Customer Reviews

Charmed & Dangerous (Bronwyn the Witch, Book 1)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

`Charmed and Dangerous' by Candace Havens is Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Charmed style of novel but better. The main character is high witch who protects people with her magic. She has moved to small town in Texas but still finds herself in Europe and the Middle East protecting a handsome Sheik and a Prime Minister. She battles demons and warlocks who continue to try to kill her. When she is not battling evil and she is trying to decide if she loves the handsome rich Sheik or the Warlock Dr. Sam. I was uncertain about this book at first but it was a fun changem - take a chance. It made me laugh and cry so I would say it was very good book. I would also recommend Total Rush by Deirdre Martin if you enjoy this genre.

Bronwyn is a witch with a mission, a confused heart, and a zany sense of humor. Her mission is to protect a PM and a sheik--an oh-so-handsome sheik at that. So when a contract is put out on her life and every wayward warlock and wizard is trying to collect the bounty on her head, it makes snagging the real villain a whole lot more difficult.

Add in Dr. Sam, a hunk of a warlock (which is a problem in itself because Bronwyn has sworn off warlocks forever) vying with the sheik for her attentions and you have one mixed up witch.

Charmed & Dangerous is written in first-person diary style. The story is energetic and endearing. The secondary characters are fun and add depth to the tale. I adore a good ol' black-hat/white-hat shootout and we get several. Then, of course, there's Dr. Sam, a warlock whose gorgeous body and beneficent personality would melt any woman's heart. I highly recommend this story!

As a high witch, Bronwyn loves her small town life in Sweet, Texas as well as her job serving as a protector to the Prim Minster. But everything in her perfect world changes when a sexy doctor moves into town - who happens to be a good warlock; she saves the life of a hunky Shiek -who gives her a Lear Jet she can't seem to return; and there is now a hit on her life - infusing her life with bad warlocks trying to kill her as well as those she protects.

Bronwyn just has self-set rules that she tries to adhere too: Never date a client or a warlock.

Candace Havens had me in a giggle-fest. CHARMED & DANGEROUS is written out like you are reading Bronwyn's diary - which she started writing after a particularly nasty warlock tried to kill her. She decided that she needed to leave something behind so that when her diary was found, her loved ones would know what happened to her. Rather than beginning with the standard "Dear Diary" or such she starts out with the number of spells cast; bodies left in her wake; or returned jets and a few other cute headers. Hence, the giggle-fest.

While Bronwyn does attract her fair share of danger, she has a relatively normal life in Sweet. She is remodeling the house she bought and loves to garden, which also strengthens her magical abilities. I enjoyed the light humor interwoven throughout her diary entries because her job as protecting the Prim Minister (PM as she calls him) and the Sheik is a little intense.

Her relationship with Sam, the doctor is nothing short of electric. I really like the fact that even though they are crazy about each other they are trying to have a normal dating relationship to start out with. Then when Azir the Sheik enters the picture, I truly feel Bronwyn's confusion: true love versus a serious crush!

CHARMED & DANGEROUS is a fun, light read that isn't just fluff. Sounds like a contradiction, but read the book, you'll see what I mean!

Sweet, Texas High Witch Bronwyn has the Prime Minister of England as a client. Recently she saved his life in Oslo and that of Sheik Azir from a warlock and other assassins. The Sheik has provided Bronwyn with a jet as a thank you gift, which she does not want because it is too extravagant.

Back in Sweet, Bronwyn meets non-practicing warlock Dr. Sam McKinney. They are attracted to one another, but Bron has a policy not to date warlocks as men and magic do not mix well. Of course enforcing her dictate means practically no males in her life. As Bron tries to keep Azir safe from his odious cousin, the Sheik and the doctor fall in love with her; she likes both though one contains warlock genes and the other is halfway around the world. Still does she love either of them and if the answer is yes which one?

This is a humorous chick lit romantic fantasy starring a delightful protagonist in which Bewitched meets James (make that Jane) Bond or at least Cody Banks. The story line is fun to follow even the dreaded bane of the sub-genre lists seem apropos as they come across as box scores of Bron's magical usage. Fans will appreciate this fine charmer while wondering who the dangerous Bron will select as her man.

Harriet Klausner

When 25-year-old Bronwyn, a witch from Texas, accepts a job with the British Prime Minister, she finds herself traveling to places like Norway and Dubai, encountering danger and love along the way. Candace Havens' walk on the paranormal side of chick-lit is a giddy romp, but one with heart, and readers are sure to be clamoring for more.

What do you get when you mix a witch, a warlock, a Sheik, a bunch of bad guys, tons of spells, and plenty of laughs? "Charmed and Dangerous" by Candace Havens. After reading this novel I found it hard to believe that this was the author's debut fiction novel, because it was so well-written.

Bronwyn is a high witch who has lots of power. She has taken the oath to protect people and use her power only for the good. Currently living in Sweet, Texas, she is content with her life of no serious boyfriends and her busy job of protecting people. But before long she is embroiled into a new challenge- trying to protect the Sheik of Dubai. Sounds easy, right? Nope. Someone is out to kill him, and whoever it is has serious powers- some that might rival Bronwyn's own.

To make matters more complicated, Bronwyn meets and sort-of falls for (although she won't admit it) the handsome Dr. Sam, who is a warlock. Bronwyn knows she is very much attracted to him, but she doesn't want to get involved. Then the Sheik decides that he is interested in Bronwyn and starts sending her very high-priced gifts (a plane, for starters!) She is tempted as well and doesn't know who she should choose. Then there is the tricky matter of dealing with her affairs back home while jetting to and from Dubai.

First and foremost, I totally LOVED this book. For a debut novel, Havens has a way with words that kept me giggling throughout much of the novel. Bronwyn was such a sarcastic, strong, hilarious and funny character that I couldn't help but root for her. The book, being a fantasy paranormal chick lit romance, had nonstop action, danger and suspense. This novel is truly unpredictable, as one will not know who (if anyone) that Bronwyn will end up with, and what sort of dangers she will face along the way.

I couldn't find anything about this book I didn't like.

I highly recommend this book for a light, suspenseful and hilarious read. Bronwyn is a character that many will be able to identify with, despite her being a high witch! Don't miss this one.

No plot summaries or spoilers.

Book 1 of the Bronwyn the Witch series. I struggled with whether to give this book 2 stars or 3. I settled on 3 because at the end of the day, while frustrating to read, it did leave me somewhat satisfied.

THE GOOD: The world Ms. Havens created was certainly interesting and diverse. The story took us all over the world. The characters were likeable and the over-arching mythos was fun. It was complex and well defined enough that you could imagine all kinds of crazy things happening- leaving lots of room for future books. The romance was compelling enough- two sexy, interesting characters vied for our heroine's heart. The role that the main character played- something of a body guard to the wealthy and high powered of the world- was a perfect set up.

THE BAD: The resolution was anti-climactic. The big show down at the end just happened- boom. Done. Leaving you feeling shortchanged. The heroine was somewhat impulsive- she must have referenced at LEAST three of her personal "rules" that she broke and then said "but I won't break this other rule"... and then broke that one. Why bother giving her rules at all if it's clear she has no discipline anyway?

The biggest complaint I have, though, was the style. The story was told through a series of journal entries. Imagine a movie where the entire thing is just a series of shorts- like photographs or very brief scenes and chunks of time pass in between. It makes an artistic statement, but is a TERRIBLE story-telling approach. The pacing suffered- it was choppy and inconsistent. Also the voice was at times overly flippant, trite and childish. What grown woman says she is "goo-goo" over a person???

It was hard to really get into it- hard to identify with any characters since the main character was often annoying and the supporting characters were written from a very distant perspective because of the journal-entry approach.

BOTTOM LINE: I can't say I enjoyed the whole book, but by the end I was satisfied enough that it wasn't a complete waste of time. I plan on reading the next book when I run out of other things to do.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
Cat Adams' vampire body guard series Blood Song
Kelley Armstrong's shifting main character series with witches, demons, vamps and weres Bitten: A Novel (The Otherworld)
Karen Chance's two highly energetic, very sexy vamp series Touch the Dark (Cassandra Palmer, Book 1) and the related series (start reading Cassandra's series first) Midnight's Daughter (Dorina Basarab, Dhampir, Book 1)
Jeaniene Frost's vamp mystery packed with action Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1)
Jennifer Estep's stone-magic wielding, hard, cold, vicious assassin Spider's Bite (Elemental Assassin, Book 1)
Kim Harrison's witch/vamp/pixie team of private eyes in Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows, Book 1)
Nalini Singh's creative use of angels and vampires in Angels' Blood (Guild Hunter)
Chloe Neill's spunky vampire themed Some Girls Bite (Chicagoland Vampires, Book 1)

Browyn is a modern day witch who likes her job. She provides security services to high-ranking officials like the PM or rather the British Prime Minister. So it would be safe to say that Browyn is a good witch. And with the good comes the bad and there is a Warlock bent on revenge against her. Luckily though her policy is to NEVER have sex or a relationship with a Warlock. Keeping that in mind she feels relatively safe and comfortable with her life. Right? Wrong!

As it happens while working for the PM she manages to save a Sheik. And not just any Sheik, he is of course drop dead gorgeous and determined to acquire her security services, among other things. However she really doesn't have time for anything outside of her work and getting established in the new town of Sweet Texas. However she is not the only new person in town. Dr. Sam, a closet warlock, has moved in and the attraction between them sizzles every time they touch. Thus confusion abounds as Browyn tries to sort out her life with 2 clients, 2 love interests and one pissed off warlock.

Ms. Havens wrote this book in the first person and does a great job of delving into the mind of a witch while still creating a viable fun plot. To accomplish this it is as if you are reading the diary of Browyn and her many globe trotting experiences. The characters are fun and the bad guy is definitely illusive. And because of her line of work, the reader gets to enjoy many fun witchcraft powers along with some laugh out loud moments. A fun and fast read, chick-lit fans will definitely get a charge out of this paranormal romance.

High witch Bronwyn reveals this story through her journal entries. Each fast paced chapter tells us how this witch is protecting both the British Prime Minister and Sheik Azir. Bronwyn's diary keeps a tally of her spells and men - dead or alive.

Author Candace Havens novel is unique, fun and refreshing, her heroine is romantically challenged, strong and sexy.

This is a great book--funny, smart and full of unusual twists on a genre that is too often "more of the same." Candance Havens is a wonderful and interesting new voice, and I strongly recommend this and all her other books. If you enjoy your paranormal with a splash of romance and a some intrigue for spice, this is the book for you!