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Hex #3
Wicked by Any Other Name
Feisty witch Stasi Romanov was one of 13 classmates at the Witches Academy who was expelled seven hundred years ago for bad behavior. Stasi has since then settled down a bit, owning a lingerie boutique while dabbling in a brisk side business of love charms.
Sparks fly, however, when one of those charms goes awry, and Stasi finds herself in a preternatural lawsuit matching wits with devastatingly handsome wizard attorney Trevor Barnes. Then mysterious magic from an unknown enemy threatens to turn Stasi's quiet town into a modern day Salem, and Stasi's witchy friends from long ago gather for the fight. They need Trevor's powerful help. But every witch knows you can't trust a wizard, and soon Stasi is fighting for her life and her heart.
Sparks fly, however, when one of those charms goes awry, and Stasi finds herself in a preternatural lawsuit matching wits with devastatingly handsome wizard attorney Trevor Barnes. Then mysterious magic from an unknown enemy threatens to turn Stasi's quiet town into a modern day Salem, and Stasi's witchy friends from long ago gather for the fight. They need Trevor's powerful help. But every witch knows you can't trust a wizard, and soon Stasi is fighting for her life and her heart.
386 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2009
26 people are currently reading
1263 people want to read
About the author
Linda Wisdom
83 books433 followersI'm a multi-published author since 1979 and now writing paranormal romance or what I like to call witch lit. 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover came out this past March and Hex Appeal comes out in November with Halloween promotion and will also be carried in Target.
My witch series has also been optioned to be shopped around as a TV series or movie. So here's hoping!
My witch series has also been optioned to be shopped around as a TV series or movie. So here's hoping!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
August 19, 2021
More like 2.5 stars rounded up again for a light-hearted story that yields to a grim, frightening scene of mortal danger at the climax. The main character of the third-person narration this time is Stasi (for Anastasia), who lives in the California mountains, high enough for snowy winters. She runs a lingerie shop in Moonstone Lake, and her best friend Blair has a retro shop there. They're soon joined by Jazz from the first two novels in the series, and Stasi, Blair, and Jazz are three of the thirteen witches who are living under the sentence passed on them in 1313 by the Witches' Academy for using their magic to harm others. Their sentence keeps being extended for just that reason, and here they are.
We get to see plenty of Jazz's vampire beau Nick, and Jazz's carnivorous bunny slippers Fluff and Puff are very much on scene. Irma the ghost, who was so much fun in the first books, is rather muted in this one now that she's free from Jazz's car and sits comfortably with the group. Sadly, Dweezil and Krebs, the other fun characters from before, stay back in the L.A. area and are absent here. On the other hand we have Jake, who's sweet on Blair and has a secret or two, and we get smart remarks from Horace the eight-inch gargoyle; but Bogie, the dog who floats and teleports (see cover), doesn't do much else.
The other key character in this little group is Trevor Barnes, both a lawyer and a wizard, who's representing the other side in a lawsuit against Stasi but, wouldn't you know it, Cupid puts little hearts over Trev and Stasi whenever they meet. Extreme annoyance ensues. Will romance wreck the lawsuit? There are lots of pleasant interactions and inconsequential chatting, some of it rather amusing, and lots of worry with little effective action about an increasing problem as Halloween (Samhain) approaches. Moonstone Lake becomes magically inaccessible and winter comes too soon to be natural; other things start to go wrong, and the townspeople blame our witch friends.
Once again, the witches use their magic to do all sorts of little things, and it's never clear what their powers can really do--so when they do something major it comes as a surprise and we just have to accept that those increasing magical problems at Moonstone Lake are things our friends can't handle. On top of that, Trev is a wizard, and again the question is why did he solve this problem and not that one?
So we're really just supposed to relax and enjoy the ride, and not ask too many questions. It was easy to put this book down a few months ago, and I picked it up again the other day when I realized it would help with a challenge. Not bad, but it does stop being so light-hearted in the climactic scenes; Stasi, after all, was in Salem in 1692 just like so many other fictional witches.
We get to see plenty of Jazz's vampire beau Nick, and Jazz's carnivorous bunny slippers Fluff and Puff are very much on scene. Irma the ghost, who was so much fun in the first books, is rather muted in this one now that she's free from Jazz's car and sits comfortably with the group. Sadly, Dweezil and Krebs, the other fun characters from before, stay back in the L.A. area and are absent here. On the other hand we have Jake, who's sweet on Blair and has a secret or two, and we get smart remarks from Horace the eight-inch gargoyle; but Bogie, the dog who floats and teleports (see cover), doesn't do much else.
The other key character in this little group is Trevor Barnes, both a lawyer and a wizard, who's representing the other side in a lawsuit against Stasi but, wouldn't you know it, Cupid puts little hearts over Trev and Stasi whenever they meet. Extreme annoyance ensues. Will romance wreck the lawsuit? There are lots of pleasant interactions and inconsequential chatting, some of it rather amusing, and lots of worry with little effective action about an increasing problem as Halloween (Samhain) approaches. Moonstone Lake becomes magically inaccessible and winter comes too soon to be natural; other things start to go wrong, and the townspeople blame our witch friends.
Once again, the witches use their magic to do all sorts of little things, and it's never clear what their powers can really do--so when they do something major it comes as a surprise and we just have to accept that those increasing magical problems at Moonstone Lake are things our friends can't handle. On top of that, Trev is a wizard, and again the question is why did he solve this problem and not that one?
So we're really just supposed to relax and enjoy the ride, and not ask too many questions. It was easy to put this book down a few months ago, and I picked it up again the other day when I realized it would help with a challenge. Not bad, but it does stop being so light-hearted in the climactic scenes; Stasi, after all, was in Salem in 1692 just like so many other fictional witches.
February 27, 2009
Three witches, a hunky warlock, a sexy vampire, and a mysterious collie are the six main characters in Linda Wisdom's latest novel. Of course, I should also mention the talking Kit-Kat clock, a miniature stone gargoyle that's alive, a magical Yorkie/Chihuahua mix, and rabid bunny slippers. If this sounds hilarious, that's because it is and "Wicked by Any Other Name" is chock full of humor and hot sex to boot.
Stasi and Blair live in a lovely small town with a magical lake that they and their close witch friend, Jazz, have protected and honored for hundreds of years. With Halloween, or Samhain, just around the corner they're looking forward to a wonderful holiday filled with friends. Until Stasi is served with a lawsuit in Warlock court and the attorney facing her just happens to be one of the best there is. When he appears in her shop to discuss the lawsuit, she's furious...and can't help but notice that he's smoking hot as well...and sporting a halo of hearts which means he's her true love! But how can that be? Everybody knows that witches and warlocks don't mix. Right?
Trevor is a skilled warlock and a darn good attorney. He still can't figure out how a bitter human female managed to con him into taking her case but he just can't regret it. If he hadn't taken the case, he wouldn't have met the woman of his dreams, uh witch of...OK, a really sexy woman who just happens to be witch. But Trevor's no idiot warlock, he knows a good thing when he sees it and he's not about to let anything, human or inhuman, derail this relationship.
This story was by turns sweet, hot, funny, sad, and sexy. I enjoyed both of Linda Wisdom's earlier stories about Jazz and her hot vamp so I was especially pleased to learn more about Stasi and Blair. The tone of the whole book is light so even the sadder parts don't drag down your spirits or last too long. The cast of characters (including the animals) mesh well and there's a secondary love story that readers can enjoy. I'm hoping Blair will get a book just for her so I can come back to visit Wisdom's wacky world.
Stasi and Blair live in a lovely small town with a magical lake that they and their close witch friend, Jazz, have protected and honored for hundreds of years. With Halloween, or Samhain, just around the corner they're looking forward to a wonderful holiday filled with friends. Until Stasi is served with a lawsuit in Warlock court and the attorney facing her just happens to be one of the best there is. When he appears in her shop to discuss the lawsuit, she's furious...and can't help but notice that he's smoking hot as well...and sporting a halo of hearts which means he's her true love! But how can that be? Everybody knows that witches and warlocks don't mix. Right?
Trevor is a skilled warlock and a darn good attorney. He still can't figure out how a bitter human female managed to con him into taking her case but he just can't regret it. If he hadn't taken the case, he wouldn't have met the woman of his dreams, uh witch of...OK, a really sexy woman who just happens to be witch. But Trevor's no idiot warlock, he knows a good thing when he sees it and he's not about to let anything, human or inhuman, derail this relationship.
This story was by turns sweet, hot, funny, sad, and sexy. I enjoyed both of Linda Wisdom's earlier stories about Jazz and her hot vamp so I was especially pleased to learn more about Stasi and Blair. The tone of the whole book is light so even the sadder parts don't drag down your spirits or last too long. The cast of characters (including the animals) mesh well and there's a secondary love story that readers can enjoy. I'm hoping Blair will get a book just for her so I can come back to visit Wisdom's wacky world.
January 8, 2020
I really did not like this nearly as much this second time around. It was too long for the all that happens, it starts to drag. And as it starts to drag I start getting annoyed with Stasi and Trev. They just get kind of repetitive. I like this series though, so I'll keep going on the re-read. Hopefully Blair's book won't feel so weighed down like this one did. I have to say, if this series started with Stasi, instead of with Jazz, I don't think I would be giving it the benefit of the doubt. I probably would have jumped ship. And as a side-ramble side-note, the cover doesn't match the story. At all. The only thing accurate about it is that she's a witch and it snows. There's no cat, no one skis, and if you look real close her eyes and eyeshadow is all fucked up and it bugs the shit out of me.
February 9, 2009
Witch Stasi Romanov learns that helping a friend doesn’t pay. Carrie, a human has just hired law attorney and wizard, Trevor Barnes to represent her as a client. She wants Stasi brought before the wizard counsel and her powers striped of her. Carrie claims that Stasi has interfered with her life by making her husband leave her. It is against the law for witches to meddle in human’s lives. Stasi is infuriated when she learns that she will have to argue her case not in the witches’ court but in wizard’s court. Witches and Wizards don’t really get along.
Stasi just may make an exception concerning wizard’s; especially when the wizard is heart throb Trevor Barnes. Trevor has not been in the presence of many witches for good reason. From the first moment Trevor meets Stasi he realizes that he might have the losing hand in this battle. What Trevor doesn’t know is that he actually has the winning smile. Will Stasi and Trevor give into their attraction for one another?
Wicked by Any Other Name by Linda Wisdom is a wickedly, fun, and magical read! I recently got introduced to Linda when I read Hex Appeal. Another paranormal romantic read that involves witches. Mrs. Wisdom’s books are quick reads. They can also be read as stand alone novels. I liked the fact that each book featured a new witch to meet and let me read her story. Now that I have discovered Linda Wisdom, I will keep reading her books as long as she keeps writing them.
Stasi just may make an exception concerning wizard’s; especially when the wizard is heart throb Trevor Barnes. Trevor has not been in the presence of many witches for good reason. From the first moment Trevor meets Stasi he realizes that he might have the losing hand in this battle. What Trevor doesn’t know is that he actually has the winning smile. Will Stasi and Trevor give into their attraction for one another?
Wicked by Any Other Name by Linda Wisdom is a wickedly, fun, and magical read! I recently got introduced to Linda when I read Hex Appeal. Another paranormal romantic read that involves witches. Mrs. Wisdom’s books are quick reads. They can also be read as stand alone novels. I liked the fact that each book featured a new witch to meet and let me read her story. Now that I have discovered Linda Wisdom, I will keep reading her books as long as she keeps writing them.
January 19, 2009
Wicked By Any Other Name
by Linda Wisdom
"Sparks fly when a love charm goes awry, and Stasi finds herself in a preternatural lawsuit matching wits with devastatingly handsome wizard attorney Trevor Barnes. Then mysterious magic from an unknown enemy threatens to turn Stasi's quiet town into a modern day Salem, and Stasi's witchy friends from long ago gather for the fight. They need Trevor's powerful help. But every witch knows you can't trust a wizard, and soon Stasi is fighting for her life and her heart."
This book is fun. The first thing that caught my eye is the cover art. And once I started reading the book I discovered that this isn't your typical witch. When Stasi gets nervous she hiccups bubbles, she has a dog that floats around and her store has a peeping tom watch-gargoyle to protect it. These are just a few of the quirky, oddball and even silly things in this book. When Stasi gets in trouble and the people of the town start turning against her, her friends all arrive on the scene to help find out who or what is causing all the trouble. This is a great little lighthearted romance. The image of Stasi and her wizard walking around with hearts circling in the air above their heads (compliments of cupid) is one I won't soon forget. It's sexy, silly and in the end love conquers all...can it get much better than that?
by Linda Wisdom
"Sparks fly when a love charm goes awry, and Stasi finds herself in a preternatural lawsuit matching wits with devastatingly handsome wizard attorney Trevor Barnes. Then mysterious magic from an unknown enemy threatens to turn Stasi's quiet town into a modern day Salem, and Stasi's witchy friends from long ago gather for the fight. They need Trevor's powerful help. But every witch knows you can't trust a wizard, and soon Stasi is fighting for her life and her heart."
This book is fun. The first thing that caught my eye is the cover art. And once I started reading the book I discovered that this isn't your typical witch. When Stasi gets nervous she hiccups bubbles, she has a dog that floats around and her store has a peeping tom watch-gargoyle to protect it. These are just a few of the quirky, oddball and even silly things in this book. When Stasi gets in trouble and the people of the town start turning against her, her friends all arrive on the scene to help find out who or what is causing all the trouble. This is a great little lighthearted romance. The image of Stasi and her wizard walking around with hearts circling in the air above their heads (compliments of cupid) is one I won't soon forget. It's sexy, silly and in the end love conquers all...can it get much better than that?
September 2, 2011
Muuuuuch better!! I like the focus on a different character. Stasi is the sweet one, Trev is a hottie, and the mystery was a good one. Although, I could pretty much tell who it was from the beginning, I was kept guessing WHAT they were.
May 11, 2018
I was avoiding this book for over a year. When I read the annotation, I wasnt very happy, it felt like not my kind of story and the switch from Jazz to Stasi and Blair. It usually doesnt work out for me when the main characters switch. What a BIG MISTAKE TO AVOID THIS BOOK! I finally read this book and loved the story. The annotation it makes it sound like it will be all so romantic with Stasi and the lawyer and nothing else, but the truth is there was a lot of fun and an interesting magical part of the story, it was a bit romantic, it was sassy, sexy, it had a great magic, the whole problem with the lake felt dangerous and worriyng. I fell in love with Stasi and Blair and once Jazz appeared I really enjoyed the book,I love these witches, and Irma, and Fluff and Puff (the epilogue, though :D), Nick, Trev, Jack, LOVE them. And the end was scary, really scary. I think the next book is with Blair, yep, I really need that book, because she and Jack, oh my! :D And what else will happen in this magical world witch those crazy witches I need to know!
April 19, 2020
Wicked by Any Other Name meets HP and a little bit of 50 shades haha! A tale of magic, friendship, love, and most of all, learning to fight for what you believe in.
Interesting characters, vividly described setting, unexpected twists
Interesting characters, vividly described setting, unexpected twists
November 14, 2016
Great read. I really enjoyed the story
I would recommend this book. Sometimes I read some really dark stuff. This author is my go to for light and fun.
I would recommend this book. Sometimes I read some really dark stuff. This author is my go to for light and fun.
June 21, 2020
Starts good but slows to a snail’s pace for a healthy chunk. Skip most of the middle chapter.
April 8, 2023
3.5 stars
April 25, 2024
The story moves to Stasi this time and, in addition to the expected paranormal romance, deals with the issues of vengeance and mob violence.
February 1, 2025
The author must have had a target word count.
November 16, 2024
Third in the Jazz Tremaine very funny, paranormal romance series revolving around this feisty witch and her friends (actually it's one of those series that started as an urban fantasy per my own definition and now, it's evolving). The action in this story centers on the two witch friends who live up at Moonstone Lake.
My Take
This was cute, but not as funny as the first two. I did enjoy the plug Wisdom gave Vicki Lewis Thompson's Nerd series.
It was clear fairly early on who the real culprits were, however, Wisdom did draw the drama out by leaving us ignorant of the reasons and real identities. In some respects, it was a bit tedious to plow through trying to find out the who. Events certainly heated up at the end; now I am curious as to how things shake down amongst the villagers, especially after the events here in Wicked.
The Story
Ooops...it's a lawsuit that brings wizard lawyer Trevor Barnes to Moonstone Lake. Only he's acting for that bitchy Carrie Anderson. The one who drives her husbands away in droves. Luckily, wizard lawyers can fraternize with the enemy---a damned good thing since Trev and Stasi each see a circle of dancing hearts around each other's heads. Oooeee, that date they go on...ummm-hmmmm.
Unfortunately, Carrie doesn't see it that way and the rumors are rampaging through town and the shunning slowly builds. Almost at the same rate as the nasty action going on at the lake itself. Action that even first-class wizard spells can't protect. Then the ghosts themselves are scared and the attacks begin.
The Characters
Stasi Romanov is a sweet, peacemaking witch whose shop sells gorgeous lingerie while Blair's shop, Blast From the Past, specializes in "authentic retro items"---stuff that she or her sister witches have decided they no longer want. The girls' shops are side by side and they live above them. Horace is their eight-inch, peeping tom gargoyle.
Jazz Tremaine and Nick, Krebs and his vampire sweetie Letiticia, and Irma and Sirius drive up to the lake to spend Samhain with Blair and Stasi. The Librarian, Uncle Peredur, turns out to have an unexpected link to Trevor. Eurydice is on the Witches' Council and was one of the witches who banished those naughty witches all those centuries ago.
Inhabitants of Moonstone Lake include:
Carrie Anderson is human, technically. Every one of her previous husbands would probably testify that she is a witch...just not in the Jazz Tremaine sense! Now husband #4 has run off on her and she's suing. Trevor Barnes is the never-lost-a-case wizard retained by Carrie. Hey, it was a low moment in his life! General Mae is his secretary/assistant/surrogate mother/pain-in-the ass who knows everything.
Mrs. Benedict makes the most incredible baked goods although her nose is out of joint over the new bakery that just opened, Fresh Baked Goods, and run by the siblings Poppy, Reed, and his twin sister Rhetta Palmer. Floyd Pierce is the mayor, but it's his wife, Agnes, who really runs everything. And everybody. Jake Harrison is the town handyman and enjoying teasing Blair just a bit too much about her unrequited passion together with his secret life. Ginny Chao runs her ancestors' Sit 'N Eat café.
Fergus is a 17-year-old ghost who keeps popping up in the girls' apartment with problems. It's tricky, 'cause Fergus is quite shy...
The Cover and Title
The cover is consistent with the two previous ones with its cartoonish effect of Stasi standing outside on a deck with a snow-covered background,. She's holding skis in one hand and the cat in the other (I think the cat is supposed to be Horace?) and wearing pink ski pants with yellow moons and a very fitted black top with a V plunging way down. A cute witch's hat tops it all.
The title is rather ambiguous. It could refer to Stasi's, um, illicit spelling, but my preference is to apply it to Carrie's machinations, just plain Wicked By Any Other Name.
My Take
This was cute, but not as funny as the first two. I did enjoy the plug Wisdom gave Vicki Lewis Thompson's Nerd series.
It was clear fairly early on who the real culprits were, however, Wisdom did draw the drama out by leaving us ignorant of the reasons and real identities. In some respects, it was a bit tedious to plow through trying to find out the who. Events certainly heated up at the end; now I am curious as to how things shake down amongst the villagers, especially after the events here in Wicked.
The Story
Ooops...it's a lawsuit that brings wizard lawyer Trevor Barnes to Moonstone Lake. Only he's acting for that bitchy Carrie Anderson. The one who drives her husbands away in droves. Luckily, wizard lawyers can fraternize with the enemy---a damned good thing since Trev and Stasi each see a circle of dancing hearts around each other's heads. Oooeee, that date they go on...ummm-hmmmm.
Unfortunately, Carrie doesn't see it that way and the rumors are rampaging through town and the shunning slowly builds. Almost at the same rate as the nasty action going on at the lake itself. Action that even first-class wizard spells can't protect. Then the ghosts themselves are scared and the attacks begin.
The Characters
Stasi Romanov is a sweet, peacemaking witch whose shop sells gorgeous lingerie while Blair's shop, Blast From the Past, specializes in "authentic retro items"---stuff that she or her sister witches have decided they no longer want. The girls' shops are side by side and they live above them. Horace is their eight-inch, peeping tom gargoyle.
Jazz Tremaine and Nick, Krebs and his vampire sweetie Letiticia, and Irma and Sirius drive up to the lake to spend Samhain with Blair and Stasi. The Librarian, Uncle Peredur, turns out to have an unexpected link to Trevor. Eurydice is on the Witches' Council and was one of the witches who banished those naughty witches all those centuries ago.
Inhabitants of Moonstone Lake include:
Carrie Anderson is human, technically. Every one of her previous husbands would probably testify that she is a witch...just not in the Jazz Tremaine sense! Now husband #4 has run off on her and she's suing. Trevor Barnes is the never-lost-a-case wizard retained by Carrie. Hey, it was a low moment in his life! General Mae is his secretary/assistant/surrogate mother/pain-in-the ass who knows everything.
Mrs. Benedict makes the most incredible baked goods although her nose is out of joint over the new bakery that just opened, Fresh Baked Goods, and run by the siblings Poppy, Reed, and his twin sister Rhetta Palmer. Floyd Pierce is the mayor, but it's his wife, Agnes, who really runs everything. And everybody. Jake Harrison is the town handyman and enjoying teasing Blair just a bit too much about her unrequited passion together with his secret life. Ginny Chao runs her ancestors' Sit 'N Eat café.
Fergus is a 17-year-old ghost who keeps popping up in the girls' apartment with problems. It's tricky, 'cause Fergus is quite shy...
The Cover and Title
The cover is consistent with the two previous ones with its cartoonish effect of Stasi standing outside on a deck with a snow-covered background,. She's holding skis in one hand and the cat in the other (I think the cat is supposed to be Horace?) and wearing pink ski pants with yellow moons and a very fitted black top with a V plunging way down. A cute witch's hat tops it all.
The title is rather ambiguous. It could refer to Stasi's, um, illicit spelling, but my preference is to apply it to Carrie's machinations, just plain Wicked By Any Other Name.
April 30, 2009
Another book dealing with magic is Linda Wisdom’s latest about sweet as pie witch Stasi Romanov, who was a classmate and long lasting friend with Jazz Tremaine, another character of Linda’s that was first introduced in 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover. Stasi lives with fellow witch friend, Blair in the small town of Moonstone Lake. The townspeople accept them, that is until one of them accuses Stasi of black magic. Stasi is being sued in Wizards’ Court by human Carrie Anderson who blames Stasi for wrecking her fourth marriage. Carrie is a horrible woman and does tend to make the men in her life run the other way. But Stasi would never do something so horrible as say place a spell on Carrie’s husband to make him run into the arms of another woman. Carrie hasn’t hired just any lawyer, but one of the best wizard lawyers out there. Trevor Barnes takes on Carrie’s case because business has been rather dull. What he doesn’t realize is that Carrie may be a bit delusional when it comes to Stasi. She hates Stasi with a passion. Trevor decides to visit this evil Stasi and see if he can get her to admit her guilt.
When Stasi and Trevor meet, they see little red hearts above both their heads. That means they have met their true love. Stasi thinks Cupid is playing a cruel joke on her while Trevor thinks he is seeing things. Stasi refuses to accept that Trevor could be her one true love.
Not only is the horrible lawsuit also hanging over her head, but suddenly out of the blue the townspeople start to turn on her, thinking she is the spawn of the devil. Stasi and Blair are so confused, especially when some invisible force field surrounds the lake for no reason. Not only does it look like their Samhain may be ruined, but the Salem witch trials may be reenacted again in good old Moonstone Lake; and it looks like Stasi may be the one they want to burn at the stake.
Wicked By Any Other Name is a lighthearted read. I guess you could say it is also a small town romance that has many quirky type characters. Linda can really write excellent friendships and Stasi and Blair have a great one. You know how Jazz has Fluff and Puff her bunny slippers who always get into trouble? Linda has given Stasi a perverted gargoyle made of stone named Horace. He tries his best to see Stasi, Blair and any other woman naked. Horace is supposed to bring out the laughs, but I felt he was more like a dirty old man, who if he wore a trench coat, he would have no qualms in flashing everybody. I am more and Fluff and Puff fan and they even make an appearance along with Jazz, her vampire lover, Nick.
Trevor and Stasi’s romance wasn’t as passionate and exciting as I was expecting. But the idea of the floating hearts over their heads was original and I cracked up a few times because when Stasi became emotional, she would start to hiccup bubbles. Also, Stasi is not the goody-goody you are first led to believe and because of her actions she starts a snowball affect that could destroy herself, her friends and the town she lives in.
I did feel the plot was a tad thin and the tension and suspense was lacking. I was looking for a bit more of something while I read, but didn’t really find it here like I have done with Linda’s past books. But, if you are in the mood to read some great character interactions, then Wicked by Any Other Name is for you.
When Stasi and Trevor meet, they see little red hearts above both their heads. That means they have met their true love. Stasi thinks Cupid is playing a cruel joke on her while Trevor thinks he is seeing things. Stasi refuses to accept that Trevor could be her one true love.
Not only is the horrible lawsuit also hanging over her head, but suddenly out of the blue the townspeople start to turn on her, thinking she is the spawn of the devil. Stasi and Blair are so confused, especially when some invisible force field surrounds the lake for no reason. Not only does it look like their Samhain may be ruined, but the Salem witch trials may be reenacted again in good old Moonstone Lake; and it looks like Stasi may be the one they want to burn at the stake.
Wicked By Any Other Name is a lighthearted read. I guess you could say it is also a small town romance that has many quirky type characters. Linda can really write excellent friendships and Stasi and Blair have a great one. You know how Jazz has Fluff and Puff her bunny slippers who always get into trouble? Linda has given Stasi a perverted gargoyle made of stone named Horace. He tries his best to see Stasi, Blair and any other woman naked. Horace is supposed to bring out the laughs, but I felt he was more like a dirty old man, who if he wore a trench coat, he would have no qualms in flashing everybody. I am more and Fluff and Puff fan and they even make an appearance along with Jazz, her vampire lover, Nick.
Trevor and Stasi’s romance wasn’t as passionate and exciting as I was expecting. But the idea of the floating hearts over their heads was original and I cracked up a few times because when Stasi became emotional, she would start to hiccup bubbles. Also, Stasi is not the goody-goody you are first led to believe and because of her actions she starts a snowball affect that could destroy herself, her friends and the town she lives in.
I did feel the plot was a tad thin and the tension and suspense was lacking. I was looking for a bit more of something while I read, but didn’t really find it here like I have done with Linda’s past books. But, if you are in the mood to read some great character interactions, then Wicked by Any Other Name is for you.
June 20, 2013
Staci Romanov is one of the witches banished into the mortal world by the Witches Academy 700 years ago. She and another witch, Blair, share a home and each have shops in a small mountain town. Staci is a sweet, respected member of the community and almost never loses her temper. She is stunned when she is served court papers stating she is being sued for alienation for affection from a dissatisfied customer.
Trevor Barnes is the wizard attorney who takes the case against Staci. The moment he meets her though, he is torn between his attraction to her or remaining neutral for his building case. The dancing hearts above her head doesn't help make his feelings or decisions any easier.
Then mysterious magic surrounds the lake that brings sanctuary to the witches. Curious incidents begin happening around their small mountain town and it's residents. Staci and Blair call in their friends to help figure out what is causing the disturbing events. They need Trevor's powerful help, but every witch knows you can't trust a wizard, and soon Stasi is fighting for her life and her heart.
Filled with charming characters, a clever plot, and loads of sizzling magic, Wicked by Any Other Name is pure fun! Jazz Tremaine, the heroine in Wisdom's last two books, along with her vampy fangboy Nick, and her famous Fluff & Puff slippers make a splash in Wicked by Any Other Name. The splash deftly ties this third novel into the first two, drawing the reader deeply into their witchy ways. I was absolutely entertained with this fun and magical romp! Linda Wisdom is quickly making herself a household name in the paranormal genre. I will definitely be looking for the next one!
Trevor Barnes is the wizard attorney who takes the case against Staci. The moment he meets her though, he is torn between his attraction to her or remaining neutral for his building case. The dancing hearts above her head doesn't help make his feelings or decisions any easier.
Then mysterious magic surrounds the lake that brings sanctuary to the witches. Curious incidents begin happening around their small mountain town and it's residents. Staci and Blair call in their friends to help figure out what is causing the disturbing events. They need Trevor's powerful help, but every witch knows you can't trust a wizard, and soon Stasi is fighting for her life and her heart.
Filled with charming characters, a clever plot, and loads of sizzling magic, Wicked by Any Other Name is pure fun! Jazz Tremaine, the heroine in Wisdom's last two books, along with her vampy fangboy Nick, and her famous Fluff & Puff slippers make a splash in Wicked by Any Other Name. The splash deftly ties this third novel into the first two, drawing the reader deeply into their witchy ways. I was absolutely entertained with this fun and magical romp! Linda Wisdom is quickly making herself a household name in the paranormal genre. I will definitely be looking for the next one!
January 13, 2015
Loved this book! Very cute paranormal chic lit I think. The three witches balanced each other and thier men. I think they turnd out to be an awesome combo.
This book focused mostly around Stasi and Trevor but it was made obvious that the author would later give us more on Blake and Jazz. I think Ms. Wisdom did a great job of introduction of her characters and letting you in on who they really are. the humor was my favorite. A witch that hiccups bubbles when she is nervous, including during sex, how can you NOT be ticked by that.
Cupid is in the book, doing, well what cupid does, adding conga dancing hearts over two unsuspecting victims...and even bunny slippers that have been known to eat people and have a hell of a sweet tooth are included in the story.
The plot of the story was pretty good and the build up equally so. the climax, no pun intended, not to much. It was almost as though she didn't really know HOW to end the conflict and jst threw an ending in there. There were a lot of things left unexplained that lay a person, yes like me, may not know or understand and am not going to research so I can. And moreover, and enchanted, for lack of a better word, lake? The eclipse? the true significance of these things, outside of them possibly being the cause, or PART of them being the cause and wrecking havoc on the team were never really explained, but she kept throwing the Mercury Retrograde out there...literally.
I know this review is all over the place, but it is 2 AM because I have to write reviews as soon as I can. Just read it if you're looking for a good lite read with a little humor, you wont be disappointment.
This book focused mostly around Stasi and Trevor but it was made obvious that the author would later give us more on Blake and Jazz. I think Ms. Wisdom did a great job of introduction of her characters and letting you in on who they really are. the humor was my favorite. A witch that hiccups bubbles when she is nervous, including during sex, how can you NOT be ticked by that.
Cupid is in the book, doing, well what cupid does, adding conga dancing hearts over two unsuspecting victims...and even bunny slippers that have been known to eat people and have a hell of a sweet tooth are included in the story.
The plot of the story was pretty good and the build up equally so. the climax, no pun intended, not to much. It was almost as though she didn't really know HOW to end the conflict and jst threw an ending in there. There were a lot of things left unexplained that lay a person, yes like me, may not know or understand and am not going to research so I can. And moreover, and enchanted, for lack of a better word, lake? The eclipse? the true significance of these things, outside of them possibly being the cause, or PART of them being the cause and wrecking havoc on the team were never really explained, but she kept throwing the Mercury Retrograde out there...literally.
I know this review is all over the place, but it is 2 AM because I have to write reviews as soon as I can. Just read it if you're looking for a good lite read with a little humor, you wont be disappointment.
April 8, 2012
In this book, we've moved on from Jazz Tremaine and the focus is now on her witch sister, Stasi and Blair. Unlike the first two books, I had to put this one down after the first 50 pages or so.
I didn't like the pace at which this book started, it seemed a little scattered and it was moving at a lightening pace. Things were happening too quickly but I came back to it a week later when I started taking my Kindle to the gym with me.
The storyline was great, I thought it was fantastic and I'm glad Linda Wisdom introduced more magickal creatures (Fae). I felt that after the first few pages the story began to settle into a better pace. The way everything came together hooked me into the story where I couldn't put it down. I had to know how this story was going to end, I love it when a story grabs me like that.
Without giving too much away, the ending was the best by far out of the three books except that towards the very end things moved very quickly again.
There were far more mistakes in this book than the others, for example at the resort when it should've been Stasi stepping out of the elevator, suddenly it was Blair. The format was also a bit of an issue which also made the story seem like it jumped from one scene to another rapidly when all it would've taken was the start of a new paragraph.
Not to nit pick but I'm not sure if this is just a problem with the Kindle edition of this book but I didn't have this problem with the first two.
Anyway, onto the next book! Thank you Linda Wisdom for creating this wonderful little series.
I didn't like the pace at which this book started, it seemed a little scattered and it was moving at a lightening pace. Things were happening too quickly but I came back to it a week later when I started taking my Kindle to the gym with me.
The storyline was great, I thought it was fantastic and I'm glad Linda Wisdom introduced more magickal creatures (Fae). I felt that after the first few pages the story began to settle into a better pace. The way everything came together hooked me into the story where I couldn't put it down. I had to know how this story was going to end, I love it when a story grabs me like that.
Without giving too much away, the ending was the best by far out of the three books except that towards the very end things moved very quickly again.
There were far more mistakes in this book than the others, for example at the resort when it should've been Stasi stepping out of the elevator, suddenly it was Blair. The format was also a bit of an issue which also made the story seem like it jumped from one scene to another rapidly when all it would've taken was the start of a new paragraph.
Not to nit pick but I'm not sure if this is just a problem with the Kindle edition of this book but I didn't have this problem with the first two.
Anyway, onto the next book! Thank you Linda Wisdom for creating this wonderful little series.
September 18, 2013
Review by Cassandra from Book Talk
My Thoughts
I do love Jazz's books (the first two in the series) but Stasi's book is what really captured me. We met Stasi along with her best friend Blair when they were conducting their moon rituals with Jazz or coming to Jazz's aid. This time we get a deeper look into not only Stasi but their history and her relationship with Blair. Stasi is a true romantic and is determined to help others find it in their lives with 'special' touches in the items she sells in her lingerie shop. When one of these purchases backfires on her, she is served with papers informing her of the case that has been filed against her. When Trev, a warlock, takes on the case on behalf of the mortal who is seeking to ruin Stasi, he never thought he would meet a witch who would capture him so strongly. Things get a little heated and out of hand in this little tourist town and many things are not what they seem. Trev has a choice of keeping his distance or jumping in with both feet and helping Stasi get her life back to some semblance of normal with the troubling happenings going on. We still get to see some of our beloved characters such as Jazz, Nick, Fluff & Puff, Krebs, and even Irma. This book has so much adventure and mystery, not to mention plenty of passion and romance, that it has so far become my favorite. Stasi has always been the calm and steady one of the witches but she is about to come out of her shell with a bang. This is a wonderful series to read and I highly recommend it. Warning: some explicit content.
My Thoughts
I do love Jazz's books (the first two in the series) but Stasi's book is what really captured me. We met Stasi along with her best friend Blair when they were conducting their moon rituals with Jazz or coming to Jazz's aid. This time we get a deeper look into not only Stasi but their history and her relationship with Blair. Stasi is a true romantic and is determined to help others find it in their lives with 'special' touches in the items she sells in her lingerie shop. When one of these purchases backfires on her, she is served with papers informing her of the case that has been filed against her. When Trev, a warlock, takes on the case on behalf of the mortal who is seeking to ruin Stasi, he never thought he would meet a witch who would capture him so strongly. Things get a little heated and out of hand in this little tourist town and many things are not what they seem. Trev has a choice of keeping his distance or jumping in with both feet and helping Stasi get her life back to some semblance of normal with the troubling happenings going on. We still get to see some of our beloved characters such as Jazz, Nick, Fluff & Puff, Krebs, and even Irma. This book has so much adventure and mystery, not to mention plenty of passion and romance, that it has so far become my favorite. Stasi has always been the calm and steady one of the witches but she is about to come out of her shell with a bang. This is a wonderful series to read and I highly recommend it. Warning: some explicit content.
March 3, 2009
Wicked By Any Other Name introduces us to Stasi Romanov and her best friend Blair Fitzpatrick. Stasi is being sued in wizard's court by a vindictive customer who says that she ruined her marriage. Then Stasi meets Trevor Barnes, the wizard she will be going up against in court, and realizes that there is a lot more important things that she needs to worry about including the little red hearts over Trevor's head.
Wicked By Any Other Name is a continuation of Wisdom's Hex series and a great addition. Although the previous two books focused on Jazz Tremaine, in this one the focus is on Stasi and it was a great change of pace. I was happy to see that Jazz was still a part of the book and loved seeing all of the old characters from the previous book. The characters are one of the things that makes Wisdom's books so fun and such good books. I love all of them and they are all different and original in their own way. My newest favorite character was Horace the gargoyle, and I hope that she continues to keep him in future books. He was a hoot to read about and you couldn't help but like him.
Trevor and Stasi had a really great chemistry and I was rooting for them the entire way. I loved the red hearts idea and while I don't want to go into it further as to avoid spoilers, it was fun to read about. The tie in to the Salem witch trials was a great idea and I was hooked with this book. All in all, a great read and addition to this series
Wicked By Any Other Name is a continuation of Wisdom's Hex series and a great addition. Although the previous two books focused on Jazz Tremaine, in this one the focus is on Stasi and it was a great change of pace. I was happy to see that Jazz was still a part of the book and loved seeing all of the old characters from the previous book. The characters are one of the things that makes Wisdom's books so fun and such good books. I love all of them and they are all different and original in their own way. My newest favorite character was Horace the gargoyle, and I hope that she continues to keep him in future books. He was a hoot to read about and you couldn't help but like him.
Trevor and Stasi had a really great chemistry and I was rooting for them the entire way. I loved the red hearts idea and while I don't want to go into it further as to avoid spoilers, it was fun to read about. The tie in to the Salem witch trials was a great idea and I was hooked with this book. All in all, a great read and addition to this series
January 29, 2014
Th third book in this series focussed on a different witch this time - Anastasia, or Stasi for short, and her witch sister Blair. They live in a small mountain village, where everyone knows and accepts that they are witches, but they all get along for the most part, until Stasi interferes just a little bit in a human's love life.
Carrie is mighty peeved that her husband has left her for another woman and blames Stasi and to enact her revenge hires a wizard lawyer, Trevor Barnes, to take Stasi to the Wizard's Court and have her stripped of her magical powers. Neither Trevor nor Stasi realised the problems they would be get themselves involved in through this case. And the little red hearts floating above both of their heads don't help the situation much either...
The situation in the town goes from bad to worse to dire in a few days with the entire town turning on the witches, but nothing Stasi or Blair can do or say will make any difference whatsoever and The Librarian at the witch's library isn't much help either. They have to use something from Stasi's past in order to save their present but will she work it all out in time?
All Stasi wanted was to celebrate Samhain with her closest friends and enjoy the season, but unfortunately that doesn't look like it's going to happen...
I love this series - it's funny, quirky and romantic at the same time. I hope the next book is about Blair and her "dog" as I so want to find out how that situation plays out.
Carrie is mighty peeved that her husband has left her for another woman and blames Stasi and to enact her revenge hires a wizard lawyer, Trevor Barnes, to take Stasi to the Wizard's Court and have her stripped of her magical powers. Neither Trevor nor Stasi realised the problems they would be get themselves involved in through this case. And the little red hearts floating above both of their heads don't help the situation much either...
The situation in the town goes from bad to worse to dire in a few days with the entire town turning on the witches, but nothing Stasi or Blair can do or say will make any difference whatsoever and The Librarian at the witch's library isn't much help either. They have to use something from Stasi's past in order to save their present but will she work it all out in time?
All Stasi wanted was to celebrate Samhain with her closest friends and enjoy the season, but unfortunately that doesn't look like it's going to happen...
I love this series - it's funny, quirky and romantic at the same time. I hope the next book is about Blair and her "dog" as I so want to find out how that situation plays out.
February 19, 2009
Anastasia Romanov is the local witch at Moonstone Lake that everyone loves. She is incensed when she gets a summons to appear before the Wizard's court. A customer from her lingerie shop is suing her for a bad sachet spell. The only thing is that Stasi would not purposely tinker with someone else's romantic life. That is a job for Cupid.
Everyone knows that Witches and Wizards do not mix. So when Trevor Barnes determines that the witch his client is intent on suing has not yet retained council, he decides to take a drive up to Moonstone Lake to talk to her in person.
Neither Stasi or Trev are prepared for the dancing hearts over their heads from Cupid. While they are determined to see if there is something there, other sinister forces are at work at Moonstone Lake with the quickly approaching Lunar Eclipse on Halloween night. Soon, Stasi and her room mate Blair are calling upon their fellow witch Jazz Tremaine and her Vampire boyfriend Nick.
This is the third installment of the 13 witches that were expelled from their Class in the year 1313. There is humor, romance and suspense. I have greatly enjoyed all three and look forward to more to come.
Everyone knows that Witches and Wizards do not mix. So when Trevor Barnes determines that the witch his client is intent on suing has not yet retained council, he decides to take a drive up to Moonstone Lake to talk to her in person.
Neither Stasi or Trev are prepared for the dancing hearts over their heads from Cupid. While they are determined to see if there is something there, other sinister forces are at work at Moonstone Lake with the quickly approaching Lunar Eclipse on Halloween night. Soon, Stasi and her room mate Blair are calling upon their fellow witch Jazz Tremaine and her Vampire boyfriend Nick.
This is the third installment of the 13 witches that were expelled from their Class in the year 1313. There is humor, romance and suspense. I have greatly enjoyed all three and look forward to more to come.
February 9, 2012
I loved the story of Stasi and Trevor. This is Book 3 in the Hex series. We meet old friends from 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover, too!
Trevor is a Wizard Attorney. He's outraged when he gets a complaint from mortal Carrie regarding a witch, Stasi, misusing her power and immediately takes the case.
When Trever finds his way to her lingerie store, she is shocked to discover his head circled by hearts--apparently Cupid has a warped sense of humor! Witches and Wizards simply don't mix--and this wizard is trying to destroy her livelihood.
But when ancient magick that neither the witch or wizard are familiar with finds its way to her Moonstone Lake, she must work with him, along with friends, Jazz, Nick, Jake, and Blair to find out why their happy little town is suddenly turning out to be all too similar to Stasi's dark memories of the Salem Witch Trials.
I found the characters delightful and the dialogue just fantastic. I'd recommend this book to anyone that loves paranormal with a lot of humor--and just enough darkness to make it a page-turner.
The delightful Fluff and Puff, the fanged bunny slippers make a great appearance, too!
Trevor is a Wizard Attorney. He's outraged when he gets a complaint from mortal Carrie regarding a witch, Stasi, misusing her power and immediately takes the case.
When Trever finds his way to her lingerie store, she is shocked to discover his head circled by hearts--apparently Cupid has a warped sense of humor! Witches and Wizards simply don't mix--and this wizard is trying to destroy her livelihood.
But when ancient magick that neither the witch or wizard are familiar with finds its way to her Moonstone Lake, she must work with him, along with friends, Jazz, Nick, Jake, and Blair to find out why their happy little town is suddenly turning out to be all too similar to Stasi's dark memories of the Salem Witch Trials.
I found the characters delightful and the dialogue just fantastic. I'd recommend this book to anyone that loves paranormal with a lot of humor--and just enough darkness to make it a page-turner.
The delightful Fluff and Puff, the fanged bunny slippers make a great appearance, too!
January 24, 2013
This book was my first introduction time witchy sisters and I found it enjoyable.
Witch Stasi Romanov slipped a little something extra in a client who wanted her husband to come crawling back . . Naturally Moonshine has more human than supe inhabitants and its Stasi's luck that, Carrie, is of the human variety and she's spared no expense to get law attorney and wizard, Trevor Barnes to represent her in her suit. Her demands are quite reasonable in her mind totally stripping of Stasi's evil powers by the wizard counsel - not a place Staci feels comfortable..
A dancing circle of stars around both Stasi and Trevor's heads just cause more speculation For her friends. it appears Cupid is showing his funny side.
We learn a lot more about the town inhabitants - some more that others. Blythe even gets a new beau - a sheepdog that is way to found of her bed, And not taking appearances on face value is a lesson well learned - and never piss off the Librarian.
A great series of books that look closely at the relationships we make day to day while rooting for the witch du jour.
Witch Stasi Romanov slipped a little something extra in a client who wanted her husband to come crawling back . . Naturally Moonshine has more human than supe inhabitants and its Stasi's luck that, Carrie, is of the human variety and she's spared no expense to get law attorney and wizard, Trevor Barnes to represent her in her suit. Her demands are quite reasonable in her mind totally stripping of Stasi's evil powers by the wizard counsel - not a place Staci feels comfortable..
A dancing circle of stars around both Stasi and Trevor's heads just cause more speculation For her friends. it appears Cupid is showing his funny side.
We learn a lot more about the town inhabitants - some more that others. Blythe even gets a new beau - a sheepdog that is way to found of her bed, And not taking appearances on face value is a lesson well learned - and never piss off the Librarian.
A great series of books that look closely at the relationships we make day to day while rooting for the witch du jour.
April 19, 2009
This book is better than the first two. More focused and slightly more entertaining. I am still annoyed that no real explanation of the events that expelled the 13 witches has been made and I really don't like that there has yet to be any real outline on the terms of their banishment. It seems like half the time the author just throws in an extra 'oh the witches can't do this' item. I wish that Jazz and Nick's relationship was more firmly wrapped up. Again it seems that everything happens at the very end of the book and that as a reader, you have to wade through a whole lot of nothing to get to anything. If the first book wasn't from the library and the second two already bought by my mom, I doubt I would have continued to read this series. And really... how did the witches not know about Jake? I saw that coming the first time the dog appeared.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2011
I have fallin IN LOVE with this series!!!! I'm really hoping the author writes many more. :) My favorite part of this book was the finale chapter. "Fluff and Puff VS Cupid" lmao!! As always, there are some great characters in this book. Horace the gargoyle is ridiculous but in a funny way! As for Trev, I like to think of him as Simon Baker. ;) *purrrrr!* hahahaha If you've been thinking of reading this series, just do it!! Even the hearts that appear over Trev && Stacies head are funny. Imagine making love with hearts over your head and them high fiving each other when you've finished bc it was so great. <3 lol
April 20, 2011
Dear gods. If I'd seen the words Mercury in retrograde and an upcoming lunar eclipse one more time, I think I would've screamed.
The novel felt really rushed. Why do paranormal authors feel the need to put sex in? It's not even good sex, it's the sort of sex that makes you want someone else around so you can share the cringing at it. It really puts me off - I shan't be buying any more by LW.
This was meant to be a light fluffy relaxing read for me - if I'd had it in actual book format rather than on my Kindle, I think I would've thrown it at a wall when I got to the end.
But still, it was better than the other book I'm just about to mark finished!
The novel felt really rushed. Why do paranormal authors feel the need to put sex in? It's not even good sex, it's the sort of sex that makes you want someone else around so you can share the cringing at it. It really puts me off - I shan't be buying any more by LW.
This was meant to be a light fluffy relaxing read for me - if I'd had it in actual book format rather than on my Kindle, I think I would've thrown it at a wall when I got to the end.
But still, it was better than the other book I'm just about to mark finished!
September 10, 2012
Book 3 in the Jazz Tremaine (and Friends) series that includes the Demons series. Well, this one was about Stasi, one of Jazz's BFF's who lives up at Moonstone Lake, and her adventures with meeting and mating with her soul-mate. Linda Wisdom does such a great job of making us fall in love with her characters that you want to move in next door to them. This is fun paranormal romance at it's best. If you like Katie MacAlister then you'll like these too! I do have to admit that I'm skipping book 4 - Blair is not that likable of a character to me - and moving on the the Demons series which is really a continuation of the Friends of Jazz storyline.
Read
February 20, 2009I enjoyed this book. It was about a different witch than the first two was and not quite as action packed, but I still enjoyed it. I don't like to put spoilers in my reviews, so I can't say too much - but I am happy to report that while you might catch on to who the 'villians' in this story are if you pay a lot of attention, you won't know what they are or how they are doing it. Also, you do get to see Jazz and Nick from the first two books, so if you really loved her she isn't excluded. I look forward to meeting some of the other classmates in the future books.
September 15, 2009
Stasi finds herself being sued by a vengeful woman in Wizard's Court--and her rival is represented by wizard Trevor Barnes. But why are there hearts dancing over his head? And the town she and Blair have lived in for generations seems to be taking a disturbing turn towards paranoia and hatred.
This was a very cute book, and I have to admit that I like Stasi better than Jazz; she's a lot more low-key but still fun. The growing unrest in the town was quite bothersome, and very full of tension. I did wish that they would have paid a little bit better attention and fit the pieces better.
This was a very cute book, and I have to admit that I like Stasi better than Jazz; she's a lot more low-key but still fun. The growing unrest in the town was quite bothersome, and very full of tension. I did wish that they would have paid a little bit better attention and fit the pieces better.
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