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Hidden Magic #1

William's House

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Desperate to avoid his matchmaking parents and the sudden influx of zombies, William Stamson leaves his home town of Seattle to find a new place to settle down. As a void, a person who can't perform magic, he doesn't fit in with his powerful family and he longs to move out from beneath their large shadow. When he finds an old Victorian mansion in a quiet small town, he falls in love and, despite it sitting beneath a powerful ley line intersection, snaps it up. Cassius Grant is a magical enforcer who is sent to get rid of the house's interloper. However, one look at William and Cassius knows his life will never be the same.

149 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 17, 2011

16 people are currently reading
361 people want to read

About the author

Amber Kell

175 books1,285 followers
Amber Kell has made a career out of daydreaming. It has been a lifelong habit she practices diligently as shown by her complete lack of focus on anything not related to her fantasy world building.

When she told her husband what she wanted to do with her life he told her to go have fun.

During those seconds she isn't writing she remembers she has children who humor her with games of 'what if' and let her drag them to foreign lands to gather inspiration. Her youngest confided in her that he wants to write because he longs for a website and an author name—two things apparently necessary to be a proper writer.

Despite her husband's insistence she doesn't drink enough to be a true literary genius she continues to spin stories of people falling happily in love and staying that way.

She is thwarted during the day by a traffic jam of cats on the stairway and a puppy who insists on walks, but she bravely perseveres..

She also writes under the name Mikela Q. Chase

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5 stars
255 (28%)
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331 (36%)
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248 (27%)
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56 (6%)
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17 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
Profile Image for Julio Genao.
Author 9 books2,198 followers
August 9, 2015
...i don't even know where to begin.

*taps shift key in thoughtful irritation*

ok, so, here's the thing:

this could have been amazing.

the premise and set-up alone were so rich with possibility i was nibbled to death by plot bunnies for the first three chapters.

but it's... it's more like an outline than a proper story.

so carelessly rushed it pissed me off. this should have been amazeballs, dammit.

but it wasn't. there's zero natural development in it at all. and it's dialogue-dominated, so basically it's people explaining the plot to you instead of the plot being the skeleton of the story.

there are baffling incontinuities, like how they fuck raw for the first assignation, but insist on a rubber for the second (and final) one, as if the first time never happened.

i mean, i'm all for sex that reflects reality rather than a public health advisory, but shit. maybe keep it consistent, yuh?

and both sex scenes were maybe 50 words long, max.

the romance was almost entirely unsatisfying for the same reason: we are told they are in love without ever being given a chance to see why.

to say nothing of the spoilery dafuqery i can't even begin to ever, even, etc.

really disappointing.

take your time, author. this setting and these characters should have eaten-up hundreds of pages of delicious dynamism.

instead, this book is the cliff's notes version of itself.

the synopsis of a promisingly original PNR that does not, in fact, exist.

Profile Image for Heather C.
1,480 reviews223 followers
September 7, 2012
I don't even know where to begin to explain my issues with this book. I really loved the idea, but the insta-love and all-over-the-place plot ruined it for me.
Profile Image for Mandy*reads obsessively* .
2,197 reviews340 followers
July 25, 2012
Amber Kell has a pretty successful formula going.Smaller man needs bigger man who is totally besotted with him!
The null Will ( magic void) needs a Handyman and Cash fits the bill.
Profile Image for Simon.
639 reviews90 followers
June 27, 2013
Ridiculous! Plot severely lacking, characterisation is very two dimensional....the story is a vehicle for sex with little by way of execution....little else. Takes about an hour to read. It was ok. I read it. I won't be purchasing more by this author, although judging by the number of stories she's written her writing is popular. Nice looking front cover.
Profile Image for Rachel Emily.
4,492 reviews385 followers
March 20, 2011
I really enjoyed this book from Amber Kell! I thought that the premise was interesting, I loved the characters, and it was a very enjoyable read! One of my favorites that I have read from this author, that's for sure. I'm hoping there will be more in this series.
Profile Image for Meggie.
5,360 reviews
April 8, 2011
The story was like a quickie. The plot was easy, characters bland and two main characters, William and Cassius, didn't appear attractive as a couple. The plot was to simple and emotions were not real. Just bland written and not felt.
Profile Image for Macky.
2,059 reviews230 followers
August 12, 2013
2.5*

Sadly not my cup of tea. The ideas are there but it was all too rushed for me. 2 stars for the overall story but Ive added a half star for Harriet..I kind of liked her!
Profile Image for Honey.
198 reviews10 followers
April 10, 2011
Will is the self-asserted spoiled son of a powerful senator and witch. As the only magic-less member of a family known for its powerful magic, they have always thought he needs taking care of. (His family is so rich their way of doing so is to each give him a couple million dollars). When he decides to move away from Seattle and his family, he comes across a house that calls to him. It has a lot of potential, yet is in need of drastic repairs.

Cash is big, muscled and pierced. As dominant as any alpha male wolf; he is recommended by his aunt, the waitress at the town’s diner, as a suitable Mr. Fix It for Will’s house. But is he really a handyman or does he have something to gain from getting close to Will?

While I normally love Amber Kell's books, there was something about this one that didn't make it quite a 4 star read for me. As the story wore on, I felt the chemistry between the main characters less and less.

This sentence more or less sums up Will's witty yet snarky personality:

What do you mean mate? We're not wild animals; we don't have mates. We have people we marry with careful pre-nups and divorce a few years later with lawyers masquerading as sharks.

So while Will was fun and Cash was protective, I just wasn't feeling it.

I found the magical aspects of the book interesting. Will is a void, which means that he is completely immune to magic and that was original. The house was too, it stands on a ley line and is magical in itself. As an entity of its own, it took on the form of a blue-eyed redhead, who I liked as a character.

However, half way through the book Will is put in danger and somebody is trying to kill him. The mystery fell flat and the resolution was rushed. I think it happened in a page and a half. Also, I found it strange how as much as Will's parents are supposed to love and protect him and his brothers, they have been the cause of the rupture of his brother's marriages and they are each on their second one, also on the verge of break-up because of them.
Profile Image for Ravyn.
284 reviews34 followers
June 4, 2011
I liked the general idea of the story, but execution was lacking. The story felt very rushed and superficial, with lots of plot gaps. The romance moved at warp speed and didn't feel particularly genuine.

Bottom Line: Total brain fluff, no substance. Ok if you just want something incredibly easy to read and pass the time.
Profile Image for Sucajo.
739 reviews64 followers
April 11, 2015
This was a very quick read. I missed seeing any connection building in the relationship between Cash and Will as it was a quick jump to insta-love - on Cash's part anyway. There were some nice twists to the tale and it did entertain me.
Profile Image for Sherry F.
898 reviews20 followers
May 11, 2013
I tried.....I really did. No more!
Profile Image for Lena Grey.
1,622 reviews25 followers
June 25, 2013
The power of love is the greatest magic in existence. No matter how much arcane knowledge someone has, the mystical powers of love can bring them to their knees with something as simple as a smile from the right person. Cascius Grant is an enforcer, trained to be cold and methodical, when on a mission from the magic counsel; but one look at William Stampson and his assignment is forgotten. All he can think of is how to keep William secure and, hopefully, in his bed forever.

Will is the most likeable spoiled, rich kid I've ever encountered. Even though he has the world at his fingertips, he doesn't misuse his power. In fact, he generously gives away his wealth to those who need it. He admits to loving the comforts his money brings, but isn't obnoxious about it. In a word, he's charming. He gets what he wants without hurting anyone else, rather than using his influence like his parents do. That's what brought him to this small town where he found the only female in his life he will ever love, his house. As a person who isn't affected by magic, Will has an advantage most magical and non-magical people don't have; he's able to live in his house without any interference from the magical vortex that lies under it. In fact, he's good for the house, balancing and calming its wild energy. The powers that be in the supernatural world do not want anyone living there; they send an enforcer, Cassius Grant, to evict him. They didn't count on William's stubbornness or his immunity to their manipulative magic and they never conceived of the idea that Cassius would be totally entranced by William at first sight.

Cash goes into the task of evicting Will with his usual assertiveness, secure in the fact that his physical and magical abilities will quickly prevail; but, he's met with unexpected resistance. He's not expecting this stubborn human to be unaffected by his charm and magic, much less someone whom he is overwhelmingly physically and emotionally attracted to, particularly since Cash has always thought of himself as straight. Being attracted to another man makes him do a huge double take. Just as surprising, Will is attracted to him and not shy about showing it. Cash quickly finds himself in the rather awkward position of desperately wanting Will to stay so he can be with and protect him; convincing the council of witches that it is a better idea to keep Will in the house is going to prove to be quite a task, if at all possible. Cash has decided that Will is his soulmate and nothing is going to keep them apart, not even the ruling powers and his controlling, overbearing family.

This is a delightful, sexy love story portraying the characters in a positive, uplifting way, with lots of surprises including the house's changes. Will is a refreshing character offering an original alternative to the usual stereotype of someone born with a silver spoon in their mouth; Cash's metamorphosis from rough, tough macho man to loving partner is also quite gratifying. If you want a light, entertaining way to lift your spirits and relax, this story should fit the bill. Thanks, Amber, for the bewitching tale.

NOTE: This book was provided by Total-E-Bound for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
Profile Image for Pixie Mmgoodbookreviews.
1,206 reviews43 followers
May 29, 2013
3 1/2 - 4 Hearts

Review written for MM Good Book Reviews

http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/

William is a void born into a very magical family, deciding he needs to get away from the matchmaking slightly overprotective family he buys an old mansion ‘a painted lady’ that needs much love and care. But, the house is on a magical vortex and the council doesn’t want anyone living there and sends Cash to convince William to leave. Cash discovers it isn’t going to be easy though… his magic won’t work on a void and he discovers he is attracted to the beautiful William. When William is ran down by a car Cash has to protect him and all the clues point close to William’s family.

This is a great cute ‘gay for you’ novella that is wonderful for a relaxing night’s read. This really is a delightful story that takes a macho enforcer who loves women and gives him a beautiful man as a soul mate, a beautiful man who is a void, a rarity that will need protection if anyone discovers his secret. Cash and William make great characters and the attraction between them is really hot, the storyline is great with a surprise with the house and the family twist and you really can’t but help enjoy this story.

This really is a great story if you just want a fun light read, William is a touch spoiled, rich and likes things his way. Cash is macho, hot and is used to getting his way and he is straight, very straight until he meets William. Add in secrets and mystery, a powerful family and you have sparks flying with just a touch of danger from a slightly deranged character.

I have to recommend that if you love magic, ‘gay for you’, great characters, an interesting storyline and enjoyable light reads than this is the book to read.
Profile Image for L-D.
1,478 reviews64 followers
January 24, 2012
William Stamson is a void - a man with no magic and who cannot be affected by magic. When he finds a run down decrepit house, he knows he's found his true love and names her Harriet. Harriet needs a lot of work and Will immediately sets out to find a handyman that can help him to restore his painted lady. Cassius Grant is a magical enforcer that is sent to keep an eye on the void that is living on one of the most powerful ley line intersections in the city. As a void, Will is one of the few people who not only is unaffected by the powerful ley lines, but can also contain its wild magic.

I read Hidden Magic #2 before I read this book. I don't recommend that because there are spoilers for this book in Modeling Death. But I still enjoyed the story and I loved Cash, the Alpha male warlock who is turned upside down by the beautiful and spoiled Will Stamson.

Even though the insta-love genre is not my favorite, I enjoyed this book and I liked the characters and
Profile Image for Becky.
462 reviews57 followers
October 14, 2020
This story had good bones-- an interesting premise and likeable main characters. But it was so rushed. Cash went from being 100% straight to talking about marrying Will in like 48 hours. And the paranormal storyline could have used a few more twists and details. But the world was interesting, and it wasn't a bad way to kill a rainy afternoon.
Profile Image for Amber.
1,294 reviews33 followers
September 30, 2014
Cotton candy fluff read, in another words do look to deep and you'll enjoy it. This was just a fun read with a hot handy man and a rich dreamer with some magic thrown in. The characters aren't really that deep nor is the plot it just fun to watch Cash go alpha male on William as William indulges him. William's meddling family is a fun little diversion to insta-love sex.
Profile Image for Tony R..
93 reviews13 followers
August 3, 2015
Okay...

This could have been a very interesting read! I dug of the paranormal/magical storyline... but wooooo - can I get a brace for around my neck because the instalove gave me whiplash!

Okay... to give it a fair review - I feel like if the author spread out the 95 pages of story over 300 pages and added some world/character building - it could have been great!

Profile Image for Violet.
87 reviews
October 27, 2011
The summary was interesting but somewhere in the middle it gets less and less interesting and almost a task for me to continue reading. The characters are one dimensional and superficial.
"Mate theme" is quite tricky theme for me and the character's love affair is simply unconvincing.
Profile Image for Mandi.
695 reviews41 followers
March 29, 2011
Enjoyable read. I liked the alternate world of magic Amber Kell created. Would of liked a bit more screen time between the two main characters though.
Profile Image for Tj.
2,225 reviews68 followers
September 6, 2015
Fun easy read. Very typical Amber Kell book. If you just want a fun read this is a good one. There isn't huge emotions with the plot and the characters are easy to understand.
Profile Image for Raymond Mathiesen.
283 reviews6 followers
May 24, 2017
William's House (Hidden Magic #1) by Amber Kell

William's House

The magic (and complications) of love…

William Stamson is from a family of wizards, but he was born a void, "a person who could nullify magic". Will has no power and magic won't work on him. William's family is also very rich and he has no worries about living, although he does work as a novelist. When William decides to get away from his family in Seattle, he buys a very run down house in a small town away from everything. The only trouble is that the house is full of power and the Magical Council of Wizards wants it vacant.

Amber Kell has written a very amusing fantasy romance. The style is lightly humorous and the reader will find himself often smiling and chuckling. Yes there is some conflict, but nothing too serious to spoil the charm of the story. The plot runs along smoothly and swiftly. The reader won't be bored. Kell maintains the readers interest with a few surprise plot twists along the way. There are one or two explicit sex scenes, but this story does not run on the physical. Instead Kell emphasises love, need and longing.

William is a charming, but perhaps spoiled young man who thinks he knows exactly what he wants. As the story progresses though, Will grows, learning that there are things about himself that he was unaware of. We certainly like Will and perhaps remember when we were young and learning about ourselves for the first time. Cassius Grant (Cash), the love interest of the story, is a tough, muscular guy with a heart of gold. Like Will, Cash also learns something about himself as the story progresses. Sometimes we are certain we are one person, only to find that we are in fact another. Also at times we can find ourselves totally out of place. Can we find a way to 'be ourselves' and 'fit in'. The reader can certainly understand Cash's quandary and hope for the best for him.

As can be seen from my discussion of the characters, this book has the theme of appearances and reality. Sometimes things are just not they seem, have hidden depths and can surprise us out of our certainly and self-assured certainty. Have you ever found yourself saying, "I would never… ", or "It could never happen that… ". Sometimes those are the very things we would do or could happen. Yes this is a fantasy, but the life lesson is more real than you might think.

This book really was enjoyable. The story is light, but not completely without depth. It is ideal for a quick read to cheer you up. I am happy to award William's House five stars.
Profile Image for DeeNeez.
2,020 reviews13 followers
October 21, 2017
A fast paced fun romp. It’s so fasted paced, soap opera drama your head will spin. The humor comes from over-the-top antics and the banter. I enjoyed it all! A insta-love, GFY story between one spoiled rich Senator’s son and overly macho Neanderthal Alpha male wizard. And it all starts with an old house with its own spirit.
Profile Image for Phaney.
1,248 reviews22 followers
August 7, 2016
2015 Re-read:

I love this book. I loved it the first time I read it and I still do, even though I can’t really justify why. It’s certainly one of the better books by this author, but it isn’t perfect. And yet it just makes me happy. There you go. Maybe we all have some things we just go giddy over without tangible reason.

Of course, this time around I also realized an unexpected connection. This is about William Stamson’s house. And then there’s Jamie and Tamson House in Moonheart. Ah, even thinking about Jamie makes me want to cry. But the same basic principle applies so it amuses me that both of these houses have… personality. That and the names.


2011 Review:

Mmm. Happy.
It’s funny that this author with all her issues is one who can make me really amused and satisfied. I like some of the characters she comes up with very much. Sure, it tends to follow a certain type but I like it because it’s a special one and completely endearing in non-perfect ways.

I wonder if the following volumes in this series center on Will the same way the Anthony series does or if it’s more like a normal series in that we completely move on to the next couple. It already is clear who one of the participants will be, either way.

So yeah, I fully enjoyed this, had a lot of fun.
Here's a small quotation as a good example of what made me snicker.

They shook hands, and there was no electric buzz at all. In fact, there was so little sexual attraction he wondered for a moment if the poor boy was straight, and no one ever told him.

It's the little things sometimes that tickle me best.
Profile Image for Geneva Vand.
Author 11 books21 followers
August 31, 2016
I loved the premise of this book. And the characters. And the magic. Best zombies I've ever run across. I also like the history and mythology related to nulls. However there was way too much going on for it to be a novella. The beginning felt like the start of a standard length novel. The pacing was perfect. Then, it seemed like the author remembered a page limit and rushed through everything in a mad dash. It was chaotic and frustrating because there were so many things that I wanted to read more in depth about. Also, crucial events were kind of glossed over for sake of word count. If it had continued in the same pace and voice style as the first chapter or so it would have been fabulous. As is, I want a rewrite that's about twice as long so I can enjoy the world the author took so much effort to set up.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
458 reviews
May 1, 2011
In this entertaining romp, William Stamson, an unashamedly spoilt and very rich twenty-five year old, buys a rundown mansion in a small town outside Seattle to escape from his family. But this is no ordinary house. It is full of magical energy and purchasing it brings William into contact with Cassius "Cash" Grant, who he hires as a handyman. Cash works for the Magical Council of Wizards and his task is to get William out of the house, but nothing goes to plan.

William and Cash are very engaging characters and the plot has some novel twists, so I hope there will be a Hidden Magic 2 very soon.
Profile Image for Erin.
273 reviews2 followers
January 25, 2015
William's House

I loved this book. Will and Cash were made for each other. Cash is an enforcer for the council and Will is a son to a powerful witch and a powerful senator who is a witch also. Cash was not gay but had very strong feelings for Will and figured out that they are soul mates. Will's new house is built on key lines and is powerfully in it's own right and took on a living from also Will is a void which helps control the power around the house. Will has no magic ability at all. I can not wait to read the rest of the series. Erin
Profile Image for Sadonna.
2,706 reviews47 followers
September 10, 2011
I liked the world of this book with the various magic users. William and Cash are a cute couple. The twist as to who was behind the problems that Will encounters was well done. I enjoyed the scenes with Will and his family and his relationships with his parents and brothers. My one complaint is that I felt like the story ended rather abruptly - I'm hoping that since this is a series, we will get the rest of the story soon!

Profile Image for ~SexyBookWorm~.
1,083 reviews32 followers
May 25, 2013
Great book. I'm hoping this become a series and Will's brothers and maybe even his father end up getting mated!
It was one of those cute books that's an easy quick read but still enjoyable.
Will and Cash were good together but I wish their relationship had a little more conflict. Perhaps something to do with the fact that Cash had never been with or even thought of another man sexually. But still a very cute story.
Profile Image for Lea.
53 reviews
April 1, 2011
A story that had me in stitches from the very first couple of chapters. Get ready for laughs when you match one man who never had a horny bone in his body for another guy with one who is self centered, spoiled and knows it. Add a few secrets, misunderstandings, a powerful family, and see the sparks fly between two lifestyles that clash like nobody's business. An sexy and enjoyable read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews

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