A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Historical fiction and magical realism all packaged together in a tragic yet beautiful Cornish bow. The cover alone is breathtaking.
We meet two different women, in two vastly different timelines, wanting to do what comes natural, which is protect their families at all costs. In today's world, Megan is searching for herself and what comes next after difficult break-up. A long the way, her father tells her of a secret he's held close to for so long he fears it may ruin hers and her mother's opinion of him. She travels to St. Mawgen's not only to follow-up on her father's past , but also see what else is out there waiting for her to find. St. Mawgen's in the 1600s is old world and beautiful, completely different from it's present. Here we meet Susanna raising her free-spirited, teenage daughter Katel, on her own without a husband and without naming Katel's father. Though it was difficult to be young, pregnant without a man to take care of them, Susanna became a well respected midwife and healer to the village. All of that comes to a head when her daughter is accused of the practices of old witchcraft.
Megan and Susanna's worlds intertwine as St. Mawgen is still trying to heal from some of it's darker history, and whether or not the local legend of the Witch's Kiss will continue to claim those that that love forever.
I am always a fan of two POVs, especially in historical fiction where both the past and the present are intertwined. This was a lovely, first by the author, book for me. Elena Collins's writing is breathtaking, vivid, and heartfelt in every single sentence. Cornish Witch is a beautifully tragic story of family, grief, and the resilience of love.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and provide my opinion of this book.

I know, I know, it's another book about witches!
But what can I say, they have me under a spell. And I'm here for it!
I cannot get enough of these books, and I will absolutely read more from this author after this one!
It had me gripped straight away and had characters I adored.
Loved it!

The premise is interesting and I could see potential in the characters but this novel wasn't for me. There's nothing wrong with it, it was just personal taste and I couldn't get into it. Therefore I won't publicly review it anywhere else than here.

The Cornish Witch by Elena Collins is kind of a ghost story. Megan’s father had gotten a surprise in the mail: a letter from a woman who claimed to be his daughter. And she probably was. He didn’t know what to do. Tell his wife? Ignore it? Reach out to her? Megan decided to take a well-earned surfing vacation to the small town in Cornwall where the woman lived and check her out, if she could. She booked a room in a small hotel/pub and arrived to discover the place was haunted. Her room was the only safe one. Written in two timelines, Megan, with the help of a local academic, finds the history of the place and deduces the details. Together, she and her friends manage to remedy the situation so that the two men who bought the place could make a success of it. Along the way, she met the man who would become her everything. Oh, yes, and her half-sister.

Full of interesting characters, both past and present this is a cautionary tale about witch hunts. Ours look different today, but are just as real. And just as damaging. And too often the innocent or naive get caught up in them. That was the case with the mother and daughter from the past. The daughter was beautiful and every man wanted her. A witch, one her mother had warned her away from, told her she would marry a foreign prince so she held out for him. And, he arrived. And left, permanently, soon after. The solution was discovered when Megan, and her new-found love, Patrick discovered the evidence during a deep-sea dive. I am not doing a good job here. This was a wonderful book. Full of love, caring, academic prowess, and faith. The characters go from good to brilliant and the story is well thought out and well put together. What a good book!

I was invited to read The Cornish Witch by Boldwood Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks #ElenaCollins #TheCornishWitch

The Cornish Witch by Elena Collins is a gorgeous mix of history, mystery, romance, and a touch of the supernatural. I loved how the story moved so smoothly between past and present, with strong, relatable characters and an atmosphere that gave me actual chills. It’s emotional, haunting, and totally gripping — I couldn’t put it down! If you love a good time-slip story with a bit of everything, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

A heartbreaking and compelling historical story, an engaging present day thread with a touch of romance and plenty of chills, a present day mystery and another that crosses the centuries – and my goodness, I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

In the present day, Megan’s holiday in St Mawgen Cove isn’t simply the chance to kick back and enjoy some surfing – her father has received a letter raising a secret from his past, and it’s an opportunity for her to try to find out more. Her stay at The Ship Inn brings new friendships and a touch of romance, but also something rather more unexpected when she finds her nights are disturbed – the cove has its own deeply hidden secrets, rather more than mere folk myths and legends and still with a lasting impact, and the souls that remain need some assistance in being able to rest.

In 1625, Susanna is a healer, well regarded, but hiding some of the detail of her past. She lives with her daughter Katel, who is giving her increasing cause for concern by falling under the influence of Tedda, a villager who practices rather darker arts. In an age of suspicion, some unexplained tragedies among the community lead to the conclusion that witchcraft must be involved – and Susanna needs to take desperate action to protect her wayward daughter from the fingers pointing in her direction.

The story moves so smoothly between past and present, with the darkness of the steadily mounting threat to Susanna and Katel – the historical setting quite perfectly recreated in every detail – nicely balanced by Megan’s experiences as she tries to cast some light on her father’s problems but gets increasingly caught up in the mysteries of the past. The supernatural elements of the story are superbly handled, very chilling and particularly real – to such an extent that I’ll admit I did have a few sleepless nights of my own, finding some of the restless spirits and their unfolding stories particularly disturbing.

There are some lovely moments of lightness too – I loved the lady in the teashop who explained some of the legends in such a matter-of-fact way while laying the table, the quirky friend from the surf shack, the owners of the inn despairing of ever making a success of their venture while things keep going bump in the night – and I enjoyed both the slow resolution of Megan’s father’s situation and the developing romance. But it’s really the heartbreaking tale from the past that makes the book such a compelling read – I shed a few tears for the individuals involved, the love of family, the mother doing all she could in the face of mounting odds, all with an outcome that always felt sadly inevitable. But there’s perfect closure to the whole story, drawing together the past and present – and an ending that hit exactly the right note after all the emotional turmoil that had gone before.

I have to say I absolutely loved it – dual time writing at its very best, and perhaps my favourite book to date from this rather special author. Highly recommended, but do learn from my experience – read it in the daylight, not on your own in the dark, and you’ll enjoy it every bit as much as I did.

I loved the idea of the Cornish Witch, but unfortunately it fell a little flat for me. The setting for this book was perfect, but I didn't really like most of the characters. I really tried to like this story, but I feel like in the end some of the things the character did or didn't do seemed a bit too unrealistic.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the arc for my honest opinion.

An enjoyable read that covers a dual-time narrative with some spooky links. I enjoyed the tale from the past more than the present as I felt there was due detail put into the telling to make it interesting and gripping; alternatively, I did enjoy the present story but I found some aspects of it rushed and quite unbelievable. I won’t go into too much detail to reveal any of the storyline but I found the main protagonist quite self-absorbed and couldn’t quite get along with that! Overall, a really good read though and I thoroughly enjoyed the original ‘witch’ tale from the past… it was not a repeat of other witch-trial style narratives.

Wow. Love this book and the story it contains. Told over dual timelines this is an historical read about secrets, longing and the power of a mother’s love and it is a well rounded and well written story.

Historical, mysterious, secretive and courageous. The characters, especially Susanna and more recently Megan. They are both strong women who want to do the right thing. This is an emotional and powerful read and one that really gets you thinking. The author has done a fantastic job of writing it in a way you can follow easily but with enough depth to make it real and interesting.

Beautifully written by an author I know have to learn more about and read more of her books.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I wanted to like this, but this book was not for me. I found the writing to be underdeveloped from the get-go. Many of the conversations seemed unnatural, like the MC's conversation with her dad when he makes a confession. I felt like the characters were idealized and not the most realistic. I regret to say that I had to force myself to read.

I am a big fan of books like this, and am a new fan of author Elena Collins! This book is a masterfully composed, heart-warming and simultaneously heart-breaking story. I was so invested in the characters, their relationships, and the atmosphere. I love the combination of history and imagined details.

If you like Diana Gabaldon (Outlander series), I highly recommend!

When Megan takes a holiday in St Mawgen Cove in Cornwall she discovers that her hotel, The Ship Inn, has rather more activity that she bargained for, especially when the ghostly sounds of troubled souls start to make their presence felt. Back in the seventeenth century, Susannah and her teenage daughter, Katel, live in their tiny cottage and eke out a meagre living in the tiny fishing village of St Mawgen. Susannah tends the sick with her herbs and potions, whilst Katel, works at the sea front helping with the fishing. However, superstition and gossip is rife and before too long whispers of witchcraft start to circulate and no-one is above suspicion.

This is a cleverly crafted time slip novel which not only focuses on Megan’s modern day dilemma but also brings the legend of the waiting witch to life. Supernatural elements of the past sit very comfortably alongside modern day St Mawgen, with both time frames equally fascinating, and with strands overlapping, there is always something interesting to discover. I raced through the story in one sitting in order to discover more about Susanna’s and Katel’s troubled time in St Mawgen, whilst at the same time wanting everything to work out well for Megan, and her family, as they discover secrets from the past.

Beautifully written, as always, from this talented author, The Cornish Witch is perfect escapism from start to finish.

This is my first Elena Collins book and it had me enthralled. The story was told between dual timelines 1625 and the present. I was fascinated by both Susanna and her daughter Katel’s story and that of modern day Megan. Mystery, witchcraft, romance, suspense and a beautiful setting, this story had it all. I lived in Cornwall for almost a decade and am familiar with many of the places mentioned, they were described beautifully – and the surfing scenes were spectacular. I loved the way it all come together at the end, and how Megan and Susanna were connected by their love of herbal remedies how skilfully the two timelines were intertwined. A solid five stars from me.

Meghan’s father gets a letter from his past going back forty years and he appeals to his daughter to go to the remote village of Mawgen Cove to verify facts and find a way of telling his wife about a secret from his youth and he does not know what his wife will make of it.

Meghan’s trip to Cornwall was with this focus in mind. Finding the step sister she never knew about. What she did not anticipate is getting lured into a history going back centuries, to lay to rest two souls who have been wandering in this village, never at peace.

So many inexplicable things we come across with no logical explanation and this is one of those things. May sound silly to some but to the person like Meghan who actually experiences something, it is not so easy to shrug as nonsensical.

An interesting history in this village, a tragic love story, superstitions in days gone by, a family reunited and a stunning setting.

The Cornish Witch by Elena Collins is a dual timeline novel, set both in 1625 as well as the present. 1625 follows Susanna Boram, a healer, and her daughter Katel, a teenager interested in finding her prince while looking nice and smelling good. Present timeline follows Megan Hammond, who sets off to meet her half-sister Emma when she learns of her existence. The setting is the same—St. Mawgen Cove—and the inn Megan stays in, too, has been in existence for centuries. With an old inn comes old ghosts, including a Drenched Man and a Weeping Woman, and they’re joined by the Waiting Witch on the cliffs, who comes into town to murder the men.

The premise is interesting; I always enjoy a little magic and the supernatural, especially when the author leaves you wondering for a good portion of the book whether the magic is real or not. Historical fiction, too, is another thing that always catches my attention, and I personally preferred the past timeline to the present. I just felt more wrapped up and interested in Katel and Susanna’s story, and it was more urgent in the telling given that it had witchcraft vs a woman looking to meet her half-sister.

I think a problem with the book is it doesn’t really give room to breathe. Two examples from the past passages: one character curses another, and the effects of that curse IMMEDIATELY happen eight pages (eight digital pages, whatever that translates to) later. The second instance is two characters verbalising how they’ve never been happier and in the VERY next paragraph, a tragedy happens. There’s no real foreshadowing or a chance for the reader to be like “oh no! I can’t wait to see what happens; it’s gonna be intense!” because it just instantly happens.

The love story between Megan and Patrick is kind of silly as well. They knew each other three days and Megan didn’t want to leave. The date he asked her to happens off page before they go to dinner, and we’re repeatedly told how handsome he is, usually in conjunction with the explanation he doesn’t know it or doesn’t know how it affects Megan. It’s just very quick and I didn’t really get to know him as a character. This isn’t the meat of the text, however, so it’s easier to forgive.

I think I would have liked more interaction with the ghosts; the end bit was very engaging and made the final pages fly by. All in all, it’s a pretty quick read and kept my attention, mostly because I wanted to see how Katel’s childish impetuosity would turn out.

3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was so good! I love a good historical fiction, and this booked delivered in the way of dual timelines, both historical and modern. I was fascinated by the past timeline, and the healer aspect of it. I was really captivated by the atmospheric setting and the way it was described. I have to be honest, the modern timeline kind of drug for me. It was not as fast paced, and I didn't feel as many revelations were exposed as I was hoping for, which is why I dropped it a star. Overall though, it was a solid historical fiction that felt mysterious to me and I enjoyed.

I have loved Elena Collins’ dual time supernatural novels since the Witch’s Tree. The Cornish Witch is no exception.

In the present Megan’s father Bill has received a life changing letter, a letter that could upend his life as he knows it. He confides in Megan that he has another daughter that was given up for adoption and she has now contacted him. He is unsure how this will affect his relationship with his wife Jackie. Megan offers to go to St. Magwen’s Cove in Cornwall to do a reconnaissance mission on her sister. While in St. Mawgen’s Megan starts to be drawn into the past through eerie instances.

In 1625, Susanna mother to 17 year old Katel is the local midwife and healer. She is raising Katel on her own and has never disclosed the father’s name, despite the local town gossip. Katel is a young, beautiful, naive woman in a time period that is harsh to women and suspicious of wise women and healers. The suspicions of the local townspeople culiminates in a tragic incident that reverbates to the present day.

The story alternates chapters in the present and the past. I loved the historical time line the best, but the descriptions of Cornwall and the suspenseful storyline kept me eagerly reading.

Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwoood Books and the author for the chance to read and review this ARC.

The Cornish Witch has skyrocketed to the very top of my favourites from Elena Collins, which is quite a feat, as I adored The Wicked Lady. Once again, the book is told as a dual-timeline story with equal presence in the present day and the seventeenth century. In the present day, we meet Megan, who is on a mission from her father to solve the mystery of a letter from the past.
When she arrives in Cornwall, Megan begins to sense presences in the other rooms of the Ship Inn, and she becomes determined to uncover the secrets of what happened in St Mawgen Cove, hoping to bring some relief to the lost souls of the area.
Meanwhile, back in 1625, we meet Susanna and her daughter, Katel. As a single mother, Susanna worries about what will become of her daughter once her advancing years begin to impact her life and choices. While Susanna wants nothing but the best for Katel, it is apparent that Katel is too interested in the lives and opinions of others.
Straddling the two timelines, Collins reveals just enough to keep the reader interested but not to introduce any spoilers as we head for the big reveal and discover more about the local legends and their sources.
As the present day finally meets the past. The feeling of closure is comforting, yet a touch of melancholy remains, evoking past losses and prompting you to remember the names of those who have gone before us. I was moved to tears as I read, and I hope that you get as much joy as I did, despite the sobering context of the story.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is a dual timeline novel. In the present day, we follow Megan’s experiences. Megan notices that her dad, Bill, seems to have something on his mind. He recently received a letter, and something about it seems to be troubling him. When Bill tells Megan about the contents of the letter, she realises that their lives may never be the same again. Megan has questions, and she heads to St. Mawgen’s Cove in Cornwall, in search of answers.

The other narrative takes us to 1625, following Susanna and her daughter Katel. Susanna has raised Katel by herself, and has never talked about who her father is, even though Katel longs to know the truth. Some of the locals gossip about them, and Susanna doesn't always approve of the company her daughter keeps.

I quickly became invested in both storylines. In the present, I was excited to see exactly what Megan might discover, and following her felt like an adventure. I was also very interested in Susanna and Katel, in the historical storyline. I initially found Susanna more likeable than her daughter, but I felt they were both strong characters, and I was intrigued to see what, if anything, might connect them to Megan and her experiences.

I found the story quite eerie and suspenseful to read in places, and that was a quality I enjoyed. I also enjoyed Cornwall as a choice of setting, which made the story feel like an escape. Parts of the story were sad, and parts of it were heartwarming. It was a page turner that had me reading a little late into the night.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.