"A Delightfully Different Shapeshifter Romance"
1929 -- In a remote corner of Scotland The war to end all wars had come to a conclusion, but Hexy
Garrow has no reason to celebrate. Taking a respite from a
search for her careless employer's missing fur coat, Hexy
sits upon a rock, looking out to sea and pondering her
life. The young American has reason to fear and despise the
sea. Her only brother, Rory Patrick, had lost his life to
it, and she had been left all alone. Love had eluded her as
well. Her latest beau, a Londoner, had abandoned her for
unfathomable reasons which ranged from her unusual name to
the size of her bank account. Even her country's politics
had been held against her. Still she would have shed no
tears for any of this, were it not for a strange and strong
allergy to the yews that dotted the countryside surrounding
Fintry Castle. Seven salty drops had fallen upon the rock on which she had
perched before she'd resumed her search for Jillian's
sable. She had found it at last, carelessly left on the
rocky shore. Shortly thereafter Ruairidh of the People is
annoyed to find himself summoned by the ancient ritual
performed by the human female. Though females of his kind
had become scarce, he had more important things than mating
on his mind at the moment. Cubs were being kidnapped and
he'd come upon the land before the mating season to
determine their fate. He was even more irate to discover
the deceitful wench had stolen his fur, leaving him no way
to return to the sea. He would be bound to the female for a full year. Ruairidh
had had every intention of tricking the female out of her
due, only to discover that the lovely human had had no idea
his kind even existed. She had not intended the summons. To
top it off she was the most intriguing female he'd ever
met. The yew allergy and the pull he felt toward her
indicated the possibility of something rare. Could she be
NicnanRon (daughter of the seal), those rare women
who could breed selkie twins or even a rare female pup?
Those women had long since left these shores, hidden away
by their families, for only NicnanRon could join
their mates and offspring in the sea. More importantly
could she be his aroon, his one true love? That
would be rare indeed, for there had not been a woman among
his people for hundreds of seasons. It had become nearly
taboo for the Selkies to even discuss their liaisons, for
they were generally painfully short. Love blooms with a passion, but soon Hexy and Ruairidh
learn something even more disturbing about the fate of the
Selkie pups. It appears that the abominable Finmen are
responsible for their disappearances as well as that of
several humans. Hexy begins to have nightmares which only
increase when Ruairdh leaves her behind to warn the People
and prepare them for war. Having lost so much already can
Hexy bear to be left behind? Will Ruairidh return to her?
Would he stay with her beyond the requirements of the
summoning? Or would their differences tear them apart? The relationship between Hexy and her Selkie is truly
magical. Besides giving us a look at world through the eyes
of the People, the reader will meet a Merrow, a beautiful
Finwoman, and the wicked, grotesque, Finmen. Though human,
and susceptible to bespelling, which tends to cloud her
judgment from time to time, her love for Ruairidh is her
strength that sees her through unimaginable terrors.
Though her vulnerability threatens to bring danger to his
home, Ruairidh's reciprocal love for her enables them to
overcome all the obstacles. This reviewer holds a soft
spot in her heart for selkie romances, as it was one that
led me to the paranormal subgenre I love. Each one I've
read since has taught me more about their fanciful lore. I
thoroughly enjoyed THE SELKIE and highly recommend it as a
delightfully different shapeshifter romance. Copyright © 2003
Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch
Posted February 15, 2003
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While the technology of the wars had changed the face of Europe, some things stayed the same; the tempestuous Scottish coast and the surrounding sea remained a place of unquenchable magic and mystery. Sequestered at Fintry Castle by the whim of her mistress, Hexy Garrow spared seven tears for her past -- all of which were swallowed by the waves. By joining the water, those tears completed a ritual, and that ritual summoned a prince. He came for Hexy -- and for something she didn't know she had stolen. His very nature went against all Hexy had ever believed, but his love was everything she'd ever desired. And he'd come not to collect her for the insatiable ocean, but for himself.
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