Published: August 2011
Publisher: Little, Brown
Pages: 312
Copy Provided by: Library
Summary: Goodreads
Summar
SWEETLY is a modernization of Hansel and Gretel and a companion book to SISTERS RED.
Twelve years ago, Gretchen, her twin sister, and her brother went looking for a witch in the forest. They found something. Maybe it was a witch, maybe a monster, they aren’t sure—they were running too fast to tell. Either way, Gretchen’s twin sister was never seen again.
Years later, after being thrown out of their house, Gretchen and Ansel find themselves in Live Oak, South Carolina, a place on the verge of becoming a ghost town. They move in with Sophia Kelly, a young and beautiful chocolatier owner who opens not only her home, but her heart to Gretchen and Ansel.
Yet the witch isn’t gone—it’s here, lurking in the forests of Live Oak, preying on Live Oak girls every year after Sophia Kelly’s infamous chocolate festival. But Gretchen is determined to stop running from witches in the forest, and start fighting back. Alongside Samuel Reynolds, a boy as quick with a gun as he is a sarcastic remark, Gretchen digs deeper into the mystery of not only what the witch is, but how it chooses its victims. Yet the further she investigates, the more she finds herself wondering who the real monster is, and if love can be as deadly as it is beautiful.
Twelve years ago, Gretchen, her twin sister, and her brother went looking for a witch in the forest. They found something. Maybe it was a witch, maybe a monster, they aren’t sure—they were running too fast to tell. Either way, Gretchen’s twin sister was never seen again.
Years later, after being thrown out of their house, Gretchen and Ansel find themselves in Live Oak, South Carolina, a place on the verge of becoming a ghost town. They move in with Sophia Kelly, a young and beautiful chocolatier owner who opens not only her home, but her heart to Gretchen and Ansel.
Yet the witch isn’t gone—it’s here, lurking in the forests of Live Oak, preying on Live Oak girls every year after Sophia Kelly’s infamous chocolate festival. But Gretchen is determined to stop running from witches in the forest, and start fighting back. Alongside Samuel Reynolds, a boy as quick with a gun as he is a sarcastic remark, Gretchen digs deeper into the mystery of not only what the witch is, but how it chooses its victims. Yet the further she investigates, the more she finds herself wondering who the real monster is, and if love can be as deadly as it is beautiful.
Review:
I don't often read fairy tale retellings and I'm not certain why. I truly enjoy them. There is something wicked about taking a story you've heard as a child and modernizing it to fit this era of your life. Sweetly takes on a whole new meaning from our childhood Hansel and Gretel tale into something much more menacing. Ms. Pearce does a terrific job of keeping the reader in suspense and guessing throughout the entire tale.
Pearce sprinkles tidbits about the lives of Ansel and Gretchen (love the name play on words) before they met Miss Kelly, a young lady who would change their lives forever. Not only is she a chocolatier (to help you escape the real world), but she also hides secrets of her own....secrets that are subtly related to the brother and sister's past. You'll find love, heartache and courage when you read Sweetly. Did I also mention that this is book #2 in Jackson Pearce's Fairytale Retelling series? You can read Curlypow's review of Sisters Red (book #1) here.
I have been following Jackson Pearce via Twitter and her author blog ever since I first heard about Sisters Red. I think she should get together with Kirsten White and Maureen Johnson. These girls crack me up with their antics! She has so much energy and personality. I love to see authors who enjoy what they do and have no problems making fun of themselves. Try this one out. I gave it two thumbs up!
This book sounds awesome. I saw someone else put it on there TBR and forgot about it until now. I will be sure to check it out :_
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Lah @ LazyGirl Reads
I haven't read it yet either, but if it's as good as Sister's Red, it should be lots of fun. Christinabean certainly enjoyed it.
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