I like magic. I like shows about magic, books about magic, stickers about magic, and the idea of magic in general. I even used to shop at a magic store in Florida, which was very cool. I really like Nora Roberts’ Donovan Legacy series (Captivated, Entranced, Charmed, and Enchanted), which is about ordinary people who have magical gifts, and I’ve been hunting for something similar ever since I first read them. I do like typical fantasy fare (obviously), but there is something appealing about stories that are completely realistic (contemporary setting, time, etc.) that feature characters with magical talents.

Christine Feehan’s Drake Sisters series is a pretty good example. They are pretty standard romance fare, so they can get a little cheesy from time to time, but overall they are well-written, with intriguing characters, compelling plots, and the occasional steamy scene. The crux of the series is the seven Drake sisters: Sarah, Kate, Abbey, Libby, Hannah, Joley, and Elle. Each book is one sister’s story; primarily they’re about the women finding true love, but there are also evil spirits, Russian mobsters, cranky cops, and the sisters’ unique abilities to manipulate the wind, animals, death, and baked goods. Of course, the sisters are all extraordinarily beautiful and have amazing careers: renowned security expert, best-selling author, famous marine biologist, sought-after doctor, supermodel, world-famous singer, and mysterious jack-of-all-trades. On top of that, three of the main male characters have special abilities: one has outright magic, and two are telepathic. As of right now, there are only 5 books in the series; Joley and Elle’s stories are still in the making.

Overall, this is a fun, spicy, silly series with interesting people, hunky men, and a house that can eat people. One word of caution: these are all published as mass-market paperbacks, and the inside front cover of each depicts the male lead of each story: all of these men are cheesy, Fabio-esque characters. It’s best to let your imagination conjure up the image, rather than rely on these goofy illustrations.The books, in order, are:

• Magic in the Wind
• The Twilight Before Christmas
• Oceans of Fire
• Dangerous Tides
• Safe Harbor