Sandy M’s review of Lord of Illusion (Elven Lords, Book 3) by Kathryne Kennedy
Paranormal Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 7 Feb 12

Do you have those authors you love who sweep you into time to the Scottish Highlands or keep you biting your fingernails well into the night after pages of gripping suspense or make you wish you’d been born in London during the Regency era to attend glittering balls or any other number of romance scenarios when you read? I know you do. I hope you’ll add Kathryne Kennedy to that list, because she’s one of the best when it comes to magical paranormal romance. Glamor and glitter have nothing on this author’s imagination.

Her Georgian historical romances have given England a whole new look with evil Elven Lords who escaped from Elfhame to find entertainment from and power over the English people. The seven sovereignties of these lords include Dewhame, Firehame, Dreamhame, Terrahame, Verdanthame, Stonehame, and Bladehame – all boasting powers with the elements from each sovereignty. In this latest book we get a look at the wonders – and evils – of Dreamhame – illusions as real as can be dance around, become menacing, and can even kill. The Rebellion to send these lords back to Elfhame is closer to its goal, and now their success rests with Lord Drystan Hawkes, one of a number of half-breeds who pull together to triumph over magic to finally lead normal lives.

Drystan is a bookish young man, pouring over old records and texts to find the key to unlock the door to Elfhame to banish the lords. The few scepters the Rebellion has been able to steal from their respective sovereignties now talk to him on a regular basis, but at least now he knows he’s not possessed by the devil as other youngsters believed when Drystan would be overcome by the voices. He’s finally found the woman who bears the mark of the white witch who actually witnessed the lords’ arrival in England. Dreaming of her has only made him want her more, to save her, and to love her if she’ll allow. On the journey to Dreamhame, Drystan tries to harness his magic to aid in his upcoming fight, but at best he can conjure the most basic of illusions.

Having been a slave nearly her entire life, Camille Ashton has managed to rise above her station twice, to enjoy the accoutrements she’d never know otherwise, only to be slung back into the hell of whippings and rape along with forced service to those of the court. She now plans to make her escape, no matter how slim the chances of her making it. Her life is about to change in a big way, but she has no idea it’s headed in a direction that will save lives. It takes Lord Hawkes rescuing her from soldiers and his subsequent secrets to make her believe those changes will be for the better.

The romance between Drystan and Camille is absolutely beautiful. He’s known for so long she’s the woman for him and he vows to earn her love and her trust. But trust is something so very difficult for Camille to give. As she gets to know Drystan better, though, she realizes there will never be another man who she can trust more. Their love blossoms in an Elven garden alive with beauty, music, and danger and Drystan’s illusions that surround them in worlds all their own, but then they must face storms that will whirl them into crisis after crisis in their efforts to save England.

The scenes in the second half of this book when the Rebellion face the Elven Lords over the unlocking of the door to Elfhame are some of the best in the book. They’re action packed with dragons and the magic from each sovereignty being given center stage as the battle rages. Both Drystan and Camille have come into their own, finding out what they’re made of and how they fit into this desperate fight for freedom. We also get to catch up with previous characters, and my favorite, the Fire Lord, has had a rough time of it, and things only get worse before they get better. It’s nice to see him smile, though.

As usual, Ms. Kennedy delivers in a huge way with her magical world of this series. Her characters are strong but vulnerable, and watching them grow, even when they don’t seemingly need to, is a buildup that culminates in characters never imagined. No matter what this authors does in the future, I will be in line for every book I can get my hands on. I won’t miss any of Ms. Kennedy’s magic.

Grade: A

Summary:

He’ll do anything to save her…

Rebel Lord Drystan Hawkes dreams of fighting for England’s freedom. He gets his chance when he finds a clue to opening the magic portal to Elfhame, and he must race to find the slave girl who holds the key to the mystery. But even as Drystan rescues Camille Ashton from Dreamhame Palace, it becomes unclear exactly who is saving whom.

For the fate of humankind lies with Camille…

Enslaved for years in a realm where illusion and glamour reign, Camille has learned to trust nothing and no one. But she’s truly spellbound when she meets Drystan–a man different from any she’s ever known, and the force of their passion may yet be strong enough to banish the Elven Lords from this world forever.

Read an excerpt. (click Excerpt tab)

Other books in this series:

The Lady of the Storm: A Musical Journey

I’m so pleased to be here today to share a bit about the release of The Lady of the Storm! My publisher is giving away two copies of the book (U.S. & Canada mailing addresses only) to two lucky commenters today, so be sure to say hi. I’m also giving away some ‘magical’ jewelry on my website to celebrate the release, so be sure to check that out too.

I had so much fun posting a musical journey for my previous book, that I thought I’d do the same here today for The Lady of the Storm. I searched for songs that I thought might best convey the essence of scenes or characters in my book. So please join me on a musical journey through The Lady of the Storm.

My heroine, Lady Cecily Sutton, has inherited the powers of sea and sky from her elven lord father and has turned her back on her magical gifts for years. But when her village is invaded she is forced to face her destiny…and Giles Beaumont, the man who once broke her heart. Although she tries to deny it, she soon realizes she’s still in love with him. Kiss from a Rose by Seal describes Cecily’s inner turmoil:

My hero, Sir Giles Beaumont, is a man who longs for adventure and excitement. Lady Cecily, with her title and longing for a peaceful home life, doesn’t fit into his visions for the future at all. But after years of protecting her, he finds himself entirely too intrigued by the woman, and the song I Hope that I Don’t Fall in Love with You by Tom Waits echoes his own conflict:

As Cecily and Giles journey through an England altered by elven enchantments, this song by ELO, Strange Magic, captures a bit of the essence of the world:

There is a pivotal moment on their journey when Cecily is contacted by her foster-father through the vibrations within a magical crystal mountain, and this is the first clue to her true destiny. The Voice by Celtic Woman is an eerie reflection of that scene:

When I started writing the book, I had no idea that Giles would be twice cursed, and although it became his greatest challenge in the story, I think he became a better man for it. The following song, Pretty Amazing Grace, by Neil Diamond (one of my favorite singer/songwriters) personifies Giles’s feelings toward Cecily after this dreadful event toward the end of the book.

I do hope you enjoy the music in this journey through some scenes and characters in The Lady of the Storm. Do you have a favorite song or band that inspires you? I would love for you to share!

My Magical Best,

Kathryne

Sandy M’s review of The Lady of the Storm (Elven Lords Series, Book 2) by Kathryne Kennedy
Paranormal Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 1 Aug 11

Kathryne Kennedy is one of those authors whose books I anxiously await to hit the shelves. She builds the most exciting, unusual, and alluring worlds for her stories. Her characters also exude the same qualities, and then some, with such emotional pull surrounding them, all because of their circumstances and, ultimately, their unconditional measure to love. She weaves a spell around her readers just as her characters cast their spells of magic in and around a London that will surprise you at every turn.

In this book we return to the sovereignties of the elven lords with the ultimate action taking place in Dewhame, from which our heroine hails – well, in a roundabout way. Cecily is the daughter of the Lord of Dewhame, but she’s been hidden away  ever since it was discovered her powers are just as great as her father’s. It’s been nine years she’s lived in her peaceful seaside cottage, a place where she can cavort to her heart’s content in the water that lives within her.  But suddenly her world is upended when her village is attacked and those she loves lose their lives.

Protecting Cecily all those years has been done from the shadows as much as possible, but now Giles must come out in the open and face his feelings for the woman she’s become, power and all. But he goes through minefield after minefield on their journey to Firehame Palace, where they will meet up with the Fire Lord and others who are helping in the Rebellion against the other elven lords. Giles loses his fight for control where Cecily is concerned, especially once she realizes the man does care for her, even though he rejected her years ago when she was young and much more naive, and she embraces her new-found allure to make Giles confront his feelings.

While the characters in these Elven books are some of the best written, along with their unusual powers, it’s also the world Ms. Kennedy has once again created that brings these books to life. The scenes in which Giles and Cecily return to the Seven Corners of Hell – that point in England where all seven sovereignties connect, a forest of terrifying creatures and nature, along with their destructive powers and fetes – to find her missing father glue you to the page to find out what’s going to happen next. It’s the unusualness of Ms. Kennedy’s imagination that keeps me coming back again and again to read her stories, along with the emotion her characters must go through for what they want and need the most.

We also get to meet up with the Fire Lord and his heroine from the previous book to see how their lives are progressing under the guise of an ingenious deception to hopefully bring long-awaited peace to England. I was hoping for a little more with that lord, because his story so touched me. But it’s enough to go along with the hope that we may see more of him in future books.

Have you read any of Kathryne Kennedy’s books? If not, you need to. Get lost in her magical, spell-binding worlds, meet characters you’d truly like to know, and triumph with them, just as romance readers have come to expect, when love wins the day against the wrongs of the worst evils for the betterment of mankind. Then you, too, will come back to her stories again and again.

Grade: A+

Giles is bound to protect her…

In a kingdom viciously ruled by warlike elven lords, village blacksmith Giles Beaumont reluctantly swears to protect the half-elf, half-human Cecily Sutton, never dreaming that he will fall under her enchanting spell.

But duty soon turns to desire…

When Cecily’s father disappears, Cecily and Giles set out to find him. But, as their journey unfolds, duty is quickly replaced by desire–and the search for Cecily’s father leads to a magical destiny that could end the rule of the elven lords forever …

No excerpt available.

Other books in this series:

The Lord of Illusion – February 2012

I always have such a hard time pulling out the books I really like from a previous year. Yes, there’s too many, but it’s also difficult because sometimes you can’t choose because you can’t compare books in different genres. Though I read mostly historical and paranormal, I also enjoy contemps and romantic suspense a lot. Thus, I poured over my entire 2010 review list, chose those that I really loved, and then the difficulty began in whittling it down. My biggest hurdle is books from a series, if an author released more than one book in the year. Sometimes one of many stood out. Sometimes I couldn’t choose one over the other and sometimes I could. In that case, I’ve cheated and listed all the books I loved in that series.     It’s my list and I can do what I want!

So here they are:

10.  The Taming of the Wolf by Lydia Dare

While I’ve so far enjoyed all of the books in this series, it’s the hero, Dashiel, who stole my heart and has ended up my favorite of the series. Lydia Dare has stayed true to her characters and given readers solid, consistent, and intriguing stories. See my TTotW review here.

9.   Lessons From a Scarlet Lady by Emma Wildes

As I said in in my review of this book, it’s a breath of fresh air. Emma Wildes writes a terrific couple who I loved to read about. They kept my interest the entire book, and I wanted more of them when I was done reading. I’m a new fan for sure.

8.   Broken by Shiloh Walker

It would be surprising to me if a Shiloh Walker book didn’t make my Top 10. She’s become a favorite very quickly and she’s never once disappointed me. Though I also enjoyed Fragile, it was Quinn who caught my interest and I anxiously awaited his story. I love a broken, tortured hero and Quinn fit the bill to a T. Read about him here.

7. The Fire Lord’s Lover by Kathryne Kennedy

I became a huge fan of Kathryne Kennedy from the first book of her Relics of Merlin series and was really disappointed when I found she’s not been able to write more it at this point in time. But with her imagination, I shouldn’t have worried at all. Ms. Kennedy has given us another series that is simply awesome. The Fire Lord’s Lover is a perfect start and I can’t wait for more. My review is here.

6.  Raising Kane by Lorelei James – Shoulda Been a Cowboy, Cowgirls Don’t Cry & Slow Ride short story

I can never get enough of Lorelei James. Her stories are real, as are her characters. She doesn’t pretty up a book if tragedy is called for, and in doing so she tugs so hard on your heartstrings it ain’t funny. Her cowboys walk the walk and talk the talk. Her love scenes range from intense and raw to fun and lighthearted. You get everything in a Lorelei James book. Every book she released in 2010 is a Top 10, but Raising Kane is my fave. See my RK review here.

5.   Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman by Lorraine Heath

Lorraine Heath has been a favorite of mine since I read her Texas trilogy and nothing changed when I read her first Regency. She’s simply and truly wonderful. I loved this entire London’s Greatest Lovers trilogy, but it’s Stephen’s story that I really remember. I had my doubts about him, as I said in my review, but he turned out to be one of those heroes you’ll never, ever forget.

4.   Moon Craving by Lucy Monroe

You know those books you wait for? And wait for? Forever, it seems? Moon Craving is one of those for me. I fell in love with Lucy Monroe’s werewolves in her first book, Moon Awakening, in her Children of the Moon series, and I wanted more. But it took a few years for that next one. The wait was worth it, however. Another terrific story for Monroe and paranormal fans. Read my review here.

3.   The Darkest Hour by Maya Banks – No Place to Run

I have so fallen in love with the Kelly Family in Maya Banks’ KGI series. Especially those Kelly boys. They’re alpha and yummy and they still obey their parents. And they fall hard when they find their heroines. So, hell, what’s not to love?? Read about those Kelly boys here.

2.   Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh – Play of Passion & Blaze of Memory

Nalini Singh is one of those authors who you’re going to love no matter what she puts on the page. I can’t imagine anyone arguing with that, if they’ve read any of her books. Bonds of Justice takes the No. 1 spot – by a very narrow margin over Play of Passion – for me of her books in 2010 because I sobbed reading this book. I very, very rarely cry when reading. It takes something so very special for me shed a tear while reading, but when it happens, I remember it. So due to my full-out sobbing near the end of BoJ, I’ll never forget Max and Sophia. Read my review about them here.

Now for my No 1. pick, I couldn’t decide between these two books, so they’re co-winners. They win not only for the story, the worlds the authors have created, but also for the beautiful, lyrical, haunting writing these authors possess. It takes an awesome author to be able to keep momentum and creativity and imagination in a series going, to make the next book better than the last. Both of these authors have those things down pat. I never have to hope the next book will disappoint me because it won’t be as good as the first or the one just prior. I know the next book will be even better.

1.  Haunting Warrior by Erin Quinn & Crown of Crystal Flame by C.L. Wilson

Erin Quinn’s Haunting series is just that, haunting. In storyline. In characters. In writing. Absolutely stunning all the way around. I am breathlessly waiting for the next installment this April. I will have myself locked in my room until that book is finished.

C.L. Wilson’s Tairen Soul series was a treat and a treasure to read. This last installment brought everything together for an absolutely stunning ending that left readers gasping. The way this woman strings words together is just amazing. I’m sad this series is now complete, but readers of the series know that their favorite characters will be featured in future books. That’s worth waiting for.

Notice I used “absolutely stunning” for each of these authors. Wasn’t a mistake. Completely intentional. Cuz it just is.

Because I had a huge list picked out before I cut it down to my Top 10, I do want to give mention to those that just barely missed the cut.  So here are my Honorable Mentions in no particular order :

Drink of Me & Stealing Kathryn by Jacquelyn Frank – An imagination that is just awesome!

Shadows at Midnight by Elizabeth Jennings – I know Ash didn’t care for this one, but it’s on my keeper shelf!

Taming the Highland Bride & The Hellion and the Highlander by Lynsay Sands – I love Lynsay Sands! I need to start reading her vamps…

Legend of the White Wolf, Seduced by the Wolf & Wolf Fever by Terry Spear – Yuuuuuuuuuuumy werewolves!

A Highlander’s Homecoming by Melissa Mayhue – Time travel. Scottish Highlanders. One of the best at both!

Marked & Entwined by Elisabeth Naughton – Zodiac warriors to die for! Also try her Stolen series.

Naked Edge by Pamela Clare – Hawt love scenes! Oh, and a great mystery and thrilling suspense too!

A Kiss to Kill by Nina Bruhns – Oh my! I want more, more, more!

Infamous by Suzanne Brockmann – I love her romances within a romance. And I love this cowboy!

The Chief by Monica McCarty – I love this concept of Highlander Special Ops! Fun, intense, and so romantic!

Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison – Debut author done good. Terrific and dark!

Shut Up & Kiss Me by Christie Craig – Only humorous book on my list. There’s a reason for that. She’s one of the very best!

Destined to Last by Alyssa Johnson – Beautifully written with such engaging characters. Can’t wait to see what she does next!

The Treasure Keeper by Shana Abe – Dragons! ‘Nuff said.

And even I have a few books that didn’t make the grade for me in 2010. Mikey really doesn’t like everything!

4.   Mad, Bad and Blonde by Cathie Linz

Waaaaaaaaaay too much snipping and sniping and insulting going on between the hero and heroine for me. It went on and on. And on. And on. And on. And that’s too bad because the first part of the book is good. Right up until the heroine went blonde. See my review here.

3.    Time Storm by Samanta Winston

Sigh. Even the time travel didn’t help this book. We only get to know the characters through their fucking. Pirates and danger and all that goes with it was okay, as was the time travel, but it just wasn’t put together to keep my interest. I remember being glad it’s a short story. My review can be read here.

2.   Tomorrow is Another Day novella by Sandra Hill in the Ladies Prefer Rogues anthology

Even the play on Gone with the Wind didn’t save this novella. The characters didn’t work for me either all because of their attitudes. At least the time travel element worked. Guess I should be grateful for that. My review is here.

1.   Passionate Pleasures by Bertrice Small

This book is just a mess all the way around. The characters are likable but that’s about it. It felt like Ms. Small just tried too hard to write erotic romance. I think her niche is historicals and she should stick with that. You can read my review here.

Sandy M’s review of Beneath the Thirteen Moons by Kathryne Kennedy
Paranormal Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 1 Dec 10

I always look forward to reading a Kathryne Kennedy book. She’s one of those authors who has a stunning imagination and is able to bring all her ideas and concepts to the printed page perfectly. This book is no exception. Ms. Kennedy has once again given readers characters and a story they’ve not read before. She definitely has the magic touch.

In this book her world is a planet of water with trees growing in forests up through the water. This is where her characters make their homes, carving out what they need in the gigantic trees  that also have other characteristics to help out Marhi and her people. Marhi is a water-rat. She’s lived in the swamps and waterways all of her life, can navigate her way through the channels like nobody’s business, is a smuggler of the zabbaroot – a root, when eaten, that gives certain humans powers to do incredible things. What Mahri is unable to do is heal, so she must find a healer to save her village.

With kidnapping on her mind, since that’s the only way to appropriate a healer, she heads to the city under cover of night. As luck would have it – actually, her bad luck – she stalks off with none other than the heir apparent of Sea Forest. What’s done is done, and their return journey is one of the most fantastic to read about. At nearly every turn they run into either trouble or sights unbelievable and beautiful. Ms. Kennedy does a wonderful job of describing such scenes, you can see it all clear as day as you read.

At first Korl is, of course, not happy to have been woken from his sleep only to be thrown into chaos by the prettiest water-rat he’s ever seen. He’s a Royal and has always had the best of everything, but he’s about to have an attitude change not only in getting to know Mahri but also when he sees her village, to know her people and how they live. It’s his attraction to Mahri that’s the biggest change of all. He knows instantly this woman is for him, despite her denials and refusals of assurance that he’s wrong. Successfully healing those in need, Korl and Mahri then spend time together in her world before she realizes the only way to keep the man out of her system is to take him home and fervently hope he will not betray them to his world.

Mahri does believe Korl has betrayed her, she’ll be tortured and executed by the Royals, as many of her kind have been in the past. But what she ends up walking into the middle of is a Bonding ceremony, something she doesn’t want either, even despite Korl’s asking for her trust. She doesn’t want to lose her independence, herself, body and soul, as happened with her now deceased lifemate. The ceremony is carried out and Mahri feels trapped in so many ways. It’s when Korl can no longer keep her in his care because of her unhappiness that he lets her go, hoping she will one day return to him.

As much as I like this entire book, it’s this last quarter of it that really shined for me. From the moment Korl tells Mahri he realizes she’s miserable and tells her about a caged bird from their history, the emotion of the story really comes out. Korl is certain Mahri will return to him, but Mahri, after watching the light in his window that he said he’d burn every night until her return, finally knows the only way to get the man out of her life is to get as far away as possible. She heads to the Beyond, an ocean of unknown never truly explored before. Even against dire warnings she’s determined to face that unknown head on and she may never return.

I love the connection Korl and Mahri have since their Bonding, which is tested in this last part of the book. Korl’s arrogance and certainty of his love for Mahri warmed my heart. Mahri’s vulnerability where men and commitment are concerned, mixed with her independence and stubbornness, make her a real woman who deserves such love. At first I thought the fact that the hero is not the tortured hero like Ms. Kennedy created in Dominic in The Fire Lord’s Lover would keep me from liking this book as much as that one, but she gave me so many other facets from her imagination I should have known better than to doubt.

If you’re a fan of Ms. Kennedy’s previous books, you will put this one on your keeper shelf along with all of her others. If you’ve yet to read her work, you should. You get it all when you read Kathryne Kennedy. It’s magic at its best.

Grade: A-

Summary:

He’s a ruler in a divided world…

In a magical watery world of the Sea Forest, the divide between the rulers and the people is an uncrossable chasm. Handsome, arrogant prince Korl Com’nder has lived a life of luxury that is nothing more than a fantasy to the people he rules. Until the day he is accidentally kidnapped by a beautiful outlaw smuggler and is forced to open his eyes to the world outside his palace walls.

She’s an outcast, but at least she has her independence…

Mahri Zin would stop at nothing to save her village, and when they needed a healer she didn’t think twice about kidnapping one. But when she realizes that the healer she so impulsively stole is none other than the crown prince of Sea Forest, Mahri knows that she has a chance to change the fate of her people…

Read an excerpt. (click the Excerpt tab)

Sandy M’s review of The Fire Lord’s Lover (Elven Lords, Book 1) by Kathryne Kennedy
Paranormal Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 6 Jul 10

Kathryne Kennedy has done it again. With the fate of her Relics of Merlin series unknown due to her move to Sourcebooks, I lamented the loss of a such a terrific series. Ms. Kennedy is one of those authors who gives a reader something different all the way around in her books. So getting into a new series when you’ve loved a previous one so well, you’re a little hesitant starting out. This author proves she’s got what it takes to magically weave a story that will leave you spellbound.

England has been taken over by Elven Lords, each master of his own domain. We begin with Firehame where Imperial Lord Mor’ded is the Fire Lord. His champion son, General Dominic Raikes, has just returned with the surrender of the king under his belt.

A bastard from a liaison with a servant, Dominic has never had respect, love, pride, or anything positive from his father, no matter how hard he works for any scrap. However, with his recent coup he’s finally gotten a smattering of reaction from the man. That doesn’t keep Dominic safe from the fire test his father renders to make sure the son’s magic doesn’t surpass the sire’s, though.

Betrothed to the Fire Lord’s son, Cassandra has been reared gently in a convent and is currently preparing for her wedding. Along with all her lessons and nuptial plans, she’s also the Rebellion’s secret weapon – she’s been trained to kill and Mor’ded is her first target, the goal to put England back in its citizens’ hands.

Because his father has always used what he’s cared for against him, Dominic learned early in his life not to care for anyone or anything. Therefore, it has been nearly all of his life that he’s kept emotion of any kind at bay. Even when suffering the fire test, he shows no reaction to his father, not letting the lord see his pain. His betrothed takes him by surprise at every turn, and he begins to feel a range of emotion for her, from intrigue to lust, but in public he shuns her and insults her. In his bed, however, it’s a totally different story and these two sizzle like you wouldn’t believe.

Cassandra begins to know the man beneath his stoic mask and realizes that Dominic is not as unfeeling or cruel as everyone has been lead to believe. She begins to understand why he’s blocked all emotion from his life. And she begins to want him as a man, to be in his arms, to feel his own special brand of pleasure each night.

Even with this new realization, Cassandra can’t give up on her mission, despite her husband’s assurance she will not succeed. But she’s known she may have to give her life for the Rebellion and their cause. It’s only now that she’s found happiness that she’s determined to find a way to have both freedom and her happily ever after.

Ms. Kennedy has created a new world where magic is the centerpiece once again. Each elven realm has its own magic and we’re given just enough to intrigue us about what future books may hold. I love that she has Dominic and Cassandra eventually working together instead of being in conflict with each other throughout until the very end as most books do.

And for a villain, Mor’ded is an evil one. His magical power is what is important to him. He couldn’t care less about his son. The scenes of those fire tests are done so well, you can feel Dominic’s pain as well as his refusal to give in completely to his father.

The only small criticism I have is the ending is a little too pat as well as a little too unrealistic, which is sort of crazy considering we’re talking fantasy here. But even in fantasy, this is a little much, too much to actually believe and to believe that it went over like clockwork. But because it is fantasy, I’m willing to let it go, especially because I have a feeling it will be used in future books.

I’m skimming the surface here on this book. So much happens, and Ms. Kennedy’s writing is as magical as her story, that you won’t put it down once you begin reading. The characters draw you in immediately; you root for them to end the tyranny and to find their hearts along the way. And the magic. Well, it’s just…..magic.

Grade: A+

Summary:

If his powers are discovered, his father will destroy him…

In a magical land ruled by ruthless Elven Lords, the Fire Lord’s son Dominic Raikes plays a deadly game to conceal his growing might from his malevolent father, until his arranged bride awakens in him passions he thought he had buried forever.

Unless his bride kills him first…

Lady Cassandra has been raised in outward purity and innocence, while secretly being trained as an assassin. Her mission is to bring down the Elven Lord and his champion son. But when she gets to court she discovers that nothing is what it seems, least of all the man she married…

Then Dominic and Cassandra together discover an unspeakable evil, one that threatens the destruction of the magical realm they would give their souls to save…

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of My Unfair Lady by Kathryne Kennedy
Historical Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 1 Dec 09

Kathryne Kennedy has become a favorite author for me since I started reading her Relics of Merlin series. The world she has created in those books is fun to read, the characters are delightful, she gives the reader a new look at the paranormal, and I look forward to each new addition to the series. So when I had the chance the read her new historical, I jumped at it. She’s taken an old story and put her own spin on it, giving us more delightful characters that very stealthily sneak under your skin.

The best part of this book is the heroine, Summer Wine Lee. She’s frontier born and bred, growing up in Arizona, losing her mother early in life, left with a father unable to cope with that loss, friend to a Native American who teaches her how to survive on her own. She’s happy in her life until she meets Monte, a man she falls in love with, a man who is related to the New York Astors who look down on her because of her lowborn breeding. Wanting to become the lady Monte would be proud to have on his arm, Summer and her best friend Maria head to England with the goal of turning Summer into a lady under the tutelage of the Duke of Monchester.

The English don’t know what hit them when Summer blows into town. And what they don’t know or understand, they condescend to just as the New York elite did. Summer has an American accent, of course, and it’s laced with a western dialect and she’s full of western euphemisms. She straps a knife to her leg and can thow it unerringly accurately, can shoot a gun and bow and arrow like nobody’s business, loves animals so much she has a rescued menagerie of her own, and she’s her own CSI team thanks to her Apache friend who taught her how to track anything and anyone. But she wants all of these things she is to disappear as she morphs into a well-bred, gentile lady, something she hires Monchester to help her do. For a price, of course.

His impoverished state has kept the duke living on the largesse of others, his blunt and lethal tongue forging his way into the company of Prince Albert, keeping HRH in stitches with stories of putting society in their place. Hating title-seeking heiresses, English or American, he takes Summer at her word of not wanting an English lord since she’s left her fiance in America and wants to return to him as a lady. Thinking the task daunting but interesting, he has no idea what is truly in store for him once he begins to see the woman Summer really is.

After seeing Summer in action at what she considers her worst but is truly her best, after she helps pave the way for him to finally embrace his son, Monchester can’t help but fall for her. It’s Summer who won’t give in to her feelings for the duke, taking her word to another man seriously. These two characters grow on you with every chapter. Along with Summer’s “eccentricities,” Ms. Kennedy has given us a hero who is shorter than average, though the perfect size for Summer; so along with having to realize how he’s lived his life thus far, we learn about how he’s grown into the man he is, having to literally fight his way there. They both grow by leaps and bounds through the pages of this book.

I tried not to compare this book with those of the Relics of Merlin series. I love those novels so much, but I tried to be as fair as possible, and I know there’s a part of me that can’t look at the differences totally impartially because of my enjoyment of those preceding books. But despite that, My Unfair Lady is a very fun read with charming characters who can laugh at themselves with delight so that you take pleasure in their story while being pleasantly entertained, which for me has become this author’s trademark.

Grade: B+

Summary:

He created the perfect woman…
The impoverished Duke of Monchester despises the rich Americans who flock to London, seeking to buy their way into the ranks of the British peerage. So when railroad heiress Summer Wine Lee offers him a king’s ransom if he’ll teach her to become a proper lady, he’s prepared to rebuff her. But when he meets the petite beauty with the knife in her boot, it’s not her fortune he finds impossible to resist…

For the arms of another man
Frontier-bred Summer Wine Lee has no interest in winning over London society—it’s the New York bluebloods and her future mother-in-law she’s determined to impress. She knows the cost of smoothing her rough-and-tumble frontier edges will be high. But she never imagined it might cost her heart…

Read an excerpt.

I have the four winners of the ARCs for Kathryne Kennedy’s Enchanting the Beast from Dorchester, but first I want to thank Kathryne for being here with us at the Pond and for being such a gracious guest. You made everything a lot of fun for us, Kathryne!

And, of course, without all of you romance fanatics dropping by, it wouldn’t be any fun around here.  So I thank all of you for visiting!

So now get ready, it may just be your lucky day!

The four winners of Enchanting the Beast are:

**Joan Woods**

**Donna Matheson**

**Lisa Logan**

**Jeri**

Congratulations, ladies!  Please send your snail mail addresses to lighthousetagger (at) gmail (dot) com and I’ll make sure your ARCs start on their journey to you!

Welcome back to Duck Chat!

Today we’re talking to Kathryne Kennedy, who has created a wonderful world of magic in Regency England, thrown in some sexy shape-shifters, and leaves us transfixed with action, mystery, and romance in her Relics of Merlin series. If you haven’t read any of these books yet, you really are missing out on something special. 

Kathryne started her career writing short stories in sci-fi fantasy and romance, several of which won awards. She is married, lives in Arizona with her husband and two sons. The first book in her series hit the shelves in January 2008 and it’s been nothing but praise and more praise for each succeeding book for Kathryne ever since. Now is a great time to start reading this series with the third book coming out the end of this month. You’ll be able to catch up in no time.

Leave a meaningful comment because Dorchester Publishing has offered four ARCs of Enchanting the Beast for giveaway during our talk with Kathryne! And please be sure to leave your email address for contact if you win.  Now let’s chat!

DUCK CHAT: Kathryne, your Merlin’s Relics series is fast becoming popular with readers. Tell us where the concept came from. Was it an idea you had for a while or something that evolved more recently?

KATHRYNE KENNEDY: Wow, I’m glad to hear that. :}

I was writing My Unfair Lady, a pure historical romance, and I kept asking that question that I think all writer’s do: What if? What if titles were based on magical ability instead of birth or gender? How would that society be structured? Who would fall outside of those boundaries and how could I make them vulnerable to them? During those months of writing My Unfair Lady, the world of the Relics was born. And if anyone is curious about the book that inspired that series, it will be releasing sometime in 2009 from Sourcebooks Publishing.

DC: If you could retire any question and never, ever have it asked again, what would it be? Feel free to answer it.

KK: I’m still new enough at this that I can’t think of a question that has been asked of me often enough to retire it. Maybe if you check back in another ten years or so?

DC: I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions, or dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?

KK: Most definitely. My favorite part of writing is when scenes happen that I never planned. The one I can think of offhand is when Felicity from Enchanting the Lady started posing on the bed while waiting for Terence to come to her. I was giggling when my husband walked in and I tried to explain the scene, but I’m never really good at that, and, bless him, he just smiled and let me get back to my story.

DC: I enjoy how you’ve taken Regency England and sort of turned it on its head with magic. Please tell our readers a little about that and the concept behind it.

KK: I needed the levels of magic to vary and be genetic, and what better way to do that than go back in history and use the very blood of Merlin himself? So I made his magic real, passed it on to his children, who became the new aristocracy, and changed the world accordingly. I kept many of England’s places and names the same, and changed a few that I felt having magic in the world would alter. I skewed the world quite a bit, but tried to keep the flavor of the time period the same, with the thought that even magic can’t alter everything.

I also had Merlin create thirteen magical relics with power stronger than anything his children could have inherited, and a race of shape-shifters that were immune to all magic. I couldn’t let the aristocracy hold all the cards.

DC: Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing? Who usually wins?

KK: No, I never argue with them. They tell me what to do, and I’ve never come across a situation where they weren’t right.

DC: What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?

KK: A million different things. What I do is wake early and start writing before anyone else is up, then I’m in the flow, and if something comes up I write it on my list (I’m a big list person) and once I’ve done my five pages, then I allow myself to tackle my list.

DC: Enchanting the Lady and Double Enchantment are the first two books in the series. Would you give us a brief look into each.

KK: Enchanting the Lady is about a duchess under an evil spell, and the were-lion who’s determined to uncover the secret of it.

In Double Enchantment, Lady Jasmina bungles a spell and creates a double of herself who has no sense of propriety and gets her into all sorts of trouble. Fortunately, the trouble she gets into includes a handsome were-stallion in search of his missing sister.

DC: How do you feel your male or female characters have evolved over your career? Do you think you write them differently now than you did when you started?

KK: I’m not sure. I hope my writing has become better, more polished, I guess. But each of my characters talk to me differently, and they develop in their own way. If you can imagine an organic writer, that’s me.

DC: Is there a genre you haven’t tackled but would like to try?

KK: I think someday I would like to write a pure fantasy novel, but I just can’t seem to keep out the romance when I’m crafting a book. My heart won’t let me.

DC: Enchanting the Beast is your latest book, featuring Sir Nicodemas Wulfson as the resident shape-shifting baronet, and Lady Philomena. Tell us about them and their story, please.

KK: I have to say that I fell hard for Nico while writing this book. And I adore Phil. And Tup made me cry and Sarah cracked me up. And I have to add that this is my favorite (but keep in mind I always say that about each book I finish…until I start another one.) Nico is a were-wolf who lives in a haunted castle, and he hires ghost-hunter Phil to discover why the spirits have suddenly become so upset. But there are even more mysteries to uncover than they realize, and despite the fact that Nico is much younger than Phil, they do discover that they need each other, regardless of their age difference.

A special treat – excerpt from Enchanting the Beast:

Long ago a great wizard was born with magic in his very blood. He lived for thousands of years and went by many names, but the one we know best is Merlin.
.
Merlin passed his magic down through his offspring, and the power made his children rulers. Some inherited more magic than others, and eventually titles reflected their gifts. In Britain, kings and queens held the strongest power. After the royals, dukes had the greatest magical abilities in that they could change matter. Marquesses could cast spells and illusions and transfer objects but not change them. Earls mastered illusions, while viscounts dabbled in charms and potions. Barons had a magical gift, which could be as simple as making flowers grow or as complicated as seeing into the future.
.
And then there were the baronets. Part man, part animal, the shape-shifters were Merlin’s greatest enchantment…and eventually his greatest bane. For out of all mankind, they were immune to his magic.

Merlin created thirteen magical relics from the gems of the earth, a focus for some of his greatest spells. After Merlin’s disappearance, his children tried to find the relics, since these items held the only magic stronger than their own. The relics proved to be elusive until his children discovered that the shape-shifters they so despised could sniff out the power of a relic.
.
Over the centuries the relics faded to legend. But the most powerful of Merlin’s descendants did not forget, and shape-shifters became the secret spies of many rulers.

London, 1861
Where magic has never died…
.
Chapter 1
.
Lady Philomena Radcliff closed her eyes and called to the spirit of the late Lord Stanhope. She tried to ignore the excited breaths of the ladies within the séance circle, which she could clearly hear over the muted strains of ballroom music coming from behind the closed drawing room door.
“Lord Stanhope,” Phil said, with as much theatrical brilliance as a stage performer. She spread her hands flat on the mahogany table. “Your wife wishes to speak with you one last time. Is your spirit still in this house?”
The withdrawing room smelled of candle wax and the clashing perfumes of the assembled ladies: Lady Stanhope, Lady Montreve, and their two daughters. And unfortunately, their daughters’ silly young friends, who started to giggle as the silence lengthened.
It appeared that the late Lord Stanhope had chosen not to linger in the physical world.
Which didn’t make one whit of difference to Phil. Lady Stanhope had paid her for some peace of mind and she would give it to her regardless. When Phil had been orphaned at a young age, she’d used her magical gift to support herself, quickly discovering that half of her job consisted of her theatrical ability to convince her audience. If the spirit she called made an appearance, she just considered it a bonus.
Her primary concern was to relieve the suffering of those that tragedy had left behind.
She opened her eyes. “We must combine our efforts. Lady Montreve, will you douse the candles? Thank you. Now, clasp your neighbor’s hand and concentrate on the late Lord Stanhope. Use your will to call him to us.”
Lady Montreve’s skirts swished and her hoops crackled as she took her seat again next to Phil. Her gloved hands trembled beneath Philomena’s fingers, matching the rhythm of Lady Stanhope’s grip on Phil’s other hand. She gave both of the ladies a reassuring squeeze.
The ballroom orchestra finished its tune, and despite the multitude of guests in the other room, a quiet descended on the mansion. The fire crackled in the hearth, and the wind made a soft keening noise outside the glass windows. Phil lowered her voice to a husky whisper. “Keep concentrating, ladies. I can feel your will rising, calling out to Lord—”
The drawing room door burst open and the shadow of a large man loomed on the threshold. The circle of hands broke. Lady Stanhope gasped, Lady Montreve stifled a scream, and the other girls collapsed into a fit of giggles.
Philomena suppressed her urge to admonish them like a doddering governess and forced a smile instead. “If you don’t mind, sir, we were in the middle of—”
“I’m quite aware of what’s going on in this room, madam. If you will excuse the interruption, I would like to join you.” He closed the door behind him, shutting out the light from the outer room, allowing the soft glow of the fireplace to highlight his features. The giggles abruptly died, and soft sighs of admiration issued from the mouths of several young girls.
Philomena could hardly blame them. She had never seen such a striking young man. Dark hair liberally streaked with blond fell in waves past broad shoulders that strained his old-fashioned evening coat. The firelight reflected glints of gold in his large dark eyes and played across the angular planes of his face, outlining high cheekbones. Even white teeth flashed as he performed a courtly bow.
Phil’s stomach flipped and her hands broke out in a sweat inside her gloves. She struggled to hide her reaction before anyone noticed. Heavens, she was old enough to be his…well, older sister perhaps. But still, too old to be making a fool of herself by gawking at the beautiful young man.
Lady Stanhope recovered first. “I don’t remember the pleasure of an introduction, sir.”
Again, a flash of those even white teeth. Good heavens, were those dimples?
“I’m Sir Nicodemus Wulfson, Baronet of Grimspell castle.”
Soft gasps accompanied his words and several of the younger ladies actually looked frightened. All baronets were shifters and immune to all magic. The aristocracy hated that “the animals” could see through the spells crafted to maintain their superior social status.
“I don’t think…” Lady Stanhope began, ready to deny the gentleman’s request.
Phil quickly stood. “It would be a pleasure for you to join us, Sir Nicodemus.”
He turned those large, glittering eyes on her in surprise, his predatory gaze sweeping over her from head to foot. Phil felt heat rise in her cheeks. As usual, she’d dressed in the artistic style, eschewing the corsets and crinolines of her peers. Most of her friends were followers of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, but few of them had the daring to wear their medieval-style dresses out in public.
He surprised her with a sudden smile of approval. “Thank you, Lady…?”
“Philomena Radcliff.”
“The ghost-hunter,” he acknowledged. “I’ve heard a great deal about you. It’s a pleasure.”
The Adonis stepped forward and took her hand, sweeping his lips across the top of her glove. Thank heavens for that layer of material, for he surely would have burnt her skin with the heat of his mouth. Phil quickly snatched back her hand and resumed her seat at the table, trying to ignore the flutter in her stomach. Lady Stanhope’s older daughter eyed her with shrewd speculation, her lovely little mouth twisted with disdain.
Phil leveled a gaze on the girl that quickly made her look away. She wished she knew what it was about the young man that made her feel so unusual.
The screech of wooden legs over marble made them all turn to watch Sir Nicodemus drag a chair over to the table and squeeze between Philomena and Lady Stanhope. He sat with stealthy grace.
He looked up and flashed that brilliant smile again, taking in the entire circle of women. “I’ve always wanted to experience one of these table-turnings. It’s gracious of you to allow me to join you.” Despite his apparent lack of social standing a few of the youngest girls leaned forward and licked their lips.
Philomena pressed her lips together to prevent the same reaction. It was all well and good for young debutantes to react to him, but she had to be at least ten years his senior and it would only make her look like a complete fool. The man had too much charisma for his own good, but perhaps he needed it, given his nature. Because of her spiritual sensitivity she could sense his animal-self like a dark shadow surrounding him. She really should have allowed Lady Stanhope to reject him, for if she continued in her obvious fascination in him, she was sure to make a complete cake of herself.
But Phil’s sense of justice could not allow her to shun him. So when Lady Stanhope hesitated to link her hand with the baronet’s, Philomena hid her fear of the way she might react to his touch and slapped her gloved palm over his with forced bravado.
Tiny shivers traveled from his hand through her body. She’d been correct. His touch flustered her more than the caress of his gaze. For a moment Sir Nicodemus stared at their clasped hands, his dark brows raised in surprise. Then he turned and glanced at her, that wolfish grin back on his face.
Phil abruptly blew out the candle and closed her eyes. Heaven help her if he set his mind on exploring that instant chemistry between them. “Now concentrate, ladies…and gentleman. Lord Stanhope, we summon your spirit, please come to us.” A soft tapping sounded at the window, most likely a tree branch in the wind, but Phil grasped at it. “Lord Stanhope! Is that you?”
Sir Nicodemus made a small sound of derision, but she could feel the rest of the circle tense with excitement.
Phil opened her eyes, fully prepared to cast an unfocused gaze at the corner of the room where she would pretend Lord Stanhope stood. His wife only wanted to tell him that she loved him. She hadn’t had a chance to do so before he died. Who was she to deny the lady that satisfaction?
But Philomena caught a movement from the fireplace and her gaze met that of Tup. The young boy sat atop the mantel, his bare feet hanging over the edge, the glow of the fire shining through them. His brown hair was a mess as usual, his face so dirty that his hazel eyes stood out in startling contrast. Really, such a ragtag street urchin! Phil’s heart squeezed a bit and warmth flowed through her.
“Tup,” she whispered, trying to rise but anchored to her chair by the grip of Lady Stanhope and Sir Nicodemus.
“What’s a tup?” murmured one of the girls.
“The ghost-hunter’s spirit guide,” Lady Montreve snapped.
Phil was vaguely aware of the shock that rippled around the table, including that of Sir Nicodemus. She could feel him watching her, like a predator studies his prey, waiting for the perfect moment to leap. But she ignored them all, intent on seeing Tup’s ghost again. He wasn’t strong enough to stay long in the material world.
The only thing she’d ever regretted about not marrying was that she would never have her own child. And then Tup had followed her home one day.
“I come to tell ye to stop that,” he said, his large eyes blinking with sadness.
“What do you mean?” Phil asked.
“Cor, don’t ye fathom that the man passed over into hell? And he likes it there.”
Oh, dear. That meant that the man was as close to a demon as they came. No wonder using magic to summon a spirit was frowned upon. But since magical power was based on rank, only a royal could do that, or possibly a duke. Granted, ghosts would sometimes answer the call of a loved one… “But then why would he answer Lady Stanhope’s call, Tup?”
Lady Stanhope gasped. Was Sir Nicodemus actually growling?
They couldn’t hear Tup, of course, just Philomena’s part of the conversation. She told herself to be more careful with her words.
“Not her call,” the boy answered impatiently. “Hers.” And he nodded at Lady Montreve.
Phil turned and stared at the lady, who refused to meet her gaze. But even in the weak glow of the firelight she could see the dark stain of color flooding the pretty woman’s cheeks. Is that why Lady Montreve had come this evening? To see her lover one last time? Philomena glanced at Lady Stanhope. Did she know her husband had been having an affair with her friend? Was that the real reason she’d called the séance, to find out the truth of it?
Tup’s eyes widened. “Crikey, I’m too late.” And he disappeared.
Phil slowly turned her head. Lord Stanhope’s specter materialized beside Phil’s assistant, Sarah, and floated toward their table.
“Reginald, is that you?” his wife cried.
But Lord Stanhope only had eyes for Lady Montreve. He circled the table until he stood behind the pretty woman. “Did you call me back for one more round, you doxy? Missing me already, eh?” He leaned forward, his face so close to the back of the lady’s neck that Phil could see the tiny hairs on her skin move. “Don’t think I don’t know it’s my money you’re missing. But I learned some things in hell, my dear. And when I heard your call I decided I shouldn’t have to wait to try them on you.”
Lady Montreve shuddered. “I shouldn’t have come. I didn’t think it was possible…” The young girl sitting next to her recoiled.
“Don’t break the circle,” Philomena warned. “It’s her only protection.” She felt Sir Nicodemus’s grip tighten but the young girl—Phil wished she could remember her name—on the other side of Lady Montreve was trying to twist her hand from the woman’s grasp.
Phil saw Lord Stanhope’s arm disappear into his lover’s skirts. Lady Montreve screamed.
“What’s happening?” Lady Stanhope cried.
“Stop it!” Philomena shouted.
Lord Stanhope ignored them all, his black grin twisted into a leer of sadistic pleasure. The young girl pulled her hand free from Lady Montreve’s grasp. The circle was broken. Philomena didn’t have a choice. “Let go of my hand,” she told Sir Nicodemus. Bless him, he didn’t ask questions or argue; he just released his grip.
Phil really didn’t want to do this—oh, how she didn’t want to do this. She took a deep breath and stepped into Lord Stanhope’s black shadow and opened her soul to his. For one horrendous moment the man’s spirit melded with hers. Shafts of burning cold swept through her veins. His twisted sense of pleasure shook her body with an evil joy that made her squirm with shame.
She tried to send his soul back then, demanding that he return to the other side. He laughed at her. Phil strengthened her will, fighting with everything she had. Convulsions shook her body and then the world went black.

When Philomena opened her eyes she squinted at the glare of light. Every candle in Lady Stanhope’s drawing room must have been lit, including the gas and fairylights. Sarah leaned over her, that blunt face and those glossy black eyes reflecting her concern. “You’re well, then?”
At a nod, her assistant retreated and Phil sat up, her head swimming for a moment. She clutched her temples, realizing with dismay that her hair had come undone and lay about her shoulders. She must have looked as bad as she felt. How long would it take before the taint of that man’s evil left her soul?
“That was quite a performance,” Sir Nicodemus drawled.
Philomena winced. “Can you lower your voice, please? My head aches.” She glanced around the ostentatious room, with its silk-papered walls and gilt edging. She avoided his gaze. “Where is everyone?”
“Lady Stanhope left your payment on the table,” he answered. Phil’s eyes went to the thick stack of bank notes. More than enough to keep up her household for the next few months, with some left over for luxuries.
“Lady Montreve has probably retired to the country,” he continued. “The gaggle of young girls are likely swooning over the experience to their beaux in the ballroom…and Lady Stanhope asked you to leave as quickly as you are able.”
Phil nodded, and winced again. Well, she couldn’t exactly blame either lady. They had certainly gotten more than they’d bargained for with this séance.
Sir Nicodemus held out his hand to help her rise. Philomena ignored the appendage and managed to wobble to her feet unaided. “Sarah, will you fetch the coach?”
Her assistant slid from the room, and the baronet raised a brow. “I see you have no prejudice against my kind. You should suit admirably.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your maid. She’s a were, is she not?”
Bright lights danced in Phil’s vision. “How did you know?”
He shrugged those broad shoulders and Phil desperately tried not to admire them. Oh botheration, why hadn’t the young man just left with all the others? She felt enough out of sorts without having to hide her attraction to him.
“There’s a stillness about my kind,” he replied. “Although I can’t quite pin what type of were-animal she might—”
Philomena’s knees buckled and she would have sprawled to the floor if not for his quick reflexes. Instead she found herself within his arms. She stammered excuses, yet did nothing to escape his embrace. “I’m afraid that the encounter with Lord Stanhope quite did me in. I do try to avoid contact with the spirits. I’m far too sensitive to their presence.”
He smelled marvelous. Like country meadows and sweet grass, with a musky undertone that she couldn’t quite define. He stood at least a head taller than her and his arms were layered with the thick muscles of a man, not the wiry strength of a young boy. And the heat of him…
“Are you all right, Lady Radcliff?” he murmured.
She looked up to find his face mere inches from her own. He’d bowed his head and his nostrils were flared. Heavens, was he scenting her?
“Quite. I think you can let me go now.”
But neither of them moved. Philomena couldn’t tear her eyes away from his. Golden flecks in those deep brown irises sparkled and appeared to move, as if to hypnotize her. His mouth moved closer to her own and she had the shocking thought that he might kiss her. Ridiculous. Phil stepped out of his arms, gathered up her shawl, and tried to flee the room.
“Lady Radcliff. Your payment?” He held out her bank notes, a mocking smile twisting an otherwise extremely attractive mouth. She tried to snatch them from his hand, but he pulled the bills away from her. “Why don’t I carry these for you while I see you home?”
“That’s quite unnecessary.”
“Oh, but I’m afraid you’re wrong. What if you were to swoon again?”
Phil narrowed her eyes. “I assure you, I’m not ordinarily given to fainting. If you hand me my money, sir, we will likely never see each other again.”
The cheeky man pocketed her notes and gently clasped her arm. “Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong, Lady Radcliff.” He opened the door to the drawing room, allowing the lights and music to surround them. And exposing them to the witness of a hundred gazes. “I have a business proposition for you. One that will be a hundred times more profitable than what Lady Stanhope has provided you.”
Phil’s ears pricked up; she couldn’t help it. When one had experienced the feeling of an empty belly, the value of money held enormous attraction. When he guided her down the hall she didn’t protest, even when he purposely led them past the open double doors of the ballroom. Magic had created a winter wonderland of sparkling snow that swirled beneath the dancers’ feet. Huge icicles glittering with rainbow colors hung from the ceiling and crystal statues graced the ballroom floor. Phil sighed with regret at the beauty of it all. She had so looked forward to attending the ball after the séance.
Outside the doors of the mansion the true summer weather enveloped them, the fog of the night making it almost difficult to breathe. Lady Stanhope’s coach waited to take her home, the stomping unicorns standing before a pumpkin-shaped carriage.
Sarah hissed and scooted into the corner when Sir Nicodemus entered the coach. Phil leveled a glare at her assistant, then turned her attention on the young man.
“It must be difficult not to experience the illusions of magic, Sir Nicodemus. It’s quite a delight for one to ride in a pumpkin.” She ended her words with a brilliant smile.
His eyes widened and he stared in silence at her for a moment. Then he blinked. “I can see magic, Lady Radcliff. It’s just a bit transparent to me. Like so many other things.”
“Ah, like people, I presume?”
The carriage hit a pothole and a streak of white hair fell over his forehead, making him appear even younger. Phil wondered how old he was anyway, then dismissed the thought. It was none of her business and it didn’t matter.
“Sir Nicodemus. If you believe I’m a charlatan, why mention a business proposition to me?”
He sighed and lounged back against the velvet padding, his glittering eyes studying her face. “Nico.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I wish you would just call me Nico.”
Before Phil had a chance to respond, the coach lurched to a stop in front of her townhouse. For a moment she wished she lived a bit farther away from Lady Stanhope. “I’m sorry we didn’t get an opportunity to discuss your business proposal. Perhaps if you call on me in the morning?” Phil gathered up the drapes of her gown and prepared to exit the carriage, but the heat of his touch on her arm made her freeze.
“I’m afraid my business can’t wait until the morning,” he said. “I detest the city, and now that I’ve found what I was looking for, I’d rather make the arrangements and leave.”
The man always managed to say the most intriguing things. Despite her reluctance to invite him inside, she found herself doing so. She prayed as they made their way to her front door that it would be a quiet night. The only way she’d managed to afford a home within Mayfairy was to purchase a house no one else wanted—a former brothel haunted by its previous occupants. Of course, the noises and moving objects didn’t scare her, but the images of the ghosts had proved to be entirely too enlightening.
“Sarah, will you light some lanterns, please?” Phil asked when they entered the drawing room.
Sarah lit every candle and touched on every fairylight in her attempts to banish the shadows in the room, but too many still remained. Sarah took an inconspicuous seat in the corner of the room, silent but always watchful over her mistress. Sir Nicodemus took a seat near the fireplace, the banked coals turning the white in his hair a shade of red. Phil’s eyes searched the room, noting how plain it appeared compared to Lady Stanhope’s. But it did seem that the ghosts might be quiet tonight. She sat on the settee opposite the young man’s chair and smiled with relief.
Sir Nicodemus drew her bank notes from his pocket and set them on the tea tray. He smiled a bit sheepishly. Quite becoming. “Sorry. I just wanted to make sure that you’d talk to me.”
“I am most intrigued,” Phil replied. “What could be of such importance that you felt the need for such coercion?”
He leaned forward, that dark shadow falling over his features again. “How did you know?”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“Oh, come now, you don’t really expect me to believe in ghosts, do you? I’m not as gullible as my bro—well, I believe in what I can see and hear, and I saw nothing. So how did you know Lord Stanhope was having an affair with Lady Montreve? Is that how you mediums manage to convince your clients, by digging up the dirt on them?”
Phil might have been offended if she hadn’t sensed the desperation in his manner, as if he wanted to believe in her. A shadow of movement appeared behind his left shoulder, but she ignored it while trying to form her reply. “You do not believe in spirits?”
Her calm response took him aback. Phil smiled, but it quickly faded as she saw what appeared behind him. The ghosts that haunted this house were what she called a memory haunting, meaning that she couldn’t interact with them and they never did with her. They just reenacted scenes from their lives over and over. It was Fanny who appeared tonight—and Fanny had a bit more awareness than the others.
“No, I don’t believe in ghosts,” Sir Nicodemus said. “But my brother does. And therein lies my problem.”
Fanny crooked her finger at someone behind Phil, but she refused to turn her head and look. “Yet you believe in magic.”
“Of course. Even though it doesn’t affect me, I can still see and feel it.”
“So why wouldn’t you believe that I have the magical gift to see ghosts?”
A young man took Fanny’s hand, and she led him over to a mattress that appeared to hover in midair. Usually Fanny’s clients were older gentlemen. Phil narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“Ah, but what I believe doesn’t matter. I only need to know that you will be convincing enough to fool, ah, help my brother.”
Fanny laughed, low and sultry, pulling her young client into her arms. He kissed her hesitantly, and she ran her fingers through his hair, pulling his mouth closer, practically devouring him.
“Royden thinks Grimspell castle has ghosts, you see. And that they’ve suddenly become angry and are haunting his dreams.”
Phil tore her gaze away from the couple behind Sir Nicodemus and tried to focus her attention on him. Oh botheration, that proved worse. She imagined running her own fingers through his white-brown hair, pulling his mouth toward hers with the same intense hunger that Fanny displayed. What would it be like to feel those youthful lips on hers? To feel such a passion?
Sir Nicodemus’s eyes glittered and he leaned forward. “Is something wrong?”
“No, ah, nothing.”
Fanny slid the young man’s shirt off his shoulders, running ghostly fingers down rippled flesh. She undid his belt, unbuttoned his trousers, and let his clothing fall away. His eagerness for Fanny was plain to see.
Sir Nicodemus pulled something from his coat pocket and handed it to Philomena. She took it but couldn’t tear her eyes away from the vision.
“Those are first-class tickets to Norwitch, Norfolk. You’ll have to hire a carriage to take you to Trollersby, and from there the locals will direct you to Grimspell castle.”
Fanny was doing things with her mouth that had the young man’s face twisted with sheer pleasure. Phil watched where and how Fanny moved her tongue to make her client moan the loudest. Whenever the haunting began, Philomena would swear to herself that she wouldn’t watch. But she had yet to find the willpower to resist.
“As you can see,” Sir Nicodemus said, raising his voice, “if you would be so kind as to look, there are several gems from our vaults—a down payment for your services.”
That managed to get Phil’s attention. Large emeralds sparkled in her palm. She could only guess at the value, but she imagined it would keep her household for several years. “A down payment?” she whispered.
“Yes. You will get the remainder once you’ve convinced my brother that you’ve banished his ghosts. Do we have an agreement?”
Fanny squealed and Phil’s traitorous gaze went back to the couple. Good heavens, she sat atop the young man. Phil tilted her head in studied amazement. Fanny rode him hard, up and down, until he cried out with a roar, his groin pushing her high off the bed with his climax.
“Lady Radcliff.” Sir Nicodemus reached out and touched her hand. Philomena sprang to her feet, tickets and gems scattering across the polished wooden floor. They bumped heads as they both reached down to pick them up and for a moment faced each other in a crouch. Phil’s cheeks felt hot and her body ached with a need that was entirely Fanny’s fault.
Sir Nicodemus leaned toward her, as if he sensed her arousal and couldn’t help but respond to it. The shadow of his were-self fell away, and tenderness glittered in his eyes. He reached out a hand and stroked her cheek.
Phil snapped her head back and stood. “I think you’d better go.”
He rose as well, confusion clouding his features. “But…we have an agreement, then? You’ll come to Grimspell castle?”
Philomena was so flustered she would have agreed to anything. “Yes, yes, of course. Just please go.” Fanny laughed, and Phil turned to find the ghost eyes staring straight at her. Her heart flipped in her chest with surprise and she opened her mouth to speak, but the vision faded.
Phil spun. “Sir Nicodemus.”
He turned stiffly around to look at her from where he stood in the drawing room doorway.
“What are you?”
He didn’t ask what she meant. “Surely you’ve guessed? My were-form is a wolf, Lady Philomena Radcliff. I eat young girls for dinner.” And he turned on his heel and left.
Phil shuddered to think of what he did to older women.

DC: What advice would you give to your younger self?

KK: To never judge myself by anyone else’s standards but my own.

DC: If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?

KK: Babbling in a corner. Seriously, if I didn’t have this creative outlet I think my life would be a bit colorless. Reading has always taken me to new places and new adventures. Writing just makes that experience even more intense. I’m not sure what I’d be like without it.

DC: Do you know what type of animal you’re going to use for future book in the series, or is that something that comes with inspiration for each book as they come along? Can you give us some examples of what we’ll see down the road?

KK: In the next few books I switched it up a bit, making my heroines the shape-shifters. It makes for some strong heroines, and even tougher heroes, who have to be more than a match for them.

DC: What’s next in the series?

KK: I have planned a fourth book, Everlasting Enchantment, about a knight trapped in a relic who can only be freed by a woman’s true love…or so he thinks.

Lightning Round:

- dark or milk chocolate?    — Milk.
- smooth or chunky peanut butter?     — Depends on my mood.
- heels or flats?    — Definitely flats.
- coffee or tea?    — Tea.
- summer or winter?    — Winter.
- mountains or beach?    — Mountains.
- mustard or mayonnaise?    — Neither.
- flowers or candy?    — Oooh, candy.
- pockets or purse?    — Purse. No lumps.
- Pepsi or Coke?    — Pepsi. My DH calls it the nectar of the gods.
- ebook or print?    — Print, only because a print book is easier on my eyes.

And a little more fun!

1. What is your favorite word?

Serendipity. I loved it so much I used it for a short story of mine, long ago.

2. What is your least favorite word?

There are words that evoke bad feelings within me, but I can’t think of a least favorite one.

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

My family, my friends, my editor, my readers.

4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

Negative people. I have learned over the years to surround myself with positive people. Life is just too short, and truly, what you put in your head, what you surround yourself with, is your life.
5. What sound or noise do you love?

Falling rain. The crackle of a fire. The laughter of my family.
6. What sound or noise do you hate?

I dislike those booming noises that come from some car stereos. People have a right to enjoy their music, but I just wish they’d keep it to themselves.
7. What is your favorite curse word?

Bejeebers. As in, you scared the bejeebers out of me. Love it.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

I hope I can continue what I’m doing, because I can’t think of anything else that I would love more.
9. What profession would you not like to do?

It would be more like, what profession am I sure I can’t do, and there’s too many to name.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you
arrive at the Pearly Gates?

“It’s about time you showed up.”

Sandy M’s review of Enchanting the Beast (Relics of Merlin, Book 3) by Kathryne Kennedy
Historical Paranormal Romance released by Lovespell 28 Apr 09

I know I’ve probably said this before in my previous two reviews of Ms. Kennedy’s books, but if you haven’t started reading her Merlin’s Relics series, you’re missing out on some great reads and a whole lot of fun. She gives us great characters, shapeshifters, intriguing stories, and a magical Regency England you’ve not seen before. I’ll give you odds if you try one, you’ll immediately want more.

Lady Philomena is a ghost hunter. She likes to give reassurance to the living by communicating with their departed loved ones, and normally things usually go along as they should, but her latest seance is just short of a disaster.  That doesn’t deter Sir Nicodemus, though. He is desperate to help his brother, so he lures the lovely Phil to Grimspell Castle where supposed spirits are slowly draining his sibling with their mysterious anger.

Phil is taken with the handsome baronet, who is immune to magic and is a shapeshifter. So she travels to his home to figure out why the resident ghosts are up in arms. She knows Nico is not a believer, but she’s determined to find an answer for his family. While there, however, she hears gossip that Nico killed his wife, and then murders suddenly begin anew now that he’s home. The village is wary of Nico and his pack, especially since a large black wolf has been seen in the area.

She tries to reconcile this information with the man who loves his family, takes care of his villagers despite their ire, and who knows who to seduce a woman, even one much older than himself. Nico has his work cut out for him in tearing down the walls Philomena has built around herself against nonbelievers and a past that has left it’s mark on her. He’s also shedding his disbelief of her abilities and talents when it comes to the spirit world the more he sees her in action.

Amid all the mystery and magic, the romance between these two characters is delightful. Nico is taken with Phil from the start, all the while she tries to discourage him because of their age difference, but he’s a man who knows his own mind. He ruthlessly seduces her until she can hardly see straight. I really liked that the mystery involved Nico and his wolves, the shapeshifting scenes are really terrific, and we’re given a few twists and turns along the way before a surprising resolution. Each story is very different from the last, and this time the older woman/younger man concept worked wonderfully well.

Once again Ms. Kennedy weaves her magic and pulls the reader in from the first page and doesn’t end until the very last word. You should pick up any of her Merlin’s Relics books and prepare to be thoroughly enchanted.

Be sure to check our interview of Ms. Kennedy in our Duck Chat feature here at the Pond to learn more about her and her writing.

Grade: A+

Read reviews and info about this series by following its tag.

Summary:
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Grimspell castle. With its dark, imposing stone walls, it certainly looked haunted. As a ghost-hunter, Lady Philomena was accustomed to restless spirits. But she found the dark, imposing nature of the castle’s owner far more haunting than any specter. London Society might not approve of shape-shifters such as Sir Nicodemus Wulfson, but firmly-on-the-shelf Philomena rather enjoyed the young baronet’s sudden interest in sniffing around her skirts. She’d even consider giving in to him altogether if not for a murderer on the loose-a beast that might just be Nico himself.
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Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Shannon C.’s review of Enchanting the Lady (Relics of Merlin, Book 1) by Kathryne Kennedy
Historical paranormal romance released by Love Spell 1 Jan 08

I harp a lot in my reviews about the heroines in books. I’m a dirty, hippie, liberal feminist, and I’m proud of it. Give me a kick-ass chick any day who fights for what she believes in and doesn’t take crap from anybody. That being said, I am also as prone to Cinderella stories as the next girl, and if there’s a promise of a Cinderella-type plot, I am there like white on rice. You know the ones I’m talking about: poor, mistreated and oddly beautiful, usually orphaned girl is abused horribly but finally meets a man who falls in love with her and spirits her away from the badness.

I’ll tell you the plot that I’m not so keen on. It’s the one where the Prince Charming is all, “Grrr. This oddly beautiful and sweet woman is obviously hiding a core of evil in her soul, and further, she knows something I need to know, too. I will court her and seduce the information out of her, because that is the only interrogation technique ever, and, my schlong, it is mighty.”

All that being said, Kathrynne Kennedy’s Enchanting the Lady delivers both plot elements I described, and does so in a fashion that’s so over-the-top in its cheesiness that I ate it up like sweet, delicious candy.

The story is set in a kind of Regency England where one’s rank in society is determined by how much magic one can wield. Ms. Kennedy explores what this means for people of high rank quite well, with world-building that’s top-notch. Into this world, we meet Felicity, who is heir to a duchy. She lives with her aunt and uncle and her despicable cousin Oliver, but unlike all of them, she doesn’t have much magic. However, she must be tested to see if she has enough magic to inherit her duchy, a test she’s certain she’s going to fail.

At her testing she meets Terence, a baronet. In this world, the baronets are shape-shifters, and Terence is no exception. The baronets are also used as spies for the prince, and Terence is looking for one of the 13 relics of Merlin, magical talismans that contain evil magic. When Terence meets Felicity, he immediately sniffs the taint of relic magic on her, and since his lion side is attracted to her, well, obviously there’s only one thing for a good spy to do-seduce the information out of the chit.

As I said above, I like a Cinderella story, and so as a heroine Felicity worked for me. She’s beautiful, but she’s had a spell cast on her so that she appears invisible to everyone unless she makes her presence known. This has caused no end of havoc, as she’s always being run over by servants. So she thinks it’s exhilarating when Terence, who is immune to magic, not only sees her perfectly clearly but appears to be attracted to her. I really loved Felicity’s sense of wonder as the possibilities of love and passion were revealed to her. I even tolerated some of the quirks I’ve often seen in her type of heroines, like the fact that her maid is practically her BFF, because I guess if everyone thought I was invisible, I’d pretty much want to talk to anyone I could, despite the societal norms.

Terence was a bit more problematic but no less enjoyable. I love the idea of were-cats, and I love the idea of ones in particular who are so consumed by passion that they take every opportunity to grope their mates in public. Terence was totally hot in that way, and most of the time I wanted him to just go back to seducing Felicity and getting inappropriately caught up in his passion. Instead, he goes for long periods of the book obstinately deciding that someone as naive and awe-struck at the world must be a great actress hiding evil things. He takes a little bit too long to become convinced of Felicity’s innocence for me.

The secondary characters vary. I liked that Felicity’s family wasn’t entirely what it appeared to be, and I understood the motivations of the villainous members. One of them even gets a bit of a redemption, which was cool. And then there are the servants. Felicity’s maid, Katie, and Terence’s manservant, Bentley, were both great characters. Bentley especially deserved a freaking metal for his dedication to chaperoning poor passion-struck Terence.

The relic plot was a lot less interesting to me than the romance, but it does allow for some interesting possibilities for world-building. I was especially taken with Ms. Kennedy’s idea of the London underground, and I hope we’ll see more of it in future books.

There is something about Ms. Kennedy’s style that works for me. Felicity’s such a Mary Sue, and Terence is kind of cheesy in his own right, but I loved them both and I want to see what else Ms. Kennedy has in store. This is truly a unique paranormal premise, and I’ve already got the second book on Mt. TBR.

Grade: B

Read more reviews of books in this series by clicking on the Relics of Merlin series tag.

Summary:
In a world where magic ruled everything, Felicity Seymour couldn’t perform even the simplest spell. If she didn’t pass her testing, she’d lose her duchy-and any hope of marriage. But one man didn’t seem to mind her lack of dowry: a darkly delicious baronet who had managed to scare away the rest of London’s Society misses.

Sir Terence Blackwell knew the enchanting woman before him wasn’t entirely without magic. Not only could she completely disarm him with her gorgeous lavender eyes and frank candor, but his were-lion senses could smell a dark power on her-the same kind of relic-magic that had killed his brother. Was she using it herself, or was it being used against her?

One needed a husband, and the other needed answers. But only together could they find the strongest magic of all: true love.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series:

I liked C2′s idea of a Best of 2008 list.  Then Liv got into the action, so thought I’d give it a try too.  (Of course, mine are the best of the bunch.)  I was never one to keep track of my reads, and 2008 was the first time I’ve done that; therefore, this list, though difficult to choose just a few in the long run, was easy for me since I didn’t have to rely on a twelve-month memory.

So here’s my Best of 2008, in no particular order.

Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas
Contemporary Romance Audiobook released by Brilliance Audio 25 Mar 08

Actually, I drooled over Hardy Cates while listening to him with the audiobook of Blue-Eyed Devil. My first foray (including Sugar Daddy) into Kleypas books and I loved every darned minute of it!

Weddings Can Be Murder by Christie Craig
Contemporary Romance released by Love Spell 27 May 08

I never thought I would fall in love with a hero who’s a sympathy puker.  Don’t wrinkle your nose!  Read the book, it’s hilarious! Christie Craig is making a huge name for herself and her wonderful humor.
Double Enchantment by Kathryne Kennedy
Historical Paranormal Romance released by Love Spell 26 Aug 08

A breath of fresh air with a new take on the English social castes.  Fun, intriguing, and very romantic. And loads of magic along with shapeshifting, both of which give readers a different look at old favorites.

Superb and Sexy by Jill Shalvis
Contemporary Romance released by Brava 1 Jun 08

Really, you can interchange any one of the three Sexy books in here. Just love those Sky High Men! Ms. Shalvis has a way with humor, romance, mystery, and fun.

Killer Charms by Marianne Stillings
Contemporary Romance released by Avon 26 Aug 08

I enjoyed all three books about the Darling family, but it’s the hero of this one that gave it top honors for me in 2008. I’ll definitely be reading more of Ms. Stillings.

King of Sword and Sky (Tairen Soul, Book 3) by C.L. Wilson
Paranormal Fantasy Romance released by Leisure Books 30 Sep 08

With just one more book to go, this series is now my favorite of all time. Ms. Wilson has created a world that is just absolutely fantastic and she’s giving us a love story like no other.

Hostage to Pleasure by Nalini Singh
Release by Berkley 2 Sep 08

I’ve loved every book in this series.  They’re all incredible.  But Dorian has always been my favorite from the very first book and I’d anticipated his story for so long.  Ms. Singh did not disappoint!

Scandalous by Night by Barbara Pierce
Historical Romance released by St. Martin’s Paperbacks 29 Jul 08

Barbara Pierce has become an all-time favorite historical author for me.  This book she gave readers a darker side of her writing and Everod is her best hero yet.

With Every Breath by Lynn Kurland
Time Travel Romance released by Jove 27 May 08

Beautiful writing, sweeping Scottish vistas, love and romance that crosses time boundaries, and characters you’ll love forever. What’s not to love?

The Missing by Shiloh Walker
Contemporary Paranormal Romance released by Berkley Trade 4 Nov 08

As I said in my review of this book, Ms. Walker has outdone herself with this one.  Absolutely mesmerizing.  If you haven’t read it, you should.  You’re missing out, big time.

Honorable mentions:

Ask Adam by Jess Dee
Contemporary Romance released by Samhain 29 Jul 08

Ms. Dee is a first-time author for me and I enjoyed her writing and storytelling immensely.  I have a feeling she’s really going to go places!

The Hot Line by Cathryn Fox
Contemporary Romance released by NAL 4 Mar 08

Another first-time author for me. Had to love the idea of the Hot Line, firefighters just waiting to help a lady out. And those boys know what they’re doing!

Devon’s review of Double Enchantment (Relics of Merlin, Book 2) by Kathryne Kennedy
Historical Paranormal Romance released by Love Spell 26 Aug 08

Earlier this year I read and greatly enjoyed Enchanting the Lady, the first in Kathryne Kennedy’s Relics of Merlin series. Luckily the follow-up, Double Enchantment, is quite strong as well. I feel corny saying this, but these books are enchanting. Set in a Victorian England full of magic, the setting is vivid and unusual, the characters interesting, and the romances are lovely. Romance readers who like fantasy should take notice.

Jasmina didn’t seem like she was going to be an appealing heroine at first. A member of the magically talented aristocracy, she firmly believes in her class’ superiority. Thus she is content to look after her self-absorbed and very flawed parents, to the extent of eschewing marriage. Although there are definite signs that her parents are screwed up (huge ones), she has never questioned her family’s priggish worldview. Until a spell goes awry and she gets involved with a hot stallion.

Sir Sterling Thorn is a stallion shapeshifter and baronet, a class despised as animals by the aristocracy. A disinherited elder son, struggling to start his own vineyard, Sterling would not have expected the beautiful Jas to take notice of him. But she does, to his delight. Unfortunately Jas is magical creation, quite the opposite of the icy, controlled, but real Jasmina. The two strike sparks off of each other from the get go, as they work together to figure out the mystery behind doppelganger Jas, which seems to have something to do with Sterling’s sister’s disappearance.

Jasmina turns out to be far more sympathetic than first expected, as she sheds her rigid façade. She is empowered and made vulnerable by her attraction to Sterling. Jasmina fears that it is really Jas that he loves. As an aside: is it just me, or do “Jasmina” and “Jas” sound a bit exotic and contemporary for the times? Don’t care for the name myself. Sterling was quite the dreamy hero—passionate, charming and protective. Despite the twin factor, it was always very clear that Sterling had distinct, separate feeling for two distinct, separate woman, and that his real feelings were for the real woman.

I really enjoy the milieu of this alternate Victorian England: the upper-class with their social events, the Underground with its black magic, and the sense of magic embuing everything. It’s great fun, and quite different from other “worlds” in paranormal romance. The plot is also interesting and original. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.

Grade: A-

The Summary:

Lady Jasmina was in a world of trouble. A simple spell had gone disastrously haywire and now there was a woman running around London who looked exactly like her—a woman with no sense of propriety whatsoever. All Society was whispering, and a baronet she’d never met was suddenly acting like he knew her…in a most intimate way. To find her twin and set things right, they’d have to work together—braving the fog-shrouded streets, a mysterious group called the Brotherhood, and a passion stronger than any magic.

Read an excerpt here
Read Sandy’s review here

Sandy M’s review of Double Enchantment (Relics of Merlin, Book 2) by Kathryne Kennedy
Paranormal Historical Romance published by Love Spell 28 Aug 08

I have the best time in Kathryne Kennedy’s special world of magic she’s created for her Relics of Merlin series. It’s fun and lighthearted, full of romance, all the while throwing loads of mystery and evil deeds at you. And her were-heroes are to die for.

As with most firsts, the first book in this series gives you such special people and places, and I fell in love with Sir Terrance from Enchanting the Lady and figured that, though the hero in her next book would be another I could fall in love with, I wouldn’t fall quite as badly as I did for Sir Terrance. I’m delighted to say I was very wrong! Sir Sterling Thorn is a were-stallion, big, bold and strong, just as he is in his human form. I fell very hard.

Lady Jasmina Karlyle is the glue that keeps her parents’ house in order and running smoothly. She’s also the one who keeps her mother out of prison when she decides to borrow things from people, mostly jewelry, with the intention of returning them but conveniently forgetting to do so. Jasmina has taken it upon herself to prowl the streets at night, breaking and entering to return these borrowed items so her parents can go on living in relative comfort and ease, demanding their daughter never marry so she may take care of them through their dotage. Personally, the parents irritated the heck out of me, especially when they doubt her later in the story. But Jasmina loves them and does what they ask of her with no thought to herself — until she meets the man who makes her heart gallop.

Though Sterling is the first born, it is his younger brother who inherited upon their father’s death only because Cecil manipulated his father and fed him lies about Sterling during his stint in the military. Still a baron, Sterling lives his own way and is immune to magic, as are all others of his class. He happens upon “Jaz” at the prince’s ball and falls instantly into lust, so much so he marries the girl after he deflowers her, much to his delight.

But his happiness is short lived when he discovers a second Jaz, the original one, that is. Jasmina conjured a twin of herself to fool anyone checking on her in slumber when she was actually out on one of her reverse thieving jaunts. Everything goes totally wrong when Jasmina recites her twin spell while holding the brooch her mother absconded with this time. In actuality it is one of the thirteen Relics of Merlin and causes her spell to go awry, thus giving her Jaz duplicate a little more human personality than is needed.

Sterling and Jasmina are thrown together to search for the brooch to reverse her spell and rid the city of Jaz-Gone-Amuck, thereby saving Jasmina’s already degraded reputation, and Sterling is given the opportunity at the same time to continue looking for his kidnapped sister. Needless to say, all these things are related in unusual and magical ways and a lot of fun and romance are to be had along the way.

I love the way Ms. Kennedy gives Sterling the characteristics of the stallion when he’s in human form. He is a large man with a mane of black hair and I could see him tossing his head, mane flying, each time it was described so. He playfully snorts and stamps his feet just like a horse when the situation calls for it. He is, however, much more magnificent when in his were-form, everything he is as a human is just intensified and made larger than life. One of the best scenes in the book is Sterling galloping and flying through the nighttime streets with Jasmina on his back, both as carefree as the wind. Lady Jasmina’s prim and properness works very well against his animal characteristics, and it’s a delightful process to watch her lose herself and her hoity-toity ways with each step of Sterling’s seduction.

This is an enjoyable series. If you haven’t read it yet, you should. This is what reading is all about. Leave your worries behind and just let go and have fun with a world of magic and romance and characters who will entice you to dream for a happily-ever-after just like theirs.

Grade: A

Summary:
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Lady Jasmina was in a world of trouble. A simple spell had gone disastrously haywire and now there was a woman running around London who looked exactly like her–a woman with no sense of propriety whatsoever. All Society was whispering, and a baronet she’d never met was suddenly acting like he knew her…in a most intimate way. To find her double and set things right, they’d have to work together–braving the fog-shrouded streets, a mysterious group called the Brotherhood, and a passion stronger than any magic.
.
Read an excerpt here.

Other books in this series:

Read Devon’s review of Enchanting the Lady

Double Enchantment (Relics of Merlin, Book 2) by Kathryne Kennedy

“This is Kathryne’s second book in the Relics of Merlin series, and just like Enchanting the Lady, it delivers a Victorian world full of magic. Author Erin Grady summed it up best with: ‘The imagination of J. K. Rowling and the romance of Julie Garwood.’ I just love the premise of this book, not to mention the shape-shifting stallion of a hero.” – Leah Hultenschmidt, Dorchester Editor Extraordinaire

Lady Jasmina was in a world of trouble. A simple spell had gone disastrously haywire and now there was a woman running around London who looked exactly like her-a woman with no sense of propriety whatsoever. All Society was whispering, and a baronet she’d never met was suddenly acting like he knew her…in a most intimate way. To find her double and set things right, they’d have to work together-braving the fog-shrouded streets, a mysterious group called the Brotherhood, and a passion stronger than any magic.

You can find Devon’s review of book 1 here and she is mucho excited to read this next one. As is Sandy M, who also enjoyed the first book. If you haven’t picked it up yet and you are one of those “le gasp! books must be read in order or a fairy loses their wings” types, this is a September release (i.e., 26 Aug 08).

Check out her contest (hurry! closes May 31) here, read an excerpt here and pre-order here.

Devon’s review of Enchanting the Lady (Relics of Merlin, Book 1) by Kathryne Kennedy
Historical Paranormal Romance released by Love Spell 1 Jan 08

It has been a long time since I stayed up late reading. I’ve read some decent books lately, enjoyable ones, but nothing worth jeopardizing my precious beauty sleep. And it is always a good sign when I just can’t wait to get back to a book. Enchanting the Lady had been on my pile for awhile, waiting for my mood to be right. It was a delightful surprise, one of the most engrossing romances I’ve read so far this year.

This book is set in a Victorian England filled with magic. Magical ability is the province of the Aristocracy, helping them maintain their power over society. Each level of the aristocracy has their own abilities, and the higher the social rank, the greater magic the person is supposed to possess. Unfortunately, Felicity Seymour, the Duchess of Honor Stonehaven, can barely perform a spell.

As the story begins, Felicity fails the magical testing necessary to claim her title and lands. But during her humiliating experience with Prince Albert, she comes to the notice of Sir Terence Blackwell, a lowly baronet and were-lion. Prince Albert uses shape shifters as his personal spies, since their immunity to magic enables them to perform a variety of tasks for him, including finding the dangerous Relics of Merlin. The shapeshifter/Baronets are looked upon with great disdain by other nobles, because of their animal natures, lack of magic and ability to see through others’ illusions, as well as their favor with the Prince. The moment Terence sets eyes upon Felicity, he knows there is more to her than others see. And that she may well be able to lead him to a Relic of Merlin.

I fell for these characters and world hook, line and sinker. The author is able to create great chemistry and passion between two characters who manage to stay charming rather than annoying. For example, Felicity is the very, very sweet, naive and spunky miss. These kind of heroines can often be TSTL or irritating, but given Felicity’s circumstances, her naivete and her forthrightness make total sense.

Terence is one of those heroes who just loves to go on about how he’s not in lurve, though his actions scream otherwise. This can be tedious, but Terence’s lack of self-awareness was rather adorable. He’s quite in touch with his animal side, but he’s just as astonished as Felicity to find himself leaning on her, nuzzling her neck, snuffling and purring. It was amusing and quite romantic how his lion side fell in love even as Terence told himself he was just on a mission. They are two lonely souls, craving the acceptance and interest the other provides. Their romance was very sweet, even as it was pretty hot.

The story moved along at a nice pace, and the magical background was richly detailed and lively. Some may find the details a bit precious: Mayfairy instead of Mayfair, Trickside instead of Cheapside, Pall Mage instead of Pall Mall, Gargoyle Square….Personally, I didn’t find it distracting or too cutesy. Certain things seemed glaringly obvious to me, so I found myself frustrated that they didn’t catch on quicker. And I thought the ending wrapped up a bit too quickly and neatly. But this was a fun read with entertaining characters, a delicious romance and an interesting world. I’m really looking forward to the next ones. Definitely recommended for fans of fantasy and historicals.

Grade: B+

     Summary:
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In a world where magic ruled everything, Felicity Seymour couldn’t perform even the simplest spell. If she didn’t pass her testing, she’d lose her duchy-and any hope of marriage. But one man didn’t seem to mind her lack of dowry: a darkly delicious baronet who had managed to scare away the rest of London’s Society misses.
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Sir Terence Blackwell knew the enchanting woman before him wasn’t entirely without magic. Not only could she completely disarm him with her gorgeous lavender eyes and frank candor, but his were-lion senses could smell a dark power on her-the same kind of relic-magic that had killed his brother. Was she using it herself, or was it being used against her?
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One needed a husband, and the other needed answers. But only together could they find the strongest magic of all: true love.
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     Read an excerpt here.

Enchanting the Lady by Kathryne Kennedy

I haven’t started this yet but plan to read it soon. I am never sure what to make of historical paranormals and more often than not they don’t work for me (I could rec two off the top of my head). And I had heard the genre wasn’t selling well but we seem to be seeing it more and more. What do you think?

In a world where magic ruled everything, Felicity Seymour couldn’t perform even the simplest spell. If she didn’t pass her testing, she’d lose her duchy… and any hope of marriage. But one man didn’t seem to mind her lack of dowry: a darkly delicious baronet who had managed to scare away the rest of London’s Society misses.

Sir Terence Blackwell knew the enchanting woman before him wasn’t entirely without magic. Not only could she completely disarm him with her gorgeous lavender eyes and frank candor, but his were-lion senses could smell a dark power on her – the same kind of relic-magic that had killed his brother. Was she using it herself, or was it being used against her?

One needed a husband, and the other needed answers. But only together could they find the strongest magic of all: true love.