This is a magical fairy tale. Not in the sense of a children's book -- oh no -- in the sense that the book revolves around some rather remarkable or odd New Yorkers. Now many would say that is a rather oxymoronic statement but it fits the basis of the story which includes the non-obvious magical beings that appear human and "normal" every day folk. Katie Chandler is a "normal" being who has a special talent of immunity -- that is she is immune to the magic around her. She sees through the illusions conjured up by the magical world to disguise their other worldliness. She speaks to gargoyles, frogs and fairies -- well it would appear we all do -- but she sees them as they really are. In fact her job at MSI, (Magic, Spells & Illusions, Inc.) just another one of those initial corporations, is to act as a go between the magical and non magical. The goal of MSI is to investigate and halt evil magic. Her latest assignment handed to her by the CEO, Merlin, is to ferret out the company spy. However someone has been playing around with Katie's immunity and her usual awareness is gone leaving her quite vulnerable to the chaos happening at work and unfortunately invading her personal life such that it is. Well some invasion has been rather welcome, she has been enjoying a new found popularity especially with men. Except for the one man who seems totally unaffected by even this new enchantment, Owen Parker. Owen is the powerful wizard of the R&D department and it is his office security that has been breached which brings him together with Katie to uncover the spy before any important spells are leaked. So Katie and Owen are thrown together as a team even though it's not exactly the type of relationship she has been hoping for.

This is the second book by Shanna Swendson involving Katie, Owen, MSI and a group of magical and human characters whom she would have us believe actual live in New York. Those that can see through the illusions are few and far between and she even explains why this is so bringing attention to the use of prescription mind/mood altering drugs. After all if someone claims to see winged fairies begging on the streets it is obviously time for that person to be psychologically evaluated. All in all this is a wonderfully witty book that can't help but make you laugh and wonder what Swendson will conjure up next. Who said magic is just for kids? The magic in ONCE UPON STILLETTOS is for anyone looking for a fast reading enjoyable tale with a little bit of everything -- friendship, family, love, trust and corporate espionage.