Love and Magic
Shara Lanel and Trista Ann MichaelsParanormal erotic romance
Available from Liquid Silver Books
ISBN: 1-59578-168-4
December 2005
| In Grave Awakening Diera Rand is experiencing disturbing dreams involving dead bodies. Each night she has dreams of a dead body in a black coffin. Each night the body is different. As the sun rises, the eyes of the dead open and every night the eyes are the same. Someone else is also having disturbing dreams. Holt Pendragon is a pagan member of the Nightmist Coven. While Diera is in Richmond searching for a missing person she meets Holt and recognizes the eyes from her dream. Diera had a traumatic experience involving a satanic cult when she was a child. She does not believe in magic and does not want anything to do with the occult. Before the story is finished Diera will become closer to Holt and some of her beliefs will be challenged.
The title Grave Awakening comes from a combination of Diera and Holt's dreams and a man whose last name is Graves. There is also the awakening of magic that is involved in this story. The dialogue is well written and conveys successfully the thoughts and intentions of the characters. The plot of the story is to show Diera that magic exists and has an important part in her life. This is developed fully in an innovative and imaginative manner. The story is filled with intrigue and suspense as we await the meaning behind the dreams. There is also a confrontation in the story that has great potential. I wished this had been developed further. The story is passionate in beliefs as well as erotic nature. Sex is described in graphic detail making it easily visualized by the reader. Overall this is a highly imaginative and innovative story that the readers will enjoy. In the story Cursed by Desire we have Drake Montgomery, Viscount Blackthorn; he was a rake that angered a powerful woman. He is cursed until he falls in love and has that love returned by a woman. It has been four hundred years and Drake feels that he is unable to love. That was until he meets Jordan Taylor, the woman that inherits the Blackthorn Manor. He visits her in her dreams and together they form a bond that will be used to break a curse. There is only one problem, the witch that made the curse is also still around to make sure no one comes between her and the man she loves. The title Cursed by Desire comes from the fact Drake is cursed by his object of desire. This is an interesting story that I enjoyed because of the fact Drake, the rake, messed with the wrong woman. Maybe he did not deserve to be cursed forever but he does learn an important lesson. Drake still uses sex and seduction to get what he wants but he learns to love and be loved. This is a highly erotic tale that describes sexual activity in great detail. The dialogue is well written and is easy to follow along. The plot of the story is to break a curse and for Drake to learn to love. This is accomplished in a creative manner that the readers will enjoy. Love and Magic is a two author anthology that I feel has much to offer the readers of paranormal romances. Both Shara Lanel and Trista Ann Michaels have created fascinating and innovative stories involving magic and love. Both are passionate reads that will thrill the readers with there stimulating details. I feel both authors should be commended for writing two stories that will appeal equally to the readers.
Overall rating:
Reviewer: Anita |
