Customer Reviews

The Witches of Dixie: Book One of the Witchery Series

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My usual book of choice involves lots of action, lots of angst and lots of humor--sensuality is a plus but not a must, and snappy dialogue is usually large in the picture. Laura Stamps book, *The Witches of Dixie* is a departure from my usual fare, but not an unpleasant one by any stretch of the imagination.

The book focuses on the struggles of four women to embrace faith--yes, it does turn out to be the Wiccan faith--but what becomes apparent, especially in the story of the third woman (Mirabella) was that this idea of faith can be applied to any belief in a higher power. For these women, whose struggles to succeed in a cynical world and to triumph over some of the very negative forces that can assail all of us, particularly in times of doubt, the Wiccan faith seemed to be an organic choice. The faith itself embraces belief, positivity, and an earnest desire do produce good in the world, and this was the message that all of the women learned in an individual fashion in the course of the book.

Lots of action, dialogue and sex, there was not. But the prose was gorgeous--no holds barred, rich, elegant, balletic and luminous, each word set in a sentence like precious stones in a graceful anklet, the prose suspends the reader in the bubble of the moment. This was, for lack of a better word, a peaceful book. By the end of the book, after having seen the women succeed in their struggles over cynicism, bitterness, anger, and helplessness, the book gives a true sense that faith will eventually do it's job.

I received a review copy of this book from the author and I am very glad to have done so. This book is a departure from my normal reading but it was a very pleasant trip into the Wiccan practices. At the heart of each story is an admirable ability for these women to use their faith to see them through times of trouble. I greatly enjoyed the book and I found it inspiring. While I am not a Wiccan and I haven't ever really looked into it, I did find the message expressed in the book to transcend any boundaries of religion. This book is beautifully written and the words seem to leap off of the page. If you find yourself at all interested in the material or if you just need some inspiration, definitely pick this story up.

Author Laura Stamps graciously sent me a copy of her book The Witches of Dixie. This is a very pleasant book that I am happy to review here. The book explores the lives of four Wiccan women who are dealing with turmoil in their lives and turn to their faith for guidance to work through the difficult period in their lives. Laura Stamps' writing style is very poetic in the way she describes the delicate and reverent view of nature that the women in the stories have about world around them and how it inspires them in their Wiccan faith. The rituals and spell casting that are incorporated into the Wiccan faith also makes for a very interesting read. This is a great book for anyone interested in how Wiccan's use their faith in their daily lives or for people looking for inspirational stories of women tackling the problems life throws at them with strong faith and determination.

I devoured this book in one evening, enjoying it as I would a fine chocolate with a filling both light and rich that tantalizes and fulfills, yet leaves you wantng more. The author's mastery of simile, metaphor, personification and other literary devices make the stories of the four women flow like poetry with a beauty that creates a feeling of peace and well-being within the reader. The common theme of the Wiccan faith is woven through all four character studies, but one need not be a Witch to appreciate the truths expressed therein. Indeed, every woman can relate to the struggles the ladies face: doubt, fear, loss of confidence, health concerns, money worries and a desire to be in touch with the truest, deepest part of herself through a personal relationship with her Deity. Even though I was unfamiliar with a few of the terms relating to the Craft, the context made the meaning clear and I was able to discern what the author wanted me to know. Her voice was clear throughout, and her own journey was visible in the experiences of the four women, especially those of Mirabella. Anyone needing a break from from the frenetic pace of dailiy life, anyone who needs a simple but deep read guaranteed to calm and inspire, and anyone wanting the assurance that there is more to life than worry, stress, dissent and pain, should buy this book, read it, and keep it nearby for quick fixes of refreshing truths.

This is a collection of four witches from "Dixie". They all come from different aspects but their stories are similar. They are all artistic women and are working toward a goal - a reason. The first two stories are short. In the first story Savannah makes handbags but begins to worry when sales begin to decline. The second story is about a woman named Maylene. She feels as if she is becoming invisible. She begins to be concerned on payday when her paycheck isn't there. Her boss tells her it is a computer glitch. But this is only the first incident.

The third and fourth stories are longer stories and go into more depth into the women's lives. Mirabella is an abstract artist. She is very successful until the economy steps in. With the economy becoming tighter sales are down and Mirabella wonders what she is going to do with her future. She seeks the help from a Wiccan friend and finds ways to improve her outlook. The last story about a woman named Ravena. She has health issues that she must overcome. But there are times in her life that make her unhappy. She takes a trip to the mountains to get closer to the earth in her quest to heal but physical and emotional.

I felt close to the women in these stories. I could relate to where they were in their lives and how they felt about their futures. The women in these stories learn to rebirth themselves to be happier and healthier. I recommend this book to any woman that is in the process of reassessing the woman that she has become. These are light stories that will make you feel good about yourself and others. There are messages in each of the stories but my favorite is the message of gratitude.

I really enjoyed this book, I have been looking into Wicca for awhile now, and this book was like a peek into living with Wicca on a daily basis. The stories were believable, I found myself caring about the women and the outcomes. And best of all, any book that can weave caring for cats into the storyline is wonderful! Over-all I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!

Ms. Stamps sent me a copy of this book, and I would like to take this time to say..Thank you very much!! This is not the type of book I usually read, I'm more of a time travel, or ghost/witch/vamp type book. So I was kinda surprised when this book had none of that, but what it did have, was 4 very well written short stories about women that gain strength from their faith. They all follow Wicca, and the author does include spells and chants. This is a feel good book, as all the women over come with wisdom and compassion. I hope, that like me you will give this a try and maybe you will also fall "under the spell" of this book. I can't wait for number 2 and 3.
Please Enjoy!