"Light But Lovable"
Although each story can stand alone the three Donovan
cousins are such integral parts of each other's lives,
offering
advice, support, and love, that they are even better when
read together. What is the Donovan Legacy, it is a legacy
of
magic passed down by their Celtic ancestors. It is also a
legacy of love. Two sets of fraternal triples marry, three
Donovan brothers to three Corrigan sisters. Each union
results in a single child, Morgana to Matthew and Bryna,
Sebastian
to Douglas and Camilla, Anastasia to Padrick and Maureen.
Hereditary witches one and all; each is blessed with a
special
gift. The stories are set in Monterey California. Captivated is Morgana's story. Morgana's
gift is
the gift of magic; she can conjure spells like no other.
Magic is her
stock in trade as well as she is the owner of the
successful shop, Wicca, which caters to folks interested in
healing crystals
and herbs. Nash Kirkland is a successful screenwriter. He writes
scripts for horror films. His latest muse is to write a
script involving
witches. Draw to town by Morgana's reputation, he is a
skeptic but is determined to pick her brain for material
for his film.
He never expected to find himself face to face with the
real thing. Nash is also an only child, however his legacy is quite
different from Morgana's. His mother, an unwed teen,
abandoned
him to the dubious mercies of his grandmother. The
grandmother, determined to visit the sins of the mother
upon the
child, farms him out to foster homes just long enough for
him to form attachments. No sooner is he happy than she
yanks
him back home to a loveless environment. A good-natured
boy, he does not become bitter, but in the way of many in
his
situation he draws himself into a world of his own making.
His fertile mind creating fantastic tales, which later
become his
stock and trade. He is vulnerable though, never risking
his heart, afraid of rejection, he puts all his passion
into his work. Morgana isn't impressed with Nash's vision of witches, but
has admired his previous work. She is not sure she wants to
aide him in his quest. She has seen the future, her
personal involvement with him, but she doesn't know where
it may
lead. Risking her heart she agrees to help him with his
script to ensure proper portrayal of her kind. She is soon
drawn to
the talented and lonely man. The result: a sultry affair
and the best work of Nash's life. Why isn't it enough for
either of
them? Entranced is Sebastian's story. Sebastian's
gift is
that of sight. He can delve into people's minds as well as
see past,
present, and future events. Although independently wealthy
from various ventures, he lends himself to the authorities
to
solve crimes they are unable to solve on their own. Just
having returned to his California home after apprehending a
serial killer, he is determined to rest and recuperate. The
grisly visions of the crimes, and the foray into the mind
of a
madman have taken their toll on him. Mary Ellen Sutherland is also an only child. Raised by a
single mother, she lived a rootless existence, moving
frequently
from place to place. She is a loner. Once a member of the
police force she has become a private investigator. She
likes to
do things her own way and without help from others. A crime has been committed and it hits close to home. Mary
Ellen's friends baby has been kidnapped. The mother in
desperation to find her child insists on enlisting a
psychic sees read about. He's just solved a case of serial
murder. Mary
Ellen is of the opinion that the man is a charlatan and
wants to pursue the case her way, but accompanies her to
the home
of Sebastian Donovan. Sebastian is inclined to decline. He is shattered in the
aftermath of his last terrible quest; he just wants some
peace. It is
not the mother's desperate plea that finally gets to him,
but Mary Ellen's firm disbelief in his abilities.
Something about
the belligerent detective intrigues him. Mary Ellen
returns alone to warn him not to hurt her friend by giving
her false
hope. Sebastian however has found a lead and Mary Ellen is
not about to let him out of her sight. The next thing she
knows she on the back of a motorcycle bound for Utah. The
child is recovered by they've uncovered a whole string of
child
kidnappings. On the trail of the kidnapper who is selling
babies to childless couples, the two pose as a husband and
wife in
search of a baby to adopt. Can these two very different
people work together to trap the kidnapper and will their
role-playing lead to something more permanent? This was my
favorite of the three stories. Sebastian is just so sexy. Charmed is Ana's (Anastasia) story. The
youngest
Donovan is an empath. Her gift is the ability to heal. She
is able to
determine the extent of the damage to a person by the
laying on of hands. She can then cure them from within
using her
gift. As with all empaths, there is a toll to be paid, the
healer must take the persons pain upon herself. This can be
draining or even deadly, depending on the timing and the
seriousness of the patient's ills. Because of her empathy,
her
feelings are extremely sensitive. Her cousins try to
protect her from pain whenever possible. However Anastasia
has
been hurt before, in a matter of the heart. She had
revealed herself to a man she had loved and been cruelly
rejected.
She has accepted that she will undoubtedly lead a solitary
existence but delights in the new found happiness of her
cousins. That is until the house next door becomes
occupied. Boone Sawyer, fantasy writer and single father, has already
lost the love of his life. He has moved to California to
remove
himself and his young daughter from the sad memories and
the interference of both sets of grandparents. He is
determined to start over but love is not to be part of the
equation. He's well to do and had experience of gold
diggers
trying to attract him by cozening up to his daughter. He is suspicious of Ana' friendship with the little girl.
When she realizes who his is and tells him of her
admiration of his
work, he is extremely rude to her. Determined to put him
in his place she shows him her collection of his work,
along with
that of her aunt, Bryna (Morgana's mother) who also writes
fantasy novels. Realizing that Ana isn't the kind of woman he thought she
was, he let's her into their lives. It isn't long before
he realizes
that he wants her to be a permanent part of their family.
Once burned, twice shy Ana is to afraid to tell him what
she is,
and too polite to read Boone's thoughts to determine his
feelings for her. She puts off telling him telling until a
tragedy
involving the little girl forces her to reveal her skills.
The toll on Ana is great. Now Boone doesn't know what to do
with his
feelings. Which will prevail, gratitude for his daughter's
recovery, fear for Ana's life, or anger that she didn't
trust him
enough to share her secret with him? And can he accept who
she is and make her a part of his life or is it all too
much to
accept? Can Ana bear another rejection? Enjoy the story
that ties up all the loose ends and get a glimpse of the
amusing
elder Donovan's in the process. Though lighter than Maggie Shayne's witch novels, I think
the reader will enjoy this believable and highly lovable
witch trio
and their mates. Highly Recommended. Copyright 2000
Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch
Posted May 2, 2001
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