[Archive] LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of Something About Witches

 

Joey W. Hill writes contemporary and paranormal erotic romance. Her characters include everything from vampires, mermaids, witches and angels, to boardroom executives, cops and simple housemaids. With four series and almost thirty titles available, she has been nominated three consecutive years for a Career Achievement award in Erotica by Romantic Times.

Free excerpts from all her works are available at www.storywitch.com, and additional vignettes, character interviews and graphics inspired by the work are at the fan forum site, www.jwhconnection.com. Subscribe to her newsletter from her home page and receive the latest info about appearances and releases.

Though much of her work is BDSM, she has built her reputation on award-winning romances with absorbing characters who not only attract fans of the genre, but readers who would "never" read BDSM romance. "Whatever genre you're writing, if the characters are compelling and sympathetic, the readers are going to want to see what happens to them. It can be the coolest storyline ever, but if the reader could care less whether the hero or heroine survive (in fact, in some cases they may be rooting for their destruction just so they can be done with the darn thing), then it's not a story worth reading."

Something About Witches, Book #1 of the Arcane Shot series

Author: Joey W. Hill

Synopsis:  It's amazing what a little magic can do...

Ruby Night Divine is a gun shop owner. She's also a witch who knows magic can fail. She's experienced it first hand, with full-blown tragic consequences. Smith & Wesson is a whole hell of a lot more reliable, and nothing's as cathartic as the ability to put a few holes in the things that piss you off. Like Derek Stormwind.

A powerful sorcerer, Derek is determined to get to the bottom of why Ruby pushed him away and ran three years before. He also needs her help. A coven needs training to fight a demon and his minions. While Ruby is willing to do it, she's sure it's just a ruse to get back in her heart—and her bed. The thing is, that's where she wants him. Unfortunately, her bed's already made, she's this close to losing her soul, and she fears nothing can save her. Not Derek. Not even Smith & Wesson.

 

Our Review [by Debbie – LITERAL ADDICTION’s Associate Reviewer]:

I read this book the day it came out. I was excited but apprehensive because I LOVED Joey W. Hill’s Vampire Queen Series, and had wondered about Derek. The biggest worry I had was that by making this a mass market PNR, it wouldn’t have that perfect balance of heat and heart and pain and pleasure that I have found in her other books. I really shouldn’t have worried; she grabbed me with the very first line of the book and kept me there to the end.  So when I heard that Michelle still needed to read and review it for her upcoming event I told her that she HAD to get to it because I knew how much she would love it but, that I would  re-read it  and write one also. After setting aside my new releases, I started Something about Witches and was again struck by the magic that is Joey’s writing. I was swept away into the story and saw so much I missed that 1^st time reading it. I think I might have enjoyed it even more this 2^nd time...

If you've read Joey's Vampire Queen series, then you might remember the hero, Derek.  He is the sorcerer who helped Mason set up the tomb for his late wife and also helped Mal set up his island.  Derek is a Guardian of the Light and has been alive more years than some of the Seven Wonders of the World.  He is the Hero of Hero's, a Dominate Alpha man, a modern day knight, a cowboy - complete with jeans, boots, hat and a duster over his broad shoulders that seem to be able to hold the problems of the world.  

He had been a part of Ruby's life since she was a small child; always showing up when she needed him and always giving her that support by being exactly what she needed at the time.  Well almost always, except for the one time she really needed him and he was gone saving the world.  He's been trying to figure out what happened to cause her to use magic to send him away since that day, but with a coven in need of magical education to repair a fault line, he as the perfect reason to try to get back into Ruby's life.  

Ruby is a survivor.  She has been running her gun shop, Arcane Shot, for 3 years since breaking things off with Derek.  She cut herself off since that horrible day with Derek and hasn't allowed anybody to get into her heart.  Her best friends Raina and Ramona don't even know what really happened.  Her years of being in her mother's shadow and the neglect she experienced, have just added to the pain from that day and the loss of Derek.  She's dealt, by feeding that emotional pain with physical pain from a man she met at a gun show named Mikheal.  When Derek walks into her shop with a job for her she almost turns him down, but when she realizes that she might bet the chance to get vengeance for what happened 3 years ago, she agrees to help.

Derek and Ruby have a sexual chemistry that burns the page. I was so drawn into their relationship that even when the sexual experiences were tamer than other books I have read by Joey I still was extremely affected by them.

Throughout the book you get to see a lot of what a “modern day” coven might be like. The women in this story are amazing and you want them to be your friends too. I loved reading about the different parts of witchcraft that aren’t all sparkly and exciting and the history of women and magic. I was amazed though by how exciting Joey made the magical fights. I think it might have some of the most exciting magical fights that I have read, at least lately.

BDSM was a large part of the storyline of her Vampire Queen series. I wasn’t sure if it would have a part in this one but it was, just in a softer way. She showed the feeling and emotion that can come when it is a part of a relationship. Joey in my opinion showed that BDSM doesn't always have to be as extreme as it was in her Vampire Queen series. One quote from this book that really stood out showed this...  Ruby is thinking about Derek and his dominance, “every time he won her surrender, that boulder of responsibility, guilt and insecurity was removed, letting her breathe”  

I tried not to give too many spoilers out in this review, but I had to give a bit to give a good overview. I have to say that this book was a surprising fave of mine this year. I am looking forward to May 1^st when In the Company of Witches comes out.  I'm excited about Raina's story and look forward to how Joey will have Mikheal redeem himself.  I gave this book 5 skulls and would recommend this to any Paranormal Romance or Erotic reader.

Something About Witches