Taurus: A Hearse of a Different Color
Sèphera Girón
Riverdale Avenue Books/Desire
October 29, 2019
Reviewed by Elaine Pascale
Taurus: A Hearse of a Different Color is book five in the “Witch Upon a Star” series. This offering focuses on Dorothy, a witch who is looking for love in the small, magical town of Hermana, Massachusetts. Dorothy’s coven places a love spell on her for her birthday, and the timing is perfect: her celebrity crush, Oscar Dominion, is in town to shoot the TV show Scary Haunted Tales. But there’s another new man in town, the funeral home’s new owner, Aloysius Underhill. While Dorothy openly lusts for Oscar, there are sparks (literal and metaphorical) with Aloysius.
Girón infuses the plot with witchcraft and astrology knowledge. While the “Witch Upon a Star” series is erotic romance, there are dark moments, with demons, ghosts, and non-Ariel-like mermaids. Girón has a wonderful imagination, and her descriptions are vivid, bringing Hermana and the various settings (funeral home, movie set, old New England homes) to life. I could almost smell the New England seaside and feel the chilling winds that can cut one to the bone.
Girón is unflinching and unapologetic in her examination of sexuality. The honest approach and refusal to submit to shame is appealing, and it mirrors the coven’s style of witchcraft. The female characters, while desirous of love and partnership, are strong and independent. They do not sit back and wait for Prince Charming. And don’t let the love spells fool you: ethical consideration is given to the recipient, and all trysts are consensual.
I have not read the other books in the series, yet was able to follow and enjoy Taurus as a stand-alone. Taurus: A Hearse of a Different Color is engaging and fun. For those already thinking of Valentine’s entertainment, check out the “Witch Upon a Star” series.
