What do you think?
Rate this book
This Rough Magic
Rediscover a beloved 80s classic with this sultry, gothic romantic suspense by New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham.
When costume designer Carly Kiernan gets an invitation from her sister to attend a costume ball at Castle Vadim, she immediately jumps on the professional opportunity of a lifetime. But upon her arrival, Carly quickly realises that the Carpathian mountains are nothing like New York city. Right in the border with Romania, the Gothic castle stands implacable and chilling, and the full moon and howling wolves definitely fit the Halloween vibe. But nothing could have prepared Carly for her encounter with Count Vadim himself. Mysterious, perplexing, and incredibly handsome, Jon is an enigma, so why is Carly stuck between the instinct to run away or to fall in love?
When costume designer Carly Kiernan gets an invitation from her sister to attend a costume ball at Castle Vadim, she immediately jumps on the professional opportunity of a lifetime. But upon her arrival, Carly quickly realises that the Carpathian mountains are nothing like New York city. Right in the border with Romania, the Gothic castle stands implacable and chilling, and the full moon and howling wolves definitely fit the Halloween vibe. But nothing could have prepared Carly for her encounter with Count Vadim himself. Mysterious, perplexing, and incredibly handsome, Jon is an enigma, so why is Carly stuck between the instinct to run away or to fall in love?
- GenresRomance
229 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2024
70 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Heather Graham
583 books6,910 followersAlso published as Heather Graham Pozzessere and Shannon Drake.
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell's Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette's Shadows, and for Harlequin's mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.
Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children's charity.
She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards frorn Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, People, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.
Heather loves travel and anything have to do with the water, and is a certitified scuba diver. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell's Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette's Shadows, and for Harlequin's mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.
Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children's charity.
She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards frorn Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, People, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.
Heather loves travel and anything have to do with the water, and is a certitified scuba diver. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 9, 2024
Why was this book even reprinted? Terrible book. At the beginning I even checked to make sure it was a modern book and not a gothic historical. That is the way it started.
I did not like Carly? She was just too something. Did she like Jon or not? Did she trust Jon or not? Did she or didn't she?
Some things did not make sense to me. She hurt her ankle, but it magically cured itself in just a short time. She could hardly walk when the Count found her. When the guests came to find them, she could walk with no problems. I don't understand how she had a dress with a bouffant skirt in her luggage. It seemed the item came out with no problems, did not need ironing. Frankly I can't see how she had room in her luggage for the dress.
Carly was a divorcee. Yet the inspector called her Ms and in the next sentence Madame. He could not seem to make up his mind. For that matter, how did he even know she was a Madame?
The book was a difficult read. I skimmed and skipped a lot. I don't think you have instant love in less than a day.
I normally like Heather Graham's old books. But this is the second reprint I have read in the past 6 months that I did not like.
I did not like Carly? She was just too something. Did she like Jon or not? Did she trust Jon or not? Did she or didn't she?
Some things did not make sense to me. She hurt her ankle, but it magically cured itself in just a short time. She could hardly walk when the Count found her. When the guests came to find them, she could walk with no problems. I don't understand how she had a dress with a bouffant skirt in her luggage. It seemed the item came out with no problems, did not need ironing. Frankly I can't see how she had room in her luggage for the dress.
Carly was a divorcee. Yet the inspector called her Ms and in the next sentence Madame. He could not seem to make up his mind. For that matter, how did he even know she was a Madame?
The book was a difficult read. I skimmed and skipped a lot. I don't think you have instant love in less than a day.
I normally like Heather Graham's old books. But this is the second reprint I have read in the past 6 months that I did not like.
March 13, 2025
This was a god book but I found the main character, Carly, a little tiresome. The constant I love him but I think he’s the killer got old.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2025
Eye of the Beholder
This Rough Magic: A Sultry Romantic Suspense Novel by Heather Graham was a quick, entertaining read, but for me it landed at three stars. The story has a strong sense of atmosphere, with danger present from the very beginning and plenty of secrets swirling around the characters. Graham’s descriptive writing and worldbuilding are detailed, which made it easy to picture the setting and follow along with the suspense.
The main romance is front and center, but what I found interesting is that additional couples also had their moments in the story. It gave the book a layered feel, like you were watching multiple relationships unfold against the same backdrop of intrigue. The family dynamics were, at times, a little odd—but they clearly played an important role in driving the plot forward and shaping the characters’ choices.
As for the Count, the back-and-forth interactions revealed his flaws quickly, which made for an intriguing character study. And while not every thread of the story hit perfectly for me, the ending was sweet—especially with the roles Vixen and Satan played. Those little touches gave the resolution a warmth that balanced out the suspense.
Overall, this was a fun, lighter romantic suspense that I read fairly quickly. While it didn’t fully reach the heights of some of my favorite books in the genre, it still offered a mix of romance, danger, and family drama that fans of Heather Graham will likely enjoy.
This Rough Magic: A Sultry Romantic Suspense Novel by Heather Graham was a quick, entertaining read, but for me it landed at three stars. The story has a strong sense of atmosphere, with danger present from the very beginning and plenty of secrets swirling around the characters. Graham’s descriptive writing and worldbuilding are detailed, which made it easy to picture the setting and follow along with the suspense.
The main romance is front and center, but what I found interesting is that additional couples also had their moments in the story. It gave the book a layered feel, like you were watching multiple relationships unfold against the same backdrop of intrigue. The family dynamics were, at times, a little odd—but they clearly played an important role in driving the plot forward and shaping the characters’ choices.
As for the Count, the back-and-forth interactions revealed his flaws quickly, which made for an intriguing character study. And while not every thread of the story hit perfectly for me, the ending was sweet—especially with the roles Vixen and Satan played. Those little touches gave the resolution a warmth that balanced out the suspense.
Overall, this was a fun, lighter romantic suspense that I read fairly quickly. While it didn’t fully reach the heights of some of my favorite books in the genre, it still offered a mix of romance, danger, and family drama that fans of Heather Graham will likely enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews