The Charm Stone

By Donna Kauffman

Book Overview

The spirit of Connal MacNeil has been waiting centuries for his betrothed to appear on Scotland's roaring shores. Josie's arrival with the MacNeil charm stone is his dream come true. Her passion is a fiery match to his own--and her powerful body is perfect for bearing the heir he plans. He bargained his soul for this last chance at prosperity, and he won't take no for an answer. Unfortunately the lass doesn't quite understand that destiny has bound them for all eternity. In fact, she seems determined to deny him at every turn--when she isn't busy with her foolhardy need to go wave hunting. But it doesn't take long for other, more earthly MacNeil charms to take hold. For Josie is only human--and Connal has waited long enough for the love affair of his lifetime to finally begin....

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 055358457X
• ISBN13: 9780553584578
• Release Date: July 2002
• Publisher: Bantam
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Made Me Smile!

I have to admit, I had my doubts based on the premise, but this book has turned out to be one of my absolute favorites! I've always liked Scottish lore and adding in that the lead character is a tough-talking surfer chick, this book has everything. The gradual attraction between Connal and Josie is endearing and the love scenes are very well-written; not at all trashy. I have and will continue to recommend this book to all avid readers.

maybe 3 1/2

The plot of this book sounded interesting, but it didn't quite meet my expectations. I was a little impatient about 3/4 of the way through, thinking, alright already!! Too much waffling back and forth from the characters.Also, I always have a problem with time travel novels wondering how the author is going to twist the plot so that they can stay together. The ending is hurried with little explanation of how he reappears to be with her in the end. Easy to scan and a good pool or beach read.

Charmingly Different

I have to admit that when I first picked this book up, I wasn't expecting to be involved. But I was! Who would have thought that a surfer and a ghost would hit it off? Donna Kaufman apparently did.What do you get when you combine leprechauns, surf boards, ghosts? Well, if you throw in a beautiful setting peopled with intriguing secondary characters who act as the perfect foil to the star-crossed lovers, then you get a fun read! Yes, it is a bit of a slow start and not being familiar with the surfing terms threw me, but I would say this one is for my keeper shelf. I fell in love with Josie and Connal. And I plan to read more of Ms. Kaufmann's books too!

Hauntingly human...

Daydreaming while surfing is not a good idea. When this happens to Josie Griffin and she wipes out after hitting something hard in the water, she's shocked to discover an antiquated treasure chest is the culprit. Opening the chest, she discovers a beautiful necklace and puts it on. Now, the fun begins. Enter a wee kilted sprite named Bagan who tells her the necklace is her destiny and that she must travel to Scotland for marriage to a three hundred year-old ghost. Okay, the bump on her head must've been worse than she thought. Josie quickly puts the necklace away, tucks the treasure chest into her Jeep and goes home thinking to save her sanity. Circumstances soon lead Josie on a trip to Scotland for business. When she arrives, Josie is inexplicably pulled to the Isle of Glenmuir, Connal's ancestral home.Connal MacNeil, ghost laird of the MacNeil clan, has been waiting three long centuries to fulfill his bargain of exchanging his soul for the birth of a son to carry on the MacNeil name. When Josie arrives in Glenmuir with the magical charm stone of his clan, Connal wastes no time in explaining that she is his fate and destiny. Now, all he has to do is convince Josie that she isn't halucinating or insane.THE CHARM STONE is an exceptional mix of paranormal, historical and modern day romance. As a strong, independent woman of the twenty-first century, Josie gives Connal a run for his money when he thinks he can dictate to her. Scenes of Connal trying to save Josie from killing herself while surfing are priceless. Bagan is hysterical as the much put upon guardian of the stone and is kept on his toes trying to keep tabs on and protect Josie. The older villagers are in turns humorous and emotional in their quest to learn how to surf and quickly endear themselves to Josie making it almost impossible to leave.Donna Kauffman outdoes herself in this tender, emotional and passionate intriguing tale of a man intent on continuing his line and the woman who teaches him how to live, love and have fun. If you liked THE LEGEND MACKINNON, you'll love THE CHARM STONE. Don't miss it!

charming paranormal romance

Though she has ridden waves in Hawaii and Australia among other global locales and the Atlantic is a bit cold in May, Josie Parker enjoys surfing so much that she arises early to ride the waves off of Parker's Inlet, South Carolina. However, instead of the anticipated smooth ride, she wipes out because her board hit something. The next breaker includes the treasure chest that wiped out Josie. Removing barnacles from it, Josie pries open the chest to find a necklace with a yellow stone dangling from it. Suddenly out of nowhere Bagan, Guardian of the MacNeil Stone, appears though no one else see the little man. He informs her that she is engaged to Connal MacNeil, who happens to have died about three centuries ago.Before she knows what happened, Josie heads to Glenmuir, Scotland where the spirit of Connal has awaited her return for three hundred years. As Josie and Connal begin to fall in love, she wonders what kind of future is there with someone from the eighteenth century.It is the use of mundane items such as surfing and Josie and the Pussycats (TV show not movie) that make THE CHARM STONE a charming paranormal romance. The plot is fun especially when Josie teaches the ghost and the senior citizens of Glenmuir how to surf as Donna Kauffman never takes her story too seriously even with a warm romantic undertow. Sub-genre readers will want to ride this wave from start to finish.Harriet Klausner