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Monday, May 26, 2014

Review: The Witch of Belladonna Bay

The Witch of Belladonna Bay
by Suzanne Palmieri

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 368
Format: book
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  It’s the trouble you aren’t expecting that gets you. And it’s all around you, Bronwyn, it’s all around you like the air.…

Bronwyn "BitsyWyn" Whalen hasn’t set eyes on the red dirt of Magnolia Creek, Alabama, for fourteen years—not since her mama died. But with her brother, Patrick, imprisoned for the murder of her childhood best friend, and her eccentric father, Jackson, at his wits’ end while her eleven-year-old niece, Byrd, runs wild, Bronwyn finds herself once again surrounded by ancient magnolia trees and the troubled family she left behind. She becomes immersed in a whirlwind of mystery and magic as she tries to figure out what really happened that fateful night her friend died. And as her bond with Byrd deepens, Bronwyn must face the demons of her past in order to unravel her family’s uncertain future.


Kritters Thoughts:  Told from multiple perspectives - two of those being Bronwyn the daughter who ran away years ago to try to find a different path for herself and her niece Byrd who is in adolescence and just trying to find herself in general.  Bronwyn's deceased mother gets a few chapters/moments to tell her side of the story.  

I loved the combination of prodigal daughter and who dun it mixed into one.  Bronwyn is called home to take care of her niece Byrd while getting to the bottom of the murder of her best friend and her brother is accused of the murder.  With help of her niece's magical senses and her way with tarot cards they are able to find the murderer and redeem her brother.  Although I thought the murder came a little out of left field, I was satisfied with the outcome.

A Southern tale with a bit of magic was different than my normal read, but still ok.  I don't tend to read books with a ton of magic, but I enjoyed how the story felt like a fable passed down from generation to generation.


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row


Ebook 2014 Challenge: 35 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Booksparks PR.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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