Love's Potion

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Be Careful What You Wish For. . .

.Jasmine Flynn, CPA, never imagined that the old perfume bottle she'd picked up in a junk store would change her life. But when the djinni (that's djinni, not genie, if you please) appears and Jasmine takes one look at the most handsome man she's ever seen, she decides to play along and make a wish.

After all, what woman wouldn't wish for a man like Raziq--tall, lean, and breathtakingly gorgeous--but can she ever trust a man again after what she's been through?

As Raziq explains the ins and outs of magical wishes, Jasmine learns more than she ever wanted to know about demons, sorceresses, and otherworldly powers until, without warning, Jasmine and Raziq find themselves in the midst of a war between the powers of good and evil, as well as a battle for her own heart. . . .

Sheila Viehl, the fabulous PBW, on Love's Potion

If reading great books were wishes, I'd just had three very nice ones granted -- but I wanted more, as in more novels just like them. Monica Jackson must be a precog, or a genie, because it's as if she gave me the fun and warmth of Key of Sea, the tense thrills of Gettings Hers, and the constant heat of Passion, all blended beautifully together in her novel Love's Potion.

My mother loved the old TV show I Dream of Jeannie, and from the cover art I assumed Love's Potion would be an updated version of that. Why do we do that, judge a book by its cover art? I know better, but I formed an impression off the cute cover. I immediately liked the idea of the guy being stuck in the bottle (I suppose him wearing a skimpy harem costume was too much to hope for.) The book got off to a fast, rollicking start, and I settled in, pretty confident of how the story would go. Paranormal fluff.

Well, Love's Potion didn't fluff out the way I thought it would. Don't get me wrong, it's fun, and often laugh-out-loud funny (classic moments: Raziq's opinion of flying in airplanes, the scents of protective charms, and when Jasmine catfights Susie) but it goes nowhere near fluff. Forget the cover art; the story delivers all kinds of serious tension from the beginning -- plot tension, sexual tension, character tension -- and Monica layers and builds this in fine, very deceptive increments. That's also the way she does her worldbuilding, magic system and crafting the djinni, demons and humans caught up in a not-so-classic struggle of good against evil.

Love's Potion also turns up the heat, in degrees from low simmer to steamy boil, and I entertained much lust in my heart for Raziq. The man is just too much. Yet again, that didn't go as I'd expected. Raziq and Jasmine didn't follow the standard linear progression of a romance; they were too much like real people. When we fall in love, we don't know it's forever by chapter nine. We live with doubts, reservations, distractions coming at us from all directions, and no matter how strong your love is, you always have to deal with some form of that (or you do for at least twenty-two years, to use my most successful relationship as a yardstick.) Raziq and Jasmine convinced me they were in love because they had to keep dealing with that love, and its consequences, and not knowing how it would work out. As we all do. [End of anti-HEA mini-lecture.]

There is fast-moving adventure and meaningful romance and a skillfully spun web of plotlines in Love's Potion, and I am very grateful for the short epilogue, because if Monica had ended it at Chapter 23 I would have called her many bad names. But after going through everything with Raziq and Jasmine, I really needed those last two pages -- so much for my disdain for HEA. I know, I can be such a girl sometimes.

I think what impressed me the most about my fourth terrific read was again how much Monica was able to put into this story. It was everything that I wanted but didn't expect. The book is not that long, only 218 pages, and it moves like France's TGV trains: you fly through the chapters. You shouldn't be able to do that with a book that has all that Monica Jackson offers in Love's Potion, but you will. And that, my friends, is very real magic.

I really enjoyed Love's Potion. It was a easy read and the storyline was very spiritual. I know it was fantasy but your wording made it seems so believable. I recommended this book to my fellow readers. Good Job! --Melonie Bailey “I just finished Love’s Potion last night (bought it as I left work @ 4pm, done reading @ 10pm). It was wonderful. As an avid reader (and bookseller) of African-American romances and a current student of metaphysics, wicca, & earth-based spirituality, I felt it was the perfect paranormal love story. Thank you for expanding beyond the sometimes “cookie-cutter” genre of romance.”–Toni Campbell

This is the most unique Contemporary Romance I have ever read. The presence of evil spirits and vivid dreams made this story a page turner. As I read this story I wondered how bad people could be, but at the same time the raw determination and the pursuit of what's right made me believe that God would always protect us.-- Simone A. Hawks, RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Hey, how do I get my own hot genie?
Okay, let me start by saying that under normal circumstances I DO NOT like paranormal romances. As a matter of fact, this is my first book in this genre, and my first by this author. I've typically found paranormals to be long on weirdo stuff, and very short on character development. Well, Love's Potion proved me wrong in my prejudices. These characters are deftly crafted, and so interesting that from the very beginning I cared what happened to them.

Ms. Jackson did what many authors fail to do; she created a hero that the reader can't help but fall passionately in love (and lust) with. I mean, what normal woman wouldn't love to have a totally hot genie (pardon me, djinni) grant her one wish? Sounds like the stuff of my fantasies anyway. But of course, it doesn't quite pan out that way (does it ever?) The course to true love never runs smooth, but poor Jasmine and Raziq have a bit more to contend with than usual; demons and sorceresses and even an honest-to-goodness succubi. But no incubi, oh well, maybe in the next book Ms. Jackson?

And did I mention that not only is this book hot and steamy with an engaging story that I couldn't put down, but its also mad funny? Ms. Jackson has a rapier wit that comes through in this story that had me laughing out loud at times (when she wasn't scaring the bejesus out of me!) All in all this was a great book, and I can't wait to get my hands on her backlist.--R. Holcomb

Kelly Callihan's Words of a Writer

I Dream of Djinni!
Monica Jackson has done it again--given all of us African American romance readers who enjoy a walk on the paranormal side another gem to enjoy. I read this book straight through--couldn't put it down. I loved the magical elements of this novel. I love that it is connected to In My Dreams and carries the theme and message of preparing for the last days and the final battle between demons and humans--good and evil. But what I loved most of all was the way she weaved in humor. What can I say. I laughed. I cried. I got really scared. Jackson took me there and back and I loved it. The heroine, Jasmine Flynn, is a black woman who has made some mistakes in her past and has some internal demons to deal with of her own. The hero, Raziq, is a djinni (that's genie to all you non-pc-folk) who is fine as all get out, feels her pain and wants to help her through it. (Having a flashback and stopping to fan myself--okay.) Anyway, the chemistry between the two of them is hot. Their passion and the love that develops between them is unforgettable. And just like with In My Dreams, Jackson has given readers just the right mixture of the paranormal, suspense, and romance. This book is a winner! Pick up your copy today!--Gwyneth Divine

Love's Potion is not your usual contemp romance. I got a the following letter from a longtime reader:

I just read "Love's Potion" and although I was very disappointed that it didn't stick with the contemporary romance of "The Look of Love" it was a pretty good book. Like I said, I would have liked if it was contemporary romance but I applaud you on a well written book.--Andrea

Thanks for the props any way, Andrea!

You will smile, maybe giggle out loud. You may get scared, you may even get offended, but you won't be bored, and be sure and check out Raziq on the sidebar. The man is simply too hot.