Today’s theme: A Touch of Magic! Be sure to check out the posts on Heather Webber and Jodi Taylor too!
I first discovered Shanna Swendson through her title, MAKE MINE MAGIC, which is included free for the members of the Audible Escape package. *
It was a really cute story, and a few days later I was telling an “IRL” friend about it, and she was kind if squealed a little —you know that sound, right? When you and a friend who share the same tastes in books discover another title or author you share a love for?
Yes, well, she gave that little happy sound and said, “You’ve read the Enchanted Inc. series by Swendson, right?”
And I said no, I had not, and how had this been missing in my life for mumble mumble years???!
I used a precious Audible credit and loved it, and the next time I was in touch with my beloved Audible contact I begged abjectly for a title or two (since I am now basically out of credits and my package doesn’t renew until October! sniff sniff)
She mercifully took pity on me and few me a few codes for a couple more Molly Harper, Jodi Taylor and Shanna Swendson titles – thank you, thank you Audible! – and now I have to tell you how wonderful these books are!
I’ve only read book 1 of Enchanted Inc (which is also called Enchanted Inc), but the only reason I haven’t read more is because I had to get to so many books for Read-A-Romance Month!
This book (and presumably the series too) is sheer joy and fun. The world-building has humor and imagination built-in, and the magical world that is just on the periphery of most humans’ perception is so clever and delightful that we are drawn in immediately. I love the gargoyle security guard and the many other distinctive secondary characters who flesh out the community Katie finds herself in, as well as the magical city of New York. I also love the way Katie herself feels a sense of belonging due to her very averageness but also her down-to-earth sensibility that has her saving the day simply by showing common sense and a keen eye for things that are out of place and not quite right.
On top of that, there is a slow-burning romance, magical corporate espionage, real-world danger from the magical folk who aren’t concerned with the safety of well-being of non-magical creatures, and just an overall sense of bright creativity and originality that makes this series special and distinct.
I’m all in for the inventive fun and the magical romance, and can’t wait to see where we’re led next!
I’m also curious to see if MAKE MINE MAGIC will have a follow-up, because it was fun too, and went in some directions I did not expect!
Definitely looking forward to more magic from this very entertaining author!
Find the books: @Amazon
Shanna Swendson @Amazon
Enchanted, Inc. (book 1) @Amazon
Enchanted, Inc. (series) @Amazon
Make Mine Magic @Amazon
ENCHANTED INC.: Enchanted Inc., Book 1
Katie Chandler had always heard that New York is a weird and wonderful place, but this small-town Texas gal had no idea how weird until she moved there. Everywhere she goes, she sees something worth gawking at and Katie is afraid she’s a little too normal to make a splash in the big city. Working for an ogre of a boss doesn’t help.
Then, seemingly out of the blue, Katie gets a job offer from Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., a company that tricks of the trade to the magic community. For MSI, Katie’s ordinariness is an asset.Lacking any bit of magic, she can easily spot a fake spell, catch hidden clauses in competitor’s contracts, and detect magically disguised intruders. Suddenly, average Katie is very special indeed.
She quickly learns that office politics are even more complicated when your new boss is a real ogre, and you have a crush on the sexy, shy, ultra powerful head of the R&D department, who is so busy fighting an evil competitor threatening to sell black magic on the street that he seems barely to notice Katie. Now it’s up to Katie to pull off the impossible: save the world and–hopefully–live happily ever after.
Happy reading!
(This review is part of Read-A-Romance Month. Hope you’ll come back every day to check out my book recommendations. You can find the calendar here. Also check out The Romance of Reading, a Facebook “book club” where we’ll have great authors guest hosting every week.)
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Enjoy!