The Southern Belle's Guide to Witchcraft by Loribelle Hunt
Series: Southern Magic #1
Published by Etopia Press
Published on: February 27, 2015
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Werewolves
Pages: 230
Format: eARC
Source: Manic Readers
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There’s a new evil in town, and it’s gunning for Scarlet...
Scarlet Burke isn’t an ordinary witch. She comes from a long line of Burke witches, whose job it is to protect the good folks of Purgatory, Alabama from things that go bump in the night—and things that might slip through the portal in Fool’s Wood. Normally, it’s an easy gig that doesn’t take much time from her day job. Until her ex-husband turns up dead in a ritualistic killing no one recognizes. William, a mundane, had high-tailed it out of town years ago after getting Scarlet’s baby sister pregnant. So why had he come back? Better yet, who (besides Scarlet) had wanted him dead badly enough to lure him to the forest, stake him, skin him, and drain his blood? It wasn’t a vampire kill, but she was damned if she could determine what it was.
Werewolf Jake Mills, the bossy and possessive chief of police, can’t believe anyone in his town could commit such a brutal crime. And Scarlet can’t believe she’s still trying to avoid his advances. Jake has been chasing her for years, and if he wasn’t so charming—and so drop dead sexy—she might try harder to outrun him. Or at least summon a bit of self-control. But the man simply refuses to stay in the “Just Friends” box she’s placed him in.
But when the killer targets Scarlet’s family, ghouls, demons, and dark fae all come under suspicion. And when her daughters become the targets of an ancient dark ritual, Scarlet and Jake are forced to make an impossible choice. Fight evil with evil, or watch Scarlet’s daughters die...
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This book’s blurb had fun written all over it, and there’s nothing sexier than a werewolf with handcuffs, so Loribelle Hunt made an easy sale with THE SOUTHERN BELLE’S GUIDE TO WITCHCRAFT. I surmised that this story would be light on intrigue, and heavy on passion, but it was actually fully loaded with both which really worked in SOUTHERN MAGIC’s favour because what originally started out as an lazy Sunday fling now has the potential of being a lengthy affair. The Burke witches have pizazz!
Paranormal Romances routinely only incorporate enough world-building to put the plot into context, thus I was delightfully amazed by the amount of detail that the author opted to include. This series’ universe was lush and vast; from its affluence of supes, to the lore encompassing the Earthly & Terran plains, to the deeply rooted history of the Burke family. Hunt also made future installments hugely appealing with her simple yet efficient set-up, and by getting readers to rally to her secondary characters.
Witches are an acquired taste that I haven’t managed to completely adopt, however Scarlet and her relatives are definitely on the right track. It helped that she wasn’t merely a magic practitioner, but also a capable Guardian, and an all-around stand-up human being. One would have to be in order to take in her deceased sister / cheating ex-husband’s children. The extremes Burke goes to in order defend her town, and kin were enough to make anyone love her, including this witch-y naysayer.
The romance was understated, yet impossible to overlook; for one, the chief of police presented an imposing, but tasty figure, and two, they never had sex in a bed! The hood of a car scored big points, however first place goes to the lunchtime hook-up they had on his desk AT the station. It’s good to be alpha! I liked that these scenes didn’t drag on as they are wont to do in this genre, although Scarlet’s chain insta-O’s were a little too rapid fire to be convincing, but that’s par for the course in PNR.
THE SOUTHERN BELLE’S GUIDE TO WITCHCRAFT was deep fried fiction at its finest.
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Owner, designer and main blogger behind Rabid Reads. Avid book reader, snowboard bunny, video gamer and Supernatural fan. I love all things paranormal, werewolves especially. Oh, and I’m Canadian, eh!
This sounds like a fun one so I put it on my wishlist. 🙂
Stormi recently posted…Book Review: City of Eternal Night by Kristen Painter
Sounds like this one ought to be added to the wish list because if you liked it not being a witches fan… it has to be really good!
Great review Carmel!!
Pili recently posted…Mark This Book Monday: Marked by Sarah Fine!!
Oh this does sound like something I would LURVE! It sounds a bit like another series that I really love 🙂
Felicia The Geeky Blogger recently posted…Audiobook Review: Why Lords Lose Their Hearts by Manda Collins
This one sounds pretty interesting. I love a book where effort has been put into the world building. Great review Carmel! :]
A steamy paranormal romance with great world building? This sounds fantastic. *adds to wish list* Great review.
E.J. Stevens recently posted…Paranormal Road Trip: Destination Fairy, Texas with Margo Bond Collins
“although Scarlet’s chain insta-O’s were a little too rapid fire to be convincing”
*snort* So true Carmel, so true! Withces are one paranormal entity I haven’t had much luck with overall, but this book sounds like a winner! Yes to hood of car sex and lunchtime desk sex 😉
Ha! Deep fried fiction. Love it. Great review, as always.
Cat recently posted…[Coffee Shop Talks] Do you tsu?
Hood of a car? You get it, Mr. Police Chief! (Did he use the handcuffs on her? Please say yes.)
Mary recently posted…Comfort Reads
Fully loaded with both sounds really good. I didn’t know about this one so thanks for a new one to add to the wish list. 😉
Sophia Rose recently posted…Closer Than You Think by Karen Rose #Review
Wolves and witches? Sign me up!
kindlemom1 recently posted…Review: Perfect Timing by Robin Mellom
Werewolf with handcuffs??? Where do I sign up?? LOL I’m totally sold on this book now that I know that the main characters have created, non-boring sex and the world building is well-developed. Doesn’t happen nearly often enough when it comes to PNR. 🙂
Sarah recently posted…The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
lol – Love the review. A werewolf in handcuffs and sex everywhere but the bedroom … yes, please. No, but this really does sound good.
Christy recently posted…Normal by Graeme Cameron
O Great review, thank you! I do love witches, so adding this to my wishlist for sure.
Aurian recently posted…Maggie Sefton – Close Knit Killer
Oh I think you found me another series I must try. I also found it a good thing that I wasn’t drinking something when I read about the insta-O’s. 🙂 Some joke about when you go supe… flitted through my head. LOL
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden by Karen Newcomb
Added to my TBR list. Don’t you know that it is already too long?
Melanie recently posted…Review: Odin’s Ravens by K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr
the title is like Molly Harper’s books, and it sounds like this shares the same zip code maybe?
Braine recently posted…Steampunk Sundays: The Janus Affair by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris
I love the title of this! And that it takes place in the south. 🙂 The sexy times don’t appeal to me much, but I can skim them. The rest sounds fantastic!
Candace recently posted…Review: Murder and Moonflowers by Leslie Leigh
Love the sound of the yummy alpha!
I confess that it’s the first time I hear about this book but it sounds quite book! Plus I always love books about witches and it’s nice that you had a lot of details! Great review!
“Deep-fried fiction”? Love that! I’ve added this to my tbr list, Carmel. It sounds fun and fantastically done. I like that there’s so much world building – that is rare in PNR. And Burke sounds like a great heroine. I’m looking forward to reading all about your affair with this series. 😉
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…Review ~ Coda ~ CD Reiss
I’m not sure what that says about me, Carmel, but you had me at ‘Werewolf with handcuffs’… Yeah, I’m easy 🙂 I do agree, though, that the summary is all about fun, humor, and a gruesome murder to solve, as well as a sexy werewolf -just impossible to resist. I’m adding The Southern Belle’s Guid to Witchcraft to my TBR 🙂
Lexxie recently posted…Review: Songs Unfinished – Holly Stratimore
First time I hear about this book. It sounds like a fun book… hopefully, one day I’d be able to enjoy. Great review.
BookaholicCat recently posted…Audiobook Review: The Hidden Masters of Marandur by Jack Campbell
oh hot! Me thinks I could like this one!
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