Witches of East End by Melissa De La Cruz

#1 Beauchamp Family
Copyright: 2011
Publisher: Hyperion
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 288
Challenges: New Author, Strong Heroine, 1st in a series, 2011 Pub
Author's Website
My rating: 4/5

Simple Description: 
The three Beauchamp women live the small town of North Hampton.  Joanna and her two daughters, Freya and Ingrid are witches and have been around for centuries.  They have been forbidden to use magic though, unless when necessary to hide their true identity.  However it's been a long time since they have heard from the council and Frey and Ingrid both start to use magic.  When there are no consequences Joanna uses some as well.

Then things take a turn for the worse.  Strange things start happening to the town.  People start to go missing, get sick, and even murdered.   Suddenly some of the towns folk start to turn on the three women.  If that wasn't enough they have bigger issues trying to figure out what is causing the illnesses in town and trying to fix it.

My Thoughts: 
This is the first book I've read by the author and I have to say, I enjoyed it a lot.  There were times when things were a bit confusing because it refers to the women being around for centuries and to thinks happening in their past but it doesn't elaborate until later in the story. You learn bits and pieces of their history the more you keep reading.

As you know, I do like the paranormal so I was intrigued by the witch aspect of this book.  I think the author did a good job with it.  It was very much who the women were and you saw them struggling with not using it and what they are doing to live a full life.  Then you see each woman blossom when she starts to use it again.

While I didn't exactly find anything saying this was the first in a new series, the fact that it's referred to as The Beauchamp Family when you look it up online and the ending leaves it open for at least one more story, I assume this is going to be a series.  I'm perfectly happy with that and look forward to book #2.


Thanks to Megan B. for providing this book for review.