Customer Reviews

The Perfect Gift

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you want a well-written, contemporary story that flirts with the past; romantic settings in New York, Scotland & England; interesting, multidemensional, flawed (yet still appealing) characters; a plot with danger, intrigue, passion, humor, paranormal sightings & gifts; and the chance to learn something new (the jewelry-making craft), you should enjoy this book as much as I did. Maggie & Jared were characters worth meeting and getting to know; their mutual attraction sizzles. This is Skye's 7th book in her Draycott Abbey series & can stand alone, but it helps if you've read previous titles in the series (well worth your time). I'm lookng forward to her promised sequels with Faith & Chessa, but I think Skye could have another interesting story with the intriguing Izzy.

I had almost given up on Ms. Skye. After reading her last 4 books I kept telling myself that this would be the last book I was going to buy unless she reverts to her earlier writing style. I am glad I persevered to this story. I have always loved the idea of the Draycott series, but with the exception of Adrian's story, I have found the others in the series poorly written. The Perfect Gift finally shows us Ms. Skye's potential. It is well executed, with strongly defined characters, and an in depth plot.

Jared is an interesting character, and though I feel the tortured, modern warrior who suffers some calamity and must rise above it (the ex-special agent, ex-cop, ex-army/marine, ex-fed, etc), is over written about, this story works. Maybe it is the touch of the paranormal that adds a different slant, maybe it is just my desire to see a successful Draycott series. Our heroine must also work through some problems of her own, but she has a wonderful support system with her cousins and new friends.

I liked the way the plot twists and turns, interweaving all of our characters. Everything and everyone fit in well together (unfortunately there is a "but" coming), but I thought the actual "evil" in this story was a bit corney and unbelievable. Ms. Skye gets us to believe in ghosts, witches, reincarnation and the paranormal, but I couldn't swallow the bad guys and their evil empire. I felt like I was in a bad "B" movie when this part of the story unfolded. All in all though, this is definitely a book worth reading, and I feel the best in the series

This was another entry in the Draycott Abbey series that is again another chapter in this wonderful creation by the gifted Christina Skye.

Our hero, Commander Jared MacNeill, is connected to the abbey through an association of having served in the Royal Marines and having had his life saved by Nicolas Draycott. So, when a personal favor was requested by Nicolas to ask Jared to `check out' a proposed artist he and his wife were planning to commission for a specific venture they would be sponsoring - Jared felt compelled to grant this one last favor - before he died. Through a special `sixth-sense gift' Jared, had seen his own death and by touch, he can read another persons thoughts.

Highly independent since her father's supposed death and jewel theft, Maggie Kincade's life had left her vulnerable and wary of anything and anyone that smacked of `reporters'. She was attempting to carry on with her life relying solely on herself when this Scotsman, Jared, invades her mind and sends signals to her body that are quite unsettling. Arriving at the Abbey, she has no idea why it somehow feels familiar and why she has the feeling that someone is always watching her.

What follows is the highly sensual attraction that our two main characters have with Jared quite vocal with his admiration and Maggie not quite understanding or believing her feelings. The fact that Jared knows what she is thinking drives her crazy! Then of course you have the mystery of why someone is trying to harm Maggie and whether her father is really dead.

As always, you get to see Adrian and Gideon, the abbey's guardian ghosts - who help out when the going gets tough and you get to visit other characters from previous novels who you have come to know and love. This is not to say that you need to read the previous Draycott books as this does stand entirely on it's own plot although your sense of `family' will be more than satisfied as you do get to find out how `old friends' are doing. Great entry - lots of suspense and hot sensual scenes.

As usual, Christina Skye tops her previous books. Her heros are always straight arrows, her heroins are usually experienced in romance but not to the point of being slutish. It is a joy to watch her plots unfold. I am never bored, waiting to get to the meat of the plot. Her past and present characters blend extremely well with any given situation. She always knows where every one is and what they should be doing at any given time. Makes it all so believable that I want to keep reading and reading. I hate the end of any of her books. What happened to the two sequals involving the two female cousins? Do you know when they will hit the shelves, or have they and I just missed them??

Thank you Christina. With your originality and wit and great style you are the writer I turn to for inspiration. I am sure other professionals in the business must do the same. Yes, I am an aspiring writer, but it is hard to read your books analytically, I just get swept away. A comfortable chair, a quiet hour, and a Christina Skye book, thats my idea of heaven. Please keep writing, I'd be bereft without your books!

I have loved the books in this series! And I am disappointed that Christina Skye seems to have stopped using Draycott Abbey as the setting for her most recent works. And I do wish that the two earliest novellas, which I can't locate, would be re-released! Several other authors in the same field have done just that, taking one of their earlier work, expanding it and releasing it a second time.

Thank you Christina. With your originality and wit and great style you are the writer I turn to for inspiration. I am sure other professionals in the business must do the same. Yes, I am an aspiring writer, but it is hard to read your books analytically, I just get swept away. A comfortable chair, a quiet hour, and a Christina Skye book, thats my idea of heaven. Please keep writing, I'd be bereft without your books!

The Perfect Gift as in all the Draycott Abbey series is GREAT.I have one complaint though!!!I dont see any new books for this series and i can't get any old ones either!!!I would be really ecstatic if I could get more books out of print re-printet.CHRISTINA SKYE could you PLEASE wright more books on Draycott Abbey series or at least re-print the old ones??????

Thank you Christina. With your originality and wit and great style you are the writer I turn to for inspiration. I am sure other professionals in the business must do the same. Yes, I am an aspiring writer, but it is hard to read your books analytically, I just get swept away. A comfortable chair, a quiet hour, and a Christina Skye book, thats my idea of heaven. Please keep writing, I'd be bereft without your books!

I got this in the mail this morning, and I've already finished. I couldn't wait to read it, and once started, couldn't put it down. I love all her Draycott Abbey books and this was no exception. It was good to see the Wishwells and the Mcleods again, and I can't wait to see what the Kincade cousins get up to in their stories.