What do you think?
Rate this book
Gypsy #1
Gypsy's Quest
Gertrude is about to embark on the roller coaster ride of her life!
Not only has her baby been kidnapped by a sorceress, but she’s also falling in love with a sailor who disappears with alarming regularity.
And his sailboat is magical and can find the way to Norse worlds she thought only existed in myth.
Can she trust Gypsy to find her child before it is too late, or will the whims of the boat and its skipper lead her into dangerous waters?
Not only has her baby been kidnapped by a sorceress, but she’s also falling in love with a sailor who disappears with alarming regularity.
And his sailboat is magical and can find the way to Norse worlds she thought only existed in myth.
Can she trust Gypsy to find her child before it is too late, or will the whims of the boat and its skipper lead her into dangerous waters?
- GenresFantasyTime Travel
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
81 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
About the author
Nikki Broadwell
47 books341 followersI graduated with a BA in art and English from Sonoma State University in California. I've been an avid reader since I first learned how and a writer from my early teenage years on. I've had several art related businesses, including greeting cards and more recently a silk painting business. When I began to write in earnest I put aside the art, concentrating only on the writing.
I've traveled a lot over the years, finding inspiration wherever I go. Scotland holds a special place in my heart, hence the setting for "The Moonstone". I had to make a 4th trip there to do research as I was putting the book together!
I've traveled a lot over the years, finding inspiration wherever I go. Scotland holds a special place in my heart, hence the setting for "The Moonstone". I had to make a 4th trip there to do research as I was putting the book together!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 24, 2014
This book had a lot of potential but ultimately the author gives too much random information and it is distracting. I also had zero empathy or interested in the main character, first off I can't say I care about a mother trying to find her child. That sort of story isn't my thing in the first place, second...the mother just quits searching for her child based on essentially the teachings of a cult. At that point I was not only bored but at 43% through I quit reading. If the main character in the story can't be bothered to continue the journey to find her child, why should I?
March 26, 2019
I hope to read the next book in the series! I enjoyed this book!
October 6, 2018
Confusing and disappointing
The story starts off with a confusing incident in some place called the Otherworld. This incident is never explained nor is what that place is. It seems completely out of place in the entire book despite it going back to it several times. The first several chapters seem to take place in the middle of events with no clear beginning so readers are left wondering what the Heck happened. The book starts off confusing and doesn't get much less so. Then the author puts her main character through all this struggle only kill off her child. Seriously? Could you get anymore anticlimactic? I get the story isn't over, there's time travel, magic, yada yada, etc. but this was so poorly done that I have zero desire to read any of the sequels. This reads like middle school Fanfiction of Outlander...poorly written Fanfiction by a teenager who got a bad grade because they didn't pay attention in English class to learn how to tell a story. Once again another author who epically failed at making a good strong female character. Gertrude is an idiotic selfish bitch! She doesn't deserve either of those men! Another thing, making Loki an evil villain. How many cliches can you throw in there? Keep it on the Fanfiction websites. I'm so glad this was a freebie! Otherwise I'd demand a refund!
The story starts off with a confusing incident in some place called the Otherworld. This incident is never explained nor is what that place is. It seems completely out of place in the entire book despite it going back to it several times. The first several chapters seem to take place in the middle of events with no clear beginning so readers are left wondering what the Heck happened. The book starts off confusing and doesn't get much less so. Then the author puts her main character through all this struggle only kill off her child. Seriously? Could you get anymore anticlimactic? I get the story isn't over, there's time travel, magic, yada yada, etc. but this was so poorly done that I have zero desire to read any of the sequels. This reads like middle school Fanfiction of Outlander...poorly written Fanfiction by a teenager who got a bad grade because they didn't pay attention in English class to learn how to tell a story. Once again another author who epically failed at making a good strong female character. Gertrude is an idiotic selfish bitch! She doesn't deserve either of those men! Another thing, making Loki an evil villain. How many cliches can you throw in there? Keep it on the Fanfiction websites. I'm so glad this was a freebie! Otherwise I'd demand a refund!
January 30, 2019
The characters are vivid and imaginative and the plot keeps you guessing at every turn.
July 19, 2019
Even though it was a,bit,confusing @,times I enjoyed the book. Looking forward to Book ll
December 30, 2020
Gertrude's adventures are fantastic. Being a fan of time travel and mythology, I found the perfect blend in this story. The characters are well developed, and the world described in amazing detail. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Read
May 22, 2021I enjoyed it as I like to read what the future may hold. The story line was good, the characters were interesting. There were a few typos but that can be expected.
March 24, 2022
An intriguing story of a woman, mythical lands and time travel. The ending seemed to leave a hope of the story continuing, but not a promise.
August 18, 2014
Fast forward; Brandubh (priest, telepathic abilities) had no idea where his wife Gertrude Besnik (Tarot, palm reader) & unborn child were. Brandubh relation are: Adair (mother) & Catriona (twin sister).
Gertrude was later washed up on shore & Kafir (husband, trader, sailor) finds her & helps deliver the newborn boy Rifak. Ella his wife (sorceress) & their 2 boys: Clary & Bran now has a new lover Dughall & they all take off together.
The festival of Ostara (fertility celebration) was about to start, low/behold everyone could have sex with whomever they wanted to or get picked as a select person by 1 of the chieftains. Dagmaer, Foy, Tamar, Tara, Gisla, Kafir, Sven & Gertrude all attended.
Rifak had been kidnapped & Solti was killed.
Gertrude & Kafir set out on the Gypsy (ship) to find the child. The 2 meet up with Dormand (dwarf) in hopes he might know something. They 3 go & talk with King Hreidmar of Nidavellir (land of the dwarves).
Kafir does something really stupid & Gertrude uses her female charms & gets Kafir (Bran) released from the dungeon.
They quickly set sail again in search of Adair (sorceress) & Gertrude’s son Rifak.
The Gypsy (ship) with a mind of its own was headed for the Temple of the Moon.
Next stop the 2 meet up with Gunnar (400, magician, expert archer, druid) & Merlin his dog to find out more information on Rifak whereabouts.
What relationship did Brandubh (Otherworld, Raven) have with Gertrude?
Will Kafir ever find Ella & his 2 sons Clary & Bran?
What will happen to Adair? Will Gertrude (Gypsy) & Kafir (Bran) rescue her son Rifak?
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written kind of past/futuristic soap opera book. It wasn’t always very easy to read/follow from start/finish, but never a dull moment. There were several grammar/typo errors, but no repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make great back/forth time fantasy (mythological) movie, adult animated cartoon, or a mini TV series. I enjoyed reading this for some reason. To be continued? That said need to proof read it better so I will rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free book (Story Cartel)
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Gertrude was later washed up on shore & Kafir (husband, trader, sailor) finds her & helps deliver the newborn boy Rifak. Ella his wife (sorceress) & their 2 boys: Clary & Bran now has a new lover Dughall & they all take off together.
The festival of Ostara (fertility celebration) was about to start, low/behold everyone could have sex with whomever they wanted to or get picked as a select person by 1 of the chieftains. Dagmaer, Foy, Tamar, Tara, Gisla, Kafir, Sven & Gertrude all attended.
Rifak had been kidnapped & Solti was killed.
Gertrude & Kafir set out on the Gypsy (ship) to find the child. The 2 meet up with Dormand (dwarf) in hopes he might know something. They 3 go & talk with King Hreidmar of Nidavellir (land of the dwarves).
Kafir does something really stupid & Gertrude uses her female charms & gets Kafir (Bran) released from the dungeon.
They quickly set sail again in search of Adair (sorceress) & Gertrude’s son Rifak.
The Gypsy (ship) with a mind of its own was headed for the Temple of the Moon.
Next stop the 2 meet up with Gunnar (400, magician, expert archer, druid) & Merlin his dog to find out more information on Rifak whereabouts.
What relationship did Brandubh (Otherworld, Raven) have with Gertrude?
Will Kafir ever find Ella & his 2 sons Clary & Bran?
What will happen to Adair? Will Gertrude (Gypsy) & Kafir (Bran) rescue her son Rifak?
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written kind of past/futuristic soap opera book. It wasn’t always very easy to read/follow from start/finish, but never a dull moment. There were several grammar/typo errors, but no repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make great back/forth time fantasy (mythological) movie, adult animated cartoon, or a mini TV series. I enjoyed reading this for some reason. To be continued? That said need to proof read it better so I will rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free book (Story Cartel)
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
August 18, 2014
I received this via Story Cartel for review.
At first I was a bit lost. But, once I adjusted to the rhythm of the authors tale it quickly went by. A dramatic time travel romance set in the future. The characters are well detailed, the background story not as much. As the story unfolds there are times it feels somewhat choppy going from one traumatic scene on into the next. The mythology is all over the board involving a mixture of Celtic, Norse, etc. Quite a cultural mix. Gertrude is likeable, but at the same time quite annoying, groveling in self pity more and more as the tale goes on. She's somewhere around the age of 41 but has the emotional maturity of someone quite a bit younger, and that's taking into account her horrible heartbreak. Kafir is as dreamy as could be expected, strong, with a roughness just this side of being cruel. Foy is an amusingly loveable satyr. I love that one of the important characters is a (sentient ?) boat. There's plenty of magic, action, travel, mysticism, bravado, superstition and trickery. The few sexual encounters were not in graphic detail. Which I appreciated. The time is set in the future, but without any "modern" conveniences, more like one would expect to find in the medieval era. Threaded throughout is an environmental message of our abuse and misuse of earth. I hated the ending, but it did leave it open for a continuation.
At first I was a bit lost. But, once I adjusted to the rhythm of the authors tale it quickly went by. A dramatic time travel romance set in the future. The characters are well detailed, the background story not as much. As the story unfolds there are times it feels somewhat choppy going from one traumatic scene on into the next. The mythology is all over the board involving a mixture of Celtic, Norse, etc. Quite a cultural mix. Gertrude is likeable, but at the same time quite annoying, groveling in self pity more and more as the tale goes on. She's somewhere around the age of 41 but has the emotional maturity of someone quite a bit younger, and that's taking into account her horrible heartbreak. Kafir is as dreamy as could be expected, strong, with a roughness just this side of being cruel. Foy is an amusingly loveable satyr. I love that one of the important characters is a (sentient ?) boat. There's plenty of magic, action, travel, mysticism, bravado, superstition and trickery. The few sexual encounters were not in graphic detail. Which I appreciated. The time is set in the future, but without any "modern" conveniences, more like one would expect to find in the medieval era. Threaded throughout is an environmental message of our abuse and misuse of earth. I hated the ending, but it did leave it open for a continuation.
Read
January 16, 2019I loved how the story started from page one – no long, boring intro’s. The book is well written and Nikki Broadwell really paid attention to the details. The characters were well rounded, vivid and believable.
Meeting Gertrude for the first time, I knew we could have been friends. She is a strong independent women, but not without flaws.
I look forward to reading something else written by Nikki Broadwell. I have no doubt that this book will be well received and become a favourite of many.
However, this book was not for me. I had a hard time keeping up with who’s who and throw in the mythology and I was in over my head. In the end, it just became too much work.
I still liked how the book was written and would recommend it to anyone who is into mythology.
Meeting Gertrude for the first time, I knew we could have been friends. She is a strong independent women, but not without flaws.
I look forward to reading something else written by Nikki Broadwell. I have no doubt that this book will be well received and become a favourite of many.
However, this book was not for me. I had a hard time keeping up with who’s who and throw in the mythology and I was in over my head. In the end, it just became too much work.
I still liked how the book was written and would recommend it to anyone who is into mythology.
July 30, 2014
This was a fabulous story!! I am a fantasy fan and this filled every criteria I had. Gertrude is a strong woman, though I'm sure she would disagree with this, but that's what made her all the more appealing. So much happened to her and while I doubt very much that I'd have handled her problems as well as she did, I found myself admiring her will and dedication.
I so want a Gypsy of my own, just saying.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy, romance, and adventure. I already have the second book that follows this one. By the way, it is so awesome the way the start of the second fits so smoothly with the end of the first.
Nikki Broadwell is a FABULOUS writer!!
I so want a Gypsy of my own, just saying.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy, romance, and adventure. I already have the second book that follows this one. By the way, it is so awesome the way the start of the second fits so smoothly with the end of the first.
Nikki Broadwell is a FABULOUS writer!!
August 8, 2014
I liked the premise of this story and for the most part it was good. And as I repeatedly state in my reviews that I love time travel stories. But what consistently bugged me was the stubborness and sometimes stupidity of Gertrude. Her constant jumping to conclusions, her never wanting to listen to what's for her own good. It was extremely irritating to read through her self-pitying antics. And the way she treated Kafir, she wanted him, she didn't , the back and forth of that, made my brain hurt. Like I said, the premise was good, but the lead character was a major pain the butt.
October 15, 2023
Gertrude finds herself alone in a primitive, future version of the far distant past, with no memory of how she got there, yet she seems to recognise Kafir as someone from her previous life. She seems to be on endless quest that is doomed to failure, not knowing that she is the one who can save the world from destruction. And returning to her original timeline cannot bring back what she has lost, or erase the memories ... An emotional tale of love, fear, misunderstandings on many levels, and heartrending loss.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews