The Magic All Around

By: Jennifer Moorman

Narrated by: Kathleen McInerney

Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

In this latest enchanting novel from bestselling magical realism author Jennifer Moorman, a treasure hunt through the past reveals one woman’s extraordinary gift for arranging the future.

The Russell women have always lived in a house that is as special as they are—a century-old Victorian with a radio that tunes itself to the listener’s mood and a pantry that rearranges to provide just the right ingredients for any baking need. Lilith Russell was the exception. She left the family home in Ivy Ridge, Georgia, and has been flitting like a hummingbird from place to place with her daughter, Mattie, in the decades since, only returning each summer to drop Mattie off with Lilith’s sister, Penelope.

When Lilith dies suddenly, Mattie is left without her sole companion and the captain who steered her ship. That is, until she visits Ivy Ridge and learns Lilith charted one last course for Mattie: a series of tasks that she must complete to earn her inheritance, with Penelope overseeing the process.

Both Mattie and Penelope are outraged by Lilith’s seemingly random stipulations: throw a Halloween party, take a local pizza cooking class, share secrets with someone . . . But Mattie soon realizes that if she completes the tasks, she may unearth her mother’s secrets, including the identity of Mattie’s father. She may also discover more about the Russell family “gifts” and why Lilith chose Penelope’s former love to be the executor of the will. She may even learn how and why Jonathan Carlisle, the boy who stole her heart ten summers ago, also happens to be back in town.

Mattie can only hope that Lilith’s final map will finally point her home.

©2024 Jennifer Moorman (P)2024 Harper Muse

The narrator makes the story hard to like …

The story is ok, sweet and I think I may have enjoyed it more but for the narrator who pauses and emphasizes the weirdest words in a sentence so it constantly sounds disjointed

TRYING

I WANT to like this story, it has everything I love, magical realism, small southern town, interesting quirky characters, The narrator is just ruining it for me. The tone and cadence is very plain. it's hard to tell one character from another as they all kinda blend together in a kind of soup, I can't remember what the last few sentences were because there's no personalization, or different inflections. The main person- the ADULT daughter is made to sound like a whiny 14 year old. I understand there is mourning, and she has led a different life than most, however, she is an ADULT. I'm trying, I'm going to set it aside, come back to it. If it weren't on the buy one get one, I would return it and read it myself.

I feel great, not good!!

I absolutely loved listening to this book!! Every single part of it! It got me through some really bad days and helped in making them better. Thank you to the Author of this book! I can't wait for the next one!

Magical story

The book was enjoyable but was written for teenagers I think. The writing was a bit immature.

loved it!

this is a cute story! I hope there will be more to come. there are characters that deserve more time and we already love them.

An enchanting book!

I didn’t know I needed Southern Magical Realism in my life. I loved it. Is there the possibility of a sequel? I loved the characters.

Magical realism in a small town

I liked a lot of aspects of this story. there was the real life aspect of someone going through the grief of losing a loved one but also finding their way to move on. the magical parts did add to the story as well.

Magical realism at its best!

I loved this enchanted story. This is magical realism at its very best. Looking forward to more from thecauthor!

Small Town Charm

Lovely, but predictable storyline. Light read in between more dramatic choices in my reading pile.

The magic of the house!

It was a fun loving, lighthearted, whimsical book! It reminded me of the movie Practical Magic and she even referenced the movie in the book. Loved it!