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Publicity
What People are Saying About
"When You Believe"...
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A poet has just left her reading and book signing event and finds that part of the city strangely changed, making it impossible for her to locate where she parked her car. It does not help that there are three thugs following her. In a bid to escape them when they begin
to chase her down a street, Miranda Stead shoves at a door and collapses onto a bar floor hurting her ankle in the process. It looks like she has leapt out of the frying pan and into the fire when she finds herself in the midst of a less than welcoming group of robed and hooded people. A tense
conversation ensues with one of the members accusing her of being a spy. Having watched the drama unfold, a handsome man stands and argues on her behalf. This man takes her away with the intent of healing her injury and then removing all memory of the incident that has taken place.
Sariel Valasay does not understand how a Moyenne, or ordinary human, could have found her way through the protective vortex hiding their meeting. However, as a telepath he is under no doubt that Miranda is harmless and had no dark ulterior motives in stumbling upon their location. He is immediately
drawn to this feisty beauty and her humorous thoughts and replies. When the time comes to take away her memories of her unusual encounter, Sariel finds that he can not yet bring himself to do the promised task.
Les Croyant des Trois are a people who exist alongside the Moyenne but have learned to use magic. Quain Dalzeil, one of their own, is determined to make himself invincible and then to recreate Croyant society to his liking. Kallisto, Sariel’s former lover is at Quain’s side supporting him in this
war. If he succeeds, he will be all-powerful in a society where Moyenne will be enslaved.
When You Believe is the intriguing first book in the Magical Temptation trilogy. The graceful prose enchants and lends itself well to a story with a poet as a heroine. Snippets of Miranda’s works and works in progress are brought to view as part of the narrative and they are charming morsels.
There is occasionally phrasing in the book which gives the sensation of being a little forced as if it had been reworked too much, but this is a small quibble.
Both hero and heroine are engaging characters that readers will embrace. Neither is written in the tone of perfect people. They are vulnerable and make mistakes. But they are also people who rise to the occasion fighting for the common good, battling personal demons and loving with tenacity.
Miranda strikes one in some ways as the stereotypical angsty poet having believed in bad romantic relationships as more real and valuable than healthy ones. It is to the author’s credit that our hopes for Miranda to find happiness with her magical hero are not lessened. A small mystery regarding the
heroine is quite well explained though the solution is clear due to the various indications salting the storyline. This is a heroine with a bigger role to play than she realizes.
Painful past experience makes Sariel somehow authentic for having been fallible. That it was in regards to matters of the heart gives a poignant feel to his inability to stay away from Miranda. His unexpected discovery of the one who drives away his loneliness appears barred to him by his duties to
his people and potential danger to herself and him.
The languorous first section focuses on the budding relationship of Sariel and Miranda as well as the coloring in of the background lore to the Croyant world. Pacing increases as Sariel and other sorciers and sorcières search for and prepare to battle Quain and Kallisto. Anticipation is skillfully
built and the explanations and descriptions of magic used were vivid. It certainly made for exciting reading though one part of the closing battle did jar with what looked like a plot inconsistency.
Ms Inclán does a wonderful job of introducing us to Les Croyant des Trois. The groundwork for the trilogy is set and one can hardly wait to see what will appear next. Fans of the paranormal romance genre will be delighted with this unique voice that paints so beautifully with words.
--Love Romances and More, Sept. 6, 2006 |
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Miranda Stead knows that something is wrong. She is very familiar with this area of San Francisco, and yet the parking lot where she left her car seems to have disappeared. The area is never completely deserted, and yet Miranda sees no one, hears no one. No one except the
three men who are rapidly catching up to her, with menace on their minds. Very alarmed, Miranda casts about for a safe haven and spies light coming from under a wooden door. She quickly enters, and finds herself in the midst of a very strange gathering. Hooded
figures stare at her entrance in disbelief. Their shock turns to suspicion and Miranda is wondering if she was better off outside.
This “Alice down the rabbit hole” beginning is just the right opening for When You Believe, the debut book in a new fantasy romance series by Jessica Inclán. The reader needs to feel the confusion and near terror that Miranda is experiencing in order to
appreciate the strange and fantastic events that follow. Miranda, a poet, finds herself in the midst of magic and danger when she meets members of Les Croyant des Trois, an ancient people committed to saving the world from a power-mad sorcerer. Her rescuer, Savier Valasay, is a powerful
Croyant, with abilities that range from healing to the extreme opposite. Savier is the one that is called when someone abuses their powers and must be subdued or destroyed.
Savier really doesn’t have time to spend playing nursemaid to a simple human woman, a Moyenne. Urgent matters demand his full attention. And yet he is drawn to Miranda, almost as though he has met her before, an attraction that he cannot explain.
When You Believe shows us the outstanding world-building skills of Ms. Inclán. She has created a fully-formed alternate reality and her boundaries are clear and well-ordered. Readers can appreciate the fact that the explanations are succinct, and that the author
keeps her characters firmly grounded in this reality. I am looking forward to the remaining books in the series.
--A Romance Review, Paula, August 2006 |
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Ratings
Overall: 9
Sensuality: 9
Realism: 9 |
This is an Official Review by a Paranormal Romance Writer Official Reviewer
Review for When You Believe
Author: Jessica Barksdale Inclán
Date of Review: 08/29/06
Reviewed by: Lettetia
Reviewer Comments: Leaving a poetry reading with friends, Miranda Stead finds herself alone on the streets of San Francisco and running from three attackers.
Nothing appears the same and no other persons are on the normally busy streets; it is almost a dream-like scene to Miranda. Unable to find where her car is parked, out of breath, running low on energy, Miranda steps through a portal of some kind into what she thinks is a bar, only to find herself
surrounded by angry hooded figures wanting to carve her up to send a message and accusing her of being a Moyenne spy. Thinking she would have been better off on the streets, she tries unsuccessfully to find the door where she entered and she is seized by an angry mob when out of the purple
smoke-filled room steps a gorgeous, smooth-talking Adonis.
Sariel Valasay; telepathic member of the LesCroyants des Trois, a group sworn to protect Moyennes (humans) from the dark forces of the Croyant world. He is to return her to her world and wipe all memory of this night from her mind; a mind he is easily able to read. He
is not prepared for someone like Miranda, a Moyenne who shouldn’t have been able to cross the portal into their world. He is also unprepared to have such intense feelings for her.
Miranda wants to remember their time together, and fights having her memories erased. She sets out to find Sariel once again only to discover his memories of her have been erased; he can’t remember the love they shared for such a brief time, and she must fight to
recapture what they once had.
Confusing at the beginning, but once the background and differences between the two worlds is read, WHEN YOU BELIEVE becomes an engrossing and beautiful other-worldly love story.
Sariel was a “wounded soul” who grabbed a place in my heart from the first love scene. His love for Miranda is very well portrayed and the love scenes sizzled with believable dialogue and romance. Miranda was an independent, brave and loving woman who refused to give
up the love of her life, even if it meant fighting evil sorcerers and their mistresses. Believing she was a mere poet, there were some revelations when she discovered she was adopted. I laughed, I cried, I cheered these characters on. Never once was I bored or discouraged. Fast paced suspense, there
were many twists and turns, keeping me guessing until the end.
A true “Good vs. Evil” tale that will keep readers turning the pages until late in the night; it was magical, emotional and other-worldly. WHEN YOU BELIEVE is the debut of a new series by Ms Inclán. Sariel’s brothers, Rufus and Felix are secondary characters I long to
discover more about. This one shouldn’t be missed!
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WHEN YOU BELIEVE - Jessica Inclán
A Novel of Magical Temptation, Book 1
Zebra (Trade Paperback)
ISBN: 0-8217-8080-8
June 2006
Fantasy Romance
San Francisco, California; London and Kent, England - Present Day
Miranda Stead is heading for her car after her latest poetry reading when a group of thugs begins stalking her. She's becoming increasingly desperate to get off
the street and to safety when she spies a thread of light coming from under a door. Miranda pushes through as fast as she can and falls on the floor. While she has
escaped the goons, Miranda is now faced with something that could be worse. A group of people in robes fill the room, and they're less than pleased that she
has somehow managed to get through the magical vortex that should have kept all ordinary humans out and invaded their secret meeting. When a handsome man
steps forward offering security and a safe ride home, Miranda happily agrees. The man, Sariel Valasay, whisks her home and miraculously heals her injured ankle.
Intrigued, Miranda questions Sariel about his people and the magical abilities he displays. He's reluctant to tell her, but finally decides that since he is going to
erase her memories anyway, it can't hurt. Sariel and his people are Les Croyants des Trois, an ancient magical race that stands between the Moyenne,
(ordinary humans) and the Les Croyants des Trois who have dark plans for humanity and all who want to live free. Miranda is strongly attracted to Sariel and
can't help but wonder if a sorcier and an ordinary woman can find love in a world being threatened by the ultimate evil.
Sariel Valasay, a telepath and healer, is impressed by the way Miranda stands up for herself at the meeting and the relatively calm way that she accepts that magic
exists in the world. He can't help but be tempted by the beautiful poet who stirs him like no other has for a very long time. After explaining his world to Miranda
and sharing a passionate kiss with her, Sariel is reluctant to do what must be done and erase her memories. Duty and the thought of the danger Miranda would face
if they were together convinces him to follow through.
If only -- two of the saddest words in the universe; if only Sariel and Miranda could be together, if only Miranda had the strength to resist the purging of her
memories. One never knows when if only could come true.
I admit being impressed by WHEN YOU BELIEVE, this first in an epic trilogy of Magical Temptation. A lot of ground is covered quickly in the beginning of the
book to explain the Croyant. All of this information is necessary and does a wonderful job of setting up the new world created by the talented Jessica Inclán. The
descriptions of magic and its practitioners are complex, and yet easy to accept. Sariel is a wounded hero whose past mistakes have been held against him, and yet
he forges on, willing to take a chance on love again. Miranda is a strong woman who knows what she wants and is willing to do anything necessary to be with the
man she loves. The author does an excellent job of blending fantasy, intrigue, and romance into a well-rounded book.
Secondary characters are not just filler; they flesh out the story and leave you wanting to learn more about them. They include: Sariel's younger brother, Felix;
Sariel's older brother, Rufus, and his wife, the sorciere Fabia; Miranda's older sister, Viv; the head of the Croyant Council, Adalbert; various Croyant;
Sariel's first love, the evil Kallisto and her partner in crime, Quain.
Get your copy of WHEN YOU BELIEVE today; you won't regret it. And hey, you need to get it read before the other books in the Magical Temptation
series, REASON TO BELIEVE (October 2006) and book three (coming in 2007), arrive.
--Romance Reviews Today,
Lori Ann
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When You Believe
by Jessica Inclan (Kensington, $13.00, PG-13) ISBN 0-8217-8080-8
When You Believe, the first book in the Magical Temptations series and it's something of a cross between Harry Potter and Charmed. Magic, romance and otherworldly forces come together to form an enjoyable story and entry into what one
hopes is a world that has many other stories to tell. Poet Miranda Stead is trying to outrun a couple street thugs when she literally stumbles into a very strange meeting complete with people in cloaks and disappearing doors. In the process of her arrival,
she breaks her ankle. Her intrusion is not exactly welcome, and for a few nerve-wracking moments Miranda thinks she may have gone from the frying pan into the fire.
Unbeknownst to her, Miranda has discovered a gathering of the Croyant, or "believers" as they discuss their plan to defend themselves against the evil Quain. At first the group thinks Miranda is a spy but eventually determine she is only a Moyenne (or mundane). The
mysterious and sexy Sariel Valasy, a telepathic healer who fixes her ankle, takes Miranda home. He is also supposed to wipe her memories of her encounter with the Croyant. But Sariel feels something is different about Miranda and he can't bring himself to erase her memories at first. The two have a
few more encounters that eventually become intimate.
Miranda can't forget Sariel, and she is determined to learn more about him and his world. She discovers that she has certain abilities that let her travel through matter much as she did with Sariel. These abilities turn out to be something the Croyant need to defeat
Quain and Miranda becomes involved in a strange and dangerous battle over the very fate of humanity.
Sariel and Miranda are both very appealing characters; not only for their chemistry but also the way both face adversity and unfamiliar events. Sariel has a bad romantic experience in his past. He is wounded for sure, but he doesn't let that stop him from exploring his
feelings for Miranda. Miranda for her part reacts very realistically to the strange world she's been thrust into.
Besides the romantic leads, the reader is introduced to several other members of the Croyant group. Some, such as Sariel's brothers and spunky fire starter Sayblee, are more well-developed than others but all add dimension to the premise of the gathering forces against
evil. The villains don't fare as well, coming off a little two dimensional.
The pacing drags a bit in places, as the author explains Sariel's background and the intricate world of the Croyant. This is not unusual given this is the first book in a planned trilogy. Also, much of the plot is safe and predictable (readers will see Miranda's secret
coming from a mile away) in order to make way for the magical elements. Readers will need a little patience to keep going during the slow parts but will be rewarded at the end by a fine story.
--The Romance Reader, Anne Bulin
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Review: 'When You Believe'
Zebra 0-8217-8080-8 2006
Jessica Inclán
Contemporary Paranormal/Les Croyant de Trois Series
How awesome would it be if everyone read minds?Imagine the good we could do: We could thwart evildoers before their plans turned to reality, redirect our children before they went astray, and learn the secrets of what really goes on inside the minds of the guys we love.
My husband says the latter would be a waste of time."You wanna know what guys think," asks he. "I'll tell you. We don't."
Hmmm. I don't like that answer.I like to think that guys are always musing on all we mean to them, how they can better please us, and how they're still as turned-on by us as they were the first time they were turned-on by us.
It's that finely honed ability to baldly deny reality that makes me such a fan of romance.And novels like "When You Believe," a new romantic fantasy by Jessica Inclán that is as unique and mystical as it is sensually enthralling.
Talented poet Miranda Stead is running from thugs when she stumbles through a physics-defying vortex and into a secret meeting of folks in Hogwarts-style robes who aren't so happy to see her pretty face.Before she can process that, she's literally swept off her feet by a member of the
group -- a gorgeous man who seems to know her thoughts and desires even as she thinks and feels them.
Sariel Valasay is bewildered by the immediate connection he feels with Miranda.And he's stunned by her acceptance of his telepathy, as well as his being a descendent of the age-old Croyant des Trois -- men and women dedicated to using their innate magical powers and skills to protect
Moyenne, humans with no magic, from Croyant who've gone bad.
Sariel knows he shouldn't act on his feelings for Miranda -- not when the evil Quain and Sariel's scheming ex are set to use their Croyant powers to subjugate humanity.Yet as Sariel tries to clear Miranda's mind of memories of their time together, he sets into motion events that may prove
love is powerful magic in its own right.
"When You Believe" is an exceptionally cool novel.Inclán's mythology is fascinating and sophisticated, yet refreshing in its simplicity; one isn't stopped cold by frequently having to refer to a glossary.
The word "fluidity" comes to mind. A languid, lovely passage of time early in the novel, and a smooth transition to thrilling action as the plot moves forward, makes the novel utterly engaging -- a real treat.Inclán is a talented writer, adept at creating concise descriptive prose, and
comfortable, yet dynamic dialogue. She's got a canny ability to combine the two when characters communicate telepathically.
I'll assume you're not a mind reader and communicate my message about "When You Believe" this way:Buy the book.
http://www.wnbc.com/romance/index.html
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Miranda Stead believes she is just a poet. One night while fleeing from thugs, she accidentally opens a doorway into the world of the Croyant, an ancient race of magical beings currently fighting over control of three plaques. Miranda lands in the midst of a sinister-looking group that immediately
suspects Miranda is a spy for their arch-enemy, Quain, as no Moyenne could have breached their world.
Sariel Valasay recognizes something in Miranda and defends her to the Croyant. He agrees to take her back to her home with the understanding that all of her memories of both him and the Croyant will be erased. Will Miranda's love be stronger than any magic Sariel wields? And can Les Croyant des
Trois defeat Quain without Miranda?
WHEN YOU BELIEVE is a magical, ethereal tale that winds its way through a well-developed fantasy world. Although initially slow-going, readers will find themselves drawn into the world of Les Croyant des Trois. Miranda has the soul of an artist as she is first and foremost a poet. Jessica Inclán's
lyrical writing style emphasizes this aspect and adds to the magical feeling that one has stepped into another world entirely.
WHEN YOU BELIEVE is not an easy story to read but it is an intriguing one. Jessica Inclán builds an atmosphere that eventually hooks the reader. This reviewer considered giving up on the story entirely in the early going, but is now glad she didn't as the ride is worth the wait! Readers will enjoy
WHEN YOU BELIEVE if they give the storyline time to properly progress.
Reviewed by Debbie, CK2S Kwips and Kritiques
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This is the exciting debut of a new trilogy about the Les Croyants des Trois, a race of people with telepathic powers who are sworn to protect the Moyenne race, or humans, from domination of the dark forces in the Croyant world.
Running for her life, Miranda Stead unknowingly steps through a portal that lands her in the world of Croyants. Telepath and healer Sariel Valasay agrees to take her home and erase her memories of their encounter in an effort to protect both worlds for the dark forces that are conspiring for
domination. But Sariel isn’t prepared for the feelings she stirs within him.
Determined not to forget their love, Miranda resists his attempt to take her memories and sets out to find him, unaware that his memories were erased. Eventually, they meet again and band together in the war against the dark forces and, in the process, rediscover the love they had.
Inclán’s beautiful tale combines elements of fantasy, romance, adventure and self-discovery into an almost surreal plot. The story confuses at the start as the authors tries to explain the differences in the two races and how Croyants travel, but once readers grasp this concept, it unravels into the
beginnings of an epic that conjures many emotions and leaves readers feeling like they are in a dream.
--Romantic Times, Autumn M. Harrison
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On a warm San Franciscan night, Zaps poet contributor Miranda Stead heads to the lot where her car is parked, but neither are where they should be; in fact nothing is right. Instead some testosterone types chase after her until she rushes through a door, falls, and probably breaks her ankle with
people yelling at her demanding who she is and how she got here as none of them know how she did it. The group accuses her of being a lousy Moyenne spy; she thinks they are crazy.
Telepathic healer Sariel Valasay agrees to escort
Miranda home as she has inadvertently dropped through a portal to the world of Les Croyant des Trois. He plans to erase her memory of their meeting and her trek into his realm as he fears for her and her world if the dark forces learn of a Moyenne penetrating the barrier. As they journey together,
they are attracted to one another. However, he erases her memory of him, or at least he thinks he did. She refuses to forget, but unbeknownst to Sariel his memory of her is gone even as Miranda hunts for her soul mate. Though
romantic fantasy fans will need to give this complex tale time to provide the background on the Inclán universe, readers will appreciate the wait once they grasp the nuances as this is a superb tale. Fans will root for Miranda who refuses to allow her memory of meeting her beloved to die and hope
she and Sariel find a way to be with one another. Readers will believe that Jessica Inclán provides an entertaining deep thriller in which is the ultimate weapon. --Harriet Klausner
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Contact
Jessica's Agent:
Mel Berger, Senior Vice President, William Morris Agency, Inc.
1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019
212.903.1147, FAX 212.303.1418
MMB@WMA.COM
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