Colleen’s Kindle: March 2023 Reads (Part 1)

Let me introduce you to some KU reads I loved! These are my four and five star recommendations.

Click the book image to visit the books on Amazon.com.

The Herbarium, by Pamela Chartrand

My Recommendation:

Paige Delaney recently lost her husband, which leaves her feeling lost and alone. Her friend tries to cheer her up and invites her to a Wiccan ceremony held in the nearby woods. At the ceremony, Paige’s life changes forever!

In the bonfire, Paige sees an apparition that tries to contact her. She’s the only one to see the figure, and now she’s haunted by the vision. After a serious of curious events, Paige’s mother reveals that she’s descended from a long line of witches, which turns Paige’s reality upside down.

The young woman seeks the help of past life regression expert Jack Kaplan, who helps her journey into the past to learn the secret of The Herbarium.

This was a fun read. I enjoy dual timeline historical novels. I grew excited with the theory that witchcraft and Christianity could have coexisted together. Even though some of the religious aspects were a little over the top for me. I moved past those parts without losing the storyline.

The characters from the past are full of life. This was one of those books… once you start, you don’t want to put it down.

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The Herbalist, by Heather Morrison-Tapley

My Recommendation:

Eden Martin has it all! She’s a professor in New York who lives in a fabulous apartment on the Upper West Side. Plus, she’s engaged! But one night, everything changes, and her life tumbles into chaos.

After the death of her grandmother, she moves to England, happy to leave her old life behind. Eden struggles to come to grips with her past. She can’t move on until she deals with the mess she left behind.

In Eden’s new village of Barton Heath, she meets a local herbalist—a wise woman named Mrs. Welsh who helps the townfolk with home remedies. During one of her visits, Eden notices a painting on the wall that looks just like her. She’s shocked to discover that she is an herbalist, too.

Suddenly, the world opens up for Eden in ways she never thought possible.

This is one of the best feel-good books I’ve read this year. Call it an adult fairytale. It’s simple, sweet, and filled with love, which seems to pour from every page. I laughed and cried with the characters who found a way into my heart. The magical aspects of the book are superb.

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The Water Witch, by Jessica Thorne

My Recommendation:

Archaeologist Ariadne Walker arrives in France, summoned by her brother. It’s a difficult visit as she copes with the memories of the death of her fiancé Simon, who drowned on a dig searching underwater for the lost city of Ys.

The local legends say Ys was destroyed hundreds of years ago. Yet, the villagers still believe that the water witch, once the princess of Ys, still drowns the men of the region in revenge. Could it be true?

Not long after her arrival, Ariadne is out walking on the cliffs. A mysterious masked figure approaches her and removes the mask. She sees the face of her dead fiance, Simon!

Rafael, whose family has lived in the area for centuries, thinks he knows what’s going on. He believes the water witch has claimed Simon’s soul. He fears he will be next.

Rafael and Ariadne explore the underwater caves near the shore. They must find the lost city if they hope to break the curse.

What a stunning adventure. I could not put this book down! The author expertly wove the fantasy/mythology into the love story between Rafael and Ariadne. There are some great surprises at the end of the book, I didn’t see coming. I love when that happens. This was an excellent read!

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The Thin Place: An Irish Folklore, Magical Realism Novel

My Recommendation:

Glenna Molloy, a middle-aged travel writer, leaves California to find solace in the Irish homeland of her long-lost love, Finn. She’s short on cash, so she agrees to work for her room and board at Mrs. O’Grady’s bed-and-breakfast.

The book begins with Glenna in an ancient graveyard, searching for the standing stone in Finn’s book, Ireland’s Thin Places. Never in her wildest dreams does she believe that placing a coin on the ancient stone would bring her the blessings of the fairies. Maybe this luck will bring the two lovers back together?

When her over zealous writing partner shows up, Glenna realizes she has to stand up for herself. It’s time to make some changes in her life.

When Glenna unexpectedly meets Finn, she falls in love with him all over again. This time, she wonders if the magic of Ireland has cast a spell on her, or if the woman who claims to be half-fey has bewitched her!

This was another wonderful read. I couldn’t put this book down. There was some lovely Celtic fairy mythology woven into the story. Just when I thought I had the story figured out… it changed. Enjoyable characters and a sweet story!

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The Fairytale Code: A Historical Conspiracy Mystery Thriller (Anne Anderson Book 1)

My Recommendation:

Professional folklorist Anne Anderson spent her life honoring the original folklore stories (think Grimm’s Fairy Tales) by sharing their origins in her writings. Anne’s research shows these tales are retellings of actual historical events. She discovers the dates and the names of the people involved were changed. Even worse, the stories hide brutal crimes the Royal family and the Vatican don’t want the world to know about.

When Anne’s sister dies, she discovers her sister was part of the most sinister folklore tale of all time. For the past twenty years, anyone who tried to expose the truth dies.

While visiting London, the authorities ask Anne to assist in an investigation of a bizarre crime scene. She finds a girl hung on a cross inside a church. The police believe the killer who claims only Anne can solve the crime.

From this murder, Anne embarks on a wild hunt for the truth behind the folk tale her sister was killed for. The story leads her to The Fairytale Road in Europe, where every folk tale originated. What she finds will forever change the truth about past historical events… if she can break the fairy tale code.

This was a whirlwind adventure. The author, Cameron Jace, a man who writes his female characters with great depth, wrote the book. Not only that, but the book is factually accurate. The Fairy Tale Road is a real place in Germany.

Once I started reading, I couldn’t put the book down! There are plenty of plot twists to keep you wondering what would happen next. The plot is intricate, so pay attention. The ending was a surprise! I look forward to the next book in this series.

 If you have your book listed on BookBub, I will add my review there also! Click HERE to follow me! (Colleen M. Chesebro) Let me know in the comments if you follow me so I can follow you!

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