I don’t read a lot of romance, and was not even aware that Amazon has a category for “Paranormal Witches & Wizards Romance,” but No Broomsticks Allowed drew me in and turned me on. A very clever, original, and exquisitely erotic story. Ms. Harrison has an amazing imagination and spins out a universe like none other. Sometimes, the full contours of her world are not entirely clear, but the story here is compelling enough that you won’t notice.

The world in which Azrael, our heroine, lives includes magical people who began filtering into our “regular” world many years before when a dimensional rift opened between our world and “Demonium.” Since then, demons, witches, warlocks, multiple species of monsters, and other assorted surprises live and work among humans, who seem unfazed by the mixed world. People can move back and forth between the worlds on a corporate “airline” – first class costs more. It’s not clear whether humans can visit Demonium, but the alternate dimension is certainly an interesting place. The time is seemingly the present, with no additional technology – but plenty of magic that pops up whenever needed.

Azrael is a down-on-her-luck witch, working at a corporation on Earth that provides magic for a fee. She can’t pay her rent, lives with a friend and roommate, Caleb, who is a major character, and just got suspended from her job for messing up a spell. She’s a “summoning” witch and she summoned the wrong kind of demon. Later in the story, we learn all about how summoning works and how it’s tied together with each person’s (or demon’s) “purpose.” “Az” spars with her grumpy but hot landlord, Lance. Eventually, their obvious attraction pushes them together, which is how Az comes into contact with Blais, Lance’s evil brother. I won’t spoil the story, but the Amazon blurb reveals that Blais wants to kill Az, who turns to Lance for protection.

The main story is both a mystery and a magical adventure that on its own is a superior plot with plenty of twists and fascinating side characters. The romance elements of the book are also top notch, including an extended period of unrequited longing and teasing that ratchets up the sexual tension. The sex scenes are plenty hot and kept my attention and anticipation while not distracting from the main story, which is seamlessly twisted together with the love story.

The characters have deep back stories and are well-formed. I could root for Az and wonder how things will come out because I cared about the characters. The plot twists kept things from being too predictable all the way to the end. There is a satisfying resolution without cutting off opportunities for sequels. There were a few minor plot gaps and I would have wanted a somewhat more fulsome understanding of how this mixed-magic world works outside Azrael’s personal space, but the small issues don’t significantly detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. The writing here is very clean, with few typos and very accessible language.

I recommend the read for romance fans, magical adventure fans, as well as anyone who enjoys a good love story, a good sense of humor, and interesting characters. The star-rating is based on how readers of Paranormal Witches & Wizards Romance will love it.