*I received a free copy of Spell Cat from via Enchantress Design and Promo. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *
Spell Cat by Tara Lain Series: The Aloysius Tales #1
on 31 October 2016
Pages: 200
When Killian Barth, history professor, meets Blaine Genneau, quantum physicist, they ignite their own big bang. But Killian can’t pursue a physics professor—or a human. As the most powerful male witch in ten generations, Killian must bolster his dying race by reproducing—despite the fact that he’s gay.
Even a fling with Blaine is out of the question, because Killian has been told sex with humans drains his power. But if that’s true, why can young human Jimmy Janx dissolve spoons with the power of his mind? If Killian can sort through the lies he’s been fed, he’ll still face his biggest obstacle—convincing rational scientist Blaine to believe in magic.
With his ancient and powerful cat familiar, Aloysius, on his shoulder, Killian brings the lightning against deceit and greed to save Blaine from danger and prove love is the greatest power of them all.
Spell Cat is a light-hearted romance that also deals with some heavier subjects like discrimination and living in hiding.
I knew I’d enjoy Spell Cat as soon as I started reading it, because who doesn’t love a history professor who teaches a class on witch craft, and the hot, nerdy physics professor who seemingly falls for him at first sight? Plus, there is a familiar in cat shape, a mystery, and elders who are keeping the truth from the younger witches in New York… Killian and Blaine were great characters, and they weren’t the only ones, either.
Spell Cat shows that discriminating based on whether or not people are human, and whether they fall in love with the opposite sex, the same, or both is not a good way to deal with others. Killian seemed shy and a little reserved when it came to showing the world who he loved. But he was incredibly at ease in front of a class, teaching them about history, how women had been exterminated when they became too smart or outspoken in the 15th century…
As always, Ms. Lain manages to have more than one important message in her stories, and Spell Cat is a strong beginning to a series I want to read more in. Written in third person, past tense, mostly from Killian’s perspective, the story flowed easily and was a quick read.
Killian went over to the side table where the maid had laid out the coffee and refilled his cup, adding cream and a dash of cinnamon. He preferred tea, but his mother always served coffee.
Blaine sat on a park bench. Killian just wanted to stare at him. So beautiful. Not that perfect kind of beautiful like Moran. Blaine looked… what? Smart as hell, yes. Free, self-actuating, brave. That was a kind of beauty no picture-perfection could match.
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Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 32. Her best-selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Paranormal Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft. She lives with her soul-mate husband and her soul-mate dog near the sea in California where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!
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About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
I’ve enjoyed her books in the past and haven’t read one for a while. Spell Cat has been on my list and neat that it has a new cover though the old one is nice, too.
Perfect for a Halloween read. 🙂
I absolutely love Tara Lain, I always find that there is so much more to her stories than what first meets the eye 🙂
This sounds like a fun book that manages to include heavy topics without actually getting too heavy. And I don’t know if I’ve read any books about professors, so that’d be different 🙂 Great review!
Tara Lain is the master of including some heavy topics in otherwise light-hearted and fun romances, Kristen. It’s definitely different, and I love that this LGBTQ story is also paranormal, with adult characters 🙂 It makes for a lot of diversity all across the board!
Lexxie dear, thank you so much for reading Spell Cat. I’m so glad you liked my magic guys. ; )
The magic was well done, Tara, and I normally do enjoy your books, so I want them all – all the time 🙂
Twitter: talksupeblog
Relative theme and the semi-metaphoric approach actually works, reminds me of Menagerie a bit in that the book uses fantasy to play with status quo themes.
Yeah, it’s nothing like Menagerie… but the fantasy is being used to further some themes that are important 🙂
I’m happy you enjoyed Spell Cat and kinda sorry I missed out on it. I haven’t read any of Tara’s paranormals but I really like the sound of this one. You know I’m a fan of nerdy guys. 😉
{{{BIG HUGS}}}
Oh haven’t you read the Harker Pack, Brandee? I know what I’ll get you for Christmas 😉 {{{BIG HUGS}}}
This is a new author for me. That cover is wicked!
Oh if you enjoy M/M romances, Tara Lain should definitely make her way to your shelves, Laura!
Oooo, this sounds good. I read one of her books awhile back and loved it. I’ll have to add this one to the list for sure 🙂
I usually love her books, too, Laurie 🙂