Blog Tour: Spell Cat by Tara Lain (Excerpt, Reviews, Teasers + Giveaway)

Spell Cat

by Tara Lain 

Blurb:

When Killian Barth, history professor, meets Blaine Genneau, quantum physicist, they ignite their own big bang. But Killian can’t pursue a physics professor—or a human. As the most powerful male witch in ten generations, Killian must bolster his dying race by reproducing—despite the fact that he’s gay.

Even a fling with Blaine is out of the question, because Killian has been told sex with humans drains his power. But if that’s true, why can young human Jimmy Janx dissolve spoons with the power of his mind? If Killian can sort through the lies he’s been fed, he’ll still face his biggest obstacle — convincing rational scientist Blaine to believe in magic.

With his ancient and powerful cat familiar, Aloysius, on his shoulder, Killian brings the lightning against deceit and greed to save Blaine from danger and prove love is the greatest power of them all.

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Also available in paperback

Excerpt

Blaine was standing at the end of the counter a few feet away, staring at Killian.

How long could a witch live with his heart stopped?

Oh gods. He understood. Heat. The way he felt this moment dwarfed every emotion he’d had with Moran by a thousand. A million. The chasm between indifference and… passion. His heart beat fast, his breath caught in his chest, and his eyes never wanted to look on another sight, just Blaine.

He ought to run, but whether away or straight to Blaine, he wasn’t sure.

“Mrwar.”

Blaine seemed to catch the welcome in that meow. He smiled and took a step closer. “Hi, Al. Good to see you, buddy.”

Aloysius unwrapped himself from Killian’s neck, did one bound off the tabletop, and launched himself into Blaine’s waiting arms. Oh Powers, would that Killian could do the same. He actually had to hold himself still, or he knew he’d follow the cat.

Blaine petted Al as the cat did his imitation of a moving fur coat, purring so loudly Killian could hear him, even a few feet away. “You seem happy to see me, anyway.” He looked up. “Are you happy to see me, Killian?”

Killian nodded. Correction—his head nodded. He had no power over it.

Blaine walked even closer. “Could I have lunch with you? Talk to you?”

The head nodded again.

The human slipped into the chair beside Killian. Sweet Powers, he smelled so wonderful. That sweet and spice together.

“This sure is one great cat. Where did you get him?”

Killian cleared his throat. “Gift, uh, a gift from my mother.”

Blaine chucked Al under the chin, and the cat let him. “My mother hates cats.” He looked up, and Killian swam into the pools of deep green. “Of course, my mother hates me, so she’s not likely to give me the time of day, much less a pet.”

“Surely not.”

He grinned. “That she hates me? Oh yeah. I keep defying her by choosing to be gay when her preacher has clearly cleansed me of this delusion at least ten times, so she washed her hands of me.”

“But you didn’t choose—Oh, you’re joking.”

Blaine’s grin faded. “I wish it were a joke. Then a lot of beaten-up, confused kids would have parents who loved and understood them.”

There were worse things than having a manipulative witch for a mother. “I’m so sorry, Blaine. I didn’t mean it like that.”

Blaine smiled. “I never thought you were making fun. I just have a weird sense of humor sometimes.”

Then he did it. He put his hand on Killian’s arm. Such a simple gesture. Flash! Heat blazed in Killian’s head, and hot steel filled his cock. Blaine started and pulled his hand away. Those green eyes widened, and he stared at Killian like he was either the answer to a dream or a cobra, and Blaine wasn’t sure which. “Holy shit!”

Killian tried to make sense of his brain synapses and grasped at the first thought. “Uh, food—did you want food?”

Blaine leaned over and whispered in his ear. “I want to eat with you and talk to you and sleep with you and take you home with me. But right now I want to make love to you so badly I’m having trouble focusing.”

There was that head nod again. Where the fuck did that come from?

“Does that mean you want to make love to me too?”

Killian stared at Blaine, the human physics professor whose simplest touch could drain a witch’s power until his own mother didn’t know him and his people couldn’t benefit from his great sperm and—and all that dogma. The answer was yes. He did want to make love to Blaine. He wanted it more than anything. The evil witch voice piped up in his head. Yep, these humans are tempting. That’s how the witch race got so depleted. He was the strongest male witch in ten generations. That had to be worth something. He’d never had a really satisfying relationship with a man, even for a short time. He wanted one. Didn’t he deserve just a little happiness before he gave his life for his people? He’d tried it the right way, the witch-stamp-of-approval way, and nearly got his back broken for his trouble.

Blaine was staring at Killian like he was in suspended animation; only the fingertips that scratched Al’s head moved. There. That was it. Blaine had the best possible credentials. Aloysius, who was no dumb cat, adored the human… and so did Killian. Just that simple. He didn’t care if he rotted in witch oblivion, or if he lost some of his fabled power. How much damage could he do in such a little while? “Yes.”

Blaine came to life. “Excuse me?”

“Yes. Please take me home with you.” He swallowed. “And all those other things.”

Blaine’s smile lit like a midwinter bonfire.

“Mwrarrrrr, mrrrrrwarrrr, mrrrrwarrrr.”

The bloody cat was singing while he slithered around Blaine’s neck in some happy dance known only to strange and powerful blue-eyed familiars. 

Killian Barth is the strongest Witch anyone has seen in a very long time. Now according to the Witches' Council he needs to marry another witch and produce children to strengthen their numbers. There is a problem with this plan, however, because Killian happens to be gay. Of course, his mother and the rest of the council members don't seem to care. His future bride has been chosen and he has no choice but to go along with it. When Killian, a professor of History, meets human and Physics Professor Blaine Genneau he realizes he can't spend the rest of his life married to a woman without knowing what it feels like to truly be in love with someone he's attracted to. Knowing that being with Blaine would be disastrous to him and his powers he sets out to find a man who will be perfect for him. Unfortunately finding love isn't as easy as he's planned. Blaine seems to never be far from him or his thoughts and it doesn't help that his powerful familiar Aloysius seems to like Blaine more than he does Killian. When Killian finds that things he has been taught about Witches and Humans don't add up he sets out to discover the truth. Maybe he will find a way to be with Blaine after all without losing his powers. First, he has to face the council and convince the head of it who happens to be the father of his fiancée that he can't go through with his marriage. I really love Tara Lain and had wanted to read Spell Cat for quite some time. I really loved the Pennymaker series and so I figured this one would be right up my alley. I'm glad to say I enjoyed it. I loved Aloysius, who was the most precocious cat I've ever seen (or read about, I should say). The story is definitely a different look at witches than what I'm used to reading but I found it entertaining and interesting. I was very interested in the class that Killian taught and I couldn't help but wish I had had something like it in College. He was fascinating in the way he was so comfortable with his students and the subject. However, I found it strange he seemed so naive when it came to sex and dating. I imagined him to have been different in regards to dating. Overall, I thought it was a cute story and liked Killian and Blaine together. Though I definitely think my favorite part of the story was definitely Aloysius. 4 Stars!
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher and Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*

***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.***

Killian is a Witch Master, the most powerful witch in the last ten generations, and yet, he lives among humans and prefers to spend his time teaching History and Witchcraft at the local college, instead of among his peers, which considering his mother, who can blame him? His mother has drilled into him the need to marry another powerful witch, even if he's expressed that his interest in females is non-existent, but it's easier just to give into what's expected of him. When Killian meets fellow professor Blaine Genneau sparks fly in the best of ways, but Killian can't give into their attraction because he thinks it will deplete his powers.

When Killian starts to realize that all he'd been told regarding witches and humans might not be as black and white as he was told, he gives into what he feels for Blaine and decides to fight back and try to find a way to get what he has ever wanted, someone he can love.

I loved Killian and Blaine, they were so sweet and hot together. Their chemistry was sizzling hot from the moment they met and it just kept growing stronger the longer they stayed together. Killian seemed a little immature in regard to how he allowed his mother to manipulate him, but I loved how he took action once he started seeing things weren't quite as he'd been told all his life.

I also loved Aloysius, the familiar (cat), he was too adorable! And, of course, getting a second romance with Lavender and Jimmy, who were so lovely together, was a nice touch.

All in all, another great read by Tara Lain, who is a master in bringing us romances that are not only interesting—the take on witches and humans was fairly original and different from anything I've read before—but are relatable, sweet and steamy, with just a tad of angst and some twists that kept me turning the pages. Very recommendable!!!

Rating: 4.5 Stars!!!

About the Author

Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 32. Her best-selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Paranormal Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft.  She lives with her soul-mate husband and her soul-mate dog near the sea in California where she sets a lot of her books.  Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!

You can find Tara at Lain

               

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