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godofwar's review against another edition
2.0
(1.5) i've been looking to give wendy webb a second chance since the haunting of brynn wilder, so this being a first reads seemed a good opportunity to do so. i expected something similar, sure, but not really this similar, yet somehow worse?
the stroke of winter takes place in the same universe as brynn wilder, which, okay, fine, i understand. i like when authors do this, when they can have a continuity that makes sense - but, unfortunately, this leads to the same "hallmark with light horror" vibe as brynn wilder, but, like i said, even worse. the town of wharton just annoys me with how artificial it comes across; i'm a big believer in suspending belief and just allowing a story to be told, but the town and characters within just feel incredibly hollow with very little characterization except Exactly What They Need To Be, which of course is how a story Works, but there's just something off here. everything is so safe and boring and wholesome to a point it's grating. it clashes horribly with the attempt at horror, to establish wharton as a town with a "connection" to "the other side" where "dark things happen" - but everyone lives a cookie cutter life with almost no problems. maybe it's because i don't like consuming media where rich people aren't suffering but i was really exhausted with everyone and their perfect lives and cutesy little houses in a Small Town Where Everyone Loves Each Other. it's difficult to tell the extras apart because there's really nothing to discern them beyond Love Interest and Scottish Accent; there's no defining character traits or personalities that bounce off of the main character, who is also cardboard. i had little hopes for her when her name was revealed as "amethyst bell" who constantly "lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding." the romance isn't too bad (leagues better than brynn wilder) because i think 'older' people being in love is cute, and it's not instant, which is a plus, and the soft moments where they're working towards a relationship are well done, but Love Interest has nothing going for him, just like tess (which is amethyst's nickname), so beyond that? i don't care.
the one thing that really made brynn wilder passably good was that it didn't fall into ableist horror tropes but this book sure does! the villain of the story is described as being "born evil" and there's just a lot of gross language regarding his possible mental illnesses (which is maybe actually a demon or something idk it's very poorly written and explained and really just infuriated me) and instead of like, Ever getting him help everyone just said he was destined to be evil from the womb and let him be evil? then his dad just Kills Him instead of getting him some help and maybe Jail?? the ending is so poor and honestly the whole haunting/murder/paranormal/horror side of the book feels rushed and as if it was added in as an afterthought. i think i would've liked it better if it was just focusing on the romance (it wouldn't be five stars, but it'd be something.)
two books in to webb's bibliography, and i just don't think it's for me. it's definitely for the crowd who like lifetime/hallmark with super low stakes and characters they can project onto. there's a time and place for that and i'm sure there's books with the same vibe i've liked before but she's just not for me frankly!
(two other things: there's a few times where pages are just wasted going over recipes because tess is a chef and it's very dumb; also, when the ghost hunting starts to happen, the characters really explain what every little device is for, which is so pointless because i doubt there's a person over like, 13, on this planet who hasn't seen some kind of ghost hunting show, so everyone understands, and tess even says she's seen them and gets it? after acting confused over what the equipment is for??? the editing is so bad. i don't think this book actually went through an editing process, honestly, which seems to be a trend with authors in this category)
the stroke of winter takes place in the same universe as brynn wilder, which, okay, fine, i understand. i like when authors do this, when they can have a continuity that makes sense - but, unfortunately, this leads to the same "hallmark with light horror" vibe as brynn wilder, but, like i said, even worse. the town of wharton just annoys me with how artificial it comes across; i'm a big believer in suspending belief and just allowing a story to be told, but the town and characters within just feel incredibly hollow with very little characterization except Exactly What They Need To Be, which of course is how a story Works, but there's just something off here. everything is so safe and boring and wholesome to a point it's grating. it clashes horribly with the attempt at horror, to establish wharton as a town with a "connection" to "the other side" where "dark things happen" - but everyone lives a cookie cutter life with almost no problems. maybe it's because i don't like consuming media where rich people aren't suffering but i was really exhausted with everyone and their perfect lives and cutesy little houses in a Small Town Where Everyone Loves Each Other. it's difficult to tell the extras apart because there's really nothing to discern them beyond Love Interest and Scottish Accent; there's no defining character traits or personalities that bounce off of the main character, who is also cardboard. i had little hopes for her when her name was revealed as "amethyst bell" who constantly "lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding." the romance isn't too bad (leagues better than brynn wilder) because i think 'older' people being in love is cute, and it's not instant, which is a plus, and the soft moments where they're working towards a relationship are well done, but Love Interest has nothing going for him, just like tess (which is amethyst's nickname), so beyond that? i don't care.
the one thing that really made brynn wilder passably good was that it didn't fall into ableist horror tropes but this book sure does! the villain of the story is described as being "born evil" and there's just a lot of gross language regarding his possible mental illnesses (which is maybe actually a demon or something idk it's very poorly written and explained and really just infuriated me) and instead of like, Ever getting him help everyone just said he was destined to be evil from the womb and let him be evil? then his dad just Kills Him instead of getting him some help and maybe Jail?? the ending is so poor and honestly the whole haunting/murder/paranormal/horror side of the book feels rushed and as if it was added in as an afterthought. i think i would've liked it better if it was just focusing on the romance (it wouldn't be five stars, but it'd be something.)
two books in to webb's bibliography, and i just don't think it's for me. it's definitely for the crowd who like lifetime/hallmark with super low stakes and characters they can project onto. there's a time and place for that and i'm sure there's books with the same vibe i've liked before but she's just not for me frankly!
(two other things: there's a few times where pages are just wasted going over recipes because tess is a chef and it's very dumb; also, when the ghost hunting starts to happen, the characters really explain what every little device is for, which is so pointless because i doubt there's a person over like, 13, on this planet who hasn't seen some kind of ghost hunting show, so everyone understands, and tess even says she's seen them and gets it? after acting confused over what the equipment is for??? the editing is so bad. i don't think this book actually went through an editing process, honestly, which seems to be a trend with authors in this category)
zutsie's review against another edition
3.0
Simple, straightforward read, but didn’t find it quite as engaging as some of her other works, but great for fiction and a light, October read.
I appreciated Webb keeping it pandemic free for entertainment. I get why books will have to and do feature the pandemic, but books for me are also escapism, and right now I’m not in the mood for my free time to be spent reading about the pandemic as well.
I appreciated Webb keeping it pandemic free for entertainment. I get why books will have to and do feature the pandemic, but books for me are also escapism, and right now I’m not in the mood for my free time to be spent reading about the pandemic as well.
bookly68's review against another edition
5.0
A fantastic creepy story!!
If you like horror and romance, then read this book! Actually any of Webb’s stories.
The audible of this was awesome! The narrator did the creepy noises and voices perfectly. I don’t think I’d say I was really scared, although some people might be, but it definitely had that creepy, gothic vibe that I love!
If you like horror and romance, then read this book! Actually any of Webb’s stories.
The audible of this was awesome! The narrator did the creepy noises and voices perfectly. I don’t think I’d say I was really scared, although some people might be, but it definitely had that creepy, gothic vibe that I love!
liakeller's review against another edition
3.0
Not my typical book, but it was intriguing. It also had a dog which it made it all the more enjoyable.
alma_g's review against another edition
4.0
Great job, Wendy. Another wonderful escapism. Narrator was wonderful, too.
brii_brii's review against another edition
3.0
The pacing in this book did me in. It's so slow, and it didn't create suspense for me in the way I think it's intended.
Don't get me wrong, I love that we're getting such a clear background into Tess. But I also don't think I needed the rundown on every step she took to make stew. I also like watching her relationship with Wyatt grow, but I also don't need to read about them (in detail) just going for a walk. It did feel like there was a bit of filler stuffed into a bunch of places.
About 50% of the way through things start happening, and we start to realize that there might be more about Grandpa than anyone really knows, and this is where I perk up and start to get a little more excited about what I'm reading.
Overall, I found myself interested in this one from start to finish, but not in a “I can not put this down” kind of way. More of a “slow and steady wins the race” kind of way. The pacing stays pretty much the same throughout the book.
I want to say it all felt pretty casual to me. Even as Tess is freaking out over everything going on, I didn't feel that, I didn't really feel anything in this book, really, not scared, or stressed or anxious; not on the edge of my seat, and certainly not swooning over the “you're basically an old married couple already” romance. But the plot was decent, so I kept on keeping on, and I really did like the plot.
It was a bit obvious where the whole thing was going, though. No big plot twists here. It is what it is, and it was sad. But really, a decent read.
Don't get me wrong, I love that we're getting such a clear background into Tess. But I also don't think I needed the rundown on every step she took to make stew. I also like watching her relationship with Wyatt grow, but I also don't need to read about them (in detail) just going for a walk. It did feel like there was a bit of filler stuffed into a bunch of places.
About 50% of the way through things start happening, and we start to realize that there might be more about Grandpa than anyone really knows, and this is where I perk up and start to get a little more excited about what I'm reading.
Overall, I found myself interested in this one from start to finish, but not in a “I can not put this down” kind of way. More of a “slow and steady wins the race” kind of way. The pacing stays pretty much the same throughout the book.
I want to say it all felt pretty casual to me. Even as Tess is freaking out over everything going on, I didn't feel that, I didn't really feel anything in this book, really, not scared, or stressed or anxious; not on the edge of my seat, and certainly not swooning over the “you're basically an old married couple already” romance. But the plot was decent, so I kept on keeping on, and I really did like the plot.
It was a bit obvious where the whole thing was going, though. No big plot twists here. It is what it is, and it was sad. But really, a decent read.
ihateprozac's review against another edition
2.0
Another middling mystery from Wendy Webb that gets rapidly wrapped up in the final half hour. This had plenty of potential with creepy scratches and things that go bump in the night, but it just meandered and we spent more time watching a mediocre romance play out than anything else.
shannonscotteditorauthor's review against another edition
5.0
Good. Ness.
It is always such a joy to return to Wharton, Minnesota! Wendy Webb has built up fictional town and its residents so well that I knew instantly this would be my Kindle First Reads choice for October. A haunted house, a murder mystery, and an undercurrent of romance?? YES, PLEASE!!!
It is always such a joy to return to Wharton, Minnesota! Wendy Webb has built up fictional town and its residents so well that I knew instantly this would be my Kindle First Reads choice for October. A haunted house, a murder mystery, and an undercurrent of romance?? YES, PLEASE!!!
bnryan95's review against another edition
4.0
I just love the setting and the vibe of Wendy Webb’s books. The conclusion was pretty rushed and nonsensical, but I had a good time.
ordinarypickle's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0