Magic [Mass Market Paperback]

Kimberly Cates (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1998

Kimberly Cates' enchanting love stories are wonderful journeys of the heart, colored with the vivid emotions of her unforgettable heroes and adventurous heroines. In this breathtaking new novel, a daring Irish lass meets a magnificent warrior she believes has come to the Emerald Isle from far beyond and long ago.

It may be just a fairy tale, but Mary Fallon Delaney cherishes the fable of Ciaran of the Mist, the legendary guardian said to keep watch over Ireland. And Fallon's homeland could use his otherworldly help: English troops, searching for an escaped criminal, are terrorizing the countryside. Feeling a bit foolish, Fallon makes her way to a ruined castle on mystical Beltaine Eve to summon Ciaran with a glittering brooch said to possess magical powers. She never expected a towering, naked stranger -- surely the most handsome man she's ever seen -- to appear out of the fog... or imagined he would be so furiously angry!

A gash on his head proves he's no apparition, but has left his identity a mystery. For Fallon, this dark-haired wonder could be her dream hero in the flesh -- bound to return to his faraway world. But before she can know who he is or where he came from, the two are swept up in a furious clash with the hated English. Only an exquisite love, stronger than betrayal or even time itself, can join them together forever, if it is touched by magic....

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Knowing instinctively that "it was time" to use her family's powerful heirloom brooch to save her people, Fallon heads for the sacred castle ruins to call forth the legendary warrior Ciaran. However, when a stark-naked man carrying an ancient dagger stumbles out of the mistAwith no memory of who he is and a strong aversion to being considered a mythical saviorAFallon has her work cut out for her, but she doesn't count on falling in love with her out-of-time hero in the process. Cates uses Celtic lore and Irish tradition laced with humor and shimmering sensuality to produce an engaging, well-written story. Despite some overt meddling on the part of the fairies to make everything work out appropriately, this romance will please readers who like their heroines intrepid, their heroes noble (if somewhat confused), and their fantasy lyrical. Cates (Gather the Stars, LJ 5/15/96) lives in Moline, IL.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

The Castle in the Mist was a realm of magic, a link to the legends of Fallon Delaney's childhood. In her hand she held the brooch that would call a hero from the world of the fairies to answer her cry for help. She had waited until the time was right, and now that the English were threatening the very heart of Ireland, she knew it was time to call Ciaran of the Mist to defeat their enemies once again. Fallon wasn't prepared for the breathtakingly handsome and very naked man who materializes right out of the mist. Neither was she prepared to face the fact that Ciaran had somehow lost his memory. Ciaran, for lack of any other name, doesn't believe in Fallon's legendary hero. He knows that somehow the truth of his identity will be revealed, and it is his greatest fear that the truth will break Fallon's heart. With all her silly beliefs, Fallon's heart and courage bind him to her. He is drawn to her vitality, to her strength, but he is also very much aware of the pain that lurks behind her perfect facade. In an effort to protect Ciaran from their greatest enemy, the newest commander of the English garrison, Fallon announces that Ciaran is her betrothed. A forced marriage between the two does little to curb Captain Redmayne's interest in this man who has turned up so suddenly. Redmayne remains undaunted in his quest to destroy the Castle in the Mist, the smuggler's hiding place, and capture the elusive Silver Hand, a rebel and murderer no one can identify. Kimberly Cates' Magic fulfills its every promise. It is truly a novel saturated in the mists of both mystery and Irish legend, seeped with fairy dust. Every effort has been taken to capture the reader's imagination and heart. The romance between Ciaran and Fallon is tender and moving, quickly bringing tears to the eyes and a warming sensation to the heart.Full of the fire and fantasy we read love stories for! A romance that quickly gets under your skin. A perfectly delicious ending! Kimberly Cates shimmers brightly with her newest tale of Irish legend and folklore!Karen Ellington -- Copyright © 1998 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671014943
• ISBN-13: 978-0671014940
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #548,036 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Believe in Magic, December 6, 2004

By 

Nicole (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magic (Mass Market Paperback)

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 was by this story.

I enjoyed seeing a book that had an Irish setting. I have always been fascinated with Ireland and its history. I found this book to be very accurate. It expressed the heart of Ireland perfectly. A place full of magic and tragedy. Hope and despair. Loss and strength. The writing in this book was so eloquent, full of its own charm. It weaves a tell of magic, love, heros, loneliness, hope, and loss. This book will make you believe in the magic of a pure heart full of love. It will make you believe that legends can be true and that in our darkest hour an unexpected hero can appear, forever changing our lives.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I did try!!, March 4, 2007

By 

Angelique Auzeby - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magic (Mass Market Paperback)

Wow, I feel like I am betraying Kimberly Cates, but UGH!! O.K. this was just a bit too much. The whole story was just sort of ridiculous actually. I do not even know what to say. Oh, the one thing that got me the most was Redmayne's eyes and how we were always possibly maybe seeing compassion, sorrow???? It really was just such a silly book. I put it down three times and then kept picking it up again because so many of you liked it. I never saw why.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing but pure magic..., January 30, 1998

By 

J. Atwood (Dallas, TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magic (Mass Market Paperback)

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.