For a lot of people, magic equals witches. While that might be a common
assumption, magic and magical beings encompass more than just the witchy world.
There are a phenomenal assortment of magical romances featuring complex witch
and warlock characters, but there also a lot of extraordinary romances with many
other varieties of magic users and abusers. Magic takes many forms and I love
the variety that so many authors offer.
The first books I read featuring witches and spellcasting were actually cozy
mysteries – the Bewitching series by Madelyn Alt and the Ophelia and
Abby series by Shirley Damsgaard. These mysteries intrigued me because
the female characters were realistic, everyday people with run-of-the-mill jobs
like that of shopkeeper and librarian, but they experienced the thrills and
chills that magic brings. Since I’m a romance fan, I naturally started looking
for some of the same fun witchy stories but with a bit more romance in the mix.
Linda Wisdom’s Hex series is just as entertaining and lighthearted
as her colorful covers would suggest. In addition to the tightknit coven of
witches, Wisdom throws in all kinds of were-creatures, vampires, and finally –
the devilishly mischievous, but fiercely loyal, magical bunny slippers Fluff and
Puff. Saranna DeWylde’s 10 Days series
has just as much humor as Linda Wisdom’s series, but with a smidge more action,
world-building, and darker villains.
10 Days
#1
GOT DEMON?
Grace does. She's got more demon than she can saddle. In fact, she's got a
sinfully sexy Crown Prince of Hell named Caspian. She's also got ten days to get
rid of him or Bad Things shall ensue. See, her Russian mobster ex-boyfriend
didn't take kindly to her smutty Mephistophelean contract. It's not that she's
conspiring with fiends; that was his idea. It's that she's conspiring against
him with outrageous devilry that runs the gamut from embarrassing to a dead
hooker turned dominatrix demon gunning for his soul.
One should never trust demons, let alone shag them. They don't have hearts. Yet
Grace is buying hers some slightly tarnished armor and hoping that once he's
been shoveled into it, kicking and screaming, he'll find it's just his size.
This damsel in distress needs a dark knight for a Happily Ever After.
Romance Paranormal |
Fantasy Urban
[Kensington Brava, On Sale: August 1, 2012, Mass
Market Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780505528674 / eISBN: 9780758279064]
My favorite book in the 10 Days series is HOW TO LOSE A
DEMON IN TEN DAYS. HOW TO LOSE A DEMON IN TEN DAYS is a Faustian tale, with
the bonus of a hellaciously hot Crown Prince of the underworld named Caspian.
Caspian is sent to entice Grace after her man done her wrong. Strong female
characters (whether they be witches or not), fascinating heroes, and unique
situations make Saranna DeWylde’s 10 Days series a wonderland of
witches, warlocks, and the magic they weave. Anya
Bast’s Elemental
Witches is a deeply sensual paranormal series with danger lurking
around every corner. While I normally lean toward romances with a lighter touch,
the “Elemental Witches” series is addictive for so many reasons. Anya Bast
creates a kind of “magic-noir” atmosphere best illustrated in her book WITCH
BLOOD. In WITCH BLOOD, the water witch heroine is haunted by her
sister’s untimely death and faces danger from some shadowy unseen killer and a
rogue warlock on the loose, all while debating with herself about whether she
should fight the red-hot attraction to earth witch and coven leader Thomas
Monahan. The magic, explosive chemistry between the hero and heroine, and the
perilous attempts to catch a killer make BLOOD WITCH a must-read for romance
fans who enjoy stories about magic or witches.
Sometimes a story isn’t centered around one particular type of magic user, but
several. In THE WARRIOR VAMPIRE by Kate
Baxter, Naya is a kind of Buffy the vampire slayer – except she acts as a
watchdog for those who would seek to gobble up magic for their own nefarious
reasons, chief among them being a lust for power. Magic is like a seductive drug
in THE WARRIOR VAMPIRE and it takes a lot of inner strength to handle it without
succumbing to any harmful effects. Jeaniene Frost‘s book INTO THE
FIRE – the final book in her Night
Prince series – takes a step away from the usual trappings of vampire
vendettas and warrior-angst and has the main characters embark on a psychedelic
trip through the world of magic. It’s a treat for readers to experience the
illicit and fantastic world of magic, with bad boy vampire Ian as a guide. The
dark side of magic in INTO THE FIRE, that balances out the Willy Wonka
world-like amazing sights and sounds, is introduced through demons and cults.
Demons and magic are at the heart of one of my all-time favorite paranormal
erotic series – Carolyn Jewel’s My
Immortal series. I often refer to the My
Immortal collection as cerebral erotica, because it’s
take-your-breath-away-sexy, but the stories also take a turn toward the
unexpected and have a philosophical bent. When I first read MY WICKED
ENEMY, I was instantly captivated by the world of witches, mages, and
warlords. In Carolyn Jewel’s world, males and females are relatively equal –
sexually, magically, and in their ability to fight or be enslaved. There is a
zing and jolt of electricity as the major players in this series dodge enemies
and find themselves seduced – whether by a lover, magic, or both. The My
Immortal series may not be for everyone, but because of the way it is
so different from every other series I’ve read, I highly recommend giving these
books a chance.
My Immortals
#7
A Demon Warlord Bound by Dark Magic to the Powerful Witch He’s Desired for
Years.
Kynan Aijan’s centuries-long enslavement to a mage left him borderline insane
and bound to Maddy Winters, a witch he intended to kill in horrible ways. Though
he’s sworn the bonds they share will never be completed, their very existence
feeds his desire for her even as he accepts that Winters will never forgive him.
For Maddy Winters, the fight against evil magic users always takes top
priority. But her bonds to Kynan give her intimate access to his thoughts and
experiences, and she can’t always ignore their chemistry. Her insistence that
she has no feelings for him is a deception she can’t afford to give up.
As Kynan and Maddy join forces to stop a rebellious and murderous witch, the
dark magic that binds them locks them into forbidden passions and magic that
could destroy them both. Will their fight for what’s right lead to a fight for
each other?
My Demon Warlord is the seventh installment in the My Immortals series of
paranormal romance novels. If you like magical supernatural tales, explosive
chemistry, and irresistible passion, then you'll love Carolyn Jewel’s latest
breathtaking romance.
Romance Erotica
Sensual | Romance
Paranormal [Self Published, On Sale: January
31, 2016, e-Book, ISBN: 9781937823474 / eISBN: 9781937823467]
Divine cerebral erotica!
I love books about shape-shifters like werewolves, werebears, and others. I
normally avoid books about the fae because of their tendency to trick and
deceive using their magical abilities, but sometimes shifters and faeries
collide and the results can be truly resplendent rather than tragic. One thing I
love about werewolves, or other creatures that are half human and half beast, is
how primal and at peace with nature they are. One thing I’ve always disliked
about faeries and elves is how cold and removed from the natural world they
seem. In Jennifer Ashley’s Shifters Unbound series, and Bonnie Vanak’s Werewolves
of Montana series, the magical and the natural intersect. In the
“Shifters Unbound” series, magic is how the fae enslave shifters and try to
subjugate a species. Magic can be a dangerous thing that Shifters need to
approach with caution. In Ashley’s world, there is the often corrupted and dark
magic that the fae enjoy wielding, but there is also the healing and positive
magic that is rooted in love and the mate bond. In Bonnie Vanak’s Werewolves
of Montana, magic is something that can create beautiful things, but can
also test a person’s character. Bonnie Vanak does a great job of playing with
magical creatures and enchanted or cursed items – most notably with the Shadow
Lands in THE
MATING SEASON, and with other enchanted locales in THE WEREWOLF
COWBOY. Although I don’t typically enjoy stories about faeries or books with
them as main characters, two characters in THE WEREWOLF COWBOY who piqued my
interest are both fae – Jaeden is Dark Fae and Thannach is a Fae shifter.
Werewolves of
Montana #6
In the centuries since he became immortal, Tristan, the Silver Wizard, has
awaited the return of his long lost love. Nikita was his life and his heart, and
when he died as mortal fighting for the freedom of Lupines and dragons, it was
with her name on his lips. Now he has found her again, and Tristan is determined
to claim her and fulfill his legacy – by impregnating her with his child. He
will take her to his heavenly home in Tir Na-nog to show her the passion they
once shared in another life. Before they can reach there, he must protect Nikita
from his enemies, and he will fight with all his power to keep her safe from all
harm.
The handsome, sensual wizard who saved her life from a lethal virus and swept
her off her feet is no mere werewolf like herself. He is the Silver Wizard – the
ruler of all werewolves, with the power to turn them into dust. Possessive and
protective, he wants to recapture the love they had 900 years ago – a love
Nikita cannot recall. All she knows are dreams of his passionate lovemaking and
a burning desire for his touch. If she doesn’t accompany Tristan to Tir Na-nog,
her mortal body will die, for the potion that saved her life will not last. But
the journey ahead is filled with danger, and it will take all their courage and
everything they shared in the past to endure the darkness that awaits them both…
Romance Paranormal |
Erotica
Paranormal [Self Published, On Sale: April 30,
2016, e-Book, ISBN: 2940158440793 / ]
A
phenomenal paranormal romance!
HOW TO TAME
A BEAST IN SEVEN DAYS, the first book in the Embraced series by
Kerrelyn Sparks, is an example of an author using magic to weave a story with a
timeless and fairytale feel. Lord Leofric of Benwick, aka “the Beast of Benwick,
and the fair maiden Luciana both have special gifts that set them apart from
others. Both magical gifts are something that they were born with. I love a
story that utilizes ghosts in a fun way, so I enjoyed Luciana’s frequent ghostly
visitors. The snarky and amusing commentary from Luciana’s late sister adds a
lot to the story. Leo’s gift is kind of a double-edged sword and is reminiscent
of the King Midas legend, and the character Rogue from Marvel’s “X-Men” comics.
Luciana and Leo have an electric and instant attraction that grows as they build
trust, and get to know each other better. As so many classic myths and
fairytales do, Kerrelyn Sparks tells a story of how magical powers come with
great responsibility and some degree of sacrifice. HOW TO TAME A
BEAST IN SEVEN DAYS is a classic tale of intrigue, assignations, ghosts, and
true love nudged along by unseen forces.
The Embraced
#1
From the brilliant imagination of Kerrelyn Sparks comes a bold new fantasy
romance series in which passion and magic collide. Behold the Embraced...
As one of the Embraced—one born with magical powers—the beautiful, innocent
Luciana escaped certain death after her father hid her away on the Isle of Moon.
Now, nineteen years later, her father has returned with a frightening request.
He will be executed unless Luciana returns to the mainland and marries a man
feared throughout the land: a terrifying brute known as the Beast.
Luciana accepts her fate and agrees to wed the Beast—Lord Leo—in order to
save her father. Soon she learns that her betrothed is also one of the Embraced.
With the ability to wield lightning, Leo’s immense power strikes fear into the
hearts of men. . .and his mere touch can put an end to a woman’s life. But
Luciana cannot deny the passion that burns between them. How can she resist the
man who scorches her soul and makes her feel intoxicated with desire—even if
surrendering to him could destroy them both?
Fantasy | Romance Paranormal
[St. Martin's Press, On Sale: March 7, 2017,
Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781250108210 / eISBN: 9781250108227]
Fantasy Paranormal Romance with a Fairy Tale Vibe
Magic-themed romances:
2 comments posted.