Sea Spell by Tess Farraday is the first book in the Magical Love series published by Jove/Putnam Berkley and if the rest of the series contains books that are as good as this one it will be a pleasure to collect them all.

Beth Caxton was saved from drowning after performing a fearless dive as a teenager at the cliffs of Grey Gallows.

Beth never knew the name of her rescuer, but she remembered him as her selkie.  The man who was able to change from his form as a seal and rescue her.

Returning to Grey Gallows years later Beth is still known for her selkie story and most of the local residents regard her as strange.  Not least because they believe the seals are destroying their fishing trade and are intent on killing the creatures Beth is so fond of.

Gordon is Beth's selkie, and over the years he has watched Beth from afar as he plans how to woo and win her.  His name taken from a character on Sesame Street and he has hidden from civilisation since the night of Beth's accident when he was wrongfully accused of attacking her.  Now he is determined to convince her that he is her selkie and win her love.

But over the years Beth has managed to convince herself that her selkie was her imagination playing tricks on her as she approached death.  And it is not until she sees the proof with her own eyes that she can start to believe in the magic again.

But there is a darker side to this novel than the romance of Beth and Gordon, and that is the plight of the seals which is still ongoing today.  For even with the protection of the Dark Prince, Solitary (Gordon) the seals are still in danger from the fishermen.

With an air of mystery to the story there is plenty of intrigue to keep you guessing and I think that Gordon is one of the sweetest heroes ever created.  His efforts to win Beth are both touching and humorous and as he strives to be more human and to blend in with everyone I could not help but think that it would be a shame if he were to follow the example of many of the other townspeople.

A wonderful book and one that made me resolve to track down more novels about these legendary creatures of myth.

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Also by Tess Farraday :  Shadows in the Flame, Tumbleweed Heart and Snow in Summer.

Read an Interview with Tess Farraday.

Visit Tess Farraday's Website.
 

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