Love and Lore [Paperback]

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

PLEASE NOTE: I had gotten each of these stories individually to read, at the time not realizing they were to be combined into one book to go to print.

HEART OF THE SEA

Meriel Byrne was happy, healthy and had a great career, if still trying attract the attention of the one man she loved. When a fluke accident at a party sends her plunging into the sea, an ancient curse is fulfilled and Meriel becomes a Selkie.

Ronan Burbank had it all. He was a successful business man with a large and steadily growing company. Until an incident at a party at his home casts suspicions on him and he loses everything he held dear.

Seven years later, Meriel is back. When she rescues a drowning sailor she is shocked to find Ronan, her dream man. Ronan has changed though, grown bitter over what has happened since Meriel's disappearance. Now they have one day to overcome seven years of pain and yearning. Can they overcome their pasts to find love and break the Selkie curse? Only the Heart of the Sea can be certain...

I've not read anything by Sela Carsen before but I was intrigued by her story about a Selkie Curse, Heart of the Sea, and felt the urge to read it. I am glad I did! What a wonderful tale! With a new, modern twist on an old legend, Sela Carsen has made magic. I fell in love with Ronan and Meriel and couldn't put the book down.

Ronan blames Meriel for everything that happened to him and has a very hard time letting go of the past. His journey from anger and bitterness to tenderness and love make for a heartwarming story. Meriel never wanted the curse thrust upon her by her ancestors and initially rails at her fate. Later she comes to grudgingly accept her new life, even though she longs for humanity once more. Both Ronan and Meriel have many hurdles to overcome and feelings to accept before they can be happy. Their story is a moving one and you can't help but be swept along with them.

I am fascinated by the legends of the Selkie and enjoy reading different takes on the stories. Sela Carsen's concept is fresh and new while maintaining those key components of the legends, though she handles them in a slightly different way. Heart of the Sea has just about everything I look for in a fantasy romance and I am very glad I decided to pick it up on a whim. Thanks Sela for providing me with a story to whisk me away to my own fantasy world for a little while. I look forward to reading more books by this talented author.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, March 2008. All rights reserved.

A FAIRY SPECIAL GIFT

Meara Magee has been blessed, or rather cursed if you ask her, with the ability to see fairies. Nothing she does can get them to go away and leave her alone, the pesky creatures. Her fly swatter is her best friend until the day she finds a gift like no other... Jamison Murphy can see fairies as well. When he is has an accident, he sends the fairies off to find help and they bring him Meara.

Jamison is convinced the gift of Meara means she is his soul mate, if only he can convince her of that fact, considering the hates fairies and doesn't appreciate the gift they have bestowed. He promises to rid her of the fairies in hopes the time spent together in the meantime will convince Meara they are meant for each other.

A Fairy Special Gift is a riot of a good time. Humor abounds throughout the story, making me laugh out loud on more than one occasion. As if mischievous fairies aren't enough, when a love struck Celtic god and an infatuated banshee are added to the mix, more hilarity ensues. Poor Meara doesn't stand a chance against this lot of mismatched beings.

Meara is intractable and determined to have her own way in life so the last thing she needs is a sexy member of the Coast Guard invading her life. That's exactly what she gets though when her emotions get the better of her and she aids in Jamison's rescue. There isn't a more star crossed pair of lovers than Meara and Jamison, but we just know they are perfect for each other, as do the fairies and the banshee. Watching Meara slowly let go of her stubbornness to open her heart to Jamison was an enjoyable experience.

This is the first book I've read by Gia Dawn and I loved the humor and the storyline. I've purchased Demons of Dunmore series but have not yet found the time to read them, but if they are anything like A Fairy Special Gift in style, then I am bound to love them too.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, March 2008. All rights reserved.

WILDISH THINGS

Beith Molloy is recovering after a biking accident almost killed her a year ago. Since then, her passion for adventure has waned and she has plans to visit Ireland and put her gift as a wildlife artist back to work, and maybe regain some of that daring spirit she has lost. When she meets up with her tour guide, Harley riding Kellan "Kel" O'Neill, she discovers she's in for quite a wild trip.

Unfortunately for Kel and Beith, their immediate attraction has aroused the sexual hunger of a near-forgotten goddess, the Cailleach. Now she has her own plans for Beith and Kel, but legend has it that her lust, once awakened, can kill....

In Wildish Things, the third and final installment in the Love and Lore collection, we find more romance and legend. Beith has led a sheltered life since her accident brought her adventurous career to a screeching halt. Afraid to do anything that could put her life at such risk again, it is a huge leap for her to venture to Ireland alone after her friend cancels on her. Kel is her exact opposite, as bold as Beith is timid, and he is fiercely attracted to her from the moment he sees her picture. Why else would he hatch such a crazy scheme to "kidnap" her for her tour?

I loved traveling across Ireland with Beith and Kel. Their run-ins with the Cailleach in whichever form she takes add a sense of urgency to the story, keeping it lively. I never quite grasped the full story of the goddess though. She wants Kel for herself, which would result in his death and makes that very clear to Beith. I never quite figured out how it was the relationship between Kel and Beith held the goddess at bay and was expecting some sort of supernatural showdown. So it was a bit of a letdown that never happened.

In spite of my confusion over the goddess' role in the relationship between Kel and Beith, I did enjoy Wildish Things and felt it rounded out the Love and Lore collection nicely.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, May 2008. All rights reserved.

I picked up this book mainly because I liked Gia Dawn. But after reading it I am happy to say I have found two new authors to look into. Laced heavy with a magical world of romance and shocking twist this book is a must read.