  |
|
|
|
Index Interviews: Steve Hamilton Frozen Ideas The Power of Repetition Eight Tips For Getting Published in Magazines Return to This Issue's Index Return to Homepage Subscribe
|
|
Romance Book ReviewsPage Three of ThreeSpellbound in Seattle by Garthia AndersonLove Spell, March, 2003Paperback, 309 pages ISBN: 0505525372 Subgenre: Paranormal Ordering information: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk 
In an alternate reality Seattle, magic is perfectly normal.
Wizards and sorceresses run magical consulting businesses and
have unions. People who have no magical ability whatsoever,
like Petra Field, are actually rare. Petra's parents are
magical, and teach at a prestigious university. So when
Petra finds magical, permanent bloodstains on her new rug,
she calls for a wizard to fix it. A handsome green-robed man
calling himself Vorador from Emerald Renaissance Garments
is one of the wizards who answers her call. Vorador informs
her that the bloodstain is the result of a violent crime and cannot
be removed until the crime has been solved and the victim
put to rest. Vorador attempts to fix the stain, but Petra has an
unfortunate effect on wizards, and the spell backfires, leaving a
hole to another dimension in her floor. Vorador decides to
stick around to solve the murder mystery -- and to spend more
time with the attractive woman who makes his magic and his heart go haywire
every time she's around.
Spellbound in Seattle immediately throws the reader into a sexy, madcap comedy that is as entertaining as it is outrageous. Normally, it's best that a book start right in on the action, and leave the back story for later. But this is one case that proves the exception. The magical world is quite interesting, really, but it's confusing. A bit of explanation at the beginning of the book as to how the wizardry was discovered and how magic was eventually integrated into modern society would have been very helpful. But, that minor quibble aside, Garthia Anderson has a charming style and a good handle on dialogue. This is a series that has much potential. Unearthed by C. J. BarryLove Spell, May, 2003Paperback, 302 pages ISBN: 0505525402 Subgenre: Futuristic Ordering information: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk 
First time author C. J. Barry hits just the right
note of fun, adventure and romance in this
funny and entertaining futuristic romance.
Songwriter/singer Tess MacKenzie is poised
for the biggest break of her life, when she's
almost mugged on her way home from work.
Her luck seems to be turning when she escapes
the mugger and meets a tall, dark and handsome
stranger named Cohl Travers who seems very nice.
Of course, it turns out that Cohl is an alien who immediately
abducts her. Cohl asks Tess to help him save his father's
life. It seems that in all the galaxy, only Tess has the voice
that can unlock the key to a special amulet that Cohl's father's
abductors are demanding. Naturally, Tess is not happy about
being kidnapped, but she is moved by the plight of Cohl's family.
But Cohl hasn't been totally upfront with Tess about how
dangerous this mission really is.
Unearthed is a fast-paced futuristic adventure story, set against a fantastic backdrop of unusual planets and aliens, both friendly and hostile. C. J. Barry does a good job of making her backgrounds vivid and exciting, and Cohl and Tess are both appealing. Tess, the self-deprecating, wise-cracking songstress just looking for her big break is especially well-written, making this a very entertaining romance. Romance Reviews Page One | Page Two | Page Three Return to Book Reviews Index ** To visit the archives of romance novels reviewed in The IWJ, please click here. |