Awakening

I adore this book! I have only just put it down and have scrambled online to write a review to coax others into this books' gooey centre. `Awakening' is reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland and Chocolat, but so much more, and written in a style that is not only vintage, but also very current. If you love to listen to the way Nigella Lawson talks about cooking, you will love the way Austin brings this book to life. I certainly did not want to put the book down - it was a perfect read for a "liquorice black" night of winter rain. The story and characters weave their intricately woven web the further you read, and Mystic Hearts and all its gooey goodness certainly sprang to life in my minds eye. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it will be added to my list of all-time favourite novels. To me, this book captured what Kim Wilkins "The Autumn Castle" tried to. Total gooey fairytaleness. Love it!

A magical, mystical ride that stays with you long after you've closed the covers of the book

The only reason I'm giving it four, not five, stars is because I would have liked the book to be longer. It wasn't hurried, but I just wanted to see more. :) Kate Austin has woven a gentle spell to lure us in. One step through the door, and I was ready to pull up a chair and stay for the duration. I never got bored, never felt like my attention was wandering during this book. The book was magic realism at its best. Gentle, yet compelling. Mystical, and yet I can easily name a dozen women I know who would identify with the main character. I kept thinking that this book was what the film Chocolat tried to be, but missed. The heroine, Francesca, was easy to identify with if you've ever been on your own, alone, poor, and scared. But most of all I fell in love with the wounded opera star, Marta. Joshua was wonderful, but Marta shimmered. She became the perfect fairy godmother--not solving Francesca's problems, but helping her learn to solve them herself. I kind of wish that I'd kept this novel to read on a rainy night when the world seems dark and muted--but hey, it worked on a sunny evening full of noise and clamor, too. I'll be reading more of Ms. Austin's books, that's for sure.