The Midsummer Women

by Jean M. Roberts

Since childhood, Ethnobotanist Hannah Heronstone has had a passion for healing plants and their use through the centuries. Orphaned at birth, she’s unaware of her connection to an ancient lineage of cunning women, healers, and yes, even witches. But they have not forgotten about her.

A surprise invitation to an archaeological dig lures Hannah to Maine and the site of a long forgotten English colony, abandoned in 1608. The presence of Dr. Peter Wentworth, rich, charming, and a recent fling, is an intriguing complication. But the thrill is cut short as the dig is plagued by accidents and attacks while bizarre visions disturb Hannah’s days and strange dreams fill her nights. Questioning her sanity, she turns to a trio of local women, who claim descent from a sisterhood of natural healers and practitioners of earthly magic, the Midsummer Women.

Together they help Hannah connect with the past, to Anna, a young cunning woman forced into servitude by the powerful Wentworth family. Against her will, she sails to the new world with her hated master. When Anna breaks her healer’s vows by using the black magic of a local demon, she taints the blood and lives of her Heryonstan descendants.

To save the man she loves and restore her bloodline to the sisterhood, Hannah must resist the growing power of the demon, Tando, and learn to harness the dormant magic of the Midsummer Women or be doomed to follow in her ancestor’s fate.

Genres: Womens Fiction, Paranormal, Historical, Audiobook, Historical Fiction

Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2025

About the author

Hey readers! I am a lover of history, witchcraft, magic, mystery and all things women. I write about powerful women who help each other, who band together for the greater good. This a common theme throughout all my books. This does not mean I don't like a great romance, but the girls come first.
I live outside of Houston, Texas where I can be found either at my desk writing or out in the garden, growing flowers and veggies!

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this well-researched, evocative book. The protagonists and world-building of the two timelines were distinct and effective and the descriptive language of the earlier period, was particularly good. The premise was original and I loved the connection through the herons. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Erica Moya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very intriguing! You could tell the author did a lot of research when writing this book. I was hooked from beginning to end. I wish there was more.

[Myra McIlvain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jean M. Roberts masterfully weaves historical fiction and the use of ancient and modern-day magic. She opens her chilling story with Dr. Hannah Heronstone, an American scientist who takes a wrong turn on a road in Devon, England. Out of the fog, she stumbles onto an Anglo-Saxon church that isn’t on modern maps and burial plots that bear her family name. She shares her discovery and then enjoys a brief fling with the handsome and very wealthy Peter Wentworth. When he shows up in Maine on an archeological dig at an English settlement abandoned in 1608, she questions his motives and her judgment.
Why are people frightened away from a decaying old house? Are herons actually trying to communicate with her? Is she dreaming, or is she returning to Anna, a peasant girl with special healing powers who is forced to work for the Wentworth family after they have her mother murdered for witchcraft? Who are the three women who claim descent from natural healers and earthly magic?
My interest is primarily historical fiction, but Roberts creates scenes and characters who feel so alive in their struggle with power and how they use it that I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns of the story.

[R. Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jean M. Roberts’ "The Midsummer Women" offers a captivating narrative spanning four centuries that seamlessly blends historical fiction, ghost stories, and societal critique. With meticulous attention to historical detail, Roberts creates an enthralling story while incorporating elements of romance and drama characteristic of her work.

Roberts skillfully navigates between historical epochs using dual narratives. The story effortlessly moves between the adventures of Dr. Hannah Heronstone, a present-day American scientist, and her ancestor, Anna, a peasant girl with extraordinary healing abilities. Through Hannah’s journey of self-discovery and her quest to repair past wounds, Roberts explores the bind of sisterhood and the enduring impact of societal injustices.

Hannah’s ancestral legacy and willingness to embrace her role as a healer and guardian of feminine wisdom are central to the narrative. Through encounters with mystical mentors and the support from her spiritual sisterhood, Hannah embarks on a transformative odyssey that transcends time.

Roberts’ adept character development and narrative structure ensure a compelling experience as readers are drawn into Hannah’s journey of empowerment and redemption. As Hannah confronts the shadows of the past, she emerges as a beacon of hope and resilience, bridging the divide between generations and ushering in a new era of healing and wholeness.

[Michael Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two women, centuries apart, connected by a mysterious legacy, a house, herons, and a heron stone. Anna and Hannah don't know each other, and yet their destinies are intertwined. Anna is a slave to a cruel and lustful master, Hezekiah. When she travels with her master to a the New World, a set of events and spirits are set in motion, with both good and evil stretching down through the ages. Hannah is a modern archeologist, drawn to the remains of a colonial village that she and her team hope to unearth - but evil lurks at the house, and threatens to kill them.
Jean Roberts has woven a dual timeline tale with romances in both time periods, the 1600s and modern day, on the shores of New England. Can they untangle the mystery, before it kills them? You'll be on the edge of your seat until the end.

[Trisha Duron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful story of two women who lived centuries apart. I enjoyed the balance of historical fiction, romance, culture, and ghost story. The Midsummer Women is a cozy must read

[LilithNeverEve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book

Midsummer Woman is a beautifully written piece of historical fiction that blends rich research, quiet magic, and emotional storytelling into something truly memorable. Jean M. Roberts weaves a tale that travels between past and present, connecting generations through the wisdom and traditions of cunning women and the enduring strength of those who practiced the old ways.
The journey to the New World is portrayed with vivid detail, and what stood out most was the respectful relationship between the witches and the Native Americans they encountered. The mutual respect, shared knowledge, and reverence for the land felt authentic and thoughtfully handled, adding a powerful layer of meaning to the story.
This book treats witchcraft not as spectacle, but as history, heritage, and lived practice. The depiction of cunning women—the healers, midwives, and wisdom keepers—felt grounded, knowledgeable, and deeply respectful. The way the past storyline ties seamlessly into the present creates a sense that these traditions are never truly lost, only carried forward.
A wonderfully crafted novel full of heart, history, and factual magic. I absolutely loved this book.

[Brandy L · Rating 5 out of 5]

First 5 star read of the year! I was hooked from the very beginning. The characters are compelling and the author travels between past and present seamlessly. Clearly a lot of research went in to creating the world within these pages. I don't want to give too much away, but this story urges us to remember our magic and the power that can be yielded when women of a community stand together in love. Starting the next book immediately!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second book by Jean Roberts and I loved it. It's a wonderful blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal with a healthy dose of feminism. I particularly liked her use of the herons as both messengers and guardians for these women. The instant connection that women healers had with each other, even when they came from different cultures felt authentic. It was a true sisterhood and the world would undoubtedly be a better place if they still existed as they once did. The best part of the ending was the hint of a sequel. (I hope it won't be long.) I highly recommend this book.

[M.E. Allquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first read of Jean Roberts and I may be hooked! What a fantastic mix of historical fiction and fantasy! Suspenseful, thrilling — a real page turner. I enjoyed every minute of this story! If you like dark magic and mysterious happenings, this is for you!

[Diana Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witchy
Haunting
Suspenseful
Historical fiction
Time traveling
Romance
Murder

This was such an incredible book!

Immediately, the first chapter pulled me in and had me wondering what was happening. I needed to read more and more and more. The FMC Hannah comes across some paranormal activity and is set on a journey to find out about her ancestors history.. that’s when the witches, the haunting, the demon possessing, and some pretty spooky things start happening!
Oh! There are some romances that you’re just hoping make it to their happily ever after.

I felt so many feelings reading this book. I even cried during a few moments of some chapters.. and of course I read the scariest part of the book at 2am.

Absolutely loved the suspense!
I can’t wait to read more from Jean. I will not stop recommending this book and I really hope it gets turned into a movie.

[Marie V · Rating 4 out of 5]

A witchy, supernatural, historical, and moving read! The Midsummer Women is both well-written and enchanting. I really enjoyed the author’s descriptive details. They helped create a lifelike vision of each scene. I loved the overall message of love, connection, destiny, and divine feminine power. As other’s reviewers have said, this would make an incredible movie!

[Beau & Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love witchy, supernatural, herbal and romance, this is the book for you. This book has good flow and lots of good character development. You can tell the author did her research, which I love. I love the Midsummer Women.

[Jenna Drenth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book! I normally don't really read fantasy, but it was really accessible, even for people who don't read fantasy. I do however think that the language is a little too descriptive for my liking, and some phrases sounded quite old. Overall, I really liked this book!!!

[Kristine Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:

“On either side of the road, sky-blocking hedges scratched the side of her vehicle like supernatural fingernails.”

BAM! Right out of the box, author Jean Roberts pulls in and immerses readers in a contemporary England that feels eerily like we've crossed into an ancient time. As we meet Hannah Heronstone, it's quickly apparent she's not your everyday ethnobotanist. I say this tongue-in-cheek because I didn't know what one was and clearly, now that I do, there's no such thing as an everyday ethnobotanist. One of the things I most enjoyed about THE MIDSUMMER WOMEN was I learned so much! Whether we're firmly in modern times or voyaging back to the 1600s, Roberts's thorough research shines and informs.

As Hannah is discovering more about herself, little hints are dropped that something mystical is happening within and around Hannah. (And you sense she's an old soul by some of the words and phrases she uses -- more little hints she's special.) Since one was featured on the cover, I paid attention to the herons and was fascinated by the part they play across time and space. Since I read the sequel first, I had good intel as to whether the events unfolding in THE MIDSUMMER WOMEN were due to otherworldly influences, Hannah's imagination, or human shenanigans; but happily, the knowledge I brought from book two didn't really detract from my enjoyment of book one in any way.

I mentioned shenanigans, and there are buckets full of them in THE MIDSUMMER WOMEN. Shady characters, spooky places, sinister occurrences, and chapters that shift between timelines and perspectives will keep readers brains on high alert, and oh yeah: all is not as it seems. Not even close!

Less talented authors would make a mess of it, but Jean Roberts handles Hannah's and Anna's alternating perspectives and observations of one another across centuries with panache. Her characters are richly drawn and fully fleshed out, but she keeps enough mystery around everyone that I never could quite trust my gut feelings or believe anyone's intentions. There's a lot of suspense and tension, but Roberts knows just the right moment to throw in some breathtaking scenery and ground the reader with nature's never-failing beauty.

ABOUT THE NARRATOR: The audiobook is performed by accomplished narrator Debi Tinsley, and she has good mastery and consistency with voicing various characters. Her pacing was pretty good, so I listened to the book at regular speed. She nails the creepy-dude vibe and the airy-chick vibe, and there are plenty of both. BUT, nitpicky me, she sounds midwestern not Texan, as main character Hannah should sound; her Anna voice often reminded me of the Ghost of Christmas Past in the Muppet version of A Christmas Carol; and I didn't realize until well into the story that the character name she was saying was Hezekiah (she pronounced it HuhZEEkya). Even so, this is a well-executed and enjoyable listen, but I advise careful listening or you’ll miss finer details. I had to replay parts and reference the eBook a few times, but that's on me. There's A LOT going on.

I was pleased with the book's resolution, though romance lovers may be disappointed to miss out on what happened between the last two chapters. Not me! Romantic elements are sprinkled throughout, but happily, they aren't the focus of the book. But love does drive much of the plot, and I'm fine with that. Can't wait for book three, but I will, I will, I will. (How 'bout now?)

This full review and my book review of the second in the series are on Hall Ways Blog.

[Heather Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

When comparing the “Hero’s Journey,” to that of the maternal “Heroine’s Journey,” Campbell dispelled the correlation to Murdock’s “Heroine’s Journey,” saying, “In the whole mythological journey, the woman is there. All she has to do is realize that she’s the place that people are trying to get to” (Ballard).
Jean Roberts organizes her new novel, The Midsummer Women: A Dual-Time Historical Fantasy according to Maureen Murdock’s “Heroine’s Journey,” where the protagonist, Hannah Heronstone was born to heal the matriarchal bond between her ancestors, lost to tragedy and time. By trade, Hannah is an academic, an archeologist and herbologist, studying the alchemy of herbal medicinal and spirituality within history. Her journey begins paradoxically by “getting lost,” and discovering a Saxon chapel while looking for direction. Hannah meets Mildritha, a mentor, in all her prophetic wonder. “Time stands still,” the moment Mildritha leads Hannah to discover her heron stone, what will become Hannah’s talisman and source of her powerful, matriarchal connection (Roberts).
Through a series of fortunate events, Hannah lands a position on an archeological dig in Maine, researching a colony sent to the Americas from England prior to the Pilgrim’s Mayflower journey in 1620. Immediately, she is thrust into relics and ruins, long since protected by a weave of briars and thorns, both metaphorically and physically. The evil in this place needs healing. Through visions and dreams, Hannah learns pieces of the mystery while building a “found family,” of spiritual women including Abenaki descendants, once associated with the English colony (Martilla). Then, the narrative duality begins, paralleling the effects of one generation’s choices and generational tragedy on the next, and the next.
Hannah’s spiritual connection to Maine’s herons compels her visions in the dreams of her ancestor, Anna, which cannot be overlooked any longer. Hannah must accept her initiation and quest, and “reconnect with the feminine” of her unknown past to balance her life and that of her spiritual family (Ballard). Once the backstory becomes clear, Hannah, with the help of her matriarchs “heal the mother daughter split,” as well as the “wounded masculine,” Hezikiah, from the past.
Roberts’ reveals the circumstances surrounding these plot events with enlightened character development enlightening, offering readers a page-turning experience. Like steeping tea, Hannah’s spiritual strength grows stronger with time. It is Hannah’s spirit, like the roots she uncovers, that becomes the “place that people are trying to get to,” reuniting mothers and daughters, both in the past, in the now, and in the future (Ballard).
Ballard, Nancer. “Maureen Murdock’s Heroine’s Journey Arc.” The Heroine Journeys Project, The Heroine Journeys Project, 14 Feb. 2019, heroinejourneys.com/heroines-journey/. Accessed 21 Apr. 2024.
Martilla, Melanie. “Mythic Storytelling: Heroine’s Journey by Gail Carriger - Melanie Marttila.” DIY MFA, 2 Feb. 2021, diymfa.com/reading/mythic-storytellin.... Accessed 21 Apr. 2024.

[Catherine Meyrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Midsummer Women by Jean M Roberts begins with Dr Hannah Heronstone, an ethnobotanist with an interest in medicinal herbs grown in cottage gardens, lost in a sudden fog. She finds herself in a small village with medieval thatched cottages, a Saxon chapel and gravestones bearing her family name. The village is called Heronstone. The mystery deepens when an ageless woman steps from behind a large grave monument. She says she is Mildritha, ‘the keeper of the dead’. She knows who Hannah is, knows her mother’s name. Their exchanges are a mixture of the mundane, as she directs Hannah back to the motorway, and the magical when she explains what the stone is that Hannah has picked up from one of the graves – a heron stone.
A stone that’s cold but burns the flesh. Smooth as silk, but tears the skin, easily forgotten but always present. When all seems lost, turn to the power of the heron stone.
The scene is atmospheric and chilling with an underlying sense of unease which intensifies as the novel progresses.

Out in the sunshine again, Hannah dismisses it all as weird and gets on with her life – delivering a paper at a conference and visiting the stately home of wealthy and handsome Dr Peter Wentworth with whom she has a brief fling. While at Wentworth Manor she has her first haunting glimpse of Anna, a young woman of the late sixteenth century, forced into service with the Wentworth family following the death of her mother, a cunning woman who had been accused of witchcraft.

Glimpses and vivid dreams of Anna’s life follow Hannah when she is unexpectedly invited to take part in an archeological dig in Maine of an English colony that was abandoned in 1608. Hannah struggles to understand what is happening as strange accidents plague the dig and some of her companions behave inexplicably, but she is drawn towards a small group of local women who can give her insight into what is happening.

The physical locations, both England and Maine, and the two time periods are presents in beautiful detail. Roberts’ descriptions of an archaeological dig, and the way participants can interact are fascinating. The novel’s underlying premise comes from the question of what if magic is real. The charms and herbal remedies described are genuine Anglo-Saxon charms that Roberts uncovered in her research for the book.

As we fall deeper into Hannah and Anna’s story, the sense of threat increases as menace from the past leaks into the present and, like Hannah, the reader does not know who among those around her can be trusted. The pace increases and by the end the novel is an absolute page turner.

The Midsummer Women is a spellbinding and absolutely gripping dual timeline historical fantasy with a touch of romance.

[Misti Jorges · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not typically a historical fiction/realistic fiction reader. But the title caught my eye, I liked the cover, and I thought "Why not?" And I'm really glad I did!

Hannah leads a simple life, doing a job that she loves. But when she takes a detour and stops at a village that doesn't exist, things become far less simple. She can't get rid of this weird stone for starters. And then the even weirder dreams begin. It only speeds up as she winds up at a dig site in Maine, next to a handsome and charming (and rich) man she had a one night stand with in England, and she begins to wonder if these dreams are really dreams...or something more informative about her past and future combined. Hannah must decipher her visions, digging into her family's witchy roots, before the ghosts of the past destroy everything. Including her budding relationship.

The visions of Anna, Hannah's ancestor, is an entire story in itself that unfolds throughout Hannah's. She has her own complications and problems to work through, including unwanted attention from her employer/master. But when they take a ship to the New World, Anna's luck gets better as everyone else struggles through creating the colony. Not only getting to learn about new plants and their medicinal uses, but also finding love. When her master finds out, her own world changes.

Being a little "witchy" myself, I highly enjoyed this book. I loved Hannah slowly learning about her family's history through Anna's eyes and trying to connect the dots, along with trying to figure out what role Peter plays in her life, as it's clear it was no chance meeting in England and especially not in Maine. The POV switch between Hannah and Anna is very easy and very well done. Sometimes POV switching can complicate the story a bit but this was not only done smoothly, it enhanced the story as well, giving the reader better depth. The very very end was an interesting revelation and I wouldn't mind reading a second book to see if/how Hannah is able to fix that problem more permanently. Readers will be drawn in by the personalness of the writing, being able to easily empathize with both women. (Or at least I did.) The tidbits of information help string you along with it getting boring or the reader becoming impatient. The pace is great. There's quite a bit of supernatural, talking to animals, old magic, a coven-like feel, maybe a tinge of horror, and some romance tucked in. Along with a woman quite literally finding her power.

If you're a bit witchy too, definitely pick up this book!

[Georgina Prince · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Midsummer Women
By Jean M. Roberts

Genre: Historical | Fantasy | Romance
Format: Book 📕
Publication date: 4th June 2024

🌟: 4/5

An interesting and unique historical fiction with fantasy and romance! I thought the writing was really good, it was very descriptive and I could perfectly imagine the scenes.

The characters were well fleshed out and I understood their motivations, they were likeable and a big part of the story was their journey and wanting to see if they triumphed in the end.

I think this book would be a good entry point if you don’t read a lot of fantasy and I don’t often see historical fantasy so this was a gripping and unique read.



✨Blurb✨

Since childhood, Ethnobotanist Hannah Heronstone has had a passion for healing plants and their use through the centuries. Orphaned at birth, she’s unaware of her connection to an ancient lineage of cunning women, healers, and yes, even witches. But they have not forgotten about her. 
 
A surprise invitation to an archaeological dig lures Hannah to Maine and the site of a long forgotten English colony, abandoned in 1608. The presence of Dr. Peter Wentworth, rich, charming, and a recent fling, is an intriguing complication. But the thrill is cut short as the dig is plagued by accidents and attacks while  bizarre visions disturb Hannah’s days and strange dreams fill her nights. Questioning her sanity,  she turns to a trio of local women, who claim descent from a sisterhood of natural healers and practitioners of earthly magic, the Midsummer Women.  
 
Together they help Hannah connect with the past, to Anna, a young cunning woman forced into servitude by the powerful Wentworth family. Against her will, she sails to the new world with her hated master. When Anna breaks her healer’s vows by using the black magic of a local demon, she taints the blood and lives of her Heryonstan descendants. 
 
To save the man she loves and restore her bloodline to the sisterhood, Hannah must resist the growing power of the demon, Tando, and learn to harness the dormant magic of the Midsummer Women or be doomed to follow in her ancestor’s fate.

Thanks to @jeanmrobertsauthor for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

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[Lina Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible journey, complete with an opening that could do double duty in a horror film. A wrong (really?) turn takes the MC, modern day scientist Dr. Hannah Heronstone, into an olde English village that time forgot. A stranger walks out of the fog and there are gravestones bearing the name of her family. Somehow, she makes it to her conference—and a fling with a handsome fellow scientist, Peter Wentworth. Who then shows up on the same dig in Maine she is invited to join
Coincidence? Fate?
And this is only the beginning. At this point I feared for the plot, worried about being dished up the usual split-time romance.
I should have known better.
Ghosts, talking birds, soothsaying strangers, weird dreams and a scary house are just a few of the ingredients Roberts weaves into a complex plot, expertly swinging in and out of two time strands. The scientist Hannah finds her fate interwoven with that of Anna, daughter of the local wisewoman who died accused of witchcraft back in the seventeenth century. Sent to the new world, Anna meets her love—and her fate in one scary moment fueled by a pain beyond bearing.
It takes her descendant, 400 years later to banish the evil and heal the wounds.
The author commands an excellent knowledge of the settler’s history, and I truly enjoyed reading the historical parts as much as I loved the archaeological bits.
The settings and moods are wonderfully rendered and realistic, and where other authors would have given in to create a happy end what Roberts gives us is more bittersweet than anything—and I liked that.
If I have any gripe, it’s the amount of telling in the story. True, the narrative has to cover a lot of ground, but I would've been more than happy to be shown key scenes rather than the author trying to revert to tell the whole story. But apart from that I truly enjoyed this astounding novel.

[Stasia Roze · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a witchy read!

This book had me hooked from the very start. Not only does the location start an hour from where I live, but I also am a very spiritual person, so this was the perfect book for me.

By reading this book, we, the reader, are awarded with rich culture, accurate history portrayed in a fantasy/paranormal setting.

There are so many loveable characters, from sassy grandmothers to ghosts and birds.

The story focuses on the main character, Hannah. We witness her powers unlocking as she tries to unravel the mystery of her ancestors' past and what she has to do to right the wrongs from centuries past.

Some honourable character mentions:

Eawyn had my heart the second she called Hannah a ninny. That and her forgetful tea that she used on Hannah. I wish I had a grandmother like Eawyn.

I also adored the friendship between Rebecca and Hannah, I loved how it mirrored Anna and Kaskos, I thought that was a really clever way to connect both Anna and Hannah whilst also showing us the reader that until the curse is lifted, history will keep repeating itself.

I'm grateful to the author for also including the true history in the authors note at the end of the book, you can tell this book was well planned out but also respectfully written.

I strongly believe this book should be on every woman's tbr for 2025. It's a true book of sisterhood, empowerment, and love.

[Blessing McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Midsummer Women by Jean M. Roberts is an atmospheric blend of historical fiction, paranormal mystery, romance, and family legacy. Hannah Heronstone’s fascination with healing plants becomes much more significant when she discovers her connection to an ancient lineage of healers and witches. Her unexpected involvement in an archaeological dig in Maine provides an intriguing doorway into a past that refuses to remain forgotten.

What stood out to me most is the way the story connects Hannah’s present-day experiences with Anna’s troubled history. The strange visions, unexplained attacks, ancient secrets, and presence of the demon Tando gradually create a compelling sense of danger. Hannah’s relationship with the Midsummer Women also adds an interesting layer, particularly as she begins to understand the responsibilities and consequences connected to her heritage.

The novel’s combination of folklore, historical mystery, romance, and supernatural elements gives it a distinctive atmosphere. Readers who enjoy stories about powerful female characters, ancestral secrets, healing traditions, and the influence of the past on the present should find plenty to appreciate here.

[Cece · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice blend of historical fiction with the supernatural and a bit of time travel thrown in for good measure. The story of ethnobotanist, Hannah Heronstone, bouncing back from a broken engagement to an archeologist, is woven into the discovery of her own links to a line of powerful women. Through her work on an archeological dig in modern day Maine, her dreams of an ancestor who lived in the settlement revealed there, and a new relationship with the descendant of another settler of the village, the story is engrosssing, thrilling, romantic, and holds the reader’s interest from start to finish. There are a few confusing twists, and some less than complete characters, but overall, The Midsummer Women is a well-researched and enjoyable read.

[Sara Sartagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Midsummer Women begins when Dr Hannah Heronstone wanders into a fog and finds a medieval village bearing her family name. There she meets Mildritha, an ageless “keeper of the dead”, who knows far too much — and who reveals the unsettling power of the heron stone Hannah has picked up.

Back in the real world, Hannah tries to forget it all, until visions of Anna — a young woman in the 1590s, trapped in service after her mother is accused of witchcraft — begin to haunt her. When Hannah joins an archaeological dig in Maine, the past follows, accidents mount, and the line between magic and reality thins.

With vivid settings, real Anglo‑Saxon charms, and rising menace, this dual‑timeline historical fantasy tightens its grip page by page.

Atmospheric and gripping.

[Soul · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ Paranormal Dive into a Mystical Tour ⭐

Vivid magic presented throughout the prose. I totally related to the wonderful cast of characters. Enticing introduction into a mystical, natural adventure, and I was ready for more. Complete with tortuous, tragic plot twists, and well executed crossovers from reality to dream or fantasy states. Hannah is a perfectly flawed character, and I was pleasantly surprised that I favored Peter and Skiiwares. The characters and their self discoveries fueled the plot as well. Serendipitous moments remind me of the searcher abound in much of humanity. 5 Stars.

[Michele James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though they live hundreds of years apart, Hannah Heronstone and Anna share a bloodline of magical women. When Hannah, an ethnobotanist, goes on an archeological dig on the Maine coast, she's pleasantly surprised to find a man she had a memorable one night stand with is part of the crew.
Soon, Hannah starts having strange visions of Anna and the past as strange, sinister happenings occur in the area of the dig. Hannah joins forces with the local and indigenous "witches" to the save the world and her new love from evil forces.
With The Midsummer Women, Jean M Roberts had spun an intriguing story full of magic and lore.

[Shauna Pharris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever a read a book that you realized you would have liked more if you were in a different mood. This was one of those books for me. The author really did her research on this one which is something I absolutely love and respect. It adds a layer of realism to fantasy books that sucks me in. But for some reason, this book didn't suck me in. I didn't particularly like or dislike the main characters. They were just meh to me. And the modern day part of the story bored me (but I'm not much into archeology).
Overall, this book was great, I just feel like I wasn't in the right mood space for this book.

[Eliza Hampstead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It's well-written, and the author has a remarkable ability to draw you in with the characters. The research behind the story is evident, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative. By the end, I had tears in my eyes, a testament to the emotional impact of the story.

I particularly loved the development of Anna and how the two timelines intertwined seamlessly. This clever narrative structure kept me engaged and eager to see how everything would unfold.
Highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating read!

[Samantha Shortt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am usually a book boyfriend journey kind of girl. This book took me by surprise it was easy reading and I enjoyed the character story lines. Who doesn't love a supernatural romance right? I love a book that you can get lost in and this definitely fits the bill. This book will have you saying 1 more chapter before bed. I truly enjoyed reading this book and falling in love with the story..

[Beth Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

With fantastic detail and precision storytelling, Jean M. Roberts weaves a perfect tale. I enjoyed the time travel aspect of this book, along with the supernatural aspects woven throughout. The characters come to life, as do the locations, and everything combines to leave you turning pages until the end. I can't wait to dive into the next book.