Piňa colada’s and tropical nights are very much Felix Valasay’s speed. He has been a charmer since his school days. Now that he is all grown up, his relationships with women have resembled a revolving door policy. In fact, he is in the middle of a routine seduction when he is unexpectedly interrupted.

The latest opportunity to stop Quain, the rogue sorcier of Les Croyant des Trois, requires Sayblee Safipour to go undercover with Felix in Paris. Her drive to have the mission succeed has a personal edge. Her beloved brother turned away from his family when he became one of the power hungry sorcier’s followers. Now, his sister will do whatever she can to find him and bring him back.

This assignment, however, will prove more challenging than anything that either Felix or Sayblee have experienced. They must behave as Moyenne and refrain from any use of magic for fear of giving themselves and their location away. Even worse, they must convince those around them that they are a couple. The studious girl and the lothario from school have both grown up and the hidden attraction from those early years is much harder to contain. But will they want to?

This is the book that concludes the Magical Temptation series. It is with excitement and sadness that one reads BELIEVE IN ME. We finally see how it all ends, but at the same time, we truly wish that there were more stories from this world heading our way.

We have come across both characters in the previous stories of the trilogy and it is fun to see them portrayed here. The hero and heroine’s appeal increases as we become more familiar with them. It is because we grow so fond of these two that later happenings when each is at a disadvantage sometimes feels difficult to read.

Sayblee is someone who has tried to always follow the rules and ended up learning more from reading than from taking time to actually experience life. It is no surprise that she is fascinated with the laid back Felix. As we learn more about her family and background, we see how much that she needs something or someone to lighten her heart.

To be the youngest in a family of three brothers couldn’t have been easy, especially since the two older brothers are rather powerful, capable and protective. Felix’s need to prove himself was well presented.

Readers will enjoy watching the romance between these two and the balance that each brings to the other. Through all of the difficulties that they go through together and separately, we cross our fingers and hope that they get the ending that they deserve.

The villain is a disturbing caricature of a character. He has been shown to be so strong that one believes he is nearly invincible. It is curious that even with the Plaques de la Pensée, believed to be the most powerful magic known with the ability to create or destroy life, the side of the good has such difficulties in bringing about victory over Quain.

Descriptions of magic were enthralling. Sensations, sounds, and sights were all incorporated to give us an experience that is unusual to find. For a time, the line felt blurred between sitting in an armchair reading a book and stepping through a swirl of gray matter into the scene set before us.

—Love Romances and More, Lil, June 2007
 

Believe In Me
Author: Jessica Inclan
Publisher: Zebra Books / Kensington Publishing Group
Release Date: March 2007
Blue Ribbon Rating: 5


Felix Valasay is the youngest brother in a prominent family of magical Croyant sorcerers.  He is also the most notorious ladies man in the Croyant society.  Handsome, charismatic and a true lover of women, Felix has always been the “love ‘em and leave ‘em” type, until he realizes that his future may be held firmly in Sayblee Safipour’s hands.  For years, Sayblee has watched Felix work his way through the female population, both magical Croyant and non-magical Moyenne. She refuses to allow herself to think of him in any way other than as the lothario she knows him to be.

Reviewed by Robin, Romance Junkies
 

Believe In Me
Jessica Inclán

Rating:

Felix Valasay takes center stage in Believe In Me, Jessica Inclán’s final novel in her Les Croyant de Trois series. The carefree playboy who monitors magical activity in Hawaii, no less, has previously been seen in a supporting role while his brothers do all the dirty work. This time, it is up to Felix to save the world.

Sayblee Safipour cannot believe that the Council has chosen Felix as her partner for this crucial mission. He is too frivolous, too hedonistic to accept the rigors of their challenge. He will put them both in danger. Sayblee is also troubled about how she will be able to withstand Felix’ considerable charm while they are posing as a married couple. She is loathe to admit it, but she has been attracted to him since they were in school together.

As all of the elements come together, Ms. Inclán wraps up her trilogy in fine fashion. Sayblee and Felix work very well together, although some of their adjustments are quite humorous. There is danger and an emotional toll that must be faced as they battle the evil sorcerer Quain for control of the magical realm.

Believe in Me takes readers on a roller-coaster ride. There are pockets of humor amid the emotional and physical dangers, and she keeps all the balls juggling until the very end. This novel should not be read as a stand-alone piece, however, and will benefit greatly from the background information revealed in the other two previous novels. For readers who have enjoyed the series, the book ends on a good note, with all of the threads drawn up tight.

Reviewed by Paula, Posted February 2007,
http://www.aromancereview.com/reviews/index.php?app_state=show_event&bookid=10607
 

Believe In Me
Jessica Inclán

"Storytelling that is magical and beautiful"

Sayblee Safipour is assigned to work with the handsome and overly sexually appealing, Felix Valasay. She has been attracted to the fun loving, womanizing man for fifteen years.

Traveling through the matter arriving at Felix's home in Hawaii, she finds him entertaining a female—naturally. Some things never change. Theirs will be a rocky start of a working relationship. They are to go to Paris to pose as a loving couple to try and locate the evil Quain, who is thought to be in Paris. Together they will face danger, intrigue, and feelings both have not realized existed deep within. Discovering them as new layers of their personalities are exposed with each day they spend in the other's company.

Welcome to the magical world of the ancient Les Croyant des Trois. It is Felix, the youngest of the three Valasay brothers, that comes to life in the final book in the trilogy within Ms. Inclán's exquisite words. Once again, Ms. Inclán ignites the pages with fluid storytelling that is magical and beautiful; penning it with distinction and vibrancy, as she weaves in her unique voice. Believe In Me is the ultimate fantasy tale that is timeless, with just enough spice to keep the readers hooked.

Sayblee considers herself an intelligent and no-nonsense type of woman who happens to be a Croyant, a magical race that lives among the Moyenne (non-magical humans). She and her too handsome partner, Felix, will have to live and work practically 24/7 with each other.

Felix has never wanted to do more than surf, frolic in the sun, drink his special blend of fruit and alcohol, and play fast and loose with the women in his life. When Sayblee reappears into his life and he must work by her side, he sees things about her in a whole new light. A sexual light that is.

You do not have to read the trilogy to appreciate Believe In Me, it is a complete standalone novel, but this reviewer highly recommends that you purchase When You Believe and Reason To Believe to experience the different lives of the other two wonderful and sexy brothers.

Reviewed by Janalee Ruschhaupt, Posted February 11, 2007, http://www.paranormalromance.org/reviews/review.php?id=24610
 

Believe In Me
Jessica Inclán
Kensington, March 2007, $13.00, 212 pp.
ISBN 0821780840

They live among us and look like ordinary people but the Croyant are powerful sorcerers who can walk through matter (teleport) and they are strong telepaths. They are able to weave spells and use their powers as weapons although they don't because the leadership's dearest wish is to come out of the closet to the Moyenne (non magical people) who have killed them throughout the ages. The leadership thinks the time is right to work with the Moyenne however Quain, the most powerful sorcerer of them all doesn't agree with the plan.

He sees a world where he is the leader, the Croyant are in control or enchanted into obeying him and the Moyenne their extendible slaves Sayblee Safipour and Felix Valasay go to France where Quain is gathering new members in his power in another attempt to take control of the Croyant leadership. Sayblee and Felix believe they have found him and walk into a trap. They both get separated for a while. Sayblee is under Quain's control and Felix will do whatever it takes to get her back but he doesn't know where she is or how to find her.

This is the third and final tale in Jessica Inclán's superb romantic fantasy. Felix was a lothario until he saw Sayblee with a lover's eye and knows that his roaming days are over. Sayblee fears she is just another notch in his belt when they realize that they love each other. They both are powerful sorcerers and have the power to do what must be done in the leadership's overall plan. The author has created great characters and a world so much like ours except that it has magic. An excellent worldbuilder, Ms Inclán has created a believable society hidden within a larger society.

--Harriet Klausner
 

Read Reviews of Jessica's First Romance Novel, "When You Believe"

Read Reviews of Jessica's Second Romance Novel, "Reason to Believe"