2 Bloggers 1 Series - Magic Strikes Review

I am pleased to announce that my and Stormi's experiment into buddy reading a series has been going very successfully.  We both are enjoying the series we picked and are already looking ahead to 2020 (although neither of us can believe we were talking 2020).  This month we read "Magic Strikes," the third book in the Kate Daniels series.  Read on for my specific thoughts and then make sure to hop over to Stormi's at  Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My! and see what she thought. 

TITLE: Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels #3)

AUTHOR: Ilona Andrews

PUBLISHER: Berkley Publishing Group

PUBLISHING DATE: March 31, 2009

FROM GOODREADS: Drafted to work for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems these days than she knows what to do with. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot. 

But when Kate’s werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games—an invitation-only, no-holds-barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament—she and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta’s shapeshifting community… 

MY THOUGHTS: So this installment throws us into an illegal underground fighting tournament, the Midnight Games.  Kate ends up attending with Saiman to help get Derek out of some trouble and has no idea for the epic crap-storm it sets off.  Derek is critically wounded and Kate and some other rogue shifters end up going underground to find out what is going on and help Derek before Curran finds out.

I can't stress enough how much I am enjoying this series.  Everyone keeps telling me the books just keep getting better and better and there are absolutely right.  So far all of the various plots have been action packed and besides Kate and Curran, there are so many side characters to love.  I'm really growing quite attached to Julie, Derek, Andrea and Raphael - even Dr. Doolittle.  Now of course that's not to say that I don't love Kate and Curran - together and individually.  Kate is smart, strong and snarky, and boy do I love snark.  Curran is strong, sexy and bossy.  Together they are like a powder keg and I am thoroughly enjoying the hate-to-love trope we have going on.

 Now honestly, I've never gotten on the whole book-boyfriend train.  I kind of feel like I'm past that point in my life.  There are several characters in books I would find myself attracted to in the real world if they existed and I wasn't happily married.  That being said, those that know me will not be pressed to understand that Curran comes pretty close to a book boyfriend.  I mean, seriously, he has fur and paws.  What more could I ask for?  (well, maybe a wolf instead of a lion but hey, you can't be picky). 

So overall, yes, I loved every minute of reading "Magic Strikes."  I've given all the books I've read so far 4/5 paws and this one is no different.  I kind of find myself wondering what will make a 5/5 paw rating for me with these books but all I can say is my gut is telling me I will just know. 

RATING: 4 Paws