ISBN: 1250019834
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: 01/15/2015
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars
A magical new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Lost Lake, featuring characters from her beloved novel Garden Spells.
Autumn has finally arrived in the small town of Bascom, North Carolina, heralded by a strange old man appearing with a beat-up suitcase. He has stories to tell, stories that could change the lives of the Waverley women forever.
But the Waverleys have enough trouble on their hands. Quiet Claire Waverley has started a successful new venture, Waverley’s Candies, but it’s nothing like she thought it would be, and it’s slowly taking over her life. Claire’s wild sister Sydney, still trying to leave her past behind, is about to combust with her desire for another new beginning. And Sydney’s fifteen-year-old daughter Bay has given her heart away to the wrong boy and can’t get it back.
From the author of the New York Times bestselling sensation Garden Spells, First Frost is magical and atmospheric, taking readers back into the lives of the gifted Waverley women—back to their strange garden and temperamental apple tree, back to their house with a personality of its own, back to the men who love them fiercely—proving that a happily-ever-after is never the real ending to a story. It’s where the real story begins.
My Review
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
FIRST FROST is captivating, from its magical front cover, to its intriguing multi-generational characters, Allen is at the "top of her game" delivering a spellbinding "must read".
The queen of magical charm, Sarah Addison returns with the enchanting Waverly family (quirky misfits) to the quaint town of Bascom, NC, with some dust blowing in to create some intrigue, and a mysterious man with a suitcase, as the women anxiously await the FIRST FROST.
The Waverly women are known for their unusual gifts and most people in town think they are witches or crazy. From the previous book, we find Claire gave up her catering business to make and market her Waverly candies for a special recipe, and business is good. She is married to Trey with a daughter Mariah (who has a make believe friend) and enjoys Bay’s frequent babysitting services.
Clarie feels unsatisfied with the candy business, as misses the catering business, as the candy making business takes so much time and after a magazine article, hard to keep up with the orders and keep all natural ingredients.
Sydney (was the wild child who moved away and came back). She is a successful hairdresser and owns a salon in town. She always has the magic touch (I need her this week when my blond roots are brassy). However, Sydney has more than hair on her mind, as she is obsessed with getting pregnant as she wants her give her hubby, Henry a baby to carry on the name. (he adopted Bay). However, no luck in this department, no matter how much sex, magic, and creativity she tries.
In the meantime, she is having a hard time with her troubled employee receptionist; the young mother who is not so honest and trustworthy, and Sydney is worried about her baby and its survival.
Sydney’s daughter, Bay now fifteen (love her), is in love with a popular boy, Josh which does not give her the time of day, and all the girls make fun of her. She is preparing for the school dance and has plans to get her guy. (More fun here). She is smart and sassy with loads of self-confidence.
Then there is Evanelle, which is now older and on oxygen. Love her relationship with gay Fred as they are a hoot together as he lives in her attic and they are BFFs and go everywhere together.
In between all the planning and scheming, a mysterious man (Great Banditi) shows up in town in a tattered suit and a suitcase. His motives are not so honest and makes Claire second guess herself and their family history and bonds.
While the mysterious stranger, Russell is in town, there is also another women who is nosy and scheming as well, with a plan of her own to escape this town and her brother at the local B&B, which adds humor to the mix.
A captivating and magical story, with charming characters, which will warm your heart into the holiday season with some special gifts and surprises in store for the Waverly women. Full of eccentric characters, Addison delivers another charmer for some winter wonderland Christmas magic, assured to cast a spell on her readers.
"Was it really that simple? Choosing a life? Maybe you don't have to be led into the future. Maybe you can pick your own path. Maybe you don't fall in love. Maybe you jump. Maybe, just maybe, it's all a choice."
Congrats, Sarah on your third year in remission!
Review Links:
buy the
