KILTS AND CATNIP

When a widow and her two daughters
travel to a remote Scottish island, a series of unusual occurrences leads them
to believe ancient legends may be more fact than myth.

In this debut fantasy, Rebecca
“Becca” Shaw enjoyed a contented life in Houston with her husband, David, and
their daughters, Jessie and Tate. But her happiness was shattered by the sudden
death of her husband. Haunted by memories of David, Becca accepts a job as a
teacher at the American school in Aberdeen, Scotland. A year later, an
advertisement for a home in Shrouded Isle catches her eye, and Becca rents the
cottage hoping to spend a quiet summer with her daughters. Shortly after moving
in, Tate disappears in the middle of the night. She is rescued by a mysterious
man who admonishes Becca to “leave my forest.” At a ceilidh, Becca meets Greg
Gillie, the man who saved her daughter. While she is intrigued by Greg, she is
more concerned with some strange events, including an attempted attack by
wolves and Tate’s unusual and distant behavior. Becca’s search for answers
leads to the discovery that the fae are not legends and she may have a role to
play in the Isle’s magic. Tasia’s first installment of the Shrouded Isle series
is an entertaining and engaging romantic fantasy with appealing characters and
vivid settings. Becca is a winsome and resourceful heroine whose desire for a
summer vacation leads her into a world of magic. Her relationship with Greg
develops slowly as they both struggle to cope with tragedies in their pasts.
The intriguing supporting characters include Kay Sheey, Becca’s neighbor, and
Conall McNeil, the local grocer who has an interest in Becca and a grudge
against Greg. The settings are well-drawn, especially the author’s descriptions
of the tree-lined streets (“Roses twined up trellises along the walls,
splashing yellows, pinks, and reds. Sun shone down on the leaves of the
honeysuckle-garlanded oaks dappling the bright sidewalks with shade”).

This promising new fantasy series with
strong characters should appeal to fans of Charlaine Harris.