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Magic Trilogy #2
Calypso Magic
His hungry lips met hers and the sensation built like raging fire...She wanted more...She wanted...
Diana Savarol vowed to stay away from her cousin, the rakish and hot-tempered Lyonel Ashton, during her visit to London—for she knew that Lyonel, the sixth Earl of Saint Leven, was a rogue who used women as playthings, and she would not be one of them. But she was homesick for the West Indies, and with only Lyonel to escort her on the perilous journey home, Diana's destiny became one with his as they braved the war-torn seas on a journey that would take them from glittering London to the tropical shores of Calypso Island. And, as the fires of battle raged around them, they found a love that burned more fiercely than any other. Diana surrendered to a passion within her that she could no longer deny...
Diana Savarol vowed to stay away from her cousin, the rakish and hot-tempered Lyonel Ashton, during her visit to London—for she knew that Lyonel, the sixth Earl of Saint Leven, was a rogue who used women as playthings, and she would not be one of them. But she was homesick for the West Indies, and with only Lyonel to escort her on the perilous journey home, Diana's destiny became one with his as they braved the war-torn seas on a journey that would take them from glittering London to the tropical shores of Calypso Island. And, as the fires of battle raged around them, they found a love that burned more fiercely than any other. Diana surrendered to a passion within her that she could no longer deny...
402 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
February 6, 2017
Please note that I gave this 3.5 stars and rounded it up to 4 stars here.
I read this for Romance Book Bingo 2017: Rogue square.
I was tempted to just say slavery is bad and be done with this review, but no, I have to elaborate. Honestly this is not as bad as the first book in the Magic Trilogy, but it's still about a 3 out of 5 for me. Maybe because the whole slavery aspect of this book was so distasteful. At least this book introduces us to the hero in book # 3 (Rafael) who appears in "Moonspun Magic" who does not seem like a garbage person. We also get reappearances by Frances and Hawk (what she calls Phillip). Eh...they are not as terrible as they were in book #1. This also has another cousin romance which if I had to do it all over again, I would thrown in as a bingo, cause apparently this was something that happened a lot in historical romances.
Our heroine (Diana) comes to London to visit her family. She has grown up in the West Indies on a plantation (1813 timeframe I think) and so you know, there is going to be some discussion of slavery and is it wrong. Diana is in London looking to find a husband. I have to say that Diana's asides about England's weather and food was kind of hilarious. As someone who has only stayed in the country via airport I have zero opinions about the place.
Lyonel (or Lyon) who is Diana's cousin, seems to get into fights with Diana every-time he lays eyes on her. There is some throwing together of them in London due to Lyon's aunt forcing him to escort her to events. Of course there is some obvious match-making going on. Diana and Lyon eventually sail back to Diana's home where a murderer is on the loose.
I can say that the two leads work very well in this book. They have a lot of back and forths with each other, but I didn't get outright hatred/antagonism that I usually get with Coulter's heroines/heroes. And the love scenes were great. We get one that takes place on a deserted island (don't ask) that just worked for this book.
The secondary characters in this one are also in some cases pretty transparent about motives. I loved Lyon's aunt. She appears in the third book and I loved the resolution of this character. Apparently interfering relatives is a theme in this trilogy.
We also get the reappearance of Frances and Hawk and I am just as shocked as you are that I liked them together. I don't want to spoil for potential readers, but we get to see them at least I think two years into their marriage. I think the timeframes are a little messed up when I went back to book #1 and read book #2. And then I tried to do a flowchart and said forget it.
There is a murderer running about Diana's home back in the West Indies, and I pinged them correctly when I was a teenager and of course walked in knowing who it was now as an adult. This is not an Agatha Christie novel, so there are really only one or two people who could be guilty.
I would say that the romance aspect was fine/good levels, but throwing in a murder was just weird. So the book felt like it switched on me mid-stream. The writing was okay, and the flow also worked.
The setting of 1800s England of course leaves one with very little options to talk about slavery that doesn't make the hero/heroine look like monsters. However, that Coulter did what she could to make the whole slavery thing less appalling, but that was the only thing that seemed to not feel realistic to me.
I read this for Romance Book Bingo 2017: Rogue square.
I was tempted to just say slavery is bad and be done with this review, but no, I have to elaborate. Honestly this is not as bad as the first book in the Magic Trilogy, but it's still about a 3 out of 5 for me. Maybe because the whole slavery aspect of this book was so distasteful. At least this book introduces us to the hero in book # 3 (Rafael) who appears in "Moonspun Magic" who does not seem like a garbage person. We also get reappearances by Frances and Hawk (what she calls Phillip). Eh...they are not as terrible as they were in book #1. This also has another cousin romance which if I had to do it all over again, I would thrown in as a bingo, cause apparently this was something that happened a lot in historical romances.
Our heroine (Diana) comes to London to visit her family. She has grown up in the West Indies on a plantation (1813 timeframe I think) and so you know, there is going to be some discussion of slavery and is it wrong. Diana is in London looking to find a husband. I have to say that Diana's asides about England's weather and food was kind of hilarious. As someone who has only stayed in the country via airport I have zero opinions about the place.
Lyonel (or Lyon) who is Diana's cousin, seems to get into fights with Diana every-time he lays eyes on her. There is some throwing together of them in London due to Lyon's aunt forcing him to escort her to events. Of course there is some obvious match-making going on. Diana and Lyon eventually sail back to Diana's home where a murderer is on the loose.
I can say that the two leads work very well in this book. They have a lot of back and forths with each other, but I didn't get outright hatred/antagonism that I usually get with Coulter's heroines/heroes. And the love scenes were great. We get one that takes place on a deserted island (don't ask) that just worked for this book.
The secondary characters in this one are also in some cases pretty transparent about motives. I loved Lyon's aunt. She appears in the third book and I loved the resolution of this character. Apparently interfering relatives is a theme in this trilogy.
We also get the reappearance of Frances and Hawk and I am just as shocked as you are that I liked them together. I don't want to spoil for potential readers, but we get to see them at least I think two years into their marriage. I think the timeframes are a little messed up when I went back to book #1 and read book #2. And then I tried to do a flowchart and said forget it.
There is a murderer running about Diana's home back in the West Indies, and I pinged them correctly when I was a teenager and of course walked in knowing who it was now as an adult. This is not an Agatha Christie novel, so there are really only one or two people who could be guilty.
I would say that the romance aspect was fine/good levels, but throwing in a murder was just weird. So the book felt like it switched on me mid-stream. The writing was okay, and the flow also worked.
The setting of 1800s England of course leaves one with very little options to talk about slavery that doesn't make the hero/heroine look like monsters. However, that Coulter did what she could to make the whole slavery thing less appalling, but that was the only thing that seemed to not feel realistic to me.
March 15, 2020
This story was the most amazing and beautiful, romantic and twisted, also steamy (detailed what I love the most in erotic novels) and ESPECIALLY detective-suspenseful in this trilogy.
All my 10 stars I give without a doubt!
I fell in love with this book as with other ones like Devil's Embrace and Devil's Daughter and amazing series STAR by Catherine Coulter [https://www.goodreads.com/series/4193...].
Diana Savarol vowed to stay away from her cousin, the rakish and hot-tempered Lyonel Ashton, during her visit to London. But who could know that the destiny will bring her and Lyonel together on a Damien Carstair's ship and the unexpected circumstances make them closer to each other, like a living a week on the uninhabited island.
I was very surprised that story had a turn like a detective line who and why started to kill people on Diana's father Hacienda when Diana and Lyonel came there. Especially some characters behavior like her stepmom's daughter-in-law and how she changed to the end of the story stopping being such a bitch. I like when bad characters change and admit their mistakes. It makes me happy!
The most funny character in this story was Lyonel's aunty. She was amazing. I laughed so hard when she cursed and wanted to bring her nephew and Diana together. She is a smart woman if she instantly understood that Lyone and Diana is a great couple.
All my 10 stars I give without a doubt!
I fell in love with this book as with other ones like Devil's Embrace and Devil's Daughter and amazing series STAR by Catherine Coulter [https://www.goodreads.com/series/4193...].
Diana Savarol vowed to stay away from her cousin, the rakish and hot-tempered Lyonel Ashton, during her visit to London. But who could know that the destiny will bring her and Lyonel together on a Damien Carstair's ship and the unexpected circumstances make them closer to each other, like a living a week on the uninhabited island.
I was very surprised that story had a turn like a detective line who and why started to kill people on Diana's father Hacienda when Diana and Lyonel came there. Especially some characters behavior like her stepmom's daughter-in-law and how she changed to the end of the story stopping being such a bitch. I like when bad characters change and admit their mistakes. It makes me happy!
The most funny character in this story was Lyonel's aunty. She was amazing. I laughed so hard when she cursed and wanted to bring her nephew and Diana together. She is a smart woman if she instantly understood that Lyone and Diana is a great couple.
October 12, 2014
En la novela hay dos partes bien diferenciadas: la historia de amor entre los protagonistas y, a continuación, una trama de ¿suspense? bastante previsible y con un final un tanto precipitado. Esa segunda parte, para mí, sobraba. Además, el tira y afloja entre los dos protagonistas a veces resulta antipático y pesado. Pese a todo, una novela entretenida, sobre todo la primera parte.
October 11, 2015
It is always a pleasure to learn something new while being thoroughly entertained.
April 8, 2016
Breathtakingly delicious!
August 9, 2019
Great book
May 1, 2020
0.5 stars for finishing the book, this man straight up raped his wife and was forgiven in the next chapter like HUH
December 22, 2020
2.5 stars. It took me 2 months to finish this book because I became so disinterested in it. I read another trilogy before finishing this book. I like Catherine Coulter, but for me this was not one of her better books. I own all 3 in the series and perhaps I may have enjoyed this 2nd book more if I read the first one, but I don’t think so. They seem to be stand alone books and I don’t think I missed much by not reading the first other than perhaps a better introduction to the character of Lyon, the hero in this book. I just could not get into the hero and the heroine. They weren’t bad characters, I liked Diana, Lyon was ok, nothing special, the writing was just ok and there really wasn’t much of a plot. The book became a little more interesting around the last 100 pages with a bit of a mystery, but in the end it wasn’t very good. One example, the heroine was supposedly drugged and they never said why or by who?? I decided not to DNF it and went ahead and finished it. If I hadn’t I wouldn’t have missed much. I think book number 3 may be better we got an introduction to that hero in this book and he seems much more interesting. We will see. I’ll read that one before I read the first book....hope I’m not sorry I bought them.
July 25, 2012
This is the second in the Magic Trilogy by Catherine Coulter. I enjoyed it was much as the first one. Lyonel was first introduced in the first book in the trilogy, Midsummer Magic. Lyonel is a much more likable character than his friend, Hawk. Diana is a great character. She is headstrong and fiercely independent. This causes all sorts of trouble for Lyonel. The banter between Diana and Lyon is very amusing at times and I enjoyed their attraction. Their HEA was very sweet.
This one has a bit of a mystery and I was surprised at who the murderer turned out to be in the end. I had been thinking in a completely different direction. There are some other great characters in this installment. The captain of the ship, Rafael Carstairs, seems very mysterious and I look forward to reading his story in the last of the trilogy, Moonspun Magic.
Anne Flosnik, the narrator, did an excellent job with the audiobook. You don't have to have read the first one in order to know what is going on, so if you missed this one, I highly recommend it!
This one has a bit of a mystery and I was surprised at who the murderer turned out to be in the end. I had been thinking in a completely different direction. There are some other great characters in this installment. The captain of the ship, Rafael Carstairs, seems very mysterious and I look forward to reading his story in the last of the trilogy, Moonspun Magic.
Anne Flosnik, the narrator, did an excellent job with the audiobook. You don't have to have read the first one in order to know what is going on, so if you missed this one, I highly recommend it!
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July 27, 2016I absolutely loved this book!
I've always been a huge fan of Catherine Coulter, and some of her books I even re-read every year. She has a wonderful talent of creating believable and likeable characters and plot lines that keep your attention.
Calypso Magic was no different. It is the story of Diana Savarol and Lionel, two people with a fast mouth and bad tempers when riled. I love the love stories where the main characters antagonize each other. The banter they have is very entertaining throughout the book.
The story line is interesting and will keep you paying attention until the very last page (with lovely sex scenes sprinkled throughout!) I honestly became very attached to the characters and at some points imagined grabbing them and shaking them, "What is wrong with you??"
As always with any Catherine Coulter novel that I have ever read, it is definitely worth the read.
I look forward to reading the other books in this series. :)
I've always been a huge fan of Catherine Coulter, and some of her books I even re-read every year. She has a wonderful talent of creating believable and likeable characters and plot lines that keep your attention.
Calypso Magic was no different. It is the story of Diana Savarol and Lionel, two people with a fast mouth and bad tempers when riled. I love the love stories where the main characters antagonize each other. The banter they have is very entertaining throughout the book.
The story line is interesting and will keep you paying attention until the very last page (with lovely sex scenes sprinkled throughout!) I honestly became very attached to the characters and at some points imagined grabbing them and shaking them, "What is wrong with you??"
As always with any Catherine Coulter novel that I have ever read, it is definitely worth the read.
I look forward to reading the other books in this series. :)
March 3, 2015
I really enjoyed this sequel to Midsummer magic. I read the first book in the series 2 years ago, which I find absolutely unbelievable. I mean I usually try not to go that long in between installments of the series. Anyway, I enjoyed the play between Lyon and Diana and their humorous banter.it took them a little bit longer to get there romance moving then I would have liked, but in the end it was very fun to watch. I also enjoyed the bit of mystery involved in the second half of the novel on Diana's family plantation. And the resolution to the slavery issue was very creative as well. I wonder how historically accurate that is? In any case, I hope it's not another two years before I remember to read the sequel for this book.
March 22, 2013
This is my favorite novel by Catherine Coulter. It took me awhile to admit that I like it better than Devil's Daughter, but it is the truth.
One thing I really like about this novel is that the main characters genuinely like each other for a majority of the book - as opposed to so many other historical romance novels that keep the hero and heroine irritated and fighting with each other for a majority of the novel.
One thing I really like about this novel is that the main characters genuinely like each other for a majority of the book - as opposed to so many other historical romance novels that keep the hero and heroine irritated and fighting with each other for a majority of the novel.
December 31, 2020
By and1515
Yeah that definitely was the last thing he expected was to see when he'd gone looking for his fiancee.
Unfortunately he'll miss the ex friend more then he'll miss her.
Lyonel should consider himself lucky his heir could have ended up looking like that idiot.
Diana was freezing it was May and she was use to tropical weather.
Lyonel should have known his dear aunt Lucia was up to something and he wasn't sure he should run for the hills.
They took an instant dislike to each other that cats would envy her sharped claws and hissing techniques.
And his opinions of her were better left unsaid as he could grasp the fact she was tanned and not sickly or sallow.
Diana was finding having to deal with Charlotte quite tedious and when she over heard a private conversation.
Lyonel was quite fit to be tied when he was informed of his ex-fiancee's attempts to smear Diana's reputation and when he confronted her poor husband about her lip service the spineless fool fetched his wife instead.
Lyonel should tell the world how he'd been wrong by them.
Weeks on board a ship with limited space and to much time on ones hands lead to missed opportunities and hurt feelings.
He'd been determined to marry her and even seduce her before they reach their final destination.
And then all that went up in smoke as these two fools couldn't help but rub each other the wrong way.
But the thought of some other man even getting near her about drove him insane.
Marooned on an island how lucky could they be...Or was it unlucky one never could tell with them.
However when they finally make it to Diana's home there those who don't want to see her happy or them quite so together and will try anything and everything to undermine their relationship.
But when there are several deaths on the island no one feels safe anymore.
However Diana never realized the danger she'll find herself in until the final moments.
Lyonel was hell bent to put an end to put and end to the whole nauseating affair once and for all.
Yeah that definitely was the last thing he expected was to see when he'd gone looking for his fiancee.
Unfortunately he'll miss the ex friend more then he'll miss her.
Lyonel should consider himself lucky his heir could have ended up looking like that idiot.
Diana was freezing it was May and she was use to tropical weather.
Lyonel should have known his dear aunt Lucia was up to something and he wasn't sure he should run for the hills.
They took an instant dislike to each other that cats would envy her sharped claws and hissing techniques.
And his opinions of her were better left unsaid as he could grasp the fact she was tanned and not sickly or sallow.
Diana was finding having to deal with Charlotte quite tedious and when she over heard a private conversation.
Lyonel was quite fit to be tied when he was informed of his ex-fiancee's attempts to smear Diana's reputation and when he confronted her poor husband about her lip service the spineless fool fetched his wife instead.
Lyonel should tell the world how he'd been wrong by them.
Weeks on board a ship with limited space and to much time on ones hands lead to missed opportunities and hurt feelings.
He'd been determined to marry her and even seduce her before they reach their final destination.
And then all that went up in smoke as these two fools couldn't help but rub each other the wrong way.
But the thought of some other man even getting near her about drove him insane.
Marooned on an island how lucky could they be...Or was it unlucky one never could tell with them.
However when they finally make it to Diana's home there those who don't want to see her happy or them quite so together and will try anything and everything to undermine their relationship.
But when there are several deaths on the island no one feels safe anymore.
However Diana never realized the danger she'll find herself in until the final moments.
Lyonel was hell bent to put an end to put and end to the whole nauseating affair once and for all.
July 11, 2018
Diana Savarol was sent to London to "have a Season" and find a husband. Staying with a distant cousin, she meets and instantly dislikes, Lyon, Earl of Saint Leven, a disreputable rogue; sparks fly every time they meet. Then Lyon inherits his uncle's estate in the West Indies just as Diana has decided to return to Savarol Island. Through mishaps, they end up on a mysterious ship sailing to Tortula. Stranded on an uninhabited island, Diana and Lyon finally put their differences aside and, when rescued, are married by the captain before arriving at Savarol Island. There, mysterious things are happening, including murders. Who will be next?
The first part of this book was enjoyable with the sparks flying off Diana and the Earl. However, when they arrived in the West Indies, too many subplots were introduced that couldn't be flushed out well in the length of the book and left me going, "Huh?" I usually enjoy this author's books more than this.
The first part of this book was enjoyable with the sparks flying off Diana and the Earl. However, when they arrived in the West Indies, too many subplots were introduced that couldn't be flushed out well in the length of the book and left me going, "Huh?" I usually enjoy this author's books more than this.
August 6, 2023
Interesting historical romance story taking place in 1813 in London, England, and Calypso Island in the West Indies. Diana Savarol has been sent to London to find a husband by her father. She is staying with an old friend of the family and Lyonel Ashton, the sixth Earl of Saint Leven. She is lonesome for her home in the West Indies. Finally, he agrees to take her home. It becomes an unexpected journey, and one the day before they are to arrive in the West Indies Diana and Lyonel are wed. Things are not how she them, she has a stepmother, step-brother, and sister-in-law. A slave is murdered and that's just the beginning of the trouble on the island. You'll have to read it to find out how it ends. A good read.
July 2, 2020
Sent to England to find a husband, what she finds is a mountain of a man they call Lion. He found her intesting, to say the least. Then he inherits a plantation in the West Indies. Once she returns home, there swirls a mystery. Who is killing of the people? Will they be next? Will they be able to solve the mystery before times runs out for them all?
September 18, 2020
Great job
Great characters and story. I love a good book that has a little bit of everything. Strong, witty characters and a good plot. I love Catherine Coulters historical romance books.
Great characters and story. I love a good book that has a little bit of everything. Strong, witty characters and a good plot. I love Catherine Coulters historical romance books.
July 24, 2022
I feel really torn about this book. The banter, the enemies to lovers, is incredible. However this book is racist and has multiple sexual assault scenes. This is some Old School shit. I found it very interesting and gripping but I don’t think I could recommend it to anyone in good conscience.
April 3, 2019
An enjoyable, cute, historical romance.
August 21, 2020
Loved it!
I fell in love with the characters & felt like i was in the story living the adventures with them!
I fell in love with the characters & felt like i was in the story living the adventures with them!
December 6, 2020
Not great
January 17, 2021
I didn't love Diana or Lionel, they just weren't real enough for me. The book started out well enough, but then it dragged on and on, and then was too quickly wrapped up at the end; leaving me feeling as if the ending was too rushed. Everyone forgave too easily, Diana of Lionel, and her father of Deborah.
I definitely enjoyed the first but book much more! Just my opinion and I still think Catherine Coulter is an amazing author.
I did however like Diana not being a damsel in distress, and she actually saved Lyonel, then saved herself later in the book.
I definitely enjoyed the first but book much more! Just my opinion and I still think Catherine Coulter is an amazing author.
I did however like Diana not being a damsel in distress, and she actually saved Lyonel, then saved herself later in the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2022
Fun Thanksgiving break read🦃🤎❤️ But warning- there are seriously problematic consent issues in this story. Otherwise, 4/5 stars.
Read
January 11, 2023While visiting London, a beautiful young woman becomes homesick for the West Indies. Unfortunately, her only available chaperone for the perilous journey is her rakish hot-tempered cousin...
April 5, 2023
A somewhat strange book. It certainly jumps around from London, ocean voyage to the West Indies plantation. Murders, mysteries to slavery with lots of romance thrown in.
January 9, 2025
Boooooooooring and Diana was a silly twit. DNF 22%
May 22, 2025
3.75 stars
April 6, 2021
I very much enjoyed the dialogue between H & h. Their chemistry is great and for once we see the growth of a relationship instead of love at first sight. I lowered it a star as i did not enjoy H visiting his mistress all through the beginning of their relationship.
September 10, 2011
A romance that halfway through decided it wanted to be a mystery. I was about to give it 3 stars but I'm feeling generous so 4 it is. Both our main leads are being obtuse and annoying at times (especially Lyon), acting stupidly. Okay, Diana was sensible most of the time, even if a little bratty, but Lyon had his hung ups which after much drama, manages to overcome.
If I remember correctly, this second book is vastly different from the first of the series, although not less enjoyable. The mystery got a little too much for me at one point (a little too obvious, too), but the warming up to the relationship of our heroes is more than making up for it. They find themselves in extreme situations and grow closer through them.
Yet another happily ever after. The next book is about Captain Rafael Carstairs (as I was expecting it to be since he's such an interesting and mysterious character already). Let's see how thick-headed he gets to be...
If I remember correctly, this second book is vastly different from the first of the series, although not less enjoyable. The mystery got a little too much for me at one point (a little too obvious, too), but the warming up to the relationship of our heroes is more than making up for it. They find themselves in extreme situations and grow closer through them.
Yet another happily ever after. The next book is about Captain Rafael Carstairs (as I was expecting it to be since he's such an interesting and mysterious character already). Let's see how thick-headed he gets to be...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews