Kimberly Cates - Megan Chance
Cates, Kimberly - MAGIC (Pocket - 1998) (5)
Mary Fallon Delaney loved hearing all the Irish legends as a young child. When she was six years old, her dying mother gave her a jewel that was said to be able to summon Ciaran of the Mist, a legendary warrior who could only return once every 300 years, when the Irish people desperately need help.
Sixteen years later, an evil British commander is sent to Ireland to catch the infamous smuggler, Iron Hand. He threatens to break the Irish people by destroying the remains of their historic past. In desperation, Fallon performs the summoning ceremony to call forth Ciaran of the Mist, and just as she loses hope, a handsome, naked man walks out of the mist! Fallon is convinced he is Ciaran, but the mysterious man, who has a bad bump on his head and no memory, is equally sure he's not. He goes with Fallon to her home and comes to love and admire the Irish people. He wants to be the "hero" Fallon needs, and after the British commander forces them to wed, they realize they love each other.
While they try to help their people, Ciaran struggles with snatches of memory and the worry that he'll turn out to be less of a man than he wants to be for Fallon. Is it possible that he's really Ciaran of the Mist? Or is he the smuggler the British commander is searching for? And if he is Ciaran, will he and Fallon be able to stay together? This is a beautifully written book, full of longing and emotion, about two lonely people who find each other in the midst of a land in turmoil. MAGIC is the perfect name for this magical book! ~Karen W. (YWQE15B@prodigy.com)
Cates, Kimberly - MAGIC (Pocket - 1998) (4+)
This historical romance, set in Ireland, is about a lonely heroine who summons a mythical warrior to save her people. It is a book filled with magic, warmth and emotion, and bits of humor. The characters are three-dimensional, including the villain and the secondary characters (a few made me tear up—something I don't usually do for anyone besides the hero and heroine). And for you virgin-hero lovers, this story has one! Tender, touching and romantic, MAGIC is an incredible read. ~Laurie S. (shallah@empire.net)
Chance, Megan - FALL FROM GRACE (Harper - 1997) (3+)
In 1864, Lily was twelve years old when her parents, en route to San Antonio, were shot by the Sharpe gang. The last thing her mother told her was to "survive at any cost," and that is what Lily decided to do.
Twelve years later in a small town in Texas, Lily is feeling relief that she has finally escaped her captors. She had become part of the gang, robbing banks and killing people, and almost hanged for these crimes. Five years earlier, Lily had married Texas Sharpe, one of the gang members; so when he arrives banging on her door, she welcomes him with words of love. But her husband had been shot—and his father and brother imprisoned—after someone gave the sheriff information about the gang. Texas can't believe his wonderful Lily could be an informer. She was the only thing that saved him from his dark side, and he loved her passionately.
Texas and Lily are such wounded characters. His father Hank, the worst of the gang, had taught them well and they wanted to please the despicable character. Even though it could be dangerous for Lily, Texas took her with him to find a way to get his family out of jail, hoping to convince his father that she had not informed on them. Imagine his surprise when Lily tries to shoot him while he is sleeping! He is devastated, knowing all her words of love are lies.
Megan Chance is known for her unusual and complicated stories, and this one is no exception. Her writing is so superb that I really did want to like the hero and heroine in FALL FROM GRACE, but knowing they had both killed numerous people made it very difficult to do so. I had to read on and hope they would somehow extricate themselves from all of the murders so I could forgive them and wish them a happy ever after. Even with some of the unpalatable things that happened in this book, the reality is I couldn't stop reading it. I will be looking for Ms. Chance's next book. ~Marilyn H. (mlyn@jps.net)
Chance, Megan - PORTRAIT, THE (Dell - 1995) (5)
Imogene, the sheltered heroine, studies painting with talented, but mysterious Jonas. His brilliance and madness both frighten and attract her, until she becomes his salvation. Dizzying in its intensity, THE PORTRAIT is a book I couldn't put down. ~Karen W. (kwheless@rockland.net)
Chance, Megan - WAY HOME, THE (Harper - 1997) (2+)
Ambitious gambler gets dirt-poor girl pregnant and brings her to his father's farm to marry his younger brother. Rather slow moving at the beginning, but Chance's forte is complex characterizations and this one has plenty. Not as good as FALL FROM GRACE, in my opinion, but solid...and poignant for days. ~Kathy G. (kathy@cs.utexas.edu)
NEXT PAGE
Background provided by Judi's Doodlings
Copyright © 1997-1999 Bookbug on the Web