Secure The Opposite Of Magic Engineered By Colleen Cowley Displayed In Manuscript

love love this book, Ive met IT guys just like this snarky, competent jerk with a heart of gold, Fun view of a world like ours but different, I LOVED the characters and the ingenuity of the paranormal aspects of the story, I couldn't give the novelbecause there were times I felt that the magic system could have been developed a little further, but I will definitely be checking out other works by this author.

I liked the beginning of this a lot, and loved that slow burn! I would probably give this,stars, or even three, but really like this author, so its getting four, Mostly I found the ethically grappling with killing people to be a really shallow exploration of what that means, She doesnt even try to talk to him then it turns out that his actions led to peoples death and for some reason that is totally okay.
And like I didnt have an issue with it, but it just seemed like she gave it no thought, Shes just like, oh, well if you didnt literally do it, then its totally fine, no further discussion needed, But literally killing people is never ever okay for some reason, I just found this very rule based, rather than ethically and contextually examined, So that weirded me out, Felt a little like the white person argument that violence against Nazis is bad, and just like, No, no its not. Punch that Nazi every single time, The writer gets around it by having the baddies killing their own people, either by accident or on purpose, and like thats convenient Now your characters get to stay pure or something What an easy way to determine morality.
One of the side characters avenges his dead wife by killing the super evil dude, but that is the only death allowed and its the side character who we are least connected to who does it.
I just was disappointed by what felt like a really shallow examination of what is a highly complex and emotionally difficult idea,

Also, there were multiple times where she just immediately doubts him, and sure, he has been secretive, but surely she knew him well enough to question it a bit more.


Update, : read the short stories, which were very cute, Too short to properly review, but sweet little extras to enjoy, Better Than Expected! Stick With It!!

After reading some of the reviews, I didnt have high hopes for this, And especially since the beginning does seem to creep along rather slowly and boringly, BUT
Im so glad I stuck it out, It does begin to pick up steam, and starts to engage the reader more and more,
I also truly appreciate the fact that the author didnt feel the need to turn this into a trilogy, like every other author out there, especially in the Eworld for the last few years.

The wrap up is happily ever after and leaves no lose ends to wonder about later, If You Love Magical Romance, You'll Love This!

Author Colleen Cowley has produced a novel with all my favorite elements: romance, humor, adventure, and magic.
Her heroine is a young woman I could identify with: a quirky introvert with a bookworm's love of magical adventure, Her hero captured first my interest and then my heart, He is difficult, disagreeable, and mysterious, What woman could fail to be attracted by such magnetism Oh, he does have charisma, believe me, with his unconventional appearance, the long dark duster that he wears almost like a superhero's cape, and his seeming inability to stay away from our heroine, who finds him both irritating and fascinating.
Their dance of attraction begins to agitate slowly, threading details of the hero's secrets and hints of his past into the tapestry of their relationship.
As the dance quickened, I found myself growing a bit breathless as I, too, fell under the spell of Alexander Hartgrave, the irresistible enigma so much so that when the actual adventure commenced with a bang, I couldn't read fast enough to find out everything I wanted to know.
The climax of the adventure was unexpected and perfectly executed by this talented author, I found it to be an enormously satisfying read, and I urge you: read now! You'll want to thank me but thank the author instead, for the gift of this wellcrafted tale.
Emily Daggett had always hoped to find proof that magic actually exists, but when she finds a real life magic user who REALLY doesn't like to be called wizard, it's just all wrong her beloved novels had really promised better! The man is obnoxious, frowns at the idea of a wand and refuses vehemently to teach her anything.
At least he agrees to let her watch him doing magic, . . sometimes. As if her life hadn't been hard enough already teaching and researching in a small College on a one year contract and with very meager prospects for further employment Emily is told that she will never be doing any magic.
With her childhood dream gone she is just about to call it a day or half a year when suddenly she finds herself head over heels in an adventure that could be right out of a fairytale.
Except that there is no wise old wizard on her side and the difference between good ad bad is far from black and white.
At least Emily has got one thing on her side: She's The Opposite of Magic,

"Once upon a time, . . " is usually how tales about magic, evil wizards, obnoxious convincers and fartoonosyfortheirowngood researchers start, Not that these characters sound or are in any way usual, and neither is their story which is why this book doesn't start, but end with those famous words.

With an enchanting lovestory, lots of humor and wonderfully flawed and endearing characters this tale has all the classic ingredients of a good novel, but also that extra twist that makes it absolutely unique.


I haven't enjoyed a book this much in some time, The characters and story have depth and seem to be taken just out of real life, The plot is enthralling and funny and takes a few unexpected turns and the love story is authentic in my opinion, I recommend this book to everyone who likes books about magic so to everyone there is,

I received this book in exchange for an honest review by the Lovers of Paranormal group, The Opposite of Magic. Colleen Cowley.
Jeannie Zelos

Book s,
I was contacted by Colleen after she read my review of another fiction book about magic, Having read and been hooked by the sample I was eager to review the whole story, I wasn't disappointed, its a fabulous read, full of a slow burn romance, spells, magic, battles and mystery,
Like Emily Ive been fascinated by stories about magic since childhood and in my heart Id love to think that actually magic could be real.
. . some people never grow up I guess: As a child I was convinced Id be able to fly, or move things with my mind if I just tried hard enough must have looked slightly mad to onlookers : I asked my parents for a magic wand once for Christmas, dad said they were very expensive and if he bought me one he'd have no money for presents for everyone else.
Silly man! I told him I'd just magic what he needed, . didn't get one though :
Anyway, back to the book, . . Emily how I identify with her, and I share the way tech hates her, it hates me too, . She was such a persistent character she made me laugh, I could understand they way her mind worked at school I was always getting board rubbers thrown at me for day dreaming, or asking questions that teachers didn't want to answer.
. so when she kept on at Alex for information he clearly didn't want to give I was rooting for her, and understood her burning need for answers.
I loved the way their relationship changed from one of dislike to love, a real slow burn but welcome change, Also the way he wasn't some Merlinesque person but an IT worker, What seems less like magic than technology then Colleen manages to merge them both : Clever stuff, and opened up the whole plot of danger, disaster, wizards and witches, good and evil, leading to a fast moving, life threatening climax to the ending.


Its a great story, with plots that flow easily, a cast that seem real, and a feeling of magic running through the whole book.
There were just the right amount of characters to tell the story, Bernie and Willi loved them and of course the trio of offensive and selfish evildoers to create the danger needed.
Sometimes authors bring in so many different people that they detract from the plot, and I have to keep backtracking to see where they all fit in.
Here though colleen has the perfect balance of people needed to tell the story, and it works to create a novel that's easy to read and fun and enjoyable.
I do love a bit of romance in my reading too, and its just perfect here, Enough to add interest but not to dominate the story, To add emotion especially when things go wrong, and to make me feel good at the end : I love my HEAs, Priced at just./.forpages its a bargain,
Stars: great book, cracking read, full five,

NB: ARC supplied via author,
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