Stone of Love Stones of Iona Book #1
Magical Realism, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance
Wild Rose Press
March 4, 2024
Kindle
309
Amazon
Review by Linda Tonis
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
Brielle DeVolt has travelled to Scotland to renovate a chapel at Dunstaffnage Castle. The renovation served two purposes, one her love of history and the other escaping from her abusive ex Tony. Her mother was from Glascow, and she always told Brielle Scottish tales and now she finds herself in the country her mom grew up in and fulfilling her dream of seeing the land so filled with fables.
When Colin McDougall’s parents died in a car accident, he became the new Laird and had to oversee the renovating of the chapel. He is working as a lawyer in Edinburg, but his Captain of the Castle, John urged him to return relaying a fable about the Legend of the Stones of Iona, a fable John always believed was just a story and now apparently it is a reality.
The Stones of Iona were entrusted to the McDougall family, stones that if in the wrong hands would destroy the two realms, human and Fae. The enemy Fae, the Formoire want the stones and they have reappeared. Colin realizes that he is the one that must return to 1720 and bring his ancestor, Rodrick back from Purgatory and retrieve the Stone of Love.
Colin accepts all this as a reality since he is visited by an Elf from that period, what he didn’t expect was to fall in love with Brielle. Brielle still hasn’t gotten over the abuse she suffered at her ex’s hands, abuse that was both verbal and physical and resulted in putting her in the hospital. Now Colin is showing her a side she never experienced, warm, protective and caring about her feelings, something she never had before.
Marie, who is working alongside Brielle, reveals to Colin what Brielle had suffered both by her ex and her brother. When she was young her brother fooled her into going into a shed where he locked the doors during a thunderstorm and left her until the next day. Now thunderstorms are so frightening that she can’t help shaking and seeking comfort. Fortunately, during a storm the comfort she found was in Colin’s arms.
The time when Colin will be leaving for 1720 is fast approaching and as his and Brielle’s relationship grows to the point, they both confess their love he has no idea how to break the news to her that he is leaving just as their love affair is beginning. Colin knows that if Brielle follows him then the fable could lead to her death and that is something he will not allow.
Somehow Brielle herself winds up in the past and as a woman who loves history, she takes it as a way to learn, she also can study the chapel in all its former glory. When she meets Laird Roderick, she can’t get over the fact that he looks just like Colin, she believes he is her love but says nothing. Colin seeing her is scared for her safety since the Evil Fae he is after will no doubt go after the woman he loves.
This was a beautiful love story that takes place in the present and the past, in a place where tales are abundant and where love conquers all. The author took me on a tour of Scotland, the tales, the beauty and the history. I loved every minute of this book, never bored, so absorbed all I wanted to do was get to the end so I could have all my questions answered.
All the characters, both main and secondary, were amazing. I got all my answers for Colin and Brielle but there is more coming, can’t wait. There are secrets, surprises and lies.
Thank you for the lovely review!