The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells
by Rachel Greenlaw
Summary
There is an old tale woven through the mountain town of Woodsmoke about a stranger who appears as the first snow falls in winter, who will disappear without a trace as the frost thaws in spring, leaving a broken heart behind.
Carrie Morgan ran from Woodsmoke ten years ago, and the decision has haunted her ever since. Spending a decade painting and drifting around Europe, she tries to forget her family’s legacy and the friends she left behind. But the Morgan women have always been able to harness the power of the mountains surrounding the town, and their spells—and curses—are sewn into the soil. The mountains, they say, never forget.
Sure enough, when Carrie’s grandmother dies and leaves behind her dilapidated cottage, she returns to renovate—certain she will only be there for one winter. She meets Matthieu as the temperature dips, a newcomer who offers to help refurbish the cottage. Before long, and despite warnings from her great-aunt Cora of the old stories, Carrie finds herself falling for the charming stranger. But when the frost thaws in spring, Matthieu goes missing.
Carrie is convinced he’s real, and he’s in danger. As she fights her way across the mountains to find him, she must confront all the reasons why she left Woodsmoke and decide whether the place she’s spent the last decade running from is the home she’s been searching for.
My Review
This book surprised me in the best way. It is gentle, quiet, and full of atmosphere, the kind of story that invites you to slow down and settle in. There is only minor language, no spicy scenes, and the magic stays soft and subtle. For the right reader, this will feel like a warm mug of cider on a cold day.
We follow three women whose lives have been shaped by love, loss, and legacy. Carrie and Jess are both in their thirties, and Cora is Carrie’s great aunt. The book begins after the death of Ivy, Carrie’s grandmother, who leaves Carrie her home and candle shop. To claim her inheritance, Carrie has to return to Woodsmoke, a little mountain town wrapped in mystery and long-held traditions. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator fit the tone perfectly.
This was my first book by Rachel Greenlaw, and I already know it will not be my last. Once I understood the kind of story she was telling, I fell right into the rhythm of it. This is definitely for readers who love slow stories and character-driven plots with just a touch of witchy magic. The slowness gave me space to settle into Woodsmoke, to get to know the women at the heart of the story, and to appreciate all the small, intimate moments.
Some readers may want bigger magical elements or more action from a witchy fantasy, and this book will not deliver that. It is far more interested in the quiet glimmers of magic at the edges of everyday life and the emotional weight carried by the women in this family. The setting pulled me in from the very first chapter. It felt rich and atmospheric, perfect for fall or Halloween season, and it gave me the same feeling I get from Practical Magic.
This is a story about coming home and about the strange shimmer of magic that lingers in forgotten corners. There is also a mysterious man who appears with the first frost and vanishes as soon as it melts, adding a bittersweet layer to the romance. The town has its own history, complete with curses, heartbreak, and the kind of secrets that echo across generations. It is cozy, small-town storytelling with a deeper undercurrent of grief, sacrifice, identity, and the complicated meaning of home. I loved how the book found beauty even in its most tragic moments.
All in all, I thought this was beautiful, atmospheric, and quietly emotional. The history of Woodsmoke felt fully realized, and the romance carried a tender ache. If you enjoy slow-paced stories about family, legacy, healing, and just a whisper of magic, this one is well worth your time.