Enjoy!
Nothing Less Than Magic by Stacy Finz
Magical Realism
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 7.23.24
Pages: 323
Rating: 4 stars
Format: ARC
Source: Kensington
BTC Program
Sellers: Amazon
ADD TO: GoodReads
GoodReads Synopsis:
When a popular marriage counselor’s
own marriage falls apart, she’s forced to question her methods—and discovers
the magical ingredient she’s been missing all along—in the dreamiest possible
way . . .
Just one year ago, Chelsea Knight was living the life
she’d always wanted. Marriage to the perfect guy, a thriving career, and a
gorgeous condo overlooking San Francisco Bay. Then out of nowhere, her husband,
Austin, left her. Ironic, because Chelsea fixes marriages for a living. In
fact, she’s famous for her techniques. Naturally, she’s been using her
expertise to win back her ex—and when he invites her for drinks, she’s sure her
work has finally paid off. Until he announces he’s engaged.
Devastated, Chelsea seeks refuge in the beloved
small-town lake cabin she and Austin now take turns using. When she arrives,
the streets are dazzlingly decked out for Halloween, the autumn leaves are
exceptionally vibrant, and the locals are especially warm and welcoming. It’s
downright magical—and so is Knox Hart, a talented jack-of-all-trades who’s
fixing her roof. Chelsea is instantly drawn to him—and to the simplicity of
country life. Slowly, she becomes immersed in the townspeople’s problems and
finds a sense of belonging—leading her to reevaluate her own path . . .
But something about the idyllic hamlet—and Knox—seems too
good to be true. A trick more than a treat. And when she ultimately learns the
truth, her heart is shattered. Miraculously, Austin is there to mend it. It’s
everything she’d hoped for. Or is it? On the cusp of making all her dreams come
true, Chelsea must find the strength to make an impossible choice . . .
Sophia Rose's Review:
Something magical happens when a
relationship counselor guru’s husband leaves and she gets hit by a cable
car. Can a new lease on life give the
second chance she never realize she needed?
Stacy Finz has long been on my list of authors to try and I was tickled
to get this chance with her latest which seems to combine women’s fiction and
magical realism for one enchanting story.
Nothing
Less Than Magic turned out to be a beautiful and most apropos title when
all is said and done with this story.
I’m not generally drawn to big city settings, big career characters, or
characters in the process of separation, but with the right writing style and
several other factors, I can be drawn in.
Those other factors? The city
being San Francisco splitting time with a small mountain town in the Sierra’s
and the big career and new separation being part of a catalyst for change and
growth. And, the season is fall with fun
autumnal and Halloween activities.
Confession time, I had the wrong
impression when I first acquired this book and thought it was Southern
fiction. ??? Yeah, no!
All California and mostly picturesque Northern California for the most
part. And, not even close to the typical
Southern fiction vibes. The heroine,
Chelsea, got into relationship counseling and it launched her into the career
she has now as motivational speaker and online influencer as a local celeb who
is growing her business even bigger meanwhile her own relationships are in
shambles with ex-husband and estranged younger sister. She was the type who went into psychology
after experiencing a horrific inexplicable loss of both parents in her
childhood and this shaped her as an adult.
Now, there is a huge shocker about
two-thirds of the way through this book.
The author did a gutsy thing with this story and readers will either go
with it and enjoy what comes or it will knock them right out of the book and
not care for what comes in the last third of the book. I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but just
cautious future readers to be open to a huginormous toss up for Chelsea right
when it seems all is falling into place for her. Forewarned is forearmed and all that.
In truth, there are hints along the
way and I was one that paused and flipped back to early parts and realized I
blew past the subtle hints. It knocked
me for a loop, but I was able to re-engage and appreciate what the author
did. Different, but a good read.
So, this one hit the emotions with
Chelsea struggling even in middle life because she never dealt with her grief
and issues from the way she lost her parents and her struggles with her
relationships, but triumphant in the end as she did this very thing and had
some deep and needed changes in her life.
Again, this is a blend of women’s fic and magical realism with strong
romance involved.
Author Bio:
Stacy Finz is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling
author of contemporary romance. After more than twenty years covering notorious
serial killers, naked-tractor-driving farmers, fanatical foodies, aging rock
stars and weird Western towns as a newspaper reporter, she figured she finally
had enough material to launch a career writing fiction. She lives in Northern
California with her husband.
Personal Trivia:
I only like corn when it’s still on the cob. Won’t eat it otherwise.
When I was 12, my family moved to a small almond farm in Northern
California. My sister, brother and I had to ride the whole way from Southern
California in the back of a truck with at least eleven goats. If that wasn’t
insulting enough, our parents failed to tell us that our new home didn’t have
indoor plumbing. That’s right, an outhouse!
My first paying newspaper job was at the Back Country Trader. When I quit, I
left a not-so-nice note that contained the “F” word and tried to beat a hasty
retreat. But my car wouldn’t start and I had to go back inside to use the
phone. Awkward.
I won $200 on a penny slot machine in Reno.
When I lived in Quentin Tarantino’s old apartment in West Hollywood, George
Clooney once parked in my space. This is not a lie.
I own fifteen pairs of cowboy boots.
Currently, I don’t have any pets.
I sort of have road-rage issues.
Website: https://www.stacyfinz.com/
Sophia’s Bio:
Sophia
is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing,
piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments,
restaurants and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible
man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes
Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and
Chocolate.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that
Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. Sophia is a
prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many
wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading
tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and
romance. Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiarose1816
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose
Sounds like the setting is in my neck of the woods. I'm wondering about that huge turn about in plot!
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