by Judi Fennell
Samantha flicked the edge of the letter with the combination to the safe. Dad’s attorney had given it to her earlier. He’d said Dad had wanted her to have it tonight during the funeral—no, during Dad’s life celebration. That was her father, always looking for the good in everything, but what good had there been in opening it now, in the middle of this party, just to retrieve a souvenir from her parents’ honeymoon? She didn’t really want a reminder of the happily ever after she apparently wasn’t going to have with Albert. Without him. Whatever.
She traced the lantern’s curved spout, thoroughly appreciating the irony that Albert had been tearing the house apart for weeks trying to find the combination to the safe, yet she’d been the one to open it.
Useless, was she? Who was the inept one now?
She tapped the flame-shaped finial on the lid. Finding this wasn’t a victory though, because while Albert might not have been Prince Charming material, she’d thought he’d had some redeeming qualities, namely claiming to love her for her. Not because of who her father was or how much she’d be worth someday, or what great merger-acquisition material she’d be like other corporate types she’d dated, but her. Not Samantha Blaine, heiress, but Samantha, the woman who had hopes and dreams of a long, loving relationship like her parents’ and the big family she’d never had. She wanted so much to believe, so she’d let herself hope that, this time, it was for real.
The troll had helped the illusion along not only by offering to sign a prenup, but also by stepping in and taking over the burden of running her father’s custom-car manufacturing company while she’d been at Dad’s hospital bedside these past six months. She’d been so grateful.
And now this. And tonight of all nights. The jerk.
She blinked back the tears, determined not to let him get to her. But, God, she’d been so trusting. So hopeful. Again.
And again she’d been disappointed.
Samantha tucked some curls behind her ears, plopped her chin in her palm, and ignored Wanda the housekeeper, who was calling her name from the foyer. Samantha wasn’t up for seeing anyone right now.
Oh, not because Albert had just broken her heart. Sadly, deep down, she’d known he wasn’t the guy for her. She’d known that. But he’d been the first—she’d thought—guy in her life who’d sincerely been interested in her. When Dad had had the stroke, Albert had been there. He’d helped out with the company and hadn’t made any demands on her other than to sign paperwork.
That was when he’d started mentioning marriage, and Samantha had let herself go along with the idea because, more than Albert being her One True Love, she hadn’t wanted to deal with the fact that when Dad was gone, she’d be alone in the world. Mom had died when she’d been a toddler, so it’d just been the two of them all these years. She’d never felt the lack of family more than she had when Dad died.
Albert had offered her a way out, so she’d given in to the hope that maybe, just maybe, he was the real deal. Stalwart, supportive, there when she’d needed something… That was what she’d always wished for, so she’d let him in. Trusted him. Believed in the fairy-tale ending.
And now he’d betrayed her.
She shook the long sleeve of the djellaba she wore over her street clothes up her arm and picked up the lantern, her reflection not distorted enough to hide the pain in her eyes at being betrayed.
Again.
Why was everyone always looking for handouts from her? What was wrong with her that she couldn’t have someone want her just for who she was instead of what she had in her bank account or what she could do for them? It was sad really, how, with all the things money could and had bought for her, love wasn’t one of them.
She ran her fingertips over the lantern’s rounded side. Wouldn’t it be perfect if this actually were a genie lantern? She could use a little magic in her life right now.
For her first wish, she’d turn Albert into a belly-crawling lizard. Then she’d bring Dad back, and then…
“And then I’d wish for the genie to take me away from all this, to some place where all my troubles would just disappear.”
And, in a billowing cloud of orange smoke, that’s exactly what happened.
Or… was it?
The Vampire Next Door
by Ashlyn Chase
Room for rent: Normal need not apply
This old Boston brownstone is not known for quiet living…first the shapeshifter meets his nurse, then the werewolf falls for his sassy lawyer, but now the vampire is looking for love with a witch who’s afraid of the dark…and you thought your neighbors had issues!
Undead Sly is content playing vigilante vampire, keeping the neighborhood safe from human criminals, until Morgaine moves in upstairs. Suddenly he finds himself weak with desire, which isn’t a good place for a vampire to be. And Morgaine isn’t exactly without her own issues—will the two of them be able to get past their deepest fears before their changes at “normal” slips away…
Praise for The Werewolf Upstairs:
“Witty and wonderful…the entertaining plot, humor, sizzling sensual scenes, and romance make this story unforgettable.” —Romance Junkies
For more Ashlyn Chase books, visit:
www.sourcebooks.com
A Demon Does It Better
by Linda Wisdom
A madhouse is no place for a curious witch…
After more than a century, Doctor Lili Carter, witch healer extraordinaire, has returned to San Francisco and taken a job at Crying Souls Hospital and Asylum, where strange and sinister things are happening. Patients are disappearing, and Lili want to know why.
And doubly dangerous for a demon…
Lili finds herself undeniably attracted to perhaps the most mysterious patient of all—a dangerously demented and seriously sexy demon named Jared. What’s behind this gorgeous chameleon demon’s bizarre disappearances?
Before long Lili and Jared are investigating each other—and creating a whole new kind of magic.
Praise for Linda Wisdom:
“Humor, danger, and steamy sex make for an exciting read.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 stars
For more Linda Wisdom books, visit:
www.sourcebooks.com
Demons Like It Hot
by Sidney Ayers
If you can’t stand the heat, get out of hell’s kitchen.
A Recipe for Disaster…
Matthias Ambrose is a demon mercenary who never took sides, until his attraction to the spunky caterer he was hired to kidnap leads him to almost botch a job for the first time in eight hundred years. Now he must protect her from his former clients, but even an ice-cold demon like Matthias struggles to resist her fiery charms.
Or the Perfect Ingredients for Passion...
Completely engrossed with planning menus and prepping recipes for her shot at cooking show fame, star caterer Serah SanGermano refuses to believe she’s on a fast track to Hades. But how’s she supposed to stick to the kitchen if she can’t stand the heat of her gorgeous demonic bodyguard?
As a diabolical plot to destroy humanity unfolds and all hell breaks loose in Serah’s kitchen, she and Matthias find themselves knee-deep in demons and up to their eyeballs in love…
For more Sidney Ayers books, visit:
www.sourcebooks.com
Acknowledgments
My sincerest gratitude to whoever designed www.calendarhome.com for saving me countless hours of angst and fully accountable incorrect math in figuring out how many days ago Vana “vanished” the stairs.
To my husband, namer of magical genie books and my in-house go-to football expert. (All errors are mine.)
To Dad, for your chess expertise.
To my editor, Deb Werksman, for always making it better.
To The Wisdom, as always.
To You-Know-Who for You-Know-What.
To Susie Benton, for your insight and enthusiasm.
To Michelle. Because you deserve a happily-ever-after.
To Ruth Thompson for your help.
And no acknowledgment would be complete without my heartfelt thanks to you, my readers. Thank you for embracing my genies and joining me on this magical ride.
May all your wishes come true.
About the Author
Judi Fennell has had her nose in a book and her head in some celestial realm all her life, including those early years when her mom would exhort her to “get outside!” instead of watching Bewitched or I Dream of Jeannie on television. So she did—right into Dad’s hammock with her Nancy Drew books.
These days she’s more likely to have her nose in her laptop and her head (and the rest of her body) at her favorite writing spot, but she’s still reading, whether it be her latest manuscript or friends’ books.
A PRISM Award and Golden Leaf Award winner, Judi is the author of the Mer series: In Over Her Head, Wild Blue Under, and Catch of a Lifetime, and the Bottled Magic series; I Dream of Genies and Genie Knows Best. She enjoys hearing from her readers, and you can check her website at www.JudiFennell.com for excerpts, deleted scenes, reviews, contests, and pictures from reader and writer conferences, as well as the chance to discover a whole new world!
