by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory (2003)
Kellen Tawadon, son the Arch-Mage Lycaelon, thought he knew the way the world worked. His father, leading the wise and benevolent Council of Mages, protected and guided the citizens of the Golden City of the Bells. Young Mages in training-all men, for women were unfit to practice magic-memorized the intricate details of High Magic and aspired to seats on the council. Then he found the forbidden Books of Wild Magic-or did they find him? The three slim volumes woke Kellen to the wide world outside the City's isolating walls. Their Magic was not dead, strangled by rules and regulations. It felt like a living thing, guided by the hearts and minds of those who practiced it and benefited from it.
J.A. Ferguson
Madeleine Nightingale is her brother's magician's assistant, traveling town to town performing. They go to a Faire to be held at Sheffield Priory, where they meet Christopher Sheffield, who takes a liking to Madeleine. He'd like to forget her, but there is something magical about the magician's assistant.
Nora Roberts
A MASTER OF THE MYSTERIOUS Pierce Atkins was a solitary figure, a magician who'd entranced audiences all over the world. Only one woman, Ryan Swan, had guessed the pain that lay behind his art, the past he'd chosen to conceal behind the flash and the glitter. His unhappy childhood had taught him to rely on nothing. For Ryan, who'd learned never to give her trust, Pierce was the last man to whom she should give her heart. But in Pierce's enthralling presence all her defenses seemed to vanish like magic. If only Ryan could believe in magic. For how is she ever to know if the love of the mysterious magician is real enough to last a lifetime, or if it's just an illusion she's conjured up herself? Yet Ryan was determined to offer him the only truth she knew: their love was no illusion.
Bertrice Small
(World of Hetar #2) After an unexpected tragedy, Lara finds herself across the sea in a secret new world called Terah, and there gains the love of its ruler, Magnus Hauk. He ventures back to Hetar with her to prevent another war, but Gaius Prospero has not given up his scheme of power, and the lovers attract his animosity. World of Hetar: Lara (World of Hetar #1) A Distant Tomorrow (World of Hetar #2) The Twilight Lord (World of Hetar #3) The Sorceress of Belmair (World of Hetar #4) The Shadow Queen (World of Hetar #5) Crown of Destiny (World of Hetar #6)
Cara Colter
Princess Shoshauna of B'Ranasha has followed royal convention all her life. Her greatest wish is freedom--and to marry for love, not duty. A royal assignment: Suddenly in danger, Shoshauna is whisked to an exotic island by soldier Jake Ronan. He's been hired to protect her, and despite the attraction makes it clear he's here for duty, not love ... Her wedding wish: Being with Jake, Shoshauna feels truly happy and free for the first time. But can she dream of herself, a royal, marrying this hardened soldier?