The Phoenix Charm

Michael O'Connor is the twin brother of the new king of the piskies. Nial is the steady, dependable one while Michael seems determined to have a good time. He lacks responsibility or so it seems to Cordelia Tink who is a wise woman with a secret. They don't much like one another or so it seems. Then one of the king's sons is stolen. Michael and Cordelia must go into the Underworld to retrieve the child. The character growth in this book is very well done. This is one of the best books I've read recently. Truly magical world building that isn't like anything else. Helen Scott Taylor has a way with words. I stayed up late to finish this and was sad when I realized it was over. I will definitely put this on my keeper shelf. Cordelia was a heroine I could cheer for. She grew and changed and blossomed in this book and not just because of a man's love. She learned about herself and created possibilities in her own life. The unique link between she and Tamsy intrigued me. Taylor doesn't overwrite her books. She takes what could be just another story about fairies and turns it into a unique setting with engrossing characters that will leave you hungry for the next book. Definitely going on my list of favorite must-buy authors.

The Phoenix Charm is indeed a charming paranormal romance. The story of Michael, the smooth-tongued, quick-to-laugh twin brother of Nial we met in The Magic Knot. When he roams through various worlds with the lovely Cordelia, Michael reveals his inner strength and depth of feelings as he offers his life to save his little nephew. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, description and fast pace of this new fairy tale by Helen Scott-Taylor.

Michael O'Connor possesses a powerful fairy glamour that propels women to want him. Cordelia acts anything but a wise woman when she sees him half naked in her divination magical mirror. She vows to ignore him as magic disallows her from revealing to him who she is although she is falling in love with him. Having met, he considers her a pest, but secretly knows he wants her too. When the Welsh King of the Underworld Gwyn ap Nudd, abducts Michael's infant nephew Fin, Cordelia joins him to rescue his relative. As they work together, Cordelia fears her attraction is blinding her to reality; yet she wants Michael to help her dig into her essence; however they both recognize the baby comes first. The second British Isles romantic fantasy (see The Magic Knot) is a fast-paced action thriller from the moment Cordelia sees the half nude hunk in her mirror and wants more and less at the same time. She and Michael make the tale as neither is comfortable with their attraction, but need each other to rescue his nephew. Fans will enjoy the exciting The Phoenix Charm. Harriet Klausner