Casual Hex

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

[Angie]

What has the townspeople of Big Knob in a flurry in Casual Hex? Gwen's got a sexy visitor from France! Jean-Marc is a botanist on his way to a conference in Chicago, but he's making a pit stop to see some tropical flowers that have appeared in the middle of winter--almost like magic. Gwen and Marc have been exchanging e-mails for several weeks, and this amazing discovery has just bumped up their meeting. Of course Ambrose and Dorcas have some tricks up their sleeves to make sure that these soul mates get together. However, there's the unexpected problem of Gwen's "dream lover" who's really a fairy prince on a selfless mission gone wrong.

As the final book in this trilogy, Casual Hex does provide a conclusion to the George the Dragon plot, which I hadn't enjoyed until now. It was cute and quite fitting, and I was happy to see George step up and earn his golden scales. His plot doesn't really pick up until the very end when the story takes on a slightly suspenseful tone. I actually really liked this shift, even if it was cheesy and predictable. Prince Leo just does not have his head on straight, and it's obvious his plan wasn't thought out very well. I was annoyed at how quickly he changed his ways, but it was only a minor thing.

I really loved the romance between Gwen and Marc! They've gotten to know each other over the internet and bonded over their love of plants, but once they meet in person, the chemistry is most definitely there! I never thought I was attracted to Frenchman, but maybe on paper I am, because Marc is quite sexy! I liked how he was worried about Gwen's reputation and didn't want her neighbors to get the wrong idea about her. Very chivalrous, but of course, sexual tension trumps all eventually!

Casual Hex was a very cute end to the series, but I'm sad to see it go. Dorcas and Ambrose have certainly grown on me with their wacky hijinks and unconventional matchmaking methods. The magical elements definitely made this series super fun and allowed for some events that would make me roll my eyes at a realistic romance novel. Each book can be read alone, but you meet each of the new characters in the previous ones, plus there's the whole George situation, so I'd recommend reading them in order. They're super quick and enjoyable, so you've really got nothing to lose!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.