I was absolutely in love with The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane so when I heard about The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs and realized it was going to revisit some of those same characters, I couldn't wait to read it. And I'm so glad that I did! This is the perfect fall read with just the right amount of mystery, magic and history.

The main character Connie Goodwin is an expert on colonial American history, specifically witchcraft, and is on track for tenure at her university. She just needs to finish up her book, but she encounters an unexpected twist in her personal life that makes her priorities change quickly. She must solve the mystery involving a decades old curse surrounding her family and time is of the essence.

While this book revisits the world of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, it can definitely be read as a stand alone novel. I was very intrigued with the character of Zazi, the young graduate student who becomes Connie's investigative partner. It would be interesting to see a book featuring Zazi and of course, I'd definitely like to know more about what happens with Connie and Sam.

I received a copy of this novel from Henry Holt & Company through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I will definitely recommend this title. It is very well thought out and imaginative. I can't wait for more titles by this author.

I really really wanted to love this book, but the first half of the book for me was completely boring and nothing really happens, the book does redeem itself eventually. I loved the alternative timelines but found myself wanting more on Temperance and less of Connie and her constant academia. It was too concentrated on her gearing up to get tenure and she spent a lot of time in the library or her office whilst her boyfriend of 10 years Sam sat twiddling his thumbs at home. I found Connie to be utterly self absorbed – yes I can imagine the amount of pressure she was under to write her book and secure tenure but to ignore her boyfriend, not know she was pregnant – was she that out of touch with everything but her work!?

This just made a 4 star read for me and that was only because of the Temperance Hobb timeline. Witches, Witchcraft and Salem have always held my interest, and that is what drew me to this book in the first place. If half of the academia was culled from this book it would make it a more enjoyable read, I have to admit I got bored hearing about the in and out of what is required for tenure, doctrine and all that rest – it really wasn’t needed.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

I read this novel’s predecessor 10 years ago and enjoyed it’s characters and magic. For me, this sequel fell short. It did a good job reminding me about what happened in the first story, so it was easy to become reacquainted with the world. However, I found the plot slow and the variety of characters in the flashback chapters confusing. I found the academic research boring rather than interesting. I also did not empathize for the main character as I did in the first novel. I trudged through to the end but was overall disappointed

Katherine Howe’s “The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs” picks up approximately nine years after the events of her debut novel, “The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane,” If you have not read the first book I do recommend it a this book would pick up where that left off and make more sense to the reader. I enjoyed this book and all of her other works as well. The author has done a amazing amount of research into the subjects here and it was appreciated by this reader. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My opinion is my own.

Connie Goodwin is now a professor at Boston’s Northeastern University and she is up for tenure. As a result of her schedule she has little time for her partner Sam. She goes to visit her Mother and finds out a curse that follows her family threatens Sam from Salem witchcraft trial periods of time. I loved the attention to detail of the witchcraft traditions in the book and the extensive descriptions of that period in time. Connie finds out that her family has important heredity ties to those who made a study of weather work, a particular kind of witchcraft practiced in ancient times. As she delves into her family history she finds spell work, curses and magic throughout her history.

I loved this book because of the extensive research the author did it made it interesting and education to the time.. I enjoyed it very much and highly recommend this book for all who enjoy books about academia and magic.

Even if you haven't read author Katherine Howe's previous novel, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, you should be able to read The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs without any big problems--but read it first, if you can. I didn't give this new book as high a rating as Physick, because I just didn't engage with the characters as much. The protagonist, Connie, feels a little one-note, and she came across as somewhat boring and whiny. This is a quick, enjoyable read, and I appreciate receiving a free e-copy from NetGalley, but I wouldn't have bought this copy on my own.

The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs by Katherine Howe has readers traveling to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2000. Professor Connie Goodwin is up for tenure and working on a book which leaves little time to spend with Sam. Things have been tense between Sam and Connie since he mentioned marriage and Connie told him that she does not believe it is the right time. After a visit to her mother and a chat with Liz, Connie is gobsmacked with unexpected news. When Connie’s research reveals that Sam’s life is in danger, she teams up with Zazi to save him from a deadly curse that has affected her family for centuries. The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs begins ten years after The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane ended. While The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs can be read alone, I believe it would have been beneficial if I had read The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane (it is in one of my TBR piles). Katherine Howe is a detail oriented writer. Her comprehensive descriptions allowed me to visualize the people, places and items. I especially enjoyed the depictions of Granna’s cottage and the libraries. I could tell that the author did thorough research for this book especially with the inclusion of the Latin names for plants. There was also a cipher in Latin. We learn about the world of academia as Connie teaches her classes, helps doctoral students with their dissertations and navigate the doctoral program, deals with students who need extensions (there are always a few) on assignments, grades papers, talks with fellow faculty members and prepares her tenure packet. While Connie is the narrator for most of the novel, there are chapters that take us back in time. Those flashbacks allow us to learn about Connie’s ancestors and their magical abilities. The pacing is slow in the beginning with it increasing later in the story. There was a section or two that I found a little confusing and would have liked more clarity. Those who wanted more of Connie’s story after reading The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, will enjoy delving into The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs. I appreciated the epilogue at the end with the surprising reveal. The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs has a fatal curse, a concealed spell, an antique skeleton key, a spellbinding tome, a magical lineage, and daring witches.

Connie Goodwin is deeply embroiled in her role as a tenure-track professor at Northeastern University and has lived happily with Sam Hartley for ten years. Although this is the second in the Physick series, I had no problem getting right into this one, dazzled by the account of the world of academia. Connie is thirty-four and trying to forestall everything else (including a wedding) when she discovers she is pregnant.

Her mother knows immediately and warns Connie it's time to kick Sam to the curb. Connie is aware she is a descendant of a witch tried in Salem (and found guilty) and that there is a curse following the generations. Connie must choose between her child or Sam and she begins a manic journey to find a remedy to the curse with a manic, detailed dive into family history.

I loved the accounts of the dissertation struggles and the history of the evolution of white magic, particularly in colonial New England, the research into her lineage as well as a thoughtful dissection of the changes resulting from the Reformation of the Catholic church.

I also enjoyed the Interludes that take us back to her ancestors in Easthorpe (Essex, England) in 1661 through the family fleeing to America and several succeeding generations. As Connie begins to unearth her history and narrow down her matriarchal ties, she finds an extremely important clue left behind by one of her great-greats and the race begins to discover a "recipe" with mysterious ingredients and incantations. I found the implementation slowed the pace somewhat. There were prompts expected to lead to a response (and didn't) and I was not a fan of the fire scene.

There are, however, many points of interest that would make for a lively book club discussion and further research and kept an engaging set to the well-plotted novel. The author has an intelligent and entertaining writing style and the postlude provides a notable postscript.

I received this digital download from the publisher through NetGalley and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review.

The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs is a worthy sequel to The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. Events pick up some time after the end of Deliverance Dane. We are back with Connie Goodwin and Sam as their lives are moving forward. Connie is up for tenure at her university, she and Sam are happily living together, her book is *this close* to being finished, and she has just discovered she is pregnant.
Of course, there is deep darkness looming - Connie is a descendant of Temperance Hobbs after all. There is academic intrigue, there is a manic search for a lost "recipe," and there is the pesky problem of the curse that is sure to kill Sam.
If you enjoyed The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, The Daughters of Temperance Hobb will be equally wonderful. If you never read Deliverance Dane, it is no problem. The Daughters of Temperance Hobb works very well as a stand-alone novel.

I enjoyed this follow up to the Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. The story picks up with Constance teaching college now that she has graduated. She has managed to maintain her relationship with the love of her life, but refuses to marry him. Hmm why would this be? There is a magical mystery of course ! I enjoyed revisiting the self aware and magical home of Constance's Mother. If you loved the first book be sure to pick up this one as well!!

First line: The first clod hit Livvy Hasseltine’s face—a starburst of cold mud exploding hard on her jaw.

Summary: In the sequel to The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe we are reunited with Connie Goodwin, a professor of early American history and the descendant of a long line of witches. Nine years ago Connie found the physick book belonging to her ancestor, Deliverance Dane but learned that it was too powerful and decided to destroy it. However, when her life with her boyfriend Sam begins to change she needs to find the answers in order to save him from the curse on her family. Once again she must dive back into her families past and discover what secrets lie there.

My Thoughts: I found this to be very enjoyable. I read the first book seven years ago and loved it. The history and magic were fascinating. When I started this one I had to read some summaries of the first book to remind me of the characters and plot. Howe did a good job though of putting in details and mentions about the first book which made it easier to connect events.

I love how much I learned reading this. I found myself constantly minimizing my screen and looking up terms or events. Especially the Year Without a Summer. I had never heard of this before. Supposedly in 1816 the summer was so cold that they had several hard freezes so late in the year that many farmers lost all of their crops and decided to move farther west in hopes of better luck.

Connie is a character that I at one point considered being. I have a bachelor’s in history focusing mainly on the English Reformation. Several times over the years I have considered going back to school and working on a master’s degree. I love the idea of doing research and discovering new sources of information.

The first two thirds were slow moving. It took a little longer for me to make my way through it than I thought it would. But the last third was a lot of fun and worth the earlier slowness.

FYI: This is a sequel.

THE DAUGHTERS OF TEMPERANCE HOBBS
By Katherine Howe

Connie Goodwin is an overworked professor of American Colonial history at Northeastern. Agreeing to help a promising young scholar whose focus is syncretic and folk religions of the South and Southwest while getting weird vibes from one of her former students, Connie finds herself ignoring her boyfriend and her own health. When she discovers his life is in danger due to his relationship with her Connie seeks to end a curse that has been plaguing her family for centuries. As she researches her family line, Connie learns that the husband of Temperance Hobbs lived an exceptionally long life. Confident that there is a way to protect Sam Connie searches for Temperance's recipe. Is she strong enough to succeed? Or will Sam become yet another victim of the curse?

THE DAUGHTERS OF TEMPERANCE HOBBS illustrates the matriarchal lineage of a family of witches and the modern day attempt to stop a family curse. Alternately telling Connie's story in the year 2000 and the stories of her great grandmothers from the 1600s to the 1800s the novel looks at the lengths some women will go to protect their family as well as how far some men will go in the name of pride.

The juxtaposition of power and need is an integral part of the story. Though gifted, although perhaps because of the gift, Temperance Hobbs and her daughters struggle to survive as did their mothers before them. Barely eking out a living, the women nonetheless are strong and manage to survive. We see the bonds formed between women and we witness the patriarchy in action and see how the desire to subjugate can destroy.

THE DAUGHTERS OF TEMPERANCE HOBBS is more of a scholarly treatise than a work of fiction. While I found the matters inside fascinating, I never connected with any of the characters. I was especially disappointed in Connie's lack of concern and feeling about Arlo during the fire. However, I did really like the very ending that introduced two new characters. I also liked the historical research and the receipts, also known as recipes or spells, themselves. As for that problematic ingredient, I was more upset about Patty and Temperance's choice and don't understand the fuss over Connie's. That photograph is merely an example of a common practice, one that is still done today in many societies. I would think that a history professor would understand that.

Compelling in a more scholarly way, THE DAUGHTERS OF TEMPERANCE HOBBS tells an interesting tale of witchcraft and one family's fight to survive.

I loved The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, so I was very excited to get a sequel. I was also very glad to find that this book easily stands alone. It had been a while since I read book #1, and I really didn’t remember as much as I thought I would.

Now a professor rather than a student, Connie must learn how to stop an age-old curse to save the life of her partner Sam. The story is full of academic research and family history but is never dull. It is a wonderful story of family and love, with a little magic thrown in.

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

One of the special joys I experience as a lifelong avid and voracious reader is discovering authors new to me, especially delightful when the author in question already has published a number of books. Such is the happy case with author Katherine Howe. I read THE DAUGHTERS OF TEMPERANCE HOBB for a book blog tour and loved it, racing gleefully to find other novels by Ms. Howe, including THE PHYSICK BOOK OF DELIVERANCE DANE, which is actually the precursor to the events and characters of THE DAUGHTERS OF TEMPERANCE HOBBS. I am reminded both of Deborah Harkness' A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES Series and of Anne Rice's THE WITCHING HOUR Series. Readers who loved the Magical Realism of those will experience pure unending delight herein.

Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

Another great read by Katherine Howe. I do wish I had reread Physick Book of Deliverance Dane before jumping into this one. It had been a few years and I think I would have enjoyed this one a little more if the first one had been a little fresher in my memory. That said, I liked reading about Connie and her continued work with the witchy line of women she's descended from. I truly enjoy how much history Howe is able to wrap into these books because of her own research and background.

There were a few things that felt a little unfinished to me - mainly the Thomas storyline - but all in all, I enjoyed it and am definitely looking forward to the next in the series. Based on that ending scene, I'm thinking it's only a matter of time before we get another.

I absolutely loved Katherine Howe's previous book, "The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane" so naturally I was very excited to be able to read her new novel early!

This book tells the story of Connie Goodwin, an expert on America's history with witchcraft, and a descendant of a woman accused of witchcraft early in America's history.

This story beautifully wove together Connie's story with other women throughout America's history. Together with Howe's gorgeous writing, this is a historical fiction novel not to be missed!

Read The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane a couple of years ago and loved it. Now Katherine Howe continues the tale of assistant history professor Connie Goodwin and her steeplejack boyfriend Sam Hartley with THE DAUGHTERS OF TEMPERANCE HOBBS.

Told in timelines alternating between the 17th, 19th and 21st centuries, Ms. Howe deftly interweaves factual American history as well as mystery and secret spells into the life of her protagonist, the descendant of a Salem witch.

While the continuing saga of Connie, her paramour Sam, her mother Grace as well as her institutionalized former professor, plus students, past and present, and the gloom and doom hidden in deadly family curse should present enough action to keep the reader engaged, this book moves along at a much slower pace somehow lacking the oomph of the first. 31/2 stars

This title is a long overdue sequel to The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. It can however be read as a standalone and the reader wouldn't really miss any context. Howe does a great job at providing just enough details to bridge the two books without boring those readers who read the first. While this latest book contains some of the same characters as the first it is not in the same style. Both the author and the characters are 10 years older and this book reflects that. The main character Connie represents professionals who are still trying to figure it out, both professionally and personally. That means it's ok for her to be overwhelmed with grading papers. The way that Howe unravels some of the family mysteries is very nicely done. The book contains many references and explanations behind witchcraft in early America without being riddled with scare tactics. Howe once again achieves success with this latest work.

The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs is a sequel ten years in the making, following the author’s 2009 debut novel The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, and the story itself picks up 10 years later too. Former graduate student Connie Goodwin is now a history professor at Northeastern University, under consideration for tenure and living happily with her boyfriend Sam Hartley, whom she met during the events of the first book.

Sam’s feelings are hurt by Connie’s continuing refusal to discuss marriage. What he doesn’t know is that Connie is descended from a line of witches going all the way back to 17th century Salem, and that the male partners of the women in the family all seem to die young, in tragic circumstances. As their relationship becomes complicated in new ways, Connie is determined to find out the truth about the curse, and discovers a startling secret: there is actually one woman in the family’s history who managed to break the curse for her own husband.

Armed with this knowledge, Connie races against time to crack the mystery of the “weather work”, the elusive and seemingly highly dangerous spell that once upon a time saved her ancestor’s mate. Connie applies her scholarly skills as she unearths manuscripts and deciphers centuries old clues, this time enlisting friends, colleagues, and her own mother in a desperate attempt to get it all right.

The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs is a great second chapter in Connie’s world. It’s quite fun to see her 10 years after the original book, now established and respected as a professor, mentoring up and coming grad students of her own. And it’s wonderful to see the enduring love between her and Sam, who is a lovely, kind, and sexy man. The interludes in which we see episodes from Connie’s family’s past are really engaging in their own way as well, although it’s definitely sad to see the persecution of these women who were considered different from the norm.

I enjoyed the characters, the plot, the research, and the historical elements, and the magical aspects are presented in a matter-of-fact way that still manages to have an eerie, otherworldly feel.

I suppose you could read The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs as a stand-alone, but you’d be missing out on big chunks of Connie’s personal history as well as all that family history. I’d strongly recommend starting with The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, and continuing on from there. Well worth it!