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A Modern Witch #0.5
To Have and To Code
Nell Sullivan is fiery, easily distracted by cookies, and doomed to wear the peach monstrosity at her best friend’s wedding.
And she’s a witch.
Daniel Walker is a former baseball player turned bored hacker looking for a challenge. Hacking Nell's online gaming world is going to get him a lot more than he bargained for.
A prophecy says they will make babies together – but when it comes to the love life of a modern witch and a hacker, prophecy might not get a vote.
And she’s a witch.
Daniel Walker is a former baseball player turned bored hacker looking for a challenge. Hacking Nell's online gaming world is going to get him a lot more than he bargained for.
A prophecy says they will make babies together – but when it comes to the love life of a modern witch and a hacker, prophecy might not get a vote.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 12, 2012
90 people are currently reading
782 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
October 26, 2017
When I read a series - which I often do- I usually leave out the #.5 books because novellas are not my favourite thing. Imagine how delighted I was to find out that #0.5 in this series is not a novella but a full length book and a prequel which tells us how Nell and Daniel first met. It took me a while and a bit of cash to track down an actual copy but boy was it worth it!
When I first came across this series some while back I practically inhaled it. I love everything about the Modern Witches. They are the ultimate in feel good books with delightful characters, easy to read stories and a constant feeling of happiness. I was so sad when the author stopped writing them so to discover this book was the best.
Still sitting here with a smile on my face. Not going to think about the fact that there are no more:(
When I first came across this series some while back I practically inhaled it. I love everything about the Modern Witches. They are the ultimate in feel good books with delightful characters, easy to read stories and a constant feeling of happiness. I was so sad when the author stopped writing them so to discover this book was the best.
Still sitting here with a smile on my face. Not going to think about the fact that there are no more:(
Read
September 15, 2012My new book :)
January 6, 2022
I first read this in 2013, and then happily went on to read the rest of the series. I realized, on this re-read, what I liked so much about the Modern Witch series, and this book in particular. The characters are NICE. They genuinely care about other people, I'm totally engaged in their stories, and they're all people I could be friends with.
Sometimes you just need to surround yourself with nice people.
Sometimes you just need to surround yourself with nice people.
September 16, 2012
Nell Sullivan hasn't needed a champion since she was a young witch who watched hackers invade and destroy her mother's computer game and cheered when a hero rode to the rescue, armed with flaming code and deadly computer genius. Since then, she's come into her own power and, though she hides behind a mask of computer geek, she's an intricate and complex woman inside, full of passion and fierce independence but desperately needing close ties to ground her. She hides out in her "apartment of alone," finding comfort in the surroundings that link her with those she loves. She's found those in her best friend, Sammy, and in her family...but Sammy's about to leave her behind as she heads to Texas with the man she loves. Nell, who meets change "armed with lightning bolts," isn't sure she can handle the loss. Will a challenge in the form of a sexy, all-too-good hacker change that?
Daniel Walker is bored. The best pitcher for his college baseball team and an unmatched computer genius, he's taken down the computers of over-confident banks and hacked his way into the most secure systems around - including the virtual gaming world of Realm. He's "a guy waiting for a challenge." And when he walks into the offices of Realm and is blown away by the gorgeous vision that is Nell, a stunning combination of beauty and power, he realizes that he just might have found it. But is he man enough to deal with the layers upon layers that lie beneath her tough exterior and face anything a future with her might hold?
Daniel and Nell's story is one of pure and magical perfection that will have you melting inside, along with Sammy's yummy chocolate cookies. With her past books, Debora's shown her genius with characters that touch your soul and creep into your heart. In To Have and To Code, she lets that genius loose, filling the pages with her perfect blend of humor and heart. I can never praise her books enough but this one, certainly, is among the best. I read it in two straight sittings and just wish, as usual, that there was more.
I always find quotes that speak to me in Debora's books...this one was full of them, including: "Sometimes the threads of life tangled in crazy knots - and sometimes they wove into tapestries of eye-catching beauty."
Daniel Walker is bored. The best pitcher for his college baseball team and an unmatched computer genius, he's taken down the computers of over-confident banks and hacked his way into the most secure systems around - including the virtual gaming world of Realm. He's "a guy waiting for a challenge." And when he walks into the offices of Realm and is blown away by the gorgeous vision that is Nell, a stunning combination of beauty and power, he realizes that he just might have found it. But is he man enough to deal with the layers upon layers that lie beneath her tough exterior and face anything a future with her might hold?
Daniel and Nell's story is one of pure and magical perfection that will have you melting inside, along with Sammy's yummy chocolate cookies. With her past books, Debora's shown her genius with characters that touch your soul and creep into your heart. In To Have and To Code, she lets that genius loose, filling the pages with her perfect blend of humor and heart. I can never praise her books enough but this one, certainly, is among the best. I read it in two straight sittings and just wish, as usual, that there was more.
I always find quotes that speak to me in Debora's books...this one was full of them, including: "Sometimes the threads of life tangled in crazy knots - and sometimes they wove into tapestries of eye-catching beauty."
September 15, 2012
To Have and to Code by Debora Geary
5 Stars
I stayed up till 2:00 am because I could not put the book down. I did not think that this book would be as good as the other ones in the series, but I was wrong.
In the series this book goes back to 1997 when Nell met Daniel. So I knew how they ended up lately and thier family. But I was hooked to learn about that time period in thier lives.
This book was great I learned so much about characters that I thought I knew. It also reminded me that thier is so much to learn. Like Nell's other brothers. Who are they? Where are they now?
Daniel is known as the Hacker. He gets bored easily especially with computer games. He found a new game that is a challenge. He really likes it. So he hacked in and he stole things from other players. But some of thier codes did not work and when that code did not work the game said that it needs magic.
Daniel got into the secret part of the game. He fought the Wizard and was making headway before the lights went out in the game. Daniel figured that the Wizard was Jamie one of the creaters. He also found that the second best player the gypsie was the other creater Nell.
Hacker was interviewed by Jamie and Nell and was hired to shore up thier holes in the security.
Nell is a fire witch. with other talents. She is firey with the temper to match. Her best friend is getting married soon and moving to Texas.
When the Hacker steals some of her hidden supplies in the game and then challenges her.
She loose her temper. When Jamie tricks her into meeting the Hacker she gets mad.
But after meeting him she hires him to work down in the dungeon.
Nell's mother got shown some of the future when she was born but decided that she would not tell Nell till she was older. Especially the part that said her future child will be the most powerful witch born and be in danger because of his power. (of course he is one of my favorite characters in the other books,)
I love To Have and To Code along with the other books in the series if you have not read Modern Witch pick it up you will fall in love with it too. This is a clean read.
I bought this ebook from Amazon the day I found it was out and read it right away. I want more of this series soon.
Fireweed Publishing (September 12, 2012) 364 pages
5 Stars
I stayed up till 2:00 am because I could not put the book down. I did not think that this book would be as good as the other ones in the series, but I was wrong.
In the series this book goes back to 1997 when Nell met Daniel. So I knew how they ended up lately and thier family. But I was hooked to learn about that time period in thier lives.
This book was great I learned so much about characters that I thought I knew. It also reminded me that thier is so much to learn. Like Nell's other brothers. Who are they? Where are they now?
Daniel is known as the Hacker. He gets bored easily especially with computer games. He found a new game that is a challenge. He really likes it. So he hacked in and he stole things from other players. But some of thier codes did not work and when that code did not work the game said that it needs magic.
Daniel got into the secret part of the game. He fought the Wizard and was making headway before the lights went out in the game. Daniel figured that the Wizard was Jamie one of the creaters. He also found that the second best player the gypsie was the other creater Nell.
Hacker was interviewed by Jamie and Nell and was hired to shore up thier holes in the security.
Nell is a fire witch. with other talents. She is firey with the temper to match. Her best friend is getting married soon and moving to Texas.
When the Hacker steals some of her hidden supplies in the game and then challenges her.
She loose her temper. When Jamie tricks her into meeting the Hacker she gets mad.
But after meeting him she hires him to work down in the dungeon.
Nell's mother got shown some of the future when she was born but decided that she would not tell Nell till she was older. Especially the part that said her future child will be the most powerful witch born and be in danger because of his power. (of course he is one of my favorite characters in the other books,)
I love To Have and To Code along with the other books in the series if you have not read Modern Witch pick it up you will fall in love with it too. This is a clean read.
I bought this ebook from Amazon the day I found it was out and read it right away. I want more of this series soon.
Fireweed Publishing (September 12, 2012) 364 pages
January 8, 2013
This is the third Debora Geary book I have read/had read to me in the last four days. Sweet, sweet books in which to immerse yourself on a long reading weekend.
I listened to A Modern Witch and A Hidden Witch and then borrowed this book through Prime Lending.
This book, though published after A Modern Witch and A Hidden Witch, is a prequel, the story of Nell and Daniel and how they got together. Nell and Daniel's family is the centerpiece of the Witch Central books.
A very sweet, PG-rated story. No sex at all, just a couple of instances of graphic language.
A recurring component in the Witch Central stories is an on-line game called the Enchanter's Realm. Witches and nonwitches alike can play the game, but it takes witchcraft to get to the top level of the Realm, and Daniel found his way there but he is not a witch. This led to some minor misunderstandings, but all in all this is a straightforward love story.
There is no big MIS, no long feuds, not to'ing and fro'ing between wooers. There is some conflict arising from neither party having the full facts, but all in all it is just a love story accompolished in 11 days.
I enjoy Ms. Geary's community setups for her books. The characters have friends, good friends; the characters have families and jobs and lives that are complete before there is "true love." Nice communities, nice characters, nice books.
There were a few misspellings, but generally speaking this was a well written, well edited book.
I listened to A Modern Witch and A Hidden Witch and then borrowed this book through Prime Lending.
This book, though published after A Modern Witch and A Hidden Witch, is a prequel, the story of Nell and Daniel and how they got together. Nell and Daniel's family is the centerpiece of the Witch Central books.
A very sweet, PG-rated story. No sex at all, just a couple of instances of graphic language.
A recurring component in the Witch Central stories is an on-line game called the Enchanter's Realm. Witches and nonwitches alike can play the game, but it takes witchcraft to get to the top level of the Realm, and Daniel found his way there but he is not a witch. This led to some minor misunderstandings, but all in all this is a straightforward love story.
There is no big MIS, no long feuds, not to'ing and fro'ing between wooers. There is some conflict arising from neither party having the full facts, but all in all it is just a love story accompolished in 11 days.
I enjoy Ms. Geary's community setups for her books. The characters have friends, good friends; the characters have families and jobs and lives that are complete before there is "true love." Nice communities, nice characters, nice books.
There were a few misspellings, but generally speaking this was a well written, well edited book.
October 15, 2014
This was the second book in this series that I read. After reading the first it was kind of hard not to want to go on with series. I love the characters, who make me feel like I am a part of their life from the moment we meet. The world they live in is not perfect but has enough reality added that you feel like you know it or have at least been there before.
The Sullivan's are a big and boisterous family who just happen to be witches. But even more than that they are a family of coders and mathematical whizzes who have been running games over the net for years. Enchanters Realm is a popular game among humans and witches, but has a special level that only witches are usually able to reach because it requires the use of magic. Enter the Hacker, a guy who codes better than a lot of people, including some of those Sullivan's. Nell and Jaime are not happy when they realize that they have been hacked but figure that they person is a witch that they simply have not met.
Daniel is a first class coder and does it for a living most of the time. He does like to peek in the backdoor of games once in a while but nothing that would be considered cheating. He finds himself plying against the wizard, but notices that some of the code seems redundant or useless, not understanding that it is magic. He manages to hold off an attack of real magic with nothing but his code, pretty good. Then he decides he wants to work for them, that could be the craziest idea he ever had.
The writing and the story are light, fun, with a sense of romance. Anyone would enjoy this story and series.
The Sullivan's are a big and boisterous family who just happen to be witches. But even more than that they are a family of coders and mathematical whizzes who have been running games over the net for years. Enchanters Realm is a popular game among humans and witches, but has a special level that only witches are usually able to reach because it requires the use of magic. Enter the Hacker, a guy who codes better than a lot of people, including some of those Sullivan's. Nell and Jaime are not happy when they realize that they have been hacked but figure that they person is a witch that they simply have not met.
Daniel is a first class coder and does it for a living most of the time. He does like to peek in the backdoor of games once in a while but nothing that would be considered cheating. He finds himself plying against the wizard, but notices that some of the code seems redundant or useless, not understanding that it is magic. He manages to hold off an attack of real magic with nothing but his code, pretty good. Then he decides he wants to work for them, that could be the craziest idea he ever had.
The writing and the story are light, fun, with a sense of romance. Anyone would enjoy this story and series.
September 24, 2012
From Lilac Wolf and Stuff
I swear, Debora's books is like eating warm chocolate chip nutella cookies. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I always receive them when I really need them, too. It's always a great follow-up to anything dark. Even full of witches, they are full of so much light.
I love that we get a good look at Nell and Daniel, two central characters that don't get too much face time. They are parents of the sparkly triplet girls and the most powerful witchling to date.
This goes into how they meet and ultimately get hitched. And I'm not sorry about giving something away, this was written after we already know them as a couple. Still a wonderful story to read. Especially since Nell is such a powerful fire witch and Daniel is a muggle (hey do you like the cross reference?).
Run and grab this sweet witchy romance.
I swear, Debora's books is like eating warm chocolate chip nutella cookies. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I always receive them when I really need them, too. It's always a great follow-up to anything dark. Even full of witches, they are full of so much light.
I love that we get a good look at Nell and Daniel, two central characters that don't get too much face time. They are parents of the sparkly triplet girls and the most powerful witchling to date.
This goes into how they meet and ultimately get hitched. And I'm not sorry about giving something away, this was written after we already know them as a couple. Still a wonderful story to read. Especially since Nell is such a powerful fire witch and Daniel is a muggle (hey do you like the cross reference?).
Run and grab this sweet witchy romance.
January 9, 2013
Every book in this series has turned me into a blubbering fool. The characters are amazing and the family and community dynamics make you yearn for what she offers. Up until now I have read every book in the Modern Witch series and loved every single moment of every book. Debora Geary really knows how to make her reader feel the emotions of her characters and truly become enthralled with the story. She makes you laugh (a lot), sit on the edge of your seat waiting for the fall out and cry with the trails and outcomes the characters face. I can't wait to see what comes next and await the next series she is planning. Witch Central has always revolved around Nell's strong character and it's nice to finally see where her story actually began. Once again it was well written and does not disappointment. I recommend this Witch read to all :)
December 12, 2012
Ah, this was a good read. Going back to 1997 we get to meet Nell & Daniel and follow them as they meet each other & fall in love. This would actually be an excellent intro book for this heavily-interlocked series: Geary's writing has improved a lot since A Modern Witch, and since this is a prequel you aren't expected to have any pre-knowledge.
June 18, 2019
Good
Enjoyable story with a few discrepancies from the series, that don't really matter except to the nit pickers.
In this story, the mother says she has 7 children. The triplet boys, Nell & 3 older boys in Boston.
In the 1st book, Jamie mentions 3 older sisters, of which Nell is one. Doesn't mention brothers other than his triplets. Since the older sibs never make an appearance in any of the stories, they're not important.
Another confusing item that doesn't matter, in this book the triplets are 19. The story mentions the eldest shadowing in a hospital on his way to becoming a doctor. I'm not sure what shadowing is. To me it sounds like internship or residency prior to officially getting a doctorate. Unless the oldest is a genius who graduated h.s. at 11, he wouldn't be doing that at 19. It takes 4 years of college & 3-12 years of medical school, depending on specialty, before he'd be doing any kind of residency or internship.
As I said, these errors don't matter because Matt makes insignificant appearances in the series & the other unnamed siblings don't make any appearances. Perhaps the author was just keeping a door open for any future stories.
Enjoyable story with a few discrepancies from the series, that don't really matter except to the nit pickers.
In this story, the mother says she has 7 children. The triplet boys, Nell & 3 older boys in Boston.
In the 1st book, Jamie mentions 3 older sisters, of which Nell is one. Doesn't mention brothers other than his triplets. Since the older sibs never make an appearance in any of the stories, they're not important.
Another confusing item that doesn't matter, in this book the triplets are 19. The story mentions the eldest shadowing in a hospital on his way to becoming a doctor. I'm not sure what shadowing is. To me it sounds like internship or residency prior to officially getting a doctorate. Unless the oldest is a genius who graduated h.s. at 11, he wouldn't be doing that at 19. It takes 4 years of college & 3-12 years of medical school, depending on specialty, before he'd be doing any kind of residency or internship.
As I said, these errors don't matter because Matt makes insignificant appearances in the series & the other unnamed siblings don't make any appearances. Perhaps the author was just keeping a door open for any future stories.
July 24, 2021
Perfect
I love this story. It is perfectly written. The characters are so wonderful. All the emotions and closeness and the protective devotion to everyone they care about is so heartwarming. I absolutely loved every word. I've actually read all of this series of books and they're all perfect.
I love this story. It is perfectly written. The characters are so wonderful. All the emotions and closeness and the protective devotion to everyone they care about is so heartwarming. I absolutely loved every word. I've actually read all of this series of books and they're all perfect.
December 3, 2024
Nell jest na tyle ciekawą bohaterką, że bardzo fajnie, że dostała swój tom. Teraz do mnie dotarło jak bardzo brakowało Daniela w kolejnych tomach. Autorka obiecała, że od czwartego tomu ma go być więcej więc bardzo na to liczę. Ich historia była bardzo dobra. Jedynie matka Nell powinna się zamknąć i nie komplikować im życia.
October 15, 2019
I love this series
Excellent series, and time to revisit witch central again! I'm feeling blessed that the author gave us an entire interconnected and magical series before life got in the way and rerouted her plans. I appreciate her and her voice.
Excellent series, and time to revisit witch central again! I'm feeling blessed that the author gave us an entire interconnected and magical series before life got in the way and rerouted her plans. I appreciate her and her voice.
July 9, 2022
I waited years to read this
Her books touch my soul and I am saddened I havs read them all now. Delighted to start all over again. I didn't think I could love them more, the triplets and Nell but I do and it ia a gift.
Her books touch my soul and I am saddened I havs read them all now. Delighted to start all over again. I didn't think I could love them more, the triplets and Nell but I do and it ia a gift.
March 10, 2024
Pleasant but minor. Felt a little too over the top on the "warm hugs and cookies" front. I gather it's the prequel to a series that the author has yanked in the aftermath of a marriage breakup. I'm not even sure how this one ended up in my TBR pile.
May 8, 2017
3.5-4
July 3, 2017
Summer fun reading.
October 22, 2017
#readathon
July 8, 2018
Enjoyed it all the way thru. :)
The laughs, the sadness and all the in between. Looking forward to the next book in the story and series.
The laughs, the sadness and all the in between. Looking forward to the next book in the story and series.
November 8, 2022
dull, just skimmed it to get it done.
June 2, 2017
Oh my...this has very quickly become my favourite book of the series (I am currently struggling to finish a Celtic Witch). I loved the characters, the romance, the fear, the sisterhood. There was nothing in there I didn't like and I am left wondering why Daniel doesn't play a bigger part in the other books, because, frankly, he is all kinds of awesome!
5 well deserved stars!
5 well deserved stars!
August 19, 2018
This book takes us back to the year 1997, the start of the computer age, on line multiplayer role playing games with graphics, and coding is a major pastime a new hobby. Nell and Jamie Sullivan have taken over their parents Enchanted Realm game and expanded it, giving it a whole other level for witches only with spell code. Witches have learned to encode spells in regular code and create real magic in their game.
Nell is a fire witch, twenty-seven and a math geek that loves her game, it is her baby. She is the middle child of seven, triplet brothers grown and living in Boston, triplet brothers younger than her. When she was born Retha Sullivan her mother saw what she and husband non-witch Michael call The Prophecy, Nell’s life and the fact that she would be the mother of the strongest witchling in five generations. They never told Nell about this, wanting her to make what she would out of her life, but now Retha knows that her destiny is near.
Daniel Walker is a hacker; he is a brilliant coder and has his own business because working for someone else was too slow with all the meetings and endless delays. Now he spends a few hours in the morning getting his work done and then has the rest of his day to himself. So he starts hacking Enchanter’s Realm, he makes it beyond the Tower Door, only witches are supposed to be able to that, and runs into code he doesn’t know what to do with, he doesn’t know about spells – he is not a witch. But he still manages to fight Nell’s Mage to a draw without using magic.
Nell sets Jamie to figuring out who this hacker is, she has a best friend to help get married, and a life to try to keep on keel while Sammy makes plans to move from Berkeley to Texas (and take her incredible cookies with her). Jamie finds him, and offers him a job, figuring if he can code as good as he does and break through their firewalls as easily as he did, they could use him. Daniel is drifting after college; he had been on the fast track for a pro-baseball career which had gotten sidetracked, he has nothing else to do, so he goes to the meeting.
Nell has never met a man with will not back down from her temper, and she has no idea that Daniel is not a witch until one day he is trying to find a program crash problem in the Realm and points out all the dead code – spell code to a witch – and doesn’t know what they mean when they say to use magic to finish it. Can these two pull it together with advice freely given by friends, and family? Can Nell get past the pain of losing her best friend to see what is right in front of her?
This has all the love, sense of community and fun that you associate with the A Modern Witch Series and Ms. Geary has done it again. This is another five star read, I was caught from the beginning and all the magic of the series kept me enthralled until the end. If you are reading this series, you must pick this one up.
Nell is a fire witch, twenty-seven and a math geek that loves her game, it is her baby. She is the middle child of seven, triplet brothers grown and living in Boston, triplet brothers younger than her. When she was born Retha Sullivan her mother saw what she and husband non-witch Michael call The Prophecy, Nell’s life and the fact that she would be the mother of the strongest witchling in five generations. They never told Nell about this, wanting her to make what she would out of her life, but now Retha knows that her destiny is near.
Daniel Walker is a hacker; he is a brilliant coder and has his own business because working for someone else was too slow with all the meetings and endless delays. Now he spends a few hours in the morning getting his work done and then has the rest of his day to himself. So he starts hacking Enchanter’s Realm, he makes it beyond the Tower Door, only witches are supposed to be able to that, and runs into code he doesn’t know what to do with, he doesn’t know about spells – he is not a witch. But he still manages to fight Nell’s Mage to a draw without using magic.
Nell sets Jamie to figuring out who this hacker is, she has a best friend to help get married, and a life to try to keep on keel while Sammy makes plans to move from Berkeley to Texas (and take her incredible cookies with her). Jamie finds him, and offers him a job, figuring if he can code as good as he does and break through their firewalls as easily as he did, they could use him. Daniel is drifting after college; he had been on the fast track for a pro-baseball career which had gotten sidetracked, he has nothing else to do, so he goes to the meeting.
Nell has never met a man with will not back down from her temper, and she has no idea that Daniel is not a witch until one day he is trying to find a program crash problem in the Realm and points out all the dead code – spell code to a witch – and doesn’t know what they mean when they say to use magic to finish it. Can these two pull it together with advice freely given by friends, and family? Can Nell get past the pain of losing her best friend to see what is right in front of her?
This has all the love, sense of community and fun that you associate with the A Modern Witch Series and Ms. Geary has done it again. This is another five star read, I was caught from the beginning and all the magic of the series kept me enthralled until the end. If you are reading this series, you must pick this one up.
December 1, 2012
Debora Geary is to Witches as Angels are to Heaven. I was initially put off by the "Romance" category and resisted buying this book although I have loved everything of Debora Geary's that I've read. I finally gave in and was rewarded with an immediate return to that family of Witches and their associates that I've come to love. While the tension and difficult interplay of would be lovers were part of the package and the Pink Spangles with the young cheerleaders were just as expected, the smarmy romance idea that had caused me to delay buying something that, inside, I knew I would love, didn't materialize as I had expected. Instead, a warm, heart loving story of rapidly evolving love between two very competent and self reliant people blossomed in spite of their individual efforts to avoid what they both thought would be an unfortunate entanglement. Luckily they had friends and relatives that were able to recognize the obvious attractions and as Witches and Friends are wont to do, meddled to the benefit of the dubious couple proving the maxim, "Meddling when done with Love, can be powerful and rewarding". I'm embarrassed to admit that the story frequently made me tear up to the point have having to stop to wipe may eyes and clean my glasses before continuing the story. Somehow, as an almost seventy three year old curmudgeon, I felt that shedding tears was a genetic weakness but, realize it wasn't me but, it was the heart felt love in the story that drew out my tears. So, if you have difficulty emoting, grab yourself a copy of this "Romance" and a box of Kleenexes and prepare yourself for a satisfying release of pent up emotions. Debora Geary is definitely the Mavin of Berkley Witches Stories. Reward yourself with one of her books and I'll bet you will reach out and gift yourself with a rewarding group of her books. I hope you find it as satisfying as I have.
The story touches many of the characters that inhabit the Witch Colony in Berkley but, focuses on the separation of near sisters Nell and Sammy caused by Sammy's impending marriage to Shane, a Texas Cow Rancher. It also shares aspects of the Realm's online gaming levels with new comer gamer, the Hacker who had ripped through the ranks and became the third ranked player in their public portal in less than a month. He played the kind of a game that usually bored Nell to tears all with only coding skills, no magic talent although the magic enhanced top players didn't realize his limitations early on. For reflection purposes, Nell's mother, Retha and father, Michael were a reflection of Nell and Daniel (the Hacker). Magic for the girls, talent but, no magic for the boys. Trying to fit this combination into a relationship was a source of sparks. Read the book to find how they managed to reach an accommodation.
The story touches many of the characters that inhabit the Witch Colony in Berkley but, focuses on the separation of near sisters Nell and Sammy caused by Sammy's impending marriage to Shane, a Texas Cow Rancher. It also shares aspects of the Realm's online gaming levels with new comer gamer, the Hacker who had ripped through the ranks and became the third ranked player in their public portal in less than a month. He played the kind of a game that usually bored Nell to tears all with only coding skills, no magic talent although the magic enhanced top players didn't realize his limitations early on. For reflection purposes, Nell's mother, Retha and father, Michael were a reflection of Nell and Daniel (the Hacker). Magic for the girls, talent but, no magic for the boys. Trying to fit this combination into a relationship was a source of sparks. Read the book to find how they managed to reach an accommodation.
February 14, 2016
I find it very very hard to adequately rate this book.
On one hand I absolutely loved the idea. I mean, a hacker and a witch who is also a programmer, what is not to love?
But the execution... I really had problems there.
I think the book would have greatly improved with more pages. Half the time I had the feeling I read over explanations, because I couldn't follow. For example I would have liked an explanation about how it was possible to connect magic and code . Or how magic worked in general in this book/world. It assumed that you know from the start how magic works, who has which gifts, who knows about magic and just everything.
I do have quite some programming knowledge, but I don't know a thing about baseball and there were a lot of metaphors from both worlds of which I think I only understood half. I don't know whether people would enjoy this book, if they have no (or little) knowledge of either.
Also I had a hard time to connect to the characters. I wanted to like them, but somehow I had problems there. Maybe because there was already so much analysis of their behavior and reasons going on, that I had little chance to sympathize with them.
That's another (and my final) point: For me, there was too much telling and to little showing. Everyone's feeling was immediately identified and explained, with little chance for the reader to really think about it. And somehow it all felt... disjointed.
For example Nell's feelings about her best friend leaving, either you got
Maybe you think now, 'why did she give 4 stars if she had so many issues with it?'
But I liked the story so much, that even the not-good execution of the book didn't spoil it for me.
On one hand I absolutely loved the idea. I mean, a hacker and a witch who is also a programmer, what is not to love?
But the execution... I really had problems there.
I think the book would have greatly improved with more pages. Half the time I had the feeling I read over explanations, because I couldn't follow. For example I would have liked an explanation about how it was possible to connect magic and code . Or how magic worked in general in this book/world. It assumed that you know from the start how magic works, who has which gifts, who knows about magic and just everything.
I do have quite some programming knowledge, but I don't know a thing about baseball and there were a lot of metaphors from both worlds of which I think I only understood half. I don't know whether people would enjoy this book, if they have no (or little) knowledge of either.
Also I had a hard time to connect to the characters. I wanted to like them, but somehow I had problems there. Maybe because there was already so much analysis of their behavior and reasons going on, that I had little chance to sympathize with them.
That's another (and my final) point: For me, there was too much telling and to little showing. Everyone's feeling was immediately identified and explained, with little chance for the reader to really think about it. And somehow it all felt... disjointed.
For example Nell's feelings about her best friend leaving, either you got
Maybe you think now, 'why did she give 4 stars if she had so many issues with it?'
But I liked the story so much, that even the not-good execution of the book didn't spoil it for me.
May 17, 2013
This turns out to be the first in a series of 7 books....I was wondering as I kept reading about the prophesy. It brings together the world of computer geeks and gamers who write code with the world of REAL witches in the on-line fantasy game of REALM, where the top level involves code AND real magic. Daniel is NOT a witch but a great coder and everyone of the witches think he is a coder. He falls in love with the main character...no surprises there......actually NO SURPRISES...the book is predictable in the course of the love story...they fall, pull back, fall, pull back and ultimately work it out. This is not a spoiler...you know it from early on that the two will get together. The book is really a way INTO the saga of their children in the future books, which I have not read yet. I also hope some of the future books will focus on the 6 brothers, especially the triplets. The female characters are good, but a bit flat....Nell's mom and Sammy don't get very developed. I do like Nell and her powerful independent computer-geek ways. Her best friend is Sammy, but I'm not sure how the wedding with the cowboys and her leaving Nell seems realistic compared to other aspects. The magic antics are more believable. I will have to look it up. Overall, if you are into series of books that rely on each other, then you can probably speed read this one to get to the next one where I hope it will be less predictable. All said, I still enjoyed it because there was more interplay and back and forth and NO consummation/sex than most books. Also it was only over 10 days, so it was more real to me that they did not have sex despite the over-obvious sparks. A great read for those who like witch books set in modern times.
December 29, 2022
This was so much fun to read! I love Nell and Daniel. I also adore Nell's mother.
Similar to the other books in this universe the book was such a fantastic comfort read of a book. I love how the relationships developed in this book and I loved the character growth we got to see in Nell.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves fantastic really character driven, relationship focused stories. I am going to read more books in this universe immediately.
Steam content: Super sweet. Kisses and cuddles.
Similar to the other books in this universe the book was such a fantastic comfort read of a book. I love how the relationships developed in this book and I loved the character growth we got to see in Nell.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves fantastic really character driven, relationship focused stories. I am going to read more books in this universe immediately.
Steam content: Super sweet. Kisses and cuddles.
November 1, 2013
It's really unfair of me to rate this book so low because it really wasn't bad, I just expected different things of it than what it gave me. I started it because it was free in the Amazon lending library and it's about witches. Here are some things I'd wish I'd known about it before starting.
1. There is no sex in it. NONE. Lots of "heat," so much, in fact, that stuff is always threatening to get melted. Cool right? Yeah, I guess, the first 20 times it's threatened. Then it loses threat power.
2. There isn't enough magic.
3. It's set in 1997. Somehow I missed this for the first three quarters of the book. It's about computer programming/gaming. Let's just say if you know anything about computers it's going to be a low level buzz in the back of your brain the entire time you read it.
4. The characters are wayyy too close. All of them. They all talk too much about their feelings and are way too interested in the feelings of others.
All in all, it's a nice read if you're interested in romances between characters with few flaws, no sex, and lots of destined true love. Not what I needed today, but still written well!
1. There is no sex in it. NONE. Lots of "heat," so much, in fact, that stuff is always threatening to get melted. Cool right? Yeah, I guess, the first 20 times it's threatened. Then it loses threat power.
2. There isn't enough magic.
3. It's set in 1997. Somehow I missed this for the first three quarters of the book. It's about computer programming/gaming. Let's just say if you know anything about computers it's going to be a low level buzz in the back of your brain the entire time you read it.
4. The characters are wayyy too close. All of them. They all talk too much about their feelings and are way too interested in the feelings of others.
All in all, it's a nice read if you're interested in romances between characters with few flaws, no sex, and lots of destined true love. Not what I needed today, but still written well!
September 15, 2012
This was another gorgeous entry in the Witch Central world.
The story of Nell and Daniel is told by the triplets in A Modern Witch (I think) to Lauren and sounded fun then. This book expands that explanation beautifully.
I loved Retha (Nell's mother), loved Jamie's avatar and her collection of sexy dresses (how does DG think of these things?) and I liked seeing the "birth" of Nell's choc' chip cookie cooking abilities. And whilst I know this is a later book I would really love a thought / mention of Sammy in the previous books given her cookie master status.
I'm not sure how I feel about The Prophecy as in some ways the story could have happened without it quite easily. But then again given Aervyn maybe advanced warning is required.
I loved the wedding scene. I love the idea that those attending picked the bouquet. And the t-shirts - they rocked.
Another great chapter in Witch Central.
The story of Nell and Daniel is told by the triplets in A Modern Witch (I think) to Lauren and sounded fun then. This book expands that explanation beautifully.
I loved Retha (Nell's mother), loved Jamie's avatar and her collection of sexy dresses (how does DG think of these things?) and I liked seeing the "birth" of Nell's choc' chip cookie cooking abilities. And whilst I know this is a later book I would really love a thought / mention of Sammy in the previous books given her cookie master status.
I'm not sure how I feel about The Prophecy as in some ways the story could have happened without it quite easily. But then again given Aervyn maybe advanced warning is required.
I loved the wedding scene. I love the idea that those attending picked the bouquet. And the t-shirts - they rocked.
Another great chapter in Witch Central.
September 16, 2012
Another wonderful entry in the Modern Witch series, with this story taking place 15 years in the past recapping how Nell and Daniel first met and fell in love. I love all of Ms. Geary's stories because they always incorporate such a wonderful sense of family, friendship and love. And although it is a foregone conclusion that Nell and Daniel will fall in love, get married, and be the excellent, understanding parents of an extremely powerful witchling, the story still brought joy and plenty of tears. I loved the focus on Daniel, because he has been virtually invisible in some of the other volumes. While the story can stand alone for a newcomer, you really should read this series in chronological order, so that you can appreciate the full depth of these characters. I am looking forward to the next story, due later this year. [Disclosure: I was provided with an advance copy of this story by the author, but this in no way effected this review.]
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