The Enchanted Hacienda

[cornerofmadness]

The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


My library set up unrealized expectations shelving this in fantasy as it's magic realism/romance which is so not my thing. Also it suffered a bit in comparison to another book I was reading at the same time with the same set up, an all female family where everyone has magic. Except apparently Harlow, the lead in this story. All of her family have the name of the flower they embodied whispered to their mother's by one of the old goddesses in Mexican/Aztec culture. Everyone but Harlow, whose name means heap of stones so she believes she's magicless.

And when her world collapses after losing her dream job and realizing her fiance is both a bit misogynistic and racist, she flees home to the titular hacienda in Mexico where her family grows amazing flowers, makes normal flower arrangements and for a select clientele uses magic to assist them. They encourage Harlow to lick her wounds and finally write that book they all know will be so amazing (based on what I have no idea)

Harlow reminds me of that person in the writing group, you know the one. Every writing group has one, the one who can't write because they don't have the right space/the stars aren't aligning/the time of year is wrong etc etc. So she does a lot of whining about it. Harlow whines about a lot of things.

And then comes Ben, the uber hot guy from Canada whose grandparents knew Harlow's grandparents and had met at the hacienda. Ben's tall dark mystery and did I mention hot? No, don't worry Harlow will...like every chapter. Just once I'd like to see a romance where they're average but they're smart or funny or make the other person's life better for being there instead of OOOOO soooo hooooottttt. So Harlow and the cliche are very obviously going to get together and I'm not being overly harsh here. Ben is never really allow to grow much beyond the tall dark and handsome cliche. the most unique thing about him is yes he's a millionaire (or will be once he inherits) son of a hotel empire and all he wants to do is make boutique hotels that support the environment or blend into it or something.

Magic hijinks ensues with much angst. I had mentally checked out by the end. Honestly if romance is your thing, you'll probably like this. For someone who came for the fantasy elements I was disappointed.



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