Thank you to Ember Markussen for the opportunity to review her unique book. I’m so thankful.

Elizabeth Whit is a loving mom living in California. Her husband Tyler passed away recently and she has 2 teenagers – helpful first child Lily and broody, emo Cody. They visited a New England inn called The Sanctuary for years. It holds a special place for them.

Matty, the owner of The Sanctuary in Solace Springs, passes away and leaves the inn to Elizabeth in his will. The Whits feel no connection to California. They all want a fresh start. So, they pack up and go cross country. Solace Springs is an idyllic, if not magic, place in the Berkshires. It almost reminds me of Salem, which makes me very happy.

Initially, Elizabeth struggles to connect to her new community which is already so tight knit. She wants to fix up the inn, reinvent it and be successful. The land holds some magic. A mysterious mechanic/repair man named Joe tells Elizabeth that Solace Springs was founded on miracle water.

Things I loved:

-Elizabeth’s fierce Mama Bear side, particularly when she protects outcast son Cory

-Solace Springs and their inhabitants in general but I really loved the character of Denny. What a bright light! I wasn’t surprised to read she was from the south since she oozes Southern Hospitality

-the descriptions and details were so good that sometimes I really felt like I was there

Things I didn’t love:

-the fact that Elizabeth is happy to welcome Joe back into her life after he leaves. I don’t care that they’re taking it slow. I thought the book was partially about her gaining her power. She doesn’t need some wayward man dragging her down. Can you tell I loathed the Joe character?

-I still don’t understand why she was chosen by Matty to inherit The Sanctuary (I may have just missed this in my reading)

-I also still don’t understand why her blood makes extra flowers grow ( I also may have missed this LOL)

All in all, a cute cozy read.

3/5

See listing on Amazon:

See listing on Bookshop.org:

https://bookshop.org/a/96945/9798218724078

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