What do you think?
Rate this book
Sisters of the Craft #3
Smoke on the Water
Abandoned beneath a black willow tree on the banks of a northern Wisconsin creek, Willow Black spent her entire childhood in foster care. Her entire life she's had terrifying visions, and it is these visions that eventually land her in a psychiatric facility. And so Willow takes her meds and believes she is getting better. Until she meets a fellow patient who doesn't think she is crazy at all. She thinks Willow is a witch.
Willow's psychiatrist, Dr. Sebastian Crane, works hard to resist his feeling that he and Willow are destined to be together while also working to convince her that strange occurrences aren't the result of witchcraft… until he is thrown into the middle of a storm of supernatural events that can't be explained any other way…
Willow's psychiatrist, Dr. Sebastian Crane, works hard to resist his feeling that he and Willow are destined to be together while also working to convince her that strange occurrences aren't the result of witchcraft… until he is thrown into the middle of a storm of supernatural events that can't be explained any other way…
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 4, 2015
32 people are currently reading
781 people want to read
About the author
Lori Handeland
122 books1,347 followersLori Handeland is a five-time nominee and two-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, as well as the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over sixty novels spanning the genres of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, contemporary romance, historical romance and historical fantasy.
After a quarter-century of success and accolades, she began a new chapter in her career with her women’s fiction debut, Just Once (Severn House, January 2019), which received a coveted, starred review from Library Journal and was optioned as a feature film by Catalyst Global Media.
Lori lives in Southern Wisconsin with her husband of over thirty-five years. In between writing and reading, she enjoys long walks with their rescue mutt, Arnold, and visits from her two grown sons, awesome daughter-in-law and perfectly adorable grandchildren.
After a quarter-century of success and accolades, she began a new chapter in her career with her women’s fiction debut, Just Once (Severn House, January 2019), which received a coveted, starred review from Library Journal and was optioned as a feature film by Catalyst Global Media.
Lori lives in Southern Wisconsin with her husband of over thirty-five years. In between writing and reading, she enjoys long walks with their rescue mutt, Arnold, and visits from her two grown sons, awesome daughter-in-law and perfectly adorable grandchildren.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
June 6, 2016
4.5 - "You can't reason with cuckoo." Stars!
The final book in the Sisters of the craft trilogy delivered up and exciting and unpredictable finish to what has been a really good series overall.
Three sisters, all unknown to the other at the beginning of this series, finally come together in this the final book. Initially it does concentrate on the third and youngest sister; Willow Black.
"Evil never dies.”
Willow has spent a large part of her adult life incarcerated in the Northern Wisconsin Mental Health Facility. Having an affinity to water, and seeing things through it that any normal person doesn’t, tends to make people think that not all the connections in Willow’s brain are fixed correctly.
"I’ve been waiting for you…
"I didn’t know it, but I was waiting for you too.”
That is until Sebastian Frasier, strolls in, leather jacket, pierced ear, slightly rumpled and oh so delicious, as the facility’s new administrator, he brings back more than a few memories for Willow. Odd thing is they are memories of things between them that haven’t even happened yet.
In my mind I knew him. In my heart I loved him.
Part of this book runs concurrently with the second book in the series, and I liked the way the author intertwined all of the characters stories together in this, the last book of the series especially as it still felt very much like its own story still.
"Not everything should be fixed… not everything can be.”
The Venatores Mali are still gathering in strength and number, their leader Roland now back on Earth, steps up his campaign to wipe out the sisters and witches as a whole, the excitement really builds up in the second half, with shocks, surprises and general resolution to things, there are more than a few emotional moments, when people are reunited, people say goodbye, and past guilt and grief are finally laid to rest. Owen, Bobby, Raye and Becca all feature heavily in the finale of this book, and it was good to see them all again one last time, as well as Pru and Henry getting their Happily Ever After-life’.
I’ll be honest and say I wasn’t sure about this series when I started reading it, Lori Handeland has a very unique writing style, and perspective on things and it took me a little while to get into her mind-set. But once I did, the whole series turned into a really enjoyable and unique adventure from beginning to end. I will definitely be looking for more from this author in the future.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was an absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.
The final book in the Sisters of the craft trilogy delivered up and exciting and unpredictable finish to what has been a really good series overall.
Three sisters, all unknown to the other at the beginning of this series, finally come together in this the final book. Initially it does concentrate on the third and youngest sister; Willow Black.
"Evil never dies.”
Willow has spent a large part of her adult life incarcerated in the Northern Wisconsin Mental Health Facility. Having an affinity to water, and seeing things through it that any normal person doesn’t, tends to make people think that not all the connections in Willow’s brain are fixed correctly.
"I’ve been waiting for you…
"I didn’t know it, but I was waiting for you too.”
That is until Sebastian Frasier, strolls in, leather jacket, pierced ear, slightly rumpled and oh so delicious, as the facility’s new administrator, he brings back more than a few memories for Willow. Odd thing is they are memories of things between them that haven’t even happened yet.
In my mind I knew him. In my heart I loved him.
Part of this book runs concurrently with the second book in the series, and I liked the way the author intertwined all of the characters stories together in this, the last book of the series especially as it still felt very much like its own story still.
"Not everything should be fixed… not everything can be.”
The Venatores Mali are still gathering in strength and number, their leader Roland now back on Earth, steps up his campaign to wipe out the sisters and witches as a whole, the excitement really builds up in the second half, with shocks, surprises and general resolution to things, there are more than a few emotional moments, when people are reunited, people say goodbye, and past guilt and grief are finally laid to rest. Owen, Bobby, Raye and Becca all feature heavily in the finale of this book, and it was good to see them all again one last time, as well as Pru and Henry getting their Happily Ever After-life’.
I’ll be honest and say I wasn’t sure about this series when I started reading it, Lori Handeland has a very unique writing style, and perspective on things and it took me a little while to get into her mind-set. But once I did, the whole series turned into a really enjoyable and unique adventure from beginning to end. I will definitely be looking for more from this author in the future.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was an absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.
July 19, 2015
Named for the black willow tree she was found under, Willow Black never knew the love of a family. Raised in the foster care system, she endured horrifying visions, was considered insane, terribly disturbed and went from foster care to a psychiatric institution. The world thinks she’s crazy, except for one woman, another patient who believes she is a witch. It was her dreams that put her here and her dreams that brought Sebastian into her life. Little did she know it would be as her psychiatrist, in spite of the sparks that run between them, Sebastian cannot swallow the tales she tells. Will he become a believer when Willow discovers who and what she truly is? Lost to her family for centuries, and now she’s found, she finds that along with her two sisters, they are destined to save the world from an ancient demon whose one mission is to see them dead. Strong individually, together their forces triple, but will they be strong enough to defeat evil? What of Sebastian, a man of reason who has treated patients with visions for years? Will he become a believer or will he be the bait that brings Willow to defeat?
Leave it to Lori Handeland to bring her trilogy of three magical sisters to a fascinating and powerful end perfectly! Smoke on the Water is more than a fantasy tale; it is a family reunion of epic proportions! Imagine the joy of meeting her sisters and her parents for the first time! Ms. Handeland handled that so warmly, and then switched gears to heat up the action with more danger, an upcoming magical battle and hearts caught in the crossfire! Great characters, old characters making cameo appearances and villains who make you sneer every time they open their mouth. That is great fantasy and a fantastic wrap to this magical family reunion!
I received an ARC edition from St. Martin's Press in exchange for my honest review. Miss this series and you'll miss the magic of Lori Handeland's writing!
Series: Sisters of the Craft - Book 3
Publication Date: August 4, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ISBN 9781250020147
Genre: PNR
Print Length: 352 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For More Reviews, Promotions and all things Books visit: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Leave it to Lori Handeland to bring her trilogy of three magical sisters to a fascinating and powerful end perfectly! Smoke on the Water is more than a fantasy tale; it is a family reunion of epic proportions! Imagine the joy of meeting her sisters and her parents for the first time! Ms. Handeland handled that so warmly, and then switched gears to heat up the action with more danger, an upcoming magical battle and hearts caught in the crossfire! Great characters, old characters making cameo appearances and villains who make you sneer every time they open their mouth. That is great fantasy and a fantastic wrap to this magical family reunion!
I received an ARC edition from St. Martin's Press in exchange for my honest review. Miss this series and you'll miss the magic of Lori Handeland's writing!
Series: Sisters of the Craft - Book 3
Publication Date: August 4, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ISBN 9781250020147
Genre: PNR
Print Length: 352 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For More Reviews, Promotions and all things Books visit: http://tometender.blogspot.com
May 14, 2015
**WARNING: I stayed away from spoilers, but this review talks about all the books in the Sisters of the Craft Series**
You can't read one of the books in the Sisters of the Craft series without reading them all so I decided to write a series review instead of individual book reviews.
IN THE AIR TONIGHT follows Raye. I found her to be strong and loyal, but lonely. Being adopted has made her a bit of an outsider in the town she great up in, but she doesn't really have a want to go anywhere else. Bobby drew her attention pretty quickly and they had a lot of chemistry. He has some issues believing in the supernatural so has a hard time with Raye's abilities.We learn a lot about where the sisters come from and why the conflict exists in IN THE AIR TONIGHT.
HEAT OF THE MOMENT follows Becca. She has a great family and never knew she wasn't a blood part of it. She is independent, confident in her career, but we find out that she is still heartbroken over her teenage love OWEN. They both have to work through their pasts to make it to the future stronger and together. I really loved Reggie. I don't know how someone couldn't, he was a great addition to the story.
SMOKE ON THE WATER follows Willow. Everyone, including Willow thinks she's crazy. She currently resides in a psychiatric facility. When the man she's been having visions of for years walks into her life as her new psychiatrist she doesn't know what to think besides the fact that they belong together and he is going to save her. I don't have a ton of thoughts on the events of SMOKE ON THE WATER that revolves around getting to know Willow. That part of the story was a little slow, but I enjoyed the addition of Mary in her story and it really drew the other books into the story before the sisters actually all met up. The relationship between Willow and Sebastian wasn't as smooth as the other couples, but it really couldn't be easy because of where they were and their relationships.
I actually loved each of the sisters in their own way. They were all able to complement each other and work together from the start. Each book did a great job in continuing the major storyline and building up the world it takes place in. The story was wrapped up nicely at the end of SMOKE ON THE WATER and although I would have loved to read more about the sister's futures, I was happy with the way things ended. The Sisters of the Craft series gave me a great few days of reading. If I was you, I would wait until they are all out so you can read them back to back.
* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
You can't read one of the books in the Sisters of the Craft series without reading them all so I decided to write a series review instead of individual book reviews.
IN THE AIR TONIGHT follows Raye. I found her to be strong and loyal, but lonely. Being adopted has made her a bit of an outsider in the town she great up in, but she doesn't really have a want to go anywhere else. Bobby drew her attention pretty quickly and they had a lot of chemistry. He has some issues believing in the supernatural so has a hard time with Raye's abilities.We learn a lot about where the sisters come from and why the conflict exists in IN THE AIR TONIGHT.
HEAT OF THE MOMENT follows Becca. She has a great family and never knew she wasn't a blood part of it. She is independent, confident in her career, but we find out that she is still heartbroken over her teenage love OWEN. They both have to work through their pasts to make it to the future stronger and together. I really loved Reggie. I don't know how someone couldn't, he was a great addition to the story.
SMOKE ON THE WATER follows Willow. Everyone, including Willow thinks she's crazy. She currently resides in a psychiatric facility. When the man she's been having visions of for years walks into her life as her new psychiatrist she doesn't know what to think besides the fact that they belong together and he is going to save her. I don't have a ton of thoughts on the events of SMOKE ON THE WATER that revolves around getting to know Willow. That part of the story was a little slow, but I enjoyed the addition of Mary in her story and it really drew the other books into the story before the sisters actually all met up. The relationship between Willow and Sebastian wasn't as smooth as the other couples, but it really couldn't be easy because of where they were and their relationships.
I actually loved each of the sisters in their own way. They were all able to complement each other and work together from the start. Each book did a great job in continuing the major storyline and building up the world it takes place in. The story was wrapped up nicely at the end of SMOKE ON THE WATER and although I would have loved to read more about the sister's futures, I was happy with the way things ended. The Sisters of the Craft series gave me a great few days of reading. If I was you, I would wait until they are all out so you can read them back to back.
* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2015
I kindly received this ARC from St. Martin's Press Via Netgalley in return for an honestly review
It's finished!
Okay, so this one...was not exactly how i expected this series to finish off.
I'll go more into that after my little rendition of the plot.
Two sisters we've met, the third is missing.
Raye and Becca now know each other's existence, but the third sister, no matter how many location spell they tried, was nowhere to be seen.
Just where is she?
Willow Black is alone.
In a mental facility.
She tried telling people she's not crazy, that her only problem is that she fears water.
Because she can see the future in water.
And in her future, she sees herself branded, killed and burned.
She has no idea what or who she is.
She's locked somewhere Raye and Becca can't get to.
But the Venatores Mali is everywhere...even in a mental facility.
Who will save her?
yea so, honestly, I'm a bit disappointed.
The first book remains my favourite.
In the first, there was so much suspense and action i thought my heart would leap out of my chest. Bobby Doucet is a stud and Raye fell in love with him, no insta- love. The plot twists were awesome. There was a lack of that in the next two books.
I'm not into the insta- love thing. With the first book, Raye fell in love with Bobby and I loved that. The next two in the series, Becca was already in love and this one, she knew she'd fall in love.
Also the plot twists, the nail biting suspense of the first book, heck even a bit of the second one, just wasn't in the third. Technically it should have been even more suspenseful but it simply was not...and that makes me sad.
I loved the first book, i thought the second was nice, this one was more of a "yea...okay." *Shrug*
The thing i didn't like was that this series started off as totally original and not generic at all. Insta love was nowhere to be seen. It was a fascinating and new concept. And then it lost that original edge in the next two books.
Sebastian was an okay character. Honestly, no one can hold a candle (see what i did there :P) to Raye and Bobby, i seriously wanted to keep reading the next books to know what's happening to these characters.
So if this book was a 2 star, it got the 3rd for Bobby and Raye being in it.
Ah well, overall this is a good series. :)
A positive- the *cough, cough* scenes were fewer and not as descriptive as the first two! :)
That's all for now. You guys will like the ending.
-The Book Herald.
Tweet me @thebookherald
It's finished!
Okay, so this one...was not exactly how i expected this series to finish off.
I'll go more into that after my little rendition of the plot.
Two sisters we've met, the third is missing.
Raye and Becca now know each other's existence, but the third sister, no matter how many location spell they tried, was nowhere to be seen.
Just where is she?
Willow Black is alone.
In a mental facility.
She tried telling people she's not crazy, that her only problem is that she fears water.
Because she can see the future in water.
And in her future, she sees herself branded, killed and burned.
She has no idea what or who she is.
She's locked somewhere Raye and Becca can't get to.
But the Venatores Mali is everywhere...even in a mental facility.
Who will save her?
yea so, honestly, I'm a bit disappointed.
The first book remains my favourite.
In the first, there was so much suspense and action i thought my heart would leap out of my chest. Bobby Doucet is a stud and Raye fell in love with him, no insta- love. The plot twists were awesome. There was a lack of that in the next two books.
I'm not into the insta- love thing. With the first book, Raye fell in love with Bobby and I loved that. The next two in the series, Becca was already in love and this one, she knew she'd fall in love.
Also the plot twists, the nail biting suspense of the first book, heck even a bit of the second one, just wasn't in the third. Technically it should have been even more suspenseful but it simply was not...and that makes me sad.
I loved the first book, i thought the second was nice, this one was more of a "yea...okay." *Shrug*
The thing i didn't like was that this series started off as totally original and not generic at all. Insta love was nowhere to be seen. It was a fascinating and new concept. And then it lost that original edge in the next two books.
Sebastian was an okay character. Honestly, no one can hold a candle (see what i did there :P) to Raye and Bobby, i seriously wanted to keep reading the next books to know what's happening to these characters.
So if this book was a 2 star, it got the 3rd for Bobby and Raye being in it.
Ah well, overall this is a good series. :)
A positive- the *cough, cough* scenes were fewer and not as descriptive as the first two! :)
That's all for now. You guys will like the ending.
-The Book Herald.
Tweet me @thebookherald
July 4, 2015
The final part of the trilogy Sisters of the Craft tells us the story of the youngest Taggart sister, Willow and her discovery of her ancestry and powers.
Smoke on the Water begins with a major plot twist that I did not see coming, but that pulled me right in. As the story progressed I was more and more curious just to see how things will work out for Willow, who was in a mental institution, and her doctor Sebastian.
The romantic in me enjoyed reading how they had to fight their attraction, but the pragmatic in me just couldn't get past how weird all that was. Add to that all the visions Willow had of them together and I really can't call the romance swoon-worthy. Creepy is the word that comes to mind.
I wish I could say it got better after they , but honestly it didn't. It was so cheeeeeeesy. The talk about soul mates and how they were destined to be together and how everything feels so right just made me roll my eyes even harder than with the prequel. I swear, at one point I was even rooting for Roland, to wipe them all off, and spare us all the cheesiness.
After this, three stars seem a bit much, but in all honesty, I was entertained. I'm glad I had the opportunity to read the book and finish the series, because they reminded me of how much I loved Charmed. The Taggart sisters might not be as kickass as the Halliwell sisters, but I guess it's hard for anyone to live up to our childhood heroes.
In the Air Tonight remains my favorite book in the series.
A big thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an arc via NetGalley.
Smoke on the Water begins with a major plot twist that I did not see coming, but that pulled me right in. As the story progressed I was more and more curious just to see how things will work out for Willow, who was in a mental institution, and her doctor Sebastian.
The romantic in me enjoyed reading how they had to fight their attraction, but the pragmatic in me just couldn't get past how weird all that was. Add to that all the visions Willow had of them together and I really can't call the romance swoon-worthy. Creepy is the word that comes to mind.
I wish I could say it got better after they , but honestly it didn't. It was so cheeeeeeesy. The talk about soul mates and how they were destined to be together and how everything feels so right just made me roll my eyes even harder than with the prequel. I swear, at one point I was even rooting for Roland, to wipe them all off, and spare us all the cheesiness.
After this, three stars seem a bit much, but in all honesty, I was entertained. I'm glad I had the opportunity to read the book and finish the series, because they reminded me of how much I loved Charmed. The Taggart sisters might not be as kickass as the Halliwell sisters, but I guess it's hard for anyone to live up to our childhood heroes.
In the Air Tonight remains my favorite book in the series.
A big thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an arc via NetGalley.
December 31, 2015
(3.5 stars=I liked it) I liked Smoke on the Water, which wraps up the Sisters of the Craft trilogy. The romance does gets the short straw this time around though, because there's so much to do to introduce the Willow as the final sister, reunite her with her siblings and significant others, and battle the big bad witch Hunter cult that had caused her family so much harm.
Willow had had the hardest time of all the 'abandoned' sisters in the series who were thrown forward in time by their parents final act of magic. As a child, Willow's power of seeing visions in watery reflections kept her bouncing around foster homes because no one wanted a child who screamed every time they bathed her or gave her a glass of water. And, as an adult, acting to prevent a vision which showed her gruesome death at the hands of a witch Hunter landed her in an institution and tagged as criminally insane. It is there that she meets the man she's 'seen' herself with - the man who will save her. Unfortunately, Sebastian is the new director/psychiatrist at the institute and the attraction he feels for Willow is both forbidden and illegal.
I did like both Willow and Sebastian, but their time 'together' is very limited - the price of leaving some room for some sister time near the end of the story. While the connection that Willow feels for Sebastian from a lifetime of her visions of them together did help, since Sebastion as a good guy had to fight his inappropriate feelings for a patient, theirs was the thinnest romance-wise of the trilogy. But still he is important and I did really like the twist in how Sebastian saves the sisters. Willow's story does run parallel to the first two books but fortunately it just fills in and doesn't overlap much.
So overall, I really enjoyed the series (with the second book being my favorite since it wasn't burdened by the setup/wrap-up of the other books.) And as a fan of Handeland's old Nightcreatures series it was fun to see the mini cameos of characters from that series.
ARC courtesy of St Martin's via NetGalley. Release date 8/4.
Willow had had the hardest time of all the 'abandoned' sisters in the series who were thrown forward in time by their parents final act of magic. As a child, Willow's power of seeing visions in watery reflections kept her bouncing around foster homes because no one wanted a child who screamed every time they bathed her or gave her a glass of water. And, as an adult, acting to prevent a vision which showed her gruesome death at the hands of a witch Hunter landed her in an institution and tagged as criminally insane. It is there that she meets the man she's 'seen' herself with - the man who will save her. Unfortunately, Sebastian is the new director/psychiatrist at the institute and the attraction he feels for Willow is both forbidden and illegal.
I did like both Willow and Sebastian, but their time 'together' is very limited - the price of leaving some room for some sister time near the end of the story. While the connection that Willow feels for Sebastian from a lifetime of her visions of them together did help, since Sebastion as a good guy had to fight his inappropriate feelings for a patient, theirs was the thinnest romance-wise of the trilogy. But still he is important and I did really like the twist in how Sebastian saves the sisters. Willow's story does run parallel to the first two books but fortunately it just fills in and doesn't overlap much.
So overall, I really enjoyed the series (with the second book being my favorite since it wasn't burdened by the setup/wrap-up of the other books.) And as a fan of Handeland's old Nightcreatures series it was fun to see the mini cameos of characters from that series.
ARC courtesy of St Martin's via NetGalley. Release date 8/4.
June 14, 2015
This was the final book of the Sisters of the Craft trilogy and I really enjoyed it but even at around 350 pages it was a lot to cram into this final book. At times it seemed to drag and then it would take off a bit. Add to this the fact that this book starts back some time before the end of the last book which leaves the reader knowing several things you would not normally know. Unfortunately, this also lends itself to the feeling of wanting to scan ahead because you do not get caught up in time until around the 50% mark.
The romance between Sebastian and Willow spent a lot of time in the denying phase to the point I was ready to slap the guy around a bit. Things do eventually work out in the romance department but it is the short version.
Overall I thought the series was closer to 5 Stars than any individual book of the trilogy and the ending was quite a unique touch that I can't believe anyone ever saw coming. Kudos for that, I love a really good surprise.
There is stress, there is always a bit of TSTL in such books but it was really minor here and the author uses it to push the plot along. All things considered I give this book 4 Stars and can say without a doubt I really enjoyed the trilogy.
The romance between Sebastian and Willow spent a lot of time in the denying phase to the point I was ready to slap the guy around a bit. Things do eventually work out in the romance department but it is the short version.
Overall I thought the series was closer to 5 Stars than any individual book of the trilogy and the ending was quite a unique touch that I can't believe anyone ever saw coming. Kudos for that, I love a really good surprise.
There is stress, there is always a bit of TSTL in such books but it was really minor here and the author uses it to push the plot along. All things considered I give this book 4 Stars and can say without a doubt I really enjoyed the trilogy.
November 2, 2025
Willow thinks she's crazy. She was committed to a mental facility for killing someone she saw trying to kill her in her dreams.
When a new psychiatrist comes to the facility and its a man from her dreams...in a good way...Willow doesn't know what to make of it. Is her dreams for real?
Since this is a relationship building between psychiatrist and patient, it isn't a smooth love match. Mostly Smoke on the Water is the transition Willow makes into realizing her true powers, discovering who she is and the building of the relationship between Sebastian and Willow.
This is the final culmination of three sisters coming together, Raye, Becca and Willow. Each sister had an exciting story but putting them together was decadent.
The Sisters of the Craft series is wonderfully exciting, highly entertaining and thrilled this paranormal romance reading fan.
I give Smoke on the Water 4.5 stars.
I received this ARC copy of Smoke on the Water from St. Martin's Press in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication August 4, 2015.
When a new psychiatrist comes to the facility and its a man from her dreams...in a good way...Willow doesn't know what to make of it. Is her dreams for real?
Since this is a relationship building between psychiatrist and patient, it isn't a smooth love match. Mostly Smoke on the Water is the transition Willow makes into realizing her true powers, discovering who she is and the building of the relationship between Sebastian and Willow.
This is the final culmination of three sisters coming together, Raye, Becca and Willow. Each sister had an exciting story but putting them together was decadent.
The Sisters of the Craft series is wonderfully exciting, highly entertaining and thrilled this paranormal romance reading fan.
I give Smoke on the Water 4.5 stars.
I received this ARC copy of Smoke on the Water from St. Martin's Press in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication August 4, 2015.
March 5, 2018
*NOTE: This is a review of the entire trilogy. I will try to keep it as spoiler-free as possible*
For whatever reason, I rarely read paranormal romance books. I'm not sure why because it's a genre that I usually enjoy. I have a bunch, but I always seem to skip over them and pick up a fantasy book instead. I was browsing through my unread books, and came across the Sisters of the Craft trilogy. I decided to give it a try because it had been a while since I read a book about witches, and the covers are gorgeous. Unfortunately, I really didn't like the trilogy at all.
I think my biggest problem with the trilogy, in general, is that the writing and plot were very simplistic. It felt like a bad soap opera that your grandma would force you to watch with her when you stayed home sick from school. Everything was over the top, and nothing felt original. It felt like a combination of every paranormal romance I had read, like it took bits and pieces from different stories and combined them to make a plot. The one thing that I really did love about the books was Reggie and Grenade, and they were only in one book, never to be seen again. The sex scenes in each book weren't even very descriptive. It felt like an eighth grade boy was trying to write them.
The first book, In the Air Tonight, was very slow paced. It took about seventy-five percent of the book for things to really get going, and to catch my interest. The second book, Heat of the Moment, went better but I think that's because I liked Reggie so much. I really loved hearing his thoughts. The third book, Smoke on the Water, started off interesting, but quickly went downhill. I was involved until about fifty percent into the book. Then things started dragging on and on. By the time I got about sixty percent, I had to resist the urge to skim read the rest because I was that bored. What should have taken me a day to read, took about three because it just dragged so badly and I kept losing interest. The only bright part of that book was Mary. I loved her snarky sense of humor. It had me chuckling a few times.
I was sad that the first paranormal romance series I picked up in such a long time turned out to be a letdown. I really wanted to like it, but unfortunately, that isn't the case. I disliked this trilogy so much that I felt a sense of relief when I finished the third book. If it wasn't for the fact that I got all three to review, I probably wouldn't have continued reading past the first book. I don't think I will read any more of Lori Handeland's books in the future. I think her writing style just isn't for me.
For whatever reason, I rarely read paranormal romance books. I'm not sure why because it's a genre that I usually enjoy. I have a bunch, but I always seem to skip over them and pick up a fantasy book instead. I was browsing through my unread books, and came across the Sisters of the Craft trilogy. I decided to give it a try because it had been a while since I read a book about witches, and the covers are gorgeous. Unfortunately, I really didn't like the trilogy at all.
I think my biggest problem with the trilogy, in general, is that the writing and plot were very simplistic. It felt like a bad soap opera that your grandma would force you to watch with her when you stayed home sick from school. Everything was over the top, and nothing felt original. It felt like a combination of every paranormal romance I had read, like it took bits and pieces from different stories and combined them to make a plot. The one thing that I really did love about the books was Reggie and Grenade, and they were only in one book, never to be seen again. The sex scenes in each book weren't even very descriptive. It felt like an eighth grade boy was trying to write them.
The first book, In the Air Tonight, was very slow paced. It took about seventy-five percent of the book for things to really get going, and to catch my interest. The second book, Heat of the Moment, went better but I think that's because I liked Reggie so much. I really loved hearing his thoughts. The third book, Smoke on the Water, started off interesting, but quickly went downhill. I was involved until about fifty percent into the book. Then things started dragging on and on. By the time I got about sixty percent, I had to resist the urge to skim read the rest because I was that bored. What should have taken me a day to read, took about three because it just dragged so badly and I kept losing interest. The only bright part of that book was Mary. I loved her snarky sense of humor. It had me chuckling a few times.
I was sad that the first paranormal romance series I picked up in such a long time turned out to be a letdown. I really wanted to like it, but unfortunately, that isn't the case. I disliked this trilogy so much that I felt a sense of relief when I finished the third book. If it wasn't for the fact that I got all three to review, I probably wouldn't have continued reading past the first book. I don't think I will read any more of Lori Handeland's books in the future. I think her writing style just isn't for me.
March 15, 2021
4.5 stars
This is the third book in the Sisters of the Craft series by Lori Handeland.
What a great ending this was. I was happy to see all the main characters from the first two books sprinkled throughout this one. It was like watching the finale of a great tv series. I just couldn’t get enough. I like how things were wrapped up and how satisfied the ending made me feel.
This book featured Willow Black. Her witchy power was about visions and premonitions. She could see and know things that would happen. Of course, this made people think she was crazy and she ended up in the nut house, excuse me, psychiatric facility. Owen’s mother is also in this same facility. We do a bit of going back in time in order to get to know Willow and Mary’s relationship and how it developed. Here we also meet Dr. Sebastian Crane. Willow has known about him and how he would impact her life for a long time. She just never realized her would be her own doctor.
Mary and Willow learn some simple Wicca spells and this grows Willow’s power allowing her to accidentally send Mary outside of the facility. During this book we get a better insight into what happed to Mary and why things unfolded they way they did back in book two.
The minor characters here were just as fascinating as the leads. I am sorry to see this series end. I would totally watch this as a tv series if it ever came up on my channel picker.
Definitely a first class book. Highly recommended.
If you like romance with a dash of paranormal/supernatural, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is the third book in the Sisters of the Craft series by Lori Handeland.
What a great ending this was. I was happy to see all the main characters from the first two books sprinkled throughout this one. It was like watching the finale of a great tv series. I just couldn’t get enough. I like how things were wrapped up and how satisfied the ending made me feel.
This book featured Willow Black. Her witchy power was about visions and premonitions. She could see and know things that would happen. Of course, this made people think she was crazy and she ended up in the nut house, excuse me, psychiatric facility. Owen’s mother is also in this same facility. We do a bit of going back in time in order to get to know Willow and Mary’s relationship and how it developed. Here we also meet Dr. Sebastian Crane. Willow has known about him and how he would impact her life for a long time. She just never realized her would be her own doctor.
Mary and Willow learn some simple Wicca spells and this grows Willow’s power allowing her to accidentally send Mary outside of the facility. During this book we get a better insight into what happed to Mary and why things unfolded they way they did back in book two.
The minor characters here were just as fascinating as the leads. I am sorry to see this series end. I would totally watch this as a tv series if it ever came up on my channel picker.
Definitely a first class book. Highly recommended.
If you like romance with a dash of paranormal/supernatural, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
August 1, 2015
The final book in the Sisters of the Craft trilogy finds the last sister, Willow Black, residing at the Northern Wisconsin Mental Health Facility. She’s struggled all her life, having visions as soon as she sees water. It lead to shrieking, fainting and generally being thought of cuckoo. When she tries to kill a man who was going to try and kill her (she saw it in a vision), she lands in the asylum. When she sees Sebastian Frasier, she recognizes her true love, her soulmate from her lifelong visions. Small problem - he’s the new administrator and her new psychiatrist. There’s her sisters to meet, the looming threat of the Venatores Mali, and the big bad, Roland McHugh, to vanquish. In the midst of all that, romance happens.
- Enjoyable urban fantasy/paranormal series : Each book focuses on one sister and her finding her true love in the face of overwhelming evil and this is no different. Ms. Handeland has created a great little ‘verse that I’ve enjoyed visiting. There’s humor and well drawn characters, and the stories (I’ve read the first and last) flowed well and can stand on their own, though I really need to get around to reading the middle book so the series is complete for me.
- Good hero and heroine : Willow’s a great heroine. She’s pretty pragmatic and level-headed, considering what she’s suffered in her life. She’s never had a stable place to call home, always afraid of the future she could see and no one else would believe. Sebastian’s a good hero whose struggle with the guilt of not being able to save his sister made him sympathetic and a good match for Willow. I would have liked to seen more regarding their romance.
- Not so much with the sexy : The whole psychiatrist/patient dynamic added a touch of the forbidden to the story that I enjoyed, even if it’s only dealt with in very broad terms. This series is PG though (I think the first book had the most sexy times in it) and the focus is on the magic and vanquishing Roland.
- Sweet ending : There’s some danger, but ultimately, it felt very safe, with a HEA wrapped in a magical bow. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I felt more danger and tension in the first book than I did in the finale.
An enjoyable read and a nice change of pace from the books I’d been reading lately. I recommend for fans of paranormal/urban fantasy reads who like a bit of sweet with their witches, à la Charmed.
**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**
- Enjoyable urban fantasy/paranormal series : Each book focuses on one sister and her finding her true love in the face of overwhelming evil and this is no different. Ms. Handeland has created a great little ‘verse that I’ve enjoyed visiting. There’s humor and well drawn characters, and the stories (I’ve read the first and last) flowed well and can stand on their own, though I really need to get around to reading the middle book so the series is complete for me.
- Good hero and heroine : Willow’s a great heroine. She’s pretty pragmatic and level-headed, considering what she’s suffered in her life. She’s never had a stable place to call home, always afraid of the future she could see and no one else would believe. Sebastian’s a good hero whose struggle with the guilt of not being able to save his sister made him sympathetic and a good match for Willow. I would have liked to seen more regarding their romance.
- Not so much with the sexy : The whole psychiatrist/patient dynamic added a touch of the forbidden to the story that I enjoyed, even if it’s only dealt with in very broad terms. This series is PG though (I think the first book had the most sexy times in it) and the focus is on the magic and vanquishing Roland.
- Sweet ending : There’s some danger, but ultimately, it felt very safe, with a HEA wrapped in a magical bow. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I felt more danger and tension in the first book than I did in the finale.
An enjoyable read and a nice change of pace from the books I’d been reading lately. I recommend for fans of paranormal/urban fantasy reads who like a bit of sweet with their witches, à la Charmed.
**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**
July 7, 2015
My Thoughts - 5 out of 5 Unicorns - I loved it!!!
***Received a copy of the ebook for an honest review
The cover is stunning and beautiful!! I’ve loved them all :)
This is the 3rd book in the trilogy. They have all rocked!! This is the 3rd sister’s story Willow. She is amazingly strong and sweet. Sebastian isn’t sure which way is up after he meets Willow. Of course Willow’s whole awesome family is in the book too which I love. Everything just magically fit together to make an awesome adventure and story….I couldn’t resist. This is the conclusion of the series, and it does have a fabulous ending which I will tell you nothing about because you just have to read it :)
Lori’s creativity is just amazing. I have had no problems connecting with her characters or the awesome world she has created :) I guess I’m stuck on words beginning with A today…lol I can’t wait to see what Lori cooks up next :)
I highly recommend this whole series to any paranormal fans who love magic, family, witches, and love because the mix just works :)
***Received a copy of the ebook for an honest review
The cover is stunning and beautiful!! I’ve loved them all :)
This is the 3rd book in the trilogy. They have all rocked!! This is the 3rd sister’s story Willow. She is amazingly strong and sweet. Sebastian isn’t sure which way is up after he meets Willow. Of course Willow’s whole awesome family is in the book too which I love. Everything just magically fit together to make an awesome adventure and story….I couldn’t resist. This is the conclusion of the series, and it does have a fabulous ending which I will tell you nothing about because you just have to read it :)
Lori’s creativity is just amazing. I have had no problems connecting with her characters or the awesome world she has created :) I guess I’m stuck on words beginning with A today…lol I can’t wait to see what Lori cooks up next :)
I highly recommend this whole series to any paranormal fans who love magic, family, witches, and love because the mix just works :)
August 5, 2015
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Four-hundred years. Infant Willow Black was sent four-hundred years, to today, this time and place, a place “without magic.” A place where she and her sisters, triplets all, can be safe. But now, Willow is an inmate of the Northern Wisconsin Mental Health Facility – i.e., the loony bin. Not so safe after all.
To save their daughters from slaughter at the hands of McHugh, an evil, vicious “witch hunter” Henry and Pru willing gave their lives in the flames of the pyre in order to send their daughters forward in time – to a time when no one believes in witches. But the thing is, now time is rolling back around again – and the evil of those who call themselves “hunters of evil” yet are truly the most evil of all, have brought McHugh back into the world, spreading slaughter and fire in their wake.
Today, magic has been overrun by technology. But Wiccans still exist – Wiccans, whose one immutable law is “Harm None”. The followers of McHugh, the Venatores Mali, are so cruel that those who harm none are considered evil by those who commit the most evil of deeds in the name of so-called ‘good’. Such twisted minds, that ritual slaughter of innocents is considered godly.
McHugh is back. Reborn into the world, his followers gathered around him. And now, the three girls, Raye, an Air Witch, Becca, an animal communicator, and now Willow, Water Witch and the third of the triplets, must work together to stop the Hunters, to send McHugh back to the darkness.
“Ignorance. Illiteracy. Hubris and insecurity, mad obsession. Once upon a time, long ago, in the bad, ignorant, evil times of King James and his Danish queen, there was a great storm. James, an ignorant, religious fool, thought to himself, “Such a storm can only have been caused by witchcraft!” And in his ignorance and fear, he called to himself Roland McHugh, witch hunter, who he placed in charge of a secret society, known as Venatores Mali – Hunters of Evil. And from those savage beginnings there began an age of slaughter, of blood and death of innocents such as hearkened to war. And Roland McHugh spread his evil across Europe, spraying blood and hatred in his path. . . Roland McHugh – who, according to his Wikipedia entry, “had burned more witches than anyone in history.” (My words, not the author’s)
This is the third, and final, book of the Sisters of the Craft series. You can read my reviews for books one and two at tinyurl (dot) com/p8yvpat . I enjoyed all three of the books. They easily fit within the Paranormal Romance category, but they can also fit well within Urban Fantasy. The storylines are interesting, the characters well designed, and the meld of history and fiction is quite good.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a realistic review. All thoughts are my own. If you enjoy my reviews, please click “Like” at goodreads and Amazon so that my reviews will draw more attention for the authors. Thank you!
Four-hundred years. Infant Willow Black was sent four-hundred years, to today, this time and place, a place “without magic.” A place where she and her sisters, triplets all, can be safe. But now, Willow is an inmate of the Northern Wisconsin Mental Health Facility – i.e., the loony bin. Not so safe after all.
To save their daughters from slaughter at the hands of McHugh, an evil, vicious “witch hunter” Henry and Pru willing gave their lives in the flames of the pyre in order to send their daughters forward in time – to a time when no one believes in witches. But the thing is, now time is rolling back around again – and the evil of those who call themselves “hunters of evil” yet are truly the most evil of all, have brought McHugh back into the world, spreading slaughter and fire in their wake.
Today, magic has been overrun by technology. But Wiccans still exist – Wiccans, whose one immutable law is “Harm None”. The followers of McHugh, the Venatores Mali, are so cruel that those who harm none are considered evil by those who commit the most evil of deeds in the name of so-called ‘good’. Such twisted minds, that ritual slaughter of innocents is considered godly.
McHugh is back. Reborn into the world, his followers gathered around him. And now, the three girls, Raye, an Air Witch, Becca, an animal communicator, and now Willow, Water Witch and the third of the triplets, must work together to stop the Hunters, to send McHugh back to the darkness.
“Ignorance. Illiteracy. Hubris and insecurity, mad obsession. Once upon a time, long ago, in the bad, ignorant, evil times of King James and his Danish queen, there was a great storm. James, an ignorant, religious fool, thought to himself, “Such a storm can only have been caused by witchcraft!” And in his ignorance and fear, he called to himself Roland McHugh, witch hunter, who he placed in charge of a secret society, known as Venatores Mali – Hunters of Evil. And from those savage beginnings there began an age of slaughter, of blood and death of innocents such as hearkened to war. And Roland McHugh spread his evil across Europe, spraying blood and hatred in his path. . . Roland McHugh – who, according to his Wikipedia entry, “had burned more witches than anyone in history.” (My words, not the author’s)
This is the third, and final, book of the Sisters of the Craft series. You can read my reviews for books one and two at tinyurl (dot) com/p8yvpat . I enjoyed all three of the books. They easily fit within the Paranormal Romance category, but they can also fit well within Urban Fantasy. The storylines are interesting, the characters well designed, and the meld of history and fiction is quite good.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a realistic review. All thoughts are my own. If you enjoy my reviews, please click “Like” at goodreads and Amazon so that my reviews will draw more attention for the authors. Thank you!
June 23, 2016
2.5 stars
Okay, off the bat, these books are really great for the witchy stuff. It's good old fashioned elemental witchcraft and I really enjoy it. The historical bits stretch believe-ability but it's easy to move past.
NOW, here's what really frustrated me with this book and the finale of the series, in Goodreads updates:
Saruuh Kelsey is 59% done
Oh my god why is everyone engaged? That is NOT the natural state of a few-months-old relationship o.O For two sisters to be engaged to their LIs??? Come ON. Does that mean Sister #3 will be engaged by the end of this book????
Saruuh Kelsey is 80% done
Heeyyyyyyy just throwing this wild idea out there but what if we had someone who saw the future AND was mentally ill, and finding out she's a seer didn't Suddenly Miraculously Cure her of her illness????? How Super Neat would that be??????? I'm fed up with this seer-in-psych-ward trope. Kill it.
Saruuh Kelsey is 96% done
Ugghhhhhhhh why is every woman's happy ending pregnancy/marriage????
Saruuh Kelsey is 98% done
Oh my GOD, of course the third sister is getting married too. How else could this love story play out....???
I've pretty much said everything I want to about the mental illness trope. I hate it with a fiery passion. But the sister's stories ending in engagement, marriage, and pregnancy has got my blood boiling. The pregnancy was used as a plot device so I can sort of forgive that. But why does every sister, after knowing their love interests for bare months (sure, Becca knew Owen long before but she hadn't known him FOR TEN YEARS) get engaged???? I know this is romance, but relationships do not work that way. That's how divorce happens.
And by having every woman's story end in engagement, and having the series end in marriage, it suggests that this is the highest thing a woman can aspire to being. A wife. A mother. And both of those things are really great, and important to women, but I would have enjoyed these endings much, much more if only one of them got engaged. I mean, what are the chances three sisters would get engaged within the same period?? Sure it's fate and magic or whatever, but it's unrealistic and frustrating. And it says that Every Woman's Story should end this way. I'd have been so happy to see the sisters continuing their magic education, for that to be their promise of the future, or for Willow to be recovering from being institutionalised, instead of marriage and motherhood for EVERY SINGLE SISTER.
Okay, rant over.
These books are good urban fantasy. I'm just mad about the message the end sends. Although, I did actually enjoy this book the least. It was a little slow and drawn out until halfway. But hey, a satisfying culmination of the witchcraft and Venatores Mali.
Okay, off the bat, these books are really great for the witchy stuff. It's good old fashioned elemental witchcraft and I really enjoy it. The historical bits stretch believe-ability but it's easy to move past.
NOW, here's what really frustrated me with this book and the finale of the series, in Goodreads updates:
Saruuh Kelsey is 59% done
Oh my god why is everyone engaged? That is NOT the natural state of a few-months-old relationship o.O For two sisters to be engaged to their LIs??? Come ON. Does that mean Sister #3 will be engaged by the end of this book????
Saruuh Kelsey is 80% done
Heeyyyyyyy just throwing this wild idea out there but what if we had someone who saw the future AND was mentally ill, and finding out she's a seer didn't Suddenly Miraculously Cure her of her illness????? How Super Neat would that be??????? I'm fed up with this seer-in-psych-ward trope. Kill it.
Saruuh Kelsey is 96% done
Ugghhhhhhhh why is every woman's happy ending pregnancy/marriage????
Saruuh Kelsey is 98% done
Oh my GOD, of course the third sister is getting married too. How else could this love story play out....???
I've pretty much said everything I want to about the mental illness trope. I hate it with a fiery passion. But the sister's stories ending in engagement, marriage, and pregnancy has got my blood boiling. The pregnancy was used as a plot device so I can sort of forgive that. But why does every sister, after knowing their love interests for bare months (sure, Becca knew Owen long before but she hadn't known him FOR TEN YEARS) get engaged???? I know this is romance, but relationships do not work that way. That's how divorce happens.
And by having every woman's story end in engagement, and having the series end in marriage, it suggests that this is the highest thing a woman can aspire to being. A wife. A mother. And both of those things are really great, and important to women, but I would have enjoyed these endings much, much more if only one of them got engaged. I mean, what are the chances three sisters would get engaged within the same period?? Sure it's fate and magic or whatever, but it's unrealistic and frustrating. And it says that Every Woman's Story should end this way. I'd have been so happy to see the sisters continuing their magic education, for that to be their promise of the future, or for Willow to be recovering from being institutionalised, instead of marriage and motherhood for EVERY SINGLE SISTER.
Okay, rant over.
These books are good urban fantasy. I'm just mad about the message the end sends. Although, I did actually enjoy this book the least. It was a little slow and drawn out until halfway. But hey, a satisfying culmination of the witchcraft and Venatores Mali.
September 19, 2015
Smoke on the Water is the third book in the Sisters of the Craft series by Lori Handeland. I have not read the previous books in the series, and while it might have given me a better grasp of the larger picture, I was still able to enjoy the story and understand what was going on.
Abandoned beneath a black willow tree on the banks of a northern Wisconsin creek, Willow Black spent her entire childhood in foster care. Her entire life she's had terrifying visions, and it is these visions that eventually land her in a psychiatric facility. And so Willow takes her medication and believes she is getting better. Until she meets a fellow patient who doesn't think she is crazy at all. She thinks Willow is a witch. Willow's new psychiatrist, Dr. Sebastian Crane, works hard to resist his feeling that he and Willow are destined to be together while also working to convince her that strange occurrences aren't the result of witchcraft. However, when he is thrown into the middle of a storm of supernatural events that can't be explained any other way they both need to come to turns with their connection and the events surrounding them.
Smoke on the Water is a solid and entertaining read. I think I might have seen more of the action coming, and understood more of the danger Willow and Sebastian faced. However, I still really felt for the characters and enjoyed how they connected with each other. Willow was a smart and introspective character that knew that she experienced visions in water, but knew enough to hide that fact and avoid having it happen as often as possible. Sebastian is equally smart and an interesting character, but I do not feel like I knew him as well as I did Willow, or her fellow patient Mary. Their connection was one they both fought against, and they both held on to common sense the majority of the time, which was nice. I found myself invested in Willow's life and how everything was going to play it. I will say that I expected at least one of the big surprises to happen, but most of the time I was eager to turn the page and see what would happen next.
Smoke on the Water reminds me of why Handeland was one of my must read authors before I started reviewing (and burying myself in books I have committed to reading). The characters just work, and the larger plots as well as the immediate action are engaging and interesting. I need to go back and read the first two books in the series, since I am not sure how I missed them. A worthwhile read for fans of the urban fantasy and paranormal romance genres.
Abandoned beneath a black willow tree on the banks of a northern Wisconsin creek, Willow Black spent her entire childhood in foster care. Her entire life she's had terrifying visions, and it is these visions that eventually land her in a psychiatric facility. And so Willow takes her medication and believes she is getting better. Until she meets a fellow patient who doesn't think she is crazy at all. She thinks Willow is a witch. Willow's new psychiatrist, Dr. Sebastian Crane, works hard to resist his feeling that he and Willow are destined to be together while also working to convince her that strange occurrences aren't the result of witchcraft. However, when he is thrown into the middle of a storm of supernatural events that can't be explained any other way they both need to come to turns with their connection and the events surrounding them.
Smoke on the Water is a solid and entertaining read. I think I might have seen more of the action coming, and understood more of the danger Willow and Sebastian faced. However, I still really felt for the characters and enjoyed how they connected with each other. Willow was a smart and introspective character that knew that she experienced visions in water, but knew enough to hide that fact and avoid having it happen as often as possible. Sebastian is equally smart and an interesting character, but I do not feel like I knew him as well as I did Willow, or her fellow patient Mary. Their connection was one they both fought against, and they both held on to common sense the majority of the time, which was nice. I found myself invested in Willow's life and how everything was going to play it. I will say that I expected at least one of the big surprises to happen, but most of the time I was eager to turn the page and see what would happen next.
Smoke on the Water reminds me of why Handeland was one of my must read authors before I started reviewing (and burying myself in books I have committed to reading). The characters just work, and the larger plots as well as the immediate action are engaging and interesting. I need to go back and read the first two books in the series, since I am not sure how I missed them. A worthwhile read for fans of the urban fantasy and paranormal romance genres.
August 13, 2015
Smoke on the Water, Lori Handeland
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Romance,
What a fantastic trilogy this has been. It reminds me very much of Nora Roberts fantasy trilogies. I’ve read several of those, and the pacing, format and writing style in this series feels very similar though of course the actual story content is very different.
I’ve really enjoyed the first two stories, they could be read as standalones but there’s an overall story arc involving the three sisters, one of which is main feature in each book, that ties the three books together. I felt for Willow – the main character in this book. She’s had water based visions all her life, been bounced from foster home to foster home, and after attacking a man she’d seen would try to kill her in a vision she’s now in a secure psychiatric unit. No-one believes her visions are real so she must be mad....and that’s such a genuine scenario. I often think if Jesus were here today, going around proclaiming himself the Son of God, he’d be locked up PDQ....we fear what we don’t understand, and that’s the mainstay of many fantasy reads, how we treat those who have powers/talents outside the norm.
Anyway, back to the book. Willow is shocked when Sebastian comes as new Doc in the facility – she “knows” him, intimately, from her visions, but of course he doesn’t know that. All he knows is he’s attracted to her in a way he shouldn’t be, and yet can’t seem to stop himself. Willow makes friends with Mary there – Owen’s mum from the last book. Part of the story takes a slip back in time in that at the end of book two she’s dead but here she’s still alive, and we see the other side of what was happening with her in that book. All three sisters and their partners ( though Sebastian doesn’t get together with Willow properly until later in the book) are here, along with Henry and Prudence. They face a huge battle against Roland. He needs to be stopped but the events of last time have left him corporeal and incredibly strong. Its means they’re in for much danger and need to work closely to use their magics and find a way to destroy him.
Stars: Five, a fabulous read, and a perfect wrap up to the trilogy. .
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers
May 19, 2015
I really liked the poster and this is the first part I have added to my reading list - after reading Description of novel, I came to know that it is part of series and hence I added entire series.
This is the final part in the series and after reading #2, I had high hopes with this one. However I didn't enjoyed it that much as first 2 parts. I don't know - sometimes story goes too slow (and I stopped readin it for 2 days) and in the end it felt all rushed and too much magic things. I like Elise's apparence (or re- apparence) as I already mentioned in my #1 review that I've read Night creature series and liked it but there is too much going on.
In the end - all the weddings and baby(!) makes it more dreamlike and predicatable.
I read it because I wanted to know the end and more on that I wanted to write review for the same :)
I have received entire series from netgalley - which is interresting because most of authors post their #1 part of the series for free and once you are really sucked into it, you have to buy/pay steep prices for subsequent parts. So, it was delight to find entire series on netgalley - so thanks Lori for doing that, I am grateful for the same.
Having said that, sorry I didn't enjoy the last part. May be if it was just story of Willow and Sebastian and in #4 all sisters would have banished Roland - that would have been more interesting. I missed all sister time that they would have spent together and shared secrets and developed powers.
Overall entertaining series and lots of witch things and history which I enjoyed in all Series.
If I were to rate entire series - 3.5/5
Good luck Lori :)
This is the final part in the series and after reading #2, I had high hopes with this one. However I didn't enjoyed it that much as first 2 parts. I don't know - sometimes story goes too slow (and I stopped readin it for 2 days) and in the end it felt all rushed and too much magic things. I like Elise's apparence (or re- apparence) as I already mentioned in my #1 review that I've read Night creature series and liked it but there is too much going on.
In the end - all the weddings and baby(!) makes it more dreamlike and predicatable.
I read it because I wanted to know the end and more on that I wanted to write review for the same :)
I have received entire series from netgalley - which is interresting because most of authors post their #1 part of the series for free and once you are really sucked into it, you have to buy/pay steep prices for subsequent parts. So, it was delight to find entire series on netgalley - so thanks Lori for doing that, I am grateful for the same.
Having said that, sorry I didn't enjoy the last part. May be if it was just story of Willow and Sebastian and in #4 all sisters would have banished Roland - that would have been more interesting. I missed all sister time that they would have spent together and shared secrets and developed powers.
Overall entertaining series and lots of witch things and history which I enjoyed in all Series.
If I were to rate entire series - 3.5/5
Good luck Lori :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2015
ok wow what a finish to a brilliant series.
this book didn't disappoint at all.
the book covers the time in last book but from willows point of view and from where she is.
willow doesn't understand anything that's going, why she can see the future in the water, why can she do spells, why Mary keeps going on about witches and this 'roland' person.
if you enjoyed the first two you will love this book, it's very well written there's a few moments where it's emotional, there's quite a few moments I was laughing my head off, Mary provided the laughter in this book for me
I brought what we’d need, just in case.” She stood.
“Stay here.”
“Should I get a pot of water?” Mary asked.
“I’ll get it.” Peggy hurried off.
Mary made a disgusted sound. “She thinks I’m gonna drown someone in a pot of water? How would I do that?”
“Probably easier than you think.”
“It is,” she said
a great series loved these book really enjoyed them
this book didn't disappoint at all.
the book covers the time in last book but from willows point of view and from where she is.
willow doesn't understand anything that's going, why she can see the future in the water, why can she do spells, why Mary keeps going on about witches and this 'roland' person.
if you enjoyed the first two you will love this book, it's very well written there's a few moments where it's emotional, there's quite a few moments I was laughing my head off, Mary provided the laughter in this book for me
I brought what we’d need, just in case.” She stood.
“Stay here.”
“Should I get a pot of water?” Mary asked.
“I’ll get it.” Peggy hurried off.
Mary made a disgusted sound. “She thinks I’m gonna drown someone in a pot of water? How would I do that?”
“Probably easier than you think.”
“It is,” she said
a great series loved these book really enjoyed them
July 10, 2015
Holy crap! What a fabulous ending & tying together of the trilogy.
The 3rd Taggart is Willow Black. She's been in foster care and now a mental health facility for most her life thanks to visions. And, oh yeah, trying to kill a man she thought would try to kill her. In the facility, she befriends Mary (yes, Owen's mom). A new hunky administrator arrives and he's literally the man of her dreams (yes, the doctor/patient thing did squick me out but they managed to keep most of the romance at bay until they found out she's not really crazy).
The first half of this installment takes place at the same time as the other novels and is Willow, Mary and Sebastian's back story. The remainder has the three sisters battling the baddies (and trying to sneak in a little bit of lovin').
*Digital review copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
The 3rd Taggart is Willow Black. She's been in foster care and now a mental health facility for most her life thanks to visions. And, oh yeah, trying to kill a man she thought would try to kill her. In the facility, she befriends Mary (yes, Owen's mom). A new hunky administrator arrives and he's literally the man of her dreams (yes, the doctor/patient thing did squick me out but they managed to keep most of the romance at bay until they found out she's not really crazy).
The first half of this installment takes place at the same time as the other novels and is Willow, Mary and Sebastian's back story. The remainder has the three sisters battling the baddies (and trying to sneak in a little bit of lovin').
*Digital review copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
August 5, 2015
Great Series!
This is a great series; this is the third book in the Sisters of the Craft series by Lori Handeland. Willow Black was abandoned as a baby and spent her whole childhood in foster care. She has also had terrifying visions which has landed her in a psychiatric facility. In the facility she meets another patient who thinks she is a witch. Willow’s psychiatrist, Dr. Sebastian Crane, knows that she shouldn’t get personally involved with a client, but the more time he spends with Willow, he can’t deny the attraction. This is a great love story that has mystery, and fantasy. The story is well written, that will leave you wanting the next book in this series.
A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
This is a great series; this is the third book in the Sisters of the Craft series by Lori Handeland. Willow Black was abandoned as a baby and spent her whole childhood in foster care. She has also had terrifying visions which has landed her in a psychiatric facility. In the facility she meets another patient who thinks she is a witch. Willow’s psychiatrist, Dr. Sebastian Crane, knows that she shouldn’t get personally involved with a client, but the more time he spends with Willow, he can’t deny the attraction. This is a great love story that has mystery, and fantasy. The story is well written, that will leave you wanting the next book in this series.
A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
May 18, 2015
Last book in the Sisters of the craft series and I already miss the storyline. What happens when you glimpse you're death in water and try and kill your killer before he kills you? Willow found out first hand after she was sent to a mental institution for having visions that had her attempting homicide. I really liked the conclusion of this series and how Sebation saved them all, I'm extremely intrigued to find out what happened in New Orleans with Bobby's old partner and can't wait to read more of Lori Handeland's work. Her storylines are truly spectacular you will not be bored with any of her work.
May 7, 2015
What a delightful ending to this series!! I had been worried that since the first half of this book focused on the events during Becca's story just from Willows pov but thankfully we got a great ending that was not too rushed. I don't want to ruin anything for anyone else so I'll just say read this! We get to see a the beginning of the HEA for Raye, Becca and Willow...but I have questions now about Sullivan and what's happening in NO and I want more on Edward and his team.
This was a complimentary e-copy provided by the author and publisher in exchange for a honest review via Netgalley.
This was a complimentary e-copy provided by the author and publisher in exchange for a honest review via Netgalley.
July 2, 2015
4.5 stars
What an awesome finish to this series! This brought us back in time to see what was happening during the other books and how Willow was connected to it. Then, Willow united all the sisters and they succeeded on banishing the evil Roland McHugh.
This is definitely not a stand alone, but it's ok, cause you should just read the whole series :)
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
What an awesome finish to this series! This brought us back in time to see what was happening during the other books and how Willow was connected to it. Then, Willow united all the sisters and they succeeded on banishing the evil Roland McHugh.
This is definitely not a stand alone, but it's ok, cause you should just read the whole series :)
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
March 21, 2016
Definitely liked this one much better! Loved the hero and heroine. Won't give any spoilers away but I had an inkling about Willow. :). Sad to see the trilogy come to an end though and would definitely recommend it.
July 30, 2015
a good ending to a strangely compelling series. full review coming soon to the blog.
October 20, 2015
2.5 Stars dnf @ 80%
January 18, 2016
Really great ending to the trilogy and I would recommend reading all 3 books in order.
August 17, 2018
Absolutely wonderful story, couldn't put it down
This book was amazing! I'm an avid reader but haven't found a series for a while that books me so much that I can't put the book down long enough to even sleep (led to several sleepless nights). Lori Handeland has a gift for weaving a gripping world that is easy to get lost in. I loved that her style of writing is so realistic & her characters are so down to earth & relatable.
I had a hard time getting attached to Sebastian, the lead male, because he felt a little weak &...lacking to me, missing the substance that the lead heart throbs had in the previous 2 books, but then Willow didn't feel to flow as well as her sisters in the previous 2 books did either. I think that was just due to trying to tie all the ends together though. I still thoroughly loved the book & am feeling more than a little lost now that I don't have the next chapter & book to look forward to.
I highly recommend the series though & have already been insisting several of my fantasy loving friends read it! You HAVE to read the series in order though it it won't make sense & you'll miss out on an incredible magical adventure
This book was amazing! I'm an avid reader but haven't found a series for a while that books me so much that I can't put the book down long enough to even sleep (led to several sleepless nights). Lori Handeland has a gift for weaving a gripping world that is easy to get lost in. I loved that her style of writing is so realistic & her characters are so down to earth & relatable.
I had a hard time getting attached to Sebastian, the lead male, because he felt a little weak &...lacking to me, missing the substance that the lead heart throbs had in the previous 2 books, but then Willow didn't feel to flow as well as her sisters in the previous 2 books did either. I think that was just due to trying to tie all the ends together though. I still thoroughly loved the book & am feeling more than a little lost now that I don't have the next chapter & book to look forward to.
I highly recommend the series though & have already been insisting several of my fantasy loving friends read it! You HAVE to read the series in order though it it won't make sense & you'll miss out on an incredible magical adventure
June 9, 2017
"Icky .. Is that an FBI term?" "Yes" p 217.
The villain gets a big surprise when we do, but the people are just chess pieces in the author's game, rules explained to us after. Sometimes narrating, asylum inmate Willow finds witch powers, (surprise) strong two of triplet witch sisters (of course different hair colors), ghost dad and wolf mom, mundane love (always older) protective new doctor Sebastian, and evil Roland. I won't look for previous books in series. I did like 4 "Dead Man Dating" in "Dates from Hell" anthology https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
that is why I looked for more by Handeland, and may continue.
The villain gets a big surprise when we do, but the people are just chess pieces in the author's game, rules explained to us after. Sometimes narrating, asylum inmate Willow finds witch powers, (surprise) strong two of triplet witch sisters (of course different hair colors), ghost dad and wolf mom, mundane love (always older) protective new doctor Sebastian, and evil Roland. I won't look for previous books in series. I did like 4 "Dead Man Dating" in "Dates from Hell" anthology https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
that is why I looked for more by Handeland, and may continue.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews