Review: Engrossing
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 25, 2010
Mystery and mayhem, romance and danger are mixed together with gusto giving readers an `on the edge of their seat' experience to remember.It was in the previous book, Motor City Fae, that I first met the stars of this story, Elise and Aiden. At the ending of that tale, I was left with a solid impression that there was a deep emotional connection between the two and I was hooked with curiosity. My fervent imagination could never have come up with the truly special and astoundingly romantic yet adventurous love story that Ms. Pape has delivered in Motor City Witch.Love abounds in this book, not only between man and woman but between a woman and her child, and a man who loves the child as his own. You see, Adina is the daughter of Elise, the witch, and Aidan's love for the woman of his heart extends to the child that is not his own. But how to prove that he's serious? That is the emotional thread that warmed my heart throughout this story. It is also the very thing that prompts dastardly deeds, kidnappings, danger and major revelations. Love isn't easy, that's for sure. But it's not supposed to get you shot.In Motor City Fae, which a reader does not need to have read to enjoy this book, I met Elise and she was sort of reserved to the point of haughtiness. In this book, a reader gets into her head and it's quite the opposite. Her character is filled with passion and determination, thwarted love and agonizing sadness tempered with the strength of a mother's love. She's complicated, powerful and loyal to those she cares about. She is a woman who holds her own against magical beings whether they are well meaning or threatening. The aspect I enjoyed about her character is her growth. She starts off as mistrusting most everyone and keeps those personal boundaries well in place and ends up opening her heart and arms to those that become like her family. She blossoms into a more well balanced and rounded person. The power of love is illustrated beautifully.Now Aidan is a different sort of man. He used to be a pirate and now he runs a corporation. A man like him defines the word `control'. He's commanding, suave and Fae. What he is not is immune to Elise and the feelings she invokes in him. A reader knows unequivocally that he loves her but, and there's always`a but', he doesn't know how to reach her. The one thing that perplexes him and it's something he feels in his gut, is why he has this strong and protective urge about her daughter, Adina. He doesn't shy from it and in fact embraces it because in the end, he knows his love for the mother is just the tip of the iceberg. There is nothing about Elise he doesn't love - now he has to prove it. There's just this tiny problem - someone is trying to destroy them all. So Aidan ends up trying to save the girl, the woman and the world. Not a tall order for an ex-pirate, right?When Elise and Aidan get together and reignite their passionate past it's a many emotional thing. It's angry, sad, poignant, lustful not to mention tender and at times smoking hot. The author did a phenomenal job of describing their passionate clinches while keeping the sentiments and heartfelt feelings up front and part of it all. The desperation and need for reaffirming life comes in loud and clear when it's needed and other times a reader gets the full impact of the celebration of their physical natures.Secondary characters abound and there is more than one bad seed in the bunch. A few I figured out but a couple were quite a surprise and others were entertaining, in a dark sort of way. Even when the bad guys were being their worst, they prompted the main characters to show more of themselves and what makes them tick making the reader value the HEA all the more. Once again, Ms. Pape has a few secondary characters that tease a reader with their potential for being more. I just can't make up my mind who I'd rather see next, they're all pretty interesting.Motor City Witch has everything a romantic paranormal suspense reader is looking for. There was great dialogue between characters, a hero and heroine you felt connected to and cheered for and an exciting climax that led to a happily ever after that made me feel good. My emotions were engaged, I was entertained and I heartily enjoyed every moment spent in the company of Elise and Aidan. Ms. Pape has delivered another winner and I enthusiastically endorse a five book rating. What a great read!Originally posted at the Long and Short of It Romance Reviews