Winner of the 2015 EPIC ebook award for Fantasy Romance! Breaking denial’s spell takes more than magic Cayden Sinclair: BBW—big, beautiful witch—struggling to control her power and become worthy of her legacy. Clint MacAllen: Blinded by ambition and desperate to save his failing construction company; he’s not expecting to find redemption wrapped in goth and toting a truckload of crazy. J Milton: Mega-developer with plans for the Crossing. Buchanan’s Crossing: One of the last magical strongholds on earth. Each has everything to lose. All will stop at nothing to win.
Award-winning author Rhea Rhodan resides in Minnetonka, Minnesota. She’s been telling herself stories since long before she learned to write. She attended the University of Minnesota with a focus on Journalism, then Brown Institute for Broadcast Journalism. After many adventures, misadventures, and a couple of short marriages, she found the love of her life in Regensburg, Germany, and has been living happily ever after since.
She journaled those adventures extensively (some might say rabidly) beginning in middle school, but didn't combine her writing and story-telling until several years ago, when one of the stories grabbed her by the throat and shook her like a rag doll until she gave in and wrote it. Having tasted freedom, her muse refuses to return to the confines of her head, and has successfully turned the tables, keeping her at the keyboard to appease it.
For (very) occasional updates with great contests, subscribe to Rhea's newsletter: rhea-subscribetonewsletter@rhearhodan.com with the word "newsletter" in the subject line
Think I'm going to have to dnf this one right now. I keep trying and it doesn't seem to suck me in. It has a lot of elements that I like, a goth girl who's a witch for example. Still maybe it's that the hero was so susceptible to the bad magic right off the bat and I like my heroes just a bit more wily than that? IDK but I'm done for now. Might come back to it in a different mood.
(disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book as a prize via Ms. Rhodan's newsletter) After having read Ms. Rhodan's first novel, "Finding Grace", I was looking forward to the next one. I'm not a romance reader, but I enjoyed Rhea's careful character development. So, when I got this book, I was very much ready to get started. But I got started and then got distracted by book club books. Interestingly, unlike some books, I didn't have a hard time getting back into it and I'm glad I got back to it.
Again, the biggest strength is the characters. I absolutely adored the heroine, Cayden. She's a goth witch on wheels. No, really. She is. And she's not your stereotypical tall, slender, hot romance chick, either. She's small and curvy and prone to clumsiness. She's surprising and engaging. And still hot.
The hero of the story, the hot, eco-friendly construction company owner, Clint, is only slightly less engaging. He's actually kind of an ass - at first. My favorite thing about Clint is that I find him fairly believable and not just a sex prop.
I found this book much more enjoyable than "Finding Grace", and that's not a dig on "Finding Grace". Ms. Rhodan's writing is lighter here and more romantic. Plus, I've always been a bit of a sucker for a bit of magic.
If there's a flaw in this book, it's that it might be too sweet for those who really loved "Finding Grace". Seriously, if some spots weren't clearly adult, the story would make a fantastic young adult book. It definitely works with the adult content, which really isn't all that graphic, though. In fact, my only complaint was, on one or two occasions, the language in the sex scene was a tiny bit corny. I'll forgive it, though, for the overall very enjoyable read.
First off, thanks again to Rhea Rhodan for giving me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review. I really liked this book.
The book starts off where you meet the hero Clint. He has been suffering from headaches and nightmares and is going to the convenience store for medicine. This is where he encounters the heroine Cayden who works the nightshift. Cayden is a witch who is looking for her keeper(fated mate). Clint is her keeper and is totally the opposite of her. Cayden's grandmother raised her and has been in charge of warding Buchanan's Crossing(a source of power for witches). Cayden is being groomed to take over the task from her grandmother. At the same time this is happening, Clint who owns a green construction company has been offered a huge contract by J. Milton Developments.
Clint cannot believe that he is attracted to Cayden - she dresses in goth and is not his type. He constantly dates the Barbie doll type. The best way I heard this described was in the BBC America show Luther when Alice tells Luther that "He wants what he wants to want" which is not necessarily what he needs. Clint has to overcome a lot of prejudices in order to see his love for Cayden. Sometimes I wanted to knock him over the head to make him see the light. What I liked about Cayden's character is that she never changes for him. He has to accept her for who she is. Clint is also a non-believer in magic, but does come from a family with magical powers - his mother sees visions. I thought his parents were sweet and genuine.
I like how the hero and heroine did not get together right away - it was a long process. I hate fated mate books where they meet and immediately are together.
At the same time that Clint and Cayden's relationship is growing and Clint's business is finally taking off, a sinister enemy from the past is implementing his plot in order to get the power of Buchanan's Crossing. This is played out throughout the book and a final confrontation at the end reveals family secrets.
On a side note, every witch has a familiar(an animal companion). Cayden's familiar is Nevermore a raven. Nevermore was hilarious and really added to the book.
Overall, an enjoyable and original paranormal romance about witches.
I'm a fan of Rhea Rhodan after reading Finding Grace--a page turner with heat--so I was eager to read her next novel, The Legacy of Buchanan's Crossing. I wasn't disappointed. Being a paranormal romance, the story is completely different, and that is what I enjoyed so much about it. The heroine, Cayden, is smart, independent, and a big, beautiful woman. (Nice to see in a lead character, for a change.) She's a witch determined to preserve Buchanan's Crossing--not only a place of great power and healing energy for the earth, but her ancestral home--and keep it out of the clutches of an evil developer who wants it for his own terrible purposes.
The relationship between Cayden and Clint, owner of Green Man Construction, an environmental builder, is fun and full of heat. (Rhodan writes the romantic interludes so well and manages to convey the meanings without being salacious, and I really appreciate that.) Clint, who feels a strange attraction to the goth, Rubenesque Cayden--a woman clearly not his usual type--becomes immersed in her world and kind of seems a little dense at times. But that's not his fault. He's just figuring things out. (He is just a man, after all.)
The character Nevermore was very funny and clever. The story took unexpected turns--another thing I appreciate in a novel--and the ending wrapped things up nicely. Very well done.
The Legacy of Buchanan's Crossing is the first chance I have had to read work by Rhea Rhodan. After reading this wonderful book I know I will be on the look out for more of her work.
Rhea Rhodan has created a very powerful captivating storyline with fascinating characters that had my attention all the way through the book. This is one of those books that I was up late reading because I could not put it down. My eyes were crossing as I was reading or I would not have put it down when I did to go to bed. However, the first thing I did the next morning was finish this great story.
I really liked Cayden Sinclair. She has some very intriguing abilities and she is such a likable character. I really admired her for standing by her grandmother and the crossing. She will do anything to keep them safe. This poor girl goes through a lot and has a lot of things happen to her. She has a dear grandmother and her wonderful pet Nevermore to stand beside her though everything. I loved Nevermore, this bird is not only very loyal but also humorous. I love how he takes revenge on people that do things to hurt Cayden. He and his friends have a way of perturbing the one's that hurt Cayden or her feelings.
Clint MacAllen is a hard working business man. He owns his own construction company so he has a lot going on. I don't want to give to much away but he is surprised when a big project lands in his lap, closely followed by another large project. He's has a lot going on so when he starts having headaches he finds the Handimart a convenient place to pick up over the counter medicine to help. That is where he meets the very unique Cayden. There is an instant attraction between these two. Clint is sure that Cayden is everything he does not want in a woman. Clint really is CLUELESS at times but I found him to be a nice guy.
Overall this is one really captivating story that I certainly enjoyed. I enjoy stories that include witchcraft and this one contain some very interesting aspects of witchcraft. There is plenty of drama that kept me turning pages. I have to admit I was on the edge of my seat for a good portion of this book and just could not wait to find out what in the world could possible happen next. There is also a few steamy scenes between Cayden and Clint as they find their way together. Even with all the drama there is some humor included as well. I found myself laughing out loud at times during this story.
If you enjoy an interesting paranormal story with interesting characters and an intriguing storyline, I think you will enjoy this story. I know I most certainly did. I can't wait to see what Rhea Rhodan may have in store for us next, but I know I would enjoy reading more of her work.
I was given the opportunity to read this book so that I may share my thoughts with you. As always it has been my pleasure to share my thoughts with you on The Legacy of Buchanan's Crossing.
“The Legacy of Buchanan’s Crossing” by Rhea Rhodan is an entertaining fantasy novel that centers around Cayden Sinclair who is struggling to deal with the responsibilities that she is supposed to assume from her grandmother, the current Warder of Buchanan’s Crossing. The trouble is that she is supposed to be supported by a Keeper and the current candidate, Clint MacAllen, is firmly a non-believer who is oblivious to the concept of witchcraft or anything else arcane. Remarkably, his very pragmatic company is named Green Man Construction, a title that has its own mystical significance. He will need to see past the eccentric appearance that Cayden projects in order to defeat the evil that threatens not only his livelihood and his very soul, but also will usurp the power that has been protected at Buchanan’s Crossing at such great cost.
This story features an unconventional heroine who has an opinionated familiar and a very reluctant hero to convince. On the face of it, this is a typical fantasy story that starts off relatively slowly but the tale gathers momentum and character as it progresses and combines the traditional trappings of witchcraft with a fun modern twist. I adore the croakings of the crow, aptly named Nevermore, even as I cringe at his dexterity at aiming his raspberry laced poop to punctuate his sentiments. Cayden definitely follows her own path in life and is a testament to the importance of looking beneath the surface to find the true value of a person but her tenacity and efforts to fulfill her obligations are inspiring and her arguments with Nevermore are hilarious. The hero is somewhat frustrating and lacks a bit of depth although some of his actions are understandable and his background dictates that perhaps he should have been better versed in the world that he becomes immersed in. There is a faint hint of a paranormal flavor with a reference to vampires but most of the tale focuses on the struggle for the power of the Crossing. This is an entertaining tale and I look forward to reading other stories by this author.
I was gifted with a copy of this title and it was my pleasure to review it for Night Owl Reviews.
Cayden Sinclair is the last of the Buchanan line and destined to be the Warder of Buchanan’s Crossing once the mantle passes from her grandmother, Aileen. Cayden is a hereditary witch, but her magic has never been under her total control, and she has a unique familiar – a raven, Nevermore. Cayden has been searching for the Keeper, her mate, since her grandmother is getting weaker. Yet her destined Keeper, Clint MacAllen isn’t interested in her as she’s not his “type” physically and doesn’t want to have anything to do with witchcraft. He owns a green construction company, suffers from insomnia and migraines, and being drawn into a deal with J. Milton Developments. There are sinister forces who want possession of the Crossing and will let nothing stand in their way.
THE LEGACY OF BUCHANAN’S CROSSING is an intriguing paranormal romance. I liked Cayden’s style because she didn’t apologize for who and what she is and I loved Nevermore, her raven familiar. Cayden’s fear of failing at her birthright, taking over as the Warder, consumes her but it doesn’t break her. Clint, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to know his own mind. The story and characters kept my attention, but I do wish we got more background on the Crossing itself. Maybe there’ll be a prequel! I enjoyed the more natural progression of Cayden and Clint’s relationship, the magic of the Crossing, and the generations-old mystery. THE LEGACY OF BUCHANAN’S CROSSING is a very enjoyable story and I’d love to read more about Cayden!
Cayden is a BBW heroine with a phalanx of secrets, and an intriguing familiar in the form of a raven. She’s a witch, but has never gained anything even approximating control over her magic. Her grandmother, Aileen Buchanan, is a professor of antiquities. Long since retired, she protects a critical secret, a role that will be passed to her granddaughter when the time is right.
Unbeknownst to him, Clint is also descended from witches. His mother sees visions in her dreams, but because of her Catholic faith, she’s downplayed them all his life. Clint runs a “green” construction firm. He’s spent most of his life being ashamed of how poor his parents were and running away from his humble origins.
Cayden has her own set of misery over her parents. Where Clint is ashamed, she’s angry, and rightfully so. Her mother is also a witch, but she used all her magic to trap a rich husband. Cayden and Clint find one another through a few magical twists and turns. Their physical attraction is intense and immediate, but it takes far more than that for them to truly discover one another.
I found the writing consistent and the characters engaging. Probably because I’m a Celtic mythology junkie, I would have liked to see more about the actual legend of Buchanan’s Crossing, and more about Crossings in general. It would make a great prequel to this book.
An AWESOME fantasy romance with a little bit of everything!I absolutely loved this story! It was incredibly well-written, and there was never a lag or a dull moment. I was so eager to find out what happened in the end that, had I not paced myself, I would have finished the book in two sittings!Cayden was so fun to read! She is a modern-day witch with some serious self-doubt and a very unique mission to find the Keeper. Oh, and "Join" with him in the secluded glen of Buchanan's Crossing (your inference is 100% correct on what "Join" means!) The circumstances leading up and subsequent to Cayden actually finding the Keeper made for such a fantastic story.Clint is probably the last person who would believe in magic, which makes him a perfect contrast to Cayden. His skepticism made for some pretty interesting occurrences throughout the book. That and the run-ins with his nemesis, Nevermore, gave me some good chuckles.And HOLY HOTNESS, were there some steamy scenes in this book!All in all, I loved the "epic quest"-type feeling I got from this book and the story itself was phenomenal. It kind of makes you stop and think that maybe, just maybe, magic could be everywhere!
I loved Rhea's last book (Finding Grace) & couldn't wait for her next one. I was so thrilled to see the same excellent writing & depth of characters in this great story. I haven't read a lot of paranormal or "witchy" (or anything with this heat rating...*blush*), but I really enjoyed it. You truly didn't know what to expect. I have to admit it kept me up on a few occasions saying "just one more chapter". I laughed out loud more than once. The raven "familiar" was priceless. It's novel length + was an added bonus. The awesome story deserved all the pages to see it to the end! More please!
Rhea Rhodan has a gift for creating unique, unforgettable characters in her books--and those in The Legacy of Buchanan's Crossing are no exception! I won't reiterate the plot, as there are several reviewers that have done a nice job already. What I will say is that this was quite fun to read and well-worth every page-turning minute.
I was given an ARC and voluntarily chose to review. I'm actually blown away by this book! This is the most original work i've read in an awful long time. It's cliche free and unique. Too many books these days are far too formulaic. You certainly don't get that here! The character are strong and real, the pacing is excellent. The story flow is brilliant. I am well and truly impressed! I have to make a special note about 'Nevermore' he is inspired and has you laughing out loud with the things he comes out with "Clueless Keeper B*******" sorry couldn't resist
This paranormal romance is a mesmerizing and intriguing read. The story has some surprising twists and turns to keep the reader on their toes and lots of laughs among all the drama and suspense. I must say that the beginning seemed to start off a little choppy and I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to read the book, but it quickly smoothed out and I couldn’t put the book down until I had read the last page. Also, this review would not be complete without giving a standing ovation to Nevermore, the talking crow with some snarky dialogue and entertaining antics.
this was my second rhea rhodan books, and i loved it...the story was fresh, hilarious, thrilling, romantic, and alpha male in action he he...i adored cayden, shes very loyal toward her destiny eventhough she felt insecure with her figure but shes smart, funny and powerfull..then she met clint her destiny..but she had to make clint realize that he was the one for her...and a lot of problems came between them but their true love solve it..
Interesting world building and magical contruction, some nice social commentary about 'fitting in', and okay emotional arc. Some nice snarky humor. However, I found the protagonists frustrating in that they repeatedly didn't trust each other, and were willing to believe the worst even after finding common ground, so the main relationship and it's resolution wasn't as satisfying as I expected.
I did not like this book as well as the first one I read. Don't get me wrong...the writing was just as good...I just didn't like the characters as much. I thought the Hero was an ass who could not be more embarrassed about liking this girl. He was a grown man who seemed wishy-washy at the best of times. It wasn't until the end when he stood up for her that he became likable. But it was too late for me by then. I just did not like him.
I also can't seem to really get into the books about witches. I love paranormal stuff, but witches is something I have never been able to get behind for some reason. It turns me off a book almost instantly. I would never have picked this one up to read if I had not first read her other book and loved it so much. I could have dealt with the witch aspect of the book if her characters were better. The heroine was not bad as a character, but I just could not relate to her well.
Overall its worth a read, but I suggest reading Finding Grace first..now that was an excellent book.