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Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful mixing of bits of magic in a Medieval romance
Review: A long time before even King Richard the Lionhearted ruled England, in a faraway place off the coast of Persia, King Zahir and Queen Radiya anger the wizard Sharrahz. To keep the woman he loves from interfering with his official duties, the monarchs sent her to marry someone else. Rather than leave her beloved Sharrahz, Radiya killed herself. An irate and grieving wizard punishes the two royals by condemning them to balance their scorecard with assisting a thousand and one couples on the path to eternal love. By the Third Crusade, the former regal couple cum djinn are finally close to completing their quest. The regal pair believe that the widow Lady Alura de Gabin and her never before seen former brother-in-law Connor Warwick would make the next perfect duo. However, Alura relishes her freedom and plans to never remarry, celebrating the death of her cruel and abusive spouse Lord Ridglea. Connor wants only to recover from the horrors of war and refuses to entertain any thoughts of marriage. Alura's evil father wants Warwick's estate and will lie, cheat, and kill to attain it. Alura and Connor soon fall in love. However, neither want a long term relationship, making the probability that love has failed seem very certain. ALURA'S WISH is a delightful Medieval romance that augments the entertaining story line with bits of magic. The characters make this novel a notch above the typical period romance. The lead couple is a warm pair fighting internal demons. The djinn are interesting, likable, and bumbling as they try to bring this couple together. Elizabeth Hallam, author of the critically acclaimed SPIRIT CATCHER, has written a fabulous tale that warrants return engagements for the former monarchs. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Very little magic in this "Magical Love" story
Review: Alura's Wish is part of Jove's "Magical Love"sub-series so one would expect that "magic" would play a bigrole in the story. But that's not really the case here. The onlymagic that happens concerns two dijinn (genies) who are actually a thoughtless King and Queen who were imprisoned in a slave bracelet by a distressed wizard. Supposedly whenever the jewels on the bracelet are rubbed the King and Queen are released and must serve the "rubber". Amazingly, though, when the slave bracelet is found by the hero of the story's young serf, and he rubs the jewels just like he is supposed to, the dijinn are released but pop right back in to the bracelet without offering the youngster his wishes! This allows the bracelet to conveniently end up in the hands of the heroine who, of course, gets her wishes. I understand this is a paranormal romance and that "weirdness" is bound to happen but, really, when an author sets up a set of basic rules they should be consistent. This inconsistency was an obvious and huge boo-boo that should have been caught before the book hit publication. This type of confusing rule-bending only served to annoy me right off the bat. What follows is pretty much a standard medieval tale about a young, innocent maiden whose greedy father's machinations ruin her reputation and force her into the arms of the warrior hero. If you like your heroes wounded you'll like Connor. I did. He's broken in spirit and body and only wants to live out the rest of his life in peace and quiet. But due to further scheming he becomes betrothed to Alura and they fall immediately in lust. Or is it love? I was confused because the two actually spent little time together. With so many subplots happening around them they barely had time for a conversation. Alura's Wish wasn't the 'magical' tale I was lead to believe and it didn't engage my emotions but it did manage to make me grin a time or two. Those who like lots of adventure mixed in with a lust driven romance may well love it.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful love story
Review: Alura's Wish is part of Jove's "Magical Love"sub-series so one would expect that "magic" would play a bigrole in the story. But that's not really the case here. The onlymagic that happens concerns two dijinn (genies) who are actually a thoughtless King and Queen who were imprisoned in a slave bracelet by a distressed wizard. Supposedly whenever the jewels on the bracelet are rubbed the King and Queen are released and must serve the "rubber". Amazingly, though, when the slave bracelet is found by the hero of the story's young serf, and he rubs the jewels just like he is supposed to, the dijinn are released but pop right back in to the bracelet without offering the youngster his wishes! This allows the bracelet to conveniently end up in the hands of the heroine who, of course, gets her wishes. I understand this is a paranormal romance and that "weirdness" is bound to happen but, really, when an author sets up a set of basic rules they should be consistent. This inconsistency was an obvious and huge boo-boo that should have been caught before the book hit publication. This type of confusing rule-bending only served to annoy me right off the bat. What follows is pretty much a standard medieval tale about a young, innocent maiden whose greedy father's machinations ruin her reputation and force her into the arms of the warrior hero. If you like your heroes wounded you'll like Connor. I did. He's broken in spirit and body and only wants to live out the rest of his life in peace and quiet. But due to further scheming he becomes betrothed to Alura and they fall immediately in lust. Or is it love? I was confused because the two actually spent little time together. With so many subplots happening around them they barely had time for a conversation. Alura's Wish wasn't the `magical' tale I was lead to believe and it didn't engage my emotions but it did manage to make me grin a time or two. Those who like lots of adventure mixed in with a lust driven romance may well love it.
Rating:
Summary: Very little magic in this "Magical Love" story
Review: Alura's Wish is part of Jove's "Magical Love"sub-series so one would expect that "magic" would play a bigrole in the story. But that's not really the case here. The onlymagic that happens concerns two dijinn (genies) who are actually a thoughtless King and Queen who were imprisoned in a slave bracelet by a distressed wizard. Supposedly whenever the jewels on the bracelet are rubbed the King and Queen are released and must serve the "rubber". Amazingly, though, when the slave bracelet is found by the hero of the story's young serf, and he rubs the jewels just like he is supposed to, the dijinn are released but pop right back in to the bracelet without offering the youngster his wishes! This allows the bracelet to conveniently end up in the hands of the heroine who, of course, gets her wishes. I understand this is a paranormal romance and that "weirdness" is bound to happen but, really, when an author sets up a set of basic rules they should be consistent. This inconsistency was an obvious and huge boo-boo that should have been caught before the book hit publication. This type of confusing rule-bending only served to annoy me right off the bat. What follows is pretty much a standard medieval tale about a young, innocent maiden whose greedy father's machinations ruin her reputation and force her into the arms of the warrior hero. If you like your heroes wounded you'll like Connor. I did. He's broken in spirit and body and only wants to live out the rest of his life in peace and quiet. But due to further scheming he becomes betrothed to Alura and they fall immediately in lust. Or is it love? I was confused because the two actually spent little time together. With so many subplots happening around them they barely had time for a conversation. Alura's Wish wasn't the 'magical' tale I was lead to believe and it didn't engage my emotions but it did manage to make me grin a time or two. Those who like lots of adventure mixed in with a lust driven romance may well love it.
Rating: 
Summary: Medieval magic and genies--all in a love story.
Review: Propelled by the mystical forces of the djinn, genies who materialize when needed, this medieval romance of Lady Alura and Connor Warrick will capture the attention of readers looking for something different. Alura was destined to marry Connors brother Morvyn until he died of a sudden fever. Connor is reputed to be a bad man, but turns into the lover of Aluras dreams. This is her soul mate, the man she will rely on for security and protection. Alura is kidnapped for the fire opals that bring the djinn to life, and Connor comes to her rescue. Their moments alone are electrifying. Hallam knows how to make the slightest touch riveting. Her ability to get inside the mind of a medieval woman in jeopardy is thrilling.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful love story
Review: This is a very entertaining book with interesting, likable characters and a very well put together plot. The previous reviewer who was so concerned about a so-called inconsistentcy is totally wrong. Check out page 13, lines 8 and 9. Everything is there in black and white for the alert reader. It's exactly this sort of careful attention to detail that makes this book (and the rest of this author's books) so much fun to read. My only complaint, and it's a minor one, is that some of the historical details of the medieval period aren't quite as accurate as they could have been. But that's more than made up for by the book's charm and sense of fun. I highly recommend ALURA'S WISH.
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: What a wonderful story. It captures the feelings of real people with the help of a mystical setting. The characters are very easy to relate to despite the ancient way of life. You will find yourself cheering them on, and scolding them. A new favorite of mine. A must read!
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: What a wonderful story. It captures the feelings of real people with the help of a mystical setting. The characters are very easy to relate to despite the ancient way of life. You will find yourself cheering them on, and scolding them. A new favorite of mine. A must read!
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