Series: Cats' Paw Cove (Book 14)
Will past secrets destroy their future?
Former Detective Leda Bellini, AKA Lisa Belmont, has had
enough of witness protection. Determined to start a new life on her terms, she
shifts into her swan form, ditches her security detail, and heads to Moon Mist
manor, a resort island in Cat’s Paw Cove, Florida. Somehow, the owner knows her
true identity and has been expecting her. Leda is blown away (literally) when
she finds herself and a mysterious cat named Davy transported back in time to
the year 1717 and into the arms of a pirate with hypnotic emerald eyes. Being
trapped in the past may be just the sort of adventure she’s been yearning for.
Disgraced Royal Navy Captain Drake Reid misread a command
during the Jacobite rebellion that cost him everything. His only shot at
redemption is to pose as a pirate and retrieve the magical Avalon roses for the
king. Blown off course by a storm, his ship misses St. Augustine where the
Spanish are rumored to have brought the priceless treasure. Further
complicating the matter is the scandalously underdressed woman who appeared out
of nowhere and is now hiding aboard his ship.
Leda finds herself drawn to the enigmatic, Iliad-quoting
pirate. On the cusp of achieving his goal, Drake is betrayed, and he and his
crew are taken captive. Can Leda recover the Avalon roses before they’re
executed? Or is their fate already sealed?
Fun mixture of time-travel and magic. Leda is a former
detective who has been in witness protection for several years. She decided
that she wants her life back and slipped away from those guarding her. Her
destination is Moon Mist Manor on a island in Cat's Paw Cove, a place she heard
about from her former partner. During a brief stop in the Cove itself, she
makes the acquaintance of a very special cat named Davy, who follows her to the
Manor. Though she made her reservation under an assumed name, everyone at the
Manor seems to know her real name, something that disturbs her. Then, while
exploring the island, she finds a compass which whisks her back in time 300
years when she opens it.
Captain Drake Reid is a Royal Navy captain who is on a
secret mission for the king. A storm forced him to stop at Cat's Paw Cove for
repairs. He is frustrated at the delay, and also by his sister. Eleanor
traveled with him so she could stay with an aunt In Charles Town and look for a
husband. Instead, she spends way too much time with the son of the local Indian
chief. While trying to track her down yet again, Drake spots a woman sitting on
the rocks.
I enjoyed the first meeting between Drake and Leda. He is
determined to keep her from being seen by his crew and takes her onboard his
ship. Leda isn't happy about being there at first, especially after she learns
WHEN she is. If she's going to get back to her own time, she thinks she should
stay put. But Drake is in a time crunch and insists she goes along. He'll bring
her back when he has what he needs. Drake was amazingly accepting of Leda's
time travel claim, thanks to stories heard from his grandmother. He's a little
warier of her other secret, an ability to shape-shift into a swan, and fears
she'd be burned as a witch if anyone else discovers it.
I liked seeing the relationship develop between Drake and
Leda. There were sparks from the beginning, and an undeniable fascination with
each other. But both were also aware that Leda would likely return to her own
time. A fun twist enabled Drake to get a taste of Leda's world, however, the
question remained. Would they find a way to be together in the past or the
future, or would fate separate them forever? Both Drake and Leda had some
serious soul searching to do to discover what was meant to be. I loved Leda's
conversation with one of the fairies, who gave her some pretty blunt advice.
The ending was sweet and romantic.
I also enjoyed the mission that Drake had to complete. He
has some secrets himself, one of which adds complications to his plans. Though
he and his partner-in-crime thought they had everything covered, an unexpected
appearance threw those plans into disarray. There were some very tense moments
when the success of the mission and their safety were in doubt. It was fun to
see how the mission was saved and the unexpected and important results of it.
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