Review: Recommended Read! Best Book!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 11, 2013
Zachary Beckett is youngest of four brothers, and the one most likely to mess up. Born into a family of powerful wizards, Zach feels like he has always let his family down, being the weakest member of the family, with unpredictable magic. When his brother's mate (did I mention the Beckett men are cursed to be wolves, too?) discovers why Zach's magic goes wrong, he starts to feel a bit of hope. Seems Zach is not a wizard at all, but actually Lana tells him he is a witch, and a powerful one at that. When he is sent for witch training, he still has difficulty with control, and is finally put in a novice class taught by Johra Jo Yashodhar. Jo has no idea why Zach can't control his magic, even Prince Roland is ready to bind his powers, but when evil threatens Zach's family, a little research reveals that Zach is one of the rarest of witches, one of Hecate's Own, chosen by the Goddess herself to fight evil magic and rogue warlocks. And Jo is his destined mate, causing all kinds of complications. When the evil stalking his family threatens Jo, Zach's family unites to stop the Godwin's at all costs, even accepting help from unexpected places. Can Zach keep Jo safe, after seeing visions of one possible fate for his mate? Can Jo accept Zach and his wolf into her life? Can they accept the help from one very powerful and unexpected ally?Hecate's Own is the second of Dana Marie Bell's Heart's Desire series, and set in a world both magical and dangerous. This is a well-crafted world, with multi-dimensional and charismatic characters. The Becketts are the good guys here, and are fighting the evil warlocks to stay alive. The fight from book one has gone undercover in this one, with the Godwins hiding until they are ready to strike. I love this world, where people use magic as easy as breathing, well all but Zach, that is. Ms. Bell has given Zach the role of underdog, always trying to prove himself, and making messes along the way. But there is also lots of humor here as well, to lighten the dark and dangerous threat.Zachary Beckett is smart, handsome and tired of being the one who can do nothing right. In a family filled with strong magic, he feels like a failure, until Lana and her grandmother discover why Zach's magic fails. I like Zach, he is adorable, and so hard on himself I couldn't help feeling sorry for him at times. When he learns that Jo is his mate, he thinks he may have accidentally cast a love spell, and he wants her to become his mate voluntarily. I liked watching him come into his own, and learn how to use his gifts to protect family and friends. Watching as he realized Jo wasn't under a spell and really cared for him was a delight.Johra `Jo' Yashodhar is one of the strongest witches of her generation, second in magic only to Prince Roland. She is smart, talented, and has a sarcastic edge to her wit that is a delight. I loved her early dialogs with Zach, when she believed he was the biggest menace to the magical community, and I loved that she was able to admit she was wrong when Zach's true power was revealed. I loved that she didn't just fall right into Zach's arms, but let him take the time to convince her of his worth before she convinced him she wanted him.There is a lot of magical danger in this one, both overt and a bit behind the scenes. The Godwins have continued to turn to evil, and have begun to practice the darkest of magic, including blood rites to increase their power. I found the family unity, with all of the Becketts uniting to stop the evil, to be a powerful thread throughout this story. I also liked that the other two Beckett men have learned who their mates are, though it could get complicated at times. The secondary characters, Annabelle, Prince Roland and Princess Arianna, and the Beckett men are all as well crafted as Zach and Jo, and the passion that builds steadily between them turns blazing hot when Zach finally claims Jo as his. I enjoyed the surprise of who became their ally in the fight against the Godwins, and hope to see her with a story in the future. This one is for all those who want some suspense and danger, and more than a little magic with their romance.Originally posted at Long and Short Reviews