{Paranormal Romance Review} To Have and To Code by Debora Geary

{Paranormal Romance Review} To Have and To Code by Debora Geary

Nell Sullivan is fiery, easily distracted by cookies, and doomed to wear the peach monstrosity at her best friend’s wedding.

And she’s a witch.

Daniel Walker is a former baseball player turned bored hacker looking for a challenge. Hacking Nell's online gaming world is going to get him a lot more than he bargained for.

A prophecy says they will make babies together – but when it comes to the love life of a modern witch and a hacker, prophecy might not get a vote. (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} Kindle Edition, 364 pages. Published September 12th 2012 by Fireweed Publishing. Source: Amazon Lending Library

{Rating} 4/5

{Review} For a romance I was surprised how long it took for the hero and heroine to meet. Well, they meet online and spend the first third of the book fighting, dueling even. I loved the cyber interactions of hacker vs. witch programmer, it was exciting and amusing enough to keep me awake into the wee hours.

Nell is strong and independent and determined. Daniel is a bit of a lost soul, he's searching for something, a purpose. There is so much to like about them, Daniel's soft spot for kids, Nell's unwavering loyalty and support for her friends.

This is not a traditional love story where boy and girl meet and fall in love. Not these two. They don't date. They argue. They fight. They walk away. They come back. I think the love Geary shows is more real without the sappy romance. Nell and Daniel are both looking for the same thing, someone who can stand beside them, with them, accept the reality of who they are, the good and the bad and that's hard if you're a hacker or a fire witch. Their path to love is hard.

"...but you're sure. She isn't yet. She's still testing you, trying to find out if you're safe to lean on. Testing herself to see if she's brave enough to lean." (Geary 296)

There is a huge cast of likable characters, Nell's friends and family, Daniel's friends, but they all play an important role in the story, illuminating the characters, helping their relationship along.

I liked the rhythm of Geary's writing, the variations of speed and tempo, the words she chooses.

"Yup. Class A meddler. She was fond of him already. Nell scowled, mostly for form." (Geary, 340)

This book is actually a prequel, in the previously published books in the series the events in this story have already occurred. It can be read as a standalone but I'm sure I would have gotten more if I'd already read the other books.