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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A very good tale., August 4, 2009
Once upon a time, Aerynn Hobbs cast a protective charm over the small Vermont town of Sugar Maple designed to keep it safe from the sharp eyes of the real world as long as one of her female descendants walked the earth. The town is made up of witches, ghosts, shapeshifters, trolls, vampires, and so much more. There are but two exceptions. The first is Chloe Hobbs, who is half-human and half-sorceress. She has only recently come into her powers and they are unpredictable. She is also the last female Hobbs descendant. The town keeps close eyes on her for that reason. Chloe is nearing the age of thirty and is still unwed. So the people of Sugar Maple are worried that Chloe may not produce an heir to the charm. The second is Luke MacKenzie, who is full-human and the acting chief of police. Though Chloe and Luke are in a relationship, it has not reached a serious level as yet. Worse, Luke really did not want kids.
Karen MacKenzie, Luke's ex-wife, arrives in Sugar Maple in a frazzled state of nerves. Their dead daughter, Steffie, has been calling her on her phone, reaching out for help. Isadora, a cruel Fae leader who has been banished from our dimension, is holding little Steffie's spirit hostage. Should Chloe help release Steffie, Isadora would also be freed.
**** FOUR STARS! The book is written in the first person. The first person view hops (very often) between Chloe, Luke, and Karen. Switching view points every few pages became irritating for me quickly, but the story was too interesting for me to stop reading. If you have not read the previous title, Casting Spells, you will still have no trouble enjoying this story. The author did a terrific job of giving new readers the back information needed in a way that will not aggravate those who did read book one. To get that perfect amount of information takes major talent and Barbara Bretton makes it look easy.
The ending of the book will disappoint some readers. I like to warn readers whenever a story ends with a cliff-hanger, because many prefer to buy the full series (or trilogy) and then read them back-to-back when the entire saga has been published. (The main plot line in this book does have closure though.) This story is well worth your time and money. I enjoyed it very much. ****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Laced With Magic, September 30, 2009
I didn't enjoy this as much as the first book. However, it is certainly deeper material, and perhaps a bit better written.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Laced with Magic, November 29, 2009
Things are finally going right for Chloe Hobbs. Her latent sorceress powers have finally kicked in, she saved her town from being pulled beyond the mist, she banished the power-hungry Fae leader, Isadora, and best of all, she's in love with Luke Mackenzie, the town's chief of police and only resident full-blooded human. But Chloe's bubble of happiness is popped when Luke's ex-wife, Karen, shows up in Sugar Maple, claiming the spirit of Steffie, their dead daughter, is in trouble. Despite wishing Karen a thousand miles away, not to mention the shock of learning Luke had a daughter, Chloe can't leave Steffie's spirit in danger. Turns out, Chloe's old nemesis, Isadora, is the one holding Steffie's spirit hostage and will only release her if Chloe undoes her banishment. It's up to Chloe to rescue Steffie's spirit, save her town and her relationship with Luke before Isadora destroys all three.
Action, danger, and a surfeit of magic blend together as things take a dark turn in this sequel to Casting Spells. Laced with Magic is even more engrossing than its predecessor, though the joy and energy that came from the first book is markedly lessened by the desperate situation the characters are in. Chloe and Luke remain incredibly likeable as, to my surprise, was Karen. These three endeared themselves to me in part because of Barbara Bretton's use of the first person. The story switches from each of their perspectives (clearly labeled, which I appreciate), giving me a more intimate inroad to their thoughts. Because of my attachment to these characters, I couldn't put Laced with Magic down because I wanted to see everything work out for them.
I was delighted to return to the town of Sugar Maple once more in Laced with Magic. Chloe's store, Stick & Strings, continues to be a knitter's dream, and the town itself a fascinating one. The other residents of Sugar Maple, from faeries to vampires, werewolves, and so forth remain interesting, but I am sad to report they are less likeable than in Casting Spells. Still, I was captivated by Laced with Magic and, given the cliffhanger Ms. Bretton ends the story with, am on the edge of my seat for the next Sugar Maple book.
Shayna
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
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