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Earth Magic #1
Phoenix Unrisen
A paranormal reporter for New Orleans News Eyes (NONE), Natalie Severin, while researching a story, stumbles upon a dangerously sexy psychic healer who becomes her ally in exposing an exotic animal smuggling ring that is linked to a cult with a deadly mission. Original.
357 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 2007
About the author
Kathleen Nance
17 books27 followersI can't say that I'm one of those authors who announced to their mother at the age of six that they were going to be a writer. My first declared career choice was detective. I was reading Nancy Drew at the time, and half in love with Ned Nickerson. A distinct aversion to eminent bodily harm, however, made the career choice an impractical one.
The notion I could be a detective, though, came from a book. Books have always been a treasured companion, a source of knowledge, and a means to travel beyond my world and experience since I first discovered The Poky Little Puppy and The Little Engine That Could in Golden books. It wasn't a far hop from a love of reading to a love of creating my own stories as well.
When that practical streak (the one that steered me away from private detection) reared its head, I began a career in pharmacy. An admittedly varied career, for I've worked in just about every field of pharmacy except sales. My years of writing drug monographs, however, strengthened a heartfelt appreciation for the joys of fiction. When I became a stay-at-home mom, it seemed a perfect time to take the stories I'd been spinning and do something about putting the dream of getting published into practice.
I discovered creating characters and plot an irresistible challenge. Especially when it meant I got to live with djinn, elves, and meddling Greek gods. And I got to be the detective, the magician, the chef, the villain, hero, and heroine.
Five manuscripts and six years later, my first book, Wishes Come True, was published in 1998. Since then, my books have won a Golden Heart, a SARA Rising Star Grand Prize, the Holt Medallion, the Colorado Award of Excellence, the PRISM Award, and the National Reader's Choice Award and been a finalist RWA's RITA. After living for eighteen years in New Orleans, I've returned to my birth state of Michigan with a husband, three children, and two cats. Along with learning the ins and outs of empty nesting now that all three kids are in college, a commitment (again) to really sticking with an exercise program, and a home health care variation to the pharmacy career, I still find that creating characters and plot is an irresistible challenge.
Only, in my books, Ned and Nancy are all grown up and falling in love.
Kathleen (sourced from authors website)
The notion I could be a detective, though, came from a book. Books have always been a treasured companion, a source of knowledge, and a means to travel beyond my world and experience since I first discovered The Poky Little Puppy and The Little Engine That Could in Golden books. It wasn't a far hop from a love of reading to a love of creating my own stories as well.
When that practical streak (the one that steered me away from private detection) reared its head, I began a career in pharmacy. An admittedly varied career, for I've worked in just about every field of pharmacy except sales. My years of writing drug monographs, however, strengthened a heartfelt appreciation for the joys of fiction. When I became a stay-at-home mom, it seemed a perfect time to take the stories I'd been spinning and do something about putting the dream of getting published into practice.
I discovered creating characters and plot an irresistible challenge. Especially when it meant I got to live with djinn, elves, and meddling Greek gods. And I got to be the detective, the magician, the chef, the villain, hero, and heroine.
Five manuscripts and six years later, my first book, Wishes Come True, was published in 1998. Since then, my books have won a Golden Heart, a SARA Rising Star Grand Prize, the Holt Medallion, the Colorado Award of Excellence, the PRISM Award, and the National Reader's Choice Award and been a finalist RWA's RITA. After living for eighteen years in New Orleans, I've returned to my birth state of Michigan with a husband, three children, and two cats. Along with learning the ins and outs of empty nesting now that all three kids are in college, a commitment (again) to really sticking with an exercise program, and a home health care variation to the pharmacy career, I still find that creating characters and plot is an irresistible challenge.
Only, in my books, Ned and Nancy are all grown up and falling in love.
Kathleen (sourced from authors website)
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 9, 2015
I finished this last night, and I elected to wait a bit to ponder the reviews.
It has...issues. Oh, if you've never read any of the author's *other* books, then only one issue raises its ugly head. Of course, then some things don't make sense, but hey; this is a whole new series so you shouldn't have to. Right?
So first issue - new series that isn't really. More of a new story arc for a previous series (which may have been a new story arc for... ah, never mind). The point is though that a new series - truly new series - should not require that you read the last series to make sense of anything.
Second issue - ties into first issue. Authors really should resist the urge to "make it real" with regards to natural disasters in the area their books are set. There's a very good reason for this - timeline. So author has this book set 5 years after Katrina, which would be fine *except* that it's also set 8 months after the last book of the previous series (that you really shouldn't have to read except that you need to as the h is the "widow" of the bad guy in the previous book or...was it 2) Guess what - Katrina hadn't happened when the previous books were written. So...? Now this might be glossed over if it weren't for the fact that a) Katrina seems to be mentioned every other chapter, and b) I'm not totally sure but I think maybe some of the areas mentioned as devastated by Katrina *in the book* were unscathed in the previous book.
Growl.
So the issue that would be there regardless of whether you read previous books or not - the H/h inability to totally come clean with each other, the level of mistrust, the...
How can you believe in a HEA when the H apparently thinks the h so stupid he can lie about using magic when she can bloody well feel it when he does? And she lets him know this. He still keeps denying it.
Further, even after he acts like a first class douche about her looking around his house (she was actually looking for a book she'd loaned him), she still continues having sex with him. Of course, she never bothers to explain herself on that account but considering how he was acting (and the fact that he didn't try to stop her from leaving in her underwear because she refused to wear his loaner shorts/t-shirt) Yeah; guy was an ass, and she was an idiot for even trying to make a go of it after that. I'd have told him to go to hell and took my book with me.
It has...issues. Oh, if you've never read any of the author's *other* books, then only one issue raises its ugly head. Of course, then some things don't make sense, but hey; this is a whole new series so you shouldn't have to. Right?
So first issue - new series that isn't really. More of a new story arc for a previous series (which may have been a new story arc for... ah, never mind). The point is though that a new series - truly new series - should not require that you read the last series to make sense of anything.
Second issue - ties into first issue. Authors really should resist the urge to "make it real" with regards to natural disasters in the area their books are set. There's a very good reason for this - timeline. So author has this book set 5 years after Katrina, which would be fine *except* that it's also set 8 months after the last book of the previous series (that you really shouldn't have to read except that you need to as the h is the "widow" of the bad guy in the previous book or...was it 2) Guess what - Katrina hadn't happened when the previous books were written. So...? Now this might be glossed over if it weren't for the fact that a) Katrina seems to be mentioned every other chapter, and b) I'm not totally sure but I think maybe some of the areas mentioned as devastated by Katrina *in the book* were unscathed in the previous book.
Growl.
So the issue that would be there regardless of whether you read previous books or not - the H/h inability to totally come clean with each other, the level of mistrust, the...
How can you believe in a HEA when the H apparently thinks the h so stupid he can lie about using magic when she can bloody well feel it when he does? And she lets him know this. He still keeps denying it.
Further, even after he acts like a first class douche about her looking around his house (she was actually looking for a book she'd loaned him), she still continues having sex with him. Of course, she never bothers to explain herself on that account but considering how he was acting (and the fact that he didn't try to stop her from leaving in her underwear because she refused to wear his loaner shorts/t-shirt) Yeah; guy was an ass, and she was an idiot for even trying to make a go of it after that. I'd have told him to go to hell and took my book with me.
May 19, 2009
Ace reporter Natalie Severin works for NONE, the New Orleans News Eyes newspaper that specializes in stories of the weird. Natalie herself is living out the perfect story as if it were being written for her paper. Her dead husband dabbled in black magic, and her brother is missing and could possibly be dead. Natalie thought things were bad with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but when she gets the inside scoop on illegal animals being smuggled into the United States, she is about to enter a world much more strange and scary that she ever thought possible.
One humid and foggy night, Natalie thinks she is going to have the perfect story as she watches what seem to be drug runners in the middle of their run. But actually, the two thugs are in the middle of torturing a helpless dog. Before she can call the authorities, local veterinarian Ramses Montgomery comes to the dog’s aid. Natalie watches as Ram fights off the two degenerates and heals the dog before her very eyes. Ram shrugs off her questions about saving the dog and his own reason why he’s out on a night such as this. Natalie also doesn’t know what to think when what she believes to be containers filled with drugs are opened, they turn out to be tubes stuffed with priceless and exotic birds.
Ram has so many secrets, and he must keep them away from Natalie. Ram is a Mage who also uses magic that specializes in the healing of animals. He figures out that these exotic birds that are being sold illegally are not only to make a profit but to enable those who buy them to do black magic. Natalie assumes Ram is hiding something, and her reporter intuition is on alert. Ram needs to stay away from Natalie, even though he is very attracted to her. But all that changes as one night Natalie is brutally attacked and Ram comes to her rescue.
Both decide then to work together. Natalie will get her story and Ram will be able to stop those in the underground magic community who will do anything, even kill to make their powers grow stronger. Things are hitting closer to home for Natalie, because her brother could possibly be involved in this black magic. Ram wants so much more with Natalie than just a working relationship, but Natalie is dead set against magic of any kind. And Ram is not certain if they can be together since using his magic makes him energized, especially when it comes to making love.
Kathleen Nance takes on a multitude of topics in PHOENIX UNRISEN. This is not some simple, straight to the point love story. There are paranormal aspects that deal with magic, current events that include the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and a very pressing issue such as the illegal smuggling of poor defenseless animals just because they could be worth millions of dollars. Ram and Natalie have their own personal missions and demons they must confront. Natalie comes across as a hard hitting reporter, but her issues, which include a husband who betrayed her in the worst possible way and finding a missing brother, make her romance with Ram a hard one. There are major trust issues galore, and both Ram and Natalie don’t know whom to trust, or even if they can trust each other. Some readers may be uncomfortable with the open abuse of animals and the means these smugglers will go to in order to get what they want, but it brings an important issue to readers’ attention.
PHOENIX UNRISEN is a very gritty story set in the underbelly of New Orleans. There is tension, and the air is ripe with murder and a supernatural element that has damaging results. I found both Ram and Natalie to be original and interesting characters. They end up becoming the perfect team, and I especially enjoyed how they both care for Val, the dog Ram rescued. Kathleen Nance has written an incredible story that has captured the atmosphere of New Orleans along with the mystical and magical aspects. I found PHOENIX UNRISEN to be a sexy paranormal mystery that was quite a surprising and welcome read.
One humid and foggy night, Natalie thinks she is going to have the perfect story as she watches what seem to be drug runners in the middle of their run. But actually, the two thugs are in the middle of torturing a helpless dog. Before she can call the authorities, local veterinarian Ramses Montgomery comes to the dog’s aid. Natalie watches as Ram fights off the two degenerates and heals the dog before her very eyes. Ram shrugs off her questions about saving the dog and his own reason why he’s out on a night such as this. Natalie also doesn’t know what to think when what she believes to be containers filled with drugs are opened, they turn out to be tubes stuffed with priceless and exotic birds.
Ram has so many secrets, and he must keep them away from Natalie. Ram is a Mage who also uses magic that specializes in the healing of animals. He figures out that these exotic birds that are being sold illegally are not only to make a profit but to enable those who buy them to do black magic. Natalie assumes Ram is hiding something, and her reporter intuition is on alert. Ram needs to stay away from Natalie, even though he is very attracted to her. But all that changes as one night Natalie is brutally attacked and Ram comes to her rescue.
Both decide then to work together. Natalie will get her story and Ram will be able to stop those in the underground magic community who will do anything, even kill to make their powers grow stronger. Things are hitting closer to home for Natalie, because her brother could possibly be involved in this black magic. Ram wants so much more with Natalie than just a working relationship, but Natalie is dead set against magic of any kind. And Ram is not certain if they can be together since using his magic makes him energized, especially when it comes to making love.
Kathleen Nance takes on a multitude of topics in PHOENIX UNRISEN. This is not some simple, straight to the point love story. There are paranormal aspects that deal with magic, current events that include the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and a very pressing issue such as the illegal smuggling of poor defenseless animals just because they could be worth millions of dollars. Ram and Natalie have their own personal missions and demons they must confront. Natalie comes across as a hard hitting reporter, but her issues, which include a husband who betrayed her in the worst possible way and finding a missing brother, make her romance with Ram a hard one. There are major trust issues galore, and both Ram and Natalie don’t know whom to trust, or even if they can trust each other. Some readers may be uncomfortable with the open abuse of animals and the means these smugglers will go to in order to get what they want, but it brings an important issue to readers’ attention.
PHOENIX UNRISEN is a very gritty story set in the underbelly of New Orleans. There is tension, and the air is ripe with murder and a supernatural element that has damaging results. I found both Ram and Natalie to be original and interesting characters. They end up becoming the perfect team, and I especially enjoyed how they both care for Val, the dog Ram rescued. Kathleen Nance has written an incredible story that has captured the atmosphere of New Orleans along with the mystical and magical aspects. I found PHOENIX UNRISEN to be a sexy paranormal mystery that was quite a surprising and welcome read.
January 12, 2023
The heroine is in the swamp of New Orleans for a story about aliens for her article when she stumbles upon an exotic bird snuggling ring and the sexy hero vet who there to stop them. The hero, having lost his powers after defeating a nasty and powerful enemy, is suddenly surprised to find that the heroine gives his strength again. They've met before after an argument which had the heroine pissed drunk after the death of her estranged husband and the hero escorting her out of the party. Words were exchanged and things have been awkward ever since. But now, they realize that they must work together to stop the suffering of the animals. In the middle of all this the heroine is desperately searching for her lost brother and when it's revealed that he's somehow involved in both the smuggling and the magic world, the hero and heroine are put to the test.
This is a romantic suspense and as such the actual romance in these types of stories tend to take a back seat to the action but I was pleasantly surprised with the connection between the two characters. The heroine was raped but her power hungry husband before he was murdered so as a result she distrusts and even despises magic users. The hero is a very powerful magic user, more powerful than her husband was so she really should want nothing to do with him but it's the complete opposite. They are drawn together sexually but as a point, the heroine doesn't trust the hero and conceals a lot of information from him even up until the end of the book. But in turn, the hero denies being a magic user (though it's stupidly obvious he is and knows that the heroine knows) and hides his secret Mage world from her as much as possible. He has a tendency to be short tempered and impatient and the heroine was your typical thousand freaking questions reporter but somehow they meshed. There was a lot going on in this story but throughout it was the growing bond between them. The animal cruelty was so hard to read about and absolutely makes me sick how people can hurt innocent creatures. Honestly, I would take a murdered or injured human to a dog any day.
This is a romantic suspense and as such the actual romance in these types of stories tend to take a back seat to the action but I was pleasantly surprised with the connection between the two characters. The heroine was raped but her power hungry husband before he was murdered so as a result she distrusts and even despises magic users. The hero is a very powerful magic user, more powerful than her husband was so she really should want nothing to do with him but it's the complete opposite. They are drawn together sexually but as a point, the heroine doesn't trust the hero and conceals a lot of information from him even up until the end of the book. But in turn, the hero denies being a magic user (though it's stupidly obvious he is and knows that the heroine knows) and hides his secret Mage world from her as much as possible. He has a tendency to be short tempered and impatient and the heroine was your typical thousand freaking questions reporter but somehow they meshed. There was a lot going on in this story but throughout it was the growing bond between them. The animal cruelty was so hard to read about and absolutely makes me sick how people can hurt innocent creatures. Honestly, I would take a murdered or injured human to a dog any day.
May 31, 2010
This story revolves around Natalie Severin and set in New Orleans where she is a reporter for NONE (New Orleans News Eyes). This news agency specialises in the stories about the occult and the supernatural. Natalie is out one night investigating a story when she stumbles across veterinarian Ram Montgomery. Natalie knows that Ram is more than just a veterinarian, and soon both are forced to collaborate to stop criminals smuggling exotic animals into the country. Natalie’s brother disappeared under strange circumstances involving black magic and since that time Natalie has a deep mistrust of all things magical. Ram is a mage and aware of Natalie’s strong feelings both for him and also against magic Ram is torn by his secrets.
Set in the underbelly of New Orleans I found this book to be an appealing read. I found that both Ram and Natalie were unique characters, but at times the writing let the story down. I was intrigued about the world of magic Kathleen had created but knew that they would fight, make up and be together, so in that sense was a little predictable. However, Kathleen has written an interesting story that has captured the atmosphere of the gritty New Orleans underbelly I imagined and combined it with magical aspects.
Set in the underbelly of New Orleans I found this book to be an appealing read. I found that both Ram and Natalie were unique characters, but at times the writing let the story down. I was intrigued about the world of magic Kathleen had created but knew that they would fight, make up and be together, so in that sense was a little predictable. However, Kathleen has written an interesting story that has captured the atmosphere of the gritty New Orleans underbelly I imagined and combined it with magical aspects.
October 6, 2013
I think that i like books where adults don't dither around for more than 10 chapters yammering about how much they want one another, while not doing a damn thing about it. For the love of PB&J, these two were exhausting! She with her closely held prejudices against all things magic, he with secrets of his own powerful magic. I wanted to smack the both of them and mediate a Q&A session just to move the plot along.
I've got 14 more chapters to listen to and i really hope it gets better fast.
"Face the demon Natalie" the character says, i'm almost ready to return the demon to the library....sigh
Here i am the day after writing the above. Now i'm on chapter 23 of 25 and all i can say is "oh thank you gawd". Being too lazy to search for a new mp3 audio book through overdrive i kept hope alive that this one would get better. Marginally...at the very least it got to the fricking point.
the best thing in Phoenix Unrisen is Val..
I've got 14 more chapters to listen to and i really hope it gets better fast.
"Face the demon Natalie" the character says, i'm almost ready to return the demon to the library....sigh
Here i am the day after writing the above. Now i'm on chapter 23 of 25 and all i can say is "oh thank you gawd". Being too lazy to search for a new mp3 audio book through overdrive i kept hope alive that this one would get better. Marginally...at the very least it got to the fricking point.
the best thing in Phoenix Unrisen is Val..
June 3, 2013
Like Ms. Nance's other books, a tale of magic, danger and love is tightly woven. Though related to her djinn series (Isis Montgomery, Ram's sister, is the heroine in More Than Magic and Jack Montgomery meets and falls for Leila in Enchantment), this book reads just fine as a stand-alone.
The story is a great page-turner, and I found myself staying up much later than I should have in order to finish the book. Natalie has a fear of magic, understandably so, that she must overcome in order to be with Ram. This theme of overcoming fear because of or in order to have true love is common in Nance's books, but it's one of my favorite things about her work.
I'd definitely recommend this. Whether as an introduction to Kathleen Nance or as a continuation of her djinn series, it's another home run.
The story is a great page-turner, and I found myself staying up much later than I should have in order to finish the book. Natalie has a fear of magic, understandably so, that she must overcome in order to be with Ram. This theme of overcoming fear because of or in order to have true love is common in Nance's books, but it's one of my favorite things about her work.
I'd definitely recommend this. Whether as an introduction to Kathleen Nance or as a continuation of her djinn series, it's another home run.
June 26, 2015
Actually an ok book. Usually hate cheesy romances & sci-fi/fantasy ! And this book has both! Was desperate for a book to read (I've always got my nose stuck in a book, & always have the next 1 already in mind or at hand, finish 1 & start another! ). Found this 1 in my vast, multi-genres collection. Didn't know it was going to have MAGIC use in it! As ridiculous as it sounds to me & maybe to u as well, but it wasn't off the wall, crazy, magic use. The way it's explained & the way Ram uses it seems almost believable. So it wasn't bad at all. And wasn't a cheesy romance at all. Raunchy & sexually explicit, going into way more detail than I most certainly needed. But not to bad, either. No where near as sexually graphic as "Fifty Shades" trilogy!! But all in all, it was a pretty good book. Both main characters very believable. Would recommend it to those who like romance & action books.
May 26, 2010
Veterinarian Ram Montgomery uses professional skills as well as Mage abilities to heal his patients. Reporter Natalie Severin was traumatized by her husband's use of magic and her twin brother's disappearance but continues to search for supernatural stories. The two join forces to investigate an exotic animal smuggling ring and discover that she somehow amplifies Ram's powers. Unfortunately, Natalie already has an acrimonious history with Ram's family while Ram has his own obligations to the magi. Glimpses of post-Katrina New Orleans interspersed with the seedier side of the exotic pet trade give a nice twist.
January 17, 2015
E' un libro che vale 1 stellina in senso puramente soggettivo. Mi rendo conto, infatti, che ad altri possa tranquillamente piacere per gli stessi motivi che me l'hanno fatto odiare. Per dirla nella maniera più sintetica possibile, si tratta di un giallo che ruota attorno alla scomparsa di alcuni uccelli e del fratello della protagonista.
Di più non posso dire perché la mia mente è già passata alla fase delle rimozione per difesa.
Da provare solo se siete amanti del genere.
Di più non posso dire perché la mia mente è già passata alla fase delle rimozione per difesa.
Da provare solo se siete amanti del genere.
March 31, 2011
Natalie, the widow of evil sorcerer works as a tabloid reporter. Investigating someone she suspects of being a sorcerer she stumbles on the handsome hero, Ram(short for Ramses). They fall in love eventually while trying to find out who is 1)capturing,exporting,importing and killing exotic animals & 2)committing death magic. surprise: supposedly dead husband is not dead.
November 3, 2007
I had read books by this author several years ago. But then it seemed that she had disappeared. I was excited when I saw a new book by her. This book left me feeling a little flat.
November 9, 2010
It was different...
March 20, 2011
I've been reading this book off and on for a while, not an epic tale, but a OK read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews