At the age of 14 Synnamon Angelov’s world is turned upside down, her mother’s death is only the first of many devastating blows to come. Separated from her three sisters Syn is thrown into a life completely foreign from the one she’s known. Twenty years after leaving her home town Syn returns to uncover the truth of the night her mother died and confront the man she holds responsible for destroying her family.
Police Chief Matthew Whitefeather didn’t grow up in Salem so knows nothing about Victoria Angelov or the rumors surrounding her and her girls. When Syn arrives and the people of Salem begin to talk Matt refuses to buy into the rumors. But when he looks into the death of her mother and is forced to admit Syn’s right, things begin to happen that just can’t be ignored. But some people in Salem don’t want the truth revealed and Syn to leave Salem forever. Dead or alive.

I’ve never read J.C. Wilder and I have to say I think I’ve been neglecting myself. I was blown away by Winter’s Daughter and by the time in dawned on me this was the first in a series I was too far gone to stop. I hate it when I have to wait for the follow-on books. This might be J.C.’s first novel in four years, but let me say it was well worth the wait. I know authors are capable of bringing characters to life but when a house is one of those characters and it lives and breathes on the page, the author is nothing short of brilliant. The beginning is heart-rending and had me reaching for the tissues. Syn is brilliantly portrayed and J.C. should be commended for her skill in bringing a woman-child to life so well. When next we meet Syn she’s nothing like the child we first glimpsed. What happened on that night twenty years ago has left its mark and J.C. sinks her teeth into Syn’s character with such depth that you can’t get enough. Matthew has suffered his own traumas because of who he is, so he’s able to sympathize with Syn and her struggle with the town. But sympathy soon turns to something else, something he can’t seem to control. With each new threat to Syn, Matt finds his need to protect her and find the answers to her mother’s death increasing. J.C. weaves a tale of witchcraft, romance and suspense with such skill that I’m tempted to find out where she lives so I can park myself on her doorstep until she finishes the rest of the series. More than worth the money, Winter’s Daughter has to be on everyone’s list to buy. If you buy no other book this month you have to get this one. J.C. Wilder is a storyteller of great talent and great imagination and I’ll buy any book in the future that has her name on it.

Reviewed by: Rachel C.