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Bottled Magic #3
Magic Gone Wild
Genie Vana Aphrodite is having a pretty rough day. She's failing to live up to the name "Aphrodite," she's stuck living in her master's attic, and her powers are on the fritz. To make matters even worse, her master's great-grandson, Zane, informs her that she has completely ruined his family's reputation. Zane is ready to sell his family's estate, genie and all but Vana's bound and determined to fix her past wrongs. Can Aphrodite prove to him that his life needs a little bit of magic?
357 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2012
6 people are currently reading
279 people want to read
About the author
Judi Fennell
111 books266 followersAward-winning, best-selling author Judi Fennell loves to laugh and loves love, so it’s no surprise there’s a little bit of each in every book she writes. Check out her flirty fun… seriously sexy light-hearted tongue-in-cheek paranormal and romantic comedies. From mermen to genies, to men in maids’ uniforms and male strippers, there’s always a laugh and love to be had.
And, in her copious (?) amounts of spare time, she helps authors with all aspects of writing and indie-publishing with her formatting, cover/promotional design, editorial company, www.formatting4U.com.
Judi lives in suburban Philadelphia with a menagerie of four-legged friends, and the minute those creatures start A) singing, B) sewing clothing, or C) cleaning the house will be the day she retires from writing…
And, in her copious (?) amounts of spare time, she helps authors with all aspects of writing and indie-publishing with her formatting, cover/promotional design, editorial company, www.formatting4U.com.
Judi lives in suburban Philadelphia with a menagerie of four-legged friends, and the minute those creatures start A) singing, B) sewing clothing, or C) cleaning the house will be the day she retires from writing…
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 9, 2012
Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...
Zane Harrison just wants to get back to his life as a professional football player. As the last of the Harrisons, he has returned to the old family home, determined to sell it and escape his grandfather’s eccentric reputation. What he finds, however, is more that he can believe.
Zane quickly discovers that his great-grandfather Peter wasn’t really crazy, but was, in fact a kind and generous man, who just happened to possess a genie. And not just any genie, but a beautiful, sensuous and very definitely inept one. Vana is determined to show Zane that he needs the house just as much as the house needs him. As each catastrophe is worse than the one before, she has to try and harness her errant powers, and show Zane what life could like, without falling in love with him, that's not allowed for good reason.
Then, there’s Gary, Zane’s high school nemesis, determined to find out the secret to the Harrison ‘curse’ to have it for himself. Can Vana tame her powers and her attraction to Zane? Can Zane come to terms with the fact that magic really does exist, and his old family home is filled with genies, gargoyles, dancing dishes and a talking phoenix named Merlin, who always makes inopportune entrances? Can Vana stop Gary, save the house, and win Zane’s heart in the process?
Magic Gone Wild is Judi Fennell’s third book of magical genies. I have the others, but was happy to see that they are stand-alone books. This is a fun and sexy world Ms. Fennell has created, and her characters are a delight to meet. The mix of reality and magic is sometimes funny, sometimes sweet, but always engaging.
Nirvana Aphrodite, or as she prefers, Vana, is an eight hundred twenty nine year old genie. She's sweet, sexy and wants to be successful like her twin sister. But unfortunately, Vana can’t control her magic, no matter how hard she tries-until she kisses Zane. Then things work the way they should for a while. She's determined to convince Zane not to sell the house, with all of its enchanted inhabitants and historical value. I enjoyed watching as she got into each mess, and the things she would do to fix it sometimes made more problems for her. I liked her for her never give up attitude, and what she would do for those she cared about.
Noah Harrison is tall, handsome, and determined to make the town forget his great-grandfather’s eccentric reputation. Now that the estate has come to him, he plans to fix up the house and sell it, so he can get back to his life in the city. So imagine his surprise when he's dropped into Vana’s genie bottle, and life becomes surreal for him. I liked Zane, and his slow acceptance of the reality of magic in the world. It was fun watching as he began to care for Vana, and learned more about his family’s history in the town of Harrisonville, Pennsylvania. Along the way, he found out that what seemed important when he first got there, just didn’t compare to what he found in the old family homestead.
There are some memorable characters in this, like Merlin the wise-cracking phoenix, the enchanted children who were now dancing dishes, and many other magical folks. The whole house became a character as well, and of course Gary, the one-time bully and prospective politician has a role in the overall events as well. There's one huge surprise at the end, concerning who has been behind everything, and it's a well-disguised secret till the end. I recommend this for those who believe in magic and passion and like their romance with some of both.
Zane Harrison just wants to get back to his life as a professional football player. As the last of the Harrisons, he has returned to the old family home, determined to sell it and escape his grandfather’s eccentric reputation. What he finds, however, is more that he can believe.
Zane quickly discovers that his great-grandfather Peter wasn’t really crazy, but was, in fact a kind and generous man, who just happened to possess a genie. And not just any genie, but a beautiful, sensuous and very definitely inept one. Vana is determined to show Zane that he needs the house just as much as the house needs him. As each catastrophe is worse than the one before, she has to try and harness her errant powers, and show Zane what life could like, without falling in love with him, that's not allowed for good reason.
Then, there’s Gary, Zane’s high school nemesis, determined to find out the secret to the Harrison ‘curse’ to have it for himself. Can Vana tame her powers and her attraction to Zane? Can Zane come to terms with the fact that magic really does exist, and his old family home is filled with genies, gargoyles, dancing dishes and a talking phoenix named Merlin, who always makes inopportune entrances? Can Vana stop Gary, save the house, and win Zane’s heart in the process?
Magic Gone Wild is Judi Fennell’s third book of magical genies. I have the others, but was happy to see that they are stand-alone books. This is a fun and sexy world Ms. Fennell has created, and her characters are a delight to meet. The mix of reality and magic is sometimes funny, sometimes sweet, but always engaging.
Nirvana Aphrodite, or as she prefers, Vana, is an eight hundred twenty nine year old genie. She's sweet, sexy and wants to be successful like her twin sister. But unfortunately, Vana can’t control her magic, no matter how hard she tries-until she kisses Zane. Then things work the way they should for a while. She's determined to convince Zane not to sell the house, with all of its enchanted inhabitants and historical value. I enjoyed watching as she got into each mess, and the things she would do to fix it sometimes made more problems for her. I liked her for her never give up attitude, and what she would do for those she cared about.
Noah Harrison is tall, handsome, and determined to make the town forget his great-grandfather’s eccentric reputation. Now that the estate has come to him, he plans to fix up the house and sell it, so he can get back to his life in the city. So imagine his surprise when he's dropped into Vana’s genie bottle, and life becomes surreal for him. I liked Zane, and his slow acceptance of the reality of magic in the world. It was fun watching as he began to care for Vana, and learned more about his family’s history in the town of Harrisonville, Pennsylvania. Along the way, he found out that what seemed important when he first got there, just didn’t compare to what he found in the old family homestead.
There are some memorable characters in this, like Merlin the wise-cracking phoenix, the enchanted children who were now dancing dishes, and many other magical folks. The whole house became a character as well, and of course Gary, the one-time bully and prospective politician has a role in the overall events as well. There's one huge surprise at the end, concerning who has been behind everything, and it's a well-disguised secret till the end. I recommend this for those who believe in magic and passion and like their romance with some of both.
August 9, 2012
Judi Fennell has a knack of taking something ordinary and imbuing it with magic and laughter. Case in point is her latest Genie story, Magic Gone Wild. This story is genuinely fun to read. It made me laugh, gave me moments to go, awwww! The story has a cast of fun characters—even those who didn’t talk were delightful.
This is my favorite of the Genie series. I’m not sure I can pinpoint why, aside from being very well written story. I really loved Vana and Zack--they were genuine and real. The chemistry between the two is hot and there are some great moments of bantering and laughter. Perhaps it’s Vana’s pink smoke, or the pink church window she created for her past master (Zack’s great-grandfather), maybe it’s the way she creates her magic (when it works) with kiss and drives Zack crazy with lust, or her expression of “holy smokes!” which usually makes Zack cringe and duck. Could be a colorful phoenix named Merlin, her sidekick,which Zack is always threatening with barbequing or dismemberment, particularly after some pity comment or joke. Merlin has some great one-liners but he also has some sweet moments that endear you to him and he truly adds to the story. Then there was the merry-go round porch and the ‘couple thousand bucks’ in the back yard, the high-jinx of the ‘children’. See, it’s hard to pin down the reason it’s my favorite. All I know is this: all the magical ingredients come wonderfully together and make a heartwarming and entertaining read that leaves you smiling and chuckling long after you put it down. I absolutely loved the ending!
It’s the perfect book to put your feet up and relax with!
didnt-finish
January 6, 2013I felt stupider after reading this, even though I didn't even make it halfway through. I guess it was supposed to be lighthearted and fun, but it came across as ridiculous instead. The instant sexual chemistry annoyed me (passionate kisses are exchanged almost before they've spoken), the hero did nothing for me (probably because he's a football player - ugh), and the heroine's ineptness was annoying rather than cute.
Also, it suffered from the issue that time-travel romances do, where we have to watch a character blunder around in an unfamiliar time period. I could tell immediately that the story would be filled with these supposedly "funny" misunderstandings related to current slang/dress/etc. Ex: Hero says, "Son of a bitch!" And heroine responds, "What does a dog have to do with anything?" Gah.
Also, it suffered from the issue that time-travel romances do, where we have to watch a character blunder around in an unfamiliar time period. I could tell immediately that the story would be filled with these supposedly "funny" misunderstandings related to current slang/dress/etc. Ex: Hero says, "Son of a bitch!" And heroine responds, "What does a dog have to do with anything?" Gah.
January 17, 2013
Awesome! I really liked this novel even better than the seon one. I always like the chemistry between the two main characters in all Judi Fennel's novels and consider her one of my fav authors. Wonder if there'll be another one in the series?
September 20, 2018
Getting formulaic at this point in the series, stretching for something new but not making it. if
September 24, 2012
What do you get when you mix an accident-prone genie, a heartthrob pro football player and a talking phoenix? Judi Fennell's latest novel MAGIC GONE WILD! This novel is a zany and sexy magic carpet ride!
Nirvana ‘Vana' Aphrodite is a genie with a problem. She can't seem to get her powers under control and she's been stuck in her master's attic for decades. Eventually, her peace is disturbed by the great-grandson of her previous master and she is more than a little shocked by how utterly yummy he looks.
Pro football player Zane Harrison can't believe he found a real genie in the attic of his great-grandfather's home. Finally all the mysterious accidents that ruined his family's reputation have been explained and it's all thanks to this mischief-making genie. All Zane wants to do is clean up the house to make it ready to sell, and that includes kicking out the gorgeous genie. Yet Vana isn't willing to go without a fight. She wants to prove the house has more value to Zane than he realizes and that there is more than just magic between the two of them.
If you want a simple comparison, it's most likely the contemporary reboot of the classic 60's show ‘I Dream of Genie.' You have a genie always getting into mischief as her magic powers continue to go awry. Then there is the successful hero constantly becoming frustrated over the broken magic yet trying to remain supportive. Just like the TV show, it was a lot of fun and entertaining to read about. This isn't a heavy read, but something you can jump right into and enjoy. Ms Fennell creates some great characters and takes them on a wild adventure that engages the reader right from the beginning. While MAGIC GONE WILD is book three in the Bottled Magic series, you are still able to pick up this novel without having read the first two. Having not previously read any of Ms Fennell's work, there weren't too many details to hint this was even part of a series. So this is easily a stand alone novel.
It wasn't all perfect, though. My problem with MAGIC GONE WILD was the heroine, genie extraordinaire, Vana. She is a woman that's been alive for centuries yet sometimes she acted a little juvenile. She made a lot of impulsive decisions that I didn't always agree with and in return I didn't feel it always showed her character in the best light. I expected her to have imperfections, as I prefer for the characters to have flaws, but I felt hers did not fit her character. Yet other than a few minor problems, she was a loving, tenderhearted woman always trying to do what she thought was best. In a way, she did kind of mature through this novel and found ways to stand up for herself. So it wasn't necessarily all bad and it didn't ruin the overall enjoyment of the novel.
Zane Harrison was a great hero because he was so understanding. He lost his temper a few times, understandably so, but he was always quick to realize his mistakes. It was nice to see a hero that was constantly ready to let his softer side show and never too tough to apologize. He didn't like Vana's magic going crazy, but rather than dislike her for it, he wanted to encourage her to do better. I thought that told a lot of about his character and what an honorable guy he truly was. Also, being a football player there was always a lot of fight and determination for anything he started. There weren't many reasons to not like Zane!
I have to say the overall premise of the novel was cute. The plot did start to jump around about halfway through, so it became a little chaotic, but it was still a lot of fun. Another plus to this story is the romance between Zane and Vana because it was absolutely stunning. Ms Fernnell definitely found creative ways to make their attraction sizzle and took their sexual tension to the extreme. This romance story had its own unique brand of enchantment and Judi Fennell's exciting writing and dialogue made the story addictive.
If you are looking for a charming contemporary with a magical twist, check out MAGIC GONE WILD. It's a laugh out loud read with plenty of funky characters to help you enjoy the ride.
Lisa Jo @ The Romance Reviews
July 31, 2013
Title: Magic Gone Wild
Series: Bk three in the Bottled Magic Series
Author: Judi Fennell
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Every Time She Uses Magic Something Goes Terribly Wrong...
Vana wishes she hadn't dropped out of genie training. Now she's determined to get a grip on both her genie magic and her life. But the harder she tries to fix things for her intriguing new master, the more she drives him crazy...
Except There's Nothing Ever Wrong About Him...
Pro–football player Zane Harrison finally has control of the family estate and is determined to put to rest his grandfather's eccentric reputation. Until he discovers that behind all the rumors is a real, live genie who stirs feelings in him he's never known before. The more Zane tries to help Vana harness her powers, the more her madcap magic entangles his heart...
Judi Fennell is a great author her books are the perfect escape from life for a while. They offer a fun adventure into romance and magic and a fantastically imagined world. Her newest Magic Gone Wild is part of her Bottled Magic series and I think this has been my favorite series.
Vana is an eight hundred and twenty-nine year old genie who just can’t get it together. Her magic leaves something to be desired or most often leaves someone with something they don’t desire. The worst part is she comes from a family of genies who are very good with their magic. What happened to her? Whatever it was or wasn’t has left her feeling like she can’t ever be good enough to impress her family.
Her latest mishap was over a hundred years ago when after yet another one of her catastrophic attempts at magic her master put her in her bottle and put her away for a while to keep her and everyone else safe. The problem – he passed away before letting her out and she has spent years locked in the attic. Yet somehow she awakens to find one gorgeous man inside her bottle! Ok, well this has never happened before and shouldn’t either. This is unheard of. So she does the only thing she can do and magicks them both out of the bottle but… Oops, her new master now has two broken legs. Geez, can’t she do anything right?
After she learns that Zane is the great grandson of her beloved master Peter, Vana looks at this as an opportunity to make up for all the trouble she caused Peter. Not to mention there are also those bewitched dinner plates that she’d love to turn back into the children they really are. For Zane’s part he takes the whole situation really well even as he meets Merlin, the talking bird. And wow, there’s absolutely no doubt that Vana is beyond gorgeous. However it doesn’t take long before Zane is going crazy as every attempt at magic that Vana tries ends up in some kind of disaster. Yet neither of them can deny the attraction they have but a genie can’t fall for a mortal. If she does and tells him, she will risk losing eternal life and her magic. Is Vana willing to risk all for Zane?
I really loved the characters of Vana and Zane in this installment. They were really likable and Vana was just too funny with her not so good magic. If Holy smokes came out of Vana’s mouth you knew that trouble was sure to follow. Vana’s magic seemed to always get mixed up like when she wished for the pastry bear claws at a party and conjured up a bear instead. Or when she tries magic to get the old house fixed up and impress Zane and instead sets the porch to spinning around the house like a merry-go-round. Like I said Magic Gone Wild was a great escape for a few hours for me and had me giggling quite a bit. It’s another great read from Judi Fennell!
Grade A
Review By: Helen
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
Series: Bk three in the Bottled Magic Series
Author: Judi Fennell
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Every Time She Uses Magic Something Goes Terribly Wrong...
Vana wishes she hadn't dropped out of genie training. Now she's determined to get a grip on both her genie magic and her life. But the harder she tries to fix things for her intriguing new master, the more she drives him crazy...
Except There's Nothing Ever Wrong About Him...
Pro–football player Zane Harrison finally has control of the family estate and is determined to put to rest his grandfather's eccentric reputation. Until he discovers that behind all the rumors is a real, live genie who stirs feelings in him he's never known before. The more Zane tries to help Vana harness her powers, the more her madcap magic entangles his heart...
Judi Fennell is a great author her books are the perfect escape from life for a while. They offer a fun adventure into romance and magic and a fantastically imagined world. Her newest Magic Gone Wild is part of her Bottled Magic series and I think this has been my favorite series.
Vana is an eight hundred and twenty-nine year old genie who just can’t get it together. Her magic leaves something to be desired or most often leaves someone with something they don’t desire. The worst part is she comes from a family of genies who are very good with their magic. What happened to her? Whatever it was or wasn’t has left her feeling like she can’t ever be good enough to impress her family.
Her latest mishap was over a hundred years ago when after yet another one of her catastrophic attempts at magic her master put her in her bottle and put her away for a while to keep her and everyone else safe. The problem – he passed away before letting her out and she has spent years locked in the attic. Yet somehow she awakens to find one gorgeous man inside her bottle! Ok, well this has never happened before and shouldn’t either. This is unheard of. So she does the only thing she can do and magicks them both out of the bottle but… Oops, her new master now has two broken legs. Geez, can’t she do anything right?
After she learns that Zane is the great grandson of her beloved master Peter, Vana looks at this as an opportunity to make up for all the trouble she caused Peter. Not to mention there are also those bewitched dinner plates that she’d love to turn back into the children they really are. For Zane’s part he takes the whole situation really well even as he meets Merlin, the talking bird. And wow, there’s absolutely no doubt that Vana is beyond gorgeous. However it doesn’t take long before Zane is going crazy as every attempt at magic that Vana tries ends up in some kind of disaster. Yet neither of them can deny the attraction they have but a genie can’t fall for a mortal. If she does and tells him, she will risk losing eternal life and her magic. Is Vana willing to risk all for Zane?
I really loved the characters of Vana and Zane in this installment. They were really likable and Vana was just too funny with her not so good magic. If Holy smokes came out of Vana’s mouth you knew that trouble was sure to follow. Vana’s magic seemed to always get mixed up like when she wished for the pastry bear claws at a party and conjured up a bear instead. Or when she tries magic to get the old house fixed up and impress Zane and instead sets the porch to spinning around the house like a merry-go-round. Like I said Magic Gone Wild was a great escape for a few hours for me and had me giggling quite a bit. It’s another great read from Judi Fennell!
Grade A
Review By: Helen
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
July 15, 2012
Magic Gone Wild
ORIGINAL POST "MAGIC GONE WILD: I Dream of Jeannie Rebooted" AT FANGS, WANDS AND FAIRY DUST
I Dream of Jeannie was one of my favorite shows growing up and as a young adult I enjoyed the reruns. See, I always had the supernatural and paranormal in mind even as a child. The comparisons will surely arise if you were growing up in the 1960s to 1980s.
Like Jeannie, Vana's magic often goes awry. Sometimes a little bit and often a whole lot. And, like Jeannie, Vana falls for a public figure in Pro-football player Zane Harrison. Zane is much more modern than Jeannie's Master, Captain Nelson, an astronaut when astronauts were rock stars.
Nelson was also constantly worried about people seeing Jeannie and some of her antics. Zane is similarly worried about Vana and her mix-ups.
The book is cute, fun and fluffy. It is not quite as predictable as I thought it would be as this Genie (Vana) has a lot more backbone than Jeannie did.
Even with a little personal growth trope and existential crisis the book doesn't have pretensions of being "literature." It is a fun and light romp through the passions and foibles of a good-guy football hero and a genie with a heart of gold. It is third in Fennel's Bottled Magic series. There's decently written, straight and vanilla sex with a good portion of lust and longing.
Since it is the third book Fennell has her world down pat. There is a governing body, there are established rules. There's a clever mix of mythologies. I enjoyed the concept of the magical equivalent of a Grimoire, written by Vana's accomplished twin, called the Djinoire.
My only issues with the story are in the overriding premise, the "typecasting," and some discontinuity.
It relies too heavily on Vana's magical mishaps and those rely heavily on misspoken words or on puns. Zane and Vana are rather typical and there's also a bevy of the usual suspects: a grade school rival and man hungry woman. I also found a lack of continuity in whether Vana, having been shut up in her bottle for 114 years, knew about modern conveniences. At one point she is asked if she can drive and she is perplexed, but then she has a laptop, TV and i-Pad.
Unlike Captain Nelson, Zane Harrison is capable of learning from his mistakes, being supportive and rearranging his priorities. Vana seems a bit more liberated, and brighter than Jeannie. She also rearranges her priorities. It makes for a bittersweet Happily Ever After.
A fabulous vacation/camp/beach read. Especially accompanied by a tall, fruity drink! A remarkably fast 384 pages slipped by in one evening!
ORIGINAL POST "MAGIC GONE WILD: I Dream of Jeannie Rebooted" AT FANGS, WANDS AND FAIRY DUST
I Dream of Jeannie was one of my favorite shows growing up and as a young adult I enjoyed the reruns. See, I always had the supernatural and paranormal in mind even as a child. The comparisons will surely arise if you were growing up in the 1960s to 1980s.
Like Jeannie, Vana's magic often goes awry. Sometimes a little bit and often a whole lot. And, like Jeannie, Vana falls for a public figure in Pro-football player Zane Harrison. Zane is much more modern than Jeannie's Master, Captain Nelson, an astronaut when astronauts were rock stars.
Nelson was also constantly worried about people seeing Jeannie and some of her antics. Zane is similarly worried about Vana and her mix-ups.
The book is cute, fun and fluffy. It is not quite as predictable as I thought it would be as this Genie (Vana) has a lot more backbone than Jeannie did.
Even with a little personal growth trope and existential crisis the book doesn't have pretensions of being "literature." It is a fun and light romp through the passions and foibles of a good-guy football hero and a genie with a heart of gold. It is third in Fennel's Bottled Magic series. There's decently written, straight and vanilla sex with a good portion of lust and longing.
Since it is the third book Fennell has her world down pat. There is a governing body, there are established rules. There's a clever mix of mythologies. I enjoyed the concept of the magical equivalent of a Grimoire, written by Vana's accomplished twin, called the Djinoire.
My only issues with the story are in the overriding premise, the "typecasting," and some discontinuity.
It relies too heavily on Vana's magical mishaps and those rely heavily on misspoken words or on puns. Zane and Vana are rather typical and there's also a bevy of the usual suspects: a grade school rival and man hungry woman. I also found a lack of continuity in whether Vana, having been shut up in her bottle for 114 years, knew about modern conveniences. At one point she is asked if she can drive and she is perplexed, but then she has a laptop, TV and i-Pad.
Unlike Captain Nelson, Zane Harrison is capable of learning from his mistakes, being supportive and rearranging his priorities. Vana seems a bit more liberated, and brighter than Jeannie. She also rearranges her priorities. It makes for a bittersweet Happily Ever After.
A fabulous vacation/camp/beach read. Especially accompanied by a tall, fruity drink! A remarkably fast 384 pages slipped by in one evening!
August 16, 2012
Nirvana Aphrodite has been sealed in her bottle for over a hundred years, when suddenly Zane Harrison, the grandson of the man who locked her back in her bottle, finds himself in her bottle with no clue that the woman standing before him is indeed a genie. Vana kept a promise that she is determined to follow through and with Zane there to help her control her wacky magic, Vana has no doubt that she'll turn the invisible children back into themselves. But she didn't plan on falling for Zane in the process.
Ahh. This book was a really fun and easy read. Hate to say this, but I read this series out of order. But, I think it's a pretty good stand alone and I didn't feel lost at all. The sezzy factor in this book is pretty mild, yeah there's that instant attraction and the ridiculous amount of kissing, but it was okay. Not, mind blowing, but not bad either. Speaking of kissing. If there was ever an award for the best way to cast a spell, Vana would win HANDS DOWN! When Vana does magic, to do so she puckers her lips and blows a kiss. To Whom? No one in particular. BUT, along comes Zane and when he kisses Vana all her wacky magic goes out the window and she's able to do some pretty great magic. Which then of course leads to more kissing... and even more kissing. *sigh* Lucky her!
We're first introduced to Vana about one hundred and some years before she meets Zane. Her master is Peter (Zane's grandfather) and she's trying to help him out any way she can, but with her wacked out magic abilities, Vana only seems to make things worse. So, Peter lets her back in her bottle and seals it shut, only to die a week or so later and Vana is stuck in her bottle. Fast forward a huge amount of years later, Vana finds herself with a hunkin' pro football player *Queue Zane's entrance* and Vana finds herself falling for this guy with only one passing day. Some kissing, some spinning porches and 3 old hags.. okay, okay, The Fates later, Vana can't help but tell Zane how she feels, even if that means losing her powers.
What I liked about this book was that it wasn't a heavy read. It was really light and funny, I found myself laughing out loud numerous times. I don't think there was anything I didn't like about this book. The only thing that comes to mind, is when Vana would always say "Holy smokes" That irritated Zane and it irritated me. But, everyone has their own little sayings that they say repetitively. For instance, mine is "No bueno", so it wasn't a major dislike for me.
I would most definitely recommend this book. If you love PNR but you're looking for something light and easy, then this book is definitely for you! This book is part of a series. I can't speak for the others, but if they're as good as this one, then I would suggest you get those too :)
Ahh. This book was a really fun and easy read. Hate to say this, but I read this series out of order. But, I think it's a pretty good stand alone and I didn't feel lost at all. The sezzy factor in this book is pretty mild, yeah there's that instant attraction and the ridiculous amount of kissing, but it was okay. Not, mind blowing, but not bad either. Speaking of kissing. If there was ever an award for the best way to cast a spell, Vana would win HANDS DOWN! When Vana does magic, to do so she puckers her lips and blows a kiss. To Whom? No one in particular. BUT, along comes Zane and when he kisses Vana all her wacky magic goes out the window and she's able to do some pretty great magic. Which then of course leads to more kissing... and even more kissing. *sigh* Lucky her!
We're first introduced to Vana about one hundred and some years before she meets Zane. Her master is Peter (Zane's grandfather) and she's trying to help him out any way she can, but with her wacked out magic abilities, Vana only seems to make things worse. So, Peter lets her back in her bottle and seals it shut, only to die a week or so later and Vana is stuck in her bottle. Fast forward a huge amount of years later, Vana finds herself with a hunkin' pro football player *Queue Zane's entrance* and Vana finds herself falling for this guy with only one passing day. Some kissing, some spinning porches and 3 old hags.. okay, okay, The Fates later, Vana can't help but tell Zane how she feels, even if that means losing her powers.
What I liked about this book was that it wasn't a heavy read. It was really light and funny, I found myself laughing out loud numerous times. I don't think there was anything I didn't like about this book. The only thing that comes to mind, is when Vana would always say "Holy smokes" That irritated Zane and it irritated me. But, everyone has their own little sayings that they say repetitively. For instance, mine is "No bueno", so it wasn't a major dislike for me.
I would most definitely recommend this book. If you love PNR but you're looking for something light and easy, then this book is definitely for you! This book is part of a series. I can't speak for the others, but if they're as good as this one, then I would suggest you get those too :)
August 16, 2012
My Rating: 4 stars: Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Full Review: http://www.twimom227.com/2012/08/revi...
Right from the get go, Magic Gone Wild has a different feel than the first two books. Genie Nirvana (aka Vana) has been trapped in her bottle for over a hundred years after the death of her former master, Peter. We learn right away that Vana has a huge heart, but just can’t seem to get her magic working correctly. She makes simple mistakes, such as vanishing the stairs when she intended to varnish the stairs. These mistakes give Vana an endearing quality that Peter’s great-grandson, Zane, can’t overlook. Both Vana and Zane are genuinely good people, which makes the pair such a lovable duo. You want to see the two lonely, kind hearts find happiness together. They have an incredible attraction.
Other than the primary couple, there is a conflict with Gary, a jealous high school mate of Zane, who wants Vana and magic for selfish reasons. He adds just enough conflict to the story to create an exciting tension, but not overrun the plot. Also, we have Merlin, the talking Phoenix, who functions as a way to get information to the pair (knowledge of the Genie world to Zane, knowledge of Gary's nefarious activities to the pair, etc.) He also provides some humor and at times acts as Vana's conscious.
One thing that was new in this story was the concept of the Fates. Vana messes with the three Fates by changing time not once but twice. And in the end, when Vana wants to come clean and open up to Zane (because she realizes she loves him), the Fates interfere. I was left wondering why the Fates are so interested in Vana, especially since we haven’t seen them interfere with other genies in the previous books. Whether or not it happened in earlier books doesn’t impact this story, and I enjoyed how Vana handles herself when threatened by these women.
Overall, I adored Magic Gone Wild and it’s charming characters - probably the most of the three Bottled Magic books. It had a different tone than the other two and can most certainly be read as a stand alone. I wasn’t a hundred percent on board with why Vana's magic is so messed up, but in the end it doesn't matter since when a Genie says "I love you," she gives up her magic. The book doesn't spend a lot of time in the world of the Genies and focuses more on the love story between Vana and Zane. We witness the pair spend time getting to know each other as they make their own magic. Magic Gone Wild is a romantic love story with a generous dose of laughs that warmed my heart.
Full Review: http://www.twimom227.com/2012/08/revi...
Right from the get go, Magic Gone Wild has a different feel than the first two books. Genie Nirvana (aka Vana) has been trapped in her bottle for over a hundred years after the death of her former master, Peter. We learn right away that Vana has a huge heart, but just can’t seem to get her magic working correctly. She makes simple mistakes, such as vanishing the stairs when she intended to varnish the stairs. These mistakes give Vana an endearing quality that Peter’s great-grandson, Zane, can’t overlook. Both Vana and Zane are genuinely good people, which makes the pair such a lovable duo. You want to see the two lonely, kind hearts find happiness together. They have an incredible attraction.
Other than the primary couple, there is a conflict with Gary, a jealous high school mate of Zane, who wants Vana and magic for selfish reasons. He adds just enough conflict to the story to create an exciting tension, but not overrun the plot. Also, we have Merlin, the talking Phoenix, who functions as a way to get information to the pair (knowledge of the Genie world to Zane, knowledge of Gary's nefarious activities to the pair, etc.) He also provides some humor and at times acts as Vana's conscious.
One thing that was new in this story was the concept of the Fates. Vana messes with the three Fates by changing time not once but twice. And in the end, when Vana wants to come clean and open up to Zane (because she realizes she loves him), the Fates interfere. I was left wondering why the Fates are so interested in Vana, especially since we haven’t seen them interfere with other genies in the previous books. Whether or not it happened in earlier books doesn’t impact this story, and I enjoyed how Vana handles herself when threatened by these women.
Overall, I adored Magic Gone Wild and it’s charming characters - probably the most of the three Bottled Magic books. It had a different tone than the other two and can most certainly be read as a stand alone. I wasn’t a hundred percent on board with why Vana's magic is so messed up, but in the end it doesn't matter since when a Genie says "I love you," she gives up her magic. The book doesn't spend a lot of time in the world of the Genies and focuses more on the love story between Vana and Zane. We witness the pair spend time getting to know each other as they make their own magic. Magic Gone Wild is a romantic love story with a generous dose of laughs that warmed my heart.
August 1, 2012
Posted on Romancing the Book's blog
Reviewed by Robin
Review Copy Provided by Netgalley
What would you do if you found a genie in a bottle and could get unlimited wishes? Once in a while you stumble across a book that is just…well…ummm…plain and simple a fun book to read. Who couldn’t do with a little genie magic? I’m thinking laundry, yard work, bathrooms, and windows. I think you get where I am going.
As fun as it would be sometimes things go awry as with Vana short for Nirvana. Who by the way never finished her training… She did however choose a bottle and has had some masters. When Vana is around things tend to not go as she would like them to.
Her master Peter just didn’t know what to do with her anymore so to get a little reprieve from Vana he puts her in her bottle and in the attic. He dies shortly after and she is locked there till Zane Harrison his great-great grandson comes along to get the house ready to sell.
Somehow he ends up in the bottle with Vana. Things then start to happen which confuse him. After a fairly short amount of time he comes to except Vana and finds that when he kisses her, her magic actually works the way it is supposed to.
This story is so lighthearted and delightful it was easy to fall in love with Vana and Zane as we get to share in their romance.
The things that happen along the way like the ‘children’ who are enchanted dishes. Because her magic doesn’t work right she has been unable to change them back. Then there is the coat rack, the armoire, carpet, compact…well, you get the picture. All collected by Zane’s great-great grandfather and still enchanted. They added depth to the story and made it seem like such a fun house to live in.
Ms. Fennell has captured a new fan with her delightful magic in bringing love, enchantment and genies alive. Even if the genie causes havoc in her wake you still can’t help but fall in love with her and her quest to just be herself. We all need to laugh till we cry at times. That is just how wonderful this story is.
So, go out and pick up your copy of Magic Gone Wild and fall in love with the zany life of Vana as she pulls Zane into it and falls in love. Oh! I forgot all about ‘Merlin’ the colorful talking Phoenix. I think you just may find yourself falling in love with this story I know I did. I can’t wait for the next book; but in the meantime I am going to read the first two in the series.
Reviewed by Robin
Review Copy Provided by Netgalley
What would you do if you found a genie in a bottle and could get unlimited wishes? Once in a while you stumble across a book that is just…well…ummm…plain and simple a fun book to read. Who couldn’t do with a little genie magic? I’m thinking laundry, yard work, bathrooms, and windows. I think you get where I am going.
As fun as it would be sometimes things go awry as with Vana short for Nirvana. Who by the way never finished her training… She did however choose a bottle and has had some masters. When Vana is around things tend to not go as she would like them to.
Her master Peter just didn’t know what to do with her anymore so to get a little reprieve from Vana he puts her in her bottle and in the attic. He dies shortly after and she is locked there till Zane Harrison his great-great grandson comes along to get the house ready to sell.
Somehow he ends up in the bottle with Vana. Things then start to happen which confuse him. After a fairly short amount of time he comes to except Vana and finds that when he kisses her, her magic actually works the way it is supposed to.
This story is so lighthearted and delightful it was easy to fall in love with Vana and Zane as we get to share in their romance.
The things that happen along the way like the ‘children’ who are enchanted dishes. Because her magic doesn’t work right she has been unable to change them back. Then there is the coat rack, the armoire, carpet, compact…well, you get the picture. All collected by Zane’s great-great grandfather and still enchanted. They added depth to the story and made it seem like such a fun house to live in.
Ms. Fennell has captured a new fan with her delightful magic in bringing love, enchantment and genies alive. Even if the genie causes havoc in her wake you still can’t help but fall in love with her and her quest to just be herself. We all need to laugh till we cry at times. That is just how wonderful this story is.
So, go out and pick up your copy of Magic Gone Wild and fall in love with the zany life of Vana as she pulls Zane into it and falls in love. Oh! I forgot all about ‘Merlin’ the colorful talking Phoenix. I think you just may find yourself falling in love with this story I know I did. I can’t wait for the next book; but in the meantime I am going to read the first two in the series.
September 12, 2012
Magic Gone Wild is a fun and quirky romance story with a modern twist. It reminds me so much of I Dream of Genie, with a couple of sex scenes thrown in. It was a light and enjoyable read! Judi Fennell has a delightful writing style as the story flows so effortlessly.
Vana is such an eccentric person! She has tried over the years to use her powers correctly, but every time she uses them disaster usually strikes and things get even worse when she tries to fix it. Because of the erratic way her powers have worked, it has caused previous masters to appear crazy. That is until she meets her new “Master” Zane.
Zane has always believed that his family has been a bit odd and has returned home to try and put his family’s past behind him by selling the family house that he now owns. He never intended for a Genie to pop up and cause so many dramas!
Zane does something to Vana that allows her to use her powers without causing destruction. Although it isn’t always fool proof, Vana is able to control her powers better when Zane is there to calm her nerves.... (Not going to tell you how!!)
Both of these characters are fabulous. Vana appears to be a bit peculiar, as one would be when locked in a bottle by yourself. She’s eager to try and set everything straight and to try and become the perfect Genie that everyone wants to be. She lacks a bit of confidence, but is willing to keep trying.
Zane is hot ... Washboard Ab’s, perfect body, beautiful features and blue eyes (I love blue eyes!). He is a Pro-Footballer and usually the women fall all over themselves to be with him. Things don’t start very well between Vana and Zane, but as the book progresses, the tension is in the air.....
Vana is such an eccentric person! She has tried over the years to use her powers correctly, but every time she uses them disaster usually strikes and things get even worse when she tries to fix it. Because of the erratic way her powers have worked, it has caused previous masters to appear crazy. That is until she meets her new “Master” Zane.
Zane has always believed that his family has been a bit odd and has returned home to try and put his family’s past behind him by selling the family house that he now owns. He never intended for a Genie to pop up and cause so many dramas!
Zane does something to Vana that allows her to use her powers without causing destruction. Although it isn’t always fool proof, Vana is able to control her powers better when Zane is there to calm her nerves.... (Not going to tell you how!!)
Both of these characters are fabulous. Vana appears to be a bit peculiar, as one would be when locked in a bottle by yourself. She’s eager to try and set everything straight and to try and become the perfect Genie that everyone wants to be. She lacks a bit of confidence, but is willing to keep trying.
Zane is hot ... Washboard Ab’s, perfect body, beautiful features and blue eyes (I love blue eyes!). He is a Pro-Footballer and usually the women fall all over themselves to be with him. Things don’t start very well between Vana and Zane, but as the book progresses, the tension is in the air.....
September 15, 2012
review to be posted on Mindingspot.blogspot.com shortly
Zane Harrison goes back to his hometown to sell his childhood home. He is more than ready to unload the home that has kept the rumors about his eccentric family continuing. He gets a lot more than he bargained for when he finds a genie in the attic and finds out that she is the reason for all of the rumors. Because Vana , short for Nirvana, isn't exactly in control of her magic and has caused quite a bit of chaos in her time, especially when she was Zane's grandfather Peter's genie. With the nosey neighbors snooping around and Zane's childhood bully trying to ruin his life he really can't afford to have all this awry magic around. Now more anxious to sell the house than ever can Vana change Zane's mind about the selling the house and show him what he has truly been missing?
The story takes a really fun turn when the only time Vana can seem to manage her magic properly is when Zane kisses her. The mutual attraction and nosey neighbors make for some really funny moments and the sexual tension is delicious and keeps you turning the pages to find out what is going to happen next. I loved that it reminded me a lot of one of my all time favorite shows "I dream of Jeannie" except a lot hotter. There were some really steamy scenes that made this book the perfect mix between comedy and romance with a little bit of paranormal swirled in.
Although this is the third book in the series it can definitely be read alone. In fact I have not read the first two books and I really enjoyed this one. I definitely think fans of I dream of Jeannie and readers of paranormal romance or romantic comedies will enjoy Magic Gone Wild.
Zane Harrison goes back to his hometown to sell his childhood home. He is more than ready to unload the home that has kept the rumors about his eccentric family continuing. He gets a lot more than he bargained for when he finds a genie in the attic and finds out that she is the reason for all of the rumors. Because Vana , short for Nirvana, isn't exactly in control of her magic and has caused quite a bit of chaos in her time, especially when she was Zane's grandfather Peter's genie. With the nosey neighbors snooping around and Zane's childhood bully trying to ruin his life he really can't afford to have all this awry magic around. Now more anxious to sell the house than ever can Vana change Zane's mind about the selling the house and show him what he has truly been missing?
The story takes a really fun turn when the only time Vana can seem to manage her magic properly is when Zane kisses her. The mutual attraction and nosey neighbors make for some really funny moments and the sexual tension is delicious and keeps you turning the pages to find out what is going to happen next. I loved that it reminded me a lot of one of my all time favorite shows "I dream of Jeannie" except a lot hotter. There were some really steamy scenes that made this book the perfect mix between comedy and romance with a little bit of paranormal swirled in.
Although this is the third book in the series it can definitely be read alone. In fact I have not read the first two books and I really enjoyed this one. I definitely think fans of I dream of Jeannie and readers of paranormal romance or romantic comedies will enjoy Magic Gone Wild.
September 10, 2012
Author Judi Fennell always has a way with words. She can make a book come to life with each chapter of her books.
While this is number three in the Bottled Magic series, Magic Gone Wild can be read as a stand alone if you haven't made it through the first two books yet. I love it when authors make sure that a series can be read out of order without being confused and lost.
Vana is a genie but her powers are far from perfect. The only time she can get them to work is when Zane kisses her. I thought this brought some fun to the story and made it very easy to read. I couldn't help but think of all the things that happened and compare her misadventures to Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie. Zane was not a believer until he is sent to Vana in her bottle. She is trying to convince him not to sell his great-grandfathers house while trying not to fall for Zane in the process.
Magic Gone Wild was a fun and entertaining read. Magical, humorous, and romantic that touches all bases of paranormal romance. A great new read from a talented author.
While this is number three in the Bottled Magic series, Magic Gone Wild can be read as a stand alone if you haven't made it through the first two books yet. I love it when authors make sure that a series can be read out of order without being confused and lost.
Vana is a genie but her powers are far from perfect. The only time she can get them to work is when Zane kisses her. I thought this brought some fun to the story and made it very easy to read. I couldn't help but think of all the things that happened and compare her misadventures to Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie. Zane was not a believer until he is sent to Vana in her bottle. She is trying to convince him not to sell his great-grandfathers house while trying not to fall for Zane in the process.
Magic Gone Wild was a fun and entertaining read. Magical, humorous, and romantic that touches all bases of paranormal romance. A great new read from a talented author.
November 22, 2012
I always like to start off my three star reviews by pointing out that three stars does mean "I like it." If there were half stars I would say 3.5 without a doubt, but I just don't know that I could say four.
I haven't read a romance novel involving magic since I read Breath of Magic many, many years ago, and I've never read one involving genies. I must say though that this was a very fun, light read that was easy to get into quickly and enjoy immensely. The characters were all very likeable save one, and that one was easy to despise.
I definitely enjoyed this book enough to want to pick up more of Judi Fennell's books.
*** I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads
I haven't read a romance novel involving magic since I read Breath of Magic many, many years ago, and I've never read one involving genies. I must say though that this was a very fun, light read that was easy to get into quickly and enjoy immensely. The characters were all very likeable save one, and that one was easy to despise.
I definitely enjoyed this book enough to want to pick up more of Judi Fennell's books.
*** I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads
October 4, 2012
I fell in love with Vana as soon as I met her in the book. She was funny and caring, but her magic just will not work correctly. The harder she tried to get things to work right, the more it went wrong. Once Zane Harrison found Vana’s bottle, sparks flew in more ways than one. You will love to hate the bad guy. I wanted to help get rid of him, but Vana did a good job on her own.
Will Zane be able to help Vana? Or will he end up selling the family home as he planed? Is Vana the only magical creature on the Harrison property or are there others? In order to answer these questions you need to read Magic Gone Wild by Judi Fennell. It was well worth my time to read and find out the answers.
Rating: 4
Reviewed by: Susan
Received from the publisher for an honest review by MY BOOK ADDICTION AND MORE
Will Zane be able to help Vana? Or will he end up selling the family home as he planed? Is Vana the only magical creature on the Harrison property or are there others? In order to answer these questions you need to read Magic Gone Wild by Judi Fennell. It was well worth my time to read and find out the answers.
Rating: 4
Reviewed by: Susan
Received from the publisher for an honest review by MY BOOK ADDICTION AND MORE
March 7, 2016
A nice. sweet love story. No bombs, no super bad guys, and the magic was relatively simple - you didn't have to understand and embrace a complex world, just know a bit of Greek mythology and watch an episode or two of "I Dream of Jeanie." I was actually surprised at how long the book was compared to how straightforward the plot was. But for me it didn't drag. The story was funny, the leads were well drawn - "Vana" was a bit of a ditz, but not in a negative way and not really too stupid to live. Zane was a little bit 2-dimensional, I wanted more specifics on his backstory between when he left town as as child and when he came back as a football star. The supporting characters were hilarious, especially Merlin.
June 19, 2012
There are some hot sex scenes, but if not for that this book would feel like a YA novel. The character’s are pretty innocent, the villain is more a jerk than an actual threat, and the storyline is like something out of a 60’s sitcom. The author was greatly influenced by the show I Dream of Jeanie and it shows. A cute, fun read.
August 9, 2012
2.75 stars bordering on 3... way too much going on... gonna let everything settle before i give a more in depth review
June 28, 2013
loved it!!! loved merlin the most!
January 16, 2014
Found out it was the 3rd book in a series when I added it to Goodreads. I don't think it has a strong series link so that was fine. I did really like the author's use of some bold phrasing.
August 19, 2015
Sweet. Passionate. Romantic. Quick moving.
June 27, 2016
this book was funny and a good laugh out loud crazy story.
March 7, 2019
Oh my God this book is sexy and amazing
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