Guest Review: Charmed Spirits by Carrie Ann Ryan - 3.5 Wine Glasses!

Charmed Spirits 
(Holiday, Montana #1)
By Carrie Ann Ryan
Paperback, 260 pages
Published October 2nd 2012 by Fated Desires Publishing, LLC
ISBN 1623220092 
Copy courtesy of author

Jordan Cross has returned to Holiday, Montana after eleven long years to clear out her late aunt’s house, put it on the market, and figure out what she wants to do with the rest of her life. Soon, she finds herself facing the town that turned its back on her because she was different. Because being labeled a witch in a small town didn’t earn her many friends...especially when it wasn't a lie.
Matt Cooper has lived in Holiday his whole life. He's perfectly content being a bachelor alongside his four single brothers in a very small town. After all, the only woman he'd ever loved ran out on him without a goodbye. But now Jordan’s back and just as bewitching as ever. Can they rekindle their romance with a town set against them?
Warning: Contains an intelligent, sexy witch with an attitude and drop-dead gorgeous man who likes to work with his hands, holds a secret that might scare someone, and really, really, likes table tops for certain activities. Enough said.

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Viviana’s Thoughts: 
OMG – the warning in the synopsis is not only hilarious but extremely accurate (particularly the last part of the statement)! I’m not saying another word, but you will know exactly what I’m talking about if you’ve read the book or when you read it!! 

I will say that this reads like a contemporary novel with the exception that the heroine is a witch and there are things that go bump in the night. It was a sweet, romantic story about high school sweethearts that may get that second chance and finally learn the truth regarding the events that lead them to be apart. 

Jordan is strong (and by now you know I like my heroines to be strong and not ditzy or whiny, anyways, back to the review), smart, sarcastic, a hard worker but she is still vulnerable in that she hides her true self because of the abuse she suffered as a child on the hands of the town. She became an outcast at the age of five because of her gifts and she never got over that feeling, which caused her to neglect her gifts and not reach her full potential. 

 Enter Matt Cooper and his brothers (which, I’ll share more on them in a bit). Matt and Jordan were best friends since they were children, which blossomed into a romantic relationship in their teens. Matt and his brothers always considered Jordan part of their family and protected her when the town folks were mean. One night they were supposed to go out on a date and she never showed up. In fact, he found out that she left town. No goodbyes, no reasons, just got up and left. Now, eleven years later, she’s back. Sparks fly and their connection is just as strong as the day she left.  However, she informs Matt that she is only back in town to get things squared away with her grandmother’s house and has no intentions on staying any longer than necessary. Matt hopes she changes her mind and offers to help her fix up her grandma’s house. 

Onto the Cooper Brothers! Wow! Hot! Sexy! Professional! Family orientated! United Front! Their dynamic is entertaining and everything you would hope for bothers to be like! The stick up for one another and call each other names! Its quiet enduring, actually. Seems like the series will be following the Cooper Brothers as the next installment has been announced, “Santa’s Executive (Holiday, Montana, #2), expected to be released on December 4, 2012.  I will say it will definitely be interesting!!

Remember how I said this read like a contemporary except for the witch and bump in the night aspect. Well, the only other thing that doesn’t read like a contemporary is the sex scenes. Holly Smokes Batman! Yeah, hot and steaming. Remember, this read like a contemporary and bam!  Caught me off guard at first but then I was eagerly anticipating the next scene and was not disappointed. 

Looking forward to getting to know the Cooper Brothers and the residents of Holiday, Montana better!! 

Rating: 3.5 Wine Glasses