Soothed by Magic

Hidden Coven Series, Book 2

Fiction - Fantasy - Urban
111 Pages
Reviewed on 06/07/2017
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Soothed by Magic: Hidden Coven Series, Book 2 is an urban fantasy novel written by Kim McDougall. Bobbi was in love again, deeply and passionately, with someone her friends found to be a most unlikely love object in a surprisingly fast and unexpected turn-about from her growing relationship with Quinn. William Fain was not at all physically attractive nor was he a particularly pleasant person to be around. Molly McFadden, her adoptive mother and friend, was concerned about the effect William was having on the normally undemonstrative young woman who seemed willing to drop everything, including taking care of her store, for his attention. Molly felt something was badly wrong with this new infatuation, and Quinn was determined to find the answer. He was confused over the abrupt ending of their relationship and suspicious of the hold William Fain had over Bobbi. Everyone but Bobbi could see there was a problem.

Kim McDougall’s urban fantasy novel, Soothed by Magic, is the second book in her Hidden Cove series. While she gives enough background information throughout the story to enable a reader to enjoy this as a stand-alone novel, I would quite strongly recommend starting with the first book in the series, Inborn Magic, to get the full impact of this absorbing and enjoyable paranormal series. McDougall fully develops her characters and gives the reader insights into the genesis of the Hidden Coven in that first book, and Soothed by Magic follows beautifully from it. McDougall is a master at building her plot, her characters and their relationships, and that skill stands her in good stead in this compelling and suspenseful tale. The reader can feel the tension and growing alarm of Bobbi’s friends as they begin to intuit a much darker purpose behind William Fain’s attentions. I had a marvelous time reading this second book in the series and am looking forward to reading Book 3: Trigger Magic. Soothed by Magic: Hidden Coven Series, Book 2 is most highly recommended.

Kristen Van Kampen (Teen Reviewer)

Soothed by Magic (Hidden Coven series, book 2) by Kim McDougall is a fantasy novel about a woman named Bobbi. Bobbi believed she was in love with a guy named William Fain, but her ex-boyfriend, Quinn, knew the truth. William was actually using magic to trick her into loving him. When Quinn confronts Bobbi about William, she doesn't believe him. He tells others, but a few of them don't believe him either. Quinn is desperate to break the spell on Bobbi. But when a dark past and a dark future collide, they learn that William has much more sinister intentions. They have to stop him, or the future of all witches will be jeopardized. Will they be able to defeat William?

I really enjoyed reading Soothed by Magic (Hidden Coven series, book 2) by Kim McDougall. The book is very well written and descriptive, with many scenes full of action and suspense. I liked that the story has a few funny parts, especially near the beginning. The story also has many scenes that made me gasp out loud. I was hooked by the first page and didn't want to put the book down. This is a real page turner that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat with excitement. There are a number of likeable characters and they are all very smart and very brave. The book has a satisfying ending that readers will enjoy. I would definitely recommend this to all adult and young adult readers.

Melinda Hills

Not long after helping the Hidden Coven fend off an attack from the demon, Koro, Bobbi is trying to regain her normal life as the owner of a knitting goods store in Soothed by Magic by Kim McDougall. Although she has been receiving training to understand the nature of her inborn magical gifts, Bobbi still has a long way to go – especially when it comes to trusting the coven members. Feeling as though she can make her own decisions in Book 2 of the Hidden Coven Series, Bobbi develops a relationship with a new young man, William, whom her best friend finds suspicious. Unfortunately, Quinn, the head of the Coven’s security and the man who wishes Bobbi were his own, doesn’t care for the newcomer either and keeps him under observation. With so much at stake, information is finally shared about Bobbi’s birth and the efforts that have been made for over twenty years to keep her safe. The compounded secrecy, though, may have made it too late to prevent the tragedy Koro had planned all those many years before from coming to pass on this dark Samhain night.

Kim McDougall ramps up the suspense as Bobbi unknowingly faces death – or worse – in Soothed by Magic: Hidden Coven Series Book 2. The excitement builds and the action is intense as the remaining protectors of the Coven come together to save Bobbi. Short and to the point, this volume is the perfect bridge between Inborn Magic and the soon to be released third volume in the Hidden Coven Series where Bobbi will have to come to terms with her magical heritage. Her actions may be the deciding factor between life and death for the Coven and possibly humankind as well.

Rosie Malezer

Soothed by Magic is the second book in the Hidden Coven series by Kim McDougall. Bobbi Cole had not seen coven vestal Gavin Beal since she'd left the coven a year ago. She’d been casually dating Quinn - something which Quinn thought would last a lifetime - but their whirlwind romance suddenly ended when William Fain blew into town. Having stolen Bobbi’s heart, William was now all that mattered to Bobbi, but Quinn still kept his eye on the girl he loved. As her behavior turns more and more erratic, horrific secrets of the past are uncovered, revealing Gavin and Bobbi’s true relationship, along with an unspeakable bond which has been kept hidden from the world for many years. With Samhain fast approaching, sworn enemies must now learn to trust each other and work together, not only to save Bobbi from danger, but also to destroy a powerful evil which could kill them all.

Written from various points of view, Kim McDougall’s second book in the Hidden Coven series most certainly did not disappoint. The in-depth insight into several of the coven members’ lives was definitely eye-opening, with some being quite horrific, making my skin crawl. The action and drama kept coming, page after page, unleashing shocking new secrets which left me unable to put the book down. As the truth slowly unraveled, a light bulb seemed to go off in my head, as each new piece of information made everything clearer. As a Pagan, I know the significance of Samhain regarding those who have passed into the belly of the Goddess, and with the veil between the two worlds being at their thinnest, those from the other side are invited to join their loved ones for a special meal. But with the threat of a dreadful demonic evil also trying to breach the veil, the adrenaline within the pages of Soothed by Magic skyrockets to levels I have rarely seen. I very much enjoyed reading Kim McDougall’s sequel to Inborn Magic, and highly anticipate the release of the third book in the series. I strongly recommend Soothed by Magic to mature audiences, due to the graphic violence in some scenes, and to those who enjoy paranormal books which carry a very strong Pagan flavor.

Sarah Stuart

Soothed by Magic: Hidden Coven Series, Book 2 by Kim McDougall continues the story of Bobbi’s journey to full knowledge of her magical heritage, under the watchful and jealous eye of Quinn, the man readers were left wondering if he was Bobbi’s forever love in the first book of the series. The time at the opening is Halloween, when ordinary humans play at being witches and demons, but real magic holds dark, hidden dangers. Quinn, Head of Security, is intent on keeping the Hidden Coven secret, aware that demon Koro’s agent, William Fain, is in Ashlet, intent on winning Bobbi’s heart. This cleverly written sequel to Inborn Magic has sufficient detail to put the reader in the picture very quickly, without risking boring readers, like me, who have already read and enjoyed book one.

“I tended to fiddle with magic the way some people doodle while on the phone.” Bobbi is summed up in fifteen words, and that is the beauty of Kim McDougall’s writing; it is succinct, fast-paced, and so easy to read that the story only loses its grip long after “The End”, and then the reader is left looking forward to book three. Soothed by Magic is a very apt title in the context of this intriguing, suspenseful, tale. “Soothed” is not the feeling I experienced whilst reading it. “Couldn’t put it down”, “Gripping”, and “Must-read” are all overused phrases, but every one of them applies to Kim McDougall’s novel. Soothed by Magic is riveting, enthralling, attention-grabbing and holding, and… Got it! Spellbinding.