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The MacBrides #1
The Biscuit Witch
Dear Dr. Firth:
I know you are in your cups at this time, drinking and sleeping under trees, but I have some experience rehabilitating lost souls in that regard, and so I am enclosing a box of my biscuits and a cold-wrapped container of cream gravy for dessert. Please eat and write back.
We need a veterinarian of your gumption here in the Crossroads Cove of Jefferson County.
—Delta Whittlespoon, proprietress of The Crossroads Café
Biscuit witches, Mama called them. She’d heard the term as a girl. She’d inherited that talent. My mother could cast spells on total strangers simply by setting a plate of her biscuits in front of them. –Tal MacBride
Welcome back to the Crossroads Cove where new loves, old feuds, and poignant mysteries will challenge siblings Tal, Gabby, and Gus MacBride to fight for the home they lost and to discover just how important their family once was, and still is, to the proud people of the Appalachian highlands.
Tallulah MacBride hasn’t been back to North Carolina since their parents’ tragic deaths, twenty years ago. But now, Tal heads to cousin Delta Whittlespoon’s famous Crossroads Café in the mountains above Asheville, hoping to find a safe hiding place for her young daughter, Eve.
What she finds is Cousin Delta gone, the café in a biscuit crisis, and a Scotsman, who refuses to believe she’s passing through instead of “running from.” He believes she needs a knight in shining flannel.
When a pair of sinister private eyes show up, Tal’s troubles are just beginning.
For Tal’s brother and sister—Gabby, the Pickle Queen, and Gus, the Kitchen Charmer—the next part of the journey will lead down forgotten roads and into beautiful but haunted legacies.
I know you are in your cups at this time, drinking and sleeping under trees, but I have some experience rehabilitating lost souls in that regard, and so I am enclosing a box of my biscuits and a cold-wrapped container of cream gravy for dessert. Please eat and write back.
We need a veterinarian of your gumption here in the Crossroads Cove of Jefferson County.
—Delta Whittlespoon, proprietress of The Crossroads Café
Biscuit witches, Mama called them. She’d heard the term as a girl. She’d inherited that talent. My mother could cast spells on total strangers simply by setting a plate of her biscuits in front of them. –Tal MacBride
Welcome back to the Crossroads Cove where new loves, old feuds, and poignant mysteries will challenge siblings Tal, Gabby, and Gus MacBride to fight for the home they lost and to discover just how important their family once was, and still is, to the proud people of the Appalachian highlands.
Tallulah MacBride hasn’t been back to North Carolina since their parents’ tragic deaths, twenty years ago. But now, Tal heads to cousin Delta Whittlespoon’s famous Crossroads Café in the mountains above Asheville, hoping to find a safe hiding place for her young daughter, Eve.
What she finds is Cousin Delta gone, the café in a biscuit crisis, and a Scotsman, who refuses to believe she’s passing through instead of “running from.” He believes she needs a knight in shining flannel.
When a pair of sinister private eyes show up, Tal’s troubles are just beginning.
For Tal’s brother and sister—Gabby, the Pickle Queen, and Gus, the Kitchen Charmer—the next part of the journey will lead down forgotten roads and into beautiful but haunted legacies.
130 pages, ebook
First published April 30, 2013
83 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Smith
81 books419 followersaka Jackie Leigh
aka Della Stone
aka Leigh Bridger
Bestselling Author
Co-founder, co-publisher
Vice-president, Editor in Chief
BelleBooks, Memphis, TN
Deborah Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of A Place to Call Home, and the No. 1 Kindle Bestseller The Crossroads Cafe, A Gentle Rain and other acclaimed romantic novels portraying life and love in the modern Appalachian South. A native Georgian, Deborah is a former newspaper editor who turned to novel-writing with great success.
With more than 35 romance, women's fiction and fantasy novels to her credit, Deborah's books have sold over 3 million copies worldwide. Among her honors is a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times Magazine and a nomination for the prestigious Townsend Literary Award. In 2003 Disney optioned Sweet Hush for film. In 2008 A Gentle Rain was a finalist in Romance Writers of America's RITA awards.
For the past fifteen years Deborah has partnered with Debra Dixon to run BelleBooks, a small press originally known for southern fiction, including the Mossy Creek Hometown Series and the Sweet Tea story collections. As editor, she has worked on projects as diverse as the nonfiction Bra Talk book by three-time Oprah Winfrey guest Susan Nethero, and the In My Dreams novella by New York Times bestselling author Sarah Addison Allen.
In 2008 BelleBooks launched Bell Bridge Books, an imprint with a focus on fantasy novels and now expanded to include multi-genre fiction--mystery, suspense, thrillers, women's fiction, nonfiction and other. In 2013 BelleBooks acquired the late Linda Kichline's paranormal romance press, ImaJinn Books, and hired legendary editor Brenda Chin, formerly of Harlequin Books, as editorial director. Chin will expand the imprint to cover a diverse mix of all romance types.
Deborah's newest books are the Crossroads Cafe novellas: THE BISCUIT WITCH, THE PICKLE QUEEN, THE YARN SPINNER, and THE KITCHEN CHARMER (2014). She released a mini-short story, SAVING JONQUILS, in March 2014. A sexy romantic novella, A HARD MAN TO FIND, is scheduled for later in the month.
aka Della Stone
aka Leigh Bridger
Bestselling Author
Co-founder, co-publisher
Vice-president, Editor in Chief
BelleBooks, Memphis, TN
Deborah Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of A Place to Call Home, and the No. 1 Kindle Bestseller The Crossroads Cafe, A Gentle Rain and other acclaimed romantic novels portraying life and love in the modern Appalachian South. A native Georgian, Deborah is a former newspaper editor who turned to novel-writing with great success.
With more than 35 romance, women's fiction and fantasy novels to her credit, Deborah's books have sold over 3 million copies worldwide. Among her honors is a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times Magazine and a nomination for the prestigious Townsend Literary Award. In 2003 Disney optioned Sweet Hush for film. In 2008 A Gentle Rain was a finalist in Romance Writers of America's RITA awards.
For the past fifteen years Deborah has partnered with Debra Dixon to run BelleBooks, a small press originally known for southern fiction, including the Mossy Creek Hometown Series and the Sweet Tea story collections. As editor, she has worked on projects as diverse as the nonfiction Bra Talk book by three-time Oprah Winfrey guest Susan Nethero, and the In My Dreams novella by New York Times bestselling author Sarah Addison Allen.
In 2008 BelleBooks launched Bell Bridge Books, an imprint with a focus on fantasy novels and now expanded to include multi-genre fiction--mystery, suspense, thrillers, women's fiction, nonfiction and other. In 2013 BelleBooks acquired the late Linda Kichline's paranormal romance press, ImaJinn Books, and hired legendary editor Brenda Chin, formerly of Harlequin Books, as editorial director. Chin will expand the imprint to cover a diverse mix of all romance types.
Deborah's newest books are the Crossroads Cafe novellas: THE BISCUIT WITCH, THE PICKLE QUEEN, THE YARN SPINNER, and THE KITCHEN CHARMER (2014). She released a mini-short story, SAVING JONQUILS, in March 2014. A sexy romantic novella, A HARD MAN TO FIND, is scheduled for later in the month.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
August 31, 2013
I found this novella to be as enchanting as Talullah's biscuits. There are so many books these days about "coming home", but this one truly captured the essence of what that means to the heart. A delightful sense of chaos infuses every page, yet in the end it all makes perfect sense. The Appalachian setting is so perfectly drawn I wanted to jump in my car and drive straight to Asheville. When you throw in a toilet paper-eating baby goat, a cupcake-stealing bear and a strapping Scots veterinarian who would put Gerard Butler to shame, you have all of the ingredients that make magic on the page.
Personally, I NEEDED this book. I lost my mom in June and I've yet to escape the pervasive sense of sadness that comes with losing someone you love. I can honestly say that reading THE BISCUIT WITCH gave me my first taste of genuine joy since her death.
Now I have to go back and read CROSSROADS CAFE and starve with anticipation until the other two novellas in this trilogy--THE PICKLE QUEEN and THE KITCHEN CHARMER are released.
Bravo, Deb Smith! Now get back in the kitchen and whip up another batch of magic.
Personally, I NEEDED this book. I lost my mom in June and I've yet to escape the pervasive sense of sadness that comes with losing someone you love. I can honestly say that reading THE BISCUIT WITCH gave me my first taste of genuine joy since her death.
Now I have to go back and read CROSSROADS CAFE and starve with anticipation until the other two novellas in this trilogy--THE PICKLE QUEEN and THE KITCHEN CHARMER are released.
Bravo, Deb Smith! Now get back in the kitchen and whip up another batch of magic.
June 29, 2024
Ugh. Oh, my good Lord! This book was so very bad. I was completely disappointed because Deborah Smith wrote one of my most favorite, yearning love stories ever, When Venus Fell. I can't figure out why that one is unavailable anywhere but the used book market - no Kindle version at all. But, this over-the-top, corny, faux-Southern whatever it is, remains available.
July 7, 2013
I have read _Crossroad Cafe_ five times. It's one of my favourite escapist reads of the last three years. I loved it enough to send Deborah Smith a "thank you" note for having written such a wonderful novel.
In the wake of reading (and loving) _Crossroad Cafe_ I bought as much of Ms. Smith's backlist as I could track down and read it all.
Naturally I was thrilled beyond measure to see Smith leave her "Leigh Bridger" persona and paranormal romance series behind and return to this wonderful Appalachian story land.
Have you ever eaten Lucky Charms cereal? You know how there are all the crunchy oat bits and the occasional sweetness of marshmallow? Well, _The Biscuit Witch_ is the fiction version of a bowl of Lucky Charms marshmallows. Since the book is a novella, the crunchy oats of setup and character growth are gone. Instead it's all the sweet high points of a Deborah Smith novel, crammed in an awkward way into this thing that passes for story.
The characters' quirky lives are setup in a few tossed off opening paragraphs; what should be the first act of the novel is missing entirely. Instead we dive right into the meet-cute involving a bear, a bronco and a batch of banana cupcakes. The male love interest falls immediately in love with Tallulah Bankhead MacBride--have I mentioned how utterly PRECIOUS everything is?--and she reciprocates. Twelve hours (!) later they're sharing a house. Twenty hours after their INITIAL MEETING the neighbours phone Tal to take care of her love interest after a cute-sick head injury. Yes...after less than one day she is the emergency contact for this man.
There's the usual bit about how food=love and Tal bakes the best biscuits. Three more days, maybe four, Tal's little girl is calling THE MAN THEY JUST MET "daddy". And the book ends and they live happily until the sequel, which is coming in a couple of months.
I normally love the escapist worlds of Smith's work. But this is all phoned in and feels like an attempt to cash in on the first book's popularity.
I'm trying to resist the urge to give this 1 star. Because it's a fine story on one level that works for what it is. But knowing how much better Smith can do makes this review hard to distill into a star rating system. I'll go with three--rounded up from 2.5. Anything else is grade inflation out of a fondness for Smith's other work.
In the wake of reading (and loving) _Crossroad Cafe_ I bought as much of Ms. Smith's backlist as I could track down and read it all.
Naturally I was thrilled beyond measure to see Smith leave her "Leigh Bridger" persona and paranormal romance series behind and return to this wonderful Appalachian story land.
Have you ever eaten Lucky Charms cereal? You know how there are all the crunchy oat bits and the occasional sweetness of marshmallow? Well, _The Biscuit Witch_ is the fiction version of a bowl of Lucky Charms marshmallows. Since the book is a novella, the crunchy oats of setup and character growth are gone. Instead it's all the sweet high points of a Deborah Smith novel, crammed in an awkward way into this thing that passes for story.
The characters' quirky lives are setup in a few tossed off opening paragraphs; what should be the first act of the novel is missing entirely. Instead we dive right into the meet-cute involving a bear, a bronco and a batch of banana cupcakes. The male love interest falls immediately in love with Tallulah Bankhead MacBride--have I mentioned how utterly PRECIOUS everything is?--and she reciprocates. Twelve hours (!) later they're sharing a house. Twenty hours after their INITIAL MEETING the neighbours phone Tal to take care of her love interest after a cute-sick head injury. Yes...after less than one day she is the emergency contact for this man.
There's the usual bit about how food=love and Tal bakes the best biscuits. Three more days, maybe four, Tal's little girl is calling THE MAN THEY JUST MET "daddy". And the book ends and they live happily until the sequel, which is coming in a couple of months.
I normally love the escapist worlds of Smith's work. But this is all phoned in and feels like an attempt to cash in on the first book's popularity.
I'm trying to resist the urge to give this 1 star. Because it's a fine story on one level that works for what it is. But knowing how much better Smith can do makes this review hard to distill into a star rating system. I'll go with three--rounded up from 2.5. Anything else is grade inflation out of a fondness for Smith's other work.
June 25, 2013
I received this as an ARC through NetGalley. I had never read Ms. Smith's work, so I was not familiar with the setting.
Coming to the story with no prior knowledge of the world this takes place in, I found it was so well described that I could picture the valley and the people living there. I did not feel like any of the characters were underdeveloped or that I needed to read some of the prior MacBrides or Crossroads Cafe books in order to understand this novella.
With that said, I did feel that toward the end the relationship aspect was rushed. I understand that it's a novella, but I feel that a child of Eve's age would not necessarily jump so quickly into the relationship, nor do I feel that it's realistic for Tal and Dr. Firth to fall so quickly into those roles with each other. I think if there had been even just an additional 10-20 pages worth of relationship development there, it would have felt a little more plausible. However, I liked that he so quickly and naturally took the role of her rescuer/hero. I loved the characters at the cafe, and hope to read a novella about Gabby.
I found this to be quite enjoyable and will most likely go back and read the other MacBride novels.
Coming to the story with no prior knowledge of the world this takes place in, I found it was so well described that I could picture the valley and the people living there. I did not feel like any of the characters were underdeveloped or that I needed to read some of the prior MacBrides or Crossroads Cafe books in order to understand this novella.
With that said, I did feel that toward the end the relationship aspect was rushed. I understand that it's a novella, but I feel that a child of Eve's age would not necessarily jump so quickly into the relationship, nor do I feel that it's realistic for Tal and Dr. Firth to fall so quickly into those roles with each other. I think if there had been even just an additional 10-20 pages worth of relationship development there, it would have felt a little more plausible. However, I liked that he so quickly and naturally took the role of her rescuer/hero. I loved the characters at the cafe, and hope to read a novella about Gabby.
I found this to be quite enjoyable and will most likely go back and read the other MacBride novels.
could-not-finish
February 23, 2016Oh my gosh, the double entendres and word play is a little much.
"He put just enough English on our Cue Ball of Innuendo. It curved in a slow, sensuous arc and dropped deep into my corner pocket. I arched a warning brow. At the same time, my strawberry turned ripe for the picking." I just couldn't see my "whey" (her word) to finishing this sickly sweet morsel.
"He put just enough English on our Cue Ball of Innuendo. It curved in a slow, sensuous arc and dropped deep into my corner pocket. I arched a warning brow. At the same time, my strawberry turned ripe for the picking." I just couldn't see my "whey" (her word) to finishing this sickly sweet morsel.
August 19, 2014
This was the first new Deborah Smith book I'd seen in a very long time when it was released in 2013. As a super fan of hers, I own everything she's ever published. That's right everything. I always try to end my year on a high note. I tend to "save" books for special times and I'm glad I saved this one for now (December 31st). Deborah Smith has always been one of my favorite authors. Her books are full of Southern charm and magic. The Biscuit Witch is no different.
This book starts off with a high octane event and goes from one high to another after that. I went from wanting to protect Tal and Eve to enjoying them come out of their shells and feel secure in themselves and their surroundings. I loved how quickly Tal shut down all the doubters with her biscuits. I love how she and Eve were protected by everyone at the Crossroads when trouble came a calling. I laughed and cheered when things went right, and cried when truths were revealed. I mean this isn't just about Tal and Eve finding a safe harbor and coming home, it was about Dr. Douglas Firth finding the other half of his soul again and all of Crossroads too. This book isn't just a story, it's a wondrous journey. By the way, Dr. Firth more than lives up to his name. He's one heck of a Scotsman. Where can I sign up for one him? *Sigh*
I was very excited to learn about the deep history the MacBride family had in the area. I was equally excited to learn about Tal's siblings and that they might be coming home too. There is still more to be revealed about what happened to take them so far away from home, but but I'm eager to find out why.
Any book that can make me laugh and cry is a winner for me. Deborah Smith has written a story that has it in spades along with some biscuits and gravy I wish I could pull out of the pages of this book and eat. The characters are as magical as the biscuits Cousin Delta and Tal make. They will find their way into your hearts just as they did mine. If you like your fiction with some humor, lots of Southern sass, and the magic of biscuits, The Biscuit Witch is a must read for you!
This book starts off with a high octane event and goes from one high to another after that. I went from wanting to protect Tal and Eve to enjoying them come out of their shells and feel secure in themselves and their surroundings. I loved how quickly Tal shut down all the doubters with her biscuits. I love how she and Eve were protected by everyone at the Crossroads when trouble came a calling. I laughed and cheered when things went right, and cried when truths were revealed. I mean this isn't just about Tal and Eve finding a safe harbor and coming home, it was about Dr. Douglas Firth finding the other half of his soul again and all of Crossroads too. This book isn't just a story, it's a wondrous journey. By the way, Dr. Firth more than lives up to his name. He's one heck of a Scotsman. Where can I sign up for one him? *Sigh*
I was very excited to learn about the deep history the MacBride family had in the area. I was equally excited to learn about Tal's siblings and that they might be coming home too. There is still more to be revealed about what happened to take them so far away from home, but but I'm eager to find out why.
Any book that can make me laugh and cry is a winner for me. Deborah Smith has written a story that has it in spades along with some biscuits and gravy I wish I could pull out of the pages of this book and eat. The characters are as magical as the biscuits Cousin Delta and Tal make. They will find their way into your hearts just as they did mine. If you like your fiction with some humor, lots of Southern sass, and the magic of biscuits, The Biscuit Witch is a must read for you!
August 3, 2013
This is the first book in Deborah Smith’s The MacBrides series, which is a spin off of her novel, THE CROSSROADS CAFE. While THE BISCUIT WITCH can be read stand alone, I think I would have gotten a better sense of the place and characters had I read THE CROSSROADS CAFE first. THE BISCUIT WITCH is a novella, and things happened very fast.
Tal is on the run with her five-year old daughter, Eve. Looking for a place to hide out, the mother and daughter head to Tal’s hometown in the mountains of North Carolina, hoping to get help from Cousin Delta, owner of the cafe. But when they arrive, Delta’s gone, and instead they meet up with a sexy Scotsman named Doug Firth. He’s the local veterinarian, and he has a soft spot for any creature in trouble. Immediately he can sense trouble surrounding Tal and Eve. Tal’s not looking for a knight in shining armor, but she’s smart enough to accept help when offered.
THE BISCUIT WITCH is a big, complex story compacted into a short 130 pages. For me, Doug and Tal’s love story and the bond that formed between Doug and Eve was way too rushed. Sure, it was sweet, but not realistic. The point of view alternated between Doug and Tal, and it switched a lot, sometimes abruptly. There were a few times I was confused about whose head I was in.
I did enjoy learning the MacBride family secrets, and what they mean for Tal and her troubled siblings in the rest of the series. I also liked the magical realism in this book. Tal had a couple of unique gifts, one of which was her enchanted baking, though I wished that part had been fleshed out more too.
There’s no resolution to the MacBride Family mystery in this book, though it does set a strong foundation for the rest of the series. I am very curious to see how the siblings’ story plays out, so I’ll probably continue on with the next book.
Source: Review copy from Netgalley
Tal is on the run with her five-year old daughter, Eve. Looking for a place to hide out, the mother and daughter head to Tal’s hometown in the mountains of North Carolina, hoping to get help from Cousin Delta, owner of the cafe. But when they arrive, Delta’s gone, and instead they meet up with a sexy Scotsman named Doug Firth. He’s the local veterinarian, and he has a soft spot for any creature in trouble. Immediately he can sense trouble surrounding Tal and Eve. Tal’s not looking for a knight in shining armor, but she’s smart enough to accept help when offered.
THE BISCUIT WITCH is a big, complex story compacted into a short 130 pages. For me, Doug and Tal’s love story and the bond that formed between Doug and Eve was way too rushed. Sure, it was sweet, but not realistic. The point of view alternated between Doug and Tal, and it switched a lot, sometimes abruptly. There were a few times I was confused about whose head I was in.
I did enjoy learning the MacBride family secrets, and what they mean for Tal and her troubled siblings in the rest of the series. I also liked the magical realism in this book. Tal had a couple of unique gifts, one of which was her enchanted baking, though I wished that part had been fleshed out more too.
There’s no resolution to the MacBride Family mystery in this book, though it does set a strong foundation for the rest of the series. I am very curious to see how the siblings’ story plays out, so I’ll probably continue on with the next book.
Source: Review copy from Netgalley
June 8, 2013
I read Crossroads Cafe a number of years ago and loved it! I then lost touch with Ms. Smith's novels for a while. I stumbled upon The Biscuit Witch on NetGalley and was thrilled when I received it. I read it in a few hours, and was totally enthralled. The characters are wonderful, as are all the animals, and so much feels familiar after Crossroads Cafe, but still a totally different story.
Douglas Firth is a fine figure of a Scotsman and a gentle veterinarian. He has a past history of " troubles", but has proved his worth many times over in Crossroads Cove, North Carolina. Douglas is well loved and accepted by all the residents, animal and human.
Tallulah Mac Bride is a baker. She has her own cupcake bakery in N.Y. City, but a recent charge of assault with a cupcake decoration by Eve's father makes her leave town, quickly. She runs to the small town she grew up in to connect with her Aunt Delta, the owner and baker of Crossroads Cafe. The town held memories, some wonderful, and some heartbreaking. She wants comfort, and safety for her and Eve, and is willing to try Crossroads Cove for a while. Doug and Tal's first meeting made me laugh out loud! No spoilers, but let me just say there is a bear named Tagger, and Monkey Poop involved.
This is the first story of three novellas about the Cove and MacBride family. Tal's siblings are Gus ( Harpo Marx ) the oldest, and Gabs ( Greta Garbo) the middle sister, and Tal's real name is Tallulah Bankhead. There is Rainbow Goddess Farm, the goat Teasal who thinks he's a dog, and so many more delightful characters you just have to meet. I highly recommend this wonderful novella, it's heartwarming, a laugh a minute, and a very sweet romance. I cannot wait for the next installment!
I received this novel from NetGalley for an honest review.
Douglas Firth is a fine figure of a Scotsman and a gentle veterinarian. He has a past history of " troubles", but has proved his worth many times over in Crossroads Cove, North Carolina. Douglas is well loved and accepted by all the residents, animal and human.
Tallulah Mac Bride is a baker. She has her own cupcake bakery in N.Y. City, but a recent charge of assault with a cupcake decoration by Eve's father makes her leave town, quickly. She runs to the small town she grew up in to connect with her Aunt Delta, the owner and baker of Crossroads Cafe. The town held memories, some wonderful, and some heartbreaking. She wants comfort, and safety for her and Eve, and is willing to try Crossroads Cove for a while. Doug and Tal's first meeting made me laugh out loud! No spoilers, but let me just say there is a bear named Tagger, and Monkey Poop involved.
This is the first story of three novellas about the Cove and MacBride family. Tal's siblings are Gus ( Harpo Marx ) the oldest, and Gabs ( Greta Garbo) the middle sister, and Tal's real name is Tallulah Bankhead. There is Rainbow Goddess Farm, the goat Teasal who thinks he's a dog, and so many more delightful characters you just have to meet. I highly recommend this wonderful novella, it's heartwarming, a laugh a minute, and a very sweet romance. I cannot wait for the next installment!
I received this novel from NetGalley for an honest review.
June 8, 2013
I loved everything about “The Biscuit Witch”—its quirky characters, its humor of word and situation, the spirit of the large-hearted Delta that saturates the scenes even in her absence, a sense of place so strong that I felt the late November chill and smelled the baking biscuits, and the lyrical prose that touched my heart like an old song from a half-remembered dream. The touch of magical realism was an added delight. According to Flannery O’Connor, “The writer operates at a peculiar crossroads where time and place and eternity somehow meet.” Deborah Smith has found that crossroads, and she takes her reader there.
When I’m 103 and rocking on the porch of the local nursing home with the latest reading device filled with favorite romance novels and promising new ones in hand, I’ll still be wondering why Deborah Smith’s books aren’t on the bookshelves, print or digital, of every romance reader. Her characters, imperfect and past-haunted, are gloriously real and infinitely interesting. That description applies not only to Tal and Douglas but also to an impressive cast of secondary characters, including Tal’s sister, Gabby (Greta Garbo MacBride), the pickle queen, and her brother, Gus (Groucho Marx MacBride), the kitchen charmer, whose stories will be told in parts two and three.
If you’ve never read Deborah Smith, “The Biscuit Witch” is a terrific introduction. The Crossroads Café, the novel in which Delta Whittlespoon first appears, is also a powerful and richly emotional tale. I highly recommend both. And if you want more recommendations, A Place to Call Home is one of my all-time top ten favorite romances, and A Gentle Rain, Charming Grace, Sweet Hush, When Venus Fell, and On Bear Mountain all get five-star ratings from me.
See full review at Just Janga:
http://justjanga.blogspot.com/2013/05...
When I’m 103 and rocking on the porch of the local nursing home with the latest reading device filled with favorite romance novels and promising new ones in hand, I’ll still be wondering why Deborah Smith’s books aren’t on the bookshelves, print or digital, of every romance reader. Her characters, imperfect and past-haunted, are gloriously real and infinitely interesting. That description applies not only to Tal and Douglas but also to an impressive cast of secondary characters, including Tal’s sister, Gabby (Greta Garbo MacBride), the pickle queen, and her brother, Gus (Groucho Marx MacBride), the kitchen charmer, whose stories will be told in parts two and three.
If you’ve never read Deborah Smith, “The Biscuit Witch” is a terrific introduction. The Crossroads Café, the novel in which Delta Whittlespoon first appears, is also a powerful and richly emotional tale. I highly recommend both. And if you want more recommendations, A Place to Call Home is one of my all-time top ten favorite romances, and A Gentle Rain, Charming Grace, Sweet Hush, When Venus Fell, and On Bear Mountain all get five-star ratings from me.
See full review at Just Janga:
http://justjanga.blogspot.com/2013/05...
May 30, 2013
I really enjoyed this little novella: quirky characters, even quirkier animals, a compelling story and a mystery to solve – what’s not to enjoy?
This little story will draw you in: Smith has a unique talent for storytelling, switching the point of view with ease between Tal and Doug, providing the story with a depth that makes the potentially over the top action feel possible, and the comedic relief provided by the animals keeps Tal from appearing to be paranoid and overreacting.
The romance is well-balanced, as we have seen both Doug and Tal’s thoughts and interactions with one another, and the peculiar habit that Tal has of classifying people’s intentions and personalities with scents, the mystical and unknowable winds through every element: it all feels real, if strange.
Full of interesting secondary characters, clever asides in conversation between adults with a 5 year old present leads to odd questions and justifications: no one will look at pink fondant and purple sprinkles in the same way after reading this story! The author has planned a trilogy for the MacBrides, and this is a great introduction to both the characters and the author. While this is the first I have read of this author’s work, I will be going to seek out Crossroads Café to see more of the characters that Tal has just met.
I received an ARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
This little story will draw you in: Smith has a unique talent for storytelling, switching the point of view with ease between Tal and Doug, providing the story with a depth that makes the potentially over the top action feel possible, and the comedic relief provided by the animals keeps Tal from appearing to be paranoid and overreacting.
The romance is well-balanced, as we have seen both Doug and Tal’s thoughts and interactions with one another, and the peculiar habit that Tal has of classifying people’s intentions and personalities with scents, the mystical and unknowable winds through every element: it all feels real, if strange.
Full of interesting secondary characters, clever asides in conversation between adults with a 5 year old present leads to odd questions and justifications: no one will look at pink fondant and purple sprinkles in the same way after reading this story! The author has planned a trilogy for the MacBrides, and this is a great introduction to both the characters and the author. While this is the first I have read of this author’s work, I will be going to seek out Crossroads Café to see more of the characters that Tal has just met.
I received an ARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
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May 17, 2013Yay, another book by Deborah Smith!
I was sad when I turned the last page of Crossroads Cafe and the story ended. It was such a vibrant place, I cared so much about the characters, I didn't want to close the book. Now some of the folks I missed are back in Biscuit Witch.
One of the things I enjoy most about Deborah Smith's writing is her ability to create a phrase that makes me go Oooooh! Like this one from Biscuit Witch: ". . . even the once glam Victorian gargoyles looked worried about the
neighborhood . . ." and I could visualize them hanging there, slightly sinister, perhaps a little worried about their fate.
Biscuit Witch is the first of a trilogy, and now I can't wait for the next.
I was sad when I turned the last page of Crossroads Cafe and the story ended. It was such a vibrant place, I cared so much about the characters, I didn't want to close the book. Now some of the folks I missed are back in Biscuit Witch.
One of the things I enjoy most about Deborah Smith's writing is her ability to create a phrase that makes me go Oooooh! Like this one from Biscuit Witch: ". . . even the once glam Victorian gargoyles looked worried about the
neighborhood . . ." and I could visualize them hanging there, slightly sinister, perhaps a little worried about their fate.
Biscuit Witch is the first of a trilogy, and now I can't wait for the next.
July 4, 2013
I very, very much wanted to like this novel. The synopsis sounds delightfully magical, doesn't it? *insert sad sigh here* It, unfortunately, was not my cup of tea. In fact, reading the last half felt like work. *another sigh for good measure* It truly felt more like a Harlequin novel that a delightfully magical novel. Now, I am by no means saying that others may not enjoy this book, it is just not my cup of tea.
Full review at:
http://theinsomniacbibliophile.blogsp...
Full review at:
http://theinsomniacbibliophile.blogsp...
August 30, 2014
If Deborah Smith writes it, I have read it.l This book was emotional, humorous, and flat out wonderful!
January 18, 2017
Read for the 2017 January TBR Challenge: We Love Short Shorts! (category romance, short stories, novellas, etc.).
I picked this up because I had read the author’s Crossroads Café novel a few years ago. This is the first novella of a spin-off series from that novel and is about the three MacBride siblings who are cousins of Delta Witherspoon, an indefatigable mother hen/fairy godmother type of character and the proprietress of the titular café where her biscuits are famous and nearly everyone is a cousin. Like Delta, our heroine Tal MacBride is a talented cook and knows how to make biscuits just as good as those made famous by her cousin. In fact, all the MacBride children inherited some sort of culinary talent: Tal (the youngest) is the biscuit witch, her older sister Gabby is the pickle queen, and oldest brother Gus is the kitchen charmer (his talent is a little more obscure, they think he might have the makings of a master brewer). The MacBride siblings also have another talent which is the ability to sense people’s food auras.
This story focuses on Tal’s coming home (a popular theme in Smith's books) and her rather rushed but sweet romance with local vet Doug Firth who has quite the menagerie of animals as well as the quirky citizens of Crossroads Cove to deal with. When Tal meets Doug, she experiences his aura as cinnamon buns and Scotch whiskey. When Doug meets Tal, he knows it’s love at first sight. It only takes Tal and her daughter Eve a day or two in the cove to feel the same.
Some other things to know:
--The MacBride siblings have a long, complicated backstory. The short version is that their parents died when they were children and the villain robbed them of their legacy, which was motivated by a tangled mix of greed and personal grievances that go back a couple of generations. The MacBride children were rescued from foster care and shuttled off to California where they’d be out of the villain’s reach. Now that they’re grown, Delta would love to lure them back to North Carolina. At the beginning of this story, Tal is running from Eve’s father (a restaurant entrepreneur she had a brief affair with) who is only interested in claiming his daughter because he wants to do damage control if the world finds out he has a child. He and Tal also had an altercation for which he charged her with assault. Tal wants no part of him and decides to hide out by way of a visit to her cousin Delta, but the father’s goons are hunting for her. Ironically, Delta is in NYC participating in a food competition in which Eve’s father has a business stake.
--Smith writes in the tradition of southern storytellers adding a touch of magical realism, a wonderful sense of place, and a heaping dose of humor. Be prepared for lots of food puns and double entendres. The humor is both funny and overdone. Smith often can’t resist going a step too far. In this case, it felt like going to the yogurt shop, but instead of getting a few toppings all the toppings are thrown in the cup, and being a novella rather than novel, it’s a small cup. To add to that overwhelming load, there are so many quirky characters (people and animals). How many quirky characters does a story need?
--The story is told in alternating 1st person PoV. Thank goodness it’s not present tense, but it does feel muddled from time-to-time. The author uses quaint little italicized phrases to signal PoV changes, but sometimes internal thoughts are also italicized so PoV switches aren’t always obvious. I was able to follow, but sometimes it took a few sentences for me to realize who was narrating. I’ve read other novels by Smith where this technique worked well, but here the execution isn't as smooth.
Despite my criticisms I found enough magic and enjoyable elements to offset the absurdities and overbaked humor. How I receive a book like this often depends on my mood. I liked this enough to pick up and read the other stories in the series, which are:
The Pickle Queen -- Gabby’s story, a second chance romance with the nephew of their family’s nemesis and explores more of the family backstory.
The Yarn Spinner – a short story that explains how Gus' love interest discovered her Talent.
The Apple Pie Knights – another story that serves as a prequel for Gus’ story, The Kitchen Charmer. TKC was initially slated to come out a few years ago but still hasn’t materialized. I’m not sure if the author still plans to finish it or lost interest. I hope she does eventually publish it, because I’m definitely interested in reading it (completist that I am).
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I picked this up because I had read the author’s Crossroads Café novel a few years ago. This is the first novella of a spin-off series from that novel and is about the three MacBride siblings who are cousins of Delta Witherspoon, an indefatigable mother hen/fairy godmother type of character and the proprietress of the titular café where her biscuits are famous and nearly everyone is a cousin. Like Delta, our heroine Tal MacBride is a talented cook and knows how to make biscuits just as good as those made famous by her cousin. In fact, all the MacBride children inherited some sort of culinary talent: Tal (the youngest) is the biscuit witch, her older sister Gabby is the pickle queen, and oldest brother Gus is the kitchen charmer (his talent is a little more obscure, they think he might have the makings of a master brewer). The MacBride siblings also have another talent which is the ability to sense people’s food auras.
This story focuses on Tal’s coming home (a popular theme in Smith's books) and her rather rushed but sweet romance with local vet Doug Firth who has quite the menagerie of animals as well as the quirky citizens of Crossroads Cove to deal with. When Tal meets Doug, she experiences his aura as cinnamon buns and Scotch whiskey. When Doug meets Tal, he knows it’s love at first sight. It only takes Tal and her daughter Eve a day or two in the cove to feel the same.
Some other things to know:
--The MacBride siblings have a long, complicated backstory. The short version is that their parents died when they were children and the villain robbed them of their legacy, which was motivated by a tangled mix of greed and personal grievances that go back a couple of generations. The MacBride children were rescued from foster care and shuttled off to California where they’d be out of the villain’s reach. Now that they’re grown, Delta would love to lure them back to North Carolina. At the beginning of this story, Tal is running from Eve’s father (a restaurant entrepreneur she had a brief affair with) who is only interested in claiming his daughter because he wants to do damage control if the world finds out he has a child. He and Tal also had an altercation for which he charged her with assault. Tal wants no part of him and decides to hide out by way of a visit to her cousin Delta, but the father’s goons are hunting for her. Ironically, Delta is in NYC participating in a food competition in which Eve’s father has a business stake.
--Smith writes in the tradition of southern storytellers adding a touch of magical realism, a wonderful sense of place, and a heaping dose of humor. Be prepared for lots of food puns and double entendres. The humor is both funny and overdone. Smith often can’t resist going a step too far. In this case, it felt like going to the yogurt shop, but instead of getting a few toppings all the toppings are thrown in the cup, and being a novella rather than novel, it’s a small cup. To add to that overwhelming load, there are so many quirky characters (people and animals). How many quirky characters does a story need?
--The story is told in alternating 1st person PoV. Thank goodness it’s not present tense, but it does feel muddled from time-to-time. The author uses quaint little italicized phrases to signal PoV changes, but sometimes internal thoughts are also italicized so PoV switches aren’t always obvious. I was able to follow, but sometimes it took a few sentences for me to realize who was narrating. I’ve read other novels by Smith where this technique worked well, but here the execution isn't as smooth.
Despite my criticisms I found enough magic and enjoyable elements to offset the absurdities and overbaked humor. How I receive a book like this often depends on my mood. I liked this enough to pick up and read the other stories in the series, which are:
The Pickle Queen -- Gabby’s story, a second chance romance with the nephew of their family’s nemesis and explores more of the family backstory.
The Yarn Spinner – a short story that explains how Gus' love interest discovered her Talent.
The Apple Pie Knights – another story that serves as a prequel for Gus’ story, The Kitchen Charmer. TKC was initially slated to come out a few years ago but still hasn’t materialized. I’m not sure if the author still plans to finish it or lost interest. I hope she does eventually publish it, because I’m definitely interested in reading it (completist that I am).
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
September 22, 2017
I will preface this by saying that I am usually not the biggest fan of the romance genre. However, some Romance books have snagged me recently, so I gave this a try. I think I have discovered that the sugary sweet romances just aren't quite for me. I prefer a book with harder edges and I like my romance with a dash of action or adventure or fantasy. I thought the "witch" aspect would do that for me, but it didn't quite get me there.
I did really enjoy the setting and parts of the book remind me of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, which I love. The story is charming, the characters somewhat interesting, and the narration is quite good. I was impressed by the range of voices and accents and how the narrator could keep each character's voice distinct. There was also a lot of emotion that came through in the narration, which added to the experience. Overall, this is a good book - it is just a little too over the top with the romance, especially toward the end, and had me rolling my eyes a bit.
I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left my honest review. The free copy did not influence my review in any way.
I did really enjoy the setting and parts of the book remind me of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, which I love. The story is charming, the characters somewhat interesting, and the narration is quite good. I was impressed by the range of voices and accents and how the narrator could keep each character's voice distinct. There was also a lot of emotion that came through in the narration, which added to the experience. Overall, this is a good book - it is just a little too over the top with the romance, especially toward the end, and had me rolling my eyes a bit.
I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left my honest review. The free copy did not influence my review in any way.
October 7, 2017
Author Deborah Smith has written a delightful, quirky, Southern novel incorporating food, family, and finding love. Family in the South usually goes back for generations and this story doesn't disappoint. As the family tree's gnarled branches are exposed, the adept narration [AUDIO] by Misty Gray flips effortlessly between a medium southern drawl and a rich Scottish brogue, adding Delta's thick deep south and various other voices ranging from Appalachian to New York which take center stage as required. Although there is an HEA (Happily Ever After) rounding out book #1, a clear overarching series arc has me wanting to start immediately on the next volume.
July 6, 2018
Can her baking magic keep her and her daughter safe?
Terrific! Being the youngest of three siblings who have been orphaned by the manipulations of another family. The three have gone their separate ways but now she's on the run with her young daughter. Making her way to her cousin for the safety she yearns for in her family home. Mix in an ex who is fixated on claiming her daughter, thugs on her tail, the magic she has always had in baking the perfect biscuits and a rugged vet and then watch the sparks fly. Wonderful insight into the individual characters and written with sympathy and understanding. A great first book and I have already got the other two in the series.
Terrific! Being the youngest of three siblings who have been orphaned by the manipulations of another family. The three have gone their separate ways but now she's on the run with her young daughter. Making her way to her cousin for the safety she yearns for in her family home. Mix in an ex who is fixated on claiming her daughter, thugs on her tail, the magic she has always had in baking the perfect biscuits and a rugged vet and then watch the sparks fly. Wonderful insight into the individual characters and written with sympathy and understanding. A great first book and I have already got the other two in the series.
August 31, 2024
A nice short romance with quirky characters that are likable. The romance moves too fast for my usual taste, but since it's a novella things needed to move right along. I had earlier read several other romances by Smith, including the first in the Crossroads Café Universe, and enjoyed them. I didn't like this one quite as much, but it's a great feel-good story when you want a quick read. Obviously we're going to have further installments featuring MC Tal McBride's siblings. I'll be checking those out.
October 26, 2018
Well that was short. There wasn’t much space for cooking , but it sure was cute. The Appalachians & feminist power & a whole house full of animals that mysteriously don’t leave sh*t everywhere. If you like the hallmark channel, this is right in your line.
Oh there’s also quite a lot of setup for two more romance books, which look to be even shorter...?
Oh there’s also quite a lot of setup for two more romance books, which look to be even shorter...?
November 20, 2018
The story is simplistic. It's not a bit believable. It's over the top dramatic. It's absolutely amazing! I laughed. I side-eyed. I rolled my eyes aaaand I loved every single minute. I'm not normally attracted to these types of stories anymore, but it kept jumping out at me in the library so I bit the bullet. I regret nothing.
November 15, 2017
The Biscuit Witch
This was not my type of book. It ended suddenly and left me thinking what I missed. I could not give it a good rating. I tell myself I like all kinds of books but this one didn’t make it.
This was not my type of book. It ended suddenly and left me thinking what I missed. I could not give it a good rating. I tell myself I like all kinds of books but this one didn’t make it.
January 2, 2026
while it was a good quick read, there were so many missed opportunities for more developments! perhaps in future books there will be more development. I really enjoyed the way she worked seeing the character growth. I finished in one sitting!
June 1, 2017
Excellent southern book. Romance, but the main character, Tal, isn't an airhead.
January 15, 2018
Quick and cute
This could be a lifetime movie with its cute, predictable story and wonderful characters. I’m intrigued enough to read pickle queen next.
This could be a lifetime movie with its cute, predictable story and wonderful characters. I’m intrigued enough to read pickle queen next.
July 3, 2018
Love
Love the humor of these characters. So real. Kept me reading right to the end. Can't wait to read the next one.
Love the humor of these characters. So real. Kept me reading right to the end. Can't wait to read the next one.
May 14, 2020
Quicky, interesting story that draws you in to find out what will happen next. I enjoyed.
May 3, 2022
Lovely imagery and a sweet story to boot. Now I want to live in the mountains of North Carolina.
January 14, 2018
*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This is my first book with Misty Gray narrating. I found her interesting because we start with Delta who wrote the letter and get a Southern accent, then we get a section from Douglas with a Scottish accent. We end with chapter one from Tallulah's voice, which is different than the previous two. I was struck with these different accents and taken by them. Misty was clear and clean throughout the book, nothing to distract from the words of the story.
Delta feels like a strong woman with solid beliefs of all around her from her letter we read in the prologue. She sounds like a kind person based on that first line. From that letter, it feels that family is important to Delta. She keeps track of the family line as though it's important, and uses it. However, we only meet Delta at the beginning in the letter and at the end by phone.
For listening, the book is broken up strange and, at times, it's hard to pick up on. There are sections in each chapter with sub-titles instead of a new chapter. For audiobook, it doesn't always translate well because we don't see these titles, and sometimes sound to be part of the story. I did adapt and knew to keep an ear open for them.
Okay, in the beginning I wasn't sure where the story was going. We get Delta's letter then Doug's account with the sheep. I thought I knew where the story was going, but then we get into chapter one that's Tal's reminiscing about her family past. This felt like it was a huge info dump without leading us on the story. It was about her parents - who related to, who died, and what they did and how they died. Then we end the chapter right where Doug ended up with the sheep. The story took off from there.
The story is good. But it's not my style of writing and format. I like Tallulah and her story. She's on the go, trying to get away from the father of her child as he's not a good person or the lifestyle she wants for her daughter. She makes her way to the home town of her family roots. And here she finds a good man and good people. Tal even learns about her family heritage, which she didn't know with losing her mama so young.
The romance... Tal does find a man. But the relationship between her and him and him and her daughter seems to happen so fast. Like in two days fast. Okay, maybe three? I know it's a novella and looking past the quickness, it made for a sweet story.
The story has a few different angles to it. There is a sweet love that blossoms, of course. But we also see more here. Tal has a daughter and some troubles she's running from. Tal gets a solution to those problems and grows as a character too. We also see the thread that will connect the stories in this series - Free Wheeler, a small town. There is a history here that Tal starts to dig into and learns.
As for the cooking reference, I was expecting more "magic" in the baking. There is love backed in those biscuits, and people love them but I thought there would be some spark related to the baking. It wasn't as much of a tie as I thought there would be, but that's okay.
It's a sweet story with Tal who's drawn to bake all sorts of goodies with heart and memories. Family and friends are everything, and will help you when you are in need.
This is my first book with Misty Gray narrating. I found her interesting because we start with Delta who wrote the letter and get a Southern accent, then we get a section from Douglas with a Scottish accent. We end with chapter one from Tallulah's voice, which is different than the previous two. I was struck with these different accents and taken by them. Misty was clear and clean throughout the book, nothing to distract from the words of the story.
Delta feels like a strong woman with solid beliefs of all around her from her letter we read in the prologue. She sounds like a kind person based on that first line. From that letter, it feels that family is important to Delta. She keeps track of the family line as though it's important, and uses it. However, we only meet Delta at the beginning in the letter and at the end by phone.
For listening, the book is broken up strange and, at times, it's hard to pick up on. There are sections in each chapter with sub-titles instead of a new chapter. For audiobook, it doesn't always translate well because we don't see these titles, and sometimes sound to be part of the story. I did adapt and knew to keep an ear open for them.
Okay, in the beginning I wasn't sure where the story was going. We get Delta's letter then Doug's account with the sheep. I thought I knew where the story was going, but then we get into chapter one that's Tal's reminiscing about her family past. This felt like it was a huge info dump without leading us on the story. It was about her parents - who related to, who died, and what they did and how they died. Then we end the chapter right where Doug ended up with the sheep. The story took off from there.
The story is good. But it's not my style of writing and format. I like Tallulah and her story. She's on the go, trying to get away from the father of her child as he's not a good person or the lifestyle she wants for her daughter. She makes her way to the home town of her family roots. And here she finds a good man and good people. Tal even learns about her family heritage, which she didn't know with losing her mama so young.
The romance... Tal does find a man. But the relationship between her and him and him and her daughter seems to happen so fast. Like in two days fast. Okay, maybe three? I know it's a novella and looking past the quickness, it made for a sweet story.
The story has a few different angles to it. There is a sweet love that blossoms, of course. But we also see more here. Tal has a daughter and some troubles she's running from. Tal gets a solution to those problems and grows as a character too. We also see the thread that will connect the stories in this series - Free Wheeler, a small town. There is a history here that Tal starts to dig into and learns.
As for the cooking reference, I was expecting more "magic" in the baking. There is love backed in those biscuits, and people love them but I thought there would be some spark related to the baking. It wasn't as much of a tie as I thought there would be, but that's okay.
It's a sweet story with Tal who's drawn to bake all sorts of goodies with heart and memories. Family and friends are everything, and will help you when you are in need.
October 10, 2013
Originally posted on www.serendipityreviews.co.ukAAARRRGGGHHH!
This book makes me crazy! Never have I loved and hated a book more and been left so desperate for the next one.
This book is oozing with Southern hospitality in the style of authors such as Fannie Flagg and Beth Hoffman. I found myself desperate to visit the Crossroads Cafe which would definitely give the Whistlestop Cafe a run for it’s money. I fell in love with the quirky, yet vibrant characters who could easily have stepped out of Northern Exposure. The MacBride’s have dug their way into my heart and I can’t wait to find out what happens to Tal’s brother and sister in the future publications.
However I had a couple of really big issues with this book.
Firstly there was far too much information dumped in the first couple of chapters. I really didn’t need to know so much about the characters so soon into the story, especially characters who were barely featured in the story. I can understand that this book is a connected to another and the author wanted to tell us all about the characters, other readers might have already met, but it was too much for me.
Secondly, I actually felt the story could’ve started further in. There is an extremely hilarious incident with a grizzly bear in the car eating cupcakes and I’m convinced the book should’ve started there.
Lastly, it took me far too long to work out who was actually telling the story. I didn’t realise the POV was alternating between Tal and the Scottish Doctor until a quarter of the way through the book.
Having whinged and moaned about all that – I really really did love this story when I got into it. It was descriptive to the point where you mouth watered every time they mentioned food. It was exciting and fast paced at times as Tal confronts her past, to create a new future. And it was full of warmth – family and friendship bonds that no one could ever break, leaving you feeling happy and content by the end of the book.
This is the kind of book that you want to read snuggled up on the sofa in winter.
This book makes me crazy! Never have I loved and hated a book more and been left so desperate for the next one.
This book is oozing with Southern hospitality in the style of authors such as Fannie Flagg and Beth Hoffman. I found myself desperate to visit the Crossroads Cafe which would definitely give the Whistlestop Cafe a run for it’s money. I fell in love with the quirky, yet vibrant characters who could easily have stepped out of Northern Exposure. The MacBride’s have dug their way into my heart and I can’t wait to find out what happens to Tal’s brother and sister in the future publications.
However I had a couple of really big issues with this book.
Firstly there was far too much information dumped in the first couple of chapters. I really didn’t need to know so much about the characters so soon into the story, especially characters who were barely featured in the story. I can understand that this book is a connected to another and the author wanted to tell us all about the characters, other readers might have already met, but it was too much for me.
Secondly, I actually felt the story could’ve started further in. There is an extremely hilarious incident with a grizzly bear in the car eating cupcakes and I’m convinced the book should’ve started there.
Lastly, it took me far too long to work out who was actually telling the story. I didn’t realise the POV was alternating between Tal and the Scottish Doctor until a quarter of the way through the book.
Having whinged and moaned about all that – I really really did love this story when I got into it. It was descriptive to the point where you mouth watered every time they mentioned food. It was exciting and fast paced at times as Tal confronts her past, to create a new future. And it was full of warmth – family and friendship bonds that no one could ever break, leaving you feeling happy and content by the end of the book.
This is the kind of book that you want to read snuggled up on the sofa in winter.
May 25, 2013
I have been a huge fan of Deborah Smith’s books for years. Her newest book, The Biscuit Witch, takes place in the same small town as one of her previous books. It’s been about six years since her last book and I was so excited to find out that she is writing a new series of three novellas about the MacBride siblings.
In this first book, Tal MacBride and her daughter Eve make their way to the small town where her fellow biscuit witch and cousin Delia owns the Crossroads Café. On the run from her ex-lover and trumped up legal issues, she doesn’t plan to stay in town but merely to make a short visit before moving on. When the first encounter she has in town is with a bear trying to eat cupcakes out of her back seat and lick frosting off her knees, she has her first inkling that things aren’t going to go as planned. Tal is saved by local veterinarian Doug Firth, a few hundred sheep, a goat named Teasel and two gay women who run a shelter/farm for abused women.
While in Asheville, Tal finds herself drawn to the easy going Doug and becomes part of the fabric of the town. She discovers that the town holds the key to her future and the answers to some big questions about her family’s past.
I loved this book. The romance between Tal and Doug is sweet and unfolds perfectly. There are quirky town folk who are part of the healing that happens for both Tal and Doug. There are parts of the book that will just make you laugh out loud (I will never look at fondant in the same way again) and parts where you just feel like you would love to live in Asheville and be part of the community.
Since this is the first book in a trilogy, it sets up the next book by ending with a mini cliffhanger. I can’t wait for the book to come out!
In this first book, Tal MacBride and her daughter Eve make their way to the small town where her fellow biscuit witch and cousin Delia owns the Crossroads Café. On the run from her ex-lover and trumped up legal issues, she doesn’t plan to stay in town but merely to make a short visit before moving on. When the first encounter she has in town is with a bear trying to eat cupcakes out of her back seat and lick frosting off her knees, she has her first inkling that things aren’t going to go as planned. Tal is saved by local veterinarian Doug Firth, a few hundred sheep, a goat named Teasel and two gay women who run a shelter/farm for abused women.
While in Asheville, Tal finds herself drawn to the easy going Doug and becomes part of the fabric of the town. She discovers that the town holds the key to her future and the answers to some big questions about her family’s past.
I loved this book. The romance between Tal and Doug is sweet and unfolds perfectly. There are quirky town folk who are part of the healing that happens for both Tal and Doug. There are parts of the book that will just make you laugh out loud (I will never look at fondant in the same way again) and parts where you just feel like you would love to live in Asheville and be part of the community.
Since this is the first book in a trilogy, it sets up the next book by ending with a mini cliffhanger. I can’t wait for the book to come out!
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