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Hurricane

Hurricane
(Last Call #2)
by Moira Rogers

I really liked this story partly because it gave me a look into the back story of the Last Call as an establishment. Getting to know something about the owner was great. Even though this is a short story it gives you a lot of detail so you can enjoy.

Fiona has come to the bar because her ex boyfriend placed a curse on her so that she cannot get sexual satisfaction without causing harm to the property and body of anyone she might get together with. She cannot even help herself that way. She hopes the club’s owner, Benito D’Cruze can break the curse because after five years she has become desperate.

There is heat, not a lot, but enough to make this worth enjoying.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Hurricane’s for inexperienced witches and wizards. People who are liable to blow the place up without proper handling.”

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Halloween Magic & Mayhem

Halloween Magic & Mayhem
(Magical Misadventures of Emily Rand #1)
by Stella Wilkinson

I had kind of sworn off YA for a while because I needed something just a bit more adult than the teen angst that seemed to be such a big part of some in the genre. Glad I took the time to read this one because I enjoyed it completely from start to finish. The characters who were introduced were all interesting, even the ghost, who could have been just a shadow form. The story while not original was told in a witty way that made it fun to read.

Emily Rand lived alone with her father until a few years ago when his girlfriend and her son moved in disrupting her life. She is about to turn 16 years old and while she is not happy about the intruders in her home she can be happy about other things. Emily has finally met a boy who seems to like her as much as she likes him. But before any of that can happen she is asked to visit her aunt, her mothers sister, who has something very important to tell her. What happens when a 16 year old finds out that she is a witch with actual powers? Chaos ensues!

Definitely recommended!

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Engaged off Bourbon Street

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Engaged off Bourbon Street (Jade Calhoun Short Story, Book 3.5)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a perfect entry in the Jade Calhoun saga as she moves forward with her new life in New Orleans. This was an intimate look at all the mains as they come together to help Jade and Kane celebrate. Everyone is feeling the holiday spirit and Jade is just happy to be able to share her happiness with those she loves. Even though it is a short story it has the impact of a full length novel in both plot and character development. These characters are true to who they are and even though there are background people, who are never heard from, things move quickly from start to finish.

Jade and Kane are having their engagement/Christmas party at the house in the bayou that he did not really go to until he met Jade. Jade made a promise to Pyper that she would string mistletoe all around the house to make sure she had a chance to kiss Ian, and she has misplaced it. In order to locate it Jade decides to use magic, and we know how that can go for her. The spell is cast, the guests arrive, and the mishaps ensue.

This was a nice quick read that made me smile and shake my head. You would think Jade would learn, but then if she did we would not be so entertained. I would say fans should definitely read this!

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Witch’s Bell 2

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Witch’s Bell 2 (The Adventures of Ebony Bell #2)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The first book in this series did not exactly grab me, but this one made me more of a fan. This time around I was ready and got into the story a lot quicker with a lot more interest in what was going on. The fact that Ebony seemed a bit more subdued and not so manic and annoying helped get me there. The plot here was a lot tighter and well thought out, at least for me, then the first which I completed but was not sure if I even liked the character. The characters felt more real to me here though I am still not fully invested in the world they inhabit.

After almost losing herself and being rewritten months ago Ebony has finally found her purpose and balance in life. She and Harry the bookstore are doing well and she has moved in to be closer. Things are going well with her job. The only thing seems to be that the police are busier than ever as magic seems to be running amok and her job seems to never end.

Something deadly and sinister is happening in Vale and Ebony is about to find herself at the center of trouble once again. And just to keep things interesting she is being courted by a handsome wizard from out of town named Aaron Heart who is in town to talk about security for a wizards convention. Meanwhile, Detective Nate Wall seems decidely jealous, though he hasn’t made a move of his own.

There is only one thing that really bugged me and that was the fact that so many words had been misused throughout the book. The word ‘where’ was used when they meant ‘were’ as well as ‘allowed’ for ‘aloud’. It kind of throws off your train of though while you try to make sense of it.

The books are sweet with a hint of danger and darkness with the potential for romance eventually. Ebony Bell is a likeable character most of the time but sometimes seems a bit naive for someone who grew up a witch. I hope to get better acquainted with the other characters who populate Vale.

“Magic is like silver cutlery, Ebony, you only bring it out to either impress, or stab, important guests.”
Odette C. Bell, Witch’s Bell Book One
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Witch’s Bell

Witch's Bell Book One (Witch's Bell, #1)

Witch’s Bell Book One (Witch’s Bell #1)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Though I eventually ended up liking this book it was a close thing. From the beginning I was not sure what was going on or what the story was about, other than a witch who was really cocky, and worked for the police. Most books I will read between 1-2 days but it took me 6 days to get through this one, partly because I started reading another book that grabbed my attention. I kept going because I wanted to see where things were headed and whether there would be a payoff in the end. It did finally pick up nicely by the time I got 65% through. The only character I felt even remotely stood out was the main one, the others were not fleshed out enough to really form a good opinion of them one way or the other.

Ebony Bell is a summoner witch residing in the city of Vale which sits on a Portal or gate between worlds. She is the official witch consultant to the Vale police and helps them when magical crimes occur, and that is quite often because of the door. After revealing to a mortal that she is a witch Ebony has her magic taken away for a month and must live as a human. Though this is the worst thing that has ever happened to her she soon finds that things can be much worse than she had ever thought possible.

I do not require non-stop action in a book, or for the heroine to be in love by the third chapter, it would have just been nice if all the peripheral characters had been more interesting or just more involved. A little more background information on Senior Detective Ben, who had known Ebony since she was a child would have helped. Or more information on Detective Nathan Wall, who arrives with secrets and they are not revealed until the final chapters. There were so many characters who I felt could have been fleshed out and not focused so much on Ebony being whiny.

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It’s Not The Great Pumpkin, Maxie Duncan

It's Not The Great Pumpkin, Maxie Duncan

It’s Not The Great Pumpkin, Maxie Duncan

(Maxie Duncan #1.5)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a novella length book, so not very long, but very entertaining. It is fast paced with interesting characters and the storyline makes for a nice Halloween read.Maxie Duncan has not been a witch for long and is looking forward to her first Halloween as one. It’s her favorite holiday and she wonders why her new supernatural friends do not want to celebrate with her. There is a male witch, her friend and possible boyfriend, a pixie roommate and her boyfriend the trickster, they all reside in an apartment complex full of other supernaturals. Maxie wants to show them that the season has more meaning than they give it credit for. And as a nascent witch trouble of course ensues.

I enjoyed this so much that it has definitely interested me in the series, so I will be going back to number one and getting to know the whole story of Maxie and how she became a witch. This is just a cute and fun little romp and if you love Halloween and all the ghouls and ghosts that come out to play,  just give it a look.

Jack-o-lantern

Jack-o-lantern (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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