Under A Christmas Spell

Wicked Christmas Wishes #1

by Barbara Monajem

English Country Estate, 1815Dissolute aristocrat Lord Valiant Oakenhurst hides a sexy, supernatural secret-as a powerful incubus, he is able to influence others through erotic dreams. At an exclusive Christmas house party, his latest mission is compromised by the beautiful but deadly succubus Lucille Beaulieu. Though still drawn to his former lover, Val cannot forget her betrayal….Hoping to atone for her past, Lucie uses her seductive powers to help couples find happiness. But she is distracted from her task by her own delicious dreams of the dark and dangerous Val.As the riotous festivities begin, their passion is reinvoked, but can a little Christmas magic restore their lost trust?

Genres: Christmas

43 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Barbara Monajem wrote her first story in third grade about apple tree gnomes. After dabbling in neighborhood musicals and teen melodrama, she published a middle-grade fantasy when her children were young. Now her kids are adults, and she's writing historical and paranormal romance and mystery for grownups. She lives in Georgia with an ever-shifting population of relatives, friends, and feline strays.

Reviews

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this is the first Barbara Monajem Regency which deals fully with a supernatural theme and while I wouldn’t consider it a paranormal per se, having an incubus and a succubus as the main characters does lend it a bit more flare than usual. Both Val and Lucie are thoroughly likable characters, neither frightening nor wicked. Each is a person with unusual abilities unfortunately force into using them in way they wouldn’t ordinarily, to their dismay.

Ms. Monajem has created two characters of which I, personally, would like to know more. There’s so much hinted at in Lucie and Val’s background (the war, Val’s expulsion from Eton, Lucie’s loss of her parents and her many foster homes) that it would make a full-length novel in itself.

It’s an interesting turn when each begins to have erotic dreams and can’t decide whether it is simply their own thwarted feelings acting out or they’re receiving sensuous sensations from the other. The whole story is a nice turnabout since it appears at the beginning it’s going to be of two supernaturally-gifted people acting as cupids for two who refuse to declare their interest in each other…and then comes the switch and the story focuses on the cupids themselves.

Miss Southern and Lord Westerly’s story will be told I’m certain, in the upcoming Under a New Year’s Enchantment, which I can’t wait to read.


This novel was supplied by the author and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.

[Nancy Northcott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this wasn't the standard Regency holiday fare when I saw the the hero and heroine are an incubus and a succubus, respectively. Barbara Monajem gives them a more positive spin here, though, than folklore usually provides. Lord Valiant Oakhurst and Lucille Beaulieu were spies and lovers during the Napoleonic Wars. The tough choices they had to make eventually came between them, leaving them both deeply scarred.

At a holiday house party, they find their old attraction as strong as ever. This is a wonderful second chance at love story, with themes of love, guilt, and forgiveness. This story is tender and hot, but seasoned with wry humor, a terrific holiday romance.

[Louise Marley · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some ebooks that have been on my Kindle forever and I thought I should make an effort to read them rather than buy new ones. This novella wasn't the straight-forward historical romance I was expecting but a supernatural story about an incubus and succubus (dream demons) who were spies during the Napoleonic wars and have now met again at a Christmas house party. It was a fun, festive read, although I'd have liked it to have been a little bit longer!

[Denise Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucie, a succubus, and Val, an incubus, were in love once--until war and duty pulled them apart. The story takes place after the war. Both find themselves at Lord Westerly's estate for the Christmas celebrations, each sent on a separate mission. Needless to say, sparks fly as Lucie and Val cross paths again. The story sizzles with great sexual and romantic tension, and it's a short, quick read. It's a spicy holiday story filled with romance and the requisite happy ending. I read it in June, but it would be perfect for keeping warm on a wintry Yuletide night. Recommended!

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Wicked Christmas Wishes

[Harlequin Historical]

Miniseries: Wicked Christmas Wishes

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

[SuperWendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun Christmas novella. The paranormal elements are done with a very light touch, and there's plenty of sizzle between hero and heroine. Looking forward to the next book in the duet.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting idea, enticingly written. Such heartache though! Just what I want from an epic love story round Christmas!