Honestly? It was giving nothing. Like, the whole time-slip romance thing with past lives and tarot? Sounds cool on paper, but the execution was just... meh. I felt like the vibes were all over the place, and the main character's ~journey of self-discovery~ was kind of a snooze. The "sensual, emotionally charged storytelling" promised? Not really feeling it, bestie. It was giving more "trying too hard" than "swept away." The mystical elements felt a bit forced, and I was just waiting for something to actually happen that wasn't predictable. Definitely not a "can't put it down" situation for me. Next.

I enjoyed the Egyptian theme of the first book, but medieval France in this second book is just as captivating. The modern day perfume was described so well that I almost expect to see it in an ad in Vogue.
The reincarnation and tarot themes are what drew me to the Arcanum books. Kelly balances this with romance, history, and adventure. I look forward to the to the next installment of Sarah's journey.

Sarah is back in a second volume, and this time, she is focused on researching the Rose, a flower that in France in the 1500s was so rare and expensive that it was reserved for royals. This gives great depth to the flower. She learns all the symbolism and how it is deeply connected with other cultures, not just French. This research, the gypsies, the tattoos with the cross, and the connection still with ancient Egypt build all the mystic world, and the tarot cards continue to guide her. This time, the author includes more sessions of hypnosis and regression, so we have a few scenes of Sarah remembering her childhood.
I must confess that this time, Kurt (Ken) in the past scared me. In ancient Egypt, Sarrah was in control of sensual and sexual activities. In this one, Sari was a victim of violence at the hands of males. Ken (the card The Devil) is getting worse and more dangerous from volume to volume; I fear for Sarah in the next volume.
I love the scenes when Sarah in the present visits Leyla, and there is a ritual of picking up an object from the shelves that speaks to her at that moment. The author maintains the consistency of themes (healer, doubts, romance, past loves, learning to seduce, learning to survive, fragrances, medicine), sensual visions, flirtation, hot scenes, sensuality, but also obsessive love, escape...
I wasn't expecting the last part, including a ship to the new world, contact with natives. Those were great additions.
This time, I respected Sarah's husband during the confrontation scene, where he confesses (that deep inside he knows) that he is not the one in her past or future.

Kelly O'Hearn has written a mysterious story in Arcanum: Whispers in the Forest. The tarot readings and connections over time echo from the France of King Francis and today's New York. A young lady of modest background is taken up by a French noblewoman and trained in floriculture and increased use of her knowledge of perfumes. Her counterpart today is a businesswomen of modest accomplishments in New York. Both have dreams of each other. The woman of modest degree in France is forced to become the mistress of Francis and continues her perfumery cures at the court. Then she and others escape to New France. What could go wrong? The couple in New France are deeded with land and have a future in the New World. Then at the end there is an echo back to the Borgia court. Is this for a sequel or to bring the story with the tarot back to the beginning. Read with attention and enjoy.

As a lifelong fantasy reader, I’m always on the lookout for a story that feels immersive and original—and Kelly O’Hearn’s Arcanum: Whispers in the Forest absolutely delivers. This book is a captivating journey through an enchanted realm where magic, secrets, and ancient forces simmer just beneath the surface. From the very first chapter, I was swept away by O’Hearn’s lyrical prose and richly imagined world. The forest is more than just a setting it’s a character in itself, full of whispers, warnings, and wonder. The tension builds steadily, and the sense of mystery kept me turning pages late into the night.

It’s perfect for fans of dark fairy tales, atmospheric fantasy, and stories where the forest hides both danger and destin

I raised my son mostly on my own, I’ve learned that life—and love—rarely follows a straight path. You take detours, you rediscover yourself, and sometimes, when you least expect it, something stirs in your soul that makes you question everything you thought you knew. That’s exactly how I felt reading Whispers in the Forest by Kelly O’Hearn.

I stumbled upon this novel during a quiet Sunday morning scroll, looking for something to escape into after a long week of work, bills, and life’s usual chaos. What I found was more than an escape—it was an awakening.

Truly a must-read

Whispers in the Forest is a lush, romantic, and mystical read that blends past and present in such a captivating way. I loved being swept up in Sarah’s world, from the luxury of New York to the rose fields of Provence. Her journey felt both glamorous and emotionally raw, especially as she struggles to understand the strange pull of her visions and dreams. The time travel and past-life elements gave the story a magical edge, and the tarot inspiration added a really unique layer. This book had me turning pages late into the night. If you enjoy romance with a touch of mystery and a lot of heart, I definitely recommend it.

Arcanum: Whispers in the Forest is the second book in the Arcanum series by Kelly O'Hearn. Brimming with passion and magic, readers will embark on yet another occult adventure following Sarah through her past lives.

Sarah Fuller is in France to explore an ancient species of Rose that has captivated her attention. With a connection to a past life in medieval France, involving a herbalist, the rose will lead Sarah on a journey to her soul mate. Still consulting her Tarot reader for advice, Sarah's supernatural mystery involving her karmic past deepens as she tries a new therapy that will complicate matters for her marriage and her long lost love.

I really enjoyed the first Arcanum book and I also really liked Whispers in the Forest. I love the concept of the author being inspired to write these stories after channeling her past lives through Tarot cards. It adds a mysticism to her stories that transports me to another time and place. The rose and its esoteric symbolism was beautifully explored in this story and I could almost smell their delicate fragrance coming off the pages. Sarah's marital strife was further explored in this book and her confusion of her spiritual journeying felt realistic. There was a good balance between the magic and the romance this time around, although there were still several descriptive intimate scenes that I personally didn't care for. My main complaint is that some of the language felt a little too contemporary for 16th century France.

If you are a fan of romantic fantasies and occult fiction, I would recommend Arcanum: Whispers in the Forest.