THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EMILY by Robyn Bachar

Magic, matchmaking and murder...

Lord Willowbrook’s spring ball is supposed to be a magical celebration, but Miss Emily Wright is bored. The only outlet allowed for her magic is matchmaking—for others, not herself. Why bother? The only man she wants, Michael Black, is a man she can never have.

Suddenly the guests are abuzz with news of a young sorceress found drained of blood in the parlor. The mystery calls to her, and since she is the only available seer in all England, she jumps at the chance to prove herself.

Michael has spent his life preparing for his ritual death, when he will join the Order of St. Jerome as an immortal chronicler. Now that dream hangs in the balance, his mentor accused of the murder. Worse, gentle Emily, the woman he silently loves, is walking into a world of horrors beyond her imagination.

Torn between duty to the order and desire to keep her safe, Michael fights his growing need for a love that can never be his. All the while the real killer stalks the shadows of Willowbrook Hall, homing in on the next victim.

Warning: This book contains a tough but tortured seer, a hero with an expiration date, scandalous kisses, scheming vampires and bloody corpses.

Before I say anything else, I just have to comment on this beautiful cover. It's stunning!

Emily's a seer who uses her power for matchmaking. In spite of that, she's still single. On the night when she's attending a party in Willowbrook Hall someone is murdered and it piques her interest instantly. She's a curious woman, and soon becomes embroiled in the mystery of who drained the victim. Almost as much as she becomes involved with the alluring and very mysterious Michael Black.

This paranormal, historical novella is absolutely charming. It's a gem! I really enjoyed the mystery plot, Emily's voice, the magical world she lives in, the awesome worldbuilding... it's just plain fun.

I'm now curious about Robyn Bachar's other stories. :)