Review: Genie Knows Best

Genie Knows Best (Genie - Book 2) by Judi Fennell

Publication Date: November 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Inc.
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: Paperback, 384pp
ISBN-13: 9781402241901
ISBN 1402241909

(Received for an honest review from Sourcebooks Casablanca)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound


Judi Fennell on the WEB: website, blog, facebook, twitter

Excerpt from Genie Knows Best

Synopsis:


BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...

Samantha Blaine is about to make a fateful discovery. A tall, dark, handsome, ohmygosh kind of fateful discovery...


Kal is very pleased to meet his attractive new master - especially since he intends to seduce her into granting him freedom. But when seriously dark magic spells trouble for both of them, Kal can't help himself from falling for the woman who holds his fate in her hands...

Warmly acclaimed by readers and critics alike, Judi Fennell brings to life a fabulous world of magic and mayhem where wishes come true in the most unexpected ways!


Thoughts:

Genie Knows Best is the second book in Judi Fennell's Genie series, which offers readers a magical adventure in a land where mythical creatures abound. Fennell's take on the paranormal is original and fresh in a genre sated with too many vampires and werewolves. It has the atmosphere and allure of the Middle East, bringing to mind magical lamps and flying carpets. Fennell has written a story with the nostalgic feel of the Aladdin fairy-tales and mixed it with the humor and banter of the television show, "I Dream of Genie," to create a novel that paranormal fans won't soon forget.

Genie Knows Best is the story of Kal, a genie serving a harsh sentence for removing the magical bonds that held him in service to the Djinn society. Samantha Blaine is the last in a long list of masters that Kal has had to serve in order to return to his rightful position in Izaaz, the land of the genies. Kal plans to seduce Sam and get her to grant his freedom, but he is unprepared for the feelings she brings up inside him. Is he willing to give up a life of immortality to be with her? 

Fennell has crafted a very well thought out plot, that readers will really enjoy. This isn't your typical paranormal romance. There is plenty of heat and conflict within it's pages, but it is also, light-hearted and full of fun. The snappy dialogue and banter between the characters is one of the things that gives this story it's playful attitude. This is true of main characters Sam and Kal, as well as, secondary characters including some mythical beasts readers will be familiar with. The arguments in this one are priceless, the beasts just can't get along and it's hilarious to read about them fighting amongst themselves. Fennell does a fantastic job of incorporating Gremlins, Unicorns, Dragons and other mythical creatures into the book, and readers will find themselves chuckling, if not out right laughing many times throughout the novel.

Samantha's old boyfriend is used to create most of the conflict in the story. Albert's intentions were to put a ring on Samantha's finger and then control the huge assets left to her by her father. But when Samantha overhears a conversation in which he refers to her as "clueless", she begins to understand what he's been up to. But that isn't the last we hear from him and he is determined to get the genie for himself. I thought that Fennell used this character to ramp up the action of the book and move the story along. Readers often need a reason to root for the main characters and they certainly have one in this novel. I liked the fast pace that Fennell creates and thought she did an amazing job of developing the characters including the villain.


This is a book that takes paranormal to a different level. There aren't any vampires or werewolves lurching in the shadows. I thought the use of genies was brilliant. It is something that paranormal fans will be familiar with, but not over saturated by. I like paranormal stories that take something unusual or minute and uses them to create a whole world for readers to explore and I thought that was really what Fennell has done with this series. Each of the two books can be read separately or as part of the series. Fennell is able to give the reader enough background that is is easy to pick up the action. This is certainly a series for those readers who like fun, light, romances.


I recommend to both mainstream romance readers as well as paranormal fans. There is a little something for everyone. I look forward to more books in the series, and hope that Fenell continues to push the envelop with her writing. I liked the addition of the mythical creatures and thought the Djinn society was very interesting and I can't wait to read more.

Genie Knows Best is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

Judi Fennell is an award-winning author whose romance novels have finaled in Gather.com's First Chapters and First Chapters Romance, as well as the third American Title contest. She spends family vacations at the Jersey Shore, the setting for some of her paranormal romance series. She lives in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.