"A hero worth crossing time for"

Archeologists Maya Jones and Sara Chance are excited about going on a dig in Scotland. The site is the old Castle MacGregor, where the uncharacteristically prosperous MacGregor clan lived well into the 1700's. They appeared to have been medically advanced, but unwilling to share this knowledge outside of the clan. Oh yes, and there was some sort of reference to two "enchantresses" that made an appearance in the early 1300's. While observing a hurricane in Tampa, Florida, in costume for an early Halloween/Hurricane Party, Maya and Sara get swept back to 1314 A.D. and the Scotland of their studies...into the arms of the Scotsmen of Castle MacGregor.

Finding two strange women on the hillside above his castle has Thomas MacGregor mystified. He plans on sending them home just as soon as possible. He is drawn to the one called Maya, but she is a beautiful woman--much too beautiful. Unfortunately (or, perhaps, fortunately), destiny has other plans in store for Thomas and Maya. Those plans not even the truth of Maya's origins will change. They are soon brought together by love--a love that Thomas' fear of losing Maya can't deter.

AFTER THE STORM is an excellent time travel romance. It has its serious moments, but also includes plenty of humor. I truly loved this heroine and the way she handled things. The hero was great also. Though thoroughly alpha, he showed real love and respect for the heroine. The main focus of the story is on Maya and Thomas, but the secondary romance between Maya's friend Sara and Dugald is also well filled out. I liked the fact that the heroine's choice of where to stay--in the past or return to the future--is settled fairly early on in the story. I really enjoyed the way the story ended. One thing did bother me--the time flow at the first of the story. Though love at first sight is often the rule in romances, somehow the relationship of the main characters in this tale moved too fast and rather threw me out of the story.

All in all, I highly recommend this book. I am certainly looking forward to a book featuring Patrick (Thomas' very good friend).

Sensuality--R. Fairly descriptive sex; oral sex; some coarse language.

Reviewed by Flora Bell
Posted March 25, 2002