This was fine! It was an easy enough read that has a good moral about being true and believing in yourself, learning from the past, all of that, but I hate a main character that isn't great to their friends and the whole thing was a little oddly paced.

Actual Rating 2.5

This work of cozy magical realism was a decent autumn read. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the work as well as the main friendships that were emphasized and most of the secondary characters. I thought the romance was a little lacking, but thankfully it wasn’t the main focus of the work. While the book starts off quite slow, it does pick up pace in the last half.

There were a few things that lessened my enjoyment overall. The entire plot of this work hinges on Belle not reading a book that would have perfectly explained everything if she had. Belle, who works in a bookstore and loves to read. But as long as you don’t think about that and a few other plot holes similar to this, then it’s mostly enjoyable. There were also some instances where something was supposed to be super intense but it was over too quickly to be impactful. Then there were other instances where something could have been mentioned briefly but was gone into in painful depth. The way these parts were written led to a somewhat unbalanced feeling throughout the work.

If you’re looking for a cozy read about witches and coming into your own, then you may enjoy this one. My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The following review was published or updated in several Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia newspapers and magazines in November and December 2024:

Booking a full year of reading

Review by Tom Mayer

If only us readers could just spend our days … reading. What would a year look like? Here, the editors of Home for the Holidays present their yearlong list of books, culled from the past 12 months of reading and reviewing. A few of the titles you’ll immediately recognize, and you’ll likely have more than few in your own library. But just in case you missed a title or two, we’re showcasing the whole year’s worth of books that we’ve read and reviewed, month by month.

Except for the first title, the list is simply a list. To find the reviews of many of these titles, visit our newspaper parent, The (Athens) News Courier at enewscourier.com — with a slight caveat. Our newspaper webmasters are currently working overtime to improve our content management system, the foundation of any website, and while many of our archives are now found there, it may be a few weeks before everything is fully re-uploaded — including the most recent editions of Limestone Life and Home for the Holidays. For now, though, enjoy our literary stroll through 2024.

And about that first title: Not every college professor can make statistical analysis approachable, let along interesting to their students and the general population, but Athens State University emeritus professor of psychology Mark Durm is not every college professor. After spending nearly five decades teaching thousands of students, the “ol’ psychology professor” decided that he’d best get around to writing the one book out of his nearly 100 published pieces that’s he always wanted to write. Call it a legacy piece, but what it really is is a “best of” Durm’s peer-reviewed, book reviews, non-peer reviewed and magazine articles from his 47 years in higher education.

The result is “Professional Publications of an Ol’ Psychology Professor” (Dorrance) with full previously published articles ranging from studies on the effects of glasses on a child’s self-esteem to his ever-popular parapsychology pieces, Durm presents his internationally recognized efforts with a twist.

“It’s a different kind of book because it doesn’t talk about the research, it presents the research,” the professor says from his second-career office at Durm Properties in Athens, about a half-mile from where he first presented that research in person. “I’ve spent hours on all of these articles, especially in the peer-reviewed journal articles.”

And so, articles on divorce, sex, religion and other topics now populate the pages of Durm’s most recent book in an effort to both continue his teaching and satisfy what has been a lifelong wonderment.

“You know, most people don’t understand statistics, so it’s all in there,” Durm said. “What I’m trying to do is a more critical approach to ‘just don’t believe everything you’re told.’ … It’s things that were in my life that I wanted to see if they were so, by using a psychological analysis.”

And like any good professor, Durm didn’t do that research on his own — or take all of the credit. Among the co-authors of many of his articles in the book were students — many of who he’s lost touch with, but all of whom who he credits by name in his acknowledgements and for each of who, if they look up their ol’ mentor, he has a signed book ready to hand over. For the rest of us, you can find the book at any online bookseller — just as you can with the remainder of our list, presented by the month in which the book was published, read and reviewed.

JANUARY

Unbound (Blackstone) by Christy Healy NG/F

The Devil’s Daughter by Gordon Greisman NG/ARC

FEBRUARY

Almost Surely Dead (Mindy’s Book Studio) by Amina Akhtar NG

The Chaos Agent (Gray Man 13) (Berkley) by Mark Greaney NG

The Lady in Glass and Other Stories (Ace) by Anne Bishop ARC

A Haunting in the Arctic (Berkley paperback) by C.J. Cooke NG

Ghost Island (Berkley) by Max Seeck

MARCH

Hello, Alabama (Arcadia) by Martha Day Zschock

The Unquiet Bones (Montlake) by Loreth Anne White

I am Rome: A novel of Julius Caesar (Ballantine Books by Santiago PosteguilloMarch 5: Murder Road (Berkley) by Simone St. James

The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry (Holiday House) by Anna Rose Johnson

Ferris (Candlewick) by Kate DiCamillo

After Annie (Random House, Feb. 27) by Anna Quindlen

Crocodile Tears Didn't Cause the Flood (Montag Press) by Bradley Sides The #1 Lawyer (Little, Brown and Company) by James Patterson, Nancy Allen

Lilith (Blackstone) by Eric Rickstad

Life: My Story Through History (Harper One) by Pope Francis

APRIL

Matterhorn (Thomas & Mercer) by Christopher Reich

Friends in Napa (Mindy’s Book Studio) by Sheila Yasmin Marikar

City in Ruins (William Morrow) by Don Winslow

The House on Biscayne Bay (Berkley) by Chanel Cleeton

Two Friends, One Dog, and a Very Unusual Week (Peachtree) by Sarah L. Thomson

For Worse (Blackstone) by L.K. Bowen

A Killing on the Hill (Thomas & Mercer) by Robert Dugoini

The Clock Struck Murder (Poisoned Pen Press) by Betty Webb

The Book That Broke the World (Ace) by Mark Lawrence

The Forgetters (Heyday Books) by Greg Sarris

Lost to Dune Road (Thomas & Mercer) by Kara Thomas

Warrior on the Mound (Holiday House/Peachtree) by Sandra Headed

Pictures of Time (Silver Street Media) by David AlexanderBare Knuckle (Blackstone Publishing) by Stayton Bonner

Murder on Demand (Blackstone Publishing) by Al Roker

Home is Where the Bodies Are (Blackstone) by Jeneva Rose

MAY

Matterhorn by Christopher Reich

The Hunter's Daughter (Berkley) by Nicola Solvinic

The House That Horror Built (Berkley) by Christina Henry

In our stars (Berkley) by Jack Campbell

Freeset (book 2) (Blackstone) by Sarina Dahlan

Southern Man (William Morrow) by Greg Iles

Camino Ghosts (Doubleday) by John Grisham

JUNE

Specter of Betrayal by Rick DeStefanis

Lake County (Thomas & Mercer) by Lori Roy

Serendipity (Dutton) by Becky Chalsen

Shelterwood (Ballantine) by Lisa Wingate

The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra’s Needle (Holiday House) by Dan Gutman

Jackpot (Penguin) by Elysa Friedland

The Helper (Blackstone) by M.M. Dewil

Winter Lost (Ace) by Patricia Briggs

Shadow Heart (Blackstone) by Meg Gardiner

Lake Country (Thomas & Mercer) by Lori Roy

The Out-of-Town Lawyer (Blackstone) by Robert Rotten

Love Letter to a Serial Killer (Berkley) by Tasha Coryell

Sentinel Berkley) by Mark Greaney

JULY

Three Kings: Race, Class, and the Barrier-Breaking Rivals Who Redefined Sports and Launched the Modern Olympic Age (Blackstone) by Todd Balf

The Night Ends with Fire (Berkley) by K.X. Song

Echo Road (Montlake) by Melinda Leigh

It’s Elementary (Berkley) by Elise Bryant

You Shouldn’t Be Here (Thomas & Mercer) by Lauren Thoman

Back In Black (Blackstone) edited by Don Bruns

The Recruiter (Blackstone) by Gregg Podolski

AUGUST

You Shouldn’t Be Here (Thomas & Mercer) by Lauren Thoman ARC

Not What She Seems (Thomas & Mercer) by Yasmin Angoe NG

Fatal Intrusion by Jeff Deaver/Isabella Maldonado

Death at Morning House (HARPERTeen) by Maureen Johnson

Fire and Bones (Scribner) by Kathy Reichs

Some Nightmares Are Real (University of Alabama Press) by Kelly Kazoo

The Brothers Kenny (Blackstone) by Adam Mitzner

Blind to Midnight (Blackstone) by Reed Farrel Coleman

The Wayside (Blackstone) by Carolina Wolff

Enemy of the State (Blackstone) by Robert Smartwood

You Will Never Be Me (Berkley) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

On Settler Colonialism: Ideology, Violence, and Justice (W.W. Norton) by Adam Kirsch

We Love the Nightlife (Berkley) by Rachel Koller Croft

Talking To Strangers (Berkley) by Fiona Barton

An Honorable Assassin (Blackstone) by Steve Hamilton possible interview see email

Dungeon Crawler Carl (1 of 6 but see next two months) (Ace) by Matt Dinniman

SEPTEMBER

Fatal Intrusion (Thomas & Mercer) by Jeffrey Deaver and Isabella Maldonado

When They Last Saw Her (Penguin) by Marcie Rendon

American Ghoul (Blackstone) by Michelle McGill-Vargas

First Do No Harm (Blackstone) by Steve Hamilton

A Quiet Life: A Novel (Arcade) by William Cooper and Michael McKinley

One More From the Top (Mariner) by Emily Layden

No Address (Forefront Books) by Ken Abraham.

Tiger’s Tale (Blackstone) by Colleen Houck

An Academy for Liars (Ace) by Alexis Henderson

Rewitched (Berkley) by Lucy Jane Wood

Gaslight (Blackstone) by Sara Shepard and Miles Joris-Peyrafitte

Counting Miracles (Random House) by Nicholas Sparks

The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society (Ace) by C.M. Waggoner

The Hitchcock Hotel (Berkley) by Stephanie Wrobel

In the Garden of Monsters by Crystal King

Carl’s Doomsday Scenario (2 of 6 see next month also) (Ace) by Matt Dinniman

OCTOBER

The Hushed (Blackstone) by K.R. Blair NG

A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer (Berkley) by Maxie Dara

On Settler Colonialism: Ideology, Violence, and Justice (Norton) by WSJ Weekend review editor Adam Kirsch

Framed (Doubleday) by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey

This Cursed House (Penguin) by Del Sandeen

The Puzzle Box (Random House) by Danielle Trussoni

Two Good Men (Blackstone) by S.E. Redfearn

Dark Space (Blackstone) by Rob Hart and Alex Segura

This Cursed House (Berkley’s open submission)by Del Sandeen

Vindicating Trump (Regnery) by Dinesh D’Souza

The Book of Witching (Berkley) by C.J. Cooke

The World Walk (Skyhorse) by Tom Turcich

The Waiting Game by Michael Connelly  ARC, possible interview see email

Beyond Reasonable Doubt (Thomas & Mercer) by Robert Dugoni

Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook (3 of 6, with bonus material) (Ace) by Matt Dinniman

Frozen Lives (Blackstone) by Jennifer Graeser Fronbush NG

Vincent, Starry Starry Night (Meteor 17 Books) intro by Don McLean

Paris in Winter: An Illustrated Memoir (PowerHouse Books) by David Coggins

NOVEMBER

The Waiting (Little, Brown) by Michael Connelly

The Teller of Small Fortunes (Penguin) by Julie Long

Shadow Lab (Blackstone) by Brendan Deneen

Trial by Ambush (Thomas & Mercer) by Marcia Clark

Devil Take It (Heresy Press) by Daniel Debs Nossiter

SerVant of Earth (Ace) by Sarah Hawley

All the other me (Blackstone) by Jody Holford

The Perfect Marriage (Blackstone reissue re-edit) by Jenny Rose

DECEMBER

Trial By Ambush (Thomas & Mercer) by Marcia Clark

The Close-Up (Gallery Books) by Pip Drysdale

The Silent Watcher (Thomas & Mercer) by Victor Methos

Leviathan (Lividian Trade HC) by Robert McCammon

The Silent Watcher (Thomas & Mercer) by Victor Method

Assume Nothing (Thomas & Mercer) by Joshua Corin

One example link:
https://enewscourier.com/2024/11/29/in-review-booking-a-full-year-of-reading/

REWITCHED is a beautifully told tale of insecurities, inner healing and inventive witchcraft all wrapped up in a cozy package. It stars a cute witch, Belladonna Blackthorn, who is exhausted from dealing with a bear of a boss, protecting her coworkers from him and working at a charming bookstore. On her thirtieth birthday, it is revealed from her coven that a trial will begin to test her witchy powers she possesses. Belle will need help from family, friends, a mentor and a dashing, vexing watchman who is her protector.

Belle has a month to prepare for her trials, but self doubt kicks in. With her wily, well-favored watchman, Rune, broodily banking his fires for her, romance sparkles between them. Her hesitant performance before the counsel, Belle despairs of the risky situation of losing her powers forever. Her insecurities kick in. What will happen if she never comes into her own powers? Are there forces out there to steal her magic?

Shocking scandals, scintillating suspense, scary spells, self-discovery and a slow burn romance perfectly blend in, REWITCHED, a debut novel by a rising star author. There are many wonderful, wacky characters and an adorable cat to boot in this lively story! I love the enchanting atmosphere of the bookstore and the brooding, cunning, defender named Rune. He is the classic swoony guy every girl dreams about! I loved the whole plot watching how Belle comes into her own powers, as Rune stealthily helps her out. Will she find the courage to fight for her magic, family and herself? This is a fantastic, fantasy tale filled with intrigue, extraordinary situations, strong characters, and a powerful message. A ferociously, fantastic read!

I wanted to enjoy this book and would hope that it would break me out of my funk, but unfortunately it didn't hit the spot.

Although I really liked the cozy vibes and the MC I felt like there could have been a bit more that could have been explored like her working in a bookstore and her healing journey away from everything that was magic. Bookstores are such a fun setting!

It also is very much a slowburn and also a slower paced read which didn't help in keeping me interested. There are great things about this book including the writing, but it was not for me in the end. I can see others really enjoying this one.

This is a lovely, fun cozy witchy book that was a quick read.
The premise is pretty simple: Belladonna has shown zero signs of being a strong witch and hasn't been practicing at all. Then a summons from her coven forces her to start working on her magic at risk of losing it entirely if she doesn't pass tests.
With the help of some unexpected friends (and a love interest!) Belladonna starts the work to prove she is worthy of magic.

I enjoyed this book; at times it touches on some more philosophical issues (e.g., trusting oneself) and there is an element of mystery to it, which I always enjoy in a romance book. It definitely leans more on the witchy than on the romance, which is fine!

A lovely read and I would definitely read more by the author in the future.

Thanks to Berkley for an eARC of the book. All opinions are my own.

Fall is the perfect season for this charming, cozy, witchy read. I wished for a little more of Belle's life within the bookstore, but the characters and magic made for a lovely read.

I really enjoyed this! It was super cute and fun. The perfect book to read in September and October but can be enjoyed all year long as well.

Rewitched is such a cute, cozy fantasy with a great mystery and a slow-burn romance. I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked it up, but I ended up really enjoying it. It’s definitely the perfect witchy read for fall!

The story follows Belladonna "Belle" Blackthorn, who’s feeling a little burnt out. She hasn’t seen her magical spark in a while and is busy juggling work at her beloved Lunar Books, dealing with her toxic boss, and hiding her witchcraft from the non-magical world. When her 30th birthday brings a summons from her coven, Belle faces the possibility of losing her magic forever unless she can prove her worth. With the month of October to figure things out, and dark forces at play, she’ll need all the help she can get — from the women in her life, an unlikely mentor, and even a (infuriatingly handsome) watchman who’s sworn to protect her.

This was such a fun, heartwarming story about trying to find your place in the world. It's hard to believe this is a debut novel because it’s so well-written. All of the characters are quirky and lovable, and I immediately connected with Belle. She’s so relatable, like many of us, she’s struggling with self-doubt and not quite knowing what she’s supposed to be doing. Belle’s journey of self-discovery was filled with a lot of the same fears and doubts I often deal with, so it felt really refreshing to see that on the page.

The plot was a little slower at times, but it didn’t take away from the story at all. The atmosphere was so rich and whimsical that I didn’t mind the slower pace. I know some readers may not be big fans of that, but I think it worked here. The magic system, the plot, and the mystery were all really well done, and everything came together perfectly in the end.

I really enjoyed Rewitched. I was hooked from the beginning and immediately connected with the characters. And the romance was just right. It wasn’t the main focus of the story, but it added something special. Overall, this is a cozy, feel-good read that will leave you smiling. If you’re looking for a story with magic, heart, and a dash of whimsy, this is the one!

Thank you so much to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'm sorry - who ordered a huge dose of comfort and wholesomeness? This beauty of a book delivered and gave me all the warm and fuzzy feelings! This is the perfect slow cozy book that we're all searching for during fall to read in our little nooks with our warm beverage of choice. Don't skip out on this one!

Truly one of the best books I've read this year. Not only did the 90's nostalgia hit hard, but there was so much depth to the characters and storyline. I think this will become a classic for me that I reread every autumn. I cannot recommend it enough!

If you're looking for a new cozy and witchy novel look no further than Rewitched! I found Belle to be charming and honestly so, so related. The writing felt like an embrace the invited you and kept you warm wanting more. Her banter with our leading man, a man who is oh so swoon worthy, was witty and couldn't help but bring a smile to my house. However, what I found the be the most compelling about the book was Belle's journey, her growth as a character. I found it to be personally very relatable. It's also just a great fun autumnal read. Honestly, if you're looking for something cozy to pick up this autumn I couldn't recommend this book enough!

#PRHInternationalPartner

Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood follows Belladonna Blackthorn, who recently turned 30, and dreams of owning Lunar Bookshop one day. But she has to get through today first, which is what has kept our witch for almost fifteen years. On the day of her thirtieth birthday, Belle receives a letter from her magical coven that she has only one month to prepare herself for a series of trials presented to her. Based on her performance, a panel of judges will decide whether or not she deserves to keep her magic. Belle has only time until Halloween, because what is a witchy event if not on the night of Halloween? The only problem is that while she has been busy with normal life, drowning in insecurities, and hiding from her true potential, she neglected her magic and now is facing the danger of truly losing it.
-
This book is definitely what it suggests on the premise; the coziest witchy fantasy you can ever read! I initially was expecting more of a cozy romance but think of my surprise when I found out that the fantasy in this book is actually banging!! Dear Lucy, please keep up with writing cozy fantasy because I might have fallen in love with the writing style. Also dare I say, HOW IS THAT A DEBUT NOVEL? It's not easy to fall in love with each element of a book within the first chapters, but she did that.
Rewitched delivers everything you might need for a cozy time. There is this amazing bookshop that sells cinnamon buns, loveable characters that will sometimes make you teary-eyed and feel like your heart will burst, a high stakes event that will keep you as invested as Belle herself, and a swoon worthy romance blooming between our two amazing characters.
I'm telling you, these characters were everything to me. Belle is now one of my favorite female main characters I've ever read. Her struggle with her insecurities, her emotional journey of self discovery, and falling in love with herself again, her relationship with the cutest kitten jinx and so much more made me instantly love her. I also need to have a moment for Rune, our male main character, who is so dreamy that even though I'm not big on romance, I'd beg Lucy to just write a book about him. The little bit of mysterious vibes, slightly snarky but never obnoxious comments, his bravery and loyalty, and also him being a watchman made me immediately fall for him! He just ticks all the boxes you would want from a male character featured in a witchy book. I'm not even talking about his outfits throughout the book, which again were of course perfect.
While we see that Belle has neglected her magic for all of these years, we also see that she neglected her dreams and wishes, and her younger self as well. Even though I'd love a bit more romance, I think the themes that Lucy wanted to explore needed the main focus so I'm totally okay with romance being in the background. If you, like me, love to see a character grow in the most human way then you're at the right place. There were so many places where I cried alongside Belle... The conversations about feeling like you're running out of time, that you haven't accomplished enough yet, that you feel like you abandoned your younger self, and having difficulties accepting that you deserve everything resonated with me and I felt like I was healing with Belle.
The only problem I had with this book was that the ending felt very much rushed. I would love to read more about this world, and these characters because I feel like we couldn't properly say goodbye. But I'm sure Lucy Jane Wood has more surprises and tricks up on her sleeves.
Overall, this book promises a charming, healing, cozy, and gentle time for the readers and I beg everyone to give it a chance.
I'm super thankful to PRH International and Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy of Rewitched, and can't wait to see what Lucy Jane Wood writes next.

While this was a really lovely premise, it was just too slow for me and couldn't keep my attention well. I think this will be the perfect fall read for someone looking for a cozy slow burn book!

I wanted to like this book. I thought there would be a witch healing herself from burnout and stress through relaxing and reading and taking care of herself. That did not happen. Also, the ages of the other witches was hazy. I really don't know who had been alive for 70 years or several hundred years.

Thank you Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

I struggled to get into this as an ebook, but jumped at a chance to listen to the audiobook.

It was cozy at times but also had a touch of mystery and romance. Bella fails her darkening (or trial to keep her magic.) She ends up with an assumed murderer and outlaw as her magical tutor while she attempts to improve her magic.

I loved all of her lessons and how they developed a relationship. He was such a grandfatherly mentor to Bella. There was a spark with Rune who was sent to watch over and protect Bella during this time. I enjoyed seeing her friendship and trying to balance the “real world” with her magical side.

As she improves her magic she uncovers a secret that could change the future of their coven.

I thought there was a lot going on, but overall I enjoyed this and would check out more books from this author. I thoroughly enjoyed the narration and often found myself picking it up.

I have to be honest, this was a bit disappointing. The cover is so fantastic but this witchy debut just didn't live up to some of the better spooky season books I've read this year. I found it long, a tad boring and the romance just wasn't there for me. Just an okay read that I wouldn't implore anyone to rush out and prioritize and buy sadly. Overall it had potential but the execution fell flat for me. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, a cozy witchy story maybe? Rewitched is all that and much more. I loved the inside look at Hecate House, basically the magical bureaucracy. Very creative story and I liked the overall message of “believe in yourself”.

Belle is about to turn 30, and she’s been summoned by the coven to a ceremony that will determine if she can keep her magic or not. She has to spend time honing her magic with a tutor, an old exiled witch who’s one of the best characters in the book. She’s got a handsome watchman named Rune who gives her non magical tingly feelings. All of this magic keeps her from the place she really loves, the bookstore she manages.

The romance wasn’t very developed, but I think is a great book from a first time author, 4.5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

✨ Review ✨ Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood

Thanks to Ace, Berkley and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

This book is definitely a slow burn but felt so cozy and welcoming that I enjoyed savoring it in small pieces. Belle's 30th birthday arrives and she's surprised to learn that she has to prove back to the coven, with whom she's had little contact since she inherited her powers at 15, that she's made good use of her magical powers.

Belle ends up jugging magical lessons, an awful boss at her cozy bookstore, a budding romantic interest, conflict with her roommate, and a wealth of inner turmoil and emotions around life and identity and magic, and it's all just so lovely to be a part of.

I loved that it mixed elements across genres - pulling together the mystical and mysterious with romance and themes of family and friendship. I just want to snuggle up and spend forever in her bookshop!

A perfect pick for a cozy fall read, more at the pace of a drinking a cup of tea than a hike through the autumn woods. :)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5)
Genre: cozy fantasy with some mystery and romance elements
Pub Date: Sept 17, 2024
Feels like: snuggling up in a comfy chair with a cozy blanket and a mug of tea on a rainy fall day

Read this if you like:
⭕️ cozy bookshops
⭕️ magic in real world environments
⭕️ threads of romance
⭕️ cats and mugs of tea and warm sweaters

This was a cute, cozy, and magical read that's perfect for the fall! It is really about Bella finding her strength and trusting herself while she learns more about her magic. It was an interesting magic system and it was fun watching Bella navigate it all. Especially when a bit of mystery and danger come into play.

The story got off to a bit of a slow start, but picked up quite a bit and the pacing evened out. This was a great debut novel and I can't wait to read more from this author!