Amethyst Destiny by Pamela Montgomerie
Time Travel Romance
May 4, 2010
Paperback, 320 Pages
Berkley

Reviewed by Tori

Julia Brodie doesn’t know why her Scottish cousin gave her a necklace with the insistence that she NOT try it on till she arrives in America. Being of the curious sort, she tries it on in the Glasgow airport and receives the shock of her life. Transported back in time to 17th century Scotland, Julia is rescued by the handsome Talon MacClure.

Talon MacClure, also known as the Wizard, can find anything with the help of a powerful amethyst ring. A ring he will protect at all cost. When Julia appears to Talon he realizes that she has come back in time for a reason. And when the ring sends them on a mission that places Julia in danger; Talon begins to realize that her love is the only thing worth protecting.

In the second book of Pamela Montgomerie’s Jewel Of Time series we are treated to a sweet romantic story about two insecure people from different times who are thrown together in time to repair the past. Talon MacClure was given a ring by a dwarf named Hegarty as a young boy. An amethyst ring that has the power to grant the wearer’s wishes. Within reason. The ring gives you what you need opposed to what you want. Known as the Wizard, Talon hires out his services in retrieving lost items for a fee, using the ring to find them.
If you have read her previous book-Sapphire Dream-you know that Hegarty has given out certain jewels to those he feels in need.

When Julia is given the necklace by her cousin…she doesn’t listen the cousin’s advice and proceeds to put it on while in Scotland. Once the necklace is placed on her neck she is transported back in time to Scotland.  She literally drops in on Talon while he is on a job and he elects to "rescue" her as he senses right off she is not from his time. Talon informs Julia that the ring must have brought her to help him and she will only be allowed to go home when their mission is complete. Julia is confused, scared, and angry. Not knowing the where or even when she is at, she automatically goes on the defensive with Talon. As Julia gets to know Talon she thinks that he is nothing more then a con man. This offends her as she is a strictly by the book person. She is also attracted to him and this offends her even more because due to her past. As the ring continues to give them clues to their final destination; Julia and Talon learn more about each other and themselves.

I enjoyed Amethyst Destiny. Focusing more on the developing romance between Talon and Julia then the plot we are treated to a long but sweet courtship between the two. It’s reads like a lazy day on the river. Slow and smooth; winding around little pit falls of life. Not a lot of thinking required here. Small smexy scenes with a hint of heat. Plus, I can never resist a sexy Scottish accent. Even in written form.

Due to their pasts, both feel they have nothing to give to anyone and aren’t worthy of love. Julia is very prickly but it’s understood and acceptable. Normally "bitchy for the sake of being bitchy" heroines turn me off but with her it felt right. I mean, she’s dropped in back in time with nothing but the clothes on her back. Who wouldn’t be a little put out? While Talon makes no bones of his attraction to Julia, he doesn’t really push at it. Little touches here and there, along with some basic kindness, does more to campaign his cause then declarations love ever could.

You don’t really get any clue of the plot till almost three-fourths of the way through the book. When Talon saves her from certain danger, she realizes that she indeed is worth something-to him. That is when we start to get an inkling of why she was drawn to that time and place. The plot is short and a little abrupt. Ms Montgomerie incorporates it well into the story, but I wish she would have introduced it earlier so that we might have had more drama and suspense. I felt like it was put in there to merely help Talon & Julia realize just how much they mean to each other and to bridge the first book to this one.

If your looking for a powerful, meaningful, deep and dark time travel paranormal romance…this isn’t it. But if your looking for a sweet, well written, light time travel paranormal romance, then this is your book. Toss it in your beach bag with a jigger of vodkatini’s and enjoy.

Rating: 3.5/5

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Thanks Tori!!