Bespelled

Spellbound in Sydney #2

by Dani Kristoff

This isn't your mum's Bewitched...

Elena Denholm is a mild-mannered half witch. As a favour to her cousin, she agrees to meet with top Sydney lawyer, Jake Royston, to negotiate a property deal. Sparks fly immediately, but before they can even take a sip of wine, let alone explore where the sizzle might go, Jake is hit by a love spell and is helpless against his feelings for Elena.

Jake may be at her mercy, but Elena is keeping her hands off — exploiting humans is a no-no. But Jake’s good looks and powers of persuasion are breaking down her resolve, and Elena knows she must do something fast.

Desperate to set things right before her resolve crumbles, Elena begins a frantic search to find the witch or warlock who hexed Jake and return him to his right mind, even if it means breaking her own heart...

Genres: Romance, Fantasy

159 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2014

About the author

Dani Kristoff lives in Canberra, Australia's capital. She is a writer of Science fiction, fantasy and horror. She started writing paranormal romance in 2013. Currently she publishes with Escape, Harlequin's Australian digital imprint and Harper Collins Australia's Impulse imprint.

Her hobbies include, millinery, cake decorating, weaving and other crafts.

Reviews

[Sam Still Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I’m a scientist by day, I don’t mind a little magic in my reading. I love to wonder ‘what if’ and secret witch covens living amongst the ordinary folk of Sydney got me hooked in this delightful, fun and sexy read. (Although it’s put me off love spells for the immediate future – it seems that the beloved can be a little too clingy and starry eyed for my liking).

Bespelled by Dani Kristoff is a ro-magic novel that was a great pick me up for my midweek slump. It’s funny, with super sexy parts, some high drama and a sweet ending. It packs a lot into the story besides the romance too, such as family secrets being revealed for both hero and heroine. Our heroine is Elena, a half-witch whose mother disappeared when she was a child. Elena’s kind of felt a little on the outer since then, even though she has a great relationship with her aunt and cousin. She knows she’s not much of a witch, being able to do only simple spells and her family haven’t put much into her witchy training as a consequence of her half blood. She does excel though in the real world and that’s why her cousin Grace has asked her to negotiate with hotshot Sydney lawyer Jake on her behalf. Jake has no time for romance – he’s all about the work and the profile. He meets Elena and he is stunned – literally. He’s been hit by a love spell and now he only has signs for Elena. Elena decides the only thing to do is to take Jake home with her to keep him safe until the spell can be reversed. Of course, it’s not easy having a love god with eyes only for Elena in the house, which makes for both funny and sexy moments. As Elena aims to find the love spell perpetrator, she finds out several family secrets. She also finds herself in some crazy situations – stripping on a skyscraper roof to stop Jake ending it all as despair takes over from the love spell is just one of them.

I really liked Elena. She was incredibly disciplined, not taking advantage of love-struck Jake despite his desperation to show his love in any way possible (which were comical at times). Although she was disappointed in her lack of witch powers, she didn’t let it overwhelm her and simply got on with life. I did think that her reactions to some situations were a little rushed, but this book does contain a great deal in addition to the romance, so perhaps there wasn’t time for full reflection. Plus, one of the other things I enjoyed was how the plot didn’t let up for a minute –it’s all go. Jake was hot, but with a sad history that was explored well when the spell wore off. The differences between Jake under the spell and normal Jake were very clear, but his essence shone through all the time so he didn’t seem like a different person.

I’d love to see some more stories set in this world – the magic elements are fascinating without taking over the plot and the romance. An enchanting read.

Thank you to Escape Publishing for the eBook. My review is honest.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars!
This book was actually really cute & funny!

The only thing that bothered me was the world building. I felt it was crammed into the first two chapters, and I would have preferred if it was gradually built it. I felt like there was too much for me to remember and I found myself constantly flipping back and rereading parts to fully grasp everything.

Other than for that, this was a cute and light read! I think it would be nice to see this as a series! I wanted to know more about all the other characters :)

[Kate Anders · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is what I would kind of classify as a light-hearted paranormal, mainly because while yes there are paranormal elements to it (there is witchcraft and spells), the way that the paranormal elements are used in the story are more to showcase the romance rather than a romance showcasing the paranormal.

So right of the bat, we just in with Elena, and before she knows it there is a serious love spell going on, the lawyer she meet is completely in love with her after one drink of the wine at dinner, and not the good kind of love, he's infatuated to the point of obsession, and at the first sign that Elena isn't interested in him in the same way, it's like his soul is crush. To say this could be a dangerous situation for Jake might be an understatement.

Elena is a half-witch, and more important she has very strict rules about her use of witchcraft, and this love spell is putting those rules to the test. While Elena didn't cast the spell herself, she knows she is attracted to this man, and when she slips up and can't keep her hands to herself, she is plagued with guilt, ready to turn herself over to the council that governs witchcraft in her area.

There is clearly more going on her than meets the eye, someone maliciously put a love spell on Jake, and would have done the same to Elena, so finding out what happened so the spell can be removed in priority one. When Elena does find out who casts the spell, it leaves both her and the reader with some serious icky, creepy feelings about the whole thing (I could tell you but it would really ruin the exposition of Elena's story that the author takes you through up until the very end).

As characters, they Elena and Jake were both solid efforts. Elena is a bit too overly cautious for my taste, but she has a good head on her soldiers, and she takes charge of her own life which I can appreciate. Jake in the beginning comes off so clingy and so over the top, but that's okay because he is under the spell so early on in the book. Once the spell is removed and you get a chance to get to know the real character, I actually found myself enjoying him as a person, I think he's a good guy who found himself in a seriously strange situation. Elena's extended family are interspersed throughout this story, and I thought the author did a good job with making them distinctive and memorable, and they also gave some pretty good comic relief moments as well.

I liked this book, it was an easy read, and a cute little romance. This is definitely not a book I would recommend if you are looking for a heavy paranormal book, but if you want a book that's 85% romance with some paranormal elements, then I think this would be a good bet. There are definitely some hot and heavy scenes in here too.

[Love Reading Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elena is a witch, if only a half witch, so she's less powerful than her cousin and others, and unsure how to proceed when she and top notch lawyer, Jake, are hit with a love spell. She's never met Jake before and now he's all over her, and Elena finds she can't keep her hands off him either. Can she work out who hit them with the love spell before it turns dangerous, or before she falls in love?

This is a very fun, fast moving paranormal romance. Like the blurb says, it's certainly not your mom's Bewitched. While Endora might have been amused by Elena and Jake's problems, I'm fairly certain that Samantha and Darren would have been scandalized by the steaminess of their romance.

I really like Elena. She is no simpering heroine. She's proactive and determined to take control of the situation, though as someone who makes charms for a living, she's very different from down to Earth Jake. Jake refuses to even believe they are victims of a spell, or that magic is even possible, something that makes no sense to his analytical mind. He is also a little bossy, but in a way that is endearing as well as sexy.

Although they are very different, both are cynical about love, but are soon to discover that their old views on the topic no longer apply. Spell or no spell, Elena and Jake are falling for each other hard and I fell right with them.

As a paranormal romance, there is a lot of detailed and exciting world building in Bespelled, impressive for a stand alone romance. The only downside is that there is occasionally too much going on and I did feel as though it could have been expanded. While the detail is to be praised, it also means that the rest of the story has to move more quickly, and while the fast pace mostly means this was a really addictive read, it occasionally feels like the secondary story lines and emotions develop without enough buildup (for example when Elena meets her father). Luckily this doesn't effect the romance storyline itself, which was convincingly sexy.

One of the nice bonuses of this novel is the setting. I don't usually notice settings in romance novels much (the erotic novella Driftwood Deeds being one notable exception) but one of the things that really appealed to me about Bespelled was the clear Australian setting, which adds a nice touch. Often in paranormal fiction, the story can feel far from reality, but the clear setting of Elena and Jake's story brings the magic of this tale into reader reality. I really enjoyed it.

I recommend Bespelled to anyone looking for a sexy/sweet romance with a side of magic that feels oddly at home in the middle of Sydney.

[Jeannie Zelos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bespelled. Dani Kristoff
Review from Jeannie Zelos Book reviews.
I thought this was going to be a light and fluffy paranormal romance – well it is PR, but with far more substance than I expected, and became a real treat to read instead of the filler to while away a short break that I was expecting :) I like light and fluffy sometimes but love those books that keep me guessing who did what, and how and why, and this did all of that.
So, Jake, good looking, charming, top lawyer, girls dripping off him at all times and someone who thinks Love doesn't exist. Elena, quite, shy half witch, brought up by her aunt with cousin Grace who she loves, when abandoned by her mum, with no knowledge of her father. They meet when Elena speaks to Jake on behalf of her cousin about a business deal, and then....he's hit by a strong love spell, which Elena misses as she knocks over her wine. As soon as it hits he starts to really obsess over her, what had been a fun and mild flirtation, turns into a nightmare for Elena as she can see he's been spelled, but he's so full on with romance he's hard to avoid. She can't tell him what's happened as he'd never believe her, so the only thing is to take him home, and hope she can remove the spell quickly...but of course that doesn't happen. Being a persuasive seducer, good looking and – he thinks- in love with Elena, he soon gets past her feeble defences. He's so gorgeous not many could resist him and Elena is ripe for some love.
Things happen quickly, she finds out lots about her past, and family, and as fast as things happen its a whirlwind of action. There's so much coming out I’d not anticipated that it made for a fun, entertaining read, not the light predicable one I was expecting. Then – it all goes wrong :( now I love this part in romances, somehow its so much sweeter when it comes right again when there's been some serious misery and sorrow – sounds weird but for me it works. And there was some really sad stuff here....
The only criticism I have is that there's so much content in a relatively short space of time. I've not page length details, but the book doesn't feel that long, and the actions are over so quickly, when they could have been pulled out longer and reader given more time to absorb everything. I think I’d have enjoyed it even more like that if I’d been able to savour it more, given time to assimilate who was who and how they all fitted together. The ghost cat too – she was fun and I’d like to know more about her....
Stars: four.
ARC supplied by Netgalley

[Tsana Dolichva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bespelled by Dani Kristoff is a paranormal romance novella by an author who has had less racy books/stories published under the name Donna Maree Hanson, including Rayessa and the Space Pirates, which I reviewed last year.

I have to admit, my eyes skipped passed this cover entirely the first time I saw it because it looks like a straight Romance and the title doesn't suggest paranormal that strongy (although yes, it's implied, especially in retrospect, but it's not like "witch" is in the name). And, thinking about it, those models look nothing like the characters, especially the guy who spends a lot of time in a suit in the book. If you're curious, I don't have much interest in reading straight Romance, because I prefer to have some spec fic elements to add something extra to the plot. Bespelled does this admirably. Although the romantic element comes in at full throttle fairly early in the book, it does so for magical reasons (a malicious love spell) which remain central to the plot throughout.

I liked Elena, the main character. I found her relationships with people in her life, particularly her family, to be believable. She was abandoned by her mother and spent the first thirteen years of her life raised by humans, until her aunt found her. Then, as a half-witch, she doesn't fully immerse herself in coven life. She has a pro-human activist streak in her, but it wasn't exaggerated or very prominent to the story, which I liked. It adds to the layers of her character. Jake was a bit less developed, mainly because he spent a large portion of the book under a love spell and hence out of his mind. But he does end up having some unexpected development. I won't say more because spoilers.

There are a lot of steamy scenes in Bespelled and I found them quite well-written. Sometimes the language in detailed sex scenes can be unintentionally comical — ruining the moment — but I didn't find that to be the case in Bespelled. I was generally impressed with the book overall. I would recommend Bespelled to all fans of paranormal romance, especially those that enjoy some coherent plot between the sex scenes.

4.5 / 5 stars

You can read more of my reviews on my blog.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't your mum's Bewitched... This is how the blurb starts, but really Bespelled by Dani Kristoff does starts off like a new improved version of that old sitcom Bewitched. However, the similarities soon end. The spell casting and complete head over heels by Jake for Elena makes the beginning seem like it will be a light read. Then it turns into a heavier read as Elena’s search to reverse the spell leads her into the darker, murky waters of her family and her own beginnings. Then Jake’s family comes into play too, making this an even more complicated read. The peeling back of the family history provides the depth needed into seeing how and why the characters relate and react to each other. While there are several supporting characters, just enough is given concerning Grace, Elena’s cousin, and Declan that I had hoped that they also had their story written. However, I did not find it, perhaps in the future. Overall, it is an interesting, not completely predictable, well-crafted story that I found very enjoyable. I can easily recommend Bespelled to those who enjoyed their mum’s Bewitched and those who want something a little more complex.
Copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

[Tash · Rating 4 out of 5]

The enchanting world of witches, magic and a spell comes to life in Dani Kristoff’s latest book ‘ Bespelled.’ In my first ever read of witches and the power magic and spells I loved the imagination of profound love and a spell that can bring together to people in the narrative.

The romance between Elena and Jake made for a great narrative. The passion ignited and felt through out of the book was magical. I enjoyed the path of trying to do what is right but also trying to let your feelings speak louder than words. The character Elena reminded me about how sometimes you have a let your feelings guide you and let your guard down. In the narrative, I didn’t see a few of the twists that the author shone our way, but they were great surprises in a terrific read.

For Full review- http://booklitlove.com/2014/02/12/boo...
*ARC COPY was Provided by NetGalley for an honest review*

[Stephany Acosta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got a copy from net galley for honest review.
Well this book was pretty entertaining, it was a story a bit different to what I usually read. I love how the characters's relationship (Jake and Elena) is linked to other secondary characters.
The beginning was very slow (and that's why I gave 4 stars), Jake did like her but at the start I thought it was just for sex. I think that if it wasn't for the spell there would be no happy ending between these two.
What it was really interesting was when they where "isolated" to fix the problem but when the spell got worst, I thought that was going to be the end of Jake.
I really thought that Drew was going to do something, never expected him getting sick for just a kiss (SPOILER: they're siblings). I really liked the ending, it was really appropriate for the story.
You will laugh, I recommend this book!!!

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book I thought it was cute, it was fun to read and Jake oh my I loved him, he was like a damn little kid with a one track mind under the spell, "I'm listening to every word. Do you know you have a dimple on one side of your mouth, and your teeth are perfectly shaped?" I mean he really was like a little kid in everything he did under that spell, "Jake released her mouth to bury his face in her neck. His warm breath excited her sensitive skin, the sensation even more intimate than the kiss." There was no stopping this man on a mission and Elena good Lord I don't know how she could handle it, "his hands traveled down and grasped her butt, lifting her up and pressing her against him. Oh God, what was that? His hard-on pressed against her. She prayed for mercy."

[Nakeesha]

Such a great premise: big bad lawyer gets shot with a love spell and falls for a half witch in a world where magic is both secret and sanctioned. However, the characters came off very juvenile in their actions and dialogue. Also, there was a lot of exposition and world building in the first two chapters. I was overwhelmed having to remember all the rules and personalities instead of having it worked naturally into the story.

[Lisa Gemmell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy from Netgalley for an honest review

I really enjoyed this book, it had funny moments in it that had me giggling out loud.


So Elena is a half witch, and when her cousin asks her to meet with the Jake the lawyer over a contract , she reluctantly agreed. So she meets with Jake thinking she is meeting an old man, only to be shocked to be meeting a good looking man in a great suit.

So something happens and Jake has fallen under a spell, a love spell. This is where the fun begins.

[Katharine (Ventureadlaxre)]

Katharine is a judge for the Aurealis Awards. This entry is the personal opinion of Katharine herself, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.

To be safe, I won't be recording my thoughts (if I choose to) here until after the AA are over.

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a fun and sexy, light-hearted read.

[Elizabeth Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read, though it veered briefly into some dark territory.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saucy! 3.5 stars