Mark of the Witch

Boston Witches #1

by Jessica Gibson

Magic flows through Jillian Proctor's veins as surely as blood, but so far her life outside Boston has been peaceful. William Morgan blows into Jilly's life like a hurricane, unleashing her magic and sending her out of control. Unknowingly, William brings an enemy who only wants to posses the power of the witch. Jilly must learn to harness her magic before she loses it - and everything in her life is destroyed.

Genres: Paranormal, Witches, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Magic, Urban Fantasy, Romance

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 29, 2012

About the author

I started writing in 2011 and it quickly became a passion for me. I'm very lucky that writing brought so many amazing people into my life! And it also brought me the love of being a cheerleader! I learned that aside from writing, I love helping other authors reach for their own dreams. If you need someone in your corner, please don't hesitate to message me!

Reviews

[Ashley Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
This is Ms. Gibson’s debut novel and I must say the book surely has a lot of potential. I absolutely loved the plot! Twin sisters born into a family of witches, one sister (Jilly) embracing the power while the other one (Caroline) refuses to acknowledge it. Then something devastating happens and Caroline takes off never looking back, leaving Jilly to pick up the pieces and learn everything she can about magic (which Ms. Gibson’s creativity for spells and potions is fantastic and very believable). Then we meet William, who I struggled to like throughout the book. He claimed him and Jilly were soul mates, but for some reason I just didn’t trust him. However, Ms. Gibson uses him as a way to introduce a whole new species, one I’d never heard of before, and I won’t mention it here because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone reading the book. But with William comes a dark past that eventually catches up with him and ultimately puts Jilly in danger. Ms. Gibson’s character development was excellent and there was plenty of action in the book. My main issue was that several parts of the story did seem to drag along, and some of it felt unnecessary, and it messed with the overall flow of the book. There were also some grammar hiccups, which I know a lot of people can overlook, but I’m one of those who can’t. The ending was left wide open, and I’m looking forward to reading the sequel, Chasing The Witch. I have no doubt that Jessica has a winning series on her hands and it will only get better from here.
http://www.ashleyrobertsonbooks.com/r...

[Andrea DiGiglio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark of the Witch is in my top 5 favorite books, that is how much I loved it! Right from the start Jilly stole my heart and the only one taking it away was the very enticing William, for very different reasons I must add. The only thing to complain about is how long will it be till we get to read book two and get lost all over again in Jilly's world? That's it, it was that amazing. A quick sum up of my short and to the point review: You may not know this yet but William is dreamy and Jilly is fierce, two characters that will draw you in and carry you on a journey you won't regret indulging on.

[Lisa Markson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa's review of
Mark of the Witch
By Jessica Gibson

I have gotten to know Jessica Gibson over several weeks and I was privileged to get a ARC of her first book called Mark of the Witch.  Let me tell you I have a newfound respect for her as a person, story-teller and over all great writer.  She took me on a amazing, and intensive story.  She took the time developing her characters so that you couldn't help wanting to know their wants, desires, hopes, and dreams.  Each character is a main intricate part there are no supporting characters.  They meld together seamlessly.  Their is Jillian and Caroline who are twin sisters, both witches by birthright only Jillian has embraced her legacy.  There is the very handsome and mysterious William who seems to have a instant connection to Jillian.    Then here is Katya and Nic who are old friends of Williams, they are a married couple.  Through this journey there are forces out there that threaten to destroy what they are developing.  A lot of self examination is done along with learning about ones past and family legacies.  Each one of these amazing characters are given gifts that can protect each other.  This is a definite must read I couldn't put he book down and when it was ended I was so disappointed because I grew to want more story.  I have to let you in on a little secret I was able to get a ARC of book 2, Chasing of the Witch and that one continues on with the story but becomes more intense and intriguing.  More secrets are revealed and you will not want to stop.  Thank you Jessica for allowing me into your creative and very talented mind.   

[Phaedra Seabolt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witches, Warlocks, and Amaranthines, OH MY! Jessica Gibson has created a world in which witches are born of the female line in single families and sometimes they can live forever. Sometimes other people are born who also can never die. Jillian, mostly referred to as Jilly, is a Proctor witch. That simply means that her name is Jilly Proctor and the females born in her family are always witches. Some choose to embrace the craft and some don't. She has a twin sister, Caroline who chooses to ignore her powers. However you cannot avoid who you really are forever. Caroline, also called Car, returns home after her life falls apart and decides that she can no longer ignore what she feels and what her sister evidently can do. After being estranged for nearly ten years, the sisters learn to bond once again.

While they are getting to know each other again, William literally walks into Jilly's life. They are instantly attracted to one another, but cannot take advantage of it. An ex of William's is after Jilly and torturing her with dreams, or rather memories, from their ex-relationship. You can imagine what things an ex would love you to see for your own eyes. Why, you my ask, is she after Jilly? Well that is the number one question! You find out at the very end of the book, but I am not going to spoil that. Just know that the book is full of impressive scenes of magic and constantly leaves you begging for William and Jilly to "just get on with it." It's very entertaining!

Read more reviews at Identity Discovery Blog.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have the second book of the series on my nook, waiting for review. I had started it and realized it definitely was not one of those stand-alone books in a series. I'm so glad I got a chance to read this book. It's awesome. It sort of reminds me of my old favorite TV show, Charmed.
I liked Jilly because she wasn't whiny. I liked Caroline because I could relate to her pain in ending her marriage. And William's just a sweetheart. The action is good, and I can't wait to read the next!
There are only two things I can complain about this book. First is location. The book is set in Boston, and we know that only because we're told once or twice in the book. No references to where in Boston, no street names. Yes, I live near Boston, so it would have been nice to see that. Are they in Boston-Boston? Are they in Dorchester, Cambridge, Somerville? There are woods around the house so could they be living where I am, in a suburb near the Middlesex Fells Reservation?
And the last thing is a niggling thing. It's the Coke they drink. Growing up down in New Orleans, I drank Coke all the time. When I moved to Boston, I had to drink Pepsi. Its almost as if Coke doesn't exist up here. Yes, you can get it in the stores, but hardly anyone buys it.

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that Mark of the Witch was an interesting story. There were moments when the character development felt a little rushed, with the characters themselves and the their relationships to one another, I could of used just a little more depth to really connect to the people in the story. But really once the story got going I was drawn into the world that Jessica Gibson created. The story had a great climatic ending that I found myself glued to it to see where it would take me. I haven't really read a lot of stories that were specifically about witches but I enjoyed they way each characters powers were different and the way the powers were written gave me a clear visual view of what they would look like. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and I am excited to read the next book and see where it takes the characters. I would recommend this story to my friends who like mystical love stories.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received my copy of Mark of the Witch from a giveaway. For the most part, I really enjoyed this book! Jilly is a practical character, which is surprisingly rare to find in female protagonists. I loved the way that her magic was such a normal thing in her day-to-day life. I also really enjoyed the heat between her and William!

I only have a couple of minor complaints. One, I wish that Jilly and William would just jump each other already! Also, I would have loved it if the book were a little longer, as I'm used to reading three- and four-hundred-page novels. I think that would have helped flesh out some of the other characters, like Caroline; I really don't know what makes her tick yet, and that's a little frustrating.

I am definitely looking forward to reading the sequel!

[tinyteaplots · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark of the Witch was a very enjoyable read. I found that it took me no time at all to connect to the characters, especially Jilly, which I mostly attribute to the unusual style of the prologue. Most of the story was bittersweet in nature and I felt compelled to continue reading and discover what direction the story would take.
There were some very pleasant surprises and a twist I didn't see coming, which is my favorite type of twist! I can admit to being bummed when the story was over; I caught the witch bug. The epilogue is gripping enough that I will most certainly reads the next book in the series, Chasing the Witch. One can only hope that it is as fun and intriguing as this first book.

[C.M. Rawdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of Mark of the Witch. I really enjoyed it. None of the characters irritated me, which is new for me. The main character, Jilly, isn't whiny or irrational and that in it's self was refreshing. William was my favorite character mostly because I think he is possibly the sweetest man EVER. The story was unique and introduced me to a supernatural being I hadn't read about before. I don't want to spoil anything so I'll just say I'm definitely looking forward to the next one!

[Spoiledduchess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Majanka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jilly and Caroline are both witches. They’re also sisters, which instantly reminded me of Charmed. The book stays quite truthful to the way Charmed handles witches as well. Jilly makes potions using a cauldron, for example. Whereas Jilly fully accepts her powers and witch-status, Caroline resents her powers and wishes she were normal. This has caused a divide between both sisters, and they’ve grown apart. When their mother dies and Caroline moves halfway across the country, their relationship nearly vanishes completely.

Then the book takes a jump in time. Caroline and Jilly are now adults, and whereas Jilly is still very much in sync with who she is and her powers, Caroline is struggling. Her marriage is falling apart, and desperate for a new scene, she returns home to reconcile with Jilly. Meanwhile Jilly’s life is a lot more upbeat, but she hasn’t found someone to love yet, until William comes along. He’s everything a girl can look for in a man, a true prince charming, a sweet, gentle man.

The downside is that as soon as Jilly meets William, she gets terrifying dreams and visions about the past and about evil creatures called Amaranthines, who much resemble vampires. They get to live forever, and while they don’t have to feed on blood, immortality does to them what it does to all supernatural creatures: make them evil and emotionless. It’s possible for amaranthines to keep their humanity, but it’s rare. The amaranthine who has now set her eyes on Jilly, Sabine, is a powerful immortal who can reach Jilly through her dreams, and turn her life into a living hell.

I liked the plot. It reminded me a lot of Charmed, but the amaranthines made everything more special. They’re unique and original. However, my main problems with this book were a) the characters and b) the pacing. The story started at Caroline and Jilly’s 13th birthday when they got their powers, then jumped in time. I was all right with that, but the next few chapters/pages keep on going at this incredible speed, and it’s hard to catch up. Then when the pacing finally settles down and the real story begins, it’s still not hundred percent right. Now and then, I felt like the chapters weren’t fleshed out enough, and if they were, it was in the wrong places. It wasn’t constant, just now and then, that I felt a certain scene or event demanded more attention, and other, more boring scenes, dragged on.

The characters were also a bit too cut and clean. It’s easy to see who’s the bad guys and who is the good guys. I prefer my villains in shades of grey, here it’s a completely black/white story.

Overall, not too bad. I actually enjoyed reading it, and I thought the plot had great potential. If it weren’t for the pacing issues, this book would’ve gotten a higher rating. Hence why I mentioned the book could’ve used another editing round – a skilled editor would’ve caught the off-pacing.

[Nicole Etolen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jilly Proctor, the main character in Mark of the Witch by Jessica Gibson, has spent almost her entire life surrounded by magic. At age 13, she and her twin sister, Caroline, came into their powers, as most witches do around that age. While Caroline rebelled against her true nature, Jilly embraced it fully and spent years training with her mother. A tragic accident takes Jilly’s mom from her when she is just 18. Jilly and Caroline’s already strained relationship pretty much falls to pieces after that, and Caroline moves away from their Massachusetts home to become a New Yorker.

Years later, Caroline”s marriage crumbles, and she returns home to clear her head and repair her relationship with her sister. Meanwhile, Jilly has led a rather successful life as a hair stylist and local witch, along with her best friend Emily. She’s quite content in her life when William shows up and sparks (quite literally) an unexpected feeling within Jilly. Almost as soon as they meet, Jilly begins having strange dreams about the past, and sometimes they show her things she would much rather experience for herself.
Enter the Amaranthines

Forget vampires, if you’re going to live forever, do it as an Amaranthine! Unlike the blood suckers, amaranthines don’t need to feed off humans. They’re immortal in a different way. Alas, too many of them become corrupt and evil after a few centuries on the earth, like the villain of the story- Sabine. Sabine loves sending Jilly steamy dreams of her and William’ s past. Jilly is way more accepting and kind than I am, I’m not sure I could handle something like that with her grace! In fact, I know I couldn’t! William is also an amaranthine, but he’s managed to keep his humanity very much in tact.

Most amaranthines do not have magical powers of their own, with the exception of a small handful, so they need to enslave witches to do their bidding. Sabine has a very important use for Jilly, and she knows that taunting Jilly with dreams of William will do the trick to move her towards the end game. Fortunately, Jilly is surrounded by people who want to help her take down the evil Sabine, including her sister, who finally learns to embrace her powers.

Mark of the Witch was a quick read with likable characters. The beginning moves super fast, taking readers through a good 15 years of Jilly’s life in just a few pages. I felt that certain parts in the middle could have been fleshed out a bit more, and I think Jilly and William move a bit fast in some aspects (although not in the bedroom, since this is a pretty “clean” book), but overall it was a charming story about how the power of love can amplify any magic.

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jillian Proctor is a witch her twin sister Caroline is a witch.. Her mother and grandmother yeah both witches.. Well I think you get the picture..

As young girls they lost their mother and grandmother in a accident.. Her sister turned her back on her magic.. then she moved away and married leaving Jillian a little heart broken.. Now Jillian owns her own hair salon and helps the people in her community with her spells things are going well ..

As she takes on a new client she never expected the drastic change her world would under go.. Soon her sister is home heart broken after learning of her husbands affair.. After the girls are attacked Caroline finally decides to learn her magic what better way to protect yourself then learning how to control what you already possess.. With the help of Jillian and William (Jillians new client and handsome love interest).. They do everything possible to keep the girls safe.. Because someone wants Jillian someone from Williams past.. Someone who threatens not only Jillians life but the love shared between Jillian and William..

The love between Jillian and William was sweet, the attention and tenderness show by William was swoon worthy.. and thats one of the many things I love about this book.. And please allow me to share more reasons.. I love how the characters were so humble and grounded.. No sitting around chatting over expensive vintage wines and cheese but a grilled cheese and coke.. now this may sound silly but I have a slight obsession with food I can literally talk about it for hours and some of my dearest friends know this and no we dont talk about fancy dinners but comfort and fast food.. yeah issues I know..

I also greatly enjoyed the change up in supernatural beings.. Your probably shaking your head at me and saying Autumn the book is called Mark of the witch.. and ive seen a witch redone a million times.. Well whats one more plus there are other beings! Plus like combos.. And thats always fun.. right? Well I think that they are..

Again I cant express enough how much I adore Jessica.. When I read her writing Im entertained but not for long because before I know it im done reading.. which sounds like a bad thing but its really a good thing.. a really really good thing..

[Stephanie (Gorelenore) Cover2CoverBlog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Background: Jilly and her sister Caroline came into their powers in their early teens; Jilly was of complete acceptance while Caroline renounced everything and eventually left to be on her own. Now about 20 years later, Caroline is having problems at home and decides it would be best to visit her sister. Upon arriving, Caroline and Jilly start to mend their friendship as sisters and then all hell breaks loose. A stunning man enters Jilly's life, a mad witch is out to get her, and Caroline is finally learning how to be herself.

Review: I am not sure where to begin with this review, because for the first 50% I was enthralled with the witches and their lives and the play back and forth between their point of views, but then everything gets weird. Jilly is a very strong character while her sister seems a little confused and weak, but they contrast beautifully. The issue that I had with this book was the amount the author tried to throw in all at once- was it a story about sisterhood and coming to terms with ones rightful path? Was it a love story? Was it supposed to be about witches fighting for power? Well it tried to be all of those in only 192 pages.

Like I mentioned, the sisters relationship and contrast was enjoyable. Then it stopped transitioning between their POVs and just stuck with Jilly, now it tries to be a love story, and not the kind where love developer slowly but 'OMG we are meant for each other and I just met you' kind of love story. Well...then people are out to get Jilly for her powers... I mean really? Did you need all of those plot elements?

I feel like the author could have taken one or two of these elements and made them stronger and then progressed to the others in the rest of the series (which apparently this will be). I think that while the elements were enjoyable they were lacking in development and explanation.

I enjoyed this read for the witch aspect and it may be enjoyed by others as just a quick read, but I wasn't really feeling it in the last half.

[Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. It brings back those pleasant days I used to watch Charmed reruns over and over. I love books with Witches in them, especially when written as well as this one.
I am in love with William, what a perfect decent guy. I also loved that there was a supernatural I never heard of before , but I won’t tell you what, as it’s a spoiler. I can’t find anything at all that I didn’t like about this book. I just was wishing I was Jilly, as William is so hot!!!

I really was able to connect with Jilly, and felt bad for her that her twin and her were not getting along. But was happy when things started to work out. Her sister had refused to accept her gift when they turned 13 and came into their powers, and since then, they didn’t really even talk. The majority of this book takes place with the girls in their 20’s, but is fit to be read by all ages. Has some clean romance, not sex scenes (just some kissing, and its steamy, but all clean still, which I like)

I won’t say too much as this is a pretty short book, and do not want to spoil the fun in it. I did not refresh my memory from the blurb, and had not clue what was to come, and it was great that way.
If you like any books with witches, in the modern world, and the paranormal type books, then you will love this book.
I know I did. Hope many more follow! This has major promise of a great series. I can’t wait for Chasing the Witch!! Hope its out soon.

5 out of 5 stars here. Amazing read!!

I received this book as part of a book tour with Bewitching Book Tours for my honest review.

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[Jessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jillian has embraced being a witch since she was told she was one. She bonded with her mother through this and even with the loss of those close to her she held onto what she was. At the cost of being estranged with her sister Caroline, she still continued to practice being a witch. As an adult she has built a life full with friends and her own business. She is seemingly happy until the very sexy and mysterious William walks into her life. With a touch that borders on electrifying and eyes that seem to know her more than she does. She can't help but get captured in wanting so much more with him then she's ever had with anyone else. Along with her sister Caroline coming back home after many years of not getting along. Things seem to be going in the right direction for Jilly.
But oh no, the author has some menacing witches and evil lurking about. Jilly gets caught up in a past where things have been waiting to play out from a long history of ancestors. Will she pay for all the mistakes the first witches of the family have made? Is there any hope to being with William Morgan or will she find her life on the line?
Author Jessica Gibson has wrote a wonderful book that leaves you constantly trying to solve the mystery. Leaves you on the edge and biting your nails to see what will happen next. She has built characters that you can picture in your everyday life having tea with. The pace of the relationship between Jilly and William happens quickly, but not to the point where it's unbelievable. There are things at play that make you stand right there with them and root for their love. There are some points where you will gasp and you can't believe the author would do that and you're left wondering this can't be the end? It can't? Oh it is. Darn!! I can't wait to see what happens in the next book! She has written a wonderful witch tale that I can sink into and go to another place. Fantastic job to the author! I give this book my thumbs up!

[A.R. Von · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the magical world Jessica Gibson created. Nothing was predictable and there was a surprise at every turn. Mark of the Witch is a very magical, touching and exciting read that any YA paranormal romance reader will enjoy an escape with. I look forward to reading the next in the series and see what type of adventure the characters go on next!

Jillian has power, a lot of it. It literally flows through her veins and it started right when she hit her thirteenth birthday. She easily accepted it for it was expected to happen. Her mother prepared her for that very day all of her life and continued to do so for as long as she could. With power comes... responsibility, trouble and (in her case) a ton of surprises. Things get really odd from the day she meets William. Very unsure about him, yet comfortable at the same time she has various feelings within herself that she cannot explain. One thing she does know is she’s attracted to him, a lot!

William is an immortal, also known as an Amaranthine. He’s been alive for a VERY long time and has seen and gone through many changes within that time. He’s meet others like him throughout his travels, both good and bad. Not many he can or is willing to call friend. When he travels back to his home town, because he feels it’s time to. He meets a beautiful woman and makes many discoveries that must be dealt with, one of them being this strange pull and building connection that’s growing ever since he set eyes on Jillian.

As soon as William and Jillian were in one another’s company more frequently, I was so comfortable with the two I started calling them Jilly and Willy :) They are such a great couple and each compliment the other in even the most dangerous of ways. I was glad to see them come together.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark of the Witch
Boston Witches (Volume 1)
by
Jessica Gibson

~Synopsis~
This is a story about Jillian Proctor. She has the power of a good witch running through her veins. Jilly embraces her witch ancestry from a very young age, while her twin sister Caroline wants nothing to do with it.
Jilly's path crosses with the handsome William Morgan. He is an Amaranthine, meaning immortal. Along with meeting William comes danger Jilly had no idea was coming. It leads Jilly, Caroline, William and Jilly's best friend Emily down a devastating road of people from Williams past and other hidden dangers.
Caroline moves back home with Jilly after discovering her husband has been having an emotional affair with another woman. It turns out, coming home may be the best decision Caroline has made in a while. Caroline finally grabs hold of her own powers and Jilly trains her to become what she has had within her all along. Together these sisters will unite, learn and fight for the ones they love.
~My Review~
I loved this book! I have always had a fascination with the witch realm. The grimoire, cauldron's, spells, potions and the magic of it all is intriguing to me. Not to mention I was a big fan of Charmed. Yes, it was a guilty pleasure of mine. This book reminds me of it all in a big~awesome way.
The story moves along fairly quickly, but that didn't bother me one bit. Jessica had me turning the pages at a fast pace. The love story between William and Jilly makes it that more enchanting.....
I can't wait for they're relationship to move along in book two. I started book two last night and I can't wait to see what Jessica has continued to do with this story line.
It was a magical~spellbinding and charming well written book.
~I give it 5 Narly Nut Stars~

[Tanya Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jillian and Caroline are twin sisters who are witch’s, the difference between the two is that Caroline wants absolutely nothing to do with the witch craft. Years later, Jillian is a successful witch and hairdresser making a life for herself. Caroline finds out her husband has been cheating on her so she moves back home to the one place she feels safe. Prior to her coming home, William walks into Jilly’s life and Jillian is drawn to him. Now JIlly is having nightmares and other dreams she doesn’t know what to make out of. Things are going good so to speak between William and Jillian until she starts seeing William with another woman in her dreams except in this dreams she is actually inside this woman’s body (totally weird!!). You see Sabine (William’s ex ) and William are Amaranthines, which are sort of like vampires just they don’t need blood to survive and to be a very powerful Amaranthines you need to enslave a witch—go figure.

William, Jillian and a few other friends including Caroline who finally embraces her skill set out to stop Sabine from taking Jilian.

I loved Mark of the Witch right from the beginning!! The story moved along great with the characters adding their own personal element at the right times. Jillian is the perfect witch, one who likes to help others and will share her knowledge with them. William seems like a sweet guy and just perfect for Jilly. I absolutely loved the chemistry between everyone and how Caroline finally accepted who she truly is. I cannot wait to read the next in the series “Chasing the Witch”.

[Valerie Mcqueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review of Mark of the Witch by
Jessica Gibson

Rating 5*****

This book was provided free from the author in exchange for honest literary review.

Jillian and Caroline Proctor are twins from a line of extremely powerful witches. Each is set to come into their powers at the age of 13. Jillian is a free spirit who embraces her heritage and learns her craft. Caroline perfers the practical approach and denies to accept the magical side of her heritage. Years go by and several twists of life end up with the two reunited again.
Since her sister left Jilly has embraced her magic and done quite well. She finally meets a hunky man named who makes William who makes her toes tingle....literally. Jilly is in for the nightmare of a lifetime however. It seems a supernatural female from the past has made it her mission to haunt her dreams, and soon these dreams will be turned into real life.

I love this book. Jillian is absolutely adorable and the type of woman you meet and instantly fall in love with. She's strong,selfless, and caring to a fault. The author effectively broadcasts the levels of emotions from all the characters. You feel the heartache as well as fear and joy. It is a very well written novel with the action paced well and sspense present without being distractiing. I cant say enough here. I have to say this is one of the best paranormal fiction i have read this year. I can't wait to see what her next effort is like.......

[Babs | babs_reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last witch book I read disappointed me a lot when it came to the magic. So when I say that the magic in Mark of the Witch captured me, it is a total understatement.

Jillian and Caroline are twins but both go in different directions when it comes to their heritage. Jilly accepts and embraces her powers while Caroline fights and buries them.

Years later each of their lives are turned upside down. A cheating husband sends Caroline to a place she didn't think she'd ever return, home. For Jilly, a well spoken, sweet and loving William is swept into her life spinning her and her powers out of control.

Breezing in on Williams coat tail is an enemy bent on capturing Jilly, if only for her power. Though it was through bad circumstance Jilly and Caroline's relationship begins to mend and Caroline finally accepts who she is.

The plot was well rounded (though there were unanswered questions that I am sure will be answered next book) and I absolutely loved the blend of past and present. Jilly is a level headed main character and that was SO refreshing. I felt all of the characters were likeable and relatable. Jessica's detail for description of magic blew me away. I was able to imagine beautiful scenes when magic was involved with ease. My heart really reached out to Caroline and I can't wait to see where her future leads, so many clues but no real answers. I wait impatiently for the next book in the series.

[Merisha28 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book from Amazon.
Mark of the Witch by Jessica Gibson
This is the first book I have read by this author. I loved the way the story is written. It is a simple fast-paced read. I fell in love with the characters and was left wanting so much more at the end of the book. I can't hardly wait to read Chasing the Witch to find out what happens next to Caroline and Jilly!!! I love the chemistry between William and Jilly!!! The author done an amazing job on her character development, story line and plot. I could not put the book down for the life of me!! I'm looking forward to the great things that this author is going to accomplish!! I would recommend this to all my friends!!

The story is about two twin sisters who were born to be witches, one accepted it with open arms and the other turned her back on it. Starting at the age of 13, Jilly accepted her witch nature that her mother groomed and trained her in the ways, although Caroline didn't want nothing to do with it. They had a falling out. Many years later, Caroline returns to her ancestral home to Jilly through a rough turn of events, with the help of Jilly, Caroline comes to accept her nature. Right at the time, Jilly meets William and weird things start to happen around them. Jilly becomes endangered from someone in William's past. Will Jilly, Caroline, and William find out who is behind this? Will they survive the encounter?

[Crissy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jillian and Caroline are twins who knew that when they turned 13 they would start to develop their powers as witches. Jillian was eager to learn and accept what she is; Caroline on the other hand wanted nothing to do with it. Their differences in how they chose to live life caused the sisters to distance themselves, Caroline especially. After tragedy strikes Caroline moves away from home and soon marries Jack. Jillian has always accepted what she is and continues to help others with the help of her best friend Emily who is also a witch. Caroline realizes that Jack has been keeping a secret that’s unforgivable and she needs distance; she goes back home. Strange things start happening when Jillian meets William. She starts dreaming of people she has never met and places she has never been, the only one she recognizes is William. She soon learns that there is more to William than his great looks; he is her mate. People from William’s past threaten to destroy their future, even if they have to take Jillian out of the equation to get the revenge they seek. “Mark of the Witch” was an ok read for me and it ends with a cliff hanger. I probably won’t continue to read the series, however I have to say that just because this book wasn’t a great read for me doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I had to pick just one genre to read for the rest of my life, it would have to be fantasy stories about magic. The potential for the story to go in any direction is thrilling and keeps me turning the pages every time.

Mark of the Witch by Jessica Gibson was no different. It was intriguing from the beginning and I enjoyed the ease of the witches with their magic. The setup at the beginning of the story drew me in and made me want to know more both about the characters and what was to come.

The characters were not too complicated and moved forward in the story at a nice pace. The love story between William and Jilly adds a fair amount of tension and intrigue as well. The sub-plot between Jilly and her twin sister, Caroline, held a lot of promise for interesting plot twists.

If I had one wish for this book, it would be more development of the story. Gibson sets up several opportunities for things to go terribly wrong or spin out of control and keep the reader begging for more. I think in a couple of places she let the opportunity for excitement slide. There are a few good twists that kept me on the edge of my seat and wondering how it could possibly end well. With that exception this was a wonderful story and I will be looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh how I hate to not give every book I read 4 or 5 stars. While it was a quick read I really struggled to get through this one. I felt there was so much repetition especially when you reach the middle of the book (ie: almost every meal seemed to be grilled cheese or pancakes, William professing his love for Jilly, they wake up then take a nap, just to name a few) Now, I want to state that I do understand they were stuck in the house for what, a week? Almost a week? But I felt like I was rereading the same chapters over and over. The story also seemed so rushed, especially the whole Jill and William ordeal. Oh hi, I just had you cut my hair but I love you. Really? And how unsafe for Jill to get a text from a random number asking her to meet someone the next evening and not even really bat an eye. There also could of been more dialog between the characters for my liking. Sometimes too many little details are too much. I REALLY had high hopes for Mark of the Witch but started struggling after the first few chapters. All this said, I think I will give book two a try. Unfortunately, not the best book or beginning to a series I've ever read but most certainly not the worst and I would still recommend.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay. I didn't dislike it enough not to finish, but I found it a fairly bland read. Okay but not great.

This was really more of a novella as it was short. It told again, an okay story, but there was nothing that happened that kept me on the edge of my seat, even with the battle at the end. Everything that happened felt very quiet and anti-climactic. Not bad, just not exciting or extremely engaging as a story.

I didn't connect to any of the characters in the book, which definitely affected my enjoyment of it. All the characters felt pale, and sometimes all of them came across as selfish and/or whiny which I never enjoy.

I almost feel like this is meant to be a YA book, although nothing I saw identified it as such. If it is meant to be YA, that would go a long way to explaining why it didn't connect for me - I'm a LONG way past young adult, so it would make sense that characters directed at that demographic wouldn't offer anything to me.

Overall, I think I would recommend this for younger readers who are interested in trying out some easy-to-read paranormal fiction. I feel like this would be a good read for a younger demographic. It didn't work for "slightly older" than young adult me.

[Cindy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twins who are also witches

Jessica gave me this book in exchange for a review. It is a YA novel an I will review it as one.

Jillian and Carolyn are twins who find they will come into powers on their 13th birthday. Jillian accepts this part of her but Carolyn wants to deny it and be a "normal" person. The rift between them grows as neither knows how to address it.

When Carolyn's marriage falls apart, she returns to her hometown and her sister. She decides to accept her true nature and begins learning about how to use her powers. Can the rift between the two be fixed?

Enter William, an immortal who needs a haircut. Jillian and William make an electrifying connection.

I am not going to tell you the story. Suffice it to say that the past and present converge to upset the future.

This story has lots of action and keeps your interest up. You are routing for William to win the love of his life, Jillian, whom he has waited hundreds of years to meet. The characters are developed well.

The only issue I had with the story is that it seems to be a lot like the TV program Charmed.

[Carrie Peeples · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me begin with everything in the beginning is such a whirlwind! I thought in the beginning that with all the feelings and happening crashing down that it felt as if you were being pushed. Almost surreal. Then, low and behold, surprise! The author actually addresses the feelings and the time span of the feelings between the main characters. And all the sudden, everything felt right.

The ups and downs had me reading non stop. I chewed nails on this one! The flow of the book had you tilting your head wanting to know what does that mean, where is this going? And the author kept you guessing until that moment you were about to give up...and then explained it all.

I even thought I knew where she was going with this book. But I was surprised at the end. Not bad surprise, not good surprised, but an actual surprise. I am not sure I would have see that as clearly.

I am intending to read the next in this series as quickly as possible, as I am hoping to learn more about Jilly's sister. Let's see what happens next!

I bought and paid for this book. I give book reviews on the website Books On The Bright Side. My reviews are an honest opinion whether I pay for the book or not.

[Brooke Blogs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was the lucky winner of an autographed copy of Mark of the Witch on another site. Just reading the description of the book was enough to get me intrigued. I enjoy paranormal stories, especially those with a romantic twist. Once I started the story, I was immediately drawn in by the characters. Jilly and Caroline are twin sisters, born into a long family of witches. Jilly was excited to come into her magical abilities at the age of 13, while Caroline refused to acknowledge who and what she was. The sisters have a damaged relationship because of this. William Morgan, an amaranthine, is a strong character and is deeply connected to Jilly, more than she even knows. It is truly enjoyable to follow these characters throughout the story as their relationships develop and they learn more about themselves. The story was a refreshing take on the paranormal genre, and I recommend it to anyone who likes these types of stories. You won't be disappointed. As many stories as I've read in the genre, Mark of the Witch was unique, and I'm looking forward to the next installment.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to thank Jessica Gibson for the book for a review.

Best part of book: I just love witches and love stories. (haha!) This book had both. Jessica Gibson wrote an outstanding book. Jillian (aka Jilly) and her twin sister, Caroline were both born witches. However, as time goes on Jilly becomes more trained in the art than Caroline. Flash forward when the girls become adults they have drifted apart from each other.

Jilly opens up her own salon and still practices her witchcraft. While, Caroline goes off an gets married. Soon their paths cross again and "rebuild" their relationship. All the while we are introduced to William! William is a complex fellow! He has quite the backstory and Jilly is connected to it. I love how Jessica Gibson put all of it together in the end. I think William and Jilly are great together. I even really liked Caroline!

Not so great about the book: Just when I thought it was all going to end all perfect and happy *BAM* cliffhanger! *hangs head* Now I have to see what happens in Book 2!