Hannah doesn’t believe in things that go bump in the night – until they start accumulating on her doorstep. A Power Enchancer, her gift jumps to the forefront of her life, and she has no choice but to take notice when dishy, arrogant Edwin attempts to kidnap her as part of a covert mission to save the Eight Realms.

Edwin is a half-vamp, intent on collecting the bounty on errant paranormal beings. His best-laid plans go awry when he meets stubborn Hannah. He needs her energies in order to vanquish the power-hungry Demon Lord, Andre who’s bent on destroying the world. He’s thrown off guard as she bewitches him with her sarcastic nature as well as her tempting curves.

Together the unlikely duo finds themselves flung into a sticky web of supernatural foes and dark deceit in their quest to protect the world’s magic. If they’re lucky, love will meet them on the other side.

Hannah’s heart beat frantically, as if searching for the escape her body couldn’t provide. “Should I be afraid of you, Edwin Mason?” All the old stories she’d ever heard about vampires resurfaced in her mind to multiply like rabbits. Fear clogged her throat. Had it been his plan all along to lure me out into a remote part of the wilderness so that he could dispatch me without witnesses? Will he drain my blood and leave my empty husk of a body in the underbrush? “I think I made a mistake when I agreed to accompany you.”

“I give you my promise and my word. I will never hurt you.” His breath warmed her cheek. “I believe that without you, I would likely succumb to my darker side and become the soulless monster I am destined to evolve into.”

Her fear fled in the face of her anger. “That’s enough!” Rolling over, Hannah pushed Edwin onto his back. She frowned at his startled expression. “You’re only destined to become whatever you want to become. You have vampire genes. So what? Get over it. We all have dark sides and things we would rather not deal with, but unless you plan on living out the remainder of your life in a perpetual bad mood it doesn’t matter. None of it matters, don’t you get it?”

She slapped her palm against his chest and came perilously close to derailing her speech by the realization that he really was the buffest man she’d met. “Don’t you understand? To me, you’re just Edwin Mason, the handsome paranormal bounty hunter who tries his best to order me around but fails miserably at it.” She smiled down into his face from her new propped up position on his chest. “You’re just you.” She stretched her legs, glad of the fire that took away the chill even though she suspected most of the warmth originated from him.

“Are you quite done with this unexpected outburst?” Edwin’s dark eyes twinkled as the long elegant fingers of one hand trailed up her leg.

Small ripples of heat spiraled up her flesh in teasing circles. “Not quite. Let me finish by saying, whether you believe yourself capable of it or not, you have shown me nothing but respect and compassion during our time together. Your desire to track Andre means you have a rigid sense of justice. But just remind yourself from time to time that companionship and friendship can be very beneficial.” Her words dried in her throat when his hand slipped under her shirt to brush the sensitive skin at her hip. Tiny fires ignited in her bloodstream. She revised her earlier assessment of his character.

Edwin was most assuredly dangerous, but not in the way she had first thought.

“Perhaps you are right, Hannah. It has been a very long time indeed since I had someone to share my life.” With panther like precision, he flipped her onto her back. Hannah became trapped between his arms. “I have been remiss in not taking advantage of a willing female…” He lowered his head until his lips were but a hairsbreadth from hers. “Is that what you meant?”

Her senses were on red alert. Her body clamored for his attention, but it was his choice of words that kept Hannah from giving in to temptation. “When, or if, we choose to indulge in any kind of relationship, you most certainly will not take advantage of me. That I can promise you. We’re partners, remember?” She meant to leave the conversation at that particular stopping point, but she never had been good at leaving things alone. With a small sigh, she gave in to that which she had been curious about since she met him.

Before she could change her mind, Hannah pulled his face to hers and kissed him.

The mere joining of their lips created pinwheels of colors within her mind. Just as things became interesting, she smiled against his mouth, and then gently pushed him away. Damn. Hannah willed her body to settle down. “I would hate to shove you into something you’re not mentally ready for. However, if you should change your mind, let me know.”

She turned onto her side with her back to him. If that kiss didn’t melt some of the icy reserve he kept around his feelings, she didn’t know what would.

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Reviewer: Valkyrie's Lady

Hannah Weybourne had spent her life hiding from her talent of Enhancer, making things work much better than they should. She has traveled around, keeping quiet so that the magic can't find her and so that people won't be hurt. She works in a bookstore, goes home to her apartment—all very safe. Until a very polite, very formal, very bossy man walks into her bookstore and announces that she must come with him. Actually, he orders her to come with him which doesn't go over well at all. She runs from him to her home and feels much safer—until he appears in her living room, that is!

Edwin Mason is a man with a mission. To find his friend, Duncan, and rescue him from the demon lord who is keeping him as a display in his museum. He needs Hannah's powers to accomplish this. Finally after convincing Hannah to travel with him, they are off in search of various and sundry magical beings to help them in their quest. Some of them hinder more than they help, but all have an interesting story to tell or trouble to cause. The two travelers not only acquire a better sense of self but Hannah discovers that all magic isn't bad and that she can do things she never thought possible. Edwin, on the other hand, is steadfast in his mission and keeps it at the front of his mind, even when falling for Hannah on the way.

Will they find Duncan in time? What type of museum does this demon lord have, anyway, and why does he keep appearing in Hannah's dreams? The Art of Fang Shui made me chuckle throughout as Hannah, Goth-chick that she is, tries to help Edwin loosen up. They meet vain fairies, very unpleasant trolls, werewolves and other magical creatures. I loved the play between Hannah and some of the fairies and Hannah and Edwin especially. A very well written story that anyone liking romance or magic would enjoy.

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