Witches Be Burned
Magic & Mayhem # 2
Magic & Mayhem # 2
By: Stacey Kennedy
Releasing May 19th, 2015
Loveswept
Rating: 4 1/2 Stars
Rating: 4 1/2 Stars
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book
for review from Tasty Book Tours, the publisher, and the author. I was not compensated nor was I required to
write a positive review. The opinions I
have expressed are my own. I am posting
this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of
Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising".
Blurb:
In Stacey Kennedy’s steamy paranormal romance novel, a rookie guardian sworn to combat the undead risks life and love in a world of violence, witchcraft, and seduction.
Nexi Jones has lost her family, she’s been stripped of her guardian duties, and she’s still learning the ins and outs of white magic. At least she has Kyden, the smoldering hot elite guardian who’s been there for her every step of the way. But just as Nexi completes her training, tragedy strikes the Otherworld when a fellow guardian is murdered by a group of rogue vampires. Ready or not, she and Kyden trek into the Earthworld to hunt down a killer—and Nexi alone will be put to the ultimate test.
Although Kyden knows that Nexi must fight her own battles, his guardian instincts are raging as he struggles to keep her close. The ruthlessness of these vampires is like nothing he’s ever seen. And at their helm is the Black Witch Astoria, a demon with one burning desire: to shed Nexi’s blood in the name of vengeance. What troubles Kyden even more, though, is the warlock who covets Nexi’s heart. Let the devil do his worst . . . all Kyden can do is love and protect Nexi until his last breath.
Nexi Jones has lost her family, she’s been stripped of her guardian duties, and she’s still learning the ins and outs of white magic. At least she has Kyden, the smoldering hot elite guardian who’s been there for her every step of the way. But just as Nexi completes her training, tragedy strikes the Otherworld when a fellow guardian is murdered by a group of rogue vampires. Ready or not, she and Kyden trek into the Earthworld to hunt down a killer—and Nexi alone will be put to the ultimate test.
Although Kyden knows that Nexi must fight her own battles, his guardian instincts are raging as he struggles to keep her close. The ruthlessness of these vampires is like nothing he’s ever seen. And at their helm is the Black Witch Astoria, a demon with one burning desire: to shed Nexi’s blood in the name of vengeance. What troubles Kyden even more, though, is the warlock who covets Nexi’s heart. Let the devil do his worst . . . all Kyden can do is love and protect Nexi until his last breath.
Giveaway (Loveswept Mug, Flirt Mug and Select Ebook Bundle):
My Thoughts:
The author has included a
Reader’s Guide so you can follow the players in this series. Since this is the second book in the series,
she has also included a Preface to help the reader understand a little bit
about the world you are about to read (see I’m so positive that you are going
to read – especially if you’re a fan of Ms. Kennedy’s.
Kyden is a man you want to have
around when things get out of control and you need some muscle. He’s a man that protects his loved ones –
shows he has a good heart. For those
that have a tendency to get queasy when reading gory scenes, you may not want
to eat before or during your reading experience.
Next Jones is a young woman who
is trying to figure out who she is. But
one thing she does know is that Kyden is hers.
She’s also a woman who can kick some really bad ass – can keep up with
the guys in that department. She has
some abilities that make me a little envious – I love some of the things that
are part of her job. When you think you
figure out what’s going on between Kyden and Nexi, the author puts in a twist.
If you love a story that has
adventure and villains who add in a little spice, you’ll find that you may
forget about time. It is a book that you
may have to be patient with – especially with scenes that you feel may be a
little too long. You could try reading
this as a stand-alone but you might feel more comfortable if you read Werewolves Be Damned first. If you’ve liked these two books, you’ll be
happy to know that Warlocks Be Hexed comes
out next – the only thing I can’t tell you is when. So if you check out the author’s website, you
may find some other books that you’ll want to read.
Excerpt:
His eyes blazed, red-hot. “You could die.”
“You’re right, I could, and so could you.”
She softened her voice, hoping to improve his mood. “There’s always the
possibility of that, but I can’t live in fear.”
A pause. Then, “You make me live in fear.”
The haunted look crossing his face flooded
her with a coldness that neither Kyden nor the warm bathwater could ease. Lazarus
had created this—and she wished she would’ve made his death more painful, or at
least longer than the few seconds it took her to kill him with her magic.
“I can’t stay in the Otherworld forever and
do nothing,” she admitted to him, hoping honesty would help him understand her
position. “It feels good to finally get back out there—to be doing something
other than mourning everyone I lost. Just as you take pride in working for the
Council, so do I.” The line between his brows deepened, the refusal right there
on his lips, but she added for good measure, “I need you to support me, not
grumble at me.”
More silence. Then, “I dislike these human
conversations you subject me to. It’s ridiculous.”
She shrugged, not knowing what else to do.
What could she say? She had been
raised human. In the Otherworld, she’d noticed that some of the men were still
stuck in the middle ages. They liked beating their chests and protecting what
was theirs or mine, as they called it. Well, Nexi lived in modern times, and she would
make damn sure no one forgot that fact. Her adoptive mortal parents hadn’t
raised her to sit down and shut up, they’d raised her to stand up and fight.
Kyden stared at her. Right through her.
Right into the depths of her soul. “That’s what you need of me? To support
you?”
“Yes, that’s what I want.” Then she threw on
the big finale that would push him past his domineering ways. “That’s what
would make me happy.”
With his eyes instantly amused, he snorted a
laugh. “You are too damn smart for your own good. You know this, right?” At her
shameless grin and nod, he added, “Promise me this: If we fight, we fight
together as we did tonight. Don’t be a hero. Don’t save someone else to the
point that it puts you in grave danger. Promise me that will you think of your
life before anyone else’s.”
She rolled her eyes, fully understanding—she
often acted to save the ones she loved before she saved herself. But she was a guardian and she loved people, and that included being a
brash fool at times in the fight against evil. “I promise I won’t put myself in
unnecessary danger.”
His features went all stormy in the way they
did when he was in Elite Guardian mode. “That’s not good enough.”
“Okay,” she said, rethinking, and quickly
added, “I promise not to think I’m invincible. Plus, I won’t go jumping into a
dangerous case on my own and will wait for backup. Better?”
“Yes,” he replied with a nod, shifting
himself beneath her and sending the bubbles popping around them. “That will
do.”
It took only a split second to realize that
the position he was getting himself into would take her to places that didn’t
involve talking. All the tension vanished from his expression in a millisecond
and his grin turned downright sinful, making her ache between her thighs. The
warmth of the water around her embraced her as he trailed his hands along her
back and said, “Now, enough talking about how the fact that I want to keep you
safe is a bad thing. Come here. I must punish you.”
Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/02/witches-be-burned-magic-mayhem-2-by.html
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17927298-witches-be-burned?from_search=true
Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/77793-magic-mayhem
Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/77793-magic-mayhem
Author Info:
Stacey Kennedy is the USA Today bestselling author of the Club Sin series. Growing up, Stacey’s mind wandered the path less traveled, and that path most often led to love. She has always broken rules and she continues to feed off emotion—always staying true to her heart. Those traits are now the bones of her stories. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who puts any of the heroes in her books to shame, and their two young children. If she’s not on Mom duty or plugging away at a new story, you’ll find Stacey camping in the summer, hibernating in the winter, and obsessing over Penny Dreadful, Game of Thrones, and Sons of Anarchy.
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