Magical Blessings - Candace Colt (CPC Publishing - Feb 2020)

Series: Cat's Paw Cove (Book 8)

Can love overpower her lonely curse?

Abby Blessing is cursed. Every time she says the word "love", there's an unexpected power failure. She's tried everything—hypnosis, Reiki, meditation, crystals, vitamins, a Keto diet. Nothing works. Back in Cat's Paw Cove for a short visit, she's resigned to live a secluded life.

Beau Grayson, the sexiest and best electrician in town, is a technical genius with a magical gift to talk to cats. But around beautiful women, he's as tongue-tied as King George VI and has zero ability to manage his office. When an out-of-town chain threatens to force him out, Beau has to step up his game.

With her uncanny organizational skills, Abby agrees to help Beau. But her curse and his inability to solder three words together around her doom any chance for romance.

The only one who believes they are a perfect match is Scarlett, a tortoiseshell cat with a real "Tortitude". Does she have enough kitty magic to bring these two humans together for the happy ever after they deserve?

Fun story. Abby is a non-magical member of the Blessing family. She came to Cat's Paw Cove to attend her cousin's wedding, then watch over the pottery shop while Theo is on her honeymoon. Unfortunately for her, she is the victim of a witch's curse that causes electrical issues whenever Abby says the word "love." A slip of the tongue ends up with local electrician Beau called to fix the shop's sudden power outage.

Beau is the Cove's best electrician and comes to Abby's rescue. He's a friendly guy and popular with all of the residents. But as soon as he's close to a woman he thinks is beautiful and that he is interested in, Beau becomes totally tongue-tied. Abby throws him off his game entirely, just when he wants to make a good impression.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Abby and Beau. The sparks between them are obvious from the start. Neither one is looking for a relationship. Abby is only in town for a couple of weeks, and Beau focuses on keeping his business from going under. Scarlet, the tiny tortoiseshell kitten, is a determined matchmaker and finds any number of ways to bring Abby and Beau together. I loved watching Scarlet's antics and how she made a deal with Beau to get him to take Abby to the Valentine's Ball.

Both Beau and Abby try to resist the pull between them, but it's no use. I ached for Abby, who has given up on love because of the curse. It doesn't help that it seems that the effects are getting worse - she can't even think the word, and something happens. Meanwhile, Beau has given in to the need to get to know her better and attempts to convince Abby that the curse is all in her head. I loved Abby's trip to Luna, the local witch and dispenser of advice on how to get rid of a curse. Luna had some eye-opening words for Abby that gave her a new way of looking at things.

Meanwhile, Beau stresses over whether he will be able to stay in business. An out-of-town competitor is undercutting his prices. While Beau is a terrific electrician, the paperwork side of the business is not his strong point. He's been through every accountant in town, and they all refuse to deal with his chaotic non-system. When Abby gets a look at his box full of miscellaneous papers, she can't resist the challenge. I loved watching her bring order to Beau's chaos and his stunned reaction to what she discovered.

At the same time, Scarlet enlisted one of the pottery shop's matchmaking dolls to seal the deal between Beau and Abby. I enjoyed watching their efforts to bring the two together, with the culmination being the Valentine's Ball. I loved the scene in the maze and how Beau figured out a way to make it happen.

Festivities and Felines - Candace Colt, Abigail Sharpe, Kira Nyte (CPC Publishing - Nov 2020)

Series: Cat's Paw Cove (Book 19)

Multiple Blessings by Candace Colt

Does their love stand a ghost of a chance?

In 1943, a World War II bomber on a training mission crashed in a marsh near Cat's Paw Cove. According to local legend, on every Winter Solstice, mysterious lights appear near the crash site. If budding photojournalist Casey Blessing can dig a story out of this myth, it could be the career boost she needs. But she can't do it alone. She partners with Thomas Hudson who claims to be an aviation historian. Casey is attracted to the enigmatic stranger, but his uncanny knowledge of the crash can't be just coincidence. Could she be falling in love with a ghost?

Good story. College professor Thomas Hudson came to Cat's Paw Cove looking for the truth about his grandfather's death. His grandmother insists that he was shot down, while the army says it was a training accident. Complicating matters, Thomas has vivid nightmares about his grandfather's last flight. He meets Casey, whose sister Theo (Familiar Blessings) helps ghosts with their problems. Theo asks Casey to help Thomas.

Thomas was woefully unprepared for a place like Cat's Paw Cove. I had to laugh when he freaked out over Theo's comment that she talked to his grandfather, then discovered that he was talking to a ghost, too. Casey isn't magical herself, but she knows enough to be able to work with him. Though initially reluctant to get involved, once she hears why Thomas is there, Casey is determined to help him. I enjoyed the journey of discovery as they talked to people who witnessed the crash and discovered discrepancies in the explanations of what happened. I ached for Thomas over the bad news he received from home and loved how Casey challenged him to finish what he started. The ending was fantastic and emotional and a testament to lasting love.

Neither Thomas nor Casey expected the sparks that flared between them. They both fought it for a while, believing that nothing could come of it. I liked how Thomas helped Casey with her photo project, encouraging her to think outside the box. Meanwhile, I liked how Casey supported Thomas's dream and guided him to believe in the magical. The scene on Guinevere Island was great. I ached for them as they prepared to part ways until they received some surprising advice from a very unexpected source.


A Fae's Wishmas by Kira Nyte

All it takes is one wish.

Niera has a special Fae power that has dubbed her the Mystical Matchmaker, but despite helping others find their happily-ever-after, she lacks hope of ever finding her own. Until she arrives in a small town, is adopted by a magical cat, and dares to make a holiday wish

Good story about opposites who turn out to be the perfect match for each other. Niera is a woodland fae who has the magical ability to identify an ideal match. But she has been so busy helping others that she hasn't found a match for herself. She just found out that there is a time limit for facilitating one hundred matches, and she is about to run out of time. She has two days to find her last match or be cursed with being alone forever. She heads for Cat's Paw Cove to confirm her best friend's match and is forced to face her greatest fear. Being near the ocean drains her magic and threatens her life. She doesn't expect to meet her perfect match and have him be a man of the sea. How could they ever be together?

Alistair was banished from his ocean home by a vengeful sea fae when he inadvertently interfered with a fae and his cousin's match. He's been stuck on land and prevented from returning to the ocean and breaking the curse, thanks to some interfering cats. When he meets Niera, he is drawn to her, but getting involved with a land-bound fae is not an option.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Alistair and Niera. The attraction between them is powerful, and though they tried to resist, Niera's cat excels at pushing them together. As they get closer, the feelings between them grow stronger. I loved the discovery that they can help each other break their curses, but will something still come between them? The ending had some tense moments, but I loved how it turned out.


Chanukkah Melody for Two by Abigail Sharpe

Music can make magic!

Quiet and introverted Elayne Fico wants to surprise her mom with songs her Nana used to play for Chanukkah, so she enlists the help of local music teacher, Bartholomew Pelfrey. Elayne doesn't believe in Cat's Paw Cove's alleged magic, but there's something about her piano teacher that's conjuring some serious sparks.

Barly Pelfrey knows something big is going to happen when a Sherwood cat seeks him out. After his divorce and figuring out life with his two girls and an ex, he's ready for another chance at love. When he meets Elayne, he doesn't need Pascal to show him the way. But when Elayne reveals that romance isn't in the cards for her, he has to prove that love is its own special kind of magic.

Good story. Elayne is a woman with a practical, mathematical mind. She doesn't believe in magic at all. When a Sherwood cat adopts her, Elayne just sees a kitty. However, when she decides she needs a piano refresher before Chanukkah, Pascal leads her to Batholomew. Barly is a divorced father of two who is ready to open himself up to love again.

I loved the quick friendship between Elayne and Barly. She isn't a social person, but talking to him is easy. She never believed that love was in her future until she spent time with Barly. Under their solid friendship simmered sparks of attraction that eventually came to the surface. I enjoyed seeing the romance develop as Elayne and Barly grew closer. But a comment about Pascal's role in their romance stirred up Elayne's insecurities, and she pulled away. I ached for Barly as he wondered what happened and if she would be back. Once again, Pascal went to the rescue, though I'm still not sure if Elayne accepted the magic. I think she needed a dose of the magic elixir from Guinevere Island!

Charming the Skeptic - Wynter Daniels (CPC Publishing - Oct 2020)

Series: Cat's Paw Cove (Book 18)

Will love open his heart to magic?

Paranormal investigator Wade Preston is so sure that anything supernatural is fake, he even hosts a TV series that debunks so-called haunted places. But when the show is in danger of being canceled, he must wow his producers by exposing the most convincing occult phenomenon he can find -- Tales bookstore in Cat's Paw Cove.

Bookworm Astor Carmichael knows magic is real, because she has the power to step into the world of any novel, and her mischievous cat often joins her. Ever since her mom abandoned the family, Astor's frequent jaunts into fiction are a lot more interesting than caring for her siblings and father.

When Wade sets his sights on the supposedly-haunted bookstore, he gets way more than he ever could have imagined. He'd never counted on the possibility that ghosts might actually be real -- or that he'd fall for Astor -- the beautiful woman who manages the bookstore.

Fun book. In magical Cat's Paw Cove, you never know if you're talking to a witch, a fairy, or, in this case, a bookworm. Astor's magical talent is the ability to step into the world of any book. As the oldest of her siblings, Astor has had the responsibility of caring for her family ever since her mother left them. It's no wonder that escaping into the worlds of Little Women or The Great Gatsby is more interesting. It's the perfect magical talent for the manager of a haunted bookstore.

Wade is the host of a television show called Haunted Hoaxes, where he exposes fake supernatural events. He believes that there is no such thing as paranormal activity. When his show is about to be canceled, Wade plans to win renewal by exposing Tales bookstore as a fraud. Things don't go quite the way he expected.

I loved following Wade's conversion. The book opened with a prologue from Wade's childhood detailing a traumatic event that goes a long way toward explaining his obsession. When he arrived in Cat's Paw Cove, he simply observed the bookstore and noticed Astor right away. When they met, there was no doubt about the sparks that flew between them. Neither planned to act on them because Wade is only there for a short time, and Astor can't imagine getting involved with someone like Wade. However, they can't resist spending time with each other, and because of that, Wade is around as ghostly activity in the bookstore begins to escalate. It was funny to see him try so hard to explain away the things that happened. There was also a terrific scene involving Astor's cat, Pickles, and a compost bin that also chipped away at his disbelief.

The real kicker came when Pickles disappeared into a damaged journal, and Astor followed, vanishing right before Wade's eyes. The intensity was fantastic as Astor dealt with obstacles to her return, including an unexpected quarantine. On the other side, Wade and her family were desperate to find a way to get her back home. Help came from an unexpected source that made it possible for Astor to get back and answered questions about Wade's past. The ending was terrific.

Tides & Treasures - Lynda Haviland (CPC Publishing - Aug 2020)

Series: Cat's Paw Cove (Book 17)

Can love reveal a treasure worth more than gold?

Willow Vega is drowning in debt. She's tried everything to keep from losing her beloved marina, but one more freak accident will break her. Unlike many Cat's Paw Cove residents, she has no magic skill she can summon to save her ancestral land.

However, the tides of fortune may be changing in her favor. Willow's miracle may have just hitched up to her dock -- a mysterious drifter with a body hotter than the Florida sun who happens to have mad handyman skills. But can she afford his kind of distraction?

Treasure hunter Ben Kane is uniquely gifted at locating sunken galleons, thanks to the magical powers he's inherited from his selkie mother. For him it's about the thrill of discovery and bringing history back to the surface.

The prospect of recovering riches has lured him to Cat's Paw Cove, but he may have found something far more captivating. She's sexy, intense, tough as nails -- and unbeknownst to her, cursed by a malevolent presence. The closer Ben gets to Willow, the more of a target he becomes. He should pull anchor and leave, but he can't.

Between the tides is a treasure worth dying for.

Good addition to the Cat's Paw Cove series. Willow is one of the few non-magical people in CPC. She is struggling to keep the marina going after one bad luck occurrence after another. A local developer wants to buy it from her, but Willow is reluctant to give up the land that has been in her family for generations. Things start to look up a bit when treasure hunters, looking for a suspected treasure site, arrive to use her marina as a base. Prospects are even brighter when a drifter ties up to her dock. He offers to exchange his handyman skills for food and gas.

Ben Kane has incredible handyman skills. He is also a talented treasure hunter, thanks to the selkie blood he inherited from his mother. The lure of the hunt drew him to the Cove, but it is Willow that keeps him there. He's drawn to the sexy, beautiful woman, but she also raises his protective instincts. He senses a dark presence at the marina and is determined to rid her of it.

I liked the development of the relationship between Ben and Willow. The sparks between them were obvious from the moment they met. Neither of them is looking for a relationship. Willow knows that Ben is a drifter and won't be around long, while she is tied to the marina. Ben is too footloose to settle down, plus he is hiding a big secret from Willow. He is a treasure hunter, and she doesn't like treasure hunters. I loved how Ben immediately jumped in to help with the repairs. Willow is a little bit wary but gives him a chance. They grow closer as they work together on the repairs. There are a couple of rough spots as Ben exhibits some intense jealousy. There's a terrific scene where Willow shares her favorite place with Ben, not realizing what a temptation it will become for him. Interference from a rejected boyfriend temporarily drives a wedge between them. Fortunately, both realize their mistakes once their anger cools. A dangerous confrontation with the dark presence wreaking havoc at the marina finishes the job of bringing them together. I loved the ending.

The paranormal presence at the marina created many problems for Willow. Being non-magical, she had no idea of its presence until Ben arrived and figured it out. There were some intense scenes as it worked its evil on her property. I loved the way that Ben and the cat worked together to figure it out. Once she was aware, I liked Willow's determination to capture the thing. Once she did, I loved how she knew where it came from. Her confrontation with the instigator was great.

New Year's Kiss - Darcy Devlon (CPC Publishing - July 2020)

Series: Cat's Paw Cove (Book 16)
             Enchanted Kiss (Book 1)

In order to overcome a family curse, Griffin Brooks, the town's hotshot assistant fire chief, must earn his true love's trust. Trina Lancaster knows she can release Griffin's curse, but will her magical family baggage be a deal breaker?

True love rescued by a trip through time. Griffin and Trina have a history. They'd been a couple for a short time, but then Griffin broke it off for no apparent reason. He hasn't moved on to another relationship, and Trina is still in love with him. Even the Cove's cats know that they belong together, but until Griffin wishes for something to change, they can't help him.

I ached for Griffin, who still loves Trina but is convinced that the family curse will only cause him to hurt her. Five years after their breakup, Trina has asked for advice from her mother and has a plan. She's nervous about it because it means she'll have to face her biggest fear, but she'll do anything to win her man.

I liked the guidance that Trina and Griffin received before they left - learn what you can but don't do anything that will change history. Neither realized how hard that would be. Finding out the origin of the family curse gave Griffin the courage to fight it. Trina, too, realized that she tended to psych herself out of actions by overthinking them. I loved the surprise message that Griffin found in an old photo album and the effect it had on him. The ending was sweet and showed that love can conquer all.

Love Overrules the Lawyer - Kerry Evelyn (CPC Publishing - Feb 2020)

Series: Cat's Paw Cove (Book 10)

Once upon a time, Rachel Saunders told Javier Consuelos she was truly, madly, deeply in love with him. And he ran. Fifteen years later, Javier still regrets breaking Rachel's heart, but watching her succeed as a corporate attorney confirmed he did the right thing. A long way from his troubled childhood, he's cooking for celebrities and giving back to the community that believed in him.

But Rachel has had a tougher fifteen years than she's let on. When she's offered an opportunity to start over, she realizes her dream job will put her in constant contact with Javier. Distraught, Rachel flees to Moon Mist Manor on Guinevere Island to connect with her long-time feline adviser, Ameerah, who has always steered her in the right direction.

When Javier unexpectedly shows up to make amends this Valentine's Day weekend, and with no vacancies in town, the trio are stuck together. That is, until mischievous visitors threaten to overtake the island. Can Rachel and Javier overcome magical forces and their painful past to save the resort and get a second chance at love?

Good second chance story that takes place in the magical world of Cat's Paw Cove and Guinevere Island. When Rachel and Javier were teenagers they were best friends, until Rachel confessed her love for him. Javier panicked and ran. He was the boy from the wrong side of the tracks and felt she would be better off without him dragging her down. Javier leaving without a word broke Rachel's heart. For the next fifteen years, her track record in relationships was awful, with the most recent one being the last straw. She left her job in Atlanta and went home to Savannah, where she was offered a dream job. The only problem was that it would force her to see Javier almost every day. Torn over what to do, Rachel fled to Moon Mist Manor to reconnect with her magical feline advisor, and get some much-needed advice. She didn't expect Javier to follow her.

Javier regretted breaking Rachel's heart, but still thinks he did the right thing. He's never lost the feelings he had for her, and seeing her again stirs them up. He's no longer the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Instead, he is a renowned chef, cooking for the rich and famous and giving back to his community. When Javier's mother tasks him with convincing Rachel to take the job, he knows it's also his chance to make amends. So off he goes to Guinevere Island.

I liked the rekindling of the relationship between Javier and Rachel. She was not expecting him to show up at her hideout and was less than pleased that he would have to stay with her in her villa. Having him so close stirs up feelings she thought she buried long ago. Javier is determined to make amends and goes all out to win her over. Things get complicated when mischievous Pukwudgies threaten to take over the island and one of them attaches itself to Rachel. Javier is unaware of the magical side of the island and it takes some drastic measures to get him to see the truth. I liked seeing them get to know each other again as adults as they worked together to protect the island. But even after that problem is solved, Rachel's emotions are still all over the place. It takes a stern talking to from a fairy to open Rachel's eyes and reinvigorate her confidence. For Javier, it was a kick in the seat by a cat that opened his eyes. I loved his big moment at the end. It was sweet and romantic and bodes well for their future.

I also enjoyed the family and friends who made various appearances in the book. Family support for both Rachel and Javier is an important part of who they are, as knowing they have that security net gives them a little extra confidence. I also loved the scene with Jordyn and the kitties which showed another side of Rachel and gave Javier a little more insight into her. I loved the scene at the end when the whole family showed up on the island.

Reimagining Mr. Right - Wynter Daniels (CPC Publishing - Jan 2020)

Series: Cat's Paw Cove (Book 6)

Former ugly duckling Sydney McCoy yearns to break into television. And the hottest guy she works with -- TV sports personality, Chip Haggerty -- could be her ticket to the airwaves. Too bad that Chip hardly knows Sydney is alive. Worse, she has no clue how to speak Chip's sports-oriented language.

Up-and-coming real estate agent Levi Barnett is desperate to convince the owner of a hot downtown property to sell so the company Levi works for can redevelop the site into a multi-million-dollar complex. When he literally crashes into a woman he knew in high school who could champion his cause, he'll do anything to get Sydney's help. All she wants from him in return is help communicating with her office crush. No problem! But when Levi starts to fall for the beautiful Sydney, he wonders if he's making the worst mistake of his life by being her would-be Cyrano de Bergerac.

Good story about two people who must overcome their insecurities before they can find the happiness that each wants. Sydney is a reporter for the local paper. Her dream is to move from print journalism to broadcast journalism, and she knows how to do it. All she needs to do is engage the interest of fellow reporter and local TV sports personality, Chip Haggerty. The problem is that his conversation is loaded with sports metaphors, leaving her clueless and unable to talk to him, much less attract him. What she needs is an interpreter.

Levi is a real estate agent who has been tasked with convincing two hold-out property owners to sell so that the site can be developed into a modern complex. His boss is dangling a partnership in front of him for extra motivation. What he needs is someone impartial who can help point out the benefits.

I liked both Sydney and Levi. They knew each other in high school, where the shy, nerdy, overweight Sydney tutored the good-looking football player that she had a crush on. Though she never expected anything to come of it, she was still hurt when he ignored her after he no longer needed her help. In the years since high school, Sydney made herself over into a beautiful and talented woman, though she frequently still sees herself as that high school loser. Though Levi is successful at his job, he still sees himself as that kid from the wrong side of the tracks. He's willing to do anything to gain the respect that he craves.

I liked their first meeting. Sydney recognized Levi immediately, though Levi didn't recognize her. He did notice how beautiful she was now and intrigued when he learned that she is a reporter. He has no trouble asking her to help him again, this time by writing a positive article about the redevelopment plans. Sydney is determined not to be taken advantage of this time and agrees to look into writing an unbiased story if he will help her land Chip as a boyfriend.

I enjoyed the development of Sydney and Levi's relationship. The sparks are there from the beginning, but both try to ignore them in pursuit of their individual goals. Sydney is focused on getting Chip's attention and tries to ignore the signs that her high school crush isn't as over as she thought it was. Even worse, Chip isn't showing up too well when Levi is around. For Levi, it doesn't take long at all for him to realize that he'd like to get a lot closer to Sydney for himself, not help her get closer to Chip. For both of them, their own insecurities work against them. Levi spent his whole life listening to his father put him down, wanting nothing more than to be respected for who he is. Though he looks confident on the outside, there's always that little kid inside who remembers being poor, laughed at, and mistreated by his father. Why then should beautiful Sydney want him when hot-shot Chip is there? For Sydney, she may be thin, beautiful, and respected now, but she can't forget the plain, picked-on, and almost invisible teenager who had a crush on Levi. He could have anyone he wanted, why should he look twice at her?

To make matters worse, Levi's boss makes it plain to Sydney that he expects Levi's previous relationship with his daughter to start again, and he wouldn't be inclined to give Levi that partnership if someone interfered with it. There were some interesting twists as both Levi and Sydney discover that they have to love themselves before they can accept the love of someone else. I enjoyed the ending, and seeing Levi and Sydney find the love they both wanted and deserved.

Secondary characters were well done. Levi's boss and his daughter, Beth, were both people it was easy to dislike. He was the stereotypical uncaring boss, who is only interested in the bottom line. I was a little worried about his influence on Levi at first, but Levi was up to the challenge. Beth was a piece of work. Definitely a spoiled daddy's girl, she did what she wanted without care for the consequences. I was very happy to see that Levi had her number. Chip was the illustration of the dumb jock. He had all the charm and charisma he needed to get by, often by convincing someone to help him. I was irritated by the way he talked Sydney into editing (read "rewriting") his columns for him. Even when he was supposed to be with Sydney, he saw nothing wrong with ignoring her to be with the people fawning all over him.

There wasn't much magic in this book, mostly just a couple examples of Levi's talent, and a mention of Fiona's potions. That's okay; the story was fun even without it.

 

Hot Magic - Catherine Kean (CPC Publishing - Dec 2019)

Series: Cat's Paw Cove (Book 5)

While clearing out her late mother’s home in Cat’s Paw Cove, Florida, Molly Hendrickson finds an unusual antique necklace. Wearing it makes her feel confident and sexy—things she hasn’t felt since her ex broke off their engagement or, really, ever. She decides to keep the jewel but takes other items to Black Cat Antiquities, the local antique store, to have them appraised.

Lucian Lord, a reincarnated 12th century knight, moved to Cat’s Paw Cove after a scandal in which he revealed his magical abilities to his former girlfriend. Demoted by his superiors, he’s running the antiques shop while his grandfather is on vacation. But, when Molly brings in artifacts tainted by dark magic, Lucian is duty-bound to find and contain the dangerous energy before it wreaks havoc not only on the town, but the world.

Living by the knightly code of honor, Lucian vows to help Molly, especially when he realizes the necklace is the source of the ancient magic he’s hunting. He’s determined to save his headstrong damsel and redeem his tarnished reputation—but first, things will get very, very hot.

Fun book with romance and a battle between good and evil. The book opens with a prologue telling how Lucian and his cat, Galahad, ended up in the position they are in. Lucian is a reincarnated knight whose mission is to track down objects with dark magic and contain them. He is in Cat's Paw Cove helping his grandfather with his antique shop after getting in trouble with his bosses for revealing his magical abilities to his non-magical girlfriend. The revelation did not save the relationship, so he's off relationships for the time being.

Molly is a third-grade teacher who is in Cat's Paw Cove to clear out her late mother's home before selling it. Her self-esteem took a hit when her fiancé broke off their engagement, and her mother's death added to her unhappiness. When she finds an unusual necklace and tries it on, it changes the way she sees herself.

I liked the first meeting between Molly and Lucian. He and Galahad first notice her as she stood in front of the shop. Lucian is attracted to her from the moment he sees her, a fact that isn't lost on Galahad. Galahad, who was formerly Lucian's squire, is a fourteen-year-old boy in a cat's body. It was fun to see Galahad stir up Lucian during Molly's first visit. Molly is just as attracted as Lucian and has a hard time concentrating around him.

Things start to get crazy when Molly takes some jewelry to Lucian but keeps the necklace for herself. On the professional side, Lucian's dark magic alarms go crazy every time Molly takes the necklace out of its special box, but because Molly puts it away quickly, Lucian has a hard time locating the source of the magic. Every time that Molly puts the necklace on, she feels sexier and more confident, and more determined to have Lucian. It quickly becomes clear that the dark magic has a personal connection to Lucian after a hair-raising confrontation at his shop. I ached for Lucian when instructions from his bosses made it look like his relationship with Molly would be over before it began. The final confrontation was intense and terrifying as Lucian battled to save Molly from the evil that followed him through the ages.

This was the darkest of the Cat's Paw Cove stories so far. The intensity of the danger Molly was in kept me glued to the pages until it was done. The evil was balanced by the depth of the love that Lucian and Molly felt for each other. That love played a huge part in the resolution of the final conflict. There was also an unexpected twist in the aftermath of the confrontation that had a big impact on Lucian and Molly's future.

On the lighter side, the cats were an essential part of the story. I loved Galahad and his relationship with Lucian. It was fun to see him rile Lucian up, especially when it came to Molly. He was also Lucian's biggest supporter and backup when danger came calling. The four Sherwood cats that belonged to Molly's mother turned out to be more than just pets. Their protectiveness of Molly was fun to see when Lucian came calling, and I loved the interactions between them and Lucian.