Magic in the Storm **Meredith Bond**

Publication Date: January 28, 2012
Genre: Historical/Paranormal Romance
List Price: $2.99
Sensuality Rating: G

Star Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

Morgan Vallentyne is trapped. A direct descendent of Morgan Le Fey, he knows he is destined for greatness — but cannot access the magical abilities that should be his. When he learns that he has only one month to achieve his full powers, he begins to lose hope. But after a violent storm throws a beautiful girl into his path, the magic begins.

Adriana Hayden is desperate to be free. Born to paint the natural world with unprecedented passion and vision, she is fenced in by the conventions of 19th century English society. But after meeting the handsome and mysterious Morgan, her world begins to open to enchanted possibilities she could never have imagined.

Brought together by the forces of nature, their love is fanned by the winds of fate. The only way to fulfill their destinies is for each to unlock the powers of the other — through the magical tempest of their passions.

My Opinion:

As a woman all for equality, I found it refreshing to read a story where the villain was actually a woman. I can't say that I understood how a woman could treat her own son the way Lady Vallentyne treated Morgan. I mean who would treat their own child that way? But it was different.  And of course different is not necessarily bad. That being said, I loved our hero. Regardless of how he had been treated his entire life by the one person who is supposed to love him above all (his own mother, in case you missed it), Morgan grows up to be a kindhearted, gentle man. Having been locked away, not allowed any freedom or off the family estate, with only the wild animals of the forest as company (and occassional visits from his cousin), it is no wonder that he is completely oblivious to any danger or evil in the world. Bond creates a character that you both cheer for and want to just take home and take care of so nothing bad will ever happen to him. An admirable feat considering most novels portray the hero as strong and larger than life, as if they have no weaknesses. Morgan endears himself to the reader as he tries to find his way and his place within the magical society he was born in to and win the woman he has grown to love.

There isn't much I can say about Adriana other than at times she seemed wishy-washy. She was stringing along two men, one whom she agreed to marry and Morgan whom she was actually falling in love with. If that's not enough, they're brothers! It's enough to question whether she is deserving of Morgan. She does redeem herself though, so there is hope for her yet.

I loved the historical figures who made appearances and the fictional look into their lives. I can honestly say I'll probably never read Byron again without thinking of this book.

My only complaint about this story is that in the end I'm still left wondering how someone who was supposedly destined to be the most powerful Vallen can't do simple spells that other, weaker Vallen can do since birth. And as High Priestess, how does Lady Vallentyne not recognize who or what Adriana is? Because of these questions still lingering I can say that although a good, solid read, I didn't love it. 

Recommendations:

Lovers of historical romances who enjoy getting swept away in magic will love being swept away by Ms. Bond's 19th century England.

REVIEWED BY IRIS

purple975@msn.com