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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
In the Balance Between Light and Dark, Hill brings amazing Depth to her Erotic Romance, January 8, 2009
This review is from: A Witch's Beauty (Mass Market Paperback)
A Witch's Beauty brings us more of the intriguing pair, seawitch Mina, and angel warrior David, who held such sizzling promise even in their supporting roles in A Mermaid's Kiss (Berkley Sensation). I loved both the physically and emotionally scarred Mina, who has never known love, has rejected kindness and has embraced discomfort to keep from slipping into the darkness she inherited from her demon-like Dark One father, and David, the beautiful, powerful yet gentle 50-years-young angel who carries enough of his own darkness and pain from his former human life so that something in Mina draws him to her. From the start David falls in once-in-an-eternity-love with the tainted grumpy creature. He demands the right to protect Mina when all the other angels feel that the powerful witch is a lost cause, destined to succumb to the dark lure of her tainted heritage and should be wiped from the Earth. David is determined to protect Mina who does not want to be protected and finds her attraction to the angel frightening. David patiently cultivates Mina's surrender to their shared passion in order to build her trust and win her cooperation, and Mina comes to need David for the fragile hope he nutures in her. But David needs Mina just as much as she needs him - he needs to be able to save someone who he loves in order to heal the hidden scars of his own past. And when the fate of the world hangs in the balance it will be David's love and horrific sacrifice that leads Mina to embrace her power and those parts of herself that she has feared so long.
Judging by her last two books, A Mermaid's Kiss and A Witch's Beauty, if Joey Hill ever decides that the being the ruler of her erotic niche is not enough and tones down the eroticism of her stories just a tad more - though these angel romances do appear to already be toned down a bit from her vampire series- Hill would likely gain fans left and right in the larger more mainstream paranormal romance arena. Because, even with a fair amount of page time devoted to sensual activity, Hill still tells a wonderful story with loving development of both her characters and their relationship, and tops that off with an action packed climax which makes a happily ever after possible for even the most cursed or damaged. And though I read mostly on the more mainstream side of paranormal romance, I am really not complaining about the sensuality here, because it is much better integrated in A Witch's Beauty than in the previous book -- even the darker bits fit into the whole theme of balancing light and dark and pleasure and pain that are so key to Mina's control of her dark side, and David's ability to give Mina what she truly needs. I only mention it because not everyone will be comfortable enough with the sensuality and with Mina's scars and tentacles to enjoy the truly beautiful story, of acceptance, sacrifice and healing that Hill has told here.
Even though A Witch's Beauty is more erotic than my normal fare, I loved it -- Hill's tale has earned a place amoung my favorite stories. A Witch's Beauty has everything that I look for in a book: great characters, a well developed romance, triumph over evil and a well deserved happily ever after. Though the ending for Mina and David and the birth of the daughter for previous leads, Anna and Jonah, left the series feeling very finished, Hill has one more trip to this world of angels, mermaids and Dark Ones in store for us with A Mermaid's Ransom sometime next year.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent fantasy, January 10, 2009
This review is from: A Witch's Beauty (Mass Market Paperback)
Mina knows being a half-breed leaves her looking from the outside as neither her mother's race of Mermaids nor her father's Dark Ones trust her. She remains an unholy abomination although she risked her life to save that of Prime Legion Commander for the Goddess, Jonah the Angel (see A MERMAID'S KISS). Her reward is further distrust and suspicion from Jonah and his angelic horde as she displayed Dark One power.
Whereas Marcellas wants her caged as Dark One's are always evil, Jonah assigns angels to keep an eye on Mina, who detests the surveillance even if the Prime Legion Commander insists it is for her safety as well as theirs. However, her prime guard is David, a former human turned angel, who like Mina struggles with controlling the dark side that flows within his blood. As they fall in love, no one knows whether their passion will ignite the dark or light of their respective natures or burn out either or both of their souls.
The latest erotic Joey W. Hill fantasy is an excellent addition to a great saga. A WITCH'S BEAUTY is a direct sequel to the fabulous A MERMAID'S KISS with Mina in spite of her heroism even more of a pariah to the angels. David is a fascinating lead protagonist as he believes he sees the goodness in his beloved's soul while everyone else assumes his human origins tainted his perceptions with rose colored glasses. As the eternal war continues with no end in sight, a flicker of hope arises with love, trust, and a new generation. Ms. Hill is one of the best fantasists on the market today as her battle of heaven and earth excels with every entry.
Harriet Klausner
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellent Paranormal/Fantasy Romance!, January 24, 2009
This review is from: A Witch's Beauty (Mass Market Paperback)
This is the 4th book I've read written by Joey Hill (her two Vampire erotica romances & the first book in this series "A Mermaid's Kiss")...and I'd have to definitely say it is my favourite. I'd read her two vampire romances & quite honestly, didn't care for them. It wasn't the erotica...I actually enjoy erotica from time to time...but it was the lack of sympathetic characters. I didn't like any of them (and I feel it's important to like the lead protagonists...or, at least, identify with them at some level) & felt the plotlines were mediocre at best. When "A Mermaid's Kiss" was released, I was hesitant but purchased it anyways...and was very glad I did. I saw a definite maturation in her writing process as well as more robust characters.
I was eager to read "A Witch's Beauty" because of the previous book's excellence...plus I was already intrigued by Mina, the lead character in "A Witch's Beauty" who was introduced in "A Mermaid's Kiss". Mina is an incredible character, flawed both internally and externally...continuously struggling between the light and dark halves of her persona as well as trying to reconcile with the fact she's fallen in love for the first time in her painful existence with an angel named David. To reveal any more would reveal too much of an exquisitely complex and beautiful plot...my only suggestion would be for you to read it and immerse yourself in the colorfully rich world that Hill has created. :)
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