The Selkie

by Melanie Jackson

Book Overview

From the Deepest Ocean While the technology of the war to end all wars had changed the face of Europe, some things stayed the same; the tempestuous Scottish coast and the surrounding sea remained a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0505525313
• ISBN13: 9780505525314
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Love Spell
• Length: 358 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.3" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

one of Jackson's best works!

Since my great great great...well you get the idea...grandda was said to be a Selkie, I am rather touchy when writers create stories on the lore. Most of the time, I sort of cringe fearing the writers will not show the Selkies proper justice they deserve. When Melanie Jackson said she was doing a book about one, the reaction was different - joy, for I knew Melanie - and her heritage (I have it on good insider info from the Wee People and some odd charater named Malek that she is one of the Fae!!) and her love for All Things Scottish would do right by the Selkies.Melanie has written a utterly charming tale of a Selkie accidentally called from the Sea...and OH DOES IT STEAL THE HEART!! I applaud Melanie's setting the book in 1929 - seems the romance market considered anything after the Turn of the Century too modern day and not worthy of writing about. So in 1929, Hexy Garrow is maid/companion to widowed, blonde bimbo, who pulls a blonde moment and leaves and her expensive sable coat on the beach of the Scottish Coast. Hexy is sent to fetch it because her mistress is leaving for Italy and cannot leave without her coat.Hexy's take a few moments for herself at the beach, two shed a few tears - 7 to be exact - for the loss of her brother who drowned, for her failed romance, for the loose morals of today's (1929) young women -- and because her nose is red from allergies. She has no notion the 7 tears shed into the sea summons the Selkie -- in this case one Ruairidh O'Uruisg -- or that the seal coat she mistakes for her mistress' is really Ruairidh's Selkie skin!For those not familiar with Scottish Lore, the Selkies were/are magickal seals that came ashore, shed the skin and take human mates. They were so beautiful that no one could resist them, but they were only permitted to live on shore for a year and a day before they had to return to the sea. So you can imagine Hexy, a very practical modern-day girl has a wee bit of difficulty dealing with Ruairidh, when he comes to reclaim his seal skin coat. He asserts he has no time to be her lover, maybe later-- when the time is right for such things. He is horrified to to learn HIS coat is on way to Italy via Wales. It is vital he gets it back.It is a charming romance, whimsical, light, and so true to the ancient lore of Scotland. Melanie's Hexy and Ruairidh are so wonderful, bright and will absolutely steal your heart.So if you love Scotland, and wish to have a wee grand adventure, I cannot help but recommend Melanie's best book to date. She is simply magickal with a k...but then what else would one of the Fae be???I have truly loved many of Melanie's works - those pesky Goblins included, but this is by far her best!!

heart-warming

Being Scottish, and have Selkie ancestors, I was delighted with Ms. Jackson's quaint handling of the Selkie lore. The book was funny, the dialogue engaging, and the characters ones that will touch your heart. I am off to read her Goblins series now, having found this charming writer.

A charming tale!

Melanie Jackson gives, once again, an intriguing tale out of the norm. As with Night Visitor, she blends Scottish lore with her own magickal voice and gives you a tale guaranteed to please. She is strong in historicals, but I see a lighter touch in Amarantha and Belle that I think is perfect for hercharming wit and hope to see more in this vein from her.Hexy is maid to the ditzy blond lady of Fintry Castle, who just HAS to have her sable coat before she can go to Italy. Unfortunately, for allergy plagued Hexy, her mistress left it on the beach (I said she was ditzy), so Hexy must go to fetch it, not realising her snuffles and a couple tears over failed romances that fall into the sea summons forth the Selkie, a Scottish creature of mythology - a half man - half seal that is so beautiful no woman could resist him, or that the 'sable' coat she thinks is her mistress' really belongs to the Selkie. He needs to fetch it back or be doom to remain on land.Unfortunately for the Selkie, she has packed the coat and her mistress has go to Italy.It's a delightful, charming tale, with Melanie's deft brushstroke of humour.

Wonderful story

The People, the selkies, are in a crisis. Their numbers are diminishing and no females have been born in decades. Nor have any human women capable of bearing their children have been born either, to their knowledge. When Hexie weeps into the ocean and accidentally steals Rory's sealskin, she unknowingly completes a ritual that may bring new life to the selkies. Rory comes seeking the woman who has taken his skin, thus binding him to her until it is returned or she is with child. Hexy is unsure of what to make of this strange man with unfamiliar speech. However, their is a pull between them that is undeniable, and unexplainable. When they come together passionately, Rory realizes that this woman is more than she seems, and might be the hope of his people. Before they can find either happiness or hope, they must defeat monsters who steal souls and find a way to make a terribly mixed marriage work. ***** Those of you who have missed fairy tales will be enchanted by this story set in a time between the old world and the new. Magic and reality mix in a gray area where the only real truth is love. In what seems to be a situation made for heart break and tragedy, joy comes to pass. Hessy demonstrates a strength that is usually displayed in novels such as Tolkien's, while Rory has the charm of a handsome space alien blended with a fairy prince. Fans of pure fantasy and romance both will enjoy this one and be begging for more. The sea truly does hold magic and peace. *****

Fabulous Magical Selkie Tale

Scotland, 1929, after the `war to end all wars' and Hesiod "Hexy" Garrow, an American has come to work for a beautiful widow who is renovating her inherited Fintry castle in Scotland. Life has not been going well for Hexy, her allergies are driving her crazy, her boss Jillian has misplaced her fur coat on the beach, her boyfriend has basically dumped her, her last living relative and brother Rory has died in the war and she just can't seem to stop crying as she talks to the sea. After she has wept into the sea, she does find a fur coat, only it isn't Jillian's - it's a selkie's skin. Packing up the fur and Jillian for a trip to Italy, Hexy remains at the castle to oversee the renovations when she opens the door to a very irate, handsome, and underdressed Scotsman, Ruairidh "Rory" O'Uruisg. What Hexy did not realize is that by inadvertently stealing his fur, along with shedding seven tears in the sea she has summoned this `selkie' to come lie with her. What Rory was not expecting, was that this woman who summoned him would be so beautiful - but what really shook him was the sense that she wasn't at all what she knew herself to be!This was an amazing, magical, and sensual fantasy bringing some beautiful imagery to mind. Rory, the selkie was intoxicating for Hexy and I quote, "In the space of a few hours, her soul's winter had turned into spring." Ms. Jackson's writing intoxicated me. This was a fast paced beautiful love story with all the elements I look for - handsome lead couple, sensual love play, and edge of the seat thrills as Hexy puts her life on the line to save her `selkie' and her love. I highly recommend this book - beautiful addition to my keeper shelf!