What do you think?
Rate this book
Orkney Selkies #1
The Selkie
This was supposed to be her year. However, after losing her job and discovering her fiancé cheating, Maggie Collins has her doubts. When her grandmother dies, she hits rock bottom. Maggie travels to her grandmother’s home in Orkney, Scotland to sort through her gran’s things, only to discover the old woman has left her a seal pelt as her inheritance. She also learns that others are after the pelt.
To add to her frustration, Maggie’s dreams are filled with luscious images of a long-haired man, images that draw her to the magical beaches in Orkney. Although she’s lost her trust in men, this dream man inspires her with a lust she’s never known before.
Calan Kirk has also been dreaming. Dreaming of Maggie, the mortal woman who arouses him as no other woman ever has. Meeting her in the flesh when she arrives in Orkney is nothing short of spontaneous sexual combustion. But she is a human, and not to be trusted. He needs the seal pelt, not a red-haired temptress.
As a thief ransacks Maggie’s grandmother’s house, Maggie and Calan are thrust together. They must search for the animal skin, a mythical relic which once found, will either bring them together or rip them apart forever.
To add to her frustration, Maggie’s dreams are filled with luscious images of a long-haired man, images that draw her to the magical beaches in Orkney. Although she’s lost her trust in men, this dream man inspires her with a lust she’s never known before.
Calan Kirk has also been dreaming. Dreaming of Maggie, the mortal woman who arouses him as no other woman ever has. Meeting her in the flesh when she arrives in Orkney is nothing short of spontaneous sexual combustion. But she is a human, and not to be trusted. He needs the seal pelt, not a red-haired temptress.
As a thief ransacks Maggie’s grandmother’s house, Maggie and Calan are thrust together. They must search for the animal skin, a mythical relic which once found, will either bring them together or rip them apart forever.
167 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2012
17 people are currently reading
1257 people want to read
About the author
Rosanna Leo
40 books832 followersRosanna Leo writes contemporary and paranormal romance. Her novel A Reluctant Attraction, Handymen 3, is one of Oprah Daily's 50 of 2021's Most Anticipated Romance Novels. Follow her on Bookbub here: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rosan...
From Toronto, Canada, Rosanna occupies a house in the suburbs with her husband. A mother to two grown sons, she spends much of her time wondering where all her time went. A great lover of felines, she enjoys being chased around the house by her cat, Lucy. When not writing, Rosanna works for her local library, where she is busy laying the groundwork to become a library ghost one day.
Connect with her at www.rosannaleoauthor.wordpress.com.
From Toronto, Canada, Rosanna occupies a house in the suburbs with her husband. A mother to two grown sons, she spends much of her time wondering where all her time went. A great lover of felines, she enjoys being chased around the house by her cat, Lucy. When not writing, Rosanna works for her local library, where she is busy laying the groundwork to become a library ghost one day.
Connect with her at www.rosannaleoauthor.wordpress.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
November 12, 2012
This book was the first I'd read about Selkies and from Rosanna Leo. I'll be reading more from both! :)
When I first discovered Selkies were seal shape shifters, I was torn between thinking that I could never find a seal man sexy, and thinking that this would be a great way to broaden my love for all things paranormal. I was wrong about the former- definitely wrong- and right about the latter. From the moment the story began, I was enthralled by both the way Rosanna told the story and by the fascinating myth of the Selkie people. She draws you completely into the story with the way she writes. She'll make you fall in love- not just with the characters, but with the sea and the landscape in the story.
Set mostly in the beautiful Scotland, filled with myth, romance, mystery, and extremely sexy scenes, this novella is definitely worth picking up. There's also quite a bit of scenes that are funny and touching. There was never a moment that I wasn't smiling, laughing, or in tears. I found myself wanting to research Selkies and Finman even more after finishing the story. The ending alone is worth ten stars, I nearly bawled like a baby because it was so beautiful.
Calan Kirk, yes it makes me think of Star Trek and there is a joke about the show, stole my heart the moment he entered the story. I knew right away that I had to add him to my list of fictional loves- at the top, no less. This mostly immortal man is as charming and handsome as he is strong. He's everything a woman could want in a man (including a sexy accent), complete with a hearty appetite- for more than just food. Maggie, the mortal, has hit rock bottom. She's lost everything and doesn't know anything except that she's been dreaming about a gorgeous man and a seal. When the pair meets the chemistry is absolutely explosive. They both fight their feelings for each other for a bit, so the fire grows even hotter!
There are several other great characters in the story. I loved the glimpse at all of Calan's family, and adored his oldest brother and his wife. They're such a cute couple.
This story is captivating, beautiful, and erotic. It's a quick read, but one that is endlessly entertaining and one that I can see myself reading again. It packs quite a punch for being 160 pages. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great, unique story in the paranormal romance genre.
I really hope that Rosanna writes more about her sexy Selkie men! I'll be waiting eagerly!
When I first discovered Selkies were seal shape shifters, I was torn between thinking that I could never find a seal man sexy, and thinking that this would be a great way to broaden my love for all things paranormal. I was wrong about the former- definitely wrong- and right about the latter. From the moment the story began, I was enthralled by both the way Rosanna told the story and by the fascinating myth of the Selkie people. She draws you completely into the story with the way she writes. She'll make you fall in love- not just with the characters, but with the sea and the landscape in the story.
Set mostly in the beautiful Scotland, filled with myth, romance, mystery, and extremely sexy scenes, this novella is definitely worth picking up. There's also quite a bit of scenes that are funny and touching. There was never a moment that I wasn't smiling, laughing, or in tears. I found myself wanting to research Selkies and Finman even more after finishing the story. The ending alone is worth ten stars, I nearly bawled like a baby because it was so beautiful.
Calan Kirk, yes it makes me think of Star Trek and there is a joke about the show, stole my heart the moment he entered the story. I knew right away that I had to add him to my list of fictional loves- at the top, no less. This mostly immortal man is as charming and handsome as he is strong. He's everything a woman could want in a man (including a sexy accent), complete with a hearty appetite- for more than just food. Maggie, the mortal, has hit rock bottom. She's lost everything and doesn't know anything except that she's been dreaming about a gorgeous man and a seal. When the pair meets the chemistry is absolutely explosive. They both fight their feelings for each other for a bit, so the fire grows even hotter!
There are several other great characters in the story. I loved the glimpse at all of Calan's family, and adored his oldest brother and his wife. They're such a cute couple.
This story is captivating, beautiful, and erotic. It's a quick read, but one that is endlessly entertaining and one that I can see myself reading again. It packs quite a punch for being 160 pages. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great, unique story in the paranormal romance genre.
I really hope that Rosanna writes more about her sexy Selkie men! I'll be waiting eagerly!
January 26, 2013
Cute & Sweet!
This was a very enjoyable read. I fell in love with the characters and the story immediately. My heart went out to Maggie as she goes through hell dealing with her share of low life losers of men, losing her job, and then with her grandmother dying. I admired her for her strength and endurance as an independent woman dealing with all the tragedy in her life.
Calan the selkie was to die for - he was a total package of dreams, desires, and soul melting magical catch. The dude had me falling in love and catching my breath as I read the scene of him singing to Maggie in the pub. One thing for sure and that is Calan and Maggie's romance was passionate and heated up the pages through out the whole book.
What was really enjoyable about this book was not only the happy ever after ending but how smooth flowing it read. The story's concept about the Selkie legend was very interesting. Here are a couple of things that caught my eye and had me wanting to know more about the Selkie world.
"human women who are unsatisfied with their love lives can seek the love an immortqal selkie man. They need only cry seven tears into the sea to call him. He will then shed his animal skin, come to her in human form, and love her as no human man can. But eventually, he will want to return to his beloved sea. However, if the woman steals and hides his selkie skin before he can put it back on, he will be her captive until he finds it."
or
"When a selkie man falls in love, he can bind his woman to him by mating with her in the sea. She then becomes selkie too, and he can never lose his skin to another. They mate for life."
Very cute and sweet read indeed, it had me smiling in the end. I look forward to reading more works by Rosanna Leo.
This was a very enjoyable read. I fell in love with the characters and the story immediately. My heart went out to Maggie as she goes through hell dealing with her share of low life losers of men, losing her job, and then with her grandmother dying. I admired her for her strength and endurance as an independent woman dealing with all the tragedy in her life.
Calan the selkie was to die for - he was a total package of dreams, desires, and soul melting magical catch. The dude had me falling in love and catching my breath as I read the scene of him singing to Maggie in the pub. One thing for sure and that is Calan and Maggie's romance was passionate and heated up the pages through out the whole book.
What was really enjoyable about this book was not only the happy ever after ending but how smooth flowing it read. The story's concept about the Selkie legend was very interesting. Here are a couple of things that caught my eye and had me wanting to know more about the Selkie world.
"human women who are unsatisfied with their love lives can seek the love an immortqal selkie man. They need only cry seven tears into the sea to call him. He will then shed his animal skin, come to her in human form, and love her as no human man can. But eventually, he will want to return to his beloved sea. However, if the woman steals and hides his selkie skin before he can put it back on, he will be her captive until he finds it."
or
"When a selkie man falls in love, he can bind his woman to him by mating with her in the sea. She then becomes selkie too, and he can never lose his skin to another. They mate for life."
Very cute and sweet read indeed, it had me smiling in the end. I look forward to reading more works by Rosanna Leo.
September 16, 2012
The Selkie is an AMAZING story. I love the seal shifter legends. How can you not love a hot, wet, sexually driven man?
Miss Leo spins a heartbreaking tale of a young woman. Maggie's life has not been easy and now she has to go to Scotland because her gran's life is failing. After the memorial service her life takes a turn when she meets a mysterious man, one that she's been dreaming about shows up on the beach... wet and naked!
Maggie's life spins guickly out of control when she comes to terms with her feelings and what Calan Kirk really is.
This is a must read!
Miss Leo spins a heartbreaking tale of a young woman. Maggie's life has not been easy and now she has to go to Scotland because her gran's life is failing. After the memorial service her life takes a turn when she meets a mysterious man, one that she's been dreaming about shows up on the beach... wet and naked!
Maggie's life spins guickly out of control when she comes to terms with her feelings and what Calan Kirk really is.
This is a must read!
November 18, 2012
My Rating: ★★★★
Book Description:
This was supposed to be her year. However, after losing her job and discovering her fiancé cheating, Maggie Collins has her doubts. When her grandmother dies, she hits rock bottom. Maggie travels to her grandmother’s home in Orkney, Scotland to sort through her gran’s things, only to discover the old woman has left her a seal pelt as her inheritance. She also learns that others are after the pelt.
To add to her frustration, Maggie’s dreams are filled with luscious images of a long-haired man, images that draw her to the magical beaches in Orkney. Although she’s lost her trust in men, this dream man inspires her with a lust she’s never known before.
Calan Kirk has also been dreaming. Dreaming of Maggie, the mortal woman who arouses him as no other woman ever has. Meeting her in the flesh when she arrives in Orkney is nothing short of spontaneous sexual combustion. But she is a human, and not to be trusted. He needs the seal pelt, not a red-haired temptress.
As a thief ransacks Maggie’s grandmother’s house, Maggie and Calan are thrust together. They must search for the animal skin, a mythical relic which once found, will either bring them together or rip them apart forever.
Page Count: 167 Pages
Primary Characters:
Responding to a summons from her boss, Maggie is certain that he will be giving her the good news -- she received the promotion that he put her in for. With a light heart and pep in her step, Maggie quickly makes her way to his office. But, upon her arrival, she notices something just isn't quite right. The human resources manager is also in the office with her boss. Hesitant at first, Maggie enters the office, shirking off her feelings of unease. Unfortunately for Maggie, her world in upended when she discovers that she did not receive the promotion BUT was pink slipped instead. She is absolutely devastated because she worked hard, trained many of the other staff members, and was the all around go-to girl for the office. Maggie realizes that her boss is equally flummoxed and angry at the human resources office for making him lose Maggie, his best worker and protégé.
Angry and hurt at her termination, Maggie seeks solace in the arms of her fiancé, Matthew. Maggie arrives at his office to discover that neither Matthew or his assistant are around...until she hears groaning. Following the sound, Maggie goes toward Matthew's open office door to discover his assistant on her knees performing fellatio. Bad day meet worst. day. ever. Maggie leaves her ring and leaves the office and over the next few months tries to recover a semblance of a life.
And the dreams begin...
Maggie starts to have dreams about a dark-haired man with luminous eyes who takes the form of both a gorgeous man and a large seal. Her dreams are erotic and sensual and her every waking hour is consumed with thinking about her dreams. The dreams go on for months with the most vivid images and intimate moments with her dream man. But, one day her dreams are interrupted by a visit from her grandmother. Embarrassed and shocked at her grandmother's presence, Maggie is unsure how she should even act in the dream. Her grandmother gives her a cryptic message and provides her with a warning and through them Maggie understands that her grandmother is saying her last goodbye.
After she receives official confirmation of her death, Maggie travels to Orkney, Scotland, her grandmother's home. In Orkney, Maggie uncovers treachery and betrayal but also the love of a lifetime.
All I can say about this story is WOW. I was absolutely blown away by Ms. Leo's version of the selkie myth...definitely not the staid and traditional stories that fantasy and PNR readers may be used to. Calan, the selkie-man, was sexy, flirty, and dominant but the way he cared for Maggie was just so "aww" inspiringly sweet. Leo did an excellent job providing characters with a realistic range of depth and emotion. This story is definitely a must read for someone looking for a different spin on a shifter story. It was very well done!
Reading Time: 3.5 Hours
For more reviews, visit The BookChick with Kick blog
Book Description:
This was supposed to be her year. However, after losing her job and discovering her fiancé cheating, Maggie Collins has her doubts. When her grandmother dies, she hits rock bottom. Maggie travels to her grandmother’s home in Orkney, Scotland to sort through her gran’s things, only to discover the old woman has left her a seal pelt as her inheritance. She also learns that others are after the pelt.
To add to her frustration, Maggie’s dreams are filled with luscious images of a long-haired man, images that draw her to the magical beaches in Orkney. Although she’s lost her trust in men, this dream man inspires her with a lust she’s never known before.
Calan Kirk has also been dreaming. Dreaming of Maggie, the mortal woman who arouses him as no other woman ever has. Meeting her in the flesh when she arrives in Orkney is nothing short of spontaneous sexual combustion. But she is a human, and not to be trusted. He needs the seal pelt, not a red-haired temptress.
As a thief ransacks Maggie’s grandmother’s house, Maggie and Calan are thrust together. They must search for the animal skin, a mythical relic which once found, will either bring them together or rip them apart forever.
Page Count: 167 Pages
Primary Characters:
Maggie - female protagonistSecondary Character:
Calan - male protagonist
Matthew - Maggie's cheating ex-fiancéAfter suffering the tragic loss of her parents years earlier, Maggie's life is finally looking up. She has a job that she adores and a fiancé that she loves. Life is perfect!
Phyllis - Maggie's grandmother's friend
Liz - Maggie's grandmother's friend
Angus - Calan's oldest and only mated brother
Jaime - Calan's brother
Breannan - Calan's brother*giggle* It's a lot of themMachar - Calan's brother
Drummond - Calan's brother
Edan - Calan's brother
Fae - Calan's mother
Alun - Calan's father
Elise - Calans's sister in law
Responding to a summons from her boss, Maggie is certain that he will be giving her the good news -- she received the promotion that he put her in for. With a light heart and pep in her step, Maggie quickly makes her way to his office. But, upon her arrival, she notices something just isn't quite right. The human resources manager is also in the office with her boss. Hesitant at first, Maggie enters the office, shirking off her feelings of unease. Unfortunately for Maggie, her world in upended when she discovers that she did not receive the promotion BUT was pink slipped instead. She is absolutely devastated because she worked hard, trained many of the other staff members, and was the all around go-to girl for the office. Maggie realizes that her boss is equally flummoxed and angry at the human resources office for making him lose Maggie, his best worker and protégé.
Angry and hurt at her termination, Maggie seeks solace in the arms of her fiancé, Matthew. Maggie arrives at his office to discover that neither Matthew or his assistant are around...until she hears groaning. Following the sound, Maggie goes toward Matthew's open office door to discover his assistant on her knees performing fellatio. Bad day meet worst. day. ever. Maggie leaves her ring and leaves the office and over the next few months tries to recover a semblance of a life.
And the dreams begin...
Maggie starts to have dreams about a dark-haired man with luminous eyes who takes the form of both a gorgeous man and a large seal. Her dreams are erotic and sensual and her every waking hour is consumed with thinking about her dreams. The dreams go on for months with the most vivid images and intimate moments with her dream man. But, one day her dreams are interrupted by a visit from her grandmother. Embarrassed and shocked at her grandmother's presence, Maggie is unsure how she should even act in the dream. Her grandmother gives her a cryptic message and provides her with a warning and through them Maggie understands that her grandmother is saying her last goodbye.
After she receives official confirmation of her death, Maggie travels to Orkney, Scotland, her grandmother's home. In Orkney, Maggie uncovers treachery and betrayal but also the love of a lifetime.
All I can say about this story is WOW. I was absolutely blown away by Ms. Leo's version of the selkie myth...definitely not the staid and traditional stories that fantasy and PNR readers may be used to. Calan, the selkie-man, was sexy, flirty, and dominant but the way he cared for Maggie was just so "aww" inspiringly sweet. Leo did an excellent job providing characters with a realistic range of depth and emotion. This story is definitely a must read for someone looking for a different spin on a shifter story. It was very well done!
Reading Time: 3.5 Hours
For more reviews, visit The BookChick with Kick blog
March 7, 2013
Rosanna has done it again! Once more a book that makes you laugh and giggle and sigh in envy as she shows us how a "ladies-man" selkie learns what real love is.
This is her first shifter book (I have read her three others in the "gods" series) and she promises to write more Selkie books as there are still 5 single brothers out there looking for that special one! That's right it could be you! LOL
This book is mostly set on the rocky Scottish coast. We get a picture of the little houses and cottages that dot along the beach and the local pub, bookstore and church - all the things a small community needs to survive.
To me this is the perfect sweet romance with a bit of mystery and a couple who slowly learn that love means trust and not just unshakeable, uncontrollable lust (which is NOT a bad thing in itself)! This is a book I will read over and over to enjoy the sweetness and light and unstoppable humor. Calan is the perfect book boyfriend and I don't think Maggie will mind sharing him with you once in a while. :-D
This is her first shifter book (I have read her three others in the "gods" series) and she promises to write more Selkie books as there are still 5 single brothers out there looking for that special one! That's right it could be you! LOL
This book is mostly set on the rocky Scottish coast. We get a picture of the little houses and cottages that dot along the beach and the local pub, bookstore and church - all the things a small community needs to survive.
To me this is the perfect sweet romance with a bit of mystery and a couple who slowly learn that love means trust and not just unshakeable, uncontrollable lust (which is NOT a bad thing in itself)! This is a book I will read over and over to enjoy the sweetness and light and unstoppable humor. Calan is the perfect book boyfriend and I don't think Maggie will mind sharing him with you once in a while. :-D
August 19, 2013
What a great story. You can't read this book and not feel for Maggie. Callen started off as quite the player and I was doubtful of how the book would turn out. But everything just fell together so nicely. There were no loose ends. It wasn't one of those love at first sight type of books. There aren't many Selkie books so this was a nice change. I'm looking forward to the next book already.
April 30, 2013
I just love the way Rosanna Leo spins a tale: her heroines are clever, a bit unusual with great interior dialogues and snappy (if not snarky) comebacks. Her heroes are just as delectable: gorgeous and not entirely human, usually a bit dysfunctional in their communication, and always fun to watch their adaptions to a human world. In The Selkie Leo has again managed to take an ancient tale and modernize it for present day tastes and sensibilities.
For those unfamiliar: a selkie is a creature from old Scottish, Icelandic, Irish and Far Island (Danish) legend: most often taking the form of a seal in normal life – but with the ability to transform to human shape to live and love on earth for short periods of time. Male selkies are said to be most attracted to women who are in transition: after bad love affairs, with horrible husbands or soured on men entirely.
In this story, we meet Maggie – recently removing a faithless fiancé from her life, she has been summoned to the Orkney Islands to clear her grandmother’s estate issues and claim the seal pelt that is her inheritance.
With clever dialog, a plot twist that throws Calan and Maggie together, and the ever-logical Maggie being confronted with the potential that this new man in her life is lying, this story is laced with humor and cleverly paced interactions that will keep you turning pages.
While there was some overuse of the “ex” phrase, in that feeble attempt by both parties to prove their attractiveness, and perhaps fuel jealousy and desirability showed a true side of human interaction in relationships. And one that, if we are honest, has been pulled out of our own interactions.
From the first page to the last, there is a fun story here: and Rosanna Leo is sure to become one of those authors you pick for those fun and light afternoon reads.
I purchased an eBook copy for my own personal enjoyment. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
For those unfamiliar: a selkie is a creature from old Scottish, Icelandic, Irish and Far Island (Danish) legend: most often taking the form of a seal in normal life – but with the ability to transform to human shape to live and love on earth for short periods of time. Male selkies are said to be most attracted to women who are in transition: after bad love affairs, with horrible husbands or soured on men entirely.
In this story, we meet Maggie – recently removing a faithless fiancé from her life, she has been summoned to the Orkney Islands to clear her grandmother’s estate issues and claim the seal pelt that is her inheritance.
With clever dialog, a plot twist that throws Calan and Maggie together, and the ever-logical Maggie being confronted with the potential that this new man in her life is lying, this story is laced with humor and cleverly paced interactions that will keep you turning pages.
While there was some overuse of the “ex” phrase, in that feeble attempt by both parties to prove their attractiveness, and perhaps fuel jealousy and desirability showed a true side of human interaction in relationships. And one that, if we are honest, has been pulled out of our own interactions.
From the first page to the last, there is a fun story here: and Rosanna Leo is sure to become one of those authors you pick for those fun and light afternoon reads.
I purchased an eBook copy for my own personal enjoyment. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
December 27, 2012
I will be honest that I had no idea what a selkie was before reading this book. I actually had to google it when I first started reading. I thought the story was going to be a lot of steamy dreams, but Calan and Maggie meet up early on in the book and the story doesn't take long to hit the ground running.
Apparently Calan shed his selkie skin in order to go skinny dipping in the ocean. Maggie's gran found the pelt and hid it. Her request was that he help show Maggie a little fun after her passing. So when Maggie comes out to to her Gran's house to help pack things up, she meets Calan and is brought into this selkie tale. She doesn't believe a word that he says but still concedes in helping him find this pelt, only when two men break into her house demanding the pelt, they realize that they apparently have some competition.
This was a great romance story with a good about of smut mixed in. I did find that the book seemed more like it was a sequel to another story as apposed to a stand alone. Calan's older brother is apparently mated to a human and when Maggie meets her, it felt almost as if Elsie's story came first and that we were revisiting a character. I could definitely see this being a series with each book following a different brother in his quest for a mate. If it does turn out to be a series, I will definitely be signing up for the other. I really enjoyed the authors writing and the whole selkie world.
Favorite quote...
"Not once had his kisses inspired his partners to embark on a spring-cleaning project."
Apparently Calan shed his selkie skin in order to go skinny dipping in the ocean. Maggie's gran found the pelt and hid it. Her request was that he help show Maggie a little fun after her passing. So when Maggie comes out to to her Gran's house to help pack things up, she meets Calan and is brought into this selkie tale. She doesn't believe a word that he says but still concedes in helping him find this pelt, only when two men break into her house demanding the pelt, they realize that they apparently have some competition.
This was a great romance story with a good about of smut mixed in. I did find that the book seemed more like it was a sequel to another story as apposed to a stand alone. Calan's older brother is apparently mated to a human and when Maggie meets her, it felt almost as if Elsie's story came first and that we were revisiting a character. I could definitely see this being a series with each book following a different brother in his quest for a mate. If it does turn out to be a series, I will definitely be signing up for the other. I really enjoyed the authors writing and the whole selkie world.
Favorite quote...
"Not once had his kisses inspired his partners to embark on a spring-cleaning project."
December 22, 2016
What a surprisingly refreshing and fun read. I haven't previously read anything Selkie related and I like where Ms. Leo took the story.
Maggie Collins starts out in the story having a totally crappy day. She loses her job and finds out her fiance is a cheating asshat......then she starts having these amazing dreams about an incredibly handsome man and a seal....huh??? Yep a seal. LOL. Unfortunately her grandmother passes away and she makes the trip out to Orkney, Scotland to deal with her grandmother's cottage and personal effects. Among those is a missing Selkie pelt and the "man" her grandmother has bestowed upon her.
Calan is HOT....sleek and sensual....I think I have started dreaming about him now. What a yummy alpha male.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the chemistry between the characters. Ms. Leo tells a very well thought out story in only 160 epub pages. I will definitely read more by this author. First read 11/28-11/30/12
Second read just as wonderful as the first. Now onto Selkie's revenge 8/31-9/1/13
Third read 12/20-12/21/16
Maggie Collins starts out in the story having a totally crappy day. She loses her job and finds out her fiance is a cheating asshat......then she starts having these amazing dreams about an incredibly handsome man and a seal....huh??? Yep a seal. LOL. Unfortunately her grandmother passes away and she makes the trip out to Orkney, Scotland to deal with her grandmother's cottage and personal effects. Among those is a missing Selkie pelt and the "man" her grandmother has bestowed upon her.
Calan is HOT....sleek and sensual....I think I have started dreaming about him now. What a yummy alpha male.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the chemistry between the characters. Ms. Leo tells a very well thought out story in only 160 epub pages. I will definitely read more by this author. First read 11/28-11/30/12
Second read just as wonderful as the first. Now onto Selkie's revenge 8/31-9/1/13
Third read 12/20-12/21/16
October 9, 2012
read the teaser chapter of this book, and had to have it. loved everything about this book. hot, hot, hot!!! would be so happy if rosanna leo decided to continue this story with a second book (hint, hint).truly, a great read.
November 23, 2012
Selkies are now on my book boyfriend list! Calan is HAWT!...adds Rosanna Leo to her Favorite Author list!! A MUST read for Shifter fans!
Description:
his was supposed to be her year. However, after losing her job and discovering her fiancé cheating, Maggie Collins has her doubts. When her grandmother dies, she hits rock bottom. Maggie travels to her grandmother’s home in Orkney, Scotland to sort through her gran’s things, only to discover the old woman has left her a seal pelt as her inheritance. She also learns that others are after the pelt.
To add to her frustration, Maggie’s dreams are filled with luscious images of a long-haired man, images that draw her to the magical beaches in Orkney. Although she’s lost her trust in men, this dream man inspires her with a lust she’s never known before.
Calan Kirk has also been dreaming. Dreaming of Maggie, the mortal woman who arouses him as no other woman ever has. Meeting her in the flesh when she arrives in Orkney is nothing short of spontaneous sexual combustion. But she is a human, and not to be trusted. He needs the seal pelt, not a red-haired temptress.
As a thief ransacks Maggie’s grandmother’s house, Maggie and Calan are thrust together. They must search for the animal skin, a mythical relic which once found, will either bring them together or rip them apart forever.
My Thoughts:
I love when I discover a author that is new to me and fall in love, Rosanna Leo is my latest crush. Selkie is a unique book using a seal shifter as the male protagonist. I have not read any other books about the legends of selkie mostly because I couldn't see the appeal, however I gave into peer pressure (Bookie) and I am sooooo glad I did. I won't go into the story too much as the description says it all but it is definitely not a formula read. The character creativity in the character building was excellent. Calan is a typical alpha in some ways but he does show more of his feelings and his humour which makes him a more sympathetic hero at least when you get past the arrogance at the beginning. Maggie is your everyday girl...nothing is going right and she is down on herself, a very "real" female protagonist. I adored Nora who had died thus causing Maggie to travel to Scotland she was so alive, so vibrant through the memories of Maggie and the geriatric duo. These older ladies made me laugh and I loved them to pieces. The plot turned out more complex than I originally thought it would and had several different twists and turns which led to an ending I didnt expect, I mean, I had NO idea.!! . Now why isn't it a 5 star?..there was just a few things; I kept feeling like I missed reading a book when Calan spoke of Angus..as a reader I felt I should know about that happened with his mating..so I do think RL should do a prequel to let us in on what happened in that story. I feel more of Calan's mischievous side should have been used... there needed to be 1 outrageous falling down laughing moment. Kayla confused me for a while and by the end Calan did explain her but when he looked at his bed and said he hadn't had another woman there but Kayla...were they platonic?? The story also set evil Annette up to make trouble but it never happened, I would have loved to see Annette and Matthew put their heads together to try and make some trouble, with Annette I felt like that story was not tied up.
This is a very promising beginning of a series that I know will put Rosanna Leo in the same breath as Shelly Laurenston when discussing well loved Shifter novels. I can't wait for the rest of the selkie brothers to get their stories told. 4 Bright and shiney starts for Selkie..a MUST read this holiday season!
Description:
his was supposed to be her year. However, after losing her job and discovering her fiancé cheating, Maggie Collins has her doubts. When her grandmother dies, she hits rock bottom. Maggie travels to her grandmother’s home in Orkney, Scotland to sort through her gran’s things, only to discover the old woman has left her a seal pelt as her inheritance. She also learns that others are after the pelt.
To add to her frustration, Maggie’s dreams are filled with luscious images of a long-haired man, images that draw her to the magical beaches in Orkney. Although she’s lost her trust in men, this dream man inspires her with a lust she’s never known before.
Calan Kirk has also been dreaming. Dreaming of Maggie, the mortal woman who arouses him as no other woman ever has. Meeting her in the flesh when she arrives in Orkney is nothing short of spontaneous sexual combustion. But she is a human, and not to be trusted. He needs the seal pelt, not a red-haired temptress.
As a thief ransacks Maggie’s grandmother’s house, Maggie and Calan are thrust together. They must search for the animal skin, a mythical relic which once found, will either bring them together or rip them apart forever.
My Thoughts:
I love when I discover a author that is new to me and fall in love, Rosanna Leo is my latest crush. Selkie is a unique book using a seal shifter as the male protagonist. I have not read any other books about the legends of selkie mostly because I couldn't see the appeal, however I gave into peer pressure (Bookie) and I am sooooo glad I did. I won't go into the story too much as the description says it all but it is definitely not a formula read. The character creativity in the character building was excellent. Calan is a typical alpha in some ways but he does show more of his feelings and his humour which makes him a more sympathetic hero at least when you get past the arrogance at the beginning. Maggie is your everyday girl...nothing is going right and she is down on herself, a very "real" female protagonist. I adored Nora who had died thus causing Maggie to travel to Scotland she was so alive, so vibrant through the memories of Maggie and the geriatric duo. These older ladies made me laugh and I loved them to pieces. The plot turned out more complex than I originally thought it would and had several different twists and turns which led to an ending I didnt expect, I mean, I had NO idea.!! . Now why isn't it a 5 star?..there was just a few things; I kept feeling like I missed reading a book when Calan spoke of Angus..as a reader I felt I should know about that happened with his mating..so I do think RL should do a prequel to let us in on what happened in that story. I feel more of Calan's mischievous side should have been used... there needed to be 1 outrageous falling down laughing moment. Kayla confused me for a while and by the end Calan did explain her but when he looked at his bed and said he hadn't had another woman there but Kayla...were they platonic?? The story also set evil Annette up to make trouble but it never happened, I would have loved to see Annette and Matthew put their heads together to try and make some trouble, with Annette I felt like that story was not tied up.
This is a very promising beginning of a series that I know will put Rosanna Leo in the same breath as Shelly Laurenston when discussing well loved Shifter novels. I can't wait for the rest of the selkie brothers to get their stories told. 4 Bright and shiney starts for Selkie..a MUST read this holiday season!
May 16, 2013
Synopsis:
This was supposed to be her year. However, after losing her job and discovering her fiancé cheating, Maggie Collins has her doubts. When her grandmother dies, she hits rock bottom. Maggie travels to her grandmother’s home in Orkney, Scotland to sort through her gran’s things, only to discover the old woman has left her a seal pelt as her inheritance. She also learns that others are after the pelt.
To add to her frustration, Maggie’s dreams are filled with luscious images of a long-haired man, images that draw her to the magical beaches in Orkney. Although she’s lost her trust in men, this dream man inspires her with a lust she’s never known before.
Calan Kirk has also been dreaming. Dreaming of Maggie, the mortal woman who arouses him as no other woman ever has. Meeting her in the flesh when she arrives in Orkney is nothing short of spontaneous sexual combustion. But she is a human, and not to be trusted. He needs the seal pelt, not a red-haired temptress.
As a thief ransacks Maggie’s grandmother’s house, Maggie and Calan are thrust together. They must search for the animal skin, a mythical relic which once found, will either bring them together or rip them apart forever.
My Thoughts:
Another enjoyable read from Ms. Rosanna Leo. The book was light-hearted, flirty, emotional and damned steamy.
I now know why Bookie has that stranglehold on Calan. I hope I can have a selkie bro, too.
I really liked Calan. He was determined and when he made up his mind about Maggie, he was damned sure that she was going to be his. I liked that about him. He didn't like where things were going at first, but he didn't fight it all that hard. That earned him bonus points. I loved how flirty he was. I'm not sure if dealing with Maggie was easier for him because he could see so much about her, but I liked that he didn't ignore her feelings. He was always there for her. What a great guy.
I will say that Maggie frustrated me quite a bit. I totally understand where she was coming from with her fears and insecurities after all that she had been through, but I wanted her to try. When she ran from Calan after that night in the barn, I admit that I wanted to punch her a bit. She didn't even really give the man a chance. She could have at least asked him what he really wanted. At least when he just up and told her so she would quit running, she accepted it. Other than those issues, I liked her. She was a sweet woman.
I probably should have guessed who was after the pelt, but the identity of that person was quite shocking. Didn't see that coming. They got what they deserved in the end. I almost forgot about that part of the storyline, though until that revelation. Since Maggie and Calan weren't constantly on the run, this part of the story didn't stay at the forefront of my mind. I was mostly agonizing in the beginning over how long it would take Maggie to give in to her lust for Calan. It took a little while, but the payoff was worth it. As were all of the subsequent payoffs.
I was glad they got their happy ending, though. It wasn't something either of them had been looking for when this all began, but it's what they got and they did deserve it. Calan worked to gain her trust and she finally believed in him. Lucky for her or she may have ended up miserable. I guess her gran winning that selkie skin worked out for just about everybody. She probably should have kept the secret a bit better, though.
This was supposed to be her year. However, after losing her job and discovering her fiancé cheating, Maggie Collins has her doubts. When her grandmother dies, she hits rock bottom. Maggie travels to her grandmother’s home in Orkney, Scotland to sort through her gran’s things, only to discover the old woman has left her a seal pelt as her inheritance. She also learns that others are after the pelt.
To add to her frustration, Maggie’s dreams are filled with luscious images of a long-haired man, images that draw her to the magical beaches in Orkney. Although she’s lost her trust in men, this dream man inspires her with a lust she’s never known before.
Calan Kirk has also been dreaming. Dreaming of Maggie, the mortal woman who arouses him as no other woman ever has. Meeting her in the flesh when she arrives in Orkney is nothing short of spontaneous sexual combustion. But she is a human, and not to be trusted. He needs the seal pelt, not a red-haired temptress.
As a thief ransacks Maggie’s grandmother’s house, Maggie and Calan are thrust together. They must search for the animal skin, a mythical relic which once found, will either bring them together or rip them apart forever.
My Thoughts:
Another enjoyable read from Ms. Rosanna Leo. The book was light-hearted, flirty, emotional and damned steamy.
I now know why Bookie has that stranglehold on Calan. I hope I can have a selkie bro, too.
I really liked Calan. He was determined and when he made up his mind about Maggie, he was damned sure that she was going to be his. I liked that about him. He didn't like where things were going at first, but he didn't fight it all that hard. That earned him bonus points. I loved how flirty he was. I'm not sure if dealing with Maggie was easier for him because he could see so much about her, but I liked that he didn't ignore her feelings. He was always there for her. What a great guy.
I will say that Maggie frustrated me quite a bit. I totally understand where she was coming from with her fears and insecurities after all that she had been through, but I wanted her to try. When she ran from Calan after that night in the barn, I admit that I wanted to punch her a bit. She didn't even really give the man a chance. She could have at least asked him what he really wanted. At least when he just up and told her so she would quit running, she accepted it. Other than those issues, I liked her. She was a sweet woman.
I probably should have guessed who was after the pelt, but the identity of that person was quite shocking. Didn't see that coming. They got what they deserved in the end. I almost forgot about that part of the storyline, though until that revelation. Since Maggie and Calan weren't constantly on the run, this part of the story didn't stay at the forefront of my mind. I was mostly agonizing in the beginning over how long it would take Maggie to give in to her lust for Calan. It took a little while, but the payoff was worth it. As were all of the subsequent payoffs.
I was glad they got their happy ending, though. It wasn't something either of them had been looking for when this all began, but it's what they got and they did deserve it. Calan worked to gain her trust and she finally believed in him. Lucky for her or she may have ended up miserable. I guess her gran winning that selkie skin worked out for just about everybody. She probably should have kept the secret a bit better, though.
January 18, 2013
Book: The Selkie
Author: Rosanna Leo
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy Romance, Erotic Romance
Length: Approximately 167 Pages
Maggie Collins, the main character in THE SELKIE by ROSANNA LEO, is having a bad day, a really bad day. She walks into her supervisor's office thinking she's finally going to get that promotion she's been promised and ends up terminated instead. She decides to stop by her fiancé's office for some consoling and finds him in a compromising position with his secretary, a woman that Maggie's actually baked muffins for.
In a deep depression, Maggie starts to have vivid sensual dreams about a brown-haired, brown-eyed Adonis. Shortly thereafter, while dreaming of her mystery man, her grandmother appears in her sex dream. Horrified by this, Maggie tries to get rid of the old woman from the compromising dream when she starts to listen to what her last remaining beloved family member is trying to tell her. When Maggie is awakened, she knows in her heart that her grandmother has passed.
With nothing holding Maggie in Toronto, she sets out for Scotland to handle her grandmother's estate. Devastated by this great personal loss, Maggie goes to one of her favorite places in her grandmother's house, the cookie jar. She finds a cryptic note from her grandmother amidst the cookies about something that's hidden and just for her, but others are after it. She must trust no one.
When I picked up THE SELKIE by ROSANNA LEO, I was not in the greatest mood. I was terribly worried about a close family member and in need of an escape. I am pleased to tell you that reading this book helped me do just that. I was able to relax, not think about anything else going on in my life, and just depart on a smoking hot vacation (still fanning myself) and have some wicked fun with a creature that is totally new to me, the selkie man.
The sparks fly between Maggie and Calan when they first meet in her dreams. It's an out and out electrical storm when they meet in person. If you enjoy romance, you'll LOVE this book. If you are in need of a vacation from your daily hassles, pick this book up and take a journey to Scotland to meet Calan, the selkie man. You won't be disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend THE SELKIE by ROSANNA LEO.
Author: Rosanna Leo
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy Romance, Erotic Romance
Length: Approximately 167 Pages
Maggie Collins, the main character in THE SELKIE by ROSANNA LEO, is having a bad day, a really bad day. She walks into her supervisor's office thinking she's finally going to get that promotion she's been promised and ends up terminated instead. She decides to stop by her fiancé's office for some consoling and finds him in a compromising position with his secretary, a woman that Maggie's actually baked muffins for.
In a deep depression, Maggie starts to have vivid sensual dreams about a brown-haired, brown-eyed Adonis. Shortly thereafter, while dreaming of her mystery man, her grandmother appears in her sex dream. Horrified by this, Maggie tries to get rid of the old woman from the compromising dream when she starts to listen to what her last remaining beloved family member is trying to tell her. When Maggie is awakened, she knows in her heart that her grandmother has passed.
With nothing holding Maggie in Toronto, she sets out for Scotland to handle her grandmother's estate. Devastated by this great personal loss, Maggie goes to one of her favorite places in her grandmother's house, the cookie jar. She finds a cryptic note from her grandmother amidst the cookies about something that's hidden and just for her, but others are after it. She must trust no one.
When I picked up THE SELKIE by ROSANNA LEO, I was not in the greatest mood. I was terribly worried about a close family member and in need of an escape. I am pleased to tell you that reading this book helped me do just that. I was able to relax, not think about anything else going on in my life, and just depart on a smoking hot vacation (still fanning myself) and have some wicked fun with a creature that is totally new to me, the selkie man.
The sparks fly between Maggie and Calan when they first meet in her dreams. It's an out and out electrical storm when they meet in person. If you enjoy romance, you'll LOVE this book. If you are in need of a vacation from your daily hassles, pick this book up and take a journey to Scotland to meet Calan, the selkie man. You won't be disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend THE SELKIE by ROSANNA LEO.
October 24, 2012
This story is just adorable! I think any woman would want to have a gorgeous sexy man visit her dreams to provide illicit pleasures and rumpled sheets only to have him then pop up in the flesh at a her low point when she could really use some hot loving. Oh my Calan one hot, leather wearing,
Harley riding, selkie!
Maggie is having a rough go at life. She not only loses her job but when she goes to tell her fiancé she finds him in an interesting situation himself. While she is trying to put her life back together from these devastating blows she learns that her one and only living relative, her grandmother has passed on.
As a selkie the sea constantly calls to Calan. It is his home, his refuge, and the one place he cannot go at the moment. Although the more time he spends with Maggie the more he realizes that he kind of likes his time on land, as long as it is time spent with her.
Maggie and Calan together are a pleasure to read. They are fun and humorous, then sexy and intense. Calan has to earn Maggie’s trust. She has been burned in her past and does not trust easy now. She also has to come to the realization that the “tales” she grew up on are more real than she ever imagined. Maggie also has to catch Calan’s heart. He believes that humans cannot be trusted. They worked so well as a couple that they really did make an easy read.
Even though Nora the grandmother was not an actual character I still loved her. She was one of those gran’s that would maneuver people around to get them to do things her way. She’s a grandmother so of course she knows best. The reasons behind Calan and Maggie’s meeting are a perfect example. I loved how she acquired Calan’s pelt. Go Gran! All of Maggie’s memories of Nora were comforting and warm.
My only complaints were the ex’s. Two are present causing problems and creating stressful situations. Others are just mentioned a little too often in my opinion. I know it drives the sexual tension up, but I just prefer for the tension to come from other places. Overall great story and I will definitely be reading more from this author!
Harley riding, selkie!
Maggie is having a rough go at life. She not only loses her job but when she goes to tell her fiancé she finds him in an interesting situation himself. While she is trying to put her life back together from these devastating blows she learns that her one and only living relative, her grandmother has passed on.
As a selkie the sea constantly calls to Calan. It is his home, his refuge, and the one place he cannot go at the moment. Although the more time he spends with Maggie the more he realizes that he kind of likes his time on land, as long as it is time spent with her.
Maggie and Calan together are a pleasure to read. They are fun and humorous, then sexy and intense. Calan has to earn Maggie’s trust. She has been burned in her past and does not trust easy now. She also has to come to the realization that the “tales” she grew up on are more real than she ever imagined. Maggie also has to catch Calan’s heart. He believes that humans cannot be trusted. They worked so well as a couple that they really did make an easy read.
Even though Nora the grandmother was not an actual character I still loved her. She was one of those gran’s that would maneuver people around to get them to do things her way. She’s a grandmother so of course she knows best. The reasons behind Calan and Maggie’s meeting are a perfect example. I loved how she acquired Calan’s pelt. Go Gran! All of Maggie’s memories of Nora were comforting and warm.
My only complaints were the ex’s. Two are present causing problems and creating stressful situations. Others are just mentioned a little too often in my opinion. I know it drives the sexual tension up, but I just prefer for the tension to come from other places. Overall great story and I will definitely be reading more from this author!
October 8, 2012
Short, Sexy and Steamy… just the way I like them. Leo has taken on a paranormal character that you rarely read about and made him into a Sexy Scottish Smartass! It was Fantastic.
Maggie Collins life has pretty much hit rock bottom. First her Nan dies then she loses her job. As if that weren’t enough she catches her fiance’ in a less than flattering position with his secretary. Needing to get away she travels to her Nan’s home to put her affair’s in order. Now she’s being plagued by these dreams; very vivid dreams of a smoldering Scottish man that is usually naked and wet. Soon she will discover the secret her Nan kept when she meets Calan Kirk the man of her dreams, quite literally!
As the story unfolds the attraction between these two is hard to deny, since they fell for each other in their dreams before they actually met, the story is about them getting to know each other as they pitifully try to deny the magnetic attraction to one another. The back story adds some depth to the characters as well as secondary characters like Maggie’s cheating fiance’ that keeps popping up, like a bad rash. Nan’s nosey neighbors, a couple of thieves that are after Calan’s Pelt and Calan’s own Selkie family bring some humor and warmth to the story. When it’s all said and done will Calan find his Pelt? Will Maggie’s faith in men be restored in the form of that elusive Happily ever after?
If you’re in the mood for a quick read with some erotic scenes and a few laughs that is well written and described, I’d recommend this story for you!
I give it 4/5, but that’s just my two cents!
Maggie Collins life has pretty much hit rock bottom. First her Nan dies then she loses her job. As if that weren’t enough she catches her fiance’ in a less than flattering position with his secretary. Needing to get away she travels to her Nan’s home to put her affair’s in order. Now she’s being plagued by these dreams; very vivid dreams of a smoldering Scottish man that is usually naked and wet. Soon she will discover the secret her Nan kept when she meets Calan Kirk the man of her dreams, quite literally!
As the story unfolds the attraction between these two is hard to deny, since they fell for each other in their dreams before they actually met, the story is about them getting to know each other as they pitifully try to deny the magnetic attraction to one another. The back story adds some depth to the characters as well as secondary characters like Maggie’s cheating fiance’ that keeps popping up, like a bad rash. Nan’s nosey neighbors, a couple of thieves that are after Calan’s Pelt and Calan’s own Selkie family bring some humor and warmth to the story. When it’s all said and done will Calan find his Pelt? Will Maggie’s faith in men be restored in the form of that elusive Happily ever after?
If you’re in the mood for a quick read with some erotic scenes and a few laughs that is well written and described, I’d recommend this story for you!
I give it 4/5, but that’s just my two cents!
November 21, 2012
Poor Maggie seems to have everything in her life fall apart at once. She lost her job, found her fiancè cheating on her, and loses her grandmother, all around the same time. Just before her Gran died, Maggie sees her in a dream where her Gran tells her to come to Scotland and seek help from her friend Calan.
Maggie expects her Gran's friend to be and old man, she never dreamed he'd be the sexiest man she's ever seen.... Only, she has dreamed of him. Over and over for the past several months.
Calan is of the selkie race, and Maggie's Gran has hidden his pelt, hoping that Maggie would get use out of it, and its sexy owner. The only problem is that Maggie and Calan aren't the only ones looking for the pelt. Someone is out to steal it, and they will stop at nothing to have it.
This book was recommended to me by a good friend so I just had to read it, and I'm glad that I did! This was such a great story and I can't wait to see what comes of the other brothers! :-)
Maggie expects her Gran's friend to be and old man, she never dreamed he'd be the sexiest man she's ever seen.... Only, she has dreamed of him. Over and over for the past several months.
Calan is of the selkie race, and Maggie's Gran has hidden his pelt, hoping that Maggie would get use out of it, and its sexy owner. The only problem is that Maggie and Calan aren't the only ones looking for the pelt. Someone is out to steal it, and they will stop at nothing to have it.
This book was recommended to me by a good friend so I just had to read it, and I'm glad that I did! This was such a great story and I can't wait to see what comes of the other brothers! :-)
September 21, 2013
I've read a lot of shifter books, and usually we get the typical alpha-male ________ (fill in the blank with your pick of masculine animal species), hard and rough in and out of bed. I've never read a Selkie shifter book though, before this one. We certainly get an alpha-male in Calan and a sweet but strong heroine in Maggie. But set in the Scottish Orkney Islands, and based on the ancient legend of the seal shifter Selkies, we also get a very mystical quality in Calan and his family. Yes, he's strong and commanding, but he's also wonderfully gentle, sweet and loving. Sigh...who wouldn't want to be his mate? A really refreshing change from the norm. And the smexy parts are pretty hot too!
On a side note, as a proud Canadian I have to say I appreciated the unabashedly Canadian references in the story - 3 cheers for an author who doesn't pretend to be American!
All in all, I thought this was a great read - one that I'd recommend to friends.
4 solid stars
On a side note, as a proud Canadian I have to say I appreciated the unabashedly Canadian references in the story - 3 cheers for an author who doesn't pretend to be American!
All in all, I thought this was a great read - one that I'd recommend to friends.
4 solid stars
November 10, 2012
Rosanna Leo
The Selkie
From the title, you can guess the book contains mythological creatures, and hot ones at that. Although I didn’t know much about Selkies before reading this book, I did gain an interest after finishing it.
Maggie is going through a tough time, she loses her job and catches her fiancé with his secretary. Her dreams become filled with one man, Calan, what she doesn’t realise is that his dreams are filled with her as well. When her gran die, she travels to Scotland and comes face to face with the guy of her dreams.
Incredibly well written and very descriptive, I was completely drawn into this book. Maggie didn’t just fall for Calan, which makes the book more intriguing, and the reader gets to travel along as she comes to terms with some of her issues.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Selkie
From the title, you can guess the book contains mythological creatures, and hot ones at that. Although I didn’t know much about Selkies before reading this book, I did gain an interest after finishing it.
Maggie is going through a tough time, she loses her job and catches her fiancé with his secretary. Her dreams become filled with one man, Calan, what she doesn’t realise is that his dreams are filled with her as well. When her gran die, she travels to Scotland and comes face to face with the guy of her dreams.
Incredibly well written and very descriptive, I was completely drawn into this book. Maggie didn’t just fall for Calan, which makes the book more intriguing, and the reader gets to travel along as she comes to terms with some of her issues.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2012
The Selkie by Rosanna Leo
A review by Aneesa Price, author of [[ASIN:B008N0GWVA Coffin Girls (Elegantly Undead: Book 1 of the Coffin Girls Witch Vampire Series)]]
As a reader always and recent writer too, paranormal mythology has always had the ability to draw me into a novel - if well-written. What I loved about this novel is that it had the right amount of paranormal insight mixed with romance, which was told with just the right amount of descriptive text. For the first time in a while, I found that I could truly escape into a book... the lovely experience of just relaxing in a hot bath with a good read. This read sent me to that relaxed place.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and cannot wait for the next installment.
A review by Aneesa Price, author of [[ASIN:B008N0GWVA Coffin Girls (Elegantly Undead: Book 1 of the Coffin Girls Witch Vampire Series)]]
As a reader always and recent writer too, paranormal mythology has always had the ability to draw me into a novel - if well-written. What I loved about this novel is that it had the right amount of paranormal insight mixed with romance, which was told with just the right amount of descriptive text. For the first time in a while, I found that I could truly escape into a book... the lovely experience of just relaxing in a hot bath with a good read. This read sent me to that relaxed place.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and cannot wait for the next installment.
December 17, 2012
Who ever thought that a seal could be my new favourite YUMMINESS. Calan is just a whole lot of well EVERYTHING!
Can you imagine his life. I don't want reveal anything but, man Calans fate could have turned out a lot differently if Maggie was a different woman. I love the setting for this book, the accents, and the hot men! The magic to of the Selkie is pretty awesome!
I would love to see more of this series. Maybe with Calans brother! Yeah that's what I want!
I was given this book for a honest review!
BRAVO BRAVO
Can you imagine his life. I don't want reveal anything but, man Calans fate could have turned out a lot differently if Maggie was a different woman. I love the setting for this book, the accents, and the hot men! The magic to of the Selkie is pretty awesome!
I would love to see more of this series. Maybe with Calans brother! Yeah that's what I want!
I was given this book for a honest review!
BRAVO BRAVO
October 28, 2014
Okay.... So that was different for sure.im giving this 4 stars because although this was very well written, it just wasn't my cup of tea. It wasn't a bad book at all and I really liked this author. I especially liked all the teases throughout the book. Just when you think Maggie and Calan are about to get it on, something stops the moment until she finally gives in. I liked the plot and the characters but I just don't think the selkie thing is for me. I do plan to look into other books by this author though because I did enjoy the book and the writing in itself,
February 15, 2014
I had a "OMG" moment the whole time I read this book. This was the first book I had ever read from this author so I was slightly apprehensive but I got over that in no time at all. The only thing I would say I was disappointed about was when the Calan's older brother's wife explained to Maggie her story about how she became happily mated, I remembered saying "Oh my gosh, there's a prequel!?" but there wasn't so...
But other than that the story was perfect; I loved the characters and the plot and the imagery - I just loved everything.
But other than that the story was perfect; I loved the characters and the plot and the imagery - I just loved everything.
August 16, 2013
I read this book for a reading challenge. I really enjoyed the story. This is only the second book that I have read about selkies. I loved learning more about selkies. At times I wished more was revealed about them earlier in the book, but I understand how some clarifications were better suited to be left unclear for a time. Calan was a wonderful hero. He was both sexy and charming. I will definitely continue with the series.
September 7, 2013
The Selkie what an absolutely wonderful story. I had no idea of these Scottish Myths, so reading about a seal shifter was a refreshing change and very interesting. Loved the storyline betrayal, Hot romance, intrigue, and mystery along with a dash of humour, all kept me turning the page.
I can't wait to read more about The Selkiesi
I can't wait to read more about The Selkiesi
December 29, 2012
I enjoyed this book - my first by this author - and devoured it in a day. The story was fast-paced. The characters were likable (the older ladies cracked me up!). The passion was steamy. The love was sweet. Perfect combination for me.
June 2, 2017
Rosanna Leo's selkie shifters are a delightful fun read. I'll never look at a seal the same way again!
March 10, 2013
A bit different from the run of the mill shifter story, this book picks up on the lesser known Scottish tales of the Selkie and weaves it into a cute and steamy romance. Seals may not be the most romantic-seeming of animals to base a shifter race on, but Orkney definitely makes for a quaint and romantic backdrop. There is a bit of drama thrown in here as well to keep things interesting, though there's never really any edge-of-the-seat, nail-bitingly-tense moments and the few big confrontations that happen resolve themselves fairly easily overall.
Maggie has been a very career-driven woman for most of her life, working hard to attain a big promotion that not only isn't granted, but her job is pulled out from under her to boot. She goes to tell her fiancé the bad news and finds him in his office getting a blowjob from his secretary. She tosses her ring at him and leaves and spends the next few months working a string of temporary jobs and dreaming about a man from the sea. Then one night she dreams about her grandmother, knows it was a farewell message and that her gran is gone, and she ends up traveling to Orkney for the funeral and to settle her estate. There she meets Calan, and, well, you'll have to read it to get the rest of the story ;) I thought Maggie was a fairly realistic character, with problems that many of us can relate to quite easily. Matthew, the fiancé mentioned above, was the second one she had caught cheating, so she was very much in a "I'm done with men" frame of mind, and thus more resistant to Calan's charms than she might otherwise have been. Still, I thought she was rather too resistant to him, and couldn't quite understand why she felt she couldn't even let herself just have sex with him once or thrice without there necessarily being any commitment implied. She really was just making herself crazy(er) by continuing to even consider it.
For a man who was presumably 500-some years old, Calan came off as very modern-seeming. Not just in the manner of his dress, and the fact that he drove a Harley, but also in attitude. True, he has a few anachronistic quirks here and there, and doesn't always remember the correct modern term for something, but overall he seemed very 21st century, particularly in the way you could tell he truly did consider women to be equal to men. He is a sweet and loving man, though not without a dash of ass thrown in there for good measure. I found it appealing how he just couldn't help being attracted to Maggie and wanting to spend time with her, etc., no matter how much he kept trying to tell himself that he could never want/love a human for more than sex now and again because of things that have happened in his recent-ish past. Still, though is reasons for wanting to shun humans are as compelling (if not moreso) as Maggie's reasons for shunning men, he is still the one who is the first to be honest with himself and admit his feelings for her.
I was drawn into the book fairly quick, but it started to lag a bit for me through the middle part. I think Maggie's reluctance to give in to her attraction to Calan became a case of "the lady doth protest too much", because after a certain point I don't think even she believed that she didn't want him. I also didn't really get why Matthew really needed to be drug back into things, and particularly didn't get why he was brought up at the funeral, where he made his surprise entrance, but then aside from Maggie thinking about the fact that he was lurking around somewhere, we don't really see him again for quite awhile. I would have thought he'd be lurking more visibly since he supposedly is determined to get her back. Camping on her doorstep, following them around when they went out, etc. Also, I found all the mentions of Angus and Elsie kind of distracting, because the way it was presented often felt like how authors will briefly recap things that happened in a previous book in the series to remind readers about it and/or to fill in readers who didn't read the previous book in about enough of what happened to understand the current situation. Only there wasn't a previous book to this one, so it was like we were being given reminders about a story that was never written. Or at least, was never published.
I rated this one 4 stars because overall I liked it quite a bit but had too many minor issues with things to make it a 5. I'd recommend this one for anyone who is a fan of shifter stories/romances, or just of paranormal romance in general, and also to anyone who enjoys stories based on traditional mythologies, particularly lesser known ones. I'm going to look forward to reading more in this series and from the author in general.
Maggie has been a very career-driven woman for most of her life, working hard to attain a big promotion that not only isn't granted, but her job is pulled out from under her to boot. She goes to tell her fiancé the bad news and finds him in his office getting a blowjob from his secretary. She tosses her ring at him and leaves and spends the next few months working a string of temporary jobs and dreaming about a man from the sea. Then one night she dreams about her grandmother, knows it was a farewell message and that her gran is gone, and she ends up traveling to Orkney for the funeral and to settle her estate. There she meets Calan, and, well, you'll have to read it to get the rest of the story ;) I thought Maggie was a fairly realistic character, with problems that many of us can relate to quite easily. Matthew, the fiancé mentioned above, was the second one she had caught cheating, so she was very much in a "I'm done with men" frame of mind, and thus more resistant to Calan's charms than she might otherwise have been. Still, I thought she was rather too resistant to him, and couldn't quite understand why she felt she couldn't even let herself just have sex with him once or thrice without there necessarily being any commitment implied. She really was just making herself crazy(er) by continuing to even consider it.
For a man who was presumably 500-some years old, Calan came off as very modern-seeming. Not just in the manner of his dress, and the fact that he drove a Harley, but also in attitude. True, he has a few anachronistic quirks here and there, and doesn't always remember the correct modern term for something, but overall he seemed very 21st century, particularly in the way you could tell he truly did consider women to be equal to men. He is a sweet and loving man, though not without a dash of ass thrown in there for good measure. I found it appealing how he just couldn't help being attracted to Maggie and wanting to spend time with her, etc., no matter how much he kept trying to tell himself that he could never want/love a human for more than sex now and again because of things that have happened in his recent-ish past. Still, though is reasons for wanting to shun humans are as compelling (if not moreso) as Maggie's reasons for shunning men, he is still the one who is the first to be honest with himself and admit his feelings for her.
I was drawn into the book fairly quick, but it started to lag a bit for me through the middle part. I think Maggie's reluctance to give in to her attraction to Calan became a case of "the lady doth protest too much", because after a certain point I don't think even she believed that she didn't want him. I also didn't really get why Matthew really needed to be drug back into things, and particularly didn't get why he was brought up at the funeral, where he made his surprise entrance, but then aside from Maggie thinking about the fact that he was lurking around somewhere, we don't really see him again for quite awhile. I would have thought he'd be lurking more visibly since he supposedly is determined to get her back. Camping on her doorstep, following them around when they went out, etc. Also, I found all the mentions of Angus and Elsie kind of distracting, because the way it was presented often felt like how authors will briefly recap things that happened in a previous book in the series to remind readers about it and/or to fill in readers who didn't read the previous book in about enough of what happened to understand the current situation. Only there wasn't a previous book to this one, so it was like we were being given reminders about a story that was never written. Or at least, was never published.
I rated this one 4 stars because overall I liked it quite a bit but had too many minor issues with things to make it a 5. I'd recommend this one for anyone who is a fan of shifter stories/romances, or just of paranormal romance in general, and also to anyone who enjoys stories based on traditional mythologies, particularly lesser known ones. I'm going to look forward to reading more in this series and from the author in general.
July 17, 2013
The Selkie by Rosanna LeoAvailable on Amazon
Maggie Collins is having a heck of a year. She finds her fiancé is a lying, cheating jerk-face of the highest order and that the job that she loves has just been cut from the budget, not to mention her beloved Grandmother just died. On the upside, her dreams are filled with a lusty long haired guy. When Maggie just about can’t take it any more decides to go to Orkney, Scotland to go through her Grandmother’s things. There she finds the man in hot, steamy dreams. His name is Calan Kirk and he’s a Selkie, a seal shifter of legend with very long life span and missing pelt. Maggie and Calan must learn to trust one another so they can find it or Calan can never return home.
I loved this book. The characters were well developed and the story was full of humor, suspense and good romance. As a PNR (paranormal romance) girl, I’ve read all kinds of books about magical or supernatural creatures. This one is one of the best. I also loved the uniqueness of the Selkie. It was fun to read about something other than vampires and werewolves, even though I am a huge fan of them. I give this book a solid 4 flowers and look forward to book 2, The Selkie’s Revenge, which was just released and is available on Isbooks.com.
Rosanna Leo is a multi-published, erotic romance author with Liquid Silver Books. Her books include For the Love of a God, Up In Flames, Sweet Hell, The Selkie, Sunburn and her newest Predator’s Kiss. When not writing, she can be found haunting dusty library stacks or planning her next star-crossed love affair.
Connect With Rosanna Online on her Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Pinterest.
February 8, 2013
Originally posted at Strange Bedfellows: PNR Reviews
http://strangebf.blogspot.com/2013/02...
I've read a lot of books with a Scottish setting (who hasn't, right?) but I don't believe I've ever read anything set in the Orkney Islands before. Hebrides, yes. Isle of Man, definitely. Even the Falklands, once. But not Orkney. And different, uncommon settings is one of the things that get a book on my TBR List. I once read a truly atrocious historical romance simply because it had an atypical Egyptian setting.
But I digress . . .
Another "different" for me with this book is the fact that the male lead is a selkie. Different in part because I've only ever come across selkies as supporting characters, never the lead. And the second part, which may be a direct cause of the first part, is that I don't really do merfolk. Mermaids, mermen, selkies, sirens, what have you . . . Don't care for 'em much. Probably because I'm afraid of the ocean, hate seafood, and don't like getting wet unless it's hygiene-related.
So why on earth would I intentionally read this book, you might ask. Well, you may have picked up from other posts that I've developed a case of ennui where magical, monstrous men are concerned. Vampires, weres, and fae . . . meh. Demons are a favorite but no longer exciting. Wizards and warlocks tend to make me picture Harrys Potter and Dresden. Which, fun but not exactly sexy. Dragons. Druids. Gods. Angels. Aliens . . . I need some new flavors. Even cyborgs are out after I glommed Laurann Dohner's books this summer.
Thus, selkies. New territory. For me at least.
So back to the book. Finally, right? As to what worked most for me, I really enjoyed the sparky humor laced throughout Rosanna Leo's writing. Somehow, I didn't expect much humor going in, but some parts were really quite funny and witty. It would always catch me by surprise, and I'd be startled into laughter.
As for the downside? I, unfortunately, didn't really "get" Calan. He seemed to run hot and cold without clear reasons why. It wasn't until near the end that he started to feel substantial to me.
And, to be honest, I never got over my sea-creature bias. I tried, I swear I did. But my brain won't make the connection between cute, blubbery seal and sexy hero. Especially when he keeps eating seafood. "Shellfish" is like a dirty word to me, after all. So, I think that element of the endeavor was doomed from the start.
Overall all assessment is that this is a fun, sweet romance even if it didn't convert me. I imagine others will read it and like it even more than I did, so please don't hold my personal hangups against this book. Give it a try for yourselves, see how you like it.
This book was received courtesy of NetGalley and Liquid Silver Books in exchange for an honest review.
http://strangebf.blogspot.com/2013/02...
I've read a lot of books with a Scottish setting (who hasn't, right?) but I don't believe I've ever read anything set in the Orkney Islands before. Hebrides, yes. Isle of Man, definitely. Even the Falklands, once. But not Orkney. And different, uncommon settings is one of the things that get a book on my TBR List. I once read a truly atrocious historical romance simply because it had an atypical Egyptian setting.
But I digress . . .
Another "different" for me with this book is the fact that the male lead is a selkie. Different in part because I've only ever come across selkies as supporting characters, never the lead. And the second part, which may be a direct cause of the first part, is that I don't really do merfolk. Mermaids, mermen, selkies, sirens, what have you . . . Don't care for 'em much. Probably because I'm afraid of the ocean, hate seafood, and don't like getting wet unless it's hygiene-related.
So why on earth would I intentionally read this book, you might ask. Well, you may have picked up from other posts that I've developed a case of ennui where magical, monstrous men are concerned. Vampires, weres, and fae . . . meh. Demons are a favorite but no longer exciting. Wizards and warlocks tend to make me picture Harrys Potter and Dresden. Which, fun but not exactly sexy. Dragons. Druids. Gods. Angels. Aliens . . . I need some new flavors. Even cyborgs are out after I glommed Laurann Dohner's books this summer.
Thus, selkies. New territory. For me at least.
So back to the book. Finally, right? As to what worked most for me, I really enjoyed the sparky humor laced throughout Rosanna Leo's writing. Somehow, I didn't expect much humor going in, but some parts were really quite funny and witty. It would always catch me by surprise, and I'd be startled into laughter.
As for the downside? I, unfortunately, didn't really "get" Calan. He seemed to run hot and cold without clear reasons why. It wasn't until near the end that he started to feel substantial to me.
And, to be honest, I never got over my sea-creature bias. I tried, I swear I did. But my brain won't make the connection between cute, blubbery seal and sexy hero. Especially when he keeps eating seafood. "Shellfish" is like a dirty word to me, after all. So, I think that element of the endeavor was doomed from the start.
Overall all assessment is that this is a fun, sweet romance even if it didn't convert me. I imagine others will read it and like it even more than I did, so please don't hold my personal hangups against this book. Give it a try for yourselves, see how you like it.
This book was received courtesy of NetGalley and Liquid Silver Books in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2014
Rosanna Leo takes us to Scotland in her novel The Selkie. It is book one of two in the series. In print, it would be about 167 pages according to Amazon.com, but I downloaded it to my Kindle for only $4.99.
Early in the book, her female protagonist, Maggie Collins, has the day from hell. The poor girl loses nearly everything important to her within a matter of 24 hours — her job and her fiancé. And as if things weren’t bad enough, her Scottish grandmother’s health is failing. Implored by her dying gran in a dream to visit the elder in Scotland, Maggie leaves behind her crumbling world, taking a trip across the pond to Orkney. But her gran isn’t the only reason Maggie is impatient to visit her grandmother’s ancestral home. She’s eager to get to Orkney to discover if the seductive man that has invaded her dreams of late, turning them into erotic interludes, is real.
Calan Kirk is the passionate man responsible for giving Maggie great pleasure in her dreams. As handsome and sensuous as he is concupiscent, Calan is determined to remain uncommitted when it comes to human females. Sure, he’ll bed them, and has, but as for mating with them for life, he is not interested. As a Selkie man, Calan has certain appetites that require satiating. Lucky for him, many are willing to supply him with what he craves. But his very nature makes Maggie leery.
The Selkie is the first book I’ve read about the Orcadian folklore of a race of seals that shape-shift into human form by shedding their pelts. I usually stick to vampires or human males for my hot reads, but The Selkie is scorching. The chemistry between Maggie and Calan is tantalizing. Hell! I would have taken Calan up to test his skills after his first offer. Which is why I kept thinking; Maggie lass, what are you waiting for? Jump his bones! But Maggie has more couth than my smutty mind does, and she had to lose some emotional baggage before she let him in—literally.
Both Calan and Maggie were likable and believable characters. It can be tricky to bring a mythological creature to life and make him or her realistic. But Ms. Leo made me root for, fall for, and care for Calan. As with most books in this subgenre, the sex scenes are explicit and there are occasional cuss words. It’s a book meant for grown-ups, not for the Twilight tweens and teens. On a heart (or maybe it should be heat) scale of five, five being ‘loved it’ and one being ‘skip it’, I’d give The Selkie ♥♥♥♥♥. This grown-up is looking forward to meeting more of Ms. Leo’s yummy Selkie men.
Early in the book, her female protagonist, Maggie Collins, has the day from hell. The poor girl loses nearly everything important to her within a matter of 24 hours — her job and her fiancé. And as if things weren’t bad enough, her Scottish grandmother’s health is failing. Implored by her dying gran in a dream to visit the elder in Scotland, Maggie leaves behind her crumbling world, taking a trip across the pond to Orkney. But her gran isn’t the only reason Maggie is impatient to visit her grandmother’s ancestral home. She’s eager to get to Orkney to discover if the seductive man that has invaded her dreams of late, turning them into erotic interludes, is real.
Calan Kirk is the passionate man responsible for giving Maggie great pleasure in her dreams. As handsome and sensuous as he is concupiscent, Calan is determined to remain uncommitted when it comes to human females. Sure, he’ll bed them, and has, but as for mating with them for life, he is not interested. As a Selkie man, Calan has certain appetites that require satiating. Lucky for him, many are willing to supply him with what he craves. But his very nature makes Maggie leery.
The Selkie is the first book I’ve read about the Orcadian folklore of a race of seals that shape-shift into human form by shedding their pelts. I usually stick to vampires or human males for my hot reads, but The Selkie is scorching. The chemistry between Maggie and Calan is tantalizing. Hell! I would have taken Calan up to test his skills after his first offer. Which is why I kept thinking; Maggie lass, what are you waiting for? Jump his bones! But Maggie has more couth than my smutty mind does, and she had to lose some emotional baggage before she let him in—literally.
Both Calan and Maggie were likable and believable characters. It can be tricky to bring a mythological creature to life and make him or her realistic. But Ms. Leo made me root for, fall for, and care for Calan. As with most books in this subgenre, the sex scenes are explicit and there are occasional cuss words. It’s a book meant for grown-ups, not for the Twilight tweens and teens. On a heart (or maybe it should be heat) scale of five, five being ‘loved it’ and one being ‘skip it’, I’d give The Selkie ♥♥♥♥♥. This grown-up is looking forward to meeting more of Ms. Leo’s yummy Selkie men.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews