The Witch and the Stag (The McKinley Women 1)
Author: Victoria Rogers
Cover Art: Bryan Keller
BIN: 009943-03226
Genres: Action Adventure, Everand Subscription Service, Paranormal Women's Fiction, Romance, Urban Fantasy
Themes: Elves, Dragons & Magical Creatures, Magic, Sorcery, and Witchcraft, Shapeshifters
Series: The McKinley Women (#1)
Book Length: Novella
Page Count: 92
Top 10 Bestseller at Amazon.com!
Recommended Read at Books of All Kinds
As a solitary witch, Maddy McKinley’s job is to ensure her community is safe from paranormal harm. When a routine neighborhood exorcism goes wrong, Maddy finds herself haunted by a poltergeist that has been hounding her family for generations.
With the help of the hunky godling across the street, Maddy must learn to set aside her family traditions and work with another before the poltergeist destroys her.
Praise for The Witch and the Stag (The McKinley Women 1)
"...a great short story about a poltergeist who has haunted the witch’s family for generations, and a godling who may be related to it... This is an easy read, with plenty of steam. A perfect coffee break book. Definitely recommended by me."
-- 4 Stars from Moonflower, Long and Short Reviews
"...this was a super fun, fast novella that had a ton of fun character interactions and romance to fill your magical cup right up."
-- 4 Sheep from KD, I Smell Sheep
"Victoria does what she does best, here, and that is present a wondrous story that captures the imagination from start to finish. There's also a lot of very steamy bits to the story... If you enjoy well described characters, believable dialogue and character choices, very sexy romance that shines from a place of safety and consent, then this book would be perfect for you to read."
-- 5 Stars from Ryan B., Amazon Review
"The Witch and the Stag is a fun, sexy romp of a novella. An exorcism goes wrong and it’s up to Maddy and a certain sexy godling to work together to purge the poltergeist before it destroys them. Rogers kept the pacing tight and fluid and the spice levels hot in this story. Would recommend this series to everyone who loves a good romance."
-- 5 Stars from Kennedi Robinson, Amazon Review
"Great book!"
-- 5 Stars from Sara S., Amazon Review
"...dang good. I love a good paranormal read and this one delivers. Can’t wait to try more."
-- 5 Stars from Ken Thompson, Amazon Review
"This book promises paranormal romance and it delivers! Between steamy scenes, we're introduced to a world where the occult is a known thing and get our first look at the McKinley family of witches.This was a ton of fun to read, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series as it comes out."
-- 5 Stars from R. Kreutz-Landry, Amazon Review
"Picked this for sexy paranormal, finished this finding the consent the sexiest. For me reading what tended to feel out of reach or perceived as strange in my real day-to-day life as instead ordinary in Maddy’s world, launched the story to a level of extraordinary that had me wanting to keep reading."
-- 5 Stars from Maria, Amazon Review
"I really enjoyed this novella by Victoria Rogers -- her debut! Maddy was an excellent MC and the details Rogers wove into her story were so carefully thought out and just added to the whole persona of the McKinley Women. Side note, where do I get my hands on one of those grimoires? Asking for a friend, of course."
-- 5 Stars from Torri Heat, Amazon Review
"I loved the originality of this book! The characters were well-developed, and the plot was easy to follow without being predictable. I also liked the writing style of the author. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes!"
-- 4 Stars from WVMindiS, Amazon Review
"The Witch and the Stag is a wonderful adventure of magic and sizzling new romances. The characters are full of warmth and depth and you find yourself falling in love with them as much as they are falling for each other as the story progresses. It was a total package of romance, intrigue, and beautiful comedic tidbits that leave you giggling to yourself on the couch."
-- 5 Stars from Mea, Amazon Review
"I couldn't put it down, can't wait for the next one. It was so interesting and well written."
-- 5 Stars from Nancy Richer, Amazon Review
"The fluid writing makes for an easy, believable read, and the detailed character descriptions turn them into friends rather than fictional characters. This book will leave you waiting breathlessly for the next installment! Brava!"
-- 5 Stars from Theresa Cunningham, Amazon Review
The Witch and the Stag (The McKinley Women 1)
Victoria Rogers
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2021 Victoria Rogers
Maddy felt the cool air on her nostrils, and the rising and falling of her chest as she deliberately regulated her breath. In, two, three, four, out, two, three, four.
Her mind’s eye focused on a circle of light dancing on the backs of her eyelids. With practiced discipline, she kept her focus and her stomach settled as her spirit rushed dizzily up her astral cord and to the astral plane.
The park was quieter here, in this space. Gone were the sounds of barking dogs that should have been on a leash but weren’t. Gone were the children’s squeals and parents’ plaintive shouts to be careful. Instead, there was a sea of glowing green grass and grayish blobs she knew to be playground equipment. Her inner eye searched carefully for the telltale sign of the poltergeist. This one would be brown. Or maybe red, she thought to herself. Come out, come out, wherever you are.
In the end, she heard the sound before she saw it. It let out an ear-piercing screech and rushed at her from behind. The poltergeist stopped just short of the circle of salt she had drawn around her, its shrill voice hitting decibels her physical ears would never have been able to detect.
She winced. I bet every dog within two miles is howling now.
The thing clawed at the invisible barrier separating the pair of them. Maddy took in a deep breath and pulled on the iron bell she had clipped onto her belt. “Silence now, my wayward soul. Rest, I bequeath to thee. Silence now, my wayward soul. Rest now, so mote it be.”
She rang the bell three times. At each clear ring, the poltergeist screamed into the plane and raked at the salt barrier. She flinched at the ferocity of it. Unconsciously, she reached for the locket filled with protective dill she wore around her neck. She swallowed and firmed her jaw. “Silence now, my wayward soul. Calm, I bequeath to thee. Silence now, my wayward soul. Calm now, so mote it be."
By the time she rang the bell twice, the poltergeist charged the barrier with such force that Maddy fell backward and out of her protective circle.
“Witch!” it accused, throwing itself at her.
She used the impossible physics of the astral plane to her advantage and pushed off the poltergeist with her feet, flying away from it. She managed to ring the bell for the third time before it was on her again. Its cold talons raked across her spirit form. Down in the grass, her physical body shuddered.
“Silence now, my wayward sou --” Maddy screamed as it slashed at her astral cord. An intense cold radiated through her. She held up her locket in front of her and the poltergeist hissed and backed away. “Silence now, my wayward soul. Quiet, I bequeath to thee. Silence now, my wayward soul. Quiet now, so mote it be!"
The spirit retreated farther away from her, sneering. “Witch! Witch!” it cried.
She rang the iron bell three times, and with each melodious chime, the poltergeist shrank in size until it was nothing at all, its cacophonous wail fading with its form.
Maddy’s spirit slammed into her body as something bashed against her cheekbone. She blinked back stars and held her face in her hand, shocked more than anything. The poltergeist wasn’t supposed to be able to do that. In all her twenty-eight years of life, she had never been physically hurt by a poltergeist before. What happened? What was that?
“By the gods, are you all right?”
Maddy opened her eyes and saw a bright red Frisbee lying on the ground next to her. A Frisbee? She had been hit by a Frisbee? She touched her cheek and frowned at how puffy it felt. Of all the damn things that could happen while she was putting a damn poltergeist to rest, she was hit in the face by a Frisbee.
“Yeah,” she said without looking at the speaker. She picked up the Frisbee and shoved it in their direction. “Watch where you’re throwing the damn thin --” She stopped short when she looked up. A shirtless man -- a shirtless muscular man -- crouched next to her. He wore blue Serenity State joggers, silver aviators, and one hell of a smile. His dimples were --
“Ouch,” he said, interrupting her thoughts. “I really got you there. I’m so sorry. I’ve got a first aid kit in the car, if you just wait here, I can run over and grab it.”
Maddy stared at his plump bottom lip. “Uh… What?” she shook her head. Get a hold of yourself, Maddy.
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