Cover Image: The Last of the Moon Girls

The Last of the Moon Girls

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Member Reviews

DNF - Did not finish. I did not connect with the writing style or plot and will not be finishing this title. Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher for the early copy!

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Eight years ago Elzibeth Moon left Salem Creek in rural New Hampshire, she wanted to study and now she’s the creative director of Chenier Fragrances in New York. Her grandmother Alethea passes away, Lizzy had no idea she was sick and she has to return to Salem Creek to deal with the deceased estate. Moon Girl Farm has been in her family for nine generations, they grow herbs, apples and run an apothecary shop. Lizzy meets her grandmother’s friend Evangeline Broussard, she took care of her when she was ill, and the farm looks very different. The buildings haven’t been maintained, the gardens are over grown, the apothecary shop is closed and of course Evvie’s main priority was looking after Alethea.

Lizzy has to face the tragic past, two young girls Heather and Darcy Gilman were murdered eight years ago, her beloved grandmother was one of the suspects and ever since the people of Salem Creek have shunned the Moon’s. Elzibeth knows her sweet, kind and loving grandmother didn’t kill the girls, the investigation has gone cold, Lizzy wants to find the killer and clear her family’s name.

Lizzy stirs trouble in Salem Creek, she has issues with disturbing things happening on the property and this doesn’t put her off trying to find the girls killer. Althea left behind a Book of Remembrances for Lizzy, all of the Moon women have a special gift, or a light and in Lizzy’s case it’s a heightened sense of smell. She realizes it's impossible for her to move back to New York, the farm wouldn’t sell in it's present condition and her neighbor Andrew Greyson is helping her with the repairs.

Living again at Moon Girl Farm, Lizzy remembers the good times she had with her grandmother as a child, Evvie becomes a friend, her estranged mother Rhanna returns, and she embraces her gift, and it changes her plans for the future. The Last of the Moon Girls by Barbara Davis is a really captivating story, full of mystery, secrets and magick, five stars from me, and I can’t wait to read Keeper of Happy Endings.

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An involving story set in a small town where superstitions and telling futures are taken seriously. At its heart it is a story of a place and family, their relationships and their misunderstandings, and forgiveness. A gentle read. Recommended.

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This was recommended to me on the basis of me loving Alice Hoffman. While I don’t think it was up there with Hoffman, it certainly has a similar style to her Salem based novels. It’s based on a premise that is now practically a genre of its own. Woman finds she has been left a property by a long distant relative, so leaves the big city to spend some time in a small country town/village which beguiles her with its charms as she tries to tie up all her relatives affairs. There’s always a romance with a big handsome country boy thrown in too. If you like these type of stories - especially if you like a pinch of the supernatural- then this is for you. I must admit that, although it was predictable, I did enjoy it.

Althea Moon has died, so it’s Elizabeth who sets aside her work in NYC (plus an unhappy affair) to travel back to the Moon’s hometown of Salem. As she starts to wrap up her grandmother’s affairs she becomes drawn in by the old local story of two women murdered on the property, supposedly by Althea. This digs up old grudges and means Elizabeth putting her own life in danger. She’s distracted by the boy next door who she’s known since she was a little girl, but who looks anything but little these days! What I loved most about the book were the old remedies, soaps and beauty treatments that have always been made by a Moon in that house. The letters Althea has written for her granddaughter, full of life lessons and the wisdom of an older woman, are simply beautiful. This is one of those novels that you know is going to end up a certain way, but you can still enjoy getting there. I’d read others in this series if there were some in the pipeline.

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I just loved this book. Kudos to Barbara Davis.
Beautiful written. Definitely will be reading more of Barbara Davis’s books. Highly recommend

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This was a beautifully written story of family, secrets, legacies, and mystery. The author is a word artist and creates fine characters. There is magic sprinkled throughout and I did not want the book to end.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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When Lizzy Moon's grandmother Althea dies, she comes back to sell the family farm and return to her life in New York as quickly as possible. Cleaning out the house she finds her grandmother's journals. Between her grandmother's writing and the neighbor Andrew Lizzy must decide to embrace her past or flee back to her safe life where no one knows her family. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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When I requested this book from NetGalley, I thought that if the inside were as impressive as the outside, I would be a lucky girl. Well, I’m a lucky girl. This book is a beautifully written, mystical story of a woman who has fought her true destiny as one of the gifted Moon girls who have had the power of healing for nine generations. After her grandmother’s death, Lizzie must return home to the family farm from New York City to settle the estate. She has no intention of staying, but events and people thwart her decision. Lizzie decides to investigate an old mystery that deeply affected her grandmother and turned the townspeople against them. As a result, she receives death threats and is at the receiving end of other strange events. With Andrew’s help, a neighbor from her past who has harbored feelings for her since childhood, she makes small renovations to the property and moves forward with her investigation.

What didn’t I like about this book? Not much, but I did get annoyed with Lizzie at her stubbornness to let Andrew into her life. The story also dragged a bit at times, but not enough to stop me from reading. What else did I like? I loved the letters that her grandmother Althea wrote to her. They were profoundly moving with beautiful words, and I highlighted quite a few. Lizzie and her mother’s unpleasant reunion and subsequent forgiveness, as advised by her grandmother, was also a lovely thing to see.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this remarkable book. I gave it 4.25 stars rounded down to four.

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“There are a hundred names for what we are-and all of them are wrong. Because we are not one thing. We’re many things”.

Elizabeth/Lizzy moves to New York with plans of never to return home. She comes from a long line of healers and wants no part of her family’s “Moon Legacy”.
When Althea, her grandmother dies, Lizzy returns home to put affairs in order. Lizzy inherits the Moon Girl Farm and her grandmother also left her nine journals or “Books of Remembrances” each book written by a different ancestor. It’s in that process of wanting to sell the farm and clear her grandmother’s name as a suspect in the death of two young girls found in the pond on their property that Lizzy finds the truth of her legacy and her “powers”.
When you have mystery,romance,magical realism,family drama,historical fiction and strong women combined with a great writing style, you’ve got a captivating story.

What.A.Great.Read. I devoured this book in a day and a half. It drew me in and wouldn’t let me go. Oh, Lizzy!
How I’d love a sneak peak into your Book of Remembrances.

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Just finished “The Last of the Moon Girls”. This is the first time reading a novel by Barbara Davis! Beautifully written! this story has a mystery element along with a story about love and forgiveness! The story immediately pulled me in and not wanting to it the book down. This is one of my favorite genres...mother and daughter relationships. Truly enjoyed and was cheering for the characters!

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Beautifully written and captivating!!! I’d love to continue reading more of this authors works one day!

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Thoroughly enjoyed this book and liked the main characters. Set in a small town with small town superstitions about Moon Girl Farm and the single women who have lived on the farm over 200 years.
At times the story was a little slow, but overall the content was valuable for the story. The book covers family relationships, good and bad. Years of misunderstanding, and heartache. Loved the ending

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*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Really good book actually, was worried it would have too much romance but it was really great! loved the magic, the mysteries and the characters!

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I really felt for Lizzy, she really felt like a real person and I believed in her motivations. It was a great read with interesting characters.

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* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

The Last of the Moon Girls is an interesting blend of the genres of magical realism and suspense. I didn't really know what I was in for, but this turned out to be a good, quick read with a light magical feel. The writing is something like a blend of Sarah Addison Allen and Alice Hoffman, creating an atmosphere full of cozy small town vibes and magic while also introducing a darker feel and an ostracizing community. The characters are colorful and the tension created by the suspense arc is just enough to move the story well without feeling oppressive. The narrative was mildly tropey and predictable, but in a way that might make it the perfect beach read. There were a few things that I thought fell in place to easily, but overall I enjoyed where the story took me. I would have loved more of the magical element in the story as well as additional backstory of the matriarchy itself, but I think that's always the case for me in magical realism stories to some degree. I had myself a good time with this read.

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Right from the beginning you are pulled in realizing that there is the mystery of two unsolved deaths and Althea Moon is the suspect, except she is dead!

When Lizzy Moon inherits the Moon Girl Farm all she wants to do is sell it. But most people in town think her Grandmother, Althea killed the girls, so she wants to clear her name. She also discovers that Althea left her much more than just the farm! Lizzy has never been comfortable with her families legacy or her special gifts. But when she discovers the Book of Remembrances, she has to decide if she will embrace her true self.

This story is about family, lasting love, loyalty and magick (you’ll see😉)! I would highly recommend this one! Perfect for a quiet day to escape to Moon Girl Farm!

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Thank you to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Barbara Davis for this e-copy. I enjoyed this enchanting story. The characters were relatable and the story was filled with mystery, magic and family drama.

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Some saw them as witches casting evil spells, others saw them as gifted healers, and still others saw them as the murderers of two innocent young girls, but to Lizzy Moon they were family. This book has so much to keep your mind on its toes. False, or not so false, accusations, a family shunned by much of the community because of their different ways, a young girl inheriting a homestead she has no interest in, and a years old mystery, waiting to be solved, to name a few. I love the author’s painting of a superstitious small country town and of a family of all women with healing powers that they wanted to use for the good of all. I would highly recommend this book if you want to escape and peer into a different way of living at the same time. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

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The Moons choose to scatter their ashes when they die. Two young girls have died Darcey and Heather. They were pulled from the water. Althea is dead her ashes scattered. I was hooked from beginning.Lizzy is willed her grandmother's farm. Each family member has a treasured journal passed down. Lizzy had been promoted but Altheas farm had died. I really liked Lizzy. I really didn't care for Luc. I liked reading about the magic of the Moons. I liked that Lizzy wanted to look into the deaths of the girls. She wants to clear her grandmother's name.

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This an enchanting tale of letting go and finding forgiveness..
wonderful story. Loved the characters. Book not to be missed.
Enjoyed it very much.

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