This would have been a good book if Ms. Rawn had been able to refrain from using it as a vehicle to snarl at the readers who were upset (and Internet-vocal) about her failure to finish the Exiles series. ( )

Unfortunately my library didnt have the first in this series so I probably missed a few threads along the way. Initially I found it hard to get into - I was sick at the time so not at my sharpest and what threw me most was Evan Lachlan being referred to as either name - it took me a while to figure out it was the same person (since Evan and Lachlan are both common first names - and I was feverish lol) There were also a lot of flashbacks that were pretty jarring but I eventually found a rythym and ended up enjoying the story. I enojoyed Evan and Holly's banter and i liked watching Jamey and Cam's relationship develop.It tackles some pretty serious issues - child trafficking, child prostitution, homophobia and gay rights but since I agree with Rawn's agenda on all counts I was happy to see such prosaic issues have a place in a novel of this genre which is pretty rare. The magic is not as center stage as I had initially expected but there are some interesting magical concepts.There are a few threads left dangling, for the next novel I assume - I hope to get my hands on the first of the series before I pick up the next. ( )

This is the first book I've read by Melanie Rawn, and it will not be the last. I bought it not knowing it was the second in a series, so I'm particularly anxious to read the first one, Spellbinder.

Holly McClure is a novelist, married to Sheriff Evan Lachlan. She hasn't been writing much since her twins were born a couple of years ago. They live in Pocahontas County, Virginia, which has more witches per capita than anywhere else. Holly isn't one of the more powerful witches - her power is that of binding and making more powerful other witches' spells. Her cousin Cam comes home after spending a lot of time abroad as a constitutional lawyer helping newly-formed countries write their constitutions. He sees again Jamey Stirling, now the DA in PoCo. Cam and Jamey had been in love in law school but Cam was unable at the time to accept living a life as openly gay.

Evan and the family must attend a campaign event at the Westmorland Inn, a place that leaves the witches feeling twitchy. They are about to discover why.

Rawn gets inside her characters' heads and presents them to us better than any writer I know except maybe Jane Haddam. The only thing to dislike in this book was that it meandered a while before getting to the plot. Overall, however, excellent, and a new author whose books I'll happily read. ( )

A good story. I was hoping for more of the high fantasy that Ms Rawn caught me with when she was doing the Dragon Star and Dragon Prince trilogies. This is detective fiction with a hint of the supernatual and ( Oh Goody) a nice dose of smut. Ms. Rawn designs interesting characters and can write a good storyline. I just wish it didn't seem so much like a book my Mother would pick up at the Romance Club Book Exchange.

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