Title: Strange Magic
Author: Michelle Mankin
Source: ebook from author for review
Goodreads…
Billy Blade is a hardworking, hard living, razor sharp
musical force. Mysterious behind his dark shades, the rough around the edges
Texan mesmerizes with his haunting harmonica and tantalizes with his dangerous
looks and smooth country charm. His latest album is topping the charts. He’s
the newly crowned King of the Bacchus Krewe. He’s definitely living the rock
star dream.
Exotic Creole beauty Thyme Bellerose couldn’t be more
content. She has it all. An adoring grandmother. A handsome Tulane medical
student beau. A satisfying job in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter. Her
life is as rich as the ice cream she creates. She’s got everything under
control.
But control is an illusion. Dreams can turn into nightmares.
And now during Mardi Gras, otherworldly powers stand ready to shape their
destinies in ways they could never imagine.
Shadow and light. Magic and mystery. Reality and myth. All
come together in a place where rules bend and lines blur. Even those between
life and death.
My take…
Whatever the bond was between this broken man and an
invisible girl, it transformed into something much more substantial and
significant during those quiet hours before the break of the New Orleans’ dawn.
**
I am going to be a tad bit honest with you. Not that I am
never not honest in my reviews. But I am sad to say that I almost gave up on
this book. Not for the fact that it was poorly written or wasn’t holding its
own. Nope. It was the mere fact of where I thought it was going with a certain
character. A character I am not fond of in any story, in any light. The very
thought of him turns my stomach. We humans know him as Satan.
But you know what I did? I pushed through. I got past that
part and in the end I am so very glad I did. Because the story really did turn
around and went somewhere I wasn’t expecting. It was such a great, great read.
Ok, now that I got that confession off my chest I can
continue on. Let me start with Thyme. First of all, I adore that name. Wish I
would have thought of it for one of my girls. It is beautiful and different.
And it fit her character perfectly. She is just a wonderful character that got
a bad lot in life. But a character that handled it better than anyone else
would have.
I loved the idea that we get a sneak peek here and there of
Mankin’s Black Cat Records series. A series most of us is familiar with. You
are familiar with it right? If not, go read them soon!! But I will mention the
great thing is it didn’t overwhelm this book. In fact, it was kind of like a
sweet secret being whispered to those who have read the series before. Just
knowing it’s there is the fun part.
What else? Oh yes!! I mentioned Billy, right? I didn’t? Oh
wow. You may not like him quite at first. He will definitely have to grow on
you if you are not a fan of the womanizing man in books. Yes, I was put off
with him at first and then I realized that over a short period of time I was
starting to like him. And then loving him. Who wouldn’t love a man that over a
couple days was turning his life around for the better.
All in all, I adore this book. I look forward to starting
DREAM MAGIC next and seeing what is to come. Mankin, you did a great job and it
was wonderfully done. 5 Stars!
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