Butcher and Blood Mage, Callie Payne, once left a city behind for a different life. But when she is forced to return to the streets of Seattle, the woman and the things she thought she left behind come to reclaim her.
Callie Payne once ran with the Jackson Street Roses, but she left Seattle—left the Roses—to marry a rancher. After his death, she returns to take over the family butcher shop; a fitting career for an out-of-practice blood mage. When the leader of the Roses, Eileen “EJ” Jordan, stops by, Callie knows it isn’t just to buy T-bone steaks. What does the suave gangster really want after all these years?
EJ needs Callie’s magic against rival gangster Paul Underwood, who is horning in on Rose territory. Callie refuses to get involved; she won’t risk violating the Laws of the Covenant forbidding intentional harm. Then EJ tells her Underwood was responsible for the death of one of the Roses years ago. Callie is compelled to get revenge however she can.
A three-day incantation to repel Underwood re-establishes and strengthens Callie’s connection to the Roses, particularly EJ. Old feelings return, but EJ worries a personal relationship will endanger Callie. Their desire, however, proves impossible to ignore.
Days after Underwood threatens them, he’s found dead in an area awash in magic residue. The cops and the Covenant Investigation Office are eyeing EJ and Callie for the crime. Whoever is responsible knows magic well enough to be a step ahead, and they’re setting up EJ and Callie to take the fall.
EJ is determined to find the culprit, no matter the cost, and Callie is willing to bend the Laws for her. Can they catch the killer before more blood is spilled?
Review By Linda Tonis
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
The 1930’s, bootlegging, magic, revenge, and romance. This book had me from page one until it ended which was four in the morning lol. The main characters Callie Payne and Eileen “EJ” Jordan were amazing.
Callie Payne left behind the Jackson Street Roses to marry a rancher and has been gone for over ten years. With the death of her husband, she returned home to take over running Payne’s Meats since the death of her father. Since her return she has not reconnected with the Roses concentrating on the butcher shop.
When EJ walks into the shop to ask Callie for help to stop Paul Underwood from trying to take over her businesses Callie can’t say no. Callie will not go against the Tribune and murder or harm anyone but is willing to place a spell that would remove Paul from her premises. Reunited with most of the Roses she realizes that she married and moved away with the hope of having a normal life, but it was a mistake.
As Callie, EJ and the rest of the Roses prepare for the spell Callie realizes that she wants to be with EJ and that feeling was what prompted her to leave. Callie is a blood witch with the power to cause real damage if she goes too far. Until the spell is completed Underwood continues to create havoc on EJ leading to the death of one of her men.
EL reveals to Callie that Janie a young woman who was part of the Roses was killed by Underwood and for that alone Callie wants to hurt him but as much as she wants to kill him, she won’t go against the Tribunal laws.
While placing the spell Callie and EJ finally reveal their feelings towards each other. After the spell is completed, there is a murder and Callie and EJ are the prime suspects. Now the two women must work at clearing their name and finding the guilty party. In addition, to stopping Underwood from trying to take over EJ’s properties they also are haunted by the death of Janie a young woman who was the niece of the Underwood’s and who constantly suffered abuse.
While married Callie did not use her magic but since returning to Yesler-Jackson, Seattle she has been overusing it. Callie will do anything to protect EJ and that help leads to danger.
This book was filled with romance, gangsters, danger, bootlegging, murder, revenge and betrayals. Two women who are reconnected and try to find peace but Underwood is just one of many gangsters trying to control the Y-J so their fight will be ongoing.
Blood Remains 
