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Summer Reading Challenge: The Witch of Belladonna Bay by Suzanne Palmieri (Chrissy’s review)
The Witch of Belladonna Bay
written by Suzanne Palmieri
published by St. Marin’s Griffin
find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, iBooks, Book Depository, Goodreads
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Did I enjoy this book: I really did. It kind of creeped me out, but it had me hooked.
The Witch of Belladonna Bay was an interesting read that had me lured at the beginning, grabbed ahold of me about a third of the way in, and wouldn’t let me go until the end. I read this book in a day because I had to read it every free chance I had. It had a bit of romance, some family drama and history, magic, and ghosts. This book was unexpected. It was haunting.
I enjoyed the different narrators. The reader is reading from Bronwyn’s, Byrd’s, or Naomi’s point of view. That was different, and I liked the different, distinct voices. Byrd was my favorite–so innocent, yet so old. She had a gift. I loved the parade scene. Bronwyn was finding her way and place. I liked watching her embrace her heritage. Naomi kind of broke my heart. She was lost and confused. It was hard to hear her story. I wish I had learned more about Ben, his family, and his role.
I think this is a book I will read again. I’ll bet this is a book that I will find out something new every time I read it. We’ll have to see. I have Ms. Palmieri’s book, The Witch of Little Italy, on my bookshelf waiting to be read. I think I will have to move it up in the queue.
Would I recommend it: Yes. The Witch of Belladonna Bay would be a perfect beach or summer night read.
About the book – from Goodreads: 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.
In Suzanne Palmieri’s thrilling new novel, The Witch of Belladonna Bay, readers will learn if love and magic are enough to bring a broken family back together.
About the author: Suzanne Palmieri Hayes is the author of The Witch of Little Italy and the forthcoming The Witch of Belladonna Bay (May, 2014). She is also the co-author of I’ll Be Seeing You under the name Suzanne Hayes. She lives by the ocean with her husband and three darling witches. She is currently hard at work on her next novel.
6 Comments
by Brooke
Great review! Thanks for sharing. I’m reading this one right now, too.
by TheEveryFreeChanceReader
Can’t wait to read what you think of it!!! =)
by Julie Valerie @Julie_Valerie
Great review, Chrissy. I also liked the use of mermaids and pirates to represent Naomi and Jackson’s relationship. Both of the water, both drowning. Loved Bronwyn’s two distinct personalities – Bronwyn vs. BitsyWyn… Byrd was so complex. So much to love about this book. One of my favs this summer.
by TheEveryFreeChanceReader
I loved her two personalities as well. Byrd was a surprise for me. I wasn’t expecting her. As you say, so complex. I can’t wait to read her other book Witch of Little Italy. It’s on my shelf waiting for me.