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Hearth Magic
After the events of RIVER MAGIC, Cian O’Connor and Anthony Russo must grapple with their relationship to the land, the spirit realm, and each other. One man wants to support Lacey and protect her from another otherworldly maelstrom. The other needs her help as he confronts an angry presence in his home so he can move on with a new lover. Are Cian and Anthony’s lives more entwined than they ever imagined? “The medium, the conservationist, and the poacher, all drawn together by a cord of fate.” A new Rituals of Rock Bay tale featuring kitchen magic, romance, redemption, and the spiritual bonds that link us.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 2, 2021
3 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
M.A. Phillips
5 books26 followersM. A. Phillips is a writer in Northern NY. She lives with her husband, daughter, and two lazy cats. She fell in love with writing at a young age thanks to her encouraging, creative family. Mythology, folklore, and the landscape are her primary inspirations. Her writing has been published in The Ampersand, Oak Leaves, and Stone, Root, and Bone. Her debut novel, RIVER MAGIC, will be released by Shadow Spark Publishing in October 2020.
You can find examples of her writing and sewing in her portfolio.
You can find examples of her writing and sewing in her portfolio.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 25, 2022
A unique blend of romance, Pagan mysticism, and fabulism with gorgeous prose and complex relationships.
I read River Magic, the first book in Phillips’ Rituals of Rock Bay trilogy, a couple of years ago, and it was early in my venture into romance territory, where I now hold permanent resident status. I really enjoyed the mix of contemporary romance, Pagan mysticism, and fabulism, and it was a delight to return to this world and see some of the same characters, along with some new ones, in this unique crossover series. If you’re a romance reader, it hits the right beats, but the fabulist and Pagan elements carry equal weight, so I don’t think it can be called a pure romance. It’s this perfect mix that makes Phillips’ books such magical reads.
Whereas River Magic has a classic friends-to-lovers romance arc, Hearth Magic is more complex, with an established couple (Lacey and Cian) from the first book, along with a major side couple (Anthony and Margaret). The romance aspects are cozy and just a little spicy, without getting too specific about parts and the like. But the most interesting part of the book for me, besides the totally unique fabulist element, was the relationships between Lacey, Anthony, and Cian. It’s messy, since Anthony had a thing for Lacey in the previous book, and Cian’s jealousy about the developing friendship between Lacey and Anthony makes for some angsty moments. To be honest, I hated Cian at a few points in the book, but that was by design—his struggle to accept Anthony’s role in Lacey’s life, and in his own, is very realistic, and his reactions are totally understandable. True to the Pagan romance roots of the book, you can rest assured the problems will be solved with a little help from the spirit world, but the struggle is real, and the solution feels earned. We need more of this in books—overcoming jealousy is hard work, and Phillips shows that work on the page, with satisfying results.
Another satisfying aspect of the book is the depiction of Pagan beliefs, which are lovingly detailed and integral to the plot. Lacey’s spiritual practice was highlighted in the first book, and we saw Cian developing an interest as well, and in this book, we learn along with Cian and Anthony as their understanding of and engagement with Lacey’s community grow. Lacey follows a spiritual figure known as Brigid, and the small moments of her and Cian’s daily practice are a gift of warmth, as are the larger gatherings of the book’s Pagan community. There are moments of tension with some of the characters’ Christian upbringings, but everyone makes strides toward being more understanding and appreciative of the diversity of experience, which is a delight to read.
Speaking of delight, Phillips’ prose is gorgeous. I was frequently drawn to individual sentences or passages of lyrical beauty, which enriched the reading experience without slowing me down. Phillips has a way with description of both the physical and the emotional/spiritual landscapes that pull you forward in your reading but linger when you’re away from the book.
Here are a few passages of physical description that stuck with me:
“The small meadow was already an undulating pond of vegetation.”
“Wild grain, giddy after several days of sun, reached and danced in the breeze.”
And the emotional bits hit just as hard:
“She wore her grief like a poorly-cared-for tattoo.”
“Their plan had fallen through so hard, it left scars.”
“Now they were both gone. Mom was a wraith of her old self, and Bella was angry at the world. Anthony existed in between.”
Perhaps the best moments in the book are where the physical and the emotional collide:
“She reminded Cian of a sheltered section of the river alive with lily pads and cattails.”
“She hadn’t seen him blush so fiercely in a while, and Lacey wished she could bottle that vision. She’d keep the pigment in her tea cabinet and add a drop whenever she needed a dose of warmth.”
The last detail that needs mentioning is Phillips’ use of fabulist elements. On the off chance you aren’t familiar with the term, it’s a bit like magical realism—fantastical elements seamlessly woven into the real world so that they seem to be natural extensions of it. Magical realism is most properly applied to postcolonial literature with these characteristics, especially from Latin America, so I use the term fabulism here.
In River Magic, we saw a mermaid unlike any other I have read about, which is not a spoiler since Phillips talks about it in social media posts. The spoilery aspects of the mermaid are truly memorable, and the fabulist elements of Hearth Magic are equally innovative. You may have encountered beings in literature similar to the ones shown or hinted at in the book, but you have never encountered them like this. Phillips’ books have a way of making the natural world seem just a trifle more magical, and the magical world just a smidge more natural, and the result is something I haven’t read anywhere else. I spent way too long between reading the first and the second book, and I won’t make that mistake with Forest Magic, the third book in the series, which is available now.
I read River Magic, the first book in Phillips’ Rituals of Rock Bay trilogy, a couple of years ago, and it was early in my venture into romance territory, where I now hold permanent resident status. I really enjoyed the mix of contemporary romance, Pagan mysticism, and fabulism, and it was a delight to return to this world and see some of the same characters, along with some new ones, in this unique crossover series. If you’re a romance reader, it hits the right beats, but the fabulist and Pagan elements carry equal weight, so I don’t think it can be called a pure romance. It’s this perfect mix that makes Phillips’ books such magical reads.
Whereas River Magic has a classic friends-to-lovers romance arc, Hearth Magic is more complex, with an established couple (Lacey and Cian) from the first book, along with a major side couple (Anthony and Margaret). The romance aspects are cozy and just a little spicy, without getting too specific about parts and the like. But the most interesting part of the book for me, besides the totally unique fabulist element, was the relationships between Lacey, Anthony, and Cian. It’s messy, since Anthony had a thing for Lacey in the previous book, and Cian’s jealousy about the developing friendship between Lacey and Anthony makes for some angsty moments. To be honest, I hated Cian at a few points in the book, but that was by design—his struggle to accept Anthony’s role in Lacey’s life, and in his own, is very realistic, and his reactions are totally understandable. True to the Pagan romance roots of the book, you can rest assured the problems will be solved with a little help from the spirit world, but the struggle is real, and the solution feels earned. We need more of this in books—overcoming jealousy is hard work, and Phillips shows that work on the page, with satisfying results.
Another satisfying aspect of the book is the depiction of Pagan beliefs, which are lovingly detailed and integral to the plot. Lacey’s spiritual practice was highlighted in the first book, and we saw Cian developing an interest as well, and in this book, we learn along with Cian and Anthony as their understanding of and engagement with Lacey’s community grow. Lacey follows a spiritual figure known as Brigid, and the small moments of her and Cian’s daily practice are a gift of warmth, as are the larger gatherings of the book’s Pagan community. There are moments of tension with some of the characters’ Christian upbringings, but everyone makes strides toward being more understanding and appreciative of the diversity of experience, which is a delight to read.
Speaking of delight, Phillips’ prose is gorgeous. I was frequently drawn to individual sentences or passages of lyrical beauty, which enriched the reading experience without slowing me down. Phillips has a way with description of both the physical and the emotional/spiritual landscapes that pull you forward in your reading but linger when you’re away from the book.
Here are a few passages of physical description that stuck with me:
“The small meadow was already an undulating pond of vegetation.”
“Wild grain, giddy after several days of sun, reached and danced in the breeze.”
And the emotional bits hit just as hard:
“She wore her grief like a poorly-cared-for tattoo.”
“Their plan had fallen through so hard, it left scars.”
“Now they were both gone. Mom was a wraith of her old self, and Bella was angry at the world. Anthony existed in between.”
Perhaps the best moments in the book are where the physical and the emotional collide:
“She reminded Cian of a sheltered section of the river alive with lily pads and cattails.”
“She hadn’t seen him blush so fiercely in a while, and Lacey wished she could bottle that vision. She’d keep the pigment in her tea cabinet and add a drop whenever she needed a dose of warmth.”
The last detail that needs mentioning is Phillips’ use of fabulist elements. On the off chance you aren’t familiar with the term, it’s a bit like magical realism—fantastical elements seamlessly woven into the real world so that they seem to be natural extensions of it. Magical realism is most properly applied to postcolonial literature with these characteristics, especially from Latin America, so I use the term fabulism here.
In River Magic, we saw a mermaid unlike any other I have read about, which is not a spoiler since Phillips talks about it in social media posts. The spoilery aspects of the mermaid are truly memorable, and the fabulist elements of Hearth Magic are equally innovative. You may have encountered beings in literature similar to the ones shown or hinted at in the book, but you have never encountered them like this. Phillips’ books have a way of making the natural world seem just a trifle more magical, and the magical world just a smidge more natural, and the result is something I haven’t read anywhere else. I spent way too long between reading the first and the second book, and I won’t make that mistake with Forest Magic, the third book in the series, which is available now.
December 4, 2021
Cozy Read
This is the second book from "The Rituals Of Rock Bay Series" by M.A Phillips. To understand this story you will need to read the first book "River Magic" published by Shadow Spark Publishing. I could not buy the Paperback Version Of The Book because it costed more than Rs.2000 so that's the reason I Bought This Ebook. The cover photo is Really nice.
I feel this was a very cosy and cute read. I felt so homely while Reading it like they are my family. I think the Author has done a great job by writing about Anthony and Margarets Relationship. I already knew that Lacey and Cian's story will be special but it was a treat Reading about Anthony and Margaret. Great book. I had a great time Reading it.😊🙏💫
This is the second book from "The Rituals Of Rock Bay Series" by M.A Phillips. To understand this story you will need to read the first book "River Magic" published by Shadow Spark Publishing. I could not buy the Paperback Version Of The Book because it costed more than Rs.2000 so that's the reason I Bought This Ebook. The cover photo is Really nice.
I feel this was a very cosy and cute read. I felt so homely while Reading it like they are my family. I think the Author has done a great job by writing about Anthony and Margarets Relationship. I already knew that Lacey and Cian's story will be special but it was a treat Reading about Anthony and Margaret. Great book. I had a great time Reading it.😊🙏💫
February 12, 2021
This second installment in the Rituals of Rock Bay serious is a continuation of the characters we meet in book one, and yet the book provided a different feel with different primary voices. There is a dose of mystery, magic, and love and seeing traditional Pagan rituals has inspired me in my own life’s journey and felt warm and authentic. I thoroughly enjoyed the character growth and seeing the relationships from different perspectives. This book had my inner monologue coaxing me to read “just one more chapter” on a nightly basis and I look forward to the rapid release of the final installment of this series.
February 6, 2021
Reality with a bit of flare
MA Phillips has a way of bringing modern Druidry and paganism to light in a way that makes it relatable and realistic. I immediately fell in love with the characters in book one and that continued into book two. She had me rooting for characters I didn't initially like! The way the story progressed was natural with some turns I didn't see coming. I can't wait to read the next book!
MA Phillips has a way of bringing modern Druidry and paganism to light in a way that makes it relatable and realistic. I immediately fell in love with the characters in book one and that continued into book two. She had me rooting for characters I didn't initially like! The way the story progressed was natural with some turns I didn't see coming. I can't wait to read the next book!
November 8, 2021
This books point of view took me a few to adjust from the first book, but it’s still so good. The two perspectives showed character growth and also it gave more insight to them. I’m excited to start the third book and see what more magical things await.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews