Makin’ The Love Monday – Wicked Magic by Madeline Pryce

I wrote more than half of this review before I realized it was for the wrong book. Meh, my hand is starting to ache and I’m getting tired. Thankfully I have JYJ to distract me. JaeJoong might only way 85lbs but he’s awesome to watch dance. I’m set… kinda, It is 3am and it is Sunday night/morning; I’ve been living the life Kafka described in the Metamorphosis the last six months–do you think I’m ready for anything at anytime these days?

Let me be sure I’m talking about the right book first… just because I lurved Crimson Sins doesn’t mean that every review I do should be about Bastian and Morgan. I will do their book next… especially since I wrote most of the review thinking I was writing this review. But lets get this one under my belt first… hrmmm… I’ve actually only been wearing pajamas for the last six months. Let’s get this one in my PJs. Sounds a little naughty but appropriate.

Sam and Trent are like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, Sam has actually been waiting years for Trent to put his chocolate in her peanut butter. Trent’s a little leary about mixing the two great tastes into one delicious bite because he fears that once he does he might never be able to crave any other brand of nutty butter ever again… Plus his father has warned him that sometimes peanut butter becomes an addiction; better to let his brother, Miah have Sam’s smooth sweet spread than let Trent fall for it. He’s struggled to accept that and fight the need to sink his chocolaty sinfulness in her hot melty peanut butter. Forbidden and unrequited love, how sweet, eh?

I think it is the inner dialogue of both Sam and Trent that made this story great. They both keep things light while remaining frustrated about their relationship and commitments status–despite the tenor and stress of violence. Madeline never downplays or belittles the brutality of the attacks in her books. I give her props because if anything she takes a great deal of risks in the scenarios she puts out there. Many authors fear, I have to say legitimately–but I won’t say respectfully, taking risks; they cater to the sensibilities of readers believing it makes a better story. I feel that you need to write what the plot demands. Books should not be bent for the whim of a market model. This might be why my books will never sell, but I write not because I’m looking for that bank deposit, I’m a writer, I write because it demands to be heard. Madeline’s books have an honesty that feels unfeigned and as vicious as many of her depictions are, they are rewarding when the payout comes and the animals, bastards and naughty, trouble-doers need to be put down and need to pay because it feels beautifully pure.

When Trent and Sam first meet it’s somethin’ somethin’ at first sight. Sam is barely a girl-woman and Trent is looking to sink his ball into the best putting greens, Sam’s golf course is still growing grass. But Trent’s animal notices who it belongs to her and it greets and meets Sam’s magic letting her know that he is her familiar. Her teen brain jumps with ecstatic joy and presents her with only one solution to this hormonal math problem. Familiar + Witch + Hormones = Deep Dickin’. Just no one let Trent in on the plans that his shifter pleasure wand and Sam’s magic cauldron were going to be making a love potion. Deep Dickin’ – Youth + Lack of Acquaintance = X. Trent sees a child throwing herself at him; he’s five years older than her and she’s only sixteen. Solve for X. Sam is his little brother, Jeremiah’s friend and his dad is always telling him that girl’s like her just want to make shifters their slaves. He’s constantly telling Trent that Sam is for Jeremiah. X=Rejection.

For a smutty romance with guys with sharp teeth and waggin’ tails there is a crazy amount of action and adventure going on in this book. In my opinion it’s not even THAT long–the book not the tails, I hear you can tell a lot by the length of shifter’s tail. I’d tell you how long the book is but it’s not posted anywhere, I’ll make it up–the book is only 127 pages and it felt as if it were easily 180 pages or more. Call me out about it if you really want to, I really have more important things to worry about than fibs. By the way, yo momma!

As I was saying, this book packs a lot in it’s pages, it is really worth it’s pennies and dimes. I wish the ending didn’t end so abruptly; it felt as if it was clipped and noticeably so. The big climax, resolution and finale is a steep descent and it actually happens in the Dark series books in a similar fashion. I really like the end of Crimson Sins because the end is drawn out in an epilogue and it’s a perfect book cool-off. I guess maybe it’s because I’m a cuddler. Maybe Maddie rolls over afterward and passes out–we’ve established in earlier reviews that she is a nailer, that’s got to be tiring.

This book is one you will want to read if you enjoy any of Madeline’s other novels. Susan A Bliler’s Luna Lodge series would be a nice recommendation. And I loved the Psy-Changeling Series by Nalini Singh and it would be a great shifter series if you wanted to pick up a series with a lot of books in it that you could really dig into.

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Purchase Wicked Magic:

Ellora’s Cave

(This novella will be available at more purchase location upon release date)

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Madeline Pryce Web Tracks:

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Madeline Pryce on All The Things In Between:

Feeling Peckish – Claiming Ecstasy by Madeline Pryce
Feeling Peckish – Dark Innocence by Madeline Pryce
Makin’ The Love Monday – Dark Craving by Madeline Pryce
He Said, She Said – Making Love 101 – Madeline Pryce

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Madeline Pryce’s Books:

Wicked Magic Synopsis:

Publisher’s Note: This book was previously published elsewhere as Familiar Magic. It has been substantially expanded for EC.

Samantha has almost everything she needs to inherit her magic. Everything but Trent, the sexy shapeshifter and local sheriff she’s lusted after her entire life. She’s known for years Trent is destined to be her familiar, but the last time she approached him he turned her down flat.

Trent isn’t about to fork over his bachelorhood to a witch, especially one he knows is too good for him. Turning her down once was easy—she’d been too young and innocent—but Trent never anticipated she’d grow into such an obstinate, sexy, entirely-too-tempting woman. When she serves herself up, deliciously naked, walking away suddenly becomes difficult.

Out of time, Sam focuses on enticing Trent into her bed and into her life. But Sam’s toying with a predator, and once Trent decides he wants her, beneath him and beside him, he’ll pour every ounce of his stubborn pride into protecting what’s his.

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I am going to celebrate Maddie’s new release with a giveaway! All of these books will be gifted to you via Amazon; these will be e-copies only. Please share the joy so your friends can share in the Madeline Pryce Bonanza!

Madeline Pryce Bonanza!

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If you are interested in becoming a book reviewer or helping me with All The Things Inbetween contact me at Ali is Amazekittens and I will have my cats talk to your people. There are wicked, wondrous benefits to such arrangements as the ones we would have. I am awesome at not replying to mail timely, not getting to my to-do-list, and forgetting to eat. I pay in pics of kittens.