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The Crystal
"Only the chosen ones or their mates will ever be able to see the magic contained in the Globe."
Caught in a downpour, Gabriella Bell enters a trendy little shop and discovers a crystal ball in which she sees the face of a hard-eyed stranger. Drawn by a force she doesn't understand she buys the crystal, unaware she is purchasing stolen property that belongs to the aunt of a premiere cat burglar known to polite society as Christopher Saint and to the underworld as The Tiger.
She soon discovers that not only does the handsome, hard-eyed stranger want the mysterious globe but so does a beautiful ruthless jewel thief who will stop at nothing, including murder, to possess Christopher and the crystal ball.and Gabriella is standing in her way. Gabriella discovers the road to true love isn't just rocky, it's downright dangerous.
Caught in a downpour, Gabriella Bell enters a trendy little shop and discovers a crystal ball in which she sees the face of a hard-eyed stranger. Drawn by a force she doesn't understand she buys the crystal, unaware she is purchasing stolen property that belongs to the aunt of a premiere cat burglar known to polite society as Christopher Saint and to the underworld as The Tiger.
She soon discovers that not only does the handsome, hard-eyed stranger want the mysterious globe but so does a beautiful ruthless jewel thief who will stop at nothing, including murder, to possess Christopher and the crystal ball.and Gabriella is standing in her way. Gabriella discovers the road to true love isn't just rocky, it's downright dangerous.
- GenresRomance
372 pages, Paperback
First published January 11, 2007
15 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Cox
64 books122 followersMulti-published author Sandra Cox writes All Things Western and More. Sandra lives with her husband, a menagerie of pets, and an occasional foster cat in sunny North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 9, 2017
I loved this book because it is so very well written and sticks to the hands like glue until it is finished!
Gabriella Bell, struggling freelance reporter, fond of murder mysteries and devouring romances. She is an engaging central character, a focused and tenacious young woman who refuses to be thwarted in getting the mysterious crystal ball back.
Christopher Saint is an extremely eligible bachelor and an indolent playboy. The Tiger, as he was known to the underworld, was a master cat burglar. "Ah well. You could take the boy out of the slums. But you couldn’t take the thief out of the boy."
Through the compelling plot and carefully structured narrative, Sandra Cox gives voice to a richly woven story told at a breakneck pace which made it impossible to put down.
Jericho, the Siamese cat and Ned, the brave Chow-mix make a cute, funny pair of second characters. They create an easing of tension in the action and are a clever addition to the main characters, Gabby and Christopher.
It all begins with Tamarilla, princess of the fairies, and her fiery emerald that is turned into a magic crystal ball, to protect it for the women of her family who are to come.
The story is sprinkled with clever humor. Oh how I loved this fragment, “Be brave little one and embrace your destiny with dignity. Zan is not a bad elf. But he is a male. And they all have their failings.”
A special mention should go to Aunt Tamara, Christopher’s foster mother.
A good read for all, filled with Romance and plenty of action as the climax nears. Definitely worth buying.
Gabriella Bell, struggling freelance reporter, fond of murder mysteries and devouring romances. She is an engaging central character, a focused and tenacious young woman who refuses to be thwarted in getting the mysterious crystal ball back.
Christopher Saint is an extremely eligible bachelor and an indolent playboy. The Tiger, as he was known to the underworld, was a master cat burglar. "Ah well. You could take the boy out of the slums. But you couldn’t take the thief out of the boy."
Through the compelling plot and carefully structured narrative, Sandra Cox gives voice to a richly woven story told at a breakneck pace which made it impossible to put down.
Jericho, the Siamese cat and Ned, the brave Chow-mix make a cute, funny pair of second characters. They create an easing of tension in the action and are a clever addition to the main characters, Gabby and Christopher.
It all begins with Tamarilla, princess of the fairies, and her fiery emerald that is turned into a magic crystal ball, to protect it for the women of her family who are to come.
The story is sprinkled with clever humor. Oh how I loved this fragment, “Be brave little one and embrace your destiny with dignity. Zan is not a bad elf. But he is a male. And they all have their failings.”
A special mention should go to Aunt Tamara, Christopher’s foster mother.
A good read for all, filled with Romance and plenty of action as the climax nears. Definitely worth buying.
October 9, 2020
Some of the best parts of our favorite movies and television shows aren't the fights or the chases. It's not always when the good guy gets the bad guy, or the hero finally confesses his love for the heroine.
Sometimes, it's when the dog speaks, or the cat makes a witty rejoinder dripping with feline sarcasm.
Think about it.
I'll bet most people don't remember every episode of Supernatural when Sam torched a ghost's bones just in time to save the day.
But we all remember when Dean got the ability to speak to a dog and ended up adopting some canine habits, or when he got into a shouting match with an IBS pigeon.
Suspending disbelief is a hallmark of fantasy fiction, but too often it's not allowed or unacceptable in something we perceive as grounded in the real world. Heck, it even offends some people, as though asking them to use their imaginations is tantamount to casting aspersions on their [enter Politically-Correct-ism here].
But in The Crystal, Sandra Cox deftly weaves the magical with the mundane, giving us fully-realized and interesting real-world characters interacting with the stuff of magic, most notably a cat named Jericho and a dog called Ned. The book opens with a fae-world prologue and begins for real with Gabriella picking up a crystal which shows her a picture of a handsome man. Little does she know he is the one destined to be her true love, and her only contact with him was a casual brush outside.
With an opening like that, you should expect magic. With a writer like Sandra, you know the book will have layers upon layers, and the characters will open in similar fashion.
Deep and engaging, The Crystal will have you glued to your seats, racing to the finish. Just don't forget to bring some choice cutlets along for the ride. Those animals deserve a treat.
Sometimes, it's when the dog speaks, or the cat makes a witty rejoinder dripping with feline sarcasm.
Think about it.
I'll bet most people don't remember every episode of Supernatural when Sam torched a ghost's bones just in time to save the day.
But we all remember when Dean got the ability to speak to a dog and ended up adopting some canine habits, or when he got into a shouting match with an IBS pigeon.
Suspending disbelief is a hallmark of fantasy fiction, but too often it's not allowed or unacceptable in something we perceive as grounded in the real world. Heck, it even offends some people, as though asking them to use their imaginations is tantamount to casting aspersions on their [enter Politically-Correct-ism here].
But in The Crystal, Sandra Cox deftly weaves the magical with the mundane, giving us fully-realized and interesting real-world characters interacting with the stuff of magic, most notably a cat named Jericho and a dog called Ned. The book opens with a fae-world prologue and begins for real with Gabriella picking up a crystal which shows her a picture of a handsome man. Little does she know he is the one destined to be her true love, and her only contact with him was a casual brush outside.
With an opening like that, you should expect magic. With a writer like Sandra, you know the book will have layers upon layers, and the characters will open in similar fashion.
Deep and engaging, The Crystal will have you glued to your seats, racing to the finish. Just don't forget to bring some choice cutlets along for the ride. Those animals deserve a treat.
February 3, 2018
Wonderful from the beginning to the end.
I was a little bit stunned that Gabby was so possessive of the crystal ball. But hey, it worked. It felt a little bit like a 1940's serial, not unlike the adventures of Indiana Jones. You had a gutsy, beautiful heroine who pretty much gave as good as she got. Then there was the hero, Christopher. He was multilayered as fascinating as all get out. Handsome, charming, and a wee bit dangerous. He knows the lore behind the crystal ball that has been in his adopted mother's family for ages, he just doesn't believe everlasting love is in the cards for him. He keeps his relationships with women strictly superficial-- until Gabby. He wants her but she makes him crazy. She wants him but she just can't trust him. Ahh I loved the sass and loved Aunt Tamara. She just understood how to accept a lonely frightened boy from the streets and allow him to grow into the kind of man to be proud of. Oh, and his ex lover, amoral and vicious. She was so wicked and comparing the two women no doubt squashed whatever fascination Christopher still had for her. It was a wonderful action romance but the ending was a bit lacking. It was a tell rather than a show. Still, loved it, didn't want it to end.
I was a little bit stunned that Gabby was so possessive of the crystal ball. But hey, it worked. It felt a little bit like a 1940's serial, not unlike the adventures of Indiana Jones. You had a gutsy, beautiful heroine who pretty much gave as good as she got. Then there was the hero, Christopher. He was multilayered as fascinating as all get out. Handsome, charming, and a wee bit dangerous. He knows the lore behind the crystal ball that has been in his adopted mother's family for ages, he just doesn't believe everlasting love is in the cards for him. He keeps his relationships with women strictly superficial-- until Gabby. He wants her but she makes him crazy. She wants him but she just can't trust him. Ahh I loved the sass and loved Aunt Tamara. She just understood how to accept a lonely frightened boy from the streets and allow him to grow into the kind of man to be proud of. Oh, and his ex lover, amoral and vicious. She was so wicked and comparing the two women no doubt squashed whatever fascination Christopher still had for her. It was a wonderful action romance but the ending was a bit lacking. It was a tell rather than a show. Still, loved it, didn't want it to end.
October 30, 2020
The Crystal by Sandra Cox affirms the belief that the power of fairies can be trusted and true love eventually proves itself if you “embrace your destiny with dignity.” The story of the crystal is entwined with Gabriella who happens to see it in a little store. She is so drawn to this glowing, green crystal that changes its colors and sparkles like moonbeams on water, that she touches it and is stunned to see the image of a stranger in it. She buys it and all the trouble starts. Her obsession for the crystal lands her in many hazardous situations. She discovers its magical value when it is stolen by Christopher, the same person whose face appears in it.
This is not just a hate-love story of Gabby and Christopher. Magic, romance, jealousy and action combine to make this book a fabulous read. It introduces you to some wonderful relationships and loving characters like Tamara, John Paul, Ned and Jericho. Despite the dark layers of Christopher, he emerges to be a warm and benevolent human being who could shed the stripes of a Tiger and take up new responsibilities. The action scenes are well defined. The book flows at a steady pace and keeps you engrossed. Highly recommended!
This is not just a hate-love story of Gabby and Christopher. Magic, romance, jealousy and action combine to make this book a fabulous read. It introduces you to some wonderful relationships and loving characters like Tamara, John Paul, Ned and Jericho. Despite the dark layers of Christopher, he emerges to be a warm and benevolent human being who could shed the stripes of a Tiger and take up new responsibilities. The action scenes are well defined. The book flows at a steady pace and keeps you engrossed. Highly recommended!
November 27, 2018
What a unique premise. Passed down through the generations of a fae family, the crystal displays the person a girl will marry. And it's always right! I won't reveal who Gabby, the main character, sees and if the crystal is correct. But, after all, this IS a romance! Loved Gabby, a strong, determined woman, and Christopher Saint, a saint he ain't. The attraction is so strong and yet so explosive. Ms. Cox wrote powerful action scenes and tender love scenes. Perhaps a few too many scenes with the dog and cat, but I liked how they added to the atmosphere. Quite a contrast in the choice of the settings--Springfield, IL, New Orleans, LA, and Calcutta. The locations, the characters, the magic kept me turning pages. I'd recommend The Crystal if you love to escape into an entertaining book.
January 25, 2021
Gabriella finds a glowing crystal ball that shows her the face of a man. Once it’s in her possession, things begin to happen to her, including meeting the man whose face she saw, Christopher. I love the relationship that grows between Gabriella and Tamara, or Christopher’s aunt. Ned the dog and Jericho, the cat, are favorites of mine too. I worried about their wellbeing the entire story. Gabriella and Christopher love and hate each other, but fairy magic has an agenda of its own. It’s the greed, jealousy, love, and magic that weaves this into an exciting read, but Gabriella’s obsession with the crystal made it a page-turner as she tries to survive. “The Crystal” is a romantic thriller filled with lots of fey magic that I highly recommend.
January 19, 2021
Good Story
I liked the story and the characters. Some were a bit stereotypical, such as the heroine's father, a loud overprotective cop. But they were also fun and memorable. The story has a touch of psychic mystique and theft by a master jewel thief. A rich woman, a poor heroine, a beloved black maid, like I said, stereotypes abound. But it was also a very engaging story. My only real issue was the pace was a little slow. Otherwise, a very good read.
I liked the story and the characters. Some were a bit stereotypical, such as the heroine's father, a loud overprotective cop. But they were also fun and memorable. The story has a touch of psychic mystique and theft by a master jewel thief. A rich woman, a poor heroine, a beloved black maid, like I said, stereotypes abound. But it was also a very engaging story. My only real issue was the pace was a little slow. Otherwise, a very good read.
May 7, 2018
Gabby & Christopher
A wonderful love story about a crystal ball that is passed down in the family that has fae heritage. Gabby finds a crystal ball in an antique store. When she holds it, it gives her a sense of euphoria and shows her a handsome man's picture. She purchases it and the adventure begins. This story has strong characters.
A wonderful love story about a crystal ball that is passed down in the family that has fae heritage. Gabby finds a crystal ball in an antique store. When she holds it, it gives her a sense of euphoria and shows her a handsome man's picture. She purchases it and the adventure begins. This story has strong characters.
September 25, 2010
3.5 stars. Fun escape with elements of the magical – romance with action.
STORY BRIEF:
Generations ago, a fairy enchanted an emerald crystal globe so that the female descendants of the fairy princess Tamarilla would see their one true love in the stone. They would also feel ecstasy/bliss when holding the stone. The descendants include women who have been added by love to the line. In the present day, the stone is held by Tamara, an elderly widow, who lives with her adopted son Christopher. A hires B to steal the globe from Tamara. It is being held in a small antiques shop in Illinois waiting to be picked up. Gabriella sees it in the shop and feels bliss while touching it. She has to have it. An unknowing store clerk thinks he’s helping the store owner by selling it to her for $500. (He believes it’s worth $20.) Much of the story revolves around A, B, Christopher and Gabriella all wanting the globe and their attempts to get it from each other. Gabriella repeatedly sees Christopher’s image in the globe. Along the way, Tamara realizes Gabriella is meant for her son and begins playing matchmaker. Gabriella and Christopher do not like each other and fight through much of the story. Gabriella is a free lance reporter. Christopher appears to be a rich playboy but is also a cat burglar known to the underworld as The Tiger.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
I enjoyed the back and forth verbal sparring between Gabriella and Christopher. It is an interesting plot with a lot of interesting events. I chuckled a few times. I was very drawn into the story for about the first ¾ of the book, not wanting to put it down. After that it was ok, but I wasn’t drawn in as much and found it easier to put down. I’m not sure why – possibly because it was mostly good guys vs. bad guys with chase scenes and less emotional interaction.
The book has two sex scenes which are told about after the fact, rather then being shown, which makes this appropriate for young adults as well as adults. Romance readers expecting to see bedroom scenes will not find that here.
DATA:
Story length: 356 pages. Swearing language: moderate. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: 2 referred to not shown. Setting: 2004 Springfield, IL, New Orleans, Black Mountains in N. Carolina. Copyright: 2007. Genre: fantasy action romance.
STORY BRIEF:
Generations ago, a fairy enchanted an emerald crystal globe so that the female descendants of the fairy princess Tamarilla would see their one true love in the stone. They would also feel ecstasy/bliss when holding the stone. The descendants include women who have been added by love to the line. In the present day, the stone is held by Tamara, an elderly widow, who lives with her adopted son Christopher. A hires B to steal the globe from Tamara. It is being held in a small antiques shop in Illinois waiting to be picked up. Gabriella sees it in the shop and feels bliss while touching it. She has to have it. An unknowing store clerk thinks he’s helping the store owner by selling it to her for $500. (He believes it’s worth $20.) Much of the story revolves around A, B, Christopher and Gabriella all wanting the globe and their attempts to get it from each other. Gabriella repeatedly sees Christopher’s image in the globe. Along the way, Tamara realizes Gabriella is meant for her son and begins playing matchmaker. Gabriella and Christopher do not like each other and fight through much of the story. Gabriella is a free lance reporter. Christopher appears to be a rich playboy but is also a cat burglar known to the underworld as The Tiger.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
I enjoyed the back and forth verbal sparring between Gabriella and Christopher. It is an interesting plot with a lot of interesting events. I chuckled a few times. I was very drawn into the story for about the first ¾ of the book, not wanting to put it down. After that it was ok, but I wasn’t drawn in as much and found it easier to put down. I’m not sure why – possibly because it was mostly good guys vs. bad guys with chase scenes and less emotional interaction.
The book has two sex scenes which are told about after the fact, rather then being shown, which makes this appropriate for young adults as well as adults. Romance readers expecting to see bedroom scenes will not find that here.
DATA:
Story length: 356 pages. Swearing language: moderate. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: 2 referred to not shown. Setting: 2004 Springfield, IL, New Orleans, Black Mountains in N. Carolina. Copyright: 2007. Genre: fantasy action romance.
February 9, 2017
At the center of The Crystal is a crystal ball that allows its owners to see the face of their one true love. For Gabriella, that face is a man she just happened to bump into before entering the store that is selling the ball. She buys the crystal globe in question and adventure ensues. That stranger just happens to want the globe for himself...and a chase ensues. There is plenty of tension between the main characters and enough intrigue to keep you turning the pages until the end!
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February 17, 2010It was a wonderful Read! If there is anyone who loves cats, this is a good book to read1
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews