Also in this series: Dream Island, Kingdom Of Moonlight
Series: Akora #3
Published by Bantam on October 29th 2002
Genres: Historical Romance, Regency Era, Paranormal Romance
Pages: 352
Format: eBook
Source: Library
ISBN: 0553583913
As a child, Brianna survived a shipwreck and was washed upon the island of Akora. The orphaned girl grew up there longing to know her true identity. The answers to her past lure Brianna back to England. Meanwhile, Attreus, the chosen ruler of Akora, knows Brianna is the woman he is to marry and sets out to win her heart. Now Brianna must face her future with the most powerful--and passionate--man she's ever known. Original.
Summary
When Brianna was a child, she survived a shipwreck and found herself on the island of Akora. She was soon adopted by an Akoran family who raised her as their own. Brianna always wanted to know more of her own heritage. She feels a need to find answers to the questions of her past and she she goes to England to find what she is searching for. Attreus, the ruler of Akora, knew that Brianna will be his wife and seeks her out while handling political meetings in London. He knows its not going to be as easy as he thought, because Brianna is a power of her own and he will have to win her heart before gaining her agreement to be his wife. But there are secrets that Attreus and other Akoran’s have kept from Brianna, that could put a hold on the powerful bond between them.
The Hero
Attreus, is a man and a powerful warrior and leader. He went through a ritual that proved him to be the right ruler of Akora, where many others didn’t survive from. He has always put duty and honor above his own happiness and freedom. He has known for a long time, where his destiny would bring him to and never had doubts until he met Brianna and worked to win her heart even if he would just prefer to marry her and get to know her after it was all said and done. But Attreus is a wonderful hero, a character that learns along the way. He has always known a warrior’s life, Brianna is his first attempt at courting and wooing. He stumbles a bit, makes mistakes along the way, but is true to who he is and doesn’t hold back. I adored Attreus. In the beginning, he was a bit ourtrageous at times but it was quite humorous seeing the ways he would go about trying to win Brianna over. Throughout the book, we see the different strengths to his character, and with each chapter you fall hard for him.
The Heroine
Brianna has always been seeking answers to her past. Even though she was raised by a loving Akoran family, she still has nightmares of that one fateful night where she feels the guilt for what happened to her parents. Brianna has a certain magical gift, a gift she sees as a curse. Because of this curse, she believes that she was at fault for the death of her parents. She wants answers, and so she goes in search of them in England. Brianna was a interesting heroine. She had many different facets. She is feisty, strong willed, playful at times yet shy and reserved. She holds secrets of her own. She is intimidated by Attreus because of his position, but also because she has different beliefs than most Akoran’s do and is part of a passive yet secret organization. We see her personal growth, and how she comes to terms with certain aspects of her past and comes to the truth of who and what Attreus truly is.
Plot and Story Line
Castles In The Mist is the third book in the series, but is my first Josie Litton book. I have had Castles in the Mist on my wishlist for a little while now. But as I was browsing through library e book titles, I came upon this one….SCORE!! I was super excited to start it. The blurb is what really drew me into this one. I love the whole royalty set up for the theme of this romance and Josie Litton rocked it so much. The chemistry these two have is breathtaking…honestly I just couldn’t get enough of these two.
His touch was light, even teasing, as was his manner, but it didn’t seem to matter. Her own response was entirely serious. She could not look away from him, could scarcely breathe, and her body–her body seemed to have developed a mind of its own. She’d been warned of this. Her mother and the other women had made it clear: Men could banish sense, shatter control and make irrational thought impossible.
Their first meeting is actually in Akora, when Brianna aids her aunt in healing Attreus when he is almost killed by extremists on Akora who seek to overthrow him. This is when he realizes she is his future wife. But I do like that he doesn’t rush her too much. While in England, he pursues her slowly. I really admired the way he goes about it. It pulled me into the story even more. Although there were some moments in the story where the flow wasn’t completely smooth, for the most part I couldn’t get enough. Its the only reason I put this story at a 4 star instead of five rating.
What really made this story quite fun was the paranormal elements—which I wasn’t expecting very much. It isn’t too powerful, I felt that Litton really added it in with just the right amount to make the reader even more intrigued than before. What I found unique was seeing that the moment they agree to be together—its not the end. We see that even when you fall in love with someone, that life interrupts at times and can put a hold on the relationship or even cause a set back. These two are tested by secrets of the past, on both sides. But in the end, what really brings them together is love and redemption and forgivness. I truly got pulled in especially in the end here. The emotions are high in the story, but I was enraptured seeing these two overcome obstacles and fight for their happy ever after. All I can say that I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!!! I am intrigued by the Akoran people and want more of these fun characters and exotic setting.
The Cover
What a gorgeous cover, I really love castles on covers and it has such a mystical feel to it.
Overall View
Castles In The Mist is a story that is bound to tug at the readers heartstrings with vividly portrayed emotion, vibrant characters, and a story line that engages you from beginning to end. I never wanted this book to end….SIMPLY MAGICAL!!
Oh I think I’d like him. I love when they’re not all that smooth with the wooing and flub up. I don’t recall seeing her books before. Thanks for the heads up!
I so want a castle 😉
Another new to me series that sounds so dang good! Thanks for putting this one on my radar, too — great review!!