Night Magic

Author Karen Robards is a NY Times bestseller and one of the best known names in romance today. She has won numerous awards, including three Affaire de Coeur Silver Pen Awards for favorite romance author. Other titles include: Guilty, Obsession, Vanished, Superstition, Wild Orchids, To Love A Man, and Dark Torment. She resides with her family in Louisville, Kentucky.

When romance writer Clara Winston has her home broken into and she's forced to put her safety into the hands of a stranger, her life suddenly becomes dangerously close to one of her sizzling novels. Especially when said stranger is CIA agent Jack McClain, a handsome and exciting man to a fault. A man with a past that is better left a secret. Now running from a deadly enemy, Jack and Clara must uncover the truth behind a lethal international conspiracy, one in which no one can be trusted and the body count is rising.

The original copyright publication for this book was 1987, with reissues in 1993 and 2009. Due to the time frame this was originally written, readers will have to take that into consideration because there are references to Vietnam, as well as current events that aren't fitting for now. Aside from those brief references, it should not be distracting or deterring to read.

The only drawback to the book was that I felt the epilogue was a bit rushed. After everything that happened between these two, it was a great ending, but rushing it felt anti-climactic.

It's no surprise why Karen Robards has captured her readers for as long as she has. Her writing style is both intelligent and alluring, blending both romance and suspense equally, while never losing sight of the real world. It makes for an engaging escape into her books without that little voice inside your head saying, "yeah, right." The setting for this book, looping through Virginia and North Carolina, are beautifully portrayed. The secondary characters, including the antagonists, are realistic and flawed, adding to the plot nicely. The action sequences were appropriately interesting, including a scene where Jack and Clara were in captivity, sparing no niceties you often see in romance. Most of all, the romance and heat between the hero and heroine was well-paced and not over-gushy, making you aware of place and time and getting lost regularly. Clara, at times, could be quite irritating the way she argued with Jack on every little thing, but it added tension and I reminded myself that she'd been through a lot. A highly recommended read from this brilliant author!

Kelly Moran,
Author and Reviewer

If you like adventure, humor, romance and suspense, then you will probably love this book. There's even a little bit of tear jerker in it.

Clara Winston is a romance writer who is taken from her home, with her cat in tow, by CIA agent Jack McClain, whose job it is to keep her safe. Now they are on the run, searching for the truth behind a lethal international conspiracy. What follows is a journey of twists and turns where they can't afford to trust anyone and the body count keeps going up.

The plot is amazing and it has non ending action. I love the relationship between the two main characters, Clara and Jack. They are very different from other couples I've read about. They were down to earth, but they were at time very grouchy and at other times down right mean. The book was totally hilarious and I had to stop reading so I could stop laughing. I'm a visual reader so I really love books where the author's description of what's going on makes you feel as if you are there with them. It's like watching a movie. Karen Robards is a master when it comes to giving you everything you need to "be there" with the characters. When I pictured Clare being yanked from her house with her cat in her arms, I lost it. I would have done the same thing. I'd be screaming "I'm not leaving without my dog!!" The book takes you on a journey that is a never ending roller coaster ride of twists, turns, surprises and laughs and even tears.
The only complaint I could find with this book is... yes, I've said it before and I'm going to say it again, the print is to small. And in this case it's made even harder to read due to the color of the pages. I don't understand why they make the book so hard to read for people who have less than 20/20 vision.

Other than that, this book is great. I can't believe I've never read a book by this author before. I now have a lot of catching up to do! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any one who loves action and/or a good laugh.

There is nothing slow about this book. It starts out with action. Clara is a romance author, single, and appears to be settled in her dull and quiet life. But all that changes one night when the KGB show up at her home breaking down her door wanting to know where he is- where Magic Dragon is hiding. Her lastest book Magic Dragon is dedicated to the real Magic Dragon (her cat "poof"). She is now on the run for her life with a man she has never met but is thought to be her lover, Jack McClain, code name Magic Dragon - a CIA agent that is on the run for his life after coming across information of Russian spies in government positions. Jack is rough and tough, military all the way, 38 and single. He has had his share of women- and his "type" has never been like Clara- or has it and he just didn't know it. There is never a dull moment in this story. The cat plays an important part in the story, too. If you are a cat lover you'll enjoy it. Lots of fun, adverture, romance... I highly recommend it! Being my first Karen Robards book to read- I look forward to reading more by her.

NIGHT MAGIC
Karen Robards
Grand Central Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-446-35391-5
$7.99 - Paperback
384 pages
Reviewer: Annie Slessman

A reissue, Night Magic, by Karen Robards is the story of a young writer, Clara Winston who spends her time writing romance novels and taking care of her three cats. She is a Southern bred woman who has lead, up until now, a sensible and sane life.

Mistakenly taken as the girlfriend of Jack McClain, a CIA agent, Russian KGB agents take her from her home, her cat Puff in hand, to try to gain information from her. They have also taken McClain and when they escape their kidnappers, they set about on a journey to discover the identity of a Russian killer, Bigfoot.

Clara is faced with things she never dreamed of in her sane life as she runs with Jack in an effort to evade being killed. Along the way she and Jack develop a relationship unlike anything Clara has ever known.

The story takes a reader through their paces as Clara and Jack seek the man they are hunting. Robards in the writing of this tale has developed a cast of characters that vividly provoke a reader's interest.

If you didn't catch this story the first time around, do so this time. At $7.99 it provides inexpensive and quality entertainment.

This is the best book she has written, maybe because it's one of her first? Her later books are rather formulaic, but, that being said, her writing is so good that it doesn't matter - you know you're if for a great read with any of her books. Some of the other reviewers didn't like the heroine's attitude, but they evidently didn't take into account her background. She behaved exactly as someone of her upbringing would have, which was most of the fun :)

I adore this book, it's got everything, romance, action, and really great characters. It's funny, and charming with the best kitty sidekick I've read about in a long time: Puff. In defense of this wonderful novel by Robards, it is not Deja Vu from Hunter's Moon(not Harvest Moon), this novel was released in 1988, way before Hunter's Moon in 1996. So Robards decided to recreate some of the Magic, but this original is still her best.

so if you want to read about an irresistable alpha hero; a smart and sassy heroine and their adorable, and lovable kitty sidekick Puff then this is the book for you.

This story starts out with action and really doesn't stop until the last few chapters of the book. Thats the main reason I liked it, also the male character was very masculine and came across very appealing. The cat who goes along on the adventures with Jack and Clara really made the story even more fun to read! The story is not deep it is just sizzling romance and tremendous adventure. I really like a good page turner, even if some parts were a bit unbelievable who cares, if you have a good imagination this book is worth your time!!
Lisa Nary

Truth is stranger than fiction, or so they say. I don't think much could be stranger than the events of this book.

I'm less than 1/4 through the book, and am at a point where I simply can't take it seriously any more. I don't think I've ever read a book so full of ludicrous events, unbelievable coincidences and 'stupid character' moments. I should have realised right from the start, when the so-called hero - who I find completely unlikeable - is swimming for his life in Chesapeake Bay with a Russian spy shooting at him, and a *shoal of dolphins* surround him and sweep him to shore, that this was going to be unreadable.

So on to the first ludicrous coincidence. McClain, the 'hero', is a CIA spy with the code-name Magic Dragon. Clara Winston is a romance novelist, and she has dedicated her latest novel to 'the real Magic Dragon' - which apparently refers to her cat Puff. So *of course* the Russian spies assume she knows the CIA Magic Dragon and come after her. And then she manages to escape from these ruthless, highly-trained Russian spies with the aid of - of all things - a cat. Right. Then she's abducted *in broad daylight* by the Russian spies from right outside the sheriff's house!

As if that's not ludicrous enough, the cat is abducted with her. And then, when she ends up a prisoner in the basement of a house along with McClain, the cat attacks one of the Russians and the two of them escape. With the cat. And later she CARRIES the cat for miles as they trek through a forest. And the cat stays nearby all night as they sleep. Has Robards ever owned a cat? Spent any time with a cat? Cats do NOT like being carried for long periods, particularly if you're walking. Cats, if they're out of doors, will do their own thing. They are not like dogs, who will stay close to their owners. If they're in a strange place, they will run off and try to find their way home. Completely unbelievable.

Oh, and McClain - an undercover spy for the CIA, remember, working on uncovering a Russian spy ring towards the end of the Cold War (yes, I finally realised that this book was written in the late 1980s) CARRIES A CIA IDENTITY CARD? Really? Oh, yeah, right, of course an undercover spy is going to carry his ID, to be found by anyone who happens to search him/see inside his wallet/abduct him in case he might be a spy. (Oh, and wouldn't his wallet - including the cash in it - be full of water damage, since apparently he didn't have a chance to dry off properly, let alone shower and change and dry his things, since getting out of the water?)

Seriously, the editor and publisher dropped the ball on this one. I want my money back.

I've read and enjoyed two other Robards books, which I would recommend over this one: "Shattered," and "Obsession." She is a great romance author who knows how to write an engaging story. Unfortunately, this particular novel falls under that frustrating style of romance that was inexplicably popular in the 1980's: characters who hate each other, and yet inevitably fall into the sack together... Bleh. She made the characters so ornery and opinionated that they were too hard to love. Jack is tough, yes, but he is so mean to Clara that he comes across as a jerk. And Clara is tough too (in her own way), but her vindictiveness and inexplicable motivations make her equally impossible to love. Puff was fun, but even he wasn't enough to save this book for me. I put it down after page 157.

It wasn't poorly written, and I will still recommend Robards as an author, but this particular novel was not for me.

I suggest her more recent material, instead.

This book was the first romance novel I ever read, and I have been hooked by Robards ever since. This book still remains my favorite contemporary romance of all time. Robards writes excellent historical romances, but her contemporary romances with their believable characters are tops. If you like this one, try also her "Wild Orchids" and "To Love A Man".

This book has adventure at every single turn of a page. it was awesome. the adventure was sick. the love relationship between Clara and Jack, it was cute. It was very heated at times. lol. but i think the story was well written. if you want adventure and love, then read this. if you arent even looking for that, still read this book!! you wont be sad. i had make myself put it down because i read half of it in one night. i didnt want it to end. the ending, now it was really good yes. but i still wish there was more to it. i was reading and i was like, "how is this going to end when there isnt that many pages left?" but all in all, it was good. and cute. and just read it!!

I really enjoyed this book. Like all of Robards other books it had great love scenes, but it also had a great deal of mystery and suspense, and it was so funny! I laughed and laughed at the adventures involving Clara, Jack and Puff. I enjoyed it so much I read it in one afternoon- I just couldn't put it down once I started.

"Night Magic" has just the right blend of humor and danger. Romance writer Clara Winston (with her cat Puff) are mistakenly mixed up with CIA agent Jack McCain who is on the run from the KGB. While Jack is very good looking he's not exactly Prince Charming. I really enjoyed this book. If you give it a try and like it, try Karen Robards "Walking after Midnight" as well.

I love this book!!! Like another reviewer here, I too read this book several times every year!! It always makes me laugh out loud! The humor, sexual chemistry, adventure & danger are just the perfect combination! Karen Robards is a great writer, I have read all of her books. This is her best and again my most favorite book of all time!!!!!!!!

This oldie but goodie is my favorite Karen Robards of all time. The story reminds of the movie "Romancing the Stone"...but set in the US. Great action romance. Recommended for adult audiences only; a little steamy for youth.

Another exciting Karen Robards book, could not put it down til I finished! Had to see what happened next! Also had some funny parts that had me laughing out loud, and parts that had me feel their pain to the point of tears in my eyes! You wil love this book!

*Bestselling author Karen Robards has outdid herself with this exciting romantic thriller. Another great read!...........After making some futile mistakes in his life not to mention his career, burnt out CIA agent Jack McLain believes he might have found his comeback into the agency as he is kidnapped along with his contact and placed on a Russian trawler by one of the worst Russian Agents of all time by the name of Rostov. Discovering through his contact Yuropov that there would be an asassination during the peacetalks, at a summit by an known asassin only known as "Bigfoot" to take out the Secretary of State, it was imperative that he escape. Well known author of romance novels, Clara Winston wishes she led a life like the characters in her books where she still believed in true love, especially this last one in which she dedicated it to her cat, Puff. What Clara didn't know, her life was about to change drastically when suddenly her back door was kicked in by some foreign men. Russian? As they demanded to know where Puff was, she ran for her life in her backyard only to land right into the arms of Jack McLain. Not knowing Jack's codename was "Puff", he was amused when she told him what happened and before deserting her, he told her to take a long vacation. As little time goes by, Clara is soon kidnapped along with her cat Puff and she is faced with Jack once again only to find him beatened within an inch of his life and handcuffed. With a strong military manuever, Jack becomes free of his captors taking Clara with him along with Puff as they run for dear life. As each minute went into hours, Clara found herself hating Jack finding him arrogant, rude and downright obnoxious with the ability of being so damn downright sexy that it was unthinkable. But as more time went by, more barriers came down and they found themselves having an intoxicating love affair. With their lives in constant danger while evading Russian agents right on their heels, Jack and Clara finally make it to safety only to discover there is a traitor in their midst. When Clara and Jack have a falling out, they both realize that they are in love without the other being aware of it and the worst for Clara is, discovering the knowledge and identity of "Bigfoot" in which Jack has no idea. She only hopes that Jack will figure it out, find her and maybe even forgive her, so she will have the chance to tell him how she truly feels before the night magic they once shared is totally extinguised, for the very last time!....thank you♡♡