Elusive Magic

by Heather Huffman

Some might call it a midlife crisis, but Josie Novak prefers to think of it as a midlife awakening.

With her relationship in shambles and her career floundering, Josie is at a crossroads.

Enter fairy godmother aka best friend Brigitte, offering Josie a chance to make the dream of opening her own bar a reality. But achieving dreams is not an easy thing, especially when you’re dating over forty and helping friends through the highs and lows of marriages, babies being born and babies leaving home, and all the other things life throws at this group of women as they navigate modern-day femininity.

Both heart-wrenchingly sad and laugh-out-loud funny, this forty-something coming of age story teaches Josie that being a woman might not be a fairy tale, but it is an elusive magic all its own.

Genres: Fiction

215 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 27, 2021

About the author

Heather Huffman is a multi-genre author with publications in contemporary romance, romantic suspense, women's fiction, and even a new cozy mystery line launching summer 2021. Quirky, optimistic, and a bit of a wanderer, Huffman cares deeply about causes pertaining to social justice and women's issues and has spent the past decade working with various charities that fight poverty, empower women, and fight human trafficking. At the center of her world are her three grown sons, her Australian Shepherd, and a spoiled puppy she shares entirely too many pictures of. Learn more at heatherhuffman.com.

Reviews

[ROBIN RUIZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed until I cried. I loved this book. Josie was real, with real life problems, even her cat thinks it’s a dog. I could not put it down and read it in one day, I was hooked from page one. My first book by this author and definitely not my last. I highly recommend this book!

[Alisha Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elusive Magic by Heather Huffman is actually the first book I’ve ever read by this author and I’m totally hooked. Once I started I couldn’t put it down. Reading about Josie and her friends, her heartbreak, her dreams, and finally her love kept me wanting more (I still do! I didn’t want it to end). I wholeheartedly recommend Elusive Magic to anyone looking for that perfect escape that just draws you in.

[Big Time Book Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of Heather Huffman's, it's been a long wait for a new book, but the wait was entirely worth it!

Elusive Magic is entirely relatable for whole generations of women who are trying to have it all, do it all, and figure out dating in the year 2021. I mean, Tinder, Farmers Only, Match, Zoosk, OK Cupid, and on and on. The names alone are enough to drive you crazy, much less the "selection."

So while I'm happily married, I felt Josie's pain and signed on for the ride. And let me just say this was a great ride. This book has so much heart and soul, love, joy, and heartache that it will burrow its way onto your favorite reads of 2021 list.

I immediately felt for Josie from the first sentence, which is, "Josie was drowning in adulthood, and it sucked." Yes, Josie, adulthood does suck sometimes and when you're at the dentist and they want you to sign over your firstborn to pay for expensive dentistry and you don't even have a firstborn, it sucks worse!

The lovely gal pals that surround Josie were like all of us, flawed, working hard to be better humans, and strong supporters of their friends. We all want a posse like Josie's to hang with us, believe me.

Who would I recommend this book to? Everyone. Every single woman I know could absolutely relate to Elusive Magic and I want to just tell everyone. Only I don't know everyone so I'm hoping this review will tell some of the everyones out there.

Thanks to the author and publisher who provided an ARC at my request. These thoughts are my own and happily, joyfully shared because I just freaking LOVED this book.

[Charlie Sandino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very pleasant read, a nice story with lovely characters. I hadn't read any books by this author before but, loved reading the story about Josie and her friends. As the story unravels you get to know the loveable characters in this story and how closely they are knitted together.


It is a story of believing in yourself, taking chances and starting over and doing what you really want to do with your life. Life takes mysterious ways and with help around the corner there are possibilities.
Along the road different things happen, infact life happens, the story was not predicatble which made it the more magic! The book also corresponds to the cover which is very nice.
I loved this book it's only a bit sad the book ended. I can definitely recommend this book and I am grateful to have gotten the opportunity to read it! Thank you!
Charlotte N

[Kris Rubi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elusive Magic by Heather Huffman
This was such a fun read. The main characters are a group of friends in their 40’s. Each is at a different point in their lives, experiencing ups and downs. Their friendship remains a constant that they can all rely on. They help each other thru thick and thin. Did you ever have that group of friends that you were close to but even if you drifted apart you could pick up right where you left off without skipping a beat? This is that group of friends.
This is a well written group of women who will have you cheering them on. Sit down and enjoy a glass of wine and experience this elusive magic.
Well done Heather Huffman, well done!

[Melaney M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read nearly all of Heather Huffman’s books and was excited to read her newest, Elusive Magic. The main character, Josie, is relatable and down to earth. She’s the kind of character you wish you knew in real life. The plot moves at a good pace and the story is engaging. Elusive Magic finds the right balance between coping with tough times and finding happiness when life isn’t going the way you planned.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elusive Magic by Heather Huffman is the first book I have read by this author and it will not be my last. Ms. Huffman has written a wonderful story which drew me right in, making me forget everything else and did not let me go until I turned the last page. I did not want to put this book down and read well past my bedtime. This book kept me engaged and turning the pages. The story is well written and the characters are likable in fact they are the kind of friends that we should all be blessed with. This is a quick and fun read it will have you laughing out loud. I loved this book and highly recommend it.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elusive Magic by Heather Huffman

This was my first book by Heather Huffman and I will be reading more! Elusive Magic is one of those books that covers all the emotions...I laughed so hard I had tears, I felt her tug at my heartstrings, I could totally relate to the main character. Grab the book, your beverage of choice and be entertained.

Thank you to Heather Huffman for the ARC.

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story of five women's lives, dreams, and friendships as they navigate their forties. I enjoyed learning more about the characters as they grew and developed throughout the story. The novel primarily focuses on Josie, a divorced forty-something, who is back in the dating world, realizing her dream of opening a restaurant, maintaining close friendships, and learning the importance of loving herself. The book runs the gamut of emotions, with funny, sad, and happy moments throughout. Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Stefani Berislavich-Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not an avid reader but Heather Huffman has me hooked on her books. Elusive Magic was a great story that kept me wanting know more with every page. Josie is a character that keep me hooked on wanting more. Great book, can't wait for more.

[Kasey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so amazing to have another book by Heather Huffman!! This book will not disappoint. I stayed up way too late reading this book because I love Josie and her friends. Josie ties back to other books that Heather has written. You will not be disappointed!!

[Jenn Bentley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!

This is the first book I’ve read by Heather Hoffman and I hope there are more for me to read! I love that it’s a romance/over coming struggles book for a more mature audience.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Josie Novak, in Heather Huffman’s Elusive Magic, life just doesn’t seem to be going her way until her friend Brigitte steps in helping to make Josie’s dream of owning her own bar come true. Josie and her friends are there for each other with whatever life throws at them – from heartbreak to relationships to careers. Elusive Magic is beautifully crafted book; one that will leave the reader with a range of emotions as you read. I highly recommend this magical book, and I look forward to reading many, many more books by Heather Huffman.

[Tamsen Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

True to her word

The author calls this a midlife coming of age story and it is definitely that. There were some aspects of the main character’s personality that were a little hard for me to identify with, but that’s not unlike life itself. There are some beautiful prose in this story and I truly enjoyed the unveiling of each characters’ struggles. I hope there is more in the series as I want to know what happens with this tight group of women friends!

[Cathy Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional journey with the kind of friends everyone wants to have in their life. Heather Huffman has written a beautiful story of life changing events that is inspirational. This is a page-turning, do not put down until finished book! I absolutely loved it and highly recommend to all that love stories of friendship.

[patt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elusive Magic is my first book by author Heather Huffman. What an enjoyable read! Josie is a chef coming off a break up and she’s feeling that nothing in her life is going the way she wants. She has some great girlfriends who are always there for each other even though each of them have their own struggles. This story is told with just the right amount of humor to offset the drama. I also love that the women are more mature instead of the usual 20 somethings for a nice change of pace. I definitely recommend it!

[Jan Crossen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adulting at any age isn’t easy; and it is especially challenging for Josie. She is healing from the devastation of a failed relationship while supporting her friends through their life crises and taking the leap to make her own career dreams come true. Hmmm...could she risk finding true love as well? I loved it!

[Sacha Fortuné · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sacha's Book Reviews Blog

3.5 stars

This book found its way to me via an author’s newsletter that featured other books. I chose it because I was in the mood for a good women’s fiction.

The Premise
40-something-year-old Josie is at a crossroads in her life. After a break-up, she struggles to get over her ex Thomas who is still in her life. Then, when she quits her job, her friend offers her an opportunity to open her own restaurant. As Josie launches into the creation of this dream she’s always had, along the way she also tries to figure out her dating life post-Thomas and post-divorce. Childless womanhood has left her with an emptiness she’s not able to understand fully, and she tries to fill it with her new career and her female friendships. Fortunately she’s got a great batch of friends — but are they enough to help her through this midlife crisis, and does she really need love in her life, or is her cat enough?

The Pros
This was a good, heart-warming read about female friendships and womanhood at a later stage of life. I liked how the friendships had blossomed through the years, and how the friends truly supported each other — helping build new careers for each other, setting up a support system to help with a new baby, and showing up when they were really needed even though they all had their busy lives. It was great to see such a great show of female camaraderie and true friendship, even though they each had their quirks. I also loved how we were able to see glimpses of the lives of the other characters through the main character Josie, as it felt like a fully fleshed cast that I could easily imagine being made into a film or movie.

The Cons
I liked this book, but admittedly it took me awhile to get into it. I wasn’t sure what to expect as the women’s fiction genre can be open-ended with no foregone conclusion. Eventually I did grow to enjoy Josie’s journey of maturity — even at her stage of life, post-divorce and at 40-something, but the pacing at the beginning was a bit of a slow start for me. The writing style had quite a lot of very long introspective passages that just kind of said where the character’s mind was at, rather than showing the reader through actions or events — a shame, really. It’s not my preferred style of writing, so it took awhile to get used to these ebbs and flows to appreciate the story.

Conclusion
This was a good read and will certainly tick all the boxes for less picky readers, but I wished for a bit more to take me all the way there. Nevertheless it is a story that will resonate with many women, and I think there is a lot they may relate to here in any of the female characters’ lives. I would recommend to other readers, and I look forward to other books by this author. I’d love to give her a chance to see if another book could give me *all* the feels rather than just a bit of the tingles I felt with this one!

___________
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[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about real-life women with real-life problems. Josie Novak is at a crossroads in her life, personal and careerwise. Thanks to one of her close friends she is able to realise a dream of hers and open up her own bar.
What I liked about this book was that each of the women had problems in their lives that they were dealing with - there were no perfect lives - each one had issues that many of us women in their 40's can relate to - whether it is sick parents; health issues; marriage issues etc.
I liked the fact that Josie came to the clarity of which way forward in her life to suit herself and not just blindly following the herd or the boyfriend.
What I didn't enjoy was how she allowed Rae to bury the whole date rape issue. I get that she was helping her friend and doing as her friend wanted, but on the other hand I feel that this issue should not have been allowed to be buried away - firstly as it had a bad effect on Rae and secondly what about the other women who will be attacked. I understand that the whole event ultimately moved Rae's life in a positive direction but that little issue just bothers me.
An easy flowing book which was great fun to read. A welcome return from one of my much loved authors.

[Haven · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly delightful delve into the mind of one Josie Novak, a forty something that's still learning who she is and what she wants. I loved walking with her on her journey of self discovery as she sorted through all the complex feelings that are associated with womanhood while also pursuing her dreams, finding new ones, and coping with the regular traumas women face together. I loved her group of friends, not side characters with a line here and there about romantic woes, but whole, complete people that are integral to Josie's life. This story is a crossroads for Josie, as she searches for meaning in her past, considers possible paths for her future, and learns to love all the things that make her who she is. Even if she's late to lunch sometimes, her life is non-traditional, and she sometimes feels like a failure, she's also always there for her friends day or night, quick to love, and brave enough to try new things even when they're scary. I expected this to be a romance novel, but it wasn't. This was a story of what it is to be a woman, what it is to be human, when you've spent your whole life thinking you couldn't get it right. It's the story of forgiving yourself and truly loving every part of you. And yeah, also some romance. ;)

[Sheri P · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by author Heather Huffman.
I enjoyed this story that at its heart is about growing into your own skin and loving yourself. Our main character, Josie, finds herself alone and without a job and struggling to find her next steps. With a little help from her friends she makes a plan and slowly her life takes a different shape.
My favorite aspect of the story was the nature of the friendships and how a group of four women have each others back, no questions asked. The perspectives of forty-year old women were accurate and relatable. I did struggle through the middle section with being annoyed with Josie and her choices.
Overall, I would give this book 3.5 stars, I rounded up here because GoodReads doesn't offer the option for half stars and I did find myself hi-lighting several sentences/phrases that resonated with me and I am sure will ring true for other readers.
Thank you the author for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book at first but once I got started I was hooked! Josie is a 40 something year old woman coming to terms with her decisions in life. She has a bunch of friends, all around her age, that are in different stages, happy married, unhappily married, happily divorced, blissfully single. This is a book about learning to accept yourself and your life. Being happy with yourself and not looking to others for happiness. It certainly made me reflect on my life. I really understood Josie’s relationship with Liam. Her relationships with others...not so much. But every single one of those relationships helped to define her as a person and how she approached life and that’s the beauty of it! This was a great book and I highly recommend all 30-50 something year old women read it. It’s an entertaining story with a relatable character for every woman!

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a first read for me by this author.
Elusive Magic.


Josie, finds herself alone with her cat named Owen.
The boyfriend Thomas well he chose to leave for someone else.

Not long before Josie, walks out on her job, Angelica the Boss is not such a great person to work for. Before Josie Knows it she's home no job.. no boyfriend.

Everything is fixing to change for Josie. But she has her friends.. and her friends are always there.. The best friends she has.

Josie has a Dream and with friends like hers. It won't be hard to make that dream come true.

Elusive Magic.
I felt like was it was the Magic of True Friends..


Thank you Heather Huffman For allowing me to read your book in advance. This review is all my own thoughts. What a wonderful story...

[Tricia S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josie is heartbroken after a break-up. She quits her job then one of her best friends, Brigitte, makes her dream come true. I liked this book, it was easy to read and i liked the main character, Josie, immediately. I had asked the author if this was gonna be a stand alone book or made into a series and i was told it's a stand alone, that makes me sad. I didn't wanna let these characters go, guess i'll just have to re-read this book again and again. i can only hope Heather Huffman will read more books like this one. Give this book a chance, i don't think you'll regret it.

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was hoping for magical realism...

Nice story, easy read, but no magic as the title implies. Also, a few things didn't make sense, such as - why is a woman who has only 60 days to open a brand new bar/restaurant signing up for a dating app, going on dates, going hiking for hours at a time, spending entire days babysitting her friend's kids? Also, pretty predictable. I don't feel the need to read book 2.

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book. This is totally my opinion. Josie was struggling in every aspect of her life, and looking for love without success. Thankfully she has a group of friends that support her through it all. Will she find the success in business and love? You must read this one.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A feel-good book about life and all it gives, both good and bad. A wonderful book with characters in their 40’s in all different places in their lives, but able to come together and be friends and a support system for each other. I loved this book as it is very relatable and I am very excited that this author has started writing again.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional journey with the kind of friends everyone wants to have in their life.

[Claudia Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the title of this book. Heather Huffman has truly created magic. Her characters are so believable and could be the best of friends. I’ve not experienced a group of women so devoted to one another. Josie has experienced an abusive childhood and very unsatisfying and hurtful relationships with the men in her life. Some of them have been quite confusing. Josie has spent years trying to find herself in today’s world; looking for the elusive magic of a life well lived. I loved that we got Josie’s thoughts.
I feel that many women have these same feelings no matter their circumstances
I highly recommend this book and applaud Heather Huffman’s return to writing with a book so important to women.

I read this book as an ARC and wish to thank Heather Huffman and the publishers. The ideas in this review are solely my own.