Review by Booklist Review
Twenty-three years ago, Rhys and Gwyn Tremayne welcomed Branok into their home and hearts, and ever since then, Bran has considered them to be his family. Now, however, Lord Penhaligon of Plymouth is desperately seeking the son he cast out, and by all accounts Bran fits the bill. The last thing Bran wants to do is go to Cornwall and deal with the man who never wanted him because of Bran's special gift, but now that same gift is telling Bran something dangerous is underway. This proves to be true when immediately upon arriving, Bran rescues a beautiful young woman. Unfortunately, the lady has no memory of her past, but she, like Bran, possesses a special gift that could prove useful in Bran's attempts to discover what is going on. Putney (Once a Laird, 2021) creates her own form of romantic alchemy with the start to her Dangerous Gifts series, deftly blending together a superbly atmospheric Cornish setting, spot-on historical details, and a danger-riddled plot enhanced with just the right touch of the paranormal.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Bestseller Putney (Once a Laird) is writing for her longtime fans these days, setting up expected story pins and bowling them down cleanly, albeit from very short range. In this series-starting Regency paranormal, she adds some supernatural conceits: her heroine foresees the future and her hero has preternaturally strong intuition. In other words, every plot development is articulated in advance and there's no waiting around for an act or two to fire Chekhov's gun. The story kicks off when Home Office agent Bran Tremayne is identified as the lost heir to a Cornwall barony. His reluctant homecoming is beset by family resentments, smugglers, and possible French agents. Merryn Penrose literally stumbles into his life as an amnesiac fleeing brutal kidnappers--and sparking undeniable feelings. The couple's dynamic has an outdated vibe ("He was strong and she was weak, in some ways little more than a child") and, while the story's outline is more suspenseful than cozy, simple characterizations and (literal) predictability make this a comfort read, not a page-turner. This is old-school fluff, designed to go down easy. (Dec.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Putney (The Marriage Spell) launches an exciting new historical romance series set in 19th-century Cornwall. Bran had a rough start in life after being cast out as a young child by his birth father because of his gift of intuition; however, he found a wonderful new family when he was taken in by Lord and Lady Tremayne. Many years later, circumstances require that Bran face his birth parents, but he doesn't expect to also encounter and rescue a compelling and beautiful lady in the woods. That lady, Merryn, struggles to overcome her mystical stupor and amnesia to escape her captors and is grateful for Bran's assistance. Bran and Merryn are instantly drawn to each other and find that Merryn's extraordinary gifts have put her in the middle of a plot by the French and some dangerous smugglers. They must work together using their gifts, which only makes their bond and passion stronger. VERDICT Recommended for readers who like some fantasy in their historical romance and appreciate stories with chosen family and strong women.--Bridgette Whitt
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two gifted people are drawn to each other along the coast of an alternate Cornwall in 1803. Bran Tremayne has a gift--he has "perceptions and talents beyond what most people possess." And in his world, this sort of gift is not well understood and is even hated by many people, including Bran's father, who abandoned him as a child. He was lucky to be adopted by a family that takes in gifted children and helps them thrive. Now, as an adult, he and his brother are working for the Home Office, using their gifts of intuition to assist their country in the pause between wars with France, when he's surprised to find out he might be the remaining heir to the Penhaligon estate in Cornwall. He has no interest in joining the aristocracy or claiming his inheritance, but his gift tells him he should go because there's something important he must see. When he arrives, it isn't long before a random woman literally stumbles into his life and fulfills his intuition. She doesn't remember anything about her life when they first meet, but it's clear she also has a gift, and that there's some sort of strange attraction between them. As she recovers her name and more memories of her life, her gift and Bran's tell them both that serious danger is on the horizon, but that can't entirely distract them from their connection. Putney begins a new series with this book and, unfortunately, it has a slow start and remains uneven throughout. The idea of "gifts" initially adds an intriguing and slightly paranormal twist to a classic historical romance, but that begins to lose its charm as the story continues and every plot point hangs on them, leaving little room for the characters to develop well enough for readers to understand why they're so attracted to each other. The book is agreeable enough and has a slightly old-fashioned appeal, but this isn't one that will attract new fans. An unpromising start to a new series from a well-known author. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
