Nicholas Ellerby, Lord Blackwell is a man of unusual manners, which many believe indicate the distinct possibility of carrying out cold-blooded murder. Skirting the far edges of the ton, Nick does nothing to convince anyone differently -- until he meets Mira, a beauty with a brain to match. She sees through his façade, and challenges him to be more than what society dictates -- and quietly captures his heart with her generous nature andd loving demeanour.

In Midsummer Magic, author Molly Stark does an outstanding job of introducing us to her Sisters of the Heart series. She has developed characters which are interesting and well-rounded. The connection and heat between Mira and Nick is palpable, and the culminating love scene is tastefully done. They interact well with each other, and their dialogue is so realistic, I could almost swear I was witnessing their exchanges first-hand.

The story itself flows well, with very few hiccups. A subplot is introduced early in the book, yet never resolved. And as the story progressed, head-hopping between the characters became a problem. While some authors use this technique to emphasize the relationship and connection, this actually detracted from the storyline, interrupting the flow Stark had so beautifully established earlier.

But despite its few flaws, Stark has a winner in Midsummer Magic. She has woven a beautiful, intricate tale of unexpected love, crushing deception, and finding one’s strength of character. I eagerly await the next instalment of the series.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Mildly sensual

Reviewer: Gracey McCarthy
May 5, 2009