Series: Urban Seductions

Zahra Gower is a witch that, unlike her father and sister, is not intrigued by the politics and all that is involved with the Magical Council.  As a matter of fact, Zahra does her best to avoid all of that, except when she has to attend parties her father and sister have.  During one of these parties, Zahra finally comes to terms with an attraction toward a witch who teamed up with her sister when needed, but was much more freelance than any of the Magical Council investigators.

Rob Padden enjoyed his life and his job until it was all ripped away from him by false accusations that lead to him being put to trial.  Now, Rob works as an investigator, but for no one near the high level Magical Council.  Rob is amazed when Zahra’s sister calls him to request his help and to say she now knows that she was wrong in her accusations.  However, before Rob and Tanya can meet, she is killed.  Now, Rob must risk the rejection that Zahra might give him to see if he can find the evidence that will finally clear his name.

Zahra is in shock after the sudden death of her sister, but the shock becomes anger when she learns that Tanya might have been killed.  Zahra not only accepts Rob’s apology, but she also teams up with him to find out what her sister learned and who was behind her death.  The hunt quickly becomes dangerous as someone really doesn’t want Rob’s name cleared or the truth to come out about Tanya’s death.  The attraction between Rob and Zahra also flares up again as they team up to follow the clues to a killer.  Yet, another act of betrayal puts Zahra and all she loves in danger, and this life-loving witch must figure out how to stall a killer until help arrives, and only the trust and love of Rob is keeping her going.

An attraction that was never given the chance to live is given another chance as two witches follow the clues to a killer in Passionate Investigations.  Rob and Zahra are racing against time to discover just who framed Rob and killed Zahra’s sister.  Along the way, the very attraction that first brought them together just might be the very thing to save them.  Betrayals and rot are what I see Zahra and Rob uncover along the way.  I enjoyed watching as they decided who to trust and who might be the one betraying Zahra’s family.  I loved that in the end it wasn’t the investigators or the enforcers who brought down the killer, but a nature-loving and fun-loving witch with a really strong will.  Passionate Investigations is a light-hearted romp with touches of suspense and danger to keep the story intriguing until the last page.

Reviewed by Jo

Kiera Patrick is a Strategist who has gained an excellent reputation and track record on the strategies she has come up with. So when her boss and mentor calls her into a meeting, Kiera doesn’t expect anything unusual.  Big mistake, because she, a co-worker, and a stranger are about to be asked to do something that will change their lives forever.

Hayden Foxworthy is a special Operative who happens to be on leave of absence after his last mission in which he came up close and personal to the worst type of dark magic.  Because it was his partner who conducted that dark magic, Hayden’s reputation is a bit smeared, even though he didn’t know anything about it until the end.   Now he is brought into another situation that is dealing with the even darker and deadlier magic.  Not exactly something Hayden wants to be a part of in any capacity.

The Tribunal, a counsel of wizards and witches who lead wizard kind, has gained possession of a seriously dark magic book.  However, at least one member isn’t sure that it should be given to the entire Tribunal, like would normally happen.  So Kiera, Hayden, and one other are asked to examine the book and find out what the future holds with the various strategies that can be observed.  When the decision is made to destroy the book with a certain safety precaution taken, none of the threesome expects what happens next—that someone on the Tribunal has turned and now a price has been placed on everyone’s head.  Kiera and Hayden go on the run and try to find out who has put the contract on them and what they can do to survive until that member of the Tribunal can be discovered and the contracts voided.

Dark magic brought together two people of light, and the outcome was love while facing danger at every angle. Kiera and Hayden are on a race for their lives while falling in love in Strategic Surrender.  After seeing Hayden having to deal with is evil partner before, I was happy to see him find love.  I had also seen Kiera help other friends before, so it was a pleasure to see her and Hayden come together.  Watching how the decision was made to destroy an evil book, I really wasn’t surprised to see that everyone involved now had a contract out on them or that it came from someone within the Tribunal.  I loved watching how both Kiera and Hayden tried to protect each other in their own ways.  While the danger isn’t over yet, I know that the love that Hayden and Kiera found together will help them survive the worst until they can stop running and just enjoy their lives again.  Strategic Surrender is full of suspense and danger, while equally filled with passion and finally a love that will last the ages and overcome evil.