TEST
This book needed powerful magic to save the plot from the stiff characters but sadly, none was forthcoming. If you like lying, helpless and brainless heroines, this might be the book for you, otherwise, I suggest you skip it and re-read Outlander.
Our heroine, Megan, is thrown back in time when she is hit by lightning while trying to break off her engagement to her abusive fiancé, Roger. She ends up in 11th century Wales in the winter, which is a far cry from Dallas, Texas in the year 2001. To further mess with Megan’s mind is that the faerie realm Rune still exists in this time period. After almost freezing to death, she is rescued by Kenric of Blackstone, a half-human, half-faerie warrior. Kenric has forsaken his magical faerie heritage because his human family was destroyed by Black (evil) faeries, and he was not there to save them. His most cherished dream is to obtain land, since as a bastard son, he could not claim his father’s land and it was given to someone else.
Megan is suitably bewildered, and wants to get back to her own time, but spends about half of the book believing she is in some fantastic dream. While Megan is having one of her rare lucid moments, she hopes that Kenric can help her return home. Since she is mightily attracted to him, she works out a plan. Megan gives Kenric her engagement ring, and tells him an elaborate lie about her fiancé Roger, whom she says is searching for her, in order to gain his help. She knows that Kenric wants land and tells him Roger will gift it to him.
At this point, the heroine lost all my respect. There was no reason to even mention Roger, since the engagement ring is a huge diamond and Kenric could buy or barter land with it. Megan’s lie continues throughout most of the book, leading poor Kenric on a wild goose chase. Megan is also one of the dumbest heroines I’ve ever run across. When Rhiannon, Kenric’s half-sister (and a full-blooded faerie queen) brings Kenric and Megan to Rune, Rhiannon explains what has happened to Megan, and why she is in Wales. Megan’s response can best be described as “huh?” No one is home upstairs, period. Even after a second character explains it again, she still doesn’t get it. Megan is completely dependent on Kenric, and spends most of her time waiting around for him to rescue her from various situations. The only backbone she exhibits is during a dangerous and inappropriate situation, and it is a stupid action, thereby conferring upon her TSTL status.
Kenric isn’t much better. He is the typical hardened hero who refuses to believe in love. He spends the entire book denying his magical gifts, even though he cannot defeat those who murdered his family without magic. Since it is obvious that his enemies have very strong magic of their own, this places him in the same clueless category as Megan.
The characters of Rhiannon and Edmyg, both faeries, were much more interesting, and when I found myself turning pages for a glimpse of them, I knew this book was doomed. There are much better paranormal books out there, see ATBF #110 for examples of reviewer favorites, and leave this one on the shelf
Grade: D-
Book Type: Time Travel Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 12/02/01
Publication Date: 2001
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.