Magic Possessed

The Hidden #2

by Jaime Rush

"A sexy and intense series. Jaime Rush has my undivided attention."
-Larissa Ione, New York Times bestselling author

They are the Hidden.
Not quite human. Far from normal.
And never, ever safe . . .

TOO HOT TO HANDLE

Her brother was mysteriously murdered with no witnesses, clues-or motives. Yet Violet Castanega knows he won't be the last to die unless she seeks help. But the Hidden's law enforcement won't come to the aid of her rowdy dragon clan, and the only person who will listen to her is one tough cop. Violet has tangled with him before, and it got rough. This time, it's getting hot . . .

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

Powerful Guard member Kade Kavanaugh has been ordered to take out Violet Castanega. While assassination orders don't come with explanations, his instincts scream that killing the feisty beauty is wrong. Now Kade must put his career, not to mention his life, on the line to save her. But as the passion-and the danger-heat up between Kade and Violet, can they survive the darkest magick of all?

Genres: Paranormal, Dragons, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Paranormal Romance, Angels

368 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Things that go bump in the night have always intrigued me. Sometimes those things are human; other times, not so much. I really played with this in my Hidden series, that reveals humans with the essence of gods who walk the knife's edge between Miami and a magical world of passion and danger. Part dragon, angel, or sorcerer, they must fight their own kind, demons, and the lure of their darkest nature.

If you’re familiar with my Tina Wainscott books, you know I'm fascinated with all things psychic. In my award-winning Offspring series, I throw a group of strangers with inexplicable psychic abilities together in a fight for their lives. As Tina, I write romantic suspense with magical realism elements (Love & Light series), The Justiss Alliance series (military romantic suspense), romantic drama in the Falling Series, and psychological suspense. Altogether I’ve published thirty-four novels and five novellas. See more www.JaimeRush.com and www.TinaWainscott.com

https://books2read.com/jaimerush

amazon.com/author/jaimerush

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Goodreads First Reads for free.

I totally loved this book and would give it 4.5 stars because it grabbed me and kept me engrossed until the end. I will definitely be reading the first book in the series and following up with the rest. The characters are so well written that I came to really care about them and what they were going through. Of course some were filled out better than others but the main ones and most of the side characters made this worth while. The world they inhabit is like ours but just different enough to make it interesting.

With a number of mythical characters, chief among them dragons, sorcerers, and caidos (descendants of fallen angels). These people came from a place called Luciferia, a place that no longer exists except as the Bermuda Triangle we know today. When their home is destroyed they head to Florida and make a home for themselves there among the back roads and small communities. While they do not always get along they have managed to create a place they can live and thrive until someone decides that things are going to well and starts to shake the hornets nest.


Violet Castanega and her family are Dragon shifters and a bit of a rowdy bunch, along with most of her neighbors. She was a brawler when she was younger but has grown into a responsible woman and then the murders start. I liked Violet because she was a strong woman who was not afraid to do whatever was needed to protect her family and those around her. She was also able to trust when she had no reason to.

Kade Kavanaugh is a Deuce (sorcerer) and he works for the Guard, they are a police force for the supernatural folks in the area. They do not have any love for the dragons who they see as completely uncivilized and therefore are unconcerned when dragon bodies start dropping. That is until Violet shows up and he is ordered to assassinate her with no explanation or proof of wrong doing. Kade is an honorable guy who would never do anything he felt was wrong, and you have to love him for it.

This was a fun and emotional ride with mystery, hot sex, conspiracies, murder, revenge, and above all Love. I laughed, cried, yelled, and thoroughly enjoyed myself! If you want something that will take you away and entertain you, then you have got to read this. You will be missing out if you don't give it a look.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous book in the Hidden series. This story takes place after book 1 but you don't really see any of the characters from the first book until the very end. This is very much it's own story. Dragons are being killed and their power drained and no one is doing anything to stop it. 6 dragons killed in the past 2 weeks. Violet's older brother is one of the dragons killed and she knows that something strange is going on. She goes to the Guard to report this but of course they don't take her seriously. After she sees something in the supervisor's office, he orders Kade to kill her. Why? Kade doesn't understand this order at all and it just feels wrong. Kade and Violet must investigate this string of murders and figure out the real reason behind them.

Fantastic story. Can't wait to read the next book.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second books are always a guessing game will it be better or worse. Can the author bring the excitement of the first book into the second? In this instance the answer is heck yeah! This is the second in a very loosely connected series (you don’t have to have read the first to get the second but you are going to want to read the first, Dragon Awakened, at some point because it is so good) and it is as good as the first if not better. Fast paced, sexy, and super fun. I couldn’t put it down I just had to see what was going to happen next. If you are a fan of paranormal romance you are going to want to check this wonderful series out.

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jaime Rush is one of my guilty pleasure authors. Those are books that I'm just glued to and honestly, I don't really try to find anything "wrong" with them. I can sit back, enjoy the ride, and just let myself enjoy reading. I've loved her books for a long time, and I'm glad that I finally found this book hidden in my Mom's house. That's the problem with my books, a lot of them get "lost" in a closet or somewhere in a box. My Mom unloaded a box of books she found and VOILA! There she be. I knew I had this book SOMEWHERE.

We're back to dragons and mythical creatures. I adore these kinds of books where I can read about all of the fun of magic and essence. Add in the steamy adult romance? Perfection. I'm sure I read the first book but my goodness, I don't remember. So that is probably a strike against me. I didn't fully know if the characters connected or if I was supposed to remember someone... My bad! Regardless, super fun. Lots of fun and something I was able to enjoy.

Now... where can I find more books by Jaime Rush?

Four out of five stars.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Setting: Florida – outskirts – where dragon clans (The Fringe settled; Miami – where Crescents settled; Guard’s headquarters; the alligator farm; her house and jewelry workshop; the barn with the wall of shame (shackled, and forced to listen to loud, obnoxious music); adjacent family land plots; Ernie’s neutral bar;

Characters:
Violet Castanega: a dragon, a Fringer; fiercely loyal to family; alligator wrestler; alligator farm accountant; jewelry maker (mostly using symbols of their culture); traveling salesman;

Kade Kavanaugh: of the Guard; not a dragon, but controls lots of magic; he had a wild side, and he tackled cases with his gut, until his father was killed trying to free a prisoner that was rumored he had fallen in love with – then Kade was demoted, and has worked 20 years within the confines of the Guard’s regulations to prove himself – but the wild side of him trampled.

Mia Kavanaugh: Kade’s sister, now in the lower levels of the Guard; he has raised her and done his best to protect her;

Ferro / Onyx / Drako: Guard chief; woman Fringer who is jealous of Violet, who turned to Ferro when her clan killed off, and now 10 years later is Ferro’s lover and partner as they kill dragons, suck their power, in plans of giving it to; Drako – the dragon war god, who wants entry onto earth via the deaths of Ferro and Onyx’s sacrifice (though they think they are going to be made gods);

Ryan and Jessup (and Arlo): Violet’s brothers; loud, protective, pranksters; Arlo, who had become entrenched in drugs/marijuana growing, has been killed; Violet, who has mastered the most control of them all, convinces her to give her a few days to figure out what happened, before they get revenge and kill;

Summary:
Violet goes to the bar for intel… and finds out that in 10 days there have been 6 clan deaths – with outrageously obvious clues indicating another clan did it… and she goes to the Guard to report it… only to be faced with derision, prejudice, and no desire to help the Fringers; she storms into the Ferro’s office and sees a map, with red pins at the places where there are Fringe dragon deaths, and yellow pins; she is ejected from office by Kade – and there is obviously some energy running between them (they met once before, when he came to arrest her brother, and she jumped on his back);
And Ferro sends Kade to kill Violet, and in condescending when Kade questions it; but he goes, and finds her crying over the death of her brother, and he can’t believe she is guilty of anything, and can’t kill her… and they end up working together to solve who’s behind it all… she manages to put enough doubt in the clans to postpone a war, she learns the truth of why he was originally sent to her, but when Ferro sends another Guard to kill him and her, they are finally totally on task together…

Kade returns to the station, having taken the image of his assassin, and finds the names of other dragons killed, and that a child Fringer is the next target; and then he is discovered and taken to the psych ward (like his dad), where a bug orb is inserted into his ear/brain (like star trek) that will fracture his memories and leave him a drooling imbecile in 3 hours… but Violet, Mia and her brothers rescue him, and manage to get the bug removed (after an hour?)… his memories are fragmented (especially recent ones)… and Violet manages to convince him they are married, and through sexcapades overrides the fighting memories that keep cropping up… but when Ferro shows up to kill them both, Ferro clamps into his Guard memories, and Kade allows him to almost kill her, but when push comes to shove, his feelings (not his memories) pull him to her, and he rescues her… they attack Ferro, who is dying, when the god Draco pops his head through a dimensional window… he is about to take Ferro’s life force (along with those he has stolen from 3 months of killing dragons) but Violet jumps between them, taking the essence…

She is overwhelmed, and close to turning feral, but Kade calls her brothers to help… they do, she is weak, Onyx kills a teen, the other clans come to war with them, the brothers rush to face them off, Onyx calls, and she has their mom and demands Violet meet her at the alligator farm… she goes, with her phone on and instructions to her brother to bring the fight to the speakers, and with Kade in backup … and her conversation with Onyx is broadcasted… Onyx is the last of a clan that Violet’s family had justifiable killed (they killed her father), and she has always been jealous of Violet… throw in a few hungry alligators and a god without power or interest to intervene, and Onyx is dead (with the clans knowing the truth)… and Draco again blocked for access to the power they were collecting…

Kade and book one heros plus another couple will be joining forces to block the third of the tri-god’s attempt to bring them to into our world by the sunspot flare day!

[Joyfully Reviewed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet Castanega knows that something strange is going on with all the deaths happening to the Dragon clans in the Fringe. When her brother is killed, Violet knows it’s only a matter of time before the clans go after each other with no holds barred. Violet bargains for a cooling off time during which she will investigate to see just what clues she can find. After Violet learns that even more deaths have occurred than even she knew and that clan violence is just simmering below the surface, Violet makes a decision that could make all of the clans never forgive her – going to the Guard for help.

Kade Kavanaugh is a powerful Vega with the Guard and he knows all about how wild the Castanega clan can be – especially Violet. Yet when she shows up at the Guard headquarters asking for help to solve her brother’s and other clan killings, everyone from his boss down just pass her concerns off. Kade knows the Fringe history and yet how Violet acts during her visit shows that she can be more than the wild teenager he met years ago. When Kade is given a new assignment by his boss, he is shocked and then concerned – the assignment is to assassinate Violet and let the resulting clan wars just go. Something that doesn’t sit will with what the Guard means to Kade.

Violet is wary when Kade shows up at her home saying he is there to help her, but since time isn’t on her side Violet agrees to work with him. As the hours go on, Kade knows that Violet is nothing like he has been told and his gut tells him that killing her would be wrong and that something else is going on in the Fringe. Kade is walking down a very narrow line while trying to keep Violet safe and figure out why he was assigned to kill her. Things get out of hand when passion explodes between Violet and Kade. Violet is trying to keep Kade safe, the Guard is not well thought of by the Fringe clans, while working with him to keep the clans safe from further killings. Before the final answers become clear, betrayal, misunderstandings and love will all force Kade and Violet to the limits. When all is revealed and everyone is safe, will there now be time for Kade and Violet to explore their new found love or has too much gone down to allow for the trust that all love must be bound with?

A jewelry designer with a wild past and a Guard member who follows his gut come together in the most unusual circumstances in Magic Possessed. Violet and Kade are certainly an odd couple until you look below the surface and see the love that was just waiting for them. I have to hand it to Violet that I was surprised that she risked everything to go to the Guard with her and her families past. I was even further shocked when Kade decided to go with his gut feeling instead of his order after all he had to overcome to get his Vega position. I loved watching as Kade and Violet worked together and put all the clues together to discover the betrayal and past events that all combined together in what was happening to the clans in the Fringe. The passion that grew between Kade and Violet proved that no matter what their individual pasts were, their future would only be together. Magic Possessed takes suspense, passion and danger to the ultimate limits while allowing enough breathing space to keep the reader gripped from the first page until the last.

Reviewed by Jo for Joyfully Reviewed
Link: http://bit.ly/1yUebXn

[Tony Parsons]

gotta win/read this book

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Magic Possessed is the second book in Jaime Rush's series involving Crescents. I have not yet read the first book, but definitely plan on reading it now. You don't need to have read book one to be able to follow and enjoy book two. The series is set in south Florida. There are the Crescents who are humans who carry the DNA of a fallen angel, a dragon, or a sorcerer god. Then there are the Mundanes who are just human and know nothing about this Hidden world that is happening around them.

Magic Possessed involves Violet, a dragon, and Kade, a member of the Guard which is the Hidden's police force. Violet's brother has been murdered along with several other Crescent's who live in the Fringe area. Those in the Fringe are considered lawless, reckless and looked down upon as uneducated hillbillies. Violet senses that the murders are not just normal clan skirmishes and that someone is trying to incite the clans into starting an all out war. Kade, who is a Guard Deuce and Vega, is ordered to assassinate Violet who the Guard is trying to blame. His instincts tell him she is innocent and that something else is going on with the murders. Can Violet and Kade work together long enough to solve the murders without killing each other or being killed themselves?

This book is full of hot steamy passion, danger and action. It definitely is worth reading.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Violet's brother is brutally murdered, she risks the wrath of her family to enlist the aid of the Guard in investigating his death. She is told in no uncertain terms that the Fringers need to police their own and is thrown out of the building. Kade follows her back home with orders to assassinate her but finds that he can't go through with it. A friend recently told him to trust his gut . . . and the more he looks into things, the fishier this situation seems.

I definitely liked this one more than the first book in the series, Dragon Awakened... at least until the halfway mark. The plot was already a little sketchy before then, but somewhere around the middle it just all fell apart for me. Sometimes simplicity just ends up making characters look like fools.

I did like that big bad Kade is actually a submissive man at heart. While it's not personally my cup of tea, I do still like to see male romantic leads who aren't entirely stereotypical alpha douchebags. Men who enjoy sexual submission are very under-represented in women's literature these days.

At the end of the day, though, you can definitely feel how short this book is. Another forty pages of plot and character development could have made a world of difference for this story.

[Lenna Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow I could not put this book down, this is about Cyntags buddy Kade Kavanaugh (Deuce/ Vega) and a feisty but level headed Violet (Dragon), but in this story someone is killing Fringers (Swamp families) clan members and making look like another clan is killing but Violet figures something is not right so she decides to got to the Guard and try to get help there but what she dealt with was nothing compared to what the 'Caption' or the person in charge of the Guard wants done with her. Kade is the one trusted Vega and is above most of the other Vegas but seeing Violet and touching her brings him to his knees, so of speak. But what really gets his gut twisting is the order his boss gave him to kill Violet. He never thought a Dragon let alone a Fringe Dragon get under his skin to the cage to protect his heart to what he was trained to to feel. Now they have to face with not one villain but four and Violet, Kade, Mia (Kades sister), and Violets family to help over power the villians and one pissed of Dragon God.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you liked book one Dragon Awakened, you will LOVE this one!! Book two has much more action constantly keeping you going and some sex scenes In between. It's easy to fall into the world of dragons, deuces,crescents those who hold powers. Each book can be read as standalone books but the whole feel and base objective is intertwined. The end was an awesome surprise.
Kade a deuce on the crescent guard was sent to kill Violet a dragon who went to the guard for help on her brothers murder~when the head realized she knew too much ordered the kill.
Kade always thought the guard was far and kills were justified though when he was about to as donate her his gut told him not too (big thanks to Cyntag on that for those who read book one) she was mourning her brother had compassion feeling and something was just not right. Then the juicy journey of Kade and Mia continue great from the start! Well written no spelling errors~~ this book was won via first reads!!

[The Window Seat · Rating 4 out of 5]

For all that the first book left me disappointed, this one did not! This second entry in The Hidden series (fourth including the prequels) was one I really enjoyed!

In this book, we see Violet, a dragon, and Kade, the member of the Deuce Guard trying to frame Violet for a murder she didn't commit. From the get go, Violet and Kade have sparks flying and as they work to solve the murders and keep Violet alive, they find that the sparks are ones that they can't - and don't want - to ignore.

I liked that once again, Rush combined two members of different groups in her series - the sorcerer's in Kade and the dragon's in Violet. The way that this creates a unique conflict, while still being very believable, works well to me. The two are different, yet they both exist is a world hidden from the mundanes (normal humans) and that serves to connect them despite the differences.

For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2014/0...

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic Possessed follows the story of Violet whose brother was mysteriously murdered. Violet knows more people will die unless she seeks help. Unfortunately, there is only person who will listen to her.....

Kade has been ordered to take out Violet. He normally doesn't question orders, but his instincts are telling him that killing Violet is wrong. Now Kade must put everything on the line to save her.......

I haven't read the first book in this series, however that did not impact my ability to read and enjoy this one. Magic Possessed was a fun paranormal romance. I enjoyed the fast pace of the story and I really liked the mystery surrounding the story. The chemistry between Kade and Violet was great.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and will have to check out the first book now!


***I received this book via Goodreads First Reads***

[Carissa Crabb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic Possessed is the second novel in The Hidden series. In this second installment, we meet Violet, who comes from the "redneck" branch of the Hidden family tree. When Violet's older brother is murdered, and his dragon abilities stolen from him, Violet suspects that someone is purposely trying to inflame centuries-old tensions between her family and other dragon families in the area into a Hatfield/McCoy type war. When approaches the Hidden's police for help to stop the impending massacre, they instead assign Kade to kill her in order to keep her quiet. Violet and Kade have to learn to trust each other if they hope to stop those behind the killings, and stay alive.

I love that this shapeshifter series has an actual storyline and doesn't get too distracted by sex, as is usually the case.

[Marilyn Michalski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a little difficulty getting started on this book but once I did I really enjoyed it. Violet and Kade are definitely an interesting couple. I found myself really rooting for these two people from such diverse backgrounds and cultures but they did have a great deal in common as well. I would not want either one of them angry or digging into my background because I would have no secrets left hidden. I wasn't sure about this book but once I got into it I loved it. Good book.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was okay. I noticed some inconsistencies in the character development that definitely lessened my enjoyment. The passion was consistent throughout the story and I think THAT is what saved the book for me. I don't like how the author tied this book to the first one, but that is part of the inconsistency that I disliked. I really am not sure what else I can say that will not give away too much of the plot.

[Rayxa Quiros · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this books from good reads giveaways for an honest review.

This book...

Magic, Deuces and Dragons oh my. This book is hot, steamy & sexy. It kept me captivated from the beginning.
This book has it all action, suspense and romance.
It is definitely and sexy and intense series can't wait to read the third book in The Hidden series Angel Seduced.
Totally recommend this book.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book free through Goodness first reads.

I really enjoyed this book. I haven't read book one, but I will buy it now. you don't need to read book one to understand this one. The author does appear to be setting up a background story line for books to come. I am excited to keep reading more from this Series and author.

[Jp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the first book but really loved the second book. The tough but civilized gater-farm girl who falls for the upstanding guard warrior who melts you when he likes her taking control.
Fantastic! Add that you get a better feeling of the bigger plot and I'm on to book three.

[Kerrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5-4 I went into this book knowing that I've read it out of order, and funny enough this book made much more sense. It had a feel of The Edge series by Ilona Andrews (which I like) so I did enjoy this novel.

[Jennifer Porter cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

really great read interesting new series can't wait to read more

[Michelle the Romance Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars...liked it a lot... full review to come soon