Monday, October 28, 2024

Review & Giveaway - - Lightning in her Hands

Lightning in her Hands
by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
Wild Magic - Book 2
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: October 15, 2024
Reviewed by PJ
 


Teal Flores is desperate for two things—control over her gift of weather, and a date to her ex’s wedding. The first isn’t possible until she finds her long-lost mother, but the second has a very handsome last-ditch solution: Carter Velasquez.


Carter needs Teal too. His chance at receiving an inheritance is dependent on him being married by age thirty (blame his traditional Cuban grandmother), so who better to pose as his wife than Teal? But fake marriage and cohabitation prove tricky when mutual attraction charges the atmosphere—quite literally for Teal, whose volatile emotions cause lightning strikes.

Together, Teal and Carter embark on a quest to find her mother and the answers she’s searching for. But along the way, they’ll discover something even better: a love that can weather any storm.

PJ's Thoughts:

I've read several friends-to-lovers tropes recently but this one has unique twists that make it stand apart from the rest. Gilliland pulled me into this dysfunctional family in her first book, Witch of Wild Things, leaving me eager to discover more about the Flores sisters, their sibling relationship, romantic relationships, and magical abilities. After reading book one, I thought I knew what I'd be getting with middle sister, Teal. I got so much more.

This book has so many layers and Gilliland expertly navigates every one of them. Teal is a complex character. I didn't like her in book one, wasn't sure I liked her in the first part of book two, and ended up loving her by the end. My heart ached for her when all she had been through was revealed. It answered so many questions. I enjoyed her growth throughout the book, how hard she worked to achieve that growth, and especially her efforts to mend her relationships with her sisters. It was all realistically depicted and relatable, as was the ebb and flow of her evolving relationship with Carter, a genuinely nice guy who loves and supports her but isn't without flaws to overcome himself.

Then there's the magic. The abilities these sisters have, and the things that have happened to them, should be unbelievable and yet Gilliland crafts them in such a way that they seem perfectly natural and believable. Of course, Teal's emotions control the weather. Of course, Sage communicates with plants. Of course, animals talk with Sky. And speaking of youngest sister, Sky, you won't believe what she's been through. I cannot wait for her book. Can. Not. Wait. 

If you enjoy fast-paced stories with flawed characters, emotional depth, snappy humor, sibling dynamics, Latin (Mexican/Cuban) culture, magical realism, and hard-won happy endings, give this series a try. For the best reading experience and understanding of the characters, I strongly recommend reading the books in order. 


Have you read any of the books in this series?

What are your thoughts about magical realism in romance?

If you could have one magical ability, what would you choose?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, October 30 will receive a print copy of Lightning in her Hands.

*U.S. only
*Must be 18



9 comments:

  1. Hi, PJ! I do like magical realism, but haven't read any of the books in this series. I would choose the ability to go back in time and change some things. Thank you for the review!

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  2. This is a new series for me which is captivating and unique. I enjoy magical realism in romance. The ability to have great health.

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  3. New author and new series to me. I have never read any books with magical realism. But, relationships and characters are what are important to me, so I am pretty sure if those qualities were in the book, I would be fine. Thanks for the review and the introduction to the author. The quality I would like would be to go back and change all the really terrible decisions I have made in my life. A sort of clean slate do over.

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  4. I enjoy practical magic novels. I read Witch of Wild Things last year and am looking forward to reading this book, especially after this review.

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  5. I've heard a lot of great things about this author and series, but haven't yet read them. I do enjoy magical realism, so that's a benefit for when I do dive in! I'd like to be able to control time to be able to slow it down while I stayed at normal speed, so I could get all the boring things done quickly and have time for fun ones.

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  6. A new author for me, sounds like a fun series! I would love to look into the future of our retirement.

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  7. Never read any of the books in this series. I love magical realism in romances. I would love to have the ability to heal.

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  8. I've not read any books in this series, nor anything by this author.
    I enjoy a wide variety of things in fiction. Magical realism is, or can be, fun in a story. It offers another dynamic to a relationship and the things happening in the story.
    A magical ability I would like to have would be the ability to heal.
    Thank you for the review. This book sounds enjoyable and one the reader needs to pay attention to in order to get the richness of the layers and development.

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  9. I read the first book and did not like Teal one bit, so I've been hesitant to pick this one up. But I do appreciate when a character grows so hearing that plus your glowing review has convinced me to give it a try. Thanks, PJ!

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