Once a Gypsy by Danica Winters – a Review

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Description:
Even for a clairvoyant, the future is never a sure thing.

Helena has always struggled to fit in with her Irish Traveller family. It’s not just her opposition to getting married or her determination to attend university; Helena also has one talent that sets her apart from the rest of her clan―the gift of the Forshaw, the ability to see the future.

Graham is the groundskeeper at a manor in Adare, Ireland. Though the estate appears idyllic, it holds dark secrets, and despite his own supernatural gifts, Graham can’t solve Adare Manor’s problems by himself. Desperate for help, Graham seeks out a last resort: Helena, whose skills are far greater than even she knows.

When he promises to teach her to control her powers, Helena resists, afraid both of the damage her abilities might do and her increasing attraction to the handsome groundskeeper. Her entire way of life is at risk: Any involvement, especially romantic, with non-Travellers like Graham is forbidden. But Helena’s future is anything but certain, and fate has other plans for her family, her powers, and her relationship with Graham.

Review:

Once a Gypsy by Danica Winters is the 1^st book in her new Irish Traveller series.  Helena, our heroine, is a traveller (gypsy) and we meet her immediately, as she goes to meet her father, who is being released from prison.  It is there she sees Graham, our hero, but she doesn’t pay too much attention to him, and leaves with her father to go home to their camp.  Helena has been studying for her exams, as she wants to be able to better herself. She loves her father & siblings very much, but her mother is an abusive alcoholic, making life difficult for her living in the strict world of the Gypsy life.    In dire need to pay off debts, her father accepts a job, which includes Helena, at Adare Manor.

Unbeknownst to them, Graham has initiated the job offer, as he knows Helena has the Forshaw (see the future), and possibly other powers, which will help his family, who are sick and possessed.  When Helena starts work at the manor, she begins to see visions, which she then realizes that she can see the future.  Graham explains to Helena the situation with his mother and brother, and others at the mansion.  Helena wants to help, but it will be Graham who will help her try to learn how to use her powers to help those who are ill.

At first, Helena isn’t sure of what she can do, until she meets a gypsy woman who has the same powers, and will help her harness her gift.   Though he admits he used her to come help them, Graham tells her he is falling in love with her.  However, Helena knows her family will not accept her getting involved with a Gorger (non gypsy).  What follows is an interesting tale of life in the restrictive gypsy world, and those that are affected by demons and magic.  I liked Helena a lot,  and enjoyed her and  Graham together, as they made a nice couple; but in this first book there was no true romance, even if they both know they are in love with each other.  Helena learning how to use her powers, and finally making decisions not to allow her mother to cruelly define her life was good.  I did not like the mother, and felt this part of the story with Helena and the other children having to deal with her was depressing.   I also thought the story dragged at times, with some redundancy.  I know in first books of a fantasy/paranormal story there is a lot of world building, which has a lot of details.  I just felt there were too many downers, and not enough good moments.  I will check out the next book in this series to see if it picks up the romance and excitement to another level.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher