I received a free copy of, The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells, by Rachel Greenlaw, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. When Carrie's grandmother passed away she inherited her cottage in Woodsmoke. Carrie did not leave Woodsmoke on a good note and is a little wary about coming back, until she meets Matthieu, can he help her fix the cottage? This was a pretty nice read.

"The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells" by Rachel Greenlaw offers an intriguing premise centered around a group of women and their magical abilities, promising a blend of mysticism and personal empowerment. However, despite its potential, the novel fails to deliver a cohesive and engaging story.

One of the primary issues is the lack of a clear and compelling narrative. The plot feels disjointed, with various storylines that don't seamlessly connect. This fragmented structure makes it challenging to stay invested in the characters' journeys or the overarching storyline. Key plot points often feel rushed or underdeveloped, leaving the reader wanting more depth and clarity.

Character development is another area where the book falls short. While the concept of a group of powerful women is appealing, the characters themselves are not fleshed out enough to make a lasting impact. Their motivations and backstories are often glossed over, making it difficult to empathize with or understand their actions.

Greenlaw's world-building, while imaginative, can be confusing and inconsistent. The magical elements are not always well-explained, and the rules governing this world seem to change without sufficient explanation. This lack of clarity detracts from the immersion and enjoyment of the story.

The writing style, although descriptive, sometimes becomes overly flowery and hard to follow. This can make the narrative feel sluggish and bogged down by unnecessary details, detracting from the pacing and overall readability.

Carrie Morgan left Woodsmoke, not content to stay in town , following the family's tradition of healing and spells. Upon returning to town after the death of her grandmother, she plans to stay only as long as it takes to do repairs in her grandmother's cottage and sell it. Carrie is also dealing with the people hurt by her past actions and the appearance of a mysterious man. Healing and the casting of spells come with a price. How much truth is there to old wives' tales and legends?
Family ties and the bonds of friendship.
#TheWoodsmokeWomensBookofSpells #HarperCollins #Avon #NetGalley

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells by Rachel Greenlaw which I give about 46 beezilluIon gold stats. Like many of the people of Woodsmoke, I believe in the magic of the mountains. This is a beautifully written book about that magic.

If you are looking for a cozy feel good book to read on a chilly night this is the one. Rachel Greenlaw does an amazing job of helping you connect to each and every character through different POVs. While I found Cora to be frustrating at times, I loved how Greenlaw helped us connect by showing us flashbacks. I also loved how she keeps us guessing as to if Carrie’s love interest is real or just part of her imagination. I think each character has an important lesson that helps the reader connect to them.
Carrie - you can’t always run away from your past
Jess - picture perfect people aren’t always what they portray on social media
Cora - meddling never ends up the way you had hoped

Things that I liked:
Different POVs
Short chapters
Flashbacks that help the reader understand the present
Cozy setting that gives Practical Magic vibes
Epilogue that actually tied the ending up nicely

Things that I wished for:
Chapter on Ivy’s POV
Flashback of Carrie and/or Jess

I really enjoyed this one! It follows a family who are the last magical family in the region.
I loved that it spans multiple generations and is a slow Cosy read. The fact that it shows magic isn’t a fix it all thing and there’s give and take and that magic has consequences was great!

Thank you, Netgalley!

The book is more a slow, cozy read than I expected. The book was a little underdeveloped, but overall I really enjoyed this magical journey Rachel Greenlaw took me on. I recommend giving it a try to see what you think. It was more a 3.5 for me but given the star options, I'd boost it to a 4 rather than dock it to a 3. Look forward to more work by this Rachel.

A fabulous magic novel! The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells introduces us to the Morgan family, the last ones in the Woodsmoke mountain region who are in the know about the magic it gives and takes.

I loved that this book focused on multiple generations of women, showing the ties between and the growth of the characters. The book flashes back and forth between the history of the Morgan women and the present day. I love how we don't dwell in the flashbacks, only long enough to understand the present. Some books get mired in flashbacks in order to give context, and this books only lingers just enough.

You may find yourself wincing on the first couple pages where the prose seems unnecessarily flowery, trying to set up the magical vibes of the book. However, the prose settles down very quickly and you ease into the small town, feeling right at home. The writing style allowed me to easily picture this small town entering into winter with the cool breezes and chill in the air. Reading this in July made me desperate for fall leaves. You don't often see magical/witchy books set in winter, and that was a breath of fresh air.

Other things I loved about the book:
- I appreciate that the magic in this book isn't a cure all and that magic has consequences. it is a give and take.
- While the book has a strong cozy vibe, it is grounded in real life issues of belonging, grief, friendship, trust, and character growth. You will like this if you like cozy novels but be prepared for real life issues.
- Great pacing. I never felt like I HAD to set it down. Read it in just a few days.

Romance/Spice:
- I would say this is less about the romance and more about the characters and female friendships / family connections. While there IS romance, it's included I feel more as the realities of living, vs feeling like a 'romance' novel.
- Closed door / not spicy. Read this if you love witchy small town books, not for spicy romance. Which is also great, just know what to expect.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, thank you! All opinions are my own.

This eerie story with a touch of magic is about love in many forms, finding a place where you belong, and what happens when a love becomes toxic. Absolutely perfect and stunning! The writing was so beautiful that I could see the mountains and their grand majesty, both breathtaking and terrifying in its ancient presence that's almost and living being in and of itself.
So, we start with our main protagonist Carrie Morgan, who comes back to Woodsmoke, her hometown, after her Grandmother Ivy passes in order to fulfill the terms of her will. One of which is to restore her old cottage and the other to take care of her old candle shop. Woodsmoke is a tiny town, and is full of superstition and secrets, of which her family, the Morgan women, are very much enmeshed with. When a mysterious stranger who knew her grandmother Ivy comes along, charming Carrie as he helps her restore the cottage, tales from the mountains begin seeping into the forefront, placing a seed of doubt of his existence, and if this is the mountains' way of punishing her for ever leaving Woodsmoke to begin with. Now, Carrie has a complicated history and relationship with her hometown and its inhabitants, and as the past starts to unravel, secrets are revealed. Will it free Carrie or destroy her??
What I really enjoyed about the book is the complex relationships between Carrie and various people in her life: Cora, her great-aunt, Tom, a former boyfriend, and Jess, a former best friend with secrets of her own. Although Carrie is the main protagonist, we see the point of views of Cora and Jess, two important people from Carrie's life who would change the trajectory of her life because of their love for her. Unfortunately, their love affects Carrie's will, which leads to unintended consequences.
There is some element of magic here, but for the most part, it keeps you wondering what's real, what's not. What's myth, and what's fact. It keeps me guessing until the moving, thrilling end that I won't spoil.

“The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells” by Rachel Greenlaw is a mysterious family drama with a tiny bit of romance. Carrie has left town for 10 year but is brought back by the death of her grandmother. Her family is known for being a little weird and witchy. She struggles with the people she left behind and her family issues. I really liked the idea of the book, sort of Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls, but I found myself uninterested in Carrie and her ex drama, and more interested in her great-aunt Cora & grandmother Ivy, but didn’t get as much of a story there. The pace felt so slow but when the ending came around it felt very rushed. I was expecting more magic and witchy-ness that just didn’t come.

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read and review this book.

Rachel Greenlaw's latest novel, "Woodsmoke Whispers," is a captivating journey into a world where the past and present intertwine with enchanting elegance. Known for her heartwarming holiday stories, Greenlaw ventures into a magical new direction that is both evocative and mysterious, weaving a tale that will captivate readers of Adrienne Young and Breanne Randall.

Set against the hauntingly beautiful backdrop of the mountain town of Woodsmoke, the story revolves around Carrie Morgan, a woman who has spent a decade running from her past. The narrative begins with a sense of nostalgia and unresolved longing as Carrie returns to Woodsmoke to renovate her late grandmother's cottage. The town itself is almost a character, with its rich folklore about a stranger who appears with the first snowfall and vanishes with the thaw, leaving broken hearts in his wake.

Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells
Rachel Greenlaw
The story is of Carrie, who has returned home to deal with family issues, and must navigate the family history of magic and jealousy which have torn the family apart. While Carrie is coming to terms with family drama, she finds herself and love in a way that she would never have imagined in her past.

The characters in the book are believable and flawed. The family in the story is not just Carrie’s direct family, but her extended friends, and the author allows us to see the emotions that Carrie’s return stirs up and how those feelings and emotions are resolved through the events of the book. Even the woods where Carrie lives becomes a character in the story with emotions to overcome. In addition, the plot of the book is told through a dual POV and dual timeline device. Carrie and her current family are the modern POV, but her aunt and grandmother form the backbone of historic POV and timeline, as their relationships have a direct impact on Carrie and her life in the modern story. For the most part, the book goes along at a good pace. It does not feel rushed in any places, and almost has a thriller type/scary vibe at some points in the story. The story does pull you in and you want to know more about Carrie and her family. Personally, I liked the scary vibe of the book, it made it feel like the story was not just another girl coming home, falling in love kind of story. I liked the intrigue of it. My major problem with the book, and it might just be me, is I could not tell where the book was set. I was confused the entire book on where in the world we were supposed to be. It shouldn’t have mattered, but it detracted from my reading enjoyment. The target audience of this book is adult fiction, and fantasy. I believe that this book meets its target audience and that everyone would enjoy this book. I recommend the book and give it 4.5 stars.

In conclusion, Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is an enjoyable read. The story is engaging and contains elements of a haunting vibe that makes it different than other books in this genre. It is well worth a read!

The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells by Rachel Greenlaw is the first book I have read from Greenlaw. I really enjoyed reading this book it was the perfect book to read this spooky season.
A small town, family of women, and a curse say no more. It gave me Practical Magic vibes which I loved; this would make for a good Hallmark movie.
This book was a happy surprise and I’m intrigued to read more of Rachel Greenlaw’s work.

Magical realism is one of my favorite genres. This novel fell short of meeting my expectations for an entertaining escapist read. The pace was slow at times, and I never connected with Carrie as a sympathetic protagonist. The descriptions of her emotional struggles were repetitive and not very convincing. Lastly, the magic was portrayed as both punitive and rewarding.

The Morgan women have had an unusual reputation among the residents of Woodsmoke, a small town at the foot of three mountain peaks that hold magical properties. Carrie Morgan always felt like an outsider except for her two childhood friends, Tom and Jess. Just as she is about to marry Tom and leave the town to pursue a more adventurous life, she discovers he has kept secrets that precipitate her abrupt departure.

Carrie returns after 10 years to rehabilitate the cottage her late grandmother bequeathed her. Many things have changed – Tom and Jess are married with a daughter; her great aunt is in possession of the Morgan legacy book of legends and magical spells; and her relationship with the mountains and their magic is fraught with questions. Over time, Carrie begins to reestablish her relationships with friends and family, comes to peace with her decision about the cottage and explores the possibility of love with a mysterious stranger.

Overall, this novel was satisfactory but not particularly engaging. I do not feel I can give it a strong recommendation.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

It took me a bit to get into this book but I’m glad I stuck with it. It was a lovely tribute to nature, magic, and women.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I actually really enjoyed this book. The plot immediately grabbed my attention and I was rooting for Carrie. I wish the friendship reconciliation had happened a little earlier so we could have gotten more of that particular relationship. I also wish we had gotten a little more of Jess and Tom's story after Carrie left -- I wanted to really feel that Tom had always loved Jess.
3.5 rounded up to a 4 star.

This was an easy, pleasant read. It’s very light on the magic and fantasy. It’s heavy on family relations, grief, and personal growth. There were moments that grabbed me but overall it was just fine. It’s a good palette cleanser after reading a series or something pretty heavy.

The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is a cozy, magical, atmospheric tale about family, friendship, love, moving on from the past, and finding a place to call home. I really appreciated the magical elements and how it’s not entirely clear if they’re real or not. The small town in the mountains was the perfect setting and really added to the eerie witchy feel.

I enjoyed the different POVs and how they allow you to get a feel for all of the characters and how intertwined their lives have been. The romance isn’t the main focus but it was one of my favorite parts nonetheless - it was very emotional and always kept me guessing. I would recommend this to fans of Rachel Griffin and Adrienne Young!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

4.5 stars

The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells by Rachel Greenlaw is a super cute story that takes place present day after beloved Ivy Morgan passes away - she leaves her dilapidated cottage to her granddaughter Carrie — who left Woodsmoke 10 years ago and never looked back… leaving her fiancé at the alter and her best friend without a clue. This story follows the POV of Ivy’s younger sister Cora (Carrie’s great aunt), Carrie’s ex-best friend Jess, and Carrie.

This story has cozy small town witchy vibes and a mystery that needs to be solved. I don’t want to reveal too much, but if you are a fan of multiple female POV, small town gossip, generations of witches, spells & curses, family drama, heartwarming elderly couples, non-linear timelines, and mysterious love interests then this one is absolutely for you! Each POV is unique and guides the story along in a beautiful way — this one was fast paced and so hard to put down… if you had a free rainy afternoon you could probably devour this in one sitting.


This will be perfect to read when it comes out around Halloween so grab your copy on October 22, 2024! Thank you so much to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Rachel Greenlaw for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I look forward to reading more from the author.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an electronic copy of this book for my unbiased review.

Rachel Greenlaw's "The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells" is a story about the bonds that tie us not only to family and lovers, but also to the places we like to call home. Through masterful writing Greenlaw depicts the eerie and dangerous mountains of Woodsmoke, the mountains that our main character Carrie both left and come back to. When she returns, she accepts the mountains, but how does she know the mountains except her back? Filled with mystery, this story explores difficult family relationships, the fear of falling in love, and the heartbreak of losing old friends.

The story was very gripping and the atmosphere was vivid. I took my time reading through the copy and found myself thinking of the book throughout the day when I was not actively reading it. The stories of the mountains were mysterious. The magic was portrayed as dangerous, but also enchanting in a way that made you want to dabble in it.

I felt that despite the incredible atmosphere, the character work was lacking. The dialogue did not flow as naturally as I would have liked and the characters lacked the depth that make me forget they are not real while I am reading. This impacted my ability to be emotionally invested. The plot had some pacing issues and was not as clear as the synopsis laid it out to be.

Overall, I had a good experience reading The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells and would recommend it for readers who are fans of mysteries and fantasies. This would be a good fall time read around the spooky holidays.