Reviewed by Rita G. for Readers' Favorite

"Sweetly" by Jackson Pearce offers readers a new twist on an old fairy tale. Things are not always what they seem. The woman living in the sweet house turns out to be a dangerous character.

Ansel and Gretchen’s home life was filled with a lot of unhappiness. They both wanted to start a new life and left home. Unfortunately, you cannot run away from all of your problems. When they were young they walked in the woods and something very bad got their sister. She was never found. They believe it was the witch. As they grew up they avoided her name, never to mention it again. When Gretchen turned eighteen their wicked step mother threw them out of the house. That was the start of their adventure.

They arrived in the small town of Live Oak, South Carolina, with their car trouble and out of money. Sophia, the candy maker takes them in and the pain of their past begins to fade. Ansel finds himself falling in love with the beautiful candy maker and Gretchen meets Samuel who wins her heart. Secrets surround Sophia, the forest and the missing girls. Will Gretchen be the next?

The cover of this book fits it perfectly. It made me want to pick up this book and open the cover. From the moment I picked up this book I was mesmerized. I could not lay it down and read through the night. I was so wrapped up in the story I felt as if I knew Gretchen and really cared about what would happen to her. This is truly a new twist to a fairy tale. I would love to read the whole series.