Annette Blair

Contemporary/Witch Series

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I kid you not.

Strewn around my home are about 200 new romances, languishing in To Be Read -- or if I'm brutally honest, Frantic to Read, But Can't Possibly Get To -- piles.

The novels are sent to me by publishers and, quite often, the books' authors. And the things are piled on just about every surface of my home and car.

My husband has read me the Riot Act.

"I can't stand to look at these books another day," sayeth he. "I want to come home and put my keys on the counter. I can't find the counter anymore, Michelle. Please. Give us back our counter."

In the spirit of keeping the love alive, I promised I'd donate what I could, and organize the rest. But here's the thing: Every one of those novels represents someone's heart and soul. She conceived the story, sweated the prose, and made the contacts that got the novel published.

If I don't read it, I feel like I'm letting her down. Also, I just might miss out on telling you about a really good book.

Which would have happened, had I not rescued from a floor pile "My Favorite Witch," the sexy and snazzy new novel in Annette Blair's "Witch" series.

Kira Fitzgerald's a witch, but not evil, or even the nose-twitching, "Bewitched" type. She's a smart and earthy woman with a wand who likes to bless her life with some lovely incantations that "harm none."

Since her farm-team jock ex dumped her for her sister, Kira's off to a new life -- a glamorous job at The Pickering Foundation, raising funds for a school for orphaned boys.

Her boss? The wicked-snaxy NHL jock Jason Pickering Goddard, who's heading the foundation until he heals an injury and can escape back onto the ice.

While they're united in their love of the boys, Kira and Jason are wary of one another. If only she didn't hate egotistical puck-heads so much -- and Jason wasn't quite so turnedon by the challenge of changing her mind…

Chick-lity contemporary or passionate historical, Annette Blair delves into writing with aplomb and skill that make her romances stand-outs.

In "My Favorite Witch," she establishes from the beginning a unique tone, tension, and repartee between Kira and Jason that allow the plot breadth one doesn't expect from a heroine-is-so-through-with-jocks romance.

When you stir into the cauldron Blair's quasi-eerie setting amongst old Newport, R.I., mansions, "Alice in Wonderland" imagery, and an anthropomorphic murder of crows, you've got yourself one quirky, yet cheerful read.

"My Favorite Witch" is a treat for fans of really Happily Ever Afters.

You'll be really happy after you --

Buy the book.

Read excerpts from the next "Witch" novel, and Blair's short from the new "Hot Ticket" anthology, at www.AnnetteBlair.com

Next Week's Review and AuthorView: "Don't Look Down," by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer