Christina Skye

I think I've outgrown the SEAL and Draycott serieses; [a:Christina Skye|71875|Christina Skye|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg] is a more-than-competent romance writer, and I cherish her for being my introduction to the genre with [b:Bride of the Mist|1046920|Bride of the Mist (Draycott Abbey #5)|Christina Skye|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5157S4VSYAL._SL75_.jpg|1033349], which I still have a soft spot for. But.

When Izzy Teague isn't awesome, you are DOING show more IT RONG. (WTF happened to the awesome Izzy of books past, who wore drag and drove up in a gold Cadillac and shrugged and said, "Hide in plain sight, sugar"?) Also, I would like my damn book about Izzy himself already; he is infinitely cooler than the interchangeable heroes of the SEAL/Code Name series, whom I seriously can't tell apart. And it would be super-awesome if he could stop being described as a doppelganger of Denzel Washington; I promise that your audience has seen a black man in the flesh. Actually, it would be even more super-awesome if he could stop being the only character of color who is on the side of the (American) angels in the entire universe. (If it turns out that Lloyd Rykell is black/Hispanic/Latino/Asian, I will call SO MUCH Magical Negro on your ass, Christina. I'm just saying.)

Let me put it this way: I could not suspend disbelief for this book. And I read fanfiction. (I'm not even talking about the whole Foxfire unit thing, which I have been handwaving since it made its first appearance. It was stupid and unexplained then and it is stupid and unexplained now.) The heroine, the daughter of an internationally recognized art thief, has gone into art restoration? Ooookay. And become one of the best in her field? At the age of, what her early thirties at the oldest? Um. And she is an expert, competitive rock-climber. Ooookay. And she is friends with Nicholas Draycott (who is The Only Person Izzy Teague Trusts!!11!). And art restoration and rock-climbing happen to be The Skillset Required To Save America (plus some random infrared vision and biometrically enhanced muscle response, or something, I don't know, I was drunk by this point).

Yeah, no. show less

Annie O’Toole and Sam McKade spent two perfect weeks together, and then they said good-bye - he sailed away while she watched from the shore. The farewell was heartfelt but tearless as they were both too strong to admit, even to themselves, just how much they cared - expecting never to see one anther again.

But that’s not the nature of these stories (thank goodness), we know that it’s only a matter of time before star-crossed lovers meet again, and always under unexpected circumstances. show more Sam becomes a national hero, risking his life to save a busload of schoolchildren and being gravely wounded in the process. Unbeknownst to him, the entire episode is aired live on television and Annie sees the whole thing.

Now the Navy needs a top secret safe house for Sam to recover in, and Annie and her resort have a stellar reputation for just that. She agrees, but is stunned to learn that not only is Sam physically injured but he has amnesia. He remembers nothing about her or the time they shared - or the terrible danger he’s brought with him…

I love Skye’s alpha male military heroes, and this tale of two people falling in love all over again is touching and makes me think that second chances just might exist (I know, I need to keep reminding myself that this is fiction)…Also I was excited about the reappearance of Ishmael “Izzy” Teague, the Denzel Washington look-alike and my favorite witty, high-tech, and hunky reoccurring character of Skye’s military novels. Eventually she’s going to have to get him a girl of his own! show less

A Highlander for Christmas by Christina Skye is a Steel Magnolia Press publication. For those looking for this book on Goodreads, you might want to search for "The Perfect Gift" , which was the original title.

Maggie Kincaid's life has been a rollercoaster ride for the last seven months. Her father, Daniel, died in a plane crash amid rumors he was a jewel thief. Maggie got left with his debts and with the media hounding her every move.
Jared MacNeill was adjusting to life after having gone show more through an experience that not many people would have survived. He was also "gifted" as a psychic. The bad thing was he had foreseen his own death.
Now he is working for Nicholas Draycott, and his assignment is Maggie Kincaid. Is Maggie like her father, a jewel thief? Jared is to keep an eye on her and keep the media off her trail as well.
Maggie was so excited to be chosen to work on the Draycott jewel exhibit. London would be the perfect thing to keep her mind from her sorrow. She didn't count on the situation at the Abbey, the vivid dreams, and her intense attraction to Jared.

"Newsflash, MacNeill: there are no princes. There are only princesses with bad eyesight and frogs who are excellent at concealing the extent of their imperfections."

Maggie doesn't get to work on her jewelry designs as much as she would like. Rumors begin to circulate that her father may not be dead after all and someone is trying to scare Maggie, or worse, trying to kill her.
She and Jared both have a feeling they are being followed and watched.
"Fear was meant to grow, feeding on itself, until Jared and Maggie watched for shadows of their own invention."
As Jared, fearing his own death is approaching, finds it harder to resist the very persistent Maggie, they also find a haunting presence guiding them along.
Will the Abbey's magic and the spirit of Christmas help Maggie and Jared find their happy ever after?

This was a actually a fairy complex romance novel. There was action, intrigue, comedy, suspense, mystery, hot romance, and paranormal activities all rolled up into one novel, not to mention a slight Christmas atmosphere.
Draycott Abbey is still as mysterious and charming as always. This one is an A. show less

Aside from the gratuitous sex that I'm never a fan of, the plot of this book was actually very interesting, and having intelligent puppies in it certainly didn't hurt!