Private Performance
by Reese Galloway
Sleight of Hand #1
Publication Date: October 13, 2014
Synopsis:
Ellaine Greene has simple desires. She just wants to do her best as the event coordinator for the local aquarium, to support environmental conservation efforts, and to keep immature man-children out of her life.
So when a major donor to the aquarium demands Ellaine find a magician for her granddaughter's birthday party, all she can imagine is a long line of card chuckers and coin flippers wearing cheesy sequined vests.
Instead, she gets Xander Hollatz, a sophisticated, powerful man in a crisp suit, with nimble fingers and a warm smile.
He's the man for the job, no doubt. And, to her surprise, she realizes he might be the man for her, too. Will she let her doubts get in the way of their feelings for each other?
And when everything goes wrong at the birthday party, will he be able to perform a miracle to save the day?
Sleight of Hand #1: Private Performance is a 17,000-word novella, introducing readers to Ellaine and Xander's passionate and tender romance, to the fascinating wildlife inhabiting the aquarium, and to the mysterious world of professional magicians.
My Review
Sleight of Hand is a quick read to lay the ground work for book two and introduce us to the main characters.
Ellaine is divorced and moving on with her life, she has a job she loves and kicks butt at.
She's asked by a major donor to supply a magician for her granddaughter's birthday party, a donor she needs to keep happy for the sake of the aquarium.
Xander Hollatz appears to be the man for the job. But Xander has a past of his own he's still working through. Could a children's party and one event coordinator change his life?
Publication Date: October 27, 2014
Synopsis:
Ellaine Greene has a new man in her life, the famous magician Xander Hollatz. He's ripped, kind, and mysterious -- nothing like her ex-husband. He has even volunteered to perform at her aquarium's annual fundraising gala. But she's still having trouble leaving the past behind, especially when her ex shows up to beg for money.
Before the new couple knows it, someone's trying to break into Xander's mansion to steal the secrets of his many famous illusions. Ellaine's ex becomes their prime suspect. But maybe it's actually the up-and-coming street magician they've befriended. Or maybe it's even someone from Xander's mysterious past.
Whoever the thief is, if he uncovers and reveals the secret of Xander's newest illusion for the fundraiser, the event will be a disaster. Ellaine may lose her job.
And there's a still greater question: Is this feeling they share together just lust -- or is it something more?
Find out in this 74,000-word book, the second volume in the Sleight of Hand series.
My Review
4 stars.
Book one must be read in order to understand where Repeat Performance picks up.
Repeat Performance has mystery, a touch of danger, secrets and denial all wrapped around the two main characters.
And magic, lets not forget the magic!
They both are forced to deal with their pasts in order to move on. Coming face to face with your demons isn't always easy even with someone by your side to help you through it, but Xander and Ellaine both overcome their pasts and begin to move on.
I loved these two, Ellaine is a strong woman yet feminine and soft enough to need the shoulder of a strong man. She wasn't a whiny heroine but a real woman you can relate to. Both Ellaine and Xander's situations were not exaggerated, the story is well written and kept me engaged from beginning to end.
I look forward to more from Reece Galloway.
About the Author
Reese Galloway loves great magic tricks, animals and bars of fancy soaps. Actually, his soap obsession is getting a little out of control.
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