Having read Marteeka Karland before, and liked her style, when I came across this particular story I had no hesitation about snapping it up – particularly since the synopsis sounded great and just my type of tale. I was expecting to be entertained and I was not let down by The Witching Hour. Marteeka Karland is an up and coming author, one I suggest you watch out for.

Hazel is a witch – of sorts. Living in an apartment complex that is mostly comprised of senior citizens – with the exception of the scrumptious Drake Cole. Hazel is learning about her craft through trial and error, as she does not have a mentor. Her grandmother died when she was twelve and the local coven seems to want nothing to do with her. Her spells always work – after a fashion. They just don’t work the way they were intended or expected to. But that is going to change. Tonight. The night of Halloween, when she can draw on power other than her own to show her where she is going wrong, unaware that she hasn’t reached her full power as she is still sexually 'un-awakened'. She needs to attend a party, which proves the catalyst for getting herself arrested, albeit on trumped up charges, by the slimy – and kinky – sheriff. With some help from Drake, the victim of her midnight hour spell gone wrong, she escapes jail and does something she has wanted to do since first meeting Drake. Then the sheriff turns up. What is in store for Hazel? Will she escape the coyote sheriff? What is to happen with Drake?

Drake is a werewolf. The local witch coven has had him looking out for Hazel since her grandmother died, though he only met her a year ago through friends. At that point, he became intensely attracted to her and knew that sooner or later he would have her. What the wolf side of his nature wants, he gets. If she were actually a witch, he might be her familiar. But she’s not a witch. He’s never seen her do any spells. He only changes his mind about this when her spell forces his true nature to the forefront – just before she gets arrested on rather ridiculous charges. Now he needs to rescue her, and keep her out of the clutches of a young, full-of-himself, potentially dangerous sheriff. And, oh yeah, get Hazel to fall in love with him and pledge herself to him – as he has done to her. Will he meet the challenge and come out top dog, uh, wolf?

The Witching Hour is a fabulous erotic shape shifter romance that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. The sex scenes are detailed, though not for everyone. Hazel and Drake do have sex with Drake in his shifted, and half-shifted, forms. To me, this is unusual, even in the shape-shifting genre. I believe, however, that it both adds to the story and helps to aptly demonstrate Hazel’s embracing all that Drake is.

The whole story is written excellently, though it is fairly short. The characters have been expanded on and are both likeable. The sheriff makes a great bad guy, the type you love to hate. He most definitely gets his just desserts! Full of humor and pulse fluttering action, this is a great story that will pull you out of a melancholy state when the rain outside is hitting hard on the pavement. Ms Karland is proving herself to be a brilliant storyteller, one who is on my list of authors to keep a keen eye out for; she should be on yours, too.

Reviewed By Elizabeth
© November 2005