Little does she know it but the heroine's love life is been planned and plotted right under her nose but a couple of matchmaking witches. The sweet older couple whom she waves to in the mornings have spelled and bewitched the means to summon the heroine's life mate. They've planted a tropical flower in the middle of a cold winter forest so that the heroine would eventually track down the worlds leading botanist to study this phenomenon. The hero and heroine have been communicating via emails for a few months now and though they've never actually spoke, they feel a deep connection to one another. When the hero gets the chance, he leaves France to America and takes up in the small middle of nowhere town of Big Knob. The heroine is both anxious and nervous to finally meet the man who's become so important to her but she worries over how he'll react to her less the model like appearance. She's just a small town girl and he must be used to having his pick of beautiful French women. And to top it off, she's having vivid sex dreams about a golden god who makes her question her sanity. But when the hero arrives, they waste no time getting closer. Something about him makes her feel like he's the center of her world and he feels the same for her. It's like magic just how close they are and how deeply they've come to care for one another in such a short period of time. But she disregards any notion of magic or witches and though he's the scientist, he's the one more open to the idea of witchcraft. And it's he that realizes the older couple are in fact witches and that something magical is happening in their small town. But the faery prince who's haunted her dreams refuses to surrender the woman he imagines as his queen and the hero must do everything he can to keep the heroine from his clutches. Boring story, lifeless writing and very unsuccessful attempts at humor made this book a struggle to read. I was skipping pages constantly and though I did feel the connection between the characters is was not nearly enough to make up for the dull plot and lackluster comedic attempts. Most of the dialogue was spent on condoms... or the fact that the hero was French...I won't be reading the rest of the series if they are anything like this one (which-being chit-lit romances-they probably are). I can't say it was disappointing as I wasn't expecting much, but still....disappointing. ( )

Loved it as usual, I really hope there is another book in this series in the future ( )

Racy and laugh-out-loud funny. ( )

Vicki Lewis Thompson makes me laugh. Her imaginative stories combine humor and romance in a way that always tickles my funny bone while I sigh in pleasure at the perfect happy ending for her pairs. "Casual Hex" is the third book in her 'Hex' series about a pair of magical matchmakers who've been banished to a small town in Indiana. They manage to find mischief and create mayhem while helping certain residents of the town find their perfect mate. It's even funnier when not all the residents are of the human variety!

Gwen is a shy, quiet florist who has made a habit of blending in and behaving. After all, when you're one of the few single women in a small town, you have to watch out for your reputation. But recently shy, quiet Gwen has been having some seriously erotic dreams--and they all seem to star the same man. She really doesn't have time for this since her pen pal botanist from France is about to come to town specifically to check out Gwen's rare plant. Over the months of their correspondence Gwen feels they've gotten to know each other so well. OK, she has a crush on him. But a suave, continental guy like him could never be interested in a quiet shy girl like Gwen, right?

Thompson's pacing was dead on in this story. Gwen doesn't become an instant sex kitten. Instead, with the help of friends and a teeny tiny bit of magic, she learns about her own beauty and her own power as a woman. I liked that the magic was about boosting Gwen's confidence vice changing her appearance. The growth came from inside and as many a man will tell you, "Confidence is sexy."

And speaking of sexy...whoo, this story had some pretty hot sex! Between a fairy prince luring Gwen in her dreams, and a flesh and blood Frenchman sexing her up in reality...well, let's just say I'm jealous! This isn't a story that will have the reader searching their conscience or agonizing over life and death decisions or consequences. Instead this book is a breath of humorous air with a hefty helping of hot sexual tension. Just about perfect for a slow evening. ( )