Customer Reviews

Once Upon Stilettos (Katie Chandler, Book 2)

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Katie Chandler is an executive assistant at Magic, Spells, & Illusions, Inc. "MSI" in Manhattan. Even though she is mortal, she works for some very important beings, such as Merlin the Magician. Merlin is the CEO of the company. Katie is one of the few people that magic cannot work on. She is an Immune. Now that she has worked with the company for awhile, she has seen all sorts of magical creatures and almost nothing bothers her anymore. Merlin has Katie read over contracts before he signs, just in case the contract has an enchantment on it to cloak some sections. Being an Immune, Katie can see the real words and let her boss know if a scam is being pulled.

Recently someone has broken into Owen's office and disrupted some very top secret files. Katie is assigned the task of finding out who the company spy is. This gives her a great reason to be around Owen. However, considering that Owen does not seem to be as interested in Katie as she is in him, it can be frustrating at times. In addition, Katie's parents are coming to town for a week. Katie must keep them from finding out what MSI really does and keep them entertained so they won't try to make her leave New York with them. NOT so easy since Katie's mother seems to be Immune too. How will Katie convince her mother that she is not really seeing fairies, gnomes, and gargoyles?

Katie soon discovers that her immunity to magic is waning! The spy has magical beings attacking Katie and she can no longer see what is coming. Even with backup, Katie may not live to see Christmas.

**** The first book "Enchanted, Inc." set up the whole magical and human environment. This book continues where it left off. If you have not read the first book, you will not find yourself lost in this story. However, if you read this one and expect to read the previous book at a later date, you may find yourself disappointed with the first. Author Shanna Swendson has done a terrific job combining fantasy and modern contemporary, and a touch of humor. I found myself giggling like a small child at parts, even as I tried to figure out who the spy within the company was. A fun and witty read! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Hyped as Bridget Jones meets Harry Potter, this book delivers as a "chick lit" book with lots of magic set in New York. Allusions to fairy tales--from enchanted frogs to Cinderella spells--abound. The main character Katie searches for love in the strange, big city while dealing with her immunity to magic, a trait that has landed her a cushy job with MSI, a company that produces magic spells for mass consumption to the magical world. The mystery focuses on corporate espionage and Katie's mysterious loss of her immunity when she needs it the most. While many threats abound, none are overly frightening or graphic. As Katie herself says, there's more mustache twirling from the villain than any truly scary threats. The sexual tension is just as lighthearted and Katie achieves nothing more than a few good kisses in the book; there's no graphic sex for teen readers. This novel makes great summer reading when anything more serious might ruin your day.

While this book is a sequel to Swendson's "Enchanted, Inc.", it can be read alone without much confusion, although I recommend reading both books in order to get the full effect of the world Swendson has created. Swendson's working on a third book in the series, so expect more adventures from Katie, Owen, Merlin and the rest.

I'm glad that this series from Shanna Swendson is proving to be solid. I was very pleased to have another book I couldn't put down. Katie Chandler is deep into her work as MSI. Unfortunatly, company secrets at leaking out, leading to the assumption that a spy has either infiltrated the company, or one of their own loyal employees has turned against them. Katie's special talents will help to solve the puzzle, unless that traitor can get to her first.

It was a thrill to read the sequel to Enchanted, Inc. and to be able to pick up where the first novel left off. The transition went smoothly, nary a hiccup.

The writing is unpretentious, the characterisation homey. It reads like a letter about a friend's adventures (and even to the point of wanting to smack some of the characters upside the head).

Plus, I look at gargoyles in a different and more appreciative light.

After saving the world (in ENCHANTED INC. the earlier novel in this series), Katie Chandler decides to get down to serious business--dating. She's given up on uber-wizard Owen, who clearly only sees her as a friend and is willing to settle for second best. Fortunately, there is no lack of candidates, starting with handsome Ethan. Ethan has the advantage of being a non-magical, like Katie. She can actually imagine a normal life with him. With the help of her girlfriends, and the perfect shoes, Katie sets the scene for seduction.

If her dating life looks to be heading in the right direction for a change, Katie's work life is not. Evil wizard Idris is still working his nasty plans--and seems intent on creating havoc at MSI (Magic, Spells, Incorporated) where Katie (and hunky Owen) work. When it becomes clear that someone within the company is cooperating, Katie's boss, Merlin (the original Merlin, brought back from sleep but still not quite in tune with the 21st century) assigns Katie the job of tracking him or her down. That would be a tough enough task under the best of circumstances, but Katie also abruptly loses her magical immunity--the defense that has saved both herself and Owen so many times in the past. Without her immunity, Katie is susceptable to spells and magic, and in danger of losing her job.

For Katie, the only good news is that, abruptly, she seems irresistable to men. When she's out with her girlfriends, the men are lining up to buy her drinks, to dance with her, to propose happily-ever-afters with her. Katie knows she isn't bad, but her girlfriends include genuine fairies (the kind with wings). Maybe it's the sense of confidence that her new red stilettos (shoes, not daggers) give her. Or maybe it's something else entirely.

Author Shanna Swendson continues the story she began in ENCHANTED, INC. Maybe the future of the world isn't at stake in STILETTOS, but Katie's dating life is certainly important. Swendson's light 'chick-lit' touch and the double-fish-out-of-water aspect (with Katie being both a small-town Texas girl in New York and a non-magical in a world of magic) add charm and interest to the story. MSI's 'team-building' efforts, and Merlin's addiction to modern business fad books will create a chuckle or two for anyone who's come into contact with American business executives. Katie's little problems with telling the truth (accompanied by appropriate guilt in the case of MSI) creates a sense of anticipation as the reader knows that consequences will come and, to coin a phrase that might be apt to the story, another shoe has to fall.

Fans of ENCHANTED INC. have been waiting to find out how Katie makes out (literally and figuratively) with Ethan and Owen. They'll definitely want to grab this one. If you haven't read ENCHANTED INC. yet, ONCE UPON STILETTOS can be read independently, but your reading enjoyment will definitely be enhanced by reading ENCHANTED first.

I really enjoy Shanna Swendson's writing. And the plot of the book is fantastic, literally and figuratively. In Katie's new job, she has been tasked with finding the spy/traitor within the company. Along the way, her own safety is threatened. The fun part is when her parents go to New York to visit her and she finds out that her Mother has the same ability as she does, to see magic.

The suspense with Owen, powerful wizard, is getting painful. All of his blushing and not coming right out to show interest in Katie drove me nuts.

The book was a good continuation from the first one, but the relationship between the main character and the man she liked was just not convincing. I don't want to give away any details, but I like a relationship in the books I read to progress throughout the book, but the one in this book was just sort of thrown into the end.

I didn't like it as much as the first one "Enchanted Inc". It was still entertaining, but the focus was on getting the man and the intimacy that goes along with it and how you can only do that if you look good.

I took this book on a plane ride and read it twice--once going down, once coming back. It was the best! I have reread the ending several times. I love the world the author has created, and the plot is funny without being sarcastic, which is very refreshing. Innovation! Humor! Romance! And talking gargoyles, so, what's not to like?! I LOVE Owen who is swoonworthy without the "bronze-armed hero" picture on the front cover. I liked it all! She can't write fast enough for me.

I loved this book! I read it cover to cover while on the airplane ride to Seattle - it was that good! I'm sure the guy next to me on the plane was annoyed because I laughed out loud a lot. This book is worth buying check it out!