Bard (Talisman #3) by Tam DeRudder Jackson-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 20, 2020

A warrior tempts a wicked goddess…

Seamus Lochlann is always up for a good time-or a battle. At least that’s how it looks to his friends and family who count on his infectious humor and lethal sword arm. Fighting the war goddesses’ rogue warriors on the dark streets of East LA to defend his best friend puts him on the radar of the lustiest goddess in the Celtic pantheon. Maeve wants to spend him in her bed-and she’ll stop at nothing to enjoy the pleasures she expects from him.

A talisman knows his fate…

Fallon Graham can’t shake the premonitions. Flashing through her mind are stories with an up-close-and-personal view of the war goddess stealing the life force of a noble warrior who fights back again and again. Her heart breaks as she watches the warrior’s desperate struggles for his dignity and a chance to die honorably on the battlefield. Never in a million years would she have predicted that dream-warrior would walk right into her office and ask for a date.

Together, they can change the story.

A chance encounter at a mountain cabin seals their fate. The woman Seamus has searched for, the woman the gods determined to be his mate, is the only woman who’s ever turned him down. Fallon can’t believe she’s fated to the warrior Maeve has marked for herself. When the goddess strikes, they have a choice-succumb to the unholy power of the goddess or believe their love can tell a different story.

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REVIEW: BARD is the third full-length instalment in Tam DeRudder Jackson’s contemporary, adult TALISMAN paranormal, fantasy, Celtic mythology series. This is marketing promoter Fallon Graham, and twenty-six year old, security specialist Seamus Lochlann’s story line. BARD can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order or book one TALISMAN for back ground and history.

SOME BACKGROUND: Centuries earlier, the Morrigan cursed the descendants of the Sheridan family, a curse that has the potential to be broken with the mating of a warrior and his fated mate. Desperate to prevent the breaking of the curse, Morgan and her sister Maeve set into motion a series of battles that will pull the Sheridan family into a war where family and friendships will be tested. Morrigan is part of Celtic mythology representing the cycle of birth and death, but is also the patron of magic and revenge, prophecy and night.

Told from several third person perspectives including Seamus and Fallon BARD follows the building relationship between marketing promoter Fallon Graham, and twenty-six year old, security specialist and Celtic warrior Seamus Lochlann. Seamus Lochlann had yet to find his fated Talisman but a visit to a local sports centre found Seamus hoping the fiery auburn haired receptionist was his fated mate. A quick trip to his family cabin in the woods found Seamus face to face with Fallon Graham, when a sudden storm forced a hiking Fallon in search of a place to stay. Discovering each was the other’s fated mate, Fallon and Seamus got down to business but Fallon’s repeated dream where she watches as Seamus dies becomes the stuff of her nightmares when Maeve captures our couple and forces Fallon to watch as her beloved is sexually tortured to death. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Fallon and Seamus, and the potential fall-out as the naïve and ill-prepared Fallon, struggles with her powers, and how to help the man with whom she has fallen in love.

Fallon Graham comes from a long line of warriors and Talismans whose discriminatory attitude towards the magical Druid has affected their daughter’s Talisman training. Unaware of her true potential, Fallon battles between head and heart, and slowly loses hope when she is unable to help the man that she love. Seamus Lochlann is a carefree warrior but a warrior prepared to die to protect the lineage of warriors and Talisman. Hoping against hope that Fallon will be able to stop her dreams from become reality, Seamus will slowly succumbed to the Celtic goddess, when his mate is not strong enough to stop fate from happening.

The relationship and love between Seamus and Fallon is quick to develop. Once a warrior finds his mate, the Talisman quickly falls for the man she was chosen to protect but all is not well Graham family lineage, and Seamus may suffer when his Talisman is unable to protect the man that she loves. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the to, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters, most of whom we have met in the previous instalments: Rowan and Alyssa (Talisman #1); Shanley and Alaisdair (Prophetess 2.5); goddesses Scathach (warrior woman and martial arts teacher), Maeve and Morgan, and god Taranis. We are introduced to Fallon’s aunt Keela and Uncle Griffin; her parents Clancy and Ivori Graham; and Seamus’ sister Siobhan MacManus and her warrior Duncan, and Duncan’s sister Jennifer.

BARD is a story of family, friendships, power and magic; discrimination, pain, anger and retribution. The premise is detailed and dramatic ; the characters are animated and colorful but I struggled with our heroine who was emotionally and magically weak ; the romance is seductive and captivating.

Reading order and Previous Reviews
Talisman
Warrior
Prophetess

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy