“There is only one plot - things are not what they seem.”

This author has a gift. She created something completely magical within the pages of this book, taking us on a journey where we fell in love with this woman and her new life, only to...completely turn our world upside down a little over halfway through and start the journey all over again. Amazing!

Chelsea has a twist when her ex-husband announces he's engaged again and on her way out she gets run over, so to recover she moves to the town of Ghost where something a little magical flows. There she meets Knox, who gives her a new approach to her life.

I think what I liked the most was the locations and the magical atmosphere that surrounds the small town of Ghost.

From there the romantic relationship didn't convince me, I lacked the spark to look at little hearts.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for providing me with this ARC, this is my own honest opinion.

Nothing Less than Magic by Stacy Finz is a contemporary women’s fiction story that is reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz. Not because it has the Wizard, so you will need to read this story to figure out why I think that. The book is divided into several parts with the first part being filled with Chelsea Knight and her mysterious as well as sometimes absurd adventures. I couldn’t stop reading that part if I had even wanted to try. The rest has all of us including Chelsea figuring out what really happened and why.

This is certainly one of the most unusual books I have read in a long time. It kept my interest, entertained me, and was extremely unique.

After a nearly death experience Chelsea heads to her cabin in a small town named Ghost to heal her body and her soul. The last year has been brutal with her husband divorcing her and now announcing his engagement. When she start to feel the magic of Ghost and its people, particularly enigmatic Knox, something pulls her from this world and onto the real one again. But is she ready to go on with her life or will her heart show the way to happiness and love and a new beginning

I tried to enjoy this book, I really did. Sadly, I predicted the ending within the first half of the book.
I wish there had been more chemistry or sparks between the characters.
On a positive note, there were a lot of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. It was a nice quick read, so that's a plus.

Meh. It’s obvious from the beginning what’s going on in this book, which was a big let down. The main character despite supposedly being a therapist was nothing but a doormat type. The ending was wholly unsatisfying.

I am a fan of magical realism books, so I couldn't wait to dive between the pages. And I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It is so different from anything I have ever read with plot twists I didn't think would happen in a story like this.

The characterization was well done. I really liked Chelsea, the main character. . After being forced into a new reality, with an ex husband she thought she was getting back together with because he was spending a lot of time with her, her life is turned completely upside when he says he's engaged to someone else. If that isn't harsh enough, she walks into a streetcar, after he tells her his news, and her life is flipped upside down.

Great plot--5 stars!

This book was a quick read with an interesting plot. It was slightly predictable, but I did still enjoy it.

I’m not sure what my overall feelings are about this book. It definitely started out strong. Chelsea gets life-altering news and then gets hit by a cable car and goes to her cabin to lick her wounds. Wow.
I wasn’t really feeling any heat between Chelsea and Knox. He was kind of aloof and serious. But there’s some chemistry there.
Now, by the time I got to Part 2, I was blown away by the sudden twist. I couldn’t wait to find out how it all played out.
Part 3 gives us a conclusion but it seemed a bit rushed. Not really giving me the finality I was looking for.
I think 4 stars sums it up.

This is a story of self evaluation and growth. It is also a story of resetting priorities, finding balance, making amends, reconnecting and healing. Chelsea is a psychologist specializing in relationships and marriage counselling. She has spent so much of her time dedicated to her career that she didn’t see the failure of her own marriage coming. She has also held unto hope that her ex wanted to reconcile only to be blindsided by his engagement and his insistence that he still sees her as his best fiend. An accident leads her to take the time needed to recover and to reevaluate her life. In the end, her experience has given Chelsea new insight, a new direction. She is going to look for and work toward the magic, the love and the happiness she deserves.

Chelsea’s story is rather twisty, and not at all what I was expecting, though it has left me with thoughts to ponder and a need for a little self-reflection. We all deserve nothing less than magic. I will happily recommend this insightful book.

I was really hoping for more of an HEA, so I'm feeling a little incomplete at the end of this book.

It was a rollercoaster though. I was expecting more of her and Austin's relationship early on, and details on how she was winning him back, based on the blurb. But it jumps right into that big, heartbreaking conversation. I was sad for her and really wanted them to end up together in the end.

Then she got away and met Knox. And he was intriguing, but I really needed more detail on him. I didn't feel their chemistry, because I didn't see enough of his personality to understand falling for him. The first time they held hands seemed completely out of the blue. Their routine together was cute, but I wanted to KNOW him more.

The town of Ghost was really fun, and so were all the people there she met. I can definitely see how she loved that life, and I could feel the pain when she had to go back.

Chelsea's family story was frustrating. Her sister was awful, I don't understand WHY her parents had to die that way when they were such good people. Gimme something. Some kind of reason..

I finished this book with too many moments of huh? Why? And not because of the twists, but because of some lack of detail. BUT. The book is unique, it has good twists, some complex relationships and traumas, some love and heartbreak. The writing was good as I felt like I was a part of Ghost too. But more than anything, I wanted to see her HEA more. I loved the full circle of the last chapter, but I wanted to see MORE of that, and him.

After her ex-husband announces he's engaged, Chelsea runs from a restaurant only to get into an accident. Needing time to recuperate, she goes to the small town she owns a cabin in. There, she starts to finally relax while making friends with the locals including handyman Knox.

This was a uniquely crafted tale! Here's what I liked:

The magic of it all: The small town of Ghost was so magical. The people, the places. It all had such great atmosphere that really added to the unique story.

Chelsea: She was a really great character. Her story broke my heart at times. But no matter what, I was cheering her on. I wanted her to find her happy ending, no matter what that may look like.

The uniqueness: Go into this one blind. It's a really cool read you don't want spoiled.

All in all, this was a really cool story with lots of heart.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

... And then the twist😕

Having read a Stacy Finz romance before, I was hoping Nothing Less Than Magic would be in the same vein. But I would label this more women's fiction than romance. The novel is built around a marriage counselor turned media-savvy relationship guru expecting her divorce lawyer ex to come back to her and finding her safe, secure San Francisco life totally upended. Fissures in her family relationships, regrets and attempts to reconnect figure heavily in the novel.

I was really enjoying this story (apart from the strange Misty character) until it converted to a totally revised reality in part two. For me, the juxtaposition of the two parts left me wanting in the second part and the thing that kept me reading on was the mystery of if and how female lead Chelsea could connect these two segments of her story to find the future she wanted.

So, for me, the novel had its ups and downs. Part One: 4.5🌟 stars
Part Two: 3-3.5🌟
Part Three: too short to rate. (It left me wanting more).

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Nothing Less Than Magic by Stacy Finns, Chelsea night is a famous author and motivational speaker and her primary subject is marriage so when her husband Austin asked to meet her at a neutral bar she really believes he wants them to get back together and despite the divorce she really is excited at the prospect. So as she’s prepping herself for the great news it catches her off guard when he thanks her for being his friend throughout their divorce and proceeds to tell her that he is now engaged to a girl name Mary as she is rushing out the high-rise restaurant due to embarrassment, she is hit by a street car and this is what she blames when not recognizing the longtime handyman Knox, she’s at her in Austin‘s holiday cabin up in Ghost, California taking a well needed break and recovering from her run in with the trolley. Knox isn’t just a handyman he is also a bio physicist and is writing a book on the subject. The hot handyman isn’t the only surprising thing she discovers while staying at the holiday cabin it also seems she is way more popular in town then she ever remembers being
She is invited to the girls night becomes friends with the locals including Knox‘s little sister Kate and even start repairing her and her sister lollies strained relationship. At the age of 12 her and nine year old Lolley went to live with her uncle Sylvester a well-known producer in Hollywood in his penthouse apartment, but as soon as she was sent to boarding school it seems she didn’t look back not even to look for her little sister Lali. Something her baby sister resents. Chelsea has never been at the cabin during Halloween and is really enjoying her stay so much so the longer she is there the less she wants to leave especially when it comes to Knox. It’s when she meets psychic misty that she really starts to ask questions about things she never knew she wanted an answer to. OK I don’t know how to end this review because OMG is there a twist to the narrative and oh what a twist it is. This book ask so many poignant questions the story is beautifully written well executed and a great read! I got this book yesterday and couldn’t stop once I started reading it Chelsea is so likable and lovable as well as so many other characters in the book there really is no villain I love this book so much it’s almost like a fairy tale but not quite a fairytale if you love whistful, beautiful, well told stories then you will definitely definitely love this book! Just know there’s a lot in this book there’s talk of murder/suicide but in the end it all makes for a beautiful well done novel.#KensingtonBooks, #NetGalley, #StacyFinns, #NothingLessThanMagic,

Wow! This one totally caught me off guard and I loved it! I'm not a huge contemporary romance reader, but summertime is typically when the mood hits for them. Add in a dash of magical realism and I'm sold! You could totally read this in a day or a weekend.

The plot was unexpected and I just had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. Especially to discover what the meaning of the title was, which is not clear for a while. It kind of blew my mind as things became clear, and then it all made sense.

Thank you Kensington Books and BTC for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a surprise! The plot was totally different than what I thought it would be, but in a great way. There is such a big twist in this book that it is hard to fully describe it without spoilers.

The heart of this book is examining relationships, family, love, and what we really want in life. Sometimes the path we start out and think we want isn't always what we truly want deep down. The message I took away from this book was that it's okay to reevaluate and change your life if it will bring you true happiness.

I highly recommend this book! I look forward to more books by this author.

Nothing Less Than Magic is a cosy story of a woman’s search for purpose with a touch of romance, mystery and magical realism.

The meandering pace of the story feels relaxing but there’s a funny feeling of something behind just a bit off, creating an undercurrent of tension. The author did a wonderful job of placing readers in Chelsea’s perspective, and you could feel to pull from heartwarming, to unsure, to bordering creepy. I was hooked from the start, and whilst there is the thread of uncertainty, and some heavy themes, there was still a feeling of comfort and lower stakes - hallmark vibes.

I thought the author’s writing was beautiful and engaging, and I especially loved escaping to Ghost with Chelsea. The end of the book felt very quick, and while satisfying, I would love to see a sequel following up Chelsea and the other characters we came to know so well. Overall, I’d highly recommend to anyone looking for a cosy, gentle, intriguing and heartwarming read with small town vibes.

Thank you Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

I first discovered this author through her Contemporary Romance books, and her last two books are Women’s Fiction, and so far, I love these books. Chelsea Knight is a former marriage counselor turned relationship guru (Ted talks, lectures, books). A year ago, her husband Austin, abruptly decided he wanted a divorce. The book starts with Chelsea meeting with her husband anticipating that he will ask to reconcile, but he announces that he is engaged instead. Chelsea runs out of the restaurant and right into a cable car. The rest of the story is all about recovering from both physical and emotional trauma. I don’t want to give many spoilers, but there are some twists that you don’t expect, and I loved it. I had a hard time putting this book down and cannot wait for the next book by Stacy Finz. I received an arc of this book from the publisher for my honest review.

This was a good, sweet book. I really enjoyed it. It had elements I didn't quite expect, in a good way though. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I go back and read more.

Just one year ago, Chelsea Knight was living the life she’d always wanted. Marriage to the perfect guy, a thriving career, and a gorgeous condo overlooking San Francisco Bay. Then out of nowhere, her husband, Austin, left her. Ironic, because Chelsea fixes marriages for a living. In fact, she’s famous for her techniques. Naturally, she’s been using her expertise to win back her ex—and when he invites her for drinks, she’s sure her work has finally paid off. Until he announces he’s engaged.

Devastated, Chelsea seeks refuge in the beloved small-town lake cabin she and Austin now take turns using. When she arrives, the streets are dazzlingly decked out for Halloween, the autumn leaves are exceptionally vibrant, and the locals are especially warm and welcoming. It’s downright magical—and so is Knox Hart, a talented jack-of-all-trades who’s fixing her roof. Chelsea is instantly drawn to him—and to the simplicity of country life. Slowly, she becomes immersed in the townspeople’s problems and finds a sense of belonging—leading her to reevaluate her own path . . .

But something about the idyllic hamlet—and Knox—seems too good to be true. A trick more than a treat. And when she ultimately learns the truth, her heart is shattered. Miraculously, Austin is there to mend it. It’s everything she’d hoped for. Or is it? On the cusp of making all her dreams come true, Chelsea must find the strength to make an impossible choice . . .




I have posted the blurb because, really, this is a hard book to review. I can tell you, it didn't work for me. Why? Well, it's hard to say without significant spoilers. But I'll try.

When we first encounter our heroine, Chelsea Knight, she is waiting in the bar at Top of the Mark in San Francisco for Austin, the love of her life and, currently, her ex-husband. Chelsea is sure Austin is meeting her to propose they reconcile--despite his suddenly walking out on her a year ago, they've stayed close. He texts her daily, drops by, and the last time she saw him, they made love. So she's first shocked and then furious when he tells her he's engaged. Chelsea storms out of the hotel and BOOM! is hit by a cable car. 

Next--in the beginning of Chapter Two--Chelsea is napping in a hammock on the deck on the house she and Austin own in a small Northern California lake town called Ghost. She's gone there for two weeks to recuperate from her accident--which left her relatively unscathed--and is happily taking a much needed break from her very successful career as a marriage counselor turned motivational speaker. She's awakened from the aforementioned nap by a large, tall man whom she doesn't know--although he looks vaguely familiar--named Knox who tells her he's there to work on the roof. She's never met Knox before although he tells her he's been working around the cabin for the past three years. Chelsea is a bit disoriented but, hey, she was hit by a cable car! It's normal that her memory is a bit shaky, right? 

It's not just Knox Chelsea is a bit confused by. Despite having owned the cabin for the past six years, Chelsea finds much of what she encounters in Ghost to be, for lack of a better word, new. When she goes to the small downtown, people seem to know--and like--her though she has no memory of any of them. But, again, HIT BY A CABLE CAR. It will all come back to her, right? 

Nothing Less Than Magic is a tripart novel although Part Three is very short. Part One takes place over the two weeks Chelsea is in Ghost recovering. There, she spends a lot of time hanging out with Knox--did I mention he's kind, gorgeous, a biophysicist as well as a handyman, and single? She goes regularly to the local bar--the bartender is Knox's younger sister Katie who becomes Chelsea's friend, and finds herself, surprisingly, doing much of nothing. All this free time gives her space to think about her life and what she truly wants. At the top of that list is improving her very strained relationship with her sister Lolly.

Lolly and Chelsea barely speak--Chelsea thinks it's because, after a huge tragedy in their youth (and boy, is it a doozy--see the spoiler/content warning below), Chelsea abandoned Lolly to go to boarding school. Chelsea misses Lolly terribly and is determined to fix whatever went wrong between her and her sister.

Next on the list is maybe possibly abandoning her very successful career as an author and speaker because, deep down, she thinks it's a bit of a sham. At the very least, it's nothing like what she used to do when she saw patients and before she took up selling calendars with motivational quotes at the top of each month.

And, of course, she ponders the problem of Austin whom, after the accident, has called her constantly and seems to want her back. Does she want him back? Or, maybe, is Knox the man for her? 

In Part Two, at one point, Chelsea quotes American author and screenwriter Jim Thompson:

There is only one plot--things are not what they seem.

This is, of course, true of Part One of Nothing Less Than Magic. To say this is a spoiler of sorts but Finz deliberately sows doubt throughout the first 65% of the book. In Part Two, Chelsea's perspective is very different than it is in Part One. And while she is still trying to figure out her relationship with Lolly, her job, and what she wants from Austin, she is doing so from a different place than she was in Part One. (The book is a first person narrative.)

The best part of this book is the relationship between Lolly and Chelsea. Their barbed, intricate sistership is one of pain, love, and missed chances. Every scene between the two is riveting--if the book had just been a novel about the two of them, I'd have been happy. 

Instead, much of the story is a romance--although, technically, I'm not sure it qualifies as such. And, as a romance, it wasn't for me. Knox is too good to be true so of course he's the man of Chelsea's dreams. Austin, for his part, is a very flawed real man. I liked him better than picture perfect Knox. For many romance readers though, I suspect this book will work. If you believe that, in a romance novel at least, true love should be nothing less than magic, Finz's resolution will warm your heart.

My biggest problem, though, is that the story, on a fundamental level, doesn't make sense. In Nothing Less Than Magic, Finz shoots for the stars with only a magic carpet to propel her plot. I'd have preferred less woo woo and more physics. 

Many readers will love this book. Chelsea is a great lead, the dialogue is often perfect, and, as I read, I really wanted to know everything would turn out. Nothing Less Than Magic isn't my jam but for those who like feel good, whimsical women's fiction, it might be, well, magical.

[su_spoiler title="Content Warning" icon="caret-square"]When Chelsea and Lolly were girls, their father shot and killed their mother and himself after their mom threatened to leave their dad over his infidelity. The girls were home at the time.[/su_spoiler]