Sadly I just couldn’t connect with this story and I found myself skimming a lot so I finally gave up.

This is definitely a case of, “it’s not you, it’s me.”

Nexi Jones, an Elite Guardian and witch with extensive training, has suffered the loss of her family and is devoted to preventing anybody else from suffering the same fate. Kyden, her blazing partner, has been there for her every step of the way. In the midst of her grief, a fellow guardian is slain by a gang of renegade vampires in the Otherworld. Nexi and Kyden go on a risky mission to find a murderer on Earth, and only Nexi will be pushed to the ultimate test. Seeing the vampires as foes was a little tricky for me, but overall the story was enjoyable. I'm not sure why I'm unable to get into reading about witches, but I do like reading about vampires.

I really enjoyed reading this latest book by Stacey Kennedy. The story is amazing and will grab you from the very first word and not let you go until you finish the very last page. The characters are amazing and you will feel as though you know them personally and that you are there with them experiencing what they are. This is a must read, no doubt about it.

his one was not quite my cup of tea. Interesting characters, but I had trouble feeling connected to them. The storyline left me feeling bogged down quite a bit of the time. I felt pretty much the same with the first book and hoped I would enjoy this one more. Sadly, that didn't happen, so I think that will be it for me even if there are future books in this series.

Unfortunately, I did not realize this was a series when I requested the book. & never read book 1. But the author does a great job in bringing the read up to date on what went on in that book. The first part of the book focuses mostly on the MC's & their romance, the latter part of the book shifts over to the action and it was exciting. I will be going back & reading book 1 & then re-reading 2 so I get a better feel for the flow of the story.

Who can argue with that blurb? I certainly am looking for a man who will protect me until his last breath… and then some (you know I love a good ghost love story too!). But really I have to admit, I found it difficult to get into this book. I’m a little persnickety sometimes with series though, I like to read them in order, and I also admit that I missed installation one of this Magic and Mayhem line. That annoyed me, but I can’t really blame Witches be Burned for that. Let’s just say I felt like I was behind the eight ball from the get-go and I had a lot of catching up to do. Add into that Kyden isn’t exactly my kind of leading man–he’s more the “me man, you woman” kind of dude, where I generally like my men a little more nuanced. And Nexi comes across as a stupid little human trying to play with the big gods. But wait–! Don’t stop reading. Those were just my first impressions, and we all know (while they are important) they are not always accurate. So I commanded myself to read on.

And then what?

I entered a world of intrigue and magic, populated by some of the sexiest good and bad guys I’ve ever seen. The devil here is definitely swoon worthy with devastating charm. I also found a world of complicated love. Nexi and Kyden are a love story of interspecies complications. With more and more diverse examples of love being seen and displayed everywhere (every commercial these days has an interracial, same sex, multi-leveled relationship featured), Kyden and Nexi seem right on time. Where Magic and Mayhem #1 most probably left off with the two comfortably in love, installment #2 is the real life after the “happily ever after” ending. And there are problems! Punctuated by amazing action, the electricity of magic, a mixed bag of motivations and personal plots.

There is a lot going on here!

But what I loved more than anything was this little kernel of truth that I got out of this wickedly wonderful read… Even with gorgeous burly men around who want to protect you, in the end, you have to save you! While these characters are not some of my favorite, I found value in the web of truth that Stacey Kennedy weaves with them. There is a lot here to like, and I did! So I’d say take a chance this summer, add it to your beach book reads, but be sure to be by water because Witches be Burned is HOT!