Magic

Fallon Delaney had always believed in fairy-tales, legends and myths of her beloved Ireland. Growing up she threw herself into the legend of Ciaran of the Mist, a brave warrior who had been cursed with a life of aching loneliness and despair, in order to ease the crippling loss she felt. On her deathbed, her mother gave her a powerful brooch that could summon Ciaran of the Mist in time of great need. Lionel Redmayne, a cynical English soldier, is determined to destroy Caislean ag Dahmsa Ceo, Castle of the Dancing Mist, in order to destroy the hearts of the passionate Irish. In desperation, Fallon uses the brooch and a man appears in between the mists. He doesn't know who he is or where he came from. All he knows is that someone had hit him in the head and all he is left with is an ancient dagger in his hands. When she tells him that he is Ciaran of the Mist, he scoffs, thinking her mad. A grown woman who believes in magic? As time passes by he becomes entranced by the magic tales she weaves, is it possible that he is the hero she desperately needs, a living legend or is he someone else? Will love be able to save him, or will darkness prevail? Ciaran is not the typical hero, he is not arrogant or cold, he is compassionate and noble. It was refreshing to read about a hero who cared more about the needs of the heroine rather than himself. He held a lot of pride and honor, but it was not frustrating in the least. Even though he possesses sensitive characteristics, he remains a rugged protector. The mystery that surrounds him is enchanting and frustrating at once. Who is he? Is he really an ancient legend or is he a mere mortal? Whoever he is, he holds a lot of gentleness in his lonely heart. I love a tortured hero....a man who is weak and strong at once. I fell in love with Ciaran as soon as he stepped out of the mist into the world of Fallon. Fallon is an intriguing heroine. In many ways she a lost, lonely little girl stuck in her childhood fantasies. She had always been in love with her legends, but had never truly experienced life. Her life had been filled with haunting loneliness, never believing she would have a husband or family to love. This makes her innocent in a very different way than I was used to. I never found her annoying or childish, I found her faith in magic breathtaking. She is defiant and rebellious in a subtle way. She is not a fiery and rebellious heroine that you find in many romance novels. She possesses qualities that make your heart ache. Ciaran and Fallon fit together. There was an immense amount of understanding and trust between the characters. I didn't feel like their relationship was one-sided as I have in the past. This tale is truly a romance, not a story of seduction. The emotions between the two are earth-shattering in their sheer power. The prose were eloquent and soft in its tone and style. This helped weave a story of tenderness, love, and magic. There are no words that could even begin to describe how moved

I enjoyed this book both because it retold one of my favorite Irish faery tales and because of the love story within the pages. Ciaran was an incredibly heroic hero, somehow really managing to pull off being tormented and a saint at the same time. Fallon seemed a little too immature for him at times (even up to the end), but this may be accounted for in her extended childhood. Sometimes the writing got a little syrupy for my tastes and I found myself skipping over sections because of the sugar content, but on the whole, the story moved quickly and held my interest. On re-reading it, I fell further in love with Ciaran and also with Lionel, the villain, who so obviously needs someone, anyone to love him. Can't wait for his story to come out. Altogether a very satisfying read.

Kimberly Cates has such a beautiful way with words. In MAGIC, she touched my emotions right off the bat with her portrait of a lonely and scared little girl whose belief in magic and legends is her only solace in an emotionally empty world. I think I was in tears by page two. But don't get me wrong this is not a dismal book at all, it's sprinkled with humor and it's oh-so-very touching. I have no complaints, no nits to pick. I devoured and loved every second of it. This story is filled with heart-tugging emotion and three dimensional characters. I really recommend it to those of you who enjoy strong character driven stories that aren't over done with intense intrigue and political subplots galore. It has a villain but he doesn't take center stage and unlike many villains nowadays he's portrayed as a human with faults rather than a cardboard bad guy. Even he intrigued me. Mostly it's a warm, loving and sometimes funny love story. There was a small group of secondary characters who were drawn so well their plight managed to bring tears to my eyes. The hero is strong, stubborn, caring and virginal (!) and the heroine is immediately likable and his perfect match. My favorite thing about her was her realness, she wasn't perfect. She had a short fuse and was as stubborn as the hero and she never, ever turned into an irritating heroine. I appreciated that she wasn't suddenly transformed into a paragon of perfection by the novels end too. I'm tired of the patient, virtuous and tolerant heroine. This one fibs when put on the spot and ends up getting herself into all sorts of trouble. She was great as was the entire book.

In Ireland, Fallon Delaney's dying mother tells the little girl the story of Ciaran MacCailte, a legendary hero, who was tricked by the fairies and now resides in Fairyland. However, once every three hundred years, when Ireland is in dire need, a member of the Delaney family can summon Ciaran, who is held in fairyland, to save the people. With her mother's death, Fallon possesses the magic brooch that allegedly can bring forth Ciaran. Sixteen years later, times are very bad for the Irish. Though not a firm believer in the legend, a desperate Fallon tries to conjure up Ciaran. Her magical efforts lead to an amnesiac arriving, who she feels is Ciaran. He disagrees, feeling he is just a confused mortal. As the couple falls in love with each other, several questions arise. If he is the legendary figure, can he save Ireland from its enemies and how can he remain on the mortal plane with his beloved? MAGIC is a magically written otherworldly historical romance that readers will find enchanting. The lead protagonists make an endearing couple, and the story line is fast-paced and fun to read. Kimberly Cates brilliantly sprinkles mythical elements into a great historical romance. Harriet Klausner

Kimberly Cates consistently writes wonderful heartwarming stories, but with "Magic" she has truly outdone herself. Never has a book grabbed a reader and pulled them right into the pages as this one does. This story is chock full of the magical mystical legends of Ireland and will have every reader truly believing in magic. As a child Mary Fallon Delaney was given a magical brooch by her dying mother with the assurance that with it Fallon would have the power to call back the legendary Ciaran of the Mist when her people were in the direst need of his help. In order to stop a villian from destroying the stones and castles of Irish legend and thus destroying the souls of the people she loves, Fallon invokes the power of the brooch to call back Ciaran and when a naked man appeares out of the mist she is convinced that it is he and his magic lives. Forced to wed in order to save themselves from the English, Fallon and Ciaran discover a love stronger and more precious than anyone can ever imagine. Readers - this is one book that is truly impossible to put down. This is a book in which you really feel a part of the story. The love scenes are so beautiful and so poignant that you almost feel you are intruding on something very private and very rare. I don't want to spoil the book, so about the ending... suffice to say it completely satisfies while leaving the reader begging for more. Kudos Ms. Cates. Once again you have done the incredible... written a story which above all things makes your reader believe in magic and in the all-compassing power of true love.