Review & Giveaway - - The Magic of Untamed Hearts

The Magic of Untamed Hearts

by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

Wild Magic - Book 3

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: January 13, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

Like her sisters, Sage and Teal, Sky Flores has a touch of magic, and it’s caused nothing but heartache. Not only did she disappear into the woods years ago and reappear with no rational explanation, she’s also more comfortable talking to animals than to people. Different and misunderstood, Sky is shunned in the small town of Cranberry.

Sky’s neighbor, Adam Noemi, has his own problems. After being laid off from a prestigious newspaper, Adam, ever the ambitious reporter, needs a big headline to redeem his career. Enter Sky, a girl with a story that news outlets have been chasing for years. Sky agrees to grant Adam an exclusive interview on one condition: that he befriend Sky, in a very public way, to prove to everyone in Cranberry that she’s not an outcast.

As Sky shares her experiences with Adam, something much bigger than a simple agreement begins to grow between them. But for love to take root, Adam will have to take a leap towards a life that defies expectations, and Sky must open her heart – full of flora and fauna and mystical energies – to his curious mind.

PJ's Thoughts:

The first thing you have to do with this book is suspend disbelief. Once that's accomplished, what follows is a satisfying conclusion to this trilogy that tells the stories of the three Flores sisters, complex women with secret magical powers. 

I've been eager to read Sky's book since she was first mentioned earlier in the series. How could I not be curious about a girl who falls from a cliff at sixteen and is not seen again until she magically reappears at twenty-four? How is that possible? Where has she been? Was she really "living" as a ghost caught in the in-between all that time? 

Sky is depicted exactly as I would expect of one who lost eight formative years. Struggling to find her place within her family, the community at large, and an unexpected friendship with Adam, she's a complicated character who embodies both old-soul wisdom and inexperienced naivete. Couple that with what is most certainly undiagnosed neurodiversity and you have a woman who is unapologetically authentic, if at times awkward and a bit cringey. I found her to be believable, relatable, and someone I couldn't help but root for.

Adam is certainly not a perfect hero but he just might be perfect for Sky...if he can unpack his own emotional baggage. I appreciated the time the author took with him as well. Both he and Sky have a believable growth arc that gradually unfolds as their friendship slowly transitions into sizzling chemistry and deepening feelings. 

If you're in the mood for spicy romance, family dynamics, coming-of-age stories, magical elements, and hard-won happy endings, give this one a try. It can stand on its own but I think it's much more meaningful - and enjoyable - if the trilogy is read in order. 

Do you enjoy magic in your reading?

Have you read any books by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, January 20 will receive a print copy of The Magic of Untamed Hearts.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

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

Review & Giveaway - - Witch of Wild Things

Witch of Wild Things

by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: September 12, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

Legend goes that long ago a Flores woman offended the old gods, and their family was cursed as a result. Now, every woman born to the family has a touch of magic.
 
Sage Flores has been running from her family—and their “gifts”—ever since her younger sister Sky died. Eight years later, Sage reluctantly returns to her hometown. Like slipping into an old, comforting sweater, Sage takes back her job at Cranberry Rose Company and uses her ability to communicate with plants to discover unusual heritage specimens in the surrounding lands.

What should be a simple task is complicated by her partner in botany sleuthing: Tennessee Reyes. He broke her heart in high school, and she never fully recovered. Working together is reminding her of all their past tender, genuine moments—and new feelings for this mature sexy man are starting to take root in her heart.

With rare plants to find, a dead sister who keeps bringing her coffee, and another sister whose anger fills the sky with lightning, Sage doesn’t have time for romance. But being with Tenn is like standing in the middle of a field on the cusp of a summer thunderstorm—supercharged and inevitable.

PJ's Thoughts:

This is an interesting story about coming home, dysfunctional family, forgiveness, sisters, romance, and finding one's self. And if that isn't enough, there's a bit of a mystery as well as some very intriguing magical realism. 

The characters are well developed, drawing me into the story almost immediately and eliciting a variety of emotions. There are a lot of layers to sift through for more than one of them, especially within Sage's family. It's never easy coming home and the circumstances of Sage's departure and return make it less so. A boring reunion, this is not! 

I enjoyed the AOL instant messenger flashbacks between Tenn and Sage. It was a clever and effective way to dig into some of those layers (of both characters) and give readers a more complete understanding of their personalities, motivation, and feelings both past and present. 

Overall, the story moves at a steady pace and maintained my interest with a good balance of humor, character evolution, conflict, and emotional depth. Parts of the magical realism are easy to buy into while others require significant suspension of disbelief (I have many questions). It has me wondering if Gilliland is planning more books for this family. 

If you enjoy coming of age novels with magical realism, family dysfunction, and a touch of romance, give this one a try. It's an intriguing read. 

Do you enjoy books with magical realism?

Sage's gift is the ability to communicate with plants. What magical gift would you choose for yourself?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, September 16 will receive a print copy of Witch of Wild Things. 

*U.S. Only

*Must be 18