(Book 4 in the Songs of the Mages Series but may be read as a stand-alone story.)

Jason Townsend determines he must sever his ties with his twin Jono and find his own path in life. His Mage’s inner voice demands he go to Ireland, and there he meets Aislinn, a Quaker contemptuous of his First World War heroism and his reputation as a ladies’ man. She thinks he’s the antithesis of any man she could ever want. Now he must not only find his essential self, but is determined to convince Aislinn he’s not the detestable Lothario she thinks him.

His quest becomes complicated when a villain is determined to destroy Aislinn and the young boy she’s protecting. Jason must assert his powers as a mage to save her and prove his love.


I was surprised throughout this short book at the sense that I couldn’t escape that I was reading a story that had been written 30 years ago and not in 2010. That’s not to say it was enjoyable, but the style was most definitely that of romance novels written some decades ago with the exception of some of the sensual passages. Even those, however were not as graphic as some of the other Ellora’s Cave ebooks I have read recently. Obviously there are degrees of “hotness” for various readers, so this is not necessarily a complaint. I just had a feeling throughout the book that I was taking a journey back in time, not just because of the early 20th century setting, but the writing style as well.

Having said that, however, I have to say that this was one of those stories that I would characterize as “lovely.” Jason was on a journey of self-discovery and what Maslow would call “self-actualization.” He needed to be his own person so he followed his “inner voice” and he found a single lady who was a really beautiful person but an out and out declared devotee to the cause of non-violence. As a Quaker she was committed to finding peace, and as such, she wasn’t too “wowed” by Jason, his personal reputation which she considered disreputable, and his war record as an ace flyer during WWI. Jason was drawn to her kindness and her desire to be a help to anyone in need. He was particularly delighted when he realized that she was seeking to bring some joy and kindness into a little boy who was the “ward” of the leader of her Quaker community. Somehow, the man himself made something inside her uncomfortable, and the boy himself presented what psychologists would have termed a “flat affect” in his actions and reactions to others around him. Aislinn became determined to change that if she could. In the course of becoming acquainted, Aislinn’s project with this little boy became Jason’s as well.

This story is a true love story and while Jason is a mage—a magical person the like of whom Aislinn had never met nor believed existed—he became involved to the extent that his whole family used their gifts to help this little person. This is also a story about child abuse and the “front” some can even make of legitimate religion. This story does not make fun of Quakers; rather it points out that even truly good people can be fooled and let astray. It is also a story of the reclaiming of a young life and putting him back on the right path. It is an easy read—not fluffy, but not long—and it deals with some important life issues. It is one of those books that has the feel of being classical in its style. It is not one of our contemporary “hot to trot” books but there is sensuality and loving in the context of a kind and caring relationship.

This story is well written and testifies to Ms Stewart’s abilities to tell an engaging story. I am looking forward to future Jean Hart Stewart books.

I give this novella a rating of 3.75 out of 5


You can read more from Judith at Dr J’s Book Place