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Night of the Magician
If there was one thing Ariana Warfield understood, it was money. As a financial planner in charge of her family's accounts, she'd known immediately that her Aunt Philomena was being swindled by a charlatan psychic.
Lucian Hawk, devastating magician, was the perfect choice to unmask the fraud. But from the moment they met, Ariana realized that his dangerous spells threatened to shatter her well-planned life. Suddenly she discovered real magic in his arms, and enthralling passion that drove the woman who didn't take chances to risk everything on love.
Lucian Hawk, devastating magician, was the perfect choice to unmask the fraud. But from the moment they met, Ariana realized that his dangerous spells threatened to shatter her well-planned life. Suddenly she discovered real magic in his arms, and enthralling passion that drove the woman who didn't take chances to risk everything on love.
218 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1984
1 person is currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie James
48 books150 followersJayne Ann Castle was born on 28 March 1948 in Borrego Springs, California. Her mother, Alberta Castle, raised her with her two brothers, Stephen and James. In 1970, she obtained a B.A in History at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and later she obtained a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University, where she met Frank Krentz, an engineer. After her graduation, they married and moved to the Virgin Islands. She worked in the Duke University library system, where she began to write her first romance novels. The marriage moved to Seattle, Washington, where they continue living.
Now, Jayne Ann Castle Krentz with her seven pennames is considered a pillar in the contemporary romance genre. For some years, she only uses three pennames for each of three different periods from time: "Jayne Ann Krentz" (her married name) from the present, "Jayne Castle" (her birth name) from the future and her most famous penname: "Amanda Quick" from the past. She is famous for her work ethic, beginning her writing by 7 am six days a week. Her heroins never are damsels in hardships, they are often heroes. Her novels also contain mystery or paranormal elements.
Enthusiastic of the romantic genre, she has always defended its importance. To help educate the public about the romantic genre she became the editor and a contributor to Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women: Romance Writers on the Appeal of the Romance, a non-fiction essay collection that won the prestigious Susan Koppelman Award for Feminist Studies. She established the Castle Humanities Fund at UCSC's University Library to allow the library to purchase additional books and has given money to 15 Seattle-area elementary schools to enhance their library budgets. She is also a member of the Advisory Board for the Writers Programs at the University of Washington extension program.
Psuedonyms:
Jayne Ann Krentz
Amanda Quick
Jayne Castle
Jayne Bentley
Jayne Taylor
Amanda Glass
Now, Jayne Ann Castle Krentz with her seven pennames is considered a pillar in the contemporary romance genre. For some years, she only uses three pennames for each of three different periods from time: "Jayne Ann Krentz" (her married name) from the present, "Jayne Castle" (her birth name) from the future and her most famous penname: "Amanda Quick" from the past. She is famous for her work ethic, beginning her writing by 7 am six days a week. Her heroins never are damsels in hardships, they are often heroes. Her novels also contain mystery or paranormal elements.
Enthusiastic of the romantic genre, she has always defended its importance. To help educate the public about the romantic genre she became the editor and a contributor to Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women: Romance Writers on the Appeal of the Romance, a non-fiction essay collection that won the prestigious Susan Koppelman Award for Feminist Studies. She established the Castle Humanities Fund at UCSC's University Library to allow the library to purchase additional books and has given money to 15 Seattle-area elementary schools to enhance their library budgets. She is also a member of the Advisory Board for the Writers Programs at the University of Washington extension program.
Psuedonyms:
Jayne Ann Krentz
Amanda Quick
Jayne Castle
Jayne Bentley
Jayne Taylor
Amanda Glass
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 11, 2020
“Because I am so much in love with you that if you don’t marry me and come to live with me, I think I will go out of my mind. I need you, sweetheart, in a way I’ve never needed any other woman. 1 want you. I can’t face the thought of living without you. I know you haven’t had a chance yet to fall in love with me, but I can wait. ..."
"Night Of The Magician" is the story of Ariana and Lucian.
Another fabulous read!
Our h is a financial adviser, who takes care of those she loves. When her beloved aunt gets swindled into giving money to a con artist pretending to be a spiritual guru, she decides to take matters into her own hand. With the help of her brother, she hires the H- a famous magician- to defraud the artist. The H is instantly taken with the h, she however is extremely wary due to her past. How his charms his way into her heart forms the crux of the story.
I really loved this book. The h was strong and smart, the H determined and obsessed. I liked that he understood her reserve, however, did not shy away from pushing through her barriers. The lovemaking scenes are super hot, the ending even sweeter!
Totally recommended!
Safe
4.5/5
"Night Of The Magician" is the story of Ariana and Lucian.
Another fabulous read!
Our h is a financial adviser, who takes care of those she loves. When her beloved aunt gets swindled into giving money to a con artist pretending to be a spiritual guru, she decides to take matters into her own hand. With the help of her brother, she hires the H- a famous magician- to defraud the artist. The H is instantly taken with the h, she however is extremely wary due to her past. How his charms his way into her heart forms the crux of the story.
I really loved this book. The h was strong and smart, the H determined and obsessed. I liked that he understood her reserve, however, did not shy away from pushing through her barriers. The lovemaking scenes are super hot, the ending even sweeter!
Totally recommended!
Safe
4.5/5
July 29, 2019
An other one of her appalling stories where women don't really know their mind, no means yes, and pride has no meaning.
Add instalove that survives betrayal and you have your book.
With relatives likes this I think you don't need a con man
Add instalove that survives betrayal and you have your book.
With relatives likes this I think you don't need a con man
June 6, 2014
It started out okay. I expected the usual romance novel melodrama. Was hoping for it actually. Initially I didn't care much for Ariana but I liked Lucian. All of that changed about halfway in. The sex scene, while expected, came at a point in the book when Ariana was still firmly against having any relationship with him. So why did they sleep together? Because they have chemistry and (most importantly) because he just happened to be outside her bedroom that night when she woke up. Ummmm... okay? After that Lucian generally devolves into a 50s-esque alpha male even telling Ariana that he should beat her for making him worry. Ariana meanwhile swings between logical mistrust and swoony apologies for upsetting him. All of this is bracketed by the many (MANY) mentions of Ariana's French vanilla and papaya living room furnishings. I can safely say I have no desire to read this book ever again.
August 30, 2016
I liked the plot and Lucian .. but Ariana was a little hard to like , I get why she's concerned with money and all but that doesn't excuse her patronizing ways and I would have preferred if Lucian was who he seemed to be .. that would have made things more interesting.
September 14, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. Her characters are always different than expected. I enjoyed all of her 80's books and took them for the era they were in and what was selling. I do wish they were all in Kindle Format!
April 20, 2011
brought this as a double book under title of "Dangerous Affair". Other story was Dangerous Magic which I loathed so much I just didnt want to give this a try so did not read it
August 16, 2021
Paskvil. Za tak chatrný příběh by se stydělo i dítě ve třetí třídě.
Hrdinka pozve hrdinu na večeři, aby probrali obchodní záležitost. Po koláči se hrdina už neudrží a začne se na ni sápat. Ale ona je charakter, takže ho vykopne.
Ale na „služební“ cestě se jí hrdina v noci zjeví u postele. Je bouřka a když už se tak snažil, že si i dveře odemkl, přišlo jí tak trochu hloupé, aby mu nedala.
Postelová scéna je zcela v režii hrdiny, ze kterého se vyklubal anatom-amatér. Skoro jsem čekala, že vytáhne kladívko a udeří hrdinku do kolínka.
Na s. 121 hrdina neváhá hrdince sdělit, že je zlatokopka (ano, je) a že by si o nuzáka (jako je on) neopřela ani kolo. Takže to vzal do svých rukou a její postele a Včerejší noc si budu pamatovat do konce života.
Když se na s. 125 ukáže, že je bohatší než ona: cítila, jak se v ní začíná vzmáhat chladný hněv.
Smířila by se s tím, že je chudý, ale ne s tím, že jí lhal.
Rozhořčeně zavolá bratrovi, který jí hrdinu doporučil, aby zjistila, že se chlapci při prvním setkání sblížili tak, že hrdina vytelil všechno o svém dětství, jak zbohatl a kolik má peněz. (s. 132)
Sice si ji nechce vzít (navzdory tomu, že se znají už asi tak tři dny), ale aspoň ji neokrade. Sice mu nemůže přijít na jméno, ale chce vědět všechno o jeho trudném dětství. A ona se mu na oplátku svěří s tím, co jí jeden lump provedl před čtyřmi lety.
To bylo táááák „dojemné“. A naprosto nelogické.
Takže hrdinka není zlatokopka, ale chrání se před podobným ponížením. (s. 147)
Ne že by se hrdina choval jako psychopat. Prohlášení typu „Patříš mi“, „Nechtěj mě naštvat“ a „Neudělej nic, čeho bys litovala“ jsou přece tááák romantická.
Pak tu máme žárlivou scénu. Proč se sešla s Richardem, kterého si na začátku chtěla vzít, a teď se ukázalo, že se spolu schází už přes měsíc?
Přece aby hrdinu naštvala. Ale on se s ní teď vyspí, protože „Bude to zřejmě ten nejúčinnější způsob, jak se s tebou domluvit!“ (s. 164)
Ale ona mu nedovolí, aby s ní manipuloval, a trvá na tom, aby ji okamžitě pustil.
Trvalo asi minutu než ji „opředla vášeň“ a V jeho náruči přímo zdivočela a musela ho mít. (s. 169)
Pak jí zakáže stýkat se s Richardem a je ochotný manželství s ní zkusit.
Ale ona si ho vzít nechce.
Takže za pár minut rozrazí dveře do koupelny:
„To mi chceš říct,“ procedil smrtelně tichým hlasem, „že nejsem dost dobrý, aby sis mě vzala?“
Pamatuje si autorka, že se hrdinové znají asi tak týden a to se většinu doby ani neviděli?
Nevidím se, že mu utekla manželka, ale hrdinka ví, že to nebyla jeho chyba.
Její rodina se shodne na tom, že by si ho měla vzít.
Ale ona nechce.
Ne kvůli tomu, že se znají v podstatě pár hodin a on se chová jako psychopat, ale protože ji nepožádal.
Takže požádá, ona mu svěří, že ho milovala od prvního pelešení, a je vymalováno.
s. 193 lásku..
špatné dělení slov - s. 70
uvozovky - s. 28
Hrdinka pozve hrdinu na večeři, aby probrali obchodní záležitost. Po koláči se hrdina už neudrží a začne se na ni sápat. Ale ona je charakter, takže ho vykopne.
Ale na „služební“ cestě se jí hrdina v noci zjeví u postele. Je bouřka a když už se tak snažil, že si i dveře odemkl, přišlo jí tak trochu hloupé, aby mu nedala.
Postelová scéna je zcela v režii hrdiny, ze kterého se vyklubal anatom-amatér. Skoro jsem čekala, že vytáhne kladívko a udeří hrdinku do kolínka.
Na s. 121 hrdina neváhá hrdince sdělit, že je zlatokopka (ano, je) a že by si o nuzáka (jako je on) neopřela ani kolo. Takže to vzal do svých rukou a její postele a Včerejší noc si budu pamatovat do konce života.
Když se na s. 125 ukáže, že je bohatší než ona: cítila, jak se v ní začíná vzmáhat chladný hněv.
Smířila by se s tím, že je chudý, ale ne s tím, že jí lhal.
Rozhořčeně zavolá bratrovi, který jí hrdinu doporučil, aby zjistila, že se chlapci při prvním setkání sblížili tak, že hrdina vytelil všechno o svém dětství, jak zbohatl a kolik má peněz. (s. 132)
Sice si ji nechce vzít (navzdory tomu, že se znají už asi tak tři dny), ale aspoň ji neokrade. Sice mu nemůže přijít na jméno, ale chce vědět všechno o jeho trudném dětství. A ona se mu na oplátku svěří s tím, co jí jeden lump provedl před čtyřmi lety.
To bylo táááák „dojemné“. A naprosto nelogické.
Takže hrdinka není zlatokopka, ale chrání se před podobným ponížením. (s. 147)
Ne že by se hrdina choval jako psychopat. Prohlášení typu „Patříš mi“, „Nechtěj mě naštvat“ a „Neudělej nic, čeho bys litovala“ jsou přece tááák romantická.
Pak tu máme žárlivou scénu. Proč se sešla s Richardem, kterého si na začátku chtěla vzít, a teď se ukázalo, že se spolu schází už přes měsíc?
Přece aby hrdinu naštvala. Ale on se s ní teď vyspí, protože „Bude to zřejmě ten nejúčinnější způsob, jak se s tebou domluvit!“ (s. 164)
Ale ona mu nedovolí, aby s ní manipuloval, a trvá na tom, aby ji okamžitě pustil.
Trvalo asi minutu než ji „opředla vášeň“ a V jeho náruči přímo zdivočela a musela ho mít. (s. 169)
Pak jí zakáže stýkat se s Richardem a je ochotný manželství s ní zkusit.
Ale ona si ho vzít nechce.
Takže za pár minut rozrazí dveře do koupelny:
„To mi chceš říct,“ procedil smrtelně tichým hlasem, „že nejsem dost dobrý, aby sis mě vzala?“
Pamatuje si autorka, že se hrdinové znají asi tak týden a to se většinu doby ani neviděli?
Nevidím se, že mu utekla manželka, ale hrdinka ví, že to nebyla jeho chyba.
Její rodina se shodne na tom, že by si ho měla vzít.
Ale ona nechce.
Ne kvůli tomu, že se znají v podstatě pár hodin a on se chová jako psychopat, ale protože ji nepožádal.
Takže požádá, ona mu svěří, že ho milovala od prvního pelešení, a je vymalováno.
s. 193 lásku..
špatné dělení slov - s. 70
uvozovky - s. 28
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2017
More of a 2.5. Kinda reminds me why I don't tend to read Ms Krentz's contemporaries - while her historicals always feature an oddly independent woman and no-one would dare manipulate her into a relationship, the contemporaries seem to have family members all but arranging a marriage. Weird and bass-akward.
So the requisite manipulative family members - the h's aunt, shallow, perfectly willing to take advantage of the h's business acumen while insulting her about her wariness towards men. The h's brother, who seems like a genius version of the aunt. No - didn't like brother or aunt.
The H - wants a toss in the hay so to speak but no commitment. He's a con artist who has managed to mostly be legal and successful. He's into real estate. He lies by omission - he doesn't tell the h anything about himself, knowing she has issues about things like a prenupt, pointless affairs, and men who make less than her. He just doesn't bother to find out why...until he shows off his home and the h reacts even worse to finding out he's wealthy than she had to him thinking he was living by his wits.
Oh of course there's the requisite nefarious crook who must needs be stopped (from preying on the aunt's bank account). And of course said crook doesn't handle being unmasked v. well. And there's the uncomfortable scene where the aunt and the brother are trying to pressure the h to marry the H (who hasn't exactly asked; just demanded), and telling her she's being stubborn (back to name calling I see).
Honestly, I'd have left the lot of them to stew in their own mess.
So the requisite manipulative family members - the h's aunt, shallow, perfectly willing to take advantage of the h's business acumen while insulting her about her wariness towards men. The h's brother, who seems like a genius version of the aunt. No - didn't like brother or aunt.
The H - wants a toss in the hay so to speak but no commitment. He's a con artist who has managed to mostly be legal and successful. He's into real estate. He lies by omission - he doesn't tell the h anything about himself, knowing she has issues about things like a prenupt, pointless affairs, and men who make less than her. He just doesn't bother to find out why...until he shows off his home and the h reacts even worse to finding out he's wealthy than she had to him thinking he was living by his wits.
Oh of course there's the requisite nefarious crook who must needs be stopped (from preying on the aunt's bank account). And of course said crook doesn't handle being unmasked v. well. And there's the uncomfortable scene where the aunt and the brother are trying to pressure the h to marry the H (who hasn't exactly asked; just demanded), and telling her she's being stubborn (back to name calling I see).
Honestly, I'd have left the lot of them to stew in their own mess.
August 16, 2010
This is typical of Krentz's early work, a very dominating hero ignores the heroine's initial objections and they fall in love anyway. Neither one admits this until the last page.
The heroine is reluctant to trust due to being taken financially for a ride by the last man she trusted enough to love. She is determined not to marry without a strong prenup, and never to be with someone who has less money than she does. The hero has been taken for a ride by his first wife, and is against marriage. Initially he views the heroine as mercenary.
They both change their minds, and even back then Krentz (writing as Stephanie James) had the skill to bring us to enjoy the entire thing.
The heroine is reluctant to trust due to being taken financially for a ride by the last man she trusted enough to love. She is determined not to marry without a strong prenup, and never to be with someone who has less money than she does. The hero has been taken for a ride by his first wife, and is against marriage. Initially he views the heroine as mercenary.
They both change their minds, and even back then Krentz (writing as Stephanie James) had the skill to bring us to enjoy the entire thing.
October 4, 2012
One of better Krentz's books under the pen-name James. The hero wasn't violent in any way and the heroine did actually stamp her foot with some effect a couple of times. Definitely better than 'Nightwalker', a book with some very similar schemes - but the plot was so differently led that they are very much unlike each other.
August 21, 2018
Very entertaining Jayne Ann Krentz from 1984. I enjoyed these characters, mainly Ariana Warfield and Lucian Hawk. The dialogue has not yet reached what she is capable of writing, but the plot was a bit more intricate than her earlier stuff. Good re-read.
March 13, 2015
Fast read. You feel as though you want to shake both characters and tell them wake up .
June 4, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed
second reading - continue to enjoy it
second reading - continue to enjoy it
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews