Warrior (Talisman) by Tam Derudder Jackson-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK:Release Date February 20, 2020

Only she can save her home …

Upon turning twenty-five, Ceri Ross inherits an estate in Scotland. To avoid losing the druidic enchantments that have kept her alive since her parents’ deaths, she must spend a year at Conlan Manor. When she arrives, she discovers the old druid caretaker isn’t the only one sharing the mansion with her–an uninvited guest is lurking. She calls the security company run by her best friend’s husband and anticipates he’ll set up a system to catch her midnight visitor. Business keeps Rowan Sheridan in the States, but his brother Rio is free–Rio Sheridan, the one man she can’t stop thinking about even though he can never be hers.

Only he can save her…

Ceri Ross is a flirt and a talisman with obligations to the warrior community. She must bond with her fated mate and not spend time with random unattached warriors, yet it seems to Rio that she didn’t get the memo. None of which helps him: the woman calls to him like a siren.

A clan is counting on them.

Hamish Buchanan has taken care of Conlan Manor for years. The energy swirling around the Conlan heir and the big American warrior she’s hired to protect the most secure stronghold in the Highlands gives him hope. If Ceri’s warrior discovers his mate within the confines of the manor, the clan will enjoy enhanced protections from the violent war goddesses for ten generations. If only Ceri and Rio would stop sparring long enough to figure out they belong to each other..

•••••••••

REVIEW: WARRIOR is the second instalment in Tam Derudder Jackson’s contemporary, adult TALISMAN paranormal, fantasy, Celtic mythology series. This is twenty-five year old, event planner Ceri Ross, and twenty-eight year old, security specialist Riordan Sheridan’s story line. WARRIOR can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading 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 sets 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 Ceri and Rio, WARRIOR focuses on the relationship between twenty-five year old, event planner Ceri Ross, and twenty-eight year old, security specialist Riordan Sheridan. On her twenty-fifth birthday Ceri Ross inherited her family estate in Scotland. To ensure the druidic magic continues to protect our story line heroine, Ceri must spend one year at Conlan Manor leaving her friends and family behind but Ceri discovers there are secrets and magic surrounding Conlan Manor, and heightened security is needed to protect those within. Enter Ceri’s nemesis and current target of aggression Riordan ‘Rio’ Sheridan, and the man with whom Ceri will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Ceri and Rio, and the potential fall-out as Maeve sets her sights on our leading couple.

Riordan ‘Rio’ Sheridan is descended from a long line of Celtic warriors, who before midnight on their twenty-eight birthday must find the woman, their talisman, their fated mate who will fight, in tandem, against the Morrigan(sisters Morgan, Macha and Maeve) or fear fighting beside the goddesses for all eternity. But Rio’s brother Rowan’s mating with Alyssa, broke part of the curse, allowing the warriors to live past their twenty-eighth year.

Rio and Ceri’s attraction to one another is fraught with angry energy and cutting words that barely hide the palpable sexual intensity between a warrior and his talisman but Rio refuses to ‘test’ the theory that Ceri is his mate, preferring to watch from a distance as his anger unfolds. Ceri Ross has known from childhood that she is a talisman, and has trained for the day where she will be asked to stand by his side but with each mating, the talisman will come into her full power, with an ability that is meant to help her mate in an upcoming battle. Immediately upon discovering Rio is her mate, our heroine’s attitude did an abrupt one-eighty knowing they would have to face the Morrigan together. With the approach of Samhain, reinforcements are needed as the Sheridan, Conlans and Ross Clans prepare for a celebration, bringing together Rio’s brothers and their mates , his parents, and Ceri’s aunt in an effort to prepare for the upcoming battle.

The relationship between Ceri and Rio begins acrimoniously as Rio is perturbed to discover that Ceri is a talisman who flirts and flaunts with every available male but his family history will prove there is a backstory to his anger and turmoil. Upon the discovery that Ceri is his talisman, our couple are quick to forget about their jealousy and anger, anger that was growing with every interaction. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including Rowan and Alyssa (Talisman #1), Riley and Lynette, their parents Sian and Owen Sheridan, guardian Finn Daly; Ceri’s aunt Shanley; druids Hamish Buchanan and Davy Sutherland; and warrior Alaisdair Graham ; weather god Taranis; goddesses Scathach (warrior woman and martial arts teacher), Maeve and Morgan. Alaisdair and Shanley’s story line is next in Prophetess.

WARRIOR is a detailed story line that closely follows Celtic mythology and lore with druids and warriors; gods and goddesses, magic, family, destiny and love. The complex premise is enchanting, inventive and clever ; the characters are animated and edgy; the romance is seductive and energetic.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one TALISMAN

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy