And through it all, the Waverley sisters must search for a way to hold their family together through their troublesome season of change, waiting for that extraordinary event that is First Frost. When a mysterious stranger shows up and challenges the very heart of their family, each of them must make choices they have never confronted before. But how can he, when he is so far outside her grasp that he appears to her as little more than a puff of smoke? Sydney’s daughter, Bay, has lost her heart to the boy she knows it belongs to. Yet the longer she tries, the more her desire becomes an unquenchable thirst, stealing the pleasure out of the life she already has. With each passing day she longs more for a baby - a namesake for her wonderful Henry. Sydney Waverley, too, is losing her balance. Though her handcrafted confections - rose to recall lost love, lavender to promote happiness and lemon verbena to soothe throats and minds - are singularly effective, the business of selling them is costing her the everyday joys of her family, and her belief in her own precious gifts. But this year, first frost has much more in store.Ĭlaire Waverley has started a successful new venture, Waverley’s Candies. As temperatures drop and leaves begin to turn, the Waverley women are made restless by the whims of their mischievous apple tree… and all the magic that swirls around it. It’s October in Bascom, North Carolina, and autumn will not go quietly. I won’t rush for another book from Allen, but I would be willing to pick one up when I need a light brain break.įrom the New York Times bestselling author of Garden Spellscomes a story of the Waverley family, in a novel as sparkling as the first dusting of frost on new-fallen leaves. While this didn’t captivate me, the characters were pleasant and the storylines low-stakes enough for my reading mood.

I have mixed feelings about magical realism, but this was done with a light enough touch that I could suspend disbelief and go along for the ride. Each year as the first frost approaches, the women grow unsettled–never more so than this year, when a stranger arrives and disrupts their understanding of their family and themselves. Even the Waverly house and apple tree seem to be enchanted and have minds of their own. The women in the Waverly family are all uniquely gifted with light touches of magic–gifts that affect moods, appearances, and spaces. First Frost is the sequel to Garden Spells, which I haven’t read, but I had no trouble starting with this one.

I chose this as a lighter read at a time when I was struggling to get through anything heavier, and it fit the bill. Please see Disclosures for more information. That means if you click and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission.

First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen