Book Blurb
A straight-laced policeman. A lighthearted thief.
A murdered millionaire.
Fox shifter Malachi steals for one of the biggest crime rings in New York City. But when he witnesses the murder of a millionaire, the only person who can keep him safe is Dr. Owen Yates, forensic hexman for the Metropolitan Witch Police—and Malachi’s witch.
Owen is horrified to discover his familiar is an uneducated thief. Even worse, Malachi threatens to unleash Owen’s deepest desires…desires Owen can’t act upon, as he’s destined for an arranged marriage to secure the Yates family fortune
Their agreement: Malachi will be Owen’s lover as well as his partner, until the day of the wedding. But as their hunt for the murderer carries them from teeming slums to Fifth Avenue mansions, Owens begins to realize Malachi commands his heart as well as his body.
With dark forces drawing ever closer around them, Owen must decide whether to bow to the demands of duty, or to risk everything for the man he loves.
Book Review
Unwilling to be ruled by anyone, Malachi, from 'Hexmaker' by Jordon L. Hawk, has avoided emotional entanglements. He knows his witch is out there somewhere, but when he meets Owen and realizes that he is his witch, Malachi is in shock. There's no denying it. All the signs are there. The first thing Owen does after meeting Malachi is prove that Malachi didn't commit the murder he just witnessed and is now being accused of so Malachi has to be grateful to the man at the least.
Owen is a proper gentleman and an excellent hexmaker for the Metropolitan Witch Police He also scored high on the witch test but hadn't expected to meet his familiar, particularly not in the form he is - lower class and a thief to boot. Owen loves his job but knows he will not be able to indulge himself much longer. Owen's future is all planned out for him. He is to enter into an arranged marriage with his childhood friend, Edith, and go to work for her father's business. This arrangement will ensure financial security, their rightful place in society, and is to produce an heir or two. Owen is resigned to this until Malachi turns his world upside down. Owen can hardly believe that his familiar is a common thief but when he feels their connection, he has to admit it is true. Once they are bonded, Owen and Malachi are practically inseparable. It soon becomes clear that the murderer of the crime Malachi witnessed is also determined to kill him as well. Owen is frantic that Malachi is in such danger and does whatever he can to keep him safe.
Malachi finds it very odd to be working with the Witch Police when he's spent so many years evading them but as Owen's familiar, he is afforded a certain amount of protection and status. Malachi wants to be Owen's lover but with his upcoming marriage, Owen isn't willing to enter into any such arrangement. The pull between them is too strong to resist so they agree to have a short-term affair, just until Owen says his vows. After that, they will continue to work together as witch and familiar but won't share a bed. It's not ideal but it's better than nothing and Malachi is determined to make the most of it. He picks up on Owen's secret desire to be mastered and proceeds to show him the joys of being loved by a man. They find that they are extremely well suited for each other and begin to dread Owen's impending marriage but neither know what to do about it.
The “spell” this series has over me is quite surprising considering shifters are not something I normally choose to read. However, Jordan's shifters are definitely a cut above others. Jordan has me believing that these witch familiars are real and can, indeed, turn from a person into an animal and back and that the combined magic of the witch and shifter significantly magnifies their effectiveness. I love the character development of the witches and shifters and am enthralled by the hexes involved in their work. I especially loved Malachi. He's sexy and feisty and commanding. I loved the way he takes Owen in hand and helps him discover who he is and what he wants, saving him from a ho-hum life at best and a dreadful one at worst. Thanks, Jordan, for the awesome fantasy story! I can hardly wait for the next one.
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