Lauren Connolly

Earth Magic and Hot Water is the second book in the romantic fantasy series Casual Magic. As in the first book, the characters in this book are all elemental magic users. Cat Byrne is a fire elemental. Her magic is triggered by anger. Two men from her past, Rafael Aguado a water elemental and Aspen Baumann, an earth elemental, have reappeared in her life causing her anger, and her magic to erupt. Can the three work together to heal the hurts from the past and form something new?
This is a fun romantic fantasy as was the first book in the series. The dialogue is entertaining and the characters are fun. I had a similar issue with this book as with the first. The magic element seems secondary to a rather ordinary romance with many of the same tropes of misunderstanding and overcoming personal insecurities as you would find in any romance. I felt that the magic was under-utilised and I wish the characters in the would use their magic for more than parlour tricks.
Unlike the first book, this book involves a polyamorous relationship and M/M sexual material. I didn’t find the sexual content excessive or objectionable, although perhaps more of a trigger warning would be good for those who do.… (mais)

The fact that this is an enemies to lovers AND friends to lovers POLY open door romance story is AMAZING! I loved Cat and Aspen and Rafael on their own, but add them all together and it’s for sure relationship goals. There’s no way that any combination of these three in a couple would work. They all balance each other out perfectly and they’re all hot together.

This is the second in a series ad I cannot wait to go back and read the first and see what comes after.

The elemental aspect is so great. I’m not normally into fantasy, but this was done in a way that I really, really enjoyed.

I received an advanced reader copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. It… (mais)