A little witchy a little mysterious and a little romance. This was a cozy read but more Practical Magic than Halloweentown. Wonderful prose and not too heavy of a story. This is a good read at any time.

The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells
by Rachel Greenlaw
Pub Date: Oct 22 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There is an old tale woven through the mountain town of Woodsmoke about a stranger who appears as the first snow falls in winter, who will disappear without a trace as the frost thaws in spring, leaving a broken heart behind.

Carrie Morgan ran from Woodsmoke ten years ago, and the decision has haunted her ever since. Spending a decade painting and drifting around Europe, she tries to forget her family’s legacy and the friends she left behind. But the Morgan women have always been able to harness the power of the mountains surrounding the town, and their spells—and curses—are sewn into the soil. The mountains, they say, never forget.

Sure enough, when Carrie’s grandmother dies and leaves behind her dilapidated cottage, she returns to renovate—certain she will only be there for one winter. She meets Matthieu as the temperature dips, a newcomer who offers to help refurbish the cottage. Before long, and despite warnings from her great-aunt Cora of the old stories, Carrie finds herself falling for the charming stranger. But when the frost thaws in spring, Matthieu goes missing.

Carrie is convinced he’s real, and he’s in danger. As she fights her way across the mountains to find him, she must confront all the reasons why she left Woodsmoke and decide whether the place she’s spent the last decade running from is the home she’s been searching for.

Rachel Greenlaw, the beloved author of One Christmas Morning, returns with another beautifully crafted, emotionally charged, and

Thank you to the publisher, to Net Galley and to the author. This is a fun atmospheric read perfect for a October read. I enjoy reading multiple points of view and enjoyed how the author built suspense in this story. I found myselfl turning pages into the night . This is a read i highly recommend. The author has included magic, realism, romance and family in the story each done to perfection for the reader.

We meet our main character Carrie who has returned to Woodsmoke to move into her Grandmother's charming woodland cottage left to her in the will. Carrie has been drifting across Europe for a decade and is not sure she wants to settle into a quiet life at a cottage in the woods. .She meets a neighbor who has intriqued her but he soon disappears in the woods. Carrie goes to find him using a bit of her famililes magic to help her on her quest.

This is a fun read with great characters. Carrie grows into who she is meant to be and bravely embraces her families magical history. I enjoyed this read and the perfect setting for October. Well done to the author

I enjoyed this book however, everyone at one point irritated me with how selfish they were lol. I also felt like the friend, Jess did not need her own pov - it added nothing to my view of the book. Not as “magical” as I hoped just mysterious with a hint of something there. This one was just okay for me, 3.5 overall.

I wanted so badly to love this book. While the potential was there, I just couldn't become invested in the characters or the storyline. There are multiple POVs, and while I loved Cora and Carrie I felt I could have done without Jess.

The fantasy elements were lacking for my taste, and the storyline was super predictable. If you dont care much for fantasy and are looking for an easy and straightforward read, check it out. If you are looking for true fantasy and a magnetic plot this might not do it for you.

Highlights were
Generational magic
Superstitions
Found love and acceptance

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is very atmospheric with hints of magic, mystery, and romance. I loved the setting and overall vibe of this book - it was perfect to read during autumn!

This book follows three women, Carrie, Cora, and Jess. It was a lot more character driven than I was expecting, and I would’ve liked a bit more plot. I found a lot of it to be very repetitive, and it wasn’t until about 75% of the way through that I felt like things were actually happening.

The passages from the Morgan Book of Spells were my favorite part! The Morgan Book of Spells is an important part of the magic of this story, and I would have loved to have even more from it. I also would’ve enjoyed more details about the inner workings of the spells and how they were cast with the mountain.

Overall I enjoyed this read, but I was left wanting a little more. I recommend picking this one up if you like atmospheric, character driven stories!

Holy smokes. I just finished The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells. This book was hard to put down. It has so many elements that I love in a book that make it feel magical and cozy. There’s friendship, family, small town, drama, mystery and romance. It’s multiple POV. There’s an element of be careful what you wish for because you just might get it but at what cost? I absolutely fell in love with Carrie, Jess, Cora, Howard, Tom and the mystery of the Woodsmoke mountains. I found myself thinking about the book while not reading it. Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ebook arc.

The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is a hauntingly beautiful blend of mystery, magic, and family drama, with prose so atmospheric it feels like stepping into a dream. Following her grandmother’s death, Carrie Morgan returns to her hometown of Woodsmoke, embarking on a journey of reckoning, healing, and discovery.

After inheriting her grandmother’s rundown cottage, Carrie figures she’ll stick around just for the winter, long enough to fix it up and move on. But then she meets Matthieu—a mysterious newcomer who’s hard to resist—and suddenly, her plan to leave feels less certain.

As Carrie and Matthieu become closer, Carrie hears of strange stories about a stranger who vanishes each spring, drawing Carrie further into Woodsmoke’s secrets. The mix of growing romance, eerie legends, and the town’s haunting past creates an atmosphere thick with suspense, magic, and gothic intrigue.

This story isn’t just a cozy paranormal romance; it’s a masterful blend of genres that sweeps you through romance, mystery, and the supernatural, all set against the backdrop of autumn and winter. Each chapter, prefaced by snippets from The Morgan Compendium, deepens the lore of Woodsmoke, adding richness to the generational magic of the Morgan women. The narrative is filled with twists and turns, keeping me glued and second-guessing my thoughts on each character.

This story is an emotional and immersive tale of love, sibling bonds, and coming to terms with the past, all crafted with Greenlaw’s lyrical prose that left me shattered but hopeful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the opportunity to read this spellbinding story!

This was a fun and entertaining read. The author did a great job creating a cozy, magical atmosphere, but I was hoping for more fantasy while this leaned more towards magical realism. I did feel like the plot was a bit unfocused at times but overall it was an interesting read.

This is a beautifully written novel set in the quaint town of Woodsmoke and the surrounding mystical peaked mountains. Mountains that claim, without regret, so many who wander off the path.
Carrie Morgan has returned home after several years of traveling through Europe, never really finding where she belongs or "home". The return is not easy, but Carrie slowly finds her footing. The supporting cast of characters really build the story and shape this novel, full of those who don't, but must believe in the magic of the mountain and the women Morgan. The romance is done beautifully, Mathieu, in with the frost, dealing with his own ghosts and haunted past, forms a connection with Carrie that was destined by the mountains.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

I found this to be lacking the magic that comprises "generational magic". It was more based around family lore, which is fine, but not what I was expecting. It's very atmospheric and rich in detail, but not something I would read again. It puts me in mind of Heather Webb's Starlight Cafe.

Thanks to Book Club Girl, NetGalley, Avon Books, and Harper Voyage rUS for this copy of "The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells."

I was so excited to read about the Morgan women of Woodsmoke who use mountain magic to help the townspeople, although they're still viewed as outsiders.

We meet Carrie who's returning to Woodsmoke after 10 years (we later learn why she left) to claim an inheritance from her grandmother Ivy - a cottage that she's required to renovate to fulfill the terms of the will.

But when she meets Matthieu who conveniently offers to help her with the construction, she remembers an old tale about one of her ancestors and a mountain man who disappears.

As you can probably tell, I enjoyed this story. I was hoping for a little more eerie atmosphere, but overall it was sweet and memorable.

This book gives the perfect cozy witchy vibes in the very atmospheric small-town setting of Woodsmoke with the backdrop of the mountains that seem to be the source of Carrie's family magic.

I loved Carrie's relationships with her great-aunt and uncle and how the slow-burn romance worked perfectly within the story. The writing is atmospheric and sucks you in and you sucked into Carrie's everyday life of trying to fix up her grandma's cabin and deciding whether or not she is staying in Woodsmoke for good. And the relationships with the people she left behind, which she's unsure if she wants to fix. I did like the family lore surrounding the magic, although some of the back and forth of the timelines left me sometimes confused about what led up to the separation of the family.

Not going to lie I was quite excited for this one! The cover is fantastic and the description gives all sorts of cozy, witchy vibes, perfect for Spooky Season reading but the actual story and the three main characters did not do much for me.

The family curse was a bit confusing/convoluted, there was a betrayal, love potion and broken hearts we learn about through flashbacks to the past as Carrie returns home to Woodsmoke to face her ex and his wife (her former best friend).

Recommended for Practical magic fans (although for me this story was nowhere near as good as that one). Just an okay read for me if I'm totally honest and one I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells by Rachel Greenlaw ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

Avon Books
Pub Date: 10-22-24

Thank you @netgalley, @avonbooks, and @rachelgreenlaw_ for this eARC.

"I’ve searched everywhere for a place to feel rooted, to belong. Woodsmoke is that place. And these mountains will not break me."

Return to the small town of Woodsmoke with Carrie ten years after abruptly leaving and cutting ties with her friends and family.

Carrie is a 'Morgan Woman' - described as being 'a curse and a gift' - so has always felt like an outsider in Woodsmoke. She returns following her grandmother Ivy's death to renovate and sell the cottage left to her - and possibly repair relationships with those she left behind.

Carrie meets an enigmatic stranger. Her great-aunt, Cora, warns her of the mountain tale of a stranger who appears at the first frost and disappears when the frost melts - leaving a broken heart behind.

This story includes all the things I love in a good book: multigenerational women's stories, friendship, love, and a little magic/mystery. This story was comforting to return to as the story progressed with the changing seasons. I took a deep breath when the story turned to Spring wary that the frost would soon melt!

#thewoodsmokewomensbookofspells #rachelgreenlaw #avonbooks #netgalley

3.5⭐️ Cozy read for the fall season. Love the small town with a magical history, the familial magic passed down to granddaughters and the path that they take with it. The story of facing your past decisions and deciding where to guide your future. Mending relationships and new beginnings.

Carrie returns home with her grandmothers passing after 10 years away. She falls for a mysterious stranger who appears w the frost and then vanishes. Is he real? Is he a manifestation of one of the old family stories?

I would love to read a full book of Cora or Carrie or Jess but the three all together left me wanting more from each of them.

I like the book over all, the magical element feels unique and I wish I could visit this magical town, the mountains are mysterious and trying to figure out the twists along the way was a great way to spend the gloomy rainy days while reading.

Thank you so much for this ARC from NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager

A woman comes home to her hometown of Woodsmoke to reclaim a home she ran away from, face old friends, old magic, and a potential new love. Carrie Morgan ran away from her small town of Woodsmoke ten years ago... ran away on the day of her wedding and never looked back. Carrie has been haunted by her decisions all those years ago and when her grandmother dies and leaves behind her dilapidated cottage, Carrie comes home to renovate it. Carrie was only meant to stay for the one winter but then she meets Matthieu, a handsome newcomer who offers to help fix her cottage saying he knew her grandmother. Now that she's back Carrie has to face her ex fiancee.. who also happened to have married her ex best friend who used a love spell to get him... and the fact that her great aunt Cora has been warning Carrie that she is to stay away from her handsome new stranger. Carrie can't tell if Matthieu is real or if he came from the forest... but magic is happening and Carrie has to finally find her place in Woodsmoke. Can Carrie finally find her home in Woodsmoke and can she find her love at last? This was a beautiful story that had a touch of magic and romance, but it was mostly about finding your place and claiming your own home. It's a sweet read and one I'd recommend for anyone who is looking for a touching magical read with a cozy vibe and some small town magic!

Release Date: October 22, 2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
5 stars from me!
This was the perfect spooky season read! It had everything I want in a book: romance, mystery, witches, strong female characters, generational strife, nature. This book had everything! I would highly recommend this to any witchy book lover!

3.5 stars rounded down. The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells is part magical realism, part mystery, with cottage core/ folklore vibes, a forbidden romance, and definitely for fans of Adrienne Young’s June Farrow. I think one of my favorite things about this book is that it's super atmospheric, and perfect for Fall. It’s cosy and woodsy but also eerie and folky (is that a word?) at the same time. The quality of the writing and prose itself was very poetic, and this is one of those books that when you read it, you know each word was meticulously chosen. The reason this one only gets 3-3.5 stars from me is that I found it to be a bit slow at times (which, admittedly, kind of felt purposeful). This is something that happens a lot for me when books have time jumps or multi-POVs (I often jive with one POV or time period more than others, and then struggle with others. But given that this was a multi-generational story about a family of witches... I expected there to bit a bit more magic. All in all, there was a lot that I really appreciated about this one, and I can see myself wanting to read more from Greenlaw in the future-- like I said, the quality of the writing itself was great, even if I wanted a bit more magic.

Thanks so much to Avon, Greenlaw, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

After a ten year absence, Carrie has returned to Woodsmoke following the death of her grandmother, so that she can fulfill the requirements of her will. She had left suddenly after learning that her fiancé did not have the same plans as her to travel. He had arranged for them to settle down without telling her. So she ran and never did find somewhere that she felt she belonged. In Woodsmoke, her family is known for providing remedies and there are rumors of spells. Because of this, Carrie never felt like she fit in here either. As she works on renovating the cabin and meets a guy who helps her, things slowly start to change. I give this 3.5 stars because while it is well written, I was not drawn to sit and read it.