Unfortunately with this one, I just couldn't get past the writing style. The story felt like something I'd enjoy, but the first person narration was too jarring. The MC felt very off, too, in. a way where I felt I was reading from a 13 year old's diary, not about a woman in her mid-2os. Very much so a "the premise sounds great, the execution wasn't my style at all" type of book.

Emerson Wilde lives a great life in the midwestern town of St. Cyprian until she's attacked by creatures that shouldn’t be real, and kills them with magic. It turns out that Emerson's life for the past decade was a lie, and that her memories were erased when she failed a power test years ago. Now that something evil is lurking the streets, Emerson must control her magic, remember the past, and deal with local farmer Jacob North. She had always wanted to protect St. Cyprian, but now it might take her life.

Emerson is very much a type A personality, and glories in it. She schedules her time for introspection and relaxation, doesn't put much stock in what she can't see or schedule, and is obscenely proud of her little town and its festivals, and holds herself accountable for its success. The battle that unlocks Emerson's power is the tipping point away from that normal and shows that nothing about anyone is what it seems. I loved the battle and how much her friends rallied around her immediately, eager to protect her and enfold her back into magical society even if it must be in secret. They were her chosen family, and they chose her in return. Each has their own magical skills, but they also display their care and concern in different ways.

From the start, Mayor Skip is presented as the bad guy, and his behavior does nothing to dispel that. He's spoiled, the rich son of the very people that had condemned Emerson in the first place, and can't handle disappointment of any kind. Do we want to see him get some kind of comeuppance then? Absolutely. The focus is on an external danger as much as him, and Emerson must learn how to deal with a power hidden from everyone, which is stronger than her friends realized. She is quick to stand alone, push forward, and do things her own way, even against traditions she can't remember.

This has to be the beginning of a series because there are still so many questions left at the end. There's a cliffhanger of sorts; we know something else must be coming, but we don't see it. I did enjoy what we got, but the cliffhanger ending means it's an unfinished feeling that lingers instead of satisfaction. I do want to see more of these characters. Their coven is a tight-knit group of friends, and I loved spending time with them.

Small Town, Big Magic is a witchy contemporary romance that entertains.

I really loved a lot of this book: the premise, the plot and the huge cast of characters. It’s a super entertaining story that I enjoyed reading. I’m still thinking about parts of the story now, especially as the book ends on a cliffhanger and there are four books slated in the series. Am I ready for the next book? Yes! Also, Hazel Beck is two romance writers who’ve come together to write paranormal romance.

I have to admit, out of all of the characters in the book, Emerson Wilde, the main heroine is the one I struggled with the most. I found her insufferable at times. A type A strong woman with her life together, she seems right up my alley. However, I found two areas in her character that I had a hard time moving on from: firstly, she is the organizer and planner in their group, which is great. However, she was fairly annoying in her belief that she was superior to everyone for so much of her life. I think I’d have a hard time being friends with her. While she was clearly set up to be the saviour in her town, her attributes became grating: her independence becomes a weakness in the book, and I like how Hazel worked through her character growth, but at times Emerson seemed don dimensional in her focus on achieving perfection in all aspects of her life. The other quibble I have with Emerson is how easily she, a type A SERIOUS person, just accepts and then masters magic (this isn’t a spoiler alert, you find out that Emerson is a witch on the back of the book). I didn’t find it believable that someone so grounded in reality wouldn’t even waver a bit at discovering that not only does she have magic but that her best friends, indeed everyone in town, are magical. I will leave out why she didn’t know, as that IS a spoiler. Let’s talk about what’s good about Emerson because there is a lot: she’s loyal and strong and smart. Can she be a little inflexible? Sure. Does she think she’s always right? Yes. Is she a kick-ass heroine who needs to learn to trust both other people and her heart? Heck yes! I will say that Emerson’s faults make her feel like a real person. There is a lot of depth to her character development, making Small Town, Big Magic a fabulous read.

There is a big focus on found family in Small Town, Big Magic, and Hazel’s cast of characters really shines in this book. I love a team united against evil, and you get that here. Emerson’s friends have their own issues and backstories, including the mysterious immortal Nicholas Frost, and while we don’t dive deeply into their full stories in this book as it’s focused on Emerson’s journey, I do hope we find out more over the series.

As far as romances go, part of the plot involves Emerson learning to open up to people, and one of them is her friend Jacob. This is a sweet Friends to Lovers romance that I mostly enjoyed. The story is told only from Emerson’s point of view, which worked for me as we, as the readers, feel her frustrations and confusion because we aren’t getting Jacob’s perspective. The only time I faltered about it is that their relationship delved into soulmate territory at times - a trope I love in YA fiction but not so much in my adult fiction. However, Hazel uses the soul mate idea as a line in the bigger story about fate, choice and destiny, so it did work for me in the end. I’d love to know what other people feel about the romance!

Finally, I must mention the setting: St. Cyprian seems to be the perfect midwest town. It’s lovely and charming, and I hope I get to see more of it in the rest of the series. The setting is an important part of Emerson’s journey and is almost a character in itself. It reminds me a lot of Nora Roberts' small towns/ Star Hallows, which is the best compliment. It’s a place I would happily visit and wander through with a cup of tea and a terrific baked good. I bet St. Cyprian puts on a wonderful fall festival.

Small Town, Big Magic is a fun and charming witchy romance book. First, in a series, I can’t wait to read the rest.

Thank you, Harlequin, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Emerson is a witch but she didn’t know that for a long time.
Now she must band together with family and friends to defeat an evil determined to destroy their town.
I loved the whole witchy vibe. The book ended about like I was expecting but I wasn’t expecting a cliffhanger. Now I will be waiting somewhat impatiently for the next book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

I requested this book for a couple of reasons: I live right around where this book takes place and I love paranormal books. I started this with very little preconceived notions, and I’m glad I did. Emerson started out as a very officious, pro-woman, anti-magic character, and she grew from there. She was maybe a little annoying at first, but again she grew so much by the end of the book. She is still that way, but she learned. Add to that, the book was a little wordy for me. However, this book was just so much fun. How Emerson learns, the way she figures out magic, and the touching family moments just make this book. We do get to see things from other perspectives, too, which filled in a few gaps. This book isn’t perfect, but it just struck me as so full of heart that I loved it. This did end on a cliffhanger, which I don’t exactly mind, but I really want to know how they are all going to get out of this latest wrinkle. Give this a try. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Emerson is the youngest Chamber of Commerce President in small-town St. Cyprian, MO, a bookstore owner, Type A extraordinaire…and a witch. ⁣
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⁣Her secret powers were unleashed after a dark magic attack led by the town’s mayor. Her best friends reveal that she has generations of witches in her family, and she was mind-wiped by a powerful coven. The same coven that might be responsible for sinister forces in town. ⁣
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⁣Emerson would do everything in her power to save St. Cyprian. But will that be enough?⁣
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⁣🔮What I loved:⁣
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⁣✨a paranormal fiction centered around a woman’s power and her dedication to her local community⁣
⁣✨Jacob, the romantic lead, is a little cinnamon roll farmer⁣
⁣✨the book is steeeeped in magic ⁣
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⁣🔮What I would have loved to have seen:⁣
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⁣✨more diversity—the characters are all assumed white/het and the mc’s feminism is influenced by this
⁣✨Jacob’s perspective. It’s first person narration from Emerson, and it can be a lot to be living in a Leslie Knope mind constantly!⁣
⁣✨I went in thinking it was a romance, but it’s definitely a paranormal general fiction with a dash of closed-door romance⁣
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⁣Verdict: ill still be on the lookout for book two!

Meh. I just can’t get into this writing style. It feels so cheesy to me. Thanks for letting me read early but I can’t possibly recommend this one.

What I liked about the book :
The premise, and the plotting.
What I hated
How the main character bragged about what she did for her small town, and then complained about her parents and sister. And how slow it started out .

And my second thing I loved about this book:
the pacing starting to pick up and it was like you finally got to see the true personality of Emerson’s.Her interactions with her friends , her love for her family history, and the different types of magic .
.

I really like the premise, plotting, and pacing of this book. The story moves well and has the right amount of mysteries popping up an being resolved. It's genuinely very enjoyable. Emerson is a little over enthusiastic for my tastes, however. I can see what Beck is going for, but I wish she would let Emerson simply behave like a feminist instead of going "I'm a feminist so I'm going to do the thing". The actions are great and fully on point, but living inside Emerson's head for the narration got a bit grating after a bit. At the end of the day, it's a small quibble that won't phase a ton of people, but did hinder my enjoyment a bit. I like all of the supporting cast more than the main.

"St. Cyprian is mine, and I am St. Cyprian's ..."

The rivers that converge at the small town of St. Cyprian, Missouri might as well run through Emerson Wilde's veins. A true daughter of the town, she can't imagine living anywhere else, and wants her town to be the best that it can be. She thinks that she knows everyone in and everything about her beloved home, but, oh, the secrets that have been kept...

Never one to pass up a highly recommended paranormal read, I was quick to jump on SMALL TOWN, BIG MAGIC, the first book in the Witchlore series by Hazel Beck. As a lover of small town reads with friend groups, romance, and shenanigans, this book checked all the marks, and left me wanting more, more, more.

So many things make SMALL TOWN, BIG MAGIC a truly engaging read, one that I did not want to put down. Friendship, inner strength and self-knowledge, a sense of what truly makes a place home, and, yes, love, this story does a great job of introducing readers to this magical place, and leaving us impatient for what comes next.

I had really high hopes for this story.

I’ve tried to start it a few times and I just couldn’t get into it the way I wanted to.

I will say that I adore Emerson’s voice. I loved how we started with hearing about how much she loved the town and her family history. I loved her quote “men are applauded for embellishing the truth while wine. Are see. As “very confident” for telling the truth - and very confident is never a compliment”.

Unfortunately, I think the start was a little slow for me and I found myself reading ahead to try and find parts that I thought were more interesting.

I hate to DNF books. I think maybe this one just found me at the wrong time. Maybe later on down the line I’ll give it another chance and fall in love - this time around just wasn’t for me.

This story is full of magic, mayhem and a small amount of romance. It is a little slow and needs less repeat of past happenings, which were repeated many times. The group of friends and interactions between the townies helped save this read.

What a uniquely written book about magic and witchcraft!

I was very intrigued to see how Emerson Wild was going to handle all that thrown at her.

St.Cyprian was very special to Emerson. She is surprised to find out that it was a haven for witches. And she is an intricate part of saving her beloved town from the evils of black magic. Emerson finds out her cousin Zander and friends Georgie, Elloeyn and Jacob have been protecting her for years against the black magic that surrounds her.

Will Emerson be able to save her beloved town? Will she find love?

This is a must read! Well done Hazel Beck aka Megan Crane and Nicole Helm

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. This review contains my personal thoughts and opinions. I am an employee of Indigo Books and Music Inc.

So first off, while I did very much enjoy reading this book I didn't realise it was the first in a series until the very end and I found that mildly irritating as I was hoping for a full conclusion to the storyline.

My main thought during the first few chapters of this book was wow this is basically just magical Parks and Recreations. The central character Emerson Wilde has a strong Lesley Knope vibe. She has binders for everything, she is a leader in the town community serving as the Chamber of Commerce President, and she has a loyal group of friends who would do anything for her. She also has an arch rival, Skip Simon, (think Councillor Jeremy Jamm) who is the Mayor of the town and blames Emerson for all the misfortunes that haven befallen him throughout his life.

The plot centres around Emerson who is a descent of witches but does not believe in magic. She runs a book store while also serving as Chamber of Commerce President for her town (which she absolutely adores and would do anything for). As she prepares the town for an annual festival Emerson starts to notice odd things happening around her but she doesn't think too much of it because of course magic doesn't exist. But when she comes face to face with some hellish monsters intent of killing her she is forced to face the truth, magic is real, her friends all are witches and so is she.

With a romantic thread tying Emerson to her extremely gorgeous but reserved friend Jacob North and a likeable group of main characters sworn to protect the town from an impending magical flood, this book has a little bit of everything to offer. Great for fans of the Ex Hex, the Gilmour Girls, and Parks and Rec.

I loved this debut novel by Hazel Beck about a strong, confident young woman who suddenly discovers that she is a witch, and that her friends and most of the people in her town are witches, and they have all been keeping it a secret from her. All this comes to light when Emerson is attacked by strange creatures and unintentionally uses magic to defeat them. I love how Emerson deals with this new knowledge. She is initially shocked and hurt, but also understanding of her friends’ difficult position. She doesn’t dwell on it as a betrayal but quickly moves on to incorporating this new information into her strong sense of self and confidence in her friends. I loved the different characters in this friend group and can’t wait to see who’s story gets told next!

Oh Emerson Wilde. Stubborn and proud and sure of herself, even when she lands smack dab in something bigger than she can possibly comprehend. At least, bigger than she can comprehend as quickly as she wants to. I found myself wanting to shake her. All of her friends tell her how to keep herself safe but she thinks she knows better and charges ahead. Very frustrating.

But…also somewhat charming. She loves her home and fights for what she believes in. She is invested in making her town a better place and it’s hard to argue with that kind of passion. Except, you know, the whole putting yourself in harms way again and again and again.

I absolutely loved all the friends in this. Georgie and Ellowyn and Jacob and Zander…they are all so different and unique and wonderful and united in their efforts to take care of Emerson (even if she doesn’t want it).

Other things I loved: the rivers, the magic embedded into the town itself, the familiars, the awe Emerson has for her magic, and the sentence “I eat toxic masculinity like candy.”

What I didn’t love: lack of diversity, and Emerson’s stubbornness.

The magical world of St Cyprian is one readers will never want to leave. Small Town, Big Magic is an absolute triumph of a debut. Sparking with humor, romance, and thrillingly gothic danger, it had me hooked from the first page and kept me turning pages all night. Emerson is a glorious heroine and Jacob is her perfect match in every way—a gorgeous, perfect romance hero who compliments and adores the strength in his heroine. In this first book in the new Witchlore series, Hazel Beck has created the perfect blend of magic, humor, world-ending peril, friendship and romance, and brewed into a spellbinding combination that readers will adore, and that will have them desperate for the next book!

This book has it all! Action, fun and adventure. This is my first read by this author. I really enjoyed the book and can't wait to read more!

Emerson wants the best for her town, and she works hard to make it happen. Suddenly though, she finds that there is a whole layer she didn't know about happening all around her. As she awakens to the magic all around her she must be willing to fight for more than the town that means so much to her, but the family she has made and possibly even her life. This was a fun and fast paced book with plenty of well-developed characters. I can't wait to read the next installment to see what happens next.

Small Town, Big Magic is a witchy coming of age story set in small riverside town in America. The story centres around Emerson Wilde, a young small bookshop owner and the young president of the town's Chamber of Commerce. A supernatural attack shakes Emerson out of the life she thought she was living and throws her into a whirlwind of witch wars, memories, and river magic.

I felt this book was trying hard to not take itself too seriously. It's a light read that features some cheesy bits that will appeal to readers who enjoy comedic and magical women's fiction. While I liked the river magic and the idea of a small town full of witches hiding in plain sight, I found it a tad boring. The trope of a young woman who must learn how to be a witch is overdone and I couldn't connect to the characters who seemed emotionally immature. I have read many small town magic books over the years and unfortunately this book pales in comparison. I would have found it more interesting and enjoyable if only the chamber of commerce members were witches and Emerson and her friends were human small town business owners trying to save the town from their evil.

Overall there were some good ideas, but it wasn't my cup of tea for the reasons I mentioned. 3/5 stars.