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Book Review of MYSTIC MAPLES, a paranormal romance by Tena Stetler

Earth/Fire witch Mercy Rose’s insatiable curiosity always gets her in trouble. After a break-in at her Colorado flower shop, and a court battle that comes to a screeching halt in her favor, she arrives at Deerbourne Inn for a much-needed getaway. Looking for peace and quiet, she finds just the opposite in a startling handsome but mysterious man and his dog.

Silvanus Forrest’s gypsy/fae heritage is a double-edged sword. The land he inherited from his parents is rumored to be enchanted. But when Mercy discovers the truth, his well-ordered life unravels, and they’re catapulted into the past to right a wrong. Along the way their lives intertwine, and they discover the true meaning of family and love. Will they change the past in time to save their future?


It was a beautiful summer evening lit by a full moon. What harm could come from simply popping over to Mystic Maples, digging my toes into the earth and see if there is any truth to the rumors? She shrugged. Sis wouldn’t have told me about it, if she hadn’t thought it worth investigating. Right?

She toed off her shoes, pulled off her socks and straightened. With a snap of her fingers she left the room without a sound and landed smack dab at the edge of the maple trees. Glancing around, she could see the house in the distance and the outline of the sign. “Good, I’m in the right place.”  She wandered farther in among the trees, the dirt beneath her feet was cool. Wiggling her toes deeper into the earth, she felt the warmth of the day and something else—a connection.

Several trees had a slight glow to them, then it was gone. Am I imagining…She raised her arms out from her sides and turned her face to the starlit sky letting the magic surge through her.  It had been almost a year since magic of any kind called to her. It felt so good, she was lost in the moment.

Suddenly a male voice broke through her revelry. “What are you doing here?”

Her heart thundered in her chest. She hadn’t heard a sound. Yet, there he was standing not three feet from her, hands on hips, and glaring at her.

Review

Looking for a cute, fun paranormal romance set in a lovely locale and with the added bonus of an adorable dog? Look no further.

Mercy and Sil are a great couple. Their arc as a couple is satisfying (both in and out of the bedroom). As I sometimes do, I thought the relationship got going a bit on the fast and soon side. This seems to be a tendency of paranormal that just isn’t for me. Those who like that aspect won’t be disappointed.

While the romance was fleshed out, the other parts of the story felt a little underplayed. There’s the mystery of Sil’s land and the time travel to solve it. Without spoiling, that entire thing felt rushed. It became a known issue, and then suddenly, it was resolved. I was left feeling a bit lost, like I’d missed something.

Something else I really enjoyed was the maples. The setting felt so real. I’d have no trouble believing this was a real place. If it is, I want to visit. If not, oh well. Just the descriptions of trees, especially at night, were beautiful.

Overall, this is a quick swoony/sexy read for paranormal or fantasy romance lovers to easily fall into. I think it’s part of a series, so if this sounds good, keep an eye out for more.


Tena Stetler is a best-selling author of award winning paranormal romance. She has an over-active imagination, which led to writing her first vampire romance as a tween to the chagrin of her mother and delight of her friends. After many years as a paralegal, then an IT Manager, she decided to live out her dream of pursuing a publishing career.

With the Rocky Mountains outside her window, she sits at her computer surrounded by a wide array of witches, shapeshifters, demons, faeries, and gryphons, with a Navy SEAL or two mixed in telling their tales. Her books tell stories of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Travel, adventure and a bit of mystery flourish in her books along with a few companion animals to round out the tales.

Colorado is home; shared with her husband of many moons, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-five-year-old box turtle. When she’s not writing, her time is spent kayaking, camping, hiking, biking  or just relaxing in the great Colorado outdoors. During the winter you can find her curled up in front of a crackling fire with a good book, a mug of hot chocolate and a big bowl of popcorn. Find her online at https://www.tenastetler.com

To check out other stops on this tour, visit the tour page here.

All the opinions expressed in this review are my own. Read the full disclosure here.

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