WILD & HEXY – Vicki Lewis Thompson
Onyx
ISBN: 978-0-451-41258-4
June 2008
Paranormal Romance

Big Knob, Indiana – Present Day

Annie Winston left Big Knob for life in the big city and marriage to her high school sweetheart, Zach, captain of the football team.  Once crowned Dairy Queen, Annie dreads going home for her younger sister Melody's wedding. Annie is divorced, has lost her anchor job on television, and has twenty more post divorce pounds to lose.  But it's Melody's wedding and she's the Matron of Honor – and no matter how bad she feels about herself, she won't ruin her sister's wedding day.

Jeremy Dunstan owns the Click & Treat, a high-speed internet coffee shop in Big Knob.  Jeremy was the high school geek, and he's lusted after Annie since he was fourteen. Now she's coming back to town and he'll do anything not to look like an idiot in front of her, including taking “magic” lessons from Dorcas and Ambrose Lowell. As long as they don't try any of their matchmaking tricks, that is.

Dorcas and Ambrose haven't lived in Big Knob all that long, but they are well known and liked in the small town.  Because of a small problem with a spell worked on another wizard, Dorcas and Ambrose were banished to Big Knob and tasked with helping George, the resident forest dragon, get his golden scales.  But George is like a teenager, and Dorcas wonders if he'll ever grow up.  Meanwhile, after their successful matchmaking of Sean and Maggie, they decide to try again with Jeremy and Annie. After all, they are soul mates, and Jeremy has loved Annie forever -- but how to keep Annie in Big Knob after the wedding will be the challenge.

Sassy, fun, and magical, WILD & HEXY is pure delight from the first page.  Annie is a woman who has lost a great deal of her self-confidence, but doesn't let that stop her from doing what she has to do, including returning to Big Knob and letting her sister gloat over the color and fit of her matron of honor dress.  Annie didn't come to Big Knob for love or passion, but that's exactly what she finds in Jeremy Dunstan.  The former geek seems to have developed new self-confidence, and who knew his gray eyes were so warm and caring, or his lips so kissable…but wait, Annie doesn't want to fall in love again.  Jeremy is intelligent, handsome, and totally unable to maintain a coherent thought when Annie walks into his shop -- but with a little magic and a few passionate encounters, Jeremy hopes to win Annie over and convince her to spend the rest of her life with him.  The only problem is Annie doesn't want to live in Big Knob, and Jeremy can't imagine living anywhere else.  Dorcas and Ambrose are very likable characters: a witch and a wizard hiding in plain sight, with hearts of gold and charming personalities.  Secondary characters will likely be familiar to those who read OVERHEXED -- the story of Maggie and Sean's magical romance.  But even if you haven't yet read the previous novel, WILD & HEXY stands well on its own with enough background information for the reader to know exactly who the players are and where they fit in.

Along with the budding romance between Jeremy and Annie, there are a lot of other things going on.  Who would have guessed a small town, population less than 1,000, could be so much fun?  First rate characters who come vividly to life make WILD & HEXY a thoroughly enjoyable read.  Filled will romance, fun, and laugh-out-loud moments (did I mention George the Dragon and his poker playing?), this novel is one you'll want to read in one sitting, and then you'll want to read it again.  I highly recommend WILD & HEXY!

Terrie Figueroa