Christina Francine

Not every nightmare comes from imagination, and not every premonition from a hunch.

 

All Kelly wants is a fresh beginning, but when she meets an elderly woman who claims to be her great, great, great grandmother and finds an ancient evil that wants her young baby’s blood, she reaches for archaic tradition.

 

But something goes very wrong when a frightening troll appears at the window of her second-story apartment, and she learns her premonition is spot on: something is after her daughters.

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Gudrun claims to be a relative from the 1400s who comes to stop the woman in green from Cromarty from draining her daughters’ blood. Kelly disbelieves the elderly woman and discounts her premonition until, in the dead of night, she finds an ancient evil hovering over her oldest daughter’s bed ready to open a vein, and her toddler is watching the predator. The events are shocking enough. Now there’s a seductive helper with Gudrun. Who is the bigger threat? The evil after their lives or the man stirring her heart, living under her nose.​

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                                                          Back of the Book Blurbs:

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         “If your future is likely to be full of trolls and other evil beings, you better hope there’s plenty of magic out there too. Author Christina Francine’s specialty is enchantment, and that’s what The Woman in Green from Cromarty is all about.”

                  - Joan Schweighardt is the author of the Rivers Trilogy and other fiction and

                     nonfiction titles.

 

          “Delightful! Christina Francine delivers a magical concoction of Good versus Evil.”

                   - Scott Nicholson, October Girls

 

          “Beyond the veil of the ordinary lies the world of wonder, a must-read!”

                  - Reyna Young, When Darkness Falls

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​                                                Advanced Readers Thoughts

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            "Good story. I thought your dialogue was natural and moved the plot along. The action scenes were tense-maybe the strongest part even. The set-up you gave them was good. Loved the cover. This isn't my normal read so the fact that I kept turning the page is a good sign."

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           "This story was an easy read, I was able to read the entire thing within just a few hours one evening. I knew going into it that it was a dark story, and it lived up to the description. I felt like the pacing of the story was good, I did not get bored while going through it. The premise of a curse and different gifts to the cursed family was an interesting concept. I also enjoyed the grandmother coming into the story as a                  protector."

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GoodReads Reviews​

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Matt McAvoy

4 out of 5 Stars

If you like creepy tales with a good, old-fashioned, fairytale horror premise, then this one might tick your boxes. Perhaps for a family audience with slightly older children, Francine’s fun short story includes all the best traditional scary tropes: a mythical villain from an ancient bloodline looking to prey on children, in a remote, rural setting. There are some great hints at folklore around witchcraft and trolls, as well as nice touches on old Scottish wives’ tales. A quick read at less than a hundred pages, this is one to curl up with on a winter night, cozying up with no interruptions – the sort of book you plan making an evening of with a hot drink or a tipple – and you can certainly do worse.

I always enjoy books like this, and was also drawn to its length, although actually I think I would have liked to see a little more; I feel there was a great deal of extra legroom in this book, and with some layers added to the story it could have made a decent novel, and not just a novella – if only just a few words over the threshold. The author is endearing, and writes for comfort and enjoyment, which is just what you want from fiction. There is no ulterior motive, no graphic content, no underlying allegories or cautionary tales, other than perhaps the usual you might expect from a dark fairytale like this; it simply is what it wants to be, and what Francine wants it to be. There are some great characters, too, who I would be interested to see more of.

I recommend this book for older kids and adults who like the genre, or those looking for a good way to fill a couple of hours. Fun, exciting and, though not the most elaborate story, a great nod to the classic metaphors for fear and danger that we so loved growing up. I’d be intrigued to see what this author creates next.

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  Amazon Reviews

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Necole Whitcher

5.0 out of 5 stars 

Best Read with a Furry Orange Companion!

Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2024

Verified Purchase

This is a lovely and lightly spooky read. The plot twists were surprising, with a plot that is somewhat off the beaten path with familiar tropes to light the way. If you like cats and a Grimm-esque vibe to your folklore tales then read this. I just HAVE to figure out how to make a vervain necklace!

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Tiffany Butler

5.0 out of 5 stars 

Fantastic Read!

Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2024

The Woman in Green from Cromarty: A Legend by Christine Francine reads like a love letter to Scottish folklore, transporting you straight to the mist-laden Highlands. Francine creates a palpable sense of mystery around the “woman in green”—a spectral figure shrouded in sorrow and secrets. The pacing is careful and deliberate, inviting you to savor the atmosphere and dig deeper into the layers of history and legend that haunt the town of Cromarty.

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S.M. Hansen

4.0 out of 5 stars 

This was an easy read

Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2024

The tale in this book was paced well and kept my attention. It was darker than I normally read, but I knew that going into it. It was interesting to see how connections were made, and the ending was a little surprising. Overall a decent little novella.

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LITTLEjj

5.0 out of 5 stars 

The legend is fascinating

Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2024

I just finished the novella and it was a very intriguing piece with the legend entwined with personal experiences of the author. This book packed much interest and is a fast, action-packed story. Kudos for pulling in the Celtic accent, that can be hard to do and keep true to the story. I will be watching this author for more of her works!
J.J. Eriksen

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Alyssa Whitcher

5.0 out of 5 stars 

A great meeting between folktale and adventure in a modern setting!

Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2024

A fast-paced story with well-written action and suspense. Kelly, a mother of two, must face off against an enemy that is of myth. It deals with the protagonist facing self-doubt and needing to trust her instincts rather than cold hard facts. Kelly needs to get a hold of the situation before her children pay the ultimate price.
Kelly is quite relatable and the author is skilled in placing the reader in her shoes. And considering the stakes, it's a real page-turner! Highly recommended, I can easily see this as a part of a Netflix series, tbh!

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For more Amazon Reviews, go to https://a.co/d/hILsEHo

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