I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

A wonderful read about finding your place and way back home. I really feel for this main character as she tries takes steps back to a place that holds so many bad memories for her and yet holds theough.

I absolutely devoured this book in one sitting. From the very first page I felt captivated and transported into the story and could vividly picture everything in my mind. I also enjoyed the multiple POV’s and the pacing was perfect! I will definitely be doing a reread in the fall!

This was interesting and kind of sad. It was enchanting, with a touch of romance. It has a good mystery and a really unique magical realism about it.

This story was an interesting story from an author I don’t know or haven’t read before! Will look at finding other things by this author. I am grateful for the early access, thank you to those that allowed it!

Honestly, I found it hard to connect with the characters or stay fully engaged with the story. At times, the pacing felt slow, and certain parts of the story didn’t hold my interest as much as I’d hoped.

I would definitely recommend it to others. I guess that’s not my type of reading.. but I’d still suggest giving it a try !!!!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

This one was a slight letdown. While I usually love multiple POVs, not all of the points of view seemed necessary in this one. I also just wanted more magic and I was hoping for something different for the ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for an eARC in exchange for my feedback.

The Morgan women are connected to the mountains surrounding Woodsmoke in a way that they can’t avoid. They are able to harness the power of the maintains and their magic is connected to them. Carrie had left Woodsmoke ten years before, trying to leave her family and their legend and powers behind, but after her grandmother’s death she finds herself back for good. When she returns she meets Matthieu, a handsome stranger who seems as if her straight out of the folklore her grandmother used to tell. When he goes missing Carrie knows he’s in real danger and is willing to do anything to bring him back to safety.

The folklore and magic caught my attention and made me want to pick up this book. I enjoyed how everything was beautifully woven together. The jumping in time between past and present generations and the change of points of view kept this book interesting. The story was well written and put together, but it didn’t pull me in as much as I hoped. This isn’t my typical genre of choice so that had a lot to do with it, but I just couldn’t fully immerse myself in this world. The writing and world building was great, but it just wasn’t for me. If this is your typically genre and the descriptions pulls you in, I think there is a good chance you would love this book. Even though this wasn’t my favorite I’m still glad I read this book. I did enjoy the ending and how everything came together in the end.

I struggled to get into this one - trust me, no one is more bummed about that than me! Just think it wasn't to be tastes, but I definitely can see this being a very enjoyable read for some.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book, but ultimately struggled to get into the story and ended up only getting to about 30% before deciding it wasn't for me.

This book has an ever more popular theme of women having power in the back mountains of the US. This story is about Carrie and her return to Woodsmoke when her grandmother dies and leaves her the family cabin. She left 10 years ago to paint and explore the world. Now it seems she must live the curse of a man coming to Woodsmoke, falling in love and then he disappears leaving her heartbroken. Can Carrie and Matheiu break the curse? Lots of lore and mountain tales.

This was very well done! As someone who reads a lot of books with witches, I really enjoyed this. The only downside for me was that the pacing was a bit slower than I'd hope for.

This book was a story steeped in magic, family, and the push-pull of belonging. At its heart is Carrie Morgan, a woman who fled the small mountain town of Woodsmoke a decade ago, leaving behind family, friends, and a legacy of ancient magic rooted in the land. But when her grandmother Ivy passes, leaving Carrie her cottage at the mountain's base, she's drawn back to a place she never thought she’d return to.

The story beautifully weaves the threads of grief, love, and identity as Carrie wrestles with the town’s secrets, her family’s curses, and the generational power tied to the infamous Book of Spells. From the haunting legend of strangers vanishing with the spring thaw to the complex dynamics with her bitter Aunt Cora, there’s an undercurrent of tension that keeps you hooked. And then there’s Matthieu—a mysterious newcomer who brings warmth to Carrie’s frostbitten heart, even as his presence threatens to fulfill an old, tragic prophecy.

What makes this book shine isn’t just its witchy atmosphere—although it has plenty of that, with cozy cabins, dried herbs, and the kind of magical aesthetic you’d find on your dream Pinterest board. It’s the way Rachel Greenlaw balances that magic with raw, human themes of loss, forgiveness, and finding your roots. The romance is bittersweet, the family drama gut-wrenching, and the history of Woodsmoke feels alive, pulsing through every tree, stream, and shadow. I enjoyed reading it!

The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells didn't have as fast of pacing as I was expecting, and I had hoped for a more magical reading experience, too. I desperately wanted to love it, but I struggled to engage with it and ultimately decided to DNF, at least for now.

I adored the Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells. It’s a fantastic story with aspects of magical realism, romance, sacrifice, and the power of friendship and love and family.

After 10 years of being away, Carrie is back home in Woodsmoke following the passing of her grandma. The plan is to fix up her home and sell it, but she’s also hoping to find a piece of home for herself through the process. Problem is, 10 years prior she ran out on her high school sweetheart, and also her best friend Jess. Carries return brings a lot of emotions to the forefront, for everyone. Including her great aunt Cora, who’se been longing for Carries return as well. Carrie goes on a self discovery journey where not only is she hoping to find a sense of home within her grandmothers homes walls, but also the possibility of love when she meets the mysterious Mathieu in the mountains, the mountains who always expect a sacrifice in turn for something that you desire. I loved it!

Carrie is back in Woodsmoke after 10 years when her grandma, Ivy, leaves her home to Carrie in her will. The only stipulations are that she renovate it and take over the lease where Ivy sold candles in town. As if returning home isn't hard enough for her, it's even more difficult as a Morgan woman and the rumors that have long spread of them harnessing the powers of the mountains and manifesting in magic.

Chattering in hushed tones spread, all gossiping about Carrie, her return, and what happened those years ago to make her flee. Convinced that she's here just for the winter to renovate and sell the cottage, she's warned by her grandmother's sister, Cora, to be careful and not forget all of the powers and things that can happen in the small town. Don't stray from the mountain path or you may never come back.

As told in her family heirloom "The Book" tells the history of the Morgan women and warns them of The Trapper who appears with the frost and disappears with the thaw. But Carrie has a hard time believing the stories and certainly doesn't think that's the case for her with Matthieu, the man she's hired to fix up the cabin with her. Was she destined to flee from Woodsmoke or will the winter convince her to stay?

Thank you to Harper Collins/Avon for the free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells by Rachel Greenlaw blends magical realism, folklore, romance, and more in a heartfelt story set in Carrie Morgan’s hometown of Woodsmoke. After leaving the mountain town a decade ago, Carrie returns when her grandmother passes away, leaving her the rundown cottage she grew up in and her candle shop. Carrie plans to fix up the cottage over the fall and winter, sell it in the spring, and move on. But then she meets Mattieu as the first frost settles in and hires him to help with the renovations.

Despite her great-aunt Cora’s warnings about the old stories surrounding the town, Carrie starts to fall for Mattieu. When he disappears, Carrie sets out to find him, ignoring all the cautionary tales. But is Mattieu real? And is Woodsmoke where Carrie belongs, or will she keep wandering the world?

Carrie is curious and stubborn, often ignoring the advice of others. She feels lost, unsure of where she fits, and hasn’t painted in over a year. Will Woodsmoke help her find the answers she’s been searching for?

This story had a warm, cozy vibe, but it ended up being slower and less magical than I expected. The narrative jumped between three points of view and alternated timelines, which sometimes disrupted the flow. Themes of family, friendship, self-discovery, grief, small-town dynamics, and how communities treat those who are different were all woven into the plot.

While the book wasn’t quite what I hoped for, the world-building was fantastic, and the exploration of relationships was well done. It made for an atmospheric and thought-provoking read, even if it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting.

This contemporary take on low key rural magic with a family legacy and nature magic is intriguing. After 10 years Carrie Morgan returns to Woodsmoke after inheriting her grandmothers dilapidated cottage, feeling unwanted and avoiding even her former best friend. The Morgan women have always kept their own last name and a book of spells passed from grandmother to granddaughter for generations. Carrie's great-aunt has the spell book but no granddaughter. A man that nobody else seems to have ever seen, brings her flowers and helps with renovations but is he real or imagined?

Multiple POV's in a non linear timeline doesn't always work, but this book handles it so well. It drew me and made me invested in each of the characters.

A slower read than what I'm generally used to diving into. And I truly was expecting more magic. So not quite what I expected.