"Two stories of love and magic cast a spell over readers"

For Sensual Romance by A. Black

Grave Awakening by Shara Lanel

Diera Rand is a computer programmer and amateur private eye/photographer who dreams about dead people. When her boss asks her to use her snooping and photography skills to spy on his teenage daughter she agrees. What she discovers is a dangerous coven of Satan worshipers led by a High Priest who works black mojo. As Diera is spying on the coven she is interrupted by a member who recognizes her from his dreams.

Holt Pendragon has reoccurring dreams about looking up from a coffin while a red-haired woman looks down on him and mummers an incantation. When he meets the object of his dreams he's fascinated -- until she punches him in the gut -- and it's love at first sight.

Ms. Lanel has done a good job of researching the Wicca religion and incorporating facts and rituals into this story. The story is interesting and the characters a well developed. I particularly liked Diera, whose wit and real life pain makes her stand out as a interesting heroine. Ms. Lanel is a good writer and I believe readers will enjoy this story.

Cursed By Desire by Trista Ann Michaels

Romance author Jordan Taylor will inherit an English manor house from her grandfather, but only if she lives in the house for six months. She agrees to the terms of the will and is happy to discover that the house comes with a butler, maid, and cook. However, the house also has two unseen residents -- one of which means her harm.

Drake Montgomery has been a prisoner in his own home for four centuries. Trapped by a curse, he can materialize anywhere within the manor, but he cannot leave its confines until he finds someone to love who will return his affection. To make matters interesting, the witch who cast the entrapment spell is trapped with him, and she kills any woman who might break the spell.

This is an interesting story with a unique twist. I especially enjoyed the fairy tale plot. Readers won't be disappointed.

Reviewed by Sensual Romance
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted March 20, 2006

Summary

Grave Awakening -- Shara Lanel

Diera Rand dreams of dead people; dead people who open their eyes. Funny thing is, they always have the same eyes. Holt Pendragon dreams of being buried alive, while a red-haired witch hovers over him casting a spell. When he meets red-haired Diera, she's skulking in her car with a camera, investigating the disappearance of her boss's daughter, and Holt is the one dancing around in a circle of witches, not her. Diera hates witches. But she needs Holt's help to find the missing girl who has been sucked in by a High Priest working dark magic. Will Diera and Holt overcome their differences to find the girl--and maybe get in a little sex magick in between?

Cursed By Desire -- Trista Ann Michaels

Jordan's beloved grandfather has just passed away and left his only surviving relative, his granddaughter, his entire estate. But there's a catch. Jordan must spend six months in a castle in England. A castle she had no idea her grandfather owned.

On her first day there, she begins to have dreams. Dreams that leave her quaking from desire and satisfaction she never dreamed she could feel. But she'll soon discover they were never dreams at all.

Drake Montgomery, Viscount Blackthorn has been trapped in his home now for almost four hundred years. He can appear or disappear at will, but he can never leave the confines of the castle walls. According the spell, he will remain in this state until he can get someone to fall in love with him and love them in return. Sounds easy, but unfortunately, the witch who imprisoned him is stuck as well and literally kills every woman he gets close to.

Will Jordan befall the same fate? Or will Drake make the ultimate sacrifice and save them both?