Book Review: Seeker by Jean M. Grant

Seeker (Mortar & Pestle #2) by Jean M. Grant

Genre: Adult Fiction (Historical Fantasy Romance)

Date Published: March 9, 2023

Publisher: Self

Nock, draw, release. Her bow is always ready, and if her arrow hits its mark, she will secure her destined soulmate.

Aileana Montgomerie’s bloodline holds valuable gifts of foresight and healing, but with each honor comes a curse. Even though she is descended from the mystical isles’ folk, she lacks the ability of the Scottish Ancients and wonders if she belongs in a magical family. Aileana just wants a purpose. What good is her bow and arrow if she is denied the right to fight for her clan?

Brodie MacDougall is ordained to be the next war chieftain of his clan. The title is a privilege as long as his brother, the future laird, doesn’t expect him to lift a sword and charge into battle. Chronic pain and nervous vapors force him to spend his days alone. Can his strategic skills keep him one step ahead of his conspiring brother?

Through a magical Mortar & Pestle, Brodie finds his heart’s desire. But there’s a catch. The seat on his brother’s council is no longer dependent upon his health…but on Aileana’s strength. With rumblings of unrest among their clans, will their love foster an alliance or be a step toward war?

Be sure to check out the other books in the Mortar and Pestle series!

Seeker is the second book in the Mortar & Pestle series. This series is unique in that each book is written by a different author. In this case, it’s written by Jean M. Grant and can be read as a stand alone. This story was fast paced, but there was no insta love. I wouldn’t say the characters were enemies, but they didn’t like each other in the beginning. I think the real issue was that they didn’t really know each other, so they let their imagination fill in the blanks, leading them dislike each other. Their story flowed nicely and has a lot going on for such a short story. I was pleased with how it all turned out. I’m really enjoying this type of series. Each author gets to bring something of their own to the table. It’s fun.

The ARC of Seeker by Jean M. Grant was kindly provided to me by the author through BookSprout for review. The opinions are my own.

Check out my review of the first book in this series!

Jean is a scientist by training with a background in marine biology, microbiology, and immunology. She currently resides in New England and draws from her interests in history, science, the outdoors, and her family for writing inspiration.

Awestruck by the historical romance genre years ago, she dove deep into mystical Scotland. From there came her "Hundred" trilogy which has a touch of the paranormal. She has expanded her novel adventures to include contemporary romance and women's fiction. Two of her books won InD'tale 2020 RONE awards. A Hundred Breaths was a runner-up in its category and Will Rise from Ashes took first place in its category!

A nature enthusiast who adores the national parks, Jean also writes for family-oriented travel magazines and websites. When not writing, she enjoys tending to her flower gardens, tackling the biggest mountains in New England with her husband and children, while taking snapshots of the world around her and daydreaming about the next story.

To learn more about Jean M. Grant and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, BookBub, and Twitter.

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Release Day Review! Selkie by Sydney Winward

Selkie (Mortar & Pestle #1) by Sydney Winward

Genre: Adult Fiction (Historical Fantasy Romance)
Date Published: March 7, 2023
Publisher: Silver Forge Books

No one has ever managed to capture a selkie. Until now…

On their wedding day, Klaus Lovik’s bride is stolen by an enemy chieftain. He will travel to the ends of the earth to find her, and in desperation, he captures a selkie and uses her as a bartering piece. But the selkie’s magic is powerful enough to drown entire islands, and if he’s not careful, he might find himself in a watery grave.

Mayla Brior is gifted with the power to shed her seal skin, enabling her to walk on land. But when a man robs her of the pelt, she is forced to follow his commands, endangering her skin, and preventing her return to the sea.

Venturing into enemy territory, Klaus and Mayla bond, escalating their relationship into more than adversaries. He realizes his pending nuptials are a dreadful mistake. But it might be too late to choose another path, especially when he knows he has to eventually let her go.

Selkie by Sydney Winward is a standalone romance in the Mortar & Pestle. Each book in this series is written by a different author with different characters, but within the same World. I'm definitely curious about these other books too. Selkies interest me. They’re a creature you don’t see too often in fiction, and I’d really love to learn more about them. This story built upon itself nicely , and you got to know the main characters and the inner wars they were fighting as it progressed. I’d say there was a quick attraction, but it definitely wasn’t instalove as they hated each other in the beginning… and rightly so. I completely enjoyed getting lost in their world, and I’d like to check out some of this author’s other work as well. 

The ARC of Selkie by Sydney Winward was kindly provided to me by the author through BookSprout for review. The opinions are my own.

Check out my review of the second book in this series!

Sydney Winward is an award-winning fantasy and paranormal romance author who dabbles in the occasional historical fiction. She loves building complex worlds filled with magic, strong characters, and emotional stories that can make you laugh and cry.

Sydney is the author of The Bloodborn Series and the Sunlight and Shadows Series. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, thinking about stories, or going on adventures with her children. She lives in Utah with her husband and three amazing kids.

To learn more about Sydney Winward and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and Twitter.

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