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The Source of Magic: A Fantasy Romance (Alaia Chronicles)
 
 

The Source of Magic: A Fantasy Romance (Alaia Chronicles) [Kindle Edition]

Cate Rowan
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

Digital List Price: $2.99 What's this?
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Book Description

April 17, 2011
Acclaim for The Source of Magic:

"Rowan brings the exotic, the magic and the passion." --The Pen & Muse

Overview:

When a gorgeous man clasps Jilian Stewart to his chest and yanks her from Scotland into a magical battle, she thinks it must be another of her bizarre dreams. Plagued by unnerving visions of this man, she's sure they're brought on by the stress of her mother's deadly paralysis. Instead, Jilian finds herself ensnared in a world of fantasy, treachery, and family secrets, opposing the one man who can make everything right.

Prince Alvarr, her sexy abductor, offers a cure for her dying mother, but won't send Jilian home with it until she helps him destroy the evil mage threatening his people--with mystical powers she never knew she had.

The Source of Magic is an 83,000-word novel and has won sixteen awards.

Story Snippet:

The slightest crack of a twig behind her was Jilian's only warning. Spinning, she raised an uncertain fist. A strong hand grabbed her shoulder, her chest connected with a male body and her fist met empty air. The body smelled good. Alvarr.

"What the hell..." She glared as he pinned her arms to her sides.

His eyes blazed in the darkness. "Why were you sneaking off?"

"I wasn't sneaking," she huffed. "I was walking to that rock so I could look at the stars." She jerked her head toward the boulder.

He only clamped her harder against his chest. "You've been gone much longer than it takes to walk here."

"Well, forgive me for needing a good pee," she snapped, and stomped her heel onto his booted toes. The bastard didn't even flinch.

Alvarr's eyes burned into her and his voice roughened. "You swore an oath. Where's your heart? Don't you care about your mother's people? Doesn't their plight bother you?"

His words yanked her guilt from its shallow grave. "My heart? It's breaking for my mother," she snarled. "Whom I haven't seen in a week." She ground down harder on his boot, wishing he were barefoot. "Exactly where do you think I'd run?" He still smelled good and was too close for comfort.

Far too close. The hard plane of his chest didn't yield, but her breasts did. Uggh, you traitors, she thought, as her nipples warmed and rose.

"Where would I go?" she repeated. "I'm in a world totally unknown to me until a week ago. I may have a marvelous sense of direction," and she raised her gaze in challenge, "but I can't escape this world without some sort of map. Not to mention a spaceship, a wormhole, a portal, or whatever it takes me to get back home. So--despite my fervent wishes otherwise--you're calling the shots." Corralled fury hovered just below her breath.

With a troubled expression, he released her suddenly and she wobbled, unbalanced. He caught her shoulder and waist to steady her. Heat blazed beneath his touch.

Well, at least he's not an ungentlemanly ass. Most of the time. His nearness overflowed her brain. She closed her eyes and swallowed.

His palms dropped from her as if scalded. "Let's return to camp." The words were gruff, and he gestured for her to walk in front of him.

She spun away so she wouldn't be tempted to sever his hands. I wonder where I should wear my slave chain? She imagined it clinking behind her as she stalked toward their fire pit. Hmm, definitely my neck. In defiance, she flipped her hair away to expose her nape, taking strength from her private joke.

But her imagination, renegade that it was, substituted the cold neck-chain with a sizzling trail of kisses from Alvarr.

Other Stories in this Series:

Kismet's Kiss: A Fantasy Romance
A deadly epidemic strikes a sultan's realm and only a magical healer from an enemy land has the skill to save it. The sultan never imagined the healer would be a woman...

Swords and Scimitars: A Fantasy Short Story
When two women beg for aid against tyranny, a sultan must sacrifice his freedom and his long-scarred heart to help them.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Rowan is definitely an author to watch!" --Alyssa Day, New York Times bestselling author

About the Author

Cate Rowan has washed laundry in a crocodile-infested African lake, parasailed over Cabo, and swum with dolphins, but her best adventures are her story worlds. Her lush fantasy romances about magic, danger and passion in faraway realms have won more than thirty awards. Her debut novel, Kismet's Kiss, was a two-time Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® finalist and was nominated for Best Fantasy Romance of 2010 and Best Debut of 2010 by The Romance Reviews.

Cate credits her favorite childhood authors--a list that includes J.R.R. Tolkien, Guy Gavriel Kay, Anne McCaffrey, Nora Roberts, Ursula K. Le Guin, James Herriot, and C.S. Lewis--for her love of fiction, great characters, and a rich imagination. She also thanks her family for forgiving all those times she brought a novel to dinner.

Product Details

  • File Size: 632 KB
  • Print Length: 286 pages
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B004X235I0
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • Lending: Enabled
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,495 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
I love The Source of Magic. I love everything about it - the feisty heroine, Jillian, the to-die-for hero, Prince Alvarr, the otherworldly setting. Cate Rowan has woven an intriguing and engrossing story with enough twists and turns to keep me turning the virtual pages.

Jillian is transported to an exotic new world, like Earth, but not like Earth, filled with strange plants and animals. Despite her confusion and her fear, Jillian is strong and fights to get back to her sick mother. Jillian discovers she has magic powers, powers Prince Alvarr and his people need. They have something Jillian needs - the plant that could cure her mother.

When Jillian and Alvarr go on a journey to find the rare plant, they find so much more than that. They find love, but that love is tested over and over. They have to fight their growing feelings for each other and fight a very bad villain. Jillian is determined to get home to her mother. But can she bear to leave Alvarr? That question kept me guessing and reading to a very satisfactory ending.

Cate Rowan is a terrfic writer. I can't wait to read more of her books.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
She did it again! May 12, 2011
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Yep. Cate Rowan did it again! Loved this book and I love this talented author. Cate Rowan's talent lies in the fact that she not only has a great imagination but also has the ability to bring us into complex worlds where magic is believable.

The protagonists in this book were both likeable and real, with their own flaws they needed to overcome. The major antagonist? A Very Bad Guy. Rowan is such a wonderful author that I actually pitied him by the end of the book.

This is one not to miss. I can't wait for more of Cate Rowan's books!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By BevPet
Format:Kindle Edition
Romance and Magic...Excellent!

This is an engrossing book. Jilian's mother is critically ill and when a stranger transports her back in time, she is furious and cares only about returning to the hospital before her mother dies. She doesn't believe she has special powers that can save a kingdom and resents her handsome abductor.

However Prince Alvarr is very persuasive and when she witnesses firsthand the evil that threatens his people, she agrees to help in exchange for a rare plant that might heal her mother. However Jilian has no intention of hanging around in this strange and mystical place; she just wants to find the plant, return to Scotland, and save her mom.

The writing is very well done and I was captivated by Alvarr's world and the conflicting loyalties that threaten their growing love. A surprise twist makes a happy ending doubtful but it works out in the end and is a very satisfying read. I'll be looking for more from this author.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Majically fun!
I liked this book, and the storyline was interesting and captivating. It was a fresh take on a topic that has become very popular. Read more
Published 1 month ago by LCskater
The Source of Magic
All I can say is WOW!!!! I just love her writing... Cate explains everything so well and keeps you wanting to read. I couldnt put it down. I cant wait for her next book!!! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Kyrjus
Half and Half
I wish I could give the first half of the book 4 stars and the second half 3. I did like it and it held my attention. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Darcy
4.5 Stars Really
I came across this book at the end of another fantasy novel I was reading. That one was ok though it had points at which I really enjoyed it. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Cheryl
Wonderful
I can't wait for more, this and Kismet were both delightful far beyond their purchase price- worth far more than $3. Wonderful job.
Published 7 months ago by Cailia
Great New Author
I have a feeling I'll be rushing out to grab all of Cate's books when then hit shelves.
I loved her follow up to this book (would rate it 5 stars). Read more
Published 8 months ago by Book Junkie
Didn't put it down!
Best of it's kind I've read in a very long time. The magic and the romance on scale with Diana Gabaldon. Hope there are many more.
Published 9 months ago by mh053781
Good plot.
The speed with wich they fell in love was not believable. Still there was enough action and sympathy for each to make an enjoyable read.
Published 9 months ago by B. Vincent Rodriguez
Great read!
Very well written fantasy romance, I couldn't put it down. Characters are multi-faceted and human, I want to know more about them. Read more
Published 9 months ago by darkmatterhari
Fantastic Book
Rowan has merged a fantasy world with a modern heroine and created an intriguing story with enough twists and turns to keep readers turning pages. Read more
Published 10 months ago by L. j. Charles
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More About the Author

Cate Rowan has washed laundry in a crocodile-infested African lake, parasailed over Cabo, and swum with dolphins, but her best adventures are her story worlds. Her lush fantasy romances about magic, danger and passion in faraway realms have won more than thirty awards. Her debut novel, Kismet's Kiss, was a two-time Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® finalist.

Cate credits her favorite childhood authors--including J.R.R. Tolkien, Guy Gavriel Kay, Anne McCaffrey, Nora Roberts, Ursula K. Le Guin, James Herriot, and C.S. Lewis--for her love of fiction, great characters, and a rich imagination. She also thanks her family for forgiving all those times she brought a novel to dinner.


Author website: http://CateRowan.com
Twitter: @CateRowan
Facebook Profile (to friend her): http://www.facebook.com/CateRowan
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/CateRowan.AuthorPage


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