Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Firefly Hollow (Firefly Hollow, #1)” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Firefly Hollow

(Firefly Hollow #1)

T.L. Haddix (Goodreads Author)

3.89 · Rating details · 4,402 ratings · 511 reviews

Alternate cover editions exist here and here.

Genre: Romance with paranormal elements.
Book One in the Firefly Hollow series.

In 1960, a tragic death in the family calls young Sarah Browning back from college to her Appalachian homestead. Unable to return to school and finish her degree, she finds herself facing a future that isn’t what she’d planned. Lost and grieving, she ...more

Get A Copy

Or buy for $0.99

Kindle Edition, 354 pages

Published September 23rd 2012 by Streetlight Graphics Publishing

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Firefly Hollow, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Honorable Heros-No Rakes & No Cheaters!

255 books — 74 voters

The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden by Jessica Sorensen

Hard to get

110 books — 35 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 3.89 ·

Rating details

· 4,402 ratings · 511 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Firefly Hollow (Firefly Hollow, #1)

May 15, 2013 Navessa rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Anyone who enjoys a good love story

Shelves: favorites, non-ragebeast-male-lead, paranormal, shifters, adorable-mc, romance

This book is one of the many reasons that I love websites like NetGalley. I was just randomly checking out the new releases one day when I stumbled across it.

Intriguing title: check
Beautiful cover: check
Interesting blurb: check

A part of me wondered what I would be getting myself into if I requested it:

“Hmmm, this sounds a little like an adult version of Beauty and the Beast. You’ve had some disappointments after reading books with so few reviews lately, better hold off for a little while. Play i ...more

flag 81 likes · Like · see review

Feb 25, 2015 Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ rated it it was amazing

Recommended to Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ by: Navessa

Shelves: pnr-uf, 2015-read, fave-characters, silly-fluff-but-hey-i-smiled, shifters-and-vampires, alternative-pov, romance-i-root-for

Actual rating : 4.5 stars

Want to know what happens while reading Firefly hollow? Actually, that's pretty simple : this novel takes your expectations and quietly blows them away.

► The story takes place in the 60s. ~~We expect sexism, or at the best case, some infatuated girl~~. We get an incredibly independent and rational heroine.

"Listen, Tony, I don't mean any offense, but I need this job. I'm not looking for a man to take care of me. I can take care of myself."

I can't express how much I like ...more

flag 45 likes · Like · see review

Feb 28, 2015 Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, romance, kinda-steamy, kindle-freebie, r-rated

3.5 stars. It's Kindle freebie romance time again. This one is reasonably well-written, although there are a few missteps (for example, sometimes the writing is more "telling" than "showing" or act in a way that's inconsistent with the way their character's been drawn) that mark it as a self-published novel, and it never really rises above its roots in the romance genre. But if you like romances, this one is still a freebie (as of Dec. 2015), and it's a quick, enjoyable read.

Set in Appalachian 3.5 stars. It's Kindle freebie romance time again. This one is reasonably well-written, although there are a few missteps (for example, sometimes the writing is more "telling" than "showing" or act in a way that's inconsistent with the way their character's been drawn) that mark it as a self-published novel, and it never really rises above its roots in the romance genre. But if you like romances, this one is still a freebie (as of Dec. 2015), and it's a quick, enjoyable read.

Set in Appalachian country in Kentucky, we first meet Sarah Browning as a 15 or 16 year old teenage girl in 1954, crushed by some cruel gossip she overheard (mean sister alert!). Seeking solitude, she trespasses on her neighbor's property and meets up with an oddly intelligent deer.

description

Though she doesn't know it, the deer is her neighbor Owen Campbell, who has the ability to shapeshift into both deer and wolf form.

The story follows Sarah and Owen through the years, as they cross paths occasionally, though Owen is in animal form each time. Sarah eventually goes away to college and returns home in 1959 when her father dies. She takes a job as a librarian, and she and Owen finally meet in human form and, after a couple of false starts, begin to develop a relationship. Of course there are complications -- only one of which is that Owen has trouble figuring out how to confess his shapeshifting abilities to Sarah.

The main characters are sympathetic but have some personal shortcomings and baggage that contribute to relationship difficulties and misunderstandings. Sarah's sister Kathy, the aforesaid mean sister, turns out to be a more complex and relatable character than I would have initially guessed. I would have liked the shapeshifting subplot to have played a larger role in the story, but it was reasonably well integrated into the plot.

Although this is the first in a series of related novels, it's a stand-alone book with no loose ends or cliffhangers.

Content advisory: a couple of explicit sex scenes. Not for clean romance only readers.

Art credit: Forest Abode by Michael Leadingham, http://michaelleadingham.com/ ...more

flag 32 likes · Like · see review

May 24, 2018 Mada Linx rated it really liked it · review of another edition

What a beautiful love story.

I’ve never read a book that portraits a love story from 1960’s and I’m glad for the change of pace.

I’m so used to insta-love (which I don’t believe in), couples putting accent on physical love (sex), telling “I love yous” that I don’t feel, unnecessary angst and wild nights of drinking and doing stupid things.
But then I read this, and nothing can be more beautiful than innocent love.
This book made me relive what I felt when I discovered boys for the first time. The jo ...more

flag 23 likes · Like · see review

Mar 31, 2015 Kathe L rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-5-stars, didn-t-expect-to-be-so-good, fav-female-characters, cute-boy-you-made-me-swoon, look-there-s-a-werewolf, romance-or-ya-book, read-2015

4,5 stars!
description

I can't tell how surprised and amazed I am at this book. I had zero expectations and it blew me away!

What can I start with first? Oh right, this is a book that passes in 1960. And we get a main character, Sarah, that is totally what I didn't expect from a women of that time. There's actually a scene that Sarah drops a book in a man's groin (that was hilarious) because he assumed she was working because she didn't have a husband, and if she had one, she would stop working. Because the ...more

flag 20 likes · Like · see review

Mar 01, 2015 Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈ rated it liked it

Recommended to Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈ by: Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘

Shelves: 3-stars, own-read, for-kindle, reviewed, popsugar-2015, kindle-freebie-month, a-bit-o-magical-realism, womens-fiction, buddy-reads, kissy-kissy

Yay for impromptu buddy reads. Thanks to my lovely friend, Heather for reading this one with me:)

Read a book your friend recommended (Thanks Anna!).

3 stars.

I am very middle of the road here. I have several friends who loved this one. And I liked it. Didn't love it. Didn't hate it. There are a lot of things to like about this novel. But at least for me, there are also several things to not like about it.

This one is classified as paranormal romance. This is kind of a misnomer. This novel is pure, ...more

flag 17 likes · Like · see review

Oct 17, 2013 Shelby *trains flying monkeys* rated it really liked it

Recommended to Shelby *trains flying monkeys* by: Navessa

Shelves: read-2013, netgalley, appalachia, is-this-a-kissing-book

Free at Amazon 2-9-15!!

The first part of this book started slowly. Building on Owen and Sarah's history and how they became to be the people they were. I didn't really at this point think I was going to love this book. Sarah's sister Kathy came across as a bitter woman who reminded me of Nellie Olsen. At first..she then changed for me.

About halfway through the book I really started to enjoy myself and I became very attached to their characters. By the end I felt like I had been on a roller ...more

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

Mar 20, 2015 Vicky rated it did not like it

Recommended to Vicky by: Lizet

Shelves: dnf, romance, 2015-reads, meh, eye-roll, recommended-to-me, flat-characters, own-on-kindle, freebie, bored-out-of-my-mind

DNF at 38%.

This was a total snooze for me. In fact, the more I sit here trying to write this review, the more I puzzle over how I lasted 5 whole days before deciding to DNF it. Even writing this review is making me sleepy, so I’ll keep it to the point:

- In the 38% I read not much happened. The author adopted a “tell, not show” policy that was positively sedating.

- The characters seemed liked puppets and I could “see” the author moving their strings. Their voices sounded all the same to me (like ...more

flag 13 likes · Like · see review

Oct 28, 2016 Susana rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-reads, didn-t-finish-it, cheesy, romance

Dnf at 70%

I started this on a whim after seeing some good reviews of some friends.

I just wanted something that would make me want to read, so I started this, and I found myself liking it.

I had never read a paranormal romance in which the paranormal element was so toned down. That alone was interesting.

Also for a story that takes place in the fifties, the characters were surprisingly modern. I should know that sooner or later there would be a catch.

Sarah is a feminist, she knows what she wants, a ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

May 17, 2013 Rose rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-or-galley, romance, paranormal, netgalley, supernatural

Initial reaction: I haven't read a lot of paranormal romances done in the way that T.L. Haddix does "Firefly Hollow" - but it was a rewarding read for me. The biggest critique I would give is that it took a while for this story to get going, but once it did, the payoff was worth it. I really enjoyed the focus on the developing relationship between Sarah and Owen and the familial focus alongside some difficult issues in the mix. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing where the next book goes.

Ful Initial reaction: I haven't read a lot of paranormal romances done in the way that T.L. Haddix does "Firefly Hollow" - but it was a rewarding read for me. The biggest critique I would give is that it took a while for this story to get going, but once it did, the payoff was worth it. I really enjoyed the focus on the developing relationship between Sarah and Owen and the familial focus alongside some difficult issues in the mix. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing where the next book goes.

Full review:

I'll admit I was charmed and enchanted by "Firefly Hollow", though it took a bit of a slow burn for me to really immerse in the experience. This novel is set during the 1950s and 60s, and if it were a little more evocative of that period, more immersive with the paranormal elements, and ironed out some problematic elements I probably would've given this a full five stars.

The story depicts the relationship between a reclusive young man (Owen) and the girl (Sarah) and her family that lives next door to him. Owen is a shapeshifter with a troubled past and a rather complex history to him, with a family torn by his inherited abilities. He lives on his own property and has rules about people trespassing there, for fear of them discovering his secrets.

Sarah works as a librarian, has gone to college and is trying to care for her family after her own loss. She meets Owen in a rather awkward first encounter after he catches her trespassing on his property, but in truth, Owen already knows that Sarah's been on the property because he saved her life in the guise of a wolf when they were younger. The story ultimately shows the two falling in love with each other over time. I loved the slow burn of the romance, the bit humor, and the overarching rapport between them. I also loved the focus on their families and how the tough events in their lives shaped them. It gave a nice rounding to their characters and realism that I usually love in stories like this.

There were a few caveats though - I'll admit that the beginning narrative where the two were kids took a little while to hook me completely because it was a slow burn to get to the meat of the narrative. Also because I don't think the period was directly addressed (apart from a few instances) in cases, so it was difficult to picture some of the surroundings and variant social attitudes of the time and place. I followed the narrative well for quite some time, and then hit another block when I realized what the ultimate trial of Owen's relationship with Sarah would be when he didn't communicate with her for quite some time, due to his own issues and secrets (as well as a misunderstanding). I guess for me it was a bit of a rocky conflict that could've been easily prevented/resolved (and Sarah is a little too quick to forgive him), but I think ultimately the coming to terms of their relationship was worth the road taken for me.

This was a romantic read that will stay with me for a while and I usually love these kinds of stories with a careful eye to the histories, personalities of the characters alongside an eye to family and to the unfamiliar. I would certainly recommend "Firefly Hollow" to those who like developed characters and romances with a touch of paranormal. I thought it was well written, and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book.

Overall score: 4/5

Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Streetlight Graphics Publishing. ...more

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Oct 20, 2017 Melissa (Ever So Mela) rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: enemies-to-lovers, paranormal-romance

I recommend this to anyone who has nothing to do. And I mean ABSOLUTELY Nothing better to do. And maybe not even then.

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

May 17, 2013 Brandi rated it did not like it

Shelves: cant-bear-to-finish

I feel a little bad putting this my 'can't bear to finish' shelf, but it's not working for me. The writing is too slow, Sarah is too perfect, Kathy wasn't even that bad considering how even her parents didn't like her, Owen is annoying me with his whining, and so on. I don't know if I'm in a slump or what, but I read to 27% over two days, and I have no desire to continue the rest of the story. :/

I can see why this could work for people though, because Sarah says at some point how she wants to w I feel a little bad putting this my 'can't bear to finish' shelf, but it's not working for me. The writing is too slow, Sarah is too perfect, Kathy wasn't even that bad considering how even her parents didn't like her, Owen is annoying me with his whining, and so on. I don't know if I'm in a slump or what, but I read to 27% over two days, and I have no desire to continue the rest of the story. :/

I can see why this could work for people though, because Sarah says at some point how she wants to work for herself and not be 'taken care of' by a man, so that ticks off the need for feminism, and Owen has a deep love for learning, and reading, so that ticks off the sensitive and learned man need. The writing, though painfully slow and dull for me, had some beautiful descriptive passages, but it wasn't anywhere near able to make up for the rest of it for me.

Here are a few examples of the slow writing:

She was curious, avidly so, but she had resisted the urge to explore. She knew there would be consequences if she broke her parents' rule, and more importantly, they'd be disappointed in her. If nothing else, Sarah was a good girl. As she thought about that, Kathy's words from early came back to haunt her. "Little Miss Priss," she muttered.

"And... and maybe, if that's what he likes, then maybe he's not as special as I thought he was. Let him have his buxom girls. At least I don't look like a milk cow, unlike someone I could name. (I liked that she could move past that boy, but the milk cow reference about Kathy annoyed me.)

She said a prayer for them the whole way. (that's just showing how angelic Sarah is)

Kathy and Randall had moved in when Ira had been diagnosed with cancer and it became apparent that Eliza needed help. Sarah privately thought they'd been so eager to help because Randall had seen a free ride on his horizon, but she keep that thought to herself. (More villainy from her sister, and once more I didn't get the why of it. What kind of free ride would her husband have gotten?! It never said.)

One of the first rules Shirley had explained to her had been to respect the privacy of the patrons who used the library. That included asking them out socially. (I just thought this was stupid)

To her dismay, Sarah was diagnosed with strep throat and wasn't able to return to work until the following Tuesday. When she clocked in that morning, she apologized profusely to Shirley and the library director. Both assured her that she wasn't in trouble, and that they understood.

"At least you didn't get pregnant on purpose so you could quit school early like someone whose name we won't mention." (That was Sarah and Kathy's mom there referring to Kathy. Sarah is an angel and Kathy is the devil)

After the part where Sarah was dismayed about missing work because she was really sick, I skipped ahead and read the end of the story. It didn't make me want to know what I had missed.

...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Jul 08, 2014 Catherine rated it it was ok

Shelves: free-or-pretty-damn-cheap, good-reviews-from-friends, young-adult, fantasy, paranormal-romance, own-it-ebook

Yeah. I didn't not like it but I didn't love it for sure. It was a bit too naive and sweet for my taste.

I didn't really like how Owen went from this mysterious, crusty recluse (at the age of 25 or so?) to this sweet and caring lover. Then to have some alpha characteristics pop out, well, I just didn't buy it.

The conflict between the MCs never seemed all that serious and the side conflict that happened in the gal's family seemed WAY too serious for the rest of the book. I mean there was some ser ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Jun 01, 2013 Faye, la Patata rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1st-in-series, good-heroine, emo-done-right, romance, net-galley, heart-doing-blackflips, adult, supernatural, drama, multiple-povs

A digital copy was provided via NG in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way.

Like a moth enchanted by the yellow-orange dancing swirls of a flame, the cover of this book hypnotized me. I have to say, it's very well done and absolutely gorgeous, and the blurb was interesting, too, so it's a no wonder that I instantly requested Firefly Hollow on Netgalley. I know there is a surplus of Romance/PR books out there, but honestly, a lot of those are wasted paper an A digital copy was provided via NG in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way.

Like a moth enchanted by the yellow-orange dancing swirls of a flame, the cover of this book hypnotized me. I have to say, it's very well done and absolutely gorgeous, and the blurb was interesting, too, so it's a no wonder that I instantly requested Firefly Hollow on Netgalley. I know there is a surplus of Romance/PR books out there, but honestly, a lot of those are wasted paper and are very subpar, so I've always been on a hunt for one that would give my heart backflips and somersaults. I may love science fiction, post-apocalyptic, and dystopian stories, but like any girl, I'm a hopeless romantic at heart. Fortunately, Firefly Hollow does not disappoint, as the content is just as beautiful as the cover.

The enchanting prose took me to an all new world. Haddix's writing has a way of immediately engaging and immersing the reader in the story from the very first page. Even though the pacing is slow, it doesn't feel dragging at all. It was such a delight to read all about Sarah's childhood — her finding a spot by a pool in a mountain where she can spend time by herself, her getting saved by a black and grey wolf from a deadly rattlesnake, etc. — and truly heartbreaking to read Owen's tragic and lonely past, a stage in his life that was full of mistrust and anger. I loved how you get to know the characters deeply and intimately, including their dreams, fears, and insecurities. I felt happy for Sarah when she was able to get a job, felt sad when she lost loved ones; I shared with Owen's sadness and frustrations during his early life, and also shared with his happiness when he found someone to live and die for. Even though these aren't our stories, Haddix made them personal to the reader nonetheless, which only proves how much of an effective writer she is, effortlessly making us fall in love with her characters despite all of their faults and worries.

However, I do lament the fact that the paranormal elements were not as strong as the romance one. Owen is a shifter, you see. He turns into a deer and into a wolf when he is absolutely mentally unstable and full of unwanted emotions. I've always been interested in shapeshifters, especially after reading Written in Red, but its role here is very minimal at best... It was only significant in a few short and early scenes, and then no more. :/...I also felt pretty bummed that after certain characters found out about his true nature, they were very accepting and didn't even question the authenticity, didn't get scared (I mean, I would be afraid, at least at first! That shit is of the fourth dimension, man!)... they just... accepted and then that's it! For a huge chunk of the middle of the book, the paranormal side became almost nonexistent, and then it came back in the end for a few short pages, and then... nothing! No drama out of it, no real astonishment, people just merely accepted it like it was nothing special and a common occurrence in daily life. "Hey, did you know I can shapeshift into a blood-sucking bat?!" "Oh, really? Cool! Now could you pass me the salt, please?" -_- of course it didn't go like that, but it could have well been.

Anyway, I'm well aware the romance was the central part of this book, but I felt that if the PR elements would be this little, then it would have been better if it weren't there in the first place. It's like putting a large scar on a character's face, but the scar is just for decoration; it has really no significance or any value to the character, and for me, that's, well, bullshit. Of course, this is subjective... I loved the story — the characters were well done, the sex scenes were very sensual and romantic (not aggressive at all, very realistic portrayal) — but the shapeshifting thing could have well been dropped and it wouldn't have affected the story either way. Maybe that's just me, but I believe if something is not truly vital and it's just there merely for the heck of it, then it's best to get rid of the thing. There is no need to add something unnecessary.

But overall, 4 stars to the beautiful, poetic writing and the character development of the two main characters. It was both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. I merely wish the PR stuff had more weight and role, but otherwise, it's a strong 4/5. ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Feb 28, 2015 Lizet rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites, english, bbf, 2015

Actual rating : 4.5 stars

Perfect song for this book: Falling Fast by Avril Lavigne

First of all, I want to say that I’m in love with the cover, and the story, and the characters, and with everything this author has created.

Let’s start this review talking about the characters, and I’m going to start with the guy that has become my #1 book boyfriend: Owen Campbell .

The word that best describes him is PERFECTION. Well, he has his flaws and obviously he makes mistakes, but aside from that, he’s p ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Jun 12, 2013 Tandie rated it really liked it

Recommended to Tandie by: Navessa

Shelves: fangirl-pressure, retellings, romance, paranormal, shape-shifters, death-by-cheese, dual-narrative, slump-buster, arooooooo

This was super cheesy. Like, Nicholas Sparks cheesy. I did some serious eye rolling. I'm not gonna lie, I'm slightly ashamed of having given it 4 stars. Maybe I was in just the right mood, maybe I'm losing my edge.

There was a lot more going on besides a slow burn romance that oozed Velveeta. I loved the mother daughter relationship and the other family ties. I liked that the uber bitchy sister actually had hidden depths. The paranormal element wasn't actually a large part of the story.

Total Ga ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Aug 03, 2015 ♛Tash marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Look at these rave reviews and the book is free for Kindle atm.

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Mar 10, 2015 Heather *Undercover Goth Queen* rated it it was ok

Shelves: ebooks, free, romance, boring, 2015, werewolves-etc, indie, series

There was a lot to like about this book. It was well-written, the characters were nice people who always did the right thing, and it was set in Appalachia in the late 50s/early 60s.

Unfortunately, this wasn't the book for me.

For me, the characters were too nice. That seems a weird complaint to have, but it's one I've had with other books too. I just don't like reading about perfect, goody-goody people who are so considerate of each other. I guess it's better than the other end of the spectrum, bu ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Feb 28, 2015 Casey rated it really liked it

Shelves: hearts-aflutter, book-boyfriend, fantasy-is-fun, series-starter, fantasy-pnr, because-i-m-a-lady, read-in-2015

UPDATE: 06/01/15 -
If you were interested in trying out this series Firefly Hollow is currently available for free on amazon. And if you are even remotely interested I highly recommend you get it. Thanks go to Jessica for the heads up.

I want to live in this world.

I feel like I've been saying this a lot lately... this is not my usual type of book. My reading tastes have been all over the place the last couple of months, but you know what, I have found some fantastic books because I have gone so f ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Feb 11, 2017 Irene rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This first installment in the Firefly Hollow series begins in the 1950s when Sarah Browning is a lonely high school student and a target for her older sister Kathy to pick on. The Browning's property borders the Campbell's who live up on the mountain and are rarely seen. It is understood that one does not cross that border and trespass onto the Campbell's land. However Sarah is unable to resist and begins walking there regularly, which is the first time Owen ever lays eyes on her, though she doe ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Mar 25, 2015 Errin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: paranormal-fantasy, 2015, romance

A slow-building romance with paranormal elements that takes place late 1950s, early 1960s Kentucky. While the story took awhile to get rolling, I didn't mind. The writing was lovely, the characters so sweet, and the aura of a quiet rural mountainside county rather refreshing. The Kindle version is free so if you love love stories, I say go for it!.

Sarah and Owen were PRECIOUS. Sarah is so nice and gives off a naïve vibe but she's actually strong minded and can take care of herself. Despite his ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

May 18, 2013 Sarah rated it liked it

Recommended to Sarah by: Navessa

Shelves: netgalley, for-review-read, books-i-own-kindle, read-in-2013

3.5 stars

I'm not sure why but when I picked up Firefly Hollow I was expecting to read a contemporary romance so I was quite surprised to find that it was set in the 1950s - 1960s and also contained characters who were shapeshifters. That isn't a complaint, I'm just mentioning it so that people know what they're getting when they pick up the story. As much as I'd classify this as paranormal romance because of the shapeshifters it actually reads more like one of those historical sagas that follows 3.5 stars

I'm not sure why but when I picked up Firefly Hollow I was expecting to read a contemporary romance so I was quite surprised to find that it was set in the 1950s - 1960s and also contained characters who were shapeshifters. That isn't a complaint, I'm just mentioning it so that people know what they're getting when they pick up the story. As much as I'd classify this as paranormal romance because of the shapeshifters it actually reads more like one of those historical sagas that follows a family for several generations which was something I really liked about it. The story has a lazy feel to it, it kind of meanders through the lives of the main characters and allows us to really get to know them both as we see them in their best and worst moments. It also places a lot of focus on the rural setting and I felt it captured the innocence of the time period really well. I think because of the way it is written it will appeal not just to paranormal fans but also to lovers of historical or contemporary romance.

Owen has spent years isolating himself from the community, he doesn't believe that he is worthy of love or that anyone would be able to accept him for who he really is so he pushes the outside world away and remains secluded on his family's land. I really loved Owen, he was so sweet and protective, not just of Sarah but also towards his family, and he knows how to write the most beautiful love letters! He is a shy man but when you break through his shell you'll find someone who is kind, polite and who has a lot of love to share. There was a certain point in the story where I was annoyed at the way he treated Sarah, not because he was mean to her but because he didn't think about how things would look from her point of view and I was disappointed that she was such a low priority for him at that moment. I could understand how it happened but it did upset me a bit so I was pleased that when he realised his mistake he was man enough to admit it and to go out of his way to make things up to her.

I found Sarah a really likeable heroine, she was smart and funny and she was determined to live life on her own terms. She didn't want a man to look after her, she preferred to earn her own money and be able to stand on her own two feet. I liked the fact that she was so intelligent and that she wanted to learn and grow. I also enjoyed the relationship she had with her mother and some of the conversations the two of them had were hilarious. One thing I really appreciated was that even though she didn't get on particularly well with her sister Kathy they still stuck by each other when they really needed help. There was a point where my heart absolutely broke for the whole family and I'm still shocked with the way certain events played out. Another thing I really enjoyed though was Sarah's friendship with Gilly and the side romance between Gilly and Jack.

As much as I enjoyed the slow pace of the book there were times when I found myself starting to get a little bored at the lack of action, the writing is beautifully descriptive but I did feel it could have been trimmed back a bit to make the story just a little faster paced. At times it felt that obstacles were being deliberately thrown in between Sarah and Owen and I'd have liked things to be a little easier on them. I still enjoyed the story and will definitely be continuing the series in the future though. Firefly Hollow isn't your standard paranormal romance, the paranormal side of the story is subtle and this book is much more focused on the lives of Sarah and Owen and the love that slowly develops between them. ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 19, 2013 Joy (joyous reads) rated it liked it

Shelves: for-review

I haven't had much luck with paranormal reads lately other than the staple series that I follow (JR Ward's BDB, Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters). I wanted to give this book a chance because I thought I've never really given this genre any attention lately.

Unfortunately, the paranormal element that this book alluded to was subtle. It was predominantly a romance novel highlighting the life in the Appalachians. This was also a - I guess you can call it a period piece since it took place in the fift I haven't had much luck with paranormal reads lately other than the staple series that I follow (JR Ward's BDB, Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters). I wanted to give this book a chance because I thought I've never really given this genre any attention lately.

Unfortunately, the paranormal element that this book alluded to was subtle. It was predominantly a romance novel highlighting the life in the Appalachians. This was also a - I guess you can call it a period piece since it took place in the fifties.

Hardly anything ever happened aside from the culmination of a once burgeoning relationship between Owen and Sarah. And even if I really enjoyed the easy and calm atmosphere of the novel, I still found myself waiting for something to speed up the pace. The shifting aspect to the book felt more like an after-thought or just an addendum. The plot didn't hinge on the secret that Owen was keeping but rather on whether Owen and Sarah could the sustain the storm of their fairly new relationship.

I mentioned this was set in the fifties; but aside from the conservative, careful language the characters used, and the date that author have mentioned at the beginning of a couple of chapters, you wouldn't know it was set in that era. There was nothing distinct about the characters' wardrobes that would indicate the sign of the times. I should mention though, that I had to Google a couple of items for fact-checking purposes: one, when condom was invented (a long, long time ago) and two, whether women were allowed to wear denim cut-offs back then (apparently yes). The best one was how condom, sponge and vinegar were used as contraception...yeah.

The beginning of their relationship actually reminded me of Belle and Beast. Sarah, the bookish beauty and Owen, the brash recluse who did all he can to intimidate anyone who trespass on his land And for a minute there, this gave me hope. I thought that the romance would be full of fireworks at least. Sadly, that didn't happen as well. He has the ability to shift into a wolf and a deer. But due to the gentility of his manners, my guess is, the deer was the dominant animal.

Romance readers would definitely enjoy the tranquil dynamics between Owen and Sarah. But if paranormal romance is more your thing, this might not satisfy. ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jun 02, 2013 Rose marked it as did-not-finish

Recommends it for: fans of paranormal romance

Shelves: disappointment, fantasy-or-paranormal, netgalley, did-not-finish-2014

Did not finish, read up until 33%.

It's been over 4 months since I've started this book and even though I really planned to finish it, it is taking me ages to only just read a few pages once I sit down to read it and I don't feel like reading this book until the rest of the year just to get to the finish line.

I've been so excited to finally read Firefly Hollow because I've heard such great things about it but what I've read is quite disappointing. Maybe it's a case of being let down because of ha ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 30, 2014 jesse rated it it was ok

Shelves: partly-read

1.75/5

the only thing that i would say sets this apart from any other paranormal romance is the fact that it is set in the 1950s, but then again maybe not as the narrative and diaologue are much too modern to make this believable and thus work in the hands of another author. other than that... the only other positive things i can think of are that there is no love triangle and the hero does not follow the current trend of being a brooding asshat. even the heroine's sister who's painted as vain, u ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Mar 14, 2017 Pamela(AllHoney) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1st-in-series, ebooks, loc-usa, fairy-tales-folklore-legends, paranormal-elements, 2017-read, writer-or-author-etc, shapeshifters, family-secrets, librarian

The first book in the Firefly Hollow series by T.L. Haddix. Teenager Sarah Browning wanders over to the forbidden Campbell property and finds solace near a stream. It was 1955 and she overheard her sister plotting against her regarding a boy. Then over the years she finds herself coming back frequently. Owen Campbell watches the girl and protects her through the years, until Sarah leaves for the university. But Owen has a secret and cannot reveal himself to Sarah.

I don't read a lot of books set ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 20, 2013 Emmy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy-paranormal, 20th-century, netgalley

**4.5**

What iiiissss this?

Ohhhh :)

This is not something I would have ordinarily picked up if not for this review, but boy am I glad I did!

It did start off a little slow for me. It set the scene, starting when Sarah was fifteen and giving Owen's back story (which is vital to the story), but took some time to set up.

But what the beginning lacked in pace, it made up for in beautiful language.
"Craggy, folded hollows peppered the landscape, looking like nothing more than a green blanket that ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 13, 2013 Sharon L rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley

For more reviews visit my blog The Accidental Reader

There are many reasons to love this book- the effortless beautiful writing, the paranormal side that really is just there without making a big deal out of it, the small town setting, even the time period that is mostly felt through things that are missing than being shoved down you throat.

And still, I can't explain how annoyed I was at this book. You see, both Owen and Sara are really good together. I really loved their interactions when it wa ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 28, 2013 Elise-Pinterest+Goodreads=The Perfect Book Boyfriend rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal, good-book, my-man-tree, sweet-romance, hero-heroine-in-pain-hurting, found-while-trolling-recommended, part-of-a-series

Oh my. I was suppose to be reading another book and accidentally opened this one on my Kindle instead. Well, after reading the first couple of pages, I thought, might as well. I was so pleasantly surprised. This book is very well written. It is set in the 1960's (I was not expecting that) in the Appalachian hills. It's the story of Sarah Jane and Owen. Sarah Jane is a typical 1960's girl dealing with her budding awareness about womanhood and life, all the while still hanging on to her traditiona ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 23, 2016 Lina rated it it was amazing

This is a sweet and touching story about love.

This book is a paranormal romance set in 1960 and it's focused on acceptance and the strength of a relationship. There isn't a big evil to beat or a crazy quest to make. Firefly Hollow is the tale of a young man in love with a girl, and he happens to be a shifter.

There are some secrets and surprises and I loved this book. I usually like the bad boy or the billionaire but my real weakness is the sweet gentleman. I got the feeling that this was a bel ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
The Happy Housewi...: Firefly Hollow (Firefly Hollow, #1)	1	2	Nov 14, 2016 06:28AM
Madison Mega-Mara...: #148 - Firefly Hollow	1	3	Aug 31, 2015 07:58AM

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Romance

168 users

Fantasy > Paranormal

128 users

Fantasy

94 users

Romance > Paranormal Romance

61 users

Fiction

26 users

Business > Amazon

21 users

Paranormal > Shapeshifters

21 users

Fantasy > Supernatural

15 users

Romance > Contemporary Romance

15 users

Historical

10 users

See top shelves…

About T.L. Haddix

T.L. Haddix

216 followers

Other books in the series

Firefly Hollow (1 - 10 of 12 books)

Books by T.L. Haddix

Secrets in the Shadows (Shadows Collection/Leroy's Sins, #1)

More…

10 Romances to Try If You Love the Fake Dating Trope

Rachel Lynn Solomon is best known to her fans for writing heartfelt contemporary YA novels like 2020's Today Tonight Tomorrow and her 2018...

Trivia About Firefly Hollow (F...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Firefly Hollow

“You have to get to know someone, take time to watch them with other people, with animals. You have to trust your instincts. And you have to get very, very lucky sometimes.” — 1 likes

“We are definitely going to have to get married.” — 1 likes

More quotes…

See a Problem?

Preview — Firefly Hollow by T.L. Haddix

Firefly Hollow

(Firefly Hollow #1)

Get A Copy

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

Readers also enjoyed

Genres

About T.L. Haddix

Other books in the series

Books by T.L. Haddix

Related Articles

Trivia About Firefly Hollow (F...

Quotes from Firefly Hollow