Off the TBR: Jean Johnson

After finishing the Lora Leigh, I was looking for something new to start. Meljean Brook's Guardian series was on top of the pile, but as I was reaching for it, the mail arrived and with it was The Sword by Jean Johnson. Having ordered it after reading Kristie(j)'s review of the book, I was eager to start. To say the least, it did not disappoint. So on with the review:

Title: The Sword

Author: Jean Johnson

Published: February 2007

Genre: Romance, Fantasy

Stand Alone/Series: 1st of the Sons of Destiny

From the Author Site: The first novel of the Sons of Destiny...a romantic tale of magic, superstition, and a love that transcends dimensions.

Eight brothers, born in four sets of twins, two years apart to the day-they fulfill the Curse of Eight Prophecy. To avoid tempting their destiny, the brothers are exiled to Nightfall Island, a land where women are strictly forbidden. But, when the youngest of the mage-brothers rescues a woman from another universe, their world is altered forever.

Kelly Doyle had wanted to get away from the world. Threatened, attacked, and accused of witchcraft, Kelly had enough of her narrow-minded small town. And now she has somehow landed in another, magical dimension-the only woman in a realm inhabited by eight men who are desperately in need of a woman's touch.

Review: I loved this book. It was funny, witty, and the characters were enjoyable. The feisty heroine, Kelly, gets rescued and, like any sane woman, wakes up fighting when she finds herself in unfamiliar surroundings. She finds herself in a strange world full of magic and living in a castle with eight powerful bachelor mages, one of which seems to be a "Mr. Grumpy". The battles between her and Saber, the eldest brother, is highly amusing and well thought out. It wasn't love at first sight, the heroine doesn't fall into the hero's arms for no apparent reason other than "fate/destiny/soul mates/whatever". The relationship actually builds in a believable manner. Reading how Kelly bullies the brothers straightening up the castle when she realized she was stuck with them for awhile and that they were "lousy housekeepers, lousy grounds keepers, lousy gentlemen, and lousy hosts" is a real joy. Because what real woman wants to live in a bachelor pad.

The world building was well done. The magic was believable and well constructed. Each brother had he own unique personality and magic, how the magic worked was described but it wasn't a distraction from the story. The only overall question I had at the end of the book was, what is the Curse of the Eight Prophecy? There is a Song of the Sons of Destiny, last page of the book, describing how and to whom each brother will fall in love, but it doesn't really satisfy the reason for their exile to Nightfall Island.

Keeper?: Yes

Recommendation: Yes. Its has a lot going for it, romance, humor and a great story line.

Rating: 4.5 of 5