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On vacation
from her hectic job as an investigative reporter, Tamara had gone home
to visit
her mother, Diana. Digging around in the
attic, Tamara finds an ancient book with a gold clasp.
Never one to overlook a mystery, she asks her
mother the history of the book. The
answer Diana gives her is more than Tamara bargained for.
Diana, a Wiccan witch, had raised Tamara to
be open minded to all ways of life. Unfortunately,
Tamara craves logic, and doesn’t really believe in the “hocus-pocus”
her mother
does. However, Diana’s explanation that
the book is the ancient journal of Niumbe, the Lady of the Lake, High Priestess of
Avalon, and that
Tamara is Niumbe’s descendent, is almost more fantasy than Tamara can
handle. Thankfully, she gets called away
on assignment to Glastonbury, England.
With the journal in hand and a promise to read it,
Tamara leaves to do a
story on a special Wiccan ceremony, 100 years in the waiting, on
Glastonbury
Tor, where long ago her supposed “ancestor” fought a great battle
against
Merlin for the Sword Excalibur.
Coincidence or fate, Tamara will just have to wait
and see.
Gavin
Calder, a private investigator, has also found a strange book in his
parent’s
attic. They claim no knowledge of it so
he goes to see Mac, his long time friend and mentor, who is a
bookseller. Curious, Gavin had read a
little before
taking it to Mac. He is surprised to
find that it appears to be a journal of the famous, but fictional
magician,
Merlin. Have Gavin and Mac discovered
proof that Merlin was more than a fairy tale?
Could Gavin be a direct descendant of Merlin? The answers just seem to bring more questions
when Tamara walks into Mac’s bookstore with Niumbe’s journal. Not only is Gavin determined to solve the
connection between the two journals, but also compelled to explore the
strange bond
he feels to Tamara.
Ancient
curses, evil witches, the Sword Excalibur, and an undeniable attraction
are
just a few of the obstacles Tamara and Gavin must face to bring an end
to the
centuries old battle between Niumbe and Merlin.
But will Tamara be able to let go of her shield of
logic and accept her
heritage? Will Gavin still be alive
after the ceremony, unlike his many ancestors before him in their quest
to
right ancient wrongs?
SWORD
ACROSS TIME is a rich with ancient Arthurian legends, aspects of the
Wiccan
religion, and the passion brought on by undeniable love.
I read with rapt attention Ms. Collins’
interpretation of the legend of King Arthur, Merlin, and the Sword
Excalibur. Her artistry with words gives
depth and
meaning to, not only her character’s lives, but the landscape as well. In SWORD ACROSS TIME, Catherine Collins has
proven that the pen is mightier than the sword, even if it is
Excalibur, and given
us a love story strong enough to reach across time.
I look forward to the next book from Ms.
Collins’ pen, or should I say sword.
Reviewed for Road to
Romance by Tina
Burns
February 16, 2004
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