Reviews:

MAGIC MAN is the third tale in Catherine Chernow's BRIDE'S INN series. This series just keeps getting better and better. I've been fascinated by the Bride's Inn and its resident ghost since the very first story in this series, but MAGIC MAN really captivated me with Crystal and Anthony's volatile relationship. There are several unexpected surprises and a shocking twist that caught me completely by surprise. This is a series that continues to evolve and bring new and exciting aspects to the characters, Bride's Inn and the resident ghost who I must admit I've come to care about and really hope for a happy ending for her. - Chrissy Dionne, Romance Junkies Reviewer. Read full review here

Excerpt:

"No, I couldn't possibly do it." Crystal shook her head. She couldn't seem to stop.

"You'll look lovely, Crystal ," Clarice chimed in from her seat in the chair on the. "That costume is perfect for you."

Crystal glanced at the skimpy pixie costume's accessories—a pair of shoes fashioned of clear acrylic, the heels a good six inches tall, the matching pale blue laces looked like they would wrap around her calves, all the way to her knees…

She swallowed. Hard.

"Mr. Zodan asked for you specifically," Clarice told her.

Crystal blew out a shaky breath. What if she messed up Anthony's levitation act? Worse, what if her wayward emotions took control and she started to cry? What then?

Clarice turned her towards the mirror and reached for the costume, placing it in front of Crystal .

"You'll look stunning."

The thought of floating, free as a bird, her body rising high in the air, made Crystal 's insides flutter.

If helping the Amazing Zodan is what Clarice wanted, then it would be the least she could do.

"All right," Crystal told them all as she gazed at their reflections one last time. "I'll do it."

Her palms grow moist and her heart pounded as she nodded her head with much more confidence than she actually felt.

"Wonderful!" Clarice hung the costume up and clapped her hands. "I'll tell Mr. Zodan, I'm sure he'll be pleased."

Crystal wondered if the mischievous, knowing twinkle in Clarice's bright blue eyes was real or a figment of her imagination.

Several hours later, as Crystal 's body floated above the stage floor, she wondered the same exact thing about the Amazing Zodan.

Dressed in a black tuxedo that outlined his tall, lean frame, he pointed at a man in the audience. "You sir, would you like to volunteer to come up here and let the audience know that what I'm doing is real?"

Crystal continued to float upward, her prone body stretched end-to-end, her limbs feeling boneless.

"Yes, that's correct, sir, stand directly under our lovely angel," she heard Anthony's deep voice, but it seemed far away, as though he existed in some other realm, as though time and space as she knew it had suddenly changed.

"Do you see anything that would aide me in sending our lovely angel's body heavenward?" Anthony spoke again, his voice sounding further and further away as Crystal floated into darkness, the only light coming from the smattering of stars around her.

"I don't see a damned thing. This is unbelievable." The man shouted.

Crystal 's body vibrated with the most delicious pulsing beat, a soft melody of desire.

Soon she discovered that she had stopped floating. Crystal lay in a wide bed, a fire burning in an ancient-looking hearth on the other side of what appeared to be a large bedroom.

Above her head she noticed the intricate pattern of a canopy that stretched from one tall bedpost to another. Strange images—small, golden crescent moons, bright yellow stars, fiery orange suns and what appeared to be planets, ringed with bright colors lined the canopy. The signs of the zodiac peeked out from between each celestial image, her eyes settling on Virgo…

The Virgin.

"Did anyone see you come here, angel?" A man asked her as he stood near the window, his body shielded by the long curtains. He turned to face her.

Anthony!

What was he doing here, she wondered? Why wasn't he on stage?

She looked down, only to see a worn oak wood floor beneath the bed.

Where was the damned stage?

Crystal sucked in a breath as he neared the bed, his tall form clad in his usual black, but this time, a snow-white shirt lay beneath his long coat, the pale white lying stark against the deep olive of his skin. Nestled in the breast pocket of his oddly fashioned jacket was one small white rose. In the dim light cast by a fire's glow from the hearth, she could see his amazing liquid silver eyes, their deep red centers burning bright.

He leaned down to place a gentle kiss on her forehead, his silky lips grazing her skin.

"You took a big chance in coming here tonight."

"Wh-why are you so worried?" she whispered.

He frowned, settling his tall frame on the bed, sweeping his long coattails aside.

Anthony placed both hands on either side of her head, leaning down to slide his mouth across hers.

"How can you ask me that, angel? You know how dangerous it is. It's bad enough they want to burn me at the stake, let alone you. I couldn't bear it."

He held her head captive between his hands as he passed his lips across her cheeks, chin and nose.

"I couldn't bear to know that flames would touch your pale, silky skin," he whispered. His silver eyes turned sad. "I wish these people could understand that the magic arts I practice will only bring them good, but their trust has been eroded by fear. They're afraid that my powers will eventually bring them down."

She shuddered, whether from what he had just said or pleasure, she didn't know.

He angled his head. "How is it that you have come to me dressed like this?" He ran a hand down the side of her neck, the backs of his long fingers trailing across her skin. Crystal sucked in a breath when those same fingers trailed a fiery path across her breasts. "While I do like it," his voice turned wicked. "I wonder at your sense of fashion. The other women in the village would be jealous if they saw what you looked like in this."
What village was he talking about? What other women?

Crystal lost all thought when he placed one finger under the strap of her costume, sliding it down her shoulder and arm, the bodice dipping to expose the dark-brown crest surrounding her nipple.

"Lovely," he murmured as he kissed her there.

He slid his fingers under the other strap, sliding that one down, too. The tips of her nipples peaked when the chilly night air snaked across her skin, and from the hot look that burned in Anthony's eyes.

"I know what my angel likes," he whispered as he leaned down to kiss her breasts, his hair tumbling across her chest. He drew each bud into his mouth, laving the sensitive tip with his tongue.

"Anthony!" she cried out, arching her back, pushing her breasts into his magic mouth. He continued to suckle her as a deep, delicious, pulsing ache built between her legs.

She moaned, cradling his head between her hands, her fingers pushing into his thick, black hair. She shifted her legs, pulling them up, then down against the satin sheets, reveling in the silky, soft feel against her super-sensitive skin. Crystal swore every nerve ending in her body caught fire as his mouth slid across her breasts.

"Why do you call me Anthony when you know my name is Derek?"

Who was Derek?

"Call me what you will. I don't care. I simply want to love you, all of you," he whispered, helping her remove the costume. Crystal lay before him, her body sprawled on the bed, attired only in the sexy corset and high-heels.

"Magnificent," he breathed as he gazed at her. He ran his hands across her breasts and belly, his fingers tickling the small thatch of hair covering her feminine mound. "We haven't much time, angel. So I must bring you to heaven and back quickly. I wish—"

"What?" she asked, her heart beating wildly.

"I wish we could be together forever."

He slid down the length of her body, hooking the backs of her knees over his shoulders, cradling the cheeks of her bottom in his warm palms.

Then he tongued her labia.

Moisture seeped from her channel; it trickled down the cleft of her bottom, the sheet growing damp.

"Don't stop," she moaned, bunching the sheet in her fisted hands. "Please don't stop."

"I always do what my angel commands," he whispered, but she could hear the laughter in his voice.

He drew her little pearl of flesh into his mouth, sucking gently. Then he released it so he could lick her again, drawing the tip of his tongue up, then down, applying gentle pressure. Crystal 's breath caught and held as the tiny button of flesh throbbed.

She grabbed his head between both of her hands, digging her fingers into his scalp. Soon a giant crested wave of white-hot pleasure crashed over her, followed by a drowsy, languid feeling.

"Have I made you happy?" He grinned.

"Yes," she whispered, "Oh, yes." She wanted to say more, needed to say more, but couldn't find the words.

The sound of angry voices broke her languid thoughts.

He rose from the bed. "You must hurry—get away from here, now!"

Derek helped her dress, but she fought him. "No, I won't leave you."

He took her shoulders between his hands, giving her a gentle shake.

"They're coming for me. Their blood is up and they want to spill mine."

Fear burned a scorching path in her throat when she thought of what they'd do to him. She shook her head, clinging to him.

"This is inhuman, it's barbaric."

"Goodbye angel," he laid her back down on the bed, passing a hand across her eyes. "Sleep, and when you wake, you'll be free of this cursed life. I'll see you in the next, my love."

My love…

Slowly, she descended, her prone form floating down, down, down until she felt a strong arm beneath her shoulders. Another one snaked across her waist as her legs lowered to the floor, her feet landing with a soft thud.

She swayed once then heard a clicking sound. When she opened her eyes, the Amazing Zodan threw an arm around her shoulders, tucking her against his side.

She remaining glued to Anthony's side, a sweet odor drifting by her nose. When she glanced at the breast pocket of his suit jacket she saw it…
One perfect white rose lay there, nestled against a handkerchief containing a celestial pattern, every sign in the zodiac represented, including…