INDIGO SPELL - Rachel Carrington

Hot Magic, Book 1

Ellora's Cave - www.ellorascave.com

ISBN: 978-1-4199-0979-5

March 2007

Erotic Paranormal Romance

Rated S-ensuous 

Charleston, South Carolina and Mystique - Present Day

Tess can't believe her best friend Belinda finagled her in to attending the bachelor auction.  Thinking she was going to buy art for charity, Tess instead has a front row seat watching bachelors in various states of tasteful undress cross the stage.  Uncomfortable and hoping none of her mother's friends see her, Tess' attention is arrested when Jaxon Richards enters the bachelor arena.

Jaxon Richards can't believe he let his friend Ben talk him into participating in a charity auction.  First, according to the rules of the Assembly of Wizards, Jaxon is not supposed to even interact with humans.  Second, walking shirtless onto a stage to be ogled by a bunch of biddies is just plain humiliating.  Then he sees Tess in the front row.

Forget the dinner that is the gift of the auction, Tess and Jaxon go straight to the dessert course.  Unfortunately, a one-night-stand ignites a passion neither expects.  Mortals aren't allowed to even know of Jaxon's existence much less become a part of his world.  But can he let go of the woman he believes is the other half of his soul?  Can Tess accept the bizarre circumstances she finds herself in?

Great premise and interesting characters set the proper stage for INDIGO SPELL to be a page-turner.  Unfortunately, the ensuing story doesn't quite live up to the billing.  The two major issues I have with the tale are the use of sex to avoid answering questions and that the story went on too long.  Any time it seemed like the protagonists should be having a very important discussion, one or the other, but generally Jaxon, diverted the conversation by putting the moves on the other (so if you're looking for a tale with a lot of sex, this is the one for you).  Tess is sometimes annoying, one moment she loves Jaxon and wants to stay with him, the next she wants to go home even though he's explained a thousand times that she can't.  The back and forth between them goes on far too long and I felt myself saying get to the point in terms of the story's plot.  I think the story was about a hundred pages longer than it should be. 

Humor? Yes.  Action? Yes.  Magic? Absolutely.  Engaging tale?  Not quite.  It's not a complete snoozer, but I wouldn't put INDIGO SPELL at the top of my TBR pile.

Phillipa Ann