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Magic and Mystery
After centuries of loyal service as a detective, Nigel Prince retired from England's Department of Magical Justice. He's content spending time alone in his cottage, minding his own business, thank you very much. Others might describe him as a cranky codger and they'd be right.
But Nigel is also an extremely powerful mage, and a gifted officer who is knowledgeable on all things paranormal. That's why his former Chief Constable keeps trying to lure him back to the police force for help with difficult cases. Nigel always refuses, until the Chief Constable brings a file he can't ignore.
In America, a fellow officer's immortal life was cut short when he was murdered and mutilated in a horrific scene. The American Department of Magical Justice has called upon Nigel's talents and expertise to assist them avenge the detective's death, and he reluctantly agrees to travel across the pond to help them.
Nigel soon learns that things are even worse than he imagined; the perpetrator is a serial killer with nefarious intent. On top of that, Nigel learns that his new partner Milan is his beloved; his perfect match granted by Fate whom he is destined to love for all time. Of course, he learns that after he spouted off his mouth and earned Milan's disdain.
So now Nigel is tasked with wooing his beloved, stopping a killer, and saving the world.
*Just in time for Halloween, this paranormal story contains a slightly spooky storyline and a bit of gore, along with magic, mystery, sweetness, and heat! It has no cliffhanger, but a very happy HEA!
But Nigel is also an extremely powerful mage, and a gifted officer who is knowledgeable on all things paranormal. That's why his former Chief Constable keeps trying to lure him back to the police force for help with difficult cases. Nigel always refuses, until the Chief Constable brings a file he can't ignore.
In America, a fellow officer's immortal life was cut short when he was murdered and mutilated in a horrific scene. The American Department of Magical Justice has called upon Nigel's talents and expertise to assist them avenge the detective's death, and he reluctantly agrees to travel across the pond to help them.
Nigel soon learns that things are even worse than he imagined; the perpetrator is a serial killer with nefarious intent. On top of that, Nigel learns that his new partner Milan is his beloved; his perfect match granted by Fate whom he is destined to love for all time. Of course, he learns that after he spouted off his mouth and earned Milan's disdain.
So now Nigel is tasked with wooing his beloved, stopping a killer, and saving the world.
*Just in time for Halloween, this paranormal story contains a slightly spooky storyline and a bit of gore, along with magic, mystery, sweetness, and heat! It has no cliffhanger, but a very happy HEA!
225 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2023
47 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Jayda Marx
84 books537 followersI live in rural Ohio with my husband and two sons who drive me nuts, but I love them with all my heart. I enjoy reading and writing romance of all types, but gay romance is my forte and favorite! Twice the sexy men? Yes, please! My books tend to be low angst because it hurts my heart, but they do contain lots of heartfelt moments, steamy scenes and a healthy dose of humor. Thank you to everyone for checking out my page and I hope you enjoy my books. Happy reading!
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 23 reviews
October 21, 2023
Wowzers...
Yall, I was not expecting to fall in love so quickly but here we are.
Slight spoilers ahead
In here we have a very old mage named Nigel. He's not only old, but mean, grumpy, and British. He gets called out of retirement to help the NY dept of magic solve a crime that involves the killing of mages and removing specific body parts.
Oh yea, Jayda went dark, and it was glorious. Not gonna lie, I think this is the best writing Jayda has done and they've written a heck of a lot. There is a bit of blood and gore but to me it wasn't enough to really creep anyone out. I mean, its like gore-lite?
Anyways, Nigel meets Milan, who's twin was killed. They were not only brothers but also partners in the magical police force. Milan did not have powers, but was still magical while his twin had actual magic.
After insulting Milan by being his real self, Nigel realizes immediately that Milan is his beloved (fated mate yall) and while Milan didn't know why, he immediately was drawn to him, grumpy pants and all.
Then they knuckle down and solve the mystery.
I loved both mcs. I cannot wait for more.
Yall, I was not expecting to fall in love so quickly but here we are.
Slight spoilers ahead
In here we have a very old mage named Nigel. He's not only old, but mean, grumpy, and British. He gets called out of retirement to help the NY dept of magic solve a crime that involves the killing of mages and removing specific body parts.
Oh yea, Jayda went dark, and it was glorious. Not gonna lie, I think this is the best writing Jayda has done and they've written a heck of a lot. There is a bit of blood and gore but to me it wasn't enough to really creep anyone out. I mean, its like gore-lite?
Anyways, Nigel meets Milan, who's twin was killed. They were not only brothers but also partners in the magical police force. Milan did not have powers, but was still magical while his twin had actual magic.
After insulting Milan by being his real self, Nigel realizes immediately that Milan is his beloved (fated mate yall) and while Milan didn't know why, he immediately was drawn to him, grumpy pants and all.
Then they knuckle down and solve the mystery.
I loved both mcs. I cannot wait for more.
Read
December 11, 2023I was mistaken that I had read this, although I did start it.
The uninspired writing and characters have me stopping at 41%.
The uninspired writing and characters have me stopping at 41%.
October 23, 2023
The magic fizzles…
What happened to the time when Jayda Marx would write a full length book and I’d gobble it up and be left with all the feels? I’ve always enjoyed her insta-love and funny stories. But now all we get are super short novellas and some MCs that make me want to scream.
The insta-love was definitely here in some and so was the MC that made me want to scream. coughNIGELcough But the actual story itself left a lot to be desired. Nigel was a stereotypical British guy, Milan was presented as a super competent cop but didn’t really show it in a lot of ways and the bad guy was just typical. Not a lot of depth with that one. Eh. Maybe I’m reaching for the stars with these stories and I should be aiming for something a little lower. Guess we’ll see with the next one.
What happened to the time when Jayda Marx would write a full length book and I’d gobble it up and be left with all the feels? I’ve always enjoyed her insta-love and funny stories. But now all we get are super short novellas and some MCs that make me want to scream.
The insta-love was definitely here in some and so was the MC that made me want to scream. coughNIGELcough But the actual story itself left a lot to be desired. Nigel was a stereotypical British guy, Milan was presented as a super competent cop but didn’t really show it in a lot of ways and the bad guy was just typical. Not a lot of depth with that one. Eh. Maybe I’m reaching for the stars with these stories and I should be aiming for something a little lower. Guess we’ll see with the next one.
July 26, 2024
It was OK, but it read too fast for me
RTC!
RTC!
March 19, 2025
”It’s no wonder his partner got killed with this guy watching his back! If he was any kind of a man, he would turn in his badge and save the next sorry sucker who would be assigned as his partner.” - Nigel
Warnings: Death, Kidnapping, Assault
Main Character Information:
Nigel: >400 years old, Elder Mage, Grump King, Dark Blonde, Hazel Eyes
Milan: 36, Mage (magic-less), Officer, Black Hair, Brown Eyes
My Ratings:
Spice: 1.75/5
Angst/Stress: 1.5/5
Fluff: 2.75/5
Structure/Format/Flow: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
Intimate/Spicy Moments Include:
Stuff I Want To Mention:
Well that next partner? It’s you, Nigel. Oh, and your fated love?? That’s him. And that is the first thing he’s ever heard come out of your mouth. So, suck it up, Buttercup. You got some ass kissing to do. This read has more action than others I can recall reading from Jayda. I could see myself reading a whole series in this universe with even longer novels. It was slightly graphic at times, like the end of chapter 11, gah. But it was a nice read. Not sure why I haven’t read it until recently!
Milan may not have magical powers, but he still had me under his spell. - Nigel
It can be safely assumed all of my reviews are from books that are 1st Person, have a HEA, and have no intimate or spicy scenes with anyone/thing other than MC(s). I try to rate books objectively if they have something I don’t typically like (i.e. Break Ups, SA, 3rd Person, Single POV, Sharing Partners). If it’s still written well the author deserves the praise but I will make note to avoid for myself in the future. I do my best to mark different triggers/warnings as well as the intimate acts performed in case anything listed/done might not be something you would want to read. If M/M, Age Play, Interspecies, Insta Love, Erotica, MPreg, or Incest are something you actively avoid, you are probably better off avoiding most of the books I review.
DNF: Something off, couldn’t finish because of it.
1 Star: No, thanks. Something super wrong.
2 Stars: Oh that was something but it was not something for me.
3 Stars: Decent, some things didn’t sit or read right but it was worth the effort.
4 Stars: Really enjoyed it, might read again even.
5 Stars: Super duper enjoyed, written well and read well.
October 11, 2023
Had to DNF because Jayda is one of a long line of lazy authors who likes the idea of a British character, but doesn’t actually do any research beyond Googling “British slang” and trying to shoehorn it into dialogue at every clunky opportunity. I wish Americans appreciated how offensive that is. It’s like writing an Italian character and having them say “mamma Mia, that’s-ah spicy meatball.” Or an American character that’s all “oh sugga, bless your heart, you’re purrty as picture. Butter my butt and call me a biscuit, but I’m fixing to pitch a fit.”
It sounds stupid, and over done. It also makes no sense because it’s someone who isn’t British, and hasn’t ever spoken to someone British, creating a one dimensional character who is obsessed with tea and says arse an unnecessary amount of times! I’m reminded of the line from Friends - well, in America you’re just an ass.
If you want a perfect example of how clunky it is, it’s when the British guy says “I usually sleep in my knickers.” Because Marx googled British slang, thinks knickers is slang for underwear, and just cooed with delight at having her character say it. So Nigel just expressed a kink, and it’s glossed over. Why? Because Marx’s Googling didn’t extend to realising knickers are women’s underwear.
It sounds stupid, and over done. It also makes no sense because it’s someone who isn’t British, and hasn’t ever spoken to someone British, creating a one dimensional character who is obsessed with tea and says arse an unnecessary amount of times! I’m reminded of the line from Friends - well, in America you’re just an ass.
If you want a perfect example of how clunky it is, it’s when the British guy says “I usually sleep in my knickers.” Because Marx googled British slang, thinks knickers is slang for underwear, and just cooed with delight at having her character say it. So Nigel just expressed a kink, and it’s glossed over. Why? Because Marx’s Googling didn’t extend to realising knickers are women’s underwear.
October 16, 2023
Another winner
Another winner from Jayda Marx! British witch Nigel comes out of retirement to track down a murderer in the USA. He doesn't expect to find his fated mate in the deceased officer's partner. But before he even speaks one word to his beloved, Nigel makes some snarky comments that Milan overheard. Milan is still hurting from the death of his twin brother but is determined to find the killer. Can Nigel keep his foot out of his mouth long enough to find the murderer and win the heart of his fated mate? This was an exciting and fast paced story. I really like Jayda's version of witches and their fated mates. The twin witch concept was interesting. Hopefully there will be more stories from this world.
Another winner from Jayda Marx! British witch Nigel comes out of retirement to track down a murderer in the USA. He doesn't expect to find his fated mate in the deceased officer's partner. But before he even speaks one word to his beloved, Nigel makes some snarky comments that Milan overheard. Milan is still hurting from the death of his twin brother but is determined to find the killer. Can Nigel keep his foot out of his mouth long enough to find the murderer and win the heart of his fated mate? This was an exciting and fast paced story. I really like Jayda's version of witches and their fated mates. The twin witch concept was interesting. Hopefully there will be more stories from this world.
April 22, 2025
Disappointed
The plot had a lot of potential. As the book continued, the worse it became. I really like this author, but they go out of their way to be anti-confrontational, which makes a lot of conversations and scenes unsatisfying. There is little to no actual romance either. A negative 1 out of 5 for spicy content.
The plot had a lot of potential. As the book continued, the worse it became. I really like this author, but they go out of their way to be anti-confrontational, which makes a lot of conversations and scenes unsatisfying. There is little to no actual romance either. A negative 1 out of 5 for spicy content.
November 18, 2023
Nigel is such an odd name for a British guy... Sounds more Hispanic to me...
There is something rather amateurish about this book, especially in the sex scenes, and the storyline is a bit rushed, but other than that, it was okay.
There is something rather amateurish about this book, especially in the sex scenes, and the storyline is a bit rushed, but other than that, it was okay.
October 9, 2023
Recommend
Different type of book from this author but I enjoyed it. Magic, fated mates, murder and intrigue, while it’s a short story it flowed well.
Different type of book from this author but I enjoyed it. Magic, fated mates, murder and intrigue, while it’s a short story it flowed well.
October 10, 2023
Another quick and easy fated mates Insta love read from this author. An enjoyable light read between heavier ones.
October 10, 2023
love it!
Different from what I’ve read from author but still loved it. I’m all about instant love and mates. And so glad that this won’t be the last of these MC’s.
Different from what I’ve read from author but still loved it. I’m all about instant love and mates. And so glad that this won’t be the last of these MC’s.
October 19, 2023
another great book
This is another great book by the author, Jada Marx’s. I really enjoyed the story is darker and many of her other books, but still as a great love story.
This is another great book by the author, Jada Marx’s. I really enjoyed the story is darker and many of her other books, but still as a great love story.
October 20, 2023
magic and mystery
I think this was the best story this author has written. I liked the plot. The some of the characters took some getting used too. A nice quick read.
I think this was the best story this author has written. I liked the plot. The some of the characters took some getting used too. A nice quick read.
October 24, 2023
A bit too sweet.
October 31, 2023
3.2
El principio realmente estuvo bien, pero pudo haber sido más largo y desarrollar tanto la relación como la historia mucho más
El principio realmente estuvo bien, pero pudo haber sido más largo y desarrollar tanto la relación como la historia mucho más
November 15, 2023
It was cute. My only notes are I wish the characters were more fleshed out and it was longer.
November 17, 2023
It's like this author is barely even trying anymore. Very disappointed.
Read
February 6, 2025DNF 54%
October 22, 2023
💜💜💜💜1/2
This is a paranormal queer romance with magic, and it was a good read. Nigel and Milan has a complicated relationship after Milan overhears Nigel being a brat. This was an interesting look at magic and fated mates from a different pov.
💜💜💜💜1/2
This is a paranormal queer romance with magic, and it was a good read. Nigel and Milan has a complicated relationship after Milan overhears Nigel being a brat. This was an interesting look at magic and fated mates from a different pov.
💜💜💜💜1/2
February 15, 2024
Magic and Mystery is a new book by the fantastic Jayda Marx. Nigel and Milan are great characters and the book is filled with magic, love, and a great mystery. The book has a bit more gore than Marx's other books but it is still fantastic. I am hoping for more books set in the same world.
Read
May 11, 20252,5/5
I listened to the audiobook.
One word: meh.
Maybe a full-length would have been better. We would have spent more time with the characters, their romance and the worldbuilding ; maybe have had more depth and be more compelling.
I listened to the audiobook.
One word: meh.
Maybe a full-length would have been better. We would have spent more time with the characters, their romance and the worldbuilding ; maybe have had more depth and be more compelling.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 23 reviews