The Lure of Shapinsay by Krista Holle

The Lure of Shapinsay 

by Krista Holle

Publisher:  by Sweet River Romance

Publication Date:  December 16th 2011

ISBN:  2940013878815

Genre:  Romance / Folklore

Book Synopsis:  Ever since Kait Swanney could remember, the old crones of the village have been warning her to stay away from the selkies. They claim that like sirens of old, the seal men creep from the inky waters, shed their skins, and entice women to their deaths beneath the North Sea. But avoiding an encounter becomes impossible when Kait is spotted at the water’s edge, moments after the murder of a half-selkie infant.


Unexpectedly, Kait is awoken by a beautiful, selkie man seeking revenge. After she declares her innocence, the intruder darts into the night, but not before inadvertently bewitching her with an overpowering lure.


Kait obsesses over a reunion deep beneath the bay and risks her own life to be reunited with her selkie. But when she lands the dangerous lover, the chaos that follows leaves Kait little time to wonder—is it love setting her on fire or has she simply been lured?

My Thoughts:  I still have this book and the characters rolling through my mind!  This book was AMAZING!!!!  


When I first started this book, I was totally unaware of what I was getting into.  I actually struggled to get through the first couple of pages.  The language was a little rough for me at first.  I had even considered giving it up.  But that was just the first 2 or 3 pages.  I couldn't give up though.  I kept telling myself - just one more page!  Once I got through those pages and got accustomed to the language, I was hooked!!!  I am so absolutely glad that I did not give in.  The book was much more than what I expected, and I am hoping to find more by this author!!


Kait is such a strong character.  She is strong-willed and stubborn.  She does not let her culture or any man get in the way of what she wants.  I think at times, that this surprised her as well!  Eamon is a selkie man.  He is very attractive - alluring!!!  He, like other selkie men have a "lure" over women, and Kait was no exception.  Their relationship starts out as one of revenge, but becomes one of love - even beyond!


This is the first book I have read of this type, so that is what originally attracted me to it.  The Scottish setting was wonderful - so beautifully depicted.  As I stated above, the Scottish language / dialect is what threw me off in the beginning, but I worked through it.  The folklore of the selkie was told in such a way that I really believe I learned a lot about it, and even want to read / learn more.  The author definitely has done her research or has an intimate background that allowed her to put some much forth - very well done!!


There is some sexual content to this book, but not very explicit.  The nature of the sexual content is very much related to the lore of the selkie - so necessary.  If I had one complaint about the book, it is the cover.  My own images of Eamon is so much hotter!!!!  I must say, the boy pictured on the cover is just a "pup" like the story describes.  However, I did picture someone even more attractive.  Just a little funny - I did not even pick up on the skin on the cover until I started into the book a ways.  That part of the cover is great!!


I would highly recommend this book to others.  And, I will be looking for more to come from this author, as well as more of this genre.

About the Author:  Krista has been writing since she was nine-years-old when she scribbled out her first adolescent work entitled Merish, the completely illogical but heartfelt story of a girl who was part mermaid, part fish. As a young mother, Krista added to her repertoire some middle grade readers and picture books she’s wary of mentioning.


In 2004, Krista began an intensive four year period working part-time as a critical care nurse while homeschooling her four children. During this hectic time, courses of writing were taught and learned, and rules of syntax were scolded to memory. Ironically this period of study equipped Krista with the tools she needed to enter the next phase of her writing experience. Now equipped with the mysteries of the comma, Krista was ready to tackle a much bigger project—a full fledged novel.


After the kids were enrolled in public school in 2009, it occurred to Krista that there is an insatiable audience of women and girls who want to read books filled with stories about true love. Convinced that there was an unfulfilled audience waiting for what Krista loves to write—romance, she sat down in the family’s dungeon, a.k.a. the basement, and began to furiously type. In no time, her first novel was drying on crisp white paper.


Krista currently resides in Midlothian, Virginia with her husband, four daughters, and an eccentric cat with an attachment to the family’s socks. She continues to write obsessively every chance she can get.


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