactly what I expected but I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend if you’re a fan of witches or looking for a magical read

The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells

Carrie Morgan expects trouble when she returns to Woodsmoke after ten years.
What she does not predict is the beautiful stranger who walks into her life with the first frost and with whom Carrie begins to fall in love.
Bound to her family’s book of spells and a deep magic that flows from the mountains, Carrie’s family warn that her new love is a curse who will disappear when the frost thaws.

Didn't quite know what to expect when reading this book , it was beautiful , it was evocative , it was fascinating , and it was truly a wonderful read.

I'm not sure what I expected when I started this, but what I got was hauntingly beautiful. I very much enjoyed this multi POV story of witches, magic, superstition, and mystery.
Magic or a bargain with the mountains always comes with a price.
I very much enjoyed that you got snippets from previous generations of Morgan women throughout this book. Carrie and Cora's POVs were my favourite ones.
Rachel Greenlaw managed to weave a story so beautifully but also had me second-guessing myself. This book was masterfully done, and I would 100% love to return to the town of Woodsmoke and the Morgan women in a future book.

After the passing of her grandmother, Carrie Morgan returns to her home town of Woodsmoke with the intention of renovating the run down cottage she has inherited. But Woodsmoke is not your regular town and Carrie is not from a regular family.

The towns traditions, superstitions and folklore stem from the ominous mountains overlooking the town and for generations the Morgan women have been able to harness their ancient power - but at a cost.

From the first chapter, the setting and the characters had me gripped and wanting to keep reading. Many of the chapters start with an extract from The Morgan Compendium: a collection of stories and spells written by the Morgan women, which adds a level of mystery to the towns unusual history and gave a feeling of foreshadowing.

Woodsmoke definitely has the small town/community atmosphere but more of an eerie setting. Because of the towns haunting past, the townsfolk are quite suspicious of the Morgan women, but they are careful to heed the warnings and still seek out their help in a time of need.

I was expecting this to be more cosy and whimsical but the magic in this felt much darker, especially when I learned of the curses and the price paid for each spell. But that’s not a criticism because I think this added to the level of realism in the story and I thoroughly enjoyed how the magic was woven into the storyline.

Overall I really enjoyed this because it felt like it could have been taken straight from the compendium: tales of family, friendship, love, heartbreak, loss and tragedy but more importantly, a journey to find your sense of belonging.

Thank you to Rachel Greenlaw, Avon, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide my honest opinion this book.

In The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells, Carrie Morgan returns to her hometown of Woodsmoke after a decade of drifting from place to place. Following her grandmother's death, she inherits a dilapidated cottage and decides to stay for just one winter to renovate it. Amidst warnings of old tales about a stranger who vanishes with the spring thaw, she meets and falls for Matthieu, a newcomer who helps with the refurbishment.

This book wasn't what I expected at all - I think I was expecting a cozy paranormal romance but it was a fantastic mix of many things - a romance, a mystery, the supernatural, family drama, and even a bit of gothic suspense with not knowing what was real and what was magic. I've just sat and read it all in one go because the tension of that mystery meant that I needed to see how everything fell out. I changed my mind about the various characters so many times as the story progressed, and it was so cleverly done.

The story is set in Autumn and Winter and it's definitely a perfect story for reading in Autumn or Winter. It's spooky and melancholy to start with, and then full of tension as you find out more about why Carrie originally left Woodsmoke. The snippets from The Morgan Compendium that precede each chapter added depth and intrigue to the unfolding story, making each chapter even more compelling.

This book was a complete surprise and I really enjoyed the journey it took me on! It was emotional and atmospheric and it felt like a real mix of genres but weaved together flawlessly. I'd definitely recommend this as a more serious and emotional tale about magic and coming home.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.