First Frost (Waverley Family, #2) in The Sarah Addison Allen Fan Group

Sep 18, 2014 Deb rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, chick-lit, foodie-fiction, romance, science-fiction-fantasy

I will admit to being concerned about a second book about one of my favorite fictional families The Waverleys, introduced in Garden Spells-one of my top foodie fiction titles. I wasn't sure that author Sarah Addison Allen could capture the same sense of magic that filled Garden Spells. Still, I was anxiously awaiting the publication when I found an ARC available on NetGalley, and a desire to find out what was happening in the next chapter of the Waverley's lives had me snapping it up.

The book t I will admit to being concerned about a second book about one of my favorite fictional families The Waverleys, introduced in Garden Spells-one of my top foodie fiction titles. I wasn't sure that author Sarah Addison Allen could capture the same sense of magic that filled Garden Spells. Still, I was anxiously awaiting the publication when I found an ARC available on NetGalley, and a desire to find out what was happening in the next chapter of the Waverley's lives had me snapping it up.

The book takes us back to Bascom, NC, ten years after Garden Spells. (If you have not read Garden Spells, I would recommend you do so before diving into First Frost to get the background of the characters and understand the Waverley's magical talents.) Claire, married to Trey and mother of a daughter (Mariah, has dropped the catering business and instead is caught up in an ever-growing hard candy production after her magical treats have been 'discovered' and all of the media attention has the orders pouring in. Sydney owns the hair salon now and is married to Henry (who adopted Bay) and wants to give him a baby. Little Bay is now 15 and in love with a local boy--Josh Matteson who is freaked out when she tells him they 'belong' together and does his best to ignore her. Evanelle's health is fading and Fred is her housemate and caregiver. The family is waiting for the first frost of autumn when the magical apple tree begins to bloom and change and fresh starts happen--meanwhile a mysterious old man pops up in town with an interest in the Waverley's particularly Claire and his appearance could have big effects on the family.

It took me a few chapters to get caught back up into the Waverley's lives and into the story but Addison Allen has created such great characters in these women that it was easy to get wrapped up in the drama and the magic. Bay has retained the "old soul" she had as a child and my favorite parts of the book involved her. Garden Spells is still my favorite Sarah Addison Allen book but First Frost still enchants and is a wonderful way to catch up with characters that feel like good friends. Here's hoping there is a third book.

Note: I received a review copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher but my thoughts and opinions are my own. ;-)

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Oct 04, 2014 Allison IG: RNs_booknook rated it really liked it

In First Frost, we go back to visit the Waverly sisters and I couldn't be more happy to visit with them again. I really liked First Frost and that is was based around Claire & Sydney Waverly to give us an update on their lives since reading about them in Garden Spells. The story takes place 10 years later. This was a sweet yet magical (just like a SAA book should be) story that had Sydney's daughter Bay as one of the central characters. I loved reading about Bay, now a teenager, who has a secure ...more

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Nov 18, 2014 Terry rated it really liked it

"First Frost" is a sequel to "Garden Spells" set 10 years later. It continues the story of the mystical Waverley women of Bascom, NC. Sisters Claire and Sydney both have daughters of their own, one of whom, teenager Bay, is pining over her first love, Josh.

It is Autumn when the story begins and in the words of Sarah Addison Allen, "Autumn felt like the whole world was browned and roasted until it was so tender it was about to fall away from the bone."
(I loved that phrase.)

"First Frost" is a cozy ...more

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Sep 13, 2014 Jenna rated it it was amazing

Loved it, almost as much as Garden Spells. It was great to have a continuation of the story. The Bay storyline was nice and learning more about the Waverly gifts. I didn't enjoy the strange man side story so much, but did like how it brought them together, so I understand that he served his purpose. I wish, as I do with all of her novels, that she had made it a little longer. I want to know what happened to Bay and Josh, did Fred really pick up Evenelle's gift and how did that happen. I'm wonder ...more

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Sep 13, 2014 Glenda added it

I read this book because it is somewhat a sequel to Garden Spells. I really enjoyed Garden Spells and re-read it before reading First Frost. I didn't enjoy First Frost as much as I enjoyed Garden Spells but it was still a good book. ...more

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