Witch's Gift

Purple Oasis #6.5

by Arizona Tape, Laura Greenwood

With Christmas approaching, tea witch Maddy wants to host a tea gifting ceremony and recapture some of the festive spirit lost to the apocalypse, and if it means getting to spend more time with the best friend she wishes could be more, then that's just a benefit.

Elise harboured feelings for Maddy for years but never had the courage to tell her. But when her secret is almost revealed, she knows she has to do something about it.

Can the two of them bring some festive cheer to the oasis without completely losing their hearts?

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Witch's Gift is part of the Purple Oasis series. It is a standalone f/f paranormal romance set in a post-apocalyptic world that's starting to rebuild.

Genres: Fantasy, Queer

Unknown Binding

About the author

Arizona Tape lives her dream life hanging out with her dog and writing stories all day.

Her favourite books to write are urban fantasy and paranormal romances with queer leads, stories that she wished were around when she was younger.

When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking up a storm in the kitchen, watching shows that make her cry, or trying her hand at her new hobby of the week.

She currently lives in the United Kingdom with her girlfriend and her adorable dog who is the star of her newsletter. Sign up here for adorable pictures, free books, and news about her books: www.arizonatape.com/subscribe



Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/arizonatapeauthor
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Her books are available on all retailers and can be requested from most public libraries.

Reviews

[Kimmylongtime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arizona tape is becoming my new favorite author for New adult FF romance. She is very talented and her characters are hilarious. I wish I found this woman earlier in my romance journey.

A lot of female/female romance is so complicated and I dislike the narrative that it gives our individual community. As a bisexual woman it is nice to see the slow burn romance and the ease into true love. I also love the fact that this is second chance.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book is relatively short I enjoyed it from start to finish and that's mostly because it had two amazing ingredients creating one amazing whole. The first ingredient is the Christmas tradition of the tea witches. I love how those small ceremonies show us so much about traditions. It's world building without it really feeling like world building. And although this ceremony is of course unique for this world it did feel very Christmassy. On top of that there is loads of mutual pining. It's clear that the heroines in this story know each other for a long time and are both terrified of ruining their friendship if they would be honest about what they truly wanted and felt. I finished the book with a huge smile on my face.

[Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book ten of the Purple Oasis series and the main characters are tea witches Maddy and Elise, who have been life time best friends and now lucky enough to share a room at the Purple Oasis. Both have harboured romantic feelings for their best friend for quite some time, but neither has been willing to ruin their friendship if the other isn’t interested in the same way. Because winter is here, neither of them are working on the same shifts and they haven’t managed to really get any time to spend together as friends, always with one starting work when the other is just coming back in from working in the fields of the plantation. Due to the apocalypse, neither of them had much experience as tea witches proper, but Maddy has been thinking that with Christmas coming up, it would be nice to re-instate a tea witch ritual of gift giving and celebration at Christmas. With so many other people and kinds of supernaturals at the Oasis, who all work in their own way to make the oasis successful, it can’t be a ceremony with just the tea witches. Whether it would be allowed, is something she will have to go to Jasmine with, but first she needs to work up the nerve to speak to her, something that Elise seems to bring her.

When they finally get some time alone together, she puts her idea to Elise, who wholeheartedly supports the idea and volunteers to help her with it, once Jasmine agrees. Spending more time together makes them both more wary of touching the other, in case it is taken the wrong way, as their feelings start to get more intense. Their efforts to make a festive tea with little of the usual ingredients available, plus the large quantities they will need to produce, in order to allow every resident of Purple Oasis to have a part of the special ceremony and ritual many tea witches used to carry out every Christmas. One part of the Christmas Eve ritual, is for tea witches to share a secret with another, so can either of them be brave enough to be the first to reveal their true feelings? Maddy’s original wish was to bring Christmas cheer now the oasis is on a steady path to regrow tea and provide for people, but it soon turns out to be a more intense occasion as she tries to get the courage to declare her feelings to Elise. They need to look towards the future now and neither wants to do it alone! A lovely short tale in the tea witch world and the Purple Oasis, with two old friends finally braving exposing their true feelings for each other and looking towards the future together. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The holidays are still a chance to give, something both our heroine want to honor. But perhaps the best gift of all is giving way to the secrets of their hearts.

This is a side story in the series, so it makes a perfect introduction. No prior reading required.

This is a paranormal romance of the FF variety with a post-apocalypse setting. As I expect from these authors, the story is well written and easy to read. The setting is well done, if a bit grim (see post-apocalypse). The characters are also well done and very enjoyable. I really enjoyed our leads and watching them discover how to really be with each other. Overall, I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading others in the series.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book for review purposes

[TaniaRina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life is about living
It’s refreshing that our youth is making changes to repair the planet and celebrate things not are not just about surviving. They are ‘reclaiming a bit of normalcy’ in this mad, mad world.

I’m not kidding when I say this series (and some others by the authors) makes me thirsty. Had to stop halfway through to make some Lady Grey tea that I bought last week after not having any in decades. And it’s perfect on such a blustery day!

Next on my list is ‘Witch’s Frost’. Looking forward to ‘Shifter's Escape’ (expected in April) and ‘Witch's Warning’ (expected around mid-June).

[Tina Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encouraged by Goodness and Love...
This was a Wonderful Story! I love how even after an apocalypse, Elise and Maddy, friends for years, were able to do several things, work oposing shifts, live in the same small space, find ways of making the tea gifting ceremony continue... even after an apocalypse... to top it off, can they tell each other that they feel more than best friend feelings? They don't want to lose the friendship they have, but they both want more.
I loved this story, so gentle after such a horific event.
Thank you, Laura Greenwood and Arizona Tape, for making a kind, clean, gentle story, that is good for people of all ages, and could be for any kind of couple!

[Megan Britton · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a short story in the middle of a series, I realized I wouldn't have all the back up stories. I got this short story as a freebie in the Christmas Bites anthology. As a freebie to introduce me to the series, it didn't draw me in. No description of what a tea witch is or how it's special. An illness or lack of energy was touched on several times for one character but nothing happened with it, nothing was revealed. The trope of friends not wanting to reveal love and ruin their friendship was sweet. I just wish the story on its own was more cohesive to give me the desire to read the rest of the series.

[Sassy Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story. I have been a fan of the series since the beginning. I love reading the angst between Maddy and Elise. They were best friends, and roommates. They also care more for one another but are afraid of changing their relationship at first. Maddy has a great idea for the holiday season. Maddy and Elise are put in charge to make it happen. Will they get the chance to explore their feelings for each other?

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bookaddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s so sweet how Elise and Maddy are “dancing” around each other.
Each of them consider their friendship more importent than their feelings.
The tea ceremony around the Christmas was so touching!
And wasn’t the only thing that warm my heart.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tahnia Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would you do if you were in love with your best friend? That is the dilemma Maddy and Elise find themselves in. Neither realizes the other has feelings and all it takes is a simple tea ceremony for the truth to come out. This quick read is sweet and romantic, ending in a HEA. Very highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[DeeDeeWReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful F/F story in the Purple Oasis series. It's coming up to Christmas time and a beautiful tea witch tradition is tea gifting ceremony.

This book deals with the dynamics between our two FMC while they prepare for the ceremony and execute it.

Definitely a warm and fuzzies book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas is coming to the Purple Oasis and Maddy would like to hold a tea gifting ceremony like they use to. Elise has agreed to help. This was a short, easy to read story that brings joy to the oasis and a surprise for Maddy.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I liked how Elise and Maddy bring a little normality to the Purple Oasis at Christmas while finally being able to acknowledge the long hidden feelings for each other.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters are well written with a great story. It has a Christmas theme that shows the traditions of the tea witches. It has love story of two female witches. It is a great read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Claire Trickett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable book about giving gifts at Christmas. Although, I do feel that it can be read at any time of the year, as there's also a romance too!

I received a complimentary copy of the book and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.

[Serret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Witches keeping the tea alive in the winter. But mostly it's about 2 best friends that nether of them know that the other is in love with each other. Only part I dislike is they only realize they both love each other at the end of the book.

[Ayşe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maddy & Elise's story
4*